Multi-purpose nozzle with liquid pickup

• US 5,289,856 A
• Filed: 03/04/1991
• Issued: 03/01/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Amoco Corporation (BP PLC)
• Original Assignee: Amoco Corporation (BP PLC)
• Inventors: Hartman, Harry B., Strock, Dennis J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US07/664,327
• Time in Patent Office: 1,093 Days
• Field of Search: 141/44-46, 141/59, 141/206-210, 141/217, 141/218, 141/225-228, 141/94, 141/301, 141/302, 141/102, 141/103, 141/104, 141/99, 141/1, 141/4, 141/5, 141/7, 141/8, 141/98, 141/392 , 141/83, 137/234.6, 222/14-16, 222/2
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/545 Additional means for preventing dispensing of liquid by incorrect sealing engagement with the tank opening of the vapour recovering means, e.g. bellows, shrouds
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0476 Vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/52 and provided with additional flow-controlling valve means
• 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 special nozzle is provided to recover hydrocarbon vapors emitted during fueling and remove condensate collected in the vapor line, as well as to dispense fuel and removed condensate to customer tanks. In the preferred embodiment, the special nozzle has a venturi sleeve with a valve seat positioned adjacent venturi ports. One of the venturi ports communicates with a condensate liquid pickup tube which removes condensed gasoline vapors in the vapor return hose. Another of the venturi ports communicates with a liquid sensing tube and an automatic shutoff valve assembly which collectively shut off the flow of gasoline when the customer'"'"'s tank is filled.

Claims

1. A vapor recovery nozzle, comprising:

a housing providing a body and having a tubular handle containing an inlet conduit with a fuel inlet connected to and communicating with a fuel hose, said body having a spout-receiving socket, a venturi sleeve-receiving chamber, a flow control valve-receiving compartment positioned adjacent said handle, an automatic shutoff valve-receiving compartment providing a vacuum chamber positioned between said venturi sleeve-receiving chamber and said automatic shutoff valve-receiving compartment, and said venturi-sleeve receiving chamber defining orifices providing a condensate venturi port and an overfill sensing venturi port communicating with said vacuum chamber;

an elongated condensate liquid pickup tube connected to, communicating with and extending from said condensate venturi port of said venturi-sleeve receiving chamber through said inlet conduit into a vapor return hose for substantially removing condensed gasoline vapors forming condensate collecting in the vapor return hose;

an elongated inner spout providing a fuel conduit and having an outer tip defining a fuel outlet for discharging gasoline into a filler pipe of a motor vehicle tank during fueling;

an outer spout assembly extending into and engaging said spout-receiving socket, said outer spout assembly comprising an outer spout providing a vapor return conduit and defining apertures providing a vapor inlet spaced from said fuel outlet for withdrawing, removing, and returning a substantial amount of gasoline vapors emitted during said fueling, said vapor return conduit angularly surrounding said fuel conduit and having coaxial portions coaxially positioned about said vapor return conduit, said vapor return conduit being shorter than said fuel conduit and being spaced outwardly from and cooperating with said fuel conduit to define an annular vapor return passageway in communication with said vapor return hose;

an elongated liquid sensing tube positioned in said annular vapor return passageway and extending from adjacent said vapor inlet into said spout-receiving socket, said liquid sensing tube communicating with said overfill sensing venturi port in said venturi-sleeve receiving chamber for sensing the presence of a full condition of liquid gasoline in the filler pipe of the motor vehicle tank;

a manually operable lever positioned below said handle for manually controlling the flow of gasoline being discharged through said fuel conduit, said lever being moveable from a downward closed position to an upward position, and a lever guard positioned partially about said lever and connected to said handle and body of said housing;

a flow control valve assembly disposed in said flow control valve-receiving compartment and being actuated by said lever for regulating the flow of gasoline into said fuel conduit, said flow control valve assembly having a flow control poppet valve, an elongated valve stem engaging said lever, and a flow control valve-compression spring for urging said lever and poppet valve in a normally closed position blocking the flow of gasoline;

an automatic shutoff valve assembly disposed in said automatic shutoff valve-receiving compartment, said automatic shutoff valve assembly having a diaphragm positioned adjacent said vacuum chamber and communicating with said overfill sensing venturi port for automatically shutting off the flow of gasoline to said fuel conduit in said full condition, a compression diaphragm-spring positioned above said diaphragm for exerting a spring force against said diaphragm, a plunger positioned below said diaphragm and having a lower end pivotally connected to said lever, a reciprocatable latch pin slidably positioned in said plunger, a tapered head connected to and positioned above said pin, balls seated in said plunger for engaging said head, and a plunger spring for urging said plunger upwardly; and

a venturi sleeve assembly positioned in said venturi sleeve-receiving chamber, said venturi sleeve assembly comprising an annular venturi sleeve having a valve seat disposed adjacent said venturi ports, a venturi check valve with a frustroconical throat plug and a plug stem, a venturi check valve coil spring disposed about said plug stem for urging said throat plug in a normally closed seated position against said valve seat for blocking the flow of gasoline into said fuel conduit during said full condition and when said latch is in a closed position, said throat plug being movable to an open forward position to permit the discharge of gasoline and condensate from said condensate pickup tube into said fuel conduit during fueling and being spaced from and cooperating with said venturi sleeve to form a venturi throat communicating with said vapor passageway for return passage of gasoline vapors to said vapor return hose.

2. A vapor recovery nozzle in accordance with claim 1 wherein said nozzle includes an attitude shutoff assembly positioned between said plug stem and said liquid sensing tube, said attitude shutoff assembly having a ball valve and passageway communicating with said liquid sensing tube, said ball valve being moveable from an open position spaced from said passageway for permitting flow of gasoline into said fuel conduit, to a closed position substantially blocking said passageway communicating with the outlet of said liquid sensing tube to simulate said full condition when said spout assembly of said nozzle is orientated in an upward attitude so as to substantially prevent the discharge of gasoline through said fuel conduit when said spouts of said nozzle are oriented in an upwardly attitude.

3. A vapor recovery nozzle in accordance with claim 2 including a coil spring positioned about a portion of said outer spout.