Patent GB-1497425-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for the bottom loading of liquid products
IPC: F16L29/00
Filed: 1975-04-23
Abstract: 1497425 Pipe connector APPLICATIONS MECANIQUES ET ROBINETTERIE INDUSTRIELLE AMRI 23 April 1975 [2 May 1974] 16885/75 Heading F2G Equipment for filling from the bottom of a fuel tank comprises a valve member Fig. 6 and connecting member Fig. 16 having an hydraulically operated closure member 68 enabling three flow rates; closure members of the valve and connector being arranged to minimize spillage during uncoupling. The connecting member Fig. 16 may have a closure member in the form of an hydraulic ram 68 which is returned by a cartridge having three springs 72; the closure member being urged open under the action of control oil pressure through successively three stable positions defined by full compression of the three springs which positions allow for three flow rates required for initial, intermediate and final stages of filling. An hydraulic circuit gives automatic control of the flow sequence with manual override. Preferably a tanker valve Fig. 6 comprises a hollow body 21, 22 of light alloy having an aperture 23 closable by a flap-valve 24 which is manually operable to select one of three positions viz; closed and locked wherein pivoted connecting arm 25 and lever 26 are perpendicular with an with an extremity of the lever in abutment with a stop 32; a second position (shown wherein the flap is closed but unlocked and a third position (dotted) wherein the flap is fully open in a loading position. Coupling of the valve and connector is possible only with the flap valve in the closed and locked position wherein a safety pin is withdrawn into the valve casing allowing the members to be brought together and interengaged by a helical ramp 103 on the connector manually operable via arm 102. With the valve and connecting member so engaged, the flap valve is opened thereby releasing pin (55) which is received into slot (104) on the connector face which action simultaneously locks the helical connecting ramp and actuates a rod to trigger an hydraulic system which controls the connector closure member 68. Uncoupling must therefore be preceded by locking of the flap valve which withdraws the valve pin 55 from the connector face slot 104 allowing rotation of the helical ramp and simultaneously releasing the hydraulic system actuating rod to close the connector closure member and so avoid spillage during the uncoupling action. The valve face is preferably equipped with a window (not shown) displaying a rotatable slotted cylinder by means of which one of a number of slots chosen according to the product type quality &c. are selectively displayed for co-operation with a pin selectively positionable in one of a column of holes in the connector face; coupling of the valve and connector thereby only being possible when parity of product exists between supply and tank. A further refinement consists of the incorporation into the valve of a cylindrical float member (not shown), rotatable by the action of fluid flow and vertically displaceable under its buoyancy thereby indicating magnitude and direction of product flow and the state of the tank on an empty-non-empty basis. A thermistor (not shown) may be mounted within the connector and adapted to respond to the presence of liquid in the valve and prevent loading of a non-empty tank, and preferably a double flap valve (not shown) is mounted within the connection 26 between the supply line 6 Fig. 16 and connector member. The invention extends to a loading island equipped with five stations each having a connection as described for supplying a range of fuels.