Fluidic automatic nozzle

Abstract

A nozzle for use in controlling the flow of liquids incorporating a positive pressure generating device which provides a positive pressure to a diaphragm chamber which serves to retain the valve in an open position after manual opening of the valve by means of a manually operable actuator mechanism. The valve actuator mechanism includes closure means for moving the valve closure means to a closed position and releasable opening means for moving the valve closure means to an open position. A releasable opening means is released when the diaphragm chamber is positively pressurized at a pressure sufficient to retain the valve closure means in a predetermined open position. This provides a nozzle which, after initial manual opening, will be automatically closed when the positive pressure provided by the positive pressure generating device is cut off by the rising level of liquid within the tank. The valve may also be closed at any time by releasing the control handle and permitting it to return to its closed position.

What we claim as our invention is: 
     
       1. In an automatic nozzle for use in controlling the flow of fluids having a housing having a fluid passage opening therethrough, valve means in said passage including a valve member for opening and closing said fluid passage, and means for generating a positive fluid pressure in response to the flow of liquid through said fluid passage, diaphragm means mounted in said housing forming a diaphragm chamber communicating with said means for generating a positive pressure, said means for generating a positive pressure including means for disrupting its pressure generating ability in response to the level of liquid in the tank being filled rising above a predetermined height with respect to said nozzle, manually operable valve opening means movable between a first position in which said valve member is closed and a second position in which said valve is open, the improvement of means connecting said diaphragm means and said valve means whereby said valve means moves with said diaphragm, and wherein said manually operable actuator means includes collapsible stem means extending into said housing and engaging said diaphragm means, locking means for releasably locking said stem means in an extended position in which said stem is operable to move said diaphragm to move said valve member to an open position,   and means urging said stem means to said first position to close said valve,   said releasable locking means being released when said stem means is moved to a predetermined position at least partially opening said valve and when said diaphragm chamber is positively pressurized at a pressure sufficient to move said valve closure member independently of said stem, thereafter said valve closure means being closable in response to a predetermined decrease in pressure by collapsing of said stem.   
     
     
       2. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said collapsible stem means includes a diaphragm stem portion projection from said diaphragm and a handle stem portion having one end slidably mounted with respect to said diaphragm stem portion and spring clip means carried by one of said stem portions and movable between a first position engaging the other of said stem portions and retaining the stem in the extended position and a second position out of engagement with the other of said stem portions to permit said stem to contract. 
     
     
       3. A nozzle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said diaphragm stem portion and said handle stem portion telescopically engage one another within said diaphragm chamber, said spring clip means engaging a wall of said diaphragm chamber when said handle stem portion moves to its outermost position with respect to said diaphragm chamber so as to urge said spring clip in a direction towards said diaphragm stem to engage said diaphragm stem when said diaphragm stem and said handle stem are in said extended configuration. 
     
     
       4. A nozzle as claimed in claim 1 wherein said valve actuator means includes manually engageable handle means movable beteen the first closed position and the second open position and means for locking said handle in said second open position. .Iadd. fluid 5. A fluidic nozzle for controlling the flow into a storage tank, comprising: nozzle housing means having a fluid inlet passage, a fluid outlet passage for insertion into said storage tank and an intermediate fluid passage interconnecting said inlet and outlet passages;   valve means including a valve member and valve seat in the fluid flow path of said intermediate fluid passage for opening said intermediate fluid passage in response to an applied positive pressure of a predetermined value and for closing said intermediate fluid passage in the absence of said positive pressure;   valve actuator means for operating said valve means to apply said predetermined positive pressure to said valve means for initially opening said intermediate passage to permit fluid flow through said housing means passages into said storage tank;   fluidic means having an outlet and responsive to fluid flow in said housing means outlet passage for normally generating a positive fluid pressure signal of at least said predetermined value at said outlet and having a fluid level sensing inlet disposed in said housing means outlet passage for causing a decrease in the fluid pressure signal at said output of said amplifier means below said predetermined value when the liquid level in said storage tank rises to the level of said sensing inlet; and   signal applying means coupling said output of said fluidic means to said valve means for applying said predetermined value positive pressure signal to said valve means to normally maintain said intermediate fluid passage open following initial opening thereof by said actuator means until said liquid level rises to the level of said sensing inlet. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 6. The fluidic nozzle of claim 5 in which said valve means further includes a first bias element for normally biasing said valve member against said valve seat and in which said valve actuator means includes a manually actuated handle. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. The fluidic nozzle of claim 6 in which said valve means includes a second valve member cooperatively defining with said housing means a pressure chamber and in which said first valve member is coupled for movement with said second valve member and further in which said signal applying means couples said output of said fluidic means to said pressure chamber. .Iaddend..Iadd. 8. The fluidic nozzle of claim 7 in which said valve actuator means comprises valve stem linkage coupled between said manually actuated handle and said second valve member. .Iaddend..Iadd. 9. The fluidic nozzle of claim 8 in which said first and second valve means are movable diaphragms rigidly coupled to one another by connecting means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 10. The fluidic nozzle of claim 9 in which said valve actuator means further includes a second bias element for normally biasing said manually actuable handle in a direction to close said first valve member, and in which said first and second bias elements exert a biasing pressure to close said first valve greater than said predetermined pressure valve. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 11. The fluidic nozzle of claim 10 in which said valve stem linkage couples said manually actuated handle to said second valve member for a predetermined distance of movement of said handle at least sufficient for opening said first valve member and initiating fluid flow through said housing passages and thereafter said valve stem linkage decouples said manually actuable handle from said second valve member. .Iaddend..Iadd. 12. The fluidic nozzle of claim 11 in which said first and second bias means comprise springs, said signal applying comprises a fluid conduit and in which said fluidic means comprises a fluid amplifier having an input for normally directing fluid flow entering said input to said output without a substantial reduction in fluid pressure but responsive to fluid level at said level sensing inlet for diverting said fluid flow away from said output to effect a substantial reduction in the fluid pressure signal at said output. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The fluidic nozzle of claim 12 in which one side of said second diaphragm valve member communicates with said pressure chamber and in which the opposite side thereof communicates with fluid entering said housing means inlet passage. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The fluidic nozzle of claim 13 in which said first valve member progressively restricts flow through said intermediate housing means passage in moving between its open and closed positions and in which said predetermined distance during which said valve stem linkage couples said manually actuated handle to said second diaphragm valve member is sufficient to permit manual control of fluid flow through said intermediate housing means passage at no more than a preselected, restricted fluid flow rate, independently of said fluidic means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The fluidic nozzle of claim 14 in which said one side of said first diaphragm valve member is both coupled to said second diaphragm valve member and adapted for engaging said valve seat and in which the opposite side thereof engages said spring bias element. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. The fluidic nozzle of claim 15 in which said opposite side of said first diaphragm valve member cooperates with said housing means to define a second pressure chamber and in which said second pressure chamber is vented to atmosphere. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. In a nozzle for use in controlling the flow of liquids into a storage tank including a housing means having a fluid passage opening therethrough with an output end of said passage being adapted for insertion into said storage tank, a first valve member for opening and closing said fluid passage, signal means for generating a predetermined positive fluid pressure in response to the flow of liquid through said fluid passage and having means for disrupting said predetermined positive fluid pressure of said signal generating means in response to the level of liquid in said storage tank rising above a predetermined height with respect to said nozzle and manually operable valve actuator means movable between a first position in which said first valve member is closed and a second position in which said valve member is at least partially open, the improvement comprising:   valve means including said first valve member and a second valve member, coupled for coordinated movement with said first valve member, said second valve member cooperating with said housing means to define a pressure chamber for displacing said first valve member to its open position in response to said predetermined positive fluid pressure applied to said pressure chamber;   signal applying means for coupling said signal pressure of said positive signal generating means to said pressure chamber; and   bias means for normally maintaining said first valve member closed in the absence of operation of said valve actuator means and said predetermined positive pressure signal. .Iaddend.