US3867111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vapor recovery system
Assignee: Shell USA Inc
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Filing: 1973-08-29
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Granted: 1975-02-18
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Expires: 1993-08-29
Abstract
Abstract A system is disclosed for preventing gasoline vapors contained in air vented from gasoline storage tanks from entering the atmosphere, which includes a conduit to pass gasoline vapor-laden air to a bed of adsorbent for gasoline; and when the adsorbent approaches saturation, subjecting it to a subatmospheric pressure, with or without heat, to an extent and for a time adequate to remove gasoline from the adsorbent and restore it to a regenerated condition, after which the gasoline removed from the adsorbent is returned to approximately atmospheric pressure and passed into a body of liquid gasoline in a storage vessel for liquid gasoline wherein it is absorbed.
Inventors
- 👤 William T Knowles
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:59
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/04; B67D7/0476; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/02; B01D53/04; B01D2259/00; B01D2259/40; B01D2259/402; B01D2259/45; B01D2259/4516; B01D2259/4525
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
272 words
A SYSTEM TO RECOVER GASOLINE FROM GASOLINE VAPOR-LADEN AIR THAT IS VENTED WHILE FILLING A FIRST GASOLINE STORAGE TANK FROM THE GASOLINE CONTAINED IN A SECOND GASOLINE STORAGE TANK, COMPRISING: A. A CONDUIT FOR DELIVERING LIQUID FROM THE SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE FIRST STORAGE TANK, B. A CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACE OF THE SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE VAPOR SPACE OF THE FIRST STORAGE TANK, C. AT LEAST ONE VESSEL CONTAINING A BED OF SOLID ADSORBENT CAPABLE OF SELECTIVELY ADSORBING GASOLINE FROM SAID VAPORLADEN AIR, D. A VALVED VENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE POSITIONED TO VENT SAID VESSEL, E. A VALVED INLET INTO SAID VESSEL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BED FROM SAID VENT, SAID INLET CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACE OF SAID SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE VAPOR SPACE OF SAID FIRST STORAGE TANK, F. A VALVED CONDUIT FROM SAID VESSEL CONNECTING THE INLET SIDE OF SAID BED TO THE SUCTION SIDE OF A VACUUM PUMP, G. A CONDUIT FOR PASSING GASOLINE ESSENTIALLY AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE FROM THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF SAID VACUUM PUMP TO A POINT BELOW THE SURFACE OF LIQUID IN SAID FIRST STORAGE TANK OR SAID SECOND STORAGE TANK, H. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY CLOSE THE VALVE IN SAID VALVED VENT AND THE VALVE IN SAID VALVED INLET, AND TO OPEN THE VALVE IN SAID VALVED CONDUIT, AND TO ACTUATE SAID VACUUM PUMP, AND I. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO STOP SAID VACUUM PUMP (1) WHEN A PREDETERMINED SUBATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF ABOUT 0.5 PSIA OR LESS IS REACHED, OR (2) AFTER A PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD HAS ELAPSED FROM THE TIME SAID PUMP STARTED.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
272 words
A SYSTEM TO RECOVER GASOLINE FROM GASOLINE VAPOR-LADEN AIR THAT IS VENTED WHILE FILLING A FIRST GASOLINE STORAGE TANK FROM THE GASOLINE CONTAINED IN A SECOND GASOLINE STORAGE TANK, COMPRISING: A. A CONDUIT FOR DELIVERING LIQUID FROM THE SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE FIRST STORAGE TANK, B. A CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACE OF THE SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE VAPOR SPACE OF THE FIRST STORAGE TANK, C. AT LEAST ONE VESSEL CONTAINING A BED OF SOLID ADSORBENT CAPABLE OF SELECTIVELY ADSORBING GASOLINE FROM SAID VAPORLADEN AIR, D. A VALVED VENT TO THE ATMOSPHERE POSITIONED TO VENT SAID VESSEL, E. A VALVED INLET INTO SAID VESSEL ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID BED FROM SAID VENT, SAID INLET CONNECTED TO SAID CONDUIT CONNECTING THE VAPOR SPACE OF SAID SECOND STORAGE TANK TO THE VAPOR SPACE OF SAID FIRST STORAGE TANK, F. A VALVED CONDUIT FROM SAID VESSEL CONNECTING THE INLET SIDE OF SAID BED TO THE SUCTION SIDE OF A VACUUM PUMP, G. A CONDUIT FOR PASSING GASOLINE ESSENTIALLY AT ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE FROM THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF SAID VACUUM PUMP TO A POINT BELOW THE SURFACE OF LIQUID IN SAID FIRST STORAGE TANK OR SAID SECOND STORAGE TANK, H. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO SIMULTANEOUSLY CLOSE THE VALVE IN SAID VALVED VENT AND THE VALVE IN SAID VALVED INLET, AND TO OPEN THE VALVE IN SAID VALVED CONDUIT, AND TO ACTUATE SAID VACUUM PUMP, AND I. MEANS ARE PROVIDED TO STOP SAID VACUUM PUMP (1) WHEN A PREDETERMINED SUBATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE OF ABOUT 0.5 PSIA OR LESS IS REACHED, OR (2) AFTER A PREDETERMINED TIME PERIOD HAS ELAPSED FROM THE TIME SAID PUMP STARTED.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 1 wherein heating means are provided to heat said bed of solid adsorbent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 wherein cooling means are provided to cool gasoline vapors removed from said bed by said vacuum pump.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein means are provided to stop said vacuum pump after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time said pump started.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
224 words
A process for recovering gasoline vapor from vapor-laden air expelled from a tank while filling it with gasoline, comprising: A. collecting said vapors, B. passing at least some of said vapors via a valved inlet conduit through a bed of solid adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing gasoline from the vapor-laden air, C. passing air substantially free of gasoline vapors from a valved vent on the other side of said bed of adsorbent to the atmosphere, D. stopping the flow of vapor-laden air through said bed before said adsorbent becomes saturated with gasoline, E. simultaneously closing the valve in said valved vent and the valve in said valved inlet and reducing the pressure within said had by means of a vacuum pump communicating with said bed via a valved conduit, F. subsequently maintaining a pressure lower than 0.5 psia within said bed to desorb gasoline from said bed to regenerate said bed, G. pressuring the gasoline desorbed from said bed to atmospheric or subatmospheric pressure, H. passing gasoline desorbed from said bed beneath the surface of a body of stored gasoline, whereby gasoline desorbed from said bed is absorbed in said body of stored gasoline and, I. stopping said vacuum pump at a predetermined pressure of about 0.5 psia, or less or after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time the pump started.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
224 words
A process for recovering gasoline vapor from vapor-laden air expelled from a tank while filling it with gasoline, comprising: A. collecting said vapors, B. passing at least some of said vapors via a valved inlet conduit through a bed of solid adsorbent capable of selectively adsorbing gasoline from the vapor-laden air, C. passing air substantially free of gasoline vapors from a valved vent on the other side of said bed of adsorbent to the atmosphere, D. stopping the flow of vapor-laden air through said bed before said adsorbent becomes saturated with gasoline, E. simultaneously closing the valve in said valved vent and the valve in said valved inlet and reducing the pressure within said had by means of a vacuum pump communicating with said bed via a valved conduit, F. subsequently maintaining a pressure lower than 0.5 psia within said bed to desorb gasoline from said bed to regenerate said bed, G. pressuring the gasoline desorbed from said bed to atmospheric or subatmospheric pressure, H. passing gasoline desorbed from said bed beneath the surface of a body of stored gasoline, whereby gasoline desorbed from said bed is absorbed in said body of stored gasoline and, I. stopping said vacuum pump at a predetermined pressure of about 0.5 psia, or less or after a predetermined time period has elapsed from the time the pump started.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-17 | 1978-08-19 | 1979-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-17 | 1982-08-19 | 1983-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-17 | 1986-08-19 | 1987-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |