Coaxial vapor recovery nozzle

A vapor-recovery system for vehicle refueling wherein a fuel-dispensing system cooperates with portions of a vehicle fuel receiving and storage system, comprising:

• a fuel-dispensing nozzle having a main body portion, a discharge spout projecting from the main body portion, said discharge spout having an outlet end proportioned for ease of insertion into a fuel tank fillpipe of a vehicle fuel receiving and storage system, a flow passage for the flow of fuel to said nozzle and through said main body portion and said discharge spout, a flow control valve in said main body portion operable to regulate the flow of fuel through said flow passage, a vapor-receiving passage formed in said main body portion, a vapor-recovery, rigid, tubular member projecting from said main body portion and coaxially arranged around said discharge spout, said vapor-recovery member having an inner end and outer end, the inner end of said vapor-recovery member mounted on said main body portion to communicate with said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, the outer end of said vapor-recovery member located rearwardly of the outlet end of said discharge spout and proportioned for ease of insertion into the fuel tank fillpipe, said vapor-recovery member defining with the exterior surface of said discharge spout a vapor-recovery passageway therebetween for receiving vapors displaced from the fuel tank during refueling, a seal means located inwardly of the fillpipe opening for receiving the outlet end of said discharge spout and the outer end of said vapor-recovery member to sealingly engage said vapor-recovery member when said discharge spout is operatively inserted in the fuel tank fillpipe so that substantially all the vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling flows through said vapor-recovery passageway defined by said vapor-recovery member and the exterior surface of said discharge spout to said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, a pinch valve operable by a fluid pressure located in said vapor-recovery member inwardly of the outer end thereof to prevent the escape of vapors through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member, said pinch valve being in a closed position when said nozzle is not in use so that vapors located inwardly thereof cannot escape through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member and said pinch valve being in an open position when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fuel tank fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member so that vapors expelled from the fuel tank during refueling may be directed through said vapor-recovery passageway defined by said vapor-recovery member and the exterior surface of said discharge spout to the vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, and an actuating means for operatively establishing fluid communication between the flow passage upstream of said flow control valve and said pinch valve so that said pinch valve is closed when said nozzle is not in use and for establishing fluid communication between the flow passage in said discharge spout and said pinch valve so that said pinch valve is open when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fuel tank fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member.

A vapor-recovery system for vehicle refueling wherein a fuel-dispensing system cooperates with portions of a vehicle fuel receiving and storage system, comprising:

