CA2239628C - Gas venting assembly for vacuum truck - Google Patents
Gas venting assembly for vacuum truck Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2239628C CA2239628C CA 2239628 CA2239628A CA2239628C CA 2239628 C CA2239628 C CA 2239628C CA 2239628 CA2239628 CA 2239628 CA 2239628 A CA2239628 A CA 2239628A CA 2239628 C CA2239628 C CA 2239628C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- stack
- tank
- deck
- vacuum
- truck
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P3/00—Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects
- B60P3/22—Tank vehicles
- B60P3/224—Tank vehicles comprising auxiliary devices, e.g. for unloading or level indicating
- B60P3/2255—Ventilating arrangements
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
- B65D90/00—Component parts, details or accessories for large containers
- B65D90/22—Safety features
- B65D90/32—Arrangements for preventing, or minimising the effect of, excessive or insufficient pressure
- B65D90/34—Venting means
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Public Health (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Filling Or Discharging Of Gas Storage Vessels (AREA)
- Handcart (AREA)
Abstract
An elongate tubular stack is pivotally connected by a swivel elbow with the vent line leading from a vacuum/blower pump connected with the tank of a vacuum truck. The stack is positioned to extend alongside the tank. A
hydraulic cylinder assembly is connected to the stack for raising and lowering it between horizontal transport and vertical venting positions. When the vacuum truck is taking on crude oil into the tank, H2S-containing gas is vented through the raised stack. When the truck is travelling, the stack is lowered to the horizontal position.
hydraulic cylinder assembly is connected to the stack for raising and lowering it between horizontal transport and vertical venting positions. When the vacuum truck is taking on crude oil into the tank, H2S-containing gas is vented through the raised stack. When the truck is travelling, the stack is lowered to the horizontal position.
Description
2 This invention relates to a pivoting stack used on a vacuum truck to
3 vent sour gas emanating from crude oil being taken on into the truck's tank.
4 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
6 Crude oil is commonly conveyed by truck in oil field operations. For 7 example, in the Lloydminster area of Alberta/Saskatchewan, the crude oil is 8 so viscous that it does not lend itself to conveyance by pipeline to an 9 upgrading facility - hence it is conveyed there by large vacuum trucks.
The crude oil commonly has gas associated with it. This gas breaks 11 out of the oil as it is loaded into the tank and needs to be vented off. In some 12 cases this vented gas contains H2S. Gas containing H2S is commonly 13 referred to as sour gas.
14 Vented sour gas can be deadly if the concentration of HzS is high enough.
16 Gaseous H2S has a greater density than air. If released into the 17 atmosphere, it has a tendency to settle and collect close to the ground. As 18 additional gas is vented from the tank over time, the concentration of the 19 increases and a layer of low lying deadly gas can accumulate.
The vacuum trucks used are normally equipped with:
21 ~ a large elongated tank extending the length of the truck deck, for 22 containing the crude oil;
23 ~ a vacuum/blower pump connected with the tank, for suctioning the 24 crude oil into the truck tank and discharging it out of the tank; and ~ a vent line, leading from the pump, for venting the gas.
1 ~ a vent line, leading from the pump, for venting the gas.
;? For many years, vacuum truck operators have coped with the H2S
.3 problem by attaching and extending a long hose along the ground away from ~4 the vent line outlet, when loading. The gases are vented to atmosphere at :5 ground level remote from the truck.
~5 This practice has disadvantages, namely:
'7 ~ It is time-consuming for the trucker to string out and pick up the .3 hose; and !3 ~ The H2S still collects at ground level in possibly dangerous 1 n concentration, creating a hazard for an individual who inadvertently 11 walks into it.
1;? It is the objective of them present invention to provide a safer and less 13 time-consuming venting alternative.
1 ~~
1;~ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
113 In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention, an 1'7 elongated tubular stack is mounted on the truck deck to extend beside and in 1.3 parallel with the tank. The stack is pivotally connected with the vent line from 1!a the tank, preferably by a sE~aled swivel elbow. A cylinder assembly is 21) connected between the deck and stack, for mechanically raising and lowering 21 the stack. The stack is quite long - it extends at least one quarter the length 2;? of the tank and typically has a length of about 8 feet.
2:3 By equipping the vacuum truck in this fashion, the stack can be raised 2~t and the gas vented to the atmosphere well above the truck, during loading.
1 In a test, it was determined that the H2S content at the stack outlet, 2 when the stack was in the horizontal position, was in the order of 300 ppm as 3 determined by an H2S detector. When the 8 foot long stack was raised to the ~4 substantially vertical venting position and the vacuum/blower pump was actuated to forcibly discharge the sour gas, it was found that the H2S
detector ~6 was unable to detect H2S within a radius of 250 feet from the truck.
