US3823752A

US3823752A - Liquid dispensing nozzle of the automatic shut-off type

Info

Publication number: US3823752A
Application number: US00318237A
Authority: US
Inventors: D Lasater; C Wood
Original assignee: Dover Corp
Current assignee: Dover Corp
Priority date: 1972-12-26
Filing date: 1972-12-26
Publication date: 1974-07-16
Anticipated expiration: 1991-07-16
Also published as: CA974496A; JPS49101730A

Abstract

An automatic shut-off nozzle has a single diaphragm responsive to either the vapor pressure in the tank which is being filled exceeding a predetermined pressure or the liquid in the tank reaching a predetermined level. When the liquid in the tank reaches the predetermined level, the diaphragm moves in one direction to cause closing of a manually operated valve which stops flow through the nozzle through a connecting mechanism. When the pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, the diaphragm moves in the opposite direction, but the connecting mechanism has transfer links to cause the valve to again be closed even though the diaphragm moves in the opposite direction.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Lasater et al. I

[111 3,823,752 [451 July 16, 1974 1 LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE OF THE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF TYPE lnventors: Donald A. Lasater, Cincinnati;

Chester W. Wood, Milford, both of Ohio Assignee: Dover Corporation, New York, N.Y.

Filed: Dec. 26, 1972 Appl. No.: 318,237

US Cl 141/217, 141/225, 141/226 Int. Cl B65b 3/26, B65b 57/14, B670 3/00 Field-of Search 141/208, 209, 225, 226,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1963 Gearhart et a1 141/226 9/1971 Belue 141/208- 3/1973 Murrey ..141/226 Primary ExaminerL0uis R. Prince Assistant Examiner-Steven L. Stephan Attorney, Agent, or FirmJohn G. Schenk [57] ABSTRACT An automatic shut-off nozzle has a single diaphragm responsive to either the vapor pressure in the tank which is being filled exceeding-a predetermined pressure or the liquid in the tank reaching a predetermined level. When the liquid in the tank reaches the predetermined level, the diaphragm moves in one direction to cause closing of a manually operated valve which stops flow through the nozzle through a connecting mechanism. When the pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, the diaphragm moves in the opposite direction, but the connecting mechanism has transfer links to cause the valve to again be closed even though the diaphragm moves in the opposite direction.

' 9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEBJUL 1 61974 snmwz TQE LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE OF THE AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF TYPE When filling a vehicle tank with gasoline through a dispensing nozzle, vapors from the gasoline within the tank can be prevented from escaping through the opening in which the spout of the nozzle is inserted by sealing the opening. Thus, the escape of the gasoline vapors into the atmosphere is prevented so that pollution of the atmosphere is decreased. The vapors within the tank can be recovered through vapor recovery equipment utilized in conjunction with the nozzle.

However, the sealing of the vehicle tank to insure that the vapors of the gasoline being supplied thereto do not escape into the atmosphere makes it necessary that the pressure within the tank not exceed a safe value. While the vapor recovery system of the nozzle normally prevents the pressure within the tank exceeding the safe value, the possibility exists that there could be a blockage in the vapor recovery passages in the nozzle or in the passages in the vapor recovery equipment, which condenses the vapor to a liquid form, connected to the nozzle vapor recovery passages. If this blockage should occur, the pressure in the tank could exceed'a safe value whereby the tank could rupture.

The present invention satisfactorily solves this problem by automatically stopping the flow of gasoline through the spout to the vehicle tank when the pressure within the vehicle tank which is being filled exceeds a predetermined pressure. Thus, the present invention enables a tank to be sealed during filling without danger of rupture. I

Additionally, the mechanism of the present invention enables automatic shut-off of the flow of gasoline to also occur when the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level. With the tank being sealed, there is no way in which the operator of the nozzle could ascertain that the tank was filled so that automatic shut-off of the flow of gasoline to the tank when the tank reaches a predetermined level is a requisite.

With the present invention, only a single passage is necessarybetween the tank, which is being filled, and a single sensing diaphragm to sense either of the conditions (pressure or liquid level) existing in the tank. Additionally, even though the single diaphragm moves in opposite directions depending upon whether the vapor pressure in the tank exceeds the predetermined pressure or the liquid in the tank reaches the predetermined level, the release means for automatically closing the manually operated valve is always moved in the same direction.

An object of this invention is to provide an automatic shut off nozzle for automatically stopping flow of liquid to a tank which is being-filled when the pressure in the tank exceeds a predetermined pressure or the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level.

Another object of this invention is to provide an automatic shut-off nozzle having a single diaphragm responsive to either of two conditions in a tank which is being filled.

A further object of this invention is to provide a unique connecting linkage for stopping flow through an automatic shut-off nozzle having a single diaphragm movable in opposite directions in response to different conditions in a tank which is being filled.

Other objects, uses, and advantages of this invention are apparent upon a reading of this description, which proceeds with reference to the drawings forming part thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view, partly 'in elevation, of a portion of the automatic shut-off nozzle of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view, partly in elevation, of the remainder of the nozzle of FIG. 1 and showing its spout entering the filler pipe of a vehicle tank.

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the nozzle of FIG. 1 and taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view, partly in section, of a portion of the connecting linkage of the present invention and taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing the relation between the sensing diaphragm, the connecting linkage, and the latch retaining pin.

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is shown a nozzle body 10 having an inlet 11 to which a hose is connected to supply liquid such as gasoline, for example,-to the interior of the body 10. The

body 10 has an outlet 12 with which a spout l4 comm unicates to receive liquid from theinterior of the body 10. The spout 14 is adapted to be inserted within an opening 15 (see FIG. 2) in a filler pipe 16 of a vehicle tank such as an automobile fuel tank, for example.

The body 10 has a first or main poppet valve 17 (see FIG, 1) supported therein for controlling the flow of liquid from the inlet 11 to the interior of the body 10 and from the interior of the body 10 to the outlet 12. A spring 18 continuously urges the poppet valve I7 to its closed position in which flow from the inlet 11 to the outlet 12 is stopped or prevented.

A stem 19 is connected to the poppet valve 17 and has its lower portion extending exteriorly of the body 10. The valve stem 19, which is slidably disposed within the body 10, is moved by a manually operated lever or handle 20.

The stem 19 passes through the body 10 for cooperation with the handle'20 but not in contact with the body 10 because of a guide 21 being disposed in surrounding relation to the stem 19 as it extends exteriorly of the body 10. The guide 21 is formed of a suitable plastic material such as acetal resin, for example. This material has a relatively low coefficient of friction that minimizes the sliding friction between the stem 19 and the body 10. The guide 21 also eliminates wear on the stem 19 so as to not affect the sliding action of the stem 19.

Liquid cannot flow from the body 10 to the exterior thereof through the passage in the body 10 for the stem 19 due to a packing 22, which is disposed in surrounding relation to the stem 19. A gland 23 is disposed above the packing 22 and has a spring 24 acting thereon. A retainer 25 acts against the spring 24 and retains the packing 22 in a position to prevent any leakage of liquid from the body 10 through the passage for the stem 19.

A spout adapter 26 is connected to the outlet 12 of the body 10. The spout adapter 26, which has the spout l4 threaded in its end, is fixed to the body 10 by a screw 27. The screw 27 is preferably formed of a material that will break or shear when subjected to a predetermined force. Thus, if the spout 14 should be retained. in a vehicle tank when the vehicle is moved, the screw 27 breaks or shears and allows the spout adapter 26 to bepulled from the body 10 without any damage to the A second poppet valve 30 is slidably mounted on the spout adapter 26 and is continuously urged into engagement with a seating ring 31, which is secured to the spout adapter 26 and has the sealing ring 29 cooperating therewith, by a spring 32. Thus, only the pressure of fuel flowing from the inlet 11 and past the valve 17 can overcome the spring 32 and move the poppet valve 30 to an open position.

As the fuel flows between the poppet valve 30 and the seating ring 31, a venturi effect is created in radially extending passages 33 in the seating ring 31. The outer ends of the passages 33 communicate with an annular chamber 33. The passages 33 communicate through the chamber 33, a passage 34 in the body 10, an opening in a diaphragm 37, and a passage 38 in a cap 39 to a chamber 40, which is formed between the diaphragm 37 and the cap 39. V

Thepassage 34 also communicates with a tube 41, which is connected with an opening 42 (see FIG. 2) in the spout 14 adjacent the discharge end of the spout 14. The tube 41 communicates with the passage 34 through a passage 43 in the spout adapter'26 and a passage 44, which is formed between the spout adapter 26 and the body 10.

Accordingly, as long as the opening 42 is not closed due to the fuel within the tank reaching a predetermined level, which indicates that the tank is filled, the venturi effect created by the flow of the fluid between the seating ring 31 and the poppet valve 30 draws air through the tube 41. However, as soon as the opening 42 is blocked, the chamber 40 has its pressure reduced due to the air therein being drawn therefrom because ofthe venturi effect in the passages 33 whereby the diaphragm 37 moves upwardly. This venturi effect is more particularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,085,600 to Briede.

The diaphragm 37 has a screw. 45 extending therethrough and holding a cup washer 46 on the upper side of the diaphragm'37 and a washer 47, which is formed of plastic, on the bottom side thereof. The screw extends through an opening in the cup washer 46 and is threaded into the washer 47. v U

The screw 45 also has a latch holder 48 threadedly connected thereto and engaging the lower surface of the washer 47. The latch holder 48 includes a pair of oppositely disposed,

inclined legs

49 and 50. The

legs

49 and 50 have

openings

51 and 52, respectively, in their lower ends to receive one end of each of

links

53 and 54, respectively.

The link 53 has a pair of spaced curved fingers 55 (see FIG. 4) at its other end for cooperation with the bottom of a head 56 of a pin 57. The other end of the link 54 has a pair of spaced curved fingers 58, which also cooperate with the bottom of the head 56 of the pin 57.

The pin 57 has a longitudinal, axial passage 59 extending therethrough and in which is disposed a longi- The pin 57 has its lower end threaded into a cooperv ating threaded recess 61 in a latch retaining pin 62. The

latch pin 62 is disposed between three balls 63, which are positioned within passages in a latch plunger 64. When the latch retaining pin 62 is in the position shown in FIG. 1, the balls 63 prevent downward movement of the plunger 64, which is slidably mounted within the body 10.

When the diaphragm 37 is moved upwardly due to the fuel in the tank reaching a predetermined level, the latch pin 62 is moved upwardly therewith. This is because the latch holder 48 moves with the diaphragm 37 due to its connection through the screw and carries.

the

links

53 and 54 therewith. The fingers and 58 of the

links

53 and 54, respectively, act on the bottom of the head 56 of the pin 57 to move it upwardly with the diaphragm 37. Since the pin 57 is connected to the latch retaining pin 62, the latch pin 62 moves upwardly with the diaphragm 37 when the tank is filled.

The upward movement of the latch retaining pinv 62 disposes a tapered portion of the latch pin 62 between the balls 63 whereby the balls 63 may move inwardly to allow the plunger 64 to be moved downwardly against the force of its spring 65. The correlation between the tapered portion of the latch pin 62 and the latch plunger 64 is more specifically shown in US. Pat.

No. 2,582,195 to Duerr.

The lower end of the plunger 64 is connected to a lower lever 66 of the handle 20 by a pin 67. As more particularly described in US. Pat. No. 3,653,415 to Boudot et al. wherein there is a detailed description of the handle 20 and its cooperation with the stem 19, the downward movement of the pin 67 results in the poppet valve l7 being moved to its closed position by the spring 18.

A spring 68, which is disposed between the cap 39 and the cup washer 46, exerts a force against the upper surface of the diaphragm 37 and determines, in conjunction with a spring 69, which is disposed between the latch holder 48 and the head 56 of the pin 57, the partial vacuum at which the diaphragm 37 moves upwardly, The spring 68 must not be stronger than the spring 69. The spring 68 limits'the upward movement of the latch pin 62. Both of the

springs

68 and 69 urge the latch pin 62 to return to the position shown in FIG. 1 after shut off has occurred. The

springs

68 and 69 also keep the latch pin 62 in the position of FIG. 1 if the nozzle should be turned upside down.

The Body 10 has one end of a bellows 70, which is preferably formed of rubber, secured thereto. The other end of the bellows 70 has a wedge-shaped sealing ring 71 (see FIG. 2), which is preferably formed of rubber. The bellows 70 and the sealing ring 71 are spaced from the spout 14 to form an annular passage 72 therebetween. The upper end of the annular passage 72 communicates with a vapor recovery tube 73, which is supported on the body 10, through an annular passage 74, which is formed between the spout adapter 26 and the body 10.

Accordingly, when the sealing ring 71 abuts the filler pipe 16 of a vehicle tank, the tank is sealed so that all vapors will pass therefrom through the annular passage 72, the annular passage 74, and the vapor recovery tube 73. The vapor recovery tube 73 is connected by a suitable hoseto vapor recovery equipment in which the gasoline vapor is condensed so as to be supplied as gasoline again.

Withthe tank sealed by the sealing ring 71, vapor pressure can build up inside of the tank if the passage 72 or 74 or the vapor recovery tube 73 should 'be blocked. Likewise, if there should be a failure in the vapor recovery equipment so as to prevent the escape of the vapor from the vapor recovery tube 73 to the vapor recovery equipment, then the pressure in the tank also would build up.

Accordingly, any increase in the vapor pressure in the sealed tank beyond a predetermined pressure, which is preferably one p.s.i., will cause the diaphragm 37 to move downwardly. When this occurs, the

links

53 and 54 pivot about an annular surface 75 of the body so that the

curved fingers

55 and 58 .of the

links

53 and 54, respectively, move upwardly as the latch holder 48 moves downwardly with the diaphragm 37. The annular surface 75 of the body functions as a fulcrum means to allow pivoting of the

links

53 and 54 irrespective of where they are positioned through 360 in the body 10.

