WO1990003329A1

WO1990003329A1 - Additive delivery system

Info

Publication number: WO1990003329A1
Application number: PCT/US1989/004108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alfred L. Hayden; Patrick L. Hayden
Original assignee: Gate City Oil Equipment Company Incorporated
Priority date: 1988-09-28
Filing date: 1989-09-20
Publication date: 1990-04-05
Also published as: CA1326501C

Abstract

Additive delivering system includes an interface fitting between a product delivery hose and a product receiving connection. The fitting is keyed to the product receiving connection in such a manner that the fitting must be attached to the product receiving connection before product flow can be delivered from the product delivery hose to the product receiving connection. An injection mechanism is connected to the fitting for automatically injecting additive to the product flow through the fitting.

Description

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ADDITIVE DELIVERY SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally, as indicated, to an additive delivery system for use in treating fuel and other fluids with chemical additives and the like.

Many fuels and other fluids must be treated with additives prior to distribution and use for proper performance. Fuels are typically shipped to a terminal untreated. However, when the fuels leave the terminal, it is important that they contain the proper additives at the correct treatment level to ensure the uniqueness of one brand of fuel from another. Also, different grades of fuel are treated with different additives or at different treatment levels.

It is generally known to provide injector systems for injecting precise amounts of additives into fuels and other fluids, hereinafter some¬ times referred to as product flow. However, there is a need for an additive delivery system that virtually ensures that the product flow being delivered or used has been uniformly treated with the correct additive at the proper treatment level.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, an additive delivery system is provided that includes an additive injector mechanism for delivering the desired additive treatment level to the product flow through a unique keyed fitting that provides an interface between a tank truck hose delivery connection or the like and an underground storage tank connection. The interface fitting with additive hose connected thereto is keyed to the underground storage tank connection in such a manner that the fitting must be attached thereto before product flow can be delivered from the tank truck to the underground storage tank, thus ensuring that no product flow can be accepted or used unless the desired additive treatment takes place.

The additive injector mechanism may include a system start delay to give the operator sufficient time to connect the tank truck delivery hose to the interface fitting and initiate product flow through the delivery hose by the time additive is injected into the product passing through the fitting. After the system start delay times out, additive will be injected automatically at a rate and amount controlled by the injector mechanism.

Alternatively, a flow sensor may be provided inside the interface fitting for automatic starting and stopping of the additive injector mechanism. The flow sensor may operate like a switch to turn the injector mechanism on or off depending on whether there is product flow through the fitting. When a signal is received from the flow sensor in response to product flowing through the fitting, the injector mechanism will auto¬ matically inject additive into the fitting. If the product flow through the fitting is stopped for any reason, the injector mechanism will go into a standby condition, and will resume additional injection when the product flow resumes.

The additive delivery system of the present invention may also incorporate a self-checking verification system that monitors the injection process. Should the correct amount of additive to be injected not agree with the pre-set amount or should any failure occur, the system will sound an alarm. Also, a fluid measuring meter with its own totalizer may be utilized to provide further verification.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but several of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred form of additive delivery system in accordance with this invention shown in use supplying additive to the product flow from a tank truck as the product passes through a fitting which provides a unique interface between the tank truck hose and an existing underground tank connection or the like; Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the additive injector mechanism and special fitting shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged schematic perspective view of a modified form of fitting in accordance with this invention shown connected to one of several underground storage tank connections; and

Fig. 4 is a further enlarged schematic exploded view showing the keyed connection between the special fitting and one of the underground storage tank connections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now in detail to the drawings, and initially to Fig. 1, there is shown a preferred form of additive delivery system 1 in accordance with this invention including a positive displacement pump 2 for supplying additive liquid of any desired type from an additive storage tank 3 to an injector mechanism 4. The injector mechanism 4 includes * a precise metering device that can be set (and locked) at the desired treatment level for precisely metering the flow of such additive through an additive hose 5 to a special fitting 6 used to interface a tank truck hose 7 or the like with an existing underground storage tank connection 8 as described hereafter.

The injector mechanism 4 is desirably of the type sold by Gate City Oil Equipment Company, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia, under the trademark GATE-PAK. To ensure positive injection of the additive into the product flow through the fitting 6, the positive displacement pump 2 should desirably supply additive to the injector mechanism 4 at a pressure of at least 20 to 25 psig above the pressure drop (differential) through the injector mechanism 4 and additive hose 5 plus the minimum injection point pressure at the fitting 6. For easy handling and use of the additive delivery system 1 of the present invention, both the additive storage tank 3 and injector mechanism 4 as well as the positive displacement pump 2 are desirably mounted on a free-standing base 10 with all components pre-wired. Also, a spring-loaded rewind reel 11 is desirably mounted on the base 10 for storage of the additive hose 5 when the system is not in use.

As can be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, the special interface fitting 6 of the present invention may include the usual lever operated cams 15 and annular seals 16 at both ends for ease of attachment to standard adaptors 17 on the respective ends of the tank truck delivery hose 7 and underground storage tank connections 8. Such adaptors 17 include an external annular groove 18 into which the cams 15 on the fitting 6 are radially movable by actuation of respective levers 19, 20 mounted exteriorly of the fitting ends. As the cams 15 move radially inwardly into the respective adaptor grooves 18, the ends of the adaptors 17 are urged into fluid tight engagement with the annular seals 16 in the respective ends of the fitting, in a manner well known in the art.

The adaptors 17 on the ends of the existing underground tank connections 8 are normally located inside a manhole 22 several inches below the surface so that when the underground tank connections are capped, the caps do not protrude above the surface. To facilitate operation of the cam levers 20 at the end of the fitting 6 which fits over the tank connection adaptors 17 without having to reach down inside the manholes 22, a single T- handle 23 may be connected to both cam levers 20 (Fig. 1) for simultaneous operation thereof. The handle 23 extends generally parallel to the fitting end and has a length sufficient to permit the handle 23 to be easily grasped by the operator and either pushed or pulled to move the respective cams 15 radially into and out of engagement with the groove 18 in the adaptor 17 on the end of the underground storage tank connection 8, in a manner well known in the art.

However, the fitting 6 of the present invention differs from standard drop fittings in that it is a special keyed fitting to interface a standard drop connection with the existing underground storage tank con¬ nections. The interface fitting 6 is keyed to an underground storage tank connection 8 in such a manner that the fitting must be attached to the underground storage tank connection 8 before the transport hose delivery connection can be made. This prevents fittings other than the special fitting 6 with additive hose 5 connected thereto from being connected to the underground tank connections. To that end, a key 24 (Figs. 3 and 4) is provided on the exterior of the respective underground tank connection adaptors 17 which must be aligned with a keyway slot 25 in the lower end of the fitting 6 in order for the fitting to be received on such adaptors and the fitting sealingly connected thereto before product delivery is made. This ensures that no product can be accepted and used unless additive treatment takes place as described hereafter.

A handle 26 may be provided on the exterior of the fitting 6 for ease of attachment and removal of the fitting from the underground storage tank connection adaptors 17. Also, the handle 26 may conveniently be used to hang the fitting 6 on a bracket or the like on the free-standing base 10 adjacent the injector mechanism 4 after the fitting 6 has been disconnected from the underground storage tank connection adaptor 17 and the additive hose 5 has been rewound on the hose reel 11.

If desired, the injector mechanism 4 may include a system start delay to give the operator sufficient time to attach the tank truck hose 7 to the fitting 6 after the fitting 6 has been connected to the appropriate underground tank connection adaptor 17 and initiate product flow through the tank truck hose by the time the injector mechanism 4 begins injecting the additive automatically. The rate and amount of additive will be controlled by the injector mechanism in known manner.

Alternatively, a flow sensor 27 may be provided inside the interface fitting 6 as schematically shown in Fig. 3 for automatic starting and stopping of the injector mechanism 4. The flow sensor 27 may operate like a switch to turn the injector mechanism 4 on as soon as product flow from the tank truck 28 passes through the fitting 6. When a signal is received from the flow sensor 27 that product is flowing through the fitting 6, the injector mechanism 4 will automatically inject additive into the product as it flows through the fitting and into the underground storage tank. If the flow through the fitting 6 is stopped for any reason, the injector mechanism 4 will go into a standby condition and will resume additional injection when the product flow resumes.

Also, if desired, the injector mechanism 4 may incorporate a self-checking verification system that monitors the injection process. Should the correct amount of additive to be injected not agree with the pre¬ set amount or should any failure occur, the injector mechanism may, for example, sound an alarm. Moreover, a fluid measuring meter with its own totalizer may be incorporated in the system to provide further verification.

To operate the additive delivery system 1 of the present in¬ vention, first the interface fitting 6 with additive hose 5 connected thereto is removed from its storage position shown in Fig. 2 and attached to the keyed underground storage tank connection adaptor 17 as shown in Fig. 3. Next the injector mechanism 4 is turned on and the total amount of additive to be unloaded into the underground storage tank is pre-set and the injector rate matched with the average product unloading flow rate. The operator may then depress the injector start button. If the injector mechanism 4 is provided with an adjustable time delay, the time delay should be set to give the operator sufficient time, for example, two minutes, to attach the tank truck hose 7 to the special fitting 6 as shown in Fig. 1 and initiate product flow from the tank truck 28 just as the injector mechanism 4 start delay times out and begins injecting additive automatically. If, on the other hand, the additive delivery system 1 includes a flow sensor 27 inside the fitting 6, the flow sensor 27 will automatically cause the injector mechanism 4 to inject additive as soon as a signal is received from the flow sensor that product is flowing through the fitting 6.

