US1953669A - Gasoline tank filler indicator - Google Patents

Description

April 1934' G. w. BETTES GASOLINE TANK FILLER INDICATOR Filed Dec. 19. 1952 atented pr. 3, 1934 FFICE lTED STATES PATENT This invention relates to a gasoline tank filler indicator. It is particularly intended to be used at gasoline filling stations for automobiles where gasoline is supplied to the tank of the automobile through a flexible hose and a nozzle from a pump or reservoir and its particular object is to provide a convenient and conspicuous indicator that will show the attendant when the gasoline tank has been filled to the desired level so that the tank will not be inadvertently overfilled and gasoline allowed to flow upon the ground.

The device may also be used to indicate the level of gasoline in the tank before filling and the invention provides various novel features of construction and arrangement as hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 shows a filling hose and nozzle embodying this invention in operative position in a gasoline tank which is shown in cross section.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a filling nozzle with parts broken away showing details of the device embodying this invention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections respectively on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 2 and Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view through the lower end of the nozzle as indicated by line 55 in Fig. 2.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures.

1 represents the conventional hose which leads from the source of gasoline supply such as a pump or a reservoir and communicates with a manually operated shut off valve 2 which has a hand lever 3 by which it is actuated. A conventional outlet nozzle 4 is in communication with the outlet side of the valve 2 through a flexible conduit 5. The flexible conduit 5 is essential to gain admittance to the wide variety of locations in which various gasoline tank filler openings are located on various automobiles.

Within the cylindrical nozzle 4 is a cylindrical float chamber 6 which is of tubular form and is preferably located eccentrically of the nozzle 4 as against one inner side thereof to which it is attached and is preferably long enough to extend from the lower open end of the nozzle 4 through the upper end. The nozzle 4 has a closure 4a at its upper end which closely surrounds the projecting portion of the float chamber 6. The float chamber 6 is conveniently made of tubing having an outer diameter substantially the same as the inner diameter of the flexible conduit 5 and the lower end of the conduit 5 fits over and is attached to the projecting end of the tube 6 by suitable means such as brazing or soldering which forms the connection between the conduit 5 and the nozzle 4.

The float chamber is formed in the lower portion of the tube 6 and is separated from the upper portion thereof by a head 7. A side of the tube 6 is cut away at 8 to provide a gasoline passage from the upper end of the tube into the nozzle 4 and the proportions of the sizes of the flexible conduit 5, the opening 8 and the interior space within the nozzle 4 not occupied by the tube 6 are such that the flow of gasoline will not be impeded.

A float 9 is located in the float chamber below the head '7 and is longitudinally movable therein, its downward movement being limited by stop 10. A small flexible conduit 11 passesthrough the head 7 and extends centrally through the flexible conduit 5 and terminates at its upper end in a tube 12 which has its inner end located centrally in said conduit -5 and thence passes angularly through a fixed portion of the valve 2, having its outer end extending exteriorly of said valve. A flexible operating wire 13 is attached at its lower end to the float 9 and extends through the flexible conduit 11 and into the tube 12 and is provided at its upper end with an indicator 14. The length of the wire 13 is such that the indicator 14 will lie within the tube 12 when the float 9 is in the lower position but will extend out of said tube when the float rises so that it will be clearly visible.

The operation In filling a gasoline tank it may be desirable to first learn the approximate level of gasoline in the tank before filling and this may be done by inserting the nozzle and conduit into the tank 17 to a position where the float rises as shown by the indicator 14. The distance that the nozzleand conduit 5 has been inserted into the tank will show the level of the gasoline contained therein and thereby the additional amount of liquid required to fill the tank may be approximately estimated.

The operator will then raise the nozzle until the shoulder provided at 15 at the upper end of the nozzle where it is offset eccentrically from the conduit 5.en'gages the inner-side of the tank at its top adjacent the filler opening 16 as indicated at Fig. 1. While the device is held in this position with the float lowered by gravity and the indicator 14 invisible within the tube 12, the operator opens the valve 2 by the hand lever 3. and permits gasoline to flow into the tank through the conduit 5 and nozzle 4, the operator carefully watching the end of the tube 12 for appearance of the indicator 14. When the gasoline level rises in the tank to surround the float 9, the float rises because of its buoyancy and moves the wire 13 which has the indicator 14 at its upper end which also moves upwardly to visibility indicating to the operator that the desired amount of gasoline has been supplied whereupon he immediately closes the valve 2 and prevents overflowing the tank.

The head '7, which completely closes the upper end of the float chamber, prevents the current of gasoline flowing through the nozzle from engaging the float and effecting the buoyancy and a vent opening 18 through the walls of the float chamber and the nozzle permit escape of air above the float when gasoline enters the lower end of the float chamber.

The flexible conduit 5 may be bent to its extremity in any direction without effecting the action of the float 9 and indicator 14 since the operating wire 13 extendscentrally or at the axis of the conduit 5, the length of which axis remains constant regardless of how the conduit is flexed. lhe device is operative in the dark or in places where it cannot be seen by, the operator by the sense of touch. Instead of watching the indicator 14 the operator may place his finger at the end of the tube 12 and feel the action of the indicator in rising and thus learn the movement of the float 9 and be governed to close the valve 2 thereby.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. A device or the class described comprising a flexible conduit in communication with a source of fluid supply, a nozzle at the delivery end of said conduit, a float at said nozzle, an indicator adjacent said conduit and appreciably spaced from said nozzle and a flexible actuating means extending between said float and said indicator.

2. The elements in combination defined by claim 1- in which said flexible actuating means extendsthrough said conduit.

3. The elements in combination defined by claim 1 in which the flexible actuating means extends axially of said conduit.

4. A device of the class described comprising, a manually operable valve in communication with a source of liquid supply, a flexible conduit communicating with the outlet of said valve and terminating in a nozzle, a float at said nozzle, an indicator adjacent said valve and a flexible actuating means extending between said float and said indicator.

5. The elements in combination defined in claim 4 in which said flexible actuating means extends withinsaid flexible conduit.

6. The elements in combination defined in claim 4 in which said flexible actuating means extends at the axis of said flexible conduit.

GEORGE W. BETTES.

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