Apparatus for preventing an uncontrolled emission of gaseous hydrocarbons during the filling of containers

Claim 1

In combination with apparatus for filling hydrocarbon liquid containers or the like through a filling aperture therein, said apparatus having a fill pipe and a concentric outer tube for preventing uncontrolled escape of vapor from the container being filled, and having means for sealing said outer tube into vapor-tight contact with said filling aperture, the improvement comprising a hydraulic cylinder and piston situated within said fill pipe for movably extending said fill pipe relative to said outer tube in order to discharge said filling liquid adjacent to the bottom of a container being filled, conduit means associated with said outer tube for conducting said escaping vapors, means for pivotally supporting said fill pipe near the upper end thereof for lateral adjustment of the fill pipe relative to said container, means connected to said pivotal support means for neutralizing the forces caused by pivoting of said fill pipe, and means for longitudinally moving said pivotal supporting means and said fill pipe together relative to said container.