Abstract A flow control valve particularly useful for a vapor recovery system of a gasoline station. Gasoline and gasoline vapor flow through separate passages in the valve. A restriction (venturi) is provided in the gasoline passage so that a pressure differential will be produced in the passage as a function of the rate of flow of gasoline passing therethrough. A first diaphragm carrying a valve element which controls the flow of fluid through the vapor passage is responsive to said pressure differential so that the flow rate of vapor passing through the valve will be proportional to the flow rate of gasoline. In each of two alternative embodiments, another diaphragm responsive to gasoline pressure is ganged to the valve to compensate for gasoline pressure variations. In a further embodiment, the vapor control valve operates in an "on-off" mode so that a maximum vapor "draw back" is effected whenever gasoline flow of any magnitude is extant.
A system for simultaneous gasoline delivery and gasoline vapor recovery, said system comprising: a gasoline storage tank having a gasoline outlet and a gasoline vapor inlet; a control apparatus including a first passage having a venturi, a low pressure port, at said venturi and a high pressure port in said just passage adjacent said low pressure port, a gasoline inlet, a gasoline outlet, a gasoline vapor inlet and a gasoline vapor outlet, said control apparatus gasoline outlet being in communication with said control apparatus gasoline inlet through said first passage and said venturi, said control apparatus also including a diaphragm valve in a second passage connecting said control apparatus gasoline vapor inlet and said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet to control the amount of gasoline vapor flowing through said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet, said diaphragm valve including a diaphragm, means forming first and second cavities on opposite sides of said diaphragm, first and second conduit means connecting said first and second cavities, respectively, directly to said low and high pressure ports, respectively, said diaphragm valve opening and closing in response to an increase and decrease in the difference between the pressures in said ports; means connected from said storage tank gasoline outlet to said control apparatus gasoline inlet to supply gasoline under pressure thereto thereat; a blower connected from said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet to said storage tank gasoline vapor inlet to establish a partial vacuum at said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet; a delivery conduit having one end connected from said control apparatus gasoline outlet and having a dispenser at its other end; a return conduit having an intake end, and another end connected to said control apparatus gasoline vapor inlet; and means to hold said dispenser and said return conduit intake end adjacent one another to provide recovery of gasoline vapor through said return conduit intake end during gasoline discharge through said dispenser and means for shutting off flow vapor through said second passage when flow of gasoline through said first passage ceases.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
337 words
A system for simultaneous gasoline delivery and gasoline vapor recovery, said system comprising: a gasoline storage tank having a gasoline outlet and a gasoline vapor inlet; a control apparatus including a first passage having a venturi, a low pressure port, at said venturi and a high pressure port in said just passage adjacent said low pressure port, a gasoline inlet, a gasoline outlet, a gasoline vapor inlet and a gasoline vapor outlet, said control apparatus gasoline outlet being in communication with said control apparatus gasoline inlet through said first passage and said venturi, said control apparatus also including a diaphragm valve in a second passage connecting said control apparatus gasoline vapor inlet and said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet to control the amount of gasoline vapor flowing through said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet, said diaphragm valve including a diaphragm, means forming first and second cavities on opposite sides of said diaphragm, first and second conduit means connecting said first and second cavities, respectively, directly to said low and high pressure ports, respectively, said diaphragm valve opening and closing in response to an increase and decrease in the difference between the pressures in said ports; means connected from said storage tank gasoline outlet to said control apparatus gasoline inlet to supply gasoline under pressure thereto thereat; a blower connected from said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet to said storage tank gasoline vapor inlet to establish a partial vacuum at said control apparatus gasoline vapor outlet; a delivery conduit having one end connected from said control apparatus gasoline outlet and having a dispenser at its other end; a return conduit having an intake end, and another end connected to said control apparatus gasoline vapor inlet; and means to hold said dispenser and said return conduit intake end adjacent one another to provide recovery of gasoline vapor through said return conduit intake end during gasoline discharge through said dispenser and means for shutting off flow vapor through said second passage when flow of gasoline through said first passage ceases.