• a fuel-dispensing nozzle having a main body portion, a discharge spout projecting from the main body portion, said discharge spout having an outlet end proportioned for ease of insertion into a fuel tank fillpipe of a vehicle fuel receiving and storage system, a flow passage for the flow of fuel to said nozzle and through said main body portion and said discharge spout, a flow control valve in the main body portion operable to regulate the flow of fuel through said flow passage, a vent tube extending from a vacuum-operated release mechanism to the outlet end of said discharge spout to form a vent passage therein, the vacuum-operated release mechanism automatically closing said flow control valve when the level of fuel in the fuel tank being refueled rises above a level sufficient to block the end of said vent passage of said vent tube at the outlet end of said discharge spout, a vapor-receiving passage means formed in said main body portion, a vapor-recovery, rigid, tubular member projecting from said main body portion and coaxially arranged around said discharge spout, said vapor-recovery member having an inner end and outer end, the inner end of said vapor-recovery member mounted on said main body portion to communicate with said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, the outer end of said vapor-recovery member located rearwardly of the outlet end of said discharge spout and proportioned for ease of insertion into the fuel tank fillpipe, said vapor-recovery member defining with the exterior surface of said discharge spout a vapor-recovery passageway therebetween for receiving vapors displaced from the vehicle fuel tank, a seal means located inwardly of the fillpipe opening of the vehicle receiving and storage system for receiving the outlet end of said discharge spout and the outer end of said vapor-recovery member to sealingly engage said vapor-recovery member when said discharge spout is operatively inserted in the fuel tank fillpipe opening so that substantially all the vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling flows through said vapor-recovery member to said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, a pinch valve operable by a fluid pressure located in said vapor-recovery member inwardly of the outer end thereof to prevent the escape of vapor through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member, said pinch valve being in a closed position when said nozzle is not in use so that vapors located inwardly thereof cannot escape through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member and said pinch valve being in an open position when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fuel tank fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member so that vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling may be directed through said vapor-recovery member to the vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, a first fluid passageway connecting the flow passage upstream of said flow control valve with said pinch valve for flowing fuel from the flow passage upstream of said flow control valve to said pinch valve in order that a fluid pressure is supplied to said pinch valve to close said pinch valve when said nozzle is not in use, a first valve member having a fluid channel means formed therein and located in a valve housing mounted on said vapor-recovery member to be movable within said valve housing to operatively establish fluid communication between said pinch valve and said flow passage in said discharge spout, a second fluid passageway connecting said pinch valve and the flow passage in said discharge spout by way of said fluid channel means in said first valve member so that fuel may flow from said pinch valve to said flow passage in said discharge spout to open said pinch valve, said first valve member movable between a first position in which said second fluid passageway is blocked to prevent fluid communication from being established between said pinch valve and the flow passage in said discharge spout so that said pinch valve is closed and a second position in which said second fluid passageway is open by way of said fluid channel means in said first valve member to establish fluid communication between said pinch valve and the flow passage in said discharge spout so that said pinch valve is open, an actuating plunger affixed to said valve member and extending through said valve housing to contact the fuel tank fillpipe to cause said first valve member to move to the open position when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member, said first valve member being normally urged to the closed position when said seal means does not sealingly engage said vapor-recovery member when said nozzle is not in use, a second movable valve member having a vent channel means formed therein and located in said valve housing to be connected to said first valve member to move within said valve housing in response to the movement of said first valve member, a portion of said vent passage of said vent tube formed by said vent channel means in said second valve member such that said second valve member is movable between a first position in which said vent passage is blocked by said second valve member to disrupt normal venting and activate the vacuum-operated release mechanism to close said flow control valve when said seal means does not sealingly engage said vapor-recovery member and a second position in which said vent passage is open by way of said vent channel means to permit normal venting of the vacuum-operated release mechanism when said discharge spout is operatively inserted in the fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member.

A vapor-recovery fuel-dispensing nozzle for vehicle refueling for use with a vehicle fuel receiving and storage system having a fuel tank fillpipe with a seal means formed therein inwardly of the fillpipe opening for providing a vapor-tight seal to prevent the escape of vapors from the fuel tank when the nozzle is inserted into the fuel tank fillpipe during refueling, comprising:

• a nozzle main body portion, a discharge spout projecting from the main body portion, said discharge spout having an outlet end proportioned for ease of insertion into the fuel tank fillpipe, a flow passage for the flow of fuel to said nozzle and through said main body portion and said discharge spout, a flow control valve in the main body portion operable to regulate the flow of fuel through said flow passage, a vapor-receiving passage formed in said nozzle main body portion, a vapor-recovery, rigid, tubular member projecting from said nozzle main body portion and coaxially arranged around said discharge spout to define with the exterior surface of said discharge spout a vapor-recovery passageway therebetween for receiving the vapors displaced from the fuel tank during refueling, said vapor-recovery member having an inner end and outer end, the inner end of said vapor recovery member mounted on said main body portion to communicate with said vapor-receiving passage in said nozzle main body portion, the outer end of said vapor-recovery member located rearwardly of the outlet end of said discharge spout and proportioned for ease of insertion into the fillpipe, said seal means receiving the outlet end of said discharge spout and the outer end of said vapor-recovery member to establish a vapor-tight seal with said vapor-recovery member when said discharge spout is operatively inserted in the fillpipe so that substantially all the vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling flows through said vapor-recovery member to said vapor-receiving passage in said nozzle main body portion, a valve means operable by a fluid pressure located in said vapor-recovery member inwardly of the outer end thereof to prevent the escape of vapor through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member, said valve means being in a closed position when said nozzle is not in use so that vapors located inwardly thereof cannot escape through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member and said valve means being in an open position when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member so that vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling may be directed through said vapor-recovery member to the vapor-receiving passage in said nozzle main body portion, and actuating means for operatively establishing fluid communication between the flow passage upstream of said flow control valve and said valve means so that said valve means is closed when said nozzle is not in use and for establishing fluid communication between the flow passage in said discharge spout and said valve means so that said valve means is open when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member.

A method for recovering refueling emissions from a fuel tank of a vehicle fuel receiving and storage system wherein a fuel-dispensing nozzle cooperates with portions of the vehicle fuel receiving and storage system, the nozzle having a main body portion, a discharge spout projecting from the main body portion, said discharge spout having an outlet end proportioned for ease of insertion into a fuel tank fillpipe of the vehicle fuel receiving and storage system, a flow passage for the flow of fuel to said nozzle and through said main body portion and said discharge spout, and a flow control valve in said main body portion, comprising:

• coaxially arranging a vapor-recovery, rigid, tubular member around said discharge spout to project from said main body portion to define with the exterior surface of said discharge spout a vapor-recovery passageway therebetween for receiving vapors displaced from the vehicle fuel tank during refueling, said vapor-recovery member having an inner end and outer end, the inner end of said vapor-recovery member mounted on said main body portion and communicating with said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, the outer end of said vapor-recovery member located rearwardly of the outlet end of said discharge spout and proportioned for ease of insertion into the fuel tank fillpipe;
• locating a seal means inwardly of the fuel tank fillpipe opening to receive the outlet end of said discharge spout and the outer end of said vapor-recovery member to establish a vapor-tight seal with said vapor-recovery member when said discharge spout is operatively inserted in the fuel tank fillpipe so that substantially all the vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling flows through said vapor-recovery member to said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion;
• positioning a valve means operable by a fluid pressure in said vapor-recovery member inwardly of the outer end thereof to prevent the escape of vapor through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member, said valve means being in a closed position when said nozzle is not in use so that vapors located inwardly thereof cannot escape through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member and said valve means being in an open position when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fuel tank fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member so that vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling may be directed through said vapor-recovery member to the vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion;
• and
• providing an actuating means for operatively establishing fluid communication between the flow passage upstream of said flow control valve and said valve means so that said valve means is closed when said nozzle is not in use and for establishing fluid communication between the flow passage in said discharge spout and said valve means so that said valve means is open when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fuel tank fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member.

A method for recovering fuel emissions from a fuel tank of a vehicle fuel receiving and storage system using a fuel-dispensing nozzle wherein a seal means is formed in a fuel tank fillpipe inwardly of the opening thereof to provide a vapor-tight seal to prevent the escape of vapors from the fuel tank when the nozzle is inserted into the fuel tank fillpipe during refueling, the nozzle having a main body portion, a discharge spout projecting from the main body portion, said discharge spout having an outlet end proportioned for ease of insertion into the fuel tank fillpipe, a flow passage for the flow of fuel to said nozzle and through said main body portion and said discharge spout, a flow control valve in said main body portion operable to regulate the flow of fuel through said flow passage, and a vapor-receiving passage means formed in said main body portion, comprising:

• coaxially arranging a vapor-recovery, rigid, tubular member around said discharge spout to project from said main body portion to define with the exterior surface of said discharge spout a vapor-recovery passageway therebetween for receiving the vapors displaced from the fuel tank during refueling, said vapor-recovery member having an inner end and outer end, the inner end of said vapor-recovery member mounted on said main body portion to communicate with said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion, the outer end of said vapor-recovery member located rearwardly of the outlet end of said discharge spout and proportioned for ease of insertion into the fillpipe, said seal means being located inwardly of the fillpipe opening for receiving the outlet end of said discharge spout and the outer end of said vapor-recovery member to establish a vapor-tight seal with said vapor-recovery member when said discharge spout is operatively inserted in the fillpipe so that substantially all the vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling flows through said vapor-recovery member to said vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion;
• positioning a valve means operable by a fluid pressure in said vapor-recovery member inwardly of the outer end thereof to prevent the escape of vapor through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member, said valve means being in a closed position when said nozzle is not in use so that vapors located inwardly thereof cannot escape through the outer end of said vapor-recovery member and said valve means being in an open position when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member so that vapor expelled from the fuel tank during refueling may be directed through said vapor-recovery member to the vapor-receiving passage in said main body portion;
• and
• providing an actuating means for operatively establishing fluid communication between the flow passage upstream of said flow control valve and said valve means so that said valve means is closed when said nozzle is not in use and for establishing fluid communication between the flow passage in said discharge spout and said valve means so that said valve means is open when said discharge spout is operatively inserted into the fillpipe and said seal means sealingly engages said vapor-recovery member.