After the pre-set amounts of product and additive have been unloaded into the underground storage tank, both the product flow from the tank truck 28 and the additive flow from the additive delivery system 1 will automatically stop. If no additional flow is desired, the operator will disconnect the tank truck hose 7 from the fitting 6 and disconnect the fitting 6 from the underground storage tank connection 8. Thereafter, the operator may cap the underground storage tank connection 8 and rewind the additive hose 5 on the hose reel 11 and return the fitting 6 to its proper storage position on the free standing base 10. Then the operator may completely shut down the injector mechanism 4 and secure the system.

From the foregoing, it will now be apparent that the additive delivery system of the present invention not only ensures that the product delivered or used is treated uniformly with the correct additive and treat ent level, but also makes it virtually impossible to use product which has not been thus properly treated.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of the specification. The present invention includes all such alterations and modifications, and is limited only by the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An additive delivery system comprising fitting means for providing an interface connection between a product delivery hose and a product receiving connection, and means for delivering additive to said fitting means during product flow through said fitting means, said fitting means being keyed to said product receiving connection, thus requiring attachment of said fitting means to said product receiving connection in order for product to be delivered from said product delivery hose to said product receiving connection.

2. The additive delivery system of claim 1 wherein said product receiving connection has an external key thereon receivable in a key way slot in one end of said fitting means.

3. The additive delivery system of claim 2 wherein said product receiving connection has an adaptor on an end thereof containing said key.

4. The additive delivery system of claim 3 wherein said adaptor has an external annular groove, and said fitting means has cam means adjacent said one end movable into and out of said annular groove for releasably attaching said one end of said fitting means to said product receiving connection upon receipt of said key on said adaptor in said slot in said fitting means.

5. The additive delivery system of claim 4 wherein said product delivery hose has another adaptor on an end thereof containing another external annular groove, and said fitting means has additional cam means adjacent the other end of said fitting means movable into and out of said another annular groove for releasably attaching said product delivery hose to said other end of said fitting means.

6. The additive delivery system of claim 1 wherein said product delivery hose is connected to a tank truck, and ^* said product receiving connection is connected to an underground storage tank.

7. The additive delivery system of claim 1 wherein said means for delivering additive to said fitting means comprises an additive hose connected to said fitting means, and injector means for injecting additive into said additive hose.

8. The additive delivery system of claim 7 wherein said injector means includes means for controlling the rate and amount of additive to be injected into said additive hose.

9. The additive delivery system of claim 7 further comprising an additive storage tank, and pump means for supplying additive under pressure from said additive storage tank to said injector means.

10. The additive delivery system of claim 9 further comprising a free standing base on which said injector means, additive storage tank, and pump means are mounted.

11. The additive delivery system of claim 10 further comprising a hose wind-up reel mounted on said base for said additive hose.

12. The additive delivery system of claim 9 further 'comprising flow sensor means inside said fitting means for detecting product flow through said fitting means, said injector means being responsive to the detection of product flow through said fitting means by said sensor means to inject additive into said fitting means.

13. An additive delivery system comprising fitting means pro¬ viding an interface connection between a product delivery hose and a product receiving connection, means for controlling the flow of additive to said fitting means, and alignment means between said fitting means and product receiving connection requiring alignment of said fitting means with said product receiving connection in order to attach said fitting means to said product receiving connection before product can be delivered to said product receiving connection.

14. The additive delivery system of claim 13 wherein said alignment means comprises an external key on said product receiving connection and a matching key way slot on said fitting means. -

15. The additive delivery system of claim 14 wherein said means for delivering additive to said fitting means comprises an additive hose connected to said fitting means, and injector means for injecting additive into said additive hose.

16. The additive delivery system of claim 15 further comprising flow sensor means inside said fitting means for detecting product flow through said fitting means, and means for causing said injector means to inject additive into said fitting means during such detection of product flow through said fitting means.

17. An interface fitting for providing an interface connection between a product delivery hose and a product receiving connection and for supplying additive to product flowing through said fitting comprising a fitting body having an inlet opening at one end for attachment to such product delivery hose, an outlet opening at another end for attachment to such product receiving connection, and an additive delivery opening in said body intermediate said inlet and outlet openings for connection of an additive hose thereto, said body having alignment means at said another end which must be brought into alignment with alignment means on the product receiving connection before said fitting can be connected to the product receiving connection.

18. The fitting of claim 17 wherein said alignment means on said fitting comprises a keyway slot therein.

19. The fitting of claim 17 further comprising flow sensor means inside said fitting for detecting the flow of product passing through said fitting.