Patent DE451408C successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3807899A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3807899A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid level alarm and control device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-06-15
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Granted: 1974-04-30
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Expires: 1993-06-15
Abstract
Abstract A gas operated audible alarm device is provided to signal the advent of an overlow or leakage condition in oil tanks and the like to minimize the hazards of environmental pollution from oil and chemical spills during tank filling operations. The device has a float operated pneumatic valve positioned at a predetermined upper limit of fluid level in a receiving tank, which valve controls the passage of an inert gas from a supply source to a gas operated whistle or horn in response to an overflow or leakage condition sensed by the float. In one embodiment the alarm device may be placed in the rakes of a barge or the bilge of a ship to sound an alarm in response to a sinking condition of the ship or barge. In another embodiment the source of gas is connected in circuit with a pressure sensitive switch which will actuate means to shut down the supply of oil in response to an overflow or leakage condition sensed in the oil tanks being filled.
Inventors
- 👤 J Ward
- 👤 A Keller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:59
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/30; G01F23/56; G01F23/58; G01F23/585; B; B63; B63B; B63B39/00; B63B39/12; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/48; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8342
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for monitoring and controlling the filled operation of a fluid storage tank comprising: a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure; gas operated audible means external of said storage tank; gas operated pressure switch means for generating an electrical output signal; valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and each of said audible means and said pressure switch means, respectively; and float means mounted internally of said storage tank, interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to at least one predetermined fluid level in said storage tank to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to said audible means and said pressure switch means simultaneously; pumping means for supplying fluid to said storage tank; and means responsive to said electrical output signal from said pressure switch means for shutting down said pumping means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
157 words
A system for monitoring and controlling the filled operation of a fluid storage tank comprising: a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure; gas operated audible means external of said storage tank; gas operated pressure switch means for generating an electrical output signal; valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and each of said audible means and said pressure switch means, respectively; and float means mounted internally of said storage tank, interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to at least one predetermined fluid level in said storage tank to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to said audible means and said pressure switch means simultaneously; pumping means for supplying fluid to said storage tank; and means responsive to said electrical output signal from said pressure switch means for shutting down said pumping means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said pumping means comprises: at least one pump; means for supplying electrical power to said pump; and electrical switch means for turning off the supply of electrical power to said pump in response to an electrical output signal from said pressure switch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said pumping means comprises: at least one pump; conduit means connected between said pump and said tank for supplying fluid to said tank; and electrically actuated gate valve means in said conduit means, said gate valve means being closed in response to an electrical output signal from said pressure switch means, thereby shutting down said pumping means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein said pumping means comprises: at least one pump; means for supplying electrical power to said pump; electrical switch means for turning off the supply of electrical power to said pump in response to an electrical output signal from said pressure switch means; conduit means connected between said pump and said tank for supplying fluid to said tank; electrically actuated gate valve means in said conduit means, said gate valve means being closed in response to an electrical output signal from said pressure switch means, thereby shutting down said pumping means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The invention of claim 1 including check valve means in said pneumatic pressure lines between said valve means and said pressure switch means for restricting the flow of nitrogen gas to said pressure switch means after the pressure builds up to a sufficient level to trigger said pressure switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein one of said predetermined fluid levels in said tank corresponds to a leakage condition in said tank and said audible means is sounded aNd said pressure switch means is triggered in response to said leakage condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein one of said predetermined fluid levels in said tank corresponds to an overflow condition in said tank and said audible means is sounded and said pressure switch means is triggered in response to said overflow condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
97 words
The invention of claim 7, wherein said float means comprises: a float in said tank; a fluid pervious float cage containing said float and constraining same to a limited vertical displacement in response to varying fluid levels in said tank; and linkage means extending from said float cage to said valve means for actuating said valve means; said float rising in said float cage and engaging said linkage means in response to said predetermined fluid level to constrain said linkage means to actuate said valve means and sound said audible means and trigger said pressure switch means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
69 words
The invention of claim 8, wherein said valve means is normally closed and said linkage means comprises: pivot means on said valve means; an operating plunger for said valve means; and a bell crank lever pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on said pivot means; said bell crank lever being rigidly affixed to said float on one end thereof and means engaging said operating plunger on the other end thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein a first predetermined fluid level in said tank corresponding to an overflow condition will sound said audible means and trigger said pressure switch means and a second predetermined fluid level in said tank corresponding to a leakage condition will also sound said audible means and trigger said pressure switch means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
127 words
The invention of claim 10, wherein said float means comprises: a float in said tank mounted for slidable movement on vertical rod means in response to varying fluid levels in said tank; first and second linkage means extending from said rod means to said valve means for actuating said valve means, said float rising along said rod means and engaging said first linkage means to actuate said valve means and sound said audible means in response to a first fluid level corresponding to an overflow condition in said tank, said float moving down said rod means and engaging said second linkage means to actuate said valve means and sound said audible means in response to a second fluid level corresponding to a leakage condition in said tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein means are provided for locking said lever means in a fixed position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention of claim 11 wherein said valve means is normally closed and said first linkage means comprises: pivot means on said valve means; an operating plunger for said valve means; and a bell crank lever pivoted intermediate the ends thereof on said pivot means; said bell crank lever having means for engaging said float on one end thereof and means engaging said operating plunger on the other end thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
116 words
The invention of claim 11, wherein said valve means is normally closed and said second linkage means comprises: an operating plunger for said valve means; lever means pivotally mounted at a first end thereof adjacent said valve means and having reel means mounted on a second end thereof, said lever means being constrained to engage and depress said plunger when pivoted downwardly about said first end; disc means mounted for vertical movement on said rod below said float and being adapted to engage said float in response to said second fluid level corresponding to a leakage condition; and cable means connecting said disc means to said reel means on said second end of said lever means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 14, wherein one end of said cable means is wound about said reel means and said reel means is pivotally and adjustably mounted on said lever means, whereby said cable means may be selectively wound or unwound from said disc means to adjust the positIon thereof on said rod means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 15 wherein means are provided for locking said reel means in selected positions.
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) | 1977-04-29 | 1977-10-29 | 1978-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-04-29 | 1981-10-29 | 1982-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-04-29 | 1985-10-29 | 1986-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |