Remote fueling station with fuel pump enclosure

Abstract

A remote fueling station for an above ground fuel storage tank has a fuel pump for dispensing a pressurize flow of fuel from the fuel tank to a dispenser nozzle. A lockable enclosure is supported on the fuel tank in fixed relation thereto by a threaded connection at an intermediate location along a rigid supply pipe connected between the fuel pump and the fuel tank. The enclosure includes a fuel pump compartment receiving the fuel pump therein and a battery compartment for receiving a battery of the fuel pump therein which is separate from the fuel pump compartment so that the battery is isolated from the fuel pump. A dispenser nozzle and an activation switch of the fuel pump can also be received within the enclosure so as to restrict access thereto by unauthorized persons. A solar panel is supported above the enclosure for recharging the battery.

1 . A remote fueling station for a fuel storage tank supported above ground and having an outlet fitting, the remote fueling station comprising:
 a fuel pump having an inlet for receiving fuel and an outlet for dispensing a pressurize flow of fuel therefrom;   a supply pipe for connection from the outlet fitting of the fuel storage tank to the inlet of the fuel pump in fixed relation therebetween;   a dispenser nozzle for connection to the outlet of the fuel pump for dispensing the pressurize flow of fuel therefrom; and   an enclosure for being supported about the fuel pump so as to be arranged to restrict activation of the fuel pump by unauthorized persons;   the enclosure being arranged to be supported on the fuel tank in fixed relation thereto so as to restrict removal of the enclosure from the fuel tank by unauthorized persons.   
     
     
         2 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is arranged to be supported entirely on the fuel tank. 
     
     
         3 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 1  wherein the supply pipe comprises a rigid pipe including a threaded pipe fitting therein at an intermediate location between the fuel pump and the outlet fitting of the fuel tank, the threaded pipe fitting being supported in fixed relationship with a boundary portion of the enclosure to extend through the boundary portion of the enclosure. 
     
     
         4 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 3  wherein the enclosure includes a bottom panel at a bottom side of the enclosure which defines the boundary portion that receives the threaded pipe fitting extending therethrough. 
     
     
         5 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 3  wherein the enclosure includes an upright rear wall panel which defines the boundary portion that receives the threaded pipe fitting extending therethrough. 
     
     
         6 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 5  wherein the outlet fitting of the fuel tank is located in a top wall of the tank and the supply pipe extends laterally between the outlet fitting and the enclosure which is located against an upright wall of the fuel tank and wherein the remote fueling station further comprises a shroud for fully surrounding the supply pipe between the outlet fitting and the enclosure. 
     
     
         7 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 1  wherein the enclosure includes a supporting portion which is adapted to engage a top side of the fuel tank. 
     
     
         8 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 1  wherein the enclosure is formed so as to be adapted to mate non-rotatably with the tank. 
     
     
         9 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 8  wherein the enclosure comprises:
 a bottom panel defining a bottom side of a fuel pump compartment receiving the fuel pump therein; 
 a pair of support legs extending downwardly from the bottom panel to engage a top side of the tank; and 
 a depending leg portion which protrudes downwardly from the bottom panel to a bottom free end which is positioned lower than a bottom end of the support legs to prevent relative rotation between the enclosure and the tank about the supply pipe. 
 
     
     
         10 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 9  wherein the depending leg portion is adjustable in height relative to the enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 8  wherein the enclosure further comprises:
 a rear wall portion arranged to be abutted against an upright wall of the fuel tank; and 
 a shoulder portion protruding rearward from the rear wall portion so as to be arranged to abut a top side of the fuel tank when the rear wall portion abuts the upright wall of the fuel tank. 
 
     
     
         12 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 1  wherein the enclosure comprises a fuel pump compartment receiving the fuel pump therein and a battery compartment separate from the fuel pump compartment which receives therein a battery for supplying power to the fuel pump such that the battery is isolated from the fuel pump. 
     
     
         13 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 1  further comprising a battery in the enclosure for supplying power to the fuel pump and a solar panel supported externally on the enclosure for recharging the battery. 
     
     
         14 . A remote fueling station for a fuel storage tank supported above ground and having an outlet fitting, the remote fueling station comprising:
 a fuel pump having an inlet for receiving fuel and an outlet for dispensing a pressurize flow of fuel therefrom;   a battery for supplying power to the fuel pump;   an inlet pipe for connection from the outlet fitting of the fuel storage tank to the inlet of the fuel pump in fixed relation therebetween;   a dispenser nozzle for connection to the outlet of the fuel pump for dispensing the pressurize flow of fuel therefrom;   an enclosure comprising:
 a fuel pump compartment receiving the fuel pump therein so as to be arranged to restrict access to the fuel pump by unauthorized persons; and 
 a battery compartment separate from the fuel pump compartment which receives therein the battery therein such that the battery is isolated from the fuel pump. 
   
     
     
         15 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 14  the fuel pump compartment of the enclosure further receives the dispenser nozzle therein so as to be arranged to restrict access to the dispenser nozzle by unauthorized persons. 
     
     
         16 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 14  wherein the enclosure further comprises a dispenser compartment separate from the fuel pump compartment which receives the dispenser nozzle therein. 
     
     
         17 . The remote fueling station according to  claim 16  wherein the activation switch is located in the dispenser compartment.