Total containment fluid delivery system

A closed loop fuel delivery system for transferring fuel with a vapor component from a fuel storage vessel to a fuel tank located on-board a movable vehicle, which system is adapted to vent the fuel tank while preventing discharge of both vapor and fuel into the surrounding environment, said system comprising:

• a fuel storage vessel including a fuel pump associated therewith for delivering fuel under pressure;
• a fuel delivery apparatus including a dispensing head having first and second end portions, said first end portion including a fuel delivery port and a vapor-fuel return port spaced from each other, and said second end portion including a first fuel flow line interconnecting said storage vessel with said dispensing head fuel delivery port for delivering fuel under pressure from said pump to said dispersing head, and a second vapor-fuel flow line interconnecting said storage vessel with said dispensing head vapor-fuel return port for delivering vapor and overflow fuel evacuated from said vehicle fuel tank back to said storage vessel to provide total containment of all fuel and volatile vapors in said system;
• a fuel receiving unit mounted in said vehicle and having a pair of spaced fluid ports, one said port being a fuel inlet port and one said port being a vapor-fuel exit port, and a movable cover element for selectively covering and protecting said receiving unit fuel ports from contaminants when not in use;
• a pair of quick-connect, air and liquid-tight coupling members interconnecting, respectively, said fuel delivery port with said fuel inlet port and said vapor-fuel return port with said vapor exit port upon coupling of said dispensing head with said receiving unit, each said coupling member having a male portion connected to one said port and a female portion connected to the opposite interconnecting port;
• an enclosed fuel tank disposed in said vehicle and having upper and lower portions, said tank further including a fuel inlet line interconnecting said fuel inlet port at said receiving unit with the lower portion interior of said fuel tank for directing fuel into the lower portion of said tank, and a vapor outlet line interconnecting said vapor exit port at said receiving unit with the interior of said fuel tank upper portion, the distal end of said vapor outlet line being disposed in said fuel tank upper portion at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said tank and directing said vapor to said storage vessel as fluid is introduced into said tank, said distal end establishing a pre-selected maximum fuel level in said tank;
• a magnetic lock-out immobilization device mounted to said vehicle to selectively prevent movement thereof;
• a proximity switch element mounted to said receiving unit and connected to said vehicle lock-out immobilization device;
• a magnetic activation switch mounted to said dispensing head first end portion for contact with said receiving unit proximity switch when said dispensing head and said receiving unit are coupled, said magnetic activation switch energizing said proximity switch to activate said lock-out immobilization device and immobilize the vehicle while said dispensing head is coupled to said receiving unit to prevent inadvertent movement of said vehicle during fuel transfer by said closed loop system;
• a fuel flow shut-off device disposed in said dispensing head and coupled to said vapor-fuel return port to prevent fluid flow therethrough;
• and
• a fuel flow termination element operatively connected to said fuel flow shut-off device to disengage said dispensing head from said receiving unit and terminate fuel flow from said storage vessel when activated by said shut-off device.

A closed loop system for transferring fluid with a vapor component from a fluid storage vessel to a fluid receiving container, which system is adapted to vent the fluid receiving container while preventing discharge of both vapor and fluid into the surrounding environment, said system comprising:

• an enclosed fluid receiving container having upper and lower portions;
• a fluid flow receiving unit mounted proximate said fluid receiving container, said receiving unit having a pair of spaced fluid ports and a pair of non-spill coupling connectors extending from said fluid ports, one said port being a fluid inlet port and one said port being a vapor-fluid exit port, and a movable cover element for selectively covering and protecting said fluid ports and coupling connectors from contaminants when not in use;
• a fluid inlet line interconnecting said receiving unit inlet port with the interior of said fluid receiving container for directing fluid into the lower portion of said receiving container, and a vacuum return line interconnecting said receiving unit exit port with the interior of said fluid receiving container upper portion, the distal end of said vacuum return line being disposed in said receiving container upper portion at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said receiving container and to establish a pre-selected maximum fluid level in said receiving container;
• a fluid delivery apparatus including a dispensing head adapted for selective engagement with said receiving unit and having first and second end portions, said first end portion including a pair of spaced fluid coupling openings comprising a fluid delivery outlet and a vapor-fluid return inlet adapted for selective connection to the non-spill coupling connectors of, respectively, said receiving unit fluid inlet port and vapor-fluid exit port, and said second end portion having first and second fluid lines operatively coupling a fluid storage vessel with, respectively, said dispensing head fluid delivery outlet and vapor-fluid return inlet;
• a fluid vacuum pump associated with the fluid storage vessel for delivering fluid under pressure to said dispensing head and retrieving vapor from said dispensing head vapor-fluid return inlet;
• a fluid flow shut-off device disposed in said dispensing head and coupled to said vapor-fluid return inlet to prevent fluid flow therethrough, said vacuum return line in said receiving container being adapted to direct fluid in excess of said pre-selected maximum fluid level in said receiving container back to said dispensing head fluid flow shut-off device to activate said shut-off device;
• and
• a fluid flow termination element operatively connected to said fluid flow shut-off device to disengage said dispensing head from said receiving unit and terminate fluid flow from said storage vessel when activated by said shut-off device, said vacuum return line in said receiving container being adapted to direct excess fluid in said receiving container back to said storage vessel in the event of fluid flow shut-off device failure to prevent discharge of fluid and vapor into the environment.

