EP2688833A1

EP2688833A1 - Fluid recovery dispenser having independently biased valves

Info

Publication number: EP2688833A1
Application number: EP12760781.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mark Bonner; Gary Underhill
Original assignee: Fuel Transfer Technologies Inc
Current assignee: Fuel Transfer Technologies Inc
Priority date: 2011-03-21
Filing date: 2012-03-21
Publication date: 2014-01-29
Also published as: CA2867739A1; EP2688833A4; WO2012126097A1

Abstract

A dispenser for delivering a fluid from a source to a vessel, where the dispenser includes a fluid delivery passage for receiving the fluid from the source and delivering the fluid to the vessel, and a fluid recovery passage for receiving fluid from the vessel delivering the fluid to the source. The dispenser also includes a first valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the fluid delivery outlet and a second valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the fluid recovery passage. The dispenser also includes an actuator operatively coupled to the first valve and the second valve for effecting movement of the first valve and the second valve from the respective closed positioned to respective opened positions. The first valve and the second valve are independently biased in their respective closed positions.

Description

FLUID RECOVERY DISPENSER HAVING INDEPENDENTLY BIASED VALVES Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present disclosure claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application no. 61/454,656, filed March 21 , 2011 , the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

Technical Field

[0002] The present disclosure relates to fluid dispenser, such as nozzles, for delivering or otherwise transferring fluid to a destination vessel, in particular fluid delivery dispensers capable of recovering vapours or other fluids from the vessel.

Background

[0003] Overflow of fluid is a common problem when filling an enclosure, such as a destination vessel, such as a fluid container. Such overflow may be caused by a user unintentionally overfilling the vessel. Overflow may also include vapours produced by fuel or other volatile liquids that may escape from the vessel, leading to a loss of stored fuel and/or harm to the environment.

[0004] Conventional vapour-recovery/fuel-dispensing nozzles include designs where a vapour recovery means has been retrofitted to or designed around a non-recovery nozzle design and/or implemented based on a root non-recovery nozzle design. Such designs may include a bellowed boot that has been added about the outside of an existing dispensing spout. Such a boot design may include a valve that is opened when the boot is compressed against the vessel opening, such as the side of a car when refuelling a car, and the opened valve may allow vapour to be recovered. However, such designs may be inefficient in vapour recovery, may be unsuitable for recovery of excess or overflow liquid and/or may be unsuitable for use in consumer-market fuel dispensing nozzles, such as portable fuel dispensing nozzles.

Summary

[0005] In some example aspects there is provided a fluid exchange dispenser for delivering a fluid from a source to a vessel and for concurrently recovering a fluid from the vessel, the dispenser may include: a housing; a fluid delivery passage defined within the housing having a fluid delivery inlet for receiving the fluid from the source and a fluid delivery outlet for delivering the fluid to the vessel; a first valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the fluid delivery outlet, the first valve being biased toward a closed position to inhibit the fluid from flowing through the fluid delivery outlet; a fluid recovery passage defined within the housing having a fluid recovery inlet for receiving the fluid from the vessel and a fluid recovery outlet for delivering the fluid to the source; a second valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the fluid recovery passage, the second valve being biased toward a closed position independently of the first valve, wherein the fluid is inhibited from flowing through the fluid recovery inlet; and an actuator operatively coupled to the first valve and the second valve for effecting movement of the first valve and the second valve from the respective closed positions to respective open positions; wherein the first valve and the second valve are moveable from their respective closed positions to their respective open positions by a single actuation of the actuator while each of the first valve and the second valve is independently biased towards its respective closed position.

[0006] In some example aspects, there is provided a system for delivering a fluid to a vessel, where the system may include a fluid source for holding fluid to be delivered to the vessel; the dispenser described above; a fluid delivery pump in fluid communication with the fluid source and the fluid delivery passage of the dispenser for receiving fluid from the fluid source and pumping fluid to the dispenser to be delivered to the vessel; and a fluid recovery pump in fluid communication with the fluid source and the fluid recovery passage of the dispenser for receiving fluid recovered by the dispenser and pumping recovered fluid to the fluid source.

[0007] In some example aspects, there is provided a fluid exchange nozzle that may include: a first fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a second fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a first valve for controlling flow of fluid through the first fluid carrying conduit, wherein the first valve is biased towards a closed position to thereby inhibit the fluid from flowing through the first fluid carrying conduit; a second valve for controlling flow of fluid through the second fluid recovery conduit, wherein the second valve is biased towards a closed position to thereby inhibit the fluid from flowing through the second fluid carrying conduit; wherein the first valve and the second valve are movable to the closed positions each independently of the other; and an actuator operatively engaged with the first valve and the second valve for enabling selective movement of the first valve and the second valve between their respective closed positions and open positions.

[0008] In some example aspects, there is provided a fluid exchange nozzle that may include: a first fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a second fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a first valve operatively mounted with respect to the first fluid carrying conduit for movement along a first path of travel between a closed position and an open position; a second valve operatively mounted with respect to the second fluid carrying conduit for movement along a second path of travel between a closed position and an open position; an actuation mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the first valve and the second valve to enable selective movement of the first valve and the second valve between their respective open and closed positions; and at least one biasing member for biasing the first valve and the second valve to their respective closed positions.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0009] Reference is made to the drawings, which show by way of example embodiments of the present disclosure, and in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic of an example system for delivering fluid to a vessel;

[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an example dispenser in which the fluid delivery and fluid recovery valves are substantially closed;

[0012] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the example dispenser of FIG. 2 in which the fluid delivery and fluid recovery valves are substantially opened;

[0013] FIG. 4 is a detail sectional view of a distal portion of the example dispenser of FIG. 2, in which the fluid delivery and fluid recovery valves are substantially closed; and

[0014] FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view of the distal portion of the example dispenser of FIG. 2, in which the fluid delivery and fluid recovery valves are substantially opened.

[0015] Throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

Detailed Description

[0016] FIG. 1 illustrates an example system 100 which may be used for delivering fluid to an enclosure, such as a destination vessel 10. The example system 100 may include a fluid source 20 and a fluid dispenser, for example in the nature of a nozzle 200. Fluid delivered to the destination vessel 10 may, for example, include a fuel, and fluid source 20 may be a fuel storage tank. In such examples the source 20 may include a portable fuel container, such as a portable gas can, or any other suitable fuel source. The destination vessel 10 may include, for example, a fuel tank of a fuel-powered device, such as the fuel tank of a gas-powered lawn mower or boat, a fuel reservoir, or any other fuel storage enclosure. In such examples, the fluid may be a liquid or a gas or a mixture thereof (e.g., a liquid fuel having fuel vapours). [0017] A fluid source 20 may include a fluid delivery pump 22 for pumping fluid from the source 20 and a fluid recovery pump 24 for recovering excess fluid into the source 20. In some examples, the fluid delivery pump 22 and/or the fluid recovery pump 24 may be located external or internal of the source 20. As illustrated by arrows in FIG. 1 , fluid may be pumped by fluid delivery pump 22 from source 20 through nozzle 200 to a destination vessel 10. Any excess fluid from the destination vessel 10 may be pumped by the fluid recovery pump 24 from the destination vessel 10 through the nozzle 200 back to the source 20. In some examples, the fluid delivery pump 22 and/or the fluid recovery pump 24 may be integral to the fluid source 20. In some examples, the fluid delivery pump 22 and the fluid recovery pump 24 may be embodied in a single pump that may simultaneously or selectively serve to deliver and recover fluid.

[0018] In the present disclosure, excess fluid may, for example, include any fluid in a destination vessel 10 that encounters a spout of nozzle 200 when nozzle 200 is inserted to dispense fluid into the destination vessel 10. Thus, what is considered to be excess fluid may be dependent on the depth to which the spout of the nozzle 200 is to be inserted into the destination vessel 10 - when, for example, the nozzle 200 is inserted deeper into the destination vessel 10, more of the fluid in the destination vessel 10 may be considered excess fluid than when the nozzle 200 is inserted less deeply in the destination vessel 10. In some examples, the depth to which the nozzle 200 may be inserted into the destination vessel 10 may be controlled, such as by the size of a nozzle insertion opening in the destination vessel 10. The depth to which the nozzle 200 may be inserted into the destination vessel 10 may also be controlled by a depth-inhibiting feature, such as a safety trigger 215, described below.

[0019] To facilitate delivery of fluid from and return of excess fluid to a fluid source 20, a nozzle 200 may be in fluid communication with the fluid source 20, for example via one or more conduits, such as hoses 30. In some examples, a conduit, such as hose 30, may include two passages independently coupled to the fluid delivery pump 22 and the fluid recovery pump 24, for delivering fluid and recovering fluid, respectively. Alternatively, the passages may be integrated into a single conduit structure, for example in a co-axial or concentric configuration.

[0020] In some examples, such as where a system 100 is intended for use in the broad retail market (e.g., for fuelling a gas-powered consumer device from a portable gas can), the system 100 may include one or more plastic components, in order to keep costs low and/or to reduce the mass of the system 100. In such cases, for example, the nozzle 200 may include mostly plastic components, and the delivery and recovery of fluid may be mediated or controlled by valves having plastic components. In circumstances where dimensional tolerances and thermal expansion and contraction of plastic or other components may differ enough to hamper sealing of valves, a possible solution can include the use of independently biased valves, as employed by the present system.

[0021] FIGS. 2-5 show sectional views of an embodiment of a nozzle 200 in accordance with the disclosure herein. In FIGS. 2 and 4, nozzle 200 is shown in a closed configuration, in which fluid delivery and fluid recovery are inhibited. In FIGS. 3 and 5, the nozzle 200 is shown in an opened configuration, in which fluid delivery and fluid recovery are facilitated.

[0022] A nozzle 200 may, for example, include a housing 210 having at least one each of fluid delivery passage 220 and fluid recovery passage 230. In some examples, the fluid delivery passage 220 and the fluid recovery passage 230 may also be referred to as fluid carrying conduits. One or more fluid delivery passages 220 may be in fluid communication with source 20 via hose 30 and fluid delivery pump 22. A fluid delivery passage 220 may have at least one fluid delivery inlet 222 for receiving fluid from the source 20 and at least one fluid delivery outlet 224 for delivering fluid to the destination vessel 10. A fluid recovery passage 230 may be in fluid communication with source 20 via hose 30 and fluid recovery pump 24. A fluid recovery passage 230 may have at least one fluid recovery inlet 232 for receiving excess fluid from the destination vessel 10 and delivering excess fluid to the source 20. A fluid delivery outlet 224 and fluid recovery inlet 232 may be positioned at or near the end of a nozzle spout 240, the nozzle spout 240 being at or near a distal end of the nozzle 200. Alternatively, the nozzle spout 240 may be located at any other suitable location of the nozzle 200. The nozzle 200 may also include an actuator 250 (e.g., a manually-operated trigger) for controlling fluid delivery and/or recovery.

[0023] The nozzle 200 may also include a safety trigger 215 that may help to ensure that fluid is delivered only when the nozzle spout 240 is sufficiently inserted into a destination vessel 10. The safety trigger 215 may be biased towards the distal end of the nozzle spout 240 in its unactuated position and may be actuated away from the distal end of the nozzle spout 240. The example safety trigger 215 in FIGS. 2-5 is shown in the actuated position, pulled or pushed away from the distal end of the nozzle spout 240. The safety trigger 215 may be coupled to a mechanism 215a of the nozzle 200 that may be moveable to facilitate or inhibit flow of fluid through the nozzle 200. For example, the safety trigger 215 may be coupled to a mechanism 215a that may be moveable to facilitate or inhibit actuation of one or more valves (described below) by the actuator 250. When the safety trigger 215 is in its unactuated position, the nozzle 200 may be inhibited from delivering and recovering fluid, even if the actuator 250 is actuated. When the safety trigger 215 is in its actuated position, the nozzle 200 may be able to deliver and recover fluid when the actuator 250 is actuated. When the spout 240 is sufficiently inserted into an opening of the destination vessel 10, close contact between a lip of the opening of the destination vessel 10 and the nozzle 200 may push the safety trigger 215 into its actuated position. The safety trigger 215 may be useful to avoid loss of fluid, for example where the actuator 250 is unintentionally actuated while the spout 240 is not sufficiently inserted into the destination vessel 10. The safety trigger 215 may also be useful to avoid loss of fluid when the spout 240 is removed from the destination vessel 10 while still dispensing fluid. For example, the safety trigger 215 may be biased to its un-actuated position when the spout 240 is removed from the destination vessel 10, such that the safety trigger 215 may inhibit the nozzle 200 from delivering fluid and/or recovering fluid, even if the actuator 250 is still actuated.

[0024] Fluid delivery passage(s) 220 and fluid recovery passage(s) 230 may be disposed in any suitable relationship with respect to each other. For example, they may be disposed in a coaxial, colinear or concentric arrangement, so that one or more of the first type is disposed inside one or more of the other. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2-5, a fluid recovery passage 230 may be provided concentrically inside a fluid delivery passage 220. In other examples, the fluid delivery passage 220 may be provided inside the fluid recovery passage 230. In other examples, a plurality of one type of passage 220, 230, may be disposed inside the other, with a general coaxial or concentric arrangement (not shown). In other examples, one or more of one type of passage 220, 230, may be disposed inside the other, in an off-center or irregular configuration. Providing one or more of passages 220, 230 within the other may allow the outer passage (e.g., the fluid delivery passage 220) to provide structural support to the inner passage (e.g., the fluid recovery passage 230). This may allow the inner passage to be relatively less robust (e.g., made of less rigid material and/or having thinner passage walls), which may be useful for reducing the total weight of the nozzle 200 and/or for reducing the cost of manufacturing the nozzle 200. Concentric arrangement of passages 220, 230 may result in further efficiencies, through the use, for example, of one or more common passage walls. In some examples, the delivery and recovery passages 220, 230 may have separate and distinct pathways and there may be no fluid communication between the two, or slight fluid leakage between the two may be allowed.

[0025] In other examples, the fluid delivery passage 220 and the fluid recovery passage 230 may be separate from each other. For example, one or more fluid delivery passages 220 and fluid recovery passages 230 may be adjacent to each other, such as in a bundled or other tangential configuration. In some examples, the walls of one or more fluid delivery passages 220 and fluid recovery passages 230 may not be in contact with the walls of the other passages 220, 230.

[0026] As previously noted, fluid recovery passage(s) 230 and fluid delivery passage(s) 220 may be generally coaxially or concentrically disposed. This configuration may be useful, for example, to optimize the cross-sectional areas of the fluid recovery passage 230 and the fluid delivery passage 220 while maintaining a desired ratio of the respective cross-sectional areas and while keeping the nozzle 200 relatively small in size. A fluid recovery passage 230 and/or fluid delivery passage 220 may have generally circular cross-sectional areas, or other cross- sectional geometry including, for example, semi-circular, annular or irregular. The cross- sectional geometry of a fluid recovery passage 230 and/or fluid delivery passage 220 may vary in shape and/or size along the respective length, with various structural, handling, and/or other advantages in various circumstances. A fluid recovery passage 230 and a fluid delivery passage 220 may include a portion having a minimum cross-sectional area (e.g., a restriction in the passage 220, 230) and a portion having a maximum cross-sectional area. Where a passage 220, 230 is substantially uniform throughout, the minimum and maximum cross- sectional areas may be the same.

[0027] Where the cross-sectional area of a passage 220, 230 is non-uniform, flow of fluid may be limited by the minimum cross-sectional area of a passage 220, 230. For example, it may be desirable for the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid recovery passage 230 to be at least equal to the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery passage 220, which may help to at least facilitate a substantially equal exchange of fluid dispensed to the destination vessel and fluid recovered from the destination vessel. In some examples, it may also be desirable for the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid recovery passage 230 to be at least equal to or greater than half the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery passage 220 (e.g., at least for the majority of their respective lengths).

[0028] In some examples, it may be desirable for the minimum cross-sectional area of fluid recovery passage(s) 230 to be at least equal to or greater than twice the minimum cross- sectional area of liquid delivery passage(s) 220. Ratio(s) of the minimum cross-sectional areas may be selected to help to ensure, for example, that the liquid recovery passage 230 has sufficient capacity to recover fluid at a rate at least equal to the rate of fluid delivery from the fluid delivery passage 220. This may be useful, for example, where the fluid delivery pump 22 and the fluid recovery pump 24 are configured to pump fluids at substantially equal rates. This may also be useful, for example, where the fluid delivery pump 22 and the fluid recovery pump 24 are configured to pump fluids at substantially constant rates (e.g., they are non-reciprocating pumps). This may be useful, for example, where the fluid delivery pump 22 and the fluid recovery pump 24 are reciprocating pumps.

[0029] There may be a first valve 226 (e.g., provided in or otherwise operatively coupled to the fluid delivery passage 220) for mediating or controlling flow of fluid through the fluid delivery passage 220. The first valve 226 may have an opened configuration (for example as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) permitting flow of fluid through the fluid delivery passage 220 (e.g., permitting flow of fluid out of the fluid delivery outlet 224) and a closed configuration (for example as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4) inhibiting flow of fluid through the fluid delivery passage 220 (e.g., inhibiting flow of fluid out of the fluid delivery outlet 224). The first valve 226 may be biased in the closed configuration, for example by a first biasing member 228, to inhibit flow of fluid out of the fluid delivery outlet 224. The first valve 226 may be user releasable (e.g., manually operable or reconfigurable by manual actuation) from its closed configuration to its opened configuration. The first valve 226 may be directly or indirectly operated by a user, including, for example, via mechanical (e.g., via the actuator 250) or electrical mechanisms. In this example, the first valve 226 may include a first rubber O-ring 226a that is pressed into or up against a first seat 226b to produce an axial, face or surface seal by the first biasing member 228, which in this example may be a compression spring.

[0030] As shown in the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, the first valve 226 may include a first O- ring 226a that may be provided in a seat or gland about an exterior circumference of a moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230. The moveable portion 231 of fluid recovery passage 230 may be a telescoping portion of the fluid recovery passage 230. The moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230 may be telescoped in and out (away from and towards the distal end of the spout 240, respectively) by actuation of the actuator 250, by means, for example, of a suitably-configured mechanical linkage.

[0031] A moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230, and hence the O-ring 226a, may be biased by the biasing member 228 towards the distal end of the spout 240, thus pressing the O-ring 226a against the first seat 226b, which may be provided about an interior circumference of the fluid delivery passage 220. The first biasing member 228 in this example may be a compression spring provided in the interior of the moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230. Other configurations may be suitable including, for example, more proximal or more distal placement of the first valve 226, other valve types (e.g., valves using seals such as O-ring seals, umbrella valves, gate valves, ball valves, etc.), placement of the first biasing member 228 about the exterior of the fluid recovery passage 230, and other types of biasing members (e.g., extension springs, leaf springs, memory metals, resilient foams, etc.), among others.

[0032] There may be a second valve 236 (e.g., provided in or otherwise operatively coupled to the fluid recovery passage 230) for mediating or controlling flow of fluid through the fluid recovery passage 230. The second valve 236 may have an opened configuration (for example as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5) permitting flow of fluid through the fluid recovery passage 230 (e.g., permitting flow of excess fluid into the fluid recovery inlet 232) and a closed configuration (for example as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4) inhibiting flow of excess fluid through the fluid recovery passage 230 (e.g., inhibiting flow of excess fluid into the fluid recovery inlet 232). The second valve 236 may be biased in the closed position, for example by a second biasing member 238, to inhibit flow of excess fluid into the fluid recovery inlet 232. The second valve 236 may be user releasable (e.g., manually operable or reconfigurable by manual actuation) from its closed configuration to its opened configuration. The second valve 236 may be directly or indirectly operated by a user, including, for example, via mechanical (e.g., via the actuator 250) or electrical mechanisms. In the example shown, the second valve 236 may include a second rubber O-ring 236a that is pressed into or up against a second seat 236b to produce an axial, face or surface seal by the second biasing member 238, which in this example may be a compression spring.

[0033] As shown in the examples of FIGS. 4 and 5, second valve(s) 236 may include a second O-ring 236a that may be provided on a moveable member 270 within the moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230. The moveable member 270 may be moved together with the moveable portion 231 and may also be moved relative to the moveable portion 231. In this example, the moveable member 270 may be coupled to the moveable portion 231 by way of the second biasing member 238 and biased away from the distal end of the spout 240. Compression of the second biasing member 238 may allow the moveable member 270 to move relative to the moveable portion 231 , towards the distal end of the spout 240.

[0034] Moveable member 270, and hence the O-ring 236a, may be biased by the second biasing member 238 away from the distal end of the spout 240, thus pressing the O-ring 236b against the second seat 236b, which may be provided in the fluid recovery inlet 232. A moveable member 270 may be moved by a ram 280, to open a second valve 236, as will be described below. The second biasing member 238 in this example may be a compression spring provided in the interior of the moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230. Other configurations may be suitable including, for example, more proximal or more distal placement of the second valve 236, other valve types (e.g., valves using seals such as O-ring seals or radial seals, umbrella valves, gate valves, ball valves, etc.), placement of the second biasing member 238 about the exterior of the fluid recovery passage 230, and other types of biasing members (e.g., extension springs, leaf springs, memory metals, resilient foams, etc.), among others.

