US3782400A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Valving system for supplying fuel to tanks and transferring fuel between tanks
Assignee: XAR IND Inc
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Filing: 1972-03-17
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Granted: 1974-01-01
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Expires: 1992-03-17
Abstract
Abstract A flow control system to admit fuel to an aircraft fuel tank and to provide for fuel transfer between that tank and another tank. The system includes a pilot valve which is sensitive to fuel level at an upper elevation of the tank, and a flow valve disposed at a lower elevation of the tank. A fuel conduit connects the flow valve to a source of supply and to other tanks to which fuel is to be transferred, and a pilot line interconnects the pilot valve and the flow valve. The flow valve is a differential pressure type valve, and a flow signal for selecting its flow condition is supplied by the pilot valve. Means is provided to change the condition of the pilot valve for shutoff and for checkout purposes. The flow valve may also include shutoff means responsive to an empty tank and to negative g-forces.
Inventors
- 👤 A Hardison
- 👤 E Hieber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:16
CPC Classifications
F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/18; F16K31/34; B; B64; B64D; B64D37/00; B64D37/02; B64D37/14; B64D37/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0753; Y10T137/0777; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3115; Y10T137/3127; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7297; Y10T137/73; Y10T137/7358; Y10T137/7368; Y10T137/7371
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
429 words
A flow control system for fueling a fuel tank and for transferring fuel from said tank to another, said system comprising: a pilot valve and a flow valve respectively adapted to be disposed at an upper and a lower level in said tank; a fuel conduit connected to the flow valve to supply fuel to the flow valve during fueling and to receive it from the flow valve during transfer; and a pilot conduit interconnecting the pilot valve and the flow valve, said flow valve comprising: a body having a first passage; a valve seat in said first passage; a cylinder having a wall with a central axis, said axis extending toward said seat; a piston making a sliding fluid sealing fit in said cylinder; a seal on said piston adapted to close on said seat, said piston being movable in one direction to cause said seal to close said seat, and in the opposite direction to open the same, said piston having a cross-section area greater than that bounded by the seal, whereby the piston is a differential area piston; and a restricted bleed passage interconnecting the opposite faces of the piston, one end of said first passage being connected to the fuel conduit, and the other end to the inside of said tank; said pilot valve comprising: a body having an open-topped cup with a drainage chamber adjacent to the bottom of the cup; a pilot inlet; a first check valve in fluid communication with said pilot in 135, and biased so as to be opened by a sufficient positive differential pressure in said pilot inlet; a second check valve biased to be closed by said positive differential pressure; a buoyant float in said cup; a poppet valve actuated by said float, said poppet valve receiving fuel from said first check valve, and being closed when the cup is full and open when it is not, so as to discharge fuel into said cup; a solenoid including a plunger; a first valve seal carried on said plunger adapted to close a valve seat through which fuel drains from the drainage chamber when the solenoid is energized, the plunger also carrying a second valve seal to close the second check valve at its flow side opposite the pilot inlet when the solenoid is not energized and to open the same when it is energized, the pilot conduit interconnecting the cylinder of the flow valve and the pilot inlet of the pilot valve; and means for applying gas under pressure to said tank when fuel transfer is to occur.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
429 words
A flow control system for fueling a fuel tank and for transferring fuel from said tank to another, said system comprising: a pilot valve and a flow valve respectively adapted to be disposed at an upper and a lower level in said tank; a fuel conduit connected to the flow valve to supply fuel to the flow valve during fueling and to receive it from the flow valve during transfer; and a pilot conduit interconnecting the pilot valve and the flow valve, said flow valve comprising: a body having a first passage; a valve seat in said first passage; a cylinder having a wall with a central axis, said axis extending toward said seat; a piston making a sliding fluid sealing fit in said cylinder; a seal on said piston adapted to close on said seat, said piston being movable in one direction to cause said seal to close said seat, and in the opposite direction to open the same, said piston having a cross-section area greater than that bounded by the seal, whereby the piston is a differential area piston; and a restricted bleed passage interconnecting the opposite faces of the piston, one end of said first passage being connected to the fuel conduit, and the other end to the inside of said tank; said pilot valve comprising: a body having an open-topped cup with a drainage chamber adjacent to the bottom of the cup; a pilot inlet; a first check valve in fluid communication with said pilot in 135, and biased so as to be opened by a sufficient positive differential pressure in said pilot inlet; a second check valve biased to be closed by said positive differential pressure; a buoyant float in said cup; a poppet valve actuated by said float, said poppet valve receiving fuel from said first check valve, and being closed when the cup is full and open when it is not, so as to discharge fuel into said cup; a solenoid including a plunger; a first valve seal carried on said plunger adapted to close a valve seat through which fuel drains from the drainage chamber when the solenoid is energized, the plunger also carrying a second valve seal to close the second check valve at its flow side opposite the pilot inlet when the solenoid is not energized and to open the same when it is energized, the pilot conduit interconnecting the cylinder of the flow valve and the pilot inlet of the pilot valve; and means for applying gas under pressure to said tank when fuel transfer is to occur.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
A flow control system according to claim 1 in which an axuiliary cutoff valve is provided which is sensitive to an empty tank and to negative g forces, comprising: a float adapted to be disposed aT a level in the tank indicative of the lowest desired fuel level; a passage from the fuel tank to the cylinder; a valve seat in said last-named passage; a ball seal adapted to rest upon and close said last-named valve seat in the absence of forces to remove it; and a pin passing through said last-named valve seat pinned to the float, whereby when the fuel is low in the tank, the float moves the pin to upset the ball seal from the last-named valve seat and admit tank pressure to the cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flow control system according to claim 1 in which a post passes through the piston across its faces, the pilot conduit passing through said post and entering into the cylinder therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
129 words
A flow control system according to claim 3 in which an auxiliary cutoff valve is provided which is sensitive to an empty tank and to negative g forces, comprising: a float adapted to be disposed at a level in the tank indicative of the lowest desired fuel level; a passage from the fuel tank to the cylinder; a valve seat in said last-named passage; a ball seal adapted to rest upon and close said last-named valve seat in the absence of forces to remove it; and a pin passing through said last-named valve seat pinned to the float, whereby when the fuel is low in the tank, the float moves the pin to upset the ball seal from the last-named valve seat and admit tank pressure to the cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
A flow control system according to claim 1 in which the valve seal which closes the second check valve, and the valve seal which closes the drainage chamber, are both mounted to the plunger of the solenoid, whereby these valve seals alternatively close or open their respective valves as a function of solenoid actuation or de-actuation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A flow control system according to claim 1 in which the first passage in the flow valve enlarges at the its respective seat and in which the larger portion shrouds the cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
149 words
A flow control system according to claim 6 in which an auxiliary cutoff valve is provided which is sensitive to an empty tank and to negative g forces, comprising: a float adapted to be disposed at a level in the tank indicative of the lowest desired fuel level; a passage from the fuel tank to the cylinder; a valve seat in said last-named passage; a ball seal adapted to rest upon and close said last-named valve seat in the absence of forces to remove it; and a pin passing through said last-named valve seat pinned to the float, whereby when the fuel is low in the tank, the float moves the pin to upset the ball seal from the last-named valve seat and admit tank pressure to the cylinder, the auxiliary cutoff valve being disposed adjacent the bottom of the enlarged portion of the passage in the flow valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
270 words
A flow valve for flow control system for fueling fuel tank and for transferring fuel from said tank to another, said flow valve comprising: a body having a passage; a valve seat in said passage; a cylinder having a wall with a central axis, said axis extending toward said seat; a piston making a sliding fluid sealing fit in said cylinder; a seal on said piston adapted to close on said seat, said piston being movable in one direction to cause said seat to close said seal, and in the opposite direction to open the same, said piston having a cross-section area greater than that bounded by the seal, whereby the piston is a differential area piston; and a restricted bleed passage interconnecting the opposite faces of the piston, one end of said passage being adapted to be connected to a fuel conduit, and the other end to the inside of a tank; and an auxiliary cutoff valve mounted to said body which is sensitive to an empty tank and to negative g forces, comprising: a float adapted to be disposed at a level in the tank indicative of the lowest desired fuel level; a passage from the fuel tank to the cylinder; a valve seat in said passage; a ball seal adapted to rest upon and close said valve seat in the absence of forces to remove it; and a pin passing through said valve seat pinned to The float, whereby when the fuel is low in the tank, the float moves the pin to upset the ball seal from the seat and admit tank pressure to the cylinder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
