Abstract:
The filling nozzle according to the invention is provided with a ring for fastening on an adaptor connected to a container and with a controlled valve adapted to selectively obturate a conduit for flow of a fluid. A sensor for detecting the fastening of the nozzle on an adaptor makes it possible, as a function of the fastening, to render a kinematic link between a control member and the valve active, this link making it possible, in active configuration, to displace the valve from a position where it obturates the conduit towards a position where it leaves a passage free for the fluid in the conduit. The control member is a trigger provided with a notch which comprises two parts in which may slide an element fast with a lever articulated on the valve. Depending on the part where this element slides, a transmission of effort between the trigger and the lever is, or is not, possible.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a nozzle for filling a container with a fluid under pressure. The invention also relates to an installation for filling an automobile vehicle tank with liquefied petroleum gas, in which such a nozzle is used.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    It is known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,302, to use a bayonet-type system for ensuring fixation of a kerosene filling adaptor on an aircraft. As a function of the interlocking, a lever may block a valve located in this adaptor. Such bayonet-type interlocking is delicate to carry out and the use of this complex system is, in practice, reserved for specialists working in airport zones.  
           [0003]    In the domain of the dispensing of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel for automobile vehicle, it is known that serious precautions must be taken to avoid gas spreading in the ambient atmosphere. In particular, it is imperative that a tight connection be made between the dispensing device, or pump, and the tank of the vehicle. In the known devices, the user must place an end adaptor of a flexible hose pipe on an adaptor located on the vehicle then activate a lever to lock these adaptors. The user must then return to the pump to control an electrovalve allowing the hose pipe to be supplied with gas under pressure. These known manoeuvres are not convenient and can disconcert an inexperienced user.  
           [0004]    In addition, in the known devices, interlocking of the end of the hose pipe on the adaptor of the vehicle is generally effected thanks to a claw system which is complex, and consequently unreliable. Such a claw system may be poorly engaged on the adaptor of the vehicle, hence a risk of offset connection that may lead to leakages of gas.  
           [0005]    The devices used in the domain of filling automobile vehicle tanks with LPG must, in addition, be compatible with the standardized adaptors mounted on the vehicles.  
           [0006]    It is a particular object of the present invention to overcome these limitations by proposing a nozzle for filling a container, particularly adapted to the dispensing of LPG, which makes it possible to deliver a fluid in tight manner, while ensuring that no fluid is spread in the atmosphere as long as the nozzle is not connected to the adaptor with which it must cooperate, even if the user exerts an effort on the trigger.  
           [0007]    Another object of the invention is to propose a nozzle such that the rejects of fluid when it is disconnected from the adaptor are minimized.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    To that end, the present invention relates to a nozzle for filling a container with a fluid under pressure, this nozzle being provided with a means for fastening on an adaptor connected on the container, with a controlled valve adapted to selectively obturate a conduit for flow of the fluid, and with a sensor detecting the fastening of the nozzle on an adaptor, this sensor being adapted, as a function of this fastening, to render active a kinematic link between a control member and the valve, this link making it possible, in active configuration, to displace the valve from a position where it obturates the conduit towards a position where it leaves a passage free for the fluid in this conduit, while, in non-active configuration of the link, the valve cannot be actuated by means of the afore-mentioned member. The kinematic link comprises a lever, articulated on the valve, between a first position where it is not displaceable by the control member and a second position where it may be displaced by this member, taking along the valve, the sensor being adapted to displace the lever from its first towards its second position. The control member is a trigger articulated on the nozzle and provided with at least one cut-out, notch or groove whose profile forms a first part which makes it possible to receive an element fast with the lever without noteworthy interaction between the lever and the trigger. The cutout, groove or notch also comprises a second part which has a geometry different from the first part and extends it, the element fast with the lever being adapted to slide along the profile of the first part of the cut-out, groove or notch, when the lever is in its first position, and to cooperate with the profile of the second part, when the lever is in its second position, with the result that it allows the transmission of an effort between the trigger and the lever.  
           [0009]    Thanks to the invention, the kinematic link between the control trigger and the valve prevents the nozzle from allowing passage as long as it is not fastened on an adaptor. Fastening is detected thanks to the lever which is fast with an element allowing the trigger to be passed from a configuration where it is “&#39;idle” to a configuration where it is “active”. In the idle configuration, the afore-mentioned element cooperates with the profile in its first part, while it cooperates with the profile in its second part when the trigger is in active configuration.  
           [0010]    According to advantageous but non-obligatory aspects of the invention, a nozzle may incorporate one or more of the characteristics set forth in the dependent Claims.  
           [0011]    The invention also relates to an installation for filling an automobile vehicle tank with liquefied petroleum gas, which incorporates a nozzle as described hereinabove and envisaged hereinafter. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description of a form of embodiment of a nozzle and of an installation in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 schematically shows an installation according to the invention of which the nozzle and the adaptor with which it cooperates are shown in longitudinal section.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a view on a smaller scale of the nozzle and the adaptor of FIG. 1, when the nozzle is being fastened on the adaptor.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, when the nozzle is fastened on the adaptor.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the adaptor and of the internal elements of the nozzle in the configuration of FIG. 3.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and to the scale of FIG. 1, when the trigger of the nozzle is controlled so that fluid flows, and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a view of the type of FIG. 4 when the nozzle is in the configuration of FIG. 5. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]    Referring now to the drawings, the nozzle  1  shown therein is connected on the downstream end of a flexible hose pipe  2  of which the upstream end is connected to a pump  3  for dispensing liquefied petroleum gas.  
         [0020]    The nozzle  1  is intended to cooperate with adaptors such as the adaptor  4  shown in the Figures which is mounted on an automobile vehicle  5  and which is connected, via a conduit  6  integrated with the vehicle  5 , to a liquefied gas tank  7 .  
         [0021]    The adaptor  4  is equipped with a valve  8  elastically loaded by a spring  9  in the direction of a part  10  of the adaptor  4  forming seat.  
         [0022]    On its outer peripheral surface, the adaptor  4  is provided with a groove  11  of flared shape as well as with an indent  12  separated from the groove  11  by a flange  13 .  
         [0023]    The nozzle  1  comprises a body  20  inside which is housed a pipe  21  connected to an angle  22  of which the opening  22   a  in the form of a convergent part communicates with a volume  23  for receiving the adaptor  4  in the body  20 . The volume  23  has a shape adapted to the outer shape of the adaptor  4  and is equipped with an O-ring  24  for abutment of an end bevel  14  of the adaptor  4 . Around the volume  23 , the nozzle  1  is equipped with a ring  25  for retaining the adaptor  4  in the volume  23 . This ring  25  is elastically loaded by a spring  26  exerting thereon an effort F 1  perpendicular to a longitudinal axis X-X′ of the adaptor  4  and of the volume  23  when the latter are opposite or engaged with respect to each other, as represented in the Figures.  
         [0024]    When the nozzle  1  is displaced towards the adaptor  4  in the direction of arrows F 2  in FIGS.  1  to  3 , the flange  13  pushes the ring  25  against the effort F 1 , as represented in FIG. 2, then the ring  25  engages in the groove  13 , under the effect of the effort F 1 , as represented in FIG. 3.  
         [0025]    The elements  25  and  26  therefore constitute means for fastening the nozzle  1  on the adaptor  4 .  
         [0026]    A rod  30  is mounted, with the possibility of slide parallel to axis X-X′, in a housing  31  made in the body  20 . This rod  30  comprises a nose  32  intended to come into engagement in the indent  12  of the adaptor  4 . This rod also comprises a notch  33  for partially receiving a part  25   a  of the ring  25  opposite a part  25   b  on which the effort F 1  is exerted.  
         [0027]    At the level of its end  34  opposite the parts  32  and  33 , the rod  30  is articulated, about a geometrical axis Y-Y′, on a rocker  40  formed by two plates  41  and  42  embracing the end  34  and articulated on the body  20  about a geometrical axis Y 1 -Y′ 1  perpendicular to axis X-X′, this axis being materialized by a pin  43  traversing the plates  41  and  42 . Each of the plates  41  and  42  is provided with a heel  44 ,  45 , respectively, of substantially parallelepipedic shape.  
         [0028]    A valve  50  is mounted in the angle  22  and comes into abutment, under the effect of an elastic effort exerted by a spring  29 , against the convergent part  22   a  forming the downstream part of the angle  22 .  
         [0029]    The valve  50  is extended by a rod  51  articulated about an axis Y 2 -Y′ 2  with a lever  60  formed by two plates  61  and  62  embracing the end  52  of the rod  51 . The axes Y 1 -Y′ 1 , and Y 2 -Y′ 2  are parallel.  
         [0030]    The plates  61  and  62  have such a geometry that they come respectively opposite the heels  44  and  45 .  
         [0031]    The plates  41  and  61  have been added in FIGS. 2, 3 and  5  in order to render the drawing clearer.  
         [0032]    Furthermore, a cylindrical pin  63  with circular cross-section is mounted through the plates  61  and  62  along an axis parallel to axis Y 2 -Y′ 2 .  
         [0033]    A trigger  70  is articulated on a support  27  fast with the pipe  21 . Y 3 -Y′ 3  denotes the axis of articulation of the trigger  70 , this axis being parallel to axis Y 1 -Y′ 1 .  
         [0034]    The trigger  70  is provided with a notch  71  which the pin  63  traverses and in which it may move.  
         [0035]    The profile of this notch comprises a first part shaped as an arc of circle C 1  centred on axis Y 3 -Y′ 3 . In this direction, part  71   a  is in the form of an arc of circle. The notch  71  also comprises a second part  71   b  with which part  71   a  communicates and which extends in a direction A-A′ substantially perpendicular to part  71   a  in the zone of join between these parts. The bottom of the part  71   b  forms a seat  71   c  in which the pin  63  may be retained.  
         [0036]    The trigger  70  is also provided, on its face  70   1  visible in FIGS.  1  to  5 , with a groove  72  which comprises a first part  72   a   1  substantially in the form of an arc of circle C 2  centred on axis Y 3 -Y′ 3 , as well as a second, L-shaped part  72   b   1  which communicates with the part  72   a   1 . A pin  46   1  is mounted on the plate  41  and extends, along axis Y 4 -Y′ 4  parallel to axis Y 1 -Y′ 1 , towards the groove  72   1 . The pin  46   1  is intended to slide in the groove  72   1 .  
         [0037]    On its opposite face  70   2 , visible in FIG. 6, the trigger  70  is provided with a second groove  72   2  having the same geometry as the groove  72   1 , with an arcuate part  72   b   2  and an L-shaped part  72   a   2 . The plate  42  bears a pin  46   2  intended to slide in the groove  72   2 .  
         [0038]    Functioning is as follows:  
         [0039]    When the nozzle  1  is fastened on the adaptor  4 , as explained hereinabove, the nose  32  of the rod  30  is pushed in the direction of arrow F 3  in FIG. 3, which has the effect of causing the rod  30  to slide in the housing  31 , in the direction of this arrow, a corresponding displacement of the end  34  being obtained. Such displacement has the effect of causing the rocker  40  to pivot about axis Y 1 -Y′ 1  in the direction of arrow F 4 , to such a point that heels  44  and  45  come into abutment against the plates  61  and  62 , which induces a pivoting of the lever  60  in the trigonometric direction in FIG. 3. The bearing effort of the heels  44  and  45  on the lever  60  is represented by arrow F 5  in FIG. 3, while the pivoting of this lever is represented by arrow F 6 . Due to the pivoting of the lever  60 , the pin  63  which, in the configuration of FIG. 1, is engaged in the part  71   a  of the groove  71 , is displaced towards the part  71   b  in the direction of the seat  71   c.    
         [0040]    In this configuration, if the user exerts on the trigger  70  an effort F 7  towards the part forming handle  28  of the body  20 , the trigger exerts, by the front edge  71   b   1  of part  71   b  and on the pin  63  borne by the lever  60 , an effort F 8  of traction resulting in a corresponding effort of traction F 9  on the valve, this effort having the effect of detaching the valve  50  from the convergent part  22   a . This allows a flow E of fluid under pressure from its source  3  towards the tank  7  connected to the adaptor  4 .  
         [0041]    If the trigger  70  is released, the spring  29  pushes the valve  50  towards its seat  22   a.    
         [0042]    A device  80  is provided for temporarily blocking the trigger  70  in the configuration of FIG. 5. This device comprises an arm  81  articulated on the body  20  about an axis Y 5 -Y′ 5  parallel to axis Y 1 -Y′ 1  and a shuttle  82  mounted to slide on the arm  81  and retained in position thanks to a screw  83 .  
         [0043]    When the trigger  70  is subjected to the effort F 7 , it displaces the shuttle  82  in the direction of arrow F 10  in FIG. 5, with the result that it is blocked against an outer radial shoulder  81   a  of the arm  81 . When the flow E is to be stopped, an additional effort F′ 7 , of the same direction as effort F 7  but of greater intensity, may be exerted, which has the effect of bringing, by an overtravel, the shuttle  82  into abutment against the head of the screw  83 , then of pivoting the arm  81  in the direction of arrow F 11  against an elastic effort exerted by a spring  84 . The end  73  of the trigger  70  is then released with respect to the arm  81 , the trigger  70  in that case being able to return towards the position of FIG. 3.  
         [0044]    In this way, when the nozzle  1  is fastened on the adaptor  4 , the flow of fluid can be controlled thanks to the trigger  70 .  
         [0045]    If the effort F 7  is exerted on the handle  70  in the configuration of FIG. 1, the pin  63  slides in the part  71  a of the notch  71  without an effort of traction being transmitted to the lever  60 , with the result that the valve  50  remains in abutment against its seat formed by the convergent part  22   a . In this configuration, the edge  71   a   1  of part  71   a  closest to the axis Y 3 -Y′ 3  essentially defines the path of slide of the pin  63 .  
         [0046]    The active parts of the notch  71  are thus the edges  71   a   1  and  71   b   1  which are defined by the profile of a solid part  74  of the trigger  70 .  
         [0047]    Thus, it is not possible to manoeuvre the valve  50  as long as the kinematic link between the trigger  70  and the valve is not rendered active by the displacement of the lever  60  towards its position in which the pin  63  is engaged in part  71   b  of the notch  71 .  
         [0048]    A torsion spring  90  is disposed around the pin  64  constituting the physical axis of articulation between the end  52  of the valve  50  and the plates  61  and  62  of the lever  60 , with the result that the end  91  of this spring exerts on the lever  60  an effort F 12  tending to return the lever  60  towards its position of FIG. 1.  
         [0049]    In addition, the cooperation of the pins  46   1  and  46   2  and of the grooves  72   1  and  72   2  prevents a separation of the nozzle  1  and of the adaptor  4  when the valve  50  is detached from the convergent part  22   a . In effect, when the pin  63  slides in the part  71   a  of the notch  71 , the pins  46   1  and  46   2  may slide in the parts  72   a   1  and  72   a   2  of the grooves  72   1  and  72   2 . On the other hand, when the heels  44  and  45  push the lever  60 , as represented by arrow F 5  in FIG. 3, the pivoting F 4  of the rocker  40  has the effect of taking pins  46   1  and  46   2  in the parts  72   b   1  and  72   b   2  of the notches  71   1  and  72   2 . Due to the displacement of the trigger  70  under the effect of the effort F 7 , the pins  46   1  and  46   2  then each slide along a lateral surface  72   c   1 ,  72   c   2 , respectively, of the notches  72   1  and  72   2 . The pins  46   1  and  46   2  are in that case in abutment against the surfaces  72   c   1  and  72   c   2 , with the result that the rocker  40  can no longer pivot about axis Y 1 -Y′ 1  in a direction opposite to arrow F 4 .  
         [0050]    The rocker  40  thus being locked by its cooperation with surfaces  72   c   1  and  72   c   2  in a configuration where its pins  46   1  and  46   2  are lowered, it exerts on the rod  30  an effort of traction F 13  which has the effect of firmly applying a surface  33   a  defining the notch  33  against a surface  25   c  of the ring  25 .  
         [0051]    The surface  33   a  is inclined by an angle α equal to about 45° with respect to a longitudinal axis X 1 -X′ 1  of the rod  30  which is parallel to axis X-X′. As for the surface  25   c , it is inclined by the same angle α with respect to the axis X-X′, axes X 1 -X′ 1  and X-X′ being parallel to each other.  
         [0052]    The effort F 13  is thus transmitted to the ring  25  in the form of an effort F 14  of the same direction and same sense as the effort F 1 , this effort firmly maintaining the ring  25  in engagement in the groove  11 .  
         [0053]    In this way, it is impossible to withdraw the nozzle  1  from the adaptor  4  as long as the pins  46   1  and  46   2  remain respectively in abutment against the surfaces  72   1  and  72   c   2 , i.e. as long as it is possible to manoeuvre the valve  50  thanks to the trigger  70 .  
         [0054]    It will be noted that the valves  8  and  50  are in surface abutment against each other, which contributes to the seal of the coupling made between the elements  1  and  4 . It is also noted that the valve  8  is pushed downstream under the effect of the pressure of the fluid circulating in the pipe  21  and in the angle  22 .  
         [0055]    The invention has been described with reference to its use in an installation for supplying LPG to an automobile vehicle, which is particularly advantageous. However, a nozzle according to the invention may be used in other types of installation supplying fluid under pressure in which a high degree of safety is sought.  
         [0056]    The invention has been shown with levers or rockers  40  and  60  formed by two plates embracing the parts  34  or  52  with which they cooperate. Levers formed in one piece may be envisaged.  
         [0057]    The invention has been shown with a notch  71  and grooves  72   1  and  72   2 , but it may be carried out with a trigger provided with a notch of equivalent geometry in place of the grooves and/or with grooves in place of the notch. The possible grooves may be made on one face only of the trigger  70 . The geometry of the grooves and notches is not limited to that shown in the Figures. In practice, the functional parts of these grooves are essentially the seat  71   c  and the bearing surfaces  72   1  and  72   c   1 . The other parts of these grooves are clearances intended to allow the displacement of the pins  46   1 ,  46   2  and  63 , such clearances being able to take various shapes.  
         [0058]    The invention has been shown with a notch  71  inscribed in the trigger  70  and having a substantially constant width which is adapted to the diameter of the pin  63  in order to allow its guiding. In a variant, two grooves may be formed on either side of the trigger  70  to receive fingers borne by the lever  60 . According to another variant, the first and second parts  71   a  and  71   b  mentioned above may be formed by a cut-out made around a solid part similar to part  74 , such cut-out being able to open out on the front edge of the trigger  70 .  
         [0059]    In any case, the profile of the cut-out, notch or groove provided on the trigger to receive the element fast with the lever makes it possible to obtain the two “idle” and “active” configurations of the trigger.  
         [0060]    In the same way, the grooves  72   1  and  72   2  may be replaced by a cut-out or notch which traverses the trigger  70 . There again, the profile of this groove, cutout or notch, which is defined in particular by the surfaces  72   c   1  and  72   c   2  which are adjacent to a central tongue  75 , makes it possible to obtain the desired safe functioning.