Fuel dispensing nozzle
First Claim
1. In an improved fuel dispensing nozzle for use in a system having a means for slowing and then stopping flow of fuel to the nozzle when a predetermined amount of fuel has been delivered by a fuel pump, said nozzle being of the type wherein a fuel dispensing valve is controlled by a hand-operated lever, and means is provided for automatically closing the valve when a vehicle tank is filled to a predetermined amount, pressure responsive means are provided for activating said valve closing means when fuel pressure drops below a predetermined amount, and conduit means connect nozzle fuel supply pressure to said fuel pressure responsive means, the improvement wherein said conduit means permits rapid flow of fuel to the responsive means when the nozzle fuel supply pressure rises and a slow flow of fuel from the responsive means when the nozzle fuel supply pressure drops so that said responsive means activates the valve closing means within a predetermined period of time after fuel pressure falls as the fuel flow slows and said fuel pressure responsive means permits flow of fuel substantially immediately upon supply of full fuel pressure to said nozzle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pre-pay fuel system having a fuel nozzle with automatic cutoff provisions when a full tank exists or unwanted tank pressure conditions are detected is also provided with a low fuel pressure controlled cutoff. The fuel pressure cutoff allows rapid response to permit fuel flow when high pressure exists in the nozzle and provides a nozzle flow cutoff after a predetermined time delay when low fuel pressure exists in the nozzle.
-
Citations
15 Claims
-
1. In an improved fuel dispensing nozzle for use in a system having a means for slowing and then stopping flow of fuel to the nozzle when a predetermined amount of fuel has been delivered by a fuel pump, said nozzle being of the type wherein a fuel dispensing valve is controlled by a hand-operated lever, and means is provided for automatically closing the valve when a vehicle tank is filled to a predetermined amount, pressure responsive means are provided for activating said valve closing means when fuel pressure drops below a predetermined amount, and conduit means connect nozzle fuel supply pressure to said fuel pressure responsive means, the improvement wherein said conduit means permits rapid flow of fuel to the responsive means when the nozzle fuel supply pressure rises and a slow flow of fuel from the responsive means when the nozzle fuel supply pressure drops so that said responsive means activates the valve closing means within a predetermined period of time after fuel pressure falls as the fuel flow slows and said fuel pressure responsive means permits flow of fuel substantially immediately upon supply of full fuel pressure to said nozzle.
-
2. In an improved fuel dispensing nozzle for use in a system having a means for slowing and then stopping flow of fuel to the nozzle when a predetermined amount of fuel has been delivered by a fuel pump, said nozzle being of the type wherein a fuel dispensing valve is controlled by a hand-operated lever, and means is provided for releasing said lever to permit automatic closing of said valve when a vehicle tank is filled to a predetermined amount;
- and fuel pressure responsive means are provided for activating said lever release means, and conduit means connect nozzle fuel supply pressure to said fuel pressure responsive means, the improvement wherein said conduit means permits rapid flow of fuel to the responsive means when the nozzle fuel supply pressure rises and a slow flow of fuel from the responsive means when the nozzle fuel supply pressure drops so that said responsive means activates the valve closing means only after a predetermined period of time after fuel pressure falls as the fuel flow slows, said fuel pressure responsive means being rendered ineffective to activate said lever release means substantially immediately upon supply of full fuel pressure to said nozzle.
- View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
-
5. In an improved fuel dispensing nozzle for use in a system having a means for slowing and then stopping flow of fuel to the nozzle when a predetermined amount of fuel has been delivered by a fuel pump, said nozzle being of the type wherein a fuel dispensing valve is controlled by a hand-operated lever, a lever support plunger for supporting one end of said lever, means for latching said support plunger against movement, means for releasing said latching means, first moveable means responsive to fuel supply pressure, second moveable means responsive to a full tank or vehicle tank pressure;
- each first and second moveable responsive means being operative to activate said latch release means upon existence of a predetermined condition to which either said first or second moveable means is responsive, and connections between said latch release means and said moveable means providing for release of said latching means whenever either of said moveable means responds to a predetermined condition;
the improvement wherein said fuel supply pressure responsive means is inactivated substantially immediately upon supply of fuel to said nozzle but is activated only after a substantially longer predetermined time delay after said fuel supply is slowed. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9)
- each first and second moveable responsive means being operative to activate said latch release means upon existence of a predetermined condition to which either said first or second moveable means is responsive, and connections between said latch release means and said moveable means providing for release of said latching means whenever either of said moveable means responds to a predetermined condition;
-
10. An improved fuel dispensing nozzle for use in a system having a means for slowing and then stopping flow of fuel to the nozzle when a predetermined amount of fuel has been delivered by a fuel pump, said nozzle being of the type wherein a fuel dispensing valve is controlled by a hand-operated lever, a lever support plunger for supporting one end of said lever, means for latching said support plunger against movement, means for releasing said latching means, a piston responsive to fuel supply pressure, a diaphragm responsive to a full tank or vehicle tank pressure;
- each said piston and diaphragm being operative to activate said latch release means upon existence of a predetermined condition to which said piston or said diaphragm is responsive, and connections between said latch release means and said piston and diaphragm providing for release of said latching means whenever either of said piston or diaphragm responds to a predetermined condition;
said piston being inactivated substantially immediately upon supply of fuel to said nozzle but being activated only after a predetermined time delay after said fuel supply is slowed, said latch release means comprising a latch pin and said piston and diaphragm being surfaces connected to the latch pin and moveable in a direction coaxial with the latch pin, and a fuel by-pass valve providing rapid flow of fuel to said piston and slow flow of fuel from said piston. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- each said piston and diaphragm being operative to activate said latch release means upon existence of a predetermined condition to which said piston or said diaphragm is responsive, and connections between said latch release means and said piston and diaphragm providing for release of said latching means whenever either of said piston or diaphragm responds to a predetermined condition;
Specification