Monitoring fuel vapor flow in vapor recovery system
First Claim
1. A vapor recovery system monitoring system comprising:
- a vacuum monitoring assembly comprisinga vacuum source signal relay adapted to be in communication with a vacuum system served by a vacuum source and adapted to generate a first vacuum signal upon actuation of the vacuum source for recovery of displaced fuel vapor and a second vacuum signal when a predetermined minimum vacuum level is achieved in the vacuum system;
a timer for measuring the elapsed time between said first vacuum signal and said second vacuum signal;
a vacuum comparator for comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined standard; and
a vacuum signal device for display of a vacuum error message after a predetermined number of instances of elapsed time exceeding the predetermined standard; and
a vent sensor assembly comprising;
a vent sensor adapted to be mounted to a vent conduit for an underground storage tank, said vent sensor defining an orifice adapted to create a pressure differential when volume flow of vent emissions exceeds a predetermined level;
a pressure differential switch;
a counter adapted to receive a venting signal from said pressure differential switch for providing indication of venting frequency over a predetermined period of time;
a timer adapted to receive a venting signal from said pressure differential switch for providing indication of total venting time over a predetermined period of time;
a venting comparator for comparing the total venting time with a predetermined acceptable total venting time; and
a venting signal device for display of a venting error message when a predetermined acceptable total venting time is exceeded.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vapor recovery system monitoring system includes a vacuum monitor and a vent sensor. The vacuum monitor has a signal relay in communication with a vacuum system served by a vacuum source to generate a first signal upon actuation of the vacuum source for recovery of displaced fuel vapor and a second signal when a minimum vacuum level is achieved; a timer measuring elapsed time between first and second signal; a comparator comparing elapsed time with a predetermined standard; and an error display actuated when the predetermined number of instances of elapsed time is exceeded. The vent sensor, mounted to a vent conduit for an underground storage tank, defines an orifice creating a pressure differential when volume flow of vent emission exceeds a predetermined level; a pressure differential switch; a counter receiving a signal from the pressure differential switch for indication of venting frequency over a predetermined time period; a timer receiving a signal from the pressure differential switch for indication of total venting time over a predetermined time period; a comparator comparing total venting time with a predetermined acceptable total venting time; and an error message display actuated when a predetermined acceptable total venting time is exceeded. A method for monitoring a vapor recovery system is also described.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A vapor recovery system monitoring system comprising:
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a vacuum monitoring assembly comprising a vacuum source signal relay adapted to be in communication with a vacuum system served by a vacuum source and adapted to generate a first vacuum signal upon actuation of the vacuum source for recovery of displaced fuel vapor and a second vacuum signal when a predetermined minimum vacuum level is achieved in the vacuum system; a timer for measuring the elapsed time between said first vacuum signal and said second vacuum signal; a vacuum comparator for comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined standard; and a vacuum signal device for display of a vacuum error message after a predetermined number of instances of elapsed time exceeding the predetermined standard; and a vent sensor assembly comprising; a vent sensor adapted to be mounted to a vent conduit for an underground storage tank, said vent sensor defining an orifice adapted to create a pressure differential when volume flow of vent emissions exceeds a predetermined level; a pressure differential switch; a counter adapted to receive a venting signal from said pressure differential switch for providing indication of venting frequency over a predetermined period of time; a timer adapted to receive a venting signal from said pressure differential switch for providing indication of total venting time over a predetermined period of time; a venting comparator for comparing the total venting time with a predetermined acceptable total venting time; and a venting signal device for display of a venting error message when a predetermined acceptable total venting time is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for monitoring a vapor recovery system, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a vacuum monitoring assembly comprising a vacuum source signal device in communication with a vacuum system served by a vacuum source; causing the vacuum source signal device to generate a first vacuum signal upon actuation of the vacuum source for recovery of displaced fuel vapor; causing the vacuum source signal device to generate a second vacuum signal when a predetermined minimum vacuum level is achieved in the vacuum system; measuring the elapsed time between the first vacuum signal and the second vacuum signal; comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined standard; and generating a vacuum error message after a predetermined number of instances of elapsed time exceeding the predetermined standard; providing a vent sensor assembly comprising a vent sensor in communication with a vent conduit from an underground storage tank, the vent sensor defining an orifice adapted to create a pressure differential when volume flow of vent emission exceeds a predetermined level, and a pressure differential sensor; causing the pressure differential sensor to issue a venting signal to a counter for providing indication of venting frequency over a predetermined period of time; causing the pressure differential sensor to issue a venting signal to a timer providing indication of total venting time over a predetermined period of time; comparing the total venting time with a predetermined acceptable total venting time; and generating a venting error message when a predetermined acceptable total venting time is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A vapor recovery system monitoring system comprising:
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a vacuum monitoring assembly comprising a vacuum source monitor for a vacuum system served by a vacuum source, for generating a first vacuum signal upon actuation of the vacuum source for recovery of displaced fuel vapor and a second vacuum signal when a predetermined minimum vacuum level is achieved in the vacuum system; a timer for measuring the elapsed time between said first vacuum signal and said second vacuum signal; vacuum comparator means for comparing the elapsed time with a predetermined standard; and a vacuum signal device for initiating a vacuum error message after a predetermined number of instances of elapsed time exceeding the predetermined standard; and a vent sensor assembly comprising; a vent sensor adapted to be mounted in communication with a vent conduit for an underground storage tank, said vent sensor defining an orifice creating a pressure differential when volume flow of vent emissions exceeds a predetermined level; a pressure differential sensor; a counter receiving a venting signal from said pressure differential sensor for providing indication of venting frequency over a predetermined period of time; a timer receiving a venting signal from said pressure differential sensor for providing indication of total venting time over a predetermined period of time; a venting comparator means for comparing the total venting time with a predetermined acceptable total venting time; and a venting signal device for initiating a venting error message when a predetermined acceptable total venting time is exceeded. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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Specification