Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/727,279 filed Dec. 3, 2003 which is currently still pending, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/432,162 filed Dec. 10, 2002, the entire contents of both of which are herein fully incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD  
       [0002]     This invention relates generally to couplings used in transferring a liquid substance from one reservoir in which a liquid is stored to a second reservoir. More particularly, the invention relates in one embodiment to couplings useful in transferring a liquid hydrocarbon fuel from a storage vessel to an on-board fuel tank inside a motorized vehicle, such as an automobile.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     By the very nature of the utilization of liquid substances such as liquid hydrocarbon fuels, it is frequently necessary to transfer a liquid fuel from a first storage vessel in which it is contained to a second storage vessel. One particular instance in which it is necessary to so transfer a liquid fuel is in the case of re-fueling an automobile during a racing event.  
         [0004]     One particular class of automobile racing is where competing vehicles must travel an extended period of time to cover the pre-determined distance of the race. Such automobile races have been known since the advent of the automobile itself, and current NASCAR and other events include such races as the Indianapolis 500, the California 500, the Virginia 500, New England 300, to name but a few. Such automobile races typically require drivers and their cars to travel hundreds of miles from start to finish. Quite often, such races are carried out on a track, which may be circular, oval, or which may trace out a serpentine course.  
         [0005]     Since the fuel-carrying capacity of the race car is limited by the rules of racing to be of specific volume, and the capacity of such tanks is not sufficient to enable the racer to complete the entire race on a single tank load of fuel, it is a general requirement of modern automobile racing that drivers must stop their vehicles periodically to have their tanks re-charged with fuel. Since the nature of racing is such that the first racer to cross the finish line is generally declared the winner, the amount of time used for the combined re-fueling operations becomes a significant factor in determining the outcome of any given race. Hence, it is essential from the standpoint of the racing team that the time utilized in re-fueling and other pit-stop operations is kept to an absolute minimum.  
         [0006]     The current state-of-the-art method for re-fueling a racing vehicle in a circle-track application is for the racer to pull their car into an area known to those skilled in the art as the “pit-stop” for servicing. As is customary, the on-board fuel tank of a racing vehicle includes an inlet conduit through which fuel is admitted to the tank during re-fueling. There is also an exit conduit through which fuel is exited from the fuel tank and delivered by means of a fuel pump to the engine. There is also a cap or other means of sealing the inlet conduit from the surrounding environment after a re-fueling of the vehicle is complete. There is a headspace volume above the liquid level of the fuel in the tank. Initially, when the tank is full, the headspace volume is at its minimum. As fuel is consumed, the headspace volume increases, and reaches its maximum when all of the liquid fuel formerly contained in the tank has been consumed.  
         [0007]     It is through the inlet conduit of the fuel tank that fuel is admitted during a pit-stop re-fueling operation. During a re-fueling, a member of the pit crew carries a large funnel-shaped vessel (the “recharging tank”) which is full of a motor fuel, such as a gasoline. The recharging tank includes a fitting on its lower extremity which is complementary to that on the end of the inlet conduit on the fuel tank that is adapted to receive fuel. After the racer&#39;s vehicle comes to a stop, the pit crew will remove the cap from the fuel tank inlet conduit. Then, the fitting on the recharging tank is mated to the fitting on the inlet conduit to form a sealed conduit through which fuel may pass from the recharging tank to the on-board fuel tank of the race car. A valve disposed on the recharging tank is opened, and fuel contained within the recharging tank is caused to flow, by the force of gravity, from the recharging tank into the on-board fuel tank of the racing vehicle.  
         [0008]     The re-fueling of a racing vehicle is undertaken in as quick a time as seems possible, and with minimizing the losses of fuel during the operation. However, one of the disadvantages of current re-fueling methods is that large volumes of gasoline are spilled onto the pavement and portions of the vehicle being re-fueled. A typical volume of fuel lost by spillage in re-fueling operations during the course of a race may be several gallons of fuel, which losses occur primarily when the recharging tank is removed from the inlet conduit. While pit crews are well-equipped to deal with inadvertent fires that may occasionally occur, there are immediate health risks to pit crew personnel other than the fire hazard. For example, modern racing engines are typically designed to have an effective compression ratio in excess of 10:1, and these high compression ratio engines require fuels having high octane ratings. Volatile anti-knock compounds such as tetraethyl lead and the like are formulated into racing fuels as octane boosters. Since these lead compounds are volatile and since they are known health hazards, the issue of inhalation of tetraethyl lead and related compounds as a health hazard to pit crews is a serious matter. In addition, any un-necessary release of raw hydrocarbon fuels into the atmosphere is a public health concern as well. While professional racing has enjoyed exemption from many regulations applicable to automobiles driven on public roads, there exists a need in the art to minimize fuel spillage, while maintaining the rapidity at which a fuel tank on a racing vehicle may be re-filled.  
         [0009]     Another issue for automobiles is the concept of vapor lock. Vapor lock is a condition which is manifest by the pressure in the headspace above the fuel in an on-board fuel tank being lower than normal atmospheric pressure. Such a condition is caused to exist by virtue of the fuel pump removing fuel from the fuel tank, without the same volume of air being admitted into the tank to compensate for the lost volume of fuel because the fuel tank is sealed off from the atmosphere. Eventually, the fuel pump is required to pump fuel from an area of reduced pressure, and, not being designed for such use, a less-than-desired amount of fuel is delivered to the engine, which results in inhibited engine performance.  
         [0010]     Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pair of coupling fittings, one which resides on the end portion of the fuel inlet conduit of an on-board fuel tank, the other residing on the lower end of a containment vessel in which a liquid hydrocarbon is stored.  
         [0011]     It is a further object to provide such a pair of coupling fittings wherein the fittings are complementary to one another and may be connected and/or disconnected from one another in a minimal amount of time.  
         [0012]     It is a further object still to provide such a pair of coupling fittings wherein the amount of fuel spillage resulting from the disconnection of each of the fittings from one another is kept to a minimum volume.  
         [0013]     It is a further object still to provide such a pair of coupling fittings such as aforesaid wherein the charging of fuel from the storage vessel approaches the maximum physically allowable rate of speed.  
         [0014]     It is a further object still to provide such a pair of coupling fittings such as aforesaid wherein the problems associated with the concept of vapor lock are eliminated from the system.  
         [0015]     These objects are all simultaneously achieved by the present invention, as will become evident to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading and understanding the contents of this specification and the appended claims.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     The present invention provides a fuel transfer coupling for attachment to the inlet pipe of a vehicle&#39;s fuel tank which comprises a base portion which comprises a planar top surface and which comprises a central bore portion having a first end portion and a second end portion, wherein the central bore portion is surrounded by a shrouding enclosure, wherein the shrouding enclosure includes a vapor tube, wherein the shrouding enclosure is in fluid communication with a plurality of holes disposed on the planar top surface, thus providing fluid communication between the holes and the vapor tube, the base portion further including a circumferential ledge at the terminus of the second end portion within the base portion, and wherein the base portion further comprises a flange disposed about its periphery, the flange including a plurality of holes in its surface. There is a flow control cone having an adjacent wall, the flow control cone including a spring seat, a poppet guide bore, an outer ring portion, and a wall portion, wherein the flow control cone is disposed at the second end portion of the central bore portion with its outer ring in contact with the circumferential ledge, thus forming a circumferential slot between the adjacent wall and the wall portion of the flow control cone. There is a poppet having a flat top surface, a bottom surface, and a stem, wherein the stem is slidably disposed within the poppet guide bore, the poppet further comprising a vent disc centrally disposed on the flat top surface, wherein the vent disc is mechanically biased towards the flat top surface. There is a spring disposed between the spring seat and the bottom surface of the poppet. There is a hollow internal housing having a flat top surface and a skirt portion, the internal housing being disposed about the poppet and wherein the the skirt of the internal housing is slidably disposed within the circumferential slot. There is an adapter cover affixed to the base portion, in which is contained the flow control cone, the poppet, the spring, and the internal housing, wherein the adapter cover further includes a substantially cylindrically-shaped outer wall portion and a flange comprising a plurality of holes for fastening the flange of the cover to the flange of the base portion.  
         [0017]     The invention also provides an automobile including a fuel tank having an inlet pipe and further comprising the coupling described above wherein the vapor tube is in effective fluid contact with the headspace above the fuel in the fuel tank and wherein the first end portion of the central bore portion is in effective fluid contact with the inlet pipe.  
         [0018]     The invention also provides a fuel transfer coupling for attachment to a source of fuel to be delivered to a vehicle&#39;s fuel tank which comprises a base portion which comprises a raised surface and which comprises a central conduit portion having a top end portion and a bottom end portion, wherein the central conduit portion is surrounded by a shrouding enclosure, wherein the shrouding enclosure includes a vapor tube and wherein the shrouding enclosure is in fluid communication with a plurality of holes disposed on the raised surface, thus providing fluid communication between the holes and the vapor tube. The base portion further includes a flange disposed about its periphery, the flange including a plurality of holes in its surface. There is a boss centrally located within the central conduit portion, the boss adapted to receive and rigidly hold in place a fastener means. There is a spring disposed about the top end portion of the central conduit portion. There is a collar/seal ring assembly which itself comprises: i) a moveable collar shaped substantially in the form of a cylindrical sleeve having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a circumferential wall and comprising a plurality of slots in its wall; and ii) a seal ring having a flat top surface and being disposed within the inner space defined by the wall of the moveable collar, being held in position therein by means of a plurality of equatorially-located protrusions extending from the seal ring into the plurality of slots on the moveable collar, the plurality of slots further including springs for mechanically biasing the seal ring in a direction towards the top portion of the moveable collar in which it is disposed. The collar/seal ring assembly is in contact with the spring. There is also a valve center having a flat top portion and a stem portion having a tip, wherein the tip of the valve center includes a means for receiving a fastener means, wherein the means for receiving a fastener means is mechanically engaged with the fastener means in the boss. There is also an adapter cover shaped substantially in the form of a cylindrical sleeve affixed to the base portion, in which is contained the spring, the collar/seal ring assembly, and the valve center, wherein the adapter cover includes a smooth bore in its inner wall, and wherein the bottom includes a plurality of holes for fastening the cover to the flange of the base portion.  
         [0019]     In another aspect, the present invention comprises a quick-detach fuel transfer coupling through which a liquid fuel may pass from a remote charging reservoir to a vehicle&#39;s on-board fuel tank which comprises an on-board portion having an inlet end and a discharge end, wherein the discharge end is in fluid communication with the inlet pipe of a vehicle&#39;s on-board fuel tank. The on-board portion comprises a substantially-cylindrically shaped first adapter portion comprising an outer wall disposed about a central bore, and the outer wall has a central axis. There is a means for permitting a liquid fuel to pass into the fuel tank via a path which is annularly disposed about the central axis. There is also a means for permitting vapor from within the fuel tank to exit the fuel tank via a path which is annularly disposed about the central axis. There is a remote portion having an inlet end and a discharge end, and the inlet end is in fluid communication with the contents of a remote charging reservoir. The remote portion comprises a substantially-cylindrically shaped second adapter portion comprising a smooth bore disposed about a central bore, and the smooth bore has a central axis. There is a means for permitting flow of a liquid fuel from the remote charging reservoir to the on-board portion upon placement of the smooth bore over the outer wall via a path which is annularly disposed about the central axis. There is a means for permitting vapor from within the fuel tank to enter the remote charging reservoir via a path which is annularly disposed about the central axis. In this aspect of the invention, it is preferred that the central axis of said first adapter coincides substantially with said central axis of said second adapter.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0020]     In the annexed drawings:  
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows a an exploded perspective view of the on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the male adapter base portion of the on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  shows an overhead view of the male adapter base portion of the on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the male adapter cover of the on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5  shows a side elevation view of the male adapter cover of the on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the male adapter cover of the on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows a perspective view of the internal housing portion of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows a side elevation view of the internal housing portion of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of a flow control cone element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows a side-elevation view of a flow control cone element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows an overhead view of a flow control cone element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the bottom side of a flow control cone element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0033]      FIG. 13   a  shows a perspective view of the upper portion of a poppet element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 13   b  shows a side elevation view of the upper portion of a poppet element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0035]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the bottom side of a poppet element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0036]      FIG. 15  shows a bottom view of a poppet element of an on-board portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0037]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of the assembled male adapter portion (“on-board portion”) of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0038]      FIG. 17  shows top view of the assembled male adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0039]      FIG. 18  shows a perspective view of the top portion of an assembled male adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0040]      FIG. 19  shows a perspective view of the underside portion of an assembled male adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 20  shows a perspective view of the underside portion of an assembled male adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0042]      FIG. 21  shows perspective view of the top portion of an assembled male adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 22  shows a bottom view of an assembled male adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0044]      FIG. 23  shows an exploded perspective view of the remote (or “female”) portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 24  shows a side elevation view of the female adapter base portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0046]      FIG. 25  shows a perspective view of the upper portion of the female adapter base portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0047]      FIG. 26  shows a top view of the female adapter base portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0048]      FIG. 27  shows a perspective view of a female adapter cover portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0049]      FIG. 28  shows a top view of the female adapter cover portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0050]      FIG. 29  shows a bottom view of the female adapter cover portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0051]      FIG. 30   a  shows a perspective view of the moveable collar portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0052]      FIG. 30   b  shows a side elevation view of the moveable collar portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0053]      FIG. 31  shows an overhead view of the moveable collar portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0054]      FIG. 32  shows a bottom view of the moveable collar portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0055]      FIG. 33  shows a perspective view of the bottom portion of the moveable collar portion of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0056]      FIG. 34  shows a perspective view of the seal ring element of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0057]      FIG. 35  shows a side elevation view of the seal ring element of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0058]      FIG. 36  shows an overhead view of the seal ring element of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0059]      FIG. 37  shows a perspective view of the assembled collar/seal ring assembly element combination of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0060]      FIG. 38  shows a side elevation view of the assembled collar/seal ring assembly element combination of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0061]      FIG. 39  shows an overhead view of the assembled collar/seal ring assembly element combination of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0062]      FIG. 40   a  shows a top view of the valve center element of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0063]      FIG. 40B  shows a bottom perspective view of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0064]      FIG. 40C  shows a side elevation view of the remote portion of a fuel coupling according to one form of the invention;  
         [0065]      FIG. 41  shows a side view of the assembled female adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0066]      FIG. 42  shows a bottom view of the assembled female adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0067]      FIG. 43  shows a top view of the assembled female adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0068]      FIG. 44  shows a perspective view of the inside of the top portion of an assembled female adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0069]      FIG. 45  shows a perspective view of the inside of the top portion of an assembled female adapter portion of a coupling pair according to the invention;  
         [0070]      FIG. 46   a - f  shows a cross sectional view of a coupling pair according to a preferred form of the invention, at various stages of coupling and de-coupling of the pair encountered during a typical refueling operation;  
         [0071]      FIG. 47  shows a perspective view of a fuel reservoir having a coupling according to one form of the invention attached thereto; and  
         [0072]      FIG. 48  shows a perspective view of a remote fuel reservoir having a coupling according to one form of the invention attached thereto.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0073]     A fuel transfer coupling according to the present invention comprises an on-board portion which is in fluid contact with the gasoline tank on a motorized vehicle such as a race car, and a remote portion which is in fluid contact with a source of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is to be delivered to the gasoline tank of the motorized vehicle. The on-board portion may be referred to as the male adapter and the remote portion of the coupling may be referred to as the female adapter, for convenience.  
         [0074]     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIG. 1  there is shown the on-board portion of a fuel transfer coupling according to the invention in an exploded view, including all of its various components, which are described forthwith.  
         [0075]     In  FIG. 2  is shown a perspective view of the male adapter base  4 . The male adapter base  4  includes a central bore  34  through which fuel is intended to flow. The central bore  34  has a first end portion which is adapted to be connected to the inlet pipe of a fuel tank, and a second end portion which extends into said adapter base and terminates at a point within the male adapter base. Disposed about the central bore  34  is a shrouding enclosure  36  which forms an envelope around the central bore portion  34  for the purpose of allowing the travel of gas or air vapor through the various holes  33  disposed in the planar top surface  40  of the male adapter base, wherein the holes  33  are in fluid contact with the outlet portion  35  of the vapor tube  20 . Thus, this assembly is similar to a condenser as used in the chemical arts, which consists of a tube having a water jacket about it, with an inlet and outlet for the cooling water, and a tube disposed therethrough which the vapor to be condensed is caused to pass. In the present instance, the central bore  34  is surrounded by the shrouding enclosure  36 , which has as its “inlet”, the various holes  33 , and which has as its “outlet”, the vapor tube  20 . There is a planar flange portion  42  having a plurality of holes  44  disposed through it along its periphery for the purpose of fastening the male adapter base to other components of this portion of the coupling. The plane of the flange portion  42  is slightly below the plane of the top surface  40 , and at the point of intersection of these two features there is thus caused to exist an elevation  38 , upon which an o-ring seal may be mounted for sealing the surfaces in the finished assembly. There is a circumferential ledge  37  onto which a flow cone  58  is mounted, as is described later herein. The wall W of the bore above the circumferential ledge  37  is also shown.  
         [0076]     In  FIG. 3  is shown an overhead view of the male adapter base  4 , including the central bore  34  flange  42 , holes  44 , vapor tube  20 , holes  33 , circumferential ledge  37 , and o-ring seal  46  in its location at the elevation at  38  as shown in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0077]      FIG. 4  shows a perspective view of the male adapter cover  2 , having an outer wall  24 , top surface  3 , and flange portion  26 , wherein the flange portion  26  includes a plurality of holes  28  disposed along its periphery for connection to the male adapter base  4  once all of the components have been properly assembled, using conventional fasteners. There is also a beveled edge  30 , which is shown in  FIG. 6  as well.  
         [0078]      FIG. 5  shows a side elevation view of the male adapter cover  2 , including outer wall  24  and flange  26 .  
         [0079]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the male adapter cover  2 , including its flange  26 , plurality of holes  28 , annular groove  19  which extends about the hole  1  adjacent to the flange  26  and is adapted to receive the o-ring seal  46  in a sealing relationship in the completed assembly. There is also a beveled edge  30 .  
         [0080]      FIG. 7  shows the internal housing  18 , which is reminiscent of a hollow shell having an open top portion T and an open bottom portion B, and a hollow interior space within the confines of its walls. There is a flat top surface  48 , a sloping shoulder portion  49  which includes an o-ring seal  50 , which o-ring seal  5  is disposed to seal between the sloping shoulder  49  and the beveled edge  30  from  FIGS. 4 and 6  previously. There is also an o-ring seal  52  disposed along the bottom skirt portion  51  as well, for sealing the skirt portion  51  against the wall portion W of the bore in  FIG. 2 . Thus, the skirt portion  51  of the internal housing  18  is slidably disposed within a circumferential slot which is defined by the wall W that is adjacent to the circumferential ledge  37  and the wall portion  64  of the flow control cone  6  when the flow control cone is in its position on the circumferential ledge  37 . The skirt portion  51  provides a travel stop against planar top surface  40 .  
         [0081]      FIG. 8  shows a side elevation view of the internal housing  18  and depicts the locations of the top surface  48 , sloping shoulder  49 , o-ring seal  50 , skirt  51 , and o-ring seal  52 .  
         [0082]      FIG. 9  shows a perspective view of the flow control cone  6  component. The flow control cone  6  includes a funnel-shaped cone element  58 , which is held rigidly in place in the center of an outer ring  62  (which has a wall portion  64 ) by means of cone supports  60  which are welded or otherwise attached by known conventional means, such as integral casting, etc., to the cone and inner portion of the wall portion  64  of the outer ring  62 . There is also a poppet guide bore  54  disposed at the apex of the cone, and a space  59  disposed between the cone  58  and the outer ring  62 .  
         [0083]      FIG. 10  is a side elevation view of the flow control cone  6  showing the cone  58 , wall portion  64 , and the outer ring  62 . The cone supports  60  are also shown.  
         [0084]      FIG. 11  shows a bottom view of the flow control cone  6  showing the poppet guide bore  54 , wall portion  64 , outer ring  62 , cone supports  60 , space  59 , and cone  58 . The diameter of the wall portion is slightly less than that of the internal diameter of the bottom portion B of the internal housing  18  shown in  FIG. 7 , which enables the skirt portion  51  of the internal housing to reside atop the outer ring  62  of the flow control cone  6  after the flow control cone  6  has been placed in position on the circumferential ledge  37  of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0085]      FIG. 12  shows a perspective view of the top of the flow control cone  6  including the poppet guide bore  54  having an outer wall  56 . There is a flat portion  57  which serves as the seat for the poppet spring  8  ( FIG. 1 ). Also shown is cone  58 , cone supports  60 , outer ring  62 , and wall portion  64 .  
         [0086]      FIG. 13A  shows a perspective view of the upper portion of the poppet  10  which includes a flat top surface  70 , and an o-ring seal  72  disposed on the upper shoulder  80  ( FIG. 13B ). There is a poppet stem  68  which is preferably of a tri-lobe cross-section as later shown. There is a vent disc  14  disposed in a recess in the face of the flat top surface  70 , which is held in place by retainer ring  16 , which retainer ring  16  is held in position by means of machine screws threaded through the flat top surface. The vent disc  14  in one embodiment includes a hole  15  that passes through the vent disc. The spring  12  mechanically biases the disc  14  onto its seat. According to an alternate form of the invention, the hole  15  may be disposed through the wall of the male adapter cover  2 .  
         [0087]      FIG. 13B  is a side elevation view of the poppet  10 , showing the upper shoulder  80  of the poppet  10 , lower shoulder  81  of the poppet  10 , o-ring seal  72 , and poppet stem  68 .  
         [0088]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the underside of the poppet  10  which includes the lower shoulder  81 , flat bottom surface  83 , o-ring seal  72 , vent disc  14  having hole  15 , spring  12 , machine screw bottoms  78 , poppet stem  68 , and stem supports  69 . The spring  12  is disposed between the vent disc  14  and the poppet stem  68  so as to maintain a mechanical bias on the vent disc  14  in a direction towards the flat top surface  70  from  FIG. 13A .  
         [0089]      FIG. 15  shows a bottom view of the poppet  10  including the stem supports  49 , poppet stem  68 , vent disc  14 , lower shoulder  81 , and flat bottom surface  83 . The circle labeled D 1  is of such a diameter as to be just slightly larger than the diameter D 2  of the top portion of the cone  58  ( FIG. 10 ) so that the skirt of the poppet  81  lines up with the top portion of the cone  58  to promote a smooth fuel flow. The poppet stem  68  is of such diameter as to form a snug fit which allows in and out motion of the poppet within the poppet guide bore  54 .  
         [0090]      FIG. 16  shows a side view of the male adapter  700  in its final assembled form, when all of the components shown in  FIG. 1  and as previously described herein are contained within the male adapter cover  2  and the male adapter base in their proper design configuration. To assemble the male adapter  700 , one begins by placing the male adapter base  4  on a flat surface. Next, the flow cone  6  is placed into position so that the outer ring  62  of the flow cone  6  rests on the circumferential ledge  37 , so that the poppet spring seat  57  is facing upwards, as shown in  FIG. 1 . Next, the poppet  10  (including the spring  12 , vent disc  14 , and retaining ring  16 ) is inserted into the internal housing  18  from the bottom B ( FIG. 8 ) so that the o-ring seal  72  contacts the inner wall of the internal housing  18  at a location on the interior of the sloping shoulder  49 , which is a bevel  99  shown in  FIG. 7  that extends around the inner circumference of the internal housing so as to completely contact the o-ring seal  72 . Next, the poppet spring  8  is placed on the spring seat  57 , and the internal housing  18  (with poppet  10  inside it) is then placed into position so that the skirt portion  51  rests atop the outer ring portion  62  of the flow control cone  6 , against the pressure of the poppet spring. Finally, the male adapter cover  2  is placed over the internal housing and the fasteners are secured to connect the flanges on the male adapter cover  2  and the male adapter base  4 , to provide the assembled male adapter  700  as shown in  FIG. 16 .  
