US2592072A - Gas by-pass for crude oil storage tanks - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1952 w. c. SANDERS 2,592,072

GAS BY-PASS FOR CRUDE OIL STORAGE TANKS Filed Aug. 26, 1947 iliagyaizders INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PA ENToFFI'cs Wilburn C. Sanders, Grandview, Tex.

Application August 26, 1947, Serial No. 770,705

1 Claim.

This invention relates to crude oil storage tanks, and more particularly to the construction of the test pipes thereof, the primary object of the invention being to provide means whereby the gas fumes which are liberated from the tank when the usual gauge opening cover of the pipe is removed, will be liberated at a point above the head of the person gauging the oil level, thereby protecting the person against the ill effects caused by breathing the gas fumes, during the gauging operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve which is controlled by the operation of a foot pedal, leaving the gaugers hands free to manipulate the usual gauge line in one hand, and a gauge line wiping cloth in the other hand.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the gauge pipe of an oil storage tank.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view" through one of the valve members of the pipe.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the reference character 5 indicates a storage tank designed for storing crude oil, the tank being provided with the usual test pipe 6 that rises therefrom and communicates with the tank.

Secured to the test pipe 6, is the valve housing 1 into which the lower end of the pipe section 8 of the attachment extends, the pipe section 8 forming an extension of thetest pipe 6.

Connected with the upper end of the pip section 8 is the pipe section 9 which extends rearwardly, as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, to the upper end of which pipe 9 is secured the pipe section 10, which is of a length to discharge fumes above the head of the person making the test, thereby eliminating theill effects caused by the gauger breathing the gas fumes during the gauging operation.

The pipe section 9 is formed with a gauge line opening II, which is normally closed by means of the hinged closure l2 that is held to its closed position, by means of the coiled spring H.

The gauge line opening II is in a line with the valve l4, which is secured to the shaft l5 that extends through the side wall of the valve housing I, th valve l4 including the valve member I6 that seats against the valve seat ll formed within the valve housing I. A slot I2 is formed adjacent to the opening ll, through which the gauge line, not shown, moves when the closure i2 is in its closed position, during gauging.

Thus it will be seen that due to this construction, the valve member will normally close the opening through the valve housing 1. Connected with the shaft l5 at a point exteriorly of the valve housing 1, is the link I8 that has pivotal connection with the link I9 which connects with the arm 20, the arm 28 being pivotally connected with the test pipe 6 at 2|. Formed on one end of the arm 28 is the pedal 22, which when pressed downwardly, causes the links l8 and I9 to swing upwardly, moving the valve H to its open position. The weight 23 which is secured to one end of the arm 28 acts to return the valve H to its closed position, when pressure on the pedal 22 has been relieved.

In the use of the device, the person making the test, lowers the test line and weight, through the guide line opening I I, the hinged closure I2 having been moved to its open position. As the guide line moves downwardly, it will rest on the valve member l6, and when the gauger considers that the desired length of line has been deposited within the pipe sectionB, he will allow the hinged closure l2 to move to its closed position. v The gauger now moves the valve member M to its 'open position by pressing the pedal 22 downwardly, whereupon the line will move into the tank, the crude oil collecting on the line indicating the level of the crude oil within the tank. During the period when the line is passing from the valve member 18 to the bottom of the tank, the gas fumes will be liberated at the upper end of the pipe section [8 at a point an appreciable distance above the head of the gauger, to the end that the gauger will be subjected to the ill effects caused by breathing gas fumes liberated from the usual test pipes of storage tanks. The reference character 24 indicates a hook on which an electric lantern or flash light may be hung, while the test i sbeing made in the dark. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A test pipe for attachment to an oil storage tank comprising a valve housing secured on the outlet end of the test pipe, a valve seat within the housing, an outlet pipe extending into the top of the housing terminating a substantial distance above the valve seat, and through which fumes pass when the valve is open, a shaft extending into the side of the housing, a valve secured to the shaft within said housing, engageable with the valve seat closing said outlet pipe. an arm pivotally mounted on the test pipe intermediate the ends of the arm, linkage connected between the shaft and pivoted arm, a pedal formed on one end of the arm efiecting movement of the valve upon downward movement of said pedal, and a weight on the opposite end of the arm for moving the arm in one direction, returning the valve to its normal closed position WILBURN C. SANDERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 289,937 Smith Dec. 11, 1883 507,961 Beardsley Oct. 31, 1893 753,339 Widdop Mar. 1, 1904 1,093,452 Metcalf Apr. 14, 1914 1,150,978 Thomas Aug. 24, 1915 1,614,117 Geldhof Jan. 11, 1927 2,200,630 McCabe May 14, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 107,067 Great Britain June 18, 1917

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