US5544685A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fill controller for liquified gas container and apparatus for filling tank using same
Assignee: Keifer Controls Inc
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Filing: 1994-09-02
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Granted: 1996-08-13
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Expires: 2014-09-02
Abstract
Abstract An electronic sensor and fill controller for use with a refillable liquid gas container is disclosed. The present invention in broadest terms comprises a valve body for the container, a shaft extending from the valve body into the container, an electronic sensor disposed on the shaft, and a controller adapted to initiate, terminate or alter an electrical signal once the sensor senses contact with the liquified gas. In a preferred embodiment, the invention comprises a float switch and fill controller for use with a refillable LG container, comprising: (a) a shaft adapted to extend into said container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said container; (b) a float slidably attached to the shaft, the float moveable between a first position to a second position as the liquified gas container is charged with a liquified gas; (c) a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to the container so as to close the container, the valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through the liquified gas passage; (d) a electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of the float from the first position to a second position, the sensor comprising an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal; and (e) a controller adapted to perform at least one function selected from the group consisting of: (i) initiate an electrical signal upon sensing that the float has moved to one of the first and second positions; (ii) terminate an electrical signal upon sensing that the float has moved to one of the first and second positions; and (iii) alter an electrical signal upon sensing that the float has moved to one of the first and second positions.
Inventors
- 👤 Dale M. Stieferman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 10:19
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F23/00; G01F23/30; G01F23/64; G01F23/72; G01F23/74; F; F17; F17C; F17C13/00; F17C13/02; F17C13/021; G05; G05D; G05D9/00; G05D9/12; F17C2201/00; F17C2201/01; F17C2201/0104; F17C2201/0109; F17C2205/00; F17C2205/03; F17C2205/0302; F17C2205/0323; F17C2205/0326; F17C2205/0329; F17C2205/0332; F17C2205/0382; F17C2205/0385; F17C2205/0388; F17C2205/0394; F17C2221/00; F17C2221/03; F17C2221/032; F17C2221/035; F17C2223/00; F17C2223/01; F17C2223/0146; F17C2223/0153; F17C2223/03; F17C2223/033; F17C2227/00; F17C2227/01; F17C2227/0128; F17C2227/0135; F17C2250/00; F17C2250/03; F17C2250/032; F17C2250/04; F17C2250/0404; F17C2250/0408; F17C2250/0413; F17C2250/0417; F17C2250/0447; F17C2250/0452; F17C2250/06; F17C2250/0605; F17C2250/0636; F17C2260/00; F17C2260/02; F17C2260/022; F17C2270/00; F17C2270/07; F17C2270/0745; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7358; Y10T137/7423
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
An electronic sensor and fill controller for use with a refillable liquified gas container, said controller comprising: a. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said container so as to close said container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; b. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body so as to extend into said container; c. a float actuated electronic sensor disposed on said shaft, said electronic sensor adapted to sense the presence of said liquified gas; and d. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing contact with said liquified gas, at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating an electrical signal; ii. terminating an electrical signal; and iii. altering an electrical signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
An electronic sensor and fill controller for use with a refillable liquified gas container, said controller comprising: a. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said container so as to close said container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; b. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body so as to extend into said container; c. a float actuated electronic sensor disposed on said shaft, said electronic sensor adapted to sense the presence of said liquified gas; and d. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing contact with said liquified gas, at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating an electrical signal; ii. terminating an electrical signal; and iii. altering an electrical signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A float switch and fill controller according to claim 1 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A float switch and fill controller according to claim 1 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
210 words
A float switch and fill controller for use with a refillable liquified gas container, comprising: a. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; b. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body, adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container; c. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas; d. an electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of said float from said first position to said second position, said sensor comprising an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal; e. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing that said float has moved to said second position, at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating said electrical signal; ii. terminating said electrical signal; and iii. altering said electrical signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
210 words
A float switch and fill controller for use with a refillable liquified gas container, comprising: a. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; b. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body, adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container; c. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas; d. an electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of said float from said first position to said second position, said sensor comprising an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal; e. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing that said float has moved to said second position, at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating said electrical signal; ii. terminating said electrical signal; and iii. altering said electrical signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said sensor comprises a reed switch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said sensor is integral with said valve body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A float switch and fill controller according to claim 4 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for filling a liquified gas container, said apparatus comprising: a. a source of a liquified gas; b. a liquified gas conduit in liquified gas conductive connection with said source of liquified gas; c. a pump adapted to pump liquified gas through said liquified gas conduit into said liquified gas container; d. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; e. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container; f. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas; g. an electronic sensor disposed on said shaft, said electronic sensor adapted to sense the presence of said liquified gas; and h. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing contact with said liquified gas, at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating an electrical signal; ii. terminating an electrical signal; and iii. altering an electrical signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
229 words
An apparatus for filling a liquified gas container, said apparatus comprising: a. a source of a liquified gas; b. a liquified gas conduit in liquified gas conductive connection with said source of liquified gas; c. a pump adapted to pump liquified gas through said liquified gas conduit into said liquified gas container; d. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquified gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of a liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; e. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container; f. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas; g. an electronic sensor disposed on said shaft, said electronic sensor adapted to sense the presence of said liquified gas; and h. a controller adapted to perform, upon said electronic sensor sensing contact with said liquified gas, at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating an electrical signal; ii. terminating an electrical signal; and iii. altering an electrical signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said sensor comprises a device selected from the group consisting of optical sensors and electrical conductance sensors.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for filling a liquified gas container from a source of liquified gas, said apparatus comprising: a. a source of a liquified gas; b. a liquified gas conduit in liquified gas conductive connection with said source of said liquified gas; c. a pump adapted to pump said liquified gas through said liquified gas conduit into said liquified gas container; d. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquid gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of said liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; e. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container; f. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas; g. an electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of said float from said first position to said second position, said sensor containing an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal, said sensor adapted to perform at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions; ii. terminating said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions; and iii. altering said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
285 words
An apparatus for filling a liquified gas container from a source of liquified gas, said apparatus comprising: a. a source of a liquified gas; b. a liquified gas conduit in liquified gas conductive connection with said source of said liquified gas; c. a pump adapted to pump said liquified gas through said liquified gas conduit into said liquified gas container; d. a valve body adapted to be sealingly attached to said liquified gas container so as to close said liquified gas container, said valve body having a liquid gas passage therethrough and a valve adapted to control the flow of said liquified gas through said liquified gas passage; e. a shaft attached to and extending coaxially from said valve body adapted to extend into said liquified gas container so as to be substantially opposed to the pull of gravity on said liquified gas container; f. a float slidably attached to said shaft, said float moveable between a first position and a second position as said liquified gas container is charged with said liquified gas; g. an electronic sensor positioned so as to sense the movement of said float from said first position to said second position, said sensor containing an electric signal generator adapted to send an electrical signal, said sensor adapted to perform at least one function selected from the group consisting of: i. initiating said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions; ii. terminating said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions; and iii. altering said electrical signal upon sensing that said float has moved to one of said first and second positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said sensor comprises a reed switch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said sensor is integral with said valve body.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said controller is adapted to control the power of said electrical signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said valve body additionally comprises a pressure relief valve.
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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) | 1999-08-13 | 2000-02-12 | 2000-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-08-13 | 2004-02-12 | 2004-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-08-13 | 2008-02-12 | 2008-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |