Patent US5407300A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5407300A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System for vapor recovery without formation of fluid blockages and a dual conduit pipe therefor
Assignee: Total Containment Inc
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Filing: 1993-10-01
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Granted: 1995-04-18
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Expires: 2013-10-01
Abstract
Abstract System for vapor recovery without formation of fluid blockages includes a vapor source, a fluid collection tank for collecting vapor, and a vapor recovery pipe extending between and fluidly collecting the vapor source and the fluid collection tank. The vapor recovery pipe slopes vertically downwardly from the vapor source to the fluid collection tank so that vapor flows into the fluid collection tank. The vapor recovery pipe has a main tube and an auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to the main tube. The vapor recovery pipe is engineered and is installed in such a manner that the vapor recovery pipe resists bending in a substantially vertical plane and allows bending in a substantially horizontal plane. Accordingly, the vapor recovery pipe according to the invention can be installed without surveying equipment, overcomes surface irregularities, and by resisting bending in a vertical direction ensures that no fluid blockages are formed along the length thereof. The bending of the vapor recovery pipe in the horizontal direction allows for the pipe to be installed around curves without the need for curved joints or couplings. To ensure continued functioning of the vapor recovery pipe even if one of the main and auxiliary tubes is blocked, one or more fluid transfer conduits can be provided that extend between and fluidly connect the main tube and the auxiliary tube.
Inventors
- 👤 Marc Guindon
- 👤 James L. Lawrence
- 👤 Homer Holden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:26
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0476; B67D7/0478; B67D7/0488; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/86292; Y10T137/86324; Y10T137/86332
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
A fluid transport pipe, comprising: a) a substantially fluid-tight main tube; b) a substantially fluid-tight auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to said main tube; c) a plurality of fluid transfer conduits disposed between and fluidly connecting said main tube and said auxiliary tube; and d) a web disposed between and physically connecting said main tube and said auxiliary tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
A fluid transport pipe, comprising: a) a substantially fluid-tight main tube; b) a substantially fluid-tight auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to said main tube; c) a plurality of fluid transfer conduits disposed between and fluidly connecting said main tube and said auxiliary tube; and d) a web disposed between and physically connecting said main tube and said auxiliary tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A fluid transport pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said web is disposed between and physically connects adjacent ones of said plurality of fluid transfer conduits.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fluid transport pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said main tube has a predetermined internal diameter; b) said auxiliary tube has a predetermined internal diameter; and c) said internal diameter of said main tube is greater than said internal diameter of said auxiliary tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A fluid transport pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said web is configured for substantially rigidifying said fluid transport pipe in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of said plurality of fluid transfer conduits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A fluid transport pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) said main tube, and said auxiliary tube, and said fluid transfer conduits are made of materials which are impermeable to fuel constituents.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A fluid transport pipe as defined in claim 1, wherein: a) a liquid transport channel is disposed along and fluidly connected to a length of one of said main and auxiliary tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
A fluid transport pipe as defined in claim 1, further comprising: a) a secondary containment pipe substantially surrounding each one of said main tube, said auxiliary tube, and said plurality of fluid transfer conduits.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for vapor recovery without the formation of fluid blockages, comprising: a) a vapor source; b) a fluid collection tank for collecting vapor; c) a vapor recovery pipe disposed between and fluidly connecting said vapor source to said fluid collection tank; d) said vapor recovery pipe sloping vertically downwardly from said vapor source to said fluid collection tank for causing a vapor recovered from said vapor source to flow into said fluid collection tank; e) said vapor recovery pipe having: i) a main tube; and ii) an auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to said main tube.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for vapor recovery without the formation of fluid blockages, comprising: a) a vapor source; b) a fluid collection tank for collecting vapor; c) a vapor recovery pipe disposed between and fluidly connecting said vapor source to said fluid collection tank; d) said vapor recovery pipe sloping vertically downwardly from said vapor source to said fluid collection tank for causing a vapor recovered from said vapor source to flow into said fluid collection tank; e) said vapor recovery pipe having: i) a main tube; and ii) an auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to said main tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system as defined in claim 8, wherein: a) a plurality of fluid transfer conduits is disposed between and fluidly connects said main tube and said auxiliary tube; and b) a web is disposed between and physically connects said main tube and said auxiliary tube.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as defined in claim 8, wherein: a) said vapor source includes a dispenser pan.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A system as defined in claim 8, wherein: a) said fluid collection tank includes means for storing vapor and liquids.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system as defined in claim 8, wherein: a) a vertically downwardly sloping trench is provided; b) said vapor recovery pipe is disposed in said trench; and c) wherein, said vapor recovery pipe conforms to variations in the sloping trench in a substantially horizontal plane and resists bending in a substantially vertical plane, whereby a substantially evenly downwardly sloping fluid path within said vapor recovery pipe is obtained.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system as defined in claim 8, wherein: a) said vapor source includes a plurality of dispenser sumps; and b) said vapor recovery pipe includes a plurality of pipes for fluidly connecting said plurality of dispenser sumps to said fluid collection tank.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system as defined in claim 13, wherein: a) said fluid collection tank includes means for storing a plurality of different recovered vapors; and b) whereby, when each one of said plurality of pipes is connected to said plurality of dispenser sumps, a variety of different vapors can be recovered and separately stored.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of constructing a vapor recovery system without the use of surveying equipment, said vapor recovery system recovering vapor without the formation of fluid blockages, comprising: a) digging an elongated trench in the ground without the use of surveying equipment, the trench extending from a vapor source to a fluid collection tank for collecting and storing vapor; b) placing a vapor recovery pipe having a main tube and an auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to said main tube in the trench; c) positioning the vapor recovery pipe in the trench for causing the main tube to be disposed substantially vertically below the auxiliary tube; d) adjusting the vertical height of at least one end of the vapor recovery pipe for causing the vapor recovery pipe to slope vertically downwardly from the vapor source to the fluid collection tank for causing a vapor recovered from the vapor source to flow downwardly into the fluid collection tank; and e) fluidly connecting the vapor recovery pipe to the fluid collection tank and to the vapor source.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
173 words
A method of constructing a vapor recovery system without the use of surveying equipment, said vapor recovery system recovering vapor without the formation of fluid blockages, comprising: a) digging an elongated trench in the ground without the use of surveying equipment, the trench extending from a vapor source to a fluid collection tank for collecting and storing vapor; b) placing a vapor recovery pipe having a main tube and an auxiliary tube disposed adjacent to said main tube in the trench; c) positioning the vapor recovery pipe in the trench for causing the main tube to be disposed substantially vertically below the auxiliary tube; d) adjusting the vertical height of at least one end of the vapor recovery pipe for causing the vapor recovery pipe to slope vertically downwardly from the vapor source to the fluid collection tank for causing a vapor recovered from the vapor source to flow downwardly into the fluid collection tank; and e) fluidly connecting the vapor recovery pipe to the fluid collection tank and to the vapor source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as defined in claim 15, further comprising the steps of: a) placing a plurality of vapor recovery pipes in the trench; and b) fluidly connecting each one of the plurality of fluid recovery pipes to the vapor source and the fluid collection tank for recovering a variety of different vapors.
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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) | 1998-04-17 | 1998-10-17 | 1999-04-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-04-17 | 2002-10-17 | 2003-04-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-04-17 | 2006-10-17 | 2007-04-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |