AU2021240203A1 - Nozzle with discretely switching gas valve and arrangement comprising such a nozzle and a gas return system - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the present invention is a nozzle for dispensing a fluid into a tank, having the following features: a) the nozzle comprises a device for returning fluid vapours, which 5 comprises a gas valve (20) which can be connected to a vacuum source via a gas hose; b) the gas valve (20) comprises a gas valve body (17) and a gas valve seat (15) and is configured to switch discretely between a closed position, in which the gas valve body (17) lies tightly on the gas valve seat (15), and 0 an open position, in which a maximum opening cross-section is opened; c) the gas valve body (17) is connected to an actuat ing magnet (16) which is mounted so as to be displaceable in a non-ferromagnetic actuator housing (14) in order to open and close the gas valve (20); d) the nozzle comprises an operating 5 magnet (9) which is mounted outside the actuator housing (14) so as to be displaceable between a starting position and an end position established by a stop (5), and is magnetically coupled to the actuating magnet (16). According to the inven tion, a float element (7) is mounted displaceably outside the 0 actuator housing (14) so as to be loadable by the fluid to be dispensed and thereby movable against the force of a reset el ement (12), wherein the float element (7) has at least one float magnet (8) which is couplable to the operating magnet (9). The float element provided with the reset element allows 5 the operating magnet to be safely pressed into the closed po sition so that the nozzle is less susceptible to dirt and can be used flexibly in a multi-dispenser gas return system. 18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU

Description

Nozzle with Discretely Switching Gas Valve and Ar rangement Comprising Such A Nozzle and A Gas Return

System

The object of the present invention is a nozzle for dispensing

a fluid into a tank. The nozzle comprises a device for return

ing fluid vapours, which comprises a gas valve which can be

connected to a vacuum source via a gas hose. The gas valve

comprises a gas valve body and a gas valve seat and is config

ured to switch discretely between a closed position, in which

the gas valve body lies tightly on the gas valve seat, and an

open position, in which a maximum opening cross-section is

opened. The gas valve body is connected to an actuating magnet

which is mounted so as to be displaceable in a non-ferromag

netic actuator housing in order to open and close the gas

valve. The nozzle also comprises an operating magnet which is

mounted outside the actuator housing so as to be displaceable

between a starting position and an end position established by

a stop, and is magnetically coupled to the actuating magnet.

When transferring fluids into a tank from a storage container,

fluid vapours present in the tank are expelled from the tank.

In particular in the case of fluid vapours harmful to health

and the environment (such as e.g. fuel vapours), it is neces

sary to prevent these from escaping into the environment.

Therefore in the prior art, it is usual to aspirate fluid va

pours at the nozzle outlet and conduct these back to the stor

age container. For this, a gas suction connector is provided

in the region of the nozzle outlet pipe, and is connected to

the gas hose and to the vacuum source via the gas valve.

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU

The gas volume of the gas quantity expelled from the tank (ig

noring volume changes because of temperature differences) cor

responds to the fluid volume of the fluid transferred from the

storage container into the tank. Therefore it is known from

the prior art to control the quantity of returned fluid va

pours such that the gas volume corresponds to the dispensed

fluid volume. In this way, firstly it may be ensured that no

fluid vapour escapes to the environment. Secondly, the aspira

tion of ambient air in addition to the displaced gas volume

and its conduction into the storage tank can be prevented.

To control the gas return, it is possible to measure the dis

pensed fluid volume and adapt the power of the vacuum source

accordingly, so that the returned gas volume corresponds to

the dispensed fluid volume. During fuel dispensing, here it is

necessary to open the gas valve situated in the nozzle in or

der to allow the gas return. Document EP 0 703 186 A2 dis

closes a nozzle of the type cited initially in which during

dispensing, the operating magnet is loaded by the flowing

fluid and thereby moved downstream, whereby the actuating mag

net coupled to the operating magnet and the gas valve body

connected thereto are moved into the open position.

