Transmix prevention lock
OwnerEndre Zsigmondinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for preventing a dense liquid such as diesel fuel from being dispensed into a storage tank that contains a less dense liquid, such as gasoline fuel and vice versa. The unloading process happens by gravity through a vertical down hole. The invention uses the gravitational flow of the fluid, a movable float that is moved by contact with a fluid of a predetermined density, and a magnetic member to activate the stopping feature.
Claims18
An apparatus for discriminating between two fluids and allowing a first fluid to flow and preventing a second fluid from flowing in a filler tube, the first fluid comprising a first density and the second fluid comprising a second density, the apparatus comprising:
- an actuating tube for accepting a portion of the first or second, fluid;
- a floating magnetic structure that floats in one of the two fluids and sinks in a second of the two fluids;
- and
- a stopper that prevents the second fluid from flowing into the filler tube, said stopper being activated by the floating magnetic structure.
A method for discriminating between two fluids and allowing a first fluid to flow and preventing a second fluid from flowing in a filler tube, the first fluid comprising a first density and the second fluid comprising a second density, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) delivering at least a portion of the first or second fluid to an actuating tube;
- b) activating a stopper with a floating magnetic structure that is immersed into the delivered at least a portion, the floating structure floating in one of the two fluids and sinking in a second of the two fluids;
- and
- c) stopping the second fluid from flowing into the filler tube by the activated stopper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.