270 words
A flow valve for flow control system for fueling fuel tank and for transferring fuel from said tank to another, said flow valve comprising: a body having a passage; a valve seat in said passage; a cylinder having a wall with a central axis, said axis extending toward said seat; a piston making a sliding fluid sealing fit in said cylinder; a seal on said piston adapted to close on said seat, said piston being movable in one direction to cause said seat to close said seal, and in the opposite direction to open the same, said piston having a cross-section area greater than that bounded by the seal, whereby the piston is a differential area piston; and a restricted bleed passage interconnecting the opposite faces of the piston, one end of said passage being adapted to be connected to a fuel conduit, and the other end to the inside of a tank; and an auxiliary cutoff valve mounted to said body which is sensitive to an empty tank and to negative g forces, comprising: a float adapted to be disposed at a level in the tank indicative of the lowest desired fuel level; a passage from the fuel tank to the cylinder; a valve seat in said passage; a ball seal adapted to rest upon and close said valve seat in the absence of forces to remove it; and a pin passing through said valve seat pinned to The float, whereby when the fuel is low in the tank, the float moves the pin to upset the ball seal from the seat and admit tank pressure to the cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
235 words
A pilot valve for a flow control system for fueling a fuel tank and for transferring fuel from said tank to another, said pilot valve comprising: a body having an open-topped cup with a drainage chamber adjacent to the bottom of the cup; a pilot inlet; a first check valve in fluid communication with said pilot inlet, and biased so as to be opened by a sufficient positive differential pressure in said pilot inlet; a second check valve biased to be closed by said positive differential pressure; a buoyant float in said cup; a poppet valve actuated by said float, said poppet valve receiving fuel from said first check valve, and being closed when the cup is full and open when it is not, so as to discharge fuel into said cup; a solenoid including a plunger; a first valve seal carried on said plunger adapted to close a valve seat through which fuel drains from the drainage chamber when the solenoid is energized, the plunger also carrying a second valve seal to close the second check valve at its flow side opposite the pilot inlet when the solenoid is not energized and to open the same when it is energized; a pilot conduit interconnecting the cylinder of the flow valve and a pilot inlet of the pilot valve; and means for applying gas under pressure to said tank when fuel transfer is to occur.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
235 words
A pilot valve for a flow control system for fueling a fuel tank and for transferring fuel from said tank to another, said pilot valve comprising: a body having an open-topped cup with a drainage chamber adjacent to the bottom of the cup; a pilot inlet; a first check valve in fluid communication with said pilot inlet, and biased so as to be opened by a sufficient positive differential pressure in said pilot inlet; a second check valve biased to be closed by said positive differential pressure; a buoyant float in said cup; a poppet valve actuated by said float, said poppet valve receiving fuel from said first check valve, and being closed when the cup is full and open when it is not, so as to discharge fuel into said cup; a solenoid including a plunger; a first valve seal carried on said plunger adapted to close a valve seat through which fuel drains from the drainage chamber when the solenoid is energized, the plunger also carrying a second valve seal to close the second check valve at its flow side opposite the pilot inlet when the solenoid is not energized and to open the same when it is energized; a pilot conduit interconnecting the cylinder of the flow valve and a pilot inlet of the pilot valve; and means for applying gas under pressure to said tank when fuel transfer is to occur.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
A pilot valve according to claim 9 in which the valve seal which closes the second check valve, and the valve seal which closes the drainage chamber, are both mounted to the plunger of the solenoid, whereby these valve seals alternatively close or open their respective valves as a function of solenoid actuation or de-actuation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-31 | 1977-07-02 | 1978-01-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-31 | 1981-07-02 | 1982-01-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-31 | 1985-07-02 | 1986-01-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |