Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
' 1 0
GASOLINE COLLECTOR PIT BOX AND SUBMERSIBLE UNIT BOX
Field Of The Invention
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and
a method for collecting the gasoline that leaks or spills
from service station dispensers or submersible pumps and,
more particularly, to an apparatus and a method where the
collected gasoline is returned to the storage tanks via an
existing vapor recovery system.
Backqround of the Invention
In recent years, increased awareness of the air and
water pollution pro~lems caused by leaking gasoline or
other polluting elements has focused attention on ways to
detect and prevent such leaking. For example, most service
stations now provide vapor recovery systems to recover the
gasoline vapors or fumes liberated during the filling of
an automobile fuel tank. These vapors or fumes are displaced
from the tank by the inflowing gasoline. Such systems are
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,756,291 and U.S. Pat. No.
3,815,327. Systems have also been developed to detect and
prevent leaks from underground storage tanks and their
associatedlinestopreventpossiblegroundwatercontamination.
One such system is disolosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,161,957.
However, efforts at preventing pollution to date have
ignored a major source of possible air and water pollution
in service stations. The gasoline pumps or dispensers in
~3~
a service station undergo routine maintenance cn a regular
basis. For example, the ~ilters in a dispenser are typically
changed once a month. When the maintenance worker removes
an old filter, the gasoline present in the dispenser
downstream of the filter drains onto the ground beneath
-- the dispenser. This can amount ~o three to five gallons
of gasoline. When one considers that this amount drains -
from each of the dispensers in a service station on a
monthly basis, it is clear that the potential pollution
problem is significant.
Gasoline drainage can also occur when less ~requent
types of repair work, such as changing the meters, areperformed on gasoline dispensers. When meters are changed,
it is also typical for the maintenance worker to run some
gasoline through the dispenser to ensure that the dispenser
is working properly. Although the worker sho~ld run this
- 20 gasoline into a container, it is common for workers to run
it onto the ground at the base of a dispenser when a
container is not readily available. Therefore, gasoline
drainage due to this type of repair work can also pose a
~ significant pollution problem even though it occurs on an
irregular basis.
Gasoline dispensers are fitted with a shear or impact
valve at the point where the dispenser is mounted on the
ground. This valve automatically shuts off the supply of
gasoline to the dispenser when the dispenser is damaged by
a vehicle. This prevents any further gasoline from leaking
out of the damaged dispenser. However, the gasoline in
the dispenser downstream of the impact valve will still
drain onto the ground. Also, dispensers can develop slow
leaXs at gaskets or other points despite regular main~enance.
Such slow leaks allow a steady trickle of gasoiline to
drain onto the ground.
The ~asoline draining from a dispenser and spilling
onto the ground creates an obvious air pollution problem
through evaporation of the gasoline. The potential for
ground water contamination also exists from the gasoline
seeping into the groundO In addition to pollution problems,
the spilling gasoline creates a fire hazard. A fire at a
service station can be an especially dangerous event.
-~ Therefore,firehazardsshouldbeminimized, i~nsteliminated.
Furthermore, the spilling gasoline represents an economic-
loss to service station owners.
Accordingly, a need exists for an apparatus and a
method for preventing the gasoline draining from gasoline
dispensers from polluting the aix or water. Such apparatus
and method should also recover this gasoline and return it
to storage so that it will not pose a fire hazard and so
that gasoline losses will be reduced. It would also be
preferable for the apparatus involved to be easy to install
in existing service stations and compatible with existing
eguipment. Additionally, the method should preferably be
adaptable to worX with other potential sources of leaking
gasoline, such as the submersible pumps in a service station.
- SummarY of the Invention
In accordance with the present invention, an apparatus
and a method for reducing pollution associated with gasoline
handling equipment are provided. The apparatus is comprised
of: means for collecting gasoline spilling from the
gasoline handling equipment; and means for providing a
signalwhen apredeterminedamount ofgasolinehasaccumulated
in the means for collecting gasoline. The method is
comprised of the steps of: collecting gasoline spilling
from the gasoline handling equipment; and providing a
signal when apredeterminedamount ofgasolinehas accumulated
as a result of collecting spilling gasoline. Preferably,
the apparatus is also comprised of means for draining away
gasoline that has accumulated in the means for collecting
gasoline and the method is also comprised of the step of
~3~17~
~,
selectively draining away gasoline that has accumulated as
a result of collecting spilling gasoline.
Alternatively, the apparatus for reducing pollution
associated with gasoline handling equipment is comprised
of: means for collecting gasoline spilling ~rom the
gasoline handling equipment; and means for draining away -
gasoline that has accumulated in the means ~or collecting~
- gasoline. Likewise, the method ~or reducing pollution
associated with gasoline handling equipment is alternatively
comprised of the steps of: collecting gasoline spilling
from the gasoline handling equipment; and selectively
draining away gasoline that has accumulated as a result of
collecting spilling gasoline.
It is preferable for the apparatus for reducing
pollution to also comprise means for returning gasoline
drained away to a storage tank. Also preferable is having
ZO the means for draining away gasoline connected to a vapor ,
recovery system or having the means for providing a signal
shut down the gasoline handling equipment when the prede-
termined amount of gasoline has accumulated. The gasoline
handling equipment is preferably a gasoline dispenser or a
submersible unit. Where the gasoline handling equipment
is a gasoline dispenser having an access door it is preferred
that the means for draining away gasoline can only be
operated when the access door is open or that the means
for draining away gasoline is automatically shut off when
the access door is closed.
Also in accordance with the present invention, an
apparatus and a method for pollution reduction are provided.
The apparatus is comprised of: a container having an open
top portion and a normally, substantially sealed lower
portion able to receive polluting elements; and means
responsive to the accumulation of polluting elements in
the lower portion of the container for providing a signal
when a predetermined amount of polluting elements have
~3~
accumulated. The method is comprised of the steps of:
- 5 positioning a container having an open top portion and a
normally, substantially sealed lower portion so that it is
able to receive polluting elements; and providing a signal
when a predetermined amount of polluting elements have
-~ accumulated inthelowerportionofthecontainer~ Preferably,
the apparatus is also comprised of means for draining away`
-the polluting elements accumulated in the lower portion of
the container and the method is also comprised of the step
ofselectivelydrainingawaythepollutingelementsaccumulated
in the lower portion of the container.
- 20
~. ~
~L3~)17
-; I r~;~
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Brief Description of the Drawin s
FIG. 1 is a front view of a gasoline collector according
to the present invention for mounting beneath a gasoline
dispenser:
FIG. 2 is a top view of the gasoline collector of
.. ~ FIG. 1:
FIG. 3A is a back view of a shear valve mounted in'
the gasoline collector of FIG. 1 in the open position;
FIG. 3B is a back view of the shear valve of FIG. 3A
in the closed position:
FIG. 4A is a sectioned front view of a float mechanism
mounted at the bottom of the gasoline collector of FIG. 1
and connected by a chain to the shear valve of FIGS. 3A
and 3B;
FIG. 4B is a sectioned front view of the float mechanism
of FIG. 4A pivoted upward by gasoline accumulating at the
bottom of the gasoline collector;
FIG. 5A is a sectioned side view of the drain system
for the yasoline collector of FIG. 1 in the closed position;
FIG. 5B is a sectioned side view of the drain system
of FIG. 5A in the open position;
FIG. 6 is a sectioned side view of a *itting for
running a line through a wall of the gasoline collector of
FIG. l;
FIG. 7 is a sectioned front view of an alternate
embodiment of a gasoline collector according to the present
invention for use with a submersible pump;
FIG. 8 is a sectioned front view of a seal formed at
the top edge of the gasoline collector of FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a top view of the floor of the gasoline
collector of FIG. 7; and
FIG. 10 is an alternate embodiment for a float mechanism
mounted at the bottom of a gasoline collector according to
the present invention.
~3~L~4
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Detailed Description
With reference to FIG. 1, a gasoline collector 10 is
shown installed in a concrete island 12 of the type typically
found in service stations. Gasoline dispensers are normally
mounted on such islands to protect them from wayward
- automobiles. However, the current practice is to mount
dispensers over openings in the concrete island through
- which the gasoline lines and electrical lines necessary
for the operation of the dispenser are run. Therefore,
the internal workings of the dispenser are, for the most
part, positioned over exposed dirt. Following the practice
of the present invention, the dispenser is instead mounted
over a gasoline collector 10 installed in the island.
Thehousingformostgasolinedispensershasarectangular
base. This is why the gasoline collector depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2 is rectangular in shape. However, the
present invention should not be understood as limited to
any particular shape. Rather, the gasoline collector
should be viewed as adaptable to conform with the shape of
the gasoline dispenser or other equipment the collector is
- to be associated with. For example, some gasoline dispensers
are now being grouped into single modules with a single
elongated rectangular base. The gasoline collector of the
present invention could be shaped so as to conform to such
a base. Nonetheless, the preferred embodiment will be
described with a rectangular base for a single-product
dispenser in mind, because this is the type of dispenser
mos~ commonly used.
Gasoline collector 10 is a hollow, rectangular box
with an open top and a slanted floor 14. ~djacent the
open top of collector 10 is a flange 16 that extends
axially outward from the walls of the collector. This
flange rests on the top surface of concrete island 12 when
the collector is installed. The walls of collector 10
extend above flange 16 for a short distance to provide a
13~7~
-8-
lip 18 for the collector that will prevent water from
running into the interior of the collector during a rainstorm
or during washing of the service station. The dimensions
of the collector are chosen so that a gasoline dispenser
can be mounted over the collector with the lower edges of
- its base resting on flange 16 adjacent lip 18. A pair of
mounting bolts 20 and 22 extend through notches 24 and 26
- in flange 16 to provide the means for fixing the dispenser
in place.
It is presently preferred that collector 10 be made
of 12 gauge galvanized steel sheets welded together and
covered with a protective coating. ~owever, the collector
can be made of any durable material that resists corrosion
and can stand up to contact with gasoline. In addition,
the collector can be con~tructed in any manner that produces
sturdy seams that do not allow gasoline to seep through.
An important objective that should be kept in mind in
selecting possible materials and methods of construction
for the collector is that of preventing the gasoline
collected from leaking out of the collector. Otherwise,
effective pollution control will not be possible. To this
end, the collector can be dipped in molten lead or solder
after construction so that a coating is applied to the
collector that will seal it against leaks and protect it
from rust and corrosion.
An impact or shear valve 28 is provided in the gasoline
supply line to the gasoline dispenser. This shear valve
is designed to shut off the supply of gasoline to the
dispenser should something like an automobile collide with
the dispenser. Shear valves of this type are in common
use with gasoline dispensers. Shear valve 28 is mounted
inside collector 10 at its open kop by a "U"-shaped mounting
brace 30 (FIG. 2). This mounting brace extends across
collector 10 so that its opposed ends can be attached to
opposite walls of the collector. The opposed ends of the
:~L3~7~
brace have openings there~hrough to receive threaded studs
~2 welded to the walls of the collector and extending
outward therefrom. Nuts 34 threaded onto studs 32 and
tightened down against the brace complete the attachment
of the brace to the walls of the collector. The shear
valve is, in turn, mounted on brace 30 by a "U"-shaped rod
36, threaded at both ends and received in openings extending
- through the portion o~ brace 30 that is extended across
the collector. Rod 36 extends around and supports valve
28. Nuts 38 threaded onto each end of rod 36 hold it in
place on brace 30.
15Valve 28 can be activated to close by a spring-loaded
trigger 40 pivotally mounted by a pin 42 and a nut 44 on
the outside of the valve (FIGS. 3A and 3B). Trigger 40 is
a flat elongated member, one end of which pivots about pin
42, which extends out from the outer casing of valve 28.
Nut 44 holds the trigger on pin 42. At the opposite end
of the trigger, a pin 46 extends out from the surface of
the trigger where it catches in a notch 48 cut into the
top edge of one end of a latch bar 50. Latch bar 50 is
- also pivotally mounted on valve 28. It is pivotally
mounted at the end opposite notch 48 by a pin 52 extending
out from the outer casing of the shear valve. Trigger 40
is normally biased toward a position where valve 28 is
closed, as shown in FIG. 3B. ~Iowever, when the trigger is
caught in notch 48, as shown in FIG. 3A, valve 28 is open.
The valve will then sta~v open as long as it is not disturbed.
A collision with the gasoline dispenser will jar the latch
bar and trigger 40 will move to the closed position.
So far the above description of the shear valve and
its operation has not departed from prior practice except
for its being mounted in the gasoline collector of the
present invention. However, shear valve 28 is also used
to perform a function shear valves have not served in the
past. For this reason, a chain 54 is connected at cne end
~3~
--10--
to latch bar 50. The other end of chain 54 is connected
to one end of a float mechanism 56 mounted on the floor of
the gasoline collector tFIGS. ~A and 4B).
A plate 58 attached to the floor of collector 10 has
a pair of support members 60 extending upward therefrom
- ~ opposite one another. A pin 62 is attached to and extends -
between the free ends of these two support members. -
- Bracket 64 is rotatably mounted on pin 62. Chain 54 is
connec_ed to one end of elongated bracket 64. A rod 66
extends along the top surface of bracket 64 and is held in
place by a pair of loops 68 extending up from the surface
of the bracket to encircle the rod. At the end of bracket
64 opposite the chain, rod 66 extends out beyond the end
of the bracket and has a float 70 attached to its end.
Float mechanism 56 is designed so that the point
where chain 54 is connected to brac~et 6~ and float 70 are
- 20 on opposite sides of the pivot point for the bracket at .
pin 62. Therefore, if the float is raised up, a downward
force will be exerted on latch bar 50 through the chain so
that valve 28 will be closed. Then, if gasoline is leaXing
from the dispenser, it will accumulate in the sealed
collector. After a sufficient amount of gasoline has
accumulated to raise the float, valve 28 will close and `~
the dispenser will thereby be shut down. When this happens,
the service station owner is alerted that a leak is occurring
and can have the dispenser repaired.
As mentioned earlier, the floor of collector 10
slants toward one side. It is presently preferable to
have float 70 positioned toward the low end of the collector.
This allows the float mechanism to react more ~uickly to
an accumulation of gasoline in the bottom of the collector.
If the collector is positioned below a group of dispensers
in a single module, where each dispenser has its own
gasoline supply line and associated shear valve, a single
float mechanism can still be used with the chains from
each shear valve connected to the bracket. ~lternatively,
separate floats in partitioned areas of the collector, each float
with its own low point, can be used so that only the leaking
dispenser is shut down.
Although the presently preferred embodiment has been
described as using a float mechanism, it should be understood
that what is important is the provision of a means for alerting
the service station operator that gasoline is accumulating in the
collector, i.e., providing an extremely manifested signal. Other
means could be used to shut down the dispenser when accumulation
is occurring or a warning signal could be used in place of
shutting down the dispenser as a way of notifying the operator
of the accumulation. ~n any event, accumulation of gasoline
should be minimized to reduce the likelihood of a fire.
Therefore, it is preferable to have the warning signal triggered
for even low levels of accumulation. Also, the overall volume
of the collector should not be excessive so that if the warning
signal is ignored or does not operate for some reason a large
amount of gasoline will not accumulate. Although this means in
some instances the gasoline may be allowed to overflow the
collector and defeat the pollution control aspects of the
invention, the prevention of a fire hazard must take precedence
in some situations.
As described above, gasoline collector 10 acts primarily as
a device for collecting leaking gasoline and providing warnings
to an operator of excessive accumulations during the normal
operation of a dispenser. However, during maintenance operations
large accumulations of gasoline will occur due to gasoline
draining from the dispenser. Therefore, it is important to
provide the gasoline collector with a means for draining off such
accumulation. Preferably this drainage means will operate in a
closed loop fashion so that the gasoline is returned to storage
without the nee.d for additional work by the maintenance worker.
This would also allow the maintenance worker to run some gasoline
~3~ 4
-12-
into the collector to ensure the dispenser was operatiny properly
without having to obtain a separate container.
A drainage pipe 72 is provided for collector 10 (FIGS. 5A
and 5B). The mouth for this pipe is in the floor of the
collector and is preferably situated at the low point so that
drainage is aided by the slant of the floor and so that no
gasoline will remain in the collector after drainage. The mouth
of drainage pipe 72 is covered by a mesh filter or screen 74 to
keep garbage out of the d~ainage system. Because it is desirable
to drain the collector to storage, it is presently envisioned
that drainage pipe 72 be hooked into the vapor recovery systems
present in most, if not all, service stations (FIG. 5B). These
vapor recovery systems already carry vapors from the gasoline
dispenser nozzles back to the underground storage tanks.
Therefore, the gasoline drained from the collector will also be
carried back to the underground storage tanks without the need
for installing a separate system to make this possible.
A ball valve 76 is provided in drainage pipe 72 to control
the drainage of the collector. This ball valve can be opened and
closed by turning a generally "L-shaped hand crank 78 that
extents up from the ball valve along the front wall of the
collector to a point above the open top of the collector. The
stem of hand crank 78 is surrounded by an elongated housing 80
welded to the front wall of gasoline collector 10. This stem
rotates within the housing when the upper portion of the hand
crank, which is at right angles to the stem, is turned through
90 degrees (FIG. 2). The lower end of the stem is fixedly
attached to a "C"-shaped fitting 82 below the floor of the
collector and just above the ball valve. Housing 80 prevents
gasoline from escaping through the opening where the stem extends
through the floor of the collector. The lower end of the stem
is attached to one of the opposed ends of fitting 82.
~31)~
-13-
The other end of fitting 82 is attached to the valve stem
so that the valve is opened and closed when the upper
portion of the hand crank is rotated through ~0 degxees.
Hand crank 78 is designed so that when the upper
portion of the hand crank is roughly parallel to the front
- ~ wall of the collector the ball valve is closed. A frontwardly
extending "L"-shaped piece 85 is attached to the upper
portion of the hand crank that will abut with the door on
the gasoline dispenser housing when that door is closed.
This means that when the dispenser door is closed the ball
valve has to be closed. This is a safety feature that
prevents the drain from being left open and thereby placiny
a constant strain on the vapor recovery system. Even if a
maintenance worker forgets to turn the hand crank to the
closed position, the closing of the dispenser door will
close the drain and preserve the integrity of the vapor
recovery system.
Then, when maintenance work is being done onadispenser,
the maintenance worker need only turn the hand crank to
the open position to provide a drain for any gasoline
spilled into the collector. Likewise, any vapor wlll be
drawn into the drain by the suction of the vapor recovery
system. This drainage system can also be used to eliminate
excessive accumulations occurring due to leaks during
normal operation of the dispenser so that the service
station operator can keep a dispenser in operation until
the leak can be repaired. In fact, the operator should
drain excessive accumulations when notified that they are
present to reduce the risk o~ a fire.
Ball valve 76 is protected by a valve guard 84 from
being clogged with dirt. This valve guard extënds down
from the floor of the gasoline collector to form a tunnel
around the ball valve. This prevents dirt from coming
into contact with the underside of the ball valve when the
gasoline collector is lowered into the ground.
~,~
~36~7~
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With reference to Fig. 6, a fitting 86 is shown that
can be used to bring lines through the walls or floor of
the collector without adversel~ affecting the seal. When
a line must be run to the dispenser from outside of the
collector, a hole is cut in the wall or floor of the
- collector at the point where the line is to run. The
fitting 86, which will have a diameter appropriate for the '
particular line involved, is placed in the hole and the
conduits for the line involved attached to either end of
the fitting. Fitting 8~ has a hollow, tubular body~ 88
that is externally threaded on both ends. Adjacent the
threads at one end is a fixed, outwardly extending axial
flange 90 that is hexagonal in shape.
To attach fitting 86 to the wall of the collector, a
metal washer 92 and then a neoprene washer 94 are slipped
over the end of the fitting remote from flange 90 until
- 20 they are lined up next to the flange. Then, the end of .
the fitting remote from the flange is slid through the
hole in the wall or floor of the collector until the wall
or floor of the collector abuts neoprene washer 94. A
~ second neoprene washer 96 and a second metal washer 98 are
then slipped over the end of the fitting remote from the
flange unti]. they are lined up next to the wall or floor ^~
of the collector on the side opposite the other washers.
To tighten the fitting onto the wall, a hexagonal bolt 100
is threaded onto the end of the fitting remote from the
flange and tightened down against washer 98. The neoprene
washers act to prevent leaks at the fitting. Conduits of
the line involved can now be threaded onto the opposite
sides of the fitting.
Although the fitting just described is the presently
preferred means for bringing lines through the walls or
floor of the collector, it should be understood that any
such means that will maintain the sealed nature of the
collector is within the broad conception of the present
~l3~ lL'71~L
invention. The presently preferred means is considered
particularly advantageous for installing the collector
beneath existing dispensers because it allows for great
flexibility in placement of the lines.
So far the present invention has been described in
- connection with gasoline dispensers. ~owever, the present -
invention can be adapted to have utility with all types of -
gasoline handling equipment. For example, FIGS. 7, 8 and
9 show an alternate embodiment of the present invention
adapted to be used in connection with the submersible
pumps or units that transfer gasoline from the underground
storage tanks at a service station to the dispensers.
These pumps are ordinarily mounted just below ground level
and are accessible through a grate or floor plate. As any
pump, these pumps are susceptible t~ leaking. Currently,
any gasoline leaking from such pumps will evaporate or
seep into the ground. With the present invention this
source of possible air and water pollution is reduced or
eliminated.
The embodiment of FIGS. 7, ~ and 9 shares many features
in common with the previously described emoodiment.
Therefore, these common features will be designated with
common numbers and will not be described in detail a
second time except to the extent their operation has changed.
The primary change necessary to adapt the present
invention to a submersible pump 102 is the provision of a
tube 104 extending horizontally through the floor of the
collector to accommodate the conduit of the pump that
extends down to the underground storage tank. The tube is
welded at a point along its length to the floor of the
collector and extends above the floor for some distance to
help prevent gasoline from leaking over its top lip. To
further help prevent gasoline from leaking over the top
lip of tube 194, a rubber seal 106 is attached around the
top lip. 'rhis seal will contact pump 102 when the collector
~3~
-16-
is installed (FIG. 7). Therefore, gasoline lealcing from
the pump will be collected in the bottom o~ the collector.
The float mechanism has also been modified in the
alternate embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 ancl 9. A float 108
rests at the bottom of a well 110 in the floor of the
collector. This well has a rectangular cross-section and
is positioned so that one corner of the well is in line
with the wall of the collector. The floor of the collector
should be sloped slightly so that ~asoline will drain into
the well. The mouth of the drainage system, then, is
located in the floor of the well. Therefore, the gasoline
collected will accumulate at the bottom of the well and
exert an upward force on float 108. As shown in the
drawing, the well preferably occupies substantially less
than half the floor of the collector, similar to as in
FIGS. 4A and 4B.
A rod 112 is attached to the top surface of float 108
and extends upward to an explosion-proof microswitch 114
mounted on the wall of the collector. The upper end of rod
112 is attached to a lever arm 116 on the microswitch.
When an accumulation of gasoline in the well causes the
upward movement of float 108, rod 112 transmits this
movement to the lever arm. Eventually, the upward movement
triggers the microswitch to shut down the submersible pump.
This, in turn, alerts the service station operator that the
the pump is leaking and that maintenance is required. As
with the other float mechanism, alternate approaches can be
taken to alerting the service station operator of an
excessive accumulation of gasoline.
In the embodiment of FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, a flange 118 is
welded to the outside surface of the wall of the collector
~ust below the upper edge of the wall. This flange extends
axially outward and then turns upward as shown in detail in
FIG. 8. The upwardly extending portion of flange 118
extends upward to a point where its top edge will be flush
with ground level when the collector is installed. The
wall of the collector extends upward past the axially
extending portion of flange 118 to form a lip
B
~L3~ 4
120 but it does not extend upward to ground level.
circular floor plate 122 is to be placed over the top
opening of the gasoline collector. Plate 122 is dimensioned
so that its edge rests next to the upwardly extending
portion of flange 118. A lid ring 124 with a circular
- cross section is welded to the underside of plate 122
ad~acent its edge. The lid ring is dimensioned so that
- when plate 122 is in place with the bottom of ring 124
resting on the axially extending portion of flange 118 the
top surface of the plate will be flush with ground level.
A rubber seal ring 126 is mounted on lip 120 and
extends upward so that it is s~ueezed slightly by the
underside of plate 122 when the plate is in place. This
creates a seal around the top edge of the collector and
traps gasoline fumes inside the collector. To maintain
the sealed condition of the collector, plate 122 should be
solid. In addition to trapping fumes inside, the seal .
prevents water from getting down into the collector. As
with the dispenser embodiment, ball valve 76 can be operated
by turning the top portion of hand crank 78 extending up
along the wall of the collector. This hand crank will not
automatically be turned to a closed position when the
floor plate is in place. However, the integrity of the `~
vapor recovery system will be maintained because this
embodiment of the collector is more airtight.
As shown in ~IG. 9, the submersible unit embodiment
of the collector has a circular cross-section to match the
round floor plate. This illustrates the flexibility of
the current invention with regard to the geometric config-
uration of the collector. The configuration can be adapted
to the gasoline handling e~uipment the collector is to be
used in connection with.
The well used in the submersible unit embodiment has
the advantage of amplifying the effect of gasoline accumu-
lation. In other words, a smaller amount of gasoline
~3~
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accumulation can be used to trigger the float and the
means for alerting the service station operator. When it
is desirable to provide a collector with a sensitive float
mechanism, a well can be used. With reference to FIG. 10,
this alternative embodiment for the float mechanism is
~- shown as adapted for a gasoline collector to be used in
connection with a dispenser. This embodiment basically
- represents a combination of features from the two ~loat
mechanisms described previously. Therefore, the features
described earlier will be designated with the same numbers.
In the float mechanism embodiment of ~IG. 10, w~ll
110 is located in one corner of the rectangular collector.
The floor of the collector should be sloped so that the
gasoline collected will drain into the well. Rod 112
extends up from the top surface of float 108 and is connected
to one end of a lever arm 128 that is mounted on bracket
64. Therefore, when the float moves upward due to an .
accumulation of gasoline, rod 112 transmits this upward
movement to lever arm 128 so that it pivots upward about
pin 62 at the end opposite the end chain 5~ is connected
to. This results in a downward pull on chain 5~ so that
valve 28 will be closed if an excessive amount of gasoline
accumulates. Using a well like this, valve 28 can be `~
closed if just a few ounces of gasoline accumulate. Thus,
the risk of a fire is minimized.
Alternate preferred embodiments of an apparatus and a
method for reducing the air and water pollution caused by
yasoline handliny equipment have been described. These
embodiments reduce gasoline losses and reduce the risk of
fire associated with equipment of this type. However, it
will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes
in the form and detail of these embodimen~s may be made
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
