Pressurized tank dispenser assembly

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6311875
  • Patent Number
    6,311,875
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, April 5, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 6, 2001
    23 years ago
Abstract
A pressurized tank dispenser assembly generally includes an extractor valve and a relief valve component mounted on a common fitting which may be held to a tank by a securement ring. The extractor valve permits pressurizing the tank and dispensing liquid by the attachment of a coupler thereon without the need for tools, while the relief valve component includes both vacuum relief and overpressure relief valves. The fitting is attached to the tank by the annular securement ring, whereby only a single opening through the tank is necessary to perform all operating functions of the tank.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention concerns a pressurized tank dispenser assembly for discharging liquids from a tank. More particularly, it is concerned with a pressurized tank dispenser assembly having a liquid extractor valve and pressure relief vent on the same fitting.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Tanks which are used for transporting and delivering liquids under pressure are known and used, for example, in the beverage industry. Typically, the liquids contained in the vessel or tank receive pressure, such as air or carbon dioxide to assist in dispensing the liquid. An extractor valve on the tank may be fitted with a coupler which, when connected, opens the valve and permits the liquid therein to be discharged. It is particularly beneficial if the tank valve shuts off upon removal of the coupler, so that no additional liquid escapes. When beverages or hazardous chemicals are contained in the tank, minimizing such leakage avoids contamination or exposure of the user to hazardous chemicals. Various valves and dispensing couplers for use with a pressurized tank are shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,242,092, 5,246,140, 5,653,253, 5,713,496, 5,901,747, 5,944,229, U.S. Pat. No. Des. 326,503 and U.S. Pat. No. Des. 328,200, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.




However, there is a need for a simplified dispenser which may be readily attached and removed from the tank. When bulk chemicals such as liquid fertilizer, insecticide, herbicide or the like used by farmers are contained in the tank, existing pressurized liquid dispensers may be difficult to remove for refilling. Moreover, when relief valves for permitting venting of excess air or entry of air to prevent a vacuum are separate from the dispensing valve, additional time is required for removal and installation of the several valves on the tank, and the separate valves may be misplaced or damaged.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention provides a significant advantage over prior pressurized tank dispensers by having a simple to install and remove dispenser which includes in a single fitting both a liquid extractor valve and a pressure relief valve. The dispenser may thereby be attached as a single unit and coupled to the tank through a single securement member.




In greater detail, the dispenser assembly preferably includes an extractor valve which is configured to both discharge liquid and receive pressurized gas therethrough, a relief valve for preventing over pressurization of the tank, and a fitting adapted for mounting to the tank and connecting both the dispenser valve and the relief valve thereto. The fitting is configured for mounting to a neck of the tank, and may be readily secured in place by a securement member complementarily configured to the neck. The tank wall is preferably rotationally molded to present only a single hole therethrough which is within the neck. The extractor valve is preferably configured to receive a coupler thereon which requires no tools for attachment and both selectively discharges liquid under pressure within the tank and allows attachment of a source of pressurized gas. The relief valve is positioned on the fitting so as to avoid interference with the operation of the coupler but nonetheless permit good venting of the tank when overpressured. The relief valve is further advantageously configured to permit manual actuation as well as automatic overpressure relief, and most preferably to enable admission of air into the tank to enable controlled entry to air and avoid the presence of a partial vacuum.




The fitting is preferably configured as a plate which may be flat or domed, but sits atop the neck and sealed by a gasket. The fitting is quickly and easily attached and removed by a securement member configured as a ring which permits the relief valve and dispenser valve to extend upwardly therethrough. Preferably, the tank has a neck which is externally threaded and complemental to the internally threaded securement ring, whereby attachment of the pressurized tank dispenser may be accomplished by merely placing the fitting on the gasket residing on the neck and threading the securement ring thereon.




In an alternate embodiment, the pressurized tank dispenser also includes a receiver for the intake of pressurized gas directly through the fitting. The placement of the receiver, for example a quick-connect pneumatic coupler, on the fitting and as a part of the dispenser assembly enables the tank to be pressurized without the need of attaching the coupler to the extractor valve. In this manner, the tank may be pressurized while the coupler is attached to another tank, thereby reducing preparation time or the need for multiple couplers.




It may thus be appreciated that the pressurized tank dispenser avoids undesired separation of the relief valve and extractor valve, provides a single part for installation and removal, and quick and easy attachment of the coupler without the need for tools. These and other advantages will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art with reference to the description of the preferred embodiments and the drawings provided herewith.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




Referring now to the drawings, a pressurized tank dispenser assembly


10


in accordance with the present invention is designed for removable mounting to a tank


12


, and broadly includes a liquid extractor valve


14


, a relief valve component


16


, a fitting


18


, a gasket


20


and a securement ring


22


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. The extractor valve


14


and the relief valve component


16


are both mounted on the fitting


18


whereby placement of the fitting on the neck


112


of the tank


12


serves to locate both the extractor valve


14


and the relief valve


16


and by threading the securement ring


22


on the neck


24


, are commonly and simultaneously installed. A coupler


126


is provided which mounts to the extractor valve


14


without the need for any tools and permits both pressurization of the tank


12


and selective opening of the extractor valve


14


to remove liquid from the tank


12


.





FIG. 1

is a perspective view of the pressurized tank dispenser assembly hereof mounted on a tank, with a coupler attached to the dispenser valve;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged, exploded view of the dispenser assembly shown in

FIG. 1

, showing the coupler, the securement ring, the fitting, the dispensing valve and the relief valve positioned for attachment to the neck of the tank;





FIG. 3

is a top plan view of the pressurized tank dispenser of

FIG. 1

installed on the neck of the tank;





FIG. 4

is a vertical sectional view taken along line


4





4


of

FIG. 3

, showing the draw tube within the tank connected to the dispensing valve;





FIG. 5

is an enlarged, vertical sectional view showing the relief valve mounted on the fitting; and





FIG. 6

is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the pressurized tank dispenser hereof including a receiver for pressurized gas mounted on the fitting in addition to the relief valve and dispensing valve.











DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




Referring now to the drawings, a pressurized tank dispenser assembly


10


in accordance with the present invention is designed for removable mounting to a tank


12


, and broadly includes a liquid extractor valve


14


, a relief valve component


16


, a fitting


18


, a gasket


20


and a securement ring


22


as shown in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. The extractor valve


14


and the relief valve component


16


are both mounted on the fitting


18


whereby placement of the fitting on the neck


24


of the tank


12


serves to locate both the extractor valve


14


and the relief valve


16


and by threading the securement ring


22


on the neck


24


, are commonly and simultaneously installed. A coupler


26


is provided which mounts to the extractor valve


14


without the need for any tools and permits both pressurization of the tank


12


and selective opening of the extractor valve


14


to remove liquid from the tank


12


.




In greater detail, one extractor valve


14


which is particularly suitable for use in the present invention is a model RS-MV available from Micro Matic, Inc. of Micro Matic U.S.A., Inc. of Northridge, Calif. and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,496, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference. The extractor valve


14


includes a preferably stainless steel valve body


26


having a coupling head


28


extending radially outwardly and presenting an irregular margin


30


with a plurality of circumferentially spaced ridged indentations


32


. The valve body


26


defines a central channel


34


which receives a sealing element


36


. The sealing element


36


includes a central, preferably stainless steel disk


38


and a surrounding elastomeric sealing ring


40


of Viton nitrile rubber or EPDM or the like which is biased into sealing relationship with the valve body


26


by a spring


42


. A stainless steel extraction tube


44


is fluidically connected to the channel


34


, and may be provided with a dip tube extension


45


of flexible plastic or other material as shown in phantom in

FIG. 4

, the extension permitting the liquid to be drawn from the bottom of the tank


12


.




The relief valve component


16


is mounted to the fitting


18


and is shown in greater detail in FIG.


5


and includes a housing


46


of stainless steel or the like having an upper section


48


and middle ring


49


welded to the fitting


18


, with the middle ring


49


threadably connected to a lower portion


50


. Both the upper portion


48


and the lower portion


50


include airways


52


therethrough which fluidically communicate, respectively, with the atmosphere and a fluid storage chamber


