Locking fuel pump dispenser

• US 6,962,177 B1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Issued: 11/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Patent Investor LLC
• Original Assignee: James A. Mccommons
• Inventors: McCommons, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US10/899,723
• Time in Patent Office: 469 Days
• Field of Search: 141/392, 141206-226, 141/59, 141383-386, 220/86.2
• US Class Current: 141/392
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/064 Drive-off preventing means, e.g. in case of non-payment
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/065 acting on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 Filling nozzles

Abstract

A locking fuel pump dispenser nozzle has a valved nozzle connected to a pressurized fuel supply and has an elongated spout for insertion into a vehicle filler tube of the type having an annular raised surface therein. The nozzle has a manually actuating valve for controlling the flow of fuel from the pressurized fuel supply through the nozzle into the vehicle filler tube and vehicle fuel tank. The improvement includes a locking mechanism for locking the nozzle spout in the filler tube when filling a vehicle fuel tank.

Claims

1. A locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle having:

a nozzle connected to a fuel pump and having an elongated spout for insertion into a vehicle filler tube having an annular raised surface therein, said nozzle having a manually actuating valve for controlling the flow of fuel from said fuel pump through said nozzle into said vehicle filler tube, the improvement comprising;

a locking mechanism for locking said nozzle spout in said filler tube when filling a vehicle fuel tank, said locking mechanism having at least one locking wedge adapted to extend between an unlocked position and a locked position and a locking wedge activating diaphragm mounted in said nozzle and coupled to said locking wedge to move said locking wedge from an unlocked to a locked position upon fluid pressure being applied thereto and means for holding said wedge in a locked position when fuel flow is cut off until released whereby a fuel dispenser nozzle spout locks into a filler tube whenever fuel is flowing through said nozzle into said vehicle filler tube and fuel tank and immediately after the fuel flow ceases.

2. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 1 in which said locking wedge is released from a locked position by the application and release of fuel pressure to said Diaphragm.

3. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 2 in which there are a plurality of locking wedges activated simultaneously by the movement of said diaphragm.

4. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 3 including at least one arm coupled between said diaphragm and each said locking wedge for movement of said locking wedge between locked and unlocked positions.

5. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 4 having a plurality of arms coupled between said diaphragm and said plurality of locking wedges.

6. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 5 including a ratchet mechanism having a ratchet member and a locking ring having at least one locking slide member thereon, said ratchet member being coupled to said diaphragm for rotating said locking member when said ratchet member is moved thereagainst by said diaphragm.

7. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 6 in which said ratchet mechanism has an annular locking sleeve having a plurality of slots of alternating depths thereon for receiving said locking member locking slide member therein.

8. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 7 having a coil spring biasing said plurality of arms to hold said plurality of locking wedges in a locked position.

9. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 8 having a ball coupling between said diaphragm and one of said ratchet member.

10. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 9 in which each locking wedge is attached to said locking ring through an arm spring.

11. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 10 in which said ratchet member has a plurality of angled teeth and is coupled to said diaphragm for engaging one said locking member slide when fuel pressure is applied to said diaphragm to rotate said locking member to an adjacent locking sleeve locking slot.

12. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 11 in which said ratchet member teeth push against one said locking member locking slide to moving said locking member slice into alignment between locked or unlocked slots therein, to thereby hold said plurality of wedges extended in a locked position or in a retracted unlocked position in the absence of fuel pressure on said diaphragm.

13. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 12 having a manual release for releasing said plurality locking wedges.

14. The locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle in accordance with claim 13 in which said manual release includes a cam manually rotated to move said plurality of arms to an unlocked position for releasing said fuel nozzle spout from said filler tube.

15. A locking fuel pump fuel dispenser nozzle having:

a nozzle having an elongated spout for insertion into a vehicle filler tube having an annular raised surface therein, said nozzle having a manually actuating valve for controlling the flow of fuel into said vehicle filler tube and fuel tank, the improvement comprising;

a locking mechanism for locking said nozzle spout in said filler tube when filling a vehicle fuel tank, said locking mechanism having at least one radially extending locking wedge adapted to extend from an unlocked position to an extended locked position and a locking wedge activating diaphragm mounted in said nozzle and coupled to said locking wedge to move said wedge from an unlocked to a locked position upon fluid pressure being applied thereto; and

ratchet means having a ratchet wheel coupled to said diaphragm for rotating a locking wheel having a locking slide thereon to cause said locking slide to alternately engage a slotted locking sleeve locked or unlocked slot whenever fuel is applied to said diaphragm to thereby position said locking wheel and said locking wedges in a locked position when said fuel pressure is released from said diaphragm whereby a fuel dispenser nozzle spout locks into a vehicle filler tube whenever fuel is being pumped into said vehicle filler tube and fuel tank by applying fluid pressure to said diaphragm in said nozzle and remains locked in said filler tube upon completion of fueling.