초록 ▼

A drop tube segment includes a conduit with a first end portion and a second end portion. The drop tube segment further comprises a valve assembly with a valve member associated with the first end portion, a float, and a linkage device pivotally connected with respect to the valve member. The linkag

A drop tube segment includes a conduit with a first end portion and a second end portion. The drop tube segment further comprises a valve assembly with a valve member associated with the first end portion, a float, and a linkage device pivotally connected with respect to the valve member. The linkage device is adapted for communication with the float such that the float may facilitate in adjusting the position of the valve member with respect to the first end portion of the conduit in response to a liquid level in a liquid reservoir. The drop tube segment further includes a fastening section located at the second end portion of the conduit for fluid tight fastening with an end portion of another drop tube segment. The fastening section comprises a sealing surface and a threaded portion adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded portion of another drop tube segment. The drop tube segment still further includes a sealing member that engages the sealing surface of the fastening section and is adapted to engage a sealing surface of another drop tube segment.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A drop tube segment adapted for use with a liquid reservoir, the drop tube segment comprising: a) a conduit including a first end portion and a second end portion; b) a valve assembly including: i) a valve member associated with the first end portion, ii) afloat, iii) a linkage device

We claim: 1. A drop tube segment adapted for use with a liquid reservoir, the drop tube segment comprising: a) a conduit including a first end portion and a second end portion; b) a valve assembly including: i) a valve member associated with the first end portion, ii) afloat, iii) a linkage device pivotally connected with respect to the valve member and adapted for communication with the float such that the float may facilitate in adjusting the position of the valve member with respect to the first end portion of the conduit in response to a liquid level in a liquid reservoir; c) a fastening section located at the second end portion of the conduit for fluid tight fastening with an end portion of another drop tube segment, the fastening section comprising a sealing surface and a threaded portion adapted for threaded engagement with a threaded portion of another drop tube segment; and d) a resilient sealing member engaging the sealing surface of the fastening section, wherein the resilient sealing member is configured not to be axially compressed between the sealing surface of the fastening section and a sealing surface of another drop tube segment engaging the resilient sealing member. 2. The drop tube segment of claim 1, wherein the fastening section comprises a groove including the sealing surface, wherein the resilient sealing member is at least partially disposed in the groove. 3. The drop tube segment of claim 1, wherein the fastening section includes a shoulder adapted to act as a registration stop for another drop tube segment. 4. The drop tube segment of claim 3, wherein the resilient sealing member is disposed between the shoulder and the threaded portion of the fastening section. 5. The drop tube segment of claim 3, wherein the fastening section includes a first outer surface including a first outer dimension and a second outer surface including a second outer dimension that is less than the first outer dimension, wherein the shoulder is defined by a transition between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. 6. The drop tube segment of claim 1, wherein the resilient sealing member is offset from an outer end of the drop tube segment, wherein at least a portion of the fastening section that includes the threaded portion is located between the resilient sealing member and the outer end. 7. A drop tube segment adapted for use with a liquid reservoir, the drop tube segment comprising: a) a conduit including a first end portion and a second end portion; b) a valve assembly including: i) a valve member associated with the first end portion, ii) a float, iii) a linkage device pivotally connected with respect to the valve member and adapted for communication with the float such that the float may facilitate in adjusting the position of the valve member with respect to the first end portion of the conduit in response to a liquid level in a liquid reservoir, c) a fastening section located at the second end portion of the conduit for fluid tight fastening of the second end portion of the conduit to an end portion of another drop tube segment, the fastening section comprising: i) a first outer cylindrical surface including a first outer diameter, ii) a second outer cylindrical surface including a second outer diameter that is less than the first outer diameter, iii) an annular shoulder adapted to act as a registration stop for another drop tube segment, wherein the annular shoulder is defined by a transition between the first outer cylindrical surface and the second outer cylindrical surface, iv) an annular groove defined by the second outer cylindrical surface, the annular groove including a sealing surface and is offset from an outer end of the drop tube segment, and v) an outer threaded portion adapted for threaded engagement with an inner threaded portion of another drop tube segment; and d) an annular sealing member engaging the sealing surface and at least partially disposed in the annular groove. 8. The drop tube segment of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the fastening section that includes the outer threaded portion is located between the annular sealing member and the outer end. 9. A drop tube assembly adapted for use with a liquid reservoir, the drop tube assembly comprising: a) a first drop tube segment comprising: i) a first conduit including a first end portion and a second end portion, ii) a valve assembly including a valve member associated with the first end portion, a float, and a linkage device pivotally connected with respect to the valve member and adapted for communication with the float such that the float may facilitate in adjusting the position of the valve member with respect to the first end portion in response to a liquid level in a liquid reservoir, and ii) a first fastening section located at the second end portion of the first conduit, the first fastening section comprising a first sealing surface and a first threaded portion; b) a second drop tube segment comprising: i) a second conduit including a first end portion and a second end portion, and ii) a second fastening section located at the first end portion of the second conduit, the second fastening section comprising a second sealing surface and a second threaded portion, wherein at least part of the first threaded portion is threadedly engaged with at least part of the second threaded portion; and c) a resilient sealing member engaging the first and second sealing surfaces. 10. The drop tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the first threaded portion is located on an outer surface of the first drop tube segment and wherein the second threaded portion is located on an inner surface of the second drop tube segment. 11. The drop tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the second sealing surface is located on an inner surface of the second drop tube segment. 12. The drop tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the second sealing surface is located between an outer end of the second drop tube segment and the second threaded portion. 13. The drop tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the resilient sealing member is offset from an outer end of the first drop tube segment. 14. The drop tube assembly of claim 13, wherein the first threaded portion is located between the resilient sealing member and the outer end of the first drop tube segment. 15. The drop tube assembly of claim 14, wherein the second sealing surface is located between an outer end of the second drop tube segment and the second threaded portion. 16. The drop tube assembly of claim 9, wherein the second drop tube segment includes a tubular member and an adapter attached to an end of the tubular member. 17. The drop tube assembly of claim 16, wherein the adapter includes the second threaded portion and the second sealing surface. 18. The drop tube assembly of claim 9, wherein at least one of the first and second drop tube segments includes a shoulder adapted to act as a registration stop for the other of the first and second drop tube segments. 19. The drop tube assembly of claim 18, wherein the first fastening section includes the shoulder adapted to act as a registration stop for the second drop tube segment. 20. The drop tube assembly of claim 19, wherein the resilient sealing member is disposed between the shoulder and the first threaded portion. 21. The drop tube segment of claim 19, wherein the first fastening section includes a first outer surface including a first outer dimension and a second outer surface including a second outer dimension that is less than the first outer dimension, wherein the shoulder is defined by a transition between the first outer surface and the second outer surface. 22. A drop tube assembly adapted for use with a liquid reservoir, the drop tube assembly comprising: a) a first drop tube segment comprising: i) a first conduit including a first end portion and a second end portion; ii) a valve assembly including a valve member associated with the first end portion, a float, and a linkage device pivotally connected with respect to the valve member and adapted for communication with the float such that the float may facilitate in adjusting the position of the valve member with respect to the first end portion of the first conduit in response to a liquid level in a liquid reservoir, and iii) a first fastening section located at the second end portion of the first conduit, the first fastening section including a first interface surface with at least a portion of the first interface surface including a first threaded portion; b) a second drop tube segment comprising: i) a second conduit including a first end portion and a second end portion, and ii) a second fastening section located at the first end portion of the second conduit, the second fastening section including a second interface surface with at least a portion of the second interface surface including a second threaded portion, at least part of the first threaded portion being threadedly engaged with at least part of the second threaded portion with the first and second fastening sections and the first and second conduits cooperating to form a fluid conduit with an internal fluid pathway, the first and second interface surfaces extending between the internal fluid pathway and an external location of the drop tube assembly; and c) a sealing member interposed between the first and second interface surfaces with the sealing member being located external to at least a portion of the threadedly engaged parts of the first and second threaded portions. 23. The drop tube assembly of claim 22, wherein the first interface surface comprises a groove with the resilient sealing member being at least partially disposed in the groove. 24. The drop tube assembly of claim 22, wherein at least one of the first and second drop tube segments includes a shoulder adapted to act as a registration stop for the other of the first and second drop tube segments. 25. The drop tube assembly of claim 22, wherein the first threaded portion is located on an outer surface of the first drop tube segment and wherein the second threaded portion is located on an inner surface of the second drop tube segment. 26. The drop tube assembly of claim 22, wherein the sealing member is offset from an outer end of the first drop tube segment, wherein at least part of the first interface surface that includes the first threaded portion is located between the sealing member and the outer end.