Patent ID: 7270154
Filing Date: 2007-09-18
Classification: B01D,B67D

Abstract:
1. A fuel dispensing nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle, said nozzle comprising: a spout and a body portion, said body portion comprising a hose attachment end and a spout attachment end, said body portion including a fuel flow control mechanism for allowing or preventing fuel from passing through said body portion and said spout to the vehicle, said spout having one end connected to said spout attachment end of said body portion and an opposite fuel dispensing end, a gutter disposed in said fuel dispensing end to make said spout substantially dripless, said gutter comprising a stepped cylindrical member, said stepped cylindrical member comprising: a disk-shaped base received within an inner periphery of said fuel dispensing end of said spout, said base including an opening extending therethrough, and said base engaging said inner periphery of said fuel dispensing end of said spout to limit fuel flow from said dispensing end of said spout to said opening, and a rigid drip catcher extending inwardly from said base into said fuel dispensing end of said spout, said drip catcher surrounding said opening with fuel passing through said drip catcher and said opening during fuel dispensing, said inner periphery of said spout, said base and said drip catcher forming a gutter collection area when said spout is held in a downward vertical orientation relative to a fuel tank inlet pipe so that fuel remaining in said spout after fueling the vehicle is caught in said gutter collection area.