US3818928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hydropneumatic capacitor
Assignee: CVC CO
•
Filing: 1972-02-03
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1992-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A hydropneumatic capacitor particularly useful in sprinkler systems and comprising an air-water accumulator tank connected by conduit means to a low gallonage water source and by a normally closed valve means to a sprinkler head. The valve means possesses a predetermined pressure threshold of operation for rapidly opening to discharge water from the tank through the sprinkler head. Upon each discharge from the tank, air is pumped into the tank by operatively associated pump means to charge the tank with compressed air.
Inventors
- 👤 P Carsten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:31
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01G; A01G25/00; A01G25/16; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3115; Y10T137/3127; Y10T137/3137; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7758; Y10T137/7762; Y10T137/7764; Y10T137/7766; Y10T137/7769; Y10T137/777
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
242 words
A hydropneumatic capacitor comprising: a closed fluid accumulator tank; conduit means connected to a source for supplying liquid to a lower portion of said tank to rise within said tank and compress air in an upper portion thereof; liquid discharge means; normally closed upstream pressure sensitive valve means having a predetermined pressure threshold of opening connected to said discharge means and to said tank for rapidly opening to discharge liquid from said tank through said discharge means when fluid pressure in said tank reaches said predetermined threshold value and for automatically closing when fluid pressure in said tank drops below said predetermined threshold value; and air pump means responsive to fluid pressure downstReam of said valve means for pumping compressed air into said upper portion of said tank after the fluid pressure in said tank has dropped below said predetermined threshold value and said valve means has closed and including hydropneumatic pump means having a liquid inlet connected to said capacitor downstream of said valve means, an air inlet and a compressed air outlet, for pumping compressed air through said compressed air outlet as liquid discharges from said tank, and compression chamber means having an inlet connected to said compressed air outlet and an outlet connected to said upper portion of said tank for storing compressed air from said hydropneumatic pump and feeding it to said tank as the fluid pressure therein drops below the air pressure in said compression chamber means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
242 words
A hydropneumatic capacitor comprising: a closed fluid accumulator tank; conduit means connected to a source for supplying liquid to a lower portion of said tank to rise within said tank and compress air in an upper portion thereof; liquid discharge means; normally closed upstream pressure sensitive valve means having a predetermined pressure threshold of opening connected to said discharge means and to said tank for rapidly opening to discharge liquid from said tank through said discharge means when fluid pressure in said tank reaches said predetermined threshold value and for automatically closing when fluid pressure in said tank drops below said predetermined threshold value; and air pump means responsive to fluid pressure downstReam of said valve means for pumping compressed air into said upper portion of said tank after the fluid pressure in said tank has dropped below said predetermined threshold value and said valve means has closed and including hydropneumatic pump means having a liquid inlet connected to said capacitor downstream of said valve means, an air inlet and a compressed air outlet, for pumping compressed air through said compressed air outlet as liquid discharges from said tank, and compression chamber means having an inlet connected to said compressed air outlet and an outlet connected to said upper portion of said tank for storing compressed air from said hydropneumatic pump and feeding it to said tank as the fluid pressure therein drops below the air pressure in said compression chamber means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said conduit means includes automatic rate of flow control valve means for automatically regulating the rate of flow of liquid to said tank from said source independent of pressure changes upstream of said flow control valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The capacitor of claim 2 wherein said conduit means further includes a valve seat upstream of said flow control valve and a manually adjustable spring-loaded pressure regulating check valve for seating on said seat to prevent liquid back flow in said conduit means to said source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
147 words
The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes: a valve seat; a magnetically attractable valve disc; first spring means for urging said valve disc to seat on said valve seat and block liquid flow from said tank to said discharge means; magnet means normally separated from and movable towards and away from said valve disc in response to fluid pressure increases and decreases respectively in said tank for rapidly and momentarily drawing said valve disc from said seat in opposition to said first spring means when said fluid pressure in said tank reaches said threshold value; and second spring means for urging said magnet means away from said disc and for rapidly returning said magnet means to said normally separated condition when said pressure in said tank drops below said threshold value upon an opening of said valve means and a discharge from said tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
175 words
The capacitor of claim 4 wherein said valve means further includes: a case of nonmagnetic material covering said valve disc, said case housing said first spring means between said case and said disc to normally urge said disc against said valve seat; a cylinder; piston means in said cylinder; a rod extending from one side of said piston means and carrying said magnet means for movement toward and away from said case, said second spring means being located in said cylinder and bearing on said piston means to normally urge said rod and said magnet means away from said case; and a passageway from said tank and to an end of said cylinder remote from said rod for supplying fluid to said cylinder at the pressure in said tank to drive said piston means, rod and magnet means toward said case as said fluid pressure approaches said threshold value, whereby said valve disc is rapidly attracted and moved towards said magnet means when said threshold value is reached to rapidly and momentarily open said valve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
166 words
The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said valve means includes: a normally closed main valve and a magnetically actuated pilot valve for regulating operation of said main valve; said main valve comprising a first relatively large valve seat open to said conduit means, a first valve disc having a port therethrough for passing liquid to a downstream side of said first valve disc, first spring means normally urging said first valve disc onto said first valve seat, and said pilot valve comprising a second relatively small valve seat open to said downstream side of said first valve disc and to said discharge means, a second valve disc of magnetic material, second spring means normally urging said second valve disc onto said second valve seat, and magnet means normally separated from and movable toward said second valve disc as fluid pressure increases in said tank to rapidly and momentarily draw said second valve disc from said second valve seat when said fluid pressure reaches said threshold value.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The capacitor of claim 6 wherein said main valve further includes manually adjustable stop means downstream of said first valve disc for limiting travel of said first valve disc away from said first valve seat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
148 words
The capacitor of claim 1 wherein said air pump means further included: diaphragm means in said hydropneumatic pump means dividing said hydropneumatic pump means into two isolated compartments, a first compartment including said liquid inlet and a second compartment including said air inlet and said compressed air outlet; one-way check valve means at said air inlet and compressed air outlet of said hydropneumatic pump means and at said outlet of said compression chamber for only passing air into said second compartment through said air inlet as said diaphragm moves away from said air inlet, for only passing compressed air from said second compartment through said compressed air outlet when air pressure in said second compartment exceeds air pressure in said compression chamber and for only passing compressed air into said tank when air pressure in said compression chamber exceeds fluid pressure in said upper portion of said tank.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |