Vapor guard for vapor recovery system

• US 5,365,985 A
• Filed: 11/18/1993
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Industries Incorporated (Halliburton Company)
• Inventors: Constantine, William H., Todd, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUSICK, ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US08/154,770
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 141/97, 141/391, 141/392, 141/206-227, 141/59, 141/44-46, 141/286
• US Class Current: 141/392
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/421 comprising protective covers, e.g. anti-splash attachments
• 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 vapor guard mounted on a gasoline dispenser nozzle includes a collapsible resilient section which provides a limited expansion force enabling the use of a standard gasoline dispenser retainer spring to catch on the vehicle fill pipe flange for hands-free fuel dispensing and straight-pull removal. The expansion force of the collapsible resilient section also is limited to ensure the existence of non-sealing contact between the end of the vapor guard and the fill pipe flange. The vapor guard is sized and positioned on the dispenser to enable the user to see the end of the nozzle as it is inserted into the vehicle fill pipe and aligned with a nozzle port in a restricter plate located in the fill pipe.

Claims

1. In a vapor recovery system for

delivering volatile fuel into a vehicle tank through an end opening of a fill pipe having a restricter plate with a nozzle port located therein downstream of an inlet flange,

simultaneously recovering fuel vapors displaced from the tank by the inflow of fuel and

delivering the vapors through a vapor recovery line to a remote storage vessel, the combination of:

a fuel dispenser with a body;

a nozzle with a base end attached to said body and a free end with a fuel outlet therein, said nozzle being insertable into the fill pipe through said nozzle port with said fuel outlet located downstream of said restricter plate;

a vapor inlet hole formed in said nozzle and located upstream from said outlet and below said restricter plate when dispensing fuel, said hole communicating with said vapor recovery line;

retainer means on said nozzle for catching on said inlet flange of said fill pipe for hands-free fuel dispensing and substantially straight-pull removal; and

a tubular mixture barrier formed as a unitary member of a resiliently flexible elastomeric material and having an overall length when mounted on said nozzle enabling an operator'"'"'s unobstructed simultaneous view of both the end of the nozzle and said restricter plate for relative alignment of said nozzle with said nozzle port immediately preceding insertion of said nozzle therethrough, said barrier further including a first end section sized to fit over said nozzle and into sealing contact therewith adjacent said base end,

a second end section having

an annular end surface containing finish irregularities and being sized and positioned for contact with said inlet flange when said nozzle is inserted into said end opening of said fill pipe, and

an intermediate section integrally formed with and extending between said first and second end sections,

said intermediate section when relaxed having

an inside surface defining a chamber around said nozzle when mounted thereon, and

being resiliently collapsible between said first and second end sections to a variable length along said nozzle dependent upon engagement of said annular end surface with said fill pipe and the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe,

said elastomeric material being of a flexible resiliency sufficient to provide throughout said variable length of collapse of said intermediate section a force tending to expand said intermediate section, said force being limited in magnitude

to enable said retainer means to catch on said flange for hands-free fuel dispensing and essentially a straight-pull removal and

to maintain said annular end surface into contact with said fill pipe flange without causing said finish irregularities to be substantially deformed

thereby ensuring the existence of a non-sealing contact between said annular end surface and said fill pipe flange regardless of the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe and the difference existing, if any, between the pressure in said chamber and atmospheric pressure during normal fuel dispensing conditions.

2. In the combination defined by claim 1, said barrier having a longitudinal axis,

said first, second and intermediate sections being concentric to said axis when relaxed,

said annular end surface of said second section having an upper portion and a bottom portion oriented respectively above and below said nozzle when said nozzle is generally horizontally disposed, and

said nozzle being concentric with said axis at said base end and in an eccentric position with respect to said axis adjacent said free end thereof, said eccentric position substantially matching the natural eccentric position of said nozzle relative to said end opening of said fill pipe when resting on said flange during hands-free dispensing of fuel.

3. The combination as defined by claim 2 wherein said second end section includes

a cylindrical inner wall extending longitudinally inward from said annular end surface toward said first end section and defining a central port through said backing ring with said central port being sized to register in general alignment with said end opening, and

a lip integrally formed with said end surface outside of said central port and extending in a generally longitudinal direction forward from said surface for said lip to guide along the outside of said fill pipe and thereby aid in aligning said annular end surface into abutting engagement with said flange and said port with said end opening.

4. In the combination as defined by claim 3, said resiliently flexible elastomeric material having a Shore A durometer hardness in the range of 80 to 90.

5. In the combination as defined by claim 4 wherein said chamber is a dead-end chamber.

6. A mixture barrier sized for mounting around a nozzle of a fuel dispenser to enclose an end opening of a fuel tank fill pipe from the atmosphere to aid in recovering fuel vapors displaced from said fuel tank when dispensing fuel, said barrier being a unitary generally tubular member formed of a resiliently flexible elastomeric material and having an overall length when mounted on said nozzle enabling an unobstructed simultaneous view of both the end of the nozzle and a restricter plate in said fill pipe for relative alignment of said nozzle with a port in said plate immediately preceding insertion of said nozzle through said port, said barrier further including

a first end section sized to fit over said nozzle and into sealing contact therewith,

a second end section having

an annular end surface containing finish irregularities and being sized and positioned for contact with said fill pipe when said nozzle is inserted through said end opening and into said fill pipe, and

an intermediate section integrally formed with and extending between said first and second end sections,

said intermediate section when relaxed having

an inside surface defining a chamber around said nozzle when mounted thereon, and

being resiliently collapsible between said first and second end sections to a variable length along said nozzle dependent upon engagement of said annular end surface with said fill pipe and the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe, said elastomeric material being of a flexible resiliency sufficient to provide throughout said variable length of collapse of said intermediate section a force tending to expand said intermediate section, said force being limited in magnitude to maintain said annular end surface into contact with said fill pipe and to do so without causing said finish irregularities to be substantially deformed thereby ensuring the existence of a non-sealing contact between said annular end surface and said fill pipe regardless of the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe and the difference, if any, between the pressure existing in said chamber and atmospheric pressure during normal fuel dispensing conditions.

7. A mixture barrier as defined by claim 6 for use on a fuel dispenser having a retainer means mounted around said nozzle to catch on an end flange of said fill pipe for hands-free fuel dispensing by said operator and substantially straight-pull removal when completed, said force tending to expand said intermediate section further being limited in magnitude such as to enable said retainer means to catch on said flange for said hands-free fuel dispensing and essentially a straight-pull removal.

8. A mixture barrier as defined by claim 6 having a straight longitudinal axis, and said first, second and intermediate sections of said barrier being substantially concentric to said axis when said intermediate section is relaxed in position, and when mounted on said nozzle said barrier further being positioned with said first end section concentric with respect to said nozzle and said second end section in an eccentric position with respect to said nozzle, said eccentric position substantially matching the natural eccentric position of said nozzle relative to said end opening when resting on said flange during hands-free dispensing of fuel.

9. A mixture barrier as defined by claim 8 wherein said chamber is a dead-end chamber.

10. A mixture barrier as defined by claim 8 wherein said second end section includes

a cylindrical inner wall extending longitudinally inward from said annular end surface toward said first end section and defining a central port therethrough with said central port being sized to register in general alignment with said end opening, and

a lip integrally formed with said end surface outside of said central port and extending in a generally longitudinal direction forward from said surface for said lip to guide along the outside of said fill pipe and thereby aid in aligning said annular end surface into abutting engagement with said flange and said port with said fill pipe opening.

11. In a vapor recovery system for delivering volatile fuel into a vehicle tank through an end opening of a fill pipe having a restricter plate with a nozzle port located therein downstream of an inlet flange while simultaneously recovering the fuel vapors displaced from the tank by the inflow of fuel and delivering the vapors through a vapor recovery line to a remote storage vessel, the combination of:

a fuel dispenser with a body;

a nozzle with a base end attached to said body and a free end with a fuel outlet therein, said nozzle being insertable into the fill pipe through said nozzle port with said fuel outlet located downstream of said restricter plate;

a vapor inlet hole formed in said nozzle and located upstream from said outlet and below said restricter plate when dispensing fuel, said hole communicating with said vapor recovery line;

retainer means on said nozzle for catching on said inlet flange of said fill pipe for hands-free fuel dispensing and substantially straight-pull removal;

a tubular mixture barrier formed as a unitary member of a resiliently flexible elastomeric material and having an overall length when mounted on said nozzle enabling an operator'"'"'s unobstructed simultaneous view of both the end of the nozzle and said restricter plate for relative alignment of said nozzle with said nozzle port immediately preceding insertion of said nozzle therethrough;

said barrier further including a first end section sized to fit over said nozzle and into sealing contact therewith adjacent said base end, a second end section having an annular end surface and positioned for contact with said inlet flange when said nozzle is inserted into said end opening of said fill pipe, and an intermediate section integrally formed with and extending between said first and second end sections,

said intermediate section when relaxed having an inside surface defining a chamber around said nozzle when mounted thereon and being resiliently collapsible between said first and second end sections to a variable length along said nozzle dependent upon engagement of said annular end surface with said fill pipe inlet flange and the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe;

said elastomeric material being of a flexible resiliency sufficient to provide throughout said variable length of collapse of said intermediate section a force tending to expand said intermediate section;

said force being limited in magnitude to enable said retainer means to catch on said flange for hands-free fuel dispensing and essentially a straight-pull removal and

to maintain said annular end surface into contact with said fill pipe inlet flange without causing a sealing contact between said annular end surface and said fill pipe inlet flange regardless of the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe and the difference existing, if any, between the pressure in said chamber and atmospheric pressure during normal fuel dispensing conditions;

said barrier having a longitudinal axis with said first, second and intermediate sections being concentric to said axis when relaxed;

said annular end surface of said second section having an upper portion and a bottom portion oriented respectively above and below said nozzle when said nozzle is generally horizontally disposed;

said nozzle being concentric with said axis at said base end and in an eccentric position with respect to said axis adjacent said free end thereof, said eccentric position substantially matching the natural eccentric position of said nozzle relative to said end opening of said fill pipe when resting on said flange during hands-free dispensing of fuel; and

said second end section having a cylindrical inner wall extending longitudinally inward from said annular end surface toward said first end section and defining a central port through said backing ring with said central port being sized to register in general alignment with said end opening, and

a lip integrally formed with said end surface outside of said central port and extending in a generally longitudinal direction forward from said surface for said lip to guide along the outside of said fill pipe and thereby aid in aligning said annular end surface into abutting engagement with said flange and said port with said end opening.

12. A mixture barrier sized for mounting around a nozzle of a fuel dispenser to enclose an end opening of a fuel tank fill pipe from the atmosphere to aid in recovering fuel vapors displaced from said fuel tank when dispensing fuel, said barrier being a unitary, generally tubular member formed of an elastomeric material and having an overall length when mounted on said nozzle enabling an unobstructed simultaneous view of both the end of the nozzle and a restricter plate in said fill pipe for relative alignment of said nozzle with a port in said restricter plate immediately preceding insertion of said nozzle through said port, said barrier further comprising:

a first end section sized to fit over said nozzle and into sealing contact therewith, a second end section having an annular end surface sized and positioned for contact with said fill pipe when said nozzle is inserted through said end opening and into said fill pipe, and an intermediate section intricately formed with and extending between said first and second end sections;

said intermediate section when relaxed having an inside surface defining a chamber around said nozzle when mounted thereon and being resiliently collapsible between said first and second end sections to a variable length along said nozzle dependent upon engagement of said annular end surface with said fill pipe and the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe;

said elastomeric material having a flexible resiliency sufficient to provide throughout said variable length of collapse of said intermediate section a force tending to expand said intermediate section;

said force being limited in magnitude to maintain said annular end surface in contact with said fill pipe and at the same time insuring the existence of a non-sealing contact between said annular end surface and said fill pipe regardless of the depth of insertion of said nozzle into said fill pipe and the difference, if any, between the pressure existing in said chamber and atmosphere pressure during normal fuel dispensing conditions;

said mixture barrier having a longitudinal axis with said first, second and intermediate sections of said barrier being substantially concentric to said axis when said intermediate section is in its relaxed position, and when mounted on said nozzle said barrier further positioned with said first end section concentric with respect to said nozzle and said second end section in an eccentric position with respect to the said nozzle, said eccentric position substantially matching the natural eccentric position of said nozzle relative to said end opening when resting on said flange during hands free dispensing of fuel;

said second end section having a cylindrical inner wall extending longitudinally inward from said annular end surface toward said first end section and defining a central port therethrough with said central port being sized to register in general alignment with said end opening; and

a lip intricately formed with said end surface outside of said central port and extending in a generally longitudinal direction forward from said surface for said lip to guide along the outside of said fill pipe and thereby aid in aligning said annular end surface into an abutting engagement said flange and said port with said fill pipe opening.