Abstract:
A high pressure dispensing nozzle for providing fuel from an inlet reserve to a connector of an outlet receptacle, including a generally tubular nozzle construction having an outer sleeve extending from adjacent a proximal end towards a distal end of the nozzle construction, an internal passageway construction disposed within the outer sleeve, and a plurality of radially movable jaw members disposed between the internal passageway construction and the outer sleeve extending to near the distal end of the tubular construction, wherein the internal passageway construction includes interacting components responsive to insertion of the connector into the distal end and engagement thereof with the internal passageway construction to effect movement of the jaws to lock the connector in engagement and to establish a fuel passageway through the nozzle construction for the delivery of fuel therethrough and wherein the internal passageway construction components include a pistonably slideable outlet tube construction that not only serves as part of the fuel delivery passageway through the nozzle construction but also both as a control for locking the jaws and the outer sleeve in a fueling configuration and as a valve construction for allowing and preventing fuel flow through the nozzle construction. The nozzle preferably is also responsive to the introduction of fuel thereinto to pressure lock the outer sleeve in a fueling configuration and additionally operates to prevent the dispensing of fuel in the event that a proper and correct connector is not locked into engagement for fuel dispensing.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This non-provisional patent application claims priority to patent application having Ser. No. 61/629,664, filed on Nov. 23, 2011. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a high pressure filling nozzle for dispensing gaseous fluids from an inlet reserve to an outlet receptacle, and, in particular, to a pressure-locking nozzle that provides a sealed connection from the inlet reserve to a connector of the outlet receptacle for filling the receptacle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Recent years have experienced a growing desire for natural gas-powered vehicles (NGV) and advances in the design and provision of such types of vehicles. Effective use of such types of vehicles, however, requires means to safely and reliably fuel and refill fuel tanks of such vehicles as they are utilized. 
     Such need has resulted in the development of various standards for such means, including the standards for Type 2 and 3 nozzles as set forth in ANSI/CSA NGV1-2006 Standard for Compressed Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Fueling Connection Devices. That standard addresses design profiles for such fueling connection devices, as well as the standardized forces associated with connection (or coupling) and disconnection (or uncoupling) of a nozzle from a receptacle at the low and high pressures encountered during fueling processes. 
     The result has been a continuing and ongoing desire for new and improved fuel nozzles that can comply with such standards and can be employed to safely and reliably fuel and refill fuel tanks of NGV vehicles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been developed to address and satisfy such desire, and provides a pressure-locking nozzle for dispensing gaseous fluids under high pressure, such as compressed natural gas (CNG). A preferred embodiment of such pressure-locking nozzle, of a generally tubular construction, has been designed to dispense a gaseous fluid therethrough from an inlet reserve to a connector of an outlet receptacle, and includes various features for effecting such dispensing in accordance with the applicable NGV1 standards. 
     In such regard, the preferred generally tubular nozzle construction is designed to have opposed first, proximal, and second, distal, ends and an internal fluid passageway construction extending generally between the first and second ends, with a generally central, valved, passageway formed therethrough for conveying the gaseous fluid from the inlet reserve to the connector of the outlet receptacle for dispensing into the outlet receptacle when the tubular construction is properly connected to both the inlet reserve and the outlet receptacle for fueling. Such internal passageway construction includes interacting components for controllably opening and closing a central passageway through such internal passageway construction to permit conveyance of the fluid therethrough when the connector of the outlet receptacle is in proper engagement with the internal fluid passageway construction and an external valve, such as a ball valve, is operated to introduce fuel from the inlet reserve to the nozzle construction. 
     In addition, such tubular nozzle construction includes a plurality of clamping members operable to clamp the connector of the outlet receptacle in contact with the internal fluid passageway construction and a slideably movable outer sleeve construction surrounding the internal fluid passageway construction and the plurality of clamping members. The internal passageway construction includes cooperatively engageable portions and elements that are operatively responsive to positioning of the connector of the outlet receptacle in a mating engagement with the internal fluid passageway construction to effect movement of the outer sleeve construction into a dispensing or fueling configuration that maintains the clamping engagement of the clamping members with the connector of the outlet receptacle in a locking engagement. 
     Such preferred nozzle construction employs a unique design that includes a fuel delivery outlet tube as part of the internal construction of the nozzle. Such fuel delivery outlet tube, which is hereinafter often referred to more simply as an outlet tube, is so configured that it can act not only as a fluid carrying tube for the delivery of the fuel but also both as a control to maintain the mating engagement between the clamping members and the connector of the outlet receptacle and as a valve to permit and effect establishment of a delivery passageway through the nozzle for providing fuel from the inlet reserve to the connector of the outlet receptacle. 
     Such preferred construction, unlike certain prior art nozzles, therefore does not require a separate valve member or element in addition to a tube that includes a mating control assembly or element therewith, but, instead, incorporates both the mating control and valve functions into a single slideably movable interior fuel delivery tube that includes a capped proximal end, an open distal, or dispensing, end, an annular outlet ring near its distal end that rides against the clamping members, and one or more side wall apertures in the tube located near the capped proximal end of such interior fuel delivery tube. As such inner tube moves pistonably within the nozzle, it acts to not only control the positions of the clamping members that are riding against the annular outlet ring but also to expose or close the apertures in the side wall to permit or prevent fuel flow therethrough, thus serving as a valve. 
     In addition, such preferred construction includes various other features, such as a pressure locking feature, that improve safety and alleviate problems encountered with certain prior art nozzles. 
     In such regards, after the outer sleeve construction has been moved to a dispensing or fueling configuration, a pressure responsive mechanism of the internal passageway construction is operable as actual fueling commences to effect pressurized engagement of such outer sleeve construction in such fueling configuration to establish a pressure-locked engagement and to inhibit or prevent movement of said outer sleeve construction out of such configuration during conveyance of the fluid through the internal fluid passageway. Dispensing of the pressurized fuel may then proceed until the outlet receptacle is filled to a desired level. 
     Typically, uncoupling of the tubular construction between the inlet reserve and the outlet receptacle upon completion of a fueling operation involves the reverse slideable movement of the outer sleeve construction from its dispensing or fueling configuration back to a home position following release of pressurization due to operation of an external pressure valve. 
     The invention operates in compliance with the applicable NGV1 standard noted hereinabove, which dictates that the nozzle must be able to couple when internal pressure is low, and to resist uncoupling, or to require high uncoupling force, when internal pressure is high. The invention makes use of the internal pressure to provide the appropriate high or low resistance to coupling or uncoupling of the nozzle. 
     As clamping members, the invention preferably employs a plurality of jaws to lock on to the inserted connector of the outlet receptacle and to hold the connector in place. Such jaws, which are generally, disposed radially extending as fingers along the interior of the outer sleeve construction adjacent to the outer end of the internal fluid passageway construction, operate to become trapped in a locked, mating engagement, position by means of the sliding outer sleeve construction. 
     The initial clamping operation results from the interaction of various portions or components of the nozzle, and particularly components of, or associated with, the internal fluid passageway construction, the outlet tube of which, as previously noted, is pistonably slideable into the fuel chamber of the fuel conveyance cylinder to also function as a valve construction along the internal passageway. Such outlet tube has an annular outlet ring construction disposed near the distal end of the tube, which outlet ring rides against the adjacent jaw fingers to control the positionings thereof. 
     Initially, the outer sleeve is disposed generally rearwardly, or towards the proximal end of the nozzle, as part of the tubular nozzle construction, and is prevented from being moved forwardly, or towards the distal end of the nozzle, by various interacting components of the internal passageway construction, including restrictions associated with the jaw fingers. When the connector of the outlet receptacle is inserted into the distal end of the nozzle to force the connector into intimate engagement with the inwardly-tapered distal end of the outlet tube, such action causes the outlet tube to be forced rearwardly, against the spring loading being exerted on the outlet tube, along the interior of an outer collar and into the distal end of the central fuel conveyance cylinder, the proximal end of which central fuel cylinder is operatively connected to the first end of the internal passageway construction. 
     As a consequence of such movement of the outlet tube, the annular outlet ring construction thereon is also moved rearwardly along the interior surfaces of the jaw fingers, towards the proximal ends thereof, to seat within stepped recesses on such interior surfaces, thereby allowing the distal ends of the jaws to move radially inwardly to engage the connector of the outlet receptacle as the proximal ends of the jaws move radially outwardly to relieve restrictions that had been preventing forwardly movement of the outer sleeve. The outer sleeve construction is spring-loaded in such a way that, when such restrictions against forward movement are relieved, the outer sleeve construction is caused to move forwardly, towards the distal end of the nozzle construction and the engaged connector of the outlet receptacle. 
     Such forward movement of the outer sleeve construction to a dispensing or fueling configuration effectively serves to maintain the jaws in a condition locking the connector of the outlet receptacle in mating engagement with the inwardly-tapered distal end of the outlet tube so long as the outer sleeve construction remains in such dispensing or fueling configuration. Such clamping and locking operations typically occur prior to commencement of the actual fueling, when the pressure within the passageway is still low. 
     During the actual fueling event, when high internal pressure becomes present due to the introduction of the pressurized fluid from the inlet reserve into the central fuel conveyance cylinder of the internal fluid passageway construction, the pressurized fluid in the nozzle is allowed to also fill an outer chamber outside the main flow path within the internal fluid passageway construction. The resulting pressure in such outer chamber forces an internal sleeve of the internal fluid passageway construction forwardly against an inwardly projecting annular wall on the interior of the outer sleeve construction to maintain the outer sleeve construction in its dispensing or fueling configuration. Since uncoupling the nozzle requires the user to pull the outer sleeve construction rearwardly, away from the outlet receptacle, and since the outer sleeve is then being held in place by the high pressure on the inner sleeve, an excessive rearward force, larger than the minimum required by the NGV1 standard under high pressure conditions, would need to be applied on the outer sleeve construction in order to uncouple the nozzle. Such pressure locking feature of the invention provides the high pressure safety feature dictated by the NGV1 standard. 
     When fueling is complete, the accepted practice is to vent the gas into the atmosphere, or in some cases back into the compression system, through a separate hose. An external valve, not part of the present nozzle construction, is turned to a “vent” setting which allows the gas to flow, or drain, out of the nozzle assembly. As the nozzle assembly is depressurized, the noted outer chamber of the internal fluid passageway construction also returns to atmospheric pressure, as a consequence of which the inner sleeve is no longer held in its forward position and can then be readily moved rearwardly, against spring biasing, by a user. When the user pulls the outer sleeve construction rearwardly, the jaws are released from their locked condition and the nozzle may be uncoupled from the connector of the outlet receptacle. 
     The invention is also designed to obviate a safety problem that could potentially allow for the accidental or inadvertent discharge of pressurized fluid from the nozzle at times when the nozzle is not properly mated to the connector of an outlet receptacle. Such problem could arise if and when an improper or inadequate engagement between the nozzle and the connector of the outlet receptacle has been effected at or by the time fueling is initiated. The possibility has existed for the operator, before the nozzle was pressurized, to open an outlet valve to permit the free flow of fuel through the nozzle for fuel delivery and to thereafter pressurize the nozzle for fueling and effect fuel flow through the nozzle even if there was then no suitable engagement between the nozzle and the connector of the outlet receptacle. In such circumstances, the fluid could, inappropriately, and dangerously, and then be conveyed, under high pressure, through and out of the nozzle into the surrounding environment instead of into an outlet receptacle. 
     To address such concern, in the present invention, when pressurized fuel is introduced into the nozzle, the outlet tube of the internal passageway construction is automatically closed to seal off the escape or delivery of high pressure gas if there is no suitable engagement between the nozzle and the connector of the outlet receptacle, even if internal mechanisms may have previously been activated to lock the jaw members of the nozzle construction in a fueling configuration. The present invention is able to effect such result and prevent the problem described hereinabove due to the novel design and operation of the spring-loaded outlet tube, which, as previously addressed, additionally functions not only as a valve construction but also, with the associated outlet ring construction disposed on the outlet tube that rides against the fingers of the jaw members, as a control for locking the jaw members in a fueling configuration. 
     In proper operation, when the connector of an outlet receptacle is forced into intimate engagement with the inwardly-tapered distal end of the spring-loaded outlet tube, the outlet tube construction, which is capped at its inlet end and has a side wall aperture along its length near such capped end, is forced rearwardly, or towards the proximal end of the nozzle, into the fuel chamber of the central fuel conveyance cylinder of the internal passageway construction, against the spring loading, as the jaws operate to clamp onto the connector of the outlet receptacle, as has previously been explained hereinabove. 
     As the outlet tube thus moves rearwardly, the side wall aperture therein is moved clear of the outer collar and into the fuel chamber to establish a free passageway with free communication from the inlet reserve into the central fuel conveyance cylinder and through such side aperture and the outlet tube towards the engaged connector of the outlet receptacle. When pressure is thereafter introduced into the nozzle as the pressurized fluid is conveyed into and through the fluid passageway, the locked presence of the connector in mated engagement with the inwardly-tapered distal end of the outlet tube maintains the application of sufficient rearward force against such annular outlet ring construction to overcome the combination of the spring biasing of the outlet tube towards the nozzle outlet and the action of the pressure against the capped inlet end of the outlet tube. 
     On the other hand, if an improper object is inserted into the nozzle, or the connector of the outlet receptacle is inserted into the nozzle in such a way that it is not properly and adequately forced into intimate engagement with the inwardly-tapered distal end of the outlet tube, the outlet tube may nevertheless be pushed inwardly and rearwardly into the body of the nozzle even though no proper and adequate engagement has been established by an appropriate connector of an outlet receptacle with the outlet tube. While such movement of the outlet tube and the annular outlet ring will still cause the jaws to clamp radially inwardly, and the outer sleeve construction will move forwardly, or towards the distal end of the nozzle, to lock the jaws in such position as though an appropriate connector of the inlet receptacle were actually present and properly and adequately engaged, the jaws will not actually interact with any connector to lock and maintain the outlet tube in a fueling configuration because no appropriate connector is present. 
     Consequently, if pressure is thereafter introduced into such nozzle, because no connector is locked in place to apply a rearward pressure against the outlet tube, the combination of the introduced forward pressure acting upon the capped inlet end of the outlet tube and the spring loading upon such outlet tube will push the outlet tube forwardly, or towards the distal end of the nozzle, to move the side wall aperture into and along the interior of the outlet collar, thereby preventing any flow of fluid from the inlet reserve though such side wall aperture and through the outlet tube, even though the jaws and the outer sleeve construction had previously been moved to their coupled, or fueling configuration, positions. Such operation prevents the rapid, and dangerous, escape of pressurized gas from the nozzle. Return of the nozzle to the uncoupled orientation is accomplished by simply venting the pressure via the external ball valve and pulling rearward on the outer sleeve. 
     Consequently, the present invention provides a new and improved pressure-locking nozzle for dispensing gaseous fluids that complies with NGV standards and permits the safe and reliable fueling of vehicles with fuels such as CNG. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In referring to the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a nozzle construction according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an outlet end view of such embodiment, with the embodiment canted slightly downwardly towards the outlet end; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of such embodiment, generally similar to  FIG. 2 , but in cross-section to better illustrates several of the internal components of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of such embodiment, similar to  FIG. 4 , but also showing a connector of an outlet receptacle prior to insertion thereof into the outlet end of the embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged partial cross-sectional side view of such embodiment, similar to  FIG. 5 , but better showing various internal components; 
         FIG. 7  is a further cross-sectional side view showing the embodiment after it has been fully engaged with the connector but before the embodiment has been pressurized via an external valve; 
         FIG. 8  is a further cross-sectional side view showing the embodiment after it has been fully pressurized by the introduction of pressurized fluid thereinto; 
         FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional side view showing the embodiment in a situation where the outlet tube has been compressed by a force other than a correct connector; and, 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view showing the embodiment in a situation where the outlet tube was compressed by a force other than a correct connector and the embodiment was thereafter pressurized. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, wherein like numbers correspond to and identify generally like components, one preferred nozzle embodiment  100  according to present invention, as depicted in  FIGS. 1-3 , is in the form of a generally tubular nozzle construction  102  that has a first, proximal, inlet end  104 , designed and configured to be engaged to an inlet reserve, and a second, distal, outlet end  106  designed and configured to receive therein the connector  108  ( FIG. 5 ) of an outlet receptacle. Such tubular nozzle construction  102  includes an internal passageway construction  110  with a generally central passageway  112  therethrough and an outer sleeve construction  114  that includes a forwardly disposed jaw lock sleeve portion  116  connected to a rearwardly disposed grip sleeve portion  118  having a plurality of externally projecting radial ribs  120   a  that provide grip assistance. 
     As better observed from  FIG. 4 , in such preferred embodiment  100  the internal passageway construction  110  includes at proximal end  104  of the tubular nozzle construction  102  an inlet fitting  120  that is engaged with an inlet cap  122  and a nut  124  to hold inlet fitting  120  in position with fuel conveyance cylinder  126  to provide fuel into the fuel chamber  127  when inlet fitting  120  is connected to an inlet reserve. Fuel conveyance cylinder  126  is fitted within inner jaw lock cylinder  128 , and an outer pressure chamber  130  is formed along a portion of fuel conveyance cylinder  126  between the outer wall of fuel conveyance cylinder  126  and inner jaw lock cylinder  128 , with one or more apertures  132  in the side wall of fuel conveyance cylinder  126  permitting fuel flow between the fuel chamber  127  of fuel conveyance cylinder  126  and outer pressure chamber  130 . Various O-rings and back-up O-rings such as  134  and  136  are utilized to prevent leakage between adjacent components. 
     An elongated outlet collar  140  is screwed into the distal end of the fuel conveyance cylinder  126  and acts to slideably contain within its inner bore the outlet tube  142 , which has a capped proximal end  144  extending into the fuel chamber  127  within fuel conveyance cylinder  126  and an open, inwardly-tapered distal end that extends to near distal end  106  within the tubular nozzle construction  102 . Such outlet tube  142  includes one or more side wall apertures  146  near the capped proximal end  144 , the purposes and effect of which will be further explained hereinafter. Various O-rings and back-up O-rings  148 ,  150 , and  152  are utilized to prevent leakage between adjacent components. Central spring  156  within fuel conveyance cylinder  126  normally biases outlet tube  142  forwardly towards distal end  106  of the tubular construction  102  by exerting pressure against capped proximal end  144  of outlet tube  142 . 
     A biasing spring  170  is disposed about the outer wall of outlet tube  142  to act against the annular outlet ring  172  shown positioned against end cap  173  on outlet tube  142  near the distal end of outlet tube  142  to normally bias annular outlet ring  172  against end cap  173  and outlet tube  142  towards distal end  106  of the tubular construction  102 . Such annular outlet ring  172  bears annularly radially outwardly against the interior sides of a plurality of jaws  174  that are disposed extending along the inner sides of jaw lock cylinder  176 . Jaw lock cylinder  176 , with connected grip portion  178 , annularly surrounds inner sleeve  180  and is attached near  181  to jaw lock cylinder  176  to form therewith a slideable outer sleeve  182 . 
     The interiorly extending step  183  at the proximal or rear end of jaw lock cylinder  176  normally abuts the distal end of inner sleeve  180 , and such components are held in their rearmost positions, against the force of spring  184 , due to the design and positions of the plurality of jaws  174 , each of which are in the form of fingers  185  that include step portions  186  at their distal or outer ends that serve to lock the jaw lock cylinder  176 , and hence the outer sleeve  182 , in place against forward movement. A spring  188  about the proximal or inner ends of such jaws  174  helps maintain the jaws  174  in an annular arrangement about the distal end of outlet tube  142 . 
     An endpiece  190  is installed at the distal end  106  of the tubular construction  102  to help contain internal components within such construction and as a guide and size restriction element to help ensure that the connectors  108  of outlet receptacles inserted into the distal end  106  of the tubular construction are appropriately sized and so inserted to correctly mate with the tubular nozzle construction  102  for the fueling operation. A protective bumper  192  is provided with such endpiece  190  to engage and protect the distal or outer end of the jaw cylinder  176 . 
       FIG. 5  shows, in a side sectional view, the typical condition of the tubular nozzle construction  102  before a connector  108  of an outlet receptacle is coupled to the nozzle. Before the connector  108  is inserted into the distal end  106  of the nozzle, outer sleeve  182  and inner sleeve  180  are each held in their rearmost positions against the force of spring  184  due to the open positions of the jaws  174 , and outlet tube  142  is biased towards the distal end  106  by spring  156 . 
       FIG. 6  shows, in an expanded, partial, side sectional view, the forward portion of the tubular nozzle construction before it is coupled to the connector  108  of the receptacle, better showing certain details of various components of the tubular nozzle construction  102  at such time. As can be observed from such figure, the steps  200  at the distal ends of jaws  174  interfere with the forward tendency of the jaw lock cylinder  176  of outer sleeve  182 , thus causing outer sleeve  182  to remain in its rearward position despite the forward force exerted by spring  184 . The jaws  174 , of which there are preferably six, are held in such open position by the annular outlet ring  172  on outlet tube  142 . The annular outlet ring  172  is held in place against outlet tube end cap  173 , which is threaded on to outlet tube  142 , by outlet tube spring  170 , and outlet ring  172  acts against the inner sides  201  of jaws  174  to hold their distal ends open, while jaw spring  188  holds jaws  174  together in their radial pattern. Nozzle endpiece  190  serves to prevent connectors and receptacles rated for lower pressure than this nozzle from entering the fueling orientation described below. Bumper  192  prevents jarring, marking, or denting between the nozzle and the vehicle being fueled and longitudinal grooves in outer sleeve  182  prevent rotation of outlet collar  140 . 
       FIG. 7  shows, in a side sectional view, the tubular nozzle construction  102  after it has been fully engaged by the connector  108  of the outlet receptacle, but before the tubular nozzle construction  102  has been pressurized via the external ball valve. Due to the action by the user in pushing the nozzle body on to connector  108 , outlet tube  142  has moved rearwardly, against the force of central spring  156 , towards the proximal end  104  of the nozzle construction  102 . This rearward movement also moves outlet ring  172  and outlet tube end cap  173  the same amount, compressing outlet tube spring  170 , as well as central spring  156 , causing outlet ring  172  to move along the inner sides  201  of jaws  174  and into recesses  204  near the proximal ends of jaws  174 . It should be noted that the fluid passage formed by the engagement of outlet tube  142  with connector  108  is sealed by the O-ring  109  contained inside the connector  108 . 
     Due to such movement, the jaws  174  then no longer have outlet ring  172  restricting their radially inward clamping motion at the distal ends thereof. At the same time, outer sleeve spring  184  is relieved due to the inner sides  201  of the jaws  184  no longer being held radially outwardly such that steps  200  of the jaws  174  impede forward motion towards distal end  106  of the nozzle construction  102  of jaw lock cylinder  176 , and hence the outer sleeve  182 , as was the case in  FIG. 6 . Outer sleeve  182  therefore is pushed forward, pushing the distal ends of fingers  185  of jaws  174  radially inwardly to clamp connector  108  of the outlet receptacle in a locked, fueling configuration, position via the engagement of the annular groove  208  along the connector.  108  with forward lock projections  210  at the distal ends of jaws  174 . 
       FIG. 8  then shows, in a side sectional view, the tubular nozzle construction  102  after it has been pressurized, such as by operation of the external ball valve associated with the inlet reserve, which is the condition of the mechanism when fuel is flowing. Fuel flows in through inlet fitting  120 , which in turn is held on by nut  124 . Inlet fitting  120   a  is allowed to rotate 360 degrees in the cavity created when nut  124  is threaded on to inlet cap  122 . O-ring  131  and backup rings  129  seal the interface between inlet fitting  120  and inlet cap  122 . O-ring  133  and backup rings  135  seal the interface between inlet cap  122  and central cylinder  126 . The fuel enters the fuel chamber  127  inside the fuel conveyance of central cylinder  126 . 
     Holes or apertures  132  in the side of central cylinder  126  allow the fuel to also flow therethrough from fuel chamber  127  to fill the annular outer pressure chamber  130  between it and inner sleeve  180 . The difference in diameter between the front and rear sealing surfaces of inner sleeve  180 , with the front diameter being smaller, allow the pressurized gaseous fuel to push the generally cylindrical inner sleeve  180  forwardly against the protruding, interiorly extending step or wall  183  of jaw lock cylinder  176 . 
     At high pressure, the forward force of inner sleeve  180  against jaw lock cylinder  176 , and hence against outer sleeve  182 , of which jaw lock cylinder  176  is a part, is high enough to prevent the user from being able to easily pull the outer sleeve  182  rearwardly to disconnect the nozzle construction  102 . For a user to be able to do so, the pressure must first be vented, thus ensuring a safe disconnection. Inner sleeve  180  is sealed against the fuel conveyance of central cylinder  126  by means of O-rings and backup rings such as  134 ,  136 ,  145 , and  147 . 
