Fuel overflow prevention system

• US 5,829,491 A
• Filed: 09/17/1996
• Issued: 11/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Benric Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Benric Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Bennett, Willard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/715,007
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 141/59, 141/95, 141/198, 141/325, 141/326, 141/382, 141/392, 116/109, 116/110, 114/343
• US Class Current: 141/59
• 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: B67D 7/362 combined with over-fill preventing means indicating or measuring liquid level G01F23/00; level control G05D9/00

Abstract

A fuel overflow prevention system for substantially eliminating fuel spillage both due to over-filling during fueling and due to fuel expansion in fuel tanks. The device includes a fuel discharge preventor and a nozzle adapter that work together during re-fueling to allow displacement by fuel of gases within the fuel tank until such time that the fuel reaches a predetermined level in the tank. The predetermined level is chosen through the geometry of the fuel discharge preventor so as to provide sufficient space for thermal expansion of the fuel without subsequent fuel spillage. The fuel discharge preventor also contains a valve that closes upon attainment of the predetermined fuel level and, together with the nozzle adapter, causes a pressure build-up within the filling fuel tank so as to positively actuate the automatic turn-off features of the standard fuel pump nozzle utilized.

Claims

1. A fluid overflow prevention device for use with a liquid fuel tank having a first tank opening and a second tank opening, wherein said first opening and said second opening are located at a top surface of said fuel tank, wherein said first tank opening is a fuel inlet and said second tank opening is a vent to atmosphere, said device comprising:

a) a nozzle adapter for securing a nozzle of a pressure-sensitive pump handle to said first tank opening during flow of a fluid into said tank through said nozzle;

b) a signal tube and a vent tube in combination and adaptable to be attached to said second tank opening, wherein said signal tube includes an intake opening for receiving fuel gases from within said fuel tank, wherein said signal tube includes a signal element located at an end opposite to where said intake opening is located, and wherein said vent tube is attached to said signal tube opposite end and includes an exit vent and a combination of a fuel-blocking component and a ball seat, wherein said combination of said fuel-blocking component and said ball seat is designed to permit said fuel gases entering said intake opening to exit said exit vent and to prevent any liquid fuel entering said intake opening from exiting said exit vent;

c) a housing for joining said signal tube and said vent tube together, wherein said housing includes a mounting section to secure said housing to said second tank opening.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said nozzle adapter is a truncated cone having an axial hole therethrough, said axial hole dimensioned sufficiently to allow said nozzle to be seated tightly therewithin.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said nozzle adapter is made from a compressible material and substantially forms a seal between said nozzle and said first tank opening when placed within said tank opening.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said compressible material is neoprene rubber.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein

said nozzle is an automatic-shut-off fuel pump nozzle, and

said fuel is introducible into said tank only up to a predetermined level that allows a fuel expansion space to remain in said tank after filling.

6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said predetermined level is determined by a distance between a plane including an inner top surface of said fuel tank and a plane including said intake opening.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel-blocking component is a ball having a diameter greater than an inside dimension of said ball seat.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a ball-holding component.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8 wherein said ball-holding component is a spring located within said vent tube at an end opposite to said exit vent.

10. A fuel overflow prevention device for use in combination with a standard automatic-shut-off fuel pump and a standard liquid fuel tank having a first tank opening that is a fuel inlet and a second tank opening that is a vent, wherein said first opening and said second opening are located at a top surface of said fuel tank, said device comprising:

a) a nozzle adapter interference-fitted to a standard nozzle of a standard automatic-shut-off fuel pump nozzle, said nozzle adapter for substantially forming a seal between said standard nozzle and said first tank opening;

b) a signal tube and a vent tube in combination and adaptable to be attached to said second tank opening of said standard fuel tank, wherein said signal tube includes an intake opening for receiving fuel gases from within said fuel tank, wherein said signal tube includes a signal means located at an end of said signal tube opposite from said end with said intake opening, and wherein said vent tube is attached to said signal tube opposite end and includes an exit vent and a combination of a fuel-blocking component and a ball seat, wherein said combination of said fuel-blocking component and said ball seat is designed to permit said fuel gases entering said intake opening to exit said exit vent and to prevent any liquid fuel entering said intake opening from exiting said exit vent,

wherein said nozzle adapter, said signal tube and said vent tube, in combination, halt the flow of said liquid fuel into said tank when said liquid fuel reaches a predetermined level within said tank;

c) a housing for joining said signal tube and said vent tube, wherein said housing is threadingly mountable to said fuel tank through said second tank opening.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said nozzle adapter is a truncated cone having an axial hole therethrough, said axial hole dimensioned sufficiently to allow a range of sizes of said standard nozzle to be seated tightly therewithin.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said adapter is made from neoprene rubber.

13. The device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said predetermined fuel level is chosen so that a fuel expansion space is maintained in said tank after fueling is halted and said predetermined fuel level is geometrically determined by a distance between a first plane associated with an inner top surface of said fuel tank and a second plane associated with said intake opening.

14. A fluid overflow prevention device for use with a liquid fuel tank having a first tank opening and a second tank opening, wherein the first opening and the second opening are located at a top surface of the fuel tank, wherein the first tank opening is a fuel inlet and the second tank opening is the only means by which fuel may be vented to the atmosphere, said device comprising:

a) a nozzle adapter for securing a nozzle of a pressure-sensitive pump handle to the first tank opening during fluid flow into the tank through the nozzle;

b) a signal tube and a vent tube in combination and adaptable to be attached to the second tank opening, wherein said signal tube includes a first end with an intake opening for receiving fuel gases from within the fuel tank and an opposite end, and wherein said vent tube is attached to said signal tube opposite end and includes an exit vent and a combination of a fuel-blocking component and a ball seat, wherein said combination of said fuel-blocking component and said ball seat is designed to permit said fuel gases entering said intake opening to exit said the fuel tank and to prevent any liquid fuel from exiting the fuel tank;

c) a housing for joining said signal tube and said vent tube together, wherein said housing includes a mounting section to secure said housing to said second tank opening.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said signal tube further includes a signal element located at an end opposite to where said intake opening is located.

16. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said nozzle is an automatic-shut-off fuel pump nozzle, and said fuel is introducible into said tank only up to a predetermined level that allows a fuel expansion space to remain in said tank after filling.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16 wherein said predetermined level is determined by a distance between a plane including an inner top surface of said fuel tank and a plane including said intake opening.