Interlocking fuel nozzle

• US 7,000,657 B1
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Issued: 02/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Douglas G. Thorpe, Norwood Thorpe
• Original Assignee: Douglas G. Thorpe, Norwood Thorpe
• Inventors: Thorpe, Douglas G., Thorpe, Norwood
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US11/037,929
• Time in Patent Office: 398 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/206, 141/207, 141/311.R, 141/346, 141/347, 141/383, 141/386, 141/392, 251/149.9, 137/614.06
• US Class Current: 141/207
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/065 acting on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 Filling nozzles

Abstract

Drive off is prevented by having a grasp assembly engage the restrictor plate of the fill pipe of a motor vehicle when the nozzle spout is inserted. After the fuel pump is started and pressure is placed on the fuel, fuel is admitted into the nozzle by pressing on the hand lever to open the poppet valve. Fuel pressure in the nozzle activates a lock actuator system, to prevent removal of the spout from the fill pipe, by a lock system that prevents a grasp assembly latch from retracting from the fill pipe restrictor plate.

Claims

1. An interlocking fuel nozzle comprising:

a grasp means including an interlocking lever adjacent a fuel nozzle spout outer end for attaching said fuel nozzle spout in a fill pipe;

a fuel pressure operated actuator means for locking said grasp means to said fill pipe;

a locking means between said actuator means and said grasp means for controlling locking of said interlocking lever and fuel nozzle spout to said fill pipe.

2. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 1 wherein:

said grasp means is activated by a trigger on said fuel nozzle spout when said fuel nozzle spout is inserted into said fuel fill pipe.

3. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 1 wherein:

said interlocking lever is a latch having an outer end and a inner end;

a latch hook on said latch outer end engages a fill pipe restrictor plate.

4. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 2 wherein:

a slide arm is attached to said trigger;

said interlocking lever is a latch having an outer end and a inner end;

a latch hook on said latch outer end engages a fill pipe restrictor plate;

said slide arm pivots said latch about a grasp fulcrum for securing said latch hook on said latch outer end to said fill pipe restrictor plate.

5. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 4 wherein:

said slide arm has an outer end and an inner end;

said slide arm outer end is secured to said trigger and said slide arm inner end is provided with a knob for pivoting said latch about said grasp fulcrum.

6. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 5 wherein:

said trigger is pressed inward against a grasp spring pressure;

said slide arm knob presses against said latch and against a latch spring pressure.

7. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 1 wherein:

said fuel pressure actuator includes a diaphragm sensitive to fuel pressure;

a connector is attached between said diaphragm and said locking means.

8. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 1 wherein:

said locking means includes a locking pin and a lock recess that engaged firmly secure said interlocking lever on said fuel nozzle spout to said fill pipe.

9. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 8 wherein:

said interlocking lever is a latch with an outer end and an inner end;

said lock recess is in a lock housing in said fuel nozzle;

said locking pin is housed within said latch inner end.

10. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 9 wherein:

said locking pin reciprocates within said latch inner end and is pressed toward said fuel nozzle spout outer end by a lock pin spring pressure.

11. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 10 wherein:

said lock recess base is provided with a passage in its base for passage of a fuel pressure actuator connector;

said fuel pressure actuator connector pulls said locking pin inward against said lock pin spring toward said lock recess when fuel pressure is present in said fuel nozzle.

12. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 9 wherein:

said lock recess in said lock housing is stationary within, said fuel nozzle;

said lever and said locking pin pivot about a centrally located grasp fulcrum in said lever;

said locking pin and said lock recess are alined when said lever is pivoted counterclockwise with said lever outer end pivoted out into a locking position.

13. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 12 wherein:

a passage is provided in said lock recess base;

said actuator means includes a diaphragm;

a fuel actuator connector extends from said actuator diaphragm through said lock recess passage to said lock pin.

14. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 3 including:

a latch recess, having an outer end and an inner end, in said latch inner end;

a lock cap and latch spring held in said outer end of said latch recess;

a lock pin and a lock pin spring held in said inner end of said latch recess.

15. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 14 wherein:

said grasp means is activated by a trigger on said fuel nozzle spout when inserted into said fuel fill pipe;

said trigger is attached to a slide arm that pivots a latch about a grasp fulcrum for securing and unsecuring a latch hook on said latch outer end to said fill pipe restrictor plate;

said slide arm outer end is secured to said trigger and said slide arm inner end is provided with a knob for pivoting said latch about said grasp fulcrum;

said fuel pressure actuator includes a diaphragm sensitive to fuel pressure;

a connector is attached between said diaphragm and said locking means;

said latch spring presses said latch clockwise for releasing said latch from said fill pipe;

said slide arm knob presses said latch counterclockwise for securing said latch to said fill pipe when said slide arm knob is inward past said grasp fulcrum;

said connector under fuel pressure pulls said lock pin toward said lock recess;

said lock pin spring presses said lock pin away from said lock pin recess.

16. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 3 including:

a slot in said spout outer end;

said latch hook fits through said slot in said spout to engage said fill pipe.

17. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 16 wherein:

said grasp means is activated by a trigger on said fuel nozzle spout when said fuel nozzle is inserted into said fuel fill pipe;

said trigger is attached to a slide arm that pivots a latch about a grasp fulcrum for securing and unsecuring a latch hook on said latch outer end to said fill pipe restrictor plate;

a grasp spring presses said trigger and said slide arm knob outward to permit said latch to be pivoted clockwise and to retract said latch hook from engagement with said fill pipe.