Patent ID: 9366273
Filing Date: 2016-06-14
CPC Classification: F15D,G01F,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. In a vapor recovery line between a fuel dispensing nozzle and a fuel storage tank wherein the vapor recovery line includes an upstream portion nearer the fuel dispensing nozzle, and a downstream portion nearer the fuel storage tank, the improvement comprising: a vapor recovery flow meter, including: a vapor passing housing, said housing having an inlet flange configured to be matably engageable with a complementary flange on the upstream portion of the vapor recovery line, said housing having an outlet flange configured to be matably engageable with a complementary flange on the downstream portion of the vapor recovery line; a generally tubular housing portion extending between said inlet flange and said outlet flange and including a generally cylindrical passageway extending therethrough; said inlet flange forming an inlet into the tubular housing on the upstream portion of the vapor recovery line and communicating with the cylindrical passageway through said tubular housing; said outlet flange forming an outlet from the downstream portion of the tubular housing and communicating with the cylindrical passageway of the tubular housing to allow the flow of fuel vapors therefrom; said inlet flange, outlet flange, and tubular housing forming the vapor passageway between said inlet and outlet of the vapor recovery line; a vortex generating device installed within said passageway of the tubular housing whereby the passing of said vapors therethrough impinges upon the vortex generator thereby effecting the creation of vortices of the vapor for detection, said vortex generating device being a vortex strut; a first transducer housing formed upon the tubular housing and incorporating a first transducer for directing a sonic signal into and generally across the passageway through which the vapors pass and downstream from the vortex strut, a second transducer housing incorporating a second transducer and for detecting the sonic signals received generally across the passageway through which the vapors pass; and whereby passage of the sonic signals through the shedded vapors effects their modulation whereby the sonic signals can detect and determine the flow rate of such passing vapors.