U.S. patent number 3,817,687 [Application Number 05/380,251] was granted by the patent office on 1974-06-18 for hydrocarbon oxidizer system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Aer Corporation. Invention is credited to Louis Thomas Cavallero, Walter Joseph Elnicki.
United States Patent |
3,817,687 |
Cavallero , et al. |
June 18, 1974 |
HYDROCARBON OXIDIZER SYSTEM
Abstract
A pollution-free system for disposing of gasoline vapors at a
tank truck loading station, in which a booster pump energized in
response to pressure within a vapor saver tank which receives the
truck tank vapors feeds the vapors from the vapor saver tank
through a control valve to the supply line of the hydrocarbon
oxidizer and in which means responsive to the temperature in the
oxidizer operates the control valve to regulate the vapor flow to
the oxidizer to maintain the temperature therein below a
predetermined temperature and in which various safety devices are
incorporated to ensure the safety of both the installation itself
and of personnel working at the installation.
Inventors: |
Cavallero; Louis Thomas
(Buffalo Grove, IL), Elnicki; Walter Joseph (Monroe,
NY) |
Assignee: |
Aer Corporation (Ramsey,
NJ)
|
Family
ID: |
23500464 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/380,251 |
Filed: |
July 18, 1973 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
431/202; 422/112;
422/168; 431/78; 422/107; 422/117; 431/5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D
7/0476 (20130101); F23G 5/50 (20130101); F23G
7/06 (20130101); F23G 2208/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F23G
5/50 (20060101); F23G 7/06 (20060101); B67D
5/01 (20060101); B67D 5/04 (20060101); F23g
007/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;431/77,78,5,202
;23/277C ;122/7D |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Favors; Edward G.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shenier & O'Connor
Claims
Having thus described our invention, what we claim is:
1. A system for disposing of hydrocarbon vapors contained in a tank
including in combination, an oxidizer, means for supplying
combustion air to said oxidizer, means including a booster pump and
a control valve for feeding vapors from said tank to said oxidizer,
means for energizing said booster pump, and means responsive to the
temperature within said oxidizer for operating said control
valve.
2. A system as in claim 1 in which said means for energizing said
booster pump comprises means responsive to the pressure of vapors
within said tank.
3. A system as in claim 1 in which said feeding means comprises a
normally closed blocking valve means for opening said valve, and
means responsive to a predetermined high temperature in said
oxidizer for disabling said opening means.
4. A system as in claim 1 in which said feeding means comprises a
normally open relief valve, means for closing said relief valve,
and means responsive to a predetermined high temperature in said
oxidizer for deactivating said closing means.
5. A system as in claim 1 in which said feeding means comprises a
normally closed blocking valve, a normally open relief valve, means
for opening said blocking valve, means for closing said exhaust
valve, and means responsive to a predetermined high temperature
within said oxidizer for disabling said opening means and said
closing means.
6. A system as in claim 1 in which said feeding means comprises a
normally closed safety shut off valve, energizable means for
opening said shut off valve, a normally open relief valve,
energizable means for closing said relief valve, a normally closed
blocking valve, energizable means for opening said blocking valve,
means including a normally closed switch for energizing said motor,
and means responsive to closing of said safety valve for energizing
said shut off valve opening means and said exhuast valve opening
means.
7. A system as in claim 6 in which said control valve is adapted to
be positioned to determine the flow of vapors to said oxidizer and
in which said temperature responsive means comprises pneumatic
means for positioning said control valve, means for producing an
electrical signal affording a measure of the temperature in said
oxidizer, an electric to pneumatic converter for providing air at a
pressure corresponding to the temperature in said oxidizer, a
normally closed valve for feeding said air to said pneumatic means,
energizable means for opening said air feeding valve, said means
responsive to closing of said safety valve energizing said air
feeding valve opening means.
8. A system as in claim 1 including a control house and a purging
fan adapted to be activated to clear said house of fumes.
9. A system as in claim 8 in which said combustion air supply means
includes a blower, means adapted to be enabled to initiate
operation of said blower, means for activating said purging fan and
means including delay means responsive to activation of said fan
for enabling said blower operation activating means.
10. A system as in claim 1 including a supply of pilot fuel, means
adapted to be enabled to supply pilot fuel from said supply to said
oxidizer, means for igniting said pilot fuel fed to said oxidizer
and means responsive to ignition of said pilot fuel for enabling
said vapor pressure responsive means.
11. Apparatus for disposing of hydrocarbon vapors including in
combination, a hydrocarbon oxidizer, a blower for supplying
combustion air to said oxidizer, means adapted to be enabled to
initiate operation of said blower, a supply of pilot fuel for said
oxidizer means adapted to be energized to conduct pilot fuel from
said supply to said oxidizer, means adapted to be energized to
ignite pilot fuel fed to said oxidizer, means responsive to
operation of said combustion air blower for energizing said fuel
feeding means and said igniting means, a booster pump for feeding
vapor to said oxidizer, means adapted to be enabled to operate said
booster pump, means responsive to ignition of said pilot fuel for
enabling said booster pump operating means, a control valve between
said booster pump and said oxidizer and means responsive to the
temperature within said oxidizer for operating said control
valve.
12. Apparatus as in claim 11 including a control house, a purging
fan for clearing vapors from said house, means for energizing said
purging fan and means including delay means responsive to operation
of said purging fan for enabling said blower operating means.
13. Apparatus as in claim 11 including a warning device and means
responsive to operation of said booster pump for energizing said
warning device.
14. Apparatus as in claim 11 including manually resettable means
for disabling said pilot fuel feeding means and said igniting means
upon failure of said fuel to ignite within a predetermined time
after energization of said fuel feeding and igniting means.
15. Apparatus as in claim 11 including means responsive to a
predetermined high temperature in said oxidizer for preventing the
flow of fuel from said booster pump to said oxidizer.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the prior art at a station at which gasoline tank trucks are
refilled with gasoline for distribution, as liquid gasoline is
pumped into a truck tank the vapor therein is forced out and is fed
past a check valve to a vapor saver tank. Attempts have been made
in the prior art to recover liquid gasoline from the vapor by
feeding the vapor from the saver tank to a condenser which
liquefies the vapor. While the recovered liquid theoretically is
good gasoline, it has been discovered as a practical matter that
the liquid is not usable as gasoline. That is, the recovered liquid
contains so much impurity, such as water, that it is practically
not usable. As a result, it has been disposed of as waste. Not only
is the recovered liquid in such a system not usable, but also the
installation for condensing the vapor is extremely expensive,
costing, at present day prices, in the range of a quarter of a
million dollars.
We have invented a system for disposing of gasoline vapors at a
tank truck filling station which overcomes the defects of systems
of the prior art. Our system disposes of these vapors without
polluting the atmosphere. Our system is safe. It is appreciably
less expensive than are vapor condensing systems of the prior
art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of our invention is to provide a system for disposing of
gasoline vapors at a tank truck filling station.
Another object of our invention is to provide a system for
disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank truck filling station which
overcomes the defects of systems of the prior art for treating such
vapors.
Still another object of our invention is to provide a system for
disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank truck filling station
without polluting the atmosphere.
A further object of our invention is to provide a system for
disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank truck filling station which
is safe in operation.
Still another object of our invention is to provide a system for
disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank truck filling station which
is considerably less expensive than are vapor condensing plants of
the prior art.
Other and further objects of our invention will appear in the
following description.
In general, our invention contemplates the provision of a system
for disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank truck filling station in
which a booster pump, activated in response to pressure within a
vapor saver tank, feeds the vapors to a hydrocarbon oxidizer
through a valve which is controlled in response to temperature
within the oxidizer to regulate the proportion of vapor to
combustion air fed to the oxidizer and in which various safety
devices are incorporated to ensure the safety both of the
installation and of its operating personnel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant
specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and
in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in
the various views:
FIG. 1 is a partially schematic elevation of our system for
disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank truck loading station.
FIG. 2 is a partially schematic view of the piping arrangement of
our system for disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank truck loading
station.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of an electric-to-pneumatic transducer
forming a part of our system for disposing of gasoline vapors a
tank truck loading station.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the electrical control circuit which
we employ in our system for disposing of gasoline vapors at a tank
truck loading station.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, our system, indicated
generally by the reference character 10, is adapted to be installed
at a station at which gasoline tank trucks such, for example, as a
truck having a tank 12, are to be refilled with gasoline for
distribution. While we have illustrated only one tank truck in the
drawings, it will readily be appreciated that there are facilities
for handling a multiplicity of such trucks at the normal refilling
station. At such a station, gasoline is fed into the tank 12
through a line 16 leading into the refill fixture 14 on the tank.