In the previously known nozzle, by suitable orientation

thereof, the operating magnet can also be moved with the aid

of gravity after actuation by the flowing fluid. In particu

lar, the previously known nozzle is tilted downward on inser

tion into a tank filler neck, whereby the gas valve is opened.

On subsequent return of the nozzle to the pump nozzle holder,

the nozzle is tilted upward so that the operating magnet is

moved back to the starting position under the force of gravity

and the gas valve is closed accordingly.

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU

Operation of the gas valve by means of gravity also allows so called dry testing in which the function of the gas valve can be tested without the need for fluid dispensing.

The requirement to be able to operate the gas valve of the previously known nozzle both by means of the fuel flow and by means of gravity imposes high requirements on the component tolerances. In particular, it must be ensured that no contami nants - which may for example be contained in the fluid to be dispensed - can be deposited between the operating magnet and the actuator housing and hence reduce the function.

In this context, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle of the type cited initially which is switcha ble discretely between a closed position and an open position, and which can be used with high reliability and safety in a structurally simple fashion.

This object is achieved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are given in the dependent claims.

According to the invention, a float element is mounted dis placeably outside the actuator housing and is loadable by the fluid to be dispensed and thereby movable against the force of a reset element, wherein the float element has at least one float magnet which is couplable to the operating magnet.

Firstly, some terms used in conjunction with the present de scription will be explained.

In the context of the present description, the phrase "dis crete switching of the gas valve between the closed position

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU and the open position" means that starting from the closed po sition, the maximum opening cross-section of the gas valve is achieved even by a small valve stroke. Accordingly, starting from the closed position the opening cross-section rises sharply (in particular disproportionately or by means of a jump increase) as a function of the valve stroke to a maximum opening cross-section, wherein a further valve stroke causes no change or only an insignificant change of the opening cross-section. The valve stroke for reaching the maximum open ing cross-section may for example be less than 8 mm, and pref erably less than 7 mm. A discretely switchable gas valve is thus substantially different from a so-called proportional valve, in which the opening cross-section rises proportionally to the valve stroke over a long valve stroke (e.g. more than

10 mm).

The float magnet is couplable to the operating magnet. In cou

pled state, a movement of the float element is transmitted via

this magnetic coupling to the operating magnet and hence - via

a further magnetic coupling - to the gas valve body. The gas

valve body may therefore be moved jointly with the float ele

ment in coupled state. The coupled state must be distinguished

from a decoupled state in which there is a sufficient distance

between the float magnet and the operating magnet that the

magnetic attraction force is not sufficient to transmit a

movement of the one element to the other element.

In the context of the invention, it has been found that be

cause of the movably mounted float body, the float body magnet

of which is couplable to the operating magnet, the nozzle pre

viously known from EP 0 703 186 A2 is improved in two respects

simultaneously.

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU

Firstly, when a coupling is created between the float magnet and the operating magnet, the force of the reset element act ing on the float element is transmitted via the actuating mag net to the gas valve body, in order to press this into the closed position. It has been found that because of this de sign, the gas valve is significantly less susceptible to soil ing since the reset force can overcome friction forces caused by soiling.

In addition, in the context of the invention, it has been found that the nozzle according to the invention is signifi cantly better suited than a previously known nozzle for use in a gas return system designed for several dispensing points (referred to below as a multi-dispenser gas return system). In the simplest design, such multi-dispenser gas return systems have a single vacuum source configured for multiple dispensing points, and a control element which ensures that the total quantity of aspirated gas volume is as large as the total quantity of the fluid volume dispensed by the connected noz zles. In such a gas return system, when the dispensing process of a (previously known) first nozzle is ended and no further fluid is dispensed, but the nozzle remains tilted downward in the filler neck for a longer period, the gas valve of the first nozzle also remains open (because of the downwardly di rected tilt of the outlet pipe). If now at the same time fluid is dispensed from a second nozzle connected to the gas return system, the gas return system remains active so that there is a danger that gas will continue to be aspirated through the still open gas valve of the first nozzle even though no fluid is being dispensed. Because no fluid is being dispensed through the first nozzle, in this case ambient air may be as pirated and introduced into the storage container, which is undesirable. Therefore with the previously known nozzle, it is

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU necessary to provide a separate vacuum source or separate con trol element for the return gas for each individual dispensing point, which makes the gas return system significantly more complex and less economic.

In contrast, with a nozzle according to the invention, the re set element ensures that the gas valve body is automatically moved into the closed position when no fluid is being dis pensed. In contrast to the nozzle previously known from EP 0 703 186 A2, in which the gas valve remains in the open posi tion while the outlet pipe is tilted downward, the gas valve of the nozzle according to the invention closes automatically as soon as fluid dispensing is completed.

The nozzle according to the invention is therefore particu larly suitable for a multi-dispenser gas return system of the type cited initially, which has a single vacuum source config ured for multiple dispensing points and one control element which ensures that the total quantity of aspirated gas volume is as large as the total quantity of fluid volume dispensed by the connected nozzles. Therefore on use of the nozzles accord ing to the invention in a multi-dispenser gas return system, it is not necessary to provide a separate vacuum source or separate control element for each nozzle.

A reset force of the reset element is preferably selected such that in the absence of fluid flow, the reset element presses the gas valve into the closed position when the magnetic cou pling between the operating magnet and float magnet is created and the nozzle is tilted downwards. "Tilted downward" here means a position assumed by the nozzle during the usual dis pensing process, in which a tilt angle between the outlet pipe and the horizontal lies for example in the range between 0°

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU and 90°, preferably between 5° and 70°, further preferably be tween 100 and 60°. The reset force may in particular be se lected larger than the total weight force of the gas valve body and the elements connected and magnetically coupled thereto when the magnetic coupling between the operating mag net and float magnet is created. This leads to the gas valve closing in the absence of a fluid flow, even if the nozzle is tilted downward. As soon as fluid dispensing is ended, the gas valve body of the nozzle according to the invention is moved into the closed position, so that no more fluid vapour is as pirated and the reduced pressure of the vacuum source of a connected multi-dispenser gas return system is fully available for further nozzles in use.

It may be provided that the reset force of the reset element

is adjustable. For example, the reset element may be formed by

a reset spring in which the reset force is preferably adjusta

ble by a stepless or stepped actuating element.

It may be provided that only one of the operating magnet and

actuating magnet is configured as a permanent magnet and the

other part is made of ferromagnetic material. Corrspondingly,

it may be provided that only one of the operating magnet and

float magnet is configured as a permanent magnet and the other

part is made of ferromagnetic material.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that in the closed

position of the gas valve and with the float element in the

starting position, the magnetic coupling between the operating

magnet and the float magnet is so strong that the gas valve

body is held in the coupled state when no fluid is being dis

pensed and the nozzle is tilted downward. The magnetic cou

pling may in particular be configured such that in the above

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU case, it is stronger than a weight force of the operating mag net and elments connected thereto (e.g. via magnetic cou pling).

Further preferably, in the closed position of the gas valve and with the float element in the starting position, the mag netic coupling between the operating magnet and the float mag net may be so strong that, despite the absence of fluid dis pensing, the magnetic coupling is separable by a sudden move ment exerted by the user against an opening direction of the actuating magnet, so that a dry test of the device for extrac tion of fluid vapours can be carried out. The separability of the coupling means that the operating magnet can be separated from the float magnet, so that the operating magnet can move the gas valve into the open position even if no fluid is dis pensed. This allows dry testing of the device for returning fluid vapours and the gas return system connected thereto.

In one embodiment, the nozzle comprises a device for optional mechanical fixing of the float element to the operating mag net. Because of the mechanical fixing of the float element to the operating magnet, the operating magnet - and hence also the gas valve body - necessarily follows a movement of the float element. A dry test which requires separation of float element and operating magnet is thus no longer possible after creating the fixing. The optional fixability described above allows the possibility of dry testing to be very easily disa bled. This is advantageous since provision of the possibility of a dry test is prohibited in many jurisdictions.

The object of the present invention is furthermore an arrange ment comprising at least one nozzle according to the invention and a gas return system which is configured to return fluid

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU vapours from a plurality of nozzles, wherein the gas return system comprises a vacuum source connected to the gas valve, a measuring unit for determining a total fluid volume flow dis pensed by the nozzle, and a control device for controlling the vacuum source depending on the total fluid volume flow.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is explained below as an example with reference to the appended figures. The draw ings show:

Figure 1: a partially cut-away side view of a nozzle accord ing to the invention;

Figure 2: an enlarged view of an extract from figure 1 in which the nozzle is shown in a first state;

Figure 3: the view from figure 2, wherein the nozzle is in a second state;

Figure 4: the view from figure 2, wherein the nozzle is in a third state;

Figure 5: an extract from a side sectional view of a further embodiment of a nozzle according to the invention;

Figure 6: a schematic view of an arrangement according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a nozzle according to the invention in a par tially cut-away side view. The nozzle has a housing 21 with a front end in which an outlet pipe 22 is inserted; said outlet pipe can be introduced into the tank of a motor vehicle in or der to fill this with fuel. At the rear end of the nozzle is a

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU connection 23 for connection to a nozzle hose (not shown in the figure).

The nozzle has a control lever 24, which is configured in the

manner known in principle and not explained here, for operat

ing a main valve. After opening the main valve, a fuel sup

plied through the connected nozzle hose can pass through the

nozzle housing 21 and the outlet pipe 22 so that the tank of

the motor vehicle is filled.

To prevent fuel vapours expelled from the tank from escaping

into the environment, the nozzle has a catchment connector 26

surrounding the outlet pipe 22. Between the outlet pipe 22 and

the catchment connector 26 is an intermediate space through

which the fuel vapours can be aspirated. The intermediate

space extends inside the housing 21 up to the gas valve 20.

The gas valve 20 is in turn connected to a gas hose (not shown

in the figure). The gas hose runs coaxially inside the nozzle

hose and is connected to a vacuum source (not shown in fig

ure).

Figure 2 shows an extract from figure 1 in enlarged view. In

this view, it is clear that the gas valve 20 has a central

valve seat 15 and a gas valve body 17. When the gas valve 20

is open, the fuel vapour flows through the gas valve 20, along

the arrows 24 marked in figure 2, into the gas hose. In the

state shown in figure 2, the gas valve body 17 however lies

tightly on the valve seat 15, so that the connection between

the catchment connector 26 and the gas hose is closed. As well

as the gas flow path, figure 2 also shows the fuel flow path

leading through a fuel channel and illustrated by arrows 33.

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU

The gas valve body 17 is connected to an actuating magnet 16

which is mounted displaceably inside an actuator housing 14.

Also, an operating magnet 9 which is magnetically coupled to

the actuating magnet 16 is arranged outside the actuator hous

ing 14. In the embodiment shown, an additional weight 10 is

attached to the operating magnet 9.

A movement of the operating magnet 9 directed downstream (with

respect to the fuel flow), because of the magnetic coupling,

leads to the actuating magnet 16 - and hence the gas valve

body 17 - being carried along and thus moved into an open po

sition. Even on a valve stroke of approximately 5 mm, the en

tire opening cross-section of the gas valve 20 is open for the

gas flow. A further movement of the gas valve body 17 in the

opening direction does not increase the opening cross-section.

Furthermore, a float element 7 is arranged inside the fuel

channel and is loaded with fuel when the main valve is opened.

This is illustrated in figure 3.

Figure 3 shows the extract from figure 2 in the state after

opening of the main valve. The fuel flowing along the arrows

33 through the nozzle hits the float element 7 and thus moves

this downstream against the force of a spring 12 (to the left

in figure 2). During this movement, the float element 7 lies

at least partially on the operating magnet 9 (or on a cover at

least partially surrounding the operating magnet 9), so that

this is moved downstream together with the float element 7.

Because of the above-described magnetic coupling between the

operating magnet 9 and the actuating magnet 16, the gas valve

body 17 is also moved downstream into an open position, so

that the extraction of fuel vapours can take place.

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU

On completion of fuel dispensing, the downwardly directed

force exerted by the fuel pressure on the float element 7 dis

appears. The reset force of the spring 12 then pushes the

float element 7 back into the starting position shown in fig

ure 1. On the upstream side of the float element 7, a float

magnet 8 is arranged which is magnetically coupled to the op

erating magnet 9 in the states shown in figures 1 and 2. Be

cause of the magnetic coupling, the operating magnet 9 is car

ried along by the float magnet 8, so that the operating magnet

9 is also moved back into the starting position shown in fig

ure 2. Because of the already described magnetic coupling be

tween the operating magnet 9 and the actuating magnet 16, the

valve body 17 is brought back into the closed position shown

in figure 2. In this way, it is ensured that the gas valve is

closed after the end of fluid dispensing. The reset force of

the spring 12 is here greater than the total weight force re

sulting from the tilt of the nozzle during the fuelling pro

cess, which is exerted by the elements moved by the spring 12

(float element 7, float magnet 8, operating magnet 9, addi

tional weight 10, actuating magnet 16, valve body 17, any fur

ther elements such as e.g. covers).

Figure 4 shows the extract from figure 1 in which the nozzle

is in a dry test state. In this state, no fuel flows through

the nozzle so the float body 7 is pressed into the starting

position shown in figure 2 by the force of the spring 12.

Starting from the state in figure 2, in order to create the

state in figure 4, the nozzle is moved suddenly by a user

against the opening direction of the gas valve 20. Because of

the inertia of the operating magnet 9 and the connected addi

tional mass 10, this jerky movement leads to a separation of

the magnetic coupling between the operating magnet 9 and the

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU float magnet 8. The operating magnet 9 may thus be moved cor respondingly away from the float magnet 8, and hence move the gas valve body 17 to the open position. In this state, the function capacity of the device for returning fuel vapours and of the entire gas return system can be tested without fuel dispensing being necessary.

Figure 5 shows a further embodiment of a nozzle according to the invention in a side sectional view. The embodiment corre sponds substantially to the embodiment of figures 1 to 4. A difference from the embodiment in figures 1 to 4 is only that a fixing element is attached to the outer periphery of the ad ditional weight 10, which in the present embodiment is config ured for example as a coil tension spring 18. The coil tension spring 18 is placed in a corresponding groove on the outer pe riphery of the additional weight 10 and extends in the radial direction beyond the outer periphery of the additional weight 10.

When a downwardly directed force acts on the operating magnet 9 or on the additional weight 10 connected thereto (triggered for example by the above-described sudden movement), the coil tension spring 18 hits against an inwardly pointing protrusion 19 of the float element 7, so that the operating magnet 9 is prevented from moving downstream independently of the float element 7. The operating magnet 9 can thus only be moved to gether with the float element 7. Since however the float ele ment 7 is pressed upstream into the starting position by the spring 12, the operating magnet 9 also remains in the starting position. A dry test which requires an independent movability of the operating magnet 9 and float element 7 is not therefore possible with this embodiment. The gas valve body 17 in this

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU embodiment is always moved into the closed position when there is no fuel flow.

Figure 6 shows a diagrammatic view of an arrangement according

to the invention comprising four nozzles 40 according to the

invention and a gas return system 35. The gas return system 35

comprises a vacuum source 36, to which the nozzles 40 accord

ing to the invention are connected by means of suitable gas

hoses 41.

The gas return system 35 also comprises a measuring unit 37

for determining a total volume flow dispensed by the nozzles

40. In the present case, the measuring unit 37 directly estab

lishes the dispensed total volume flow at a fuel pump 39 which

supplies the nozzles 40 with fuel, as illustrated in figure 6

by a connection of the measuring unit 37 to the fuel pump 39.

In an alternative embodiment, several fuel pumps may also be

provided which transfer the respective dispensed volume flows

to the measuring unit 37, in order to allow the latter to de

termine the total volume flow. The gas return system 35 fur

thermore comprises a control device 38 which is configured to

receive a measurement value representing the determined total

volume flow, and to control the vacuum source 36 depending on

the measurement value.

If for example a fuel volume flow of 20 1/min is dispensed at

a first of the nozzles 40, a fuel volume flow of 20 1/min is

dispensed at a second of the nozzles, and the other two noz

zles 40 are not in use, the measuring unit 37 establishes a

total volume flow of 40 1/min. The vacuum source 36 is set ac

cordingly by the control device 38 so that a gas volume of 40

1/min is extracted. Since only the first and second nozzles 40

are in use, the gas valves of the first and second nozzles are

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU open while the gas valves of the third and fourth nozzles re main closed. The vacuum generated is therefore "divided" over the two nozzles 40 in use, so that the necessary fuel vapour volume is extracted and returned at both nozzles 40. The re turned gas volume is conducted into a storage tank 42 by the vacuum source 36.

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU

Claims (8)

Claims

1. Nozzle for dispensing a fluid into a tank, having the fol lowing features:

a) the nozzle comprises a device for returning fluid va pours, which comprises a gas valve (20) which can be connected to a vacuum source via a gas hose;

b) the gas valve (20) comprises a gas valve body (17) and a gas valve seat (15) and is configured to switch dis cretely between a closed position, in which the gas valve body (17) lies tightly on the gas valve seat (15), and an open position, in which a maximum opening cross-section is opened;

c) the gas valve body (17) is connected to an actuating magnet (16) which is mounted so as to be displaceable in a non-ferromagnetic actuator housing (14) in order to open and close the gas valve (20);

d) the nozzle comprises an operating magnet (9) which is mounted outside the actuator housing (14) so as to be displaceable between a starting position and an end po sition established by a stop (5), and is magnetically coupled to the actuating magnet (16);

characterized in that

a float element (7) is mounted displaceably outside the actuator housing (14) so as to be loadable by the fluid to be dispensed and thereby movable against the force of a reset element (12), wherein the float element (7) has

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU at least one float magnet (8) which is couplable to the operating magnet (9).

2. Nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a reset force of the

reset element (12) is selected such that in the absence of

fluid flow, the reset element (12) presses the gas valve

(20) into the closed position when the magnetic coupling is

created between the operating magnet (9) and the float mag

net (8) and the nozzle is tilted downward.

3. Nozzle according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein only one

of the operating magnet (9) and actuating magnet (16) is

configured as a permanent magnet and the other part is made

of ferromagnetic material.

4. Nozzle according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein only one

of the operating magnet (9) and float magnet (8) is config

ured as a permanent magnet and the other part is made of

ferromagnetic material.

5. Nozzle according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein in the

closed position of the gas valve (20) and with the float

element (7) in the starting position, the magnetic coupling

between the operating magnet (9) and the float magnet (8)

is so strong that the operating magnet (9) is held in the

coupled state when no fluid is dispensed and when the noz

zle is tilted downward.

6. Nozzle according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein in the

closed position of the gas valve (20) and with the float

element (7) in the starting position, the magnetic coupling

between the operating magnet (9) and the float magnet (8)

is so strong that, despite the absence of fluid dispensing,

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU the magnetic coupling is separable by a sudden movement ex erted by the user against an opening direction of the actu ating magnet, so that a dry test of the device for extrac tion of fluid vapours can be carried out.

7. Nozzle according to any of claims 1 to 6 which comprises a device for optional mechanical fixing of the float element to the operating magnet.

8. Arrangement comprising at least one nozzle (40) according to any of claims 1 to 7, and a gas return system (35) which is configured to return fluid vapours from a plurality of nozzles (40), wherein the gas return system (35) comprises a vacuum source (36) connected to the gas valve (20), a measuring unit (37) for determining a total volume flow dispensed by the nozzle (40), and a control device (38) for controlling the vacuum source (36) depending on the total volume flow.

18105733_1 (GHMatters) P117296.AU