Abstract:
Fuel is dispensed into a fuel tank fill tube by a hand-held tool assembly having a body with an outlet tube connected to a fuel supply passage through an air actuated control valve. Spring biased arcuate jaws surround the outlet tube and expand outwardly into engagement with an inner surface of the fill tube by an air actuated annular clamping piston surrounding the outlet tube. An air actuated annular sealing piston surrounds the clamping piston and is effective to seal the outer end of the fill tube after the fill tube is clamped. The position of the fill tube is sensed by a pin which actuates a proximity switch, and a handle and fluid line connectors projecting from the body at right angles to the outlet tube. Thumb operated control switches are located adjacent the handle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a fluid dispensing tools or tool assembly of the general type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,560,407, No. 6,257,285 and No. 6,298,886 which issued to the Assignee of the present invention. Such tools are commonly used on a motor vehicle assembly line for evacuating and charging an air conditioning system and a coolant system for the vehicle and are connected by flexible lines to a control unit which provides for evacuating the system to a predetermined evacuation pressure, tests the system for leaks and then charges the system with a selectable predetermined volume of liquid such as liquid refrigerant or coolant. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an improved fluid dispensing tool assembly of the general type disclosed in the above identified patents and which is ideally suited for testing and charging or filling a fuel storage tank in a motor vehicle on the vehicle assembly line. Such a fuel storage tank commonly includes a fill tube which extends upwardly from the tank to a fill tube neck portion which has internal threads for receiving a removable fuel sealing cap. The fluid dispensing tool assembly of the present invention releasably and positively grips the inner surface of the fill tube neck portion and then forms a fluid-tight seal with an outer end flange on the neck portion. The tool assembly also provides for conveniently holding and handling the tool assembly in an ergonomic manner and for operating the controls of the tool assembly. The tool assembly further provides for substantial durability and for convenient servicing. 
     In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, the above features are provided by a tool assembly including a body defining a fluid or fuel supply passage with an air actuated control valve and extending from an inlet to an outlet tube having an axis perpendicular to the axis of the inlet. An annular clamping piston surrounds the outlet tube and is effective to expand a set of arcuate clamping jaws outwardly into engagement with the neck portion of the fill tube. An annular sealing piston surrounds the clamping piston and carries resilient sealing rings for forming a fluid-tight seal with an outer end portion of the fill tube. The main fluid control valve and the annular pistons are each actuated by pressurized air supplied through passages within the body. An axially movable pin is supported by the body outboard of the sealing piston for detecting the presence of the fill tube flange and for actuating a proximity switch after the outlet tube has been properly positioned on the fill tube. The fluid supply and air actuating lines connect to the tool assembly by fittings having corresponding axes perpendicular to the axis of the outlet tube, and the body is supported by an upper horizontally extending handle projecting from a body portion having thumb actuated switches to control the cycle of operation of the tool assembly. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fluid dispensing tool assembly constructed in accordance with the invention; 
     FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken generally on the line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a section taken generally on the line  3 — 3  of FIG.  2  and showing the tool assembly inserted into a fill tube of a fuel storage tank prior to clamping; 
     FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG.  3  and showing the tool assembly clamped to and sealed with the fuel tank fill tube; and 
     FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG.  3  and showing the fuel supply passage with an open fill control valve. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     FIGS. 1 and 2 show a fluid dispensing tool assembly  10  constructed in accordance with the invention and which is ideally suited for partially or completely filling a fuel storage tank within a motor vehicle at the end of the vehicle assembly line. However, the tool assembly  10  may also be used for pressure testing a fuel storage tank or for filling other liquids into a fill tube. The tool assembly  10  is controlled by a remotely located control system or unit (not shown) which is connected to the tool assembly  10  by a flexible fuel supply line and flexible fluid or air actuation lines, as will be explained later. The tool assembly  10  includes a body  12  which is preferably machined from aluminum and includes an upper support section  14  and a lower outlet section  16  rigidly connected by an intermediate section  18 . The lower body section  16  has an outlet tube  20  (FIGS. 3-5) having a vertical axis  21  and a lower nozzle portion  23 . The outlet tube  20  defines a fluid or fuel supply passage  25  which extends through the body sections  16  and  18  (FIG. 3) to a fuel inlet  27  within a manifold  28  forming part of the body  12 . 
     The fuel inlet  27  is supplied with pressurized fuel through a flexible fuel supply hose or line  31  (FIG. 3) connected to the manifold  28  by a threaded coupling or fitting  33 . The fuel supply passage  25  is normally closed by a fill control valve  36  (FIGS. 3 and 5) having a valve stem  38  with an enlarged head portion supporting a resilient O-ring  39  and an opposite end portion secured to an air actuated piston  42  within a cylindrical bore closed by a threaded end plug  44 . A compression spring and the pressure of the fuel normally closes the valve  36  (FIG.  3 ), and the valve is moved to its open position (FIG. 5) in response to pressurized air within passages  47  (FIG. 5) supplied to the tool assembly through a flexible air actuating line or tube  49  connected to the manifold  28  by a quick connect coupler or fitting  51 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 3 &amp; 4, an annular clamping piston  55  surrounds the outlet tube  20  and is moveable axially within a cylindrical chamber  57  between an upper retracted position (FIG. 3) and a downward extended position (FIG.  4 ). A compression spring  59  extends between a shoulder on the outlet tube  20  and the clamping piston  55  and normally urges the clamping piston to its upper retracted position shown in FIG.  3 . The clamping piston  55  has a tapered or frusto-conical lower end surface  62  positioned to engage mating tapered surfaces on a set of four arcuate clamping jaws  65  surrounding the lower nozzle portion  23  of the outlet tube  20 . The clamping jaw  65  are preferably molded of a rigid plastics material and are normally held in radially retracted positions (FIG. 3) by a pair of ring-like extension springs  68 . An annular support collar  71  is secured to the nozzle portion  23  of the outlet tube  20  by retaining rings to support the clamping jaws  65  for radial movement between retracted positions (FIG. 3) and the radially outwardly clamping positions (FIG.  4 ). 
     An annular sealing piston  75  surrounds the clamping piston  55  and is confined within the cylindrical chamber  57  for axial movement between an upper retracted position (FIG. 3) and a lower sealing position (FIG.  4 ). The sealing piston  75  carries a set of resilient O-rings  77 ,  78  and  79  to form fluid-tight seals. As shown in FIG. 3, the clamping piston  55  is moved from its normally upper retracted position to its clamping position, for expanding the jaws  65 , by pressurized air supplied through a series of air actuating passages  83 ,  84  and  86  which extend through the body sections  16  and  18  and manifold  28  to an inlet  89 . Pressurized air is supplied to the inlet  89  and connected passages through a flexible or air actuating line or tube  92  connected to the inlet  89  by a tube connector or fitting  94 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4, pressurized air is supplied to the chamber  57  above the sealing piston  75  and below the upper end portion of the clamping piston  55  through passages  101 ,  102  and  103  extending through the body sections and manifold  28  to an inlet  104 . Pressurized air is supplied to the inlet  104  through a flexible air actuating line or tube  106  connected to the manifold  28  by a tube coupling or fitting  107 . The fittings  33 ,  51 ,  94  and  107  are all enclosed and protected by a cylindrical collar  110  which is secured to the manifold  28  by peripherally spaced screws  111 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, an elongated sensing pin  115  extends through aligned bores within the body sections  16  and  18  and is supported for longitudinal or axial movement outboard of the sealing piston  75  and parallel to the axis  21  of the outlet tube  20 . The pin  115  moves between an upper position, (FIG. 3) and a lower projecting position (not shown), and in its upper position, the pin is effective to actuate a proximity switch  118  located within a horizontal bore  119  within the body section  18 . Flexible electrical conductors (not shown) connect with the proximity switch  118  (FIG. 2) within the collar  110 . 
     The upper body section  14  (FIG. 3) is secured to the body section  18  by screws (not shown) and receives a tubular handle  125  attached to the body section  14  by a center bolt  126  threaded into the body section  14 . The upper body section  14  also supports two electrical control or start and stop switches  128  having electrical conductors connected by quick-connect couplers  131  to conductors  132  which extend through the body sections  14  and  18  to an electrical plug-in connector or socket  135  (FIG. 2) enclosed within the sleeve  110 . The switch units  128  are threaded into the body section  14  under a retaining plate  137  attached by a pair of screws  138 . 
     In operation of the tool assembly  10 , the lower end portion  23  of the outlet tube  20  and the surrounding clamping jaws  65  are inserted (FIG. 3) into a fill tube  140  connected to a fuel storage tank (not shown) within a motor vehicle, and the upper end portion of the fill tube  140  is connected to a cup-shaped housing  142 . The fill tube  140  has an internal tubular neck portion  145  which extends through a cylindrical collar  146  of the housing  142  and has an outwardly projecting upper end flange  148 . The neck portion  145  of the fill tube  140  also has integrally formed and inwardly projecting helical threads  151  which are commonly used for securing a conventional threaded fuel cap (not shown) to the fill tube  140 . 
     When the tool assembly  10  is fully inserted into the fill tube  140 , a collar  154  surrounds the top flange  148 . The sensing pin  115  engages the top end flange  148  on the fill tube and shifts upwardly to actuate the proximity switch  118  and provide a signal that the tool assembly  10  is in proper position with respect to the fill tube  140 . When the proximity switch is actuated, the cycle of operation of the tool assembly commences under the control of the remote control unit connected to the tool assembly  10  by the flexible air pressure actuating lines or tubes  49 ,  92 ,  106 , the electrical conductors, and the flexible fuel supply line or tube  31 . When pressurized air is received within the connected passages  83 ,  84  and  86 , the clamping piston  55  moves downwardly from its upper position (FIG. 3) to its extended position (FIG. 4) so that the tapered surface  62  on the clamping piston  55  cams the arcuate jaws  65  radially outwardly to engage the neck portion  145  of the fill tube  140  axially inwardly of the helical threads  151  thereby obtaining a positive grip and connection to the fill tube  140 . Pressurized air is then supplied to the connected passages  101 ,  102  and  103  to move the sealing piston  75  downwardly from its retracted position (FIG. 3) to its sealing position (FIGS. 4 and 5) where the lower resilient sealing ring  79  enters the upper end portion of the fill tube  140 , and forms a fluid-tight seal. 
     After the tool assembly  10  is clamped and sealed to the fill tube  140 , pressurized air is supplied to the passages  47  (FIG. 5) to shift the piston  42  of the valve  36  to the left for moving the valve stem  38  to its open position. Pressurized fuel supplied through the line  31  then flows through the passages  25  and into the fill tube  140  through the outlet tube  20 . After a predetermined volume of fuel has been supplied to the storage tank through the fill tube  140 , the fuel control valve  36  closes, and pressurized air to the upper ends of the clamping piston  55  and sealing piston  75  is released so that the piston  55  returns or shifts upwardly by the spring  59  to its released position (FIG. 3) for releasing the clamping jaws  65  which return to their retracted or released positions by the surrounding springs  68 . When the clamping piston  55  shifts upwardly, a retaining ring  152  on the piston  55  carries the sealing piston  75  upwardly to its upper position (FIG. 3) out of sealing engagement with the fill tube neck portion  145 . The clamping piston  55  and sealing piston  75  move axially only a few millimeters. 
     From the drawings and the above description, it is apparent that a fluid dispensing tool assembly constructed in accordance with the invention provides desirable features and advantages, especially for filling an automotive vehicle fuel tank on an assembly line. For example, the tool assembly  10  forms a positive coupling or mechanical clamp with the inner surface of the fuel tank fill tube and inwardly of the integrally formed threads. The sealing piston  75  also forms a fluid-tight seal with the inner cylindrical surface of the fill tube, and the sensing pin  115  detects the presence of the upper end flange  148  on the fill tube. In addition, the tool assembly may be conveniently serviced, for example, by replacing the O-ring seal  79  or the arcuate clamping jaws  65 . The general L-shaped configuration of the tool assembly  10  and the position of the handle  125  provides for conveniently supporting and maneuvering the tool assembly while the collar  110  provides protection for all of the connections or couplings of the fluid and electrical lines. The location of the control push buttons  128  further provides for conveniently actuating and controlling the tool assembly. 
     While the form of tool assembly, herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of tool assembly, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.