Locomotive fueling adapter

• US 10,442,677 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2017
• Issued: 10/15/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spillx LLC
• Original Assignee: Spillx LLC
• Inventors: Mitrovich, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Application Number:
  US15/730,014
• Publication Number:
  US 20180099861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 141384
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3218 relating to emergency shut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3245 relating to the transfer method
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 Filling nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 55/1015 Couplings closed automatically when disengaging force exceeds preselected value F16L55/1007 takes precedence

Abstract

A fueling adapter configured to permit a fuel dispenser which terminates in a twist lock mating assembly to be used to supply fuel to a fuel tank which has a fuel receiver outfitted with a dry break connector connected thereto, said fueling adapter comprising a dry break assembly rotatably connected to a twist lock assembly via a rotational connector.

Claims

1. A fueling adapter configured to permit a fuel dispenser which terminates in a twist lock mating assembly to be used to supply fuel to a fuel tank which has a fuel receiver outfitted with a dry break connector connected thereto, said fueling adapter comprising:

a dry break assembly rotatably connected to a twist lock assembly via a rotational connector;

said dry break assembly comprising a first passageway defined therethrough, said twist lock assembly defining a second passageway therethrough, said first passageway fluidly connected to the second passageway so as to define a fuel passageway through the fueling adapter;

said dry break assembly configured for connecting with said dry break connector, said dry break assembly comprising a tubular body portion comprising an inside surface, said inside surface comprising an annular inner race groove;

said twist lock assembly configured for connecting with said twist lock mating assembly, said twist lock assembly comprising a twist lock coupling and a plug portion, the plug portion further comprising an extension which extends away from a first end of said plug portion, the extension comprising an outer surface into which an annular outer race groove is defined, said plug portion configured for receiving said body portion thereon with said inner race groove aligned with said outer race groove; and

said rotational connector comprising said inner race groove and said outer race groove aligned to form a combined groove and a plurality of ball bearings received in said combined groove, said combined groove and ball bearings rotatably connecting the twist lock assembly to the dry break assembly.

2. The fueling adapter of claim 1, wherein said dry break assembly further comprises a handle assembly connecting to said body portion, said handle assembly for allowing a user to twist the dry break assembly on and off said receiver.

3. The fueling adapter of claim 2, wherein the handle assembly defines a generally circular orifice therethrough which has an annular sidewall connected to a periphery thereof, wherein the sidewall defines three radially spaced slots therethrough, wherein said extension of the plug portion defines three radially spaced notches each having notch first end and a notch second end, said slots and notches configured for alignment to create grooves, and wherein said grooves are dimensioned and positioned to slidably receive therein three radially spaced tabs extending from said dry break connector.

4. The fueling adapter of claim 1, further comprising a rotation limiter for limiting rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via said rotational connector.

5. The fueling adapter of claim 4, wherein the rotation limiter comprises:

a plurality of equiradially disposed limiter channels defined in an end face a second end of the body portion;

a plurality of equiradially disposed threaded passageways through an end plate in a second end of the plug portion; and

a plurality of threaded limiter pins extending from said threaded passageways and into said limiter channels, wherein the limiter pins are able to freely move along said limiter channels and are not attached to said body portion, and wherein the limiter channels define a length which defines the limits to the rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via the rotational connector.

6. The fueling adapter of claim 5, wherein the number of said limiter channels and said threaded passageways is three.

7. The fueling adapter of claim 5, wherein the limiter pins comprise ball plungers.

8. The fueling adapter of claim 1, wherein said outside surface of said tubular body portion comprises an opening to a ball bearing insertion passageway that extends inwards from the outside surface to the inside surface, wherein said inner race groove is radially aligned with the ball bearing insertion passageway so that said ball bearings may be inserted into the combined groove when the inner race groove and the outer race groove are aligned.

9. The fueling adapter of claim 8, wherein said tubular body portion further comprises a groove cover configured to cover said opening, said groove cover for retaining the ball bearings in the combined groove after insertion therein.

10. The fueling adapter of claim 1, wherein a first end of the plug portion further defines a poppet valve depressor configured to depress a dry break connection poppet valve in the fuel receiver when the fueling adapter is attached to the fuel receiver.

11. The fueling adapter of claim 1, wherein a first end of the plug portion further comprises a seal seat configured to receive a gasket for sealing engagement with the receiver when the fueling adapter is attached to the fuel receiver.

12. The fueling adapter of claim 1, wherein the twist lock coupling comprises a barrel portion, the barrel portion having an outer surface which comprises a pair of radially spaced tabs which project outwardly from or adjacent to a first end of the twist lock coupling, wherein the tabs are dimensioned and positioned to slidably lock onto flanges defined on the fuel dispenser, wherein slots are defined between the tabs, wherein tabs are generally wedge-shaped in side elevation and are configured for mating engagement with a pair of flanges on the twist lock mating assembly of the fuel dispenser.

13. The fueling adapter of claim 12, wherein the twist lock mating assembly can be attached to the twist lock coupling of the fueling adapter by inserting a nozzle of the fuel dispenser into an inlet of the twist lock assembly, slidably passing the flanges through the slots, and bringing rim of the twist lock coupling into contact with an internal face of the twist lock mating assembly, and rotation of a handle system of the twist lock mating assembly to cause the flanges to engage the tabs, thereby drawing the rim tight against the internal face and locking the twist lock mating assembly onto the fueling adapter.

14. The fueling adapter of claim 1, further comprising a rotation limiter for limiting rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via said rotational connector,

wherein said dry break assembly further comprises a handle assembly connecting to said body portion, said handle assembly for allowing a user to twist the dry break assembly on and off said receiver, wherein the handle assembly defines a generally circular orifice therethrough which has an annular sidewall connected to a periphery thereof, wherein the sidewall defines three radially spaced slots therethrough, wherein said extension of the plug portion defines three radially spaced notches each having notch first end and a notch second end, said slots and notches configured for alignment to create grooves, and wherein said grooves are dimensioned and positioned to slidably receive therein three radially spaced tabs extending from said dry break connector, and

wherein the rotation limiter comprises:

a plurality of equiradially disposed limiter channels defined in an end face of a second end of the body portion;

a plurality of equiradially disposed threaded passageways through an end plate in the second end of the plug portion; and

a plurality of threaded limiter pins extending from said threaded passageways and into said limiter channels, wherein the limiter pins are able to freely move along said limiter channels and are not attached to said body portion,

wherein the limiter channels have a length defining the limits to the rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via the rotational connector.

15. The fueling adapter of claim 1, wherein the twist lock coupling comprises a barrel portion, the barrel portion having an outer surface which comprises a pair of radially spaced tabs which project outwardly from or adjacent to a first end of the twist lock coupling, wherein the tabs are dimensioned and positioned to slidably lock onto flanges defined on the fuel dispenser, wherein slots are defined between the tabs, wherein tabs are generally wedge-shaped in side elevation and are configured for mating engagement with the flanges;

and

wherein said dry break assembly further comprises a handle assembly connecting to said body portion, said handle assembly for allowing a user to twist the dry break assembly on and off said receiver, wherein the handle assembly defines a generally circular orifice therethrough which has an annular sidewall connected to a periphery thereof, wherein the sidewall defines three radially spaced slots therethrough, wherein said extension of the plug portion defines three radially spaced notches each having notch first end and a notch second end, said slots and notches configured for alignment to create grooves, and wherein said grooves are dimensioned and positioned to slidably receive therein three radially spaced tabs extending from said dry break connector.

16. A fueling adapter configured to permit a fuel dispenser which terminates in a twist lock mating assembly to be used to supply fuel to a fuel tank which has a fuel receiver outfitted with a dry break connector connected thereto, said fueling adapter comprising:

a dry break assembly rotatably connected to a twist lock assembly via a rotational connector;

said dry break assembly comprising a first passageway defined therethrough, said twist lock assembly defining a second passageway therethrough, said first passageway fluidly connected to the second passageway so as to define a fuel passageway through the fueling adapter;

said dry break assembly comprising a tubular body portion, said tubular body portion further comprising first end, a second end, an outside surface, and an inside surface, said inside surface comprising an annular inner race groove;

said twist lock assembly comprising a twist lock coupling and a plug portion, the plug portion comprising a first end which defines an outlet, and a second end which defines an inlet, the outlet and inlet define said second passageway therebetween, the plug portion further comprising an extension which extends away from said plug portion first end, the extension comprising an outer surface into which an annular outer race groove is defined, said plug portion configured for receiving said body portion thereon with said inner race groove aligned with said outer race groove;

said rotational connector comprising said inner race groove and said outer race groove aligned to form a combined groove and a plurality of ball bearings received in said combined groove, said combined groove and ball bearings rotatably connecting the twist lock assembly to the dry break assembly; and

a rotation limiter for limiting the rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via said rotational connector, wherein the rotation limiter comprises a plurality of equiradially disposed limiter channels defined in an end face of the body portion second end, a plurality of equiradially disposed threaded passageways through an end plate in the second end of the plug portion, and a plurality of threaded limiter pins extending from said threaded passageways and into said limiter channels, said limiter pins are able to freely move along said limiter channels and are not attached to said body portion, wherein the limiter channels have a length defining the limits to the rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via the rotational connector.

17. The fueling adapter of claim 16, wherein said dry break assembly further comprises a handle assembly connecting to said body portion, said handle assembly for allowing a user to twist the dry break assembly on and off said receiver, wherein the handle assembly defines a generally circular orifice therethrough which has an annular sidewall connected to a periphery thereof, wherein the sidewall defines three radially spaced slots therethrough, wherein said extension of the plug portion defines three radially spaced notches each having notch first end and a notch second end, said slots and notches configured for alignment to create grooves, and wherein said grooves are dimensioned and positioned to slidably receive therein three radially spaced tabs extending from said dry break connector.

18. The fueling adapter of claim 16, wherein said outside surface of said tubular body portion comprises an opening to a ball bearing insertion passageway that extends inwards from the outside surface to the inside surface, wherein said inner race groove is radially aligned with the ball bearing insertion passageway so that said ball bearings may be inserted into the combined groove when the inner race groove and the outer race groove are aligned, wherein said tubular body portion further comprises a groove cover configured to cover said opening, said groove cover for retaining the ball bearings in the combined groove after insertion therein.

19. The fueling adapter of claim 16, wherein the twist lock coupling comprises a barrel portion, the barrel portion having an outer surface which comprises a pair of radially spaced tabs which project outwardly from or adjacent to the first end of the twist lock coupling, wherein the tabs are dimensioned and positioned to slidably lock onto flanges defined on the fuel dispenser, wherein slots are defined between the tabs, wherein tabs are generally wedge-shaped in side elevation and are configured for mating engagement with the flanges.

20. A fueling adapter configured to permit a fuel dispenser which terminates in a twist lock mating assembly to be used to supply fuel to a fuel tank which has a fuel receiver outfitted with a dry break connector connected thereto, said fueling adapter comprising:

a dry break assembly rotatably connected to a twist lock assembly via a rotational connector, said dry break assembly comprising a first passageway defined therethrough, said twist lock assembly defining a second passageway therethrough, said first passageway fluidly connected to the second passageway so as to define a fuel passageway through the fueling adapter;

said dry break assembly further comprising a handle assembly connecting to said body portion, said handle assembly for allowing a user to twist the dry break assembly on and off said receiver, wherein the handle assembly defines a generally circular orifice therethrough which has an annular sidewall connected to a periphery thereof, wherein the sidewall defines three radially spaced slots therethrough, wherein said dry break assembly defines three radially spaced notches each having notch first end and a notch second end, said slots and notches configured for alignment to create grooves, and wherein said grooves are dimensioned and positioned to slidably receive therein three radially spaced tabs extending from said dry break connector, said dry break assembly further comprises a tubular body portion, said tubular body portion further comprising first end, a second end, an outside surface, and an inside surface, said inside surface comprising an annular inner race groove;

said twist lock assembly comprising a twist lock coupling and a plug portion, the plug portion comprising a first end which defines an outlet, and a second end which defines an inlet, the outlet and inlet define said second passageway therebetween, the plug portion further comprising an extension which extends away from said plug portion first end, the extension comprising an outer surface into which an annular outer race groove is defined, said plug portion configured for receiving said body portion thereon with said inner race groove aligned with said outer race groove, wherein twist lock coupling comprises a barrel portion having an outer surface which comprises a pair of radially spaced tabs which project outwardly from or adjacent to the first end of the twist lock coupling, wherein the tabs are dimensioned and positioned to slidably lock onto flanges defined on the fuel dispenser, wherein slots are defined between the tabs, wherein tabs are generally wedge-shaped in side elevation and are configured for mating engagement with the flanges; and

said rotational connector comprising said inner race groove and said outer race groove aligned to form a combined groove, a plurality of ball bearings received in said combined groove, and a rotation limiter, said combined groove and ball bearings rotatably connecting the twist lock assembly to the dry break assembly, said rotation limiter for limiting rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via said rotational connector, wherein the rotation limiter comprises;

a plurality of equiradially disposed limiter channels defined in an end face of the body portion second end, a plurality of equiradially disposed threaded passageways through an end plate in the second end of the plug portion, and a plurality of threaded limiter pins extending from said threaded passageways and into said limiter channels, wherein the limiter pins are able to freely move along said limiter channels and are not attached to said body portion, wherein the limiter channels have an length which defines the limits to the rotation of the dry break assembly in relation to the twist lock assembly via the rotational connector.