GB1600271A - Separating devices - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO SEPARATING DEVICES (71) I, DICK VALENTINE GOUGH of "Solway" Knights Bank Road, Hill Head, Fareham, Hampshire, a British subject do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me and the method by which it is to be performed to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to devices for the separation of a denser constituent from a mixture of liquids or of a solid material mixed with a liquid. Such mixtures of different density materials will be referred to hereinafter simply as mixtures. The invention is particularly concerned with the separation of water from liquid fuel, e.g. for an internal combustion engine of a motive power installation, although it may be employed for the separation of other mixtures.

Solid particles, water and other impurities can find their way into fuel storage tanks through various causes and should such impurities reach user equipment, such as a heating burner or the fuel injection system of an engine, damage may be caused to the equipment. As an example, if water is allowed to enter the fuel injection pump of a diesel engine it can cause scoring of the pistons and cylinder bores and sometimes complete seizure of the pump.

It is known to insert a separator and/or filter in the fuel line between the fuel tank and the injection equipment to remove any solid particles and water from the flow through the fuel line. Such devices, however, tend to be less efficient if required to operate at high rates of flow and they are dependent on the human element for inspection and/or drainage.

The problem can become severe if there is an accumulation of impurities in the fuel tank such that the level of the impurities settling at the bottom of the tank reaches the level of the delivery fuel line and, for example, a large flow of water through the fuel line can flood the separator rendering it ineffective and allowing the water to enter the user equipment. Sumps and/or draincocks have been fitted to fuel tanks to avoid this problem but themselves have disadvantages, as a permanent sump is extremely difficult to clean and a drain cock allows fuel to be pilfered easily.

According to the present invention there is provided a device for separating a denser constituent of a mixture in a reservoir and comprising a container arranged to be mounted at the bottom of the reservoir to collect said constituent, a float in said container being arranged to be lifted by an accumulation of said denser constituent in the container to cause or permit removal of said accumulated constituent through a drain outlet in the lower region of the container and valve means of the device controlling an entry from the interior of the reservoir to an upper region of the container whereby communication from the reservoir can be sealed off by said valve means for removal of the container, said valve means being mounted on a member of the device arranged to be secured to said reservoir and to which the container is removably securable, engagement means between the valve means and the container being arranged to be operated by removal and resecuring of the container, whereby the valve means are closed by the removal of the container and re-opened by the resecuring of the container.

To prevent the deliberate or inadvertent withdrawal of fuel through the drain outlet, the float can be arranged to close an internal valve passage for said drain outlet when not lifted by said accumulation of the denser constituent, e.g. by means of a valve closure element secured to or forming part of the lower region of the float. Alternatively or additionally the drain outlet may be provided with a valve having control means arranged to be operated by said lifting of the float.

The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure I is a vertical sectional view of a first form of separator according to the invention, Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of the separator of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a detail view on the arrow A in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of another form of separator according to the invention, and Figure 5 illustrates a modification that can be employed in either of the separators of the preceding figures.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the separator comprises a flanged plate 1 secured to the bottom of a fuel tank F by means of fastenings 2 and sealed with the tank bottom by a jointing member 3. The flanged plate has an integral central spigot 4 and rotatably mounted on the spigot is a valve plate 7 with a sealing layer 8 on its underface, the layer 8 being urged against the plate 1 by a spring 9 retained on the spigot by washer 10 and screw 11. The flanged plate has at least one port 5 with which a similar port or ports 14 extending through the valve plate 7 and sealing layer 8 can be brought into registration.

A collector bowl 15 is secured to the flange plate 1 by a bayonet-type engagement comprising lugs 18 engaging slots 6 in peripheral flange 16 of the plate, the lugs being held in place by one or more spring clips 19. An O-ring 20 provides a seal between the flange 16 and the bowl 15. At the bottom of the bowl there is a valve seat 23 leading to a dependent drain passage 24 in which there is an externally operated drain cock 25.

A float 21 is disposed in the bowl 15 and is located centrally by guides 17 cast integrally with the wall of the bowl. One of the guides is slotted to provide also a sliding engagement with an operating rod 12 fixed to valve plate 7 locating the rod circumferentially of the bowl 15. Thus, when the bowl is to be removed from the flanged plate 1, rotating it to free the lugs 18 from the slots 6 also entrains the operating rod 12 so that the valve plate with its sealing layer rotates with the bowl. It is arranged that this rotation moves the ports 5, 14 out of registration with each other so that the path through the flanged plate 1 from the tank to the collector bowl is closed (Figure 2). The O-ring 20 remains in sealing engagement between the bowl 15 and the flange 16 during this rotation and the bowl with the O-ring is released from the flange by a downward movement only after rotation of the valve plate has been completed to close the ports 5, 14. The bowl can therefore be removed for cleaning out accumulated sediment without loss of fuel from the tank. Conversely, when the bowl is replaced the O-ring 20 becomes operative before the ports 5, 14 are re-opened.

