Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDA R) PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: APEX VALVES LIMITED Actual Inventors JOHN ANDRE PITOUT Address for service in Australia: Newhan & Co Level 1, 425-429 Pacific Highway, Crows Nest P0 Box 1325, Crows Nest New South Wales 2065, Australia Ph: 0064-27-231 6702 Fax: 0064-9-414 6012 Invention Title: A WATER TANK LEVEL INDICATOR The following statement is a fnl description of this invention, including the best method ofpcrforming it known to us: Paupp OS-OM.20- finalk Vl$e This invention relates to devices to indicate the level of a quantity of a liquid in a relatively large tank or similar liquid storage vessel. In particular the invention relates to a mounting device for fixing through an upper section of a substantially closed water storage tank to support liquid! level visual indication means projecting therethrough. The level indications 5 means is intended to be visible for some considerable distance and the combination of the indication means with the mounting means is another embodiment of this invention. Various water tank level indicating devices are known, some of these typically including a float supported stern extending through an upper section of a tank. The float floats on the water surface and causes the stem to rise and fall with the change in level of the water in the 10 tank. The extent of projection of the stem above the tank thus indicates the depth and thus the quantity of wAter within the tank. A problem with such known devices can be the difficulty in mounting thein to the tank. Ideally, the stem needs to be slidingly mounted in a substantially true vertical disposition to ensure true (along a vertical line) movement of the float and stem as a single unit. Achieving this correct mounting can bc awkward as often such tanks are not 15 scated on foundations or bare sites that are level and consequently a cover or top of the tank is itself not level. It follows that the true vertical line from the top of a quantity of water within the tank can be angled relative to the top or cover of the tank. Furthermore, normally the top of such tanks are inclined or curved to shed rain water thus even if the tank is mounted level a top or cover thereof for receiving the mounting may not be level. An object of this invention 20 is to provide a mounting for such a float and liquid stem level indictor which it is envisaged will substantially overcome such mounting problems. A further object is to provide the public with a useful choice.
o0-os_26 - finnI AU spec 3 According to a first embodiment of this invention there is provided a mounting for a tank mounted float and elongate stem liquid level indicating device comprising a ball element incorporating A diametrically extending passage therethrough and adjustable ball clamping and 5 tank top mounting means incorporating upper and lower apertures aligned with the passage to, in a set-up mode, attach the ball elenient to a tank top with the passage therethrough substantially aligned with the apertures of the clamping and mounting means and in a generally vertical orientation and alignment with a stem accommodating aperture in the tank top, whereby an elongate stem clement of a liquid level indicating device can be slidingly 10 accommodated through the passage and associated apertures and the ball element partly rotated to provide, in a fastened mode, that the ball element can be clamped to retain the ball element such that the passage is in a substantially true vertical disposition According to a second embodiment of this invention there is provided a mounting as described in the preceding paragraph wherein the adjustable ball element clamping and mounting means 15 comprises a clamp plate and a mounting plate, the clamp plate being adjustably joined in abutting face to face relationship on the mounting plate to retain the ball element therebetween and the plates being clampable together to prevent rotational movement of the bail element. According to a third embodiment of this invention there is provided a mounting as described in either of the two immediately preceding paragraphs wherein at least one spigot is 20 incorporated on the ball clement to extend the length of the passage, the spigot(s) projecting through the. associated aperture(s) on the clamping and/or mounting means as the case may be.
05-Ct-20 - fini AU ,ec 4 According to a fourth embodiment of this invention there is provided a tank liquid level indicator comprising a rigid elongate stem element adapted to carry a float at or adjacent a first end and supporting visual indicator means at or adjacent a second end, a ball element incorporating a diametrically extending passage therethrough adapted to slidably 5 accommodate the elongate stem member, and adjustable ball clamping and tank top mounting means incorporating upper and lower apertures aligned with the passage to, in a set-up node, attach the ball element to a tank top with the passage therethrough substantially aligned with the apertures of the clamping and mounting means and in a generally vertical orientation and alignment with a stem element accommodating aperture in the tank top, with the stem 10 element being slidingly accommodated through the passage and associated apertures enabling the ball element to be rotated to provide, in a fastened mode, that the ball element can be clamped to retain the stem element in a substantially true vertiual disposition According to a fifth embodiment of this invention there is provided a tank liquid level indicator comprising a rigid elongate stem element adapted to carry a float at or adjacent a first 15 end and supporting visual indicator means at or adjacent a second end wherein the mounting therefore is as described in any one of the first three embodiments of this invention. In further describing this invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein; Fig I is an exploded view of the mounting, and Fig 2 is a side view of the mounting in combination with a typical elongate stem and float 20 liquid level indicating means depicted, partly schematic, in situ.
cvt-O*.20. fiW~ All.pzs 5 ) In a preferred embodiment a mounting 1 is provided for a typical water tank 2 level indicator comprising a float 3 supporting a rigid stem 4 extending through (he mounting 1 fixed to a top 2a of the tank 2. At an upper end of the stem 4 visual indicator means, such as a ball-like element 5, are provided. The extent of protrusion of the stem 4 indicates the level of water 6 5 within the tank 2. It will be appreciated from the following description the mounting 1 may be used with known float and stem level indicator means such as described above, for example as a replacement unit for existing mountings The mounting 1 comprises a mounting plate 7, a clamp plate 8 adjustably joined to the mounting plate 7 and a ball element 9 having a diametrically extending passage 9a 10 tberethrough.= The mounting plate 7, the clamp plate 8 and the ball element 9 are all preferably moulded from suitable plastics materials. The ball element 9 preferably incorporates at least one spigot, either 9b or 9c, thereon to extend the length of the passage 9a and preferably as depicted both spigots 9b and 9c are provided. The outer face of the ball element 9 is preferably formed by a repeating series of ribs and valleys to facilitate moulding. The 15 passage 9a provides a close sliding fit for the stem 4 therein. In assembly, as described in more detail below, the spigots 9a and 9c protrude through apertures 10a and 10 b provided in the mounting plate 7 and clamp plate 8 respectively. The mounting plate 7 includes the spigot 9c receiving aperture 10a therethrough preferably centrally tbereof. The diameter of the aperture I Ga is marginally less than the maximum 20 diameter of the ball element 9 which can thus be seated therein in the manner typical of a ball and socket joint. To that end, preferably the edge of aperture lOa is bevelled or "cupped" to facilitate rotation of the ball element 9 within the aperture 10a as described below. Mounting apertures 11 are tbrm through the mounting plate 7 enabling it to be fixed in situ about a stem 0i08-20 - Mhal AU spc 6 4 accommodating aperture 12 through the top 2a of a tank 2 such as by suitable fasteners 13 anchored to the top 2a. Also incorporated into the mounting plate 7 are apertures 14, to enable the clamp plato 8 to be adjustably clamped thereto as described below. The clamp plate 8 includes a spigot 9b receiving aperture I Ob and about the inner side thereof 5 a "cupped" indentation or cavity is preferably formed to complete, in conjunction with the aperture 10a, a socket for accommodating the ball element 9. Also in clamp plate 8 are apertures 15 to receive attachment and adjustment means, typically bolts with nuts 16, for adjustably attaching the clamp plate 8 to the mounting plate 7 with the ball element 9 thus being adjustably captivated therebetween. 10 Preferably the mounting I is supplied as part of a complete a tank liquid level indicator as depicted in Fig 2. Preferably stem 4 is made from stainless steel tube or similar robust material and is supplied in at least two joinable elongate sections 4a, 4b to simplify packaging and transport One end, an upper end in use, of stem section 4a is adapted to enable fastening thereof to visual indictor 5. Indictor 5 is preferably a bulbous ball-like plastic mnoulded 15 element preferably of a visually striking colouring to be readily noticeable. One end, in use the lower end, of the stem section 4b is adapted to be fastened to float 3. Float 3 is preferably as used in our known float operated valves. The float 3, the indicator 5 and the stem sections 4a, 4b are preferably joinable together with male and female threaded inserts 17 being crimped into the ends of the stem sections 4a, 4b to be engagable with one another and matching inserts 20 on the float 3 and indicator 5... Preferably the inserts 17 are retained by a hexagonal shaped crimping or other similar faceted forming shape to provide "flats" 18 to receive tools to assist assembly of the stem 4. Further, the inserts 17 and crimping provide that the exterior face of 08.OS-21 -finI AU spc 7 ) the stem 4 remains at least marginally proud of the inserts 17 so the sliding action of the stem 4 within the sleeve 9 as described below is not hindered. In use preferably the mounting device i is assembled with the clamp plate 8 marginally backed-off from the mounting plate7 the ball element 9 thus being able to be partly articulated 5 between the two plates7, 9. In situ the mounting plate 7 is attached over stem 4 accommodatirig aperture 12 formed through top 2a of tank 2 such that the spigot 9c associate with the mounting plate 7 will extend into or even through aperture 12. This provides a set-up mode for the mounting 1. The stem 4, float 3 and indicator 5 components are then appropriately mounted through the ball element 9 and assembled together. Typically this is 10 undertaken by first attaching the float 3 to the associated end of stem section 4b, then passing stem section 4h upwardly from inside the tank 2 through the passage 9a to then join it with the stem section 4a. The upper end of stem section 4a has preferably already had the indicator 5 mounted thereto. The stem 4 within and together with the ball element 9 can then be pivotally manoeuvred in the socket formation of the mounting 1 to, ideally, take up a true vertical 15 orientation. With that orientation being obtained the clamp plate 8 can be tightened-up against the mounting plate 7 to lock the ball and socket formation and set the stem 4 in that required fixed mode position.