Patent Application
20100258567
This invention relates to a fluid receiver adapted to help control the movement of fluid within the receiver and to help control the fluid's entry into and exit from the receiver.
Fluid receivers, such as containers or tanks, confine and store fluid and can be used to transport fluid by positioning the fluid receiver on a vehicle, for example. Traditional problems associated with the transportation of fluids relate to the poor stability of the fluid receivers, especially as they travel over uneven surfaces when the fluids are not well confined within the receiver.
These problems arise because, as the level of fluid in the receiver drops, the fluid is able to move more freely within the receiver. As the receiver moves during travel, the freely moving fluid results in a shifting mass that causes the receiver to become unstable.
Sudden changes of direction and/or changes in the speed of movement of the receiver cause the body of fluid to move within the receiver and often the moving fluid spills out, causing fluid loss.
Another problem that arises because of this movement of the fluid is that it often results in the receiver becoming very unstable. The receiver and a vehicle supporting the receiver can, consequently, roll over, causing loss of fluid, damage to property, and sometimes loss of life. The less confined the fluid is within the receiver, the more unstable the receiver is when moving.
Another problem with known fluid receivers is that the receivers are often damaged by the velocity of incoming fluid hitting the bottom of the receiver. The force of the fluid can damage any protective coating which may have been applied to the receiver. Fluid entering the receiver can also cause damage by creating abrasive wear to its inner surface, especially where the fluid contains an abrasive contaminant, such as grit or stones.
There is, therefore, a need for a fluid receiver that improves the effectiveness of filling the receiver with fluid and the effectiveness of confining the fluid within the receiver so that the movement of the mass of fluid is controlled and restricted and, hence, stability is increased.
It is an object of the invention to provide a fluid containing apparatus that increases the effectiveness of confinement of the fluid within the apparatus by restricting the movement of the fluid when inside the apparatus, or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.
This invention relates to a fluid receiver adapted to limit and help control the movement of fluid within the receiver and to control the fluid's entry into and exit from the receiver.
In particular, the invention provides a receiver comprising a body comprising of: one or more inner walls defining a plurality of compartments within the receiver body; at least one inlet port comprising an aperture defined by a lip; and at least one one-way check valve positioned in fluid engagement with at least one of the said inlet port(s), the check valve comprising a valve body having a neck, a sealing plate, and a biasing means; wherein the sealing plate is moveably attached to the lip by fastening means and wherein the biasing means is adapted to allow the sealing plate to press against the lip to form a closed position and to allow the sealing plate to separate from the lip to form an open position.
Preferably, the at least one said inlet port is positioned on top of the receiver.
In a preferred form, the inlet port is in fluid engagement with a guide for guiding fluid toward the inlet port. The guide may be in the form of a cone and the lip may be an annular lip defining an opening at the bottom of the cone.
In another preferred form, the check valve includes at least one fluid level control plug for controlling the amount of fluid that can enter the receiver. More preferably, the check valve comprises two fluid level control plugs.
The control plug(s) may comprise a bung for fitting within an aperture in the side of the check valve.
Preferably, the fastening means comprises a plurality of bolts and the biasing means comprises a plurality of springs, each spring surrounding a respective bolt. More preferably, the springs have adjustable tension.
In another form, the receiver comprises a first upper compartment positioned above a second lower compartment, the first and second compartments being separated by a bulkhead, and wherein at least one check valve is positioned within the bulkhead to allow fluid to move from the first compartment to the second compartment.
Alternatively, or additionally, the receiver may comprise at least two side-by-side compartments separated by a bulkhead, and wherein at least one check valve is positioned within the bulkhead to allow fluid to move from one compartment to the other in one direction.
Where the receiver comprises upper and lower compartments, in one preferred form, the first upper compartment accounts for approximately 35% of the total volume of the receiver and is open to atmospheric pressure, and wherein the second lower compartment accounts for approximately 65% of the total volume of the receiver. More preferably, the receiver comprises three check valves positioned in the bulkhead separating the first and second upper and lower compartments and wherein vertical bulkheads are positioned between each of the three valves.
Preferably, the receiver comprises at least one outlet port.
The term “fluid” as used within this specification and claims should be interpreted to mean a substance, such as a liquid or gas, or any freely moving particulate, such as a powdered substance, such as flour for example.
The term “comprising” as used within this specification and claims means ‘consisting at least in part of’. That is to say that when interrupting independent claims including that term, the features prefaced by that term in each claim will need to be present but other features can also be present.
The invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
a shows a side view of a check valve for use in an inlet port, the figure also showing hidden detail.
b shows a cross-sectional view of the check valve through line A-A of
c shows a plan view of the check valve of
d shows a perspective view of the check valve of
The invention provides a fluid receiver for the containment of fluid, such as water, or other fluids. Typically, the fluid receiver is a tank or other form of container. As shown in
The receiver 2 may also comprise one or more outlet ports 20 for emptying the receiver of fluid.
A one-way check valve 1 is positioned at or near the inlet port 3 in fluid engagement with the inlet port to allow fluid to enter the fluid receiver 2 but whereby the fluid is not able to exit or spill from the inlet port 3.
Where the inlet port is positioned at or near the top of the receiver, the check valve is adapted to be mounted on top of the receiver, or near the top of the receiver, as required. For example, the check valve may comprise a flange, such as an annular flange around the cone or neck of the valve, for attaching the valve to a wall of the receiver.
The check valve 1 comprises a valve body having a neck 8, a sealing plate 6, and a biasing means 7 for spring loading the plate 6. Optionally, the check valve also includes a fluid level control plug 9.
The sealing plate 6 is attached to the annular lip 5 of the inlet opening by fastening means 12, for example bolts, screws, rods, or the like, such that the sealing plate can move away from the annular lip 5 without disconnecting from the lip 5.
In the embodiments shown in
The neck 8 extends from the check valve 1 below the sealing plate 6.
In use, fluid enters the cone 4 and pools on top of the sealing plate 6. The mass of the fluid pushes down on the sealing plate 6, which, in turn, pushes on the biasing means 7. Once the mass of the fluid reaches a certain amount, the sealing plate 6 is pushed away from the lip 5 and the biasing means 7 is compressed to create an opening between the sealing plate 6 and lip 5. When the check valve 1 is in this open position, fluid can pass into the receiver via the neck 8 of the check valve 1, as shown in
For clarity,
By allowing the mass of the fluid to open the check valve, the check valve is self-actuating.
Once the fluid has entered the receiver 2 such that the mass of the fluid on the sealing plate 6 is not sufficient to keep the valve 1 open, the pressure from the compressed biasing means 7 or springs subsequently causes the sealing plate 6 to return to its closed position, thereby confining the fluid to the receiver 2.
Once fluid has entered the receiver via the check valve 1, the fluid is unable to leave via the same check valve without additional means by which to open the check valve. Thus, the check valve 1 is typically a one-way valve that self-actuates to allow fluid to enter into the receiver 2 and keeps the fluid confined within the receiver so that the fluid does not spill out when the receiver moves.
Because the apparatus is self-actuating, it requires no external controls.
Furthermore, the sealing plate 6 of the check valve 1 acts as a deflector for incoming fluid. In particular, the plate 6 is adapted to reduce the velocity of the incoming fluid, and to reduce the amount of fluid entering the receiver 2 at any one time, by acting as a deflector. The sealing plate 6 deflects the fluid towards the side of the neck 8 of the valve 1 to reduce the downward velocity of the fluid.
The sealing plate 6 also limits the amount of fluid that can enter through the inlet port 3 at one time so that the receiver 2 is not subjected to a sudden, direct, heavy stream of fluid pouring directly into the receiver 2 via the inlet port 3. Thus, the use of the check valve 1 in the receiver 2 reduces damage to the receiver from incoming fluid, and especially from fluid contaminated with abrasive material.
The fluid level control plug 9 is positioned in the side of the neck 8 of the valve 1 just below the sealing plate 6, as shown in
As the fluid level in the receiver 2 reaches the bottom of the valve's lower cone 10, displaced air from the receiver 2 forms an air lock in the valve 1. The only exit for the air is via the control plug 9. Once the fluid level reaches above the level of the control plug 9, the pressure created by the air lock prevents the receiver 2 from being filled further with fluid. Thus, the pressurised air in the air lock limits movement of fluid within the receiver and restricts the amount of fluid that the receiver can take, thereby preventing the receiver from being over-filled.
The point at which the air lock prevents further fluid from entering the receiver should equate to the point at which the mass of the fluid within the receiver is at the maximum, or less than the maximum, mass restriction in relation to the receiver or in relation to a vehicle carrying the receiver.
In one form, the control plug is a type of bung that is fitted within an aperture in the neck of the valve. The control plug can be fitted within the aperture to create an air lock that allows the receiver to be filled to a certain level, or to allow the receiver to be filled to a specific mass of fluid. Thus, the position of the control plug determines the extent to which the receiver can be filled. The control plug can, therefore, be deliberately positioned at a point that allows a predetermined quantity/mass of fluid to be held within the receiver.
Alternatively, the control plug can be removed to allow trapped air to escape via the aperture in the neck so that the fluid can completely fill the receiver.
It is envisaged that the fluid level control plug may take other forms. For example, the control plug may comprise a sufficiently strong sliding screen moveably attached to the check valve and adapted so that the screen can cover the aperture to cause an air lock within the receiver, or the screen can be slid away from the aperture to cause trapped air within the receiver to escape from the aperture. Other suitable forms of control plug may also be used, as would be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art.
The fluid level control plug 9 allows for the precise control of the total mass of the receiver 2 and its contents by limiting the amount of displaced air within the receiver.
The position of the fluid level control plug 9 can be altered to allow for differing amounts of fluid to be confined within the receiver. For example, a fluid receiver with a fluid level control plug very close to the inlet port will be able to receive and contain more fluid than a receiver with a control plug further from the inlet port. Thus, by altering the position of the fluid level control plug 9, it is possible to control the amount of fluid held within the receiver 2 and to, therefore, control the mass of the receiver, when full.
The mass control afforded by the fluid level control plug means that it is possible to construct a receiver to carry a predetermined amount of fluid so that if the receiver is attached to a vehicle, the gross mass of the vehicle bearing the attached receiver and contents of the receiver, can be controlled. This ability to control the mass of a load-bearing vehicle is especially important because it means that a driver of the vehicle can ensure that the vehicle's mass falls within the mass restrictions for that vehicle and for the roads on which the vehicle might travel or environment in which the vehicle operates.
In another embodiment, as shown in
Whether it is suitable to use a second control plug to allow the receiver to be completely filled depends on whether the chassis of the vehicle carrying the receiver is capable of bearing the mass of the receiver when full and also whether the complete mass of the vehicle and full receiver falls within any mass limitations (legal road restrictions).
a to 3d show more construction details of a check valve 1 that is positioned at the inlet port 3 of the receiver 2. These diagrams clearly illustrate the cone 4 that guides the fluid into the receiver 2, and the sealing plate 6 with associated bolts 12, special washers, springs 7, and nuts; all forming part of the check valve 1.
The guide or cone shaped funnel 4 surrounding the inlet port 3 allows the receiver to be driven under a filling dispenser, such as a hopper, with some flexibility in relation to the position of the inlet port relative to the filling dispenser. The person controlling the filling of the receiver only needs to ensure that the cone is under the filling dispenser. The cone will then direct the fluid toward the aperture of the inlet port.
To fill the receiver, the fluid is dispensed into the cone and pools above the sealing plate 6, as shown in
The fluid is then able to pass into the receiver 2 via the opening defined between the sealing plate 6 and annular lip 5 of the bottom of the cone 4, as shown in
The spring tension can be altered to allow for fluids of different mass and to allow for different valve opening characteristics, thus altering the pressure differential settings.
Once the downward pressure from the mass of fluid above the sealing plate 6 is less than the pressure from the biasing means 7, the sealing plate 6 is pushed back up against the annular lip 5 by the biasing means 7, thereby closing off the valve 3, as shown in
One or more check valves may be used to fill a receiver via one or more inlet ports.
In the preferred form, the valve body itself is constructed from 3 mm rolled galvanized steel plate with mounting brackets and support gussets attached as shown in the figures. The sealing plate is preferably made from a 15 mm thick composite material made from plastic and foam, such as Plaswood.
Sealing plates that are to be used in a check valve positioned at an inlet port are designed to absorb the impact from, abrasives contained within the incoming fluid. This eliminates the wear on the inside of the receiver as fluid enters the receiver, thereby prolonging the life of the receiver. Bolts used to attach the sealing plate to the annular lip of the inlet opening are preferably stainless steel hex head JIS B 1180 M12×30 and the springs used to bias the sealing plate to a closed position are preferably stainless steel springs are JIS 1.2×20×110.
The invention also provides a receiver having a plurality of compartments within the body of the receiver and having one or more check valves to control movement of fluid between the compartments. For example, the check valve(s) can be used to allow fluid to pass from a first compartment to a second compartment and be contained within the second compartment. This arrangement has the advantage of providing for predetermined control over how a receiver contains its fluid by positioning the check valves in specific locations. Thus, compartments can be filled and emptied in a specific order.
In such an arrangement, the receiver is separated into compartments by way of walls 11 in the form of baffles or bulkheads. The compartments 13 may be positioned side-by-side or one above the other, or any combination thereof, as would be appreciated by a person skilled in the art.
When the check valve is used to separate two adjoining inter-connected compartments it can be positioned in any position from the horizontal to the vertical.
Where the receiver 2 includes a check valve 1 mounted in the horizontal position, as shown in
Because the bulkheads confine the fluid within a portion of the receiver, as opposed to the fluid being able to move freely within the whole of the receiver, the movement of the fluid within the receiver is more restricted. The fluid cannot travel back through the check valve and above the horizontal baffle that supports the check valve. This means that when the receiver containing fluid is being transported, the fluid is confined within a smaller space than if the receiver did not include bulkheads and one-way valves. By confining the fluid within a smaller space, the bulk of the fluid is less able to slop around within the receiver when the receiver is being moved. Thus, by containing the fluid within a portion of the receiver, movement of the fluid is restricted, and the receiver of the invention has improved stability, especially when the receiver is being transported.
In
Thus, a receiver according to the invention allows for the movement of fluid within the receiver to be restricted and controlled by using one or more bulkheads to create a plurality of compartments within the receiver and having one or more valves positioned such that the desired pressure differentials can be achieved in order to control flow of the fluid within the receiver, i.e. by positioning the valves higher or lower in the bulkheads depending on the form of fluid movement and containment required. Fluid is unable to flow back to the initial compartment from whence it flowed even if the receiver is tipped at an angle or if the fluid inside the receiver moves around while the receiver is being transported. This means that the receiver can be filled and emptied in a controlled manner. It also means that as the receiver is transported, movement of the body of fluid in the receiver can be minimised, creating greater stability in the receiver and in any vehicle bearing the receiver.
Advantages of the Invention
A fluid receiver according to the invention is able to provide for controlled filling of the receiver in a way that minimises damage to the receiver from the entry fluid.
Another advantage offered by the receiver of the invention is that it allows for the filling of the receiver to be controlled such that the receiver cannot be filled beyond a pre-determined level and, therefore, the receiver cannot be filled beyond regulated mass restrictions.
The receiver also provides for control over the containment and movement of fluid within the receiver by using one or more horizontal and/or vertical compartment walls and one or more horizontal and/or vertical check valves built into one or more of the compartment walls. In turn, this ability to control fluid movement results in improved receiver stability, especially when the receiver is being transported.
Because the receiver of the invention prevents fluid from leaving the receiver via the fluid inlet ports, even when fluid moves about within the receiver, fluid losses are minimised during transportation.
Whereas preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.
For example, it is not essential for the inlet port to have a guide in the form of a cone for guiding fluid into the receiver. Instead, the inlet port may have substantially vertical walls, such as a cylindrical wall, surrounding the aperture to guide fluid into the receiver. Alternatively, the inlet port may not have a guide at all.
Also, the annular lip does not need to be annular in shape, but could be any suitable shape, as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art.
In another variation of the invention, the lip may be positioned within the guide/cone, near the bottom of the guide, but not at the bottom of the guide.
In yet another variation, where the inlet port does not include a guide, the lip may consist of the lip that defines an opening in the external wall of the body of the receiver (the opening also defining the inlet port), as would be readily apparent by a person skilled in the art.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| NZ 556547 | Jul 2007 | NZ | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NZ08/00166 | 7/17/2008 | WO | 00 | 6/21/2010 |