At the same time, vapor from within the tank 12 is forced outwardly
through a line 18 and past a check valve 19. A gate valve 20 is
adapted to be opened to pass the vapor to a vapor saver tank 22 of
a type known in the art. Further as is known in the art, the tank
22 includes a bladder 24 which expands much in the manner of a
balloon as the vapor pressure builds up within the tank 22.
We provide the tank 22 with a switch 26 adapted to be operated by
the bladder 24 when the pressure within the tank reaches a
predetermined value to activate a booster pump 28 to feed vapor
from the tank 22 through a line 30 leading to a piping rack,
indicated generally by the reference character 32. In some
instances it may be desirable to eliminate the tank 22 and to feed
the vapor from the tank 12 directly to the booster pump 28. In such
a case the vapor comes from the truck through line 18 and past a
check valve 19 to a specially designed valve 21. The valve 21 is
activated by a specially designed pressure switch 19A. As the valve
21 is activated the booster pump 28 is also activated to feed vapor
through a line 30 leading to a piping rack, indicated generally by
the reference character 32. The specially designed switch 19A is
known to the art, is manufactured by The Foxboro Company, and is
known as Model 43A Controller. The arrangement is such that it
continuously detects the difference between an actual measurement
and its desired value and converts this difference to an air signal
between 3 pounds and 15 pounds per square inch. It is this air
signal which operates the valve. The actual measurement, the
desired measurement, and the output signal are indicated on a
controller. The arrangement is such that an air supply passes
through a regulator, then through a pneumatic controller, and then
to the control valve. The valve 21 is also known to the art and is
manufactured by Fisher Controls Company. By way of example and not
by way of limitation, the valve is a rotary butterfly which can
maintain bubble-tight shutoff. As the valve rotates to open
position, it actuates a rotary switch (not shown) to make
electrical contact to activate the booster 28. Vapor from the rack
32 is carried by a pipe 34 to the supply line of a hydrocarbon
oxidizer indicated generally by the reference character 36, whereat
the vapor is ignited and burns. We employ any suitable type of
pilot fuel such, for example, as butane contained in a tank 38. A
line 40 conducts pilot fuel from tank 38 to the rack 32. Another
pipe 42 leads from the rack 32 to the pilot line of the oxidizer
36.
Oxidizer 36 includes a door 44 which affords access to the interior
of the oxidizer. A combustion air fan 46 is adapted to be activated
in a manner to be described hereinbelow to supply combustion air to
the oxidizer 36. A pair of thermocouples 48 and 50 sense the
temperature within the stack of the oxidizer for reasons which will
be described in detail hereinbelow. Our system includes a control
house indicated generally by the reference character 52, which
houses the control panel (not shown) and associated equipment for
the system.
We mount a purging fan 54 driven by a motor 56 on housing 52 to
ensure that the interior of the housing is at all times free of
combustible vapors. A horn 58 on top of the house 52 is energized
each time the system starts up to warn personnel in the area.
More specifically, the booster 28 may be, for example, a
three-quarter horse power turbine rated at 100 cubic feet per
minute at eight ounces driven by a three quarter horse power
explosion proof motor. The pressurizing or purge fan 54 may be any
suitable type of blower driven by a one-third horse power explosion
proof motor 56. The supply fan may, for example, have a capacity of
6,500 cubic feet per minute driven at 1,368 rpm by a five horse
power motor which also should be explosion proof.
Referring now to FIG. 2, we have illustrated the piping and valve
structure of our system. A shut-off valve 60 connects line 30
leading from the booster pump 28 to a pressure regulator indicated
generally by the reference character 62 of any suitable type known
to the art. A tee 64 in the line leading from the regulator 62
supplies gas to a low pressure switch 66 adapted to be closed when
the pressure from the regulator 62 exceeds a predetermined low
value. We connect the outlet from tee 64 to a motor-operated safety
shut-off valve 68 adapted to be opened by a motor 70 to feed the
main gas and to close a switch to be described hereinbelow when it
is open. A test cock valve 72 is adapted to be operated to test the
pressure being fed through valves 68. A second tee 74 supplies
vapor from the outlet of valve 68 to the high pressure switch 76
adapted to be opened if the pressure in the line exceeds a
predetermined value. A normally open vent valve 78 connected to the
line leading from tee 74 closes upon energization of a solenoid
80.
A blocking valve 82 is adapted to be operated in response to
energization of solenoid 84 to open the line leading from tee 74.
Our system includes a butterfly valve adapted to be operated to
control the flow of vapor through the line leading from valve 82.
Valve 86 may be operated in response to movement of a segment 88
connected by a link 90 to a lever 92 adapted to be positioned by a
rod 94 of a piston and cylinder assembly 96. In a manner to be
described, pneumatic pressure is supplied to the assembly 96
through a three-way low-fire relief valve 97 operated by a solenoid
98 in a manner to be described hereinbelow. A tee 99 feeds main gas
to a suitable gauge (not shown) in house 52. A second shut off cock
valve 101 connects tee 99 to line 34. All of the piping and valve
system just described is adapted to be supported on the rack 100
adjacent to the house 52.
Referring now to FIG. 3, our system includes a pneumatic to
electric transducer, indicated generally by the reference character
102, for translating an electrical signal into a pneumatic
pressure. Transducer 102 includes an electrical section indicated
generally by the reference character 104, as well as a pneumatic
section indicated generally by the reference character 106. A lever
108 pivoted on a fulcrum 109 is initially positioned by a
zero-adjust spring 110. One end of the lever 108 carries a winding
112 disposed in the air gap 114 of a magnetic frame 116. The
central leg of the frame 116 incorporates a permanent magnet 118.
The arrangement is such as will be apparent from the description
hereinbelow that the current flowing through the winding 112
determines the force with which the lever 108 is urged to pivot on
fulcrum 109.
The pneumatic section 106 includes a housing 120 having a supply
pressure inlet passage 122 leading to a supply pressure chamber
124. Supply pressure to passage 122 may be from any suitable source
(not shown). A passage 126 connects chamber 124 to a vent chamber
128. A diaphragm 130 having an opening 132 is mounted in the upper
end of chamber 124 and is mechanically connected to the end of
lever 108 remote from the winding 112.
A small pilot valve stem 134 mounted for axial movement in passage
126 carries an upper valve 138 adapted to cooperate with the
opening 132 and a lower valve 136 which cooperates with the lower
end of passage 126.
Housing 120 includes a main chamber 140 connected to the supply
chamber 124 by a passage 141. We mount a large diaphragm comprising
an upper portion 142 and a lower portion 144 in chamber 140 to
divide the chamber into sections. While the upper and lower
diaphragm sections 142 and 144 are mounted for movement as a unit
the space therebetween is connected to the atmosphere by a passage
146 in the wall of housing 120. The upper diaphragm includes an
opening 148 which communicates with the space between the
diaphragms. A load pressure passage 150 in housing 120 communicates
with the passage 141. A booster valve stem 152 comprises an upper
valve adapted to cooperate with the upper end of passage 141 and a
lower valve 156 which cooperates with opening 148. An air loading
pressure channel 158 provides communication between passage 126 and
the space in chamber 140 below the lower diaphragm section 144.
In operation of the transducer 102, the magnetic force exerted by
the lever by the interaction between the flux of magnetic 118 and
the flux resulting from current through the coil, is normally
balanced by a force exerted by the small diaphragm 130. When the
input to the winding 112 changes the balance of forces acting on
the opposite ends of the lever 108 is upset. As a result, the lever
pivots slightly causing the diaphragm to move up or down which
initiates a change in pilot air pressure to restore the balance of
forces. When the small diaphragm 130 moves downwardly against the
valve stem 134, pilot air pressure increases since additional air
is admitted into the chamber 124 from the supply line 122. Pilot
air pressure presses against the smaller diaphragm 130 and also
against the lower section 144 of the large diaphragm. This pilot
pressure is controlled by the pilot valve stem 134. Output pressure
is controlled by the booster valve stem 152.
