Abstract:
A poppet valve assembly is provided for use on a fuel tanker truck which enables the truck&#39;s driver to determine whether fuel is flowing through the valve assembly and whether fuel is present in the valve assembly. When a threshold flow rate through the valve assembly is reached, fluid flows inside a flow channel. The flow channel has a fluid indicator and a flow indicator therein mounted in a sight glass. When fluid is flowing in the flow channel both indicators rise. When fluid is present but not flowing in the flow channel only the fluid indicator rises. The fluid and flow indicators, being different colors, may be easily seen at a distance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to poppet valve assemblies for controlling flow therethrough of a fluid, such as gasoline from a gasoline tank truck into an underground storage tank at a filing station. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to fill one or more underground storage tanks at a gasoline service station, a cargo tank truck typically pulls into the service station and unloads the fuel from the truck into the underground storage tank or tanks. Such a cargo tank truck commonly has multiple fuel storage compartments, each compartment having a cover and a pipe located below the tank to which is connected a valve assembly. The valve assembly is commonly a poppet valve assembly which is opened and closed by the truck&#39;s driver via a handle extending upwardly from the valve assembly. In order to unload fuel from one of the truck&#39;s fuel storage compartments into the underground storage tank, the truck driver or operator connects two hoses from the truck to elbows on the underground storage tank. One of the hoses is a vapor recovery hose which returns vapors to the truck from the underground storage tank. The other hose is connected at one end to one of the valve assemblies on the truck via an adaptor and at the other end to the underground storage tank. In order to cause fuel to flow through this hose to the underground storage tank, the truck driver simply opens the valve assembly. 
     Commonly, each underground storage tank has a valve therein, which closes when the underground storage tank is sufficiently full, thereby stopping the flow of fuel from the truck to the underground storage tank. After this valve in the underground storage tank closes, gasoline or fuel is still present in the line or hose extending between the cargo tank truck compartment and the underground storage tank. In order to prevent gasoline from overflowing onto the pavement of the service station, the operator of the cargo tank truck closes the valve assembly on the cargo truck and opens one of the cam arms on the adaptor, thereby allowing air to enter the hose. The air in the hose forces the fuel in the hose towards the underground storage tank and through a bleeder hole in the valve in the underground storage tank. After a sufficient time period has passed, the operator simply disconnects the adaptor from the valve assembly, removes the hose from the elbow of the underground storage tank and places the hose on the truck. After the vapor recovery hose is disconnected and placed on the truck the driver may move to the next location. 
     In order to prevent an accidental overflow, it is desirable for the cargo tank truck operator or driver to know if liquid is present in the valve assembly, and if liquid is flowing through the valve assembly. The operator does not want to disconnect the adaptor from the valve assembly of the truck with liquid present in the valve assembly or flowing therethrough. Consequently, it is advantageous for the driver to know whether fluid is present in the valve assembly and whether the flow of fuel through the hose has stopped. 
     Valve assemblies are known which have a sight glass built therein in which a float is located in order to indicate liquid presence in the valve assembly. The float commonly comprises a hollow ball. When liquid is present in the sight glass, the float raises because its density is less than the density of gasoline. Thus, the operator is able to tell whether fuel is present in the valve assembly. 
     In addition, one valve assembly manufacturer has incorporated a flow indicator into its valve assembly. This flow indicator contains three flourescent orange balls in a sight glass which rise when fluid is present in the sight glass and hence in the valve. In addition, the orange balls rotate when fluid is flowing through the valve and through the sight glass. In order to determine if fluid is flowing through this valve assembly, one must determine whether the balls are rotating. Often this is difficult to do given the small size of the balls so that, in order to make a determination, one must be very close to the valve assembly. The truck&#39;s driver is not able to determine whether the orange balls are rotating from a distance. 
     Therefore, it has been one objective of the present invention to provide a poppet valve assembly having a flow indicator which may be read from a distance quickly and easily. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a poppet valve assembly having a fluid indicator and a flow indicator which may be read from a distance quickly and easily. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention of this application which accomplishes these and other objectives comprises a poppet valve assembly for use on a fuel tanker truck for unloading fuel from the truck into an underground storage tank at a service station. 
     The poppet valve assembly of the present invention comprises a housing having a flow passage therethrough. The flow passage has a central axis. 
     The poppet valve assembly further comprises a poppet structure for controlling fluid flow through the flow passage The poppet structure is operatively coupled to a handle so that when an operator pulls on the handle, the poppet structure moves axially, thereby opening the valve and enabling fuel to flow through the flow passage. 
     A sight glass assembly is mounted to the housing on the exterior of the housing. The sight glass assembly comprises a sight glass having an interior in which is located a flow indicator and a fluid indicator. The sight glass is preferably made of plastic but may be made of any see through material such as glass. The flow indicator is a dumpbell shaped object preferably made of nylon which moves in the interior of the sight glass. However, the flow indicator may be made of any other suitable material. A fluid indicator in the form of a hollow ball made of polyethylene moves in the interior of the sight glass above the flow indicator. However, the fluid indicator may be made of any other suitable material. 
     The shape/configuration of the interior of the sight glass is such that the fluid indicator is always located above the flow indicator. The fluid indicator has a density less than the density of fuel, so that it floats when fuel fills the interior of the sight glass. The flow indicator is denser than the density of fuel, so that it will only raise when a threshold flow rate occurs through the interior of the sight glass. The fluid indicator is preferably a green spherical-shaped ball, but may be made of other colors or other shapes. Similarly, the flow indicator is preferably a dumbbell-shaped red object. The contrast between the red and green colors enables a truck operator to determine the presence of fluid in the sight glass and whether fuel is flowing through the sight glass easily and at a distance. 
     When the flow rate through the flow passage of the housing reaches a threshold value, typically  30  gallons per minute, fluid flows through a flow channel which includes the interior of the sight glass. The flow channel is in fluid communication with the flow passage of the valve assembly. The flow channel has an inlet extending between the flow passage and a lower portion of the interior of the sight glass. The flow channel also has an outlet extending between the flow passage and an upper portion of the interior of the sight glass, so that fluid flows upwardly through the interior of the sight glass when the threshold flow rate in the flow passage is reached. A portion of the outlet extends generally parallel to the central axis of the flow passage and the inlet of the flow channel extends generally perpendicular to the central axis of the flow passage, thereby creating a pressure differential so that fluid flows through the flow channel due to a Venturi effect. 
    
    
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily apparent from the following drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel tanker truck unloading fuel into a underground storage tank at a service station; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the poppet valve assembly of the present invention mounted on a pipe of a fuel tanker truck to which an adapter and hose are being connected; 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the poppet valve assembly of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4A is a side elevational view, partially broken away, of the sight glass assembly showing no fluid inside of the interior of the sight glass; 
     FIG. 4B is a side elevational view like FIG. 4A, but illustrating fluid present in the interior of the sight glass, but not flowing therethrough; 
     FIG. 4C is a side elevational view like FIGS. 4A and 4B, but illustrating fluid flowing through the interior of the sight glass; 
     FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line of  5 — 5  of FIG. 3; and 
     FIG. 6 is a view taken along the line of  6 — 6  of FIG.  3 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the figures and particularly FIG. 1 there is illustrated a fuel tanker truck  10  having a tank  11  with four compartments  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , and  12   d  having respective covers  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , and  14   d . Although the compartments are illustrated by dashed lines, these dashed lines are for illustration purposes only. The truck may have any number of compartments in any location. Below the tank  11  are a plurality of pipes  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c , and  16   d  in fluid communication with the compartments  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , and  12   d , respectively. Each of the pipes  16   a ,  16   b ,  16   c , and  16   d  have a poppet valve assembly  20  located at the end thereof. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 2, pipe  16   a  has a poppet valve assembly  20  secured to the end thereof in a manner known in the art. The poppet valve assembly  20  is the subject of the present invention and will be described in more detail below. 
     As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an adaptor  22  is operatively coupled to a coupler  24  secured to the end of the hose  26  which extends to an underground storage tank  28 . The adaptor  22  has a pair of cam arms  23  (only one being shown) which secure the adaptor  22  to the poppet valve assembly  20 . A vapor recovery fitting  30  forms part of the truck  10  and is connected to a vapor recovery hose  32  which extends between the vapor recovery fitting  30  and the underground storage tank  28 , as is conventional in the art. The adaptor  22 , coupler  24 , hoses  26 ,  32 , vapor recovery fitting  30  and storage tank  28  are all conventional in the art and are not considered a part of the present invention. 
     The poppet valve assembly  20  of the present invention is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 3,  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  5 , and  6 . Referring to FIG. 3, the poppet valve assembly  20  comprises a two-part housing  34 , having a front piece  36  joined to a rear piece  38  with a plurality of fasteners  40 . The fasteners  40  are illustrated as being bolts, but may be any other type of fastener. The rear piece  38  of the housing has a flange  42  with a plurality of openings therein (not shown) to secure the valve assembly to one of the pipes  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , and  12   d  of the truck  10  with fasteners (not shown). As best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the front piece  36  of the housing  34  has an outer surface  44  and an inner surface  46 . Similarly, the rear piece  38  of the housing  34  has an outer surface  48  and an inner surface  50 . A plurality of spaced ribs  52   a ,  52   b , and  52   c  extend between an outer portion  54  of the rear piece  38  of the housing  34  and an inner annular portion  56  of the rear piece  38  of the housing  34 . A fourth rib is not shown. The rib  52   c  is thicker than the ribs  52   a  and  52   b  because a portion of a flow channel  58  passes therethrough. The flow channel  58  and its operation will be described in more detail below. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, a poppet structure  60  having a generally circular front portion  62  and a rear portion  64  is biased forwardly by a spring  66  as is conventional in poppet valve assemblies. Between the poppet structure  60  and the housing  34  is a flow passage  68  having a central axis A. When the poppet valve assembly  20  of the present invention is opened, fuel flows through the flow passage  68  in the direction of arrows  70  from the rear to the front of the valve assembly. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, in order to move the poppet structure  60  in a rearward direction against the bias of the spring  66 , a handle  72  is pulled forwardly by the operator of the truck in the direction of arrow  74 . The handle  72  is operatively coupled to a shaft  76  which is rotated in the direction of arrow  78  (clockwise as shown in FIG.  3 ). Rotation of the shaft  76  causes a cam  80  to pull a pin  82  connected to the poppet structure  60  rearwardly, i.e. in the direction of arrow  94 . A sleeve bearing  83  surrounds the pin  82  After the poppet structure  60  is moved rearwardly a sufficient distance, fluid may flow through the flow passage inside the housing  34 , out of the valve assembly  20  into the hose  26  and ultimately into the underground storage tank  28 . 
