Breakaway separation detection and alert system

• US 6,334,474 B1
• Filed: 04/26/2001
• Issued: 01/01/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brent D. Rababy, Joshua C. Goucher
• Original Assignee: Brent D. Rababy, Joshua C. Goucher
• Inventors: Goucher, Joshua C., Rababy, Brent D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/842,457
• Time in Patent Office: 250 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/207, 141/209, 222/23, 222/39, 222/47, 222/52, 222/74, 222/75, 137/68.14, 251/129.04
• US Class Current: 141/207
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3218 relating to emergency shut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1654 Separable valve coupling or conduit

Abstract

A breakaway separation detection and alerting system. A breakaway fuel hose is connected to a fuel pump. A breakaway unit connects the nozzle hose section and the fuel pump hose section of the breakaway fuel hose together. When the breakaway fuel hose is subject to tension in excess of a predetermined load, the breakaway unit will separate. An alarm activation device will then activate an alarm capable of alerting an individual remotely located from the breakaway fuel hose. In a first preferred embodiment, the at least one alarm is a first alarm and a second alarm. The first alarm is located in proximity to the fuel pump and the second alarm is located remotely where a fueling station employee can monitor it. The first preferred embodiment also has a transmitter and a receiver. When a breakaway separation condition occurs, the first alarm sounds. Also, the transmitter sends a signal to the receiver. The receiver then activates the second alarm, alerting the remotely located fueling station employee.

Claims

1. A breakaway separation detection and alerting system, comprising:

A. a breakaway fuel hose connected to a fuel pump, said breakaway fuel hose comprising;

i. a nozzle hose section comprising a nozzle, and

ii. a fuel pump hose section,

B. a breakaway unit connecting said nozzle hose section and said fuel pump hose section and configured to break separating said sections when tension in excess of a predetermined tension is applied to said breakaway fuel hose,

C. at least one alarm device capable of alerting an individual remotely located from said breakaway fuel hose, and

D. an alarm activation device configured to activate said at least one alarm device when said breakaway unit separates.

2. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, wherein said alarm activation device comprises:

A. a first activation end in contact with said nozzle hose section, and

B. a second activation end in contact with said at least one alarm device, wherein when said breakable connection breaks, said first activation end and said second activation end are pulled away with said nozzle hose section so that said second activation end'"'"'s contact with said at least one alarm device is broken, thereby activating said at least one alarm device.

3. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one alarm device comprises an alarm button, and wherein said alarm activation device comprises:

A. a collar slid over said nozzle hose section and between said nozzle and said breakaway unit,

B. a magnetic unit held in contact with said button by magnetic force, and

C. a cable connecting said collar to said magnetic unit, wherein when said breakaway unit separates, said collar pulls said cable and said cable pulls said magnetic unit so that said magnetic force is overcome and said alarm button contact is broken activating said at least one alarm device.

4. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, further comprising:

A. a transmitter for transmitting a signal when activated by said alarm activation device, and

B. a receiver, configured to receive said signal and in response activate said at least one alarm device.

5. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 4, wherein said at least one alarm device comprises a portable receiver/alarm worn by a fueling station employee.

6. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one alarm device comprises an audible warning system.

7. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one alarm device comprises a visual warning system.

8. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one alarm device is a first alarm and a second alarm, wherein said first alarm is located in the proximity of said breakaway fuel hose, and wherein said second alarm is remotely located.

9. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, wherein said at least one alarm device is a first alarm and a second alarm, wherein said first alarm comprises an alarm button and is located in the proximity of said breakaway fuel hose, and wherein said second alarm is remotely located, wherein said breakaway alarm system further comprises:

A. a transmitter, and

B. a receiver, wherein said transmitter is activated by said alarm activation device to transmit a signal to be received by said receiver, wherein said receiver activates said second alarm, wherein said first alarm comprises an alarm button, wherein said alarm activation device comprises;

i. a collar slid over said nozzle hose section and between said nozzle and said breakaway unit,

ii. a magnetic unit held in contact with said alarm button by magnetic force, and

iii. a cable connecting said collar to said magnetic unit, wherein when said breakaway unit separates, said collar pulls said cable and said cable pulls said magnetic unit so that said magnetic force is overcome and said alarm button contact is broken activating said first alarm and activating said transmitter to transmit a signal to be received by said receiver to activate said second alarm.

10. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 1, wherein said breakaway fuel hose connected to a fuel pump is a plurality of breakaway fuel hoses connected to a plurality of fuel pumps, wherein said plurality of breakaway fuel hoses connected to said plurality of fuel pumps are grouped in a plurality of fuel pump islands, further comprising:

A. a transmitter located at each of said plurality of fuel pump islands, and

B. a receiver remotely located from said plurality of fuel pump islands wherein each said transmitter is activated by said alarm activation device to transmit a signal to be received by said receiver, wherein said receiver activates at least one alarm device.

11. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 10, wherein said fuel pump island transmitters transmits RF signals at identical frequencies.

12. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 10, wherein said fuel pump island transmitters transmits RF signals at unique frequencies.

13. A breakaway separation detection and alerting system, comprising:

A. A breakaway fuel hose means connected to a fuel pump, said breakaway fuel hose means comprising;

i. a nozzle hose section comprising a nozzle, and

ii. a fuel pump hose section,

B. a breakaway fuel hose means connecting said nozzle hose section and said fuel pump hose section and configured to break separating said sections when tension in excess of a predetermined tension is applied to said breakaway fuel hose means,

C. at least one alarm means capable of alerting an individual remotely located from said breakaway fuel hose means, and

D. an alarm activation means configured to activate said at least one alarm means when said breakaway unit means separates.

14. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, wherein said alarm activation means comprises:

A. a first activation end in contact with said nozzle hose section, and

B. a second activation end in contact with said at least one alarm means, wherein when said breakable connection breaks, said first activation end and said second activation end are pulled away with said nozzle hose section so that said second activation end'"'"'s contact with said at least one alarm means is broken, thereby activating said at least one alarm means.

15. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, wherein said at least one alarm means comprises an alarm button, and wherein said alarm activation means comprises:

A. a collar slid over said nozzle hose section and between said nozzle and said breakaway unit means,

B. a magnetic unit held in contact with said button by magnetic force, and

C. a cable connecting said collar to said magnetic unit, wherein when said breakaway unit means separates, said collar pulls said cable and said cable pulls said magnetic unit so that said magnetic force is overcome and said alarm button contact is broken activating said at least one alarm means.

16. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, further comprising:

A. a transmitter means for transmitting a signal when activated by said alarm activation means, and

B. a receiver means, configured to receive said signal and in response activate said at least one alarm means.

17. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 16, wherein said at least one alarm means comprises a portable receiver/alarm means worn by a fueling station employee.

18. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, wherein said at least one alarm means comprises an audible warning system.

19. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, wherein said at least one alarm means comprises a visual warning system.

20. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, wherein said at least one alarm means is a first alarm and a second alarm, wherein said first alarm is located in the proximity of said breakaway fuel hose means, and wherein said second alarm is remotely located.

21. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, wherein said at least one alarm means is a first alarm and a second alarm, wherein said first alarm comprises an alarm button and is located in the proximity of said breakaway fuel hose means, and wherein said second alarm is remotely located, wherein said breakaway alarm system further comprises:

A. a transmitter means, and

B. a receiver means, wherein said transmitter means is activated by said alarm activation means to transmit a signal to be received by said receiver means, wherein said receiver means activates said second alarm, wherein said first alarm comprises an alarm button, wherein said alarm activation means comprises;

i. a collar slid over said nozzle hose section and between said nozzle and said breakaway unit means,

ii. a magnetic unit held in contact with said alarm button by magnetic force, and

iii. a cable connecting said collar to said magnetic unit, wherein when said breakaway unit means separates, said collar pulls said cable and said cable pulls said magnetic unit so that said magnetic force is overcome and said alarm button contact is broken activating said first alarm and activating said transmitter means to transmit a signal to be received by said receiver means to activate said second alarm.

22. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 13, wherein said breakaway fuel hose means connected to a fuel pump is a plurality of breakaway fuel hose means connected to a plurality of fuel pumps, wherein said plurality of breakaway fuel hose means connected to said plurality of fuel pumps are grouped in a plurality of fuel pump islands, further comprising:

A. a transmitter means located at each of said plurality of fuel pump islands, and

B. a receiver means remotely located from said plurality of fuel pump islands wherein each said transmitter means is activated by said alarm activation means to transmit a signal to be received by said receiver means, wherein said receiver means activates at least one alarm means.

23. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 22, wherein said fuel pump island transmitter means transmits RF signals at identical frequencies.

24. The breakaway separation detection and alerting system as in claim 22, wherein said fuel pump island transmitter means transmits RF signals at unique frequencies.