US3910102A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Liquid volumetric line leak testing apparatus and method
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-05-17
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-05-17
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method to determine and certify the tightness, or detect, measure the rate of and locate a leak, in underground lines extending from an underground storage tank at an automotive service station to an above-ground fuel dispensing apparatus. The outlet of a small, portable liquid pump is coupled to an available opening in or under the service station island pump or dispenser, which opening is in unobstructed communication with the lines leading from the tank, so that fluid may be discharged into the dispenser and line to maintain a test pressure therein. A pressure gauge senses the line pressure, and a calibrated burette which supplies make up gasoline to the pump inlet provides means of precise volume measurement whenever the pump is operated to restore the pressure in the line as a consequence of leakage or other cause.
Inventors
- 👤 F Ronald Mclean
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:08
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M3/00; G01M3/02; G01M3/26; G01M3/28; G01M3/2892
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for detecting a leak in a gasoline line extending from an abovE-ground gasoline dispensing apparatus down to an underground gasoline storage tank provided with a check valve for preventing return flow of gasoline back down into the tank, said apparatus comprising: a pump selectively operable to pump gasoline into said line; means for detachably connecting the outlet of said pump to said line at said dispensing apparatus for pumping gasoline into said line; pressure sensing means operatively connected to said line to sense the gasoline pressure established in said line by said pump; and volumetric measuring means operatively connected to said pump to supply makeup gasoline to said pump and thereby sense any loss of gasoline after pressurization of said line by said pump.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
Apparatus for detecting a leak in a gasoline line extending from an abovE-ground gasoline dispensing apparatus down to an underground gasoline storage tank provided with a check valve for preventing return flow of gasoline back down into the tank, said apparatus comprising: a pump selectively operable to pump gasoline into said line; means for detachably connecting the outlet of said pump to said line at said dispensing apparatus for pumping gasoline into said line; pressure sensing means operatively connected to said line to sense the gasoline pressure established in said line by said pump; and volumetric measuring means operatively connected to said pump to supply makeup gasoline to said pump and thereby sense any loss of gasoline after pressurization of said line by said pump.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said volumetric measuring means is a burette connected to the inlet of said pump and calibrated to indicate the quantity of makeup gasoline drawn from the burette by said pump when the latter is operated to pump gasoline into said line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for connecting the pump to said gasoline line comprises a hose extending from the outlet of said pump, and connector means on the opposite end of said hose for releasable attachment to said gasoline line at said dispensing apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, and further comprising a manual bleed valve on said opposite end of the hose ahead of said connector means to eliminate air and for drainage and pressure relief purpose.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein: said pump is manually operable; said pressure sensing means is a pressure gauge connected to the outlet of said pump; and said volumetric measuring means is a burette having its outlet connected to the inlet of said pump and calibrated to indicate the volume of gasoline drawn from the burette by said pump when the latter is operated to pump gasoline into said gasoline line.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, and further comprising a manual bleed valve on said opposite end of the hose ahead of said connector means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, and further comprising a manual bleed valve connected to the outlet of said pump just ahead of said pressure gauge to eliminate air and for drainage and pressure relief purposes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus according to claim 5, and further comprising a portable stand carrying said pump, pressure gauge and burette for handling as a unit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus according to claim 8, and further comprising a manual bleed valve on said opposite end of the hose ahead of said connector means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 9, and further comprising a manual bleed valve connected to the outlet of said pump just ahead of said pressure gauge to eliminate air and for drainage and pressure relief purposes.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of detecting a leak in a gasoline line that extends from an above-ground gasoline dispensing apparatus down to an underground storage tank provided with a check valve for preventing return flow of gasoline down into the tank, said method comprising the steps of: connecting the outlet of a person-operated pump to said gasoline line at said dispensing apparatus, and operating said pump to pump gasoline into said line; monitoring the pressure in said line; supplying makeup gasoline to the inlet of said pump and operating said pump to pump makeup gasoline into said line whenever the pressure therein is below a predetermined level; and measuring the volume of the makeup gasoline drawn by said pump.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of detecting a leak in a gasoline line that extends from an above-ground gasoline dispensing apparatus down to an underground storage tank provided with a check valve for preventing return flow of gasoline down into the tank, said method comprising the steps of: connecting the outlet of a person-operated pump to said gasoline line at said dispensing apparatus, and operating said pump to pump gasoline into said line; monitoring the pressure in said line; supplying makeup gasoline to the inlet of said pump and operating said pump to pump makeup gasoline into said line whenever the pressure therein is below a predetermined level; and measuring the volume of the makeup gasoline drawn by said pump.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
