Fuel dispensing nozzle with attitude sensing device
AssigneeOpw Fueling Components, LLC
InventorsBryan William Clever, Robert William Munch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nozzle including a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel, and a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through the dispensing path. The nozzle further includes an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of the nozzle. The attitude sensing device is in fluid communication with the sensing path and includes a ball received in a track. The track includes a generally spherical portion configured to receive the ball therein to generally block the sensing path when the nozzle is raised to a sufficient angle. The spherical portion has a radius generally corresponding to a radius of the ball.
Claims26
A nozzle comprising:
- a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel;
- a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through said dispensing path;
- an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of said nozzle, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track, said track including a generally spherical portion configured to receive said ball therein to generally block said sensing path when said nozzle is raised to a sufficient angle, wherein said spherical portion has a radius generally corresponding to a radius of said ball;
- and
- a shut-off device operatively coupled to said attitude sensing device such that when said sensing path is blocked by said ball said shut-off device moves to a closed position to generally block said nozzle from dispensing fluid through said dispensing path.
A method for operating a nozzle comprising:
- accessing a nozzle having a dispensing path, a sensing path, and an attitude sensing device in communication with a shut-off device, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track, said track including a generally spherical portion having a radius closely generally corresponding to a radius of said ball, said generally spherical portion defining a socket with a concave surface;
- causing fluid to be dispensed through said dispensing path which generates a negative pressure in said sensing path;
- and
- raising said nozzle to a sufficient angle such that said ball rolls towards and is received in said socket to generally block said sensing path and trigger said shut-off device.
A nozzle comprising:
- a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel;
- a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through said dispensing path;
- and
- an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of said nozzle, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track, said attitude sensing device including a deflector configured to generate an eddy current when fluid flows through said sensing path to thereby retain said ball in a position adjacent to said deflector when said nozzle is at sufficiently low angles relative to horizontal.
A nozzle comprising:
- a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel;
- a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through said dispensing path;
- and
- an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of said nozzle, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track and rollable thereon, said track including a seat configured to receive said ball therein to generally block said sensing path when said nozzle is raised to a sufficient angle, wherein said ball and track are configured such that said ball engages said track at only a single point of rolling contact as the ball moves therealong.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.