Abstract:
A venting trans-fill station transfer is used to transfer gas from a supply tank to a second tank, and provides a vent between the supply tank and the second tank. The station includes a body defining an inlet port and a discharge port in flow communication with one another defining a fill flow path extending therebetween. The body further defines a venting port in flow communication with the fill flow path and an environment outside of the station, defining a vent flow path between the fill flow path and the environment. A vent plug port is formed in the vent flow path intermediate the fill flow path and the environment. A vent plug is configured for receipt in the vent plug port and is engagable with the plug port to isolate the fill flow path from the environment and to provide flow communication between the fill flow path and the environment.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention pertains to a venting trans-fill or transfer station for pressurized gases. More particularly, the present invention relates to a transfer station that is ventable for transferring a high-pressure gas from one storage container to another storage container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Military-like sporting events always have ever-increasing popular appeal among individuals. One military-like sporting event that has become increasingly popular is an event in which paintballs are propelled using compressed gases from a paintball gun. 
     Typical of these sporting events, a participant working either alone or in a group has as his or her objective the location and capture of other participants. The participant fires projectiles, such as paintballs, at the opposing participant. In that it is desirable to avoid injuring an opposing participant with the projectiles, paintballs are used. These paintballs are liquid filled projectiles that burst when striking a participant. The paint contained within the paintball provides readily visible indication that a participant has been struck. 
     During these sporting events, the participants carry their guns, which are powered by a compressed gas to propel the paintballs. In a typical arrangement, a small canister or bottle can be mounted directly to the gun to provide a predetermined supply of compressed gas. Alternately, a participant can carry a compressed gas bottle mounted, for example, to their back much like a scuba tank is carried by a diver. In this arrangement, the tank is connected to the gun by a hose to supply the compressed gas. 
     The quantity or weight of compressed gas that can be stored in these portable bottles is quite limited. To this end, subsequent to use, the bottle must be refilled. Typically, a bottle is refilled from a larger storage tank of a high pressure gas. Although the refilling of these portable bottles is a rather straightforward process, because the gas is at a high pressure, if it is mishandled or if filling is carried out incorrectly, there is the potential for injuring the individual carrying out the portable bottle refill. 
     Various types of valving arrangements have been used to carry out this refilling in a safe and cost-effective manner. There are, however, certain minimum requirements or design considerations that must be made to assure safe, portable bottle refilling. For example, such a transfer valving arrangement must be configured to assure that both the supply tank and the portable bottle can be isolated from one another. In addition, such a valving arrangement must also be configured to assure that the gas pathway between the storage tank and the bottle can be vented prior to disconnecting either the storage tank or bottle from the valving arrangement. 
     It has been observed that certain known valving arrangements include multiple component types that require considerable maintenance. If these components are not maintained properly, leakage can occur from the compressed gas pathway. In one known arrangement, a plurality of ball valves is used in order to interconnect the tank and to provide a venting pathway. It has, however, been found that such valves are generally not properly rated for this use and can leak, thus providing an undesirable pathway which, if not attended to, can ultimately result in personal injury. 
     Accordingly, there exists a need for a venting trans-fill station that is easy to use and that provides a controlled, venting pathway. Desirably, such a station is configured for use in high pressure gas transfer assemblies. Most desirably, such a trans-fill station minimizes the number of potential leakage pathways for escape of the pressurized gas. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A venting trans-fill station is used to transfer a gas from a supply tank to a second tank and to provide a vent between the supply tank and the second tank after filling. The station includes a body defining an inlet port and a discharge port in flow communication with one another, which define a fill flow path extending therebetween. The body further defines a venting port in flow communication with the fill flow path and an environment outside of the station. A vent flow path is defined between the fill flow path and the environment. A vent plug port is formed in the vent flow path intermediate the fill flow path and the environment. 
     A vent plug is configured for receipt in the vent plug port. The vent plug is engagable with the plug port to isolate the fill flow path from the environment and to provide flow communication between the fill flow path and the environment. 
     In a current embodiment, the vent flow path traverses through a bottom portion of the vent plug port and a side portion of the vent plug port. The portion of the vent flow path that traverses through the bottom portion of the vent plug port is in flow communication with the fill flow path, and the portion of the vent flow path that traverses through the side portion of the vent plug port is in flow communication with the venting port. 
     In an alternate embodiment, the body defines an inlet port, a discharge port, a venting port, a vent plug port and a shut-off port. The inlet and discharge ports are in flow communication with one another and define a fill flow path extending therebetween. The venting port is in flow communication with the fill flow path and an environment outside of the station and defines a vent flow path between the fill flow path and the environment. 
     The vent flow path intersects the fill flow path at a venting path/fill path juncture. The vent plug port is formed in the vent flow path intermediate the fill path and the environment. The shut-off port is disposed in the fill flow path intermediate the venting path/fill path juncture and the inlet port. 
     In this embodiment the vent plug is configured for receipt in the vent plug port. The vent plug is engagable with the plug port to isolate the fill flow path from the environment and to provide flow communication between the fill flow path and the environment. A shut-off plug is engagable with the shut-off port for isolating flow communication between the inlet port and the discharge port. 
     In still another embodiment, the venting trans-fill station body defines an inlet port and a discharge port in flow communication with one another defining a fill flow path therebetween. The body further defines a venting port in flow communication with the fill flow path and an environment outside of the station. A vent flow path is defined between the fill flow path and the environment. The body further defines a chamber common to the fill flow path and the vent flow path. 
     A supply seat is disposed at about a juncture of the inlet port and the chamber in the fill flow path and a venting seat is disposed at about a juncture of the vent port and the chamber in the vent flow path. The station includes an elongated plug movable through the main body for engaging the venting and supply seats. When the elongated plug is engaged with the supply seat the vent flow path provides flow communication between the chamber and the environment, and when the elongated plug is engaged with the venting seat the fill flow path provides flow communication between the inlet port and the discharge port. 
     In a preferred configuration of this embodiment, the supply seat and the venting seat are each formed having a beveled surface for engaging and centering the elongated plug as it traverses through the respective seats. Most preferably, seals are disposed at the venting and supply seats in opposing relation to the beveled surfaces, and the seats maintain the seals in place to provide a gas-tight seal. 
     The station can be configured having an inlet side insert and a plug side insert. The inserts engage the supply and venting seats, respectively, to position the seats within the station body and to secure seals at the seats. The elongated plug can include a connecting portion having a sealing area and a seal to further maintain the station in a gas-tight condition. 
     These and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
     FIG. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the venting trans-fill station embodying the principles of the present invention, the station being illustrated with a storage tank inlet fitting, a portable bottle delivery fitting and a vent plug in place in the station body; 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view of the trans-fill station of FIG. 1, illustrated with the vent plug in place in the station body and with the inlet and delivery fitting removed; 
     FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the vent plug removed for clarity of illustration; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the station of FIG. 3, as viewed from the left-hand side thereof; 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the vent plug of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternate embodiment of the venting trans-fill station embodying the principles of the present invention, the station being illustrated with a storage tank inlet fitting, a portable bottle delivery fitting and vent and shut-off plugs in place in the station body; 
     FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view of the trans-fill station of FIG. 6, illustrated with the vent and shut-off plugs in place in the station body, and with the inlet and delivery fittings removed; 
     FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with the vent and shut-off plugs removed for clarity of illustration; 
     FIG. 9 is a side view of the station of FIG. 8, as viewed from the left-hand side thereof; 
     FIG. 10 is a front view of the vent plug of FIG. 7; 
     FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of another alternate embodiment of the venting trans-fill station embodying the principles of the present invention, the station being illustrated with a single vent and fill plug, the plug being shown in the fill position; 
     FIG. 12 is a view of the station of FIG. 11 with the plug shown in the vent position; 
     FIG. 13 is an exploded view of the station of FIGS. 11 and 12; 
     FIG. 14 is a front view of the plug side insert of the station of FIGS. 11-13; 
     FIG. 15 is a front view of the inlet side insert of the station of FIGS. 11-13; and 
     FIG. 16 is a front view of the vent and fill plug. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described presently preferred embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
     Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown one embodiment  10  of a venting trans-fill station in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The station  10  includes a main body  12  having an inlet port  14 , a discharge port  16 , a vent plug port  18  and a venting port  20 . The inlet port  14  is that port of the station  10  that is in flow communication with a relatively large quantity of compressed gas, such as that available from a storage tank (not shown). The discharge port  16  is that port that is in flow communication with, for example, a portable compressed gas bottle (not shown). 
