Abstract:
The double action float valve is connected to a single pipe and a tank and controls both the filling and discharge of the tank. The double action float valve utilizes a valve body, a heavy filling obturator positioned within the valve body, a light inverse obturator positioned within the heavy filling obturator, and a float connected to the heavy filling obturator. When the inflow pressure from the pipe is greater than the outflow pressure of the tank, the tank is filled until the float reaches a predetermined level. When the outflow pressure of the tank is greater than the inflow pressure, the double action float valve is automatically reconfigured to discharge the fluid from the tank into the pipe.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This continuation in part application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 61/798,996 filed Mar. 15, 2013 entitled Double Action Float Valve and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/035,672 entitled Double Action Float Valve, which are both incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0004]    The present invention relates to the field of flow valves as used in the filling and discharge of fluid from a tank. 
         [0005]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0006]    There are several different kinds of float valves that are used to control the filling of tanks A basic float valve system is the direct-operated float valve. This system is installed in the upper part of a tank and when the tank is full the float pushes or pulls a piston resulting in the stoppage of flow into the tank. When the pressure is high, the float doesn&#39;t have enough power to stop the flow of fluid which results in leaks. To overcome this issue in larger tanks, more sophisticated float valves are utilized which results in higher cost. 
         [0007]    There are other valves, such as pilot operated, that may be used in high pressures or with large diameter pipes. In this system, when the tank is full, the valve is closed using line pressure. These types of valves are complex and require multiple parts to ensure proper function. 
         [0008]    The methods listed above require a pipe to fill the tank and an additional pipe to discharge liquid from the tank. This requires additional cost to construct, maintain, and increases the risk of problems occurring within the lines. 
         [0009]    There is a need for a double action float valve that can work on a single line for both inflow and outflow as well as in high pressure applications. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The objective of the double action float valve is to supply a new valve that is superior to the current float valves on the market. The primary advantage to the double action float valve is the ability to operate through a single inflow and outflow pipe. 
         [0011]    The double action float valve utilizes a valve body mounted in a tank. The valve body is connected to an inflow/outflow pipe that is connected to a liquid supply. A heavy filling obturator and a light inverse float obturator are located within the valve body. The heavy filling obturator is connected to a float that is positioned outside the valve body and within the tank. When the pressure of liquid from the inflow/outflow pipe is greater than the pressure from the tank, as measured at the outlet of the valve body into the tank, liquid enters the valve body, passes through ports in the first obturator, through the interior of the valve body and into the tank. Once the float reaches a predetermined level in the tank the fluid communication between the inflow pipe and the tank is closed due to the positioning of the heavy filling obturator and the light inverse obturator. 
         [0012]    When the pressure from the tank, as measured at the outlet of the valve body into the tank, is greater than the inflow pressure from the pipe into the valve body, the resulting pressure causes the light inverse obturator to move away from the outlet of the valve body. Once the light inverse obturator to moves away from the outlet of the valve body, liquid flows from the tank into the first obturator, into the interior of the valve body and out through the pipe. Once the liquid level drops from the predetermined level, the float becomes slack allowing the heavy filling obturator to disengage from the valve body. Liquid then flows through the opening of the valve body, into the interior of the valve body, through the ports of the heavy filling obturator and out the inflow/outflow pipe. 
         [0013]    The double action float valve was designed with the object of having a simple and effective valve to control the filling and discharge of tanks, using a small external float and with capacity to support high pressures free of leaks. These valves are simple, formed with wearing-free rough pieces, and can be manufactured for low and high pressures. For its simplicity, the double action float valve will work though many years without any maintenance. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a profile view of an embodiment. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section view of an embodiment during inflow of a liquid. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a cross-section view of an embodiment when the tank is full. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section view of an embodiment when the pressure in the tank exceeds the pressure in the inflow pipe. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a cross-section view of an embodiment during outflow of a liquid. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a profile view of another embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a cross-section view of another embodiment during inflow of a liquid. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a cross-section view of another embodiment when the tank is full. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a cross-section view of another embodiment when the pressure in the tank exceeds the pressure in the inflow pipe. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a cross-section view of another embodiment during outflow of a liquid. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the double action float valve is preferably installed at the bottom  6  of a tank  5 . The valve body  1  is connected to the inflow/outflow pipe  7  with a connector  8  which may be a screw, glue, coupling, flange or any standard method of connecting a pipe to a valve body. Within the valve body  1  is a heavy filling obturator  2  and a light inverse float obturator  3 . The heavy filling obturator  2  is connected to an external float  4  via linkage  11 . Linkage  11  may be flexible and is strong enough to hold the heavy filling obturator  2  against the body  1  without breaking Examples of linkage depend on the weight of the heavy filling obturator  2  but such linkage may be a chain, rope, plastic line, or cable. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a cross section of the valve components found in  FIG. 1 . In the embodiment, valve body  1  has a cylindrical body and a cone-shaped top. Circular orifice  9  is located as the apex of the cone shaped top. Circular orifice  9  allows for fluid communication between the tank  5  and inflow/outflow pipe  7 . 