A closed loop system for transferring fluid with a vapor component from a fluid storage vessel to a fluid receiving container, which system is adapted to vent the fluid receiving container while preventing discharge of both vapor and fluid into the surrounding environment, said system comprising:

• an enclosed fluid receiving container having upper and lower portions;
• a fluid flow receiving unit mounted proximate said fluid receiving container, said receiving unit having a pair of spaced fluid ports and a pair of non-spill coupling connectors extending from said fluid ports, one said port being a fluid inlet port and one said port being a vapor-fluid exit port, and a movable cover element for selectively covering and protecting said fluid ports and coupling connectors from contaminants when not in use;
• a fluid inlet line interconnecting said receiving unit inlet port with the interior of said fluid receiving container for directing fluid into the lower portion of said receiving container, and a vacuum return line interconnecting said receiving unit exit port with the interior of said fluid receiving container upper portion, the distal end of said vacuum return line being disposed in said receiving container upper portion at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said receiving container and to establish a pre-selected maximum fluid level in said receiving container;
• a fluid delivery apparatus including a dispensing head adapted for selective engagement with said receiving unit and having first and second end portions, said first end portion including a pair of spaced fluid coupling openings comprising a fluid delivery outlet and a vapor-fluid return inlet adapted for selective connection to the non-spill coupling connectors of, respectively, said receiving unit fluid inlet port and vapor-fluid exit port, and said second end portion having first and second fluid lines operatively coupling a fluid storage vessel with, respectively, said dispensing head fluid delivery outlet and vapor-fluid return inlet;
• a fluid vacuum pump associated with the fluid storage vessel for delivering fluid under pressure to said dispensing head and retrieving vapor from said dispensing head vapor-fluid return inlet;
• a fluid flow shut-off device disposed in said dispensing head and coupled to said vapor-fluid return inlet to prevent fluid flow therethrough, said shut-off device comprising a flow chamber having an internal float valve shut-off element adapted to permit the free flow of vapor through said chamber, and further adapted for movement caused by hydraulic pressure from the flow of fluid into said chamber to close said chamber to all vapor and fluid flow therein, and an electronic circuit coupling said fluid flow shut-off device with said fuel vacuum pump to signal said pump to shut down fluid flow to said fluid delivery apparatus upon activation of said fluid flow shut-off device;
• and
• a fluid flow termination element comprising a solenoid disposed in said dispensing head operatively connected to said fluid flow shut-off device and arranged to disengage said dispensing head first end portion from said receiving unit and terminate fluid flow from said storage vessel upon its activation by said fluid flow shut-off device, said fluid flow termination element further including a safety component in the form of a manually operable latch mechanism attached to said dispensing head for selectively manually disengaging said dispensing head first end portion from said receiving unit in the event of failure of said solenoid.

A closed loop fuel delivery and receiving system for transferring fuel with a vapor component from a fuel storage vessel to a series of interconnected fuel tanks located on-board a movable vehicle, which system is adapted to vent the fuel tanks while preventing discharge of both vapor and fuel into the surrounding environment, said system comprising:

• a plurality of enclosed fuel tanks each having an upper and a lower portion, said plurality of receiving containers comprising at least first and second fuel tanks;
• a fuel receiving unit mounted to the side of said vehicle accessible on the exterior surface of said vehicle and having a pair of spaced fluid ports and a pair of non-spill coupling connectors extending from said fluid ports, one said port being a fuel inlet port and one said port being a vapor-fuel exit port, and a movable cover element for selectively covering and protecting said receiving unit fuel ports and coupling connectors from contaminants when not in use;
• a fuel inlet line interconnecting said receiving unit inlet port with the interior of the first said fuel tank lower portion for directing fuel into the lower portion of said first fuel tank;
• a first vacuum return line interconnecting the upper portion of said first fuel tank and the bottom portion of said second fuel tank and adapted to provide fuel flow from said first fuel tank to said second fuel tank, the interior end of said first vacuum return line in said first fuel tank upper portion being at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said first fuel tank and to establish a pre-selected maximum fluid level in said first fuel tank;
• a second vacuum return line interconnecting the upper portion of said second fuel tank with said receiving unit exit port, the distal end of said second vacuum return line being disposed in said second fuel tank upper portion at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said second fuel tank and to establish a pre-selected maximum fluid level in said second fuel tank;
• a fuel delivery apparatus including a dispensing head adapted for selective engagement with said receiving unit and having first and second end portions, said first end portion including a pair of spaced fluid coupling openings comprising a fuel delivery outlet and a vapor-fuel return inlet adapted for selective connection to the non-spill coupling connectors of, respectively, said receiving unit fuel inlet port and vapor-fuel exit port, and said second end portion having first and second fuel lines operatively coupling a fuel storage vessel with, respectively, said dispensing head fuel delivery outlet and vapor-fuel return inlet;
• a fuel vacuum pump associated with the fuel storage vessel for delivering fuel under pressure to said dispensing head and retrieving vapor from said dispensing head vapor-fuel return inlet;
• a fluid flow shut-off device disposed in said dispensing head and coupled to said vapor-fluid return inlet to prevent fluid flow therethrough;
• and
• a fuel flow termination element operatively connected to said fuel flow shut-off device to disengage said dispensing head from said receiving unit and terminate fuel flow from said storage vessel when activated by said shut-off device.

A closed loop fuel delivery and receiving system for transferring fuel with a vapor component from a fuel storage vessel to a fuel tank located on-board a movable vehicle, which system is adapted to vent the fuel tank while preventing discharge of both vapor and fuel into the surrounding environment, said system comprising:

• an enclosed fuel tank having upper and lower portions and disposed in a movable vehicle;
• a fuel flow receiving unit mounted to the side of said vehicle accessible on the exterior surface of said vehicle, said receiving unit having a pair of spaced fuel ports and a pair of non-spill coupling connectors extending from said fuel ports, one said port being a fuel inlet port and one said port being a vapor-fuel exit port, and a movable cover element for selectively covering and protecting said fuel ports and coupling connectors from contaminants when not in use;
• a fuel inlet line interconnecting said receiving unit inlet port with the interior of said fuel tank for directing fuel into the lower portion of said fuel tank, and a vacuum return line interconnecting said receiving unit exit port with the interior of said fuel tank upper portion, the distal end of said vacuum return line being disposed in said fuel tank upper portion at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said receiving container and to establish a pre-selected maximum fuel level in said fuel tank;
• a fuel delivery apparatus including a dispensing head adapted for selective engagement with said receiving unit and having first and second end portions, said first end portion including a pair of spaced fuel coupling openings comprising a fuel delivery outlet and a vapor-fuel return inlet adapted for selective connection to the non-spill coupling connectors of, respectively, said receiving unit fuel inlet port and vapor-fuel exit port, and said second end portion having first and second fuel lines operatively coupling a fuel storage vessel with, respectively, said dispensing head fuel delivery outlet and vapor-fuel return inlet;
• a fuel vacuum pump associated with the fuel storage vessel for delivering fuel under pressure to said dispensing head and retrieving vapor from said dispensing head vapor-fuel return inlet;
• a fuel flow shut-off device disposed in said dispensing head and coupled to said vapor-fuel return inlet to prevent fuel flow therethrough;
• a fuel flow termination element operatively connected to said fuel flow shut-off device to disengage said dispensing head from said receiving unit and terminate fuel flow from said storage vessel when activated by said shut-off device;
• means for delivering a plurality of additional secondary fluids to a plurality of respective secondary reservoirs disposed in said vehicle including separate fluid lines interconnected by said dispensing head and said receiving unit, said secondary fluids being delivered substantially simultaneous with the transfer of fuel to said vehicle fuel tank;
• a close range radio-frequency information transfer interface unit mounted to said receiving unit and adapted to receive information from associated features on said vehicle;
• and
• a reader element mounted to said dispensing head first end portion for contact with said interface unit when said dispensing head and said receiving unit are coupled, said reader element downloading information from said interface unit concerning selected functions and features of the vehicle while said dispensing head is coupled to said receiving unit.

