GB2447302A

GB2447302A - Valve for fuel dispensing nozzle that prevents misfuelling

Info

Publication number: GB2447302A
Application number: GB0706840A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jack Gall Thomson
Original assignee: BP Oil International Ltd
Current assignee: BP Oil International Ltd
Priority date: 2007-03-09
Filing date: 2007-04-10
Publication date: 2008-09-10
Also published as: WO2008110750A2; GB2447292A; WO2008110749A3; WO2008110755A3; GB2447292A8; WO2008110755A2; WO2008110749A2; WO2008110750A3; GB0706840D0; GB0704525D0

Abstract

A valve 12 is provided, for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle 10. A fluid conduit 16, has a sealing member (14, fig 1b) that is moveable between a first active position in which it closes the fluid conduit to prevent fluid flow therethrough and a second inactive position in which it the fluid conduit is open to permit fluid flow therethrough. Without flow through the conduit the shut-off mechanism is activated and no fuel will be dispensed. An actuator 30 is moveably coupled to the fluid conduit 16 so as to be moveable between first and second positions. The actuator 30 is engaged with the sealing member (14, fig. 1b) such that movement of the actuator 30 between the first and second positions causes corresponding movement of the sealing member (14, fig 1b) between the first active position and the second inactive position. The actuator body 32 is shaped to abut the filling neck of a petrol fuel tank following insertion of the dispensing nozzle 10 into the filling neck to move the actuator 30 from the first position to the second position. A diesel fuel tank has a wider neck than a petrol fuel tank, thus the actuator would not be moved to urge the sealing member up and open the conduit, thereby preventing misfuelling of a petrol tank with diesel fuel.

Description

iMPROVEMENTS IN OR REIFIATING TO

FUEL DISPENSING NOZZIS

This invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a valve for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, an actuator for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, and a fuel dispensing nozzle including such a valve or such an actuator.

Vehicles having a diesel engine have a wide filling neck to the fuel tank, and io diesel fuel dispensing nozzles have a diameter of between approximately 25mm and 27mm.

In contrast, vehicles having a petrol engine include fuel tanks having a restriction in their filling necks of 22mm diameter, while petrol fuel dispensing nozzles have a diameter of approximately 20mm to 21mm.

It follows that attempting to introduce diesel fuel into a petrol tank usmg a diesel fuel dispensing nozzle is thwarted by the 22mm diameter filling neck since the diesel fuel dispensing nozzle is too wide to enter this aperture.

However, the aforementioned features do nothing to prevent the dispensing of petrol fuel via a petrol fuel dispensing nozzle into a diesel fuel tank. Running petrol fuel through a diesel engine is highly undesirable since it can lead to extensive damage of the engine components requiring costly repair and replacement.

To help overcome this problem there is a need for improvements in or relating to fuel dispensing nozzles.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a valve according to Claim 1.

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Preferably the valve includes further features as defined in dependent claims 2 to 8.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an actuator according to Claim 9.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a fuel dispensing nozzle according to Claim 10 which, preferably includes a further feature as defined in dependent Claim 11. * 10

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a fuel dispensing nozzle according to Claim 12.

There now follows a brief description of prefeiTed embodiments of the invention, by way of non-limiting examples, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1(a) shows a fuel dispensing nozzle including a valve according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 1(b) shows an enlarged portion of the fuel dispensing nozzle shown in Figure 1(b); Figure 2 shows an enlarged portion of a fuel dispensing nozzle including a valve according to a second embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 shows an enlarged portion of a fuel dispensing nozzle including a valve according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through section A-A of Figure 3.

A first fuel dispensing nozzle 10 includes a valve 12 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The valve 12 includes a sealing member 14 in the form of a plunger 13 slidably located in the dispensing nozzle 10. The sealing member 14 is located such that it is able to occupy a first active position in which it prevents fluid flow through a fluid conduit 16 that is defined by an automatic shut-off duct 18 in the dispensing nozzle 10, as shown in Figure 1.

In the first active position a fluid impermeable portion 22 of the sealing member 14 lies in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18 so as to completely close off the automatic the shut-off duct 18.

The automatic shut-off duct 18 typically runs along the length of the fuel dispensing nozzle 10. A shut-off mechanism (not shown) is configured to "breathe" through the shut-off duct 18. Accordingly, as long as air can pass through the shut-off duct 18, the dispensing of fuel from the nozzle 10 is regulated only by an outlet valve which is usually opened via an operating lever 20, as desired, by a user who wishes to dispense fuel into a fuel tank (not shown).

As the fuel tank becomes full, the level of fuel in the tank rises and closes the end of the shut-off duct 18. As a result the shut- off mechanism is no longer able to "breathe" and so activates to shut the outlet valve, thereby preventing dispensing of fuel from the fuel dispensing nozzle 10.

In the embodiments shown, the sealing member 14 preventing fluid flow through the automatic shut-off duct 18 has the same effect as fuel in a fuel tank reaching the tip of the dispensing nozzle 20 and closing the end of the shut-off duct 18. The result is immediate activation of the shut-off mechanism, which prevents the dispensing of fuel through the dispensing nozzle 10.

The sealing member 14 is biased towards the first active position by a first spring 24. Other embodiments of the invention may use a different biasing member.

One end of the sealing member 14 abuts a shaped profile 26 in the form of an internal ramp 28 lying within an actuator 30.

The actuator 30 is moveable between a first position, as shown in Figure 1, and a second position.

The actuator 30 is biased towards the first position by a second spring 36 and, while the actuator 30 remains in the first position, the impermeable portion 22 of the sealing member 14 remains in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18, thereby keeping the duct 18 closed off.

The actuator 30 includes an actuator body 32 which is shaped, preferably in the form of a sleeve 34 surrounding the automatic shut-off duct 18 and the fluid dispensing nozzle 10, to abut the 22mm diameter restricted filling neck of a petrol tank (not shown). Continued movement of the dispensing nozzle 10 moves the sleeve 34 along the dispensing nozzle 10, against the biasing force of the second spring 36, to the second position.

During this movement of the sleeve 34, the internal ramp 28 moves the sealing member 14 toward a second inactive position in which a fluid permeable portion 38 of the sealing member 14 lies in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18 to allow the flow of fluid through the duct 18. The fluid permeable portion 38 of the sealing member 14 may include a waisted portion 40, as shown in Figure 1, or some other fluid conduit such as an aperture.

Flow of fluid along the automatic shut-off duct 18 allows the shut off mechanism to breathe and so fuel dispensing can take place as normal via operation of the operating lever 20.

Following insertion of the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 into the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank (not shown) the sleeve 34 is too narrow to abut the filling neck and so the actuator 30 remains in the first position, thereby preventing the dispensing of fuel from the nozzle 10.

Figure 2 shows a valve 50 according to a second embodiment of the invention in a fuel dispensing nozzle I 0.

The second valve 50 shares several features with the first valve 12 and these are designated using the same reference numerals.

The second valve 50 includes a sealing member 14 in the form of a flat blade 52.

The flat blade 52 is moveable between a fIrst active position in which it prevents fluid flow through the automatic shut-off duct 18 by closing off the duct 18 (as shown in Figure 2), and a second passive position in which it allows fluid flow through the automatic shut-off duct 18 by clearing the duct 18.

The flat blade 52 is engaged with the actuator 30 via, for example, a rivet or other fastener.

Accordingly, movement of the actuator 30 between first and second positions, as described above, causes corresponding movement of the flat blade 52 so as to selectively open and close the automatic shut-off duct 18 to allow and prevent dispensing of fuel, as required.

Figures 3 and 4 show a valve 60 according to a third embodiment of the invention in a fuel dispensing nozzle 10.

The third valve 60 shares several features with the first and second valves 12; 50 and these are designated using the same reference numerals.

The third valve 60 includes a sealing member 14 in the form of a plunger 13.

One end of the sealing member 14 abuts an actuator 30 which is moveable between a first position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a second position. The structure of the actuator 30 biases it towards the first position.

The actuator 30 includes an actuator body 32 that defines an elongate member 62 extending adjacent to the automatic shut-off duct 18 and the fuel dispensing nozzle 10. The elongate member 62 extends at an angle to the fuel dispensing

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nozzle 10 so as to project laterally from the nozzle and abut the 22mm diameter restricted filling neck of a petrol tank (not shown). Continued movement of the dispensing nozzle 10 depresses the elongate member 62 towards the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 and moves it to the second position.

This movement of the elongate member 62 moves the sealing member 14 towards the second inactive position in which a fluid permeable portion 38 of the sealing member 14 lies in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18 to allow the flow of fluid through the duct 18. I0

In this way fuel dispensing can take place as normal via operation of the operating lever 20, as described above.

Following insertion of the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 into the filling neck of a is diesel fuel tank (not shown) the projection of the elongate member 62 from the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 is insufficient to abut the filling neck, and so the actuator 30 remams in the first position, thereby preventing the dispensing of fuel from the nozzle 10.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A valve, for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle,

comprising: a fluid conduit; S a sealing member moveable between a first active position in which it closes the fluid conduit to prevent fluid flow therethrough and a second inactive position in which the fluid conduit is open to permit fluid flow therethrough, and an actuator moveably coup'ed to the fluid conduit so as to be moveable between first and second positions, the actuator being engaged with the sealing member such that movement of the actuator between the first and second positions causes corresponding movement of the sealing member between the first active position and the second inactive position.
2. A valve according to Claim I wherein the actuator is biased towards the first position.
3. A valve according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the actuator includes an actuator body shaped to abut a filling neck of a petrol fuel tank in order to move the actuator from the first position to the second position.
4. A valve according to Claim 3 wherein the actuator body defines a sleeve surrounding the fluid conduit.
5. A valve according to Claim 3 wherein the actuator body defines an elongate member extending adjacent to the fluid conduit.
6. A valve according to any preceding claim wherein the sealing member includes a fluid impermeable portion and a fluid permeable portion, the fluid impermeable portion lying in commun cation with the fluid conduit while the sealing member is in the first active position, and the fluid permeable portion lying in communication with the fluid conduit while the sealing member is in the second inactive position.

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7. A valve according to Claim 6 wherein the fluid permeable portion includes a fluid conduit.
8. A valve according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the actuator includes a shaped profile abutting the sealing member to move the sealing member between the first active position and the second active position.
9. A valve according to any of Claims 6 to 8 wherein the sealing member is biased towards the first active position.
10. An actuator, for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising an actuator body moveably couplable to the fuel dispensing nozzle so as to be moveable between a first position preventing the dispensing of fuel from the dispensing nozzle and a second position allowing the dispensing of fuel from the dispensing nozzle, the actuator body being shaped to abut the filling neck of a petrol fuel tank following insertion of the dispensing nozzle into the filling neck to move the actuator from the first position to the second position.
11. A fuel dispensing nozzle including a valve according to any of Claims 2 to 9.
12. A fuel dispensing nozzle according to Claim 11 having an automatic shut-off duct, wherein the automatic shut-off duct defines the fluid conduit of the valve.
13. A fuel dispensing nozzle including an actuator according to Claim 10.
14. A valve generally as herein described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
15. An actuator generally as herein described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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16. A fuel dispensing nozzle generally as herein described with reference to and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.