# US 8,539,997 B2 · Filling head for filling in a fluid into a filler neck of a tank > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,539,997 B2 - Document ID: US8539997B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/451,235 - Filed: 2012-04-19 - Published: 2012-10-25 - Granted: 2013-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-04-19 - Assignees: Walter Söhner GmbH & Co. KG - Applicants: Michael Driftmeyer; Alex Klatt - Inventors: Michael Driftmeyer; Alex Klatt - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8539997B2 ## CPC - B67D 7/42: Filling nozzles - Y10T 137/8242: Electrical - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A filling head 10 is described for filling in a liquid into a filler neck of a tank 14. To ensure highly reliable operation, a rotary connecting element 26 is provided to form a mechanical connection by rotating in relation to the filler neck of the tank 14. A rotatable operating part 30 serves to rotate the rotary connecting element 26. The operating part 30 is coupled to the rotary connecting element 26 by means of a torque-limiting coupling device 32 that, given a threshold torque, is triggered at least in one direction of rotation and decouples the rotatable operating part 30 from the rotary connecting element 26. A sensor is provided to detect the triggering of the torque-limiting coupling device 32 and to send a release signal for the established connection. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A filling head for filling in a fluid into a filler neck of a tank (14), comprising: a rotary connecting element (26) to form a mechanical connection with the filler neck of the tank (14) by means of rotation, and comprising a rotatable operating part (30) for rotating the rotary connecting element (26), wherein the operating part (30) is coupled to the rotary connecting element (26) by means of a torque-limiting coupling device (32, 132) that, given a threshold torque, is triggered at least in one direction of rotation and decouples the rotatable operating part (30) from the rotary connecting element (26), characterized in that a sensor (41, 141) is provided to detect the triggering of the torque-limiting coupling device (32, 132) and to send a release signal for indicating that the mechanical connection has been established. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the torque-limiting coupling device (32, 132) has at least one locking element (38, 138) that establishes a non-rotatable connection in a first position, and that decouples the rotatable operating part (30) from the rotary connecting element (26) in a second, triggered position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The filling head according to claim 2, wherein the locking element (38, 138) is spring-loaded in the direction of the first position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The filling head according to claim 2, wherein the locking element (38, 138) is movably mounted between the first and second position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The filling head according to claim 4, wherein the locking element (38, 138) can be shifted axially with reference to the rotational direction of the operating part (30) and/or the rotary connecting element (26). ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The filling head according to claim 4, wherein the locking element (38, 138) and/or a coupling element (36) coupled to the operating part (30) or the rotary connecting element (26) has a contact surface that is inclined at an angle to the shifting direction of the locking element (38, 138) or has a curved shape, wherein a force in the shifting direction is applied to the locking element (38, 138) under the effect of the contact surface when torque is transmitted. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The filling head according to claim 6, wherein the locking element (38, 138) and/or the coupling part (36) have a first and second contact surface, wherein the first contact surface is active when torque is transmitted in a first direction of rotation, and the second contact surface is active when torque is transmitted in the second, opposite direction of rotation wherein the first and second contact surface have different angles in relation to the shifting direction of the locking element (38, 138). ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the rotary connecting element is a bayonet element or a helically threaded element (26). ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the sensor (41, 141) detects the position of a moving element (38, 162) that moves from a first stable position to a second position when the torque-limiting coupling device (38, 138) is triggered. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The filling head according to claim 1, wherein a support element (162) is shifted from a resting position to a triggered position when the torque-limiting coupling device (132) is triggered by the rotation of the operating part (30) in the closing direction and wherein the sensor (141) detects the triggered position and/or the resting position of the support element (162). ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The filling head according to claim 10, wherein a locking element is provided that keeps the support element (162) in the triggered position after triggering, wherein the support element (162) is returned to the resting position when the operating part (30) is rotated in an opening direction opposite the closing direction. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The filling head according to claim 1, wherein a coupling element (160) is connected to the operating part (30), and the support element (162) is mounted in a guide in relation to the coupling element (160) such that it moves from the resting position into the triggered position when the rotary connecting element (26) rotates in relation to the operating part (30). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The filling head according to claim 12, wherein the coupling element (160) and the support element (162) are designed as concentrically arranged ring elements, and the guide is arranged in the area between the coupling element (134) and the support element (162). ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The filling head according to claim 11, wherein a coupling element (260) is connected to the operating part (30), and the support element (262) is mounted in a guide (278) in relation to the coupling element (260) such that it remains in the triggered position after triggering. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The filling head according to claim 14, wherein the guide (278) is formed by cams (276) created on one of the coupling element (260) or the support element (262), and pockets (278) created in the other of the coupling element (260) or the support element (262), wherein the cams (276) engage in the pockets (279) in the triggered position.