Valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9322486-B2
Application number	US-201313777797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 26, 2013
Priority date	Oct 31, 2002
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A valve assembly able to be mounted with a liquid container, the valve assembly comprising: a housing having a passageway that extends through the housing; a breather float valve mounted within the housing, the breather float valve movable between an open position to allow gas to pass through the passageway and a closed position that prevents liquid from passing through the passageway; a liquid inlet, forming part of the housing, the liquid inlet allowing fluid to pass into the housing; and an inlet float valve mounted within the housing, the inlet float valve movable between an open position that permits the flow of liquid through the liquid inlet and a closed position that prevents the flow of fluid through the liquid inlet.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A valve assembly able to be mounted with a liquid container, the valve assembly comprising:
a cylindrical housing;
a liquid inlet;
an inlet float valve comprising a substantially cylindrical float, a stem, and a valve seal located adjacent an end of the stem, the inlet float valve located within the cylindrical housing, the inlet float valve movable between an open position that permits a flow of liquid through the liquid inlet out of the cylindrical housing and into the liquid container and a closed position that does not permit the flow of liquid through the liquid inlet out of the cylindrical housing and into the liquid container; and
a breather float, the breather float movable between an open position to allow gas to pass through an opening and out of the liquid container and a closed position that prevents liquid from passing through the opening;
a fuel chamber is located adjacent the liquid inlet into which liquid is passed before passing through the liquid inlet; and
a shelter is provided within the fuel chamber and the end of the stem is located within the shelter when the inlet float valve is in the open position.

2. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical housing comprises a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole through a wall of the cylindrical housing, the first hole configured to allow the liquid to pass through the cylindrical housing and into the liquid container when the inlet float valve is in the open position, the second hole being in close proximity to the first hole and located above the first hole, the second hole configured to allow the liquid to pass into the cylindrical housing from the liquid container to move the inlet float valve to the closed position and the third hole located above the second hole and positioned on the wall of the cylindrical housing such that at least a portion of the third hole is located above the top portion of the substantially cylindrical float when the inlet float valve is in the closed position.

3. The valve assembly of claim 2 wherein the substantially cylindrical float is supported by a seat within the cylindrical housing when the inlet float valve is in the open position, the seat extending across an entirety of the substantially cylindrical float and positioned such that the first hole is located below the seat and the second hole is located above the seat; and wherein the substantially cylindrical float is arranged to lift away from the seat in response to the liquid level within the liquid container so as to move the inlet float valve from the open position to the closed position.

4. The valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly includes a relief valve that is movable between a closed position and an open position to allow the liquid to pass out of the liquid container to allow pressure to be relieved from the liquid container.

5. The valve assembly of claim 4 wherein the relief valve includes a relief plate, a spring and a cap.

6. The valve assembly of claim 5 wherein the cylindrical housing comprises a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole through a wall of the cylindrical housing, the first hole configured to allow the liquid to pass through the cylindrical housing and into the liquid container when the inlet float valve is in the open position, the second hole being in close proximity to the first hole and located above the first hole, the second hole configured to allow the liquid to pass into the cylindrical housing from the liquid container to move the inlet float valve to the closed position and the third hole located above the second hole and positioned on the wall of the cylindrical housing such that at least a portion of the third hole is located above the top portion of the substantially cylindrical float when the inlet float valve is in the closed position.

7. The valve assembly of claim 6 wherein the substantially cylindrical float is supported by a seat within the cylindrical housing when the inlet float valve is in the open position, the seat extending across an entirety of the substantially cylindrical float and positioned such that the first hole is located below the seat and the second hole is located above the seat; and wherein the substantially cylindrical float is arranged to lift away from the seat in response to the liquid level within the liquid container so as to move the inlet float valve from the open position to the closed position.

8. The valve assembly of claim 5 wherein the cylindrical housing comprises a first hole, a second hole, and a third hole through a wall of the cylindrical housing, the first hole configured to allow the liquid to pass through the cylindrical housing and into the liquid container when the inlet float valve is in the open position, the second hole being in close proximity to the first hole and located above the first hole, the second hole configured to allow the liquid to pass into the cylindrical housing from the liquid container to move the inlet float valve to the closed position and the third hole located above the second hole and positioned on the wall of the cylindrical housing such that at least a portion of the third hole is located above the top portion of the substantially cylindrical float when the inlet float valve is in the closed position.

9. The valve assembly of claim 8 wherein the substantially cylindrical float is supported by a seat within the cylindrical housing when the inlet float valve is in the open position, the seat extending across an entirety of the substantially cylindrical float and positioned such that the first hole is located below the seat and the second hole is located above the seat; and wherein the substantially cylindrical float is arranged to lift away from the seat in response to the liquid level within the liquid container so as to move the inlet float valve from the open position to the closed position.

10. A valve assembly comprising:
a cylindrical housing comprising:
a housing wall;
a passageway within the cylindrical housing;
a first hole through the housing wall;
a liquid inlet;
an inlet float valve located within the cylindrical housing, the inlet float valve comprising a substantially cylindrical float, a stem and a valve seal located adjacent an end of the stem, the inlet float valve movable between an open position that permits a flow of liquid through the liquid inlet and out of the cylindrical housing through the first hole and a closed position that does not permit the flow of liquid through the liquid inlet and out of the cylindrical housing through the first hole; and
a relief valve comprising:
a cap;
a spring; and
a relief plate that is movable between a closed position and an open position by compression of the spring such that in operation, the liquid is permitted to pass through the relief valve to allow pressure to be relieved from a container through at least one relief hole; and
a breather float configured to be movable between an open position to allow gas to pass through at least one breather hole located in the relief plate and a closed position that prevents liquid from passing through the at least one breather hole.

11. The valve assembly of claim 10 further comprising a fuel chamber located adjacent the liquid inlet through which the liquid is passed before passing through the liquid inlet.

12. The valve assembly of claim 11 wherein a shelter is provided within the fuel chamber and the end of the stem is located within the shelter when the inlet float valve is in the open position.

13. The valve assembly of claim 12 wherein the cylindrical housing further comprises a second hole and a third hol

Assignees

• Weir Minerals Australia Ltd

Inventors

• Smit Peter Martin

Classifications

• Y10T137/0874

  Vent opening or closing on tipping container · CPC title

• F16K24/044 Primary

  the float being rigidly connected to the valve element, the assembly of float and valve element following a substantially translational movement when actuated, e.g. also for actuating a pilot valve · CPC title

• Y10T137/7465

  Assembly mounted on and having reciprocating valve element coaxial with inlet pipe · CPC title

• Y10T137/3099

  Float responsive · CPC title

• Y10T137/7303

  Control of both inflow and outflow of tank · CPC title