Abstract:
A combination float control module and fluid flow control valve for use in high pressure, high flow rate refueling systems.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority date of the provisional application entitled “Refueling Apparatus with an Automatic Stop,” filed by Michael J. Mitrovich and John Byrne on Jun. 16, 2008, with application Ser. No. 61/061,922, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to generally to refueling apparatuses configured for automatically stopping when a desired refueling level is attained. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A variety of applications require the ability to rapidly fill a container with a fluid. To accomplish this rapid filling, the fluid is typically pumped (under pressure) into the container. Due to this rapid filling, such applications typically include means for quickly shutting off the flow of fluid when the container reaches a predetermined level of fluid held therein so as to prevent overfilling and/or spillage of the fluid. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an upper perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, shown installed on a fuel tank. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a first side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional, side view of a first embodiment of a fluid flow control valve of the present invention, shown with the valve closed. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , shown with the valve closed. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional, side view of a first embodiment of a fluid flow control valve of the present invention, shown with the valve open. 
           [0010]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , shown with the valve closed. 
           [0011]      FIG. 8  is an end view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4   
           [0012]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a first embodiment of a float control module of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional, side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  along Section A-A showing the reset button in its default position. 
           [0016]      FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional, side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  along Section B-B showing the reset button in its default position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional, side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  along Section C-C showing the test button in its default position. 
           [0018]      FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional, side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  along Section A-A showing the reset button in its depressed position. 
           [0019]      FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional, side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  along Section B-B showing the reset button in its depressed position. 
           [0020]      FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional, side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10  along Section C-C showing the test button in its depressed position. 
           [0021]      FIG. 18  is an exploded view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0022]    While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrated embodiments thereof have been shown in the drawings and will be described below in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. 
         [0023]    Further, in the following description and in the figures, like elements are identified with like reference numerals. The use of “or” indicates a non-exclusive alternative without limitation unless otherwise noted. The use of “including” means “including, but not limited to,” unless otherwise noted. 
         [0024]      FIGS. 1-18  show one embodiment of a refueling apparatus with an automatic stop. The refueling apparatus comprising a fluid flow control valve  20  which, working in concert with a float valve (float control module)  70 , can be opened or closed, thereby shutting off a flow of fuel into a container  6  (e.g., fuel tank). The container having air space above a fluid space, surface of the fluid space defining a fluid level within said container. 
         [0025]    Discussing initially  FIGS. 1-9 , the receptacle  32  of a dry disconnect coupling (comprising a coupler and a receptacle), such as those made by Whitaker, connects to the fluid flow control valve  20 . This receptacle  32  configured for mating with the dry disconnect coupling&#39;s coupler (not shown). A single point dry break coupler is preferred, with API style dry break couplers likewise being useful. The dry disconnect coupling  30  allowing a fluid conduit (not shown), such as a fuel supply line, to be fluidly connected with a container, such as a fuel tank on a diesel locomotive. The utilization of a dry disconnect coupling is well known in the prior art, for instance as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,294 to Cornford. 
         [0026]    In operation, upon connecting the coupler to the receptacle  32  of the valve body  40 , a lever (not shown in the drawings) is engaged which causes the poppet valve of the coupler to force open the poppet valve  33  of the receptacle  32  (or vice versa), thereby allowing fluid to be pumped from the fluid conduit, through the dry disconnect coupling and into the fluid flow control valve  20 . Upon disengagement of the lever, the poppet valve of the coupler moves away from the poppet valve  33  of the receiver, allowing the receiver&#39;s poppet valve  33  to close, thereby preventing spillage of fluid (fuel) out of the receptacle (tank) after filling (fueling) is complete (at disconnect). 
         [0027]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 6 , the receptacle  32  of the fluid flow valve  20  fluidly connecting with a valve body  40 . The valve body  40  comprising an upper portion  39  and a lower portion  41 . It is preferred that the receptacle  32  be bolted to the valve body  40  via a number of bolts  29  at the upper portion  39 . The opposite end of the upper portion  39  comprising an orifice  35  defining a seat  42  configured for mating engagement with a beveled edge of the head of a piston. The internal space of the upper portion  39  defining a first chamber  36  therein. 
         [0028]    The upper portion  39  preferably having external threading for allowing the valve body  40  to be screwed into a threaded hole within wall of the container (preferably the top wall of the container). In such an arrangement, the upper portion  39  is installed generally outside of the container. Other manners of mounting the body of the valve to the container are likewise possible. For instance, the utilization of a flange that is bolted onto the container. 
         [0029]    The upper portion  39  also preferably having an upper fluid bleed passage  44 ′ configured to fluidly align with a lower fluid bleed passage  44  of the lower portion  41 . Preferably, an O-ring or other seal is used at such a connection for preventing leakage, such as a bleed passage O-ring  37 . The upper fluid bleed passage  44 ′ terminating at an upper port  45 . This upper port  45  configured for connecting, via suitable supply line  90  or other passageway, to a float control module  70 . 
         [0030]    The lower portion  41  having a piston housing  46  configured for receiving a piston  50  therein. The piston housing  46  having an internal sidewall  47  defining an open topped cylinder in which the piston  50  is slidably received. 