     As best illustrated in FIG. 3, a sight glass assembly  86  is mounted to the exterior of the rear piece  38  of the housing  34  on the side thereof. The sight glass assembly  86  includes a sight glass  88  mounted to the housing with fasteners  90 . However, any other method of mounting the sight glass to the exterior of the housing may be used in accordance with the present invention. The sight glass  88  is preferably made of transparent plastic which one may see through, although it may be made of any transparent material. 
     The sight glass  88  has an interior  92 , best illustrated in FIGS. 4A,  4 B, and  4 C, of a width W. Inside the interior  92  of the sight glass  88  is a flow indicator  94  and a fluid indicator  96 . Due to the limited width W of the interior  92  of the sight glass  88 , the fluid indicator  96  is always located above the flow indicator  94 . The fluid indicator  96  is preferably a hollow ball formed of polyethylene and the flow indicator  94  is a dumpbell-shaped object formed of nylon, having a pair of cylindrical ends  93  connected by a shaft  95 . However, the indicators  94 ,  96  may be made of any other materials and be other shapes in accordance with the present invention. In addition, the fluid indicator  96  is preferably colored green and the flow indicator colored red for increased visibility. However, the fluid indicator  96  and flow indicator  94  may be any other colors in accordance with the present invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the flow channel  58  extends from the flow passage  68 , through the interior  92  of the sight glass  88 , and then back to the flow passage  68 . The flow channel  58  has an entry  98  formed in the rear piece  38  of the housing  34  and an inlet  100  which extends in a direction generally perpendicular to the direction of the axis A of the flow passage  68 . As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the inlet  100  has a circular cross-section and extends between the entry  98  in the flow passage  68  and a lower portion  102  of the interior  92  of the sight glass  88 . The flow channel  58  further comprises an outlet  104  extending between an upper portion  106  of the interior  92  of the sight glass  88  back to the flow passage  68  at exit  108 . The outlet  104  has a circular cross-sectional configuration, a first portion  110  which extends generally perpendicular to the direction of the axis A of the flow passage  68  and a second portion  112  extending parallel to the axis A of the flow passage  68  and terminating at exit  108 . Thus, the first and second portions  110 ,  112  of the outlet  104  are generally perpendicular to each other, as best illustrated in FIG.  5 . This particular configuration of flow channel  58  creates a Venturi effect due to a pressure differential between the entry  98  of the inlet  100  and the exit  108  of the outlet  104  of the flow channel  58 . Due to this pressure differential—the pressure being greater at the entry  98  than at the exit  108 —fuel flows through the flow channel  58  when the flow rate through the flow passage  68  of the valve assembly  20  reaches a threshold flow rate. This threshold value has been found to be thirty (30) gallons per minute of fuel, but may be more or less in accordance with the present invention. In order to achieve flow through the flow channel  58 , the inlets and outlets must be approximately one quarter inch in diameter. 
     Turning now to FIGS. 4A,  4 B, and  4 C, the operation of the fluid and flow indicators  96 ,  94  located in the flow channel  58  will now be described. As illustrated FIG. 4A, when no fluid is present in the flow channel, both the flow and fluid indicators  94 ,  96  are located in the lower portion  102  of the interior  92  of the sight glass  88 . As illustrated in FIG. 4B, when fluid is present in the flow channel  58 , including the interior  92  of the sight glass  88  but not flowing through the flow channel  58 , the flow indicator  94  is located in the lower portion  102  of the interior  92  of the sight glass  88  and the fluid indicator  96  is located in the upper portion  106  of the interior  92  of the sight glass  98 , due to the fact that the fluid indicator  94  is floating in the fuel but the flow indicator  96  is not. The reason for this is that density of the fluid indicator  96  is less than the density of gasoline and the density of the flow indicator  94  is greater than the density of gasoline. As illustrated in FIG. 4C, when fluid is flowing through the interior  92  of the sight glass  88 , both the fluid and flow indicators  96 ,  94  are raised to the upper portion  106  of the interior  92  of the sight glass  88 . 
     Due to the different colors of the fluid and flow indicators an operator can see from a distance 1) whether fluid is present in the interior  92  of the sight glass  88  and 2) whether or not fluid is flowing through the interior  92  of the sight glass  88  quickly and easily. The operator does not have to get up close to the sight glass in order to determine whether balls are rotating as in heretofore known poppet valve assemblies having flow determination characteristics. 
     Although we have described one preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not intend to be limited except by the scope of the following claims.