Magnetic Overfill Valve Actuation Without Drop Tube Penetration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing overfill prevention valves for underground storage tanks require physical penetration of the drop tube segment, creating a leak point and allowing vapor from the ullage space to enter the drop tube, which can be vented to the atmosphere.

Innovation Solution

An overfill prevention valve with a non-contact valve actuator that operates externally to the drop tube segment, actuating the valve body from an open to a closed position without penetrating the conduit wall, using magnetic fields and buoyant floats to control fluid flow and prevent overfilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a mechanical linkage is used to connect the float and valve body, then the valve can be actuated to prevent overfilling, but the drop tube wall must be physically penetrated creating a vapor leak point

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverfill preventionVSAvoidvapor leakage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical linkage system with a magnetic field-based actuation system. A float containing a magnet rises with the liquid level and actuates the valve body through magnetic attraction or repulsion forces transmitted through the drop tube wall, eliminating the need for physical penetration and sealing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The drop tube wall itself serves as an intermediary medium that transmits magnetic forces from the float to the valve body without requiring physical penetration. The magnetic field penetrates the wall to actuate the valve while the wall remains intact, preventing vapor leakage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the drop tube wall is penetrated for linkage connection, then valve actuation is enabled, but the structural integrity and vapor tightness of the drop tube is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevalve actuationVSAvoidvapor containment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes mechanical penetration-based actuation with magnetic field-based actuation. The float contains a magnet that interacts with a magnetically actuated valve body through the drop tube wall, enabling valve operation without compromising the wall's structural integrity or vapor containment capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If a float mechanism is used for overfill prevention, then liquid level control is achieved, but the complexity of the valve actuation system increases due to linkage requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveliquid level detectionVSAvoidvalve actuation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent simplifies the valve actuation mechanism by replacing complex mechanical linkages with a magnetic field-based system. The float contains a magnet that directly actuates the valve body through magnetic forces transmitted through the drop tube wall, eliminating intermediate linkage components and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Prevents vapor from entering the drop tube, ensuring accurate filling and reducing the risk of vapor venting to the atmosphere, while allowing for efficient drainage when the valve is closed, thus enhancing the reliability and safety of the filling process.

Implementation Method 1

using magnetic fields and buoyant floats to control fluid flow and prevent overfilling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic fields: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 2

using magnetic fields and buoyant floats to control fluid flow and prevent overfilling

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS11859731B2Overfill prevention valve

Publication Date: 2024.01.02 FRANKLIN FUELING SYST INC

AI summary

An overfill valve associated with a drop tube segment fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir is described. The overfill valve includes a valve body positioned within the drop tube segment and a non-contact valve actuator positioned exterior to the drop tube segment and operable to actuate the valve body from an open position to a closed position without requiring any physical penetration through the wall of the drop tube segment. The non-contact valve actuator has a first position in which the non-contact valve actuator does not actuate the valve body from the open position to the closed position in a second position, achieved when the liquid reservoir reaches a predetermined level approaching the capacity of the liquid reservoir, the non-contact valve actuator actuating the valve body from the open position to the closed position when the non-contact valve actuator obtains the second position.