         [0031]    Extending from the piston housing  46  are a plurality of legs, preferably three legs ( 58 ,  58 ′,  59 ), which include there-through holes for receiving bolts  28  used to bolt the lower portion  41  to the upper portion  39 . The legs also define lateral fluid flow passages  61  there-between for allowing fluid passing through the fluid flow control valve  20  to be conveyed into the container (fuel tank). The lateral fluid flow passages  61  can be best be seen in  FIG. 7  as being open, and in  FIG. 5  as being almost closed (the piston&#39;s head  51  almost sealing against the seat  42  (sealing would effectively close them). 
         [0032]    Preferably extending through one of the legs  59  is the lower fluid bleed passage  44  that is, as described above, configured to fluidly align with the upper fluid bleed passage  44 ′ (best shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ). The legs ( 58 ,  58 ′,  59 ) terminating at a first end of the lower portion  41 , and an end wall  49  preferably exists at generally the second end of the lower portion. Preferably, adjacent to the end wall  49  is a lower port  43  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) fluidly connected with the lower fluid bleed passage  44 . This lower port  43  fluidly connected with the second chamber  38 . 
         [0033]    The piston  50  having a head  51 , the head preferably being beveled  55 . The beveled portion of the head configured for creating a mating seal against the seat  42 . It is preferred that the piston  50  be hollow. The piston  50  having an external sidewall preferably containing a of pair concentric sidewall grooves ( 57 ,  57 ′) configured for receiving at least one sealing member ( 52 ,  52 ′) therein. The sealing members (e.g., O-rings, Teflon seals) sealing the piston external sidewall  56  to the housing internal sidewall  47  of the cylinder  48 . 
         [0034]    In the preferred embodiment, no spring is needed for biasing the piston&#39;s beveled head against the seat  42  of the upper portion  39 . The effective area of the piston is larger than the effective throat area of the receiver (tapered bore). No spring is needed for biasing the piston&#39;s beveled head against the seat of the upper portion because of this difference in areas and pressure. During fueling conditions, once the bleed passage ( 43 / 44 / 44 ′) has been blocked, the area above the piston has high fluid velocity (low pressure) and the area below the piston has low fluid velocity (high pressure). The effective area of the throat of the receiver is smaller than the effective area of the piston. The net force (pressure multiplied by area) on the piston moves the piston upwards into the receiver, shutting off the flow. During no-flow conditions or when the system has shut down, the piston is engaged into the receiver. The pressures are equal on each side of the piston, as both fluid flows are zero. In order for the piston to still remain sealed the piston area must be greater than the throat area. The result is that a spring is not necessary for biasing the piston&#39;s beveled head against the seat of the upper portion. 
         [0035]    Preferably, the head of the piston  50  has a bleed hole/passage  60  defined there-through, the bleed hole  60  interconnecting the first chamber  36  with the second chamber  38 . Preferably, the bleed passage  60  is configured for receiving a piston jet  54  therein (preferably by threading), the piston jet  54  for allowing the diameter of the bleed passage  60  to be modified for testing purposes. Alternatively, no piston jet could be included, and desired flow could be created based upon the diameter of the bleed passage  60  itself. 
         [0036]    The fluid flow control valve  20  is configured for use with a float valve. The preferred float valve (the “float control module  70 ”) is shown in the drawings ( FIGS. 1-3 ,  10 - 18 ). The float control module  70  comprising a body  71  configured for extending into the container/fuel tank. In the preferred embodiment, the float control module body  71  defining a reset bore  73 , a test bore  75  and an upper float bore  81  extending therein from the top face of the body  71 . 
         [0037]    The bleed conduit  90  (as shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ) attaches in between the upper port  45  (shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 ) of the fluid flow control valve  20  and the inlet port  84  of the float control module  70 . This bleed conduit  90  for fluidly interconnecting the two components and allowing the float control module  70  to automatically close the fluid flow control valve  20  upon a predetermined level of fluid in the container being reached (for instance, the fluid level  8  shown in  FIG. 3 ). The bleed conduit  90  connecting to the float control module body  71  at an inlet port  84 , preferably in the top face of the body  71  (visible in  FIGS. 10-11  through a hole defined in the mounting flange  78 ). 
         [0038]    The preferred bleed conduit  90  being twenty-four (24) inches long, however other lengths may be utilized, particularly dependent upon the distance apart the float control module and fluid flow control valve are located. In  FIGS. 1-3 , a fitting  67  is utilized to make the connection between the conduit  90  and the inlet port  84 . The inlet port  84  fluidly connecting with an inlet bore  82  ( FIGS. 13 and 16 ) via a conduit  64 . The inlet bore  82  extending into the body  71  and fluidly connecting the bleed conduit  90 /inlet port  84  with the reset bore  73  at a lower inlet bore port  83 . 
         [0039]    The preferred material used for construction of the reset button, test button, float pin base, and piston is an acetal homopolymer, such as polyoxymethylene, for instance DuPont Delrin™. The preferred material used for construction of the float is Nitrophyl®. The preferred material used for construction of the float pin is nylon. The preferred material used for construction of the bolt flange plate is 10 gauge stainless steel. While these are the “preferred” materials, other suitable materials may also be used. 
         [0040]    The purpose of the Abstract is to enable the public, and especially the scientists, engineers, and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection, the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. 
         [0041]    Still other features and advantages of the claimed invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description describing preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated by carrying out my invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of modification in various obvious respects all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description of the preferred embodiments are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive in nature. 
         [0042]    While there is shown and described the present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that this invention is not limited thereto but may be variously embodied to practice within the scope of the following claims. From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.