Background Art. Transportable tanks such as rail cars, barges, truck trailers, and ISO containers are used for the safe transportation of liquefied compressible gases, such as liquid chlorine, liquid anhydrous hydrochloric acid, liquid ammonia, etc. Transportable tanks typically have at least one manway positioned on the top of the tank. The construction and configuration of the manways and their associated components are regulated by standards imposed by various institutions, such as the Chlorine Institute and the American Association of Railroads. A standard manway cover is shown in Figure 4.

The manway is generally covered with by a dome and has four ports which pass therethrough. Gases or liquids can be loaded or off-loaded through the ports. One or more check valves are usually positioned on the lower surface of the manway cover for sealing the ports. Each check valve has a plug that is normally biased upward, usually by a spring, to seal the port. In the absence of an external force pushing downward on the plug, the check valve seals the contents of the tank from the environment. The manway also provides attachment slots for the attachment of multiple external valves, usually including at least one for liquids and at least one for gases.

When transporting hazardous or toxic materials, such as chlorine, the biasing force maintaining the valve in the normally closed position should be as high as possible. In general, the greater the biasing force closing and maintaining the valve in the closed position, the safer the seal. For safety reasons, check valves are usually opened with a dome in place over the manway cover, which provides limited space for opening the check valves. Pneumatically operated valves are often used for opening manway check valves.

The pneumatically operated valves are positioned onto the attachment slots on the manway and bolted to the upper surface of the manway of the transportable tank. The pneumatically operated valves are left in place during transport of the transportable tank

When it is desirable to open the check valve, external pneumatic pressure is applied to the pneumatically operated valve to counter the biasing force and open the check valve plug.

In emergency situations, such as when a train derails, a barge capsizes, a trailer overturns, or an ISO is dropped, the pneumatically operated valve may be damaged or even sheared off of the tank. The check valve, which is positioned inside of the tank, remains in place and prevents the contents of the tank from escaping. In these situations, it is usually necessary to transfer the contents of the tank to an undamaged tank. Because pneumatically operated valves are expensive, spare pneumatically operated valves may be scarce or unavailable when needed in an emergency situation. Additionally, sources of pneumatic pressure may be unavailable in an emergency situation, rendering pneumatically operated valves useless for opening the check valve.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION With the aforementioned considerations in mind, it is therefore an object of the invention to provide an emergency response transfer valve for opening check valves on transportable tanks in emergency situations.

It is another object of the invention to provide an emergency response transfer valve which is attachable to an industry standard manway cover for use in unloading materials from a transportable tank during emergency situations, such as railcar derailments.

It is another object of the invention to provide an emergency response transfer valve which allows a transportable tank which has been turned over to be completely unloaded.

It is another object of the invention to provide an emergency response transfer valve for use on transportable tanks, including rail cars, barges, truck trailers, and ISO containers.

It is another object of the invention to provide an emergency response transfer valve for use on transportable tanks containing toxic or hazardous materials.

It is another object of the invention to provide an emergency response transfer valve which allows a transportable tank that uses pneumatically operated valves to be

hydrotested without removing the spring loaded check valves that are positioned under the manway.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the following general and preferred description of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the invention is a transfer valve in combination with a transportable tank having an opening; a manway attached to the opening and having one or more manway ports extending therethrough; a check valve attached to one of the manway ports such that a plug of the check valve is normally biased upward to seal the manway port from the interior of the tank, a transfer valve attached to the manway port comprising: (a) a valve body connectable to the manway, configured to have a fluid chamber, an inlet, and an outlet whereby the fluid chamber allows fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and configured to have a valve stem bore extending therethrough; (b) a valve stem movably positioned within the valve stem bore and having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end is engageable with an actuator, and the lower end is selectively projectable from the valve body; whereby when the valve stem is selectively moved downward, the lower end of the valve stem projects from the body to unseat the check valve plug to allow fluid communication between the interior of the tank and the outlet.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method for opening a check valve on a transportable tank having an opening in the tank; a manway attached to the opening and having one or more manway ports extending therethrough, wherein the check valve is positioned within the tank and attached to one of the manway ports such that a plug of the check valve is normally biased upward to seal the manway port from the interior of the tank. The method comprises the steps of (a) providing an emergency response transfer valve comprising: (i) a valve body connectable to the manway, configured to have a fluid chamber, an inlet, and an outlet, whereby the fluid chamber allows fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and configured to have a valve stem bore extending therethrough; and, (ii) a valve stem movably positioned within the valve stem bore and having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end is engageable with an actuator, and

the lower end is selectively projectable from the valve body; (b) attaching the transfer valve to the manway port to which the check valve is attached; and, (c) actuating the valve stem downward until the lower end of the valve stem unseats the plug and opens the check valve.

Another embodiment of the invention is a method of hydrostatic testing a transportable tank without removing a check valve attached to the tank manway cover, wherein the transportable tank has an opening therein and a manway attached to the opening; the manway has one or more manway ports extending therethrough, wherein the check valve is positioned within the tank and attached to one of the manway ports such that a plug of the check valve is normally biased upward to seal the manway port from the interior of the tank. The method comprises the steps of: (a) providing an emergency response transfer valve comprising: (i) a valve body connectable to the manway, configured to have a fluid chamber, an inlet, and an outlet, whereby the fluid chamber allows fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet, and configured to have a valve stem bore extending therethrough; and, (ii) a valve stem movably positioned within the valve stem bore and having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end is engageable with an actuator, and the lower end is selectively projectable from the valve body; (b) attaching the transfer valve to the manway port to which the check valve is attached; (c) attaching a hydro-static tester to the outlet; (d) actuating the valve stem downward until the lower end of the valve stem unseats the plug and opens the check valve; and, (e) reading hydro-static tester.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the invention illustrating the invention in a retracted position.

Figure 2 is a side view of one embodiment of the invention at a 90-degree angle from that shown in Figure 1, illustrating the invention in an extended position.

Figure 3 is a top view of one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 4 is a top view of a manway of a transportable tank, such as a railway tanker car.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention mounted on a manway with the valve stem retracted and the check valve of the manway in an open position.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the invention mounted on a manway with the valve stem extended and the check valve of the manway in a closed position.

Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views illustrating use of the invention on a railway tanker car.

Figures 8A, 8B, and 8C are perspective views illustrating use of the invention on a barge tanker.

Figures 9A, 9B, and 9C are perspective views illustrating use of the invention on a truck tanker.

Figures 10A and 10B are perspective views illustrating use of the invention on an ISO tank.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Illustrations of preferred construction, design, and methods of operation of the invention are set forth below with specific references to the Figure. However, it is not the intention of the inventor that the scope of his invention be limited to these preferred embodiments.

As shown in Figures 1-3, emergency response transfer valve 1 has a valve body 10 and a valve stem 20 passing through body 10, which has a tank end 12 and an actuator end 14. One or more inlet ports 70 extend through tank end 12. Valve body 10 also has an outlet port 60 that fluidly communicates with inlet ports 70 and is preferably positioned within a sidewall 16 of body 10. Configured within valve body 10 is fluid chamber 65 that allows material to be transported between inlet port 70 and outlet port 60 for loading or unloading a tank 403. A removable outlet plug 62 may be positioned in outlet port 60 for selectively sealing outlet port 60.

A valve stem bore 30 passes through body 10 and comprises an upper bore 34 and a guide bore 90. Upper bore 34 may be threaded on at least a portion thereof and sized to threadably engage a threaded portion 26 of valve stem 20. A lower portion of the upper

bore 34 is preferably fitted with one or more sealing members, such as o-rings 32, which seal fluid chamber 65 from upper bore 34 and prevent materials in fluid chamber 65 from leaking to the environment through upper bore 34.

Valve stem 20 is sized such that it passes substantially or entirely through valve body 10. Threaded portion 26 of valve stem 20 is positioned within the threaded portion of upper bore 34. A smooth portion 24 of valve stem 20 extends downward below threaded portion 26. The lower end 22 of valve stem 20 is projectable from body 10 and is preferably convex-shaped. Actuator end 28 of valve stem 20 projects from actuator end 14 of valve body 10 and attaches to an actuator 40 for rotating valve stem 20 to selectively raise and lower valve stem 20 relative to valve body 10. As shown in Figure 1, actuator 40 can be a hand wheel 18. In a preferred embodiment, hand wheel 18 is attached to actuator end 28 by a screw 44 and washer 42 combination. Alternatively, actuator 40 can be an engaging projection having an engageable cross-section (not shown), such as a square or hexagon, configured to permit engagement by a wrench, a removable hand wheel, or the like, for rotating valve stem 20. In another embodiment, actuator 40 can be a hole (not shown) passing through actuator end 28 and sized to receive a bar or lever for rotating valve stem 20.

Transfer valve 1 is has a stopper 50 positioned on valve stem 20 between upper bore 34 and guide bore 90 so that stopper 50 defines: (i) a maximum retraction of valve stem 20 when stopper 50 abuts upper wall 36 of fluid chamber 65, and (ii) a maximum extension of valve stem 20 when stopper 50 abuts lower wall 38 of fluid chamber 65. As shown in Figure 1, valve stem 20 is positioned so that lower end 22 of valve stem 20 may protrude below tank end 12 of body 10 when in a retracted position, but not far enough to open check valve 404 when transfer valve 1 is bolted to manway 402 as shown in Figure 5. Additionally, the length of valve stem 20 and the position of stopper 50 can be selected such that when valve stem 20 is adjusted to the maximum extended position, lower end 22 protrudes to a desired length below tank end 12, but no further. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, the desired length will typically depend on how deep check valve 404 is positioned below upper surface 402a of manway 402 and how far check valve plug 414 must be depressed to unseat plug 414.

As shown in Figures 1-3, transfer valve 1 has a tank flange 80 that allows transfer valve 1 to attach to manway 402. Referring to Figure 3, flange 80 has a plurality of bolt apertures 82 extending therethrough for receiving bolts 84 for bolting transfer valve 1 to manway 402 at manway port 410. As shown in Figure 1, transfer valve 1 has a skirt 100 depending downward from tank end 12. Skirt 100 is sized and configured to engage an attachment slot 405 (shown in Figure 4) in manway 402 to ensure a proper fit and seal of transfer valve 1 against tank 403. One or more grooves 104 are concentrically positioned on skirt 100. Grooves 104 are sized and configured to engage one or more projections 405a in attachment slot 405. In a preferred embodiment, skirt 100 has a pair of grooves 104. Because attachment slot 405 is typically annular, skirt 100 and grooves 104 are also preferably annular.

As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, railcar dome 401 attached to tanker railcar 403.

Railcar dome 401 covers and protects equipment, such as valves, placed therein and has dome port openings 400 to allow restricted access to the valves positioned inside railcar dome 401 without removal of railcar dome 401. The top curved portion of dome 401 is hinged to bottom portion of dome 401, allowing access to the interior for repairs/replacements, etc. Both railcar dome 401 and dome port openings 400 are standard sizes as specified by the American Association of Railroads ("AAR"). Manway 402 is a standard cover for the opening 420 in the top of tanker railcar 403 (such as a"196 type" manway, as specified by the Chlorine Institute). Figure 5 shows an industry standard check valve 404 mounted on manway 402 and extending downward into opening 420.

Check valve 404 remains in place when an accident occurs and railcar 403 derails and rolls, shearing off railcar dome 401 and the valves inside railcar dome 401.

Still referring to Figures 5 and 6, when transfer valve 1 is bolted to tank 403 at the upper surface 402a, selective rotation of valve stem 20 will move valve stem 20 downward, cause valve stem 20 to depress check valve plug 414, and open check valve 404 as best seen in Figure 6. Bolt apertures 82 are preferably aligned with the bolt hole configuration on the manway 402 (shown in Figure 4) so that in emergency situations, transfer valve 1 can be bolted to tank 403 without drilling new holes in manway 402. For example, when transfer valve 1 is used with a Chlorine Institute standard manway 402,

flange 80 is provided with bolt holes 82 which align with the standard bolt hole configuration of a Chlorine Institute standard manway.

Referring to Figures 5 and 6, when outlet plug 62 is removed, an outlet port extension 33, or other device for connecting transfer valve 1 to an outlet line, sealingly attaches to outlet port 60 for loading or unloading materials through transfer valve 1.

Outlet port 60 is preferably a threaded bore for receiving mating threads on a corresponding end of outlet port extension 33.

In operation, transfer valve 1 is used, in emergency situations for example, by bolting tank end 12 to manway 402. Outlet port extension 33 is attached to outlet port 60.

If transfer valve 1 is installed with an outlet plug 62 positioned in outlet port 60, outlet plug 62 must be removed prior to attaching the outlet port extension 33. After extension 33 is attached to transfer valve 1, an operator selectively rotates valve stem 20 (using hand wheel 18), forcing valve stem 20 downward and opening check valve 404 from the closed position shown in Figure 6, to the open position shown in Figure 5. The opening of check valve 404 permits the contents of the tank to flow or be pumped through transfer valve 1 and out from the tank. It may be necessary to remove a damaged pneumatically operated valve prior to installing transfer valve because the pneumatically operated valve may have been sheared from manway 402, leaving only a flange and bolts in place. Removal is accomplished in the conventional manner by unscrewing the bolts that attach the pneumatically operated valve to manway 402.

Transfer valve 1 can also be used to hydrotest a tank. The method of using transfer valve 1 for hydrotesting is substantially similar to the method of using transfer valve 1 to deliver or discharge materials from tank 403. However, a hydrostatic tester, which can be any suitable device known in the art for testing the hydrostatic pressure within tank 403, is attached to outlet port 60 instead of extension 33. When the hydrostatic tester has been attached, actuator 40 is rotated to lower valve stem 20 to open check valve 404. The hydrostatic pressure of the tank 403 is measured by reading the hydrostatic tester in the conventional manner.

Choice of materials for construction of transfer valve 1 will depend upon the nature of the materials intended to flow through transfer valve 1 and will be apparent to those

skilled in the art. Materials in contact with the flowing materials should be inert to those materials. For instance, for corrosive materials, it may be desirable to construct valve body 10 from stainless steel and valve stem 20 from stainless steel or HASTELLOY (such as HASTELLOY 276). For non-corrosive applications, carbon steel may be sufficiently durable. 0-rings 32 should also be inert to the materials flowing through transfer valve 1.

Fluorocarbon materials may be appropriate (such as VITON, available from E. I. Dupont de Nemours of Delaware), polytetraflouroethylene ("PTFE"), or carbon and glass filled PTFE may be suitable. PTFE, however, has a tendency to"cold flow"under pressure, and if used, it may be desirable to include serrated edges or ridges on the surfaces against which the PTFE bears to help resist"cold flow."Other suitable gasket materials may include compressed asbestos, such as chrysotile asbestos, available as Garlock 900 from Garlock, Inc., and nitrile, available as BUNA-N from Dupont.

Figures 7-10 show transfer valve 1 in use on several types of transportable tanks 403. Figure 7A shows a tanker railcar having tank 403 with a dome 401 positioned atop tank 403. Standard tanker railcars have an opening 420 in the top of the tanker to access the interior of the car as best seen in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 7B is substantially similar to Figure 5.

Figure 8A illustrates a top view of a barge tanker 1000, pushed by tug 999. Barge tanker 1000 is a barge 1001 having storage for a multitude of tanks 403 positioned therein.

Shown are six tanks 403 positioned longitudinally on barge 1000 in two groups of three.

Also shown is catwalk 1004 positioned atop of each group of three tanks 403 to provide access to manways 402 and the valves positioned thereon. Shown in Figure 8B is a side view of barge tanker 1000 showing dome housing 1003 positioned atop each tank. Figure 8C is substantially identical to Figure 5.

Figure 9A illustrates a side view of a truck tanker 1100, showing a truck 1101 and tank 403. Shown atop tank 403 is dome 1103 mounted on manway 402 positioned atop tank 403. Figure 9B is a cross-section through dome 1103, and showing adductor pipes 1105 attached to two of the valve/actuators. Adductor pipes 1103 are connected to the valves used to load or unload fluids, as opposed to gasses. Figure 9C is substantially similar to Figure 5.

Figure 10A illustrates a side view of an ISO tank 1200. ISO tank 1200 has a tank 403 and container 1201 for holding tank 403. Tank 403 is supported in container 1201 by saddles 1205. Tank 403 and container 1201 may be positioned on a flatbed for transport or positioned on site for storage. Shown atop tank 403 is dome 1203 which is mounted on manway 402 positioned atop tank 403. Figure 10B is substantially identical to Figure 5.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is anticipated that alterations and modifications thereof will no doubt become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the following claims be interpreted as covering all such alterations and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.