Refuelling coupling

A refueling coupling has an annular fitting 101 having a bore 102, bayonet lugs 103 and slots 104 suiting it for connection to a pressure filling nozzle. A flange 122, drilled with screw holes for securement to a fuel tank (not shown), extends out from the fitting 101. Also not shown for the sake of clarity is a tube extending own from the flange. Rods extend down from the flange 122 to a spider 125, with springs bearing upwards onto the underside of a dry-break member 105, through which the rods extend. The rods, springs and spider are within the non-shown tube.On attaching and opening of a pressure filling nozzle to the coupling, the dry-break member 105 is displaced resiliently inwards fuel can flow past this member and into the tank.The dry-break member has a central aperture 111, normally closed by a plug 112, which is threaded externally 114 and carries an O-ring seal 115 above the thread. The central aperture has a plain bore orifice 116 and is threaded 117 below the plain bore. Thus, when the plug is screwed in, the dry-break member is fluid tight as normal.

INTRODUCTION

This application claims the benefit of priority and is entitled to the filing date pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of Great Britain Patent Application GB 2015726.9, filed Oct. 5, 2020, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention relates to a refueling coupling.

BACKGROUND

My Earlier European Patent No 2822794 B (My Earlier European Patent) relates to a refueling coupling.

The background to My Earlier European Patent was that I had conceived its inventive concept of gravity refueling through an aperture in a pressure refueling dry-break member, with a subsidiary displaceable member normally closing the aperture, some years before an opportunity arose for its use. For pressure refueling, as routinely used in refueling aircraft for instance, attaching and opening a pressure refueling nozzle to the coupling displaces the dry-break member in a conventional manner for pumping of fuel through the coupling. On completion of refueling, the nozzle is disconnected with the dry-break member returning to its original position in contact with a complementary member in the nozzle with no fuel between them, whereby no fuel can escape on removal of the nozzle. This was conventional. For gravity refueling a subsidiary member in the dry-break member is displaced, allowing gravity refueling through the dry-break member. The gravity refueling is in the manner of forecourt refueling of cars for instance. After refueling, returning of the subsidiary member to its normal, closed position ensures that the coupling is closed for pressure refueling.

My Earlier European Patent was granted claiming:

an annular member,a fitting on the annular member complementary to a pressure refueling nozzle anda displaceable dry-break member in the coupling for normally sealing the coupling via a seal between the annular member and the dry-break member, the dry-break member being displaceable from its sealing position on connection of a pressure refueling nozzle,characterised in that the dry-break member includes:an aperture in the displaceable dry-break member anda subsidiary displaceable member carried by the dry-break member, this member normally closing the aperture and being displaceable by introduction of a gravity refueling nozzle into the aperture.”

Claim3of My Earlier European Patent is as follows:

“3. A refueling coupling as claimed in claim1, wherein the subsidiary displaceable member is pivotally displaceable with respect to the displaceable dry-break member against a subsidiary return spring.”

The specific description of My Earlier European Patent describes the following specific embodiment:

“Referring to the drawings, the refueling coupling there shown has an annular fitting1having a bore2, bayonet lugs3and slots4suiting it for connection to a pressure filling nozzle50. A dry-break member5is provided within the annular fitting, normally sealing to it with the aid of an O-ring seal6. When the pressure filling nozzle is fitted, the dry-break member is depressed allowing fuel to flow. In this respect, the refueling coupling is conventional.
In accordance with the invention, the dry-break member has a central aperture11, normally closed by a side pivoted flap12. The pivot14is at a pin15carried in lugs16on the underside of a central disc17having the aperture11. The flap has a finger17projecting between the lugs and having the pin passing through it. A spring18is carried on the pin and normally biases the flap into its closed position parallel with the disc. An O-ring19is carried on the flap whereby should unusual forces displace fuel against the flap it does not leak.
For gravity nozzle fueling, as shown inFIGS.4&5, a gravity fueling nozzle52is placed against the flap and pushed in against its spring. Refueling can now occur.”
FIGS.4&5accompany this description.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide a further embodiment of the invention of My Earlier European Patent.

According to the invention there is provided a refueling coupling having:an annular member,a fitting on the annular member complementary to a pressure refueling nozzle anda displaceable dry-break member in the coupling for normally sealing the coupling via a seal between the annular member and the dry-break member, the dry-break member being displaceable from its sealing position on connection of a pressure refueling nozzle,an aperture in the displaceable dry-break member anda subsidiary displaceable member carried by the dry-break member, this member normally closing the aperture;
wherein:the subsidiary displaceable member is adapted to be manually removable from the dry-break member for gravity refueling.

Preferably, the subsidiary displaceable member is rotatably engageable in the dry-break member. This can be by a bayonet fitting arrangement, but will normally be by providing complementary screw threads on the members.

A graspable element can be provided on the subsidiary displaceable member. Conveniently this is arranged pivotally to lie flush with or beneath the outer surface of the dry-break member (for abutment of this with the complementary member in the nozzle) and be liftable for grasping and turning to screw out the subsidiary displaceable member.

A tether can be provided for tethering the subsidiary displaceable member to the coupling when removed for gravity refueling.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings,FIGS.1,2and3from My Earlier European Patent have been described above.FIGS.4and5show an embodiment of the present invention. Its refueling coupling has an annular fitting101having a bore102, bayonet lugs103and slots104suiting it for connection to a pressure filling nozzle (not shown). A flange122, drilled with screw holes for securement to a fuel tank (not shown), extends out from the fitting101. Also not shown for the sake of clarity is a tube extending down from the flange. Rods extend down from the flange122to a spider125, with springs126bearing upwards onto the underside of a dry-break member105, through which the rods extend. The rods, springs and spider are within the non-shown tube.

On attaching of a pressure filling nozzle to the coupling and opening of the nozzle, the dry-break member105is displaced inwards allowing fuel to flow past this member, within the tube into the tank.

In accordance with the invention, the dry-break member has a central aperture111, normally closed by a plug112, which is threaded externally114and carries an O-ring seal115above the thread. The central aperture has a plain bore orifice116and is threaded117below the plain bore. Thus, when the plug is screwed in, the dry-break member is fluid tight as normal.

An inner tube118extends down from the dry-break member within the non-shown outer tube and indeed within the rods, springs and spider.

A tether119is provided for avoidance of loss of the plug when unscrewed. The tether is connected at one end to the plug and the other within the inner tube118.

In a manner analogous toFIG.3,FIG.5of My Earlier European Patent, a gravity refueling nozzle can be inserted into the bore102and the orifice116for gravity refueling into the tank through the orifice116and the inner tube118.

For removal of the plug and its refitting after gravity refueling, the plug is provided with a recess120in its outer surface121, with a central spigot122. A grip-able flap123is pivotally connected to the spigot. It can be pivoted up, as shown inFIG.5, for turning of the plug for removal and refitting of the latter. Normally the flap lies not higher than the outer surface of the dry-break member, so as not to interfere with displacement of the dry-break member prior to opening of the pressure refueling nozzle for fuel flow.