Patent Publication Number: US-4060108-A

Title: Vapor control spout

Description:
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a spout for a vapor control nozzle for use in conjunction with a gasoline pump for filling the fuel tanks of vehicles, and for the control of gasoline vapor created thereby. 
     Vapor recovery nozzles are known in the art and commonly include a tubular portion that extends into the mouth of the fill tube of the vehicle tank, and a member that fits in sealing engagement with the mouth of the fill tube during the filling operation. By this arrangement, vapor in the vehicle tank displaced by the gasoline pumped into the tank is forced into a vapor receiving cavity and then through a vapor conduit to an appropriate receiving tank by means of a vapor pump or some other means to facilitate the flow of vapor out of the vehicle tank. 
     Some of these known devices require special nozzles having return channels therein for the vapor, while others use a standard nozzle with a replacement spout. But, even in the latter instance it has been found that the adapters or replacement spouts are undesirably complex in design and may include relatively complex spring loaded valves to facilitate the sealing engagement of the spout with the full tube of the vehicle. 
     The improved vapor control spout of this invention provides a replacement spout for attachment to a standard nozzle and one which receives the dispalaced vapor from the vehicle tank along with air from outside the tank by means of a loose fitting arrangement between the spout and the fill tube of the vehicle tank. This provides an exceptionally efficient vapor control system by means of a spout which is uniquely simple in design and installation. 
     Generally, the vapor control spout of this invention attaches to a standard nozzle having the necessary valves and handle for operating the valves in a manner well known in the art, the spout having means for evacuating the vapor from the vehicle tank and mixing it with air as the tank is filled. The spout includes a curved tube having one end attached to the output end of the nozzle, the other end designed to extend into the mouth of the vehicle tank. The tube extends through a housing, the rearward end of the housing being in sealing engagement with the outer surface of the tube, the wall of the housing and the wall of the tube defining a vapor receiving cavity or chamber therebetween. The forward end of the housing is attached to the tube by means of a sleeve having a vapor receiving openings therein which communicate with the vapor receiving chamber. The housing has an outlet port that communicates with the cavity and which receives a fitting for a vapor conduit. The sleeve fits loosely in the mouth of the vehicle tank fill tube whereby vapor from the tank and air from outside the tank are drawn by means of a vacuum pump, or the like, into the vapor receiving cavity and out the vapor conduit. 
     In accordance with the unique construction of the vapor control spout of this invention, the housing is held in place at one end by the wedging action of the sleeve on the curved tube and at the other end by a locking pin, thereby providing a spout adapter that is easy to install and yet of sound construction. 
     Thus, it is the general object of this invention to provide a spout adapter for the control of gasoline vapor which will fit a standard gasoline nozzle, which provides loose engagement of the adapter with the fill tube of the vehicle tank for the evacuation of vapor from the tank mixed with air from outside the tank, and which is uniquely simple and yet sound in construction, and easy to install. 
     These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the drawings and detailed description to follow. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the vapor control spout adapter of this invention as shown attached to a standard gasoline nozzle; 
     FIG. 2 is a section view of the nozzle adapter portion of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged view in section taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in section taken generally along the line 4--4 of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the housing portion of the nozzle adapter of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of the lock pin for locking the rearward portion of the housing to the spout tube; and 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged view in section taken generally along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In the drawing there is shown a spout adapter 10 of this invention attached to a standard gasoline nozzle 11 including appropriate valve and valve levers for the dispensing of gasoline. A hose 12 at the input of the nozzle feeds gasoline from an appropriate pump and to an outlet end 14 when the nozzle is operated in a manner to open the appropriate valves therein, all of which is well known in the art. That portion of FIG. 1 behind the line 16 represents a nozzle of a type commonly known, and therefore the details of the nozzle need not be described. 
     The spout adapter 10 attaches to the outlet 14 and includes a curved, rigid tube 20 having an externally threaded rearward end 21 which is attached to the outlet 14 of the nozzle 11 by means of a standard coupling 22. The coupling 22 is actually part of the nozzle 11 and is of a type for attaching a conventional spout, of a type commonly known in the art, without a vapor control capability. Such commonly known spouts are very similar to the tube 20 itself. Thus, the coupling 22 includes a sleeve 25 having a threaded portion that engages the threaded end 21 of the tube 20 and a portion that extends within the outlet of the nozzle 11. The sleeve 25 has an annular shoulder 30. A threaded ring 31 screws onto the threaded outlet of the nozzle 11 and has a shoulder 32 which engages the shoulder 30 to secure the sleeve 25 in place. The forward or outlet end of the tube 20 is adapted to extend into the fill tube 33 of a vehicle tank. 
     A rigid housing 35 fits about the tube 20 at the location of the curved portion of the tube, the housing 35 having a rearward opening 36, a forward internally threaded opening 37, and an internally threaded vapor outlet port 38. The opening 36 has an annular groove 40 that receives an O-ring 41 which acts in sealing engagement with the outer wall of the tube 20 near the nozzle outlet. Just forward of the groove 40 is a hole 42 extending transversely through the housing 35, the hole extending partially into the opening 36. The tube 20 has a transverse groove or recess 43 aligned with the hole 42, and a lock pin 45 extends through the hole 42 with the central portion of the pin extending downwardly into the groove 43 to firmly lock the housing 35 onto the tube 20. 
     The forward end 37 of the housing 35 is secured in place by means of a sleeve 50 having a rearward externally threaded portion 51 which screws into the threaded opening 37. The forward end of the sleeve 50 has inwardly directed shoulders 53, the inner surfaces of which engage the outer surface of the tube 20. The shoulders 53 are separated by openings 54 at the forward end of the sleeve 50 which communicate with an annular passage 55 formed between the sleeve 50 and the tube 20. A vapor receiving cavity 56, formed between the wall of the housing 35 and the tube 20 communicates with the passage 55 and the openings 54. 
     The sleeve 50 is threaded into the opening 37 of the housing 35 at a location of the curved portion of the tube 20. Because of the slight curve in the tube 20 at the location of the sleeve 50 and opening 37, the axes of the sleeve and opening become somewhat out of alignment as the sleeve is inserted. Thus, as the sleeve 50 is tightened with the opening 37, it binds and becomes wedged due to its engagement with the opening 37 and curved portion of the tube. This wedging or binding effect solidly supports the forward end of the housing 35. 
     A fitting 60 having an externally threaded end 61 screws into the vapor outlet port 38 of the housing 35, a vapor conduit 63, such as a rubber hose or the like, being attached thereto. The other end of the hose 63 is connected to a suitable vacuum pump or other device (not shown) for creating a suction in a manner commonly known in the art. 
     The sleeve 50 is sized smaller in diameter than the fill tube, and extends therein preferably a minimum distance of approximately 3/4 inch to 1 inch for efficient mixing of air and vapor. 
     The tube 20 has an annular groove 67 between the housing 35 and the coupling 22 to provide a safety break-off location forward of the nozzle 11 as is well known in the art. 
     Operation of the spout adapter of this invention is apparent from the foregoing description. The forward end of the sleeve 50 is sized to provide a space between it and the mouth of the vehicle fill tube and to extend therein. As gasoline is pumped through the tube 20 into the tank, gasoline vapor is drawn, by means of the suction created in the chamber 56, from the tank and into the openings 54. Air from outside the tank is also drawn between the sleeve 50 and the fill tube into the openings 54. The air and vapor mixture is drawn through the passage 55 and into the chamber 56, whereupon it is then drawn out the tube 63. The O-ring 42 acts as a seal against the passage of vapor between the tube 20 and the rearward end of the housing 35, and the pin 45 and sleeve 50 act to hold the housing 35 securely in place about the tube 20. 
     Thus, there has been described a vapor control spout adapter which fulfills the objects of this invention. 
     Various changes and modifications may be made in this invention, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.