US2000946A - Apparatus for dispensing inflammable fluids - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1935. c. M. HAMBLIN 2,000,946 APPARATUS FOR D ISPENSING I'NFLAMMABLE FLUIDS Filed March 2, 1954 CLYDE H. HAH BLIN F| :.l uqvzmon Patented May 14, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,000,940 I APPARATUS son msrENsmG mamm- MABLE FLUIDS (Granted under the act of March 3,1888, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) I'his invention relates to an apparatus for and method of stowing and dispensing inflammable fluids. It -has for an object to provide improved apparatus for safely stowing and storing inflammable fluids so as to minimize the danger of flre both during the stowing of the fluid and the storage of the fluid.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus whereby an inflammable fluid may be stored in a tank in the hold of the vessel, and

whereby the fluid may be 'fed into or dispensed.

from the storage tank from a substantial height above the tank without exerting any great pres- I sure on the tank.

' Another object of this invention is to provide a storage tank and cistern for receiving and storing inflammable fluids such as gasoline, which will prevent the formation of fumes within the tank and which will provide for the elimination of any 01' the inflammable fluid in the conduit lines leading to the tank except while the fluid is either being fed to the tank or beingdispensed therefrom, thus avoiding the possibility of leaks developing in the conduit line through which fluid from the tank might be discharged.

A iurther' object of this invention is to provide a system of storing inflammable fluid in a storage tank wherein the storage tank will be kept iull at all times, either of the inflammable fluid or of inflammable fluid and other non inflammable fluid of different specific gravity, which non-inflammable fluid will enter through a separate conduit line.

A still iurther object of this invention is to provide a fluid storage and dispensing system includ ing a storage tank and a fluid operated motor and pump whereby the force exerted by a noninflammable fluid entering the tank will operate the fluid motor, which in turn operates the fluid pump and dispenses the inflammable fluid when desired. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a fluid-driven means for withdrawing an inflammable fluid from a container whereby all use of electrical apparatus is eliminated and the danger of sparks and ignition are removed.

A iurther object of this invention is to provide means for replacing an inflammable fluid as withdrawn from a container with a non-inflammable fluid such as water having a diflferent specific gravity and non-miscible with the inflammable fluid whereby the container is kept constantly full and the evaporation of the inflammable-fluid 5 in the container and consequent formation an explosive gaseous mixture in the container are prevented.

A still further object of this invention is to provide means and a method of dispensing an inflammable fluid and of utilizing the velocity head 5 of a second fluid for imparting the dispensing movement to the inflammable fluid and/or utilizing part 0! the second fluid for replacing the dispensed fluid within the container therefor.

In the drawing: Fig. l is a diagrammatic representation of th apparatus and system, certain parts being in section;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the non-inflammable fluid valve on .the storage tank;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the inflammable fluid valve on the storage tank.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a modifled form of valve arrangement.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view of a pressure gauge.

There is shown at l a storage tank which may be located in the hold of the vessel diagrammatically shown at 32, the tank I being intended for storing inflammable fluids, such as gasoline or the like, as at 2. In order to prevent the formation of fumes in the tank i and thus minimize the danger of flre and explosion, it is desirable that the tank I be kept full at all times and in order to do so a system is provided forreplacing the gasoline 2 with non-inflammable fluid such as water 33. Inasmuch as water is of greater specific gravity than gasoline and is non-miscible with gasoline, the gasoline will always float on top of the water. The gasoline is fed into the tank I through the pipe I at the top of the tank I, and water is fed into the tank from the bottom by means of the pipe II. A hand shut-off valve 4 is provided in the pipe 3. The gasoline ieeds through a pair of valves 23 and 24' within the valve housing 34 into the top of tank I. The valve 23 is of such weight and size that it will not float in gasoline but will float in water, hence the valve 23 will allow gasoline to pass thereby in either direction but will automatically close should water level rise to the point where this valve is located. The valve 24 is of such weight and size that it will float in either gasoline or water but will close in the absence of either. Bames II are provided-within the housing 34 for each er valves 23 and 24 to reduce the ellect oi the velocity of flow oi the fluid upon the valves.

with this arrangement of valves, when the hand valve 4 is opened, gasoline may enter from the pipe 3 to the tank I, or may be discharged irom I as soon as the pipe 3 is emptied, thus preventing v the tank I through the pipe a freely without hindrance. When the gasoline entering the tank I' from pipe 3 ceases to flow, the valve 24 will close air from entering through the pipe 3 into the tank I and forming an explosive mixture. On the other hand as the gasoline 2 is withdrawn through pipe entirely empty of gasoline the water level will rise to the valve 23, which will close and prevent drawing of water through the pipe 3. The pipe I I which feeds water v33 to the bottom of tank I is provided with a hand shut-ofl valve I2 leadin through a float valve 22 to the tank I. The weight and size of valve 22 is such that it will not float in gasoline but will float in water, hence water may pass the valve 22 freely in either direction between the pipe II and the tank I. When the tank I is filled with gasoline 2 and the water level is lowered by withdrawing water through pipe I I the valve 22 will close when the water level falls to this point and the valve 22 becomes immersed in gasoline instead of water. As shown in Fig. 1, the pipes 3 and II lead to the storage tank I located in the hold 'of the vessel 32. It is desirable to avoid placing the tank I under the pressure that would be necessary if the fluid were placed therein through the pipe leading from the deck of the vessel. The pipe 3 connects through a hand control valve 5 to a pipe 9 leading to the deck of the vessel and the pipe II connects through a hand valve I5 leading to pipe I9 to thedeck of the vessel, suitable means (notshown) being provided for supplying gasoline through the pipe 9 and water through the pipe I9 when filling the tank, and for dispensing gasoline from the pipe 9 when emptying the tank. By-pass pipes 6 and I9 are provided leading from the pipes 9 to 3 and I9 to I I, respectively. Pipe 6 is provided with hand valves 1 and I and pipe I6 is provided with hand valves I1 and 20 for controlling'the flow of fluid therethrough as may be desired. The pipe 6 is pro- .vided with a fluid pump 8, while pipe I6 is, provided with a fluid operated motor I 8 which is directly connected, in any suitable manner, to pump 8. Pipe II is further provided with an overflow pipe 2I leading to the outside of the vessel to discharge overboard.

In order to withdraw gasoline 2 from tank I, valves 5 and I5 are closed, valves 4, I, I0, I2, I1; and 20 are opened, and the three-way valve I3 is set to provide for continuous passage through the pipe II. Then a supply of water is fed down through pipe I9. As the water feeds down through pipe I9, the velocity head .thereof will operate the fluid operated motor I3 which in turn operates the fluid pump 8 to pump gasoline 2 up to pipe 9 through pipe 3 and pipe 6. After the water has passed through the motor I 8 it continues on through pipe I6 to pipe I I and then through pipe II and valve I2 to the bottom of tank I to replace the gasoline being withdrawn.

Any surplus water that is unable to enter the tankI is taken care of by discharging overboard through the overflow pipe 2I. In view of the overflow pipe 2I taking care 01 surplus water, a much greater quantity of water may be fed down through'pipe I9 than the amount of gas line-2 that is pumped up through pipe 9 and this excess quantity oi water creates the desired velocity head to operate the motor II. -Any suitable type of pump or motor which can be operated'on a fluid may be used as the pump 3 and the motor l9,

After the desired quantity of gasoline 2 has been withdrawn from the tank I it is undesirable to allow gasoline to remain inthe pipes 3, 6 or 9, and to provide for thisresult the valve I3 will be turned so as to connect the lower portion of pipe II through the pipe I4. If the valve I3 be placed as shown in Fig. 1, the pressure of the waterin the pipe II and the valve I3 will substantially counterbalance the pressure exerted by the water 33 and gasoline 2 in tank I. When valve I3 is turned to'connect pipe I4 to the bottom of tank I water will drain therethrough or if, as shown inFig. 4, it is above the level of water it will be pumped therefrom by means of the pump 30' and the pipe 3| so as to drain a suflicient quantity of water from the bottom of. tank I until the gasoline level has fallen to the level of valve 24 which will close as above described and prevent the entrance of air therein. With the pipes 3, 8 and 9 thus emptied of gasoline, the valve 4 may then be closed thereby insuring that tank I remains continuously full of fluid, either of gasoline alone or gasoline and water, as the .case may be. In order to know positively where the level of the fluid is located with ref- .erence to the valves 23 and 24, a differential pressure gauge 21 is provided and connected by pipe 28 through valve 30 to the pipe 3 and by pipe 26 through valve 29 to the top of tank I. The pressure gauge 21 will indicate the level of fluid in a well known manner..

