Patent Publication Number: US-5522440-A

Title: Vapor recovery spout gland and vapor guard mount

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application having Ser. No. 08/059,984, filed on May 12, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,394,909, all being owned by a common assignee. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION 
     This application relates to fuel dispensing nozzles, and, in particular, to a vapor recovery spout gland which is used to secure a vapor guard to the spout. 
     Bellows or vapor guards are often provided around a gas nozzle&#39;s spout to facilitate the retention of gas or fuel vapors in an enclosed area to reduce the amount of vapor that enters the atmosphere. Generally, the vapor guard is secured to the body of the nozzle. Thus, when the nozzle is assembled, the bellows must be passed over the spout once it has been secured to the nozzle body. Alternatively, the spout must be secured to the body once the bellows has been put in place. In either event, the construction of the nozzle is more complicated than necessary because the spout and bellows can not be secured to the nozzle body as a unit. 
     Many fuel dispensing nozzles are presently provided with a venturi which may be used for a variety of purposes, including vapor recovery and automatic shutoff, amongst other features. Automatic shutoff systems typically depend upon a vent tube, in communication with the venturi, which extends nearly the length of the nozzle&#39;s spout. Because the tube is used to regulate the automatic shutoff, and assist in vapor recovery, the tube cannot be used for other functons, such as recognizing when a tank requires specialty fuels or whether the vehicle has an on-board recovery system, for example. It would be beneficial to use other means, for example, to provide the vapor recovery flow path, so that the vent tube can be used for other purposes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One object of the invention is to provide a vapor recovery spout gland for a fuel dispensing nozzle. 
     Another object is to provide such a spout gland to which a vapor guard may be secured. 
     Another object is to provide such a spout gland which, in combination with the vapor guard, will provide a path externally of the nozzle spout, for fuel vapor to follow in a vapor recovery nozzle. 
     These and other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following disclosure and accompanying drawings. 
     In accordance with the invention, generally stated, a nozzle assembly for dispensing fuel from a source to a container is provided. Preferably, the nozzle is a vapor recovery nozzle and includes both a fuel flow path and a vapor recovery flow path. The nozzle assembly includes a nozzle body defining a body fuel flow path having an inlet and an outlet and a body vapor recovery path. The body includes a venturi valve in the body fuel flow path which has a valve body, a valve seat, and a valve member. The valve member is movable between a first position in which it seats against the valve seat to close the venturi valve and a second position in which the venturi valve is opened. The valve member being biased to normally close the venturi valve. As is known, the valve is opened by pressure from fuel flowing through the fuel flow path and closes when fuel flow through the fuel flow path stops. 
     A spout assembly is connected to the body and defines a spout fuel flow path therein, in fluid communication with the nozzle body fuel flow path, and a spout vapor recovery path, in fluid communication with the nozzle body vapor recovery path. The spout assembly has a spout tube defining the spout fuel flow path, a spout gland secured to the spout tube at a first end thereof, and a vapor guard or vapor collector secured to the spout gland. A venturi tube may extend along the inside of the of spout tube. The spout gland has a diameter, in part, that is larger than the diameter of the spout tube so that the spout tube and the spout gland define a generally annular channel. The spout gland has at least one opening in its wall to place the channel in communication with an area external of the spout gland. The spout gland is received in the nozzle outlet to connect the spout assembly to the nozzle body. The spout gland opening is in communication with the body vapor flow path, to place the annular channel in communication with the nozzle body vapor flow path. 
     A vapor guard is secured to the spout gland. The vapor guard has an inner diameter greater than the spout tube to define a second channel surrounding the spout tube which is in communication with, and generally an extension of the first channel. The first and second channels define the spout assembly&#39;s vapor flow path. 
     A check or vapor valve is positioned in the nozzle body vapor recovery flow path. It is movable between a first position in which the vapor recovery flow path is closed and a second position in which the vapor recovery flow path is opened. Preferably, the vapor valve is normally biased to the first, closed position. The vapor valve is operatively associated with the automatic shut-off mechanism of the fuel dispensing nozzle. The valve includes a control section having a control port which is in communication With the fuel flow path. The vapor valve is operable, when the hand lever of the nozzle is opened, to move the vapor valve between the closed and opened positions. It is located around the automatic shut-off mechanism of the nozzle. 
     The spout gland includes a rear section, a central section, and a forward section. The central section has slightly greater diameter than the spout tube so that the gland may be secured to the spout tube. Because the spout gland is secured to the spout tube along the gland&#39;s central section, the central section defines a rear end of the spout assembly channel. Preferably, the spout gland is internally threaded at the central section, to screw the spout gland onto the spout tube. The nozzle body outlet includes a body having a nose sized to receive the spout gland. The nose defines a passageway which is in communication with the diaphragm valve and which defines at least a part of the body vapor flow path. The nozzle outlet nose and the gland are sized and shaped to place the gland opening in communication with the nose passageway to place the body vapor flow path in communication with the spout assembly vapor flow path. 
     Preferably, the spout gland includes an external radially extending flange forwardly of the opening. The flange has a rear surface abutting a forward surface of the nozzle body outlet nose. A lock ring fits over the gland flange and the body outlet nose to secure the spout assembly to the nozzle body. The spout gland also includes an external circumferential groove formed forwardly of the flange. The vapor guard includes a generally cylindrical rear section and a flexible bellows section. The rear section is slidably received over the forward part of the spout gland and includes an internal generally circumferential lip which is received in the spout gland groove. A clamp surrounds the vapor guard cylindical section to secure the vapor guard to the spout gland. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a fuel dispensing nozzle incorporating a spout gland of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the spout gland. 
     FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a nozzle spout assembly; and 
     FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the nozzle spout with the spout gland secured thereto. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An illustrative embodiment of a fuel dispensing nozzle 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The nozzle is preferably a vapor recovery nozzle, such as a vacuum assist vapor recovery nozzle, as for example. The nozzle includes a body 12 having an inlet 14 to which a fuel hose (not shown) is connected. The nozzle also has an outlet 16 communicating with a spout assembly 18. The body inlet and outlet, and the spout define a fuel flow path FP through which fuel flows from a storage tank to the vehicle&#39;s fuel tank. 
     As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, spout assembly 18 includes a tube 20 having a mouth 19 which is insertable into the fill pipe of an automobile fuel tank. A vent tube 22 extends through tube 20 and is secured to an inner surface of the tube near mouth 19. Tube 20 has a vent opening 24 in its wall, to place the end of the vent tube in communication with the atmosphere through the wall of tube 20. Vent tube 22 is secured in tube 20 by a tip 26 to place the end of tube 22 in communication with opening 24, and hence, in communication with the atmosphere. Tube 20 is threaded, as at 28, at an end 30 of tube 20 remote from mouth 19. 
     A spout gland 32 is threadably secured to tube 20 proximate tube end 30. Gland 32 has a back section 34 which is generally conical in shape and widens rearwardly from a waist 36. Section 34 defines a shoulder 38 at its back surface which facilitates connection of the spout assembly 18 to the body exit 16, as is described below. Gland 32 is internally threaded, as at 40, generally about the waist region 36 of the gland. Threads 40, as can be appreciated, are used to screw the gland onto the spout tube 20. Forwardly of waist 36, gland 32 widens, as can be seen in FIG. 4, to define a forward section 42 of the gland. The forward section 42 widens so that its inner surface and the outer surface of tube 20 cooperate to define a generally annular space 44. Annular space 44 extends from the threads 28 to the end of the gland, as can be seen in FIG. 4. Openings 46 are formed in gland 32 in the forward section, just forward of waist 36 to place space 44 in communication with the atmosphere through the gland. Gland 32 levels out forwardly of openings 46 to define a generally cylindrical front section 47. A circumferential flange 48 extends radially from gland 32 forwardly of openings 46 in front section 47 and an annular groove 50 is formed in gland 32 forwardly of flange 48. 
     Gland 32 operates, in part, to secure a vapor guard 52 to spout assembly 18. Vapor guard 52 has a generally cylindrical section 53 sized to fit about the forward end 47 of gland 32 and a bellows section 55 which extends forwardly from section 53 over spout tube 20. Vapor guard 52 includes an internal, circumferential lip 54 formed in section 53 which is received in gland groove 50. A circular clamp 56, such as a hose clamp, is used to secure the guard to the gland. Guard 52 extends forwardly from the gland, about spout tube 20, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, to contact the side of the vehicle, as is known. The interior of gland 52 is in fluid communication with, and forms a continuation of, space 44. 
     The construction nozzle body 12 is shown in detail in FIG. 1. A poppet valve 60 is placed within body 12 between its inlet 14 and outlet 16. Valve 60 is biased by a spring 62 into sealing engagement with a poppet valve seat 64. Poppet 60 is secured to the upper end of a valve stem 66. Poppet valve 60 is located in the upper portion of body 12, and the valve stem 66 extends downwardly through the body. The lower end of the stem projects through an opening 68 in the base 70 of a body section 72. An operating lever 74 for the nozzle has one end 76, its pivoting functional end, connected to the lower end of the automatic shut-off plunger 78 by, for example, a pin 80. The other end 81 of the lever is grasped by the hand of a user, and when squeezed, the upward pressure on the lever forces the valve stem 66 upwardly. This moves valve 60 off valve seat 64, opening the valve, and permitting fuel flow through the nozzle. 
     A variable venturi 82 is positioned in flow path FP adjacent nozzle outlet 16. A spring loaded check valve 83 is positioned in the venturi, on the downstream side thereof, to control fuel flow into the outlet, and to the spout. The check valve has a valve member 84 which is frustoconically shaped and fits into the flow restriction formed by the venturi. Valve member 84 is biased closed by a spring 86 to seat against a valve seat 88. When poppet valve 60 is opened, the rush of fuel through the nozzle body unseats the check valve 83 so fuel can flow through the venturi 82 to the nozzle spout and outlet. The flow rate is a function of the extend to which valve 83 is pushed downstream against the force of spring 86. 
     Venturi 82 is installed in a circular housing 90 which is received in outlet 16. When the vehicle&#39;s tank is substantially full, it is desirable to terminate flow of fuel through the nozzle so as to not over fill the tank. An automatic shutoff assembly 92 is thus provided. Shutoff assembly 92 is explained in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,197,523, which is incorporated herein by reference. The shutoff assembly 92 is controlled, in part, by a diaphragm assembly 94. A chamber 96 is defined above diaphragm assembly 94 which is connected to the venturi by an air passage 91. When fuel flows over the venturi 82, a partial vacuum is created that is communicated to chamber 96 via passage 91. 
     Nozzle outlet 16 includes an outlet body 100 having a forward nose portion 102. Nose portion 102 is sized to receive the back end 34 of gland 32. Preferably, the diameter of nose 102 is slightly wider than the diameter of the gland front section 47 behind gland flange 48. The flange 48 thus abuts the edge of noze 102. A retaining ring or lock ring 104 is positioned between the flange 48 and the back edge of vapor guard 52. Ring 104 extends over flange 48 and a part of nose 102 to secure spout assembly 18 to nozzle body 12. At the top of the outlet body 100, as seen in FIG. 1, a sloped wall 106 is provided. An interior wall 108 extends from a back portion of outlet body 100 towards wall 106, but ends short of wall 106. Wall 108 and sloped wall 106 define the air passage 98, as seen in FIG. 1. 
     The gland 32 is sized so that the openings 46 are in communication with the passage 98. Passage 98 is thus in communication with annular space 44 surrounding spout tube 20. Space 44 and passage 98 therefore cooperate to define a vapor return flow path VP which operates to pass vapors past the vapor check valve 99 that functions in conjunction with the set-up of the automatic shut-off mechanism 92, when the nozzle is turned on, to return fuel vapors to the fuel storage tank. By placing the vapor recovery flow path VP in the vapor guard 52 and spout gland 32, it conveniently passes the returning vapors directly to and through the nozzle. 
     As can be appreciated, a fuel dispensing nozzle having a vacuum assist vapor recovery system has been provided with a spout gland which places the vapor recovery flow path in communication with the space between the vapor guard and the spout tube, freeing up the spout and its internal vent tube for other purposes. The spout gland is also designed so that it may be used to secure the vapor guard to the nozzle, at a convenient position more rearwardly of the spout. This eases the assembly of nozzle 10, by permitting the vapor guard and spout to be secured to the nozzle body as a unit. 
     The foregoing description is set forth for illustrative purposes only. It is not intended to be limiting. Variations within the scope of the appended claims may be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, although the exterior of the spout gland has a varying outer diameter, the spout gland could have a constant outer diameter, as long as the openings 46 are in communication with the passageway 98. The spout gland 32 could be secured to the spout tube 20 by means other than the threads. For example, it could be press fit about the tube, or it could be welded to the tube. These examples are merely illustrative.