Patent US4684932A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3874859A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3874859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic drain device for deliquescent gas dryers
Assignee: Van-Air Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-19
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Granted: 1975-04-01
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Expires: 1993-12-19
Abstract
Abstract An automatic control device for use, for instance, in automatically draining solution from a pressurized vessel, such as for instance a deliquescent desiccant type air or gas dryer. The control device is adapted to periodically exhaust waste liquid which collects in, for instance, a dryer vessel, from the latter. The device comprises a motor power operated valve coacting with fluid conveying means which is adapted to be disposed in a drainage line leading from the vessel. The motor operated valve is automatically actuated to open position at predetermined periods whereupon the waste liquid is drained from the vessel, and then the valve is automatically closed until the next actuation thereof. The valve and the fluid conveying means is disposed exteriorly of the motor power unit for the valve and is rapidly disassemblable therefrom, for permitting rapid removal and reassembly of the power unit from the valve and fluid conveying subassembly, and rapid replacement of worn parts from the valve body. Thus, in the event that a malfunction occurs in the power system, the latter can be rapidly removed and replaced without depressurizing the system, or the valving can be manually operated, to prevent flooding or loss of pressure in the dryer system.
Inventors
- 👤 Martin C Krause
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:44
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/26; F; F16; F16K; F16K27/00; F16K31/00; F16K31/02; F16K31/04; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86389; Y10T137/86405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
367 words
A compact control unit operative for automatically controlling a flow of liquid in combination with an enclosed vessel, said vessel including means adapted for removing moisture from pressurized gas passed through said vessel, said vessel having a drain opening in the lower portion thereof for draining liquid therefrom, means connecting said control unit in liquid transmitting relation with said drain opening, for controlling the egress of liquid from said vessel, said control unit comprising liquid conveying means, said liquid conveying means comprising an inlet communicating with said connecting means and an outlet, and valve means coacting with said liquid conveying means for controlling the flow of liquid through said liquid conveying means, electrically powered motor means for actuating said valve means to move said valve means from a closed position to an open position and then back to a closed position upon predetermined energization of said motor means, means including electrical circuitry for automatically controlling energization of said motor means at predetermined intervals of time, a housing for said energization controlling means, means releasably coupling said motor means to said valve means for actuation of the latter by said motor means, said valve means and liquid conveying means being spaced from and disposed exteriorly of said housing whereby said valve means and said liquid conveying means are readily accessible, eXteriorly accessible attaching means holding said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly in assembled relation with said motor means and associated energization controlling means, said attaching means being readily accessible and operable for quickly removing said motor means and said energization controlling means from said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly, said releasable coupling means providing for convenient manual actuation of said valve means in the event of removal of said motor means from coupled coaction with said valve means, and said attaching means including means which not only holds said motor means and associated energization controlling means to said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly but also is operable to hold the latter in assembled relation and which upon predetermined actuation permits quick removal and replacement of said valve means said liquid conveying means without disconnecting the latter from said drain opening connecting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
367 words
A compact control unit operative for automatically controlling a flow of liquid in combination with an enclosed vessel, said vessel including means adapted for removing moisture from pressurized gas passed through said vessel, said vessel having a drain opening in the lower portion thereof for draining liquid therefrom, means connecting said control unit in liquid transmitting relation with said drain opening, for controlling the egress of liquid from said vessel, said control unit comprising liquid conveying means, said liquid conveying means comprising an inlet communicating with said connecting means and an outlet, and valve means coacting with said liquid conveying means for controlling the flow of liquid through said liquid conveying means, electrically powered motor means for actuating said valve means to move said valve means from a closed position to an open position and then back to a closed position upon predetermined energization of said motor means, means including electrical circuitry for automatically controlling energization of said motor means at predetermined intervals of time, a housing for said energization controlling means, means releasably coupling said motor means to said valve means for actuation of the latter by said motor means, said valve means and liquid conveying means being spaced from and disposed exteriorly of said housing whereby said valve means and said liquid conveying means are readily accessible, eXteriorly accessible attaching means holding said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly in assembled relation with said motor means and associated energization controlling means, said attaching means being readily accessible and operable for quickly removing said motor means and said energization controlling means from said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly, said releasable coupling means providing for convenient manual actuation of said valve means in the event of removal of said motor means from coupled coaction with said valve means, and said attaching means including means which not only holds said motor means and associated energization controlling means to said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly but also is operable to hold the latter in assembled relation and which upon predetermined actuation permits quick removal and replacement of said valve means said liquid conveying means without disconnecting the latter from said drain opening connecting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vessel moisture removing means includes a gas pervious support in said vessel adapted to receive thereon a bed of deliquescent chemical material for removing moisture from the pressurized gas passing through said bed, the removed moisture being adapted to move downwardly in said vessel toward said drain opening.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The combination in accordance with claim 2 wherein said vessel has a gas inlet disposed below said gas pervious support and a gas outlet disposed above said gas pervious support.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination in accordance with claim 3 wherein said valve means includes a laterally projecting valve actuating stem constructed and arranged manual actuation to manually actuate said valve means to open or closed position in the event of removal of said housing and motor means from coupled coaction with said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
218 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said liquid conveying means comprises spaced conduit sections defining respectively said inlet and said outlet, each of said conduit sections including lateral flanges, said valve means being disposed intermediate said conduit sections and including flanges formed generally complementary to the first mentioned flanges, said attaching means including a bracket comprising generally vertically oriented, spaced arms having open ended, generally vertically extending slots therein, threaded studs extending through apertures in said flanges and through said arm slots, and actuateable fastener means coacting with said studs and with said arms and said conduit section flanges for not only holding said motor means and associated energization controlling means to said liquid conveying means and valve means assembly, but also operable to hold the latter in assembled relation, and wherein said connecting means includes a pipe coupled at one end thereof to said drain opening and at the other end thereof to one of said conduit sections defining said inlet for passage of waste solution from said vessel to said valve means, said valve means being detachable from said one conduit section upon predetermined deactuation of said fastener means and separation of said studs from at least certain of said flanges, and without disturbing the connection of said one conduit section to said pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said motor means includes a rotatable power stem releasably coupled to said valve means by said coupling means, for actuating said valve means upon actuation of said motor means, said motor means being disposed in said housing with said stem extending exteriorly of said housing and being detachable from said valve means as a unit with said energization control means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
114 words
The combination in accordance with claim 6 wherein said valve means includes a laterally projecting stem, said coupling means comprising a connector member connected at one end thereof with said valve stem and at the other end Thereof with said motor power stem for coupling the motor stem to said valve member for powered actuation of the latter member, said connector member comprising slots extending therethrough at opposite ends thereof, said slots being generally aligned with one another in a direction axially of said connector member except that one of said slots is rotated 90* with respect to the direction of the other slot, so that the latter extends transverse of said one slot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
201 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said attaching means includes a bracket member secured to said housing and generally depending therefrom, said bracket member comprising a generally flat base portion attached to said housing and downwardly projecting generally flexible arm portions depending from said base portion, said arm portions having openended generally vertically extending slots therein, means detachably securing said bracket member to said housing, said liquid conveying means including spaced conduit sections having lateral flanges, said valve means including a valve body disposed intermediate said conduit sections, said attaching means also including studs extending through apertures in said flanges and through said arm slots in said bracket member, and fastener means coacting with said studs and said arm portions of said bracket member to releasably anchor said bracket member to said liquid conveying means and said valve means assembly, said fastener means upon predetermined loosening actuation thereof permitting separation of said bracket member and attached motor means and energization controlling means from said conduit sections and said valve body, said arm slots providing for unrestricted removal movement of said bracket member and attached housing linearly away from said studs upon said predetermined loosening actuation of said fastener means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
374 words
The combination in accordance with claim 1 wherein said valve means comprises a valve body, a valve member and at least one seat with which said valve member coacts in said body, to control the flow of fluid through said valve body, a valve stem coupled to said valve member and projecting exteriorly of said valve body, said coupling means comprising a connector member coacting at one end thereof with said valve stem and at the other end thereof with a motor stem of said motor means for coupling the motor stem to said valve member for powered actuation of the latter member, said motor means being disposed in said housing with said motor stem projecting exteriorly of said housing, said attaching means including a pair of threaded rod-like members extending through openings in said valve body, said liquid conveying means comprising spaced end conduit members between which is disposed said valve body, said conduit members having lateral flanges with openings aligned with said openings in said valve body and through which said rod-like members extend, exteriorly accessible fastener means coacting with said rod-like members and said flanges to connect the end conduit members to said central valve body in liquid tight relation, said attaching means also including a bracket attached to said housing and having open ended generally vertically oriented slots therein through which said rod-like members extend, said fastener means coacting with said rod-like members and said bracket at said slots to releasably secure said bracket and attached housing to said rod-like members, said valve member comprising a ball valve in said valve body, a removable valve seat disposed in said valve body and coacting with said ball valve to control the flow of fluid through said conduit members and said valve body, said ball valve having a slot therein receiving a portion of said valve stem, sealing means coacting with said valve stem to prevent liquid leakage along said valve stem, said ball valve being rotatable with rotation of said valve stem, said housing being sealed and separate from said valve means and said liquid conveying means so that any leakage oF liquid at said valve means cannot have any detrimental effect on said energization controlling means and said motor means.
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) | 1978-03-31 | 1978-09-30 | 1979-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-03-31 | 1982-09-30 | 1983-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-03-31 | 1986-09-30 | 1987-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |