Petrol pumps at service stations could have their handles warmed with a circulating hot water system to make life more comfortable when filling the car during winter.
I will probably get a baked on this in which case why isn't anyone doing it.-- IvanIdea, Mar 12 2002 This keeps my hands toasty warm in the winter when fueling. http://www.wspa.org...ervegasstations.htmOnly works in Oregon and New Joisey [Klaatu, Oct 04 2004] It's probably not worth the hassle.
[blissmiss] As well as the smell from the petrol there is a danger that it will reach a concentration within its catabiotic threshold, in which case it will be in danger of igniting.
As a general principle, heat, confined spaces, and petrol are best kept apart.-- stupop, Mar 12 2002 Full service station?-- rbl, Mar 12 2002 [stupop] "there is a danger that it will reach a concentration within its catabiotic threshold, in which case it will be in danger of igniting" Do you mean it might catch fire? Not at say 37 degrees C which is nice body temperature.
[blissmiss] my better half has a good technique which I will pass on to you gratis- whenever she needs fuel and we are going somewhere she says "lets take mine" and being a gentleman ........ otherwise we take my car in which case I get to pay for the fuel and put it in.-- IvanIdea, Mar 12 2002 Whether or not petrol catches fire when given a source of ignition depends on the vapour/air mix. If there is an insufficient percentage of petrol vapour in the air or, indeed, an insufficient percentage of air in the petrol vapour, ignition will be impossible. Temperature affects this mixture in so far as it will increase the rate at which petrol turns from a liquid to vapour form, thereby increasing the percentage of vapour in the air & making ignition more likely. A confined space will also adversly affect the mix.-- stupop, Mar 12 2002 Absolutely stu, can't fault your reasoning but petrol in pump is in liquid form and will only vapourise when out of the pump and in the atmosphere. The temperature increase in the fuel will be very low due to the high flow rate through the warmed handle, and once in the tank the low temperatures that make the heated handle desirable will also take any warmth back out of the fuel. So I cannot see any danger from increased ignition risk. UNLESS of course the thermostat on the water heater goes wrong and the handles get very hot which would indeed lead to a christmas pudding brandy effect-- IvanIdea, Mar 12 2002 right next Christmas, you lot are all getting woolly gloves. One minute, its cold feet, now cold fingers, what next I wonder. Croissant to Ivan because no-one else has bothered to vote on this.-- po, Mar 12 2002 All the gas pump nozzles (or petrol pump if you prefer) have a thick rubber guard around them to isolate you from the metal. Granted if it gets below freezing it is a cold day for us. How about a gas nozzle muff that you hand slides up into? For those that forget their gloves.-- rbl, Mar 12 2002 uhnuhuhuh, rbl said muff, uhnuhuhuh-- thumbwax, Mar 12 2002 We don't have those rubber sleeves in South Shropshire-but turning the pump handle goes some way to keeping us warm-- IvanIdea, Mar 12 2002 perhaps do away with the self-service idea altogether. some nice man in a smart warm uniform fills me up and takes my money. I remain in car. "Thank you Madam, Have a nice day".-- po, Mar 12 2002 what is po referring to?-- rbl, Mar 12 2002 no. put a 'flame' option so you can torch those annoying chinamen.-- Sekio, Mar 14 2003 I think the main problem here would be the chance of a spark.-- rapid transit, May 20 2003 If I were to run water, no matter the temperature, through a metal pipe for a long time, wouldn't it eventually generate static electricity around it? Now I might just be forgetting that it doesn't work with metal, but I can't quite remember... I know it works with plastic, anyhow. But still, the risk could be present. So this water has been circulating, you bring it to your car, the static discharges, and you get a fire. But still, I voted for it anyway... just because I think it's a good idea that should be explored... and even though it supports the terrible fuel economy. Blah. $2.05 today for 87 octane. Blah.-- MrDark, May 11 2004 A cure for frozen hands at the self-serve pumps <link>-- Klaatu, May 11 2004 [rbl] How about a neoprene wrapper around the handle, rather than rubber. Neoprene doesn't feel as cold as rubber, since it seems to be a better insulator. Certainly, my neoprene back support gets nice and toasty in a short period of time.-- WYBloke, May 11 2004 Why not put a small combustion chamber in the handle, and automatically burn a smallish quantity of gasoline while you're refueling ? That'll keep that gas pump handle nicely hot !!!-- _Arthur, Jan 08 2005 random, halfbakery