Low emission nozzles and receptacles

• US 10,386,017 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Engineered Controls International LLC (Engineered Controls International Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Engineered Controls International LLC (Engineered Controls International Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Thomas, Chad, Konishi, Howard M., Howard, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Niesz, Jason K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hakomaki, James R
• Application Number:
  US15/368,360
• Publication Number:
  US 20170159886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 141351
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 15/026 the valve member being a movable body around which the medium flows when the valve is open
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 13/04 Arrangement or mounting of valves valves per se F16K ; snap-coupling of nipples F16L37/00
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0326 electrically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0329 manually actuated
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0335 Check-valves or non-return valves
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0376 Dispensing pistols
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0123 gaseous, e.g. CNG, GNC
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0161 cryogenic, e.g. LNG, GNL, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/03 Control means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0443 Flow or movement of content
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/0478 Position or presence
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/02 Improving properties related to fluid or fluid transfer
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/036 Avoiding leaks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2260/04 Reducing risks and environmental impact
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/02 for filling with liquefied gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/06 for filling with compressed gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 6/00 : Methods and apparatus for filling vessels not under pressure with liquefied or solidified gases
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 9/00 : Methods or apparatus for discharging liquefied or solidified gases from vessels not under pressure

Abstract

A method consistent with the present disclosure may include: (a) equalizing pressure between a nozzle inner void and a receptacle main inner void by pressing a nozzle check against a receptacle check to open the nozzle check and the receptacle check; (b) extending the nozzle into the receptacle such that a receptacle main body surrounds at least a portion of the nozzle probe; (c) flowing fluid from the nozzle inner void into the receptacle main inner void.

Claims

1. A nozzle for dispensing fluid, the nozzle being configured to occupy a retracted position and an extended position, the nozzle comprising:

a main body; and

a probe slidably disposed in the main body and defining a check void, the probe comprising;

an outer flat annular surface,

an inner check sealing surface, and

a check assembly at least partially disposed in the check void, the check assembly comprising a check moveable relative to the main body and a spring biasing the check to a closed position where the check sealingly engages the inner check sealing surface.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises a poppet engager and a spring seat and the flat annular surface has an outer diameter equal to an outer diameter of the nozzle.

3. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the probe further comprises an annular seal disposed about the check.

4. The nozzle of claim 3, wherein the annular seal is disposed beyond the flat annular surface.

5. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein when the check assembly is in the closed position, the check extends beyond the annular seal.

6. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein when the nozzle is in the retracted position, the main body circumferentially surrounds a first portion of the probe.

7. The nozzle of claim 6, wherein when the nozzle is in the extended position, the main body circumferentially surrounds a second portion of the probe, the second portion being less than the first portion.

8. The nozzle of claim 7, further comprising an outer body comprising one or more latches configured to bind the outer body to a receptacle, wherein the main body is moveable with respect to the outer body.

9. The nozzle of claim 8, wherein when the nozzle transitions between the retracted position and the extended position, the main body translates a first distance and the probe translates a second distance, the second distance exceeding the first distance.

10. The nozzle of claim 8, wherein one of the main body and the probe comprises one or more flexible tabs configured to engage one or more recesses defined in the other of the main body and the probe;

wherein the one or more flexible tabs are configured to occupy an engaged position where the one or more flexible tabs occupy the one or more recesses and a disengaged position where the one or more flexible tabs do not occupy the one or more recesses; and

wherein, when the one or more flexible tabs are in the engaged position, the one or more flexible tabs cause the main body and the probe to translate as a common unit and wherein the nozzle is configured such that the one or more flexible tabs disengage before the nozzle reaches the extended position.

11. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein

the probe further defines an inner void and one or more passageways leading from the inner void to the check void;

and

an outer perimeter of the probe at least partially defines one or more outlet voids, each of the one or more outlet voids being in constant fluid communication with the inner void, the main body covering each of the one or more outlet voids when the nozzle is in the retracted position and at least a portion of the one or more outlet voids protruding from the main body when the nozzle is in the extended position.

12. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein when the nozzle moves from the retracted position to the extended position, the main body and the probe move together as a common unit until reaching a first distance and after the first distance, the probe moves with respect to the main body.

13. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the probe comprises an annular protrusion extending from the flat annular surface and an annular seal disposed about the annular protrusion.

14. The nozzle of claim 13, wherein an outer diameter of the annular seal exceeds an outer diameter of the annular protrusion.

15. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising an annular packing disposed in an outer groove defined in the probe, the annular packing comprising a packing material and a circumferential spring disposed in a groove defined in the packing material, the circumferential spring biasing the packing material radially outward toward the main body.

16. The nozzle of claim 15, wherein the probe comprises one or more fasteners, the one or more fasteners causing the probe to compress at least a portion of the annular packing.

17. The nozzle of claim 15, wherein the annular packing is configured to be compressed between the probe and the main body when the nozzle is in the retracted position and not be compressed by the main body when the nozzle is in the extended position.

18. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising an annular packing disposed in an outer groove defined in the probe, wherein the annular packing comprises a cylindrical spring housing defining two annular spring slots and a central inner void, a ringed protrusion extending from the cylindrical spring housing, and two circumferential springs disposed in the annular spring slots.

19. A receptacle comprising:

a main body defining a main inner void;

a spring seat disposed in the main body, the spring seat defining a central void;

a stem slidably engaged with the spring seat, the stem at least partially disposed in the central void and at least partially disposed in the main inner void;

a poppet connected to the stem, the poppet comprising an inner check sealing surface and defining an inner check void;

a spring disposed between the spring seat and the poppet, the spring at least partially occupying the main inner void, the spring biasing the poppet to a closed position;

a check assembly at least partially disposed in the inner check void, the check assembly comprising a check moveable relative to the main body and a check spring, the check spring biasing the check toward a closed position where the check engages the inner check sealing surface.

20. The receptacle of claim 19, comprising an annular packing, the annular packing comprising packing material and a circumferential spring housed in the packing material, the circumferential spring biasing the packing material radially inward.