Vapor passage fuel blockage removal

• US 4,967,809 A
• Filed: 03/29/1989
• Issued: 11/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tokheim Holding B.V. (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tokheim Sas (Cognetas LLP)
• Inventors: Faeth, Warren P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUSICK, ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US07/330,149
• Time in Patent Office: 587 Days
• Field of Search: 141/44-46, 141/59, 141/302, 220/85 VR, 220/85 VS
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0488 Means for preventing the formation of condensation on, or for removing condensation from, vapour recovery lines

Abstract

A device for mounting in a fuel dispensing hose that has a flexible inner tube defining the fuel conduit, and a tubular outer sleeve that defines with the inner tube an annular vapor return passage. The device includes a venturi section adapted for serial connection with the inner tube within the outer sleeve. The section comprises a cylndrical block that connects at each end with an end of the inner tube and defines a venturi forming part of the fuel conduit. The block also has an aspirator means that defines at least two radial ports communicating between the venturi throat and the annular vapor passage. Each radial port has a check valve to block fuel flow from the fuel conduit to the vapor passage.

Claims

1. In a system for dispensing gasoline fuel into a vehicle fuel tank, said system including a dispenser pump, a nozzle, a fuel hose connecting said dispenser pump to said nozzle, a vapor recovery hose surrounding said fuel hose and defining an annular vapor passage with said fuel hose for conducting fuel vapors from the fuel tank to a storage reservoir, said fuel hose and vapor recovery hose adapted to form at least one looped low portion during dispensing of fuel into a fuel tank whereat condensed fuel vapors tend to collect in said vapor recovery passage, the improvement comprising;

a venturi means including an elongated block adapted for serial connection with said fuel hose within said vapor recovery hose at said at least once looped portion, said venturi means including a venturi throat which forms part of the fuel conduit from said fuel dispenser pump to said nozzle; and

at least one port means in said elongated block for providing communication between said annular passage and said venturi throat.

2. The system according to claim 1 further including a second port means in said elongated block for providing communication between said annular passage and said venturi throat.

3. The system according to claim 1 including two further port means in said elongated block for providing communication between said annular passage and said venturi throat.

4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said at least one said port means and said two further port means extend radially outwardly from said venturi means and are equally spaced around said venturi means.

5. The system according to claim 1 including a check valve means associated with said at least one port means for blocking fuel flow from said fuel hose to said annular vapor passage.

6. The system according to claim 5 including a filter associated with said at least one port means and located upstream of said check valve means.

7. In a hose assembly for dispensing fuel to a nozzle which is adapted to be inserted into the fill pipe of a vehicle fuel tank, said hose assembly comprising an inner tube means having opposed outer ends and defining a fuel conduit and a tubular outer sleeve means having opposed outer ends which defines with said inner tube means an annular passage for recovering fuel vapors from said fuel tank, the improvement wherein said inner tube means comprises two flexible inner tube sections having adjacent ends and respectively leading toward said opposed outer ends of said inner tube means, said inner tube means also comprising an elongated venturi means disposed in serial connection with said inner tube sections within said outer sleeve means and including connecting means at each end thereof respectively connected to said adjacent ends of said inner tube sections, said venturi means having inlet means which is shorter than said elongated venturi means and which communicates with said annular vapor passage so that liquid fuel collected in said annular passage immediately adjacent said venturi means is adapted to be drawn through said inlet means due to suction adapted to be produced in said venturi means upon the flow of fuel therethrough.

8. In a liquid dispensing hose assembly for distributing liquid fuel from a pump to a valved nozzle which is adapted to be inserted into the fill pipe of a vehicle fuel tank, said hose assembly comprising an inner tube means having opposed outer ends and defining a fuel conduit and a tubular outer sleeve means having opposed outer ends which defines with said inner tube means an annular passage for recovering fuel vapors from said fuel tank, the improvement wherein said inner tube means comprises two flexible inner tube sections having adjacent ends and respectively leading toward said opposed outer ends of said inner tube means, said inner tube means also comprising a venturi section disposed in serial connection with said inner tube sections within said outer sleeve means and comprising an elongated block having connecting means at each end thereof respectively connected to said adjacent ends of said inner tube sections and defining a venturi forming part of said fuel conduit, said venturi section having a plurality of inlet means which are shorter than said elongated block and which communicate between said venturi forming part and said annular vapor passage and are so arranged that at least one inlet means is always located below the centerline of said venturi section when the centerline of said venturi section is disposed substantially horizontally in said liquid dispensing hose assembly, regardless of the rotational position of said hose assembly so that liquid fuel collected in said annular passage adjacent said venturi block is adapted to be drawn through said inlet means due to suction adapted to be produced in said venturi forming part upon the flow of fuel therethrough.