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US 5,174,346 AGranted
Fuel dispensing nozzle
AssigneeHealy Systems, Inc.
InventorJames W. Healy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved fuel dispensing nozzle of significantly reduced size and weight has a single diaphragm that provides the vapor regulating function as well as providing the excess pressure and excess vacuum shut-off functions. Improved shut-off function is obtained by ensuring that chamber pressure is the same as that at the spout tip disposed in the vehicle fuel tank fill pipe. The improved fuel dispensing nozzle design also reduces the amount of accidental fuel spillage which may occur when refueling is concluded.
Claims17
In a fuel dispensing nozzle for delivering fuel into a fuel tank by way of a fill pipe, said nozzle comprising
- a nozzle body,
- a spout housing,
- a spout extending from said spout housing,
- a fuel conduit defined by said nozzle and leading to said spout,
- a vapor conduit associated with said spout for withdrawing displaced vapors from the fuel tank being filled and transporting them to a remote vapor collection system,
- a fuel valve for controlling flow of fuel through said fuel conduit,
- an aspirator line having a tip located with respect to said spout so as to be in communication with the interior of the tank being filled when said spout is inserted in the fill pipe,
- means for producing a negative pressure in said aspirator line,
- pressure sensitive means in communication with said aspirator line for closing said fuel valve when a predetermined negative vent pressure condition exists in said aspirator line,
- an aspirator valve in said aspirator line between said tip and said means for producing a negative pressure in said aspirator line,
- pressure actuable means for controlling said aspirator valve,
- a vapor regulator valve in said vapor conduit operable in response to a predetermined first vapor pressure condition in said fuel tank, said vapor regulator valve comprising a diaphragm mounted in said nozzle with a first surface facing said vapor conduit, said diaphragm blocking said vapor conduit in a first position and not blocking said vapor conduit in a second position, and biasing means urging said diaphragm to said second position, said diaphragm having a second surface facing a chamber, said nozzle further defining a vent linking said chamber with the ambient exterior of said nozzle,
- the improvement wherein
- said pressure actuable means for controlling said aspirator valve is in communication with said vapor conduit, and said vapor regulator valve and said pressure actuable means comprise a single said diaphragm,
- said pressure actuable means being arranged to respond to both positive and negative vapor pressure conditions in said vapor conduit and to close said aspirator valve when either of a predetermined second negative or positive vapor pressure condition is detected in the fuel tank being filled, thereby permitting the negative pressure in said aspirator line to reach said predetermined negative vent pressure value at said pressure sensitive means so as to actuate said pressure sensitive means to close said fuel valve.
12 more elements
In a fuel dispensing nozzle for delivering fuel into a fuel tank by way of a fill pipe, said nozzle comprising
- a nozzle body,
- a spout housing,
- a spout extending from said spout housing,
- a fuel conduit defined by said nozzle and leading to said spout,
- a vapor return line associated with said spout for withdrawing displaced vapors from the fuel tank being filled and transporting them to a remote vapor collection system,
- a fuel valve for controlling flow of fuel through said fuel conduit,
- an aspirator line having a tip located with respect to said spout so as to be in communication with the interior of the tank being filled when said spout is inserted in the fill pipe,
- means for producing a negative pressure in said aspirator line, and
- pressure sensitive means in communication with said aspirator line for closing said fuel valve when a predetermined negative pressure condition exists in said aspirator line,
- the improvement wherein
- said pressure sensitive means comprises a single diaphragm having a first surface facing an aspirator line chamber in communication with said aspirator line and a second surface forming a portion of a vapor return line chamber in communication with said vapor return line in a manner whereby the pressure in said vapor return line chamber is generally the same as the pressure at the tip of said spout in the fill pipe of the vehicle fuel tank.
8 more elements
In a fuel dispensing nozzle for delivering fuel into a fuel tank by way of a fill pipe, said nozzle comprising
- a nozzle body,
- a spout housing,
- a spout extending from said spout housing,
- a fuel conduit defined by said nozzle and leading to said spout,
- a vapor return line associated with said spout for withdrawing displaced vapors from the fuel tank being filled and transporting them to a remote vapor collection system,
- a fuel valve for controlling flow of fuel through said fuel conduit,
- an aspirator line having a tip located with respect to said spout so as to be in communication with the interior of the tank being filled when said spout is inserted in the fill pipe,
- means for producing a negative pressure in said aspirator line, and
- pressure sensitive means in communication with said aspirator line for closing said fuel valve when a predetermined negative pressure condition exists in said aspirator line,
- the improvement wherein
- said pressure sensitive means comprises a single diaphragm having a first surface facing an aspirator line chamber in communication with said aspirator line and a second surface forming a portion of a vapor return line chamber in communication with said vapor return line in a manner whereby the pressure in said vapor return line chamber is generally the same as the pressure at the tip of said spout in the fill pipe of the vehicle fuel tank, and
- a bore is defined by said spout housing and intersects said aspirator line, said bore, when said spout is disposed in a predetermined position for delivery of fuel into the fuel tank fill pipe, having an axis which is inclined downwardly from the intersection of said bore and said aspirator line,
- said nozzle further comprises a valve element disposed in said bore, said valve element being adapted to move between a first position with said valve element spaced from the intersection of said bore and said aspirator line in a manner to allow vacuum to be drawn through said aspirator line from said spout and a second position with said valve element disposed at the intersection of said bore and said aspirator line in a manner to block the drawing of vacuum through said vapor conduit from said spout, thereby to actuate said pressure sensitive means to cause said fuel valve to close ceasing flow of fuel to said spout.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.