Patent ID: 7766039

Claim:
A quick connect fuel hose connector for transferring liquefied gas fuel from a storage tank to a vehicle fuel cylinder, wherein the vehicle fuel cylinder has an inlet valve positioned in an externally threaded inlet fitting, the inlet valve comprising a movable valve member that is outwardly biased to a normally closed position against a valve seat, the quick connector comprising an annular connector body having an open end that fits over the fuel cylinder inlet fitting, the body having longitudinal slots on opposite sides thereof, latch members being pivotally mounted in the slots, the body having an open interior passage through which fuel can flow from the storage tank to the vehicle fuel cylinder through a fuel delivery tube that extends through the open interior passage, the fuel delivery tube including a fuel hose connector at an inner end thereof, the latch members having one or more inwardly extending flanges at outer ends of the latch members, said flanges being adapted to fit over and engage the fuel tank inlet fitting to connect the quick connector with the fuel cylinder inlet fitting, the latch members being biased in a latching position, the connector further including an outwardly biased, normally closed outlet valve connected to an outer end of the fuel delivery tube in the open interior passage in the connector body, the outlet valve including a valve member axially movable in an interior of an annular valve body, a valve seat being positioned in the interior of the valve body so as to be engaged by the valve member when the outlet valve is closed, the valve body having an annular collar that extends outwardly from the valve seat, the outlet valve further having a replaceable, resilient tip seal releasably attached on an outer end of the annular collar, the tip seal being formed and mounted such that the tip seal engages the bottom of an interior opening in the inlet fitting and restricts fluid leakage between the hose connector and fuel cylinder inlet fitting.