Fuel dispensing nozzle assembly

• US 5,363,889 A
• Filed: 08/11/1993
• Issued: 11/15/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Wayne Fueling Systems LLC (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Saber Equipment Corporation
• Inventors: Simpson, W. Dwain, Pyle, James H.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/105,375
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 141/206-211, 141/214, 141/215, 141/382, 141/392, 141/45, 141/59, 141/301, 141/302, 137/68.1, 137/71, 137/454.2-454.6, 137/797, 285/3, 285/4, 403/2, 403/24, 403/375, 403/341, 403/383
• US Class Current: 141/208
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 Filling nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/425 including components powered by electricity or light
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/46 when liquid in container to be filled reaches a predetermined level
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/465 Electrical probes sensing the level of the 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
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 2200/63 Frangible connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1632 Destructible element
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 403/66 Interfitted members with external bridging piece

Abstract

A fuel dispensing nozzle including three calculated break points is provided. The first break point is provided in the spout which is calculated to fracture upon application of a force orthogonal to the axial direction of the spout. The nozzle comprises a housing having at least one opening for a dispensing valve to be selectively removably received within. A coupling or maintaining member is provided for maintaining the dispensing valve within the housing. The maintaining member is adapted to withstand application of a pre-determined force tending to separate the dispensing valve from the housing. The maintaining member allows separation of the housing and dispensing valve when the pre-determined force is exceeded. This maintaining member is the second break point. The third breakaway feature is provided in the construction of the housing which is designed to fracture prior to fracture of the gas pump or hose if the first or second break points do not fracture.

Claims

1. A fuel system nozzle for use with a fuel dispensing system including a fuel dispenser and a fuel dispensing hose, comprising:

a housing having at least one opening located at one side thereof;

a trigger located on the housing;

a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening, said dispensing valve selectively coupleable to said fuel dispensing hose;

a spout member located substantially opposite said at least one opening;

means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a predetermined pulling force tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing, so that when a pulling force greater than said predetermined force is applied between said spout and said dispensing hose, said maintaining means will fracture and said valve will separate from said housing and stay with said dispensing hose; and

a linear member coupled to said trigger and disposed in said housing, said linear member located proximate to said dispensing valve such that activation of said trigger translates via said linear member to cause said dispensing valve to open.

2. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1, wherein said spout member includes a first fluid pathway and said dispensing valve includes a second fluid pathway in communication with said first fluid pathway.

3. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 2, further comprising a flow tube having a third fluid pathway, said third fluid pathway coupling said first fluid pathway to said second fluid pathway.

4. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 3, wherein said spout member has a first end and a second end;

a longitudinally extending annular inner member defining said first pathway; and

a longitudinally extending annular outer member disposed about said inner member and defining a space therebetween.

5. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 4, wherein said spout member includes a series of circumferentially disposed apertures formed therein.

6. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 5, wherein said apertures are formed through said longitudinally extending outer member

7. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 5, wherein said apertures define a substantially annular location along said spout adapted to selectively fracture when a second predetermined force is applied to said spout.

8. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1, wherein said maintaining means comprises an annular clip member for selectively coupling said dispensing valve to said housing.

9. The dispensing nozzle of claim 8, wherein said clip member comprises plastic.

10. The dispensing nozzle of claim 8, wherein said clip member includes an open portion.

11. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1, wherein said maintaining means is adapted to withstand application of a force of at least 240 pounds.

12. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 1 wherein said dispensing valve comprises:

a cylindrical member;

a shoulder portion within said cylindrical member;

a plunger arranged to selectively allow the flow of fuel when said plunger is disengaged from said shoulder portion, and to block the flow of fuel when said plunger is in contact with said shoulder portion.

13. The dispensing nozzle of claim 12 wherein said plunger is in the normally closed position.

14. A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a housing having at least one opening, a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening, and means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a force tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing, and said maintaining means comprising an annular clip member for selectively coupling said dispensing valve and said housing, said annular clip member having a substantially cylindrical configuration with a first annular end having a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout and a second annular end having a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout.

15. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 14, wherein said plurality of teeth of said first annular end extend further radially inwardly than said plurality of teeth of said second annular end.

16. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 14, wherein said housing comprises an annular groove about its circumference for receiving the teeth disposed about said second annular end and said teeth disposed about said first annular end of said clip member extend into said at least one opening of said housing.

17. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 16, wherein said dispensing valve comprises a radially outwardly extending annular surface positioned to be in axial alignment with said at least one opening of said housing.

18. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 17, wherein said radially outwardly extending annular surface includes at least one sidewall defining a ledge substantially orthogonal to the annular surface and said plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed about said first annular end of said clip member bear against said at least one sidewall of said radially outwardly extending annular member when said dispensing valve is disposed within said at least one opening.

19. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 14, wherein said teeth of said first annular end and said second annular end are adapted to fracture if a force exceeding the first predetermined force is applied tending to separate the dispensing valve from the at least one opening in the housing.

20. A fuel dispensing nozzle for use with a fuel dispensing system including a fuel dispenser and a fuel dispensing hose, comprising:

a housing having at least one opening located at one side thereof;

a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening;

a spout member located substantially opposite said at least one opening;

said dispensing valve releasing from said housing upon application of a pulling force across said spout and said fuel dispensing hose greater than a predetermined pulling force in a direction axial to fluid flow within said dispensing valve; and

said spout member having a substantially annular location therealong defined by a plurality of aperatures there-through and adapted to selectively fracture upon application of a torque across said spout and said fuel dispensing hose greater than a predetermined torque in a direction substantially orthogonal to fluid flow through said spout member.

21. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, wherein said spout member includes a first fluid pathway and said dispensing valve includes a second fluid pathway in communication with said first fluid pathway;

and

further including a flow tube having a third fluid pathway, said third fluid pathway coupling said first fluid pathway to said second fluid pathway.

22. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 21, wherein said spout member has a first end and a second end;

a longitudinally extending annular inner member defining said first pathway; and

a longitudinally extending annular outer member disposed about said inner member and defining a space therebetween.

23. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, wherein said annular location is adapted to selectively fracture upon application of at least 150 foot pounds of torque.

24. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, further comprising means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing adapted to withstand application of a force of at least 240 pounds in the direction axial to fluid flow in the dispensing member.

25. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 20, further comprising means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means including an annular clip member for selectively coupling said dispensing valve to said housing;

said annular clip member having a substantially cylindrical configuration with a first annular end including a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout and a second annular end including a plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed thereabout.

26. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 25 wherein said plurality of teeth disposed about said first annular end extend further radially inwardly than said plurality of teeth disposed about said second annular end.

27. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 26, wherein said housing comprises an annular groove about its circumference for receiving the teeth disposed about said second annular end and said teeth of said first annular end of said clip member extend into said at least one opening of said housing.

28. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 27, wherein said dispensing valve comprises a radially outwardly extending annular surface positioned to be in axial alignment with said at least one opening of said housing and including at least one sidewall defining a ledge substantially orthogonal to the annular surface.

29. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 28, wherein said plurality of radially inwardly extending teeth disposed about said first annular end of said clip member bear against said at least one sidewall of said radially outwardly extending annular member when said dispensing valve is disposed within said at least one opening.

30. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 29, wherein said teeth of said first annular end and said second annular end are adapted to fracture if a force exceeding the first predetermined force is applied tending to separate the dispensing valve from the at least one opening in the housing.

31. A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising a house having at least one aperture located at a first end thereof, a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing through said at least one aperature, and a spout member for dispensing fuel located at a second end of said housing, said spout member having a substantially annular location therealong defined by a series of circumferentially disposed aperatures and adapted to selectively fracture along said annular location defined by said aperatures upon application of a torque greater than a predetermined torque.

32. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 31, wherein said spout member includes a first fluid pathway and said dispensing valve includes a second fluid pathway in communication with said first fluid pathway and a flow tube having a third fluid pathway, said third fluid pathway coupling said first fluid pathway to said second fluid pathway.

33. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 31, wherein said spout member has a first end and a second end;

a longitudinally extending annular inner member defining said first pathway; and

a longitudinally extending annular outer member disposed about said inner member and defining a space therebetween.

34. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claims 33, wherein said circumferentially disposed apertures are formed through said longitudinally extending outer member.

36. A fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising:

a housing having at least one opening;

a dispensing valve selectively removable from within said housing and through said at least one opening;

means for maintaining said dispensing valve within said housing, said maintaining means adapted to withstand application of a predetermined forced tending to separate said dispensing valve from within said housing; and

said housing and said dispensing valve each comprising a flange, and said maintaining means including a ring with a plurality of stubs thereon, said stubs being arranged to engage said flanges, thereby preventing separation of said dispensing valve from said housing.

35. The fuel dispensing nozzle of claim 36, wherein such annular location is adapted to withstand application of at least 100 foot pounds of torque.