54


defined within the tank


12


. The housing contains an first relief valve


56


and a second relief valve


58


which are threadably and sealingly coupled to the fitting


18


. The first relief valve element


56


includes a tubular valve stem


59


having an upper component


60


with a threaded insert threaded into a first relief valve opening


62


in the fitting


18


, and a lower component


64


threaded into the upper component


60


. A ball check element


66


is biased upwardly into sealing relationship with the upper component


60


by check spring


68


. A manual override pin plunger


70


is mounted to the upper portion


48


of the housing in vertical alignment with the check element


66


and biased upwardly by spring


72


positioned intermediate the upper component


60


and the pin plunger


70


. The check element


66


blocks airflow through a passage


74


through the first relief valve element except when a vacuum condition exists, wherein air pressure exerts a force against the ball check element


66


to overcome the compressive force of the spring to permit air to flow downwardly into the fluid storage chamber


54


, or when the user desires to vent excess pressure within the chamber


54


by depressing the pin plunger


70


to unseat the ball check element


66


and allow pressurized gas within the chamber


54


to flow out through the housing


46


.




The second relief valve


58


of the relief valve component


16


is similar to the first relief valve in that it is tubular and includes an upper component


76


threaded through a second relief valve opening


98


in the fitting


18


, and a lower component


78


defining an internal passage


80


containing a second ball check element


82


and a spring


84


. However, the spring


84


is positioned between the upper component


76


and the ball check element and thus exerts a downward force to seat the ball check element


82


on the lower component


78


in sealing relationship. An apertured vent cap


86


is securely fitted onto the upper component


76


to hold the spring in compression and permit gas to flow therethrough. The spring


84


is of a higher spring coefficient than spring


68


, whereby the tank


12


may be pressurized to about 12 and ½ pounds greater than atmospheric pressure before releasing gas through the second relief valve


58


, but spring


68


will unseat at vacuum conditions only slightly below atmospheric pressure.




The fitting


18


preferably includes a flat or slightly domed plate


88


which has a circular outer margin


90


and has a collar


92


fitted into a central opening


94


and valve openings


62


and


98


for receiving the relief valves


56


and


58


. The collar


92


includes a circumscribing groove


100


on its inner face


102


to receive therein a retaining ring


104


. The valve body


26


includes a corresponding circumferentially extending slot


106


on its outer surface


108


, whereby the retaining ring


104


snaps into engagement with both groove


100


and slot


106


to hold the valve body


26


against an O-ring


96


of Viton nitrile rubber or EPDM against a lower, inwardly extending rim


110


of the collar


92


. The extractor valve


14


is rotated clockwise under slight downward pressure, and then pressed into the collar


92


until the retaining ring


104


snaps into place. The collar is preferably welded into place in the central opening


94


. The first and second relief valves are threaded into the valve openings


62


and


98


and a sealant, such as that sold under the mark Loctite, is applied to ensure a good sealing relationship. The upper section


48


and middle ring


49


are both preferably welded to the plate


88


, the latter in airtight relationship.




The annular gasket


20


is of an elastomeric material such as EPDM synthetic rubber and positioned below the plate


88


. Preferably, the tank


12


sits in a separate base molded of high density polyethylene, whereby the bottom of the tank


12


may be convex and provided with a central sump to provide maximum utilization of the liquid stored therein. The tank


12


is of a high density polyethylene and preferably rotationally molded to provide a continuous, imperforate wall with only a single hole


111


which is located in an upwardly extending neck


112


, the neck having external threads


114


for threadably receiving the securement ring


22


thereon. The neck


112


is sized to receive the gasket


20


thereon. The securement ring


22


has an annular upright wall


116


and a base


118


molded of high density polyethylene. The upright wall


116


has a plurality of circumferentially spaced external ridges


120


and internal threads


122


for threading onto the neck


112


. A circumferentially extending radially inwardly oriented lip


123


extends from the upright wall


116


and compresses the plate


88


onto the gasket to provide an air-tight seal. The tank


12


may be further provided with a raised castellated protector (a portion thereof broken away in

FIG. 1

) to protect the assembly


10


during transport and storage, and a base for elevating the tank


12


above a supporting surface.




In an alternative embodiment of the pressurized tank dispenser assembly


10


A shown in

FIG. 6

, the fitting


18


A is modified to include an additional opening to threadably receive a quick-connect air hose coupler


124


in addition to the extractor valve


14


and the relief valve component


16


. The quick-connect air hose coupler is well known in the art and provides a passage therein to admit pressurized gas such as air to be quickly introduced directly into the tank


12


rather than passing through the extractor valve


14


.




