Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Diverse fluid containing pressure filling systems involving... – Filling with exhausting the receiver
Patent
1998-12-02
2000-10-17
Jacyna, J. Casimer
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Diverse fluid containing pressure filling systems involving...
Filling with exhausting the receiver
141290, 13786152, B67D 504, B67D 506
Patent
active
061316210
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a vapour recovery system for use in a fuel dispenser dispensing a volatile fuel such as petrol. More specifically the present invention relates to such a system provided with means for monitoring the fuel vapour flow rate.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
When filling the fuel tank of a vehicle with petrol vapour tends to escape from the tank filler neck to atmosphere. However, it is now recognised that petrol vapour includes benzine and that this is a carcinogenic material. Clearly, it is unacceptable to allow the uncontrolled release of dangerous materials into the environment. In order to prevent this fuel dispensers are now increasingly provided with vapour recovery systems. In the U.S.A. in particular the provision of fuel dispensers with vapour recovery systems is expected to be made mandatory.
Fuel is customarily delivered to the tank through a nozzle via a fuel hose and vapours are recovered from the immediate vicinity of the nozzle through a manifold with inlets in it which surrounds the nozzle. The manifold is connected to a vapour recovery line which conveys the vapour to the main fuel reservoir from whence the fuel was drawn or a separate underground tank. In one known vapour recovery system, the vapours and any fuel emerging from the tank being filled are drawn through the manifold into the vapour recovery line by a vapour recovery pump. Ideally a 1:1 ratio of fuel dispensed to vapour recovered must be achieved in order to ensure efficient vapour removal and to avoid pressurising the tank/reservoir to which the fuel vapour is returned. In order to ensure that this ratio is maintained the flow of recovered fuel vapour must be controlled.
In one known system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,040,577 the volumetric flow of a vapour recovery means is controlled by a programmed microprocessor. Electrical signals are derived from sensors that are related in a known way to the volumetric flow of the fuel dispenser and are then applied to the microprocessor. The microprocessor then determines on the basis of information stored therein the parameters of an electrical signal that can be applied to the vapour recovery means in order to achieve the required vapour recovery rate. The volumetric vapour flow can be controlled by adjusting the speed of the motor driving the vapour recovery pump and/or by controlling the position of a variable valve or damper in the vapour recovery line.
Whereas the volumetric flow rate in the vapour recovery line may be set to equal that in the fuel delivery hose, there are conditions, such as differences in the temperature of the fuel in the vehicle tank and fuel from the fuel supply reservoir under which it is desirable to use a volumetric vapour flow rate that is different from the volumetric fuel flow rate. To this end it is desirable to obtain an indication of the volumetric vapour flow rate. Any differences between the measured vapour flow rate and the vapour flow rate required to match the fuel flow rate can then be compensated for adjusting the speed of the vapour recovery pump and/or the position of the variable valve or damper situated in the vapour recovery line.
In one embodiment, a sensor generates an electrical signal corresponding to the hydraulic pressure at the inlet side of the pump for the vapour recovery means. Under average conditions, the pressure will have a desired nominal value. When it is less than this value, the nominal pressure is restored by decreasing the volumetric flow of the vapour recovery means, and when it is greater than this value, nominal pressure is restored by increasing the volumetric flow of the vapour recovery means. The microprocessor is programmed to respond to the signal representing the pressure and provide signals for controlling the volumetric flow of the vapour recovery means. This is particularly easy to do if, in accordance with this invention, the motor driving the recovery pump is of the stepping type because it is driven at a speed determined by the repetition rate of dr
REFERENCES:
patent: 3071160 (1963-01-01), Weichbrod
patent: 3838598 (1974-10-01), Tompkins
patent: 4015473 (1977-04-01), Kleuters et al.
patent: 5040577 (1991-08-01), Pope
patent: 5417256 (1995-05-01), Hartsell, Jr. et al.
patent: 5763791 (1998-06-01), Shambayati
J. H. Fenner & Co. Ltd.
Jacyna J. Casimer
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