7 Broadly stated, the invention is an improvement in an assembly for B venting gas associated with crude oil contained in an elongated tank mounted '9 longitudinally on a deck of a vacuum truck, said truck carrying a 1 ~0 vacuum/blower pump and vent line for withdrawing the gas from the tank and 11 discharging it through the vent line, the improvement comprising: an 12 elongated tubular vent stack ~;upported by the deck and located substantially 1:3 parallel to and alongside thE: tank, said stack being movable between a 1~4 substantially horizontal transport position and a substantially vertical venting 1.5 position, said stack having an outlet; means for pivotally connecting the stack 1 i3 at its front end with the vent lime so that the stack constitutes an extension of 1'7 the vent line and may pivot between the transport and venting positions;
and 1 ~3 means, connected between the deck and stack, for mechanically raising and 1!~ lowering the outlet of the stack by pivoting the stack between positions.
20 In a method aspect, the invention comprises: providing a vacuum truck 21 having a deck carrying a tank for conveying crude oil, a vacuum/blower pump 22 for suctioning crude oil into the tank, a tubular vent line connected with the 23 tank for discharging gas separated from the oil, and a tubular vent stack 2~4 connected with the vent line, the vent stack having an outlet; raising the outlet 1 of the vent stack upwardly to a venting position spaced above the deck, for .2 dispersing the gas harmlessly into the atmosphere; and initiating loading of oil 3 into the tank.
~4 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
n Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing a vacuum truck having a '7 tank, pump, vent line and pivoting stack assembly;
.B Figure 2 is a plan view showing the swivel elbow, stack and part of the raising/lowering assembly; and 1n Figure 3 is a side view of the assembly shown in Figure 2.
1;2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1.3 Having reference to Figure 1, the invention is used in connection with a 1'4 vacuum truck 1 having a deck 2 carrying an elongated tank 3. (The word 1.5 "deck" is intended to collectively describe the truck frame and the deck 1G mounted on it.) A vacuum/blower pump 4 is connected to the tank 3 for 1'7 suctioning oil into it and discharging air and gas, when required. The pump 4 1.3 is connected with a vent line Ei for venting the air and gas during loading. All 1!a of the foregoing is conventional.
21) A conventional swivel elbow 6 is connected between the end of the 2'1 vent line 5 and the front end of the stack 7. The elbow 6 can rotate or pivot 2;? between a horizontal transport: position and a vertical venting position.
It has 23 an internal seal (not shown) with each of the vent line 5 and stack 7, so that 2~~ gas cannot leak out.
6 Crude oil is commonly conveyed by truck in oil field operations. For 7 example, in the Lloydminster area of Alberta/Saskatchewan, the crude oil is 8 so viscous that it does not lend itself to conveyance by pipeline to an 9 upgrading facility - hence it is conveyed there by large vacuum trucks.
The crude oil commonly has gas associated with it. This gas breaks 11 out of the oil as it is loaded into the tank and needs to be vented off. In some 12 cases this vented gas contains H2S. Gas containing H2S is commonly 13 referred to as sour gas.
14 Vented sour gas can be deadly if the concentration of HzS is high enough.
16 Gaseous H2S has a greater density than air. If released into the 17 atmosphere, it has a tendency to settle and collect close to the ground. As 18 additional gas is vented from the tank over time, the concentration of the 19 increases and a layer of low lying deadly gas can accumulate.
The vacuum trucks used are normally equipped with:
21 ~ a large elongated tank extending the length of the truck deck, for 22 containing the crude oil;
23 ~ a vacuum/blower pump connected with the tank, for suctioning the 24 crude oil into the truck tank and discharging it out of the tank; and ~ a vent line, leading from the pump, for venting the gas.
1 ~ a vent line, leading from the pump, for venting the gas.
;? For many years, vacuum truck operators have coped with the H2S
.3 problem by attaching and extending a long hose along the ground away from ~4 the vent line outlet, when loading. The gases are vented to atmosphere at :5 ground level remote from the truck.
~5 This practice has disadvantages, namely:
'7 ~ It is time-consuming for the trucker to string out and pick up the .3 hose; and !3 ~ The H2S still collects at ground level in possibly dangerous 1 n concentration, creating a hazard for an individual who inadvertently 11 walks into it.
1;? It is the objective of them present invention to provide a safer and less 13 time-consuming venting alternative.
1 ~~
1;~ SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
113 In accordance with a preferred form of the present invention, an 1'7 elongated tubular stack is mounted on the truck deck to extend beside and in 1.3 parallel with the tank. The stack is pivotally connected with the vent line from 1!a the tank, preferably by a sE~aled swivel elbow. A cylinder assembly is 21) connected between the deck and stack, for mechanically raising and lowering 21 the stack. The stack is quite long - it extends at least one quarter the length 2;? of the tank and typically has a length of about 8 feet.
2:3 By equipping the vacuum truck in this fashion, the stack can be raised 2~t and the gas vented to the atmosphere well above the truck, during loading.
1 In a test, it was determined that the H2S content at the stack outlet, 2 when the stack was in the horizontal position, was in the order of 300 ppm as 3 determined by an H2S detector. When the 8 foot long stack was raised to the ~4 substantially vertical venting position and the vacuum/blower pump was actuated to forcibly discharge the sour gas, it was found that the H2S
detector ~6 was unable to detect H2S within a radius of 250 feet from the truck.
7 Broadly stated, the invention is an improvement in an assembly for B venting gas associated with crude oil contained in an elongated tank mounted '9 longitudinally on a deck of a vacuum truck, said truck carrying a 1 ~0 vacuum/blower pump and vent line for withdrawing the gas from the tank and 11 discharging it through the vent line, the improvement comprising: an 12 elongated tubular vent stack ~;upported by the deck and located substantially 1:3 parallel to and alongside thE: tank, said stack being movable between a 1~4 substantially horizontal transport position and a substantially vertical venting 1.5 position, said stack having an outlet; means for pivotally connecting the stack 1 i3 at its front end with the vent lime so that the stack constitutes an extension of 1'7 the vent line and may pivot between the transport and venting positions;
and 1 ~3 means, connected between the deck and stack, for mechanically raising and 1!~ lowering the outlet of the stack by pivoting the stack between positions.
20 In a method aspect, the invention comprises: providing a vacuum truck 21 having a deck carrying a tank for conveying crude oil, a vacuum/blower pump 22 for suctioning crude oil into the tank, a tubular vent line connected with the 23 tank for discharging gas separated from the oil, and a tubular vent stack 2~4 connected with the vent line, the vent stack having an outlet; raising the outlet 1 of the vent stack upwardly to a venting position spaced above the deck, for .2 dispersing the gas harmlessly into the atmosphere; and initiating loading of oil 3 into the tank.
~4 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
n Figure 1 is a schematic plan view showing a vacuum truck having a '7 tank, pump, vent line and pivoting stack assembly;
.B Figure 2 is a plan view showing the swivel elbow, stack and part of the raising/lowering assembly; and 1n Figure 3 is a side view of the assembly shown in Figure 2.
1;2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
1.3 Having reference to Figure 1, the invention is used in connection with a 1'4 vacuum truck 1 having a deck 2 carrying an elongated tank 3. (The word 1.5 "deck" is intended to collectively describe the truck frame and the deck 1G mounted on it.) A vacuum/blower pump 4 is connected to the tank 3 for 1'7 suctioning oil into it and discharging air and gas, when required. The pump 4 1.3 is connected with a vent line Ei for venting the air and gas during loading. All 1!a of the foregoing is conventional.
21) A conventional swivel elbow 6 is connected between the end of the 2'1 vent line 5 and the front end of the stack 7. The elbow 6 can rotate or pivot 2;? between a horizontal transport: position and a vertical venting position.
It has 23 an internal seal (not shown) with each of the vent line 5 and stack 7, so that 2~~ gas cannot leak out.
5 1 The vent stack 7 is positioned alongside the tank 3 in the transport 2 position. It typically has a length in the order of 4 - 20 feet.
3 A shaft 10 is rotatably mounted in a pillow block 11 mounted on the 4 deck 2 adjacent the elbow 6. A metal post 12 is attached at its lower end to the shaft 10, for rotation therewith. A sleeve 13 is slidably mounted on the
3 A shaft 10 is rotatably mounted in a pillow block 11 mounted on the 4 deck 2 adjacent the elbow 6. A metal post 12 is attached at its lower end to the shaft 10, for rotation therewith. A sleeve 13 is slidably mounted on the
6 post 12. The sleeve 13 has a lug 14 which is connected by a pin 15 with a
7 yoke 16 carried by a collar 17. The collar 17 is clamped to the stack 7.
8 A double-acting hydraulic cylinder 20 is pivotally attached at one end
9 by a pin 21 to a bracket 22 mounted to the deck 2. The ram 23 of the cylinder 1 ~0 20 is pivotally connected by a pin 24 with a lug 25 attached to the shaft
10.
11 The hydraulic cylinder 20 is actuated by the truck hydraulic system (not 1;2 shown) and is suitably controlled by valves (not shown).
13 In operation, the outlet 30 of the stack 7 can be mechanically raised by 1~4 extending the ram 23 which rotates the lug 25, shaft 10 and post 12. The 1.5 stack 7 is therefore moved from the horizontal transport position to the vertical 1 i3 venting position as the sleeve 13 slides up on the post 12. To lower the stack 1'7 7, the ram 23 is retracted.
1.3 While the form of the invention described herein constitutes a preferred 1!a embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not 20 limited to this form of apparatus but that various changes may be made 21 therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in 2:? the claims now following.
13 In operation, the outlet 30 of the stack 7 can be mechanically raised by 1~4 extending the ram 23 which rotates the lug 25, shaft 10 and post 12. The 1.5 stack 7 is therefore moved from the horizontal transport position to the vertical 1 i3 venting position as the sleeve 13 slides up on the post 12. To lower the stack 1'7 7, the ram 23 is retracted.
1.3 While the form of the invention described herein constitutes a preferred 1!a embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that the invention is not 20 limited to this form of apparatus but that various changes may be made 21 therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in 2:? the claims now following.
Claims (4)
EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS
FOLLOWS:
1. In an assembly for venting gas associated with crude oil contained in an elongated tank mounted longitudinally on a deck of a vacuum truck, said truck carrying a vacuum/blower pump and vent line for withdrawing the gas from the tank and discharging it, the improvement comprising:
an elongated tubular vent stack supported by the deck and located substantially parallel to and alongside the tank, said stack being movable between a substantially horizontal transport position and a substantially vertical venting position, said stack having an outlet;
means for pivotally connecting the stack at its front end with the vent line so that the stack constitutes an extension of the vent line and may pivot between the transport and venting positions; and means, connected between the deck and stack, for mechanically raising and lowering the outlet of the stack by pivoting the stack between positions.
an elongated tubular vent stack supported by the deck and located substantially parallel to and alongside the tank, said stack being movable between a substantially horizontal transport position and a substantially vertical venting position, said stack having an outlet;
means for pivotally connecting the stack at its front end with the vent line so that the stack constitutes an extension of the vent line and may pivot between the transport and venting positions; and means, connected between the deck and stack, for mechanically raising and lowering the outlet of the stack by pivoting the stack between positions.
2. The improvement as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pivot connection means comprises a swivel elbow and the stack has a length greater than one quarter the length of the tank.
3. The improvement as set forth in claim 2 wherein the raising and lowering means comprises a hydraulic cylinder assembly pivotally connected between the deck and the stack.
4. A method for safely venting gas during loading of a vacuum truck with oil comprising:
providing a vacuum truck having a deck carrying a tank for conveying crude oil, a vacuum/blower pump for suctioning crude oil into the tank, a tubular vent line connected with the tank for discharging gas separated from the oil, and a tubular vent stack connected with the vent line, the vent stack having an outlet;
raising the outlet of the vent stack upwardly to a venting position spaced above the deck, for dispersing the gas harmlessly into the atmosphere; and initiating loading of oil into the tank.
providing a vacuum truck having a deck carrying a tank for conveying crude oil, a vacuum/blower pump for suctioning crude oil into the tank, a tubular vent line connected with the tank for discharging gas separated from the oil, and a tubular vent stack connected with the vent line, the vent stack having an outlet;
raising the outlet of the vent stack upwardly to a venting position spaced above the deck, for dispersing the gas harmlessly into the atmosphere; and initiating loading of oil into the tank.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2239628 CA2239628C (en) | 1998-06-01 | 1998-06-01 | Gas venting assembly for vacuum truck |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2239628 CA2239628C (en) | 1998-06-01 | 1998-06-01 | Gas venting assembly for vacuum truck |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2239628A1 CA2239628A1 (en) | 1999-12-01 |
| CA2239628C true CA2239628C (en) | 2003-08-26 |
Family
ID=27792710
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2239628 Expired - Fee Related CA2239628C (en) | 1998-06-01 | 1998-06-01 | Gas venting assembly for vacuum truck |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2239628C (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2864523B1 (en) * | 2003-12-24 | 2006-12-22 | Rivard | PROCESS FOR PREVENTING THE FORMATION OF AN INSALUBRE AND / OR EXPLOSIVE ATMOSPHERE IN THE ENVIRONMENT OF A CISTERN AND A DEVICE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD |
| US8328290B2 (en) * | 2009-08-06 | 2012-12-11 | Advanced Waste Services, Inc. | Expanded size sludge vacuum tanker |
-
1998
- 1998-06-01 CA CA 2239628 patent/CA2239628C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2239628A1 (en) | 1999-12-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |