Hydraulic interlocking fuel nozzle

• US 7,575,028 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• 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, Norwood, Thorpe, Douglas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US11/164,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20070034282A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 141/207, 141/346, 141/347, 141/392, 251/149.9, 137/614.6
• US Class Current: 141/347
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/065 acting on the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 Filling nozzles

Abstract

A fuel dispensing nozzle is provided with fuel activated levers that engage the vehicle fill pipe to prevent drive-off without paying. Fuel pump pressure acts on plungers to pivot fill pipe levers, against spring pressure, to lock the two together. Movement of the levers is initially prevented by a trigger that is spring biased forward on the nozzle spout. Since the fill pipe is not large enough to pass the trigger, insertion of the spout into the fill pipe moves the trigger against spring pressure to uncover the levers. The levers are locked to the fill pipe as long as pump pressure is present. Removal of fuel pressure allows the levers to be withdrawn by spring action. A breakaway joint is provided to stop fuel flow in the event of drive-off with the fuel nozzle in a fuel filled pipe.

Claims

1. An interlocking fuel nozzle comprising:

an inlet for transporting fuel under pressure into said fuel nozzle;

a fuel spout having an inner end and an outer end for dispensing fuel from said fuel nozzle;

a latch means in said fuel spout for engaging a fuel tank fill pipe;

a plunger means operated by fuel under pressure at said fuel spout for pressing said latch means out of said spout to engage the fuel tank fill pipe;

a conduit for conducting fuel under pressure from said inlet to said plunger means at said fuel spout.

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

said latch means includes a first latch having an outer end and an inner end and a second latch having an outer end and an inner end;

said plunger means includes a first plunger and a second plunger;

said first latch is pressed outward by said first plunger and said second latch is pressed outward by said second plunger.

3. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 2 including:

a spring for biasing said first latch and said second latch inward.

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

a hook on said first latch outer end and a hook on said second latch outer end.

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

a latch pivot pin between said first lever and said second lever outer ends and said first lever and said second lever inner ends about which said first lever and said second lever pivot.

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

said spring for biasing said first latch and said second latch is joined to said first lever inner end and to said second lever inner end.

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

said first plunger engages said first lever inner end and said second plunger engages said second lever inner end.

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

said first plunger engages said first lever inner end and said second plunger engages said second lever inner end.

9. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 1 including:

a trigger surrounding said fuel spout outer end;

a trigger spring for biasing said trigger toward said fuel spout outer end.

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

slots in said fuel spout outer end for passage of said latch means for engaging a fuel tank fill pipe;

said trigger covers said slots to prevent said latch means from engaging said fuel tank fill pipe until said trigger is moved inward from said fuel spout outer end against said trigger spring bias.

11. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 1 including:

a poppet valve housing and poppet valve for controlling fuel flow through said fuel spout;

said inlet for fuel under pressure into said fuel nozzle is in open communication with said poppet valve inlet side;

a poppet valve passage extending between said poppet valve inlet side and said plunger means for pressing said latch means out, to place said plunger means for pressing said latch means out under fuel inlet pressure.

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

a venturi slot in said fuel spout outer end for drawing in air during fuel flow to permit fuel flow to be stopped when the fuel tank fuel pipe is full of fuel;

said trigger covers said venturi slot and prevents air flow until said trigger is moved inward from said fuel spout outer end against said trigger spring bias.

13. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 1 including:

a fuel passage between said inlet for fuel under pressure and said fuel spout outer end;

a venturi assembly in said fuel passage;

said venturi assembly having a venturi ring and a venturi plug and a venturi spring with said venturi plug biased by said venturi spring toward said venturi ring.

14. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 13 including:

a venturi tube in said fuel spout between said venturi slot and said venturi plug for transmitting differences in pressure at said fuel spout to said venturi assembly.

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

said spout outer end has a diameter that is smaller than said spout inner end to accommodate said latch means within said spout inner end.

16. An interlocking fuel nozzle comprising:

an inlet for passing fuel under pressure into said fuel nozzle;

a fuel spout having an inner end and an outer end for discharging fuel from said fuel nozzle;

latch means at said fuel spout outer end for engaging a fuel tank fill pipe;

fuel pressure operated means at said fuel spout for pressing said latch means outward to engage a fuel tank fill pipe;

means for conducting said inlet fuel under pressure to said fuel pressure operated means at said fuel spout.

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

latch spring means for biasing said latch means inward to disengage said latch means from a fuel tank fill pipe when there is no fuel pressure present.

18. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 17 including:

a trigger means at said fuel spout outer end to prevent said latch means from being pressed outward to engage a fuel tank fill pipe until said spout outer end is inserted into a fuel tank fill pipe.

19. An interlocking fuel nozzle comprising:

an inlet for fuel under pressure;

an outlet for dispensing fuel;

a valve between said inlet and outlet for controlling fuel dispensing;

a latch means for securing said fuel nozzle to a vehicle fill pipe;

a fuel pressure operated plunger means for operating said latch means;

a fuel passage between said inlet for fuel and said fuel pressure operated plunger means for operating said latch means that bypasses said valve between said inlet and outlet for controlling fuel dispensing.

20. An interlocking fuel nozzle as in claim 19 including:

a trigger means for blocking said latch means until said outlet for dispensing fuel is inserted into a vehicle fill pipe;

a break-away joint in said fuel passage between said inlet for fuel and said fuel pressure operated plunger means for blocking fuel flow in the event of drive away with said fuel nozzle in a vehicle fill pipe.