US1714250A - Reserve valve for tanks - Google Patents

Description

May 21, 1929. v 5 5; STAHL 1,714,250

RESERVE VALVE FOR TANKS Filed March 14', 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I VENTOR, 2%filexr B d May 21, 1929. s. s. STAH'L 1,714,250

RESERVE VALVE FOR TANKS Filed March 14, 19 27 2 Sheets-Sheet '2 Wklesa IN VEI: TOR.

' A TTORNEYS.

Patented May 21 1929.

UNITED v STATES v I 1,714,250 PATENT, OFFICE.

SAMUEL s. 's'rAn OF KANSAS envy, KANSAS.

RESERVE VALVE 'FOR TANKS.

Application filed J larch 14,1927. Serial No. 175,309.

able the supply to be replenished before the tank has become completely empty.

Accordingly one of my objectsis to devise a construction of this character in which the tank or receptacle is provided withan outlet port through which the normal fiow of the liquid from the tank vtakesplace, and also with a reserve outlet passage below the level of the first outlet port and a valve controlling said reserve outlet, and combined withmeans whereby this valve is maintained locked in its closed position so long as there is any liquid in the receptacle above the norinal supply or discharge outlet port.

, A further object of my improvement is to provide, in connection with a construction of this character, a valve locking means which is adapted to be automatically unlocked to permit the use of the reserve supply as soon as the liquid in the receptacle falls below the level corresponding to the level of the normal outlet or discharge port.

Another of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a receptacle or tank structure having a closure cap and also an outlet port and a reserve outlet and valve controlling the reserve supply, together with means either preventing orobstructing the removal of the closure cap so long as the reserve valve occupies a closed position.

It is also my object to devise a practical, comparatively simple as well as efficient arrangement and construction for filling these several functions, and also a structure adapted for convenient application to the usual type of gasoline tank forming a part of the fuel supply equipment of automobiles and requiring no expensive alterations or any skilled labor for its installation. 1

With these general objects in view,fthe invention will now be described by reference tothe accompanying drawings, illustrating one form of embodiment of the invention which I have found to be practical, after which those features and combinations deemed to be novel will be particularly set forth and claimed.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation, partly broken away and illustratinga reserve valve construction embodying the invention and installed in connection with the fuel supply tankof the vtypeemployed on automobiles;

Figure-2 is ,a fragmentary plan view, on

an enlarged scale, showing a portion of said tank and the valve structure associated therewith; V Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, shoW- inga section on the line III-III of Figure 2;

Figures 4,5 and 6 are transverse sectional views, representing sections taken on the lines IV- IV, V-V, and VI VI, respectively of Figure 3;

Figure? is a fragmentaryplan view, similar to Figure 2, illustrating a modification of the reserve valve .finger in its relation to the filler cap or tank closure element; and Figure 8 is a section taken on the line VIIIV-III of "Figure 7 Referring now to the drawings in detail, these illustrate my improved reserve valve constructionlin relation .to a gasoline or fuel supply tank 10 of well known form, having thefiller cap-or closure element 12 at the top, and an outlet opening 18 atthe bottom reinforced by'jthe flanged ring castingli which is internally threaded as indicated at 15 for receiving the sediment bulb (not shown) forming a part of'the usual fuel line connections leading tothe carbureter. ent construction I provide a casting 16 threaded'to fit the threaded opening 15 and having a central fuel passage 17 provided with a valve 18 for controlling the outlet to the pipe line 19, all as clearly illustrated in Figure 3.

The upper portion or face of the part 16 is provided withan annularrib 20 adapted to fit inside the lower edge of the cylindrical screen element 22 designed to be supported by'the part 16 within the tank 10. Projecting upwardly from the central portion of the part 16 is the sleeve extension 24' bored to'receive and journal a sleeve valve 25 the lower end of which is rotatably supported upon the annular shoulder 26 formed in'the passage 1.7 above the valve 18 (Figure 3). The lower end portion of the sleeve 25 is also formedwith a reserve outlet opening-27 adapted, by a quarter turn o'fgthe valve,'to be'brought into register with a reserve'outlet port 28 in the sleeve extension 24 for permitting discharge of the reserve supply'within the tank,see Figure 5.

In the pres- I Secured by screws 29 to the opposite sides of the sleeve extension 24 is a yoke frame member 30 extending to a height somewhat above the upper margin of the screen element 22, this upper margin being fitted with a suitable ring 32 for reinforcing this screen and helping to maintain its regular shape and permitting the smooth rise and fall of a float element 33 somewhat smaller in diameter than the diameter of the screen 22. As represented in Figures 3 and l, the float member 33 is of annular form for accommodating the sides of the yoke frame 30 within the interior of the float. Diametrieally across the top of the float- 33 is also arranged a flat cross piece 34 rigidly supporting a boxing accommodated within the upper end of the yoke frame 30, and through this boxing and also the upper transverse portion of the yoke frame 30 is rotatably mounted one segment 36 of the valve ope 'ating rod, the lower end of which is secured to the upper end of the valve sleeve 25, as shown in Figure 3. This rod segment 36 is formedor provided with a block element 37 which is adapted to be slidingly accommodated, in the vertical movements of the float 33, within a correspondingly shaped opening 39 formed in the cross piece 34, (see Figure 4). It apparent that with this construction and arrangement, and with this arrangement of the ports 27 and 28 as shown in Figures 3 and 5, the valve 25 locked with its port 7 out of register with the port 28 in every posit-ion of the float 33 except in the lowermost position of the float when the opening or slot 39 in the cross piece 34 becomes completely disengaged from the block element 37, as will be the case when the float 33 occupiesthe dotted line position represented in Figure 3. In every other position of said float, including the full, line position shown in Figure 3, the valve rod is locked by engagement of the block 37 with the cross frame piece 3 1, by virtue of the float member 33 itself beinglocked against rotative movement by the sides of the yoke frame 30 embracing the side edges of said cross piece 34, as clearly represented in Figure 4-. The provision of the boxing 35 affording the extra bearing on the rod segment 36, gives a better guiding effect to the movement of the float element 33, than would be the case without the boxing structure 35. i r

The rod segment 36 is connected to an upper rod segment 36 the upper end of which is journaled in a bearing element 40 fitted in the top of the tank 10, and the outer projecting end of the rod segment 36 is fitted with an arm or finger L2, preferably positioned to project into overlying relation to the fillercap or closure element 12 when the reserve valve is in open position.

The connection between the rod segments 36 and 36" comprises a sleeve member 44 attached by rivets 45 or the like to the segments, the lower end of the sleeve 44 carrying an arm orfinger 46 adapted for movement between two stop lugs 47 located at the opposite ends of a quadrant bracket 48 preferably formed integral with the top of the yoke frame 30, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. By the provision of the stops 47 the operative movement of the valve is so controlled and regulated as to limit it at the proper points for the full-open and fullclosed positions, respectively, of the said valve. Since the position of the arm or finger 4-2 is so chosen as to overlie the filler cap or closure element 12 when the reserve valve is open, it is apparent that the filler cap cannot be removed until said arm or finger 42 is swung out of the way for permitting the removal of the filler cap, and this obviously restores the reserve valve into closed position.

A modification of the construction for preventing the removal of the filler cap until the reserve valve has been closed is illustrated in Figures 7 and 3, where the arm or finger 4:2 is secured. to the upper rod segment 36 at a point inside the tank and slightlybelow the filler opening and yet in position to be engaged by a pin 50 depending from the filler capl2, the relation of the pin 50 and finger 42 being such that the initial turning movement of the cap 12 for opening the same will engage and rotate the finger 4:2 far enough to close the reserve valve in the same manner as would be accomplished by the turning of the exterior finger 42 in the preferred construction.

The use and operation of the construction will, in view of the above description, be readily understood, and may be briefly set forth as follows. lVhile designed especially for truck or automobile use, it is of course adaptable to all fuel or liquid supply tanks or receptacles, the supply being used up by feeding out through the upper openings 25 until only the reserve supply is left, until which time the float 33, following the liquid level, has maintained the valve 25 locked; but on reaching its lowermost position the reserve valve is free to be unlocked by manipulation of the finger 42, or, in the construction shown in Figures 7 and 8, by a suitable key applied to the square outer end of the rod 36. The screen 22 serves to prevent any impurities being passed to the fuel line 19, in the same way as the usualexterior sediment bulb and thus eliminates the use of the latter. The exhaust of all but the reserve supply gives positive notice to the driver that the supply of fuel must be replenished, as he cannot continue operation until he has operated the reserve valve, and he naturally avails himself of this oppordrive the same car at different times, such a reserve valve construction eliminates the necessity of watching the tank for shortage since the person starting to use the reserve supply cannot fail to know the condition of the supply, and also knows just what quan tity of fuel is required to renew it, or fill the tank. I

While I have illustrated and described what I now regard as the preferred form of construction for embodying my invention, I desire to reserve the right to make all such changes or modifications as may fairly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A reserve valve construction comprise ing, in combination with a receptacle provided with an outlet port permitting fiow from the receptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passage permitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valve controlling said reserve outlet passage, and telescoping float-actuated locking elements acting to maintain said valve locked in closed position so long as the liquid in the receptacle is above said level.

2. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination with a receptacle provided with an outlet port permitting flow from the receptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passage permitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valve controlling said reserve outlet passage, and valve locking means comprising separable, positively engaging locking elements adapted to be automatically separated for unlock ing the valve as the liquid in the receptacle falls below said level.

3. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination with a receptacle provided with an outlet port permitting flow from the receptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passage permitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valve controlling said reserve outlet passage, and locking means comprising separable, pos

tively engaging locking elements operating automatically to maintain said valve normally locked in closed position and including a float member automatically acting to disengage said locking elements for unlocking said valve as the liquid falls below said level.

4:. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination with a receptacle provided with an outlet port permitting flow from the receptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passage permitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valve controlling said reserve outlet passage and provided with an operating rod, and a float slidably engaging said rod and operative to receptacle is above said level and to unlock the rod as the liquid falls below said level. I 5. A reserve valve construction comprising, in combination with a receptacle provided with an-outlet port permitting flow from the receptacle at a given level and also with a reserve outlet passage permitting flow from the receptacle below said level, a valve controlling said reserve outlet passage, a hollow screen mounted inpo'sition to screen the liquidprior to entering either said outlet port or outlet passage,iand a float vertically slidable'within said screen and operative to maintain said valve locked in closed lock the same so long as the liquid in the position so long as the liquid in the recep- V tacle is above said level.

6. A reserve valve construction compris- 7 A receptacle provided with a reserve outlet passage, a positively acting valve adapted to be manually-operated from the exterior of the receptacle for controlling said outlet passage, and independently movable fioat-operated means maintaining said valve positively locked until the contents of the receptacle fall below a predetermined level.

8. A receptacle provided with a filling cap and also with a reserve outlet passage, a valve for controlling said outlet passage, a rod for operating said valve and provided with an exterior manually operable arm rigidly connected with said rod and actuated by the opening movement of the valve into position for obstructing the removal of said cap, and means controlled automatically by the level of the liquid within the receptacle for positively locking said valve and arm in valve-closed position so long as said liquid is above a given level. 4

In witness whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

SAMUEL S. STAHL.

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