US3763901A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of preventing loss of hydrocarbons to atmosphere
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1971-01-25
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Granted: 1973-10-09
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Expires: 1991-01-25
Abstract
Abstract A self-contained vapor recovery system for gasoline service stations and for similar applications. Displaced hydrocarbon gases are collected at the point of entry when a vehicle''s fuel tank is being filled, or when the service station''s main storage tanks are receiving a fresh loading of gasoline. These vapors are collected under controlled pressure conditions and passed through a refrigerated condensation or absorption zone, and the liquid is returned to the service station''s storage tankage, preferably below the liquid level there. The essentially hydrocarbon-free gas, now mainly air, is discharged into the atmosphere. The invention not only helps conserve a valuable natural resource, the petroleum from which the gasoline is made, but also alleviates air pollution or smog formation, since unburned hydrocarbons in the earth''s atmosphere react under the influence of sunlight with nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide from any source of combustion, to form a typical smog blanket.
Inventors
- 👤 C Viland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 18:27
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0476; B67D7/0478; B67D7/048; B67D7/049
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for preventing pollution of the atmosphere by hydrocarbon vapors, comprising: closing off a tank to be filled and a filling hose from access to the atmosphere during the filling of the tank, collecting the gasoline vapors and air displaced from said tank by liquid gasoline and additional evaporated gasoline vapors during said filling of the tank, demoisturizing the collected vapors, then condensing the collected vapors into liquid condition, thereby separating said air from said vapors, and venting said air to the atmosphere in substantially vapor free condition.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for preventing pollution of the atmosphere by hydrocarbon vapors, comprising: closing off a tank to be filled and a filling hose from access to the atmosphere during the filling of the tank, collecting the gasoline vapors and air displaced from said tank by liquid gasoline and additional evaporated gasoline vapors during said filling of the tank, demoisturizing the collected vapors, then condensing the collected vapors into liquid condition, thereby separating said air from said vapors, and venting said air to the atmosphere in substantially vapor free condition.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for preventing escape of hyDrocarbons to the atmosphere when filling an automobile''s gasoline tank at a filling station, comprising: sealing a connection between the gasoline filling hose and the automobile''s gasoline tank, withdrawing from the point of connection the gasoline vapors displaced by the liquid gasoline during the filling operation as well as any other gasoline vapors from the tank or hose, cooling the withdrawn vapors to condense the hydrocarbons to liquid form, and adding the liquid hydrocarbon to the liquid gasoline in the storage tank of the filling station.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
92 words
A method for preventing escape of hyDrocarbons to the atmosphere when filling an automobile''s gasoline tank at a filling station, comprising: sealing a connection between the gasoline filling hose and the automobile''s gasoline tank, withdrawing from the point of connection the gasoline vapors displaced by the liquid gasoline during the filling operation as well as any other gasoline vapors from the tank or hose, cooling the withdrawn vapors to condense the hydrocarbons to liquid form, and adding the liquid hydrocarbon to the liquid gasoline in the storage tank of the filling station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein between the withdrawing step and the cooling step the hydrocarbon vapors are desiccated to remove water vapor therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said withdrawing step is performed by exerting a below-ambient-atmospheric pressure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said cooling step includes absorbing the vapors by cooled gasoline drawn from the storage tank of the filling station.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for preventing loss of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere when filling a depleted automobile gasoline tank at a filling station having a fuel-dispensing tank and when filling the fuel-dispensing tank of the filling station, which comprises means for collecting hydrocarbon vapors and air from the tank being filled under slight vacuum, means for condensing said vapors to liquid form by a heat exchanger immersed in a refrigerated coolant, leaving said air substantially vapor free, means for venting said vapor-free air to the atmosphere, a collecting trap for the condensed liquid, means for controlling the level in the collecting trap, and means discharging the condensate back to the fuel dispensing tank.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
111 words
A system for preventing loss of hydrocarbons to the atmosphere when filling a depleted automobile gasoline tank at a filling station having a fuel-dispensing tank and when filling the fuel-dispensing tank of the filling station, which comprises means for collecting hydrocarbon vapors and air from the tank being filled under slight vacuum, means for condensing said vapors to liquid form by a heat exchanger immersed in a refrigerated coolant, leaving said air substantially vapor free, means for venting said vapor-free air to the atmosphere, a collecting trap for the condensed liquid, means for controlling the level in the collecting trap, and means discharging the condensate back to the fuel dispensing tank.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 6 additionally incorporating desiccating means for drying the hydrocarbon vapor before it enters the condenser.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
58 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said means for collecting comprises a cup secured to the gasoline station''s filling hose adjacent the nozzle thereof and capable of sealing against the body of the automobile adjacent the filling spout of the automobile''s gasoline tank when the nozzle is inserted in said tank, and a conduit secured to said cup.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein the conduit is secured to said hose.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said conduit is inside said hose.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
10 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said conduit is transparent.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 8 wherein said cup has a transparent main body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said means for collecting comprises a member secured to the gasoline station''s hose surrounding its nozzle for attachment to the filling spout of said automobile''s filling tank in the same manner as the normal closing cap thereof, and means for opening said member to the collecting system by attachment of said member to said filling spout, and for closing it off to the atmosphere when the nozzle is detached from the filling spout.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said means for collecting comprises a member secured to the filling pipe of the service station''s main storage tank in the same manner as the normal closing cap thereof.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for preventing loss of hydrocarbons to the atompshere when filling a depleted automobile gasoline tank at a filling station having a fuel-dispensing tank and when filling the fuel-dispensing tank of the filling station which comprises collecting displaced hydrocarbon vapors and displaced air from the tank being filled, simultaneously cooling, condensing, and absorbing said vapors into liquid form by direct contact and dispersion into a portion of the gasoline withdrawn from the fuel-dispensing tank, thereby refrigerating said portion to a suitably low temperature, and leaving said displaced air substantially vapor free, venting said vapor-free air to the atmosphere, introducing fuel-dispensing tank liquid into the refrigerated direct-contact zone, maintaining a desired liqUid level in the refrigerated direct-contact zone, and adding the condensed-vapor-enriched liquid to the liquid gasoline in the storage tank.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for preventing loss of hydrocarbons to the atompshere when filling a depleted automobile gasoline tank at a filling station having a fuel-dispensing tank and when filling the fuel-dispensing tank of the filling station which comprises collecting displaced hydrocarbon vapors and displaced air from the tank being filled, simultaneously cooling, condensing, and absorbing said vapors into liquid form by direct contact and dispersion into a portion of the gasoline withdrawn from the fuel-dispensing tank, thereby refrigerating said portion to a suitably low temperature, and leaving said displaced air substantially vapor free, venting said vapor-free air to the atmosphere, introducing fuel-dispensing tank liquid into the refrigerated direct-contact zone, maintaining a desired liqUid level in the refrigerated direct-contact zone, and adding the condensed-vapor-enriched liquid to the liquid gasoline in the storage tank.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 wherein between said collecting step and the direct-contact-cooling step the vapors are desiccated to remove water vapors therefrom.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 15 wherein said step is exerted at above-ambient-atmospheric pressure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-08 | 1977-04-09 | 1977-10-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-08 | 1981-04-09 | 1981-10-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-08 | 1985-04-09 | 1985-10-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |