United States Patent [19] [11] Patent Number: 4,570,686
Devine [45] Date of Patent: Feb. 18, 1986
[54] APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING
BLOCKAGE OF VAPOR RECOVERY HOSE
BY LIQUID FUEL
[75] Inventor: George T. Devine, Greensboro, N.C.
[73] Assignee: Gilbarco Inc., Greensboro, N.C.
[21] Appl. No.: 507,488
[22] Filed: Jun. 24, 1983
[51] Int. CV B65B 1/04
[52] U.S. CI 141/286; 141/392;
138/113; 138/114
[58] Field of Search 138/113, 114, 148;
239/44, 45, 145; 141/392, 285-310, 1-12, 37-66; 220/373, 85 VR, 86 R
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,121,623 10/1978 Rhone 138/114
4,122,968 10/1978 Germain 138/114
4,274,549 6/1981 Germain 138/114
FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
2509258 9/1976 Fed. Rep. of Germany 220/373
Primary Examiner—Houston S. Bell, Jr.
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Kenneth Watov
[57] ABSTRACT
Wick material is included along the length of the interior and exterior walls of vapor recovery and product hoses, respectively, the product hose being carried within the length of the vapor recovery hose, whereby the wick material absorbs liquid entrapped between the hoses, and substantially increases the surface area of evaporation for the liquid, thereby substantially preventing liquid from blocking a portion of the vapor recovery path between the hoses.
20 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures
