US-20260125258-A1 - PROBE SAVER

Abstract

A probe saver system includes a safety cable having an upper and lower portion with a holder therebetween, the safety cable upper portion having a lifting loop distal to the holder and the safety cable lower portion having first and second branches connected at the first holder with the safety cable upper portion. The probe saver system also includes a mount connected to the safety cable's branches distal to the holder and configured for attaching to an ATG assembly, wherein the mount configuration permits the ATG assembly to be positioned in a riser and a liquid storage tank with the safety cable and the mount attached to the ATG assembly.

Inventors

• Scott Vernon Giese

Assignees

• Scott Vernon Giese

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251103

Claims (6)

1. 1 . A probe saver system comprising: a safety cable having an upper and lower portion with a holder therebetween, the safety cable upper portion having a lifting loop distal to the holder and the safety cable lower portion having first and second branches connected at the first holder with the safety cable upper portion; and a mount connected to the safety cable's branches distal to the holder and configured for attaching to an automatic tank gaging (ATG) assembly, wherein the mount configuration permits the ATG assembly to be positioned in a riser and a liquid storage tank with the safety cable and the mount attached to the ATG assembly.
2. 2 . The probe saver system of claim 1 , wherein the mount configuration includes the mount being configured for attaching to a probe body of the ATG assembly.
3. 3 . The probe saver system of claim 2 , wherein a data cable is connected to the probe body via a fitting, the probe body having a threaded barrel for screwing into matching threads of an opening in the fitting, and wherein the mount configuration includes the mount forming a central opening having a diameter large enough to receive the barrel so that the central opening allows the mount to be positioned around the barrel.
4. 4 . The probe saver system of claim 3 , wherein the fitting has an outer diameter and the mount configuration includes the mount being thinner than the threaded length of the barrel and the diameter of the mount's central opening being smaller than the outer diameter of the fitting to enable i) positioning the mount around the barrel while being between the probe body and the fitting and ii) holding the mount tightly against the probe body with the fitting screwed in tightly.
5. 5 . The probe saver system of claim 2 , wherein a data cable is connected to the probe body via a fitting, the fitting having a threaded barrel for screwing into matching threads of an opening in the probe body, and wherein the mount configuration includes the mount forming a central opening having a diameter large enough to receive the barrel so that the central opening allows the mount to be positioned around the barrel.
6. 6 . The probe saver system of claim 5 , wherein the fitting has an outer diameter and the mount configuration includes the mount being thinner than the threaded length of the barrel and the diameter of the mount's central opening being smaller than the outer diameter of the fitting to enable i) positioning the mount around the barrel while being between the probe body and the fitting and ii) holding the mount tightly against the probe body with the fitting screwed in tightly.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application hereby incorporates herein by reference and claims benefit of the priority date of U.S. provisional patent application 63/717,184, which has a filing date of 6 Nov. 2024. TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to petroleum storage tanks, and more particularly to installation and removal of automatic tank gauge assemblies. BACKGROUND Automatic Tank Guage (“ATG”) systems have been used for many years to monitor storage tanks for leaks and liquid levels, including tanks in the convenience store and petroleum storage industries. Such ATG systems include in-tank ATG assemblies having probes and data cables (also referred to herein as “communication cables”) that attach to the respective probes. There are millions of ATG assemblies currently installed in tanks across the nation and other countries. SUMMARY A probe saver system includes a safety cable having an upper and lower portion with a holder therebetween, the safety cable upper portion having a lifting loop distal to the holder and the safety cable lower portion having first and second branches connected at the first holder with the safety cable upper portion. The probe saver system also includes a mount connected to the safety cable's branches distal to the holder and configured for attaching to an ATG assembly, wherein the mount configuration permits the ATG assembly to be positioned in a riser and a liquid storage tank with the safety cable and the mount attached to the ATG assembly. In another aspect, the mount configuration includes the mount being configured for attaching to a probe body of the ATG assembly In another aspect, a data cable is connected to the probe body via a fitting, the probe body having a threaded barrel for screwing into matching threads of an opening in the fitting, wherein the mount configuration includes the mount forming a central opening having a diameter large enough to receive the barrel so that the central opening allows the mount to be positioned around the barrel. In another aspect, the fitting has an outer diameter and the mount configuration includes the mount being thinner than the threaded length of the barrel and the diameter of the mount's central opening being smaller than the outer diameter of the fitting to enable i) positioning the mount around the barrel while being between the probe body and the fitting and ii) holding the mount tightly against the probe body with the fitting screwed in tightly. In an alternative, a data cable is connected to the probe body via a fitting, the fitting having a threaded barrel for screwing into matching threads of an opening in the probe body, wherein the mount configuration includes the mount forming a central opening having a diameter large enough to receive the barrel so that the central opening allows the mount to be positioned around the barrel. In this alternative, as well, the fitting has an outer diameter and the mount configuration includes the mount being thinner than the threaded length of the barrel and the diameter of the mount's central opening being smaller than the outer diameter of the fitting to enable i) positioning the mount around the barrel while being between the probe body and the fitting and ii) holding the mount tightly against the probe body with the fitting screwed in tightly. Details of one or more embodiments of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other forms, features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 provides an elevation view of an ATG system with a probe saver system installed in a storage tank, as configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 shows details of a portion of FIG. 1, wherein a riser pipe with an installed ATG assembly and probe saver system are shown in more detail, as configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 provides an elevation view showing more details of the probe saver system of FIGS. 1 and 2, as configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 provides a top view of the probe saver system's mount of FIG. 3, as configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 provides an elevation view showing more details of the probe saver system of FIGS. 1 and 2, as configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure that includes an alternative to the probe saver system's mount of FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The probe saver system and method disclosed herein was developed out of an industry need to prevent chronic failure of ATG systems. The present invention involves study leading to recognition of a problematic combination of equipment, circumstances, causes and effects, including the following: i) ATG assemblies, including their probes, have historically been installed in or removed from