[0035] Although other positions are possible for the first valve 226 and the second valve 236, it may be desirable to position the first valve 226 and the second valve 236 relatively distal, near or at the dispensing end of the spout 240 and/or in the spout 240, to help reduce the amount of potentially lost fuel that may be trapped between the closed first and second valves 226, 236 and the end of the spout 240 (e.g., fuel loss such as dripping and/or draining of fuel from the spout after the valves are closed).

[0036] The first and second valves 226, 236 may move between their respective opened and closed configurations along respective first and second paths of travel (not shown). The first and second paths of travel may be substantially coaxial (e.g., where the first and second O- rings 226a, 236a are positioned coaxially).

[0037] Nozzle 200 may also include one or more actuators 250 (e.g., a manually-operated trigger), which may for example be operatively coupled or connected to a first valve 226 and a second valve 236 to move the first valve 226 and the second valve 236 from their respective closed configurations to their respective opened configurations. When both the first valve 226 and the second valve 236 are in their respective closed configurations, a closed configuration for the nozzle 200 may be defined. When both the first valve 226 and the second valve 236 are in their respective opened configurations, an opened configuration for the nozzle 200 may be defined. The nozzle 200 may also include intermediate configurations, for example where one of the first and second valves 226, 236 is opened and the other is closed. Such intermediate configurations may be transitory, for example as the actuator 250 is being actuated. In some examples, where there is a plurality of actuators 250, each of the actuators 250 may be operatively coupled to respective pairs of first and the second valves 226, 236.

[0038] In some examples, a nozzle 200 may be a handheld nozzle 200 and actuator 250 may be provided adjacent to a handle of the nozzle 200. Actuation of the actuator 250 (e.g., a manually-operated trigger) may be by a user holding the nozzle 200 with a hand and pulling the actuator 250 against the handle of the nozzle with the fingers of the hand, for example. Actuation of the actuator 250 may bring the nozzle 200 into the opened configuration. When the actuator 250 is released, the actuator 250 may be biased back towards to its unactuated position, returning the nozzle 200 to the closed configuration. Movement of the first and second valves 226, 236 from their respective closed positions to their respective opened positions may be effected by a single action of actuating the actuator 250 (e.g., a single squeeze of a trigger).

[0039] In such examples, the actuator 250 may be coupled or otherwise operatively engaged to the first valve 226 and the second valve 236 (e.g., via mechanical linkages to the moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in some examples the actuator 250 may be pivotally coupled, such as via one or more linking members 260. FIG. 2 shows an example nozzle 200 with the actuator 250 in the unactuated position, in which first valve 226 and second valve 236 are closed. In FIG. 3, actuator 250 is actuated, and the resulting actuation of linking member(s) 260 may result in opening of the first valve 226 and the second valve 236. In some examples, operation of the actuator 250 may cause the first and second valves 226, 236 to be sequentially moved (e.g., the first valve 226 may begin movement to the opened configuration before the second valve 236 beings movement).

[0040] In some examples, the first and second valves 226, 236 may be interconnected with each other to move with respect to each other along their respective paths of travel. Such interconnection may be non-rigid, to allow for accommodation of dimensional tolerances, as will be discussed further below.

[0041] In some examples, the first and second valves 226, 236 may be movable to their respective closed positions independently of each other (e.g., where the first and second valves 226, 236 are not interconnected or only very loosely interconnected).

[0042] Operation of an example nozzle 200 is now described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. In FIG. 4, nozzle 200 is in the closed configuration (e.g., when the actuator 250 is unactuated). In the example shown, a first biasing member 228 may be provided in a moveable portion 231 of fluid recovery passage 230 about ram 280. First biasing member 228 may bias moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230 towards distal end of the spout 240, and thus may bias the first O-ring 226a against the first seat 226b, causing the first valve 226 to be sealed in a closed, fluid-tight configuration. A second biasing member 238 may be provided in moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230 about the moveable member 270. The second biasing member 238 may bias moveable member 270 away from the distal end of the spout 240, and thus may bias second O-ring 236a against the second seat 236b, causing the second valve 236 to be sealed in a closed, fluid-tight configuration.

[0043] In FIG. 5, nozzle 200 is shown in an opened configuration (e.g., when the actuator 250 is actuated). Actuation of actuator 250 may be operatively coupled, for example via linking member(s) 260, to the first and second valves 226, 236, to cause the first and second valves 226, 236 to move into respective opened configurations. In this example, actuation of the actuator 250 may effect compression of the first biasing member 228 and may cause the moveable portion 231 of the fluid recovery passage 230 to be pulled away from the distal end of the spout 240, thus opening first valve 226 (in this example, by unseating first O-ring 226a from first seat 226b) and allowing fluid to flow through fluid delivery passage 220 to be delivered from fluid delivery outlet 224. Pulling of moveable portion 231 of fluid recovery passage 230 by actuation of the actuator 250 may also cause ram 280, which may not move with moveable portion 231 of fluid recovery passage 230, to contact and press up against moveable member 270, preventing movement of moveable member 270. Because moveable portion 231 continues to be pulled away from the distal end of the spout 240 while moveable member 270 is prevented from moving, second biasing member 238 is compressed, opening second valve 236 (in this example, by unseating second O-ring 236a from second seat 236b), thus allowing fluid to flow through fluid recovery passage 230. In such a configuration, movement of the first valve 226 from the closed to the opened configuration may effect movement of the second valve 236 to its respective opened configuration. In some examples, such a configuration may prevent the second valve 236 from being opened if the first valve 226 is not opened. This may provide a safety mechanism such that fluid recovery does not occur in the absence of fluid delivery.

[0044] In some examples, there may be a gap between a ram 280 and a moveable member 270 when nozzle 200 is in a closed configuration. When actuator 250 is actuated, movement of a moveable portion 231 of fluid recovery passage 230 may close this gap, allowing ram 280 to press against the moveable member 270. This gap may be useful to allow first and second biasing members 228, 238 to act independently of each other. The presence of such a gap may result in staggered, offset or sequential opening of a first valve 226 and opening of a second valve 236. For example, when nozzle 200 is actuated from a closed configuration to an opened configuration, the first valve 226 may open prior to the second valve 236. In some examples, the nozzle 200 may be configured such that the second valve 236 opens prior to the first valve 226. In some examples, this gap may be designed to be relatively small, to reduce this time difference between opening of the first and second valves 226, 236.

[0045] In some examples, the gap between the moveable member 270 and the ram 280 may be designed to be relatively large, such that an intermediate configuration may be defined, in which the first valve 226 is opened but not the second valve 236 (for example, when the actuator 250 is only partway between its unactuated position and its fully actuated position). Such intermediate configuration may be useful, for example, where overflow of fluid is desired or where recovery of excess fluid is not desired.

[0046] The independence of first and second members 228, 238 may be useful in providing independently known and selectable biasing for first and second valves 226, 236. This may allow each of first and second valves 226, 236 to be independently customized to desired and/or required pressure settings for the fluid delivery passage 220 and the fluid recovery passage 230, respectively.

[0047] This may be useful, for example, where the cross-sectional area of the first valve seat 226b may be larger or smaller than the cross-sectional area second valve seat 236b. For example, the cross-sectional area of the first valve seat may be at least twice the cross- sectional area of the second valve seat. Where the cross-sectional area being sealed by the first and second valve seats 226b, 236b are different sizes, the biasing force required to accomplish a similar seal for each valve 226, 236 will be different (e.g., typically more biasing force may be required for a larger sealing area and a smaller biasing force may be required for a smaller sealing area).

[0048] This may also be useful, for example, where the fluid being delivered is volatile and the nature of the fluid's vapour pressure may result in a positive or negative pressure within the source 20. In a design where the first valve 226 and the second valve 236 are biased in opposite directions, the internal pressure within the source 20 may have different or opposite effects on the forces acting on the sealing effectiveness of each valve 226, 236. For example, a positive pressure within the source 20 may act to add to the biasing force on the first valve 226 (thus improving the seal effectiveness) and may act to reduce the biasing force on the second valve 236 (thus inhibiting the seal effectiveness), whereas a negative or vacuum pressure within the source 20 may have an opposite effect on each of these valves 226, 236.

[0049] In another example, the fluid being delivered is a liquid and the excess fluid being recovered is a gas, the pressure settings of the fluid delivery passage 220 and the fluid recovery passage 230 may be significantly different. In some cases, such as where the sizes, design and/or settings of the first and second valves 226, 236 may be different, independent biasing of the first and second valves 226, 236 may allow for such a difference in settings to be relatively easily established and/or adjusted.

[0050] Control of first and second valves 226, 236 by a single action of an actuator 250 may be useful in ensuring that fluid recovery is always available whenever fluid is delivered. Where separate mechanisms are used to mediate fluid delivery and fluid recovery, a user may forget to open the second valve 236 or may fail to properly activate opening of the second valve 236 when delivering fluid, with the result that recovery of excess fluid may be hampered or prevented.

[0051] In some examples, such as where nozzle 200 is a vapour-recovery and fuel-dispensing nozzle, a fluid delivery passage 220 may deliver liquid fuel to a destination vessel 10 while a fluid recovery passage 230 recovers fuel vapours from the destination vessel 10. As such, the first valve 226 may be a liquid valve (e.g., including a liquid O-ring seal) while the second valve 236 may be a vapour valve (e.g., including a vapour O-ring seal).

[0052] Other configurations for nozzle(s) 200 may be suitable. For example, the configurations of fluid delivery passage(s) 220 and fluid recovery passage(s) 230 may be different, such as fluid delivery passage(s) 220 may be inside fluid recovery passage(s) 230, or fluid delivery passage(s) 220 may be separate from fluid recovery passage 230(s). Different valve types may also be used for the first and second valves 226, 236. [0053] In various embodiments, nozzles, such as those not intended for mass consumer markets, nozzles in accordance with the disclosure may make use of metal components to allow, for example, for tighter control of dimensional tolerances, and thus for example the use of radial seals. Further, tighter control of dimensional tolerances may avoid problems associated with leaky valves. This means that such nozzles may, for example, make use of a single biasing force for closing the valves for both fluid delivery and fluid recovery. Alternatively, nozzles built to more exacting tolerances may have only one valve controlled by operation of the actuator and the other valve be controlled by another mechanism, such as pressing the nozzle against the destination vessel.

[0054] In general, a wide variety metals, plastics, and other materials may be used in fabricating devices in accordance with the disclosure. The selection of suitable materials, based on such factors as desired durability, corrosion resistance, tolerances, etc., will not trouble those skilled in the relevant arts, once they have been made familiar with this disclosure.

[0055] In various embodiments of nozzles according to this disclosure, fluid delivery and fluid recovery may be mediated by two independent valves 226, 236, each independently biased in the closed position. Such configurations may be useful, for example, where the nozzle 200 includes significant proportions of plastic components, such as when the nozzle 200 is intended for a low-cost consumer market. Plastic materials typically have less strict dimensional tolerances (e.g., each component may vary by about +/- 0.005 inches in length and/or diameter) and greater variation in thermal expansion behaviour. Different specimens of a single component may exhibit different extremes of variation, resulting in relatively large variability (e.g., one production run of a component may show +0.005 inch variation while the next production run of the same component may show -0.005 inch variation, resulting in a total of 0.010 inch variation for the same part). In some examples, the material used (e.g., plastics) may be affected by contact with the fluid (e.g., fuels or chemicals), resulting in a dimensional change (e.g., swelling) of the plastic components. In such situations, the relatively large possible dimensional variations may require different biasing forces to properly seal the first valve 226 and second valve 236. The use of a single biasing force to seal both the first and second valves 226, 236, where the valves have large possible dimensional variations, may result in poor sealing of one or the other valve, and undesirable leakage and/or inefficiency. In some examples, where the first and second valves 226, 236 are interconnected with each other, it may be desirable to avoid a very rigid interconnection between the valves 226, 236. For example, if the valves 226, 236 were rigidly connected to each other, one of the valves may seat in the closed position before the other valve seats (e.g., due to various dimensional tolerances and/or thermal expansion/contraction described above), with the result that the other valve is prevented from fully closing. Accordingly, the first valve 226 and the second valve 236 may be non-rigidly interconnected (e.g., via a spring, a slightly compressible/extendible connection or other suitable connection). For example, two separate biasing members 228, 238 (e.g., springs) may be employed such that the first and second valves 226, 236 are independently biased.

[0056] In some examples, more or less biasing members may be used. For example, a single biasing member may serve to bias both the first and second valves 226, 236, depending on the specific configuration. Where a single biasing member is used, additional coupling members may be employed to enable independent movement and/or independent biasing of the first and second valves 226, 236.

[0057] Such relatively large possible dimensional variations may also make it difficult to use radial seals for the first valve 226 and second valve 236, as is conventionally done, due to possible poor fitting and/or seating of plastic radial seal components. In general, radial seals require fairly well-controlled tolerances in order to ensure a good seal. Such well-controlled tolerances may be difficult to achieve using plastic components. The use of independently- biased valves, such as O-ring seal valves, which may be pushed up against a valve seat to provide a surface seal as opposed to a radial seal, in the above examples may help in many circumstances to overcome this problem.

[0058] In some examples, a nozzle 200 may include mostly plastic components, which may include, for example, injection-moulded components. The use of plastic injection-moulded components may allow a nozzle 200 to be manufactured relatively quickly and inexpensively, which may be useful where for example the nozzle 200 is intended for a low-cost consumer market. Suitable plastics for forming the nozzle 200 may include, for example, any polymeric materials that are minimally affected or relatively unaffected by the fluid, such as fuel. An example plastic material that may be useful for a fuel-dispensing nozzle 200 may be acetal or polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) plastics.

[0059] While the present disclosure refers to fuel as an example fluid, other fluids may be delivered and recovered using the example nozzle 200 including, for example, water, air, compressed gases, or any other suitable fluids that may be dispensed from a nozzle. The invention may be particularly useful in the dispensation of volatile fluids such as gasoline or other fuels, where recovery of vapour is important. Although the nozzle 200 has been described as including plastic components, in other examples the nozzle 200 may include mostly metallic components or a mixture of plastic and metallic components.

[0060] The embodiments of the present disclosure described above are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations to the disclosure may be made without departing from the intended scope of the present disclosure. In particular, selected features from one or more of the above-described embodiments may be combined to create alternative embodiments not explicitly described. All values and sub-ranges within disclosed ranges are also disclosed. The subject matter described herein intends to cover and embrace all suitable changes in technology. All references mentioned are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

Claims

1. A fluid exchange dispenser for delivering a fluid from a source to a vessel and for concurrently recovering a fluid from the vessel, the dispenser comprising: a housing; a fluid delivery passage defined within the housing having a fluid delivery inlet for receiving the fluid from the source and a fluid delivery outlet for delivering the fluid to the vessel; a first valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the fluid delivery outlet, the first valve being biased toward a closed position to inhibit the fluid from flowing through the fluid delivery outlet; a fluid recovery passage defined within the housing having a fluid recovery inlet for receiving the fluid from the vessel and a fluid recovery outlet for delivering the fluid to the source; a second valve for controlling flow of the fluid through the fluid recovery passage, the second valve being biased toward a closed position independently of the first valve, wherein the fluid is inhibited from flowing through the fluid recovery inlet; and an actuator operatively coupled to the first valve and the second valve for effecting movement of the first valve and the second valve from the respective closed positions to respective open positions; wherein the first valve and the second valve are moveable from their respective closed positions to their respective open positions by a single actuation of the actuator while each of the first valve and the second valve is independently biased towards its respective closed position.

2. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the dispenser is a nozzle.

3. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first valve and the second valve comprises an O-ring seal.

4. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the fluid delivery passage is for delivering the liquid, and the fluid recovery passage is for recovering vapour given off by the liquid.

5. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first and second valves are biased toward their respective closed positions by respective independent first and second biasing members.

6. The dispenser of claim 5 wherein the first and second biasing members comprise compression springs.

7. The dispenser of claim 1 , comprised at least partly of plastic components.

8. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein upon actuation of the actuator the first valve is moved to its opened position before the second valve is moved to its opened position.

9. The dispenser of claim 8 wherein movement of the first valve to its opened position effects movement of the second valve to its respective opened position.

10. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the fluid delivery passage and the fluid recovery passage are generally co-axial.

11. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the fluid recovery passage is defined within the fluid delivery passage.

12. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein a minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid recovery passage is at least half of a minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery passage.

13. The dispenser of claim 12 wherein the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid recovery passage is at least twice of the minimum cross-sectional area of the fluid delivery passage.

14. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first valve is biased against a first valve seat and the second valve is biased against a second valve seat, and wherein a cross-sectional area of the second valve seat is different from a cross-sectional area of the first valve seat.

15. The dispenser of claim 14 wherein the cross-sectional area of the first valve seat is at least twice the cross-sectional area of the second valve seat.

16. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a manually operable trigger.

17. The dispenser of claim 16 wherein the trigger is operatively coupled to at least one of the first valve and the second valve by a mechanical linkage.

18. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein operation of the actuator moves a moveable portion of the fluid recovery passage to move the first valve and the second valve to their respective opened positions.

19. The dispenser of claim 18 wherein the first valve is biased toward its closed position by a first biasing member seated in the moveable portion of the fluid recovery passage, and the second valve is biased toward its closed position by a second biasing member seated in the moveable portion of the fluid recovery passage.

20. The dispenser of claim 1 wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned inside a spout of the dispenser.

21. The dispenser of claim 20 wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned near a distal end of the spout of the dispenser.

22. The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a safety trigger, the safety trigger being operable to enable delivery of fluid from the dispenser when the dispenser is in close contact with the vessel and to inhibit delivery of fluid from the dispenser when the dispenser is not in close contact with the vessel.

23. A system for delivering a fluid to a vessel, the system including: a fluid source for holding fluid to be delivered to the vessel; the dispenser of claim 1 ; a fluid delivery pump in fluid communication with the fluid source and the fluid delivery passage of the dispenser for receiving fluid from the fluid source and pumping fluid to the dispenser to be delivered to the vessel; and a fluid recovery pump in fluid communication with the fluid source and the fluid recovery passage of the dispenser for receiving fluid recovered by the dispenser and pumping recovered fluid to the fluid source.

24. The system of claim 23 further comprising a hose for conducting fluid between the dispenser and the fluid source, the hose having at least two independent conduits for independently delivering fluid and recovering fluid, one of the at least two independent conduits facilitating fluid communication between the fluid delivery pump and the fluid delivery conduit of the dispenser and another one of the at least two independent conduits facilitating fluid communication between the fluid recovery pump and the fluid recovery conduit of the dispenser.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the fluid source is a manually portable fluid source.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the fluid to be delivered is a liquid and the fluid to be recovered is a vapour.

27. A fluid exchange nozzle comprising: a first fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a second fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a first valve for controlling flow of fluid through the first fluid carrying conduit, wherein the first valve is biased towards a closed position to thereby inhibit the fluid from flowing through the first fluid carrying conduit; a second valve for controlling flow of fluid through the second fluid recovery conduit, wherein the second valve is biased towards a closed position to thereby inhibit the fluid from flowing through the second fluid carrying conduit; wherein the first valve and the second valve are movable to the closed positions each independently of the other; and an actuator operatively engaged with the first valve and the second valve for enabling selective movement of the first valve and the second valve between their respective closed positions and open positions.

28. The nozzle of claim 27, wherein the second fluid carrying conduit is disposed within the first fluid carrying conduit.

29. The nozzle of claim 28, wherein the second fluid carrying conduit and the first fluid carrying conduit are substantially concentric one with the other.

30. The nozzle of claim 29, wherein the line of action of the first valve and the line of action of the second valve are coaxial one with the other.

31. The nozzle of claim 27, wherein the first valve and the second valve are moved sequentially by operation of the actuator.

32. The nozzle of claim 27 wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned inside a spout of the nozzle.

33. The nozzle of claim 32 wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned near a distal end of the spout of the nozzle.

34. A fluid exchange nozzle comprising: a first fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a second fluid carrying conduit having an inlet for receiving fluid and an outlet for delivering fluid; a first valve operatively mounted with respect to the first fluid carrying conduit for movement along a first path of travel between a closed position and an open position; a second valve operatively mounted with respect to the second fluid carrying conduit for movement along a second path of travel between a closed position and an open position; an actuation mechanism operatively connected to at least one of the first valve and the second valve to enable selective movement of the first valve and the second valve between their respective open and closed positions; and at least one biasing member for biasing the first valve and the second valve to their respective closed positions.

35. The nozzle of claim 34, wherein the first valve and the second valve are interconnected with each other to thereby be movable with respect to each other along their respective paths of travel.

36. The nozzle of claim 35 wherein the first valve and the second valve are non-rigidly interconnected with each other.

37. The nozzle of claim 34, wherein the first valve and the second valve are movable to their respective closed positions independently of the other.

38. The nozzle of claim 34, wherein first path of travel of the first valve and the second path of travel of the second valve are substantially coaxial.

39. The nozzle of claim 34, wherein the second fluid carrying conduit is disposed within the first fluid carrying conduit.

40. The nozzle of claim 38, wherein the second fluid carrying conduit and the first fluid carrying conduit are substantially coaxial.

41. The nozzle of claim 39, wherein the first path of travel of the first valve and the second path of travel of the second valve are substantially coaxial.

42. The nozzle of claim 34, wherein the first valve and the second valve are moved sequentially by operation of the actuator.

43. The nozzle of claim 34 wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned inside a spout of the nozzle.

44. The nozzle of claim 42 wherein the first valve and the second valve are positioned near a distal end of the spout of the nozzle.