The present disclosure relates to a valve assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a tank assembly, a tank system, a vehicle and/or a method for evaluating the condition of a valve assembly located in a tank.
A vehicle, for instance a heavy-duty vehicle such as a truck, a bus or a construction equipment vehicle, may comprise one or more tanks. For example, a vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine may comprise one or more fuel tanks. Another example of a vehicle is a seagoing vessel such as a ship or a boat.
A fluid consumer, such as an internal combustion engine, may be adapted to receive fluid from a tank. To this end, a fluid pump may be used for feeding fluid from the tank to the fluid consumer. The fluid pump and the fluid consumers are examples of recipients of fluid. In order to reduce the risk that the fluid pump and/or the fluid consumer is fed with air when the tank is empty or almost empty, the tank may comprise a valve assembly being adapted to cut the fluid supply from the tank when the amount of fluid in the tank is low. To this end, a valve may be used that is adapted to be located in a body of fluid and which is adapted to assume an open position or a closed position depending on the fluid level of the body of fluid.
An example of a valve that is adapted to be located in a body of fluid is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,351,083.
Although the valve assembly according to the above is appropriate for many applications, there may still be a need for improving such a valve assembly.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a valve assembly that can control the supply of fluid to a fluid consumer in a manner that has a low risk of damaging the recipient of the fluid.
As such, the present disclosure relates to a valve assembly adapted to be located at least partially in a body of fluid for controlling fluid flow from the body of fluid to a fluid outlet port of the valve assembly. The valve assembly has an extension in a first direction. The valve assembly comprises a fluid inlet port having an extension at least partially in the first direction. The valve assembly further comprises a valve member being movable in the first direction relative to the fluid inlet port between an open position, in which the fluid inlet port is adapted to provide a fluid communication between the body of fluid and the fluid outlet port, and a closed position, in which the valve member covers the fluid inlet port such that fluid communication between the body of fluid and the fluid outlet port via the fluid inlet port is prevented.
According to the present disclosure, the valve assembly comprises a bleed passage adapted to provide a fluid communication between the body of fluid and the fluid outlet port even when the valve member is in the closed position.
The bleed passage of the valve assembly implies that fluid may be guided from the body of fluid to the fluid outlet port even when the valve member is in its closed position. Thus, a fluid consumer and/or a fluid pump connected to the fluid outlet port of the valve assembly may be supplied with fluid even when fluid is not guided via the fluid inlet port. This in turn implies a reduced risk of damaging the fluid consumer and/or the fluid pump since the risk of a sudden cessation of fluid supply to a running fluid consumer and/or a fluid pump is reduced. Such a sudden cessation could for instance cause dry friction of a fluid pump.
Purely by way of example, the fluid consumer and/or the fluid pump may be adapted to terminate a request of fluid from the body of fluid when the amount of fluid is low. By virtue of the bleed passage, an abrupt termination of the fluid supply may be prevented.
Generally, the body of fluid may comprise, or even be constituted by, a fluid the density of which is greater than the density of air. Purely by way of example, the fluid may be a liquid. As a non-limiting example, the fluid may be fuel, e.g. liquid fuel such as gasoline or diesel.
Optionally, the bleed passage is located upstream the fluid inlet port in an intended direction of flow from the body of fluid to the fluid outlet port. For example, the bleed passage may be such that fluid flowing from the body of fluid to the fluid outlet port passes the fluid inlet port but does not flow there through. As such, the bleed passage need not necessarily form part of a bleed conduit that is separate from the fluid inlet port. Instead, the bleed passage may guide fluid from the body of fluid towards the fluid inlet port.
Optionally, the fluid inlet port is located between the fluid outlet port and the bleed passage in the first direction. As such, when the valve assembly is in a position where the first direction is in parallel with, or forms an angle to, a vertical direction, the bleed passage is located beneath the fluid inlet port in the vertical direction. Thus, even though the valve member has assumed its closed position as a response to the fact that e.g. a tank contains a low amount of fluid, there may still be fluid present at the position of the bleed passage which fluid may be guided to the fluid outlet port via the bleed passage.
Optionally, the valve member is adapted to be imparted a buoyancy force from the body of fluid to thereby be moveable in at least the first direction. The ability to be moveable in response to a buoyancy force implies that the position of the valve member may be controlled by the fluid level of the body of fluid in which the valve assembly is located.
Optionally, the valve member comprises a valve float and a cover member, the cover member being adapted to cover the fluid inlet port when the valve member is in the closed position. The above configuration implies an appropriate way of obtaining a valve member being moveable by means of buoyancy forces.
Optionally, the cover member comprises a circumferentially extending sleeve. A circumferentially extending sleeve implies that appropriate sealing characteristics may be obtained for the fluid inlet port. Moreover, by virtue of the fact that the sleeve is circumferentially extending, it is possible to guide the movement of the cover member in an appropriate manner.
Optionally, the valve assembly comprises a guide arrangement for guiding the cover member relative to the fluid inlet port. The guide arrangement implies that an appropriate movement of the cover member, for instance relative to the fluid inlet port, may be obtained.
Optionally, guide arrangement comprises a plurality of guide members, the fluid inlet port being formed between at least two of the guide members.
Optionally, the valve assembly comprises a collector assembly located beneath the fluid inlet port in the first direction, the collector assembly comprising a fluid receiver adapted to receive fluid from the body of fluid. The collector assembly may accommodate fluid that subsequently may be guided through the bleed passage.
Optionally, the valve member is such that the body of fluid is in fluid communication with the fluid receiver even when the valve member is in the closed position. The above implies that the fluid from the body of fluid may enter the fluid receiver even when the valve member is in its closed position and this in turn implies that fluid may be guided through the bleed passage even when the valve member is in the closed position.
Optionally, the collector assembly comprises a collector base member comprising a first collector base member portion comprising one or more openings, extending at least partially in the first direction, forming the bleed passage.
Optionally, the collector assembly comprises a collector sleeve enclosing the first collector base member portion. The collector base member further comprises a second collector base member portion, located outside of the collector sleeve.
Optionally, the second collector base member portion comprises one or more openings extending at least partially in the first direction. The openings of the second collector base member portion are in fluid communication with the openings of the first collector base member portion.
Optionally, the collector sleeve is connected to the guide arrangement. Preferably the collector sleeve and the guide arrangement form a unitary component.
Optionally, the valve assembly comprises a valve float guide adapted to guide the valve float during a movement in at least the first direction. The possibility to guide the valve float implies an appropriate movement of the valve member.
Optionally, the valve assembly comprises a sensor adapted to determine the position of the valve member in at least the first direction. The position of the valve member may be useful information in many aspects. For instance, the position of the valve member may be indicative of the amount of fluid in a tank.
Optionally, the valve assembly further comprises a filter enclosing the valve member and the fluid inlet port. The filter implies a reduced risk of guiding pollutions to the fluid outlet port.
Optionally, the valve assembly further comprises a main float separated from the valve member. The main float is adapted to assume a fluid presence position indicative of the body of fluid containing sufficient fluid for keeping the valve member in its open position. The main float may be used for determining the status of the valve member. For instance, if the position of the main float indicates that a low fluid level and the position of the valve member indicates a high fluid level, or vice versa, this may imply that the valve member is not operating properly and that service of the valve assembly is required. For instance, such a difference in positions may imply that the valve member is stuck in a fixed position.
Optionally, the valve assembly is adapted to be used in a position where the first direction is in parallel with, or forms an angle to, a vertical direction. Purely by way of example, the first direction may form an angle to the vertical direction wherein the absolute value of the angle is equal to or less than 60°, preferably equal to or less than 40°.
A second aspect of the present disclosure relates to a tank assembly comprising a tank and a valve assembly according to the first aspect of the present disclosure. The valve assembly is located at least partially within the tank.
A third aspect of the present disclosure relates to a tank system comprising a plurality of tank assemblies according to the second aspect of the present disclosure.
A fourth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a vehicle comprising at least one of the following: valve assembly according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, a tank assembly according to the second aspect of the present disclosure and a tank system according to the third aspect of the present disclosure.
A fifth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method for evaluating the condition of a valve assembly located in a tank. The valve assembly is adapted to control fluid flow from a body of fluid to a fluid outlet port of the valve assembly. The valve assembly comprises a fluid inlet port. The valve assembly further comprises a valve member. The valve member is movable in the first direction relative to the fluid inlet port between an open position, in which the fluid inlet port is adapted to provide a fluid communication between the body of fluid and the fluid outlet port, and a closed position, in which the valve member covers the fluid inlet port such that fluid communication between the body of fluid and the fluid outlet port via the fluid inlet port is prevented.
The tank assembly further comprises a main float separated from the valve member. The main float is adapted to assume a sufficient fluid position in the tank indicative of the tank containing sufficient fluid for keeping the valve member in its open position. The main float is further adapted to assume an insufficient fluid position in the tank indicative of the tank containing insufficient fluid such that the valve member assumes its closed position.
The method comprises:
The above method implies that a malfunctioning valve member may be detected in a straightforward manner. For instance, the functionality of a valve member may be assessed without the need for visually inspecting the valve member.
Optionally, the valve assembly is in accordance with the first aspect of the present disclosure.
A sixth aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure when the program is run on a computer.
A seventh aspect of the present disclosure relates to a computer readable medium carrying a computer program comprising program code means for performing the steps of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure when the program product is run on a computer.
An eight aspect of the present disclosure relates to a control unit for evaluating the condition of a valve assembly located in a tank. The control unit is configured to perform the steps of the fifth aspect of the present disclosure.
With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.
In the drawings:
It should be noted that the appended drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that the dimensions of some features of the present invention may have been exaggerated for the sake of clarity.
The invention will below be described for a vehicle in the form of a truck 10 such as the one illustrated in
The
The master tank assembly 16 comprises a master tank 20, a master valve assembly 22, a master fluid feeding conduit 24 and a master fluid return conduit 26. The master valve assembly 22 is located at least partially within the master tank 20. Moreover, the master valve assembly 22 is in fluid communication with the master fluid feeding conduit 24. Further, the master fluid return conduit 26 is adapted to discharge fluid into the master tank 20.
In a similar vein, the slave tank assembly 18 comprises a slave tank 28, a slave valve assembly 30, a slave fluid feeding conduit 32 and a slave fluid return conduit 34. The slave valve assembly 30 is located at least partially within the slave tank 28. Moreover, the slave valve assembly 30 is in fluid communication with the slave fluid feeding conduit 32. Furthermore, the slave fluid return conduit 34 is adapted to discharge fluid into the slave tank 28.
In the
However, the
The valve assembly 22 is adapted to be located at least partially in a body of fluid 36 for controlling fluid flow from said body of fluid 36 to a fluid outlet port 41 of the valve assembly 22. The fluid outlet port 41 is preferably in fluid communication with a conduit 24 for further transport of the fluid to a recipient of fluid, e.g. to the common fluid pump 35 mentioned hereinabove in relation to
The
The valve assembly 22 comprises a fluid inlet port 40 having an extension at least partially in the first direction D. The valve assembly 22 further comprises a valve member 42 being movable in the first direction D relative to the fluid inlet port 40 between an open position, in which the fluid inlet port 40 is adapted to provide a fluid communication between the body of fluid 36 and the fluid outlet port 41, and a closed position, in which the valve member 42 covers the fluid inlet port 40 such that fluid communication between the body of fluid 36 and the fluid outlet port 41 via the fluid inlet port 40 is prevented.
Moreover, as may be gleaned from
As illustrated in
The valve member 42 may be implemented in a plurality of ways. However,
With reference to
Moreover, as illustrated in
With reference to
Moreover, in the
The fluid inlet port 40 is formed between at least two of the guide members. In the
The
However, it is also envisioned that the
The fluid receiver 76 may comprise a collector base member 78 and a rim 80 extending at least partially in the first direction D from the collector base member 78.
As indicated in
Moreover, as indicated in
Moreover, the
Moreover, the
The valve assembly 22 has an extension in a first direction D, wherein the valve assembly may be adapted to be used in a position where the first direction D is in parallel with, or forming an angle to, a vertical direction V. The valve assembly comprises a fluid inlet port 40. The valve assembly further comprises a valve member 42. The valve member 42 is movable in the first direction D relative to the fluid inlet port 40 between an open position, in which the fluid inlet port 40 is adapted to provide a fluid communication between the body of fluid 36 and the fluid outlet port 41, and a closed position, in which the valve member 42 covers the fluid inlet port 40 such that fluid communication between the body of fluid 36 and the fluid outlet port 41 via the fluid inlet port 40 is prevented. In the embodiment illustrated in
The tank assembly 16 further comprises a main float 110 separated from the valve member 42. The main float 110 is adapted to assume a sufficient fluid position in the tank 20 indicative of the tank 20 containing sufficient fluid for keeping the valve member 42 in its open position. The main float 110 is further adapted to assume an insufficient fluid position in the tank 20 indicative of the tank 20 containing insufficient fluid such that the valve member assumes its closed position.
With reference to the flowchart in
S10: determining the current position of each one of the main float 110 and the valve member 42;
S12: upon determination that the main float 110 is in the sufficient fluid position and that the valve member 42 is in its closed position or upon determination that the main float 110 is in the insufficient fluid position and that the valve member 42 is in its open position,
S14: issuing a warning signal.
As may be realized from
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201641021125 | Jun 2016 | IN | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2017/064761 | 6/16/2017 | WO | 00 |