         [0026]    In the embodiment, heavy filling obturator  2  also has a cylindrical body and a cone-shaped top similar to the valve body  1  but smaller in scale. The cylindrical body of the heavy filling obturator  2  contains several fluid communication holes  13  spaced around the cylindrical body. These fluid communication holes allow for fluid communication between the interior of valve body  1  and the interior of heavy filling obturator  2 . In an alternative embodiment, the cylindrical body of the heavy filling obturator  2  is made of screen. The reduction of weight will allow for a lighter external float  4  and for a less structurally demanding linkage  11 . The bottom end, facing the inflow/discharge pipe, is open allowing for fluid communication between the inflow/discharge pipe and the interior of the heavy filling obturator  2 . Circular orifice  10  is located at the apex of the cone shaped top of heavy filling obturator  2 . Preferably, the diameter of the circular orifice  10  of heavy filling obturator  2  is smaller than the diameter of circular orifice  9  of valve body  1 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  shows double action float valve in operation when the tank is not full and there is a supply of fluid flowing from the inflow/outflow pipe  7  to the double action float valve. When the tank  5  is not full of fluid  12 , the linkage  11  connecting the external float  4  is lax with respect to heavy filling obturator  2 . As a result, heavy filling obturator  2  is sitting on the base of the valve body  1 , or alternatively sitting on the connector  8 . Preferably, fluid flows from the inflow/discharge pipe  7  into the interior cavity of the heavy filling obturator  2 . The pressure of the inflow pushes the light inverse float obturator  3  against the circular orifice  10  of the heavy filling obturator  2 , preventing flow through the circular orifice  10 . As a result, fluid flows from the interior cavity of the heavy filling obturator  2  through fluid communication holes  13  into the interior cavity of the valve body  1 . The fluid then flows into the space between the heavy filling obturator  2  and the valve body  1  and out through the circular orifice  9  of the valve body  1  into the tank  5 . 
         [0028]    As the tank  5  fills with fluid, the external float  4  rises as the fluid level increases. As the fluid level increases, the linkage  11  becomes more taught and when the tank  5  becomes full (i.e. when the tank reaches a predetermined level based on the length of the linkage) then the external float  4  pulls the heavy filling obturator  2  against the circular orifice  9  of valve body  1  as shown in  FIG. 3 . When the linkage is fully taught, the heavy filling obturator  2  abuts the valve body and prevents fluid flow to and from the circular orifice  9  along a fluid communication path in the space between the heavy filling obturator  2  and the valve body  1 . Due to continued fluid pressure from the inflow, light inverse float obturator  3  continues to abut circular orifice  10  of the heavy filling obturator  2  which as a result, blocks the fluid communication path through circular orifice  10 . With circular orifice  10  as well as the fluid communication path in the space between the heavy filling obturator  2  and the valve body  1  blocked, fluid communication from the inflow/outflow pipe to the tank is cutoff. The light inverse float obturator  3  will remain in its position against the circular orifice  10  so long as there is pressure coming in from the inflow pipe. The higher the intake pressure the greater the force of the light inverse float obturator  3  against circular orifice  10 . 
         [0029]    Alternatively to maintaining a constant pressure inflow, a check valve may be utilized to keep fluid from flowing out of the tank  5 . 
         [0030]    To change the maximum filling level of the tank, the operator simply needs to lengthen or shorten the linkage  11  so that external float  4  pulls the linkage taught at the predetermined level. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , if the pressure from the inflow pipe is lower than the downward fluid pressure in the tank at the level of light inverse float obturator, then the fluid pressure will push the light inverse float obturator  3  away from the circular orifice  10  into the interior cavity of the heavy filling obturator  2  and towards the inflow/outflow pipe  7  allowing fluid to enter the interior cavity of the heavy filling obturator through orifices  9 ,  10  and exit through inflow/outflow pipe  7 . Once the level in the tank  5  is lowered enough that slack begins to form in linkage  11 , the heavy filling obturator  2  will disengage from circular orifice  9  of valve body  1  as shown in  FIG. 5 . Once this occurs, fluid flows through the circular orifice  9  into interior cavity of valve body  1 , through the fluid communication holes  13  into the interior cavity of the heavy filling obturator  2  and out the inflow/outflow pipe  7 . Fluid may also flow around the heavy filling obturator  2  and out the inflow/outflow pipe  7 . 
         [0032]      FIGS. 6-10  disclose another embodiment of the double action float valve. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , this embodiment comprises a valve body  50 , heavy filling obturator  65 , inflow/outflow pipe  17 , light inverse obturator  75 , and external float  76 . In the illustrated embodiment, the double action float valve is installed along the bottom  6  of a tank  5 . 
         [0033]    The valve body  50  comprises a bottom  51 , cylindrical sidewall  52 , and a top  53  which form a valve cavity  54 . The top  53  is frusto-conical in shape with a channel  55 , having a filling/discharge opening  56  and a cavity opening  57 , disposed through the center of the top  53 . A gasket  58  is positioned along the underside of top  53  facing the valve cavity  54 . In another embodiment, the top may be any other shape such as flat so long as the top contains a channel disposed there through. The gasket  58  is positioned around cavity opening  57  of channel  55 . The filling/discharge opening  56  creates a fluid communication pathway between the interior of tank  5  and the valve cavity  54 . 
         [0034]    The bottom  51  contains an inflow/outflow pipe opening  59 . An inflow/outflow pipe  17  is connected to the bottom  51  at the inflow/outflow pipe opening  59  by a connector  60 . The connector  60  may be a screw, glue, coupling, flange or any standard method of connecting a pipe or plug to a valve body. The inflow/outflow pipe opening  59  may be located outside or inside the tank  5  depending on the physical location of the valve body  50  in reference to the tank  5 . The inflow/outflow pipe opening  59  creates a fluid communication pathway between the outside of the valve body  50  and the valve cavity  54 . 
         [0035]    Posts  61  extend from the interior surface of sidewall  52  into the valve cavity  54 . Posts  61  are positioned with their top surfaces above the inflow/outflow pipe opening  59 . Posts  61  generally have the same height but it is not required. 
         [0036]    Within the valve body  50  is a heavy filling obturator  65  which comprises a top  66  and a cylindrical sidewall  67  which form an obturator cavity  68 . The top  66  is frusto-conical in shape with a channel  69 , having a tank opening  70  and a cavity opening  71 , disposed through the center of the top  66 . In another embodiment, the top may be any other shape such as flat so long as the top contains a channel disposed there through. Connector post supports  72  extend from the top  66 , proximal to the tank opening  70 , in an opposing direction from the obturator cavity  68 . Connector post supports  72  are attached to the top  66  and not connected to each other which permits fluid to pass between each respective connector post support  72 . The connector post supports  72  are positioned sufficiently close together to fit through the channel  55  of the valve body  50 . The tank opening  70  has a smaller diameter than the filling/discharge opening  56  of valve body  50 . 
         [0037]    A gasket  73  is positioned along the underside of top  66  facing the cavity  68 . The gasket  73  is positioned around cavity opening  71  (as identified in  FIG. 9 ) of channel  69 . The cylindrical sidewall  67  (as identified in  FIG. 8 ) has cutout portions  74  positioned along the bottom of the cylindrical sidewall  67 . Cutout portions  74  are rectangular shaped cutouts but may be other shapes. The bottom end of the heavy filling obturator  65 , facing the inflow/outflow pipe opening  59 , is open allowing for fluid communication between the inflow/outflow pipe  17  and the obturator cavity  68 . A light inverse obturator  75  is positioned within the obturator cavity  68 . The light inverse obturator  75  is spherical in shape with a sufficient diameter to block the cavity opening  71  of the heavy filling obturator  65 . The light inverse obturator  75  is less dense than the fluid utilized in the tank. 
         [0038]    The heavy filling obturator  65  is connected to an external float  76  via linkage  77 . Linkage  77  is connected to the connector supports  72  of the heavy filling obturator  65 . Linkage  77  may be flexible but is strong enough to hold the heavy filling obturator  65  against the valve body  50  without breaking Examples of linkage depend on the weight of the heavy filling obturator  65  but such linkage may be a chain, rope, plastic line, or cable. 
