Patent US5093170A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3563263A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for storing petroleum products
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1968-01-02
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Granted: 1971-02-16
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Expires: 1988-01-02
Abstract
Abstract A system and process for storing petroleum products characterized by an underground manifold into which a plurality of underground tanks are vented and which in turn is vented to the atmosphere by a single line. A valving system is employed in conjunction with the vent lines running between the individual tanks and the manifold which automatically closes the vent line during the tank filling operation and stops the flow of the product at a level which provides sufficient additional tank storage capacity to subsequently accommodate the quantity of product in the fill hose. The valving system includes a venting bypass line which can be then opened to recycle the valving system, to permit the quantity of product in the fill line to flow into the tank and to vent the tank to the atmosphere through the manifold.
Inventors
- 👤 James P Benson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 10:48
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/36; B67D7/362; B67D7/365; F; F16; F16K; F16K31/00; F16K31/12; F16K31/18; F16L; F16L55/00; F16L57/00; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3003; Y10T137/3084; Y10T137/309; Y10T137/3099; Y10T137/4673; Y10T137/4857; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7358
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A venting system for a plurality of underground liquid storage tanks each having fill and outlet connections comprising: an underground manifold; a pipe connecting each said tank to said manifold; a single vent line having one end thereof connected to said manifold and its other end opening to the atmosphere; first means carried by each said tank for automatically closing off its respective said pipe when said fluid in said tank reaches a predetermined level below the full capacity of said tank; and second means for subsequently opening said respective pipe while said fluid in said tank is at least at said predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
A venting system for a plurality of underground liquid storage tanks each having fill and outlet connections comprising: an underground manifold; a pipe connecting each said tank to said manifold; a single vent line having one end thereof connected to said manifold and its other end opening to the atmosphere; first means carried by each said tank for automatically closing off its respective said pipe when said fluid in said tank reaches a predetermined level below the full capacity of said tank; and second means for subsequently opening said respective pipe while said fluid in said tank is at least at said predetermined level.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first means includes: a valve body including communIcating open ends interposed between said tank and its respective said pipe; and a float moveably attached to said valve body for closing off one said open end of said valve body when said float is in its uppermost position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said second means includes means for removing the buoyancy of said float.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said second means additionally includes means connected to said valve body for venting the interior of said tank to said respective pipe independently of said first means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said second means includes means for restoring said float to a valve-open position with the interior of said tank communicating with said respective pipe.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
A valve assembly for use in venting a fluid storage tank having a fill pipe and a vent line comprising: a valve body connected between said vent line and the upper interior of said tank; first means connected to said valve body responsive to the level of fluid within said tank for automatically closing said valve when said fluid read reaches a predetermined level within said tank below the full capacity of said tank; and second means for subsequently restoring said first means to a valve-open position while said fluid is at least at said predetermined level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
97 words
A valve assembly for use in venting a fluid storage tank having a fill pipe and a vent line comprising: a valve body connected between said vent line and the upper interior of said tank; first means connected to said valve body responsive to the level of fluid within said tank for automatically closing said valve when said fluid read reaches a predetermined level within said tank below the full capacity of said tank; and second means for subsequently restoring said first means to a valve-open position while said fluid is at least at said predetermined level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
50 words
The valve assembly of claim 6 wherein said first means comprises: a float moveably attached to said valve body; and closure means carried by said float to seat against the bottom of said valve body and thereby close said valve when said fluid reaches said predetermined level in said tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The valve assembly of claim 7 wherein said second means includes means for removing the buoyancy of said float.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said second means additionally includes means connected to said valve body for venting the interior of said tank to said vent line independently of said first means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The valve assembly of claim 8 wherein said means for removing the buoyancy of said float includes at least two apertures in said float.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for venting vapor from a plurality of underground liquid storage tanks each having liquid fill and liquid outlet connections comprising: an underground manifold; a single vent line having one end thereof connected to said manifold and the other end thereof opening to the atmosphere; a plurality of vent pipes corresponding in one-to-one relation to the storage tanks with a separate one of said vent pipes connecting the interior of its corresponding storage tank to said manifold; first means acting in conjunction with each said vent pipe and its corresponding tank for sharply decreasing the rate at which vapor can be vented from the interior of each tank to its corresponding vent pipe when liquid in the storage tank reaches a predetermined level; and second means for subsequently increasing the rate at which vapor can be so vented while the liquid in the storage tank is at least at its predetermined level.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for venting vapor from a plurality of underground liquid storage tanks each having liquid fill and liquid outlet connections comprising: an underground manifold; a single vent line having one end thereof connected to said manifold and the other end thereof opening to the atmosphere; a plurality of vent pipes corresponding in one-to-one relation to the storage tanks with a separate one of said vent pipes connecting the interior of its corresponding storage tank to said manifold; first means acting in conjunction with each said vent pipe and its corresponding tank for sharply decreasing the rate at which vapor can be vented from the interior of each tank to its corresponding vent pipe when liquid in the storage tank reaches a predetermined level; and second means for subsequently increasing the rate at which vapor can be so vented while the liquid in the storage tank is at least at its predetermined level.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The system of claim 11 in which the means for sharply decreasing the rate at which vapor may be vented from the interior of each tank to its corresponding vent pipe includes float actuated means for blocking at least the largest portion of the vapor flow from the interior of the storage tank to its corresponding vent pipe when liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 12 in which said second means comprises means for removing the buoyancy of said float actuated means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
72 words
The system of claim 11 in which said means for sharply decreasing the rate at which vapor can be vented from a tank to its corresponding vent pipe includes: first and second orifices connecting the interior of the tank with its corresponding vent pipe, said first orifice being substantially larger than said second orifice; and float actuated means for closing said first orifice when liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 14 in which said second means comprises means for removing the buoyancy of said float actuated means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-15 | 1974-08-17 | 1975-02-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-15 | 1978-08-17 | 1979-02-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-15 | 1982-08-17 | 1983-02-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |