Abstract:
A fuel dispensing unit is provided that includes a fuel conduit including an external annular bead and a locking member including inwardly extending resilient tongues. The locking member is configured to retain the fuel conduit in a locked position and to receive the fuel conduit in an open position. The external annular bead of the fuel conduit causes the locking member to move to the open position when the locking member receives the fuel conduit.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fuel dispensing unit comprising a fuel conduit and a locking member for retaining the fuel conduit in a locked position. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     An important part of fuel dispensing units is a fuel conduit for conducting the fuel. Furthermore, it is very important to make sure that all fuel conduits are securely retained in the fuel dispensing unit, this in order to avoid leakage, e.g. due to that two fuel conduits being connected to each other being drawn apart. 
     Many methods are known for securely retaining a fuel conduit in a fuel dispensing unit. One method aims at welding the fuel conduit to a frame of the fuel dispensing unit. In another method the fuel conduits are attached to the frame of the fuel dispensing unit by bolts or screws. These methods aim at fixedly retaining the fuel conduits in the fuel dispenser unit. A drawback is that it is time consuming to mount the fuel conduits in the fuel dispensing unit. Another obvious drawback is that it is difficult and time consuming to service and especially new assembly the fuel dispensing unit, e.g. exchange an old fuel conduit. 
     In a further method a fuel conduit is retained in the fuel dispending unit by a clamp anchor, the fuel conduit is pulled through an opening and then a clamp anchor is applied to the fuel conduit in order to make it impossible to withdraw the fuel conduit back through the opening. A drawback of this method is that it is time consuming to mount the conduit in the fuel dispensing unit. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for improvements on how to retain a fuel conduit in a fuel dispensing unit. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the present invention is to facilitate an improved fuel dispensing unit comprising a fuel conduit, wherein the fuel conduit is securely retained. 
     The above object is achieved by a fuel dispensing unit according to the independent claims. Further embodiments of the invention are presented in the dependent claims. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention a fuel dispensing unit is provided. The fuel dispensing unit comprises a fuel conduit and a locking member. The fuel conduit comprises an external annular bead. The locking member comprises inwardly extending resilient tongues. The locking member is arranged to retain the fuel conduit in a locked position and receive the fuel conduit in an open position. The external annular bead of the fuel conduit is arranged to put the locking member in the open position when receiving said fuel conduit. Each tongue comprises an obtuse edge and an acute edge at the end portion thereof. The locking member is arranged such that only the obtuse edge of each tongue engages the fuel conduit in the open position. 
     This is advantageous in that the fuel conduit can be securely retained in the fuel dispensing unit in a simple and non-time-consuming manner. The fuel conduit is just guided through the locking member and is thereafter retained in the locked position of the locking member. The tongues of the locking member, more precise the acute edge at the end portion of each tongue, prevent the fuel conduit to be withdrawn. Moreover, this is advantageous in that it is only the obtuse edge of each tongue that engage the fuel conduit in the open position, wherein the risk of the tongues causing any damage to the external annular bead is minimized. 
     The angle of the obtuse edge may e.g. be 90°, 100°, 110° or 120° but it is preferably 130° or greater. A greater angle of the obtuse edge makes the edge blunter. A blunt edge is less harmful against the external annular bead. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention a fuel dispensing unit is provided. The fuel dispensing unit comprises a fuel conduit and a locking member. The fuel conduit comprises an external annular bead. The locking member comprises inwardly extending resilient tongues. The locking member is arranged to retain the fuel conduit in a locked position and receive the fuel conduit in an open position. The external annular bead of the fuel conduit is arranged to put the locking member in the open position when receiving said fuel conduit. Each tongue comprises an edgeless end portion. 
     Again this is advantageous in that the fuel conduit can be securely retained in the fuel dispensing unit in a simple and non-time-consuming manner. The fuel conduit is just guided through the locking member and is thereafter retained in the locked position of the locking member. The tongues of the locking member prevent the fuel conduit to be withdrawn. Moreover, this is advantageous in that the edgeless end portion of the tongues minimizes the risk of the tongues to cause any damage to the external annular bead when the fuel conduit is guided through the locking member. 
     The fuel conduit may comprise an external O-ring, wherein the external annular bead and the O-ring are arranged to put the locking member in the open position when receiving said fuel conduit. 
     The fuel conduit may comprise a second external annular bead, wherein the O-ring is accommodated between the two external annular beads, and wherein the two external annular beads and the O-ring are arranged to put the locking member in the open position when receiving said fuel conduit. 
     According to a third aspect of the invention a fuel dispensing unit is provided. The fuel dispensing unit comprises a fuel conduit and a locking member. The fuel conduit comprises an external annular bead. The locking member comprises inwardly extending resilient tongues. The locking member is arranged to retain the fuel conduit in a locked position and receive the fuel conduit in an open position. The external annular bead of the fuel conduit is arranged to put the locking member in the open position when receiving said fuel conduit. The end portion of each tongue is formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular bead. 
     Again this is advantageous in that the fuel conduit can be securely retained in the fuel dispensing unit in a simple and non-time-consuming manner. The fuel conduit is just guided through the locking member and is thereafter retained in the locked position of the locking member. The tongues of the locking member prevent the fuel conduit to be withdrawn. Moreover, this is advantageous in that the end portion of the tongues are made in material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular bead. By forming the tongues according to this the risk of the tongues to cause any damage to the external annular bead when the fuel conduit is guided through the locking member is minimized. 
     The fuel conduit may comprise an external O-ring, wherein the external annular bead and the O-ring are arranged to put the locking member in the open position when receiving said fuel conduit, and wherein the end portion of each tongue is formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the O-ring. 
     The fuel conduit may comprise a second external annular bead, wherein the O-ring is accommodated between the two external annular beads, and wherein the two external annular beads and the O-ring are arranged to put the locking member in the open position when receiving said fuel conduit, and wherein the end portion of each tongue is formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the O-ring. 
     The number of tongues may be two or more. Excellent latching capability is provided by an even number of tongues arranged in opposed pairs. The rigidity of the locked position depends on the amount of tongues, more tongues makes the locked position more rigid. The number of tongues is preferably eight or more. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be used for similar elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fuel dispenser comprising two locking members for retaining fuel conduits and wherein a fuel conduit is inserted into one of the locking members. 
         FIG. 2 a    is a sectional view of a locking member according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2 b    is a sectional view of a locking member according to the first embodiment wherein the external annular bead and the O-ring of the fuel conduit is putting the locking member in an open position for receiving said fuel conduit. 
         FIG. 2 c    is a sectional view of a locking member according to the first embodiment into which a fuel conduit has been retained. 
         FIG. 3 a    is a sectional view of a locking member according to a second embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3 b    is a sectional view of a locking member according to the second embodiment wherein the external annular bead and the O-ring of the fuel conduit of  FIG. 2  is putting the locking member in an open position for receiving said fuel conduit. 
         FIG. 3 c    is a sectional view of a locking member according to the first embodiment into which a fuel conduit has been retained. 
         FIG. 4 a    is a sectional view of a locking member according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4 b    is a sectional view of a locking member according to the third embodiment wherein the external annular bead and the O-ring of the fuel conduit of  FIG. 2  is putting the locking member in an open position for receiving said fuel conduit. 
         FIG. 4 c    is a sectional view of a locking member according to the third embodiment into which a fuel conduit has been retained. 
         FIG. 5 a    is a perspective view of a removing member being arranged around the fuel conduit. 
         FIG. 5 b    is a perspective view of the removing member being guided towards the tongues of the locking member in order to set the locking member in an open position. 
         FIG. 5 c    is a perspective view of the fuel conduit being removed from the locking member while the removing member is setting the locking member in an open position. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a locking member according to a forth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the locking member according to the forth embodiment of the present invention 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a fuel dispensing unit  2  according to the invention comprising two locking members  4 . Each locking member  4  comprises a main body  6  and inwardly extending resilient tongues  8 . A fuel conduit  10  is inserted into one of the locking members  4 . The tongues  8  are used to retain a fuel conduit  10  of the fuel dispensing unit  2  in a locked position. The tongues  8  are circumferentially spaced. Each tongue  8  is bent into an angular, inwardly extending position. In a resting position, i.e. the position shown in  FIG. 1  where no fuel conduit  10  is guide into the locking member  4 , each tongue  8  present a bend angle, relative to an axis being perpendicular to the main body  6  of the locking member  4 . Preferably is the bend angle between 10° and 50°, more preferably between 20° and 30°. 
     The tongues  8  are resilient in order for them to bend and put the locking member  4  in an open position for receiving the fuel conduit  10 . The tongues  8  can be provided in any number, although eight tongues are shown, by example only, in  FIG. 1 . Excellent latching capability is provided by an even number of tongues  8  arranged in opposed pairs as shown in  FIG. 1 . However, it is realized that an odd number of tongues  8  can also be employed. Thus, as the skilled person realizes, the amount of tongues  8  may vary. The amount of tongues  8  is preferably eight or more, this in order for the fuel conduit  10  to be retained in a secure manner. Moreover, the rigidity of the locked position also depends on the amount of tongues  8 , more tongues  8  makes the locked position more rigid. 
     Each tongue  8  may be formed having a curved shape. This makes each tongue  8  easy to bend by the fuel conduit  10 . Further, by forming the tongues  8  as having a curved shape the strength of the tongues  8  is enhanced. 
     The locking member  4  of the fuel dispensing unit  2  according to the present invention is especially well suited for retaining a fuel conduit  10  in a vertical direction, just as showed in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 2 a    illustrates an embodiment of a fuel conduit  10 . The fuel conduit  10  may e.g. be made of aluminum, an aluminum alloy, copper, steel or stainless steel. The fuel conduit  10  is provided with a first external annular bead  12  and a second external annular bead  14 . The external annular beads  12 ,  14  are preferably being formed of the actual fuel conduit wall in a bulging lathe. The space between the two external annular beads  12 ,  14  is adapted to receive an O-ring  16 . The external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  are located at a joining end of the fuel conduit  10 . The O-ring  16  is used for sealing a connection between the fuel conduit  10  and a coupling (not shown) or another fuel conduit (not shown). 
     The locking member  4  may be designed in various modes. However, an important feature is that the locking member  4  should not harm the external annular beads  12 ,  14  or the O-ring  16  when the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and/or the O-ring  16  are putting the locking member  4  in the open position for receiving said fuel conduit  10 . Below three different embodiments of a locking member  4  will be presented. 
       FIGS. 2 a - c    illustrates a sequential display of how a fuel conduit  10  is retained in a locking member  4  according to a first embodiment. 
       FIG. 2 a    illustrates the locking member  4  comprising inwardly extending resilient tongues  8 . The locking member  4  may e.g. be made of stainless spring steel, spring steel or plastics. The tongues  8  are integrally formed as a one piece extension from the main body  6  of the locking member  4 . Each tongue  8  comprises an obtuse edge  18  and an acute edge  20  at the end portion  22  thereof. The angle of the obtuse edge may e.g. be 90°, 100°, 110° or 120° but it is preferably 130° or greater. 
       FIG. 2 b    illustrates a locking member  4  according to the first embodiment wherein a fuel conduit  10  is entered into the locking member  4  in a fuel conduit entering direction E. The external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  of the fuel conduit  10  are putting the locking member  4  in an open position for receiving the fuel conduit  10 . As seen this is made such that the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  are forcing the tongues  8  to bend outwardly, i.e. the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  are forcing the locking member  4  to assume the open position. It is only the obtuse edge  18  of each tongue  8  that engage the fuel conduit  10  in the open position. This minimizes the risk of the tongues  8  to cause any damage to the external annular beads  12 ,  14  or the O-ring  16  when the fuel conduit  10  is received by the locking member  4 . As mentioned above, the obtuse edge  18  have an angle being greater than 100°, preferably greater than 130°. A greater angle of the obtuse edge  18  makes the obtuse edge  18  blunter. A blunt obtuse edge  18  is less harmful against the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16 . 
       FIG. 2 c    illustrates the locking member  4  according to the first embodiment into which a fuel conduit  10  has been retained. The tongues  8  of the locking member  4  have now obtained a less bent state and the locking member  4  is now in a locked position which securely retains the fuel conduit  10 . Thus, the tongues  8  of the locking member  4 , more precise the acute edge  20  at the and portion  22  of each tongue  8 , prevent the fuel conduit  10  to be withdrawn in a fuel conduit withdrawal direction A. 
       FIGS. 3 a - c    illustrates a sequential display of how a fuel conduit  10  is retained in a locking member  4  according to a second embodiment. 
       FIG. 3 a    illustrates the locking member  4  comprising inwardly extending resilient tongues  8 . The locking member  4  may e.g. be made of stainless spring steel, spring steel or plastics. The tongues  8  are integrally formed as a one piece extension from the main body  6  of the locking member  4 . Each tongue  8  comprises an edgeless end portion  22 . 
       FIG. 3 b    illustrates a locking member  4  according to the second embodiment wherein a fuel conduit  10  is entered into the locking member  4  in a fuel conduit entering direction E. The external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  of the fuel conduit  10  are putting the locking member  4  in an open position for receiving the fuel conduit  10 . As seen this is made such that the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  are forcing the tongues  8  to bend outwardly, i.e. the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  are forcing the locking member  4  to assume the open position. Due to the edgeless end portion  22  of the tongues  8  the risk of the tongues  8  to cause any damage to the external annular beads  12 ,  14  or the O-ring  16  when the fuel conduit  10  is received by the locking member is minimized. 
       FIG. 3 c    illustrates the locking member  4  according to the second embodiment into which a fuel conduit  10  has been retained. The tongues  8  of the locking member  4  have now obtained a less bent state and the locking member  4  is now in a locked position which securely retains the fuel conduit  10  Thus, the tongues  8  of the locking member prevent the fuel conduit  10  to be withdrawn in the fuel conduit withdrawal direction A. 
       FIGS. 4 a - c    illustrates a sequential display of how a fuel conduit  10  is retained in a locking member  4  according to a third embodiment. 
       FIG. 4 a    illustrates the locking member  4  comprising inwardly extending resilient tongues  8 . In the embodiment showed, the main body  6  of the locking member  4  is made of one type of material, e.g. stainless spring steel, spring steel or plastics and the tongues  8  are formed by another type of material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  of the fuel conduit  10  A typical O-ring is made of a rubber material having a degree of hardness being in the range 70-80 shore A. By forming the tongues  8  by a type of material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  the risk of the tongues  8  to cause any damage to the external annular beads  12 ,  14  or the O-ring  16  when the fuel conduit  10  is received by the locking member  4  is minimized. In the above described embodiment the main body  6  of the locking member  4  and the tongues  8  of the locking member  4  are made by different materials. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art the main body  6  of the locking member  4  and the tongues  8  of the locking member  4  can be formed in various manners. The important feature according to this third embodiment of the locking member  4  is that at least the end portion  22  of each tongue  8  is formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16 . For example may the entire locking member  4  be formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  or according to another example both the main body  6  and the tongues  8  of the locking member  4  may be formed by stainless spring steel, spring steel or plastics except the end portion  22  of each tongue  8  which is formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16 . 
       FIG. 4 b    illustrates a locking member  4  according to the third embodiment wherein a fuel conduit  10  is entered into the locking member  4  in a fuel conduit entering direction E. The external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  of the fuel conduit  10  are putting the locking member  4  in an open position for receiving the fuel conduit  10 . As seen in  FIG. 4 b   , this is made such that the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  are forcing the tongues to bend outwardly, i.e. the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  are forcing the locking member  4  to assume the open position. Due to that the material of the end portion  22  of each tongue  8  is formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16  the risk of the tongues  8  to cause any damage to the external annular beads  12 ,  14  or the O-ring  16  when the fuel conduit  10  is received by the locking member  4  is minimized. 
       FIG. 4 c    illustrates the locking member  4  according to the third embodiment into which a fuel conduit  10  has been retained. The tongues  8  of the locking member  4  have now obtained a less bent state and the locking member  4  is now in a locked position that securely retains the fuel conduit  10 . Thus, the tongues  8  of the locking member  4  prevent the fuel conduit  10  to be withdrawn in a fuel conduit withdrawal direction A. 
     Another embodiment of a locking member  4  is illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . According to this embodiment the obtuse edge  18  is formed by angling the end portion  22  of each tongue  8 . 
     Above four different embodiments of a locking member  4  to be comprised in the fuel dispensing unit  2  of the present invention has been presented. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention. Especially, may some of the tongues  8  of the locking member  4  be made according to one of the above described embodiments and some of the tongues  8  of the locking member be made according to another of the above described embodiments. The important feature is that tongues  8  are formed in a manner so that the risk of the tongues  8  to cause any damage to the external annular beads  12 ,  14  or the O-ring  16  when the fuel conduit  10  is received by the locking member  4  is minimized. 
     Sometime it is necessary to service the fuel dispensing unit  2 , e.g. exchange of an old fuel conduit  10 . As described above, the fuel conduit  10  is securely retained by the locking member  4 , thus, the tongues  8  of the locking member  4  prevent the fuel conduit  10  to be withdrawn in the fuel conduit withdrawal direction A. With reference to  FIGS. 5 a - c    a method of removing a fuel conduit  10  retained by a locking member  4  of a fuel dispensing unit  2  according to the present invention will be described. 
     As a first step in the method for removing a fuel conduit  10  from the locking member  4  a removing member  24  in the form of a pipe being split in a first and a second part  26 ,  28  is arranged around the fuel conduit  10  below the locking member  4 , see  FIG. 5 a   . By using a removing member  24  split in two parts  26 ,  28  it is easy to arrange the removing member  24  around the fuel conduit  10 . Next the removing member  24  is guided towards the tongues  8  of the locking member  4  in order to set the locking member  4  in the open position, see  FIG. 5 b   . Now the fuel conduit  10  may be withdrawn in the fuel conduit withdrawal direction A inside the removing member  24 . This due to that the removing member  24  is arranged such that the fuel conduit  10  may be freely moved inside the removing member  24 . In  FIG. 5 c    the fuel conduit  10  has been removed from the locking member  4  while the removing member  24  is setting the locking member in the open position. 
     In the case of the locking member being the forth embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , each tongue has an upper angled part. If being so the external annular bead  14  being closest to the locking member  4  is affecting each tongue  8  to bend outwards and thus preventing the O-ring  16  and the other external annular bead  12  to catch on to the end portions  22  of the tongues  8 . 
     Moreover, the same features that minimizes the risk of the tongues  8  to cause any damage to the external annular beads  12 ,  14  or the O-ring  16  when the fuel conduit  10  is received by the locking member  4 , i.e. that the obtuse edge  18  at the end portion  22  of each tongue  8 , that each tongue  8  comprises an edgeless end portion  22  or that the end portion  22  of each tongue  8  is formed by a material having a degree of hardness being less than the degree of hardness of the external annular beads  12 ,  14  and the O-ring  16 , permits that the removing member  24  may be withdrawn from the locking member  4 . Moreover, at least the radial outer most part of the removing member may be formed by a material having low friction against the tongues, i.e. brass, steel or stainless steel. 
     It is contemplated that there are numerous modifications of the embodiments described herein, which are still within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.