SE2051243A1

SE2051243A1 - Improved fuel dispensing unit

Info

Publication number: SE2051243A1
Application number: SE2051243A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Mattias Mårtensson; Rrezart Zejnullahu; Selmir Avdic
Original assignee: Dover Fueling Solutions Uk Ltd
Priority date: 2020-10-23
Filing date: 2020-10-23
Publication date: 2022-04-24
Also published as: EP3988500A1; SE544682C2

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for handling a hose (2), which device (1) allows the hose (2) to be pulled out from a front opening of a hose storage space (3) and which device (1) is adapted to return the hose (2) to the hose storage space (3). The device (1) comprises a first hose guiding means (4) arranged in an upper section of the hose storage space (3), and a second hose guiding means (5) arranged in a lower section of the hose storage space (3). The second hose guiding means (5) is movably attached to a rear section of the hose storage space (3) and adapted to move along the rear section in a vertical direction (V) between an idle position in the lower section of the hose storage space (3) and a working position in the upper section of the hose storage space (3) to control the hose (2). The invention also related to a method for mounting of a hose handling device (1) in a hose storage space (3) of a fuel dispensing unit (23).

Description

IIVIPROVED FUEL DISPENSING UNIT Technical field The invention relates to a device for handling a hose and a method formounting of a hose handling device in a hose storage space of a fueldispensing unit.

Background art A fuel dispensing unit, such as a petrol pump typically comprises apump part standing on the ground, a display part positioned above the pumppart and showing the chosen type of petrol, cash readout, volume readoutetc., and a column to which one or more petrol hoses are connected.

When the tank of a vehicle is to be filled up, the driver parks the vehiclebeside the petrol pump and opens the cover or cap of the petrol tank. Thedriver then selects the desired type of petrol and places the pump nozzle inthe inlet of the vehicle”s petrol tank and puts in the desired volume of petrol.

A difficulty that may arise in connection with filling-up is that the hosedoes not reach to the vehicle if parked a distance from the petrol pump. Thereason why the vehicle has not been parked sufficiently close to the pumpmay be difficulty in manoeuvring owing to a limited space round the petrolpump. To allow the hose to reach the vehicle, it is usually necessary for thedriver to park his vehicle so that the side of the vehicle where the filler cap ispositioned faces the petrol pump. lt is not always known to a driver of anunfamiliar vehicle whether the filler cap is positioned on the left or right side.This may result in the driver by mistake parking the vehicle on the wrong sideof the pump and thus not being able to fill up the tank without moving thevehicle to the other side of the petrol pump since the hose does not reach allthe way round the vehicle.

One way of facilitating access to the petrol pump is to provide it with alonger hose. This may, however, cause problems since a longer hose maytend to land on the ground when not used and thus get stuck in or bedamaged by passing cars or other vehicles. To prevent this, the column maybe provided with some kind of returning mechanism for the hose.

US4131218 discloses hose returning means for a fuel dispensing unit.According to the embodiment shown in Fig. 11 the hose is connected to a fuelsupply connection arranged inside the housing and passes a floatinglysuspended roller which is connected to a wire reel. When the hose is pulled,the roller is lowered in order to make more hose available for the user.

WOOO/15542 discloses a hose storing device in which a flexible hoseis passed over a roller which is accommodated in a housing in such manneras to be movable against a return force in substantially vertical direction.

A problem common for the hose returning devices described above istheir size, or their extension within respective hose housings, which results inbulky and complicated structures.

Summary of the invention lt is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement of thefuel dispensers according to prior art. A particular object is to provideimproved fuel dispensing unit which is easy to mount.

According to a first aspect, these and other objects, and/or advantagesthat will be apparent from the following description of embodiments, areachieved, in full or at least in part, by a device for handling a hose, whichdevice allows the hose to be pulled out from a front opening of a hose storagespace and which device is adapted to return the hose to the hose storagespace. The device comprises a first hose guiding means arranged in an uppersection of the hose storage space, and a second hose guiding meansarranged in a lower section of the hose storage space. The second hoseguiding means is movably attached to a rear section of the hose storagespace and adapted to move along the rear section in a vertical directionbetween an idle position in the lower section of the hose storage space and aworking position in the upper section of the hose storage space to control thehose. The invention also related to a method for mounting of a hose handlingdevice in a hose storage space of a fuel dispensing unit.

This is advantageous in that a robust and space-saving device isprovided, which enables a smooth and flexible handling of the hose.

The hose may be adapted to extend, in a retracted state, from a hoseconnection in the upper section of the hose storage space, downwardly in thevertical direction, behind and below a roller of second hose guiding means,upwardly in the vertical direction, behind and above a roller of the first hoseguiding means.

The first hose guiding means may comprise a rocker unit which, toallow pulling out and returning of the hose, is pivotable in relation to the hosestorage space about a pivot axis and which comprises a roller which isarranged at a distance from the pivot axis and adapted to support the hose. lt enables to increase the hose length pulled outside the hose storagespace and to reduce the frictions on the hose.

The rocker unit may comprise a side roller arranged in a verticaldirection at each side of a hose opening thereof to facilitate side movementsof the hose when pulled out from hose storage space.

The rocker unit may further comprise a front roller arranged in ahorizontal direction to extend between the side rollers to lock the hose inplace and facilitate movements of the hose when pulled out from hosestorage space.

The front roller may be spring-loaded in a releasably manner to therocker unit.

The first hose guiding means may be located at a front position of thehose storage space and the second hose guiding means is located at a rearposition of the hose storage space.

The second hose guiding means may comprise a roller holding partwhich has two wheels adapted to travel in two corresponding grooves of therear section of the hose storage space.

The rear section of the hose storage space may be constituted by acolumn adapted to define the hose storage space in a rear direction.

The column may be adapted to be clicked into place at a top part of thehose storage space by means of a locking mechanism.

Screws and bolts are usually used for fixing parts of a fuel dispenser of prior art. The invention enables a quick and easy mounting and dismounting of the column. The locking mechanism is made of only one piece, reducingthe amount of part numbers.

According to a second aspect, the objects are achieved in full, or atleast in part, by a method for mounting of a hose handling device in a hosestorage space of a fuel dispensing unit. The method comprises arranging afirst hose guiding means in an upper section of the hose storage space,arranging a roller holding part of a second hose guiding means in a lowersection of the hose storage space, attaching a hose to the upper section ofthe hose storage space, extending the hose within the hose storage space,and arranging a roller in the roller holding part of the second hose guidingmeans.

The step of extending the hose within the hose storage space maycomprise extending the hose from the upper section of the hose storagespace, downwardly in the vertical direction, behind and below a roller axis ofthe roller holding part of second hose guiding means, and upwardly in thevertical direction, behind and above a roller of the first hose guiding means.

The step of attaching a hose to the upper section of the hose storagespace may comprise arranging a first end of the hose to a hose connection,and arranging the hose connection to the upper section of the hose storagespace above the first hose guiding means.

The method may further comprise the step of arranging a column tothe hose storage space as a rear section thereof, such that the roller holdingpart of the second hose guiding means is in a movable engagement with thecolumn and able to move along the column in a vertical direction between anidle position in the lower section of the hose storage space and a workingposition in the upper section of the hose storage space to control the hose.

The method may further comprise the step of arranging a front roller inthe first hose guiding means to extend in a horizontal direction to lock thehose in place and facilitate movements of the hose when pulled out from hosestorage space.

Normally, it is a quite difficult and tricky task to assembly a fueldispensing unit when it comes to the hose storage space and the device forhandling the hose. The space for operating components and tools necessary to assembly the same is very limited. However, the specially developedcomponents of the device for handling the hose described herein as well asthe method described above for mounting of a hose handling device in a hosestorage space of a fuel dispensing unit greatly simplifies the task for a personskilled in the art. Each component is especially developed to simplify theassembling and many of the components have some kind of plug-in solution. lt should be noted that the different embodiments of the device that isdescribed above are exemplifying only. The embodiments may be combinedwith each other in any suitable way depending on the requirementsestablished for the fuel dispenser. lt should be further noted that the different steps of the methoddescribed above may be conducted in any suitable order.

Effects and features of the second aspect of the present invention arelargely analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspectthe inventive concept. Embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspectof the present invention are largely compatible with the further aspects of theinvenﬁon.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention willappear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, aswell as from the drawings. lt is noted that the invention relates to all possiblecombinations of features.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted accordingto their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly definedotherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component,means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least oneinstance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unlessexplicitly stated otherwise.

As used herein, the term “comprising” and variations of that term arenot intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Brief description of the drawinqs The above objects, as well as additional objects, features andadvantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description ofpreferred embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. 1A illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of adevice for handling a hose according to a first aspect of the invention.

Fig. 1B illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment ofprimary components of the device in Fig. 1A.

Fig. 2A to 2J are perspective views of steps in a method for mountingof a hose handling device in a hose storage space of a fuel dispensing unitaccording to a second aspect of the invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a device 1 for handling ahose 2 in a hose storage space 3 of a fuel dispensing unit 23. There arenormally several hoses 2 present in the hose storage space 3 and thus acorresponding amount of hose handling devices 1. The device 1 will bedescribed in greater detail below.

The main purpose of the device 1 is to allow the hose 2 to be pulledout from a front opening of a hose storage space 3 during refuelling of avehicle and thereafter return the hose 2 to the hose storage space 3. This willenhance the refuelling experience for the user since the hose 2 is controlledby the device 1 to avoid ending up on the ground and get stuck in or bedamaged by passing cars or other vehicles. ln Fig. 1B, the primary components of the device 1 is illustrated. Thedevice 1 comprises a first hose guiding means 4 arranged in an upper sectionof the hose storage space 3, and a second hose guiding means 5 arranged ina lower section of the hose storage space 3. The first hose guiding means 4is located at a front position of the hose storage space 3 and the second hoseguiding means 5 is located at a rear position of the hose storage space 3. ln this specific embodiment, the first hose guiding means 4 comprisesa rocker unit 6 which, to allow pulling out and returning of the hose 2, ispivotable in relation to the hose storage space 3 about a pivot axis P andwhich comprises a roller 7 which is arranged at a distance from the pivot axis P and adapted to support the hose 2. The rocker unit 6 comprises a sideroller 8 arranged in a vertical direction V at each side of a hose openingthereof to facilitate side movements of the hose 2 when pulled out from hosestorage space 3. The rocker unit 6 further comprises a front roller 9 arrangedin a horizontal direction H to extend between the side rollers 8 to lock thehose 2 in place and facilitate movements of the hose when pulled out fromhose storage space 3. The front roller 9 is preferably spring-loaded in areleasably manner to the rocker unit 6 in order to facilitate mounting of thesame.

At least a part of the second hose guiding means 5 is movablyattached to an inner side of a column 10 of the hose storage space 3 andadapted to move along the inner side of the column 10 in a vertical direction Vbetween an idle position in the lower section of the hose storage space 3 anda working position in the upper section of the hose storage space 3 to controlthe hose 2. The column 10 is adapted to be clicked into place at a top part ofthe hose storage space 3 by means of a locking mechanism 11, as illustratein Fig. 2G. The locking mechanism 11 is made out of metal and comprises ahorizontal base plate from which four leg protrudes 20 vertically in adownwards direction. Two of these legs 20 are inclined at an angle ofbetween 20° and 60° at an outer portion thereof. When the column 10 isclicked into place, the four legs of the locking mechanism 11 are passedthrough four openings 21 in the top part of the hose storage space 3 fromabove and interconnected with grooves 16 placed on an inner side of thecolumn, thereby releasably fastening the column 10 to the top part of thehose storage space 3. Naturally, the number of legs and their exactconfiguration made be varied in any suitable manner. The same applies forthe openings in the top part of the hose storage space 3.

A nozzle boot 12 is arranged on an outer side of the column. Thesecond hose guiding 5 means comprises a roller holding part 13, holding aroller 14, which has two wheels 15 adapted to travel in the two correspondinggrooves 16 of the inner side of the column 10 of the hose storage space 3,i.e. it is the roller holding part 13 that is movably attached to the inner side ofthe column 10 and thus movable together with the roller 14 in the vertical direction V between the idle position and the working position. The secondhose guiding means 5 further comprises a retraction device 17 resilientlycoupled to the second hose guiding means 5 in order to retract the rollerholding part 13 of the second hose guiding means 5 from the working positionback into the idle position within the hose storage space 3 when the refuellingprocess is completed. The retraction device 17 is fixedly arranged in the lowersection of the hose storage space 3. The retraction device comprises a springdrum and a cord, wherein the cord is connected to the roller holding part 13.

The hose 2 is adapted to extend, in a retracted state, from a hoseconnection 18 in the upper section of the hose storage space 3, downwardlyin the vertical direction, behind and below a roller of second hose guidingmeans, upwardly in the vertical direction, behind and above a roller of the firsthose guiding means.

Fig. 2A to 2l illustrate different step in a method for mounting of a hosehandling device 1 in a hose storage space 3 of a fuel dispensing unit 23.Naturally, the steps included in the method can be carried out in differentsuitable orders. One exemplary mounting method will, however, be describedin greater detail below. lnitially, a shell of the fuel dispensing device 4 is provided (Fig. 2A).The hose storage space 3 is here provided with a bottom portion 18 and a topportion 19. A side wall 20 separating the hose storage space 3 from thehydraulics compartment 21 is also provided.

Thereafter, the first house guiding means 4 is arranged in the uppersection of the hose storage space 3 (Fig. 2B) and the second hose guidingmeans 5 - except for the roller 14 - is arranged in the lower section of thehose storage space 3 (Fig. 2C).

A first end of the hose 2 is attached to a hose connection 18, and thehose connection 18 is thereafter attached to the upper section of the hosestorage space 3 above the top 19 of the same (Fig. 2D). The hose connection18 is clicked into place by means of a locking device. Thereafter, a fuel line22 is provided above the top 19 of the hose storage space 3 and connectedto the hose connection 18 (Fig. 2E).

The column is thereafter attached to the lower section of the hosestorage space 3 while being connected to the roller holding part 13 of thesecond hose guiding means 5 (Fig. 2F). l\/lore specifically, the two wheels 15of the roller holding part 13 is connected to the two corresponding grooves 16of the inner side of the column such that the roller holding part 13 can travelalong the column in a vertical direction V thereof. Thereafter, the column 10 isclicked into place in the upper section of the hose storage space 3 andconnected to the top 19 thereof by means of the locking mechanism 11 (Fig.2G).

The roller 14 can now be placed in the roller holding part 13 of thesecond hose guiding means 5 in a manner such that the hose 2 extendsfrom the upper section of the hose storage space 3, downwardly in thevertical direction V, behind and below a roller axis of the roller holding part 13of second hose guiding means 5, and upwardly in the vertical direction V,behind and above the roller 7 of the first hose guiding means 4 (Fig. 2H).

Finally, the front roller 9 is arranged in the first hose guiding means 4 toextend in a horizontal direction H and lock the hose 2 into place (Fig. 2l). Thefront roller 9 is adapted to facilitate movements of the hose 2 when pulled outfrom hose storage space 3. ln Fig. 2J, the completed hose storage space 3 with the hose handlingdevice 1 is illustrated.

When the hose 2 is pulled out from the hose storage space 3 bymeans of a pulling force applied by a user, the rocker unit 6 of the first hoseguiding means 4 is pivoted about the pivoting axis P of the same to ensurethat the hose 2 is pulled substantially horizontally out of the hose storagespace 3 in order to minimize the friction between the hose 2 and the roller 7 ofthe first hose guiding means 4. The front roller 9 is pivoted towards thebottom of the fuel dispenser and thus towards the second hose guidingmeans 5. Further, the roller holding part 13 of the second hose guiding means5 will travel upwardly in a vertical direction V along the inner side of thecolumn 10 as a consequence of the hose 2 being pulled out of the hosestorage space 3, thereby placing the second hose guiding means 5 in aworking position during refuelling of a vehicle.

When the refuelling process is completed, and the pulling force appliedto the hose 2 by a user is neutralised, the retraction device 17 will retract thesecond hose guiding means 5 from the working position back to the idleposition within the hose storage space 3, whereas the hose 2 will be pulledback into the hose storage space 3.

The skilled person realizes that a number of modifications of theembodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scopeof the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

As stated above, it is imported to understand that the different methodsteps may be conducted in any suitable order and that the detaileddescription of the method presented above is of exemplary nature only.

Claims

1. A device (1) for handling a hose (2), which device (1) allows thehose (2) to be pulled out from a front opening of a hose storage space (3) andwhich device (1) is adapted to return the hose (2) to the hose storage space(3), the device (1) comprising: a first hose guiding means (4) arranged in an upper section of the hosestorage space (3), and a second hose guiding means (5) arranged in a lower section of thehose storage space (3), wherein at least a part of the second hose guiding means (5) ismovably attached to a rear section of the hose storage space (3) and adaptedto move along the rear section in a vertical direction (V) between an idleposition in the lower section of the hose storage space (3) and a workingposition in the upper section of the hose storage space (3) to control the hose (2)-

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the hose (2) isadapted to extend, in a retracted state, from a hose connection (18) in theupper section of the hose storage space (3), downwardly in the verticaldirection (V), behind and below a roller (14) of second hose guiding means(5), upwardly in the vertical direction (V), behind and above a roller (7) of thefirst hose guiding means (4).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first hoseguiding means (4) comprises a rocker unit (6) which, to allow pulling out andreturning of the hose (2), is pivotable in relation to the hose storage space (3)about a pivot axis (P) and which comprises a roller (7) which is arranged at adistance from the pivot axis (P) and adapted to support the hose (2).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the rocker unit (6)comprises a side roller (8) arranged in a vertical direction (V) at each side of ahose opening thereof to facilitate side movements of the hose (2) when pulledout from hose storage space (3).

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the rocker unit (6)further comprises a front roller (9) arranged in a horizontal direction (H) toextend between the side rollers (8) to lock the hose (2) in place and facilitatemovements of the hose (2) when pulled out from hose storage space (3).

6. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the front roller (9) isspring-loaded in a releasably manner to the rocker unit (6).

7. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,wherein the first hose guiding means (4) is located at a front position of thehose storage space (3) and the second hose guiding means (5) is located ata rear position of the hose storage space (3).

8. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,wherein second hose guiding means (5) comprises a roller holding part (13)which has two wheels (15) adapted to travel in two corresponding grooves(16) of the rear section of the hose storage space (3).

9. The device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims,wherein the rear section of the hose storage space (3) is constituted by acolumn (1 O) adapted to define the hose storage space (3) in a rear direction.

10.The device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the column (10) isadapted to be clicked into place at a top part (19) of the hose storage space(3) by means of a locking mechanism (11).

11.A method for mounting of a hose handling device (1) in a hosestorage space (3) of a fuel dispensing unit (23), comprising:arranging a first hose guiding means (4) in an upper section of thehose storage space (3), arranging a roller holding part (13) of a second hose guiding means (5)in a lower section of the hose storage space (3), attaching a hose (2) to the upper section of the hose storage space (3), extending the hose (2) within the hose storage space (3), and arranging a roller (14) in the roller holding part (13) of the second hoseguiding means (5).

12.The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of extendingthe hose (2) within the hose storage space (3) comprises extending the hose(2) from the upper section of the hose storage space (3), downwardly in thevertical direction (V), behind and below a roller axis (A) of the roller holdingpart (13) of second hose guiding means (5), and upwardly in the verticaldirection (V), behind and above a roller (7) of the first hose guiding means (4).

13.The method according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the step ofattaching a hose (2) to the upper section of the hose storage space (3)comprises: arranging a first end of the hose (2) to a hose connection (18), and arranging the hose connection (18) to the upper section of the hosestorage space (3) above the first hose guiding means (4).

14.The method according to any one of the claims 11 to 13, further comprising the step of arranging a column (1 O) to the hose storage space (3)as a rear section thereof, such that the roller holding part (13) of the secondhose guiding means (5) is in a movable engagement with the column (10) andable to move along the column (10) in a vertical direction (V) between an idleposition in the lower section of the hose storage space (3) and a workingposition in the upper section of the hose storage space (3) to control the hose (2)-15.The method according to any one of the claims 11 to 14, furthercomprising the step of arranging a front roller (9) in the first hose guidingmeans (4) to extend in a horizontal direction (H) to lock the hose (2) in placeand facilitate movements of the hose (2) when pulled out from hose storagespace (3).