| WO1996035898A1 | 1996-11-14 |
| US3797511A | 1974-03-19 | |||
| US5060688A | 1991-10-29 | |||
| CH516758A | 1971-12-15 | |||
| US3999571A | 1976-12-28 | |||
| US5224511A | 1993-07-06 |
If the pressure is changed in a closed space, not only oils or chemical compounds which are highly explosive and inflammable become in an unstable state, but also here is a high probability of occurring explosion or fire, and it is possible to have a serious safety accident if the above storage tank is exploded. Therefore, every storage tank keeping oils chemical compounds is subject to be equipped with vent pipes which are connected to outside at all time. However, since these vent pipes are always open, a large amount of oils or chemical compounds are evaporated through them. this eventually implies economical loss as well as one of reasons for contaminating air.
There have been a few inventions to resolve the above-identified problems. They include Korean Utility Model Registration No. 125817 entitled"A valve device for absorbing or discharging air of a transportation tank of oils or chemical compounds"owned by the applicant of the present invention, and U. S. Patent No. 5. 060,688. However, in these invention, the suction means of external air or storage tank and the discharging means of expanded gases which discharges volatile gases from the storage tank are separated from each other crossing at a right angle and are connected to each other by means of other connection pipes. They are therefore disadvantageous in that they occupy a large installation space. Further, there is a problem of increasing the weight of a vessel if the above conventional equipments are installed at a transportation vessel since their own weights are considerable. Since more than tens of these equipments are to be installed at one vessel, their weights are not insignificant. Further, it has been inconvenient to repair them since their unit prices are increased, and their structures are unreasonably complicated. Still further, it has been difficult to clean foreign materials which are fixed inside of the equipment as it is used.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A more complete appreciation of this invention, many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanving drawings, in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar elements components, wherein.
FIG. 1 is a plane view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention ; FIG.'is a sectional view showing the structure of the present invention: FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a line 4-4 of FIG. 2 ; and.
FIG. 4 is a plane view showing a lower body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention for solving the above problem to provide a valve device of a storage tank for transpirating oils or chemical compounds by preventing supersaturated pressure and negative pressure generated inside of a storage tank of a transportation vessel moving oils or chemical compounds such as an oil tanker and maintaining safe pressure at all time.
The above object can be achieved according to the present invention with a valve device of a storage tank for transporting oils or chemical compounds, including: an upper body having an inclined hole including a V-type groove at an upper portion thereof and, at least, more than one screw holes to assemble a cock at a lower portion thereof ; a lower body having two terminals, where an enforcing frame forming a plurality of pathways is formed as an entity by connection irons ; a stem having three-terminal ring-type rod portions extended as an entity at a lower portion of a terminal, and a screw portion : a disc coupled to a protrusion having the form of a ring bv bolts, the protrusion being supported by a plurality of enforcing irons ; two hammering prevention discs assembled to a ring-type rod portion of the stem ; a weight assembled at a lower portion of the hammering prevention : three bushings assembled between the hammering prevention discs and the weight ; a lock nut assembled at bottom surface of the weight ; the enforcing frames for assembling the disc by the bolts; and, a cap having a hole for inserting the ring-type rod portion of the stem and two holes for penetrating with the hole.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be in detail explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a plane view showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which is comprised of a bolt 36 for assembling an upper body 30 in the form of a circular cone form which a conic stem 50 is exposed externally, and a lower body 10 in the form of a cylinder including an enforcing frame 11. Also, FIG. 1 includes a coke 90.
FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the structure of the present invention. In FIG. 2, to the external frame direction of the lower body 10, the enforcing frame 11 is connected as an entity by connection irons 14 and 14a. That is, it is seen that the upper body 10 is made of castings, which is the same for the upper body 30. Formed inside of the enforcing frame 11 are boards 12 and 13, which upper surfaces are ground smoothly through the grinding process. Therefore, it is natural that the bottom surface of a disc 40 as described below is entitled to the grinding process.
Between the enforcing frame and the lower body, a usual reverse-flow prevention filer 28 is inserted, which is fixed by a snap ring 29. there are several enforcing irons 17 inside if the lower body, at which center a boss 18 is formed, into which a cap 60 is inserted, into which a ring-type rod portion 51 of a stem 50 is inserted. It is natural that a pathway 26 for flowing external air into the equipment is formed between the above connection irons 14 and 14a Again, a horizontal boss 20 is formed as an entity horizontally at the side of the lower body, into which a bushing 21 is inserted and an eccentric axis 22 is inserted into the bushing 21. Connected to the upper surface of the eccentric axis 22 is the bottom surface of the above cap 60, which is turned and lifted up by the rotation of the eccentric axis 22, if a handle 23 is turned forcefully.
Namely, upon the eccentric axis 22 is slightly rotated, the cap 60 is slightly lifted and thus, a boss 42 is lifted. Therefore, the disc assembled at the enforcing irons 41 is also a little lifted up along with the stem and external air flows inside of the valve device. again, when the eccentric axis 22 is more rotated, the cap 60 is lifted unto the stem 50 and a terminal connected to a groove 31 having the form of V in the upper body 30 is separated from the groove 31 of the form of V. That is, the eccentric axis 22 and the handle 23 are installed as a preventive measure for normal operation of the valve device by preventing rusting when it is to be used for a long time. If the eccentric axis 22 returned ti its original position, the stem 50 and the disc 40 return to their original positions as well.
As shown in FIGs, 2 and 4, a hole 15 which penetrates through the inner space of the lower body is formed at one connection iron 14, and a hole 25 which penetrates through the above hole 15 vertically is formed at the external side of the board 13. Again, a screw portion 16 is formed at the above hole 15 so that a cock 80 can be assembled. The hole 15 is used as follows: A long-time use of the valve device according to the present invention lets particles of gases which are evaporated in the storage tank, dust, foreign materials contained in water vapor, etc. attach to inner surfaces of the upper and lower bodies as well as surfaces and cleaves of the disc, stem, cap 60, etc. Accordingly, the equipment does not operates smoothly. An equipment in the present invention is proper for moving the above foreign materials, etc. by loosening the cock 80 and inputting high-temperature and high-pressure water vapors into the hole 15. The hold 25 is used as follows: water vapor which is evaporated from inside of the storage tank from water drops as it is condensed inside of the upper body, which then flows along the inner surface of the upper body. The condensed water flowed then enters into the hole 15 through the hole 25, flows down into the lower body, and falls down into the storage tank. Therefore, as the condensed water falls down again into the storage tank although condensed water due to water vapor is generated, there occurs no problem due to the condensed water.
Meantime, internal cleaning can be smoothly performed with making the coke 90 assembled at the upper body 30 and entering hugh-temperature and high-pressure water vapors as mentioned hereinbefore into the upper body.
As depicted in FIG. 3, the disc 40 is positioned at lower portion of a protrusion 44 having the form of the ring which is formed as an entity at the edge of the above enforcing iron 41, that are performed by bolts 43. The disc is made of not the casting but the metal (stainless etc.) through lathe processing and the grinding process. Thus, it does not easily modified, improves it precise operation, and maintains its air-tightness, in comparison with the casting.
An inclined hole 32 is formed at the upper surface of the upper body 30 and again the groove 31 having the form of V is formed thereon, so that the terminal 54 of the stem can be contacted with the V-type groove 31. The upper and lower bodies are assembled with each other by the bolts 36, and the present invention is comprised of two parts, and thus, the longitudinal center of the stem DO is in conformity with those of the upper body 30 and the lower body 10.
At the uppermost of the stem 50, there is a head portion having the form of triangle and having the terminal 54 at the lower side of the stem 50, and there is a three-terminals ring-type rod portion formed at the lower side thereof. In this event, a screw portion 52a is shaped at the surface of the middle ring-type rod portion 52. Accordingly, a hammering prevention disc 70 having a large diameter is engaged after assembling a nut 73 and assembling a bushing 74. Following that, the bushing 74a and the hammering prevention disc 70a having a small diameter are engaged and the bushing 74b is inserted, and resultedly a weight 71 is engaged. Finally, the above parts are fitted at the ring-type rod portion 52 with assembling a lock nut 72.
As a result, the terminal 54 of the stem 50 is contacted with the V-type groove 31 of the upper body 30 by the weight of the weight and the hammer ring prevention disc to thus maintain the air-tightness.
Formed inside of a cap 60 is a hole 61 into which the ring-type rod portion 51 of the stem 50 is inserted. Impact, vibration, hammering phenomenon, fluttering phenomenon, etc. due to discharge of the supersaturated gases generated inside of the storage tank can be almost extinguished when the stem moves up and down by having gases circulate through another hole 62. That is, supersaturated pressure is generated in the storage tank, and if gases are to be discharged externally, they can discharged outside through the inclined hole while lifting up the stem, but inside of the hole 61 and inside of the hole 51a of the ring-type portion 51 are pressurized through the hole 62.
In the meantime, the hammering prevention discs 70 and 70a assist elevation action of the stem as a wing of an airplane due to the affect of supersaturated gases discharged. In other words, as the stem is lifted up, the ring-type rod portion 51 is also lifted while creating a space proportional to the length of elevation at the bottom surface of the ring-type rod portion in the cap 60.
Whereas, the pressure of supersaturated gases discharged is acted upon this space and in the hole 61. by such action, buffering is accomplished at the bottom of the ring-type ring portion 51 and inside of the cap 60, and therefore, up-and-down vibration of the stem, hammering phenomenon, fluttering phenomenon, etc. are almost extinguished when supersaturated gases are discharged, and the non-hammering results are obtained. At this point, it is natural that the hammering prevention discs 70 and 70a contribute to the non-hammering action. It is most desirable and ideal for a valve device such as one in the present invention not to hammer when operation. Thereafter, when the stem is lowered by the weight of a weight as the supersaturated pressure is somewhat relieved, the bottom surface of the ring-type rod portion 51 is descended smoothly while discharging gases in the cap 60 through the hole 62. Accordingly, impact in accordance with lowering of the stem is greatly alleviated. The hammering prevention disc 70 assists smooth lowering of the stem at this time as well, Therefore, the cap 60 and the hammering prevention disc 70 play an important rope of greatly increasing durability of the equipment.
If supersaturated pressure is generated in the storage tank again, as mentioned above, gases are discharged, the stem is lower, and the terminal 54 of the stem 50 closes the groove 31 having the form of V. Accordingly, the up-and-down movement of the stem is repeated non-specifically by the pressure variation inside the tank.
Next, if oils or chemical compounds in the storage tank are discharged outside (to a tank on the ground or a storage tank of another vessel) by pumping, they are discharged rapidly thus generating negative pressure (vacuum phenomenon) in the storage tank. Therefore, discharged of oils or chemical compounds is not facilitated. If this phenomena becomes severe, ti is possible that the storage tank is crushed or cracks are formed at the welding portion or weak portion. And it is not good for a storage tank higher if supersaturated pressure is generated or if negative pressure is generated on the contrary. Therefore, if negative pressure is generated, it is desirable to maintain the standard pressure in the storage tank at all times by having external air enter into the storage tank, and it is safe to keep this state.
If negative pressure is generated in the storage tank, naturally it is acted upon inner spaces of the upper body 30 and the lower body 10. The disc 40 is then lifted up a little by the pressure of external air. Therefore, external air flows into the storage tank through the pathway 26 after foreign materials are filtered through the reverse-flow-preventing filter 15 thus relieving negative pressure in the storage tank. If negative pressure is relieved some what, the disc 40 returns to its original position naturally again and cuts off flowing-in of external air as the inner pressure of the storage tank and atmospheric pressure become almost balanced.
The reverse-flow-preventing filer 28 not only assumes a role of filtering foreign materials mixed in the air flowing in the storage tank somewhat, but also prevents entering of flame or source of heat generated externally.
The operation efficiency is good because the terminal 54 formed at the stem is made simply through the lathe process, and it is easy to made the present invention because the form is not difficult. Thus, the V-type groove 31 of the upper body also can be simply made through the lathe process, thereby enhancing the productivity as well as improving the precision.
Also, the hammering prevention discs having large diameter and small diameter are all used in the present invention, the assembling order of the above hammering prevention discs can be changed and the variation of the diameter can be generated.
Further, the diameter of the weight 71 can be changed accordingly.
As pointed previously, the present invention can reduce the size and the weight in comparison with the prior art under the conditions of demonstrating identical function, and improve the durability.
As may be apparent from the foregoing, the present invention has the effect of facilitating discharge of gases or flowing-in of external air compared to conventional equipments by compacting the upper body and the lower body, so that the stem and the longitudinal centers are in conformity with each other. Its structural characteristics bring in many advantages in that the number of large-sized parts is small and its assembling and repair are convenient, thus leading eventually to be highly economic in that production unit cost is reduced and the time required for its installation is shortened. The gear device according to the present invention is characterized by its small size thus occupying a small space, and particularly, its light weight is effective in reducing the inherent weight of a vessel if it is installed at a ship. It is also advantageous in that side of the device can be cleaned simply by high-temperature and high-pressure water vapor, and the condensed water formed by water vapor evaporated in the storage tank can be restored into the storage tank again. It is further characterized by its increased durability by inducing the non-hammering action by very effectively relieving the hammering phenomenon, fluttering phenomenon, vibration, impact, etc. of the stem generated when gases are discharged due to supersaturated pressure. In addition, the disc is made of not casting but the metal, thereby improving the durability and the precision. Likewise, the present invention can improve the productive with simplifying the structure of the terminal 54 of the stem and the V-type groove 31 of the upper body.
While there have been illustrated and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made, and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true scope of the present invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teaching of the present invention without departing from the central scope thereof.
Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out the present invention, but that the present invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.