Patent US5244017A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5244017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fuel and vapor flow signaling process
Assignee: BP Corp North America Inc
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Filing: 1991-03-12
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Granted: 1993-09-14
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Expires: 2011-03-12
Abstract
Abstract A vapor recovery process signals to customers the presence of flow of gasoline or other liquid fuel and the return flow of vapors. In the preferred process, a customer's tank is fueled with a vapor recovery nozzle. Vapors emitted during fueling are collected by the nozzle and passed to a vapor return hose and then into a storage tank. A vapor flow indicator on the nozzle signals flow of vapors passing through the nozzle. A separate fuel flow indicator in the nozzle signals fueling, i.e., passing a fuel through the nozzle into the customer's tank.
Inventors
- 👤 Harry B. Hartman
- 👤 Wolfgang H. Koch
- 👤 Dennis J. Strock
- 👤 Terrance L. Lambert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:08
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0476; B67D7/0478; B67D7/06; B67D7/42; B67D7/44; B67D7/46; B67D7/52; B67D7/56; B67D7/54; B67D2007/545; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S116/00; Y10S116/07; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8158; Y10T137/8359
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A vapor recovery process, comprising the steps of: fueling a tank by dispensing liquid volatilizable hydrocarbon fuel into said tank with a vapor recover nozzle; emitting volatilized hydrocarbon vapors from said tank during fueling; collecting a substantial amount of said vapors with said nozzle during fueling; passing said collected vapors from said nozzle through a vapor return hose to a storage tank; vapor signaling from said nozzle by signaling said passing of said collected vapors through said nozzle and vapor return hose to said storage tank with a viewable mechanical vapor flow indicator on said nozzle; and fuel signaling from said nozzle by signaling said fueling with a viewable fuel flow indicator in said nozzle spaced separately and away from said vapor flow indicator.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
124 words
A vapor recovery process, comprising the steps of: fueling a tank by dispensing liquid volatilizable hydrocarbon fuel into said tank with a vapor recover nozzle; emitting volatilized hydrocarbon vapors from said tank during fueling; collecting a substantial amount of said vapors with said nozzle during fueling; passing said collected vapors from said nozzle through a vapor return hose to a storage tank; vapor signaling from said nozzle by signaling said passing of said collected vapors through said nozzle and vapor return hose to said storage tank with a viewable mechanical vapor flow indicator on said nozzle; and fuel signaling from said nozzle by signaling said fueling with a viewable fuel flow indicator in said nozzle spaced separately and away from said vapor flow indicator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The vapor recovery process of claim 1, comprising the additional steps of: collecting the aforesaid substantial amount of the said vapors during fueling in a vapor return passageway between inner and outer spouts of the aforesaid nozzle; sensing the presence of said fuel with a liquid sensing tube in said vapor return passageway of said nozzle between said inner and outer spouts to detect when said customer's tank is filled; and automatically shutting off said fueling when said liquid sensing tube detects that said customer's tank is filled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A vapor recovery process in accordance with claim 1 wherein said signaling of said passing of said vapors includes turbulently moving and displaying an array of balls positioned in a vapor flow path of said vapors in said nozzle.
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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) | 1996-09-13 | 1997-03-15 | 1997-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-13 | 2001-03-15 | 2001-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-09-13 | 2005-03-15 | 2005-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |