Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6240963
-
Patent Number
6,240,963
-
Date Filed
Monday, November 8, 199924 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, June 5, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
- Chambers; A. Michael
- McShane; Thomas L.
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 137 899
- 137 8994
- 137 35512
- 280 838
- 417 361
- 417 4231
- 417 42316
- 417 360
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system which is transportable, deployable, and made operable by a single individual, from a vehicle such as a truck and which includes a roll-off platform assembly, a roller assembly, and a large planar base. A plurality of essential and sensitive components including a fuel vessel, a fuel pumping and metering unit, a pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support, a fuel distribution hose having a fuel nozzle, and an area lighting apparatus including a pivotally collapsible light standard and a light are mounted on the large planar base. These essential and sensitive components are all confined within a security fence which is mounted on the large planar base around the perimeter thereof. The security fence includes front and side access doors or gates. Located outside the security fence along one side thereof is a pivotable arm assembly which at one end carries a generator platform that extends beneath the front access door or gate of the security fence and into the area confined by the security fence when the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system is in its transport or storage mode. The generator platform supports an electric generator and a fire extinguisher. Upon opening the front access door or gate, the pivotable arm assembly is movable to relocate the electric generator and the fire extinguisher from within the security fence to a position outside the security fence at a distance away from the fuel vessel and the fuel pumping and metering unit for the operation mode to promote safety during operation.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is for a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system which functions as a portable self-powered fuel dispenser, and in particular is for a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system which is operated and placed by a single operator, which is transportable upon and deployable from a vehicle such as a truck or other appropriately configured transport device, and which has an electrical power source that is pivotally relocatable at a safe distance from a fuel vessel and a fuel pumping and metering unit.
2. Description of the Prior Art
None.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system. The roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system includes a roll-off platform assembly having a rectangular base upon which a fuel vessel, a fuel pumping and metering unit, an area lighting apparatus, a fire extinguisher and an electric generator mounted on a pivotable arm assembly, and other components are mounted. For safety and for fire or other codes, it is desirable to have the fuel vessel and the fuel pumping and metering unit located at a distance from any sources which could promote fire or explosion such as, but not limited to, the electric generator and its exhaust system. The pivotable arm assembly provides a means for easily and readily moving the electric generator to a location distant from the fuel vessel and the fuel pumping and metering unit prior to starting of the generator and use of the fuel pumping and metering unit. The area lighting apparatus includes a pivotally collapsible light standard and a light for illumination for use of the invention at night; and a security fence is provided to deter theft and vandalism of essential and sensitive components of the invention. The roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system can be delivered, deployed and operated by a single operator. The invention can also function with electrical power provided by another external and outside source if nearby electrical power is available for use and if the electrical generator is not required or desired.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system including a roll-off platform assembly and such elements as a security fence including access doors or gates, a pivotally collapsible light standard and a light, a pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support, a fuel vessel, a fuel pumping and metering unit, and a pivotable arm assembly, all of which secure to the base the roll-off platform or ending of and comprise the majority of the members of the roll-off platform assembly. An electric generator and a fire extinguisher are secured to a generator platform located on one end of the pivotable arm assembly.
One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system which is portable, self-powered and self-contained.
Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system which includes a fuel vessel, a fuel pumping and metering unit, and an electric generator mounted to the base of a roll-off platform assembly, with the electric generator being mounted on a pivotable arm assembly which is moveable to distance and locate the electric generator away from the fuel vessel and the fuel pumping and metering unit prior to operation.
Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is an area lighting apparatus for operation of the invention at night.
Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a security fence surrounding the inwardly located essential and sensitive components of the invention.
A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system which can be delivered, deployed from a vehicle and set up by a single operator.
Having thus described embodiments and significant aspects and features of the present invention, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:
FIG. 1
illustrates a front view of a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system, the present invention;
FIG. 2
illustrates a top view of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system;
FIG. 3
illustrates a left end view of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system with various fencing and door or gate components not shown;
FIG. 4
illustrates a right end view of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system with various fencing and door or gate components not shown; and,
FIG. 5
illustrates the mode of operation of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system with the electric generator distanced from the centrally located components by the pivotable arm assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1
illustrates a front view of a roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
. A plurality of components secure to a suitable portable and mobile structure, which in this case is a roll-off platform assembly
12
such as that which is transportable upon and deployable from a truck or other vehicle. Although a roll-off platform assembly
12
, such as normally used with roll-off devices, is exemplified as the suitable portable and mobile structure, other suitable portable and mobile structures such as a truck bed, a rail car flat bed or other such structure which can be readily transported can be utilized as a suitable structure, and therefore the use of a roll-off platform assembly
12
shall not be deemed to be limiting to the scope of the invention. The roll-off platform assembly
12
includes a large planar base
14
, skids
16
and
18
secured and distributed horizontally along the bottom of the base
14
, upwardly and inwardly extending box tubes
20
and
22
secured to one end of the skids
16
and
18
and to a vertically oriented support plate
24
mounted on the base
14
, a forward hooking assembly
26
secured to the box tubes
20
and
22
for use in pulling or otherwise transporting the roll-off platform assembly
12
, vertically aligned support plates
28
and
30
secured between the support plate
24
and the base
14
, a support plate
31
located between the tops of the support plates
24
,
28
,
30
, and a roller assembly
32
including a plurality of rollers secured to the bottom of the base
14
. A security fence
33
mounted on the base
14
surrounds the essential and sensitive components of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
. The security fence
33
is located at the perimeter of the base
14
and includes a plurality of standards
34
a
14
34
n
including fence support structure secured to the base
14
, a front access door or gate
36
, a side access door or gate
38
(FIG.
2
), and woven wire mesh
40
(only partially shown) appropriately located and supported between the standards
34
a
-
34
n
and the fence support structure. Woven wire mesh
40
also spans the access doors or gate
36
and
38
. Some of the essential and sensitive components include a fuel vessel or fuel tank
42
secured to the base
14
, a fuel pumping and metering unit
44
, (i.e., a pump and meter combination) a fuel distribution hose
92
(FIG.
3
), a readily and easily removable vent
46
, and a filler tube
48
. Other essential and sensitive components viewable in
FIG. 1
are adjacently located components including a pivotally collapsible light standard
50
, a light
52
and a light switch
53
both of which are explosion proof, a pivotally collapsible gravity operated distribution hose support
54
, and a fuel nozzle support
55
.
With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, another sensitive component, a means for powering the pump, shown as an electric generator
56
, which also is protected behind the security fence
33
, is now described. The electric generator
56
, when not functioning and for purposes of transport or for protection against theft or vandalism, is housed behind the security fence
33
in general, and more specifically, is located just behind the front access door or gate
36
. A pivotable arm assembly
58
at a forward end is provided for support of the electric generator
56
at all times including storage, transportation, and for distanced support during operation of the electric generator
56
for pumping or other uses. The pivotable arm assembly
58
includes a horizontally oriented pivot arm
60
, a vertically oriented support tube
62
the lower end of which secures to the pivot arm
60
, a support bar
64
secured at one end to the upper region of the support tube
62
and at the other end to a mid portion of the support bar
60
, vertically oriented pivot housings
66
and
68
secured to the upper and lower end regions of the support tube
62
, upper and lower pivot brackets
70
and
72
secured to the support plate
24
, and pivot pins (not illustrated) passing through the pivot housings
66
and
68
and pivot brackets
70
and
72
, respectively, to pivotally connect the pivotable arm assembly
58
to the base
14
via the support plates
24
and
28
. A locking tab
74
having a body hole secures to and extends outwardly towards the viewer from the upper region of the vertical support tube
62
and another locking tab
76
having a body hole extends sideways from the support plate
24
, the uses of which are described later in detail. A generator platform
78
, part of the pivot arm assembly
58
, secures to and extends horizontally and inwardly from the left end of the pivot arm
60
, as also shown in FIG.
3
. The generator platform
78
also extends beneath the bottom of the front access door or gate
36
. The electric generator
56
and a fire extinguisher
82
mount to the upper side of the generator platform
78
and are protectively located inwardly from and behind the front access door or gate
36
. A removable pin
84
extends through a cylindrical sleeve
83
secured to the left end of the pivot arm
60
and through an aligned hole
81
in the base
14
to secure the left end of the pivotable arm assembly
58
from rotation about the pivot structure adjacent to the support tube
62
during periods of transport or storage. The removable pin
84
is also utilized during operation of the invention, as later described in detail. Teflon support bars
85
and
87
shown in dashed lines in
FIG. 2
are secured to the bottom of the generator platform
78
to provide for support of the electric generator
56
, the fire extinguisher
82
and the generator platform
78
in intimate contact with the base
14
located at the left end of the pivot arm
60
. Such support is especially desirable during transportation of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
to relieve vertical transportational stresses on the pivotal arm assembly
58
. A properly housed (explosion proof) electrical power line (not illustrated) is routed from the electric generator
56
along the pivot arm
60
, upwardly along the support bar
64
and through an orifice
89
(
FIG. 1
) extending through the support plate
24
to the required areas such as, but not limited to, the light
52
and the fuel pumping and metering unit
44
. The pivotally collapsible light standard
50
, the pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support
54
and the fuel nozzle support
55
are part of a support assembly
86
, best shown in FIG.
3
. The support assembly
86
provides structure for the support of the pivotally collapsible light standard
50
and the pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support
54
, each of which utilizes a pivot and a locking pin extending through the structure of the support assembly
86
, and for the fuel nozzle support
55
. Clamps
88
and
90
are secured to the base
14
to secure the pivotally collapsible light standard
50
and the pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support
54
, respectively, in the collapsed position such as for transport of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
.
FIG. 3
illustrates a left end view of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
, where all numerals correspond to those previously or otherwise described. The security fence woven wire mesh
40
is not shown and several of the standards
34
a
-
34
n
and the access doors or gates
36
and
38
are not shown for the purpose of brevity and clarity. Illustrated in particular is the relationship of the pivotable arm assembly
58
to the components of the roll-off platform assembly
12
. In particular, the Teflon support bars
85
and
87
of the generator platform
78
, having the electric generator
56
and the fire extinguisher
82
attached thereto, are shown in intimate relationship with the upper surface of the base
14
.
Also illustrated in
FIG. 3
is the fuel distribution hose
92
connecting between the fuel pumping and metering unit
44
and a fuel nozzle
94
. The pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support
54
supports the fuel distribution hose
92
; and the fuel nozzle
94
is supported by the fuel nozzle support
55
located at one end of the support assembly
86
.
FIG. 4
illustrates a right end view of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
, where all numerals correspond to those previously or otherwise described. Shown in particular is the hooking assembly
26
secured to the box tubes
20
and
22
. Also shown in the illustration is the relationship of the locking tab
74
on the support tube
62
to the locking tab
76
extending from the support plate
24
.
MODE OF OPERATION
FIGS. 2 and 5
illustrate the mode of operation of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
, where all numerals correspond to those previously or otherwise described.
FIG. 2
illustrates, with the exception of the pivotally collapsible light standard
50
, the pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support
54
, and the vent
46
, the configuration of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
in the transport or storage mode. In the transport mode, and in the storage mode if desired, the pivotally collapsible light standard
50
and the pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support
54
would be pivoted about the support assembly
86
and secured to the base
14
in a substantially horizontal position by the clamps
88
and
90
, respectively; and the vent
46
would be removed to present a low profile for vertical clearance during transport. The pivotable arm assembly
58
is secured in a position parallel to and just above the front edge of the base
14
by the pin
84
extending through the cylindrical sleeve
83
at the left end of the pivot arm
60
. The majority of the generator platform
78
is subsequently fixed in position inwardly behind the front access door or gate
36
, and a portion of the generator platform
78
extends beneath the front access door or gate
36
. The electric generator
56
and the fire extinguisher
82
are protectively located on the generator platform
78
behind the front access door or gate
36
which, of course, can include a locking mechanism.
FIG. 5
illustrates the configuration of the roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system
10
for use in the dispensing mode. In the dispensing mode either of the access doors or gates
36
or
38
is used to allow an operator access behind the security fence
33
to erect the pivotally collapsible gravity operated fuel distribution hose support
54
, the pivotally collapsible light standard
50
, and the vent
46
. The access door or gate
36
must first be opened as shown by arrow
96
to allow for pivotal repositioning of the pivotable arm assembly
58
as shown by arrow
98
about the pivot housings
66
and
68
and the pivot brackets
70
and
72
. Pivotal repositioning of the pivotable arm assembly
58
is instrumental in transporting the electric generator
56
as well as the fire extinguisher
82
a safe distance from the centrally located components of the invention such as the fuel vessel or fuel tank
42
, the fuel pumping and metering unit
44
and other critical components. Subsequent to disengagement of the pin
84
from the hole
81
in the base
14
and from the cylindrical sleeve
83
, the pivotable arm assembly
58
is pivotally repositioned as indicated by arrow
98
. Pivotal repositioning of the pivotable arm assembly
58
provides for alignment of the locking tab
74
of the pivotable arm assembly
58
with the locking tab
76
located on the support plate
24
. The pin
84
is then inserted through the aligned body holes located in the aligned locking tabs
74
and
76
to positionally secure the pivotable arm assembly
58
at a safe distance from the fuel vessel or fuel tank
42
, the fuel pumping and metering unit
44
and other critical components. The electric generator
56
can be started at the position shown to be utilized to provide power for the fuel pumping and metering unit
44
, the light
52
and other externally located devices as required. Furthermore, during generator operation, the access doors or gates
36
and
38
can be locked closed to deny access to the components such as the fuel pumping and metering unit
44
located inside the security fence
33
, if desired.
Various modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the apparent scope hereof.
|
ROLL-OFF SELF-POWERED
|
FUEL DISPENSING PLATFORM SYSTEM
|
PARTS LIST
|
|
|
10
roll-off self-powered fuel
|
dispensing platform system
|
12
roll-off platform assembly
|
14
base
|
16
skid
|
18
skid
|
20
box tube
|
22
box tube
|
24
support plate
|
26
hooking assembly
|
28
support plate
|
30
support plate
|
31
support plate
|
32
roller assembly
|
33
security fence
|
34a-n
standards
|
36
front access door or gate
|
38
side access door or gate
|
40
woven wire mesh
|
42
fuel vessel or fuel tank
|
44
fuel pumping and metering unit
|
46
vent
|
48
filler tube
|
50
collapsible light standard
|
52
light
|
53
light switch
|
54
collapsible fuel distribution
|
hose support
|
55
fuel nozzle support
|
56
electric generator
|
58
pivotable arm assembly
|
60
pivot arm
|
62
support tube
|
64
support bar
|
66
pivot housing
|
68
pivot housing
|
70
pivot bracket
|
72
pivot bracket
|
74
locking tab
|
76
locking tab
|
78
generator platform
|
81
hole
|
82
fire extinguisher
|
83
cylindrical sleeve
|
84
pin
|
85
support bar
|
86
support assembly
|
87
support bar
|
88
clamp
|
89
orifice
|
90
clamp
|
92
fuel distribution hose
|
94
fuel nozzle
|
96
arrow
|
98
arrow
|
|
Claims
- 1. A roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system comprising:a. a roll-off platform assembly means; b. said roll-off platform assembly means including a fuel tank; c. a pump connected to said fuel tank for pumping fuel from said fuel tank; d. said roll-off platform assembly means including a pivot means on a forward end thereof; e. an arm means with a means to power said pump mounted on said pivot means, said arm means being pivotable from a first position whereat said means to power said pump is located adjacent to said fuel tank and pump to a use position whereat said means to power said pump is located away from said fuel tank and pump, thereby distancing said means to power said pump from said fuel tank and pump.
- 2. The system of claim 1, whereby said roll-off platform assembly means includes a fence means around said fuel tank and pump.
- 3. The system of claim 2, wherein said fence means includes a gate.
- 4. The system of claim 1, whereby said roll-off platform assembly means includes a light pole means.
- 5. A roll-off self-powered fuel dispensing platform system, comprising: a roll-off platform assembly including a base on which is mounted a fuel tank, a pump connected to said fuel tank for pumping fuel from said fuel tank, and a pivotable arm assembly supporting a generator for powering said pump; said pivotable arm assembly being pivotable from a first position at which said generator is located near to said fuel tank and pump to a second position at which said generator is located far from said fuel tank and pump.
- 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said roll-off platform assembly further includes a fence mounted on said base, said fence surrounding said fuel tank and said pump.
- 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said pivotable arm assembly is located outside said fence and has a first end which is pivotally attached to said base and a second end to which is attached a platform that extends beneath said fence from outside said fence to inside said fence such that a portion of said platform resides outside said fence and a portion of said platform resides inside said fence, the portion of said platform which resides inside said fence supporting said generator.
- 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said fence includes a gate at the position at which said platform extends therebeneath.
- 9. The system of claim 6, wherein said roll-off platform assembly further includes an area lighting apparatus mounted on said base inside said fence.
- 10. The system of claim 5, wherein said generator is an electric generator.
- 11. The system of claim 5, wherein a meter is associated with said pump.
- 12. The system of claim 5, wherein said roll-off platform assembly further includes a forward hooking assembly for use in pulling or otherwise transporting.
- 13. The system of claim 5, wherein said pump includes a fuel distribution hose having a nozzle.
CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS
None.
US Referenced Citations (9)