WO2008110755A2

WO2008110755A2 - Dispensing nozzle preventing misfuelling

Info

Publication number: WO2008110755A2
Application number: PCT/GB2008/000760
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jack Gall Thomson
Original assignee: Bp Oil International Limited
Priority date: 2007-03-09
Filing date: 2008-03-05
Publication date: 2008-09-18
Also published as: WO2008110755A3; WO2008110750A2; WO2008110750A3; GB0706840D0; GB2447292A8; WO2008110749A2; GB0704525D0; GB2447302A; WO2008110749A3; GB2447292A

Abstract

A valve (12), for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle (10), comprising: a fluid conduit (16); a sealing member (14) moveable between a first active position in which it closes the fluid conduit (16) to prevent fluid flow therethrough and a second inactive position in which the fluid conduit is open to permit fluid flow therethrough, and an actuator' (30) moveably coupled to the fluid conduit so as to be moveable between first and second positions, the actuator being engaged with the sealing member such that movement of the actuator between the first and second positions causes corresponding movement of the sealing member between the first active position and the second inactive position, the actuator being biased towards the first position and comprising an actuator body shaped to abut a filling neck of a petrol fuel tank in order to move.the actuator from the first position to the second position. The valve and/or actuator may be incorporated in a- fuel dispensing nozzle and used to prevent or at least mitigate the possibility of mis-fueling.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FUEL DISPENSING NOZZLES

This invention relates in particular, but not exclusively, to a valve for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, an actuator for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, and a fuel dispensing nozzle including such a valve and/or such an actuator.

Vehicles having a diesel engine have a wide filling neck to the fuel tank, and diesel fuel dispensing nozzles have a diameter of between approximately 25mm and 27mm. In contrast, vehicles having a petrol engine comprise fuel tanks having a restriction in their filling necks of 22mm diameter, while petrol fuel dispensing nozzles have a diameter of approximately 20mm to 21mm. It follows that attempting to introduce diesel fuel into a petrol tank using a diesel fuel dispensing nozzle is thwarted by the 22mm diameter filling neck since the diesel fuel dispensing nozzle is too wide to enter this aperture.

However, the aforementioned features do nothing to prevent the dispensing of petrol fuel via a petrol fuel dispensing nozzle into a diesel fuel tank. Running petrol fuel through a diesel engine is highly undesirable since it can lead to extensive damage of the engine components requiring costly repair and replacement.

To help overcome this problem there is a need for improvements in or relating to fuel dispensing nozzles.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a valve, for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising: a fluid conduit; a sealing member moveable between a first active position in which it closes the fluid conduit to prevent fluid flow therethrough and a second inactive position in which the fluid conduit is open to permit fluid flow therethrough, and an actuator moveably coupled to the fluid conduit so as to be moveable between first and second positions, the actuator being engaged with the sealing member such that movement of the actuator between the first and second positions causes corresponding movement of the sealing member between the first active position and the second inactive position, the actuator being biased towards the first position and comprising an actuator body shaped to abut a filling neck of a petrol fuel tank in order to move the actuator from the first position to the second position. Preferably, the actuator body is shaped not to be acted upon by the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank.

Suitably, the actuator body is shaped so that in use, it abuts the 22 mm diameter of the filling neck of a petrol fuel tank, but can not be acted upon by the wider diameter of the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank. Preferably, the actuator body defines a sleeve surrounding the fluid conduit or an elongate member extending adjacent to the fluid conduit.

Preferably, the sealing member comprises a fluid impermeable portion and a fluid permeable portion, the fluid impermeable portion lying in communication with the fluid conduit while the sealing member is in the first active position, and the fluid permeable portion lying in communication with the fluid conduit while the sealing member is in the second inactive position. More, preferably, the fluid permeable portion comprises a fluid conduit. Yet more preferably, the actuator comprises a shaped profile abutting the sealing member to move the sealing member between the first active position and the second active position. According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a valve according to the first aspect of the present invention. Preferably, such a fuel dispensing nozzle has an automatic shut-off duct, wherein the automatic shut-off duct defines the fluid conduit of the valve. Typically, a shut-off mechanism is configured to "breathe" through the shut-off duct. Accordingly, as long as fluid (which is air and/or fuel vapour) can pass through the shut-off duct, the dispensing of fuel from the nozzle can be regulated by an outlet valve which is usually opened via an operating lever, as desired, by a user who wishes to dispense fuel into a fuel tank.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided an actuator, for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising an actuator body moveably couplable to the fuel dispensing nozzle so as to be moveable between a first position preventing the dispensing of fuel from the dispensing nozzle and a second position allowing the dispensing of fuel from the dispensing nozzle, the actuator body being shaped to abut the filling neck of a petrol fuel tank following insertion of the dispensing nozzle into the filling neck to move the actuator from the first position to the second position and preferably, the actuator body is shaped not to be acted upon by the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank following insertion of the dispensing nozzle into the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a fuel dispensing nozzle comprising an actuator according to the third aspect of the present invention.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a fuel dispensing nozzle according to the second aspect of the present invention in which the actuator is an actuator according to the third aspect of the present invention. Suitably, the filling neck of the petrol tank has a diameter of 21 mm. The present invention will now be illustrated by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure l(a) shows in longitudinal part cross section, a fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a valve according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure l(b) shows in longitudinal part cross section, an enlarged portion of the fuel dispensing nozzle shown in Figure l(b); Figure 2 shows in longitudinal cross section, an enlarged portion of a fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a valve according to a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure

3 shows in part longitudinal cross section, an enlarged portion of a fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a valve according to a third embodiment of the invention; and Figure

4 shows a transverse cross-sectional view through section A-A of Figure 3. In the drawings, a first fuel dispensing nozzle 10 comprises a valve 12 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The valve 12 comprises a sealing member 14 in the form of a plunger 13 slidably located in the dispensing nozzle 10. The sealing member 14 is located such that it is able to occupy a first active position in which it prevents fluid flow through a fluid conduit 16 that is defined by an automatic shut-off duct 18 in the dispensing nozzle 10, as shown in Figure l(a) and IQo). In the first active position a fluid impermeable portion 22 of the sealing member 14 lies in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18 so as to completely close off the automatic the shut-off duct 18.

The automatic shut-off duct 18 typically runs along the length of the fuel dispensing nozzle 10. A shut-off mechanism (not shown) is configured to "breathe" through the shut-off duct 18. Accordingly, as long as fluid (which is air and/or fuel vapour) can pass through the shut-off duct 18, the dispensing of fuel from the nozzle 10 is regulated only by an outlet valve 11 which is usually opened via an operating lever 20, as desired, by a user who wishes to dispense fuel into a fuel tank 44. As the fuel tank becomes full, the level of fuel in the tank rises and closes the end of the shut-off duct 18. As a result, fluid (which is air and/or fuel vapour) can not pass through the shut-off duct 18. Thus, the shut-off mechanism is no longer able to "breathe" and so activates to shut the outlet valve, thereby preventing dispensing of fuel from the fuel dispensing nozzle 10. In the embodiments shown, the sealing member 14 preventing fluid flow through the automatic shut-off duct 18 has the same effect as fuel in a fuel tank reaching the tip 41 of the dispensing nozzle 20 and closing the end of the shut-off duct 18. The result is immediate activation of the shut-off mechanism, which prevents the dispensing of fuel through the dispensing nozzle 10. The sealing member 14 is biased towards the first active position by a first spring

24. Other embodiments of the invention may use a different biasing member.

One end of the sealing member 14 abuts a shaped profile 26 in the form of an internal ramp 28 lying within an actuator 30.

The actuator 30 is moveable between a first position, as shown in Figure 1, and a second position.

The actuator 30 is biased towards the first position by a second spring 36 and, while the actuator 30 remains in the first position, the impermeable portion 22 of the sealing member 14 remains in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18, thereby keeping the duct 18 closed off. The actuator 30 comprises an actuator body 32 which is shaped, preferably in the form of a sleeve 34 surrounding the automatic shut-off duct 18 and the fluid dispensing nozzle 10, to abut the 22mm diameter restricted filling neck 42 of a petrol tank 44. Continued movement of the dispensing nozzle 10 into the filling neck of the petrol fuel tank moves the sleeve 34 along the dispensing nozzle 10, against the biasing force of the second spring 36, to the second position. During this movement of the sleeve 34, the internal ramp 28 moves the sealing member 14 toward a second inactive position in which a fluid permeable portion 38 of the sealing member 14 lies in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18 to allow the flow of fluid through the duct 18. The fluid permeable portion 38 of the sealing member 14 may comprise a waisted portion 40, as shown in Figure l(b), or some other fluid conduit such as an aperture.

Flow of fluid along the automatic shut-off duct 18 allows the shut off mechanism to breathe and so fuel dispensing can take place as normal via operation of the operating lever 20.

Following insertion of the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 into the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank (not shown) the sleeve 34 is too narrow to abut the filling neck and so the actuator 30 remains in the first position, thereby preventing the dispensing of fuel from the nozzle 10.

Figure 2 shows a valve 50 according to a second embodiment of the invention in a fuel dispensing nozzle 10. The second valve 50 shares several features with the first valve 12 and these are designated using the same reference numerals.

