Casing construction for fuel dispensing systems

• US 6,223,765 B1
• Filed: 10/09/1997
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Marley Pump
• Original Assignee: Marley Pump
• Inventors: Young, David S., Traver, Martin J., Clark, G. Todd, Small, Dorsey D., Schwan, Robert Joe
• Primary Examiner(s): Walton, George L.
• Application Number:
  US08/948,347
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• Field of Search: 73/40.5 R, 73/46, 73/49.1, 73/49.2, 137/15, 137/312, 137/315, 137/540, 137/541, 137/542, 137/565, 141/59, 141/86, 141/95, 141/198, 222/52, 222/67, 222/69, 222/318, 222/108, 222/110
• US Class Current: 137/312
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/06 Details or accessories
• 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 7/68 submerged in storage tank or reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/063 the valve being loaded by a spring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/599 Pressure regulating type valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6086 Assembling or disassembling check valve

Abstract

A casing which provides a fluid and electrical interface between components of a fuel dispensing system. A column pipe which receives fuel pumped from an underground tank connects with a power head mounted in the casing. A check valve controls flow from the power head to a dispensing pipe leading to a fuel dispenser. A hand operated quick connect coupling connects the power head with the check valve housing to facilitate extraction of the power head, column pipe and pump. The check valve element can be removed along with a cover to the check valve housing. Leaking fuel and excessive fuel vapor are returned to the tank by valves. Fuel from the check valve housing used to operate a siphon system is returned to the tank along with fuel needed to relieve excessive pressure in the check valve housing. A junction box in the casing houses electrical wiring and is equipped with a safety barrier plug that accommodates a signal wire from a pressure transducer used to control the fuel flow to the dispenser.

Claims

1. A fuel dispensing system having an underground tank for holding fuel, a column pipe extending from the tank, a pump for pumping fuel from the tank through the column pipe, a dispensing pipe for delivering the fuel to a dispenser, a power supply line connected with an electrical power source, and a power delivery line extending through the column pipe to deliver electrical power to the pump, wherein the improvement comprises:

a fluid tight casing having a removable cover providing access to the interior of the casing when removed, said casing serving to confine fuel that leaks therein;

a power head in said casing connected with the column pipe to receive fuel therefrom, said power head providing a flow path for directing the fuel toward said dispensing pipe;

a check valve housing in said casing between said power head and dispensing pipe to direct fuel therebetween;

a check valve for controlling flow from said flow path of the power head to the dispensing pipe;

an enclosed junction box in said casing receiving said power delivery line;

means in said casing for electrically connecting said delivery line in the junction box to said supply line in the power head in a manner to isolate all electrical lines from the fuel flowing in said casing;

a discharge opening from said power head;

an inlet opening to said check valve housing substantially aligned with said discharge opening;

a releaseable coupling assembly including first and second coupling members connected respectively with the discharge opening and the inlet opening, said coupling members having mating ends which seal together in a coupled position to provide a sealed flow passage from the discharge opening to the inlet opening, said coupling assembly having a release position wherein said mating ends are separable to allow the power head to be extracted from the casing along with the column pipe and pump; and

means for effecting the coupled and release positions by hand when the cover of the casing is removed.

2. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said flow path provided by the power head effects a turn through approximately 90°

from a substantially vertical direction through the column pipe to a substantially horizontal direction prior to discharging from the power head.

3. The improvement of claim 1, wherein said means for effecting the coupled and release positions comprises a clamp having a closed position holding said mating ends together and a release position releasing said mating ends, said clamp being adapted for manipulation by hand between the release and closed positions thereof.

4. The improvement of claim 3, including:

tapered surfaces on said coupling members adjacent said mating ends thereof; and

a tapered channel on said clamp for engagement with said tapered surfaces to wedge said mating ends together in the closed position of the clamp.

5. The improvement of claim 3, wherein said clamp includes:

a pair of clamp sections each having a pivot end and a fastening end;

means for pivoting said sections together at the pivot ends thereof for pivotal movement between the release and closed positions; and

hand releaseable fastening means for fastening said fastening ends together and progressively tightening said fastening ends in the closed position.

6. The improvement of claim 1, including:

a floor of said casing;

a drain port in said floor for draining away fuel leaking into the casing;

a drain passage leading from said drain port to the tank; and

a drain closure normally closing said drain port but acting to open the port when leaking fuel in the casing reaches a preselected level on the casing floor.

7. The improvement of claim 6, including:

a pressure relief port in said casing connected with said drain passage; and

valve means for normally maintaining said relief port closed, said valve means acting in response to vapor pressure in said casing above a preselected level to open the relief port to relieve the vapor pressure therethrough.

8. The improvement of claim 6, including:

a float adjacent the floor of the casing floating on fuel that accumulates on said floor; and

a linkage between said float and drain closure acting to hold the closure closed against said drain port when the float is below said preselected level and to open the closure to expose the drain port when the float reaches said preselected level.

9. The improvement of claim 1, including:

a relief port in said casing for relieving excess vapor pressure therein;

a drain passage leading from said relief port to the tank; and

valve means for normally maintaining said relief port closed, said valve means acting in response to vapor pressure in said casing above a preselected level to open the relief port to relieve the vapor pressure therethrough.

10. The improvement of claim 1, including:

a drain line extending from said power head to the tank to return fuel to the tank;

means for establishing a fuel return line extending to said drain line from a location in said check valve housing upstream from the check valve;

a check valve in said fuel return line opening the fuel return line when the pump is operating and closing the return line when the pump is inactive;

means for effecting a low pressure area in said fuel return line when fuel is flowing therethrough;

a siphon line extending from said low pressure area to transmit the low pressure; and

a check valve in said siphon line effective to open the siphon line when the pressure in said low pressure area is below a selected level and to close the siphon line when the pressure in said low pressure area is above said selected level.

11. The improvement of claim 10, including:

an expansion relief line extending to said drain line from a location in said check valve housing downstream from the check valve; and

an expansion relief valve for normally closing said relief line, said relief valve opening said relief line when the pressure therein transmitted from the check valve housing exceeds a preselected level.

12. The improvement of claim 1, including:

a drain line extending from said power head to the tank to return fuel to the tank;

an expansion relief line extending to said drain line from a location in said check valve housing downstream from the check valve; and

an expansion relief valve for normally closing said relief line, said relief valve opening said relief line when the pressure therein transmitted from the check valve housing exceeds a preselected level.

13. The improvement of claim 12, wherein said check valve includes:

a valve seat through which fuel passes into the check valve housing toward the dispensing pipe;

a valve element movable from a closed position against the seat to a fully open position spaced away from the seat a selected distance;

yieldable means for maintaining said valve element against the seat unless the force of fuel pumped by said pump exceeds a level necessary to dislodge said valve element from the seat to the fully open position; and

means for closing said expansion relief valve irrespective of the pressure in said check valve housing and simultaneously restricting the valve element movement to less than said selected distance to establish a partially open position of the valve element.

14. The improvement of claim 13, wherein said means for closing said expansion valve comprises:

an adjustable locking element having a connection with said check valve housing, said locking element having an extended position interfering with movement of said valve element past the partially open position and a retracted position allowing the valve element to move to the fully open position;

a passage in said locking element forming a part of said expansion relief line adjacent the check valve housing, said passage having an outlet port connected with the remainder of the expansion relief line in the retracted position of said locking element and disconnected from the remainder of the expansion relief line in the extended position of said locking element; and

means for sealing said port from the remainder of the expansion relief line in the extended position of the locking element.

15. The improvement of claim 1, including:

a pressure transducer mounted on the check valve housing and acting to sense the pressure therein at a location downstream from the check valve;

a plug having a threaded connection with said junction box;

a transducer cable for transmitting an electrical signal indicative of the pressure sensed by said transducer, said cable extending from said transducer into said junction box through said plug; and

a barrier board encapsulated in said plug, said cable terminating at said board to transmit said electrical signal thereto.

16. The improvement of claim 1, including:

a removable lid for said check valve housing accessible for removal from the check valve housing when the cover is removed from said casing;

a mounting post carried on said lid and normally located in said check valve housing;

a valve seat in the check valve housing;

a valve stem carried on said post, said check valve being mounted on said stem for movement thereon between a closed position against the seat and an open position displaced from the seat to allow fuel to flow into the check valve housing toward the dispensing pipe; and

yieldable means for urging said check valve to the closed position, said yieldable means being overcome when the force of fuel pumped through the power head exceeds a predetermined level,

said lid, post, stem and check valve being removable as a unit from the check valve housing.

17. In a fuel dispensing system having a casing which provides a fuel flow path from an underground tank to a dispensing pipe and which provides for transmission of electrical power to a submersible pump in the tank, the improvement comprising:

a check valve housing forming part of said fuel flow path and presenting a valve seat;

a removable cover on said check valve housing accessible for detachment from the housing when said casing is open;

a mounting post carried on said cover;

a valve stem carried on said post;

a check valve element mounted on said stem for movement thereon between a closed position against the seat to close the flow path and an open position displaced from the seat to allow fuel to flow into the housing toward the dispensing pipe, said cover, post, stem and valve element being detachable as a unit from the check valve housing and removable as a unit from the casing; and

yieldable means for maintaining said valve element in the closed position when the force against the valve element applied by fuel pumped through said flow path is below a predetermined level sufficient to overcome said yieldable means and move the valve element to the open position.

18. The improvement of claim 17, wherein said check valve housing presents a cross-sectional area adjacent to said valve seat that exceeds the cross-sectional area of the dispenser pipe and the cross-sectional area of the flow path upstream from said valve seat.

19. In a fuel dispensing system having an underground fuel tank and a dispensing pipe, the improvement comprising:

a casing having a removable top cover;

a submersible pump in the tank;

a column pipe leading from the tank to the casing and carrying said pump to direct fluid from the tank to the casing;

a power head in the casing to which said column pipe and pump are connected, said power head defining a fuel flow path therethrough for accommodating fuel pumped through said column pipe;

a check valve housing for directing fuel from the power head to the dispensing pipe;

a check valve in said housing arranged to open when the pump is active and close when the pump is inactive;

first and second coupling members connected respectively to the power head and check valve housing;

mating ends on said coupling members which seal together in a coupled position of said members to provide a sealed passage for fuel flow from the power head to the valve housing, said mating ends being separable from one another to allow the coupling members to be released and allow the power head to be removed from the casing along with the column pipe and pump when the top cover of the casing is removed; and

a releasable clamp for securing said coupling members in the coupled position, said clamp including a pair of clamp sections pivoted together at one end and arranged to be pivoted closed around said mating ends and tightened therearound to seal said mating ends together.

20. The improvement of claim 19, including:

tapered surfaces on said coupling members adjacent said mating ends thereof; and

a tapered channel on said clamp engageable against said tapered surfaces to wedge said mating ends together when the clamp sections are tightened around them.

21. A fuel dispensing system having an underground tank for holding fuel, a column pipe extending from the tank, a pump for pumping fuel from the tank through the column pipe, a dispensing pipe for delivering the fuel to a dispenser, a power supply line connected with an electrical power source, and a power delivery line extending through the column pipe to deliver electrical power to the pump, wherein the improvement comprises:

a fluid tight casing having a removable cover providing access to the interior of the casing when removed, said casing serving to confine fuel that leaks therein;

a power head in said casing connected with the column pipe to receive fuel therefrom, said power head providing a flow path for directing the fuel toward said dispensing pipe;

a check valve housing in said casing between said power head and dispensing pipe to direct fuel therebetween;

a check valve for controlling flow from said flow path of the power head to the dispensing pipe;

an enclosed junction box in said casing receiving said power delivery line;

means in said casing for electrically connecting said delivery line in the junction box to said supply line in the power head in a manner to isolate all electrical lines from the fuel flowing in said casing;

a floor of said casing;

a drain port in said floor for draining away fuel leaking into the casing;

a drain passage leading from said drain port to the tank; and

a drain closure normally closing said drain port but acting to open the port when leaking fuel in the casing reaches a preselected level on the casing floor.

22. The improvement of claim 21, including:

a pressure relief port in said casing connected with said drain passage; and

valve means for normally maintaining said relief port closed, said valve means acting in response to vapor pressure in said casing above a preselected level to open the relief port to relieve the vapor pressure therethrough.

23. The improvement of claim 21, including:

a float adjacent the floor of the casing floating on fuel that accumulates on said floor; and

a linkage between said float and drain closure acting to hold the closure closed against said drain port when the float is below said preselected level and to open the closure to expose the drain port when the float reaches said preselected level.

24. A fuel dispensing system having an underground tank for holding fuel, a column pipe extending from the tank, a pump for pumping fuel from the tank through the column pipe, a dispensing pipe for delivering the fuel to a dispenser, a power supply line connected with an electrical power source, and a power delivery line extending through the column pipe to deliver electrical power to the pump, wherein the improvement comprises:

a fluid tight casing having a removable cover providing access to the interior of the casing when removed, said casing serving to confine fuel that leaks therein;

a power head in said casing connected with the column pipe to receive fuel therefrom, said power head providing a flow path for directing the fuel toward said dispensing pipe;

a check valve housing in said casing between said power head and dispensing pipe to direct fuel therebetween;

a check valve for controlling flow from said flow path of the power head to the dispensing pipe;

an enclosed junction box in said casing receiving said power delivery line;

means in said casing for electrically connecting said delivery line in the junction box to said supply line in the power head in a manner to isolate all electrical lines from the fuel flowing in said casing;

a drain line extending from said power head to the tank to return fuel to the tank;

an expansion relief line extending to said drain line from a location in said check valve housing downstream from the check valve; and

an expansion relief valve for normally closing said relief line, said relief valve opening said relief line when the pressure therein transmitted from the check valve housing exceeds a preselected level.

25. The improvement of claim 24, wherein said check valve includes:

a valve seat through which fuel passes into the check valve housing toward the dispensing pipe;

a valve element movable from a closed position against the seat to a fully open position spaced away from the seat a selected distance;

yieldable means for maintaining said valve element against the seat unless the force of fuel pumped by said pump exceeds a level necessary to dislodge said valve element from the seat to the fully open position; and

means for closing said expansion relief valve irrespective of the pressure in said check valve housing and simultaneously restricting the valve element movement to less than said selected distance to establish a partially open position of the valve element.

26. The improvement of claim 25, wherein said means for closing said expansion valve comprises:

an adjustable locking element having a connection with said check valve housing, said locking element having an extended position interfering with movement of said valve element past the partially open position and a retracted position allowing the valve element to move to the fully open position;

a passage in said locking element forming a part of said expansion relief line adjacent the check valve housing, said passage having an outlet port connected with the remainder of the expansion relief line in the retracted position of said locking element and disconnected from the remainder of the expansion relief line in the extended position of said locking element; and

means for sealing said port from the remainder of the expansion relief line in the extended position of the locking element.

27. A fuel dispensing system having an underground tank for holding fuel, a column pipe extending from the tank, a pump for pumping fuel from the tank through the column pipe, a dispensing pipe for delivering the fuel to a dispenser, a power supply line connected with an electrical power source, and a power delivery line extending through the column pipe to deliver electrical power to the pump, wherein the improvement comprises:

a fluid tight casing having a removable cover providing access to the interior of the casing when removed, said casing serving to confine fuel that leaks therein;

a power head in said casing connected with the column pipe to receive fuel therefrom, said power head providing a flow path for directing the fuel toward said dispensing pipe;

a check valve housing in said casing between said power head and dispensing pipe to direct fuel therebetween;

a check valve for controlling flow from said flow path of the power head to the dispensing pipe;

an enclosed junction box in said casing receiving said power delivery line;

means in said casing for electrically connecting said delivery line in the junction box to said supply line in the power head in a manner to isolate all electrical lines from the fuel flowing in said casing;

an adjustable locking element having a connection with said check valve housing, said locking element having an extended position interfering with movement of said valve element past the partially open position and a retracted position allowing the valve element to move to the fully open position;

a passage in said locking element forming a part of said expansion relief line adjacent the check valve housing, said passage having an outlet port connected with the remainder of the expansion relief line in the retracted position of said locking element and disconnected from the remainder of the expansion relief line in the extended position of said locking element; and

means for sealing said port from the remainder of the expansion relief line in the extended position of the locking element.

28. A fuel dispensing system having an underground tank for holding fuel, a column pipe extending from the tank, a pump for pumping fuel from the tank through the column pipe, a dispensing pipe for delivering the fuel to a dispenser, a power supply line connected with an electrical power source, and a power delivery line extending through the column pipe to deliver electrical power to the pump, wherein the improvement comprises:

a fluid tight casing having a removable cover providing access to the interior of the casing when removed, said casing serving to confine fuel that leaks therein;

a power head in said casing connected with the column pipe to receive fuel therefrom, said power head providing a flow path for directing the fuel toward said dispensing pipe;

a check valve housing in said casing between said power head and dispensing pipe to direct fuel therebetween;

a check valve for controlling flow from said flow path of the power head to the dispensing pipe;

an enclosed junction box in said casing receiving said power delivery line;

means in said casing for electrically connecting said delivery line in the junction box to said supply line in the power head in a manner to isolate all electrical lines from the fuel flowing in said casing;

a removable lid for said check valve housing accessible for removal from the check valve housing when the cover is removed from said casing;

a mounting post carried on said lid and normally located in said check valve housing;

a valve seat in the check valve housing;

a valve stem carried on said post, said check valve being mounted on said stem for movement thereon between a closed position against the seat and an open position displaced from the seat to allow fuel to flow into the check valve housing toward the dispensing pipe; and

yieldable means for urging said check valve to the closed position, said yieldable means being overcome when the force of fuel pumped through the power head exceeds a predetermined level,

said lid, post, stem and check valve being removable as a unit from the check valve housing.