     Fuel is also allowed to flow from fuel chamber  127  into the holes or apertures  146  in the rear portion of outlet tube  142 , near capped end  144 , due to the rearward movement of the outlet tube  142  to position such holes outside the bore formed by outlet collar  140 . Fuel then flows from fuel chamber  127  through the holes or apertures  146  and into and through outlet tube  142 , to the connector  108  of the outlet receptacle, and into the vehicular fuel tank. The piston formed by outlet tube  142  is sealed against outlet collar  140  by O-rings and backup rings such as  148  and  152 . 
     It should be appreciated that the rearward set of such O-rings and backup rings seal the flow of fuel into the outlet tube  142  only when outlet tube  142  is in a closed, or forward, position, as shown in  FIG. 5 , and not when outlet tube  142  is in an open, or rearward, position, as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The interface between outlet collar  140  and the central fuel conveyance cylinder  180  is sealed via O-ring and backup rings such as  149  and  150  in both instances. 
       FIG. 9 , in a side sectional view, shows the nozzle construction  102  in the event that outlet tube  142  is depressed, or caused to move rearwardly towards the proximal end  104  of nozzle  102 , by an external force other than a proper and correct connector of the outlet receptacle. In such event, outlet tube  142 , with annular outlet ring  172  and end cap  173  thereon, moves rearwardly, with central spring  156  and outlet tube spring  170  being compressed, while jaw lock cylinder  176  and outer sleeve  182  move forwardly and jaws  174  clamp inwardly in the same manner as they would if a proper and correct connector of the outlet receptacle had actually been inserted into the distal end  106  of the nozzle construction  102  against the outlet ring construction  172  of outlet tube  142 . As this occurs, annular outlet ring  172  becomes constrained within recesses  204  of jaws  174 . However, since a proper and correct connector is not actually present, central spring  156  continues to push forwardly against outlet tube  142  and its capped end  144 , thus pushing outlet tube  142  and threaded outlet tube cap  173  thereon forwardly again, adjacent to the interior surfaces of jaws  174 , while annular outlet ring  172 , which is slideable on outlet tube  142 , remains constrained within recesses  204  of jaws  174 , then resulting in the orientation seen in  FIG. 10 . 
       FIG. 10  shows, in a side sectional view, the nozzle construction  102  after outlet tube  142  has been depressed by an external force other than a proper and correct connector of the outlet receptacle, and as such outlet tube  142  has then been immediately pushed back forwardly by central spring  156 , while outlet ring  172  remains in a rearward position on outlet tube  142  due to the clamped position of jaws  174 . Any remaining force causing outlet tube  142  and its associated threaded outlet tube cap  173  to tend rearwardly is overcome as soon as pressure is introduced into the nozzle construction  102 , and the forward movement of outlet tube  142 , and resultant closure of apertures  146 , acts to seal off the flow of fuel to the outside world. Under pressure from the fuel that flows from fuel chamber  127  to outer chamber  130 , inner sleeve  180  will move into its forward position. 
     Return of the nozzle construction  102  to its open or non-fueling orientation, as shown in  FIG. 5 , is accomplished by venting via the external valve, if required, and by the user then pulling rearwardly on outer sleeve  182 . As the distal ends of the jaws  174  move radially outwardly outlet ring  172  is allowed to escape recesses  204  on jaws  174  and is pushed back forwardly on outlet tube  142  towards and adjacent to end cap  173  by spring  170 , with jaws  174  returning to their open positions. 
     In light of all the foregoing, it should thus be apparent to those skilled in the art that there has been shown and described an improved high pressure filling nozzle for dispensing pressurized gaseous fluids from an inlet reserve to an outlet receptacle. However, it should also be apparent that, within the principles and scope of the invention, many changes are possible and contemplated, including in the details, materials, and arrangements of parts which have been described and illustrated to explain the nature of the invention. Thus, while the foregoing description and discussion addresses certain preferred embodiments or elements of the invention, it should further be understood that concepts of the invention, as based upon the foregoing description and discussion, may be readily incorporated into or employed in other embodiments and constructions without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the following claims are intended to protect the invention broadly as well as in the specific form shown, and all changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention, which is limited only by the claims which follow.