Liquid dispensing nozzle with a pump pressure responsive automatic shut-off mechanism

In an improved liquid dispensing nozzle comprising a body defining an internal passageway, said passageway being provided with an inlet port and an outlet port, and a main valve mounted within said body between said inlet port and said outlet port for selectively opening and closing said passageway to the flow of said liquid;

• said main valve being provided with an operating lever for selectively opening said main valve and latch means for selectively closing and prohibiting the opening of said main valve, said nozzle being further provided with a spout assembly secured to said outlet port, said improvement comprising first automatic shut-off means for selectively releasing said latch means so as to close and prohibit the opening of said main valve when supply pressure to said nozzle falls below a preselected value, said first automatic shut-off means comprising:
• a cap member releasably mounted on said body, said cap member and said body defining an automatic shut-off chamber,
• an upwardly biased diaphragm plunger secured to a pressure diaphragm, said diaphragm plunger and said pressure diaphragm transversely dividing said automatic shut-off chamber so as to define a pressure chamber, said diaphragm plunger engaging said latch means such that preselected movement of said diaphragm plunger releases said latch means so as to close and prohibit the opening of said main valve, and
• a pressure conduit provided within said cap member and said body, said pressure conduit having a first end opening into said pressure chamber and a second end opening into said passageway between said main valve and said inlet port.

A liquid dispensing nozzle for dispensing a liquid from a dispensing pump, said nozzle comprising:

• a body defining an internal passageway, said passageway being provided with an inlet port for being releasably connected in fluid communication to said dispensing pump, and an outlet port, and further defining a plunger housing with in said body, said body being further provided with a cap member releasably mounted on said body, said cap member and said body defining a pressure chamber above said plunger housing;
• a main valve mounted within said body between said inlet port and said outlet port for selectively opening and closing said passageway to the flow of said liquid, said main valve being normally biased to a closed position, said main valve being provided with an operating lever for selectively opening said main valve to the flow of said liquid;
• a spout assembly secured to said outlet port of said body for selectively directing the flow of said liquid from said nozzle;
• latch means for selectively closing and prohibiting the opening of said main valve, said latch means comprising a latch plunger slidably mounted within said plunger housing, said latch plunger being provided with a lower end portion for pivotally engages said operating lever, and being further provided with an upper end portion defining a latch pin receptor cup, said receptor cup being provided with a plurality of side wall openings each rotatably receiving a ball-latch, said latch means further comprising a latch pin for being slidably received in said receptor cup, whereby insertion of said latch pin into said receptor cup locks said latch means so as to allow the opening of said main valve;
• first automatic shut-off means for selectively releasing said latch means so as to close and prohibit the opening of said main valve when supply pressure from said dispensing pump falls below a preselected value, said first automatic shut-off means comprising a diaphragm plunger secured to a pressure diaphragm, said diaphragm plunger and said pressure diaphragm transversly dividing said automatic shut-off chamber so as to define a pressure chamber, said diaphragm plunger engaging said latch pin such that selected movement of said diaphragm plunger away from said latch plunger removes said latch pin from said receptor cup and selected movement of said diaphragm plunger toward said latch plunger inserts said latch pin into said receptor cup, said diaphragm plunger being provided with spring biasing means for biasing said diaphragm plunger away from said latch plunger, said first automatic shut-off means further comprising a pressure conduit provided within said cap member and said body, said pressure conduit having a first end portion opening into said pressure chamber and a second end opening into said passageway between said main valve and said inlet port;
• and
• further automatic shut-off means for closing said main valve when said liquid reaches the discharge end of said spout assembly, said further automatic shut-off means comprising a vacuum diaphragm mounted within said automatic shut-off chamber and transversely dividing said automatic shut-off chamber so as to define a vacuum chamber, said vacuum diaphragm being secured to said latch pin such that preselected movement of said vacuum diaphragm releases said latch means so as to selectively close and prohibit the opening of said main valve, said further automatic shut-off means further comprising a poppet valve provided with a poppet valve seat for generating a venturi effect, a vacuum conduit for connecting in fluid communication said vacuum chamber with said poppet valve seat, and a venting conduit for connecting in fluid communication said vacuum chamber with said discharge end of said spout assembly.