The pressurized tank dispenser assemblies


10


and


10


A are designed to be used with a coupler


126


illustrated in

FIGS. 1 and 2

. One coupler


126


particularly suited for use with the present invention is sold by Micro Matic U.S.A., Inc. of Northridge, California as part number 724-085. The coupler


126


has a housing


128


shiftably mounting plunger


130


having a discharge outlet


132


at the upper end thereof. The housing also has a stub


134


having a gas connection in the form of a through hole which fluidically communicates with a central hole generally aligned with and shiftably receiving the plunger


130


. A handle


136


actuates the plunger


130


to shift downwardly. The housing


128


is complementally configured with the coupling head


28


of the extractor valve


14


, whereby the coupler


126


may be mounted to the extractor valve


14


by positioning the housing


128


in alignment on the onto the coupling head, pushing downwardly, and rotating the coupler in a clockwise direction to attach the bottom of the coupler housing


128


onto the extractor valve


14


in substantially fluid tight relationship. The coupler


126


preferably includes an internal pressure relief valve which is set to release internal pressure at 12 and ½ pounds pressure above atmospheric, and thus serves as a back-up to the second relief valve


58


when the coupler is attached.




In use, the liquid storage chamber


54


of the tank


12


is filled with the pressurized liquid dispenser assembly


10


or


10


A in an unmounted condition. The extractor valve


14


is mounted on the fitting as described above with the extraction tube


44


and its extension communicating with the chamber and extending to adjacent the bottom of the tank


12


. The gasket


20


is then placed on the neck


112


, and the fitting


18


placed over the gasket


20


, the plate


88


of the fitting


18


having an exterior surface


138


generally exterior to the tank


12


and an interior surface


140


oriented toward the storage chamber


54


within the tank


12


, the portion of the plate adjacent its circular margin engaging the gasket


20


. The securement ring


22


is then threaded onto the neck


112


and tightened to inhibit the passage of gas or liquid past the ring


22


, gasket


20


and fitting


18


. A tamper evident ring may be placed around the outside of the extractor valve


12


body


26


, and a cap placed over the extractor valve


14


to inhibit contamination of the extractor valve


14


by debris. The tank


12


with the pressurized gas dispenser assembly


10


installed is then ready for shipment.




When ready for use, the coupler


126


is mounted on the extractor valve


14


as described above. A hose or other source of pressurized gas such as air or carbon dioxide is then connected to the stub


134


or to quick-connect hose coupler


124


when the fitting


18


A is used, thereby pressurizing the contents, preferably to less than 10 and ½ pounds pressure above atmospheric. If the pressure exceeds the amount determined by the spring used in the second pressure relief valve


58


, excess pressure is bled through the second pressure relief valve


58


. A discharge conduit is preferably connected to the discharge outlet


132


. Liquid may be discharged from the tank


12


by pressing down on the handle


136


, which pushes the plunger


130


against the sealing element


36


to unseat the sealing element


36


and permit liquid to flow there past. The source of pressurized gas may remain connected or be disconnected during discharge of liquid contents of the tank. When sufficient liquid has been discharged, the coupler


126


is detached and, if desired, the storage chamber


54


depressurized by depressing the pin plunger


70


to unseat the check element


66


and permit gas to flow from the storage chamber


54


. When the tank


12


is drained, the pressurized gas dispenser assembly is easily removed for cleaning by spinning the securement ring


22


counterclockwise and lifting the fitting


18


with the extractor valve


14


and relief valve component


16


thereon from the tank


12


.




As a result, the pressured tank dispenser assembly


10


and


10


A provide significant benefits. The extractor valve


14


and relief valve component


16


are mounted to a common fitting


18


which avoids the loss of or damage to separated valve components during normal assembly and cleaning. Additionally, when pressurizing the tank


12


, the relief valve integral with the coupler


126


serves as a backup to the relief valve component


16


, all carried on a common fitting. Additional gasketing and mounting steps are avoided. Additionally, when using pressurized tank dispenser assembly


10


A, one tank may be pressurized while the coupler


126


is attached to a second tank


12


which is dispensing. As a result, construction of the tank


12


may be simplified to provide only a single opening through which introduction and dispensing of liquid, and pressure control may be accomplished, thereby providing improved sealing and less expensive construction.




Although preferred forms of the invention have been described above, it is to be recognized that such disclosure is by way of illustration only, and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present invention. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention.




The inventors hereby state their intention to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their invention as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. A pressurized tank dispenser assembly for mounting to a tank having a liquid storage chamber therein and a hole, the assembly comprising:a fitting including a plate having an outer margin extending in substantially covering relationship to said hole and presenting first and second openings therein; a first valve for extracting liquid therethrough positioned in said first opening; and a second pressure regulating valve positioned in said second opening.
  • 2. A pressurized tank dispenser assembly as set forth in claim 1, including a securement member positioned over at least a part of said fitting and adapted for coupling said fitting to the hole.
  • 3. A pressurized tank dispenser assembly as set forth in claim 1, said fitting including a housing substantially surrounding said second pressure regulating valve and having at least one air passage therethrough.
  • 4. A pressurized tank dispenser assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said housing includes an upper portion secured to the exterior surface and a lower portion removably mounted below said interior surface.
  • 5. A pressurized tank dispenser as set forth in claim 4, said housing including an intermediate ring fastened to the lower surface of said plate, and wherein said lower portion is threadably coupled to said ring.
  • 6. A pressurized tank dispenser as set forth in claim 2, wherein said securement member is an annular ring having a base and an upright wall, said wall being internally threaded.
  • 7. A pressurized tank dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said second pressure regulating valve includes a tubular valve stem, and a check valve element and a spring positioned within said valve stem, whereby said check valve element is located relatively more proximate the exterior surface than said spring.
  • 8. A pressurized tank dispenser as set forth in claim 7, wherein said fitting includes a housing substantially surrounding said second pressure regulating valve and an actuator shiftably mounted on said housing in alignment with said check valve element for selectively shifting said check valve element out of seating engagement with said valve stem.
  • 9. A pressurized tank dispenser as set forth in claim 8, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said second pressure regulating valve includes a tubular valve stem, and a check valve element and a spring positioned within said valve stem, whereby said spring is located relatively more proximate to the exterior surface than said check valve element.
  • 10. A pressurized tank dispenser as set forth in claim 1, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said second pressure regulating valve includes a tubular valve stem, and a check valve element and a spring positioned within said valve stem, whereby said spring is located relatively more proximate to the exterior surface than said check valve element.
  • 11. A pressurized tank dispenser as set forth in claim 1, including a quick-connect air hose fitting coupled to said plate for admitting pressurized air into the tank.
  • 12. In combination:a tank for dispensing liquid under pressure therefrom, said tank defining therein a liquid storage chamber and having a neck presenting a hole for the introduction and discharge of fluids therethrough; a pressurized tank dispenser including a fitting including a plate having an outer margin extending in substantially covering relationship to said hole and presenting first and second openings therein, a first valve for extracting liquid therethrough positioned in said first opening, and a second pressure regulating valve positioned in said second opening.
  • 13. The combination of claim 12, including an annular securement member threadably coupled to said neck and positioned over at least a part of said plate for removably coupling said pressurized tank dispenser to said tank in substantially fluid-tight relationship.
  • 14. The combination of claim 13, said fitting including a housing substantially surrounding said second pressure regulating valve and having at least one air passage therethrough.
  • 15. The combination of claim 12, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said housing includes an upper portion secured to the exterior surface and a lower portion removably mounted below said interior surface.
  • 16. The combination of claim 15, housing including an intermediate ring fastened to the lower surface of said plate, and wherein said lower portion is threadably coupled to said ring.
  • 17. The combination of claim 12, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said second pressure regulating valve includes a tubular valve stem, and a check valve element and a spring positioned within said valve stem, whereby said check valve element is located relatively more proximate the exterior surface than said spring.
  • 18. The combination of claim 17, wherein said fitting includes a housing substantially surrounding said second pressure regulating valve and an actuator shiftably mounted on said housing in alignment with said check valve element for selectively shifting said check valve element out of seating engagement with said valve stem.
  • 19. The combination of claim 18, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said second pressure regulating valve includes a tubular valve stem, and a check valve element and a spring positioned within said valve stem, whereby said spring is located relatively more proximate to the exterior surface than said check valve element.
  • 20. The combination of claim 12, wherein said plate includes an exterior surface and an interior surface and said second pressure regulating valve includes a tubular valve stem, and a check valve element and a spring positioned within said valve stem, whereby said spring is located relatively more proximate to the exterior surface than said check valve element.
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Entry
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