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Overflow tubeRelated Patent Categories: Fluent Material Handling, With Receiver Or Receiver Coacting Means, Automatic Control Of Flow Cutoff Or Diversion, Level Or Overflow ResponsiveOverflow tube description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060196575, Overflow tube. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
[0001] This nonprovisional application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-062770 filed with the Japan Patent Office on Mar. 7, 2005, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to overflow tubes and particularly to overflow tubes used to control oil level oil in a casing. [0004] 2. Description of the Background Art [0005] For a conventional oil level control scheme, for example Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 10-213210 discloses an automatic transmission intended to provide increased workability in storing a prescribed amount of working fluid. The disclosed automatic transmission is provided with an oil introduction port for introducing the working fluid into an oil chamber and an oil adjustment port allowing the working fluid to overflow from the oil chamber. Thus the working fluid can be replenished while the working fluid can overflow allowing one to confirm that the prescribed amount of the working fluid has been stored. [0006] Furthermore Japanese Utility Model Laying-open No. 05-017336 discloses an oil supply tank for a petroleum combustion instrument that can help to break fuel's surface tension to prevent the fuel from being replenished in a large amount at a time. The disclosed tank has a plurality of recesses in a surface thereof located at a topmost end of the tank and defining a fixed oil level in contact with an oil level. The surface faces a vertically downward direction. [0007] As disclosed in Japanese Patent Laying-open No. 10-213210, when more than the prescribed mount of oil is introduced the oil level control scheme that exploits overflow externally discharges the oil through an overflow tube to set an oil level at the position of an end of the tube. [0008] However, oil has surface tension and in reality the oil level is set at a level several millimeters higher than the end of the tube. The oil level thus set is unstable because of a condition in introducing the oil, the oil's waving, and the like, and may have an error introduced therein. Furthermore, it also causes the tube to have difficulty in stopping the oil flowing out the tube and one cannot determine when to apply a drain plug to close the tube, resulting in poor workability in exchanging the oil. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention has been made to overcome the above disadvantage, and it contemplates an overflow tube that can help to set an oil level precisely at a prescribed level. [0010] The present invention in one aspect provides an overflow tube provided at a case body and causing an amount of a working fluid exceeding a prescribed amount received by the case body to overflow to set a level of the working fluid at a prescribed level. The overflow tube includes an end portion positioned in the case body and defining an opening receiving and passing the working fluid overflowing. The end portion has a curved surface facing vertically upward and extending to surround the opening, and curving in a direction in contact with a generally horizontal direction. It should be noted that "facing vertically upward" means facing away from the ground with respect to the horizon (or a straight line perpendicular to a vertical direction) and corresponds to a range from a vertically upward direction to a horizontal direction. [0011] The overflow tube thus structured has the curved surface curved in a direction that is in contact with a generally horizontal direction. The working fluid having a level raised around the end portion by surface tension can be guided along the curved surface into the opening. Thus the working fluid's surface tension can be broken and the working fluid can have a level readily set at a prescribed level as intended. [0012] The present invention in another aspect provides an overflow tube provided at a case body and causing an amount of a working fluid exceeding a prescribed amount received by the case body to overflow to set a level of the working fluid at a prescribed level. The overflow tube includes an end portion positioned in the case body and defining an opening receiving and passing the working fluid overflowing. The end portion has an inclined surface facing vertically upward and extending to surround the opening, and inclining from a circumference of the end portion toward the opening vertically downward. [0013] The overflow tube thus structured has the inclined surface inclined from the end portion, which is filled with the working fluid, toward the opening vertically downward. The working fluid having a level raised around the end portion by surface tension can be guided along the inclined surface into the opening. Thus the working fluid's surface tension can be broken and the working fluid can have a level readily set at a prescribed level as intended. [0014] The present invention in still another aspect provides an overflow tube provided at a case body and causing an amount of a working fluid exceeding a prescribed amount received by the case body to overflow to set a level of the working fluid at a prescribed level. The overflow tube includes an end portion positioned in the case body and defining an opening receiving and passing the working fluid overflowing. The end portion has a surface facing vertically upward and extending to surround the opening, and formed to be uneven. [0015] The overflow tube that has the end portion with an uneven surface can contact the working fluid over a surface having an increased area. This can promote a fluid guiding effect attributed to capillarity (i.e., the action by which the surface of a liquid where it is in contact with a solid is attracted to the solid) to more positively guide to the opening the working fluid contacting the surface. Thus the working fluid's surface tension can be broken and the working fluid can have a level readily set at a prescribed level as intended. [0016] Preferably the surface is satin finished. Furthermore, preferably the surface is serrated to have a plurality of teeth arranged along a circumference of the opening. Furthermore, preferably the surface has a groove extending from a circumference of the end portion toward the opening. The overflow tube thus structured allows a capillary fluid guiding effect to more effectively be utilized. [0017] The present invention in still another aspect provides an overflow tube provided at a case body and causing an amount of a working fluid exceeding a prescribed amount received by the case body to overflow to set a level of the working fluid at a prescribed level. The overflow tube includes: an end portion positioned in the case body and defining an opening receiving and passing the working fluid overflowing; and a guiding member provided at the end portion in a form of a string extending from a circumference of the end portion toward the opening. [0018] The overflow tube thus structured allows the working fluid having a level raised around the end portion by surface tension to be guided through capillarity along the guide member into the opening. Thus the working fluid's surface tension can be broken and the working fluid can have a level readily set at a prescribed level as intended. [0019] The present invention in still another aspect provides an overflow tube provided at a case body and causing an amount of a working fluid exceeding a prescribed amount received by the case body to overflow to set a level of the working fluid at a prescribed level. The overflow tube includes an end portion positioned in the case body and defining an opening receiving and passing the working fluid overflowing. The end portion has a surface facing vertically upward and extending to surround the opening, and lipophilically coated. [0020] The overflow tube that has the end portion with a surface coated with a lipophilic coating allows the working fluid to have a surface contacting that of the end portion at a reduced contact angle. Thus the working fluid's surface tension can be broken and the working fluid can have a level readily set at a prescribed level as intended. Note that the "contact angle" as referred to herein indicates an angle formed by a surface of a solid contacting a liquid and a gas and a surface of the liquid at a boundary interface at which the three phases contact each other, as represented on the liquid's side. [0021] The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Continue reading about Overflow tube... Full patent description for Overflow tube Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Overflow tube patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Overflow tube or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Insect control system and method Next Patent Application: Chemical liquid control valve Industry Class: Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting means ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Overflow tube patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.69456 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , 174 |
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