         [0039]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment double action float valve in operation when the tank is not full and there is a supply of fluid flowing from the inflow/discharge pipe to the double action float valve. When the tank  5  is not full of fluid  12 , the linkage  77  connecting the external float  76  is lax with respect to heavy filling obturator  65 . As a result, heavy filling obturator  65  is sitting on the posts  61  of valve body  50 . In another embodiment, the heavy filling obturator  65  rests on the bottom  51  of the valve body  50  instead of posts  61 . Fluid flows from the inflow/discharge pipe  17  into the cavity  68  of the heavy filling obturator  65  and the valve cavity  54  of the valve body  50 . The pressure of the inflow pushes the light inverse float obturator  75  away from the inflow/outflow pipe opening  59  and towards the gasket  73  positioned on the underside of top  66  of the heavy filling obturator  65 . The cutout portions  74  reduce flow restrictions within the valve body  50  but are small enough to prevent the light inverse obturator  75  from moving completely outside the obturator cavity  68 . The fluid then flows in the space between the heavy filling obturator  65  and the valve body  50 , through the channel  55  and out the filling/discharge opening  56  into the tank  5 . 
         [0040]    As the tank  5  fills with fluid, the external float  76  rises as the fluid level increases. As the fluid level increases, the linkage  77  becomes more taught and when the tank  5  becomes full (i.e. when the tank reaches a predetermined level based on the length of the linkage) then the external float  76  pulls the heavy filling obturator  65  against the gasket  58  positioned on the underside of top  53  of the valve body  50  as shown in  FIG. 3 . When the linkage is fully taught, the connector supports  72  extend through the channel  55  of the valve body  50 . The top  66  of the heavy filling obturator  65  abuts the valve body  50 , through contact with the gasket  58 , and prevents fluid flow to and from the channel  55  along a fluid communication path in the space between the heavy filling obturator  65  and the valve body  50 . 
         [0041]    Due to continued fluid pressure from the inflow, light inverse float obturator  75  abuts the gasket  73  positioned on the underside of the top  66  of the heavy filling obturator  65  which, as a result, blocks the fluid communication path between the cavity  68  and the channel  69 . In this configuration, no fluid is able to enter either channel  55 ,  69  thus blocking the fluid communication path between the inflow/outflow pipe  17  and the tank  5 . The light inverse float obturator  75  will remain in its position blocking the cavity opening  71  to the channel  69  so long as the pressure coming in from the inflow pipe  17  is greater than the pressure in the tank  5  as measured in the channel  69 . The higher the intake pressure the greater the force of the light inverse float obturator  75  against the gasket  73 . 
         [0042]    To change the maximum level of fluid within the tank  5 , the operator simply needs to lengthen or shorten the linkage  77  so that external float  76  pulls the linkage taught at the predetermined level. 
         [0043]    Referring now to  FIG. 9 , if the pressure from the inflow pipe is lower than the fluid pressure in the tank  5  at the level of light inverse float obturator  75 , then the fluid pressure will push the light inverse float obturator  75  away from the gasket  73  and the cavity opening  71 . Fluid then flows from the tank  5 , via tank opening  70  and channel  69 , out the cavity opening  71  into the cavity  68  of the heavy filling obturator  65 . The fluid flows around the light inverse obturator  75 , into the valve cavity  54 , through the inflow/outflow pipe opening  59  and out the inflow/outflow pipe  17 . Once the level in the tank  5  is lowered enough that slack begins to form in linkage  77 , the heavy filling obturator  65  disengages from the gasket  58  of the valve body  50  as shown in  FIG. 10 . Once this occurs, fluid flows from the tank  5 , via filling/discharge opening  56  and channel  55 , out the cavity opening  57 , into the valve cavity  54 , around the heavy filling obturator  65 , into the inflow/outflow pipe opening  59  and out the inflow/outflow pipe  17 . 
         [0044]    The double action float valve can be manufactured with metallic or non-metallic materials, such as plastic, resins, etc. It can handle any type of liquids, corrosive and non-corrosive. The double action float valve may be applied to pipes of virtually all sizes. The double action float valve is to be preferably installed at the bottom of the tank. However, it is anticipated that it can be installed at various levels. The double action float valve is light, simple, and made with a small number of pieces, which makes it economic and unlikely to fail. 
         [0045]    The double action float valve has numerous applications from city water systems utilizing water towers for peak demand to home use. The design of the double action float valve allows for use with a water supply that has an elevation higher than the tank or for use with a water supply that has a pumping station. 
         [0046]    The present invention is described above in terms of two illustrative embodiments of a specifically-described double action float valve. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternative constructions of such a device can be used in carrying out the present invention. Aspects such as the shape of the circular orifices, shape of the valve body, heavy filling obturator, and light inverse float obturator are changeable without affecting the principles of the invention. Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be obtained from a study of this disclosure and the drawings, along with the appended claims.