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EP0343884B1 - Apparatus for dispensing liquids with a gas return line - Google Patents

Apparatus for dispensing liquids with a gas return line Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0343884B1
EP0343884B1 EP89305123A EP89305123A EP0343884B1 EP 0343884 B1 EP0343884 B1 EP 0343884B1 EP 89305123 A EP89305123 A EP 89305123A EP 89305123 A EP89305123 A EP 89305123A EP 0343884 B1 EP0343884 B1 EP 0343884B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
return line
gas return
product
dispensing
storage vessel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP89305123A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0343884A1 (en
Inventor
Manfred Schalke
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BP TANKSTELLEN GmbH
Original Assignee
BP TANKSTELLEN GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BP TANKSTELLEN GmbH filed Critical BP TANKSTELLEN GmbH
Priority to AT89305123T priority Critical patent/ATE84016T1/en
Publication of EP0343884A1 publication Critical patent/EP0343884A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0343884B1 publication Critical patent/EP0343884B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/04—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
    • B67D7/0476—Vapour recovery systems
    • B67D7/0478—Vapour recovery systems constructional features or components

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing liquids, in particular readily vapourisible liquid fuels, e.g. gasoline. It relates in particular to apparatus comprising a product storage vessel, and a dispensing column (e.g. a petrol pump) with the dispensing column and the product storage vessel being connected by a product supply pipe which is not in an easily accessible position. Thus the product pipe may be buried in the ground.
  • a dispensing column e.g. a petrol pump
  • vapourisible liquids such as gasoline
  • a product storage tank into another container, for example the fuel tank of a car
  • vapourised liquid from the container into which the liquid is dispensed. It is desirable to reduce the emissions of such vapours and gases into the atmosphere.
  • DE 36 13 453 A discloses an apparatus in which a gas return line is located within the product supply hose of a gasoline dispenser (petrol pump). The gas return line is then led from the dispensing column (petrol pump) and is led into the gas space in the product storage vessel.
  • US-A-3016928 is concerned with providing a device which can be installed in existing fuel gravity or pump lines. However, the disclosure is concerned with devices which are installed in vertical fuel pipes, and a central gas return pipe runs all the way through the flexible and refuelling hose to the storage tank.
  • US 3016928 discloses a device for extracting gases and vapours from liquid fuel storage containers. A gasoline dispensing column (“pump”) is shown which has a gas return line within a fuel supply pipe which extends vertically downward into a storage tank.
  • pump gasoline dispensing column
  • an apparatus for dispensing a liquid product in particular a readily vapourisable liquid fuel
  • which apparatus comprises a product storage vessel, a dispensing column, a product supply pipe which is not readily accessible and which connects the storage vessel and the dispensing column, and a gas return line connecting the dispensing column and the storage vessel, which gas return line opens into the dispensing column and the storage vessel at other places than the product suppply pipe, and part of which gas return line runs inside the product supply line is characterised in that said product supply pipe (7) is provided with sealed inlet and outlet members (13,14,15) for the gas return line.
  • the present invention is particularly useful when there is not vertical straight line connection between the dispensing column and the storage vessel, for example when there is a horizontal portion of the supply pipe which is not easily accessible.
  • the apparatus of the present invention is preferably provided with a return pump in the gas return line because this makes possible the use of a gas return line with a smaller diameter, which in general will be of the order of 8 mm internal diameter and thus does not significantly reduce the free cross-section of the product pipeline.
  • the installation of the gas return line is substantially simplified because it is merely necessary to provide the product pipeline at the inlet and outlet locations with corresponding inlet and outlet devices. These are formed from a tubular intermediate piece with an inlet or outlet connector provided with a seal. The connectors are provided in the protected area of a dispensing column and in the access pit of the storage vessel. The requirements for the protection of the gas return line are thus relatively small because it does not lie free in the ground and is thus protected from unexpected mechanical or chemical attack. It can thus be in the form of a hose of flexible and product resistant plastic, for example Perbunan (butyl rubber) or of PTFE.
  • the gas return line may be electrically conducting, either because the material from which it is made is conductive or because it contains a conductive metal insert.
  • the gas return line is highly desirable for the gas return line to be undivided in the region of the inlet and outlet device. Preferably it is undivided throughout the product pipe, in order not to influence the reliability of the apparatus.
  • the inlet and outlet devices on the product pipe then merely need to be arranged for sealing of the periphery of the gas return line, while any necessary pipe connections for the gas return line can be arranged outside the product supply pipe and the inlet and outlet devices. In this way the possibly sensitive regions of the gas return line are easily accessible for checking and maintenance.
  • the introduction of the gas return line into the product supply pipe may be carried out either directly by insertion of the flexible gas supply line or by means of a spiral, or, for pipe runs with frequent changes in direction, with a pulling wire. If it is not easy to push the gas return line, the spiral or the pulling wire through the product supply pipe on account of the number of changes of direction then the free end of the return pipe or a pulling means attached to it can be connected to a pig which can be forced through the product pipe under pressure.
  • the invention will now be described with reference to the drawing which is a schematic representation of the apparatus of the invention.
  • Buried in the ground (1) is the storage vessel (2) for easily vapourisable liquid fuel.
  • the vessel (2) has an upwardly extending portion (3) through which access may be obtained to the vessel.
  • This upwardly extending portion (3) is accessible within an access pit (4).
  • From portion (3) of the tank there extends a portion (5) of a fuel supply pipe forming part of the vessel (2).
  • This is connected by an expansion compensator or distance piece (6) to a buried section (7) of the fuel supply line (7).
  • the fuel supply line (7) ends in a pit (8) under a dispension column (9) and is connected with the internal parts of the dispensing column (9) by means of an expansion compensator (10).
  • Gas return line (11) leads from the dispensing column (9) through return pump (12) back to the vessel (2).
  • the fuel supply line and the gas return line are connected with different internal parts of the dispensing column (9) they leave from different parts of the dispensing column. They also open into different parts of the storage vessel.
  • the product supply line (7,5) opens into the liquid space in the vessel while the gas return line opens into the gas space in the upwardly projecting portion (3).
  • connecting pieces (13,14) are connected which are formed as inlet and outlet devices for the gas return line (11). They have a connecting piece (15) through which the gas return line, consisting of flexible plastic is led and which is sealed around the periphery of this line by suitable sealing means.
  • the gas return line therefore needs to have no break at this place. It can if desired lead in a single undivided length from the dispensing column to the storage vessel. It can also be provided with a connector (16) outside the fuel supply pipe (7). This is for example appropriate if the return line on the grounds of mechanical resistance is of a different material from that inside pipe (7).
  • the tube connector (16) can if desired be mechanically supported by the connector (15) and for this purpose may be connected to it, which however does not alter the principle of the undivided passage of the return line through the connectors or their seals.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)
  • Feeding, Discharge, Calcimining, Fusing, And Gas-Generation Devices (AREA)
  • Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
  • Feeding And Controlling Fuel (AREA)

Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing a liquid product, e.g. gasoline with a product supply pipe which is not readily accessible, e.g. buried, has a gas return line which is run through the product supply pipe by means of sealed inlet and outlet members connected to the product supply pipe.

Description

  • The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing liquids, in particular readily vapourisible liquid fuels, e.g. gasoline. It relates in particular to apparatus comprising a product storage vessel, and a dispensing column (e.g. a petrol pump) with the dispensing column and the product storage vessel being connected by a product supply pipe which is not in an easily accessible position. Thus the product pipe may be buried in the ground.
  • When readily vapourisible liquids, such as gasoline, are dispensed from a product storage tank into another container, for example the fuel tank of a car, there is often a release of vapourised liquid from the container into which the liquid is dispensed. It is desirable to reduce the emissions of such vapours and gases into the atmosphere.
  • It has been proposed to recover the vapour which is expelled from the receiving vessel when liquid is dispensed into it and to return this vapour to the product storage vessel. DE 36 13 453 A discloses an apparatus in which a gas return line is located within the product supply hose of a gasoline dispenser (petrol pump). The gas return line is then led from the dispensing column (petrol pump) and is led into the gas space in the product storage vessel.
  • The arrangement shown in DE 36 13 453 A is satisfactory if there is sufficient space around the connection between the dispensing column and the storage tank for a separate gas return line to be installed.
  • US-A-3016928 is concerned with providing a device which can be installed in existing fuel gravity or pump lines. However, the disclosure is concerned with devices which are installed in vertical fuel pipes, and a central gas return pipe runs all the way through the flexible and refuelling hose to the storage tank. US 3016928 discloses a device for extracting gases and vapours from liquid fuel storage containers. A gasoline dispensing column ("pump") is shown which has a gas return line within a fuel supply pipe which extends vertically downward into a storage tank. However many existing arrangements for dispensing liquids, and in particular many existing arrangements for the retail distribution of gasoline (petrol stations) have a connection between the product storage vessel and the dispensing column by means of a pipe which is surrounded by earth or where there is no space adjacent to the liquid supply pipe for insertion of a gas return line adjacent to the liquid supply pipe. There is therefore a need for a liquids dispensing apparatus which allows for gas recovery in such cases, with minimum obstruction of the total fuel flow path.
  • According to the present invention an apparatus for dispensing a liquid product, in particular a readily vapourisable liquid fuel, which apparatus comprises a product storage vessel, a dispensing column, a product supply pipe which is not readily accessible and which connects the storage vessel and the dispensing column, and a gas return line connecting the dispensing column and the storage vessel, which gas return line opens into the dispensing column and the storage vessel at other places than the product suppply pipe, and part of which gas return line runs inside the product supply line is characterised in that said product supply pipe (7) is provided with sealed inlet and outlet members (13,14,15) for the gas return line.
  • By arranging for the gas return to run through the product supply pipe where the product supply pipe is not readily accessible, the considerable expense which would result from having to excavate a special passage for the gas return line is avoided. This expense is considerable because not only must the buried sections of the product supply pipe be excavated, which may amount to 25-30 meters per dispensing column in a gasoline filling station, but special precautions must be taken for the mechanical and chemical protection of the product pipes. The disturbance in the business of a filling station which would result from a major excavation programme is also avoided.
  • The present invention is particularly useful when there is not vertical straight line connection between the dispensing column and the storage vessel, for example when there is a horizontal portion of the supply pipe which is not easily accessible.
  • The apparatus of the present invention is preferably provided with a return pump in the gas return line because this makes possible the use of a gas return line with a smaller diameter, which in general will be of the order of 8 mm internal diameter and thus does not significantly reduce the free cross-section of the product pipeline.
  • The installation of the gas return line is substantially simplified because it is merely necessary to provide the product pipeline at the inlet and outlet locations with corresponding inlet and outlet devices. These are formed from a tubular intermediate piece with an inlet or outlet connector provided with a seal. The connectors are provided in the protected area of a dispensing column and in the access pit of the storage vessel. The requirements for the protection of the gas return line are thus relatively small because it does not lie free in the ground and is thus protected from unexpected mechanical or chemical attack. It can thus be in the form of a hose of flexible and product resistant plastic, for example Perbunan (butyl rubber) or of PTFE. The gas return line may be electrically conducting, either because the material from which it is made is conductive or because it contains a conductive metal insert.
  • It is highly desirable for the gas return line to be undivided in the region of the inlet and outlet device. Preferably it is undivided throughout the product pipe, in order not to influence the reliability of the apparatus. The inlet and outlet devices on the product pipe then merely need to be arranged for sealing of the periphery of the gas return line, while any necessary pipe connections for the gas return line can be arranged outside the product supply pipe and the inlet and outlet devices. In this way the possibly sensitive regions of the gas return line are easily accessible for checking and maintenance.
  • The introduction of the gas return line into the product supply pipe may be carried out either directly by insertion of the flexible gas supply line or by means of a spiral, or, for pipe runs with frequent changes in direction, with a pulling wire. If it is not easy to push the gas return line, the spiral or the pulling wire through the product supply pipe on account of the number of changes of direction then the free end of the return pipe or a pulling means attached to it can be connected to a pig which can be forced through the product pipe under pressure.
  • The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing which is a schematic representation of the apparatus of the invention. Buried in the ground (1) is the storage vessel (2) for easily vapourisable liquid fuel. The vessel (2) has an upwardly extending portion (3) through which access may be obtained to the vessel. This upwardly extending portion (3) is accessible within an access pit (4). From portion (3) of the tank there extends a portion (5) of a fuel supply pipe forming part of the vessel (2). This is connected by an expansion compensator or distance piece (6) to a buried section (7) of the fuel supply line (7). The fuel supply line (7) ends in a pit (8) under a dispension column (9) and is connected with the internal parts of the dispensing column (9) by means of an expansion compensator (10).
  • Gas return line (11) leads from the dispensing column (9) through return pump (12) back to the vessel (2). As the fuel supply line and the gas return line are connected with different internal parts of the dispensing column (9) they leave from different parts of the dispensing column. They also open into different parts of the storage vessel. Thus the product supply line (7,5) opens into the liquid space in the vessel while the gas return line opens into the gas space in the upwardly projecting portion (3).
  • At the end of the buried section (7) of the fuel supply pipe tube connecting pieces (13,14) are connected which are formed as inlet and outlet devices for the gas return line (11). They have a connecting piece (15) through which the gas return line, consisting of flexible plastic is led and which is sealed around the periphery of this line by suitable sealing means. The gas return line therefore needs to have no break at this place. It can if desired lead in a single undivided length from the dispensing column to the storage vessel. It can also be provided with a connector (16) outside the fuel supply pipe (7). This is for example appropriate if the return line on the grounds of mechanical resistance is of a different material from that inside pipe (7). For example it can consist of metal in the exposed region and can consist of flexible plastic pipe (7), in order to provide sufficient flexibility for introduction of the line and to give no occasion for contact corrosion. The tube connector (16) can if desired be mechanically supported by the connector (15) and for this purpose may be connected to it, which however does not alter the principle of the undivided passage of the return line through the connectors or their seals.

Claims (6)

  1. An apparatus for dispensing a liquid product, which apparatus comprises a product storage vessel, a dispensing column, a product supply pipe which is not readily accessible and which connects the storage vessel and the dispensing column, and a gas return line which connects the dispensing column and the storage vessel; which gas return line opens into the dispensing column at other places than the product supply line and that part of the gas return line which is not readily accessible runs inside the product supply line, said product supply line is provided with sealed inlet and outlet devices for the gas return line characterised in that the inlet and outlet devices are formed from a tubular connecting piece (13,14) with an inlet and outlet connector (15) provided with sealing means and are in the protected area (pit) (8) of a dispensing column (9) and in the access pit (4) of the storage vessel (2) respectively.
  2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that the gas return line is provided with a return pump (12).
  3. Apparatus according to either of claims 1 or 2 characterised in that the gas return line (11) is undivided in the area of the inlet or outlet devices (13,14,15).
  4. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the gas return line (11) consists of flexible and fuel resistant plastic.
  5. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the gas return line (11) is electrically conductive.
  6. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein there is a horizontal portion of the supply pipe (7) which is difficult of access.
EP89305123A 1988-05-24 1989-05-19 Apparatus for dispensing liquids with a gas return line Expired - Lifetime EP0343884B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT89305123T ATE84016T1 (en) 1988-05-24 1989-05-19 DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS WITH GAS RECOVERY LINE.

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE3817606 1988-05-24
DE3817606A DE3817606A1 (en) 1988-05-24 1988-05-24 ARRANGEMENT FOR REFUELING A LIQUID PRODUCT, IN PARTICULAR CARBURETOR FUELS, WITH A GAS RECIRCULATION DEVICE

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0343884A1 EP0343884A1 (en) 1989-11-29
EP0343884B1 true EP0343884B1 (en) 1992-12-30

Family

ID=6355006

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89305123A Expired - Lifetime EP0343884B1 (en) 1988-05-24 1989-05-19 Apparatus for dispensing liquids with a gas return line

Country Status (5)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0343884B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE84016T1 (en)
DE (3) DE3817606A1 (en)
ES (1) ES2037954T3 (en)
GR (1) GR3007441T3 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5865216A (en) 1995-11-08 1999-02-02 Advanced Polymer Technology, Inc. System for housing secondarily contained flexible piping
USRE37114E1 (en) 1993-11-01 2001-03-27 Advanced Polymer Technology, Inc. Secondary containment flexible underground piping system

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5301721A (en) * 1990-05-24 1994-04-12 Hartmann John P Underground secondary containment and vapor recovery piping system
DE4139844A1 (en) * 1991-02-03 1993-06-24 Fritz Curtius Return flow pipe for underground petrol tank - has container fitted in pipe to collect condensate which is then pumped away
DE9207810U1 (en) * 1991-11-30 1993-03-25 Ruffer, Ekkehard, Dipl.-Ing., 2107 Rosengarten Product line for carburettor fuels with a gas return line
DE4141161C2 (en) * 1991-11-30 1995-01-12 Tecalemit Gmbh Deutsche Pipe adapter for a transport line for gasoline fuels or the like.
US5265652A (en) * 1992-05-29 1993-11-30 Couple-Up, Inc. Multiaxial fuel transfer pipe system

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3016928A (en) * 1959-01-19 1962-01-16 Brandt Robert Jay Device for extracting fumes from liquid fuel storage containers
US4057086A (en) * 1975-02-27 1977-11-08 Healy James W Vapor control
DE3613453A1 (en) * 1986-04-21 1987-10-22 Deutsche Geraetebau Gmbh Device for refuelling motor vehicles
CA1299545C (en) * 1986-09-26 1992-04-28 John Howard Stanley Light weight flexible coaxial vapor recovery hose

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
USRE37114E1 (en) 1993-11-01 2001-03-27 Advanced Polymer Technology, Inc. Secondary containment flexible underground piping system
US5865216A (en) 1995-11-08 1999-02-02 Advanced Polymer Technology, Inc. System for housing secondarily contained flexible piping

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE8816569U1 (en) 1990-01-18
GR3007441T3 (en) 1993-07-30
ES2037954T3 (en) 1993-07-01
ATE84016T1 (en) 1993-01-15
EP0343884A1 (en) 1989-11-29
DE68904118D1 (en) 1993-02-11
DE3817606A1 (en) 1989-11-30
DE3817606C2 (en) 1992-08-27
DE68904118T2 (en) 1993-05-06

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