Patent ID: 7240690
Filing Date: 2007-07-10
Classification: F16K,F17C,G01F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A valve assembly for a fluid container, especially a gas tap for a liquefied gas cylinder, comprising: a valve body having a longitudinal axis and a base end adapted to secure the valve body in an opening of a container; an overfill protection device having a housing member secured to the valve body and depending axially downwardly therefrom along said longitudinal axis, said valve body and housing member comprising a fixed structure of said valve assembly, and said overfill protection device having a float pivotable relative to said housing member about a pivot axis and extending in an inactive non-floating condition downwardly from said housing member at an angle relative thereto, said overfill protection device being adapted to be inserted through said opening into said container, said opening having a diameter that is but slightly larger than the maximum outer diameter of said overfill protection device; and a capacitive liquid level gauge for detecting the liquid level in the container, said level gauge being secured to said fixed structure and extending normally downwardly therefrom in the direction of said longitudinal axis passed and beyond said float, said level gauge comprising two elongate, relatively thin, lamellar, conductive electrodes, said electrodes being normally straight and parallel to one another in the direction of the longitudinal axis and spaced from one another, said lamellar electrodes having opposite side surfaces and being disposed on the same side of the overfill protection device and oriented with said side surfaces extending substantially transversely to a plane containing said longitudinal axis, said level gauge further being positioned, in axial projection, in close proximity to said housing member and being deflectable laterally to extend in close proximity alongside said float so as to permit insertion of the overfill protection device and said level gauge manually held closely side-by-side through said small diameter opening into said container.