Insertion Tube Liquid Evacuator System for Vapor Recovery Hose

The field of the present invention relates generally to vapor recovery hoses, and more specifically to such hoses including liquid removal apparatus for maintaining an unblocked vapor recovery path.

In fluid distribution systems, such as gasoline pumping systems for delivering gasoline to the fuel tank of a vehicle, environmental protection laws require that vapors emitted by the fluid being distributed be recovered. One such vapor recovery system includes a vapor recovery hose surrounding a product hose for delivering fuel to a nozzle, typically the nozzle of a gasoline pump. Vapors collected from the vehicle tank at the nozzle end are pushed by positive pressure which develops within the vehicle tank, or sucked by a vacuum, from the nozzle back into the gasoline storage tank of the product distribution system via the vapor return path provided by the space between the product an vapor recovery hoses. At times liquid fuel may overflow from the nozzle into the vapor recovery path of the vapor recovery hose and collect at a low point in the vapor recovery hose causing partial or total blockage of the return path for the vapors. Even partial blockage of the vapor recovery path of the hose must be avoided in order to insure that the product distribution system meets the environmental protection codes imposed by local, state and federal governments.

Various embodiments of the present invention substantially prevent blockage of the vapor path of a vapor recovery hose by including tubing means inserted into an area of the vapor recovery hose where entrapped fluid is expected to accumulate, and connecting pumping means to the tubing means for pumping the fluid out of the vapor recovery hose.

FIG. 1 is a pictorial and partial sectional view of a typical gasoline distribution pump including a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial and partial sectional view of a second embodiment of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1, in a typical service station application of the present invention, an automobile 1 is shown being fueled from a gasoline pump 11. A nozzle 3 is shown inserted into the fuel tank in the refueling of the automobile 1. A vapor recovery hose 5 is connected at one end to the nozzle 3, and at its other end to a coupler 9 connected to the gasoline pump housing 11. As shown by the cutaway view of the interior of the vapor recovery hose 5, a product delivery hose 7 is included within the vapor recovery hose 5 for distributing gasoline pumped from a storage tank (not shown) to the nozzle 3. Also carried within the vapor recovery hose 5 is a flexible tubing 8 having an open end located in the area of the vapor hose 5 where liquid fuel is expected to accumulate (due to overflow from the nozzle 3 into the vapor recovery hose 5, during refueling of the automobile 1), in this example. The tubing 8 is fabricated from a suitable material, such as butyl rubber, which is relatively impervious to detremental effects from exposure to gasoline. The other end of the tubing 8 is passed through the coupler 9 and connected to an inlet port 17 of an evacuator pump 15. An outlet 19 of the pump 15 is connected directly to the vapor return line 13, in this example. The vapor return line 13 is connected between the coupler 9 and the gasoline storage tank (not shown), in this example, for returning gasoline vapors collected from the vehicle tank during the fueling process to the storage tank. A suction pump (not shown) may be utilized in returning the vapor to the tank in typical installations.

With further reference to FIG. 1, operation of the invention will now be described. During refueling of the automobile 1, the liquid suction pump 15 is energized to suck away any liquid fuel entrapped in the vapor recovery line 5, and discharge the unwanted fuel via outlet port 19 into the lower portion of the vapor return line 13. The fuel is returned via the vapor recovery line 13 to the storage tank, in this example.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, an evacuator pump 21 includes a plurality of inlet ports 23 for connection to the ends of the evacuator tubing 8, and similar evacuator tubes 25, respectively, for removing liquid fuel entrapped in the vapor recovery lines of a number of gasoline distribution hoses of the service station, thereby reducing the number of evacuator pumps required for maintaining the vapor recovery lines clear of liquid fuel. As previously mentioned, such entrapped liquid fuel would reduce the effectiveness of the vapor recovery system, if permitted to accumulate in the vapor recovery lines.

The evacuator pumps 15 and 21 can be provided by number of known pumps for providing the required function. For example, known electric motorized pumps may be used to provide the function required for pumping the accumulated liquid from the vapor recovery line 5, as previously described. Other than a motor-operated pump, solenoid pumps and product pressure operated pumps may also be applicable for use in the present inventive evacuator system.

Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and illustrated, other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims may occur to those of ordinary skill in the art.