US 4,147,096 AGranted

Breather vent for vapor vent valve

AssigneeDresser Industries, Inc.

InventorRichard L. Caswell

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Abstract

A breather vent mountable on the vent pipe outlet from an underground storage tank at a gasoline service station site. A vent housing includes a body section adapted for placement on the vent pipe and which cooperates with a superposed cap section to accommodate a vapor floatable valve disc supported internally thereof. Vapors from the tank can normally discharge in a primary flow path past the valve disc from where it is diverted upwardly by an annular diverging deflector to atmosphere. Displaced apertures having comparatively increased protection against freezeup form an alternative outlet for a secondary flow path diverted downwardly from a location downstream of the valve disc. The latter being better protected against freezing rain, etc. enables continued vent discharge to atmosphere in the event the primary flow path becomes ice blocked.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A breather vent for weather exposed mounting over an upstanding vapor vent pipe from which noxious vapors are to be expelled, said breather vent comprising in combination:

(a) a hollow body adapted for position mounting over the vent pipe outlet;
(b) first wall means in said body defining a primary flow path between an inlet adapted to communicate with the vent pipe on which said body is mounted and a primary substantially continuous peripheral outlet oriented for noxious vapor received at the primary flow path inlet to discharge to atmosphere in an upwardly direction;
(c) first weather shielding means on said body extending over said primary outlet for effecting a degree of weather shielding thereof;
(d) second wall means in said body defining a secondary flow path between an inlet adapted to communicate with the vent pipe on which said body is mounted and a secondary outlet oriented for noxious vapor received at the secondary flow path inlet to discharge to atmosphere in a downwardly direction;
(e) second weather shielding means on said body extending over said secondary outlet for effecting a degree of weather shielding thereof relatively greater than afforded said primary outlet by said first weather shielding means;
and
(f) support means for supporting a vapor vent valve at an intermediate location in each of said flow paths;
whereby said secondary flow path is adapted to function for discharging noxious vapors in the alternative to said primary flow path if weather caused inoperability occurs at said primary outlet.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.