It will be apparent from the construction and arrangement of the valves, tank, motor, and pump as described, that the tank will at all times be full of liquid, as well as the entire pipe system, when.filling with or delivering gasoline, with no opportunity for vaporization of the gasoline. The respective float valves assure that no gasoline can escape with the displaced water during the tank filling process and also that nowater will be delivered from the pump.

The construction is particularly adapted for marine installations but in no sense restricted thereto. 1

Various modifications in the construction and arrangement of parts will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art in connection with particular installations, but all within the scope of the present invention as claimed.

The invention herein described may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for dispensing inflammable fluids, comprising a container, a conduit leading from the top of said container, a conduit leading from the bottom of said container, means to draw the fluids through said first conduit and means in said second conduit operated bythe velocity head oi the fluid passing therethrough to drive said first mentioned means.

2. An apparatus for .dispensing inflammable fluids, comprising a container, a conduit leading ,from the top of said container, a conduit leading from the bottom of said container, means cooperating with said first mentioned conduit for causing the inflammable fluids to pass therethrough out of said container, means cooperating with said second conduit for causing a non-inflammable fluid to enter intothe bottom of said. container, said first and second mentioned means cooperating with each other whereby one" of said fluids replaces the other of said fluids in said container to keep said container full at all times.

' from the top of said container, a conduit leading from the bottom of said container, pump means cooperating with said first mentioned conduit for causing the inflammable fluids to pass therethrough out of said container, motor means cooperating with said second conduit Ior causing a non-inflammable fluid to enter into the bottom 01' said container, said pump and motor means cooperating with each other whereby one oi. said fluids replaces the other of said fluids in said container to keep said container lull at all times, valve means at the bottom of said container preventing said inflammable fluids irom leaving through said lower conduit and valve means cooperating with the top of said container preventing said non-inflammable fluid from leaving through said upper conduit.

4. In combination, a container, a conduit leading from the top thereof, a conduit leading to the bottom thereof, a pump positioned to dispense a fluid through the first conduit, afluid operated motor positioned and arranged to drive the pump I and to be operated by the velocity head of fluid I by a difl'erential valve in the second mentioned passing through the second conduit, whereby fluid dispensed from the container by the pump may be replaced by fluid which has operated upon the fluid driven motor.

5. The combination oi claim4 characterized by an overflow conduit communicating with the second conduit and intermediate the motor and tank.

6. The combination of claim 4 characterized by a differential valve positioned in the first mentioned conduit between the container and the pump, weighted with respect to the specific gravity of the fluid to be dispensed from the container and the'specific. gravity of the fluid operative of the pump and being supplied to the container, whereby the valve will close at a change in the fluid passing therethrough.

adapted to close when there is no fluid in th conduit. i I

8. The combination of claim 4 characterized by oppositely acting float valves in the first mentioned conduit between thecontainer and the pump, one'oif said valves weighted with respect to the specific gravity of the fluid to be dispensed from the container and the specific gravity of the fluid operative of the pump and being supplied to the container and arranged to close at a change duit intermediate the motor and the container with-a discharge conduit leading therefrom at an elevation with respect to the container adapted to balance the two columns oifluids in the container and second conduit below said valve respectively, whereby the fluid in the first mentioned conduit can be withdrawn from the pump to the container by withdrawing fluid from the secon conduit. I I

10. The combination of claim 4 characterized conduit between the container and the motor weighted with respect to the specific .gravity of the fluid to be dispensed from the container and that of the fluid passing to the container from the motor adapted to close in the presence 01' the first mentioned fluid, whereby in refilling the container the replacement fluid in the container can 'be drained through said second conduit but said valve will close to prevent escape of the lighter 11.An apparatus for dispensing inflammable fluids, a container, a conduit leading to said container, a float valve housing positioned in said conduit, a pair of valve floats of diilerent specific gravity in said valve housing, and bailies on the valve housing for preventing the inertia of the flowing fluids from ailecting the buoyancy of said floats.

' CLYDE M. HAMBLIN.

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