US3857359A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid level alarm and control device
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-11-27
•
Granted: 1974-12-31
•
Expires: 1993-11-27
Abstract
Abstract A gas operated audible alarm device is provided to signal the advent of an overflow 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
2026-11-07 14:19
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
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
An audible alarm device for detecting and signalling the advent of an overflow condition in a fluid storage tank, comprising: a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure; gas operated audible means external of said storage tank; valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and said audible means, respectively; and float means mounted internally of said storage tank, interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to a predetermined fluid level representing the advent of an overflow condition in said storage tank to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to said audible means, said float means including a float in said tank, a fluid pervious float cage containing said float and constraining the 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 effect actuation of said audible means; 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 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
An audible alarm device for detecting and signalling the advent of an overflow condition in a fluid storage tank, comprising: a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure; gas operated audible means external of said storage tank; valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and said audible means, respectively; and float means mounted internally of said storage tank, interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to a predetermined fluid level representing the advent of an overflow condition in said storage tank to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to said audible means, said float means including a float in said tank, a fluid pervious float cage containing said float and constraining the 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 effect actuation of said audible means; 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 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The invention defined in claim 1 including filter means connected between said source of dry nitrogen gas and said pneumatic pressure lines for filtering out foreign materials from said nitrogen gas.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for detecting and signaling the advent of oil spills by a ship or barge having at least one oil tank thereon comprising: a. an alarm device including a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure, gas operated audible means exernal of said storage tank, pneumatic valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and said audible means, respectively, and float means interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to predetermined fluid levels to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to sound said audible means; b. means for mounting at least one of said alarm devices in said at least one tank to constrain said float means to actuate said valve means To transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to said audible means in response to at least one predetermined fluid level in said at least one tank, and c. means for mounting at least one of said alarm devices in the bilge or rakes of said ship or barge, respectively, to constrain said float means to actuate said valve means in response to a sinking condition of said ship or barge.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
208 words
A system for detecting and signaling the advent of oil spills by a ship or barge having at least one oil tank thereon comprising: a. an alarm device including a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure, gas operated audible means exernal of said storage tank, pneumatic valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and said audible means, respectively, and float means interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to predetermined fluid levels to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to sound said audible means; b. means for mounting at least one of said alarm devices in said at least one tank to constrain said float means to actuate said valve means To transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to said audible means in response to at least one predetermined fluid level in said at least one tank, and c. means for mounting at least one of said alarm devices in the bilge or rakes of said ship or barge, respectively, to constrain said float means to actuate said valve means in response to a sinking condition of said ship or barge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein one of said predetermined fluid levels in said tank corresponds to an overflow condition in said tank and said audible means is sounded in response to said overflow condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein one of said predetermined fluid levels in said tank corresponds to a leakage condition in said tank and said audible means is sounded in response to said leakage condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention of claim 3 wherein a first predetermined fluid level in said tank corresponding to an overflow condition will sound said audible means and a second predetermined fluid level in said tank corresponding to a leakage condition will also sound said audible means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
95 words
The invention defined in claim 3, 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 effect the sounding of said audible means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention defined in claim 7, 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
127 words
The invention of claim 3 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 12
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention of claim 9 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 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
The invention of claim 9 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 14
Dependent Claim
57 words
The invention of claim 11 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 reel means to adjust the position of said disc means on said rod means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 12 wherein means are provided for locking said reel means in selected positions.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 11, wherein means are provided for locking said lever means in a fixed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
An audible alarm device for detecting and signalling the advent of an overflow or leakage condition in a fluid storage tank, comprising: a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure; gas operated audible means external of said storage tank; pneumatic valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and said audible means, respectively; and float means mounted internally of said storage tank, interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to predetermined fluid levels representing the advent of an overflow or leakage condition in said storage tank to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to sound said audible means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
120 words
An audible alarm device for detecting and signalling the advent of an overflow or leakage condition in a fluid storage tank, comprising: a source of dry nitrogen gas under pressure; gas operated audible means external of said storage tank; pneumatic valve means mounted internally of said storage tank including pneumatic pressure lines interconnecting opposite sides of said valve means with said source and said audible means, respectively; and float means mounted internally of said storage tank, interconnected with said valve means, and responsive to predetermined fluid levels representing the advent of an overflow or leakage condition in said storage tank to actuate said valve means to transmit gas from said source through said pneumatic lines to sound said audible means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
128 words
The invention defined in claim 15 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 lever 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 20
Dependent Claim
71 words
The invention defined in claim 16, 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 21
Dependent Claim
117 words
The invention according to claim 16 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 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 18 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 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 19 wherein means are provided for locking said reel means in selected positions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 18 wherein means are provided for locking said lever means in a fixed position.
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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) | 1977-12-30 | 1978-07-01 | 1978-12-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-30 | 1982-07-01 | 1982-12-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-30 | 1986-07-01 | 1986-12-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |