United States Patent
`
`09]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`5,007,450
`
`[451 Date of Patent:
`Babb et 31.
`Apr. 16, 1991
`
`[54] ADD-ON LIQUID OVERFLOW SHUT-OFF
`VALVE FOR TANK
`
`20399 of 1893 United Kingdom .............. .. 137/447
`828125
`2/1960 United Kingdom ................ .. 417/41
`
`[76]
`
`Inventors:
`
`Franklyn P. Babb; Matthew T. Babb,
`both of 1666 S. Santa Fe, Vista, Calif.
`92084
`
`Primary Examiner—George L. Walton
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—-John J. Murphey
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve including a
`valve body, a float and an arm connecting the float to
`the body that
`is insertable in fully assembled form
`through a standard tank lid opening, and further includ-
`ing a flanged end on the valve body for engagement
`outside and above the rim of the opening and threads
`associated therewith to engage the periphery of the
`opening to anchor the body inside the interior of the
`tank and at the top thereof, pneumatic openings formed
`in the top flanged end in spaced-apart relation for con-
`nection respectively to a pressurized pneumatic source
`and a pneumatic-driven liquid pump arranged to pump
`liquid into the tank through another opening in the tank,
`first and second pneumatic passageways formed interior
`the body extending from the openings, a third pneu-
`matic passageway formed in the body for interconnect-
`ing the first and second passageways, and a shaft pivot-
`ally received in the body, having a fourth pneumatic
`passageway formed therethrough for pneumatic align-
`ment with the third pneumatic passageway when the
`liquid is below a predetermined level in the drum, the
`shaft having one end thereof exiting the valve body for
`connection through an extended arm to a float for caus-
`ing rotation of the shaft as a function of the level of
`liquid in the tank and to allow pneumatic power to
`drive the pump and continue to deliver liquid into the
`tank and then to rotate into a position shutting off the
`pneumatic power to the pump when the level of the
`liquid reaches the predetermined level.
`
`[211 App1.No.: 579,539
`
`[22] Filed:
`
`Sep. 10,1990
`
`Related U.S. Application Data
`
`[63]
`
`Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 538,524, Jun. 15, 1990,
`abandoned.
`
`[511
`
`int. (21.5 .................... .. F16K 43/00; F16K 31/32;
`F 16K 33/00
`[52] U.S. Cl. .................................. .. 137/315; 137/413;
`137/426; 137/447; 137/557; 137/625.47;
`137/887; 251/286; 340/625; 417/40; 417/41
`[58] Field of Search ............. .. 137/315, 312, 412, 314,
`137/326, 428, 447, 557, 625.46, 625.47, 887;
`340/623, 624, 625; 417/40, 41; 251/286
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5/1896 Williams ............................ .. 137/428
`8/1898 I-lipp . . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 137/447
`7/1990 Mauldin ..
`137/426
`8/1910 Keenan
`137/447
`6/1916 Ellis . . . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 137/426
`9/1922 Emerson ....... ..
`417/41
`5/1927 Sherman et al.
`137/447
`8/1958 Reitman . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 137/426
`9/1986 Henson . . . . . . .
`. . . .. 137/392
`1/1987 Morgan, III
`. 137/392
`3/1990 Rodriguez ........................... .. 417/40
`
`
`
`559,555
`609,544
`927,368
`968,362
`1,188,535
`1,427,793
`1,629,545
`2,847,025
`4,612,949
`4,637,424
`4,909,274
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2148868
`
`3/1972 Fed. Rep. of Germany ...... .. 417/41
`
`24 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
`Exhibit 1035
`
`Franklin Electric Co., Inc.
`Exhibit 1035
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 1991
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
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`5,007,450
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Apr. 16, 1991
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
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`5,007,450
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`W
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`1
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`5,007,450
`
`ADD-ON LIQUID OVERFLOW SHUT-OFF VALVE
`FOR TANK
`
`CROSS—REFERENCE TO OTHER PATENT
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of my previ-
`ously fxled application, Ser. No. 07/538,524, filed June
`15, 1990, which is now abandoned.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`l. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention pertains to the technology of storage
`of liquids, including toxic liquids. More particularly, it
`pertains to a shut-off valve for use in pumping liquid
`into a storage vessel that shuts off the delivery pump
`when the tank becomes full.
`2. Description of the Prior Art
`Proper storage and handling of waste liquids, espe-
`cially toxic liquids, has become very important because
`of the discovery that so many of them have been found
`to cause cancer and other serious diseases. Liquids that
`previously were treated as mere waste are now known
`to be highly dangerous to humans, as well as to the
`environment, and require careful and safe storage until
`they can be rendered harmless by further processing or
`become benign by passage of time.
`The need to store these materials in leak-proof con-
`tainers is now required by such government agencies as
`OSHA (Occupational Health and Safety Agency), the
`National Health Institute and others. A wide array of
`storage containers may be used, from small 1 and 2-gal-
`lon cans to large tanks, both underground and trans-
`portable. A container widely used in this situation is the
`standard 55~gallon drum;
`it is quite plentiful and its
`thick metal walls will safely store most materials.
`These 55-gallon drums, along with other such con-
`tainers, contain a standard, 2-inch diameter threaded
`aperture in the lid known as a “bung hole” that can be
`used for pouring or pumping liquid into the drum as
`well as to have test probes inserted thereinto for the
`purpose of determining various attributes of the stored
`liquid. Other openings are also formed in the top or lid
`of the drum. This same bung-hole type opening is also
`found in virtually all storage tanks from the very small
`to the extremely large. The rim of the bung hole usually
`contains a series of threads to accept a threaded plug
`known as a “hung”.
`One disadvantage in the use of storage tanks and
`drums, including the 55-gallon drum, is that they are so
`well sealed no light can penetrate the interior. In many
`cases no incandescent lamp can be safely used to aid one
`looking inside because the stored contents are either
`poisonous or highly combustible. Often the drum is
`pumped completely full of liquid and the pump is not
`shut down soon enough with the result that liquid spills
`out of the lid openings over the sides and onto the
`ground or other supporting surface to cause the toxic
`condition to become a problem all over again. Position-
`ing a person to continually observe the level of fullness
`in the tanks raises labor costs and places him or her in a
`dangerous position near the toxic material.
`A recent proposed change to the Uniform Fire Code
`states as follows:
`
`“2-4.5 Piping and Ancillary Equipment 2-4.5.1 Means
`shall be provided for determining the liquid level in
`each tank and this means shall be accessible to the
`delivery operator. Provisions shall be made either
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`to the
`to automatically stop the delivery of fuel
`tank when the liquid level in the tank reaches 95%
`of capacity or to sound an audible alarm when the
`liquid level in the tank reaches 90% of capacity.”
`The prior art has tried to deal with the problem of
`shutting off the flow of liquid into a tank, when the level
`reaches the uppermost safe point, but such attempts
`have not met with unbridled success. For instance, U.S.
`Pat. Nos.
`559,555;
`609,544;
`968,362;
`1,150,342;
`1,427,793; 1,629,545; 1,188,535; 2,847,025; 4,493,337;
`and German Patent 2,148,868, as well as British Patents
`20,399 and 828,125 all show float-operated shut-off
`valves that are mountable on a tank or boiler. However,
`in none of these devices may they be fully insertable
`through one opening, i.e., the floats are so large that
`they must be put inside the tank or boiler through a
`separate opening from that through which any other
`portion of the shut-off valve is inserted. In other of
`these devices, the liquid actually passes through the
`valve thereby requiring the valve to be removed, disas-
`sembled and cleaned before it can be used with other
`liquids.
`Without portability, the devices become too costly to
`use. Bathing them in liquid requires dismantling and
`cleaning before reuse — another costly process. Fur-
`ther, most of these prior art devices are rigidly fixed or
`mounted either internal or partially internal to the tank.
`Such mounting eliminates them from use rapidly be-
`tween drums and prevents them trom being used as
`portable or “add-on” units.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention is a highly versatile add-on, float-
`operated, liquid shut-off valve that overcomes all of the
`problems associated with the prior art. It is totally por-
`table and moveable from one vessel to another with
`
`little effort. No liquid passes through the valve thus
`allowing it to be used with different liquids without
`dismantling and/or cleaning.
`The invention comprises a valve body having a
`flange at one end for abutting against an opening in a
`tank and a collar positioned over the body, containing
`threads for matching engagement with threads formed
`on the inside of the periphery of the bung hole or other
`aperture through which it
`is inserted. Spaced-apart
`pneumatic power ingress and egress means are mounted
`in the flanged end of the body and are interconnected
`inside the body by a pair of separate passageways and
`separated by a shaft pivotally housed in a bore formed
`in the body, one end of which exits the body and inter-
`connects through an extended arm to a float that rides
`on top of the liquid being pumped into the vessel. A
`pneumatic source is attached to the ingress means for
`passage of compressed gas or air through the ingress
`passageway to the shaft where its flow is stopped from
`further advance by the transverse mounted pivotal
`shaft.
`
`in registration with a cross-bore
`is set
`The float
`formed in the shaft such that compressed gas passes
`from the ingress passageway through the shaft cross-
`bore and out through the egress passageway and out of
`the valve body into a liquid pump for delivering a quan-
`tity of liquid into the tank. As the float rises on top of
`the level of liquid in the tank, it rotates the shaft until, at
`the uppermost and safest level of the liquid, the shaft has
`turned so that it shuts off further air flow to the pump
`
`

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`5,007,450
`
`3
`thereby shutting it down and causing a cessation of
`liquid delivery into the tank.
`Thereafter, the collar may be easily rotated to disen-
`gage the threads for removal of the whole valve assem-
`bly from the bung hole and the valve assembly quickly
`moved to another location. Only the bottom of the float
`need be cleaned of the liquid because the valve body
`and all other components are suspended above and out
`of contact with the liquid. When the tank is drained of
`liquid or the valve is removed to an empty tank, the
`valve automatically re-sets itself; a feature not often
`found in the prior art.
`The invention is unique in that it is especially useful in
`the toxic waste industry because only gas, such as air,
`passes through the valve and such will not jam or other-
`wise damage the internal workings of the valve thus
`reducing the cost of cleaning the shutoff valve for later
`re-use. Further, the invention is unique in that the float
`is made in a diameter that will allow it to pass through
`the same opening in which the valve body is inserted.
`The valve body, connecting arm and float are made in
`a unique assembly to allow them to be inserted in a fully
`assembled form through the standard ASTM bung hole
`of a 55-gallon drum for immediate use. After the tank is
`full, the assembly is able to be withdrawn, the outside of
`the float, the connecting arm and any portion of the
`valve body that came in contact with the liquid being
`stored in the drum may be easily washed and thereafter
`the unit may be quickly moved to another tank and
`reinserted for future use with the same or with a differ-
`ent liquid. The valve and its components are made of
`nonreactive metal such as stainless steel and non-spark-
`ing material such as aluminum or brass and is otherwise
`a safe product. Even further, certain liquids may only be
`pumped under a blanket of inert gas, such as carbon
`dioxide, and this valve operates with a wide range of
`compressed gasses to provide another measure of safety
`to the operation.
`In another embodiment of this invention, the valve
`can be modified to provide a diversion of some of the
`pneumatic power from the passageway leading to the
`liquid pump to an audible whistle, such as an air horn, to
`warn the user that the tank is full and the liquid pump is
`shut off. This is associated with the feature of cutting off
`pneumatic power to the liquid transfer pump so that the
`tank is not overiilled while, at the same time, the user is
`warned that further storage will require the tank to be
`drained or use of another empty vessel.
`Accordingly, the main object of this invention is a
`floatoperated, add-on valve for use in the toxic liquid
`storage field that is easy to install in a variety of loca-
`tions about the storage tank and is useful when posi-
`tioned in the top or the side of the storage vessel to cut
`off the flow of liquid entering a vessel to prevent over-
`flow and thus maintain a safe and non-toxic environ-
`ment. It is characterized by having the body suspended
`above the liquid level in the vessel and having a float
`that drops down below the valve body to contact the
`liquid thus keeping the valve body free of the liquid.
`Other objects include a valve whose valve body, float
`and float arm can be inserted in complete assembly into
`the standard bung holes of various tanks without disas-
`sembly or without further modification of the tank; a
`valve that operates independent of the liquid being
`pumped; a valve that does not pass the liquid there-
`through so as to be free of the effects thereof, and a
`valve that is usable without the need of observational
`personnel to monitor its operation. These and other
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`objects will become more apparent when reading the
`Description of the Preferred Embodiment
`taken to-
`gether with the Drawings appended hereto., The scope
`of protection sought by the inventor may be gleaned
`from a fair reading of the claims that conclude this
`specification.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is an illustrative view of the valve of this
`invention in use with a pump, a storage tank, a source of
`compressed gas and a source of toxic materials;
`FIG. 2 is a side elevational, partial sectional, view of
`one embodiment of the valve of this invention;
`FIG. 3 is a top view of the same embodiment shown
`in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 4 is a sectional side elevational view of the valve
`body taken along lines 4-4 in FIG. 3;
`FIG. 5 i s a cross-sectional view of the valve body
`taken along lines 5-5 in FIG. 2;
`FIG. 6 is a trimetric or illustrative view of the shaft;
`FIG. 7 is an illustrative view of another embodiment
`of the valve body; and,
`FIG. 8 is an illustrative view of the preferred embodi-
`ment insertable in fully assembled form in a standard
`ASTM bung hole in a typical drum and, in phantom, the
`path of movement of the float and arm.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`As shown in the drawings, where like elements are
`identified with like numerals throughout the eight fig-
`ures, FIG. 1 shows the invention used in a typical toxic
`liquid storage system wherein the toxic liquid 1 is drawn
`from a sump 3 via a first transfer hose 5 to a pump 7
`where it is pumped through a second transfer hose 9
`into a standard 55-gallon drum 11 through an aperture
`13 formed in the lid 15 thereof. Liquid 1 is not touched
`by human hands in this pumping system and the overall
`safety of the process is maintained. Pneumatic power, in
`this case air, is developed by a typical air compressor
`17, powered by an electric line 19, that is delivered to
`pump 7 through the novel valve 21 of this invention by
`air transfer lines or hoses 23 and 25. As shown, valve 21
`operates independent of liquid 1 and is neither contami-
`nated thereby nor in need of cleaning after drum 11
`becomes full.
`
`As shown in FIGS. 2 through 5 and FIGS. 7 and 8,
`valve 21 comprises a valve body 27, preferably cylindri-
`cal in shape and of a diameter small enough to allow it
`to be inserted (along with its float and arm that are
`described later) through a standard ASTM bung hole 29
`in drum lid 15. Body 27 is also preferably made of metal,
`such as stainless steel or brass, both for sturdiness and
`for inertness to liquids being pump into drum 11, as well
`as to create a non-spark environment.
`Valve body 27 is terminated by spaced-apart first and
`second ends 31 and 33 respectively. At end 31 is formed
`an outwardly extending flange 35 for supporting valve
`body 27 on an attachment means 28 positioned therebe-
`low. Preferably attachment means 28 comprises a short
`non-ferrous collar 37 that is provided with a series of
`outer threads 39, for engagement with a like series of
`threads 41 typically formed in bung hole periphery 43,
`and is held in sealed engagement with valve body 27 by
`0-ring 45 retained in a seal groove 47. Valve body 27
`may be easily inserted in bung hole 29 and collar 37
`twisted to engage threads 39 and 41 to mount valve 21
`rigidly therein.
`
`

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`5,007,450
`
`5
`Means 49 for providing pneumatic ingress and egress
`to valve body 27 is formed in valve body first end 31 in
`spaced-apart relation for connection respectively to air
`compressor 17 and pump 7. As shown, means 49 in-
`cludes a pair of threaded apertures 511' and 510, formed
`in first end 31 wherein “i” indicates an inlet for com-
`pressed gas and “0” indicates an outlet for same. Female
`quickdisconnect type fitting 530 and male quick-discon-
`nect type fitting 531' are threadably received in apertures
`Sli and 510 respectively for later receipt of similar re-
`spective male- and female-type fittings that are con-
`nected to first and second transfer hoses 23 and 25.
`
`A pair of first and second spaced-apart pneumatic
`passageways 55i and 550 are formed interior of valve
`body 27, preferably in parallel, spaced-apart arrange-
`ment as shown, for interconnecting ingress and egress
`means 49 and are interconnected by a third passageway
`57 positioned transverse between the ends thereof and
`containing a clean out plug 59. A shaft 61 is pivotally
`received in a shaft bore 63, formed in valve body 27, for
`intercepting third pneumatic: passageway 57 and is jour-
`naled in a pair of spaced-apart O-rings 65 that are in turn
`seated in grooves 67 formed in shaft 61. Other such
`sealing means are contemplated in lieu of O-rings 65 and
`are within the scope of this invention. Shaft 61 is prefer-
`ably set in axial alignment parallel to the plane of dnim
`lid 15.
`Shaft 61 is terminated by a first shaft end 69 that
`extends outside valve body 27 and is adapted to be
`attached through connection means 71 to an arm 73 that
`is in turn attached to a float 75 adapted to float upon the
`surface of liquid 1. Connection means 71 may be chosen
`from a wide variety of means shown in FIG. 7 including
`a cross-bore 77 formed in shaft end 69 through which
`arm 73 is inserted. Other means are shown in FIG. 7
`
`including an end-cap 79 in which the end 81 of arm 73
`is mounted, said end cap 79 arranged for attachment
`with pins 83, received in pin holes 85 formed in end-cap
`79 and held therein by receipt of a threaded bolt with
`lock washer 87 in a threaded aperture 89 formed in shaft
`end 69.
`
`A still further means of attaching arm 73 to shaft end
`69 is by the use of a clamp 91 in which arm end 81 is
`mounted, said clamp containing an aperture 93 for re-
`ceipt of shaft end 69 and further containing a slot 95 and
`a bolt 97 received transverse thereto for tightening
`clamp 91 about shaft end 69. These means allow float 75
`and arm 73 to be adjusted with respect to shaft 61 to
`activate valve 21 to shut off air flow at different levels
`
`of liquid in drum 11.
`Float 75 Is made tubular in overall length having a
`diameter “D” slightly less than the diameter of bung
`hole 29. Further, arm 73 contains a bend 100 that per-
`mits it to be assembled, along with valve body 27 and
`float 75 into an elongated configuration, shown in FIG.
`8, that is readily insertable through bung hole 29.
`It is preferred to limit the movement of arm 73 and
`float 75 to a predetermined path so that insertion of the
`fully assembled add-on valve into the dark interior of
`the tank will not be in such a manner as to have the float
`
`rise on the top of the liquid and contact the sidewall of
`the tank such that the valve will not shut off when the
`liquid has reached the predetermined level. To insure
`that float 75 is confined to the predetermined path and
`not move across the vertical center line C-—C of valve
`body 27, means 98 is employed as shown in FIGS. 2 and
`7. Means 98 comprises a first abutment 99a formed on
`valve body 27 and extends outward therefrom to inter-
`
`6
`cept arm 73 during movement thereof, i.e., as it is low-
`ered to prevent arm 73 and float 75 from moving below
`the lowermost portion of the predetermined path that is
`shown in phantom in FIG. 8. Means 98 also includes a
`second abutment 99b formed in valve body 27 and ex-
`tending outward therefrom to intercept arm 73 during
`movement thereof, i.e., as float 73 raises on the liquid
`being pumped into the tank, to prevent arm 73 and float
`75 from moving beyond the uppermost portion of the
`aforesaid predetermined path.
`A fourth pneumatic passageway 101 is formed in
`shaft 61, intersecting third pneumatic passageway 57,
`preferably transverse of the long axis thereof, having
`openings or apertures 1031‘ and 1030 that register with
`intersected third pneumatic passageway 57 during the
`rotation of shaft 61 from the rising level of liquid in
`drum 11. When the level of liquid 1 reaches the upper-
`most level desired in drum 11, pneumatic passageway
`101 passes out of registration with third intersecting
`pneumatic passageway 57 thereby interrupting the flow
`of compressed gas from compressor 17 to pump 7 and
`stopping the influx of any more liquid into drum 11.
`Connection means 71 is strategically positioned be-
`tween shaft 61 and float arm 73 to adjust the position of
`arm 73 with air passageway apertures 103i and 1030 so
`that the uppermost level of liquid in the drum may be
`adjusted at will.
`While air passageway 101 is preferred to be merely
`formed or bored transverse to the long axis of shaft 61
`it can be offset in different directions and, further, may
`comprise more than one passageway and still come
`within the spirit and scope of this invention.
`While the above-described invention works very
`well, there is no indication that the level of liquid 1 has
`risen in drum 11 to the desired level or that pumping has
`ceased except for a change in the noise level of air pass-
`ing through transfer hoses 23 and 25. To remedy this
`situation, another embodiment of this invention is to
`utilize a fifth air passageway 105, formed in valve body
`27, extending from body top end 31 down to intersect
`bore 63 at a point spaced apart from third passageway
`57. A separate, sixth pneumatic passageway, in the form
`of a groove 107, is formed in shaft 61 for interconnec-
`tion with incoming air from first passageway 55:‘ and
`third passageway 57 and is adapted to register with fifth
`passageway 105 when the air is shut off from outgoing
`passageway 550.
`A signal means 109, such as an audible whistle 111, is
`operably connected to fifth passageway 105 and re-
`mains dormant during operation of the invention while
`liquid 1 is below the uppermost desired level. When
`float 75 is raised by the liquid to the uppermost desired
`level, fourth pneumatic passageway 101 rotates on shaft
`65 out of registry with third pneumatic passageway 57
`to shut down pump 7 simultaneous with rotation of
`groove 107 into registration with fifth pneumatic pas-
`sageway 105 passing pneumatic power to whistle 111.
`Accordingly, as pump 7 is deprived of compressed gas
`and stops pumping liquid 1 into drum 11, whistle 111 is
`activated by the compressed gas and calls attention to
`the operator that drum 11 is now full and the pumping
`has ceased. Another waste drum 11 may then be quickly
`rolled into position, valve body 27, arm 73 and float 75
`removed from the full drum and installed on the new,
`empty drum 11. As can be appreciated, signal means 109
`may take a wide variety of forms and yet remain within
`the spirit and scope of this invention.
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`Since arm 73 and float 75 are shielded from view after
`being inserted in drum 11, it is preferred to have some
`indication of the orientation of valve body 27 vis-a-vis
`float 75. For this reason, visual indicia such as the pic-
`ture of an arrow and the word, “float”, shown at 113 is
`engraved or otherwise affixed to the upper surface of
`first valve body end 31 as shown in FIG. 3 so that valve
`body 27 may be easily and readily properly oriented in
`bung hole 29. Further visual
`indicia in the form of
`words, “in” and “out” are affixed to the upper surface
`of first valve body end 31 adjacent respective apertures
`511' and 510 to aid the operator in knowing which aper-
`ture to affix the respective pneumatic lines.
`Because collar 37 is preferably made of non-ferrous
`material, there is always the potential for the accumula-
`tion of a static charge on Valve body 27 during the
`passage of compressed air or other gas therethrough. As
`a precaution, means 115 is provided for connecting
`valve body 27 to an electrical ground. As shown in
`FIG. 3, means 115 may conveniently take the form of a
`bolt, machine screw or other device threadably re-
`ceived in first valve body end 31 for connection via an
`electrical cable or wire to an appropriate electrical
`ground.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. An add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve for a tank
`comprising:
`(a) A valve body, a moveable float spaced-apart
`therefrom and a connecting arm extending therebe-
`tween, all adapted for insertion and removal as one
`integral, portable unit through a standard tank lid
`opening for suspension below said opening so that
`said float is responsive to the liquid level in the
`tank, said valve body including a flanged portion
`extending exterior of the tank lid opening to re-
`ceive connections from a pneumatic source and to
`a pneumatic driven pump;
`(b) pneumatic ingress and egress means formed in said
`top flanged portion of said valve body in spaced-
`apart relation for passing only gas through said
`valve;
`(c) spaced-apart first and second pneumatic passage-
`ways formed interior of said valve body extending
`respectively from said ingress means and said
`egress means;
`(d) a third pneumatic passageway formed interior of
`said body interconnecting said first and second
`passageways to allow a flow of gas therethrough;
`(e) a shaft pivotally received in said body, interrupt-
`ing said third pneumatic passageway, having a
`fourth pneumatic passageway formed
`there-
`through for pneumatic alignment with said third
`pneumatic passageway when the liquid is below a
`predetermined level in the tank, said shaft having
`one end thereof extending outside said valve body
`for connection to said arm;
`(0 said connecting arm causing rotation of said shaft
`as a function of said float movement on top of the
`liquid in the tank, to align said fourth pneumatic
`passageway with said third pneumatic passageway
`when the liquid is below the predetermined level,
`to allow gas to flow from said ingress means
`through said first, second, third, and fourth pneu-
`matic passageways to said egress means to drive
`the pump and continue to deliver liquid into the
`tank, and then to rotate into a position wherein said
`fourth pneumatic passageway rotates out of align-
`ment with said third pneumatic passageway shut-
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,007,450
`
`8
`ting off the gas flow to the pump when the liquid
`reaches the predetermined level, said valve body,
`float and connecting arm able to be withdrawn as a
`unit from the filled tank through the tank opening
`for immediate insertion into another tank for subse-
`quent use; and,
`(g) means for connecting said valve body to an elec-
`trical ground.
`2. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of claim
`1 further including a bend in said arm to allow said
`valve body, said arm and said float, in fully-assembled
`configuration, to be aligned for insertion and removal
`through the standard tank opening.
`3. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of claim
`1 further including means for limiting the travel of said
`float to insure that its movement is confined to a prede-
`termined path.
`4. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of claim
`3 wherein said means for limiting the travel of said float
`includes a first abutment formed on said valve body
`adapted to intercept said arm during movement thereof
`and prevent said float from moving outside the lower-
`most portion of its predetermined path.
`5. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of claim
`3 wherein said means for limiting the travel of said float
`includes a second abutment formed on said valve body
`adapted to intercept said arm during movement thereof
`and prevent said float from moving outside the upper-
`most portion of its predetermined path.
`6. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of claim
`3 wherein said means for limiting the travel of said float
`includes a first and second abutment formed on said
`
`valve body adapted to intercept said arm during move-
`ment thereof and prevent said float from moving out-
`side the uppermost and lowermost portions of its prede-
`termined path.
`7. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of claim
`1 further including visual indicia affixed to said flanged
`end of said body for indicating the side of said valve
`body on which said float will rise while liquid is being
`transferred into the tank.
`
`8. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of claim
`1 wherein said means associated with said flanged end
`includes a collar slidingly mounted on said body below
`said flange and having formed exterior thereabout a
`series of threads for matching engagement with a simi-
`lar set of threads formed about the periphery of said
`opening to anchor said body securely in the lid of the
`tank.
`9. The add-on liquid overflow shut—off valve of claim
`8 further including an O-ring interposed between said
`collar and said valve body, in a circumferential groove
`formed about said body, to seal the space between said
`collar and said valve body.
`10. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 1 wherein said body, said arm and said float are of
`a size to fit through a standard ASTM bung hole on the
`lid of a drum.
`11. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 1 wherein said first and second pneumatic pas-
`sageways are formed in parallel, spaced-apart relation
`and extend down into said valve body terminating
`therein to remain totally confined within said body.
`12. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 1 wherein said pneumatic ingress and egress
`means further includes a male quick-disconnect type
`fitting and a female quickdisconnect type fitting respec-
`tively connected thereto for connection to pneumatic
`
`

`
`5,007,450
`
`10
`pin apertures formed in said shaft end, said cap retained
`on said shaft end by a threaded bolt.
`20. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 17 wherein said means for adjusting said arm
`includes a clamp,
`in which said float arm end is
`mounted, said clamp containing an aperture for receipt
`therein of said shaft end and further containing a slot
`and a bolt received transverse to said slot for tightening
`said clamp about said shaft end.
`21. The add~on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 1 further including a signal means that is activated
`by pneumatic power shut off from said pneumatic
`egress means to alert the operator to the fact that the
`level of liquid has reached the upper predetermined
`level in the tank.
`
`9
`transfer hoses that are connected to the pressurized
`pneumatic source and pneumatic-driven liquid pump.
`13. The add~on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 12 wherein said shaft
`is contained in a bore
`formed transverse to and interconnected with said first
`
`and second pneumatic passageways.
`14. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 13 wherein the longitudinal axis of said shaft is
`parallel to the plane of the lid of the tank.
`15. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 13 wherein said shaft includes seal means to pre-
`vent unwanted escape of pneumatic power from be-
`tween said shaft and said bore.
`
`16. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 15 wherein said seal means includes spaced-apart
`O—rings retained in circumferential grooves formed in
`said shaft bore.
`17. The add-on liquid overflow shut-off valve of
`claim 1 furth