Isolator for leak detector tester

• US 5,042,290 A
• Filed: 02/14/1990
• Issued: 08/27/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vaporless Manufacturing, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vaporless Manufacturing, Inc.
• Inventors: Geisinger, Penrod C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Francos, William
• Application Number:
  US07/479,653
• Time in Patent Office: 559 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40.5 R, 73/40, 222/23
• US Class Current: 73/40.50R
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3209 relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/007 Leak detector calibration, standard leaks G01M3/207 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2892 for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/30 takes precedence

Abstract

A tester, temporarily connectable to a tap in the input line for a gasoline dispenser, tests the integrity of the delivery line from a submerged pump within a gasoline storage tank to the tap, including a leak detector, whether piston or diaphragm operated, normally mounted at the storage tank downstream of the submerged pump. An in line isolator is installed between the submerged pump output line and the leak detector to make a field test of the integrity and operability of the leak detector.

Claims

1. Apparatus for isolating a leak detector mounted in a seat of a housing at a fuel storage tank and in fluid communication with and intermediate to the outflow of fuel from a submerged pump and a delivery line to a fuel dispenser, said apparatus comprising in combination:

a) an isolator selectively mountable in the seat of the housing in place of the leak detector;

b) means for mounting the leak detector in said isolator;

c) means for interconnecting through said isolator the outflow from the submerged pump with an inlet to the mounted leak detector; and

d) a tap extending from said isolator for discharging fuel flow from the mounted leak detector.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means disposed in said isolator for terminating fuel flow to the leak detector.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including means disposed in said isolator for diverting the outflow of the submerged pump from the leak detector and to the delivery line.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3 including means disposed in said isolator for terminating fuel flow to the leak detector.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said isolator includes a base for engaging the seat of the housing and wherein said mounting means comprises a receiver.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5 including means disposed in said isolator for terminating fuel flow to the leak detector.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein said terminating means includes means for rotatably repositioning said receiver with respect to said base.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including means for limiting the relative rotation between said mounting means and said base.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein said limiting means includes a skirt extending downwardly from said receiver and about a section of said base, a slot disposed in said skirt and a shaft extending from said base in penetrable engagement with said slot.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said receiver and includes a cavity for receiving a section of the leak detector.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the leak detector includes a chamber and a diaphragm disposed within the chamber for accommodating volumetric increase of fuel within the leak detector during leak detection testing.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein the leak detector includes a cylinder and a piston for accommodating volumetric increase of fuel within the leak detector during leak detection testing.