US3561465A - Jet level sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a sensor for operating a flow control valve pilot. The sensor incorporates a jet which is interrupted by rising liquid within a container and includes an aspirator for picking up liquid and deflecting the jet to render same ineffective.

Description

United States Patent lnventor Paul A. de Graaf Los Angeles, Calif. Appl. No. 822,403 Filed May 7, 1969 Patented Feb. 9, 1971 Assignee Parker-Hannifin Corporation Cleveland, Ohio a corporation of Ohio JET LEVEL SENSOR 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 137/81.5, 137/386 Int. Cl F151: 1/14 FieldofSearch 137/815, 386, 389, 390, 393; 73/548 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,333,044 10/1943 Rosch 73/548 3,020,924 2/1962 Davies.... 137/386 3,269,404 8/1966 Lebow.... 137/386X 3,267,949 8/1966 Adams 137/815 3,277,914 10/1966 Manion 137/815 Primary Examiner-William F. ODea Assistant Examiner-David R. Matthews Att0rney-Diller, Brown, Ramik & Holt ABSTRACT: This disclosure relates to a sensor for operating a flow control valve pilot. The sensor incorporates a jet which is interrupted by rising liquid within a container and includes an aspirator for picking up liquid and deflecting the jet to render same ineffective.

,PATENTEUFEH 91am 3 15 1 455 INVENTOR PAU L A. de GRAN ATTORNEYS JET LEVEL SENSOR This invention specifically relates to the addition of an aspirator to a jet level sensor to effect deflection of a control jet as opposed to resistance to flow byrising liquid whereby a higher jet pressure may be utilized for more effective control.

Previously jet level sensors have been provided for automatically actuating pilots of filling valves to effect automatic shutoff when liquid reaches a predetermined level. These sensors employ a liquid jet directed across a void to a receiver with the jet being interrupted by liquid rising within the void. Prior sensors were limited to 20 psi. pressures in that higher pressure jets are not sufficiently affected by the presence of intervening liquid. j

Jet level sensors may operate at pressures as high as 150 psi. by providing an aspirator at the discharge end of a jet nozzle for drawing rising liquid transversely across a flowing jet to deflect same from its normal path to a receiver. Such sensors do not rely upon the presence of intervening liquid to disrupt jet flow and are not of limited operating pressure. v

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawing:

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view through a tank having level control filling mechanism. 1

FIG. 2 is an enlarged schematic sectional view showing control valve operated by the sensor.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the sensor.

A typical tank filling system is shown in FIG. 1 as includingtank 5 havingfiller conduit 6 connected to an inlet of shutoff valve 7.Jet level sensor 8,positioned at a desired level intank 5, is connected toconduit 6 by supply line 9 and to pilot 10 of valve 7 bypilot line 11. i

Details of typical shutoff valve 7 are found in FIG. 2. Valve 7 has pressure controlled diaphragm mountedvalve member 12 controlling flow fromconduit 6 intotank 5.Small passage 13 invalve member 12 permits pressure build up abovevalve member 12 to close same.

Pilot 10 controls pressure abovevalve member 12 and includesvent 14, which is larger thanpassage 13, controlled bypilot valve member 15 constantly urged to closed position by spring 16. Pressure controlled diaphragm mountedpiston 17 is connected tovalve member 15 for unseating same in response to pressure exerted on'piston 17 throughpilot line 11. l

Details ofnew sensor 8 are shown in-FIG. 3 as includinghousing 20 havingcentral opening 21. Bore 22 extends throughhousing 20 with fitting 23 of supply line 9 threaded in one end andend portion 24 at other end opening into opening 21. Central portion ofbore 22 is restricted toform jet nonle 25.Housing 20 hasaspirator 26 in form of a bore opening upwardly intoend portion 24 for drawing liquid intank 5 intoend portion 24 by flowing liquid jet.

Housing 20 has bore 27 on opposite side ofhousing 21 frombore 22 aligned withbore 22.Receiver 28 is mounted inbore 27 at opening 21 for receiving liquid jet fromjet nozzle 25. The opposite end ofbore 27 has threaded therein fitting 29 of pilot line 1 l to direct jet pressure intopilot 10.

Tank 5 is filled by coupling to adapter 30 thereof, carried byconduit 6, filling nozzle 31, and initiating flow by turning control handle 32 (FIG. 2). Liquid flows through line 9 tosensor 8 to apply pilot opening pressure to piston 17 throughline 11,

venting space in valve 7 abovevalve member 12 through vent l4.

Liquid entering valve 7 fromconduit 6 movesvalve member 12 to open position and flows through opening 33 in valve 7 intotank 5. Flow intotank 5 continues until liquid reachessensor 8 at which time jet flow fromnozzle 25 toreceiver 28 is disrupted and pressure onpiston 17 is reduced, permitting spring 16 to movevalve member 15 to block flow frompassage 13 to vent l4. Hressure in valve 7 abovevalve member 15 movesvalve member 15 to closed position to stop flow intotank 5.

In prior sensors flow of liquid intoopening 21 was relied upon to disrupt jet flowing fromjet nozzle 25 intoreceiver 28. This provided an effective control when liquid'delivered to sensor had a maximum pressure of 20 psi. Increased pressures permit jet flow through liquid in opening 21 sufficiently to prevent difficulties in obtaining assured accurate control of pilot l0.

Aspirator 26 permits flow of liquid jet throughend portion 24 to draw liquid, which has reached sensor level, intoend portion 24 normal to axis of jet flow. Aspirated liquid, striking liquid jet at right angles to axis of flow, deflects liquid jet sufficiently to miss small entrance ofreceiver 28. Thus, liquid at higher pressures may be directed tosensor 8 without effecting efficient operation thereof. Pressure of liquid directed tosensor 8 may be that of liquid inconduit 6 which may be on the order of psi. and higher.

Although only a single embodiment of sensor has been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that minor modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A jet sensor particularly adapted to detect the pressure of liquid, said sensor comprising a jet noule for directing a jet flow of liquid along a predetermined axis, a receiver spaced from said jet nozzle and aligned with the axis of jet flow therefrom the receiving a jet flow from said jet nozzle to maintain a pressurized control, and means for directing detected liquid transversely of the axis of said jet: nozzle against jet flow therefrom to deflect such jet flow away from said receiver and thus remove the pressurized control.

2. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for directing detected liquid are aspirator means.

3. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for directing detected liquid are aspirator means effected by jet flow from said jet nozzle.

4. The jet sensor of claim I wherein said means for directing detected liquid are aspirator means, said aspirator means including an axial bore into which said jet nozzle opens and a transverse bore opening into said axial bore adjacent said jet nozzle.

5. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a liquid level sensor.

6. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a liquid level sensor and said sensor is part of a container filling apparatus.

7. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a liquid level sensor and said sensor is part of a container filling ap paratus, said apparatus including a filler conduit, a shutoff valve controlling flow from said filler conduit into the container, said shutoff valve having a pilot control connected to and positioned by said sensor, and said sensor being connected to said filler conduit for effecting the jet flow thereof.

3 33 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 561,465 Dated February 9, 1971 Inventor(s) PAUL A. deGRAAF 'It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

1'- Column 2, line 33, read presence for "pressure";

Line 37, read for for "the".

Signed and sealed this 9th day of January 1973 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patent

Claims (7)

1. A jet sensor particularly adapted to detect the pressure of liquid, said sensor comprising a jet nozzle for directing a jet flow of liquid along a predetermined axis, a receiver spaced from said jet nozzle and aligned with the axis of jet flow therefrom the receiving a jet flow from said jet nozzle to maintain a pressurized control, and means for directing detected liquid transversely of the axis of said jet nozzle against jet flow therefrom to deflect such jet flow away from said receiver and thus remove the pressurized control.

2. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for directing detected liquid are aspirator means.

3. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for directing detected liquid are aspirator means effected by jet flow from said jet nozzle.

4. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said means for directing detected liquid are aspirator means, said aspirator means including an axial bore into which said jet nozzle opens and a transverse bore opening into said axial bore adjacent said jet nozzle.

5. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a liquid level sensor.

6. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a liquid level sensor and said sensor is part of a container filling apparatus.

7. The jet sensor of claim 1 wherein said sensor is a liquid level sensor and said sensor is part of a container filling apparatus, said apparatus including a filler conduit, a shutoff valve controlling flow from said filler conduit into the container, said shutoff valve having a pilot control connected to and positioned by said sensor, and said sensor being connected to said filler conduit for effecting the jet flow thereof.

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