Gasoline dispenser with vapor recovery system

A dispensing for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck while collecting the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution comprising:

• fuel dispensing means including at least one hand-held nozzle for insertion in the filler neck of a tank and a manually operated valve for providing a variable volume flow rate of fuel into the tank;
• means for providing an electrical signal indicative of the volumetric flow rate of said fuel delivery means;
• vapor collection means having a controllable volumetric flow rate, said vapor collection means including vapor intake means attached to the hand-held nozzle and when the nozzle is inserted in the filler neck of the tank being positioned closely adjacent to, but not sealed with, the filler neck for drawing vapor displaced from the tank by delivery of fuel and for conveying it to a vapor receiving tank;
• and
• means responsive to said electrical signal for making the volumetric flow of said vapor collection means greater than the volumetric flow of said fuel dispensing means by a predetermined ratio.

A dispensing system for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck while collecting the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution comprising:

• a fuel delivery hose including a hand-held nozzle for insertion in the filler neck of a tank;
• means for providing an electrical signal indicative of the volumetric flow rate of the fuel delivery through the fuel delivery hose;
• a vapor collection hose including a vapor intake connected to the hand-held nozzle and positioned closely adjacent, but not sealed with the tank to collect vapor displaced from the tank by fuel being delivered to the tank;
• a vapor pump coupled to said vapor collection hose so as to be capable of withdrawing liquids through it;
• and
• control means responsive to said signal for controlling the vapor pump to produce a volumetric flow rate in said hose slightly greater than the volumetric flow rate of the fuel.

A dispensing system for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck while collecting the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution comprising:

• a plurality of fuel delivery hoses each including a hand-held nozzle for insertion in the filler neck of a tank;
• a pump for each of said delivery hoses for providing a flow of fuel of a different grade to the respective nozzle;
• a vapor recovery hose including a vapor intake connected to each hand-held nozzle and positioned closely adjacent, but not sealed with the opening of the tank to collect vapor displaced from the tank by fuel being delivered to the tank;
• a vapor pump connected to said recovery hoses so as to be capable of withdrawing a flow of fluid through each recovery hose;
• a fluid valve between each vapor intake and the vapor pump for permitting flow of fluid through the recovery hose only when liquid is being delivered through the respective fuel delivery hose;
• signaling means for providing an electrical signal indicative of the volumetric flow in each of the fuel delivery hoses;
• and
• control means responsive to the electrical signals for controlling the vapor pump in such a manner as to produce a volumetric flow in the respective vapor hose slightly greater than that in the respective fuel delivery hose.

A dispensing system for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck while collecting the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution comprising:

• a fuel delivery hose including a hand-held fuel valve and nozzle for insertion in the opening of the tank;
• a means for delivering fuel under pressure to the fuel delivery hose;
• means for providing electrical pulses corresponding to the volumetric flow of liquid through said fuel delivery hose when the fuel valve is open;
• a vapor recovery hose including a vapor intake connected to the hand-held nozzle for insertion in the opening of the tank without sealing with the tank;
• a motor driven vapor pump for producing a volumetric flow through the vapor recovery hose corresponding to a signal applied to said motor;
• and
• a digital processing means, for producing the signal applied to the motor in response to the electrical pulses to produce a volumetric flow of vapor slightly greater than the volumetric flow of fuel to the tank.

A dispensing system for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck while collecting the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution comprising:

• a plurality of liquid delivery means each including
• a liquid delivery hose including a hand-held nozzle for insertion in the opening of the tank;
• metering means for the liquid delivery hose for providing pulses occurring at a repetition rate corresponding to the volumetric flow of liquid through said liquid delivery hose;
• a vapor suction hose including a vapor intake connected to each hand-held nozzle for insertion in the opening of the tank without sealing with the tank;
• a vapor valve for each vapor suction hose for permitting flow of vapor through the respective suction hose only when liquid is delivered through the respective delivery hose;
• a motor driven vapor suction pump, said suction pump producing a volumetric flow through a suction hose having an open valve corresponding to a signal applied to said motor;
• and
• a digital processing means responsive to the pulses from the metering means for producing the signal applied to said motor to cause said suction pump to have a volumetric flow greater than the volumetric flow through the liquid delivery hose by a predetermined factor.

A dispensing system for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck while collecting the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution comprising:

• a liquid fuel dispensing means including a hand-held unit with a fuel valve and a nozzle insertable in the filler neck of a fuel tank;
• means for metering the flow rate of the liquid fuel being dispensed and producing an electrical signal representing the liquid fuel flow rate;
• vapor collection means including a vapor hose having a vapor intake attached to the hand-held unit and insertable within but not sealable with the filler neck of the fuel tank and a variable speed suction pump to draw fluid through said vapor intake and hose;
• and
• digital processing means for operating said variable speed suction pump to maintain the rate of fluid pumped to be greater than the liquid fuel flow rate by a predetermined factor.

A dispensing system for dispensing volatile liquids such as hydrocarbon fuel for vehicles into a tank having a filler neck while collecting the vapors to reduce atmospheric pollution comprising:

• liquid fuel delivery means for delivering a plurality of grades of fuel from a plurality of storage tanks including a nozzle insertable in the filler neck of a fuel tank and means for monitoring the flow rate of the liquid fuel being delivered and outputting an electrical signal indicative of the liquid flow rate,
• a vapor collection apparatus including a vapor hose having a vapor intake attached to the nozzle and insertable within but not sealable with the filler neck of the fuel tank and a variable speed vapor suction pump for pumping vapor through said vapor intake and hose;
• and
• digital processing means for operating the vapor suction pump at a controlled rate to collect a predetermined greater volume of vapor than volume of liquid fuel dispensed.