U.S. patent application number 09/888319 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-26 for method and system for propelling liquid through a pipe.
Invention is credited to Bowen, Mark A., Jurgen, Vollrath, Smith, Frank R..
Application Number | 20020195163 09/888319 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25392969 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020195163 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jurgen, Vollrath ; et
al. |
December 26, 2002 |
Method and system for propelling liquid through a pipe
Abstract
In a system and method for pumping liquid along a pipe, an
impeller is mounted in a the pipe or a housing connected to the
pipe. The impeller is driven by a turbine mounted outside the pipe
or housing, wherein the turbine is preferably driven by air flow
from a compressor. The invention finds use in the emptying the fuel
left in the wetlines on a tanker truck, by providing a pipe that
extends from the wetlines to the top of the housing tank of the
tanker truck, and propelling the fuel using an impeller and turbine
arrangement.
Inventors: |
Jurgen, Vollrath; (San Jose,
CA) ; Bowen, Mark A.; (Beverly Hills, CA) ;
Smith, Frank R.; (Corona, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Jurgen K. Vollrath
1222 Settle Ave.
San Jose
CA
95125
US
|
Family ID: |
25392969 |
Appl. No.: |
09/888319 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 7/0238 20130101;
B67D 7/72 20130101; B67D 7/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
141/2 |
International
Class: |
B65B 001/04; B65B
003/04 |
Claims
What is claimed, is:
1. A method of emptying wetlines associated with a housing tank of
a tanker truck, comprising, pumping liquid in the wetlines into the
housing tank, through a separated pipe extending from the wetlines
to a location at or near the top of the housing tank.
2. A method of claim 1, wherein the separate pipe extends from the
wetlines to a location above or near the highest surface of the
liquid in the housing tank.
3. A method of claim 1, wherein the separate pipe extends along an
inner surface of the housing tank.
4. A method of claim 1, wherein the separate pipe extends along an
outer surface of the housing tank.
5. A method of claim 1, wherein the liquid is pumped using an
impeller mounted in the pipe or in an impeller housing connected in
fluid flow communication with the pipe.
6. A method of claim 5, wherein the impeller is driven by a
turbine.
7. Means for emptying wetlines associated with a holding tank on a
tanker truck, comprising a pipe extending from the wetlines to a
location at or near the top of the housing tank, and a pump for
pumping the liquid along the pipe into the housing tank.
8. Means according to claim 7, wherein the pump includes an
impeller mounted in the pipe or in an impeller housing connected in
fluid flow communication with the pipe.
9. Means according to claim 8, wherein the pump further includes a
turbine which drives the impeller.
10. Means according to claim 8, wherein the turbine is located
outside the pipe or any said impeller housing.
11. Means according to claim 8, wherein the turbine is operated by
fluid flow.
12. Means according to claim 11, wherein the fluid is air, water,
or oil.
13. Means of claim 12, wherein the turbine is operated by air flow
from a compressed air source.
14. Means according to claim 7, wherein the separate pipe extends
from the wetlines to a location above or near the highest surface
of the liquid in the housing tank.
15. Means according to claim 7, wherein the separate pipe extends
along an inner surface of the housing tank.
16. Means according to claim 7, wherein the separate pipe extends
along an outer surface of the housing tank.
17. Means for propelling liquid through a pipe, comprising an
impeller mounted in the pipe or a housing connected in fluid flow
communication with the pipe, and a turbine, wherein the turbine is
operated by air flow from a compressed air source.
18. Means for propelling liquid through a pipe, comprising an
impeller mounted in the pipe or a housing connected in fluid flow
communication with the pipe, and a turbine, wherein the turbine is
located outside the pipe or any said housing.
19. Means for propelling liquid through a pipe, comprising an
impeller mounted in the pipe or a housing connected in fluid flow
communication with the pipe, and a turbine, wherein the turbine is
operated by fluid flow from a separate fluid source.
20. Means according to claim 19, wherein the fluid is air, water,
or oil.
21. Means according to claim 20, wherein the turbine is operated by
air flow from a compressed air source.
22. Means according to claim 21, wherein the turbine is located
outside the pipe or any said housing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to the emptying wetlines of tanker
trucks, and more generally to the pumping of gasoline and other
liquids from one location to another.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The filling and emptying of tanker trucks is achieved
through a system of pipes known as wetlines. Tanker trucks
typically have one or more housing tanks for housing different
grade fuels. In the past gasoline was filled into these housing
tanks by pouring the liquid in from the top. However, due to the
hazard of having someone climb on top of the truck to supervise the
filling, as well as the substantial vapor emissions that took place
in such a system, regulations subsequently required the filling
from below.
[0003] While this solved some of the problems, it introduced a new
hazard. The wetlines which provided the interconnecting pipe
sections between the housing tanks and the supply hoses, remained
full of liquid once the filling process was complete. At about a
gallon per foot of pipe, a tanker truck with 3 sets of wetlines for
its three housing tanks could end up carrying 20 to 45 gallons of
fuel in its wet lines. As illustrated in FIG. 1, these wetlines are
positioned below the tanker truck where they are vulnerable to
breach during a motor vehicle accident. Cars colliding with the
tanker truck often end up breaking the wetlines and coming to rest
under the tanker truck. The fuel in the wetlines typically spills
onto the colliding car and ignites, resulting in severe human
injuries and even death.
[0004] Various approaches have been proposed to address this
problem. One solution is to drain the fluid from the wetlines after
filling. The problem with this approach is one of weights and
measures. Since the tanker truck is effectively considered as
having received the 20-30 gallons in the wetlines, draining this
fuel back into the supply tank produces accounting headaches and
requires that the fuel that is siphoned off be measured and credit
given accordingly. This is both a complex and costly
undertaking.
[0005] Another approach is to provide a protective cage around the
wetlines. This, however is economically unattractive since it adds
significant weight to the tanker truck, which translates into lower
fuel carrying capacity.
[0006] Yet another approach is to force a gas into the wetlines,
thereby forcing the liquid remaining in the wetlines after the
filling process, into the housing tank of the tanker truck. This,
however, requires tremendous pressure to be generated in order to
force the fuel up against the downward force of the fuel in the
housing tank. As a result, powerful pumps or other mechanisms have
to be made available, greatly adding to the cost of filling tanker
trucks and conveying fuel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The present invention discloses a method and system for
emptying the wetlines of tanker trucks, so as to avoid the problems
in the prior art solutions.
[0008] The invention involves the use of a separate pipe for
conveying fuel from the wetlines to the top of the housing tank of
the tanker truck. It further involves the use of a pump that
comprises an impeller, for propelling the fuel, and a separate
turbine that drives the impeller. Preferably the turbine is driven
by compressed air flow.
[0009] The present invention also discloses a system and method
generally for propelling liquid in a pipe, making use of an
impeller and turbine arrangement.
[0010] According to the invention, there is provided a method of
emptying wetlines associated with a housing tank of a tanker truck,
comprising, pumping liquid in the wetlines into the housing tank,
through a separated pipe extending from the wetlines to a location
at or near the top of the housing tank. Typically, separate pipe
extends from the wetlines to a location above or near the highest
surface of the liquid in the housing tank. Preferably, the separate
pipe extends along an inner surface of the housing tank, but it can
also extend along an outer surface of the housing tank. Typically,
the liquid is pumped using an impeller mounted in the pipe or in an
impeller housing connected in fluid flow communication with the
pipe. Preferably, the impeller is driven by a turbine.
[0011] Further, according to the invention, there is provided a
means for emptying wetlines associated with a holding tank on a
tanker truck, comprising, a pipe extending from the wetlines to a
location at or near the top of the housing tank, and a pump for
pumping the liquid along the pipe into the housing tank. Preferably
the pump includes an impeller mounted in the pipe or in an impeller
housing connected in fluid flow communication with the pipe, and
may, further, include a turbine which drives the impeller. The
turbine may be located outside the pipe or the impeller housing,
and the turbine may be operated by fluid flow such as the flow of
air, water, or oil, for example. Preferably air flow is used,
making use of a compressed air source.
[0012] Still further, according to the invention, there is provided
a means for propelling liquid through a pipe, comprising an
impeller mounted in the pipe or a housing connected in fluid flow
communication with the pipe, and a turbine, wherein the turbine is
operated by fluid flow, which, preferably, takes the form of air
flow from a compressed air source.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a side view of a tanker truck showing a set of wet
lines;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a sectional end view of the tanker truck of FIG.
1;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a sectional end view of one embodiment of a
wetline emptying system of the invention, and
[0016] FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of one embodiment of an
impeller and turbine arrangement of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] A typical tanker truck is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Tanker
trucks 100 typically include one or more housing tanks 102, each
housing tank supporting a particular grade fuel, and having its own
set of wetlines 104. The wet lines 104 each include a filling pipe
106 and a draining pipe 108. Fuel is supplied to a filling pipe 106
at a supply station by means of a supply hose 110 connected between
a supply tank and a dry connector 112 on the filling pipe 106. The
dry connector 112 provides a liquid tight connection for the supply
hose 110 and includes a valve that is automatically pushed open by
a pin (not shown) mounted in the mating portion 114 on the supply
hose 110.
[0018] A second valve 120 is located between the housing tank 102
and the wet lines 104. This valve 120 is a one way valve that is
pressure operated and automatically opens as fuel flows into the
filling pipe 106.
[0019] Emptying of a housing tank 102 is achieved by draining the
fuel, under gravity, from the draining pipe 108. As with the
filling pipe 106, the draining pipe 108 is terminated by a dry
connector 122.
[0020] Once fuel has been supplied to a housing tank 102 via the
filling pipe 106, the supply hose 110 is disconnected, thereby,
automatically closing the valve 120 and the valve of the dry
connector 112. It will be appreciated that fuel remains trapped in
the wet line 104. Since each of the housing tanks 102 has its own
set of wetlines 104, and each retains several gallons of fuel, the
combined volume of fuel in the wetlines 104 of a typical tanker
100, presents a significant danger.
[0021] In accordance with the present invention, the fuel in the
wetlines 104 is pumped out of the wetlines 104 and into the housing
tanks 102. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the wetlines 104 is provided
with a pipe 130 that extends from the lowest point in the wetline
104 to a location near the top of the housing tank. In a preferred
embodiment, the pipe 130 runs along a surface (in this case, the
outer surface) of the wetlines 104, passes through the wall 132 of
the housing tank 102 at a location 134 adjacent to the valve 120,
and runs up the inner surface of the housing tank 102 to a location
near the top of the housing tank. Thus fuel is fed from the
wetlines 104 into the housing tank 102, thereby emptying the
wetline 104. By having the pipe 130 empty out near the top of the
housing tank 102, in this embodiment, above the highest surface of
the fuel in the housing tank, there is no need to force the fuel up
into the tank against the weight of the fuel in the tank, as in the
prior art system. It will be appreciated that the outlet of the
pipe 130 could also be located below the surface of the fuel in the
housing tank 102, however, the outlet should ideally not be located
too far below the upper surface of the fuel in the housing tank, to
minimize the pressure at the outlet. It will also be appreciated
that the pipe 130 could, instead, be mounted on an outer surface of
the housing tank 102. In tanker trucks having a double walled
housing, the pipe 130 could run between the two walls. While the
term pipe has been used to depict the fuel path 130, this could be
either a rigid pipe or a flexible hose.
[0022] The invention contemplates any pump system connected to the
pipe 130, but in a preferred embodiment a diaphragm pump is used.
In another embodiment a centrifugal pump is used. The impeller 140
of the pump is mounted in a housing 142 which is in fluid
communication with the pipe 130. In one embodiment, as shown in
FIG. 3, a centrifugal pump 144 was used, made of a non-ferrous
metal, in this case brass, and having a housing 142 with a male
screw connector 146 receivable in a complementary female connector
148 welded to the wetline 104. The impeller 140 is driven by a
turbine 150 mounted outside the housing 142, and connected to the
impeller 140 through the housing wall 146. The turbine 150, in this
embodiment, is driven by compressed from a compressed air source
152 connected through a hose 154 to the turbine 150. The compressed
air source can be any conventional compressor as is commonly used
to inflate tires or power tools.
[0023] It will be appreciated that the impeller 140 could, instead,
be driven by a motor such as an electric motor connected to the
impeller 140. However, such an arrangement is less desirable when
flammable fluids are to be pumped, due to the danger of sparks and
the possibility for a fire or explosion. It will be appreciated
that, if the pipe 130 is wide enough to accommodate the impeller
140, the impeller 140 could be mounted directly in the pipe 130. It
will also be appreciated that either the pipe 130, or housing 140,
or the wetlines 104 will have to be provided with a valve for
allowing air to enter the system as the fuel is sucked out of the
wetlines 104. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, a valve 160 is provided
in the housing 142.
[0024] Furthermore, in order to ensure that substantially all of
the fuel in the wetlines 104 is removed, the housing 142 is
preferably mounted at the lowest point on the wetlines 104. This
may require the shape or attitude of the wetlines 104 to be
adjusted. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the housing 142 is mounted
at an elbow 162 of the wetlines 104, wherein the wetlines 104 are
shaped to define the elbow 162 as the lowest point on the wetlines
104.
[0025] The preferred embodiment of FIG. 4 uses compressed air as a
propulsion source for the turbine 144, since compressed air is
readily available. However, other fluid flow could, instead, be
used to propel the turbine, such as water or oil flowing through
the turbine.
[0026] While the invention was described specifically for
propelling fuel from wetlines of a tanker truck into the housing
tank of the truck, it has much broader applications. The use of an
impeller and a turbine for driving the impeller, where the impeller
is mounted in a housing or pipe and the turbine is preferably
located outside the housing or pipe, has a wide range of possible
applications. The invention can be used for conveying liquid along
a pipe generally, whether or not the fluid is flammable. Especially
the use of an air driven turbine presents an easy to implement
solution due to the fact that compressed air sources are readily
available. Also, by placing the turbine outside the pipe or housing
for the impeller, none of the moving parts of the turbine are
exposed to the liquid being pumped. This is especially useful when
pumping corrosive or flammable liquids.
[0027] Thus, while the invention was described in detail with
respect to a specific implementation, it has much broader scope, as
defined by the claims to this application.
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