US3918932A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for collecting and disposing of fuel vapors
Assignee: Environics Inc
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Filing: 1974-03-06
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Granted: 1975-11-11
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Expires: 1994-03-06
Abstract
Abstract To prevent the pollution of air caused by hydrocarbon fuel vapors escaping during fueling of vehicles and other fuel transfers, the noxious fumes are collected and converted into the nonpollutants of water vapor and carbon dioxide which may be later discharged into the surrounding atmosphere. Vapor collection conduits having a partial vacuum formed therein serve to draw off the otherwise escaping fuel vapors at the filler opening of the vehicle, or at the vent piping of an underground storage tank, whereupon the collected vapors are passed into canisters containing carbon beds for temporarily storing the peak vapor emissions by an adsorption process. Thereafter, the vapors are retrieved from the storage canisters by pumping air therethrough to form a suitable air and vapor fuel mixture which is passed into a catalytic reactor. The fuel mixture is substantially completely oxidized in the reactor to form the water vapor and carbon dioxide end products.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuan C Lee
- 👤 Jules M Kline
- 👤 Marvin L Stary
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 17:30
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D53/0454; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0476; B01D2253/00; B01D2253/10; B01D2253/102; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/40083; B01D2259/40086; B01D2259/45; B01D2259/4516; B01D2259/455; B01D2259/4566
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
286 words
A METHOD FOR PREVENTING HYDROCARBON FUEL VAPORS FROM CONTAMINATING THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE WHILE SAID FUEL IS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM A FIRST CONTANER TO A SECOND CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID FUEL FROM SAID FIRST CONTAINER, SAID FIRST CONTAINER HAVING FUEL OUTLET MEANS AND COLLECTION MEANS ADAPTED TO FIT LOOSELY IN SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING COMPRISING: INSERTING SAID FUEL OUTLET MEANS AND SAID COLLECTION MEANS INTO SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING SUCH THAT SAID SECOND CONTAINER REMAINS OPEN TO THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE AT SAID OPENING DURING THE FUEL TRANSFER, COLLECTING, IN SAID COLLECTION MEANS, SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE FUEL VAPORS OTHERWISE ESCAPING FROM SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING WHILE RECEIVING FUEL FROM SAID OUTLET MEANS BY FORMING AN ANNULAR COLLECTION ZONE OF LOW PRESSURE LYING ABOUT SAID OUTLET MEANS AND A HIGH PRESSURE ZONE BETWEEN SAID COLLECTION ZONE AND SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING, THE LOW PRESSURE IN SAID COLLECTION ZONE HAVING A PRESSURE LOWER THAN AMBIENT PRESSURE AND SAID HIGH PRESSURE ZONE TO FORCE THE FUEL VAPORS FROM SAID SECOND CONTAINER AND AIR FROM SAID HIGH PRESSURE ZONE INTO SAID COLLECTION ZONE, PASSING SAID VAPORS FROM SAID COLLECTION ZONE INTO A TEMPORARY STORAGE ZONE AND INTO INTIMATE CONTACT WITH AN ADSORBENT SUBSTANCE IN SAID STORAGE ZONE WHEREBY SAID VAPORS ARE ADSORBED ON SAID SUBSTANCE, REMOVING SAID ADSORBED VAPORS FROM SAID ADSORBENT SUBSTANCE BY PASSING AIR INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SUBSTANCE WHEREBY SAID VAPORS ARE REMOVED THEREFROM FORMING AN AIR AND VAPOR MIXTURE, AND TRANSFERRING SAID AIR AND VAPOR MIXTURE INTO AN OXIDIZING CHAMBER CONTAINING AN OXIDIZING CATALYST AND CONTACTING SAID MIXTURE WITH SAID OXIDIZING CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE SAID FUEL VAPOR AND AIR MIXTURE TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY OXIDIZE TO FORM WATER AND CARBON DIOXIDE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
286 words
A METHOD FOR PREVENTING HYDROCARBON FUEL VAPORS FROM CONTAMINATING THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE WHILE SAID FUEL IS BEING TRANSFERRED FROM A FIRST CONTANER TO A SECOND CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING FOR RECEIVING SAID FUEL FROM SAID FIRST CONTAINER, SAID FIRST CONTAINER HAVING FUEL OUTLET MEANS AND COLLECTION MEANS ADAPTED TO FIT LOOSELY IN SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING COMPRISING: INSERTING SAID FUEL OUTLET MEANS AND SAID COLLECTION MEANS INTO SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING SUCH THAT SAID SECOND CONTAINER REMAINS OPEN TO THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE AT SAID OPENING DURING THE FUEL TRANSFER, COLLECTING, IN SAID COLLECTION MEANS, SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE FUEL VAPORS OTHERWISE ESCAPING FROM SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING WHILE RECEIVING FUEL FROM SAID OUTLET MEANS BY FORMING AN ANNULAR COLLECTION ZONE OF LOW PRESSURE LYING ABOUT SAID OUTLET MEANS AND A HIGH PRESSURE ZONE BETWEEN SAID COLLECTION ZONE AND SAID SECOND CONTAINER OPENING, THE LOW PRESSURE IN SAID COLLECTION ZONE HAVING A PRESSURE LOWER THAN AMBIENT PRESSURE AND SAID HIGH PRESSURE ZONE TO FORCE THE FUEL VAPORS FROM SAID SECOND CONTAINER AND AIR FROM SAID HIGH PRESSURE ZONE INTO SAID COLLECTION ZONE, PASSING SAID VAPORS FROM SAID COLLECTION ZONE INTO A TEMPORARY STORAGE ZONE AND INTO INTIMATE CONTACT WITH AN ADSORBENT SUBSTANCE IN SAID STORAGE ZONE WHEREBY SAID VAPORS ARE ADSORBED ON SAID SUBSTANCE, REMOVING SAID ADSORBED VAPORS FROM SAID ADSORBENT SUBSTANCE BY PASSING AIR INTO CONTACT WITH SAID SUBSTANCE WHEREBY SAID VAPORS ARE REMOVED THEREFROM FORMING AN AIR AND VAPOR MIXTURE, AND TRANSFERRING SAID AIR AND VAPOR MIXTURE INTO AN OXIDIZING CHAMBER CONTAINING AN OXIDIZING CATALYST AND CONTACTING SAID MIXTURE WITH SAID OXIDIZING CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE SAID FUEL VAPOR AND AIR MIXTURE TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETELY OXIDIZE TO FORM WATER AND CARBON DIOXIDE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 1 further defined by said step of removing said adsorbed vapors from said adsorbent substance being carried out over a time period selected to remove substantially all of the adsorbed fuel vapors and wherein said time period continues beyond the time necessary to complete the transfer of said fuel from said first container to said second container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 1, said step of passing said vapors into a temporary storage zone being further defined as passing said vapors into an inlet of a canister containing carbon granules as said adsorbent substance, and said step of removing said adsorbed vapors being further defined as drawing air from said canister through an outlet adjacent said inlet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
108 words
The method set forth in claim 1 further defined by said steps of collecting said fuel vapors, passing said vapors from said collection zone to a temporary storage zone, removing said adsorbed vapors from said adsorbent substance and feeding said air and fuel mixture into an oxidizing chamber being provided in part by pumping air and fuel vapor from said collection zone through said carbon bed and into said oxidizing chamber, and further comprising the steps of sensing when said fuel is being transferred from said first to said second containers, and pumping said air during and for a selected time interval after the transfer of said fuel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of monitoring the temperature within said oxidizing chamber and introducing additional ambient air into said fuel vapor And air mixture when such temperature exceeds a predetermined level.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of collecting and disposing of fuel vapors emitted during transfers of fuel from a fuel outlet means to a fuel receiving means, comprising the steps of: collecting such fuel vapors at the location of the fuel transfer such that the fuel receiving means remains open to the ambient atmosphere during the fuel transfer; passing said fuel vapors into contact with an adsorbent substance to cause at least a portion of said fuel vapors to be adsorbed for temporary storage therein; retrieving said stored fuel vapors by passing air in contact with said substance to form an air and fuel vapor mixture; and feeding said air and fuel vapor mixture into an oxidizing chamber to cause substantially complete oxidation of said mixture into water and carbon dioxide.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
128 words
A method of collecting and disposing of fuel vapors emitted during transfers of fuel from a fuel outlet means to a fuel receiving means, comprising the steps of: collecting such fuel vapors at the location of the fuel transfer such that the fuel receiving means remains open to the ambient atmosphere during the fuel transfer; passing said fuel vapors into contact with an adsorbent substance to cause at least a portion of said fuel vapors to be adsorbed for temporary storage therein; retrieving said stored fuel vapors by passing air in contact with said substance to form an air and fuel vapor mixture; and feeding said air and fuel vapor mixture into an oxidizing chamber to cause substantially complete oxidation of said mixture into water and carbon dioxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
196 words
The method set forth in claim 6, wherein said transfers of fuel include both the dispensing of fuel for vehicular use and bulk transfers of fuel to storage tanks supplying fuel for said dispensing, wherein: said step of collecting fuel vapors includes the substeps of collecting fuel vapors associated with said dispensing and separately collecting the fuel vapors associated with said bulk transfers to the storage tank; said step of passing said fuel vapors into an adsorbent substance includes the substeps of passing fuel vapors associated with said dispensing operations into a first container including said adsorbent substance and passing those fuel vapors associated with the bulk transfer of fuel into a second container including said adsorbent substance; said step of retrieving said stored fuel vapors includes the substep of drawing air through said first and second containers of said adsorbent substance to form said air and fuel vapor mixture for oxidation in said oxidizing chamber; and further comprising the step of partially regenerating the adsorbent substance in said second chamber by drawing air through said second chamber into said storage tank by the reduced pressure in said storage tank resulting from dispensing of fuel therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
221 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said transfers of fuel include both the dispensing of fuel from dispensers for vehicular use and the bulk transfer of fuel to one or more storage tanks serving as the fuel supply for the dispensers, and wherein: said step of collecting said fuel vapors includes the substeps of separately collecting the fuel vapors associated with the dispensing operation and with the bulk transfer of fuel to the storage tank; said step of passing said fuel vapors into contact with an adsorbent substance includes the separate substeps of passing said fuel vapors collected from said dispensing operations into a first canister containing said adsorbent substance and passing the fuel vapors associated with said bulk transfers to a second canister also containing said adsorbent substance to cause temporary storage of said fuel vapors therein; and said step of retrieving said stored fuel vapors includes the substeps of drawing air through said first canister to form said mixture for oxidizing in said oxidizing chamber, sensing a preselected fuel vapor pressure in said storage tank and in response thereto passing air through said second canister into said first canister to cause the fuel vapors previously adsorbed in said second canister due to said bulk transfer of fuel to be retrieved therefrom through the adsorbent substance in said first canister.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
118 words
The method as set forth in claim 6 being further defined by said adsorbent substance being comprised substantially of carbon granules held in a canister having an inlet, an outlet positioned adjacent said inlet and a port remotely located relative to said inlet and outlet, said step of passing fuel vapors into contact with said carbon granules being provided by establishing a flow of air and fuel vapor through said inlet and said port to cause substantially all of the Fuel vapors to be temporarily adsorbed by said carbon granules, and said step of retrieving said stored fuel vapors being provided by passing air through said port and said outlet to form said air and fuel vapor mixture.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
200 words
AN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND DISPOSING OF VAPORS EMITTED DURING THE DISPENSING OF FUEL THROUGH A DISPENSER NOZZLE, COMPRISING: VAPOR COLLECTION ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR MOUNTING ON SAID DISPENSER NOZZLE AND FORMING AN ANNULAR CHANNEL ABOUT THE EXTERIOR OF SAID NOZZLE, SAID VAPOR COLLECTION ATTACHMENT MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PROVIDING A LOOSE FIT OF SAID VAPOR COLLECTION ATTACHMENT MEANS INTO A CONTAINR OPENING SUCH THAT SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE, MEANS FOR DRAWING A PARTIAL VACUUM IN SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL TO DRAW INTO SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL AIR AND FUEL VAPORS, TEMPORARY FUEL VAPOR STORAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL AND INCLUDING A VAPOR ADSORBENT SUBSTANCE FOR ADSORBING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID FUEL VAPORS, CATALYTIC REACTOR MEANS FOR OXIDIZING AN AIR AND FUEL VAPOR MIXTURE INTO WATER AND CARBON DIOXIDE, AND MEANS FOR DIRECTING AIR THROUGH SAID TEMPORARY STORAGE MEANS TO DESORB SAID FUEL VAPOR THEREFROM AND FORM AN AIR AND FUEL VAPOR MIXTURE AND TO TRANSFER SAID MIXTURE INTO SAID REACTOR MEANS, WHEREBY CONCENTRATED FUEL VAPORS ARE TEMPORARILY STORED IN SAID STORAGE MEANS AND THEREAFTER REMOVED FROM SAID STORAGE MEANS IN AN AIR AND FUEL MIXTURE FOR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE OXIDATION IN SAID REACTOR MEANS.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
200 words
AN APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING AND DISPOSING OF VAPORS EMITTED DURING THE DISPENSING OF FUEL THROUGH A DISPENSER NOZZLE, COMPRISING: VAPOR COLLECTION ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR MOUNTING ON SAID DISPENSER NOZZLE AND FORMING AN ANNULAR CHANNEL ABOUT THE EXTERIOR OF SAID NOZZLE, SAID VAPOR COLLECTION ATTACHMENT MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PROVIDING A LOOSE FIT OF SAID VAPOR COLLECTION ATTACHMENT MEANS INTO A CONTAINR OPENING SUCH THAT SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE, MEANS FOR DRAWING A PARTIAL VACUUM IN SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL TO DRAW INTO SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL AIR AND FUEL VAPORS, TEMPORARY FUEL VAPOR STORAGE MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID ANNULAR CHANNEL AND INCLUDING A VAPOR ADSORBENT SUBSTANCE FOR ADSORBING AT LEAST A PORTION OF SAID FUEL VAPORS, CATALYTIC REACTOR MEANS FOR OXIDIZING AN AIR AND FUEL VAPOR MIXTURE INTO WATER AND CARBON DIOXIDE, AND MEANS FOR DIRECTING AIR THROUGH SAID TEMPORARY STORAGE MEANS TO DESORB SAID FUEL VAPOR THEREFROM AND FORM AN AIR AND FUEL VAPOR MIXTURE AND TO TRANSFER SAID MIXTURE INTO SAID REACTOR MEANS, WHEREBY CONCENTRATED FUEL VAPORS ARE TEMPORARILY STORED IN SAID STORAGE MEANS AND THEREAFTER REMOVED FROM SAID STORAGE MEANS IN AN AIR AND FUEL MIXTURE FOR SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE OXIDATION IN SAID REACTOR MEANS.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10 further comprising: vapor collection conduit means connected between said vapor collection means and said temporary storage means, additional conduit means connected between said storage means and said reactor means; and air pump means disposed in said additional conduit means between said storage means and said reactor means for drawing air and fuel vapors in through said collection means and collection conduit means into said storage means, said air pump means further providing said means for forcing air through said storage means to form said air and fuel vapor mixture and for transferring said mixture to said reactor means for oxidation therein.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 11 for collecting and disposing of vapors emitted during the dispensing of fuel from dispensers connected to a bulk storage tank, at least one of said dispensers having an elongate nozzle assembly for being positioned within an opening of a container for receiving fuel, wherein; said vapor collection means includes a substantially hollow cylindrical attachment adapted to be coaxially mounted about said nozzle assembly to define an annular vapor collection inlet encircling said nozzle assembly and communicating with said vapor collection conduit means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
166 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 12 for collecting and disposing of fuel vapors emitted during the dispensing of fuel from a dispenser, further comprising: electrical signal means providing a signal in response to operation of said dispenser; temperature sensing means for providing an electrical signal responsive to the temperature of said reactor means indicating the activity of the oxidizing level in said reactor means; and control circuit means connected to and responsive to said signal means and said temperature sensing means to initially energize said air pump in response to said signal indicating operation of said dispenser and de-energizing said air pump in response to a signal from said temperature sensing means indicating a predetermined low level of temperature in said reactor means, whereby said air pump continues to desorb fuel vapors from said temporary storage means and transfer said mixture to said reactor means until the temperature level thereof indicates that substantially all of the fuel vapors have been removed from said storage means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 11 for collecting fuel vapors emitted during the transfer of fuel from a Dispenser, and further comprising: electrical signal means sensing the operation of said dispenser during the dispensing of fuel therefrom; timer circuit means connected to and for operating said air pump in response to said signal means, said timer means functioning to operate said air pump for a selected time period during and after the operation of said dispenser, whereby air continues to be forced through said temporary storage means following the dispensing of fuel to desorb fuel vapors therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said timer circuit means includes means responsive to the duration of operation of said dispenser to provide a variable selected time period of continued air pump operation of the air pump is determined by the duration of the previous dispenser operation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
127 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10 for collecting and disposing of vapors emitted in a zone surrounding an elongate fuel dispensing nozzle, wherein said vapor collection means comprises a hollow cylindrical attachment mounted coaxially about said nozzle and defining an annular passageway therewith communicating with an annular inlet adjacent a forward end of the nozzle and communicating with a collection conduit means adjacent the rear of said nozzle, and means for forming a relatively low level of pressure in said annular passage relative to the ambient pressure in a zone adjacent said nozzle but exteriorly of said annular inlet and passage, whereby fuel vapors in said zone are drawn into said annular inlet and from there through said annular passage into said vapor collection conduit means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
113 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 10 wherein said temporary vapor storage means is further defined as including a chamber within which said vapor adsorbent substance is disposed, said chamber having an inlet and an outlet proximate said inlet and a port remotely positioned from said inlet and outlet; control means initially providing said means for forcing air through said chamber between said inlet and said port to cause adsorption of fuel vapors collected by said vapor collection means and subsequently forcing air through said storage means between said port and said outlet to desorb vapors from said substance to form said air and fuel vapor mixture for oxidation in said reactor means.
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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) | 1978-11-10 | 1979-05-12 | 1979-11-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-10 | 1983-05-12 | 1983-11-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-10 | 1987-05-12 | 1987-11-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |