GB2115381A - Apparatus for delivering liquid to a container to a required level - Google Patents

Abstract

Apparatus for filling a battery or other container to a required level from a remote position. The apparatus includes an arm 1 having at one end a filling nozzle containing a level detecting probe 20. The nozzle is engaged with the filling inlet by manipulation of the arm 1 from the remote position. The nozzle 5 is supplied through the arm 1 with distilled water or other liquid under the control of a pressure- responsive flow valve 4. The flow valve 4 is controlled by a controlling pressure, for example compressed air, admitted through a manually-operable valve 16 at the remote end of the arm 1. The probe 20 is connected through the arm 1 to a controlling pressure connection between a normally-open stop valve 18 and the flow valve 16 and also to a valve member in the stop valve 18. When the probe 20 is closed by the liquid having risen to the required liquid level, an increase in pressure closes the valve member of the stop valve 18 and interrupts the transmission of pressure to the flow valve 4 thereby interrupting the flow of liquid to the nozzle 5, despite the manually-operable valve still being held open. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for delivering liquid to a container to a required level The invention relates to apparatus for delivering liquid to a container to a required level therein and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with apparatus for supplying distilled water to a battery to "top-up" the electrolyte level therein to a required level.

Sometimes batteries are mounted in such positions that topping-up with distilled water is a difficult operation. For example, in a railway coach it is known for a battery to be slung beneath the coach with only a narrow space between the floor of the coach and the filling inlet or inlets and furthermore where the battery is not near to the side of the coach, the operator may not be able to reach under the coach from the side thereof and may have to top-up the battery from a position beneath the coach, for example while he is standing in a service pit. An object of the invention is to provide apparatus to enable a battery slung beneath a railway coach to be topped-up from a remote position, for example, by an operator standing at the side of the coach.

Although the apparatus has been invented primarily for the purpose of topping-up a battery slung beneath a railway coach, it may be applied to or be used for topping-up a battery mounted in an otherwise inaccessible position in another type of vehicle, for example an electrically-propelled delivery vehicle or a fork-lift truck. Furthermore, the apparatus provided by the invention may be applicable to the filling of any container with a liquid to a required level, not necessarily to topping-up a battery with distilled water.

According to the invention, the apparatus includes a filling nozzle to be engaged with an inlet of the container to be filled; an arm on which the nozzle is mounted and which is movable to engage the nozzle with the inlet by manipulation of the arm from a position therein spaced from the nozzle, the nozzle being connected by a liquid supply pipe extending along the arm to a source of said liquid, and pressure-responsive means controlling the flow of liquid through the nozzle, the pressure-responsive means comprising a liquid-controlling valve connected to admit liquid through said liquid supply pipe to the nozzle and arranged to be opened by the application thereto of a controlling pressure; a manually-operable valve positioned remotely from the nozzle and connected to a controlling pressure source; a normally-open stop valve connected between the outlet from the manually-operable valve and the liquid-controlling valve to transmit the controlling pressure thereto; a liquid level probe pipe extending along the arm and having an open end which extends from the nozzle by a distance such that when the nozzle has been correctly engaged with the inlet, the open end of the probe pipe will be positioned in the container at said required liquid level, the probe pipe being connected through a flow regulator to a controlling pressure connection between the stop valve and the liquidcontrolling valve and also being connected to move a valve member in the stop valve to a stop position in which the transmission of controlling pressure between the manually-operable valve and the liquidcontrolling valve is interrupted, whereby when the probe pipe end is closed by the liquid having risen to said required liquid level, there will be an increase in the probe pipe sufficient to move the valve member of the stop valve to its stop position and hence to interrupt the transmission of controlling pressure to the liquid-controlling valve and thereby to interrupt the flow of liquid to the nozzle, despite continued operation of the manually-operable valve, and means to return the valve member in the stop valve to its normally-open position when the manuallyoperable valve has been released.

The means to return the valve member in the stop valve to its normally-open position may be a further valve operable to admit a controlling pressure from said controlling pressure source to act on said valve member to move said valve member in the opening sense by the action of releasing said manuallyoperable valve.

The manually-operable valve and said further valve may each be arranged to be engaged alternatively by a manually-movable member biased by spring means to the position in which said further valve is opened by said member and movable by an operator to the position in which said manuallyoperable valve is opened by said member. The manually-movable member may be a trigger mounted on the arm at a position thereon remote from the nozzle.

The controlling pressure may be derived from a supply of compressed air, the controlling pressure source therefore being a compressed air supply line or reservoir or a compressor.

By way of example, apparatus in the form of a "gun" for topping-up a battery from a remote position is now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the gun shown partly in section, and Figure 2 is a compressed air and water circuit diagram showing components of the gun illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the gun comprises a tubular arm 1 containing a supply pipe 2 for distilled water, a pipe 3 for admitting compressed air to actuate a water-controlling valve 4 in a filling nozzle 5 mounted at one end of the arm 1 and an air pipe 24 connected to a probe duct 20. The nozzle 5 contains the probe duct 20 and a water outlet pipe or duct 25.

The other end of the tubular arm 1 is connected to a housing 6 containing components of a compressed air controlling circuit for operating the valve 4 and also water supply components connected to the supply pipe 2 and a tubular handle 7. This contains a compressed air supply pipe 8, which is connected to the compressed air circuit, as explained hereinafter with reference to Figure 2, and a distilled water supply pipe 9 communicating via components of a water supply circuit with the pipe 2. The compressed air supply pipe 8 is connected externally of the handle 7 to a compressed air supply line or reservoir orto a compressor. The pipe 9 is connected externally of the handle 7 to a supply of distilled water, for example, to a pressurised distilled water tank.

The housing 6 contains a trigger 10 which extends from the bottom of the housing 6 adjacent the handle 7 and is slidable in the direction of arrow X against a return spring 11 by squeezing the trigger 10 towards the handle 7.

The nozzle 5 at the end of the arm 1 remote from the handle 7 is tubular and is fitted into or against the filling inlet of the battery housing by manipulation of the arm 1 by means of the handle 7 which is gripped by the operator at a position remote from the nozzle 5, for example by the operator standing at the side of a railway coach under which the battery is slung. The length of the arm, in this example, is approximately one metre; but it may be any suitable length. The nozzle 5 has a tubular extension 12 of length such that when the lower end, as shown, of the nozzle 5 is correctly fitted into or is placed against the inlet, for example when is rests on the top of the battery housing at 13, the lower end of the extension 12 will be positioned within the inlet at the required level 15 of the electrolyte within the battery 14.The nozzle 5 and its extension 12 and the battery 14 are shown diagrammatically in Figure 2. Figure 2 also shows the trigger 10 diagrammatically.

Referring to Figure 2, the compressed air inlet 8 communicatges with a manually-operable valve 16 which is normally closed and with a similar normally-open valve 17, the aforesaid further valve, which applies cmpressed air to one end of a normally-open stop valve 18. When the trigger 10 is squeezed and moved to the right in the direction of arrow X in Figures 1 and 2, the valve 16 will open to apply compressed air pressure at the inlet pipe 8 through the valve 18 to open the water control valve 4 and so distilled water will flow through the valve 4 into the battery. When the trigger 10 is released, the spring 11 will cause the valve 17 to open and the valve 16 to close. The compressed air pressure acting on the valve 4 will therefore be interrupted and thus the supply of water to the battery will also be interrupted.The opening of the valve 17 will apply compressed air pressure to change-over the valve 18 to its normally-open position, if it has previously been closed, as will hereinafter be explained.

Compressed air in the pipe 3 is tapped downstream of the valve 18 and flows through a flow regulator 19 through the pipe 24 and through the probe duct 20 in the extension 12 of the nozzle 5 to the normally-open end of the probe duct 20. When the level of the electrolyte has risen to the required level 15, the lower end of the probe duct 20 will become submerged and so air pressure within pipe 24 will rise and will act on an amplifier 21. At a predetermined amplified pressure, the amplifier 21 will apply a pressure at 22 to change-over the valve 18 and thus to close the water valve 4 despite continued squeezing of the trigger 10. Thus the supply of topping-up water to the battery 14 will cease.The change-over of the valve 18 to its closed position by the amplifier 21 will actuate a visual indicator 23 to indicate that the level of the electro lyte in the battery 14 has reached its correct position and that the supply of distilled water through the valve 4 has been shut off. The flow of water cannot be restarted until the nozzle 5 has been moved away from the inlet and the trigger 10 released. When the trigger 10 is released, the valve 17 will be opened and will therefore change-over the valve 18, that is return the valve 18 to its normally-open position, and also switch off the visual indicator 23. When the trigger 10 is again squeezed and the valve 16 is opened, compressed air will be applied through the valve 18 to open the water control valve 4.

The components described with reference to Figure 2 have also been indicated by like reference numerals in Figure 1.

Instead of locating the water control valve 4 at them nozzle end of the arm 1, it may be positioned in the housing 6. In that case the pipe 3 would not pass through the arm 1, the latter containing only the water supply pipe 2, leading to the water pipe or duct 25, and the pipe 24 leading to the probe duct 20.

Claims (6)

1. Apparatus for delivering liquid to a container to a required level therein, the apparatus including a filling nozzle to be engaged with an inlet of the container to be filled; an arm on which the nozzle is mounted and which is movable to engage the nozzle with the inlet by manipulation of the arm from a position therein spaced from the nozzle, the nozzle being connected by a liquid supply pipe extending along the arm to a source of said liquid, and pressure-responsive means controlling the flow of liquid through the nozzle, the pressure-responsive means comprising a liquid-controlling valve connected to admit liquid through said supply pipe to the nozzle and arranged to be o0pened by the application thereto of a controlling pressure; a manually-operable valve positioned remotely from the nozzle and connected to a controlling pressure source; a normally-open stop valve connected between the outlet from the manually-operable valve and the liquid-controlling valve to transmit the controlling pressure thereto; a liquid level probe pipe extending along the arm and having an open end which extends from the nozzle by a distance such that when the nozzle has been correctly engaged with the inlet, the open end of the probe pipe will be positioned in the container at said required liquid level, the probe pipe being connected through a flow regulator to a controlling pressure connection between the stop valve and the liquidcontrolling valve and also being connected to move a a valve member in the stop valve to a stop position in which the transmission of controlling pressure between the manually-operable valve and the liquidcontrolling valve is interrupted, whereby when the probe pipe end is closed by the liquid having risen to said required liquid level, there will be an increase in pressure in the probe pipe sufficient to move the valve member of the stop valve to its stop position and hence to interrupt the transmission of controlling pressure to the liquid-controlling valve and thereby to interrupt the flow of liquid to the nozzle, despite continued operation of the manuallyoperable valve, and means to return the valve member in the stop valve to its normally-open position when the manually-operable valve has been released.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 in which the means to return the valve member in the stop valve to its normally-open position is a further valve operable to admit a controlling pressure from said controlling pressure source to act on said valve member to move said valve member in the opening sense by the action of releasing said manuallyoperable valve.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 in which said manually-operable valve and said further valve are each arranged to be engaged alternatively by a manually-movable member biased by spring means to the position in which said further valve is opened by said member and movable by an operator to the position in which said manually-operable valve is opened by said member.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3 in which the manually-movable member is a trigger mounted on the arm at a position thereon remote from the nozzle.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the controlling pressure is derived from a supply of compressed air.

6. Apparatus for topping-up a battery from a remote position, the apparatus being constructed substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.