Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for inhibiting air infiltration into fuel dispensing lines

US5490544A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
3References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 26, 1994
Grant dateFeb 13, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 26, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/86324
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A device used in liquid fuel dispensing systems to inhibit the infiltration of air into the product dispensing line due to thermal contraction. A fluid tight container is connected with the product line and supplied with fuel in an amount sufficient to make up the liquid volume loss caused by thermal contraction. A siphon line in the container opens near its bottom. A vent for the container is normally closed by a valve under normal pressures of the dispensing system. When thermal contraction reduces the product line pressure far enough to create a vacuum, the valve opens the container vent so that the fuel in the container can flow into the product line to keep it full of liquid and avoid drawing air into the line.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.