Drop tube segment

Abstract

An overfill valve associated with a drop tube segment fluidly connected to a fluid reservoir and a structure for securing drop tube segments are described. The overfill valve includes a valve body positioned within the drop tube segment and, in certain embodiments, 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. A variety of internal actuators are used to actuate the valve body within the drop tube segment. The structure for securing drop tube segments provides a first drop tube segment with a groove into which the wall of a second drop tube segment can to deformed to seal and fasten the two drop tube segments to each other.

1 . A overfill prevention valve, comprising:
 a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning said first end of said conduit and said second end of said conduit, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said first end of said conduit to said second end of said conduit;   a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body moveable from an open position to a closed position; and   a non-contact valve actuator moveable relative to said valve body and positioned outside of said conduit, said conduit wall interposed between said non-contact valve actuator and said fluid path, said non-contact valve actuator operable to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position without physically penetrating said conduit wall, said non-contact valve actuator having a first position in which said non-contact valve actuator does not actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and a second position in which said non-contact valve actuator actuates said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.   
     
     
         2 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 1 , wherein said non-contact valve actuator comprises a float having a specific gravity, whereby said float is buoyant on a surface of a quantity of motor fuel. 
     
     
         3 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a contact valve actuator positioned interior of said conduit wall, whereby said conduit wall is interposed between said contact valve actuator and said non-contact valve actuator, said contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby actuation of said contact valve actuator causes said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into a position in which a flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, said contact valve actuator moveable independent from said valve body;   said contact valve actuator magnetically linked to said non-contact valve actuator, so that movement of said non-contact valve actuator from said first position to said second position actuates said contact valve actuator so that said contact valve actuator actuates said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.   
     
     
         4 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 3 , wherein said non-contact valve actuator comprises a first component of a magnetic shaft coupling, said contact valve actuator comprising a second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, the first component of the magnetic shaft coupling magnetically linked to said second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, whereby rotation of said first component of the magnetic shaft coupling about an axis causes rotation of the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, the axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of said fluid path through said conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator movably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator movable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through the conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator, said second contact valve actuator moveable independent from said valve body.   
     
     
         6 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a cam moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said cam including a ramp operably associated with said contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said ramp to move said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.   
     
     
         7 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator, and wherein   said cam further includes a second ramp operably associated with said second contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said second ramp to move said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.   
     
     
         8 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second valve body positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said second valve body moveable from a second valve body open position to a second valve body closed position, and wherein;   said cam further includes a nubbin positioned so that a movement of said cam causes said nubbin to move said second valve body from said second valve body open position toward said second valve body closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 3 , wherein said contact valve actuator comprises a ramp and a moveable latch, said moveable latch having a latching position in which said moveable latch latches said valve body in the open position when said non-contact valve actuator maintains said first position, said moveable latch moved from said latching position when said non-contact valve actuator moves from the first position to the second position. 
     
     
         10 - 57 . (canceled) 
     
     
         58 . An overfill prevention valve, comprising:
 a conduit having a first end and a second end, a conduit wall spanning said first end of said conduit and said second end of said conduit, said conduit wall defining a conduit wall interior surface and a conduit wall exterior surface, said conduit wall interior surface defining a fluid path through said conduit from said first end of said conduit to said second end of said conduit;   a valve body moveably positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said valve body moveable from an open position to a closed position, said valve body rotatably moveable between said open position and said closed position; and   a contact valve actuator moveably supported by said conduit wall, said contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said contact valve actuator causes said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into a position in which a flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, said contact valve actuator moveable independent from said valve body.   
     
     
         59 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 58 , wherein said contact valve actuator is rotatably supported relative to said conduit wall interior surface whereby rotation of said contact valve actuator causes movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position. 
     
     
         60 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 a non-contact valve actuator positioned outside of said conduit, said conduit wall interposed between said non-contact valve actuator and said fluid path, said non-contact valve actuator operable to actuate said contact valve actuator without physically penetrating said conduit wall.   
     
     
         61 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 60 , wherein said non-contact valve actuator is magnetically linked to said contact valve actuator through said conduit wall, said non-contact valve actuator comprising a first component of a magnetic shaft coupling, said contact valve actuator comprising a second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, said first component of the magnetic shaft coupling magnetically linked to said second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, whereby rotation of said first component of the magnetic shaft coupling about an axis causes rotation of the second component of the magnetic shaft coupling, the axis transverse to a longitudinal axis of said fluid path through said conduit. 
     
     
         62 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator.   
     
     
         63 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 62 , wherein said second contact valve actuator is moveable independent from said valve body, said second contact valve actuator spaced a first distance from said valve body when said valve body maintains the open position, said second contact valve actuator spaced a second distance from said valve body when said valve body maintains the closed position, said second distance greater than said first distance. 
     
     
         64 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 58 , further comprising:
 a cam moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said cam including a ramp operably associated with said contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said ramp to move said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.   
     
     
         65 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 a second contact actuator, said second contact actuator moveably supported relative to said conduit wall, said second contact valve actuator moveable relative to said conduit wall interior surface and positioned whereby movement of said second contact valve actuator causes said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position, whereby said second contact valve actuator is capable of actuating said valve body further toward said closed position than said contact valve actuator, and   wherein said cam further includes a second ramp operably associated with said second contact valve actuator so that a movement of said cam causes said second ramp to move said second contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position and into the position in which the flow of fluid through said conduit can act on said valve body and further cause movement of said valve body from said open position toward said closed position.   
     
     
         66 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 64 , further comprising:
 a second valve body positioned in said fluid path of said conduit, said second valve body moveable from a second valve body open position to a second valve body closed position, and wherein;   said cam further includes a nubbin positioned so that a movement of said cam causes said nubbin to move said second valve body from said second valve body open position toward said second valve body closed position.   
     
     
         67 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 66 , wherein said second valve body seats on a valve seat spaced from said valve body. 
     
     
         68 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 58 , wherein said contact valve actuator comprises a moveable latch, said moveable latch having a latching position in which said moveable latch latches said valve body in the closed position, said moveable latch moveable from said latching position as said contact valve actuator moves to cause said contact valve actuator to actuate said valve body from said open position toward said closed position. 
     
     
         69 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 58 , further comprising a pressure spike relief valve comprising a pressure spike relief valve body moveable between a closed position and an open position and biased by a biasing force into said closed position, said pressure spike relief valve body moveable from said closed position to said open position when a sufficient pressure in said conduit counteracts said biasing force to actuate said pressure spike relief valve body from said closed position to said open position such that a flow of liquid can flow past said pressure spike relief valve body as long as said pressure in said conduit is sufficient to overcome said biasing force. 
     
     
         70 - 71 . (canceled) 
     
     
         72 . The overfill prevention valve of  claim 58 , in combination with:
 a fuel storage tank; and   a drop tube extending into said fuel storage tank, the overfill prevention valve forming a part of the drop tube, said drop tube in fluid communication with said fuel storage tank so that fluid passing through said drop tube fills said fuel storage tank.   
     
     
         73 - 92 . (canceled)