     An unobstructed fill flow path  22  extends between the inlet port  14  and the discharge port  16 . It is through this path  22  that compressed gas flows from the supply tank to the portable bottle. 
     A vent flow path  24  extends from the fill flow path  22  in the body  12  of the station  10 , intermediate the inlet port  14  and the discharge port  16 . The vent flow path  24  extends to the venting port  20 , where it is in flow communication with the environs. The vent plug port  18  intersects the vent flow path  24  and includes a region that is configured to receive a plug  26  to isolate the vent flow path  24  (and thus, the fill flow path  22 ) from the environs. In a current embodiment, the vent plug port  18  is threaded and is configured to receive the complementary threaded plug  26  for sealing that port  18 . By sealing the port  18 , both the vent flow path  24  and the fill flow path  22  are isolated from the environs. 
     In this embodiment, all of the ports  14 - 20  are threaded and are configured to receive standard connectors and/or fittings as used in the industry. In the present embodiment, the inlet port  14  is threaded for receipt of a ¼ inch NPT thread. The discharge port  16  is threaded and is configured for receipt of a ⅛ inch NPT thread. The vent plug port  18  is configured for receipt of a ⅜ by  24  threaded plug  26 , such as that illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     An alternate embodiment  110  of the trans-fill station is best seen in FIGS. 6 through 10. In this alternate embodiment  110 , the station includes a body  112  having an inlet port  114 , a discharge port  116 , a vent plug port  118  and a venting port  120 . A fill flow path  122  is defined from the inlet port  114  to the discharge port  116  and a vent flow path  124  is defined, intersecting the fill flow path  122 . A vent plug  126  is threaded into the body  112  of the station  110  at the vent plug port  118  for isolating and initiating flow through the venting port  120 . The vent plug  126  is similar to the vent plug  26  illustrated in FIG.  5 . 
     In this embodiment, the station  110  includes a shut-off valve or plug  128 . The shut-off plug  128  is received in a threaded shut-off port  130  in the body  112  of the station  110 . The plug  128  is configured for engaging a plug seat  132  formed in the body  112  of the station  110 . The seat  132  is formed intersecting the fill flow path  122 , intermediate the inlet and discharge ports,  114 ,  116 , respectively. The seat  132  is intermediate the inlet  114  and a venting path/fill path juncture, as indicated at  134 . 
     In a current embodiment, the fill flow path  122  is formed having a 90 degree bend at the seat  132  so that when the plug  128  is tightened down into the body  112 , a base portion of the plug, as indicated at  136 , engages the seat  132  to isolate the flow of gas through the fill flow path  122 . As best seen in FIG. 7, the fill flow path  122  is configured so that the flow of gas from the high pressure inlet port  114  travels through a base portion  138  of the seat  132  and the outlet portion (to the discharge port  116 ) intersects a side  140  of the plug  128 . In this manner, any pressure that is exerted on the plug  128  (from the high pressure gas) is equally distributed about the seat  132  and thus the plug  128 , and is exerted on the plug base  136 . 
     As will be recognized from the figures, the plug  128  permits isolating the supply tank, at the station  110 , so that the portable bottle can be isolated, and the fill flow path  122  vented without the need for additional valves at the supply tank. 
     An exemplary plug  128  for use in this embodiment of the fill station  110  is illustrated in FIG.  10 . As can be seen from this figure, the plug  128  includes a threaded portion  142  that is configured for receipt in the shut-off plug port  130 . The plug base  136  is configured having a substantially circular wall portion  144  that engages the seat  132  to isolate the flow of gas from the bottom thereof. The plug  128  further includes a stem  146  and an upper threaded portion (not shown) at about the end of the stem  146  for receipt of a knurled knob  148  or the like for ease of use. 
     As will be readily recognized from these figures, in this embodiment of the trans-fill station  110 , two discrete and separate plugs or valves are used for filling and venting. The shut-off plug  128  is used to initiate and isolate flow between the supply tank and the portable bottle through the fill flow path  122 . The vent plug  126  permits venting the station  110  after the portable bottle has been filled and the supply or storage tank has been isolated. 
     Still another embodiment of the trans-fill station  210  is shown in FIGS. 11 through 16. In this embodiment of the station  210 , as will be described below, a single valve assembly is used for both supply tank isolation and venting. 
     This embodiment of the station  210  includes a main body  212  portion having an inlet port  214 , a discharge port  216 , and a venting port  218 . The station  210  includes an elongated plug  220  that is movable within the body  212 . A first seat or supply seat  222  is positioned at an end  224  of the inlet port  214  within a fill flow path  226 . The supply seat  222  is at an end of, and opens into a chamber  228  within the station  210  that is in flow communication with the discharge port  216 . The plug  220  is configured to move within the station  210  to seal against the supply seat  222  for isolating flow between the inlet and discharge ports,  214 ,  216 , respectively (FIG.  12 ). 
     A second or venting seat  230  functions as a retaining collar and is disposed within the station  210 , at another end of the chamber  228 , that is configured to cooperate with the plug  220  to isolate the chamber  228  from the venting port  218 . Essentially, the station  210  defines a chamber  228  separated from the inlet and venting ports,  214 ,  218 , respectively, by the supply and venting seats  222 ,  230 , respectively. As the plug  220  is moved into engagement with the supply seat  222  (FIG.  12 ), it moves out of engagement with (or off of) the venting seat  230  and thus establishes a venting flow path  232  from the chamber  228  to the venting port  218 . Conversely, as the plug  220  is moved into engagement with the venting seat  230  (FIG.  11 ), and out of engagement with (or off of) the supply seat  222 , the fill flow path  226  is established from the inlet port  214  into the chamber  228  and out through the discharge port  216 . 
     Each of the supply and venting seats  222 ,  230  includes an angled or beveled surface  234  to maintain the plug  220  centered as it engages and traverses into the seats  222 ,  230 . In addition, seals  236 , such as the illustrated, exemplary O-rings, are provided on a back end  238  of each of the seats  222 ,  230 , opposing the beveled surfaces  234 , to assure a gas tight seal between the plug  220  and the respective seats  222 ,  230 . 
     The plug  220 , as best seen in FIG. 16, is configured having an elongated sealing section  240 , which is that section that seals against the supply and venting seats  222 ,  230 , and a connecting portion  242  extending from the sealing section  240  to a threaded stem  244 . The connecting portion  242  can include a sealing area  246  and a seal (not shown) at about a juncture with the stem  244  to prevent the flow of gas past the connecting portion  242  and up about the threads on the stem  244 . A knurled knob  247  or the like is mounted to the stem  244  to facilitate ready use of the station  210 . 
     Referring to FIG. 13, an exploded view of this embodiment of the station  210  shows that the body  212  includes first and second or inlet side and plug side inserts,  248 ,  250 , respectively. The inserts  248 ,  250  are configured for receipt in threaded bores  252  in the body  212 . The inlet side insert  248  is configured to maintain the seal  236 a positioned within the body  21  and to maintain it in place by cooperation of the insert  248  with the body  212 . The plug side insert  250  is likewise configured to maintain proper positioning of the vent seat  230  and seal  236   b,  between the insert  250  and the station body  212 . The plug side insert  250  is also configured to maintain centering and proper positioning and movement of the plug  220  within the insert  250  and station body  212 . 
     In preferred embodiments of each of the first, second and third embodiments  10 ,  110 ,  210 , the station bodies can be formed from, for example, a cast block of aluminum or the like. It has been found that such an aluminum body is readily manufactured and machined within the tolerances necessary for the present stations in an efficient and cost effective manner. It has been found that the present trans-fill stations can be readily manufactured to the standards established by governmental and industry groups (e.g., ASME) for their intended use. 
     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.