WO2019215161A1

WO2019215161A1 - Fuel dispenser with angled nozzle boot

Info

Publication number: WO2019215161A1
Application number: PCT/EP2019/061694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bengt Larsson; Hanna Helgesson
Original assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden Ab
Priority date: 2018-05-08
Filing date: 2019-05-07
Publication date: 2019-11-14
Also published as: EP3790834A1; SE1850547A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel dispensing unit (1) for refuelling a vehicle. The fuel dispensing unit (1) comprises a hydraulics part (4), a display part (3) positioned above the hydraulics part (4), and a hose storage space (2) housing at least one hose (7) at the end of which a nozzle (6) is connected, the hose storage space (2) comprising a front side (12), a rear side (13) and at least one end side (14). The fuel dispensing unit (1) is characterized in that a section (15) of the at least one end side (14) is tapering and that at least one nozzle boot (8) for holding the nozzle (6) is arranged in the tapering section (15). The method also relates to a method for manufacturing a fuel dispensing unit (1).

Description

FUEL DISPENSER WITH ANGLED NOZZLE BOOT

Technical field

The invention relates to a fuel dispensing unit for refuelling a vehicle and a method for manufacturing a fuel dispensing unit. Background art

A fuel dispensing unit, such as a petrol pump typically comprises a pump part standing on the ground, a display part positioned above the pump part and showing the chosen type of petrol, cash readout, volume readout etc., and a column or frame to which one or more petrol hoses are connected.

When the tank of a vehicle is to be filled up, the driver parks the vehicle beside the petrol pump and opens the cover or cap of the petrol tank. The driver then selects the desired type of petrol and places the pump nozzle in the inlet of the vehicle’s petrol tank and puts in the desired volume of petrol.

A difficulty that may arise in connection with filling-up is that the hose does not reach to the vehicle if parked a distance from the petrol pump. The reason why the vehicle has not been parked sufficiently close to the pump may be difficulty in maneuvering owing to a limited space round the petrol pump. To allow the hose to reach the vehicle, it is usually necessary for the driver to park his vehicle so that the side of the vehicle where the filler cap is positioned faces the petrol pump. It is not always known to a driver of an unfamiliar vehicle whether the filler cap is positioned on the left or right side. This may result in the driver by mistake parking the vehicle on the wrong side of the pump and thus not being able to fill up the tank without moving the vehicle to the other side of the petrol pump since the hose does not reach all the way round the vehicle.

One way of facilitating access to the petrol pump is to provide it with a longer hose. This may, however, cause problems since a longer hose may tend to land on the ground when not used and thus get stuck in or be damaged by passing cars or other vehicles. To prevent this, the fuel dispensing unit may be provided with some kind of returning mechanism for the hose. US 6 328 060 discloses a gasoline dispensing unit and method according to which one end of a cord is attached to a dispensing hose to support the hose relative to a dispenser unit during non-use. The other end of the cord is attached to a drum having a tapered outer surface and a continuous spiral groove. When the hose is not in use, the cord is wound on the drum from the largest-diameter drum portion to the smallest-diameter portion. The cord thus unwinds from the drum from its smallest-diameter portion to the largest-diameter portion when the hose is pulled from the housing to provide a mechanical advantage and reduce the required pulling force.

GB 782 882 discloses a swinging arm hose retriever for fluid

dispensing apparatus. The hose of the fluid dispensing apparatus is retracted by a spring drum which, together with a spring-biased swinging arm, is mounted on a cover replacing the normal cover for the usual aperture in the top of the dispensing cabinet. The cover carries a support from which a spindle and a frame carrying the arm are supported by bearings. A spring connected to a fork pivoted to the spindle biases the arm to its normal position.

A problem common for the hose returning devices described above is their size, or their extension within the fuel dispensing unit, which results in bulky and complicated structures.

Another problem with the hose returning devices existing of the market today is that the force required for extracting the hose from the hose housing is quite extensive.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvement of the dispensing units according to prior art. A particular object is to provide a space efficient device for handling a hose of a fuel dispensing unit.

According to a first aspect, these and other objects, and/or advantages that will be apparent from the following description of embodiments, are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a fuel dispensing unit for refuelling a vehicle. The fuel dispensing unit comprises a hydraulics part, a display part positioned above the hydraulics part, and a hose storage space housing at least one hose at the end of which a nozzle is connected, the hose storage space comprising a front side, a rear side and at least one end side. The fuel dispensing unit is characterized in that a section of the at least one end side is tapering and that at least one nozzle boot for holding the nozzle is arranged in the tapering section.

This is advantageous in that an extremely space efficient device for hose handling is provided, which device enables a smooth and flexible handling of the hose. Further, due to the inclined design of the fuel dispensing unit in combination with the placement of the at least one nozzle boot, the height of the fuel dispensing unit may be kept to a minimun, despite the long hose, without having to increasing the width.

The positioning of the nozzle boot in the tapered section of the fuel dispensing unit may ensure that the nozzle, when placed in the nozzle boot, does not extend beyond the widest portion of the at least one end side. In that case, the overall width of the fuel dispensing unit is no longer affected by the nozzles.

The tapering section may be an upper section of the at least one end side.

The upper section of the at least one end side may be tapering in a upwards direction.

The hose storage space may be connected to the hydraulics part and the display part.

The display partm may extend beyond the at least one nozzle boot in an outward horisontal direction.

The width of a top portion of the at least one end side may be approximately 2/3 in relation to the width of a bottom portion of the at least one end side.

The upper section of the at least one end side may be tapering at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in relation to a vertical direction.

The fuel dispensing unit may further comprise a first hose guiding means and a second hose guiding means movable between an idle position and a working position to control extraction and infeed of the at least one hose.

The at least one hose may extend from the upper section in a downwards direction, to and below the second hose guiding means arranged in a bottom section, in an upwards direction, to and through the first hose guiding means arranged in the upper section, in a downwards direction, to the bottom section and out of the fuel dispensing unit.

The fuel dispensing unit may further comprises a hose connection in an upper corner of the hose storage space to which one end of the at least one hose is connected. In addition, the first hose guiding means may comprise a rocker unit which, to allow pulling out and returning of the hose, is pivotable in relation to the hose storage space about a pivot axis and which comprises a hose supporting part which is arranged at a distance from the pivot axis and adapted to support the hose. The first hose guiding means may be configured to curve the hose such that the radius of curvature of the same is placed in the bottom section of the fuel dispensing unit where there is most space available.

According to a second aspect, these and other objects are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a method for manufacturing a fuel dispensing unit. The method comprises providing a hydraulics part, positioning a display part above the hydraulics part, and providing a hose storage space housing at least one hose at the end of which a nozzle is connected, the hose storage space comprising a front side, a rear side and at least one end side. The method is characterized by tapering a section of the at least one end side, and providing at least one nozzle boot for holding the nozzle in the tapering section.

It should be noted that the different embodiments of the device that is described above are exemplifying only. The embodiments may be combined with each other in any suitable way depending on the requirements established for the fuel dispensing unit and on how many hoses the device is handling. Anywhere between one and ten hoses may be handled by the device according to the invention. Effects and features of the second of the present invention is largely analogous to those described above in connection with the first aspect the inventive concept. Embodiments mentioned in relation to the first aspect of the present invention are largely compatible with the further aspects of the invention.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, as well as from the drawings. It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references to“a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless explicitly stated otherwise.

As used herein, the term“comprising” and variations of that term are not intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

Brief description of the drawings

The above objects, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be more fully appreciated by reference to the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a fuel dispensing unit according to a second aspect of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the fuel dispensing unit of Fig. 1.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Fig. 1 shows an exemplary embodiment of a fuel dispensing unit 1 , having hose storage spaces 2, an display part 3 containing all the electronics for the fuel dispensing unit 1 , a hydraulic part 4 containing fuel dispensing means (not shown), e.g. fuel metering means, valves, vapour recovery system etc, and a column 5 extending vertically between and separating the display part 3 and the hydraulic part 4 from the hose storage spaces 2. The fuel dispensing unit 1 is connected to an underground fuel container (not shown).

When filling up the tank of a vehicle, the fuel is pumped from the underground container by means of a pump (not shown) which is located in the hydraulic part 4, and from there to the column 5 and out to a nozzle 6 via a fuel hose 7. When filling-up does not take place, the fuel hose 7 is accommodated in a hose storage place 2 and the nozzle 6 is inserted in a nozzle boot 8. The hose 7 is handled by a hose handling device 9. The electronics located in the display part 3, such as means for choosing the desired type of fuel and display means for showing the chosen type of fuel, the volume of dispensed fuel etc, are securely isolated in order to

encapsulate electronic components from possible presence of flammable gases. The display part 3 can also include a payment terminal.

In Fig. 2, the fuel dispensing unit 1 is illustrated from a side view. As stated above, the fuel dispensing unit 1 comprises a hydraulics part 4, a display part 6 positioned above the hydraulics part 4, and a hose storage space 2 housing the at least one hose 7 at the end of which the nozzle 6 is connected. The hose storage space 2 is connected to the hydraulics part 4 and the display part 3 and comprises a front side 12, a rear side 13 and at least one end side 14. A section 15 of the at least one end side 14 is tapering and the at least one nozzle boot 8 for holding the nozzle 6 is arranged in the tapering section 15.

The tapering section 15 is an upper section of the at least one end side 14, which upper section is tapering in a upwards direction. The tapering section 15 is designed such that the display part 3 extends beyond the at least one nozzle boot 8 in an outward horisontal direction.

In this specific embodiment, the width of a top portion 16 of the at least one end side 14 is approximately 2/3 in relation to the width of a bottom portion 17 of the at least one end side. Further, the upper section of the at least one end side 14 is tapering at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in relation to a vertical direction. The fuel dispensing unit 1 further comprises a first hose guiding means 18 and a second hose guiding means 19 which both are movable between an idle position and a working position to control extraction and infeed of the at least one hose 7. The at least one hose 7 extends from the upper section in a downwards direction, to and below the second hose guiding means 19 arranged in a bottom section, in an upwards direction, to and through the first hose guiding means 18 arranged in the upper section, in a downwards direction, to the bottom section and out of the fuel dispensing unit 1.

The skilled person realises that a number of modifications of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.

For instance, any suitable combinations between the different embodiments described above is possible.

Claims

1. A fuel dispensing unit (1 ) for refuelling a vehicle, comprising a hydraulics part (4),

a display part (3) positioned above the hydraulics part (4), and a hose storage space (2) housing at least one hose (7) at the end of which a nozzle (6) is connected, the hose storage space (2) comprising a front side (12), a rear side (13) and at least one end side (14),

characterized in that a section (15) of the at least one end side (14) is tapering and that at least one nozzle boot (8) for holding the nozzle (6) is arranged in the tapering section (15).

2. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to claim 1 , wherein the tapering section (15) is an upper section of the at least one end side (14).

3. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to claim 2, wherein the upper section of the at least one end side (14) is tapering in a upwards direction.

4. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the hose storage space (2) is connected to the hydraulics part (4) and the display part (3).

5. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display part (3) extends beyond the at least one nozzle boot (8) in an outward horisontal direction.

6. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the width of a top portion (16) of the at least one end side (14) is approximately 2/3 in relation to the width of a bottom portion (17) of the at least one end side (14).

7. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper section of the at least one end side (14) is tapering at an angle of between 10 and 30 degrees in relation to a vertical direction.

8. The fuel dispensing (1 ) unit accoding to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a first hose guiding means (18) and a second hose guiding means (19) movable between an idle position and a working position to control extraction and infeed of the at least one hose (7).

9. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to claim 8, wherein the at least one hose (7) extends from the upper section in a downwards direction, to and below the second hose guiding means (19) arranged in a bottom section, in an upwards direction, to and through the first hose guiding means (18) arranged in the upper section, in a downwards direction, to the bottom section and out of the fuel dispensing unit (1 ).

10. The fuel dispensing unit (1 ) accoding to claim 9, further comprising a hose connection in an upper corner of the hose storage space (2) to which one end of the at least one hose (7) is connected.

11.A method for manufacturing a fuel dispensing unit (1 ), comprising providing a hydraulics part (4),

positioning a display part (3) above the hydraulics part (4), and providing a hose storage space (2) housing at least one hose (7) at the end of which a nozzle (6) is connected, the hose storage space (2) comprising a front side (12), a rear side (13) and at least one end side (14), characterized by

tapering a section (15) of the at least one end side (14), and

providing at least one nozzle boot (8) for holding the nozzle (6) in the tapering section (15).