Aboveground fueling station with vertical tanks

• US 20060237092A1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U-Fuel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U-Fuel, Inc.
• Inventors: Webb, R. Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,296,601 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/98
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/84 Casings, cabinets or frameworks; Trolleys or like movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 1/1233 Shelters for filling stations

Abstract

An aboveground fueling facility includes one or more vertical fuel supply tanks, each of which is positioned on a reinforced mounting pad on a fueling island that also includes one or more fuel dispensers. Fuel is supplied from the vertical fuel supply tanks to the dispensers via piping that is secondarily contained within the reinforced mounting pad. Each of the vertical fuel supply tanks may have more than one compartment so as to permit different grades of fuel to be dispensed by the dispensers, including mixtures. Fueling lanes are defined between the vertical fuel supply tanks for permitting vehicular access to the fuel dispensers. A canopy for sheltering the fueling lanes is structurally supported by the vertical fuel supply tanks, and informational signage is provided on the canopy for providing information such as fuel pricing to the consumer.

Claims

1. An aboveground fueling facility, comprising:

an elongated fueling island, said fueling island defining a boundary of a first fueling lane on a first side thereof and a boundary of a second fueling lane on a second side thereof;

a vertical fuel storage tank positioned on said fueling island; and

fuel dispensing means for dispensing fuel from said vertical fuel storage tank into a vehicle, said fuel dispensing means being accessible from both said first fueling lane and from said second fueling lane.

2. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 1, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank has a diameter that is within a range of about 7 feet to about 15 feet.

3. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 2, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank has a diameter that is within a range of about 8 feet to about 12 feet.

4. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 3, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank has a diameter that is within a range of about 9 feet to about 11 feet.

5. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 1, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank has a height that is within a range of about 8 feet to about 35 feet.

6. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 5, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank has a height that is within a range of about 15 feet to about 24 feet.

7. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 1, wherein said fuel dispensing means comprises at least a first fuel dispenser that is located proximate to a first end of said elongated fueling island, a second fuel dispenser that is located proximate to a second, opposite end of said elongated fueling island, and wherein said vertical fuel storage tank is positioned between said first and second fuel dispensers.

8. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 7, wherein each of said first and second fuel dispensers is constructed and arranged to be accessible from both said first fueling lane and from said second fueling lane.

9. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 1, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank comprises a first compartment defined therein containing a first type of fuel and a second compartment defined therein containing a second type of fuel, and wherein said fuel dispensing means is constructed and arranged to selectively dispense fuel from either said first or second compartment.

10. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 9, wherein said fuel dispensing means is further constructed and arranged to dispense a mixture of said first type of fuel and said second type of fuel.

11. An aboveground fueling facility, comprising:

a fueling island;

a vertical fuel storage tank positioned on said island with one or more fuel dispensers attached to said tank; and

a canopy attached to the top of said vertical fuel tank extending over said dispensers.

12. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 11, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank has a diameter that is within the range of about 7 feet to about 15 feet.

13. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 11, wherein said vertical fuel storage tank has a height that is within a range of about 8 feet to about 35 feet.

14. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 11, wherein said vertical tank has a plurality of internal compartments, permitting storage of more than one fuel product.

15. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 11, wherein said attached canopy contains openings therein to vent excess air pressure.

16. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 11, wherein said vertical tank comprises an inner wall and an outer wall, with interstitial space defined between said inner wall and said outer wall, and wherein at least one conduit is provided in said interstitial space for transporting fuel.

17. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 16, further comprising at least one electrical conduit extending within said interstitial space.

18. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 16, further comprising reinforcing means provided within said interstitial space.

19. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 11, wherein said canopy comprises at least one portion thereof that is translucent.

20. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 19, further comprising means for projecting an image on said translucent portion of said canopy.

21. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 11, further comprising fire suppression means mounted on said canopy.

22. An aboveground fueling facility, comprising:

a plurality of aboveground vertical fuel storage tanks;

fuel dispensing means for dispensing fuel from said vertical fuel storage tanks;

at least one fueling lane defined between two of said vertical fuel storage tanks; and

a canopy that is structurally supported by at least two of said vertical fuel storage tanks, said canopy being constructed and arranged to shelter said fueling lane.

23. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 22, wherein said aboveground vertical fuel storage tanks each include an inner wall, an outer wall and an interstitial space defined between said inner and outer walls, and further comprising reinforcing means positioned within said interstitial space.

24. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 23, wherein said canopy is structurally supported by said outer walls of said aboveground vertical fuel storage tanks.

25. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 22, wherein said vertical fuel storage tanks each have a diameter that is within a range of about 7 feet to about 15 feet.

26. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 25, wherein said vertical fuel storage tanks each have a diameter that is within a range of about 8 feet to about 12 feet.

27. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 22, wherein said vertical fuel storage tanks each have a height that is within a range of about 8 feet to about 35 feet.

28. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 27, wherein said vertical fuel storage tanks each have a height that is within a range of about 15 feet to about 24 feet.

29. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 22, further comprising informational signage means positioned on said canopy for providing information to a consumer.

30. An aboveground fueling facility according to claim 29, wherein said informational signage means comprises an electronic sign for indicating pricing information to a consumer.