Nozzle interlock failsafe/lost motion mechanisms
First Claim
1. A nozzle assembly for dispensing fuel into an inlet of a container comprising:
- a body having a passage for fuel flow through said body;
a spout attachable to said body for passing fuel from said body, through said spout, and into an inlet of a container;
a sleeve fitted over said spout, said sleeve compressing when said spout is inserted into the inlet of the container and expanding from compression when said spout is removed from the inlet of the container;
an interlock mechanism within said body for preventing operation of said nozzle assembly unless said sleeve is at least partially compressed; and
an interlock actuator mounted for movement within said body and coupled to said sleeve, said interlock mechanism moving from an engaged position to a disengaged position as said interlock actuator moves into said body upon compression of said sleeve and moving from said disengaged position to said engaged position as said interlock mechanism moves out of said body upon said sleeve expanding from compression wherein;
said interlock mechanism includes structure to prevent said interlock mechanism from moving from said engaged position to said disengaged position in the event of a failure of said interlock mechanism whereby said nozzle assembly cannot dispense fuel regardless of whether said spout is engaged with the inlet of the container or not.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention comprises a nozzle assembly for dispensing fuel into an inlet of a container comprising a body, a spout and a vapor collection sleeve fitted over the spout and compressing when the spout is inserted into the inlet of a container. An interlock mechanism prevents operation of the nozzle assembly unless the sleeve is at least partially compressed by insertion of the spout into the container inlet. The interlock mechanism includes structure to prevent the interlock mechanism from moving from the engaged position to the disengaged position in the event of a failure of the interlock mechanism whereby the nozzle assembly cannot dispense fuel regardless of whether the spout is engaged with the inlet of the container or not. An interlock actuator is mounted for movement within the body and coupled to the sleeve, while a lost motion mechanism limits movement of the interlock actuator into the body.
27 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A nozzle assembly for dispensing fuel into an inlet of a container comprising:
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a body having a passage for fuel flow through said body; a spout attachable to said body for passing fuel from said body, through said spout, and into an inlet of a container; a sleeve fitted over said spout, said sleeve compressing when said spout is inserted into the inlet of the container and expanding from compression when said spout is removed from the inlet of the container; an interlock mechanism within said body for preventing operation of said nozzle assembly unless said sleeve is at least partially compressed; and an interlock actuator mounted for movement within said body and coupled to said sleeve, said interlock mechanism moving from an engaged position to a disengaged position as said interlock actuator moves into said body upon compression of said sleeve and moving from said disengaged position to said engaged position as said interlock mechanism moves out of said body upon said sleeve expanding from compression wherein; said interlock mechanism includes structure to prevent said interlock mechanism from moving from said engaged position to said disengaged position in the event of a failure of said interlock mechanism whereby said nozzle assembly cannot dispense fuel regardless of whether said spout is engaged with the inlet of the container or not. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 28)
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14. A nozzle assembly for dispensing fuel into an inlet of a container comprising:
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a body having a passage for fuel flow through said body; a spout attachable to said body for passing fuel from said body, through said spout, and into an inlet of a container; a sleeve fitted over said spout, said sleeve compressing when said spout is inserted into the inlet of the container and expanding from compression when said spout is removed from the inlet of the container; an interlock mechanism within said body for preventing operation of said nozzle assembly unless said sleeve is at least partially compressed; and an interlock actuator mounted for movement within said body and coupled to said sleeve, said interlock mechanism moving from an engaged position to a disengaged position as said interlock actuator moves into said body upon compression of said sleeve and moving from said disengaged position to said engaged position as said interlock mechanism moves out of said body upon said sleeve expanding from compression wherein said interlock actuator comprises a lost motion mechanism to limit movement of said interlock actuator into said body. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29)
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Specification