Patent US3815327A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3815327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for preventing loss of hydrocarbons to atmosphere
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-05-14
•
Granted: 1974-06-11
•
Expires: 1993-05-14
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, dehydrated, and passed through a refrigerated condensation or absorption zone, and the recovered 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. Being compact, the apparatus occupies little valuable space in a service station; and it requires less power than conventional apparatus.
Inventors
- 👤 C Viland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:54
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0476; B01; B01D; B01D5/00; B01D5/0033; B01D5/0078; B01D5/0081; B01D5/0084; B67D7/0478; B67D7/049; B67D2007/0494
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 having the additional steps of injecting about one to three mols of tank gasoline per mol of total hydrocarbons present in the vapor, into the vapors entering the condensing system, to absorb part of the hydrocarbons.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 having the additional steps of de-misting the air and any condensed hydrocarbon contained therein after said separating by agglomerating the mist into droplets of liquid, and returning said droplets to the separation portion of the cyclone zone by gravity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3, including injecting about one to three mols of tank gasoline per mol of total hydrocarbons present in the vapor, into the vapors entering the condensing system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 3 having the additional steps of conducting the condensed hydrocarbon liquid from the bottom of the cyclone-separator vessel to storage, and venting the air and other gas to the atmosphere.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 having the additional steps of conducting the condensed hydrocarbon liquid at the bottom of the cyclone separator to storage, and venting the air and other gas from the top of the cyclone separator to the atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
182 words
Apparatus for preventing pollution of the atmosphere by hydrocarbon vapors, comprising: means for closing off the space between a tank to be filled and a filling hose from access to the atmosphere during the filling of the tank, means for collecting the gasoline vapors and air displaced from said tank during filling thereof by liquid gasline and also for collecting any additional gasoline vapors evaporated during said filling of the tank, means for de-moisturizing the collected vapors, and air, means for condensing the collected vapors to liquid form, with some of the condensed gasoline vapors still being dispersed in the air, and a cyclone separator having a tangential inlet introducing the air and condensed vapors at an entrance velocity such that the centrifugal force imparted is substantially greater than the force of gravity, means for maintaining the condensed vapors in said cyclone separator in their condensed state so that condensation is completed to 90 percent or more of all hydrocarbons boiling at and above about 31* F., and so that the hydrocarbon liquid is separated from the air by said centrifugal force.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 7 having means for injecting tank gasoline into the vapors before said vapors enter said means for condensing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 7 having means for de-misting the air and any condensed hydrocarbon contained therein after separation by agglomerating the mist into droplets of liquid, and means for returning said droplets to said cyclone separator by gravity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 9 having means for conducting condensed hydrocarbon liquid at the bottom of the cyclone separator to storage, and means for venting the air and other gas to the atmosphere.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 7 having means for conducting the condensed hydrocarbon liquid at the bottom of the cyclone separator to storage and means for venting the air and other gas from the top of the cyclone-separator vessel to the atmosphere.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
185 words
Apparatus for preventing loss of hydrocarbons to air when filling a depleted automobile gasoline tank and when filling the fuel-dispensing tank of the service station, comprising a gasoline storage tank, vapor-collecting means for collecting the hydrocarbon vapors and air displaced from the automobile gasoline tank during filling under slight pressure, drying means connected to said vapor-collecting means for demoisturizing said collected vapors and air, condensing means connected to said drying means for condensing not less than 90 percent of the hydrocarbons boiling at and above about 31* F. to liquid form, said condensing means comprising a housing containing refrigerated coolant, and A heat exchanger and a cyclone-separator vessel both immersed in said refrigerated coolant, said cyclone-separator vessel imparting a centrifugal separating force greater than that of gravity and having a separation zone, a liquid collector at the bottom of the cyclone-separator zone, conduit means connected to said liquid collector for conducting said liquid hydrocarbon condensate to said storage tank, and means connected to said vapor zone for venting the air and any other gas present from the top of said cyclone-separator vessel to the atmosphere.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 12 having means for injecting tank gasoline into the vapors before said vapors enter said condensing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus of claim 12 having means for collecting vapors and air displaced in filling said storage tank connected to said vapor-collecting means, bypass venting means connected to said means for collecting vapors and air to said vapor-collecting means, and check valve means in said bypass venting means holding a pressure in said collected vapors of about 0.5-2.5 psig before venting.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
77 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said vessel has a cylindrical vapor zone within and above said separation zone of said cyclone separator wherein the linear velocity is relatively low, and a de-mister pad placed horizontally in said vapor zone wherein air, gas and any condensed hydrocarbon vapor present as fine mist are caused to pass, thereby agglomerating said mist into liquid droplets, said liquid droplets returning by gravity into the separation zone of the cyclone-separator vessel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said vapor-collecting means comprises a housing providing an annular space and secured to a gasoline filling hose adjacent to its nozzle and having means for attachment to the filling spout of said automobile gasoline tank in the same manner as the cap normally closing said spout.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 16 having a vapor line from said housing and check-valve means in said vapor line for closing off said vapor-collecting means when no vehicles are being refueled.
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) | 1977-06-10 | 1977-12-10 | 1978-06-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-10 | 1981-12-10 | 1982-06-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-10 | 1985-12-10 | 1986-06-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |