Double poppet valve for precise shut off of fuel dispensing nozzle

A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a body, a fuel flow path within the body, an inlet formed at one end of the fuel flow path, a spout formed at the other end of the fuel flow path, and a valve assembly positioned along the fuel flow path and being movable between a closed position in which fuel flow through the nozzle is prevented, a first opened position in which fuel flows at a first rate through the nozzle, and a second opened position in which fuel flows through the nozzle at a second rate faster than said first rate, the valve assembly comprising:

• a. a first valve seat in said fuel flow path;
• b. an outer poppet movable between a closed position and an open position, the outer poppet comprising a body having a sealing surface that engages the valve seat when the outer poppet is in its closed position, and a chamber within the outer poppet having a second valve seat therein and a pair of openings to allow fuel to flow through the outer poppet;
• b. a first compressive member located in the nozzle body and positioned to bias the outer poppet to its closed position;
• and
• d. an inner poppet located within the chamber of the outer poppet and in the fuel flow path, the inner poppet being movable between a closed position in which the inner poppet engages the second valve seat to prevent the flow of fuel through the outer poppet chamber and an open position in which the inner poppet is spaced from the second valve seat to allow the flow of fuel through the outer poppet chamber;
• e. a second compressive member located in the outer poppet chamber and positioned to bias the inner poppet to its closed position;
• and
• f. an opening mechanism that moves the outer poppet and the inner poppet between their respective open and closed positions, said opening mechanism opening the inner poppet prior to opening the outer poppet.