The second valve 50 comprises a sealing member 14 in the form of a flat blade 52. The flat blade 52 is moveable between a first active position in which it prevents fluid flow through the automatic shut-off duct 18 by closing off the duct 18 (as shown in Figure 2), and a second passive position in which it allows fluid flow through the automatic shut-off duct 18 by clearing the duct 18.

The flat blade 52 is engaged with the actuator 30 via, for example, a rivet or other fastener.

Accordingly, movement of the actuator 30 between first and second positions, as described above, causes corresponding movement of the flat blade 52 so as to selectively open and close the automatic shut-off duct 18 to allow and prevent dispensing of fuel, as required.

Figures 3 and 4 show a_, valve 60 according to a third embodiment of the invention in a fuel dispensing nozzle 10. The third valve 60 shares several features with the first and second valves 12 and these are designated using the same reference numerals.

The third valve 60 comprises a sealing member 14 in the form of a plunger 13. One end of the sealing member 14 abuts an actuator 30 which is moveable between a first position, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and a second position. The structure of the actuator 30 biases it towards the first position.

The actuator 30 comprises an actuator body 32 that defines an elongate member 62 extending adjacent to the automatic shut-off duct 18 and the fuel dispensing nozzle 10. The elongate member 62 extends at an angle to the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 so as to project laterally from the nozzle and when the fuel dispensing nozzle is inserted into the neck of a fuel tank, it abuts the 22mm diameter restricted filling neck 42 of the petrol fuel tank 44. Continued movement of the dispensing nozzle 10 depresses the elongate member 62 towards the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 and moves it to the second position. This movement of the elongate member 62 moves the sealing member 14 towards the second inactive position in which a fluid permeable portion 38 of the sealing member 14 lies in communication with the automatic shut-off duct 18 to allow the flow of fluid through the duct 18.

In this way, fuel dispensing can take place as normal via operation of the operating lever 20, as described above.

Following insertion of the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 into the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank (not shown) the projection of the elongate member 62 from the fuel dispensing nozzle 10 is insufficient to abut the filling neck, and so the actuator 30 remains in the first position, thereby preventing the dispensing of fuel from the nozzle 10.

Claims

Claims:

1. A valve, for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising: a fluid conduit; a sealing member moveable between a first active position in which it closes the fluid conduit to prevent fluid flow therethrough and a second inactive position in which the fluid conduit is open to permit fluid flow therethrough, and an actuator moveably coupled to the fluid conduit so as to be moveable between first and second positions, the actuator being engaged with the sealing member such that movement of the actuator between the first and second positions causes corresponding movement of the sealing member between the first active position and the second inactive position, the actuator being biased towards the first position and comprising an actuator body shaped to abut a filling neck of a petrol fuel tank in order to move the actuator from the first position to the second position.

2. A valve according to Claim 1 wherein the actuator body is shaped not to be acted upon by the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank.

3. A valve according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the actuator body defines a sleeve surrounding the fluid conduit.

4. A valve according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the actuator body defines an elongate member extending adjacent to the fluid conduit.

5. A valve according to any preceding claim wherein the sealing member comprises a fluid impermeable portion and a fluid permeable portion, the fluid impermeable portion lying in communication with the fluid conduit while the sealing member is in the first active position, and the fluid permeable portion lying in communication with the fluid conduit while the sealing member is in the second inactive position.

6. A valve according to Claim 5 wherein the fluid permeable portion comprises a fluid conduit.

^' 7. A valve according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein the actuator comprises a shaped profile abutting the sealing member to move the sealing member between the first active position and the second active position.

8. A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a valve according to any one of Claims 1 to 7.

9. A fuel dispensing nozzle according to Claim 8 having an automatic shut-off duct, wherein the automatic shut-off duct defines the fluid conduit of the valve.

10. An actuator, for incorporation in a fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising an actuator body moveably couplable to the fuel dispensing nozzle so as to be moveable between a first position preventing the dispensing of fuel from the dispensing nozzle and a second position allowing the dispensing of fuel from the dispensing nozzle, the actuator body being shaped to abut the filling neck of a petrol fuel tank following insertion of the dispensing nozzle into the filling neck to move the actuator from the first position to the second position.

11. An actuator according to Claim 10 wherein the actuator body is shaped not to be acted upon by the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank following insertion of the dispensing nozzle into the filling neck of a diesel fuel tank.

12. A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising an actuator according to Claim 10 or Claim 11.

13. A fuel dispensing nozzle according to Claim 8 or Claim 9 in which the actuator is an actuator according to Claim 10 or Claim 11.