The pivoting of the

links

53 and 54 about the annular surface 75 of the body 10 causes the latch pin 62 to be moved upwardly. Accordingly, the upward movement of the latch retaining pin 62 causes the release of the latch plunger 64 so that the pin 67 moves downwardly whereby the poppet valve 17 is moved to a closed position by the spring 18.

Thus, the latch pinv 62 is moved in the same direction (upward) to release the latch plunger 64 to cause the poppet valve 17 to close irrespective of whether the diaphragm 37 moves upwardly due to the gasoline in the tank reaching a predetermined level or the diaphragm 37 moves downwardly due to the vapor pressure in the tank' exceeding the predetermined pressure.

An advantage of this invention is that it requires only a single diaphragm to sense either the vapor pressure in a tank exceeding a pretermined pressure or the liquid in the tank reaching a predetermined level.

For purposes of exemplification, a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described according to the best present understanding thereof. However, it will be apparent that changes and modifications in the arrangement and construction of the parts thereof may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manually operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet, said spout being insertable into a tank through an opening therein to allow the liquid to be dispensed therein, release means movable in one direction to release said manually operated means in response to either of two conditions existing in the tank and acting on said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, the conditions being build-up of vapor pressure to a predetermined pressure and the liquid in the tank reaching a predetermined level, first means communicating with the tank and responsive to either of the conditions existing in the tank, said first means being movable in the one direction in response to one of the conditions existing in the tank and in the opposite direction in response to the other of the conditions existing in the tank, and second means cooperating with said first means and said release means to cause movement of said release means in the one direction irrespective of whether said first means moves in the one direction or the opposite direction.

2. The nozzle according to claim 1 in which the tank being filled is sealed, said first means is a diaphragm movable in the one direction in response to the liquid in the sealed tank reaching the predetermined level and in the opposite direction in response to the vapor pressure in the sealed tank exceeding the predetermined pressure.

3. The nozzle according to claim 2 in which said second means includes means connected to said diaphragm for movement therewith in either direction and means supported by said connected means to move said release means only in the one direction irrespective of whether said diaphragm moves in the one direction or the opposite direction. 1

ported means of said second means includes means pivotal in response to movement of said connected means in the, opposite direction when said diaphragm moves in the opposite direction in response to the vapor pressure in the sealed tank exceeding the predetermined pressure, said pivotal means moving said release means in the one direction and relative to said diaphragm and said connected means when said diaphragm and said connected means move in the opposite direction.

5. The nozzle according to claim 4 in which said pivotal means includes a pair of links, each of. said links having one end supported by said connected means and its other end engaging said release means, and said body has fulcrum means intermediate the ends of each of said links to cause pivoting of said links when said diaphragm moves in the opposite direction in response to the vapor pressure in the sealed tank exceeding the predetermined pressure.

6. The nozzle according to claim 2 in which said second means includes means to transfer the movement of said diaphragm in the opposite direction into movement of said release means in the one direction;

7. The nozzle according to claim 6 in which said transfer means includes means pivotal in response to movement of said diaphragm in the opposite direction to move said release means in the one direction.

8. The nozzle according to claim I in which said second means includes means to transfer the movement of said first means in the opposite direction into movement of said release means in the one direction.

9. The nozzle according to claim 8 in which said transfer means includes means pivotal in response to movement of said first means in the opposite direction to move said release means in the one direction.

4. The nozzle according to claim 3 in which said sup-

Claims

3. The nozzle according to claim 2 in which said second means includes means connected to said diaphragm for movement therewith in either direction and means supported by said connected means to move said release means only in the one direction irrespective of whether said diaphragm moves in the one direction or the opposite direction.

4. The nozzle according to claim 3 in which said supported means of said second means includes means pivotal in response to movement of said connected means in the opposite direction when said diaphragm moves in the opposite direction in response to the vapor pressure in the sealed tank exceeding the predetermined pressure, said pivotal means moving said release means in the one direction and relative to said diaphragm and said connected means when said diaphragm and said connected means move in the opposite direction.

5. The nozzle according to claim 4 in which said pivotal means includes a pair of links, each of said links having one end supported by said connected means and its other end engaging said release means, and said body has fulcrum means intermediate the ends of each of said links to cause pivoting of said links when said diaphragm moves in the opposite direction in response to the vapor pressure in the sealed tank exceeding the predetermined pressure.

6. The nozzle according to claim 2 in which said second means includes means to transfer the movement of said diaphragm in the opposite direction into movement of said release means in the oNe direction.

8. The nozzle according to claim 1 in which said second means includes means to transfer the movement of said first means in the opposite direction into movement of said release means in the one direction.