Vapor retention apparatus and method for liquid volumetric test measure

A method of emptying a volatile liquid from a test measure apparatus for volumetric liquid measurement of the volatile liquid where the test measure apparatus contains an integrated volatile liquid measurement means for determining the volume of the volatile liquid pumped into the test measure apparatus from a dispenser having a dispenser meter for determining the volume of the volatile liquid pumped into the test measure apparatus so that the volume of the volatile liquid determined by the integrated volatile liquid measurement means can be compared with the volume of the volatile liquid determined by the dispenser meter, the method comprising the steps of:

• orienting a flow control component on the test measure apparatus so that an outlet end of the flow control component extends into an inlet disposed within a pour vapor-containment apparatus, the inlet in communication with an interior volume of the pour vapor-containment apparatus, the interior volume being closed except for the inlet and a restricted outlet;
• orienting the test measure apparatus while the outlet end of the flow control component is extended into the inlet to establish a pour flow of the volatile liquid from the test measure apparatus into the interior volume of the pour vapor-containment apparatus;
• at least partially impinging the pour flow of the volatile liquid onto a plate disposed within the pour vapor-containment apparatus to increase the surface area of the volatile liquid and thereby increase the rate of evaporation of the volatile liquid;
• maintaining the pour flow at a rate faster than the volatile liquid drains from the restricted outlet to form a volatile liquid seal at the restricted outlet thereby creating a vapor-saturated environment at a positive pressure from the volatile liquid seal within the interior volume of the pour vapor-containment apparatus so that the vapor-saturated environment flows into the test measure apparatus via the outlet end of the flow control apparatus;
• withdrawing the flow control component from the inlet after the pour flow and a drain of the volatile liquid from the test measure apparatus;
• and
• terminating the volatile liquid seal after the flow control component is withdrawn from the inlet by allowing the volatile liquid forming the volatile liquid seal to drain out of the restricted outlet.

A pour vapor-containment apparatus for containment of a vapor created from a pour of a volatile liquid from a test measure apparatus and return of the vapor to the test measure apparatus, the pour vapor-containment apparatus comprising:

• an upper section, a midsection and a lower section, the upper section in the shape of a top conical frustum, the midsection in the shape of a cylinder, and the lower section in the shape of a bottom conical frustum invertedly oriented to the top conical frustum, a bottom of the upper section being attached to a top of the midsection and a bottom of the midsection being attached to a top of the lower section;
• an upper inlet disposed in the upper section for receiving the pour of the volatile liquid from the test measure apparatus by a flow control component of the test measure apparatus, the flow control component disposed within the upper inlet;
• a lower outlet and a flow restricting means disposed in the lower section for restricting the outlet flow of the volatile liquid from the pour vapor-containment apparatus to create a volatile liquid barrier between the lower outlet and an interior volume of the pour vapor-containment apparatus above the volatile liquid barrier at least while the volatile liquid is poured into the pour vapor-containment apparatus;
• at least one translucent view port disposed in the upper section for observing the interior volume;
• and
• a volatile liquid disperser disposed in the midsection between the upper inlet and the combination of the lower outlet and the flow restricting means for generating a vapor-saturated environment in the interior volume, the interior volume in communication with the flow control component so that the vapor-saturated environment flows from the interior volume into the test measure apparatus as the volatile liquid is poured from the test measure apparatus, the volatile liquid dispenser comprising a plate angularly disposed from vertical in the midsection so that the received pour of the volatile liquid makes contact with at least a portion of a dispersing surface of the plate.

A pour vapor-containment apparatus for containment of a vapor created from a pour of a volatile liquid from a test measure apparatus and return of the vapor to the test measure apparatus, the pour vapor-containment apparatus comprising:

• an upper section, a midsection and a lower section, the upper section in the shape of a top conical frustum, the midsection in the shape of a cylinder, and the lower section in the shape of a bottom conical frustum invertedly oriented to the top conical frustum, a bottom of the upper section being attached to a top of the midsection and a bottom of the midsection being attached to a top of the lower section;
• an upper inlet disposed in the upper section for receiving the pour of the volatile liquid from the test measure apparatus by a flow control component of the test measure apparatus, the flow control component disposed within the upper inlet;
• a lower outlet and a flow restricting means disposed in the lower section for restricting the outlet flow of the volatile liquid from the pour vapor-containment apparatus to create a volatile liquid barrier between the lower outlet and an interior volume of the pour vapor-containment apparatus above the volatile liquid barrier at least while the volatile liquid is poured into the pour vapor-containment apparatus;
• and
• a volatile liquid disperser disposed in the midsection between the upper inlet and the combination of the lower outlet and the flow restricting means for generating a vapor-saturated environment in the interior volume, the interior volume in communication with the flow control component so that the vapor-saturated environment flows from the interior volume into the test measure apparatus as the volatile liquid is poured from the test measure apparatus, the volatile liquid dispenser comprising a plate angularly disposed from vertical in the midsection so that the received pour of the volatile liquid makes contact with at least a portion of a dispersing surface of the plate.