FUEL DISPENSING NOZZLE WITH ATTITUDE SENSING DEVICE
First Claim
1. A nozzle comprising:
- a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel;
a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through said dispensing path; and
an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of said nozzle, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track, said track including a generally spherical portion configured to receive said ball therein to generally block said sensing path when said nozzle is raised to a sufficient angle, wherein said spherical portion has a radius generally corresponding to a radius of said ball.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A nozzle including a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel, and a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through the dispensing path. The nozzle further includes an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of the nozzle. The attitude sensing device is in fluid communication with the sensing path and includes a ball received in a track. The track includes a generally spherical portion configured to receive the ball therein to generally block the sensing path when the nozzle is raised to a sufficient angle. The spherical portion has a radius generally corresponding to a radius of the ball.
20 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A nozzle comprising:
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a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel; a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through said dispensing path; and an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of said nozzle, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track, said track including a generally spherical portion configured to receive said ball therein to generally block said sensing path when said nozzle is raised to a sufficient angle, wherein said spherical portion has a radius generally corresponding to a radius of said ball. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for operating a nozzle comprising:
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accessing a nozzle having a dispensing path, a sensing path and an attitude sensing device, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track, said track including a generally spherical portion having a radius closely generally corresponding to a radius of said ball; causing fluid to be dispensed through said dispensing path which generates a negative pressure in said sensing path; and raising said nozzle to a sufficient angle such that said ball rolls toward and is received in said generally spherical portion to generally block said sensing path.
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18. A nozzle comprising:
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a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel; a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through said dispensing path; and an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of said nozzle, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track, said attitude sensing device including a deflector configured to generate an eddy current when fluid flows through said sensing path to thereby retain said ball in a position adjacent to said deflector when said nozzle is at sufficiently low angles relative to horizontal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. (canceled)
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22. A nozzle comprising:
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a dispensing path configured such that fluid is dispensable therethrough and into a vessel; a sensing path in which a negative pressure is generated when fluid flows through said dispensing path; and an attitude sensing device configured to sense an attitude of said nozzle, said attitude sensing device being in fluid communication with said sensing path and including a ball received in a track and rollable thereon, said track including a seat configured to receive said ball therein to generally block said sensing path when said nozzle is raised to a sufficient angle, wherein said track further includes a first angled portion and a second angled portion, wherein said second angled portion presents a sharper angle to said ball than said first angled portion and is positioned between said first angled portion and said seat. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. (canceled)
Specification