Determining vapor recovery in a fueling system
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting leaks within a vapor recovery system comprising:
- a fuel dispenser having hanging hardware;
a vapor recovery line extending through said fuel dispenser and hanging hardware;
a valve located in said vapor recovery path within said hanging hardware and being selectively positionable between an open position allowing vapor flow through said vapor recovery line and a closed position blocking vapor flow through said vapor recovery line depending upon the orientation of said hanging hardware;
a vapor pump operatively associated with the vapor recovery line;
a pressure sensor connected in the vapor recovery line between said valve and said vapor pump;
a control system operatively connected to said pressure sensor and said vapor pump, said control system activating said vapor pump when said valve is in said closed position and receiving a signal from said pressure sensor indicative of the pressure along said vapor recovery line;
a fuel dispenser housing for containing said hanging hardware when not in use, said hanging hardware being placed in an upright position with said valve in said closed orientation; and
a sensor positioned within said fuel dispenser housing for sensing the presence of said hanging hardware, said sensor operatively connected to said control system.
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Abstract
A vapor recovery system for a fuel dispenser having a valve positioned in the hanging hardware for testing for leaks along a vapor recovery line. Vapor valves placed along the vapor recovery line allow for isolating sections of the recovery line to determine the position of any leaks. A vapor pump positioned on the vapor recovery line provides for changing the pressure within the line and a vapor sensor positioned on the vapor recovery line determines the amount of pressure within the line. A control system controls the vapor pump and valves and receives signals from the pressure sensor for determining the position of leaks along the vapor recovery line.
77 Citations
31 Claims
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1. A system for detecting leaks within a vapor recovery system comprising:
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a fuel dispenser having hanging hardware;
a vapor recovery line extending through said fuel dispenser and hanging hardware;
a valve located in said vapor recovery path within said hanging hardware and being selectively positionable between an open position allowing vapor flow through said vapor recovery line and a closed position blocking vapor flow through said vapor recovery line depending upon the orientation of said hanging hardware;
a vapor pump operatively associated with the vapor recovery line;
a pressure sensor connected in the vapor recovery line between said valve and said vapor pump;
a control system operatively connected to said pressure sensor and said vapor pump, said control system activating said vapor pump when said valve is in said closed position and receiving a signal from said pressure sensor indicative of the pressure along said vapor recovery line;
a fuel dispenser housing for containing said hanging hardware when not in use, said hanging hardware being placed in an upright position with said valve in said closed orientation; and
a sensor positioned within said fuel dispenser housing for sensing the presence of said hanging hardware, said sensor operatively connected to said control system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A vapor recovery system comprising:
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a fuel dispenser having a nozzle;
a vapor recovery line extending between said nozzle and a vapor recovery reservoir;
a first valve positioned within said nozzle and being selectively positionable dependent upon the orientation of said nozzle between an open position allowing vapor to flow through said vapor recovery line and a closed position preventing vapor from flowing through said vapor recovery line;
a vapor pump operatively connected to said vapor recovery line;
a second valve positioned between said first valve and said vapor pump and selectively positionable between an open position allowing vapor to flow through said vapor recovery line and a closed position preventing vapor from flowing through said vapor recovery line;
a pressure sensor connected in said vapor recovery line between said second valve and said vapor pump for sensing pressure within said vapor recovery line;
a control system operatively connected to said vapor pump, second valve, and pressure sensor, said control system activating said vapor pump and receiving signals from said pressure sensor indicative of the pressure within said vapor recovery line;
a fuel dispenser housing for containing said nozzle when not in use in a position such that said first valve is in said closed position; and
a sensor positioned within said fuel dispenser housing for sensing the presence of said nozzle, said sensor operatively connected to said control system. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of determining vapor leaks within a vapor recovery system of a fuel delivery system, said method comprising the steps of:
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closing a first valve positioned within a nozzle of a vapor recovery line when a fuel delivery system is not dispensing fuel;
activating a vapor pump positioned along the vapor recovery line to create a pressure within the vapor recovery line;
determining the pressure within the vapor recovery line between the first valve and the vapor pump;
comparing the pressure from the vapor recovery line with a predetermined value maintained at a control system;
detecting the presence of the nozzle within a fuel housing prior to activating the vapor pump. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of detecting a leak within a vapor recovery system comprising the steps of:
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closing a first valve positioned along a vapor recovery line;
operating a vapor pump positioned on the vapor recovery line downstream of the first valve;
determining a first pressure within the vapor recovery line between the first valve and the vapor pump;
opening the first valve, closing a hanging hardware valve, and determining a second pressure within the vapor recovery line between the hanging hardware valve and the vapor pump;
comparing the first and second pressures; and
detecting the presence of the hanging hardware within a fuel housing prior to activating the vapor pump. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A method of determining a vapor leak along a vapor recovery system comprising the steps of:
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closing a first valve positioned along a vapor recovery line with hanging hardware of a fuel dispenser;
activating a vapor pump positioned along the vapor recovery line to create a pressure within the vapor recovery line;
determining a first pressure within the vapor recovery line;
after a predetermined period of time, determining a second pressure within the vapor recovery line;
comparing the first and second pressures; and
detecting the presence of the hanging hardware nozzle within a fuel housing prior to activating the vapor pump.
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Specification