US3196908A

US3196908A - Nozzle with vacuum operated valve tripping means

Info

Publication number: US3196908A
Authority: US
Inventors: Donald L Billian
Original assignee: Emco Wheaton
Current assignee: Emco Wheaton Inc
Priority date: 1963-03-11
Filing date: 1963-03-11
Publication date: 1965-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1982-07-27

Description

D. L. BILLIAN 3,196,908 NOZZLE WITH VACUUM OPERATED VALVE TRIPPING MEANS July 27, 1965 Filed March 11, 1963 United States Patent O 3,196,968 NGZZZLE Wl'iH VAEUUM PERATED VALVE TREFFEN@ MEANS Donald l... Billian, Dayton, (Ehio, assigner, by mesne assignments, to Emco Wheaton, Inc., Dayton, Ohio Filed Mar. ill, 1953, Ser. No.. 264,179 lil Claims. (El. 141-269) rlfhis invention relates to dispensing nozzles and is particularly concerned with an automatic dispensing nozzle for fuels and the like, such as gasoline.

Automatic dispensing nozzles of the nature referred to are known and comprise arrangements whereby the nozzle will automatically trip ciosed when a container being filled thereby, such as an automobile gasoline tank, reaches a predetermined level. Such nozzles are widely known and are used extensively in iilling stations. The nozzles are constructed so that they can be latched in open position and will automatically trip closed by means of a vacuum operated latch.

Such nozzles are usually bulky and heavy and expensive. In issued Patent No. 3,062,247 assigned to the same assignee as the instant application, there is shown an automatic nozzle of the nature referred to characterized in that it is extremely compact while nevertheless having full capacity for delivery of liquid at the maximum desirable rate. The present invention relates to an improvement in a nozzle of this type and the present nozzle is constructed so as to have the same general physical characteristics with respect to compactness, ease of service and simplicity of manufacture.

A particular object of the present invention is the pro vision of an improved nozzle construction of the nature referred to in which the body of the nozzle is always filled with fluid.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an automatic trip nozzle of the nature referred to in which the degree of vacuum available for tripping purposes is always at a relatively high level, whereby tripping of the nozzle can be accomplished as well at low delivery rates as it can at high delivery rates.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improved nozzle of the nature referred to in which means are provided for maintaining the suction for tripping purposes at a high level, but which means does not in any way interfere with the pressure drop across the nozzle necessary for causing liquid flow therethrough.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FlGURE 1 is a side view of a nozzle constructed according to the present invention partially in section to show the internal construction thereof;

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan sectional view drawn in somewhat enlarged scale and indicated by line 2-2 on FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional View drawn in slightly enlarged scale and indicated by section line 3-3 on FIG- URE l;

FGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view indicated by line 4 4- on FGURE 2, and

FiGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn at enlarged scale and showing details of construction of a check valve in the valve body at the discharge endthereof.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, a dispensing nozzle according to the present invention comprises a body part ll@ having a threaded inlet iitting l2 to which a dispensing hose can be attached. The body l@ has a iiow passage illitherethrough leading from the threaded inlet through which the liquids being dispensed iiib Patented July 27, 1965 iiow. The liow passage 14 comprises a valve seat 16 through which the fluid passes to a cavity i8 and which cavity communicates via a passage 2d with the discharge end 22 of the ow passage. The discharge end 22 of the flow passage communicates with the discharge tube 24 which is detachably connected with the body of the nozzle.

The valve seat 16 is adapted for engagement by a valve Amember 26 spring urged downwardly by a spring 28 that bears on the underside of a cap 30 threaded to the Valve body and of a size to permit the entire valve member assembly and spring to be inserted into the valve body from above or to be removed therefrom merely by removing cap 30.

The valve member includes an actuating rod portion 32 extending sealingly downwardly through the bottom of the valve body. A lever 34- pivoted at 36 to a rod 38 is operable for moving the valve member upwardly within the valve body to open the liow passage for the passage of fluid therethrough. At the opposite end of lever 34 from its pivotal connection with rod 3S, is a latch member Lit] having a plurality of notches arranged therealong and which notches are adapted for engagement with the lever 3ft to hold the valve in its open position until the trip mechanism trips off. Member 40 is advantageously formed of spring wire and lever 34 can swing transversely enough to engage and disengage the lever from the notches of member 4G.

The rod 3S previously referred to, extends through a shouldered sleeve 42 which is mounted in a correspondingly shouldered bore 44 formed in the valve body.

Bore 4d is closed by a cap d6 threaded into the upper end of the bore and by removing the cap 46 and the parts located within the bore can be assembled therein or removed therefrom.

A compression spring 48 bears between the upper end of sleeve 42 and the underside of a screw 50 threaded into the upper end of rod 38. This provides a bias on the rod urging it toward the position which it occupies in FiG- URES 1 and 3.

The trip mechanism for the valve will be seen in FlG- URES 2 and 3. This tripping mechanism comprises a cavity 52 formed in the side of the valve body on the side opposite the passage 2t) that leads from the downstream side of the valve seat to the discharge end of the valve.

Within the cavity 52 there is mounted a diaphragm S4 to which is attached a forked roller carrier 56 which extends inwardly into a recess 5S so as to embrace the sleeve 42.. A pair of rollers 6@ are mounted in the roller carrier and are adapted for being retained in position by spring clip 62. The carrier 56 and spring clip 62 are attached to Vthe diaphragm by means of rivets 64.

The sleeve 42 is provided with a notch 66 for receiving the rollers and likewise the rod 38 is also notched for receiving the rollers. A spring 7tl acts on the diaphragm urging it toward rod 3S so that the rollers are normally engaged with the notches as will best be seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. As is known in the art of self tripping nozzles, the diaphragm is adapted for iiexing outwardly to withdraw the rollers from the notch in rod 33 whereupon the spring acting on `the valve member will force it closed regardless of the position of lever 34.

For sealing the diaphragm in the cavity 52, there is a gasket 72 and a cap 74 threaded into the mouth of the recess. This arrangement provides for clamping the periphery of the diaphragm sealingly against the bottom of the cavity 52.

The cap 74 comprises a flange engaging the gasket 72 and this flange is provided with a plurality of notches 76 so that there is an annular space 73 about the inner end of cap 7d communicating directly with the diaphragm.

The annular space 78 communicates via passage S0 with an annular space 82 in the region of the discharge end of the valve body part 10. The discharge end of the valve body part is adapted for receiving the upper end of discharge tube 84, which is held in place on the body by a clamp nut 86 threaded to the body, as will be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. The discharge tube adjacent clamp nut 86 is provided with an annular break off groove 88 so that extreme loading on the tube will cause it to snap ofi1 from the valve body. This will protect the main part of the valve, hose and dispensing pump from damage in the event of an automobile commencing to drive away from a pump with the nozzle still in the tank inlet of the tank. Further, the discharge tube could be of a relatively duetile material such as aluminum, and it would deform relatively readily and could be pulled out from the nut, but it is preferable to rely on the break off groove.

It will be seen that the nut pulls the discharge valve toward the valve body and this is availed of for pulling the innermost end of the discharge tube into sealing engagement with the seal ring 90 provided in the valve body and abutting a vent bushing 92 carried in the valve body. Vent bushing 92 has a passage therethrough communicating with annular space 82 previously referred to that is connected by channel 80 with annular space 7S adjacent to tripping mechanism diaphragm. The vent bushing has a tube connector 96 therein projecting from the vent busing into the end of discharge tube 84. This tube connector is availed of for receiving the upper end of a control tube 98 that extends down the discharge tube to be connected at its lower end with a tting 100 having an opening through the side wall of the discharge tube. Control tube 98, in the event the discharge tube is broken off from the valve body, will slip out of tube connector 96, but in normal operation, a fluid tight connection exists between control tube 98 and tube connector 96.

Vent bushing 92 abuts a seat ring 102 in the valve body, and together with the vent bushing 92, defines the annular space 82. Seat ring 102 has an annular clearance from the extreme inner end of vent bushing 92 as indicated at 104 in FIGURE 5 and has radial clearance therefrom as indicated at 106 in FIGURE 5. These communicating spaces are, in turn, communicated with annular space 82 by way of passage 103 formed in seat ring 102.

Seat ring 102 provides a seat for a restrictor plug 110 provided in the valve body at the discharge end thereof immediately prior to the connection to the valve body of the discharge tube 84. This restrictor plug is biased by spring 112 toward seat ring 102 and serves as a check valve to maintain the body of the valve filled with liquid at all times. The restrictor plug however, will move against the bias of spring 112 when the main valve member 26 of the valve body 10 is opened and permit fluid to ow from the valve body into discharge tube 84.

A chamber 114 in which the restrictor plug is reciprocably mounted is freely communicated with the downstream side of the restrictor plug by bore 116 extending axially through the restrictor plug.

The restrictor plug cooperates with the seat 118 of the seat ring 102 in order to produce the suction which acts on diaphragm 54 to cause tripping of valve. This comes about because the restrictor plug and the seat ring form a venturi passage and a reduced pressure is established therein in the throat thereof which is in the region that the space 104 between the vent bushing and the seat ring opens into.

It will be observed in FIGURE 5 that the restrictor plug is generally conical, but is made up of different contours distributed along the length thereof. The purpose of this is to provide means for maintaining a high degree of suction in the throat of the venturi, namely in the region of annular space 104, while at the same time not materially inhibiting or restricting fluid ilow through valve body. By the use ofthe restrictor plug, widely varying rates of flow through the valve body can be had without any material change in the pressure drop through the valve body and without any material change in the high degree of suction established in the throat of the venturi. Thus, as opposed to automatic trip nozzles according to the prior art, a high degree of suction for tripping the nozzle is available even at extremely low flow rates through the valve body. Tripping of valve automatically thus becomes a reliable function, and the valve according to the present invention can be set at a low flow rate and will trip closed at the proper time and will not require the close attention that valves according to the prior art require.

With regard to the construction of the restrictor plug, it will be seen to be made up at the extreme rear end of a straight cylindrical projection 120 which slidably lits in the bore forming chamber 114. Following the straight cylindrical portion of the projection 120 is a portion which tapers inwardly at an angle of 33 to the radial direction. This portion is indicated at 122. Immediately following portion 122 is a portion 124 that tapers inwardly at an angle of 12 to the axis of the plug. In order to reduce the amount of travel required for the restrictor plug between its full open and full closed positions, the portion 124 terminates in a step 126 which has an angle of 33 relative to the radial direction and immediately following this step is another portion 128 tapering inwardly at an angle of 12 to the longitudinal axis of the restrictor plug. This last mentioned tapered portion terminates at a relatively large step 130 corresponding in angle to step 126, and this last step leads inwardly to a final small cylindrical projection 132 of the restrictor plug. The angle of the littting 118 of the seat ring is advantageously selected to be about 40 to the longitudinal axis of the restrictor plug.

In operation, when the main valve member of the valve is opened, the fluid within the valve body is placed under pressure, and this pressure acting on the exposed area of projection 122 of the restrictor plug will force the restrictor plug backwardly in chamber 114 against the bias of spring 112 and will permit the pressurized fluid to flow from the valve body to the discharge tube. As the flow rate increases restrictor plug 110 will move further toward the right, thus increasing the flow area between the restrictor plug and the seat ring. This area increases in accordance with the configuration of the restrictor plug and varies, generally, as the rate of flow through the valve body. By controlling the flow area so that it corresponds to the rate of ow through the valve body, the said flow area is always maintained full of liquid, and thus conditions are created in the throat of the venturi, and maintained therein leading to the establishing of a high degree of suction in the venturi throat at all ow rates. The restrictor plug, however, offers no substantial restriction to uid ilow through the valve body to the extent that excessive pressure is required to maintain high flow rates.

While the valve restrictor as described has been found to be satisfactory at all flow rates itself, it has been discovered that the operation of the valve at reduced ow rates is improved by arranging in the upstream end of the discharge tube, or immediately downstream of the venturi passage, straightening vanes 134 which may take the form of two flat vanes arranged in intersecting relation, as will be seen in FIGURES 2 and 4. The precise action of these vanes is not completely understood7 but apparently they serve to prevent fluid from commencing to swirl in the discharge end of the valve at low tlow rates, which might tend to interfere with the suction created in the venturi throat. At any rate, the operation of the valve at extremely low flat rates is improved by the provision of the straightening vanes above described.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages yof frusto-conical portions in snoepen and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehend such modications within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. In an automatic nozzle; a body having a flow passage therethrough, a main valve member in the flo-w passage, means for lat-ching the valve member in open position including suction operated tripping means for tripping the valve member closed upon the development of a predetermined degree of suction in the tripping means, a venturi in the ilow passage downstream of the valve member, said venturi having a throat wherein `suction is established by iiuid ow through said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to said tripping means, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of said venturi separate from said valve member and extending into said venturi, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction.

2. In an automatic nozzle; a body having a flow passage therethrough, a main valve member in the ow passage, means for latching the Valve member in open position including suction operated tripping means for tripping the valve member closed upon the development of a predetermined degree of suction in the tripping means, a venturi in the ilow passage downstream of the valve member, said venturi having a throat wherein suction is established by uid flow through said passage, -a channel leading from the venturi throat to said tripping means, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of said venturi separate from said valve member and extending into said venturi, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameter than said venturi and seating in the venturi when tluid ow is interrupted in said passage.

3 In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating tripping mechanism; a body having a liow passage therethrough, a main valve member controlling said passage, and means in the ilow passage forming a venturi with a throat wherein suction is established by flow ot' uid through said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to said tripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream -side of said venturi separate from said valve member and extending into said venturi, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameter than said venturi throat and seating in the venturi when fluid ilow is interrupted in said passage by closing of said main valve member, said plug comprising a plurality substantially end to end relation.

4. In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating tripping mechanism; a body having a iiow passage therethrough, a main valve member controlling said passage, and means in the flow passage forming a Venturi with a throat wherein suction is established by iiow of fluid through said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to said tripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of said venturi separate from said valve member and extending into said venturi, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameter than said venturi throat 4and -seating in the venturi when uid ow is interrupted in said passage, said plug comprising a plurality of frusto-conical portions in substantially end to end relation, and shoulder means between at least two adjacent ones of said portions and facing in the downstream direction.

5. In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating tripping mechanism; a body having a flow passage therethrough, a main valve member controlling said passage, and means in the flow passage forming a venturi with a throat wherein suction is established by ilow of fluid through said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to said tripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of said Venturi separate from said valve member, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameter than said venturi throat and seating in the venturi when iiuid iiow is interrupted in said passage, said plug comprising a plurality of frusto-conical portions in substantially end to end relation, and shoulder means between at least two adjacent ones of said portions and facing in the downstream direction, said plug including terminal cylindrical portions at the opposite ends.

6. In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating tripping mechanism; Ia body having a ow passage therethrough, a main valve member controlling said passage, and means in the ilow passage forming a venturi with a throat wherein suction is established by tlow of iluid through said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to said tripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of said venturi separate from said valve member, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, Iand means resiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameter than said venturi throat and sealing in the venturi when fluid iiow is interrupted in said passage, said plug comprising a plurality of frustoconical portions in substantially end to end relation, and shoulder means between at least two adjacent ones of said portions and facing in the downstream direction, said plug including terminal cylindrical portions at the opposite ends, and a steep shoulder facing downstream between the cylindrical portion at the downstream end of the plug `and the adjacent frusto-conical portion of the plug.

7. In a self tripping nozzle; a body having a tlow passage therethrough terminating in a discharge end, a valve member in the passage 4biased toward closed position and having a stem, a lever outside the body adjacent the stem, a plunger in the body pivotally connected to one end 0f the lever and spring urged axially toward a iirst position and axially movable into a second position, a latch en- .gageable with the plunger to hold it in said second position, suction operated means connected to the latch operable to withdraw the latch and release the plunger upon t-he development of a predetermined degree of suction in said means, said lever being movable about its pivotal connection with said plunger to open said valve member only when the plunger is in said second position, a vent-uri in said passage adjacent the discharge end thereof and having a throat, a channel leading from said venturi throat to said suction operated means, a restrictor plug in the valve body on the upstream side of said venturi separate from said valve member extending into the venturi and tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, spring means biasing said plug toward the venturi, said plug being larger in diameter than said venturi so as to seat thereon in the absence of iluid ow in said passage, `and a discharge tube on said body leading from the discharge end of the ilow passage and including vacuum relief passage means leading from a point on the tube to said suction operated means, said venturi being in the form of ring means in the discharge end of the flow passage, and abutment means on said discharge tube 'holding the ring means in place.

`8. In a self tripping nozzle; a body having a flow passage therethrough terminating in a discharge end, a valve member in the passage biased toward closed position and having a stem, a lever outside the body adjacent lthe stem, a plunger in .the body pivotally connected to one end of the lever and spring urged axially toward a first position and axially movable into -a second position, a latch engageable with the plunger to hold it in said second position, suction operated means connected to the latch operannesse able to withdraw the latch and release the plunger upon the `development `of a predetermined degree of suction in said means, said lever being movable about its pivotal connection with said plunger to .open said valve member only when the plunger is in said second position, a venturi in said passage adjacent the discharge end thereof and having a throat, a channel leading from said ventur-i throat to said suction operated means, a restrictor plug in the valve body on the upstream side of said venturi extending into the venturi separate from said valve member and tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, spring means biasing said plug toward the venturi, said plug being larger in diameter than said venturi so as to seat thereon in the absence of iuid ow in said passage, and a discharge tube on said body leading from the discharge end of the liow passage and including vacuum relief passage means leading from a point on the tube to said suction operated means, said venturi being in the form of ring means in the discharge end of the ow passage, and abutment means on said discharge tube holding the ring means in place, said ring means comprising two abutting rings defining the throat of said venturi where the rings abut, a cavity formed around the rings, and channel means leading from the cavity to the throat of said venturi, said cavity `being a part of said vacuum relief passage means.

9. In a dispensing nozzle having a body with a flow passage therethrough having a discharge end, a valve member in the passage for selectively controlling Huid dow therein, a seat in the ilow passage at the discharge end thereof, a plug in the valve body on the upstream side of said seat separate from said valve member and engageable with the seat, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction from a diameter greater than that of said seat to a diameter smaller than that of said seat,

spring means biasing the plug toward the seat, the fluid operable area on the plug upstream of said seat being responsive to pressure in said ow passage upstream of said seat urging said plug away from said seat, and another uid operable area on the plug responsive to pressure in said ow passage downstream of said seat for urging the plug toward said seat.

10. In a dispensing nozzle having a body with a flo-w passage therethrough having a discharge end, a valve member in the passage for selectively controlling flow therein, a seat in the tlow passage at the discharge end thereof, a plug in the valve body on .the upstream side of said seat separate from said valve member engageable with the seat, said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction fr-om a diameter greater than that of said seat to a diameter smaller than .that of said seat, a recess in the body reciproca-bly receiving said plug, a spring in the recess biasing said plug toward said scat, a passage connecting said recess with the downstream side of the plug, spring means biasing the plug toward the seat, the liuid operable area on the plug upstream of said seat being responsive to pressure in said tiow passage up stream of said seat for urging said plug away from said seat, the end of the plug in said recess forming a iluid operable area responsive to pressure in the ow passage downstream of said `seat for urging said plug toward said seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Prima/'y Examiner.

Claims

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC NOZZLE; A BODY HAVING A FLOW PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, A MAIN VALVE MEMBER IN THE FLOW PASSAGE, MEANS FOR LATCHING THE VALVE MEMBER IN OPEN POSITION INCLUDING SUCTION OPERATED TRIPPING MEANS FOR TRIPPING THE VALVE MEMBER CLOSED UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PREDETERMINED DEGREE OF SUCTION IN THE TRIPPING MEANS, A VENTURI IN THE FLOW PASSAGE DOWNSTREAM OF THE VALVE MEMBER, SAID VENTURI HAVING A THROAT WHEREIN SUCTION IS ESTABLISHED BY FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, A CHANNEL LEADING FROM THE VENTURI THROAT TO SAID TRIPPING MEANS, A RESTRICTOR PLUG ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF SAID VENTURI SEPARATE FROM SAID VALVE MEMBER AND EXTENDING INTO SAID VENTURI, SAID PLUG TAPERING INWARDLY IN THE DOWNSTREAM DIRECTION, AND MEANS RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID PLUG IN THE DOWNSTREAM DIRECTION.