Portable fuel dispensing system

A portable fuel dispensing system comprises a fuel pump assembly, a conduit, and a fuel tank cap assembly. The dual line conduit permits vapor in an external fuel tank to be evacuated via a vapor line in the conduit and collected in the reservoir of the portable fuel container. The conduit and the fuel tank cap assembly comprise mating couplers having valves biased closed when disconnected from the mating coupler. In use, the fuel tank cap assembly is threaded to the external fuel tank, and the conduit coupler is connected to the cap coupler, forming a fluid-tight connection between the conduit and the fuel tank cap assembly. Thereafter, the external fuel tank is replenished by manipulating the pump assembly. The pump assembly further comprises release valves disposed in the pump body assembly to alleviate pressure differences between the reservoir of the portable fuel container and the external ambient pressure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to portable fuel dispensing devices, and, more particularly, to a vented, non-spill fuel dispensing system with a releasable coupling for filling a fuel tank, and a vapour retention means to capture and retain fuel vapours emitted during the fueling process.

BACKGROUND

A common problem with filling fuel tanks is that fuel can easily spill out, especially where fuel is being poured from a portable fuel container through a nozzle into the fuel tank of a portable, motorized machine, such as a chain saw, weed eater, hedge trimmer, blower, lawn mower, or the like. As fuel flows into the machine's tank, the fuel can splash out of the tank or overfill the tank, causing fuel to spill onto surrounding objects. This spillage can be dangerous due to the combustibility of the fuel. Additionally, fuel spills present environmental hazards and can damage surrounding equipment, paint, and other objects. Furthermore, noxious and dangerous fumes and vapours escape while the fuel is being poured from the portable reservoir into the machine's tank, and these fumes, which can be easily ignited, present a health hazard to persons operating the equipment.

There is a need for a self-contained, portable fuel dispensing system that facilitates transfer of fuel from a portable fuel storage container (e.g., fuel can) to a second fluid receiving vessel (e.g., an external fuel tank on equipment or a machine) in a manner which prevents escape and spillage of fuel in liquid or vapor form. The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems and solving one or more of the needs as set forth above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a vented non-spill portable fuel dispensing system is provided. The portable fuel dispensing system comprises a fuel pump assembly, a conduit, and a fuel tank cap assembly. The pump assembly comprises a handle assembly, a cylinder assembly, and pump body assembly. The pump handle assembly comprises a handle, a rod, and a plunger valve assembly. The cylinder assembly is a tube or hose extending to the bottom of the fuel reservoir inside the portable fuel container. The pump body assembly comprises a cap assembly having a cap top, a cap middle, a cap bottom, a body seal.

The conduit is a flexible hose or tube capable of channeling fuel from the pump assembly to the external fuel tank. The conduit is attached at one end to the pump assembly by any means for attaching a flexible hose to a rigid pipe or tube. The opposite end of the conduit comprises a conduit coupler capable of coupling to the fuel tank cap assembly. The fuel tank cap assembly comprises a body, a cap coupler capable of mating with the conduit coupler, and a means for attaching the cap assembly to an external fuel tank.

In use, the fuel tank cap assembly is threaded to the external fuel tank. The conduit coupler is connected to the cap coupler, thus forming a fluid-tight connection between the conduit and the fuel tank cap assembly. Thereafter, the external fuel tank may be replenished by manipulating the pump assembly.

In another embodiment, the conduit coupler and the cap coupler further comprise self-sealing valve assemblies that are biased closed when disconnected from the mating connector. The valves open only upon a connection to the respective mating coupler.

In another embodiment, the portable fuel dispensing system has the capability of collecting and containing the fuel vapors that are emitted from the external fuel tank during the fueling process. In this embodiment, the conduit comprises a fuel line for dispensing the fuel, and a vapor line for recovering the vapor emitted from the external fuel tank. As the fuel is dispensed through the fuel line, the vapor from the external fuel tank is evacuated via the vapor line and collected in the reservoir of the portable fuel container. Thus, the external fuel tank can be filled without substantial risk of spilling fuel or losing harmful vapors.

In another embodiment, the fuel tank cap assembly further comprises an adaptor capable of accommodating multiple sizes of threaded neck openings of external fuel tanks. The adaptor can be fitted to the cap assembly, where the adaptor has a portion with male threads to mate with the female threads of the cap assembly, and a female threaded portion to mate with the male threads of the external fuel tank. The male threaded portion of the adaptor varies in size with different sizes accommodating the various sizes of openings on the external gas tank.

In another embodiment, the pump assembly further comprises release valves disposed in the pump body assembly to alleviate pressure differences between the reservoir of the portable fuel container and the external ambient pressure.

In another embodiment, the system further comprises a self-sealing filler cap assembly disposed within the body of the portable fuel container. The filler cap assembly opens when the tip of a fuel nozzle presses against the spring-loaded drive pin, thereby opening the valve. When the nozzle is removed, the valve automatically closes, preventing spillage and intrusion of unwanted foreign matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the Figures, various embodiments of an exemplary portable fuel dispensing system, and components thereof, are shown. A fuel dispensing system according to principles of the invention permits transfer of fuel from a portable fuel container, such as a gasoline canister, to an external fuel tank, such as the fuel tank of a portable motorized machine, in a sealed manner which prevents escape and spillage of vapors and liquid fuel. The embodiments disclosed herein are meant for illustration and not limitation of the invention. An ordinary practitioner will understand that it is possible to create other variations of the following embodiments without undue experimentation.

Referring toFIG. 1, the portable fuel dispensing system comprises a fuel pump assembly10, a conduit40, and a fuel tank cap assembly50. InFIGS. 2 and 3, the pump assembly10comprises a handle assembly11, a cylinder assembly16, and pump body assembly. The pump handle assembly11comprises a handle12, a rod13, and a plunger valve assembly14. The cylinder assembly17is a tube or hose extending to the bottom of the fuel reservoir inside the portable fuel container2. The pump body assembly comprises a cap assembly having a cap top18, a cap middle19, a cap bottom20, a body seal21.

Referring toFIG. 4, the conduit40is a flexible hose or tube capable of channeling fuel from the pump assembly10to the external fuel tank. The conduit40is attached at one end to the pump assembly by any means for attaching a flexible hose to a rigid pipe or tube, such attachment means comprising a hose barb, a clamp, a clip, or the like. The opposite end of the conduit40comprises a conduit coupler41capable of coupling to the fuel tank cap assembly50, as described below. Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the fuel tank cap assembly50comprises a body51, a cap coupler52capable of mating with the conduit coupler41, a cap dust cover53, and a means for attaching the cap assembly to an external fuel tank. In many applications, the opening of the external fuel tank will comprise a protruding neck portion with male threads. Thus, in one embodiment of the fuel tank cap assembly50, the body51comprises female threads54capable of mating with the male threads on the external fuel tank.

In use, the fuel tank cap assembly50is threaded to the external fuel tank50, where it may replace the pre-existing fuel tank cap. After the cap dust cover53is removed, the conduit coupler41is connected to the cap coupler52, thus forming a fluid-tight connection between the conduit40and the fuel tank cap assembly50. Thereafter, the external fuel tank may be replenished by manipulating the pump assembly10. As the pump handle12is manipulated, the rod13and plunger valve assembly14draw fuel from the portable fuel container2reservoir through the cylinder assembly16and into the conduit40, where the fuel is channeled through the connected couplers and into the external fuel tank.

In another embodiment, the conduit coupler41and the cap coupler52further comprise self-sealing valve assemblies that are biased closed when disconnected from the mating connector. The valves open only upon a connection to the respective mating coupler. Thus, when the conduit40is detached from the cap assembly50upon completion of the fueling process, the valves in the conduit coupler41and the cap coupler52close automatically, thereby preventing spillage of fuel and vapors. In another embodiment, the conduit coupler41and the cap coupler52further comprise quick-disconnect capabilities. For example, the conduit coupler41can comprise one or more latches45capable of being partially depressed upon the user's hand pressure, and capable of returning to the undepressed position upon release of such pressure. The latch45can comprise a lip46capable of mating with a recess47in the cap body51. Thus, the conduit coupler41can be inserted into the cap coupler52such that the lip46engages the recess47, thus retaining the connectivity of the two couplers during the fueling process. Upon completion of the fueling process, the latch45can then be depressed to permit removal of the lip46from the recess47, thus releasing the connectivity of the two couplers.

The embodiment disclosed herein is presented as one of many ways to accomplish the quick-disconnect coupling of the conduit40and cap assembly50, and an ordinary practitioner will understand that other arrangements of quick-disconnect devices are achievable without undue experimentation. While quick disconnect couplings are preferred, the portable fuel dispensing system is not limited to such couplings. Instead, any releasable coupling that provides means for quickly and repeatedly connecting and disconnecting the conduit40to the cap assembly50without leakage and without introducing foreign matter into the external fuel tank may be utilized. In the preferred embodiment, the quick disconnect couplers members are capable of closing and sealing the respective apertures with which they are associated when the members are uncoupled from one another.

In another embodiment, the portable fuel dispensing system has the capability of collecting and containing the fuel vapors that are emitted from the external fuel tank during the fueling process. Generally, when a fuel tank is filled with fuel, vapors are emitted from the tank as the fuel enters the external tank. Referring toFIG. 4, in this embodiment of the portable fuel dispensing system, the conduit40comprises a fuel line42for dispensing the fuel, as described above, and a vapor line43for recovering the vapor emitted from the external fuel tank. Referring toFIGS. 5 and 6, the conduit coupler41comprises dual-line conduit receptacles44for receiving the fuel line42and vapor line43. The fuel tank cap assembly50also comprises dual-line cap receptacles55capable of mating to the conduit receptacles44, thus permitting the flow of fuel and vapor between the fuel container to the external fuel tank. As the fuel is dispensed through the fuel line42, the vapor from the external fuel tank is evacuated via the vapor line43and collected in the reservoir of the portable fuel container. Thus, the external fuel tank can be filled without substantial risk of spilling fuel or losing harmful vapors.

In another embodiment of the portable fuel dispensing system, shown inFIG. 7, the fuel tank cap assembly50further comprises an adaptor56capable of accommodating multiple sizes of threaded neck openings of external fuel tanks. The size of the threaded neck opening of the fuel tank will often depend on the type of machine to which it is attached, whether the machine be a lawn mower, weed eater, chain saw, hedge trimmers, or the like. Thus, an adaptor56can be fitted to the cap assembly50, where the adaptor has a portion with male threads to mate with the female threads54of the cap assembly50, and a female threaded portion to mate with the male threads of the external fuel tank. The male threaded portion of the adaptor56varies in size with different sizes accommodating the various sizes of openings on the external gas tank. Multiple adaptors56may be used in combination where necessary. The adaptor56embodiment disclosed herein is presented as one of many ways to accomplish the accommodation of multiple sizes of gas tank openings, and an ordinary practitioner will understand that other arrangements of adaptors are achievable without undue experimentation.

In another embodiment of the portable fuel dispensing system, shown inFIG. 8, the pump assembly10further comprises release valves25disposed in the pump body assembly. For example, the release valves25could be disposed within the pump body seal21or cap middle19, as desired. The release valves25are one-way check valves capable of releasing gas, such as fuel vapors, when the gas reaches a predetermined pressure level. For example, in instances where pressure builds within the reservoir of the portable fuel container2, the release valves25can automatically release the pressure before the pressure reaches a dangerous level. An opposite-facing release valve25can be used to alleviate external pressure when the pressure inside the reservoir of the portable fuel container2drops below that of atmospheric pressure. This embodiment of pressure release valves25is presented as one of many ways to accomplish pressure alleviation between the portable fuel container reservoir and the ambient environment, and an ordinary practitioner will understand that other arrangements of pressure release valves are achievable without undue experimentation.

In another embodiment of the portable fuel dispensing system, shown inFIGS. 9-11, the system further comprises a self-sealing filler cap assembly60disposed within the body of the portable fuel container2. The filler cap assembly60has a housing61, a dust cover62, and a valve having a valve body64, a spring loaded drive pin65, and a seal66. When the portable fuel container2is not being filled, the spring attached to the drive pin65forces the seal66against the valve body64, thereby creating a vapor tight seal. When the dust cover62is removed, a fuel nozzle can be inserted into the assembly such that tip of the nozzle presses against the drive pin65, thus expanding the spring and separating the seal66from the valve body64. The fuel can then flow out of the nozzle and into the portable fuel container2via the flow path created by separation of the seal66and the valve body64. When the nozzle is removed, the spring draws the seal66back into contact with the valve body64, thus resealing the portable fuel container2. The dust cover62is then replaced to protect the valve assembly from unwanted intrusion of foreign material.

The foregoing embodiments are merely representative of the portable fuel dispensing system and not meant for limitation of the invention. For example, one having ordinary skill in the art would understand that many components described herein can be customized for specific applications by one having ordinary skill in the art. Consequently, it is understood that equivalents and substitutions for certain elements and components set forth above are part of the invention, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.