A closed loop fuel delivery and receiving system for transferring fuel with a vapor component from a fuel storage vessel to a fuel tank located on-board a movable vehicle, which system is adapted to vent the fuel tank while preventing discharge of both vapor and fuel into the surrounding environment, said system comprising:

• an enclosed fuel tank having upper and lower portions and disposed in a movable vehicle, said movable vehicle including a plurality of axles and tires and adapted for moving into a fueling lane associated with said delivery system;
• a fuel flow receiving unit mounted to the side of said vehicle accessible on the exterior surface of said vehicle, said receiving unit having a pair of spaced fuel ports and a pair of non-spill coupling connectors extending from said fuel ports, one said port being a fuel inlet port and one said port being a vapor-fuel exit port, and a movable cover element for selectively covering and protecting said fuel ports and coupling connectors from contaminants when not in use;
• a fuel inlet line interconnecting said receiving unit inlet port with the interior of said fuel tank for directing fuel into the lower portion of said fuel tank, and a vacuum return line interconnecting said receiving unit exit port with the interior of said fuel tank upper portion, the distal end of said vacuum return line being disposed in said receiving container upper portion at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said fuel tank and to establish a pre-selected maximum fuel level in said fuel tank;
• a fuel delivery apparatus including a dispensing head adapted for selective engagement with said receiving unit and having first and second end portions, said first end portion including a pair of spaced fuel coupling openings comprising a fuel delivery outlet and a vapor-fuel return inlet adapted for selective connection to the non-spill coupling connectors of, respectively, said receiving unit fuel inlet port and vapor-fuel exit port, and said second end portion having first and second fuel lines operatively coupling a fuel storage vessel with, respectively, said dispensing head fuel delivery outlet and vapor-fuel return inlet, the power required to operate the components of said receiving unit being supplied by said dispensing head;
• a fuel vacuum pump associated with the fuel storage vessel for delivering fuel under pressure to said dispensing head and retrieving vapor from said dispensing head vapor-fuel return inlet;
• a fuel flow shut-off device disposed in said dispensing head and coupled to said vapor-fuel return inlet to prevent fuel flow therethrough;
• a fuel flow termination element operatively connected to said fuel flow shut-off device to disengage said dispensing head from said receiving unit and terminate fuel flow from said storage vessel when activated by said shut-off device;
• a plurality of stem cap tire-pressure sensor elements each being mounted on one said vehicle tire for monitoring the tire pressure thereof relative to a pre-established pressure code, each said sensor element including a transmitter member for communicating tire pressure relative to said code;
• and
• a narrow band reader element adapted to receive and display coded tire pressures relative to the orientation of the movable vehicle as it pulls into the fueling lane in which said fuel delivery apparatus is mounted.

A fuel delivery pump and receiver system adapted to deliver fuel to a receiving tank and provide airtight interconnection and fuel flow between a storage vessel and a fluid receiving tank to prevent environmental contamination by either fuel or fuel vapor escaping the system, said system comprising:

• a fluid delivery apparatus including a dispensing head having a first engagement plate, a fluid exit port and a vapor inlet port spaced from each other and disposed on said first engagement plate, and first and second fluid line attachment ducts for interconnecting with fluid lines originating from a fluid storage vessel;
• a fluid flow receiving apparatus including a receiving unit having a second engagement plate sized and shaped to releasably connect with said first engagement plate, a fluid entry port and a vapor exit port disposed on said second engagement plate and spaced for alignment with, respectively, said first engagement plate fluid exit port and vapor inlet port upon coupling of said dispensing head with said receiving unit, a fluid inlet line communicating with said fluid inlet port at said receiving unit for placement within a fluid receiving tank to directing fluid into a lower portion of the receiving tank, and a vapor outlet line communicating with said vapor exit port at said receiving unit with the interior of the fluid receiving tank for evacuating vapor from an upper portion of the receiving tank as fluid is introduced into said receiving container;
• a pair of hermetic coupling connectors interconnecting respectively said fluid exit and inlet ports and said vapor inlet and exit ports upon coupling of said dispensing head with said receiving unit;
• and
• a polarization connection mechanism disposed in said displacement head and said receiving unit to ensure proper connection of said fluid exit port with said fluid inlet port and said vapor inlet port with said fluid exit port upon coupling of said dispensing head with said receiving unit.

A closed loop fuel delivery and receiving system for transferring fuel with a vapor component from a fuel storage vessel to a fuel tank located on-board a movable vehicle, which system is adapted to vent the fuel tank while preventing discharge of both vapor and fuel into the surrounding environment, said system comprising:

• a fuel storage vessel including a fuel pump associated therewith for delivering fuel under pressure;
• a fuel delivery apparatus including a dispensing head having first and second end portions, said first end portion including a fuel delivery port and a vapor-fuel return port spaced from each other, and said second end portion including a first fuel flow line interconnecting said storage vessel with said dispensing head fuel delivery port for delivering fuel under pressure from said pump to said dispersing head, and a second vapor-fuel flow line interconnecting said storage vessel with said dispensing head vapor-fuel return port for delivering vapor and overflow fuel evacuated from said vehicle fuel tank back to said storage vessel to provide total containment of all fuel and volatile vapors in said system, said fuel vacuum pump associated with the fuel storage vessel being adapted to both for deliver fuel under pressure to said dispensing head and retrieve vapor from said dispensing head vapor-fuel return port;
• a fuel receiving unit mounted in said vehicle and having a pair of spaced fluid ports, one said port being a fuel inlet port and one said port being a vapor-fuel exit port, and a movable cover element for selectively covering and protecting said receiving unit fuel ports from contaminants when not in use, the power required to operate the components of said receiving unit being supplied by said dispensing head;
• a pair of quick-connect, air and liquid-tight coupling members interconnecting, respectively, said fuel delivery port with said fuel inlet port and said vapor-fuel return port with said vapor-fuel exit port upon coupling of said dispensing head with said receiving unit, each said coupling member having a male portion connected to one said port and a female portion connected to the opposite interconnecting port;
• an enclosed fuel tank disposed in said vehicle and having upper and lower portions, said tank further including a fuel inlet line interconnecting said fuel inlet port at said receiving unit with the lower portion interior of said fuel tank for directing fuel into the lower portion of said tank, and a vapor outlet line interconnecting said vapor-fuel exit port at said receiving unit with the interior of said fuel tank upper portion, the distal end of said vapor outlet line being disposed in said fuel tank upper portion at a level to evacuate vapor and neutralize pressure from the upper portion of said tank and directing said vapor to said storage vessel as fluid is introduced into said tank, said distal end establishing a pre-selected maximum fuel level in said tank;
• means for delivering a plurality of additional secondary fluids to a plurality of respective secondary reservoirs disposed in said vehicle including separate fluid lines interconnected by said dispensing head and said receiving unit, said secondary fluids being delivered substantially simultaneous with the transfer of fuel to said vehicle fuel tank;
• a magnetic lock-out immobilization device mounted to said vehicle to selectively prevent movement thereof;
• a proximity switch element mounted to said receiving unit and connected to said vehicle lock-out immobilization device;
• a magnetic activation switch mounted to said dispensing head first end portion for contact with said receiving unit proximity switch when said dispensing head and said receiving unit are coupled, said magnetic activation switch energizing said proximity switch to activate said lock-out immobilization device and immobilize the vehicle while said dispensing head is coupled to said receiving unit to prevent inadvertent movement of said vehicle during fuel transfer by said closed loop system;
• a fuel flow shut-off device disposed in said dispensing head and coupled to said vapor-fuel return inlet to prevent fluid flow therethrough, said vapor outlet line in said fuel tank being adapted to direct fuel in excess of said pre-selected maximum fuel level in said fuel tank back to said dispensing head fluid flow shut-off device to activate said shut-off device, said shut-off device comprising a flow chamber having an internal float valve shut-off element adapted to permit the free flow of vapor through said chamber, and further adapted for movement caused by hydraulic pressure from the flow of fuel into said chamber to close said chamber to all vapor and fuel flow therein, and an electronic circuit coupling said fuel flow shut-off device with said fuel vacuum pump to signal said pump to shut down fuel flow to said fuel delivery apparatus upon activation of said fuel flow shut-off device;
• a fuel flow termination element comprising a solenoid disposed in said dispensing head operatively connected to said fuel flow shut-off device and arranged to disengage said dispensing head first end portion from said fuel tank and terminate fuel flow from said storage vessel upon its activation by said fuel flow shut-off device, said vapor outlet line in said fuel tank being adapted to direct excess fuel in said fuel tank back to said storage vessel in the event of fuel flow shut-off device failure to prevent discharge of fuel and vapor into the environment;
• and
• a fuel flow termination element safety component in the form of a manually operable latch mechanism attached to said dispensing head for selectively manually disengaging said dispensing head first end portion from said receiving unit in the event of failure of said solenoid;
• a close range radio-frequency information transfer interface unit mounted to said receiving unit and adapted to receive information from associated features on said vehicle;
• and
• a reader element mounted to said dispensing head first end portion for contact with said interface unit when said dispensing head and said receiving unit are coupled, said reader element downloading information from said interface unit concerning selected functions and features of the vehicle while said dispensing head is coupled to said receiving unit.