US4998571A — Overfill valve apparatus

Claim 1

Independent Claim 206 words

An overflow valve apparatus for use in a liquid storage container having a fluid inlet, comprising: an enclosure defining an envelope for insertion in said fluid inlet, said enclosure including a fill pipe; valve means moveably mounted in the fill pipe, said valve means including a valve head moveable between at least a first open pipe position and a second, closed pipe position; float means attached to the said valve head and movable from a first position when the container is empty to a second position as the container fills with liquid, movement of the float means toward its second position producing movement of the valve head toward its second position, the float means also being movable within the envelope defined by said enclosure, said envelope having a diameter which is less than the diameter of said fluid inlet to permit installation and removal of said valve apparatus; and, closure means defining at least a portion of the enclosure for said valve, said closure means being inwardly flexible to accommodate the float means during pipe installation and removal, and outwardly flexible during fluid flow to conform to a predetermined configuration of said enclosure so as to present a substantially uniform, non-flow restrictive path for such flow.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 206 words

An overflow valve apparatus for use in a liquid storage container having a fluid inlet, comprising: an enclosure defining an envelope for insertion in said fluid inlet, said enclosure including a fill pipe; valve means moveably mounted in the fill pipe, said valve means including a valve head moveable between at least a first open pipe position and a second, closed pipe position; float means attached to the said valve head and movable from a first position when the container is empty to a second position as the container fills with liquid, movement of the float means toward its second position producing movement of the valve head toward its second position, the float means also being movable within the envelope defined by said enclosure, said envelope having a diameter which is less than the diameter of said fluid inlet to permit installation and removal of said valve apparatus; and, closure means defining at least a portion of the enclosure for said valve, said closure means being inwardly flexible to accommodate the float means during pipe installation and removal, and outwardly flexible during fluid flow to conform to a predetermined configuration of said enclosure so as to present a substantially uniform, non-flow restrictive path for such flow.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further including spring means operatively connected between said enclosure and said valve head for biasing said float means to a first position.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 50 words

The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the enclosure includes a side wall, and the valve head includes angled side walls which seat against the side wall of the enclosure as the float means moves to its second position, seating of the valve head constituting the second position of the valve.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 60 words

The apparatus of claim 3 further including spring means, said spring means comprising a flexible, spiral wound spring foldable upon itself as the valve head moves toward the second position of the valve, one end of said spring being attached to the side wall of said enclosure and the other end of said spring being attached to the valve head.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 52 words

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the float means includes a float and an arm, said arm having a first end and a second end, one of said first and second ends being attached to the float and the other of said first and second ends being attached to the valve head.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said enclosure has an opening in its permitting said arm to extend therethrough.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the closure means comprises a flexible material, having an outer margin, the outer margin of the material being attached to said enclosure.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the side wall of said enclosure has an inner side and an outer side, and the material is attached to the inner side of the side wall.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 42 words

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said enclosure has a first diameter, said first diameter being less than the diameter of the fluid inlet for said container in which said apparatus finds application, said closure means being moveable to accommodate the float.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 27 words

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the material is outwardly flexible and responds to the flow of liquid therethrough to remove any flow restriction to the fluid.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further including means for deflecting flow of liquid, said deflecting means being positioned above the valve means so at least a portion of the liquid flowing through said valve does not directly strike the valve head.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 11 further including means for draining liquid into the fluid container after said valve head closes.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said valve head element has at least one opening formed in it, said opening extending through the valve head, said means for draining being mounted in said opening.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the drain means includes a spring-loaded valve

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 13 words

The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the float is an elongated tubular float.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 47 words

The apparatus of claim 1 further including a fill tube, said fill tube being operatively connected to said valve apparatus, said fill tube forming a portion of said enclosure, said fill tube having an upper end for mounting said valve apparatus to an inlet of said container.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 20 words

The apparatus of claim 16 further including means for forming a seal between the fill tube and the fluid inlet.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 124 words

An overflow valve apparatus for use in a liquid storage container having a fill pipe of a predetermined diameter, comprising: a fill tube having an end formed for attachment to an end of said fill pipe; valve means attached to said fill tube, said valve means including a valve head moveably mounted between at least first and second positions, a float attached to said valve head, and a shell containing said valve head, said shell including at least one flexible portion for accommodating the float during placement of said apparatus in said liquid storage container, and being outwardly flexible during fluid flow to conform to a predetermined configuration of said shell so as to present a substantially uniform, non-flow restrictive path for said flow.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 124 words

An overflow valve apparatus for use in a liquid storage container having a fill pipe of a predetermined diameter, comprising: a fill tube having an end formed for attachment to an end of said fill pipe; valve means attached to said fill tube, said valve means including a valve head moveably mounted between at least first and second positions, a float attached to said valve head, and a shell containing said valve head, said shell including at least one flexible portion for accommodating the float during placement of said apparatus in said liquid storage container, and being outwardly flexible during fluid flow to conform to a predetermined configuration of said shell so as to present a substantially uniform, non-flow restrictive path for said flow.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus of claim 18 further including a drop tube mounted to said valve shell.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 116 words

An overflow valve apparatus for use in a liquid storage container having a fill pipe of a pre-determined diameter comprising: a fill tube; valve means attached to said fill tube, said valve means including a valve head moveably mounted between at least a first position and second position; a float attached to and moveable with said valve head, and; a shell containing said valve head, said shell including at least one flexible portion moveable between a first position for accommodating the float during placement of said apparatus in said storage container, and a second outward position during fluid flow so as to present a substantially uniform, non-flow restrictive path for such flow along said flexible portion.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 116 words

An overflow valve apparatus for use in a liquid storage container having a fill pipe of a pre-determined diameter comprising: a fill tube; valve means attached to said fill tube, said valve means including a valve head moveably mounted between at least a first position and second position; a float attached to and moveable with said valve head, and; a shell containing said valve head, said shell including at least one flexible portion moveable between a first position for accommodating the float during placement of said apparatus in said storage container, and a second outward position during fluid flow so as to present a substantially uniform, non-flow restrictive path for such flow along said flexible portion.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-03-11	1994-09-10	1995-03-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-03-11	1998-09-10	1999-03-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-03-11	2002-09-10	2003-03-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Overfill valve apparatus

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