99 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein a dispensing pump is located in said tank, and said check valve has a bleedback relief valve that normally is operable to open automatically so as to return gasoline from said line back into said storage tank at a predetermined bleedback pressure in said line when the dispensing apparatus is de-activated, and wherein: while said bleedback relief valve is free to open automatically, the person-operated pump is operated To establish and maintain said bleedback pressure in said line, and the volume of makeup gasoline drawn by said person-operated operated pump is measured.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method according to claim 12, and further comprising the later steps of: locking said bleedback relief valve closed; thereafter, operating said person-operated pump to establish and maintain said bleedback pressure in said line, and measuring the volume of makeup gasoline drawn by said person-operated pump; thereafter, operating said person-operated pump to establish and maintain a higher pressure in said line, and measuring the volume of makeup gasoline drawn by said person-operated pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the outlet of said person-operated pump is connected by a dry-break quick-coupler to an impact valve at the base of the above-ground dispensing apparatus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the above-ground dispensing apparatus has a dispensing pump therein for drawing gasoline from said underground tank and provided with an air eliminator, and the outlet of said person-operated pump is connected by a dry-break quick-coupler to said line at the location of said air eliminator for the dispensing pump.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the above-ground dispensing apparatus has a dispensing pump therein for drawing gasoline from said underground tank and an in-line poppet check valve just below said dispensing pump, and the outlet of said person-operated pump is connected to said line at the bottom of said in-line check valve by the use of a dry-break quick-coupler.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein the above-ground dispensing apparatus has a suction dispensing pump therein for drawing gasoline from said underground tank under partial vacuum, and wherein: the person-operated pump is operated to provide above-atmospheric pressure in said line, and the volume of makeup gasoline drawn by said person-operated pump to maintain said pressure is measured.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method according to claim 17, and further comprising the later steps of: operating the person-operated pump to establish a higher pressure in said line and pump a predetermined volume of gasoline into said line; and monitoring the pressure in said line after said predetermined volume of gasoline has been pumped in.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of detecting and locating a leak in a line not accessible for observation having blocked portions comprising the steps of: connecting the outlet of a pump to said line between said blocked portions; operating the pump to supply liquid into the line; monitoring the pressure in said line; supplying makeup liquid to the inlet of said pump and operating said pump to supply makeup liquid into said line whenever the pressure therein is below a predetermined level so as to restore the pressure to said level; measuring the volume of makeup liquid drawn by said pump to detect a leak; electrically locating the line and marking the location thereof; operating the pump to pressurize the line with liquid, and ultrasonically sounding said line to locate said leak and marking the location thereof.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of detecting and locating a leak in a line not accessible for observation having blocked portions comprising the steps of: connecting the outlet of a pump to said line between said blocked portions; operating the pump to supply liquid into the line; monitoring the pressure in said line; supplying makeup liquid to the inlet of said pump and operating said pump to supply makeup liquid into said line whenever the pressure therein is below a predetermined level so as to restore the pressure to said level; measuring the volume of makeup liquid drawn by said pump to detect a leak; electrically locating the line and marking the location thereof; operating the pump to pressurize the line with liquid, and ultrasonically sounding said line to locate said leak and marking the location thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for detecting a leak in a gasoline line extending from an above-ground gasoline dispensing apparatus down to an underground gasoline storage tank provided with a check valve for preventing return flow of gasoline back down into the tank, said apparatus comprising: a pump selectively operable to pump gasoline into said line: means for detachably connecting the outlet of said pump to said line at said dispensing apparatus for pumping gasoline into said line; a pressure gauge connected to the outlet of said pump ahead of the latter''s connection to the gasoline line for sensing the gasoline pressure established in said line by said pump; and a burette connected to the inlet of said pump and calibrated to indicate the quantity of gasoline drawn from the burette by said pump when thE latter is operated to pump gasoline into said line, whereby to sense any loss of gasoline after pressurization of said line by said pump.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for detecting a leak in a gasoline line extending from an above-ground gasoline dispensing apparatus down to an underground gasoline storage tank provided with a check valve for preventing return flow of gasoline back down into the tank, said apparatus comprising: a pump selectively operable to pump gasoline into said line: means for detachably connecting the outlet of said pump to said line at said dispensing apparatus for pumping gasoline into said line; a pressure gauge connected to the outlet of said pump ahead of the latter''s connection to the gasoline line for sensing the gasoline pressure established in said line by said pump; and a burette connected to the inlet of said pump and calibrated to indicate the quantity of gasoline drawn from the burette by said pump when thE latter is operated to pump gasoline into said line, whereby to sense any loss of gasoline after pressurization of said line by said pump.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, and further comprising a manual bleed valve connected to the outlet of said pump just ahead of said pressure gauge.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 20, and further comprising a manual bleed valve connected to the outlet of said pump just ahead of said means for detachably connecting the pump outlet to said line at said dispensing apparatus.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 3, and further comprising a manual bleed valve connected to said hose just ahead of said connector means.
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) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |