US2840122A - Locomotive tank filling nozzle - Google Patents

Description

June 24, 1958 Filed Oct. 5, 1956 R. v. KLIKUNAS ETAL LOCOMOTIVE TANK FILLING NOZZLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

RICHARD V. KLIKUNAS DONALD L.B|LLIAN H AWL; 4 M W ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 R. v. KLiKUNAS ETAL Q 2,840,122

- LOCOHQ'I'IVE TANK FILLING NOZZLE v Filed Oct. 5, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q o 3 l I! 2 4 a 2 A I 7 d) I i l l| u II E ll v i -41 ll v II I i i \l i 4 N r I K, u' 2 Q IL 7 I I .U I INVENTOR. RICHARD V.KLIKUNA$ B DONALD L.BILLIAN ATTORNEYS June 24, 1958 R. v. KLIKUNAS EAL 0,

LOCOMOTIVE TANK FILLING NOZZLE Filed on. 5, 1956 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. RICHARD V.KLIKUNAS DONALD L.B|LLIAN AT TORN EYS f'uellbnewhateyerifluid-z 'flowingiof Ea.-tank\' of, this naturewhen anautoniatic nozzle U ited States Patent 9 2,840,122, L GQMQIIYE TANK. FILLING NOZZLE Application October 5, i956, Serial No. 614,309

' Claims. ci. 141-207 This inyention relates to an;app aratus for dispensing fluids, particularly fluid dispensing nozzles and to a combination thereofwith a tank inlet fitting arranged to cooperate with the nozzle.

In the ha n dling of many fluids, such as fuels andthe like, th dispensing is accomplished by Way of a flexible hose having 'a' 'nozzle so that the" hose can be connected with a tank that is to receive the liquid. In certain cases, such "as in connection with automobiles and the like, the nozzle can be inserted directly into the tank inlet opening but, in other cases, and in particular instant in connectionwith a diesel locomotive fuel tank or the like the tank inlet opens substantially horizontally out the side of the frame of the locomotive, and because of this the nozzleis attached to an adapter member located at the outer end of'the tank inlet fitting,

Other fluids are also adapted for being handled in this manner, and in connection with substantially all cases where fluids are being dispensed from a flexible hose or the like via a nozzle'it'is a desirable feature to have the nozzleso arranged thatlit will shut oif automatically whenever the liquid reaches a predetermined level in the tankjorcontainer being fille dt 7 Such nozzles-are knownand are shown, for example, in Patent Nol 2,320,033 to'DaVi s and in the copending application, Serial No. 573,239 filed March 22, 19 56, in the name of Carl E. Denlinger, and assigned to the same assignee as the instant application.

In general, these automatic nozzles Operate by creating a: partial vacuum within the nozzle in a'venturi section therein, which vacuum is applied-to a diaphragm which, when flexed under the influence ofthe vacuum so appliedbperrnitsthe nozzleto trip closeda Thevacuum is relievedby a relief tube extending from the diaphragm along the nozzlito thelevel that it is desired to fill the tanker container; and,--in manner, the tripping closed of the nozzle occurs automatically when the liquid level reaches the end of the vacuum relief tubing and cuts ofi -"Inutilizing a'nozzle of this nature inconnection with certaintypes'oftank s and containers, such as theloconiot'ivefnel tarik:referred to"abo ve, a certain problem existson account of the' elongated horizontal; nature of the tank inlet fitting? Under these 'circiirnstances, it is not feasible to so 'constructthe n 'ZZIe-that- -the vacuum-relief tube can be carried directly thereby, and be placed Within the tank when 'theTnozzle is "connected-with the tank. Accordingly, 'the advantages of automatic nozzles of this naturehavewnot heretofore been available for use; in these circumstances;

This lack of an autom atic shut-olf nozzle' is of relativlysei iou consequences because even under the best circumstances there:is -ap t.tofbeconsiderable spillage of fbeing dispensed-due .to the. overis.,,us ed. ;v lf the; liquid;-is-. an;oil, it :is particularly, objec- 2. deterioration of wood and rubber, and the like, on which the fuel oil might show, or on account of the personnel hazards that are created due to slippery footing and due to stream polution and for other reasons of this nature.

Having. the foregoing .in mind, it is aparticular object of thepr'esent invention to provide an arrangement whereby an automatic nozzle of the nature referredto can be availed of in connection with tanks and containers and the like, whereinit is not possible for the vacuum relief referred to, to be carried directly by the nozzle for insertion into the tank.

A still furtherv object of this invention is the provision of a special adapter memberfori being mounted in the inlet of a tank or. container which carries at least apart of the vacuum relief tube, and which is automatically connected withthe. vacuum, relief tube in the nozzle when the nozzle is attached to the, fitting.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of an inlet fitting for a locomotive tank, or the like,

which will permit filling of the tank according to conventional' filling systems, and which will also permit filling of the tank by means of an automatic nozzle of the naturereferred. to.

In the case of certain fluids, and of which fuel oil and whiskey and the like are examples, considerable foaming accompanies the, filling operation; and, this foam, particularly where it is in the form of fine bubbles or where the, bubbles are enclosed by strong film, will trip the nozzle closed when the end of the vacuum relief-pipe is covered by the foam,- rather than the nozzle continuing to remain open until the vacuum relief pipe, is closed by the fluid proper.

The disadvantages of such a false tripping of thenozzle will be, evident because the containers beingfilled will vary as to their contents, asv well as containing considerably less than they should; and, in the case-of a locomotive there may be a substantial difierence between the distance the locomotive may travel with a properly filled tank and-the} distance it will travel under theconditions referred to above with the nozzle being falsely tripped.

Accordingly, a still further object of the. present invention is to provide an automatic fillingnozzle of the type which is vacuumetripped whichis insensitive to foaming of the liquid being dispensed within the container or tank beingfilled.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a simple arrangement adapted for use in connection with anytype, of vacuum-tripping nozzle which will nullify the effect, of foaming of the liquid being dispensed whereby to provide tripping of the nozzle at exactly the proper liquid level within the tank or container being filled;

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become more, apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a sectional view through a nozzleconstructed according to the present invention;

Figmre 2 is a sectional viewv taken through a locomotive tank inlet fill showing one, of the particular instances in which the nozzle according to the present inventioncan be employed, and also illustrating an adapterfitting according to the present invention; r

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing the nozzle connected with theladapter fitting so that the tank can be' Body It} has a passage therethrough leading from conduit 12 to a dischargetube 1 4, The, passage, comprises a valve seat 16 adapted for engagement by a reciprocal valve member 18. Valve member 18 comprises a portion 20 extending beyond the valve seat, and which forms with the=channel extending through .the valve body a venturi portion along the channel immediately downstream of the seat. This venturi portion has an annular groove 22 therein communicating with a chamber 24 which is closed by a diaphragm 26 spring-urged upwardly by a spring 28.

The valve member 18'previou'sly referred to hasconnected therewith a stem 30 connected at its outer end to a manually operable lever 32which has its lower end adapted for being latched into an open position as by the shoulders 34 provided in the frame of the nozzle within which the lever 32 is swingable. I.

The upper end of lever 32 buts the outer end of a plunger 36, which carries. at itsopposite end a block 38 having an L-shaped slot 40 therein. The short leg of the L-shaped slot toward the left end of block 38 is arranged for receiving rollers 42 which are carried on a second block 44 that is connected with the upper surface of the previously mentioned diaphragm 26.

- The plunger 36 is spring-urged rightwardly by a cornpressionspring 46,1and valve member 18 is spring-urged fleftwardly towardits closedposition by a substantially stronger compression spring 48.

The chamber 24 beneath diaphragm 26 that is in communication with annular groove 22 that is in communication with'the venturi section of the flow channel through thefnozzlehas also connected therewith a vacuum relief tube 50 whichleads along discharge conduit 14 to be connected to passage 52 in a connector member 54 mounted on the outer end of discharge conduit 14.

Passage 52'communicates with'an annular groove 56 opened inwardly of a central recess 58 in connector member 54 between the spaced rings 60 also located within the said recess. i

.Rotatably mounted on the outer part of connector member 54 is a ring 62 comprising at least one circumferentially projected finger 64 and at least one spring-pressed plunger 66.

The nozzle, of Figure 1 when closed and in its normal condition is as it is shown in Figure 1. When the nozzle is open, the level 32 may be latched against either of shoulders 34, thereby to move the valve member18 away from itsiseat. At this time, rollers-42 prevent movement of plunger 36. Y f i The fluid passing through the flow passage of the nozzle will create a vacuum in the venturi section thereof which will cause air to be drawnfrom chamber 24. This will create no substantial reduction of pressure within the chamber so long as'the'vacuumrelief tube 50 supplies air to the chamber.

However, when the supplyof air to the vacuum relief 1 'tube 50 is cut oil, the pressure within chamber 24 will drop until diaphragm 26 flexes downwardly, thus pulling block 44 downwardly and moving rollers 42 downwardly into the long pa-rtof the L-shapedslot 40 in block 38; and,

this will permit spring 48 to snap valve member'18 closed against the influence of the lighter spring 46.

Referring to the structure illustrated in Figure], there is shown therein fragment of a locomotive fuel tank structure in which the tank is provided with an inlet fitting 68 whichextends out horizontallyfrom the uppermost por 1101! of the tank atone side thereof and terminates in an internally threaded ehdportion 70; and, portion 70 is located within a cup 72 secured to the side frame74 of the locomotive.

7 According 'to this" invention, 'a'bushing" ring 76 is. threaded into the end ofthe inlet fitting, and in turn has threaded therein an adapter member 78 which h'as rotat-. ably supportedtherein a sleeve-like' element 80 which is retained in position withinlm'ember 78'by retaining screw 82 while being sealed to the internal surface of member, -78 by therubber-like 0 rings 84 disposed between the sleeve and the'said member as illustrated.

The sleeve-like member carries a first tube 86 that extends inwardly along the inlet fitting 68 and down into' the interior of the locomotive tank below the level to which the tank is to be filled. This tube 86 may communicate with the groove 88 into which the screw 82 extends, and this groove is vented to the atmosphere via port 90 which preferably opens downwardly.

In the region of the level to which the tank was to be filled, a second tube 92 is connected with tube 86 and this second tube 92 also extends to sleeve No.80, and is connected therethrough with annular groove 94 located between a part of the previously mentioned sealing 0 rings 84 and communicates via port 96 in member 78 with an annular groove 98 about the outer periphery thereof.

Under normal conditions, the outer end of the adapter fitting described above is maintained closed by a cap 100 fitting about the outer end of the adapter fitting and sealed to the outer surface of member 78 as by 0 ring 102. The cap comprises a portion 104 which will cover port 90 when the cap isin position on the adapter member, and also comprises circumferentially extending finger means 106 adapted for engaging one or more of the lug means 108 extending radially outwardly from member 78; and, also, comprising springpressed plunger means 110 by means of which the cap is retained in locked position with'the said lug means.

The extreme outer end of cap 100 is provided with a threaded plug 112 which is adapted for being removed therefrom, so that the tank can be .filledby a conventional filling system if desired. v v

When the tank is to be'filled by an automatic nozzle according to the teachings of the present invention the entire cap is removed from the adapter fitting and the nozzle of Figure hor a like nozzle, is connectedtherewith as is illustrated in Figure}. 7 p v As will be seen in Figure 3, when the. nozzle of Figure 1 is mounted on the adapter fitting of Figure 2, the port 90 in the adapter fittingis left open tothe atmosphere while the annular groove 98 ,oftheadapter fitting that is connected withtube 92 is in communication with the annular groove 56 in the member. 54 on the end of the nozzle, and is thus in direct communication with the tube 50 within the nozzle. l 7

It will be evident that the rubber-like 0 rings 60 carriedin the recess 58in the member 54 seal about ,the adapter fitting on opposite sides of the groove 98 ,or the other of shoulders 34. The dispensing of fluid then commences, and simultaneously with the flow of fluid through the nozzle there, is a condition of subatmospheric pressure.created.within groove 22 which is communicated .with chamber .24. beneath diaphragm 26.

This vacuum. is continuously relieved 'via r tube 50, passages 52, inlet groove 56 and 98, port 96, groove 94,

.tube 92 and tube 86, so long as the extreme innerend ,of tube 86 remains uncovered. When fluid .rises within the tank being filled to the. point that it covers the inner end of tube 86, the relief of the vacuum will be interrupted and the diaphragm 26 will be drawn downwardly to trip the nozzle closed. This is the operation that ohtains when the tube 86 is not'vented to the atmosphere as by means of groove 98 and port 90.. 70'

i fuel oil and the like, the fillingof a tank or container is -accompanied by some considerable foaming ofthe liquid.

It1has been found,'however, that with liquids such as When a liquid of this nature is being handled, the foam,

which is sometimes relatively dense, will rise up and cover the end of tube 86 closing it 08 and tripping the V nozzle closed when the liquid levehis substantially beneaththe desiredlevel.

By extending the tube 86 to the atmosphere viaport 90, as is shown,this false tripping of the nozzle is eliminated because the foam will not rise within tube 86; but, within this tube, instead, will'be a true solid column of liquidhaving the same level as the true liquid level within the tank. When this true level withintube 86 rises to the point where it cuts off the supply of air to conduit 92, the nozzle will trip closed and interrupt the supply of liquid to the tank. Itwill be apparent that this arrangement gives a true point of trip-off'that-can be depended on regardless of the foamingcharacteristics of the liquid being dispensed.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a means forutilizing the advantages of an automatic tripping nozzle in connection with existing tanks which are of such-a nature thatpthe vacuum: relief tubing cannot be carried directly by the automatic nozzle itself.

This invention provides, in this connection, a special type of nozzle and a special adapter fortanks or containers of the ,nature referred tosuchthat a portion of the vacuum relief tube is permanently fixedwithin the container tobe filled, and the remainder thereof is carried by the nozzlein connection between the, portion of the tubing is effectedautomatically when thenozzle isattached to the tank or container.

This invention provides as. afurtherimprovernent and refinement of the phase of the inventionidentified above, an arrangement whereby false tripping of the nozzle. is prevented, and insures that the nozzle will trip closed only when the liquid levelin the tank or container being filled has reached the proper level.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usagesand conditions; and, accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modifications within this' invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.-

We claim;

1. Inanarrangement for operating an autom atic vacuum trip liquid dispensing nozzle by the liquid level in a tank of the nature described; a generally cylindrical adapter member adapted for being mounted in the filling opening of the tank, a sleeve element within the adapter member, tube means carried by the sleeve and extending through the filling opening and down into the tank, the end of said tube communicating through the sleeve and adapter member with the outer surface of the latter, an automatic vacuum trip nozzle having a fitting on the outer end adapted for telescopically fitting over said adapter member, a vacuum relief tube in said nozzle running from the tripping mechanism thereof to the said fitting and terminating in an annular groove in the fitting which registers with the end of the tube in the said sleeve when the nozzle is mounted on the adapter member, and sealing rings in said recess on opposite sides of said annular groove.

2. In an arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip liquid dispensing nozzle with a tank arrangement wherein the nozzle does not extend into the liquid of the tank; an adapter member adapted for mounting in the filling opening of the tank and having a tube extending into the tank, a vacuum trip nozzle having a fitting arranged for detachable connection with said adapter member, a vacu um relief tube in the nozzle running from the tripping mechanism thereof to said fitting; the said tubes in the nozzle and in the adapter member being arranged to communicate when the nozzle is mounted on the adapter member, and means sealing the nozzle to the adapter member on opposite sides of the communication of the tubes with each other.

3. An arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip nozzle with a tank wherein the nozzle cannot normally be extended: into .the...liquid in theiank which comprises; an adaptermember. mounted inthe filling opening of the tank and having a tube extending into the tank to the level it is desired'to fill the tank, a vacuum trip nozzle adapted fordetachable connection with said adaptermem her and having a vacuum relief tube therein adapted auto-. maticallyfor being coupled with the tube carried by the adapter member when the nozzle is mounted on the adaptor member, and means sealing between the nozzle and the adapter member and on opposite sides of the communicating tubes to prevent leakage between. the nozzle and the .adapter member.

4.. An arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip nozzle with a tank whereinthe nozzle cannot normally be extended into the/liquid in the tank which comprises; an adapter member mounted in the filling opening of the tank and-having a tube extending into the tank to the level it is.de'sired to fill the,tank,'a vacuum trip nozzle adapted for detachable connection with'said adapter member and having a vacuum relief, tube therein adapted automatically for being coupled with the tube carried by the adapter member. when thetnozzle is mounted on the adapter member, and means sealing between the nozzle and thevadapter member and on opposite sides of the communicating tubes to prevent leakage between the nozzle and theadapter member, there being cap means for detachable engagement with said adapter member when thenozzle. is removed therefrom and said cap means being sealed. to the adapter member inwardly thereof from the point where the said tubes communicate.

5. An arrangement for utilizing a vacuum trip nozzle witha tankwherein the nozzle cannot normally beextended. into the liquid in the tank which comprises; an adapter. member mounted in the filling opening of the tank and having a tube extending into the tank to the level itis desired to. fill the tank, a vacuum trip nozzle adapted for detachable connectionwith said adapter member and having avacuum relief tube therein adapted automatically for being coupled with the tube carried by the adapter member when the nozzle is mounted on the adapter mem her, and means sealing between the nozzle and the adapter member and on opposite sides of the communicating tubes to prevent leakage between the nozzle and the adapter member, there being cap means for detachable engagement with said adapter member when the nozzle is removed therefrom and said cap means being sealedto the adapter member inwardly thereof from the point where the said tubes communicate, said cap comprising a threaded plug in the outer end for attachment thereto of a conventional liquid dispensing hose.

6. In an arrangement for filling the fuel tanks of locomotives and the like; an adapter member mounted in the filling conduit of the tank, said adapter member comprising a tube extending through the conduit and then down into the tank to the level to which it is desired to fill the tank, an automatic vacuum trip nozzle detachably mounted on said adapter member, said nozzle having a chamber which, when subjected to predetermined vacuum, will trip the nozzle closed, and there being means in the nozzle for producing a subatrnospheric pressure condition within said means as liquid flows through the nozzle, and a vacuum relief tube extending from said means to the end of said nozzle and thence to the surface of the adapter memberwhere it communicates with the tube carried by the said adapter member whereby the nozzle is automatically tripped closed when the liquid level in the tank reaches the end of the tube therein.

7. In an arrangement for filling the fuel tanks of locomotives and the like; an adapter member mounted in the filling conduit of the tank, said adapter member comprising a tube extending through the conduit and then down into the tank to the level to which his desired to till the tank, an automatic vacuum trip nozzle detachably mounted on said adapter member, said nozzle having a chamber which, when subjected to predetermined vacuum, will trip-the puzzle -closed; and there being means in the nozzle for producing a sub-atmospheric pressure condition within said means as liquid flows through the nozzle, and a-vacuum relieftubeextending from said means to the end of said nozzle and thence to the'surface of the adapter member vwhere itcommunicates with the tube carried by the said adapteremember whereby the nozzle is automatically tripped. closed when the liquid level-in the tank reaches the .end of .the tube therein, the said end of the tube being provided means for preventing foam in the tank from producing a false tripping of the nozzle, said means 5 comprising a branch extending from' the-end of the tube downwardly to. a substantial distance below the said .liquid level, and: a

branch extending from the'said end=o the tube to the 7 atmosphere whereby thesaid end of the tube is not closed until the true liquid level of the tank rises to the proper point. r

8. An adaptermember for adapting. a' vacuum trip nozzle to a tank such as a locomotive fuel .tank com+ prising a cylindrical member adapted: for being screw threaded intothe filling opening of the tank,-a sleeve rotatably mounted within said cylindrical member, a tube carried bysaidsleeve and extending inwardly and then angularly from the sleeve so that the tube will extend into the interior of thetank and then down toward the liquid therein, an annular groove ta bove the outside of said sleevemember with which the tube communicates, sealing means between thesleeve and cylindrical member onopposite sides ofthe groove, a groove about the outer surface of said cylindrical member communicating with the said groove about the sleeve, and means for detachably connecting a vacuum trip nozzle to said adapter member, said. meanscomprising means to communicate the vacuum relief tube of the nozzle tripping mechanism with the annular groove about the said cylindrical member.

9. An adapter member for adapting a' vacuum trip nozzle to a tank such as a locomotive fuel tank comprisinga cylindrical member adapted for being screw threaded into the filling opening of the tank, a sleeve rotatably mounted within said cylindrical member, a

tube carried by said sleeve and extending inwardly and then angularly from the sleeve so that the tube will extend into the interior of the tank and then down toward thelliquidthereiman annular groove about the outside of said sleeve member with which the tube communicates, sealing means between the sleeve and cylindrical member on opposite sides of the groove, a groove about the outer surlfaceof said cylindrical member communicating with the said grooveabout the sleeve, and means for detachably connecting a vacuum trip nozzle to said adapter member, said means comprising means to communicate the vacuum. relief tube of the nozzle tripping mechanism with the annulargroove about the said cylindrical mem her, there being cap means adapted for detachably mounting on the cylindrical member for closing the filling opening when the nozzle is detached therefrom.

10. In combination, with a tank having a fitting comprising a filling conduit; antadapter member adapted for mounting in said fitting, said adapter member being generally cylindrical and there being a tube carried by the adapter member havingone. end extending into the tank to the region of the liquid level desired in the tank the other end opening to the outer surface of the adapter member, a nozzle having an end part with a cylindrical recess adapted for receiving theadapter member therein, saidnozzle having a valve member normally closedand adapted for being latched open and there being a vacuum trip mechanism in the nozzle for releasing the valve mem= her, a vacuum relief tube running from the tripping mechanism to the end of the nozzle and terminating in an annular groove about the recess that receives the adapter member to communicate the said tube with the tube carried by the adapter member, and sealing means between the nozzle and the adapter member on opposite sides of the region where the said tubes are in communication.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

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