Filling device for preventing overflow of liquid-containing tanks

Claim 2

A filling device for a liquid tank, said filling device comprising a liquid inlet unit to which a filling hose may be connected, said liquid tank having a port in the upper end thereof, an air venting unit associated with said port, valve means associated with each of said units, means controlled by the level of the liquid in said tank to close both of said valve means when such liquid has reached a predetermined level, thereby preventing flow of additional liquid through said liquid inlet into said tank and preventing venting of air from said liquid tank through said air venting unit, said air venting unit comprising an additional valve member associated with said port, resilient means normally retaining said valve member in closed position, a channel interposed between said valve member and the interior of said tank, the inner end of said channel defining a seat for said air venting unit valve means, whereby when said valve means is in open position said valve member will be opened by the air pressure created in said tank as liquid is charged therein, for venting of such air.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said additional valve member has an axial bore therethrough, the inner end of which defines a valve seat, a further valve member is associated with said valve seat, said valve member being movable with said additional valve member and resilient means normally retains said further valve member against said seat, whereby when said additional valve member is in closed position and fluid is discharged from said tank, the negative pressure created in said tank will cause said further valve member to move off its seat for venting of said tank to permit discharge of fluid therefrom.

Claim 4

A filling device for a liquid tank, said filling device comprising a liquid inlet unit to which a filling hose may be connected and an air venting unit, valve means associated with said air venting unit, means controlled by the level of the liquid in said tank to close said valve means when such liquid has reached a predetermined level, said liquid tank having a port in the upper end thereof defining a liquid inlet, said liquid inlet unit comprising a tube secured at one end to the periphery of said liquid inlet port and depending into said tank, being axially aligned with said port, a cup-shaped member positioned in said tube at its upper end and extending axially with respect thereto, the upper end of said cup-shaped member being secured to and being in sealing engagement with the upper end of said tube, said cup-shaped member being of diameter such as to define an annular cavity with respect to said tube, a bell shaped member in said cup extending axially thereof, the lower end of said bell shaped member being open and defining a valve seat, the interior of said bell shaped member being in communication with said annular cavity, said valve seat being axIally spaced from the floor of said cup-shaped member, said liquid inlet unit valve means being positioned between said valve seat and the floor of said cup-shaped member, said annular cavity being in communication with the portion of said tube below the floor of said cup-shaped member, float means positioned in said tube and operatively connected to said valve means to move the latter against its seat to cut off flow of liquid through said tube when the liquid has reached a predetermined level in said tank, thereby preventing flow of additional liquid through said liquid inlet into said tank and preventing venting of air from said liquid tank through said air venting unit.

Claim 5

A filling device for a liquid tank, said filling device comprising a liquid inlet unit to which a filling hose may be connected and an air venting unit, valve means associated with said air venting unit, means controlled by the level of the liquid in said tank to close said valve means when such liquid has reached a predetermined level, said liquid tank having a port in the upper end thereof defining a liquid inlet, said liquid inlet unit comprising a tube secured at one end to the periphery of said liquid inlet port and depending into said tank, being axially aligned with said port, a cup-shaped member positioned in said tube at its upper end and extending axially with respect thereto, the upper end of said cup-shaped member being secured to and being in sealing engagement with the upper end of said tube, said cup-shaped member being of diameter such as to define an annular cavity with respect to said tube, a bell shaped member in said cup extending axially thereof, the lower end of said bell shaped member being open and defining a valve seat, the interior of said bell shaped member being in communication with said annular cavity, said valve seat being axIally spaced from the floor of said cup-shaped member, said liquid inlet unit valve means being positioned between said valve seat and the floor of said cup-shaped member, said annular cavity being in communication with the portion of said tube below the floor of said cup-shaped member, float means positioned in said tube and operatively connected to said valve means to move the latter against its seat to cut off flow of liquid through said tube when the liquid has reached a predetermined level in said tank, thereby preventing flow of additional liquid through said liquid inlet into said tank and preventing venting of air from said liquid tank through said air venting unit.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the floor of said cup-shaped member has an axial opening, said valve means has an axial stem secured at one end thereto and extending through said axial opening, said float means is positioned in the lower end of said tube and operatively connected to the other end of said axial stem.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 2 in which the floor of said cup-shaped member has an axial opening, said valve means has an axial stem secured at one end thereto and extending through said axial opening, said float means is positioned in the lower end of said tube and operatively connected to the other end of said axial stem, said port has an inlet conduit secured at one end thereto, said conduit having an inlet leading thereinto to which said filling hose may be connected, and having an additional conduit secured thereto and in communication therewith, said additional conduit comprising a cylindrical extension axially aligned with said port, said extension having a closure plug at its outer end having an axial opening, said bell shaped member having a top wall with an axial opening therein, an actuating rod extending through the axial openings in said plug and said top wall, the lower end of said actuating rod being adapted to abut against said valve means and means operatively connected to the upper end of said rod to move the latter downwardly to effect movement of the valve means off its seat.

Claim 8

The combination set forth in claim 5 in which an inner tube is positioned in said first named tube, said inner tube having its lower end protruding beyond the lower end of said first tube, the upper end of said inner tube being flared outwardly to define a funnel in communication with the annular cavity and said float comprises a cylindrical member slidably encompassing said inner tube and means connecting the lower end of said cylindrical float to the free end of said axial stem.

Claim 9

The combination set forth in claim 5 in which a rocker arm is pivotally connected between its ends to the upper end of said actuating rod, resilient means operatively connected to said rocker arm normally to urge said actuating rod upwardly, a cable connected at one end to the other end of said rocker arm and means to exert tension on said cable to pivot said rocker arm to move said actuating rod downwardly against said valve means.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 6 in which means are provided to seal the axial opening in said plug.

Claim 11

The combination set forth in claim 5 in which said inlet to said inlet conduit has an annular valve seat, a valve member is provided movable against said seat to close the liquid inlet and manually operable means are provided to effect movement of said valve member.