Inlet conduit adaptor for underground storage tank

• US 5,664,951 A
• Filed: 06/18/1996
• Issued: 09/09/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OPW Fueling Containment Systems, Inc. (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Dover Corporation
• Inventors: Larson, David K., Clary, Robert P., Wilder, Paul R., Kesterman, James E., Lamping, Frank G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paumen, Gary F.
• Application Number:
  US08/665,582
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 439/86, 439/88, 439/89, 439/92, 439/100, 439/345, 439/191-195, 174/35 GC, 141/382, 141/383, 141/384
• US Class Current: 439/92
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 37/148 the securing element being flexible F16L37/144 takes precedence

Abstract

A swivel adapter for an inlet conduit to an underground storage includes two relatively rotatable components. The relative rotation between the components prevents sealing loss between the adapter and the inlet conduit when the adapter is subjected to torque.

Claims

1. A fuel adapter for engaging a riser pipe, comprising:

a first electrically conductive component having an external surface of revolution that is concentrically disposed about a first axis, said external surface having a first annular groove;

a second electrically conductive component that is rotationally movable with respect to the first component during use, said second component having an internal surface of revolution that is concentrically disposed about a second axis that is coincident with said first axis, said internal surface of revolution having a dimetral dimension that is slightly greater than the dimetral dimension of the external surface of revolution with the external surface being at least partially fitted within said internal surface, said internal surface having a second annular groove that is in axial alignment with the first annular groove; and

an electrically conductive flexible rod partially located in both the first and second annular grooves, said rod providing an electrical path between the first and second components for the discharge of static electric.

2. An fuel adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive component is attached to an inlet conduit for an underground liquid storage tank.

3. An fuel adapter as recited in claim 2, wherein the second electrically conductive component is a swivel adaptor for connecting a supply hose to the inlet conduit.

4. An fuel adapter as recited in claim 1, further including a seal between the first and second electrically conductive components.

5. An fuel adapter as recited in claim 1, wherein the first electrically conductive component has a radially projecting structure that varies the diametrical dimension of the first electrically conductive component relative to axially adjacent portions of the first electrically conductive component, and the second electrically conductive component has an annular groove in axial correspondency with the projecting structure, the annular groove having upper and lower structures that are respectively spaced axially above and below the projecting structure and an annular surface that is radially spaced from the projecting structure, the projecting structure extending into said annular groove whereby the projecting structure and annular groove are operative to prevent the axial movement of the first and second electrically conductive components beyond the axial spacing between the projecting structure and the annular groove.

6. An fuel adapter as recited in claim 5, wherein the projecting structure is a set screw that may be selectively extended from the first electrically conductive component in a radially outward direction.

7. The fuel adapter of claim 1, wherein the flexible rod is in surface contact with both the first and second annular grooves.

8. The fuel adapter of claim 1, wherein the flexible rod is solid in cross section.

9. In combination with an inlet conduit for an underground liquid storage tank, a rotatable swivel adapter for connecting a supply hose to the inlet conduit, said rotatable swivel adapter comprising:

a first adapter component, said first adapter component having an inlet, an outlet and a first internal flow passage extending therebetween, the outlet of said first adapter component being fixedly secured to the inlet conduit with the first internal flow passage being in fluid communication with the inlet conduit;

a second adapter component, said second adapter component having an inlet, an outlet and a second internal flow passage extending therebetween, the second inlet being adapted to be in selective fluid communication with a hose for supplying liquid to the storage tank with the outlet of the second adapter component being rotatably interconnected to the inlet of the first adapter component, the second internal flow passage being in fluid communication with the first internal flow passage; and

an electrically conductive flexible rod interposed between said first and second adapter components, said flexible rod being operative to restrict relative axial movement but to allow relative rotational movement between the first and second adapter components, said flexible rod providing an electrical path between the first and second adapter components.

10. A rotatable swivel adapter as recited in claim 9 wherein one of the adapter components has a radially projecting structure that varies the diametrical dimension of said one component at the projecting structure relative to axially adjacent portions of said one adapter component, the other of said adapter components having an annular groove in axial correspondency with the projecting structure, the annular groove having upper and lower structures that are respectively spaced axially above and below the projecting structure and an annular surface that is radially spaced from the projecting structure, the projecting structure extending into said annular groove whereby the projecting structure and annular groove are operative to prevent the axial movement of the first and second adapter components beyond the axial spacing between the projecting structure and the annular groove.

11. A rotatable swivel adapter as recited in claim 10 wherein the projecting structure projects radially outwardly from the first adapter component and the diametrical dimension of the first adapter component is greater than the diametrical dimension of the axially adjacent portions of the first adapter component.

12. A rotatable swivel adapter as recited in claim 11 wherein the projecting structure is a set screw that may be selectively extended from the first adapter component in a radially outward direction.

13. A rotatable swivel adapter as recited in claim 9 further including a seal between the first adapter component and the inlet conduit.

14. A rotatable swivel adapter as recited in claim 9 further comprising a seal between the first and second adapter components.

15. A fuel adapter for engaging a riser pipe, comprising:

a first electrically conductive component having an external surface of revolution that is concentrically disposed about a first axis, said external surface having a first annular groove;

a second electrically conductive component that is rotationally movable with respect to the first component, said second component having an internal surface of revolution that is concentrically disposed about a second axis that is coincident with said first axis, said internal surface of revolution having a dimetral dimension that is slightly greater than the dimetral dimension of the external surface of revolution with the external surface being at least partially fitted within said internal surface, said internal surface having a second annular groove that is in axial alignment with the first annular groove;

an electrically conductive flexible rod partially located in both the first and second annular grooves; and

an electrical path for the discharge of static electricity defined predominately by the first electrically conductive component, the second electrically conductive component, and the electrically conductive flexible rod.