Method and device for containing fuel spills and leaks
First Claim
1. A device for containing and responding to spillage and leaks associated with fuel handling equipment comprising:
- a spillage containment vessel placed beneath the fuel handling equipment, said vessel having a substantially open top portion, said containment vessel further having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface being substantially sealed;
differential sensing means within said vessel comprising hydrocarbon and fluid sensing elements which separately sense hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon, at least the hydrocarbon sensing element of said differential sensing means intrinsically incorporated in the construction of said interior surface of said containment vessel such that it comprises the entirety of the interior surface of said vessel;
a signalling means, signalling means being in nonmechanical communication with at least said hydrocarbon sensing element of said differential sensing means and being in further communication with said nonhydrocarbon sensing element of said sensing means such that the differential sensing of hydrocarbons and nonhydrocarbon is communicated by said signalling means; and
a disabling means, said disabling means being in nonmechanical communication with said signalling means;
wherein said differential sensing means generates a nonmechanical communication in response to the detection of hydrocarbons, a different communication in response to the detection of the nonhydrocarbon within said vessel, said disabling means disables said fuel handling equipment in response to the detection of hydrocarbon and the detection of hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon are separably perceptible by an attendant of said equipment.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method for containing spills and leaks from fuel handling equipment is provided in which differential sensing means detect the presence of hydrocarbons and nonhydrocarbons such as water. Signals and the responses generated according to them may depend upon the nature and quantity of the substance contained in the device. Signalling may be conducted remotely and excavation and reconstruction of service station grounds is minimized with these devices. In a preferred embodiment, the device is made of unitary construction with the differential sensing means formed as a portion of the surface of a containment vessel.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A device for containing and responding to spillage and leaks associated with fuel handling equipment comprising:
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a spillage containment vessel placed beneath the fuel handling equipment, said vessel having a substantially open top portion, said containment vessel further having an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface being substantially sealed; differential sensing means within said vessel comprising hydrocarbon and fluid sensing elements which separately sense hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon, at least the hydrocarbon sensing element of said differential sensing means intrinsically incorporated in the construction of said interior surface of said containment vessel such that it comprises the entirety of the interior surface of said vessel; a signalling means, signalling means being in nonmechanical communication with at least said hydrocarbon sensing element of said differential sensing means and being in further communication with said nonhydrocarbon sensing element of said sensing means such that the differential sensing of hydrocarbons and nonhydrocarbon is communicated by said signalling means; and a disabling means, said disabling means being in nonmechanical communication with said signalling means; wherein said differential sensing means generates a nonmechanical communication in response to the detection of hydrocarbons, a different communication in response to the detection of the nonhydrocarbon within said vessel, said disabling means disables said fuel handling equipment in response to the detection of hydrocarbon and the detection of hydrocarbon and nonhydrocarbon are separably perceptible by an attendant of said equipment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification