Patent GB-1218941-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to fuel tank filling devices
Inventor: GOWENS FRANK
IPC: F16L37/34
Filed: 1968-02-05
Abstract: 1,218,941. Hose couplings. FLIGHT REFUELLING Ltd. 2 May, 1969 [5 Feb., 1968], No.5624/68. Heading F2G. A fuel tank filling device includes a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source and to be coupled to a receiving unit, the coupling element defining a through passage 15 and having a spring-loaded valve 23 closing the passage and a manually opened and spring-closed valve for controlling flue flow through the passage. The valve 23 is automatically opened by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that when the coupling element is connected to the hose and coupled to the receiving unit fuel may be supplied to the receiving unit through the hose and passage 13. As shown, the coupling element comprises a hosecock 10 including a handle 73 for operating the manually opened shut-off valve, suctionoperated means 11 go automatically close the passage 13, and a head unit 12 secured to the hose-cock and provided with passages 13, 14 of which the passage 14 is connected to a vent hose 16. Stems 17, 19 mounted on spiders 18, 20 carry fixed valve heads 21, 22 and sleeve members 23, 25 are urged toward the valve heads by springs 24, 26. The suction means 11 is of the type in which the flow of fuel draws air from chamber 27, one wall which is constituted by a flexible diaphragm 28, through a small pipe terminating in a spigot. The head member 12 carries a guard rail 31, and a cover of rubber is adapted to be fitted over the member 12. A latch member 37, 0rovided with a pair of handles spring-loaded to the uncoupling position of the member 12 and receiving unit, carries a pair of rollers which are manually held in engagement with a pair of lugs of the receiving unit. The receiving unit for mounting on a fuel tank comprises a hollow body 44 formed with a valve block 45 provided with passages 46, 47 closed by spring-loaded valves 48, 50 and having sealing rings 54, 55 mounted in annular shoulders 52, 53 for reception of the sleeves 23, 25 of the member 12. A ring 56 in the passage 46 defines a Venturi nozzle which is connected by a passage 67 with the enlarged outer portion of a passage 61 in the block 45 and to a pipe 60. A spring-loaded cover 69 is held in position by a magnet 72 to close the entrances to the passages 46, 47 and 61. In operation, the coupling unit is pushed towards the receiving unit so that the sleeves 23, 25 and spigot on the pipe connected to the chamber 27 are received in the passages 46, 47 and 61 respectively when the valve heads 21, 22 move the valves 48, 50 from the seatings thereof, the spigot engaging in the passage 61 to displace the spring-loaded piston 62 and thus the valve head 64 whereby the ports 66 in the hollow spindle allow communication between the Venturi space 57 and the pipe 60. The passage 47 allows air to escape from a full tank to the vent hose 16 during a filling operation and the flow of fuel through the Venturi nozzle in passage 46 creates a suction which draws air from the passage 61 through the bore 67 and Venturi space 57 and from the area at the end of the pipe 60; if the fuel in the tank rises so as to submerge the end of the pipe 60 in the tank air is drawn from the chamber 28 through a pipe connected thereto so that depression is created in the chamber and the associated valve tripped to shut off the supply of fuel.