The float 15 is so weighted that it will sink in the fuel to be contained in the tank, but will float in water. To the bottom of the float is attached a valve head 22 co-axial with the valve seat 23 and when no water is present in the bowl the valve head will be in contact with the valve seat, thus sealing the drain passage 24 so that opening the drain tap 25 will not cause any loss of fuel. If water or other relatively dense impurities separate from the fuel in the tank they will collect in the bowl at the bottom of the tank, the float will rise and the valve head will lift from the seat 23, thus allowing the water to be drained away until the float sinks to close the drain passage again. The internal valve head 22 and seat 23 thus act automatically to prevent the escape of fuel through the drain outlet so as to prevent accidental or deliberate loss of fuel.

Instead of mounting the valve head on the float, it is possible to arrange a mechanical linkage operated by the rise and fall of the float to open and close the internal valve.

In order to prevent any sediment falling through the ports 5, 14 from settling on the top of the float valve, which might eventually increase its effective density until its ability to float in water was impaired, a shield la is secured to the underside of the flange plate 1.

Figure 4 illustrates a modified arrangement of the separator already described in Figures 1 to 3 in which automatic means are provided for draining accumulated water.

For this purpose the separator comprises a proximity switch 26, e.g. a reed switch, in a cavity in the flanged plate 1 discrete from the interior of the bowl. The float 21 carries a permanent magnet 27 so that at a predetermined position in the rise of the float as water accumulates in the bowl, the magnet will cause the switch to operate, thereby operating relay 29 which in turn causes solenoid-operated drain valve 28 to open.

As the water drains away, through tube 28a, the fall of the float 21 allows the contacts of the switch to open and the solenoid valve shuts again.

A plug and socket connector 30 is shown for the leads to the solenoid valve to facilitate the removal of the collector bowl, which is effected in the manner already described in the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3. The relay 29 illustrated will normally be required only if it is needed to isolate the contacts of the reed switch from the induc tive load of the solenoid and if this is unnecessary the reed switch can be connected directly to the valve solenoid.

It may be desirable in certain applications to employ in place of the relay 29 a time delay relay which would hold the valve open for a set period once the reed switch 26 had operated so as to ensure flushing of the bowl by clean fuel. The same effect could be obtained by the provision of a dashpot or other return delay means. In these instances it might also be necessary to omit the internal closure valve 22, 23 but there is less need for that valve in the automatically operated arrangement since the drain passage is held closed by the solenoid valve after flushing.

In other automatically operating arrangements, however, it may still be desirable to retain the internal closure valve. For example, instead of employing a proximity switch operable by the float to actuate the solenoid valve, there could be automatic operation from some other function of the installation.

In the case of a separator in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, this might be the engine starter switch, a brake warning light switch or the like, so that it is ensured that the solenoid valve is opened at frequent intervals without requiring attention from the operator. Solenoid operation of the drain valve may also be used to advantage if remote manual actuation is required. e.g. by means of a push-button switch in the driving cab. Other power sources can be used to open and close the external drain valve, for example in a vehicle with brakes operated by compressed air, vacuum, hydraulic pressure or the like, the brake operation can be coupled to the separator drain valve.

It may be desired to provide means for a warning signal, either visual or audible or both, to be operated while the drain valve is open. This could be provided with any of the methods of control of the valve described above.

In the arrangement of Figure 4, such warning means can be connected in parallel with the solenoid valve, but in the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 an additional device, which may be mechanically or electrically actuated, would be provided.

It may not always be possible or expedient to provide a relatively large aperture in the bottom of a tank to mount the separator, particularly in an existing installation. In that case, Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement in which a drain cock tapping 40, as is commonly provided in tanks such as fuel tanks, is employed to mount the separator. An adaptor cover 41 has an upwardly extended spigot 42 that screws into the tapping 40 and that provides an entry passage 43 from the tank into the separator.

A bottom flange 44 of the adaptor cover has apertures for the fastenings 2 of the flanged plate 1 of the separator, the mounting of the spring 9 thus projecting into the space within the adaptor cover. In other respects the separator can be of the form already described.

In applications in which the fuel tank or reservoir is likely to be subjected to temperatures below the freezing point of a separated liquid constituent, such as water in the example being described, it may be desired to provide a heating device within or outside of the collector bowl to prevent freezing of water accumulated in the bowl that might lead to blockage of the drainage route by ice.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A device for separating a denser constituent of a mixture in a reservoir and comprising a container arranged to be mounted at the bottom of the reservoir to collect said constituent, a float in said container being arranged to be lifted by an accumulation of said denser constituent in the container to cause or permit removal of said accumulated constituent through a drain outlet in the lower region of the container and valve means of the device controlling an entry from the interior of the reservoir to an upper region of the container whereby communication from the reservoir can be sealed off by said valve means for removal of the container, said valve means being mounted on a member of the device arranged to be secured to said reservoir and to which the container is removably securable, engagement means between the valve means and the container being arranged to be operated by removal and resecuring of the container, whereby the valve means are closed by the removal of the container and re-opened by the resecuring of the container.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprise a valve element provided with at least one port registerable with an opening in said member to provide communication between the reservoir and the container, said element being rotatable by removal and re-attachment of the container to bring said port into and out of registration with said opening.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said valve element is in the form of a plate resiliently biased against a surface of said member from which said opening extends.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drain outlet is provided with a valve passage arranged to be closed by the float when the float is not lifted by said accumulation of the denser constituent.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein a valve closure element is secured to or forms part of the lower region of the float

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tive load of the solenoid and if this is unnecessary the reed switch can be connected directly to the valve solenoid. It may be desirable in certain applications to employ in place of the relay 29 a time delay relay which would hold the valve open for a set period once the reed switch 26 had operated so as to ensure flushing of the bowl by clean fuel. The same effect could be obtained by the provision of a dashpot or other return delay means. In these instances it might also be necessary to omit the internal closure valve 22, 23 but there is less need for that valve in the automatically operated arrangement since the drain passage is held closed by the solenoid valve after flushing. In other automatically operating arrangements, however, it may still be desirable to retain the internal closure valve. For example, instead of employing a proximity switch operable by the float to actuate the solenoid valve, there could be automatic operation from some other function of the installation. In the case of a separator in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, this might be the engine starter switch, a brake warning light switch or the like, so that it is ensured that the solenoid valve is opened at frequent intervals without requiring attention from the operator. Solenoid operation of the drain valve may also be used to advantage if remote manual actuation is required. e.g. by means of a push-button switch in the driving cab. Other power sources can be used to open and close the external drain valve, for example in a vehicle with brakes operated by compressed air, vacuum, hydraulic pressure or the like, the brake operation can be coupled to the separator drain valve. It may be desired to provide means for a warning signal, either visual or audible or both, to be operated while the drain valve is open. This could be provided with any of the methods of control of the valve described above. In the arrangement of Figure 4, such warning means can be connected in parallel with the solenoid valve, but in the arrangement of Figures 1 to 3 an additional device, which may be mechanically or electrically actuated, would be provided. It may not always be possible or expedient to provide a relatively large aperture in the bottom of a tank to mount the separator, particularly in an existing installation. In that case, Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement in which a drain cock tapping 40, as is commonly provided in tanks such as fuel tanks, is employed to mount the separator. An adaptor cover 41 has an upwardly extended spigot 42 that screws into the tapping 40 and that provides an entry passage 43 from the tank into the separator. A bottom flange 44 of the adaptor cover has apertures for the fastenings 2 of the flanged plate 1 of the separator, the mounting of the spring 9 thus projecting into the space within the adaptor cover. In other respects the separator can be of the form already described. In applications in which the fuel tank or reservoir is likely to be subjected to temperatures below the freezing point of a separated liquid constituent, such as water in the example being described, it may be desired to provide a heating device within or outside of the collector bowl to prevent freezing of water accumulated in the bowl that might lead to blockage of the drainage route by ice. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A device for separating a denser constituent of a mixture in a reservoir and comprising a container arranged to be mounted at the bottom of the reservoir to collect said constituent, a float in said container being arranged to be lifted by an accumulation of said denser constituent in the container to cause or permit removal of said accumulated constituent through a drain outlet in the lower region of the container and valve means of the device controlling an entry from the interior of the reservoir to an upper region of the container whereby communication from the reservoir can be sealed off by said valve means for removal of the container, said valve means being mounted on a member of the device arranged to be secured to said reservoir and to which the container is removably securable, engagement means between the valve means and the container being arranged to be operated by removal and resecuring of the container, whereby the valve means are closed by the removal of the container and re-opened by the resecuring of the container.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said valve means comprise a valve element provided with at least one port registerable with an opening in said member to provide communication between the reservoir and the container, said element being rotatable by removal and re-attachment of the container to bring said port into and out of registration with said opening.

3. A device according to claim 2 wherein said valve element is in the form of a plate resiliently biased against a surface of said member from which said opening extends.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drain outlet is provided with a valve passage arranged to be closed by the float when the float is not lifted by said accumulation of the denser constituent.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein a valve closure element is secured to or forms part of the lower region of the float

and is arranged to close said passage when the float is in a lowermost position in said container.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein said container is arranged to have said constituent enter through an upper region above shielding means that prevent said constituent from falling directly onto a top surface of the float.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a cover member mounted over said valve means and a downwardly extending entry passage in said cover member having means at its upper end to attach the device to a drain aperture of the reservoir.

8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drain outlet is provided with a drain valve having control means arranged to be operated by said lifting of the float.

9. A motive power installation having a device according to any one of the preceding claims secured to a fuel tank for an internal combustion engine of the installation.

10. A motive power installation according to claim 9 when dependent to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the drain outlet of the device is provided with a drain valve having control means connected to means for operating another function of the installation whereby operation of said other function during the running of the installation is arranged to actuate said valve control means for removal of said accumulated constituent.

11. A device for separating a denser constituent of a mixture, constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 alone or as modified by Figure 4 and/or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A motive power installation having a device for separating a denser constituent of a mixture, constructed and arranged for use and operation substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1 to 3 alone or as modified by Figure 4 and/or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A motor vehicle having a motive power installation according to claim 12.