DIESEL EXHAUST FLUID STORAGE AND DISPENSING SYSTEMS

• US 20100200107A1
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Southern Pump & Tank Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: Southern Pump & Tank Company, LLC
• Inventors: Hochman, George, Weathers, Will
• Application Number:
  US12/541,515
• Publication Number:
  US 20100200107A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/4
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/08 Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/38 Arrangements of hoses, e.g. operative connection with pump motor hoses in general F16L11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/62 power operated
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/76 Arrangements of devices for purifying liquids to be transferred, e.g. of filters, of air or water separators
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/80 Arrangements of heating or cooling devices for liquids to be transferred
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/84 Casings, cabinets or frameworks; Trolleys or like movable supports
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/845 Trolleys or like movable supports

Abstract

A liquid storage and dispensing system for storing and dispensing diesel exhaust fluid to a vehicle. The system includes a diesel exhaust fluid storage tank surrounded by a housing in which the interior temperature is maintained above a first temperature at or below which salting of the fluid occurs, and below a second temperature at or above which an ammonia constituent of the fluid evaporates. The system further includes filling and dispensing systems for refilling the storage tank and dispensing the fluid.

Claims

1. A diesel exhaust fluid storage and dispensing system, comprising:

a storage tank having a predetermined capacity for storing diesel exhaust fluid;

a housing substantially enclosing the storage tank therein;

a temperature control unit for maintaining an interior atmosphere of the housing and the stored diesel exhaust fluid within a predetermined temperature range above which salting of the diesel exhaust fluid occurs and below which ammonia constituent of the diesel exhaust fluid evaporates;

a liquid dispensing system for retrieving the diesel exhaust fluid from the storage tank comprising a pump, a motor, a delivery hose and a dispensing nozzle;

a vent for preventing pressure and vacuum from developing in the storage tank; and

an air release line for releasing air from the delivery hose to the storage tank.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage tank filling apparatus including a nozzle and delivery line for delivering diesel exhaust fluid to the storage tank.

3. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a secure provider control panel located within a wall of the housing for providing access to the storage tank filling apparatus and a storage tank information interface.

4. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an automatic shut-off feature associated with the dispensing nozzle to prevent overfilling and spillage when a diesel exhaust fluid level in a vehicle storage tank reaches a dispensing stem of the dispensing nozzle.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the liquid dispensing system further includes a customer interface configured to perform at least one of the following functions:

accept payments, input payment information, authorize use, indicate volume dispensed, provide pricing, generate receipts and connect with an information network.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined temperature range is between about 12 degrees Fahrenheit and about 86 degrees Fahrenheit.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a supportive base to which the housing and liquid dispensing system are mounted.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises an enclosure defining covered sides and a covered top.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a cage structure enclosing the storage tank.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the liquid dispensing system is supported upon a base having at least one adjustable-length mounting bar attached thereto for securely mounting the base to the cage structure enclosing the storage tank.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one adjustable length mounting bar comprises telescoping members and means for locking the telescoping members in position relative to one another.

12. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a base supporting the liquid dispensing system, a stand supporting the base at a height above ground level, and a rotatable hose storage reel carried on the stand.

13. A diesel exhaust fluid storage and dispensing system, comprising:

a storage tank having a predetermined capacity for storing diesel exhaust fluid;

a housing substantially surrounding the storage tank;

a liquid dispensing system for retrieving the diesel exhaust fluid from the storage tank comprising a pump, a motor, a piping network and a dispensing nozzle; and

an air release line for releasing air within the piping network.

14. The system according to claim 13, further comprising a temperature control unit for maintaining the temperature of the stored diesel exhaust fluid within a predetermined temperature range above which salting of the diesel exhaust fluid occurs and below which ammonia constituent of the diesel exhaust fluid evaporates.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the housing is an insulated enclosure defining an interior atmosphere in which the temperature is controlled by the temperature control unit.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the housing comprises a cage structure.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the liquid dispensing system is supported upon a base having at least one adjustable-length mounting bar attached thereto for securely mounting the base to the cage structure enclosing the storage tank.

18. A method for storing and dispensing diesel exhaust fluid, comprising:

providing a storage tank and storing a volume of diesel exhaust fluid;

providing a housing and substantially enclosing the storage tank within the housing;

maintaining an interior atmosphere of the housing within a predetermined temperature range above which salting of the diesel exhaust fluid occurs and below which ammonia constituent of the diesel exhaust fluid evaporates;

retrieving diesel exhaust fluid from the bulk storage tank through a liquid dispensing system; and

providing an air release in the liquid dispensing system.

19. The method according to claim 18, further comprising the step of delivering diesel exhaust fluid to the storage tank through a delivery apparatus.

20. The method according to claim 18, further comprising utilizing a single pump to both retrieve the diesel exhaust fluid from the storage tank for dispensing and deliver the diesel exhaust fluid to the storage tank for refilling the tank.