Underground storage tank metering system in a service station environment

• US 6,935,356 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2003
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Hutchinson, Ray J., Dickson, Timothy E., Shepard, Robert, Kaehler, David L.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAMBERS, A MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/389,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177885A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 222/62, 222/59, 222/55, 222/63, 222/23, 417/43, 137/565.11, 137/565.01, 137/565.16, 137/565.17, 137/1, 137/551, 137/559, 738/617.7, 73/405.R, 239/62, 239/63, 239/59
• US Class Current: 137/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 3/2892 for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/85978 With pump
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86027 Electric
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86035 Combined with fluid receiver

Abstract

A meter coupled in close proximity to an underground storage tank fuel pipe that delivers fuel from the underground storage tank to fuel dispensers in a service station environment. The meter measures the total amount of fuel drawn from the underground storage tank. The meter may be placed in a submersible turbine pump or in the main conduit that carries fuel to the fuel dispensers. The meter measurement is compared to the meter measurements in the individual fuel dispensers that receive the fuel drawn from the underground storage tank to determine if a discrepancy exists. A discrepancy may be indicative of meter tampering, meter calibration issues, and/or a leak in the fuel pipeline between the underground storage tank and the fuel dispensers. A leak detection test may be automatically performed if such discrepancy exists and/or an alarm condition generated and communicated.

Claims

1. A method of installing a meter to measure the amount of fuel drawn from an underground storage tank and delivered to a plurality of fuel dispensers in a service station environment, comprising the steps of:

fluidly coupling a submersible turbine pump to fuel in the underground storage tank;

coupling a main fuel piping to said submersible turbine pump wherein said submersible turbine pump draws fuel from the underground storage tank and delivers the fuel to said main fuel piping;

coupling a plurality of branch fuel pipings to the main fuel piping to receive fuel from the main fuel piping;

coupling each of the plurality of branch fuel piping to an individual fuel dispenser among the plurality of fuel dispensers so that each of the plurality of fuel dispensers receives fuel from the main fuel piping; and

placing a meter inline to said main fuel piping that measures the amount of fuel drawn by said submersible turbine pump from the underground storage tank and delivered to the plurality of branch fuel pipings.

2. A method of installing a meter to measure the amount of fuel drawn by a submersible turbine pump from an underground storage tank and delivered to a plurality of fuel dispensers in a service station environment, comprising the steps of:

fluidly coupling a submersible turbine pump to fuel in the underground storage tank;

coupling a main fuel piping to said submersible turbine pump wherein said submersible turbine pump draws fuel from the underground storage tank and delivers the fuel to said main fuel piping;

coupling a plurality of branch fuel pipings to the main fuel piping to receive fuel from the main fuel piping;

coupling each of the plurality of branch fuel pipings to an individual fuel dispenser among the plurality of fuel dispensers so that each of the plurality of fuel dispensers receives fuel from the main fuel piping; and

placing a meter in said submersible turbine pump that measures the amount of fuel drawn by said submersible turbine pump from the underground storage tank and delivered to the plurality of branch fuel pipings.

3. An apparatus for metering fuel drawn out of an underground storage tank and delivered to a plurality of fuel dispensers in a service station environment, comprising:

a submersible turbine pump fluidly coupled to fuel in the underground storage tank wherein said submersible turbine pump draws the fuel out of the underground storage tank;

a main fuel piping coupled to said submersible turbine pump to curry the fuel drawn by said submersible turbine pump into a plurality of branch fuel pipings coupled to the main fuel piping, wherein each of the plurality of branch fuel pipings carries the fuel to an individual fuel dispenser among the plurality of fuel dispensers; and

a meter coupled inline to said main fuel piping that measures the amount of fuel drawn by said submersible turbine pump from the underground storage tank and delivered to the plurality of branch fuel pipings.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said meter is a turbine meter.

5. An apparatus for metering fuel drawn out of an underground storage tank and delivered to a plurality of fuel dispensers in a service station environment, comprising:

a submersible turbine pump fluidly coupled to fuel in the underground storage tank wherein said submersible turbine pump draws the fuel out of the underground storage tank;

a main fuel piping coupled to said submersible turbine pump to carry the fuel drawn by said submersible turbine pump into a plurality of branch fuel piping coupled to the main fuel piping, wherein each of the plurality of branch fuel pipings carries the fuel to an individual fuel dispenser among the plurality of fuel dispenser; and

a meter placed in said submersible turbine pump that measures the amount of fuel drawn by said submersible turbine pump from the underground storage tank and delivered to the plurality of branch fuel pipings.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said meter is a turbine meter.