Float controlled valve assembly

Claim 1

A float valve assembly for a liquid storage tank comprising; a housing, bracket means connected to said housing and adapted to support said housing in said tank below an upper edge of the latter, float means supported by said housing for movement relative thereto in response to changes in liquid level in said tank, an elongated conduit member extending vertically relative to said mounting means and projecting above said bracket means, said conduit member forming a liquid inlet above said bracket means and a liquid outlet in said housing, valve means disposed in said conduit between said inlet and outlet and being movable between open and closed positions, an elongated actuating member axially movable in said conduit for moving said valve means between said positions, said actuating member being disposed above and having a portion resting in abutting engagement on said float means for movement upwardly to close said valve means in response to upward movement of said float means and being movable downwardly in abutting engagement with said float means upon downward movement of the latter, said actuating member being free to rotate generally about the axis of said conduit during upward and downward movement of said float means, guide means formed at spaced points axially of said actuating member and acting between said conduit and said actuating member for maintaining the latter in axial alignment in said conduit member during axial and rotational movement of said actuating member, said guide means including a plurality of annularly spaced guide elements disposed adjacent said inlet and being operable to guide said valve means into said closed position, and vent means communicating the interior of said conduit with the exterior of the latter and being disposed intermediate said valve means and said outlet.