Portable fueling facility

• US 4,988,020 A
• Filed: 03/30/1989
• Issued: 01/29/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: U-Fuel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U-Fuel, Inc.
• Inventors: Webb, R. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Skaggs, H. Grant
• Assistant Examiner(s): REISS, STEVEN
• Application Number:
  US07/332,462
• Time in Patent Office: 670 Days
• Field of Search: 222/2, 222/14, 222/74, 222/108, 222/109, 222/153, 222/129-131, 222/173, 222/608, 141/86, 141/88, 220/DIG. 24, 220/85 S, 280/838
• US Class Current: 222/608
• 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: B64F 1/28 Liquid-handling installations specially adapted for fuelling stationary aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• 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

Abstract

An improved portable fueling facility for aircraft or ground vehicles includes at least one storage tank, an outer tank for providing secondary containment about the storage tanks, a number of saddle members for supporting the outer tank on a flat horizontal surface and at least one pump for dispensing fuel. A deck compartment is provided beneath the pumps for providing secondary containment about the supply pipes which are used to supply the pumps and the refueling tubes which are used to refuel the storage tanks. The entire facility is portable, so that it may be redepolyed at different locations or airports as needed. According to one novel aspect of the facility, a control system is provided which permits self-service use of the facility in a manner which requires only the use of a commercial credit card.

Claims

1. An improved non self-propelled portable fueling facility comprising:

storage tank means for storing fuel;

outer tank means for providing secondary containment about said storage tank means;

means for supporting said outer tank means on an underlying surface wherein said means for supporting includes a fixed lower surface for engaging the underlying surface;

pump means adapted for dispensing fuel into an aircraft or the like;

supply pipe means for guiding fuel from said storage tank means to said pump means; and

deck compartment means for supporting said pump means with respect to the underlying surface, said deck compartment means being connected to said outer tank means, and having a compartment defined therein through which said supply pipe means extends, whereby the area around said supply pipe means is protected from incidental spillage which could result in contamination or combustion.

2. A portable facility according to claim 1, wherein said pump means comprises a pump, a fueling hose connected to said pump and a nozzle connected to a second end of said fueling hose which is distal from said pump.

3. A portable facility according to claim 2, further comprising means for biasing said fueling hose toward a retracted position, whereby the refueling process is simplified and safened.

4. A portable facility according to claim 3, wherein said biasing means comprises a retractor column, means for supporting said fueling hose at a central portion thereof, and means for urging said supporting means toward an upper portion of said retracting column.

5. A portable facility according to claim 4, wherein said urging means comprises a cable having a first end attached to said supporting means, a first pulley which is mounted on said retractor column for guiding said cable and counterweight means for exerting a downward force on said cable on a side of said first pulley which is opposite said supporting means.

6. A portable facility according to claim 1, further comprising means for activating said pump means and means for entering user data, said activating means being responsive to said entering means.

7. A portable facility according to claim 6, wherein said activating means is further adapted to be responsive to signals which are generated at a site which is remote from said portable facility.

8. A portable facility according to claim 6, wherein said entering means comprises means for reading a commercial credit card.

9. A portable facility according to claim 1, further comprising lifting lug means attached to an upper portion of said outer tank means, whereby the facility may be positioned at a desired location by a crane or like lifting mechanism.

10. A portable facility according to claim 1, wherein said supporting means comprises a plurality of saddle members, each of said saddle members having a substantially flat lower surface which is adapted for engaging underlying surface and a concave upper surface which receives said outer tank means and wherein said fixed lower surface of said means for supporting comprises said flat lower surfaces of said saddle members.

11. A portable facility according to claim 1, wherein said storage means comprises a front fuel storage tank and a rear fuel storage tank.

12. A portable facility according to claim 1, wherein an interstitial space is defined between said outer tank means and said storage tank means, and further comprising means for monitoring fluid level in said interstitial space.

13. A portable fueling facility according to claim 1, further comprising means adapted for grounding an aircraft or like vehicle to the facility during refueling.

14. A portable facility according to claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring fuel level in said storage tank means.

15. An improved portable fueling facility, comprising:

storage tank means for storing fuel;

outer tank means for providing secondary containment about said storage tank means;

means for supporting said outer tank means on a flat, horizontal surface;

pump means adapted for dispensing fuel into an aircraft or the like;

refilling pipe means adapted for guiding fuel from an exterior source to said storage tank means; and

deck compartment means beneath said pump means for providing containment and protection against spillage from said pump means, said deck compartment means being connected to said outer tank means and having a compartment defined therein, said deck compartment means further comprising grate means on an upper surface thereof, said grate means being positioned beneath said refilling pipe means, whereby said deck compartment means provide secondary containment for any fuel which is spilled during refilling.