Dispensing nozzle for vacuum assist vapor recovery system

• US 4,429,725 A
• Filed: 12/30/1981
• Issued: 02/07/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Standard Oil Company (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Standard Oil Company (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Walker, Donald C., Wagner, Theodore O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US06/335,637
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• Field of Search: 141/192-229, 141/285-310, 141/37, 141/39-64, 141/93, 141/392
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/48 by making use of air suction through an opening closed by the rising liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/54 with means for preventing escape of liquid or vapour or for recovering escaped liquid or vapour B67D7/44 takes precedence

Abstract

A liquid dispensing nozzle suitable for use in automobile service stations having vacuum assist vapor recovery systems is disclosed. This nozzle incorporates a check valve for closing the vapor return conduit means at all times when liquid is not being dispensed and a liquid responsive means in the vapor return conduit means for automatically shutting off the dispensing of liquid in the event liquid is aspirated into the vapor return conduit means.

Claims

1. A dispensing nozzle for use in a vacuum assist vapor recovery system, said nozzle comprising:

(a) a nozzle body having an inlet and an outlet for liquid to be dispensed;

(b) a filling spout attached to said nozzle body, said spout being adapted for loose fitting reception in a vehicle tank fill pipe and having an internal conduit for liquid connecting to said nozzle body outlet and an external conduit for vapor return surrounding the liquid conduit, said two conduits defining a passage for conducting vapor from the vehicle tank to a vapor return conduit means in said nozzle body;

(c) a control valve in said nozzle body for controlling the flow of liquid through said body from said inlet to said outlet;

(d) manually operated means for controlling the operation of said control valve and vacuum responsive release means to effect closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow when a predetermined partial vacuum is induced within said nozzle body;

(e) venturi means responsive to liquid flow, through said nozzle body for inducing a partial vacuum and an interconnecting passage between said vapor return conduit means to the venturi means, said passage normally allowing the flow of vapor from said vapor return conduit means to said venturi means to limit the partial vacuum induced thereby and said interconnecting passage being located at a point in the vapor return conduit which becomes full of liquid at such times when liquid begins to be aspirated from the vehicle tank through the vapor return conduit; and

(f) a check valve within the nozzle body for closing said vapor return conduit which valve is actuated to an open position by liquid pressure within the nozzles body when said control valve in the nozzle body is open.

2. The dispensing nozzle of claim 1 wherein the venturi means includes a frustoconical valve port and a spring loaded frustoconical valve member which together constitute a check valve for closing the liquid dispensing conduit means when liquid is not being dispensed.

3. A dispensing nozzle for use in a vacuum assist vapor recovery system, said nozzle comprising:

(a) a nozzle body having an inlet and an outlet for liquid to be dispensed;

(b) a filling spout attached to said nozzle body said spout having an internal conduit for liquid connecting to said nozzle body outlet and an external conduit for vapor return surrounding the liquid conduit, said two conduits defining a passage for conducting vapor from the vehicle tank to a vapor return conduit means in said nozzle body;

(c) a control valve in said nozzle body for controlling the flow of liquid through said body from said inlet to said outlet;

(d) manually operated means for controlling the operation of said control valve and vacuum responsive release means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow when a predetermined partial vacuum is induced by the presence of aspirated liquid within said nozzle; and

(e) a check valve within the nozzle body for closing said vapor return conduit which is actuated to an open position by liquid pressure within the nozzle body when the control valve in the nozzle body is open.

4. A liquid dispensing nozzle for use in a vacuum assist vapor recovery system, said nozzle comprising:

a nozzle body having liquid conduit means for conducting liquid therethrough to a filling spout and vapor conduit means for conducting vapor therethrough from a vehicle tank being filled with liquid to a liquid storage tank, said liquid conduit means having a manually actuated valve for controlling the flow of liquid to the spout and a vacuum release means to allow closing of the valve and stoppage of liquid flow when a predetermined partial vacuum is induced, said liquid conduit means being also provided with a flow restricting venturi type orifice for creating a downstream zone of relative partial vacuum and an upstream zone of higher pressure as liquid flows therethrough, and a check valve responsive to the thus created differential pressure interposed in the vapor return conduit to seal same except at times when liquid is flowing through the liquid conduit creating a pressure differential.