IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0472922
(2006-06-22)
|
등록번호 |
US-7503205
(2009-03-17)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Baillargeon,Jeremy R.
- Bolt,David J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
13 인용 특허 :
45 |
초록
▼
A redundant vacuum-generating source system and method for generating and/or maintaining a vacuum level in a secondarily contained fuel-handling component that is monitored for leaks. The vacuum-generating source is coupled to upstream fuel-handling components to draw a vacuum level in their interst
A redundant vacuum-generating source system and method for generating and/or maintaining a vacuum level in a secondarily contained fuel-handling component that is monitored for leaks. The vacuum-generating source is coupled to upstream fuel-handling components to draw a vacuum level in their interstitial spaces. Other downstream fuel-handling components are drawn under a vacuum by tapping off of the upstream fuel-handling component's interstitial spaces for convenience. A series of valves control which upstream fuel-handling component's interstitial spaces are coupled to a downstream fuel-handling component interstitial space. In the event that an upstream fuel-handling component contains a leak, a control system can control the valves to switch the vacuum generation of a downstream fuel-handling component to another upstream fuel-handling component that does not contain a leak so that a sufficient vacuum level can be generated in downstream fuel-handling component(s) to monitor it for leaks.
대표청구항
▼
We claim: 1. A redundant vacuum source system for generating a vacuum level in a fuel-handling component interstitial space to monitor for leaks, comprising: a fuel-handling component surrounded by the fuel-handing component interstitial space; a first vacuum level source coupled to an input of a f
We claim: 1. A redundant vacuum source system for generating a vacuum level in a fuel-handling component interstitial space to monitor for leaks, comprising: a fuel-handling component surrounded by the fuel-handing component interstitial space; a first vacuum level source coupled to an input of a first control valve; a second vacuum level source coupled to an input of a second control valve; a common vacuum conduit coupled to an output of both the first control valve and the second control valve, wherein the common vacuum conduit is coupled to the fuel-handling component interstitial space; and a control system coupled to the first and second control valves, to open only one of either the first control valve or the second control valve so that only either the first vacuum level source or the second vacuum level source is coupled to the fuel-handling component interstitial space to generate a vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first control valve and the second control valve are solenoid-controlled latching valves. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system closes the first control valve and opens the second control valve to couple the second vacuum level source to the fuel-handling component if the vacuum level in the first vacuum level source cannot be generated. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system closes the second control valve and opens the first control valve to couple the first vacuum level source to the fuel-handling component if the vacuum level in the second level vacuum source cannot be generated. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system closes both the first control valve and the second control valve when the vacuum level has been generated in the fuel-handling component interstitial space. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor fluidly coupled to the fuel-handling component interstitial space and the control system, wherein the control system monitors pressure variations in the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space to determine if the fuel-handling component has a leak. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the control system opens one of the first control valve or the second control valve to coupled the first vacuum level source or the second vacuum level source to the fuel-handling component interstitial space, respectively, to regenerate the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space if the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component drops below a threshold vacuum level. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel-handling component interstitial space is coupled to a vacuum-actuator that opens a shear valve when the vacuum level is applied to the vacuum-actuator, wherein the shear valve is coupled inline between a main fuel piping and an internal fuel dispenser piping to carry fuel from a fuel storage tank to a fuel dispenser, such that the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space applies the vacuum level to the vacuum-actuator to open the shear valve. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vacuum level source and the second vacuum level source are generated by a vacuum-generating source. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the vacuum-generating source is a submersible turbine pump siphon that generates the vacuum level in response to fuel flow through a submersible turbine pump. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system only opens the first control valve when the vacuum level has been detected throughout the first vacuum level source. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the control system closes the first control valve and opens the second control valve if the vacuum level has not been detected throughout the first vacuum level source, and the vacuum level has been detected throughout the second vacuum level source. 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the fuel-handling component is a dispenser sump. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the dispenser sump is either an in-dispenser sump, or a below ground dispenser sump. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first vacuum level source is a first fuel piping surrounded by a first fuel piping interstitial space wherein a vacuum-generating source generates the vacuum level in the first fuel piping interstitial space. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second vacuum level source is a second fuel piping surrounded by a second fuel piping interstitial space wherein the vacuum-generating source generates the vacuum level in the second fuel piping interstitial space. 17. A method of providing a redundant vacuum level in a fuel-handling component interstitial space to monitor for leaks, comprising: generating a vacuum level in a first vacuum level source that is coupled a first control valve, wherein the output of the first control valve is coupled to a fuel-handling component interstitial space surrounding a fuel-handling component; generating a vacuum level in a second vacuum level source that is coupled a second control valve, wherein the output of the second control valve is coupled to the fuel-handling component interstitial space to form a common vacuum conduit between the output of the first control valve and the second control valve; and opening only one of either the first control valve or the second control valve so that only either the first vacuum level source or the second vacuum level source is coupled to the fuel-handling component interstitial space to generate the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space. 18. The method of claim 17, further comprising closing the first control valve and opening the second control valve to couple the second vacuum level source to the fuel-handling component if the vacuum level in the first vacuum level source cannot be generated. 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising closing the second control valve and opening the first control valve to couple the first vacuum level source to the fuel-handling component if the vacuum level in the second vacuum source level cannot be generated. 20. The method of claim 17, further comprising closing both the first control valve and the second control valve when the vacuum level has been generated in the fuel-handling component interstitial space. 21. The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring pressure variations in the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space using a pressure sensor to determine if the fuel-handling component has a leak. 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: opening one of the first control valve or the second control valve to couple the first vacuum level source or the second vacuum level source to the fuel-handling component interstitial space, respectively; and regenerating a vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space if the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component drops below a threshold vacuum level. 23. The method of claim 17, further comprising coupling the vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space to a vacuum-actuator that opens a shear valve when the vacuum level is applied to the vacuum-actuator, wherein the shear valve is coupled inline between a main fuel piping and an internal fuel dispenser piping to carry fuel from a fuel storage tank to a fuel dispenser, such that a vacuum level in the fuel-handling component interstitial space applies the vacuum level to the vacuum-actuator to open the shear valve. 24. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating the first vacuum level source vacuum level and the second vacuum level source vacuum level using a vacuum-generating source. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the vacuum-generating source is a submersible turbine pump siphon that generates the vacuum level in response to fuel flow through a submersible turbine pump. 26. The method of claim 17, further comprising only opening the first control valve when the vacuum level has been detected throughout the first vacuum level source. 27. The method of claim 26, further comprising closing the first control valve and opening the second control valve if the vacuum level has not been detected throughout the first vacuum level source, and the vacuum level has been detected throughout the second vacuum level source. 28. The method of claim 17, wherein the fuel-handling component is a dispenser sump. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the dispenser sump is either an in-dispenser sump, or a below ground dispenser sump. 30. The method of claim 17, wherein said generating comprises generating the first vacuum level source by generating the vacuum level in a first fuel piping surrounded by a first fuel piping interstitial space, and generating the second vacuum level source by generating the vacuum level in a second fuel piping surrounded by a second fuel piping interstitial space.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.