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US3902874A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Vapor recovery and disposal system
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-13
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Granted: 1975-09-02
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Expires: 1993-12-13
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed for preventing gasoline vapors contained in air vented from gasoline storage tanks from entering the atmosphere, which includes a conduit to pass gasoline-laden air to a bed of adsorbent for gasoline and, when the adsorbent approaches saturation, subjecting it to backwashing with air, preferably heated, from a blower to an extent and for a time adequate to remove enough gasoline from the adsorbent to restore it to a regenerated condition, and combusting the gasoline removed from the adsorbent bed in an internal combustion engine. It is also disclosed to drive the blower with the internal combustion engine and to utilize waste heat from the engine to heat the air by passing it through a radiator associated with the internal combustion engine.
Inventors
- 👤 Murray A Mcandrew
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:46
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0476; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/0454; B65; B65D; B65D90/00; B65D90/22; B65D90/30; B01D2256/00; B01D2256/24; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40003; B01D2259/40083; B01D2259/45; B01D2259/4516
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
216 words
A SYSTEM TO RECOVER GASOLINE FROM GASOLINE APOR-LADEN AIR THAT IS VENTED WHILE FILLING A FIRST GASOLINE STORAGE TANK FROM THE GASOLINE CONTAINED IN A SECOND GASOLINE TANK COMPRISING: A. A CONDUIT FOR DELIVERING LIQUID FROM THE SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE FIRST STORAGE TANK, B. A CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND STORAGE TANKS, C. AT LEAST ONE VESSEL CONTAINING ABED OF SOLID ADSORBENT CAPABLE OF SELECTIVELY ADSORBING GASOLINE FROM SAID VAPORLADEN AIR, D. A VALVED VENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM SAID VESSEL, E. A VALVED INLET INTO SAID VESSEL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BED FROM SAID VENT, SAID INLET CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND STORAGE TANKS, F. A VALVED CONDUIT FROM SAID ADSORBENT BED-CONTAINING VESSEL CONNECTING THE INLET SIDE OF SAID BED TO THE AIR OR FUEL INTAKE OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, G. BLOWER DRIVEN BY SAID ENGINE FOR PASSING BACKWASH GAS THROUGH SAID BED AND DISCHARGING IT IN SAID ENGINE, H. MEANS FOR COMBUSTING SAID BACKWASH GAS IN SAID ENGINE, AND I. MEANS FOR HEATING SAID BED OF SOLID ADSORBENT WITH WASTE HEAT FROM SAID ENGINE, INCLUDING A RADIATOR ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ENGINE FOR HEATING SAID BACKWASH GAS BEFORE PASSING SAME TO SAID VESSEL CONTAINING SAID ADSORBENT BED.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
216 words
A SYSTEM TO RECOVER GASOLINE FROM GASOLINE APOR-LADEN AIR THAT IS VENTED WHILE FILLING A FIRST GASOLINE STORAGE TANK FROM THE GASOLINE CONTAINED IN A SECOND GASOLINE TANK COMPRISING: A. A CONDUIT FOR DELIVERING LIQUID FROM THE SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE FIRST STORAGE TANK, B. A CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND STORAGE TANKS, C. AT LEAST ONE VESSEL CONTAINING ABED OF SOLID ADSORBENT CAPABLE OF SELECTIVELY ADSORBING GASOLINE FROM SAID VAPORLADEN AIR, D. A VALVED VENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE FROM SAID VESSEL, E. A VALVED INLET INTO SAID VESSEL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BED FROM SAID VENT, SAID INLET CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACES OF THE FIRST AND SECOND STORAGE TANKS, F. A VALVED CONDUIT FROM SAID ADSORBENT BED-CONTAINING VESSEL CONNECTING THE INLET SIDE OF SAID BED TO THE AIR OR FUEL INTAKE OF AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, G. BLOWER DRIVEN BY SAID ENGINE FOR PASSING BACKWASH GAS THROUGH SAID BED AND DISCHARGING IT IN SAID ENGINE, H. MEANS FOR COMBUSTING SAID BACKWASH GAS IN SAID ENGINE, AND I. MEANS FOR HEATING SAID BED OF SOLID ADSORBENT WITH WASTE HEAT FROM SAID ENGINE, INCLUDING A RADIATOR ASSOCIATED WITH SAID ENGINE FOR HEATING SAID BACKWASH GAS BEFORE PASSING SAME TO SAID VESSEL CONTAINING SAID ADSORBENT BED.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein means are provided for cooling said heated backwash gas before passing it to said vessel containing said adsorbent bed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein means are provided for starting said engine when said adsorbent bed is nearly saturated with gasoline vapors and means for stopping said engine when said backwash gas contains insufficient gasoline to support combustion, indicating said bed has been regenerated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
156 words
A process for recovering gasoline vapor from vapor-laden air expelled from a tank while filling it with gasoline, comprising: A. collecting said vapors; B. passing at least some of said vapors through a bed of solid adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing gasoline from the vapor-laden air; C. passing air substantially free of gasoline vapors from the other side of said bed of adsorbent to the atmosphere; D. stopping the flow of vapor-laden air through said bed before said adsorbent becomes saturated with gasoline; E. subsequently backwashing said bed with a heated backwash gas comprising compressed air from a blower driven by an internal combustion engine for a period long enough to desorb enough gasoline to regenerate said bed, said backwash gas being heated by passing it through a radiator associated with said engine; F. passing backwash gas to the air or fuel intake of said engine wherein the gasoline contained in said backwash gas is burned.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
156 words
A process for recovering gasoline vapor from vapor-laden air expelled from a tank while filling it with gasoline, comprising: A. collecting said vapors; B. passing at least some of said vapors through a bed of solid adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing gasoline from the vapor-laden air; C. passing air substantially free of gasoline vapors from the other side of said bed of adsorbent to the atmosphere; D. stopping the flow of vapor-laden air through said bed before said adsorbent becomes saturated with gasoline; E. subsequently backwashing said bed with a heated backwash gas comprising compressed air from a blower driven by an internal combustion engine for a period long enough to desorb enough gasoline to regenerate said bed, said backwash gas being heated by passing it through a radiator associated with said engine; F. passing backwash gas to the air or fuel intake of said engine wherein the gasoline contained in said backwash gas is burned.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The process of claim 4 wherein the heated backwash gas is cooled to provide only sufficient heat for a controlled rate of desorption of gasoline vapor from said bed of adsorbent.
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) | 1978-09-01 | 1979-03-03 | 1979-09-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-01 | 1983-03-03 | 1983-09-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-01 | 1987-03-03 | 1987-09-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |