Patent · US Expired

Overcharge prevention arrangement

US4561940A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
10References
4Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 9, 1984
Grant dateDec 31, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 9, 2004

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/7439
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

The overcharge prevention device is installed in a solvent processing plant in a vacuum evaporator of a heat exchanger. It assures that the level of the cleaning solution in the vacuum evaporator cannot randomly rise when a feed valve malfunctions. A float body of an overcharge valve extending into the vacuum evaporator exerts a pressure through a double-arm lever and a valve plunger upon a ball valve and a valve seat in normal operation and holds the overcharge valve in a closed position. As the level of the cleaning solution undesirably rises, the buoyant action of the cleaning solution acts on the float body, causing the pressure on the valve seat to diminish, and the overcharge valve opens. This permits air to enter into the vacuum evaporator through the overcharge valve. The generated vacuum collapses and the suction force employed to ingest the cleaning solution disappears. Cleaning solution is only delivered to the vacuum evaporator again when the level thereof in the vacuum evaporator has been lowered by draining residue and the malfunction of the feed valve has been eliminated, as by cleaning thereof.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.