Patent ID: 8001992
Filing Date: 2011-08-23
Classification: B65D,F16K,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A liquid enclosure having an automatic air bleeding valve, comprising: a body having a liquid holding chamber; said air bleeding valve selectively forming a fluid pathway connecting said liquid holding chamber to an ambient environment outside said liquid enclosure for bleeding air from said liquid holding chamber; said air bleeding valve being in a first stage when a liquid in said liquid holding chamber is below a first predetermined level; when said air bleeding valve is in said first stage, said fluid pathway being open and a one-way valve being interposed in said fluid pathway, said one-way valve being operable to permit air flow from said liquid holding chamber toward said ambient environment and being operable to prevent air flow in an opposite direction; said air bleeding valve being in a second stage when said liquid is between said first predetermined level and a second predetermined level higher than said first predetermined level; when said air bleeding valve is in said second stage, said fluid pathway being open and circumventing said one-way valve; said air bleeding valve being in a third stage when said liquid is above said second predetermined level; when said air bleeding valve is in said third stage, said fluid pathway being closed; said air bleeding valve being operable to transition from said first stage, to said second stage and then to said third stage as a level of said liquid in said liquid holding chamber rises from below said first predetermined level to above said second predetermined level, and said air bleeding valve being operable to return from said third stage, to said second stage and then to said first stage as said level of said liquid in said liquid holding chamber lowers from above said second predetermined level to below said first predetermined level; said air bleeding valve including a float within said liquid holding chamber, said float having a lowermost position and having an uppermost position above said lowermost position; said float being in said lowermost position when said liquid in said liquid holding chamber is below said first predetermined level; said float being in said uppermost position when said liquid in said liquid holding chamber is above said second predetermined level; said float being intermediate said lowermost and uppermost positions when said liquid in said liquid holding chamber is between said first and second predetermined levels; said first, second, and third stages of said air bleeding valve being controlled by the position of said float; and said air bleeding valve being in said first stage when said float is in said lowermost position, being in said second stage when said float is intermediate said lowermost and uppermost positions, and being in said third stage when said float is in said uppermost position.