It will be seen that in the pilot system the magnetic force
resulting from the electrical coil 112 is balanced by the force on
the small diaphragm 130. In the booster system, air pressure
against the lower section 144 of the large diaphragm is balanced
against the output pressure on the upper section 142 of the
diaphragm. If the force exerted by pilot pressure on diaphragm 130
is greater than the magnetic force, the small diaphragm moves away
from valve 138 allowing some air to escape thus reducing pilot
pressure until the forces are in balance. If the magnetic force is
greater than the force on the small diaphragm, the pilot valve stem
134 is moved downwardly to admit air into chamber 128 to increase
pilot pressure until the forces are again in balance. If, in the
booster system, pilot pressure is greater than output pressure, the
diaphragms 142 and 144 move stem 152 until the output pressure
balances pilot pressure. If output pressure is greater than pilot
pressure, the diaphragms 142 and 144 move away from the booster
valve 156 to permit air to escape through the ventaport 146. In
this manner, there is provided an output pressure P.sub.1 which is
proportional to the current supplied to the winding 112.
Referring again to FIG. 2, pilot fuel from line 40 passes through a
shut-off cock 160 to a pressure regulator 162 through a tee 164
adapted to connect the pressure to a gauge (not shown) and from the
tee 164 to an on-off valve 166 controlled by a solenoid 168. From
the valve 166 pilot fuel flows through the line 42 to the pilot
burners of the oxidizer 36.
Referring now to FIG. 4, the control circuit which we employ in our
system includes a three-phase supply feeding conductors 170, 172
and 174. The blower fan motor 56 designated as M1 in FIG. 4 is
adapted to be coupled to the supply line upon closing of normally
open relay switches 1R2 to 1R4. The supply air fan motor M2 which
drives the fan 46 is adapted to be connected to the supply upon
closing of contacts 3R2 to 4. Similarly, the motor M3 for driving
the booster pump 28 is adapted to be connected to the supply on the
closing of relay contacts 6R2 to 6R4.
A transformer 176 is adapted to couple two phases of the supply to
a ganged switch S1 adapted to be actuated to supply control voltage
to the control circuit conductors 178 and 180. A normally open push
button switch S2 is adapted to be actuated to energize a winding 1R
through a normally closed push button switch S3. When energized,
winding 1R closes a contact 1R1 which bypasses switch S2 to provide
a holding circuit for winding 1R through switch S3. At the same
time, contacts 1R2 to 1R4 are closed to energize motor M1 to start
the purging fan 54 to ensure that all fumes are blown out of the
house 52. When the fan 54 has reached operating speed, an air flow
switch S4 located at the outlet of blower 54 closes to apply power
to a delay circuit 182 connected in series with switch S4 and a
winding 2R between the upper terminal of winding 1R and conductor
180. Delay circuit 182 which may be of any suitable type known to
the art, delays the energization of winding 2R until such time as
it can be certain that all of the fumes have been exhausted from
house 52. For example, the circuit 182 may provide a delay of
approximately five minutes. When the delay circuit completes the
circuit of winding 2R this winding first closes contacts 2R1 to
energize a subsequent control circuit to be described
hereinbelow.
After the purging of the house and upon closing of contacts 2R1, a
lamp L1, located on the control board (not shown) within the house
52 indicates that the system is ready for operation. Next, the
operator closes a normally open push button switch S5 to complete
the circuit of the winding 3R through a normally closed push button
switch S6. When energized winding 3R first closes contacts 3R1 to
bypass switch S5 thus to provide its own holding circuit through
switch S6. At the same time, contacts 3R2 to 3R4 close to connect
the combustion air supply fan motor M2 to the power source. In
addition, upon the energization of winding 3R, contacts 3R5 close
to ready the remainder of the control circuit. As soon as the
supply fan 46 is in operation an air flow switch S7 in the outlet
of the fan 46 closes to complete the circuit of another lamp L2 to
indicate that combustion air is flowing to the oxidizer 36.
When switch S7 closes, it also supplies power to the ignition
control circuit 184 of our system enclosed in broken lines in FIG.
4. Circuit 184 may be of any suitable type known to the art which
is capable of performing the functions to be described hereinbelow.
A specific type of this circuit is made and sold by Protection
Controls Inc. of Skokie, Ill., under the trade name "PROTECTOFIER."
Application of power to the circuit 184 in the manner just
described energized the primary winding 186 of a transformer having
secondaries 188 and 190. We connect a cam switch CS1 normally
occupying the position shown in the drawing, a normally closed
relay switch 5R1, a resistor 192, secondary 190 a bimetallic
element 194, a switch 196 operated by element 194 and a winding 4R
in series between now-closed switch S7 and the conductor 180. As a
result, upon application of power to circuit 184, winding 4R is
energized. Upon energization of winding 4R, formerly open contacts
4R1 close to prepare a circuit which is complete through the
thermostatic element 194 and secondary 190 when CS2 closes. At the
same time, contact 4R2 and 4R3 close to complete the circuit of a
timer cam motor TM through a normally closed switch 5R2.
When the timer motor begins to drive, it first moves switch CS1
from the position shown to an alternate position to complete the
circuit of the timer motor and to bypass switches 4R2, 4R3 and 5R2.
Switch 4R2, however, completes a holding circuit for winding 4R
from the common terminal of element 194 and switch 196 through 4R2
to switch S7. At the end of a purge cycle, sufficient to clear the
oxidizer 42 of vapors, such for example as a period of one minute,
switch CS2 closes to complete a circuit across secondary winding
190 and including switch 5R1, resistor 192, element 194, switch 4R1
and CS2 to ensure that current is flowing through element 194.
Motor TM closes CS3 to energize pilot fuel supply valve solenoid
168 through normally closed contacts 5R3 and to apply power to a
transformer 198 to actuate an ignition device 200. Ignition device
200 operates to ignite the pilot fuel. If the flame is properly
established, the flame sensing device 202 completes a circuit for
winding 5R across secondary 188. When winding 5R is thus energized,
contacts 5R1 in the safety check circuit open. Contacts 5R2 in the
timer motor starting circuit open to permit the motor to stop when
it has returned to the zero position at which switch CS1 contacts
the upper contact indicated in FIG. 4. When winding 5R is energized
in the manner described, contacts 5R3 open to interrupt the
ignition circuit and contacts 5R4 close to bypass the cam switch
CS3 to hold the solenoid 168 energized. Finally, contacts 5R5 close
to light lamp L3 to indicate that the pilot is lit. At the same
time, control power is applied to the remainder of the circuit
through contacts 5R5.
The bladder-responsive switch 26 in the vapor-saver tank 22
includes a pair of ganged normally open contacts S8A and S8B. When
the vapor pressure within tank 22 reaches a predetermined level the
bladder 24 operates switch 26 to close contacts S8a and S8b.
Contact S8a, when closed, energizes a relay winding 6R to close a
normally open switch 6R1 which starts the booster pump to feed
vapors to the system. We connect switch 6R1 in series with the low
pressure switch 66 indicated as S10 in FIG. 4 and a high pressure
switch indicated as S9 in FIG. 4 in series with a lamp L4 between
the control circuit conductors. With winding 6R energized and with
switches S9 and S10 closed, lamp L4 lights to indicate that gas
pressure is on. At the same time a high temperature limit switch
204 is activated. Switch 204 is under the control of a thermocouple
48. So long as the temperature being sensed by thermocouple 48 does
not exceed that which has been set on a dial 206 or the like of the
high temperature limit switch 204, the switch is closed to apply a
signal to the winding 208 of the motor-operated shut-off valve 70
to close normally open contacts 210 to energize solenoids 84, 80
and 98 and to light a lamp L5 to indicate that the main gas
pressure now is on. At the same time, a winding 7R is energized to
open normally closed contacts 7R1.
Switch 26 also closes normally open contacts S8b to complete a
circuit through contact 7R1 and normally closed contact 8R1 to the
warning horn 58. It will be appreciated that winding 7R is not
energized by the motor-operated relay until a short time after
contacts S8b close so that the warning horn operates for a
predetermined period of time before full gas pressure flows. If, as
will be explained hereinbelow, relay winding 7R is not energized so
that contact 7R1 failed to open and yet switch S8b closes, horn 58
continues to operate until the operator actuates a button S9 to
energize a winding 8R to open contacts 8R1 to stop the horn and to
close contact 8R2 to light a lamp L5 which indicates danger on the
control board. While we may employ any suitable type of high
temperature limit switch known to the art which accomplishes the
function just described, one particular switch which we have
employed is sold by Barber Coleman Inc. as model 72G Miniature
Temperature Controller.
Our control circuit further includes a temperature controller 212
responsive to thermocouple 50 for producing a current which is a
measure of the difference between the temperature sensed by
thermocouple 50 and the temperature set on any suitable means, such
for example as a dial 214 on controller 212. While we may employ
any suitable device known to the art for producing an output
current which is a measure of the difference between a set
temperature and a sensed temperature, one type which we have
employed is a Barber Coleman No. 537G indicating temperature
controller.
We feed the output from controller 212 to the input of the
transducer 102. One particular form of transducer which we have
employed is a series PO2R transducer made by Barber Coleman Co.
Industrial Instruments Division of Rockford, Ill.
As is pointed out hereinabove, it may be desirable to feed the
vapor directly from the truck tank 12 to booster pump 28. In this
operation the same sequence ensues, with the exception that the
rotation of the valve 21 in response to the pressure switch 19A
will energize the circuit by the rotation of the valve 21. This
initiates the sequence instead of switch 26.
The operation of our system will be apparent from the description
hereinabove. To summarize, to initiate operation of the system, and
with the control line switch S1 closed, S2 is actuated to energize
relay winding 1R to activate motor M1 to cause the purging fan 54
to blow the fumes out of the house 52. After a delay of about five
minutes, winding 2R is energized to apply power to the remainder of
the control circuit to light the lamp L1 to indicate that the house
purging operation is complete. When that has been done, the
operator actuates switch S5 to energize relay winding 3R to
activate the supply fan guide motor M2 to cause combustion air to
be fed into the oxidizer 36. In response to the flow of air, switch
S7 closes to energize lamp L2 to indicate that the supply fan is in
operation. At the same time, the circuit 184 is supplied with
power. After a purging time of about one minute in operation of the
fan 46 and under the control of timer motor TM, power is applied to
the igniter 200 and the pilot supply valve solenoid 168 is
energized. If ignition takes place properly, lamp L3 is lighted to
indicate that the pilot is on. If ignition does not take place
properly in the time of about fifteen seconds, switch 196 opens and
must manually be reset before circuit 184 will again operate.
In response to the pressure of the vapors within the saver tank 22,
switch 26 operates contacts S8a and S8b. Contact S8a completes the
circuit of the booster pump to feed vapors in the system. Contact
S8b completes the circuit of the horn 58 to warn personnel in the
area that the system is in operation. When the pressure at tee 64
in the supply line is above a predetermined low value, switch S10
closes to apply power to the circuit 204. When that occurs, the
winding 208 of the safety shut-off valve motor 70 is energized to
open the valve. When the valve is fully opened, contacts 210 close
to energize the blocking solenoid 84, the vent solenoid 80, and the
low fire solenoid 98. Further the lamp L5 is lighted to indicate
that the main gas pressure is on. At the same time, winding 7R is
energized to interrupt the circuit of the warning horn 58.
While the system is in operation, and in response to the
thermocouple 50, the circuit 212 puts out a signal which is a
measure of the temperature within the oxidizer 36. As the
temperature rises, the output current decreases so that the
transducer 102 puts out a decreased load pressure to cause the
assembly 96 to actuate valve 86 to reduce the amount of vapor being
fed to the oxidizer 36. In this way, the ratio of vapors to
combustion air is decreased. Conversely, when the temperature in
the oxidizer drops, the valve 86 is opened further to increase the
ratio of vapors to combustion air.
In the event that the temperature within the oxidizer 36 exceeds a
predetermined high temperature, thermocouple 48 causes the circuit
204 to open the connection to the motor 70 so that the valve 68
closes. As that occurs, contacts 210 open to deenergize all of the
solenoids 84, 80 and 98. If, at this time, switch S8b is closed,
the circuit to horn 58 is complete so that the horn sounds. The
operator actuates switch S9 to complete the circuit of winding 8R
to turn the horn off and to light the lamp L5 to indicate
trouble.
In operation of our system, when vapors are fed directly from the
tank 12 of a tank truck, pressure of the vapors on pressure switch
19A will operate valve 21. This in turn is the equivalent of
closing contacts S8a and S8b of FIG. 4, and the system will then
function as described above in respect of the vapor saver tank
22.
It will be seen that we have accomplished the objects of our
invention. We have provided a system for disposing of vapors either
directly from a tank truck or those at a gasoline tank truck
refilling station. Our system operates substantially without
pollution. It incorporates features for ensuring the safety of
personnel and of the installation itself. It is appreciably less
expensive than are condensation installations of the type known in
the prior art.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are
of utility and may be employed without reference to other features
and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the
scope of our claims. It is further obvious that various changes may
be made in details within the scope of our claims without departing
from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be
understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specific
details shown and described.
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