Onboard vapor recovery detection nozzle

• US 6,026,866 A
• Filed: 08/11/1997
• Issued: 02/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Nanaji, Seifollah S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US08/909,284
• Time in Patent Office: 925 Days
• Field of Search: 141/59, 141/206-229, 141/346-351, 141/301, 141/302, 141/368, 141/392
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0476 Vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0486 Pumps driven in response to electric signals indicative of pressure, temperature or liquid flow
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• 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 recovery system nozzle capable of responding to the presence of an onboard vapor recovery system (ORVR) in an automobile. The invention includes a vapor recovery nozzle having a vapor passage in its nozzle spout and a vapor inlet in communication with the vapor passage. The spout includes a moveable seal mounted on the spout with the seal having a first position adjacent to the plurality of vapor inlets and a second position covering the vapor inlets so as to substantially block the passage of vapors through the vapor inlets. The seal may be biased in the second position.

Claims

1. A nozzle for dispensing fuel including:

a) a spout having a fuel passage and a vapor passage wherein the vapor passage is in fluid communication with a vapor path to an underground tank, the spout including a vapor inlet in communication with the vapor passage;

b) a moveable seal mounted on the spout, the seal having a first position adjacent to the vapor inlet and a second position covering the vapor inlet so as to substantially block the passage of vapors through the vapor inlet and to the vapor path, wherein the nozzle is capable of delivering fuel when said movable seal is in either of said first or second positions.

2. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein the moveable seal is biased in the second position.

3. The nozzle of claim 2 wherein the moveable seal is biased by a coil spring.

4. The nozzle of claim 2 wherein the moveable seal is biased by a flexible bellows.

5. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein the moveable seal is slidably mounted externally to the spout.

6. The nozzle of claim 1 wherein the moveable seal is slidably mounted internally in the spout vapor passage.

7. An apparatus for dispensing fuel to a vehicle having a fuel tank with a fill neck comprising:

a) a vacuum assist nozzle for delivering fuel to a vehicle fuel tank, the nozzle including

i) a vapor return path for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank during a fueling operation wherein the vapor return path is in fluid communication with a vapor path to an underground tank,

ii) a spout having a vapor inlet in communication with the vapor return path, and

iii) a moveable seal member mounted on the spout and covering the vapor inlet, wherein the nozzle is capable of delivering fuel when said movable seal member covers said vapor inlet;

b) a fill neck adapted to accept the spout without moving the moveable seal away from the inlet.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fill neck further comprises a restriction device having an aperture sized to receive the spout and to block entry of the moveable seal thereby exposing the vapor inlet and wherein the nozzle is capable of delivering fuel when said vapor inlet is exposed.

9. A fuel dispensing nozzle comprising spout having a vapor passage, a moveable seal slidably mounted on the spout, the seal having:

a) a first position which substantially blocks the return of vapors through said vapor passage; and

b) a second position which permits the return of vapors through said vapor passage,

wherein the moveable seal is biased in the first position when placed in the fill neck of a vehicle having an ORVR system and is moved to the second position when placed in the fill neck of a vehicle not having an ORVR system, wherein the nozzle is capable of delivering fuel when said movable seal is in either of said first or second positions.

10. The nozzle of claim 9 wherein the moveable seal is biased by a coil spring.

11. The nozzle of claim 9 wherein the moveable seal is biased by a flexible bellows.

12. The nozzle of claim 9 wherein the moveable seal is slidably mounted externally to the spout.

13. The nozzle of claim 9 wherein the moveable seal is slidably mounted internally in the spout vapor passage.

14. A vapor recovery nozzle for use with a vacuum assist vapor recovery system, the nozzle including:

a) a spout having a vapor passage, the spout including a vapor inlet in communication with the vapor passage wherein the vapor passage is in fluid communication with a vapor path to an underground tank;

b) a moveable seal slidably mounted externally on the spout, the seal having a first position adjacent to the vapor inlet and a second position covering the vapor inlet so as to substantially block the passage of vapors through the vapor inlet

wherein the moveable seal is biased in the second position by a coil spring, and wherein the nozzle is capable of delivering fuel when said movable seal is in either of said first or second positions.

15. The nozzle of claim 14 wherein the moveable seal is biased by a flexible bellows.

16. The nozzle of claim 14 wherein the moveable seal is integral with a flexible bellows and is biased by the bellows.

17. A retrofit kit for adapting a vacuum assist vapor recovery nozzle having a spout including at least one vapor inlet to detect the presence of an ORVR vehicle comprising:

a) a moveable seal sized to achieve a slip fit on the nozzle spout so as to substantially prevent return vapor flow through the nozzle;

b) a means for biasing the moveable seal in a position adjacent the at least one vapor inlet;

c) a stop for anchoring the means for biasing on the spout, wherein the retrofit kit, when installed, permitts the vapor recovery nozzle to deliver fuel when vapor flow through the nozzle is substantially prevented and when the movable seal is adjacent the at least one vapor inlet.

18. The kit of claim 17 wherein the means for biasing is a coil spring.

19. The kit of claim 17 wherein the means for biasing is a bellows.

20. A retrofit kit for adapting a vacuum assist vapor recovery nozzle having a spout including at least one vapor inlet to detect the presence of an ORVR vehicle comprising:

a) a moveable seal sized to achieve a slip fit on the nozzle spout so as to substantially prevent return vapor flow through the nozzle;

b) at least one seal stop mounted on the spout for limiting moveable seal travel along the spout.

21. A fuel dispenser installation comprising:

a) a nozzle having a fuel delivery passage and a vapor return passage including a vapor intake port,

b) a fuel delivery line to deliver fuel from a tank to a vehicle through the fuel delivery passage of said nozzle,

c) a vapor return line from the vapor return passage of the nozzle to the repository and including a pump to pump fuel vapor from the nozzle to the tank, and

d) an adapter on the nozzle constructed and arranged to cooperate with a vehicle fuel filler neck to selectively and directly close the vapor intake port when an ORVR equipped vehicle is being fueled and to open the vapor intake port when a non-ORVR-equipped vehicle is being fueled, wherein the nozzle is capable of delivering fuel when the vapor intake port is closed and when the vapor intake port is open.

22. The fuel dispenser installation of claim 21 further comprising a vapor pump in communication with the vapor return passage wherein the operation of the vapor pump is modified when a non-ORVR vehicle is being fueled.