         [0091]      FIG. 17  shows a top view of the assembled male adapter  700 , showing the respective positions of the vent disc  14 , vent hole  15 , retaining ring  16 , vapor tube  20 , flange  26 , flat top surface  48  of the internal housing  18 , flat top surface  70  of the poppet  10 , top surface  3  of the male adapter cover  2  ( FIG. 4 ), and the important gap  7  between the outer perimeter of the flat top surface  48  of the internal housing  18  and the inner perimeter of the top surface  3  of the male adapter cover  2 . The gap  7  is important, as it is through this gap that air passes during a refueling operation, to allow the escape of headspace air in the fuel tank to compensate for the volume of fuel delivered during the refueling operation. As the flat top surface  70  of the poppet is depressed slightly, at first, against the pressure of the poppet spring  8 , both the poppet  10  and the internal housing  18  move into the assembly as a whole, until the skirt portion  51  has bottomed out against the face  40  of the body  4 . The movement of the internal housing  18  to its bottomed out position opens a space in the gap at  7  between the inner wall of the male adapter  2  and the internal housing  18  by releasing the contact between the o-ring seal  50  and the beveled edge  30 . This slight depressing of the flat top surface  48  of the internal housing  18  causes a fluid connection to exist between the vapor tube  20  and the gap  7  at the top portion of the assembly where the o-ring seal  50  has separated from the beveled edge  30 , through the plurality of holes  33  in the male adapter base  4 .  
         [0092]     Further depressing of the flat top surface  70  of the poppet  10  opens a space S between the outer periphery of the top surface  70  of the poppet  10  and the internal wall of the internal housing  18 , as shown in  FIG. 18 , thus enabling a liquid fuel to pass through the inner volume of the internal housing, through the open space  59  in the flow control cone  6  and through the central bore  34 , which is connected to the inlet pipe on the vehicle&#39;s fuel tank. The vapor tube  20  is connected to a hose which is in fluid contact with the headspace gas within the fuel tank. Thus, by depressing the flat top surface  70  of the poppet  10 , a fluid communication between the headspace gas in the fuel tank and the gap at  7  is first caused, and secondly a pathway is opened to the fuel tank for fuel to flow in through central bore  34 , from a location at the top of the poppet in the closed condition. This is because the poppet spring  8  biases the poppet upwards; however, the poppet  10  is located within the internal housing  18  but the head of the poppet has a larger diameter than the diameter of the beveled edge  99  just beneath the top surface  48  of the internal housing  18  in which it is contained, which thus also causes the internal housing  18  to be biased upwards. The internal housing  18  is held in position within the male adapter cover  2  because the diameter of the sloping shoulder  49  of the inner housing  18  is larger than that of the beveled edge  30  in the male adapter cover. This is why the male adapter assembly  700  can only be assembled as taught herein.  
         [0093]      FIG. 19  shows the underside view of the male adapter assembly  700  when the poppet  10  is not depressed, and  FIG. 20  shows the underside view of the assembly  700  while the poppet  10  is depressed, showing the movement of the poppet stem  69  with respect to the outer wall  56 .  FIG. 21  is a top perspective view of the male adapter assembly  700 , and  FIG. 22  is a bottom view of the male adapter assembly  700 .  
         [0094]     A fuel transfer coupling according to the present invention comprises a remote portion which is in fluid contact with a source of liquid hydrocarbon fuel that is to be delivered to the gasoline tank of the motorized vehicle. The remote portion may be thought of as a female adapter owing to its being adapted to receive the male portion of the coupling already described herein. The female adapter, in one preferred form of the invention, is preferably disposed at the exit point of a fuel from a portable, remote fuel reservoir.  
         [0095]     Referring to the drawings, and particularly to  FIG. 23  there is shown the remote portion of a fuel transfer coupling according to the invention in an exploded view, including all of its various components, which are described forthwith.  
         [0096]      FIG. 24  shows a side elevation view of a female adapter base  164  according to the invention, including the top portion of the central conduit  166 T, bottom portion of the central conduit  166 B, shrouding enclosure  170  vapor tube  172 , o-ring seal  168 , and raised surface  171 .  
         [0097]      FIG. 25  shows a perspective view of the upper portion of the female adapter base  164  according to the invention, including the raised surface  171 , shrouding enclosure  170 , outer flange  180  having a plurality of holes  182  disposed thereon, holes  174 , vapor tube  172 , top portion of the central conduit  166 T having a flat top surface  184 , o-ring seal  168 , and a retaining fastener  176  disposed in a boss  177  held centrally within the interior of the central conduit by means of a plurality of fastener boss supports  178 , which are affixed to the inner surface of the wall of the central conduit by conventional means, such as a weld. Retaining fastener  176  is shown with its threads visible.  
         [0098]      FIG. 26  shows a top view of the female adapter base  164  according to the invention, including the central conduit, raised surface  171 , holes  174 , vapor tube  172 , top surface  184 , flange  180 , holes  182 , fastener boss supports  178  and retaining fastener  176 . Thus, the female adapter base  164  includes a central conduit  166  through which fuel is intended to flow. Disposed about the central conduit is a shrouding enclosure  170  which forms an envelope around the central conduit for the purpose of allowing the travel of gas or air vapor through the various holes  174  disposed in the raised surface  171  of the female adapter base, wherein the holes  174  are in fluid contact with the outlet portion  187  of the vapor tube  172 . Thus, this assembly is similar to a condenser as used in the chemical arts, which consists of a tube having a water jacket about it, with an inlet and outlet for the cooling water, and a tube disposed therethrough which the vapor to be condensed is caused to pass. In the present instance, the central conduit is surrounded by the shrouding enclosure  170 , which has as its “inlet”, the various holes  174 , and which has as its “outlet”, the vapor tube  172 .  
         [0099]      FIG. 27  shows a perspective view of a female adapter cover  144  according to the present invention, which is shaped in the form of a hollow cylindrical shell, reminiscent of a cylinder sleeve. The female adapter cover includes a smooth bore  196  along its length dimension, except for a raised band  194  at the top, which raised band has a slightly less inner diameter than the smooth bore  196 . There is an o-ring seal  148  which is disposed in an annular slot at the upper end of the female adapter cover, which o-ring provides a seal around the outer surface of the male adapter cover  2  when the male adapter cover is inserted into the female adapter cover  144 . There is a top surface  146  and a flared bottom  150 .  
         [0100]      FIG. 28  shows a top view of the female adapter cover  144 , including the top surface  146  and the o-ring seal  148 .  
         [0101]      FIG. 29  shows a bottom view of the female adapter cover  144 , including flared bottom  150  and a plurality of threaded holes  152  disposed circumferentially about the lower flared portion, which holes are adapted to receive a fastener that also passes through the holes  182  in the female adapter base  164 , which are in the same configuration and spacing on both the female adapter cover  144  and female adapter base  164 . The diameter D 3  of the inner bore  196  of the female adapter cover  144  is just slightly larger than the diameter of the raised surface  171 , so that the female adapter cover  144  may be securely fit over the female adapter base  164 .  
         [0102]      FIG. 30   a  shows a moveable collar  102  according to the present invention, which is shaped as a hollow cylinder. The moveable collar  102  is intended to be slidably disposed within the smooth bore  196  of the female adapter cover  144 . The moveable collar  102  includes a groove  108  in which is housed an o-ring seal  130 , which o-ring seals the outer surface of the moveable collar  102  within the smooth bore  196  of the female adapter cover  144 . There is a flat top surface  106 , and a plurality of slots  104  which pass through the wall of the moveable collar and may thus be regarded as holes. On the inside wall of the moveable collar  102 , there is a flat recessed surface  112  that is disposed between beveled edge  114  and bevel  110 . Surface  113  extends annularly about the inside diameter of the moveable collar  102 , and has itself an inside diameter which is smaller than the inside diameter of the flat recessed surface  112 . The surface  115  extends annularly about the inside diameter of the moveable collar  102  and has its own inside diameter which is less than that of surface  113 . Thus, going from surface  113  to surface  112 , there is a bevel  110 . Then, going from surface  112  to surface  115 , there is a beveled edge  114 .  
         [0103]      FIG. 30   b  shows a side elevation view of the moveable collar  102  element of the invention, including the slots  104 , flat top surface  106 , and groove  108 .  
         [0104]      FIG. 31  is a top view of the moveable collar  102  element of the invention, including the flat top surface  106 .  
         [0105]      FIG. 32  shows a bottom view of the moveable collar  102  element of the invention, including the beveled edge  114  and holes  117  which are drilled from the bottom surface of the moveable collar to the floor portion of each of the slots  104 , so as to enable insertion of springs into the holes  117 .  
         [0106]      FIG. 33  shows a perspective view of the bottom of the moveable collar  102 , including the slots  104  and groove  108 . There is also shown surface  115 , beveled edge  114 , holes  117 , surface  112 , surface  113 , flat surface  119 , wall  203 , and flat surface  201 . The flat surface  119  accommodates a retaining ring  190  ( FIG. 23 ) having same diameter as said flat surface  119 , to retain in their position springs which have been placed into the holes  117 . The springs are then held in place by a retaining ring fastened to flat surface  119 , either by interference fit, an adhesive substance, or other conventional means. There is also a flat bottom surface  201 .  
         [0107]      FIG. 34  shows a seal ring  116  element of the invention, which is preferably metallic in construction, as are all of the other elements of the couplings of the present invention. The seal ring includes a hollow interior space  207 . There is a flat top surface  118  which includes an o-ring seal embedded in an annular groove that is present on the flat top surface  118 . There is a beveled surface  132 , which is reminiscent of a valve-seat in an automotive cylinder head, and which beveled surface functions as a seat for the valve center  154  as later described herein. There is a shoulder portion  120  which includes an o-ring seal  122  annularly disposed thereon. There is also a lower shoulder  134 , and a skirt portion  128 , as well as a smooth bore  312 . These elements are shown in  FIG. 35  as well, in addition to threaded holes  126  which are drilled into the seal ring  116  at a band portion  124  which circumscribes the seal ring. There are a plurality (preferably  4 ) of holes  126  spaced around the perimeter of the seal ring  116  which correspond in position to the slots  104  in the moveable collar  102 . The centerlines of the bores of the threaded holes  126  are perpendicular to the centerline of the seal ring  116  itself. There is also a flat portion  192  on the underside of the seal ring which functions as a seat for the spring  186  ( FIG. 23 ).  
         [0108]      FIG. 36  is a top view of the seal ring  116 , showing the respective positions of the beveled surface  132 , flat top surface  118 , o-ring seal  130 , shoulder  120 , and o-ring  120 .  
         [0109]      FIG. 37  shows the collar/seal ring assembly  136 . According to the invention, the seal ring  116  is moveably held in place within the moveable collar  102 . This is done by first inserting a spring  140  into each of the holes  117  in the underside of the moveable collar  102 , and then securing them in place by placement of spring retaining ring  190  ( FIG. 23 ) onto the flat surface  119 , such as by using an epoxy resin. This causes the springs to be partly visible in the slots  104  and partially embedded within the hole  117  between the bottom of the moveable collar and the bottom of the slots  104 . A slight forcing of the springs  140  downward enables one to insert a screw  138  (whose threads match the holes  126  on the outer band of the seal ring  116  into the slot between the top of the spring  140  and the top portion of the oval or elongate slot  104 . When four screws are inserted into the four slots  104  in such fashion, the seal ring  116  may then be placed into the interior of the moveable collar  102  so that the four screws  138  are engaged in the threads in the holes  126 . A more preferred means for assembly is to first assemble o-ring  122  to seal ring  116 . Subsequently, the seal ring  116  is fitted inside the moveable collar  102 , and then the screws  138  are inserted through the slots in the moveable collar  102  into threaded holes  126  in  116 . Then the springs  140  are inserted into the holes  117  and the retainer  190  is fitted into the groove in the moveable collar  102 . Such a construction yields the arrangement shown in  FIG. 37  in which the seal ring  116  is held within the moveable collar  102  in such fashion that motion of the seal ring  116  within the moveable collar  102  is permitted in the direction of the centerline, but downward, and against the pressure of the springs  140  applied on each of the screws  138 . Such a motion downwards pushes the seal ring  116  downward, releasing the contact between the o-ring  122  and the beveled edge  114 , thus opening up an annular space located at the gap at  142 . Upon release of downward pressure on the seal ring  116 , the force of the springs  140  force the seal ring  116  back in an upwards direction, forcing the o-ring  122  to sealably engage the beveled edge  114 . Also shown in  FIG. 37  is the flat top surface  106 , flat top surface  118 , o-ring seal  130 , beveled surface  132 , and o-ring seal  188  disposed in groove  108 . Although the screws  138  are used to secure the seal ring  116  in its position within the moveable collar  102 , any other functionally equivalent equatorially-located protrusions from the seal ring are suitable for use in this regard, including without limitation, pins welded into place.  
         [0110]      FIG. 38  shows a side view of the collar/seal ring assembly  136 , showing the respective positions of the flat top surface  118 , flat top surface  106 , groove  108 , springs  140  and screws  138 . The bottom of the assembly is denoted as B.  
         [0111]      FIG. 39  shows an overhead view of the collar/seal ring assembly  136 , showing the respective positions of the flat top surface  118 , o-ring  130 , gap  142 , flat top surface  106 , and beveled surface  132 .  
         [0112]      FIG. 40A  shows a top view of the valve center  154  of the present invention having a flat top surface  156 .  
         [0113]      FIG. 40B  shows a perspective view of the underside of valve center  154  of the present invention, showing the stem portion  158  which has a threaded hole  160  at its bottom portion and an o-ring seal  162  disposed annularly about the valve center.  
         [0114]      FIG. 40C  shows a side perspective view of the valve center element  154 , showing the respective positions of the stem  158  and o-ring seal  162  and flat top surface  156 .  
         [0115]      FIG. 41  shows a side view of the female adapter  701  in its final assembled form, when all of the components shown in  FIG. 23  and as previously described herein are contained within the female adapter cover  144  and the female adapter base  164  in their proper design configuration. To assemble the female adapter  701 , one begins by placing the female adapter base  164  on a flat surface so that the bottom of the central conduit  166 B and vapor tube  172  rest on the flat surface. Next, the spring  186  is placed in position around the top portion of the central conduit  166 T and using the flat surface  171  as a seat. Next, an o-ring  188  is placed in the groove  108  of the collar/seal ring assembly  136 , and the collar/seal ring assembly is located over the spring. The assembly  136  is pushed against the pressure of the spring  186  so that the top portion of the central conduit  166 T enters the underside of the assembly  136  and pushing is continued until the bottom skirt portion (B in  FIG. 38 ) of the assembly  136  contacts the surface  171 , which simultaneously engages the o-ring  168  in a sealing contact with the smooth bore  312  in  FIG. 34 . Once the bottom portion B has contacted the surface  171 , the hole  160  in the end of the stem of the valve center is then threaded over the nut (retaining fastener  176 ,  FIG. 25 ) securely, so that subsequent releasing of the assembly  136  causes the beveled edge  132  to contact the o-ring  162  on the valve center  154  in a sealing arrangement. The female adapter cover  144  is then slid over the assembly  136  and fastened into position using conventional fasteners threaded through the holes  182  ( FIG. 25 ) and into the threaded holes  52  ( FIG. 29 ).  
         [0116]      FIG. 42  is a bottom view of the assembled female adapter  701  showing the respective positions of the flange  180 , bolt holes  182 , retaining fastener  176 , fastener boss supports  178 , valve center  154 , central conduit  166 , vapor tube  172 , and the outlet portion  187  of the vapor tube  172 .  
         [0117]      FIG. 43  is a top view of the assembled female adapter  701  showing the respective positions of its various elements including the top surface  146 , flat top surface  118 , o-ring  130 , flat top  156 , gap  142 , and flat top surface  106 .  
         [0118]      FIG. 44  shows a perspective view of the inside top portion of the assembled female adapter  701  showing the respective positions of its various elements including the flat top surface  118 , o-ring  130 , flat top  156 , top surface  146 , flat top surface  106 , and gap  142 .  
         [0119]      FIG. 45  shows a perspective view of the inside top portion of the assembled female adapter  701  in which the surface  118  has been pressed downward, against the force of spring  186  ( FIG. 23 ) showing the respective positions of its various elements including the flat top surface  118 , o-ring  130 , flat top  156 , top surface  146 , flat top surface  106 , gap  142 , and opening O which has been caused to exist by virtue of the collar/seal ring assembly having been depressed against the force of spring  186  ( FIG. 23 ).  
         [0120]     The construction so described for the female adapter (or remote portion of a fuel transfer coupling according to the invention) operates as follows. A force is applied to the surface  118  of the collar/seal ring assembly, against the pressure of the spring  186  this causes the collar/seal ring assembly  136  to be moved inside the smooth bore  196  of the female adapter cover  144 , to open up an opening O through which a fuel may flow by virtue of the beveled surface  132  having moved away from the o-ring seal  162  of the valve center  154 . The collar/seal ring assembly continues its travel downwards opening up the opening O larger and larger until the bottom portion B of the assembly  136  contacts the raised surface  171 . At this point, further pressure on surface  118  causes the seal ring  116  to continue moving downwards, against the pressure of springs  140 , which opens up the gap  142  by virtue of the o-ring seal  122  no longer being in contact with beveled edge  114 . The opening of the gap  142  opens fluid communication between the outlet portion  187  of the vapor tube  172  and the gap  142 , through the holes  174  and shrouding enclosure  170 .  
         [0121]     Reference is now made back to the male adapter  700 . When the male adapter  700  is engaged inside the female adapter cover and the two are pressed together by an applied force, a series of events heretofore unknown in the art occurs. The o-ring  130  on the female adapter  701  contacts the flat top surface  48  of the internal housing  18 . The applied force causes the internal housing  18  to be pressed into the adapter  700 , thus opening the gap  7 , which provides a fluid communication path between the outlet portion  35  of the vapor tube  20  and the gap  7 . Continued applied force causes the assembly  136  to be pushed into the smooth bore  196  of the female adapter cover  144 , thus creating an opening O through which a liquid fuel may flow as was shown in  FIG. 45 . Continued applied force opens the gap  142  by virtue of the assembly  136  bottoming out on the flat surface  171 , as described above, thus providing a fluid communication path between the outlet portion  187  of the vapor tube  172  and the gap  142 . Under such an arrangement, the gap  7  of the male adapter  700  and the gap  142  of the female adapter  701  are in fluid contact, which also means that the outlet portion  35  of the vapor tube  20  and the outlet portion  187  of the vapor tube  172  are now in fluid communication with one another. During the course of the applied force, and more or less simultaneously with the afore said events, the flat top  156  of the valve center  154  pushes on the flat top surface  70  of the poppet  10  thus opening space S as described for  FIG. 18 , thus enabling fluid contact between the space S on the adapter  700  and the opening O ( FIG. 45 ) of the adapter  701 . Establishment of a fluid connection between the opening of space S and the opening O means that there is now a fluid connection between the bottom of the central conduit  166 B and the central bore  34  of the male adapter base  4 . Thus, insertion of the outer surface of the male adapter cover  2  of the finished assembly  700  into the bore of the female adapter cover  144  of the finished assembly  701  simultaneously causes a fluid connection to occur between the vapor tubes of each of the coupling counterparts and a fluid connection to occur between the central bore  34  of the male adapter base and the bottom of the central conduit  166 B.  
         [0122]     According to a preferred form of the invention, the central bore  34  ( FIG. 2 ) of the assembly  700  is connected by conventional means such as a hose to the inlet pipe through which a fuel tank is normally filled, and the outlet portion  35  of the vapor tube  20  is connected by conventional means such as a hose to the headspace above the fuel in a fuel tank, and the assembly  700  is placed in a location at which the orifice through which gasoline is normally added to a vehicle&#39;s gas tank is located. The adapter assembly  701  is fitted to the bottom of a portable fuel reservoir (or the outlet of a pump). The outlet portion  187  of the vapor tube  172  is connected by conventional means such as a hose to the headspace above the fuel in the fuel reservoir from where the fuel to be delivered to the vehicle is stored. The central conduit  166 B is connected by conventional means such as a hose to the bottom of the portable reservoir, to be in contact with a liquid fuel.  
         [0123]     Using such provisions, when it is deemed desirable to fill gasoline to the vehicle, insertion of the end of the assembly  700  into the open end of the assembly  701  causes the above-described series of events to occur, thus effectively simultaneously, i.e., within about less than  1  second, and permits fueling of a vehicle to occur with no loss of vapor to the atmosphere. Also, since the volume of fuel delivered from the storage tank to the fuel tank on the vehicle is simultaneously compensated for by an equal exchange of headspace volume as between the two fuel storage vessels, no inhibition of flow is observed. Owing also to the nature of the coupling, losses of fuel due to spillage are kept to an absolute minimum, thus reducing fire hazards associated with gasoline spills and effectively eliminating health hazards to persons in the area by virtue of their not breathing volatile materials such as alkyl lead compounds since no spillages occur. These events are depicted in cross-section in  FIGS. 46A-46F . Another way of viewing the events associated with the connection sequence may be broken down in the following steps: 
        1. o-ring,  148 , engages with adapter cover,  2 . Sealing inner portion of coupler and adapter from outside.     2. o-ring,  130 , of  136  engages with face,  48 , of internal housing,  18 . Sealing inner fluid conduit,  34 , from vent cavity,  7 .     3. Assy,  136 , pushes internal housing,  18 , and poppet,  10 , back until face,  51 , contacts face  40  of body,  4 . This opens to vent cavity,  7 .     4. Face,  156 , of poppet,  158 , engages with face,  70  ,of poppet,  10 .     5. Poppet,  156 , pushes poppet,  10 , open allowing fluid/fuel to flow from  166 B to cavity  34 .     6. Assy,  136 , is pushed back until face,  201 , of  102  contacts face,  171 , of body, 164 .     7. Housing,  18 , with face,  48 , in contact with o-ring,  130 , pushes inner housing,  116 , back opening vent cavity,  142 ?, to vent port,  172 .     8. Coupler Assy. continues forward until face,  146 , of adapter cover,  144 , contacts the heads of screws,  22 , of male adapter. Coupler is now fully engaged and all ports are fully open.        
 
         [0132]     The occurrences of the above events are described according to one preferred form of the invention. However, it will occur to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading this specification that the events are controlled by the strengths of the various springs  8 ,  12 ,  186 , and  140  selected. According to a preferred form of the invention, the event which is the last to occur is the opening of the gap  142  in the assembly  136 .  
         [0133]     The vent disc  14  on the assembly  700  is spring-loaded, as previously described herein. The purpose of this is to enable ambient air to enter the fuel tank after a quantity of fuel has been removed from the fuel tank by the action of the fuel pump. When the fuel pump removes fuel from the fuel tank during its normal operation, a vacuum will be developed within the fuel tank because of the volume of fuel removed. When the coupling of the present invention is utilized, once the vacuum inside the fuel tank reaches a sufficient level that the spring  12  can no longer hold the vent disc  14  in its seated position, the vent disc is drawn away from it seat, and enables ambient air to enter the tank to compensate for the loss of fuel or other cause of vacuum in the tank, such as a sudden temperature decrease. In addition, the vent disc  14  includes a hole  15  in its surface, which acts as a vent to vent out any pressure which may build up in the tank, owing to increases in temperature or other causes.  
         [0134]      FIG. 47  shows a perspective view of a fuel containment system comprising a fuel reservoir  609  having an inlet pipe  611  and containing a liquid fuel and a headspace  613 , and further comprising the coupling  700 , wherein the vapor tube  20  is in effective fluid contact with the headspace  613  above the fuel in said fuel reservoir by means of a tube  615 , and wherein the first end portion  34  of the central bore portion is in effective fluid contact with the inlet pipe  611 .  
         [0135]      FIG. 48  shows a perspective view of a fuel containment vessel  617  comprising an outlet  625  and containing a liquid fuel  621  and a headspace  619 , and further comprising the coupling  701 , wherein the vapor tube  172  is in effective fluid contact with the headspace  619  above the fuel  621  in said fuel containment vessel by means of a tubing  623 , and wherein said central conduit portion is in effective fluid contact with said outlet  625 . There is also shown a valve means  627  disposed between said outlet  625  and said central conduit portion.  
         [0136]     Consideration must be given to the fact that although this invention has been described and disclosed in relation to certain preferred embodiments, obvious equivalent modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in this art upon reading and understanding this specification and the claims appended hereto. The present invention further includes all possible combinations of the features recited in any one of the various claims appended hereto with the features recited in any one or more of each of the remaining claims. Accordingly, the presently disclosed invention is intended to cover all such modifications, alterations, and combinations.

Technology Category: 4