The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 16, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 26, 1999
Robert W. McDowell, San Diego, CA (US);
John M. Gray, San Marcos, CA (US);
Delaware Capital Formation, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US);
Abstract
A vapor recovery and pressure management system for a vehicle refueling facility includes two rotary vane pumps and a hydrocarbon-stripping membrane between the pumps. One pump draws vapor from a storage tank as well as from refueling nozzles, while the other pump draws vapor from the membrane and discharges the vapor back into the tank. A controller controls both pumps to maintain a slight vacuum in the tank, thereby preventing leakage of hydrocarbons from the tank to the atmosphere. Clean air from the membrane is exhausted, preferably through a charcoal canister, and a hydrocarbon sensor monitors for the presence of undesirable hydrocarbons in the clean air exhaust. One or more liquid drop outs are provided for separating liquid from the hydrocarbon vapor and returning the liquid to the tank along with the vapor, preferably before the liquid is sent to the membrane, to thereby increase efficient fuel recovery and to protect the membrane from undesirable contact with liquid.