U.S. patent application number 15/222280 was filed with the patent office on 2018-08-09 for methods and devices for handling a fuel dispenser hose.
The applicant listed for this patent is Wayne Fueling Systems LLC. Invention is credited to Hanna Helgesson, Bengt I. Larsson, Mattias G. Martensson.
Application Number | 20180222742 15/222280 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 61012181 |
Filed Date | 2018-08-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180222742 |
Kind Code |
A9 |
Larsson; Bengt I. ; et
al. |
August 9, 2018 |
Methods and Devices for Handling a Fuel Dispenser Hose
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention are based on the idea of providing
a device (2) for handling a hose (3) and a fuel dispensing unit (1)
having such a device (2). This is basically achieved by an elastic
element (13) that is adapted to extend within a frame element (8)
and to be guided by a guiding element (9, 10), and by a hose
guiding means (15) which is movable away from said frame element
(8) allowing said hose (3) to be pulled from an idle position to an
operating position when said elastic element (13) is extended.
Inventors: |
Larsson; Bengt I.; (Skivarp,
SE) ; Martensson; Mattias G.; (Kavlinge, SE) ;
Helgesson; Hanna; (Dalby, SE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Wayne Fueling Systems LLC |
Austin |
TX |
US |
|
|
Prior
Publication: |
|
Document Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20180029873 A1 |
February 1, 2018 |
|
|
Family ID: |
61012181 |
Appl. No.: |
15/222280 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
14719485 |
May 22, 2015 |
9470340 |
|
|
15222280 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67D 7/40 20130101; B67D
7/04 20130101; F16L 3/012 20130101; B67D 7/84 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B67D 7/40 20060101
B67D007/40; F16L 3/01 20060101 F16L003/01; B67D 7/04 20060101
B67D007/04; B67D 7/84 20060101 B67D007/84 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 26, 2014 |
SE |
1450622-4 |
Claims
1. A fuel dispenser, comprising: a cabinet; a frame with first and
second columns extending upwards above the cabinet, the frame
having a top part extending between the first and second columns; a
hose guide coupled to the frame and movable away from the frame; an
elastic element having a first end coupled to the hose guide and a
second end coupled to one of the first and second columns, wherein
the elastic element has a first portion extending vertically within
second columns of the frame and a second portion extending
horizontally within the top part of the frame; and a hose extending
through the hose guide and configured to move the hose guide away
from the frame such that the elastic element is extended.
2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, further comprising a guiding
element disposed within the frame and having the elastic element
positioned therearound such that the guiding element guides the
elastic element when the hose guide is moved away from the
frame.
3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, further comprising first and
second guiding elements disposed within the frame and having the
elastic element positioned therearound such that the first and
second guiding elements guide the elastic element when the hose
guide is moved away from the frame.
4. The fuel dispenser of claim 3, wherein the first guiding element
is disposed within the frame at a first end of the top part
adjacent to the first column of the frame, and the second guiding
element is disposed within the top part adjacent to the second
column of the frame.
5. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the base-cabinet includes
a hydraulics cabinet containing fuel dispensing components, and an
electronics cabinet mounted above the hydraulics cabinet.
6. The fuel dispenser of claim 1, wherein the hose guide is coupled
to the top part of the frame adjacent to one of the first and
second columns.
7. A method for handling a hose on a fuel dispenser, comprising:
removing a nozzle from a fuel dispenser having a cabinet with fuel
dispensing components and a frame extending upwards above the
cabinet, the nozzle being coupled to a first end of a hose and the
hose having a second end coupled to the fuel dispenser, the hose
extending through a hose guide coupled to the frame of the fuel
dispenser, the hose guide being coupled a first end of an elastic
element, and a second end of the elastic element being fixedly
attached to the frame, the elastic element extending through at
least one of first and second columns of the frame and through a
top part of the frame, wherein the hose guide moves away from the
frame to extend the elastic element when the nozzle is moved a
distance away such that the hose is pulled from an idle position to
an operating position.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the frame includes first and
second columns extending upwards from the cabinet and a top part
extending between the first and second columns, the elastic element
being fixedly attached to one of the first and second columns.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the hose guide is coupled to the
top part and moves away from the top part when the hose is pulled
from the idle position to the operating position.
10. The method of claim 7, wherein the elastic element moves in
both vertical and horizontal directions when the elastic element is
extended.
11. The method of claim 7, wherein the frame includes at least one
guiding element that guides the elastic element as the elastic
element is extended.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of U.S.
application Ser. No. 14/719,485, filed May 22, 2015, and entitled
"Device for Handling a Hose and a Fuel Dispensing Unit Having Such
a Device," which is a national application of Swedish Patent
application No. 1450622-4, filed on May 26, 2014, and entitled
"Device for Handling a Hose and a Fuel Dispensing Unit Having Such
a Device," which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in
their entireties.
FIELD
[0002] The field of the invention generally relates to the field of
fuel dispensing units and more particularly to a device for
handling a hose.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A fuel dispensing unit, such as a petrol pump typically
comprises a pump part standing on the ground, a display part
positioned above the pump part and showing the chosen type of
petrol, cash readout, volume readout etc., and a column or frame to
which one or more petrol hoses are connected.
[0004] When the tank of a vehicle is to be filled up, the driver
parks the vehicle beside the petrol pump and opens the cover or cap
of the petrol tank. The driver then selects the desired type of
petrol and places the pump nozzle in the inlet of the vehicle's
petrol tank and puts in the desired volume of petrol.
[0005] A difficulty that may arise in connection with filling-up is
that the hose does not reach to the vehicle if parked a distance
from the petrol pump. The reason why the vehicle has not been
parked sufficiently close to the pump may be difficulty in
maneuvering owing to a limited space round the petrol pump. To
allow the hose to reach the vehicle, it is usually necessary for
the driver to park his vehicle so that the side of the vehicle
where the filler cap is positioned faces the petrol pump. It is not
always known to a driver of an unfamiliar vehicle whether the
filler cap is positioned on the left or right side. This may result
in the driver by mistake parking the vehicle on the wrong side of
the pump and thus not being able to fill up the tank without moving
the vehicle to the other side of the petrol pump since the hose
does not reach all the way round the vehicle.
[0006] One way of facilitating access to the petrol pump is to
provide it with a longer hose. This may, however, cause problems
since a longer hose may tend to land on the ground when not used
and thus get stuck in or be damaged by passing cars or other
vehicles. To prevent this, the column or frame may be provided with
some kind of returning mechanism for the hose.
[0007] A problem common for the hose returning devices described
above is their size, or their extension within the fuel dispensing
unit, which results in bulky and complicated structures.
SUMMARY
[0008] Embodiments of the invention include a device for handling a
hose and a fuel dispensing having such a device.
[0009] Such embodiments generally aim at eliminating or at least
reducing the problems discussed above as well as other problems
known in the art.
[0010] In one embodiment, a device for handling a hose comprises a
frame element, said frame element being hollow and including a
guiding element, a hose guiding means arranged outside of said
frame element and adapted to guide said hose, and an elastic
element which is attached to a fixed point in relation to said
frame element at one end and to said hose guiding means at the
other end. The device is characterized in that said elastic element
is adapted to extend within said frame element and to be guided by
said guiding element, and that said hose guiding means is movable
away from said frame element allowing said hose to be pulled from
an idle position to an operating position when said elastic element
is extended. This is advantageous in that a robust and space-saving
device is provided, which enables a smooth and flexible handling of
the hose. Further, due to the design of the frame element and the
guiding element included therein, the risk of entangling with the
hose is eliminated.
[0011] According to another aspect a fuel dispensing unit comprises
such a device for handling a hose.
[0012] Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be
interpreted according to their ordinary meaning in the technical
field, unless explicitly defined otherwise herein. All references
to "a/an/the [element, device, component, means, step, etc.]" are
to be interpreted openly as referring to at least one instance of
said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unless
explicitly stated otherwise.
[0013] As used herein, the term "comprising" and variations of that
term are not intended to exclude other additives, components,
integers or steps.
[0014] The term "vertically" means the vertical direction in
relation to the device when in an upright position.
[0015] The term "horizontally" means the horizontal direction in
relation to the device when in an upright position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The above, as well as additional objects, features and
advantages of the present invention, will be better understood
through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed
description of embodiments of the present invention, with reference
to the appended drawings, where the same reference numerals will be
used for similar elements, wherein:
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel dispensing unit
having a device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the
invention,
[0018] FIG. 2a is a perspective view the device when the hose is in
an idle position,
[0019] FIG. 2b is a perspective view the device when the hose is in
an operating position, and
[0020] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fuel dispensing unit
having a device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a fuel dispensing unit 1 having a device
2 for handling a hose 3 provided on each side of the fuel
dispensing unit 1. The fuel dispensing unit 1 has an electrical
cabinet 4 containing all the electronics for the fuel dispensing
unit 1, a hydraulic cabinet 5 containing fuel dispensing means (not
shown), e.g. fuel metering means, valves, vapour recovery system
etc, and a column 6 (on each side of the fuel dispensing unit 1)
extending upwards vertically above the electrical cabinet 5. The
fuel dispensing unit 1 is connected to an underground reservoir
(not shown) containing fuel. When filling up the tank of a motor
vehicle, the fuel is pumped from the underground reservoir by means
of a pump (not shown) which is located in the hydraulic cabinet 4,
and from there to a hose connection (not shown) and out to a nozzle
7 via the hose 3.
[0022] In FIG. 2a, the device 2 is illustrated when the hose 3
(both of the hoses 3) is in an idle position. In this exemplary
embodiment, the device 2 is arranged to handle two hoses 3. The
device 2 comprises a frame element 8 which is hollow and includes a
first, second, third and fourth guiding element 9, 10, 11, 12. Each
guiding element comprises a roller which is rotatable around an
axis. The device 2 further comprises a first and second elastic
element 13, 14, and a first and second hose guiding means 15, 16.
The frame element 8 comprises first and second side parts 17, 18
which are constituted the columns 6 provided on each side of the
fuel dispensing unit 1, and a top part 19. The top part 19 extends
in a horizontal direction and connects the first and second side
parts 17, 18 at an upper end 20, 28 of the first and second side
parts 17, 18, respectively. The frame element 8 further comprises a
support element 23 arranged horizontally between the first and
second side parts. The first elastic element 13 is attached to a
first fixed point P.sub.1 at one end and to the first hose guiding
means 15 at the other end. The first elastic element 13 is adapted
to extend from the first fixed point P.sub.1, upwards vertically
through the first side part 17 to a first outer end 21 of the top
part 19, over the first guiding element 9 which is arranged at the
first outer end 21 of the top part 19, horizontally through the top
part 19 to a second outer end 22 of the top part 19, over the
second guiding element 10 which is arranged at the second outer end
22 of the top part 19, out of the frame element 8 and to the first
hose guiding means 15. The first hose guiding means 15 is thereby
movable away from the frame element 8 allowing the hose 3 to be
pulled from an idle position to an operating position when the
first elastic element 13 is extended. The first hose guiding means
15 is adapted to enclose the hose 3 and is arranged adjacent to the
second outer end 22 of said top part 19 when the hose 3 is in said
idle position. Thus, the hose 3 is not accommodated in the frame
element 8 and does not form part of the device 2. Instead, the hose
3 is held in place on the side of the fuel dispensing unit 1 by
means of the hose guiding means 15. The second elastic element 14
is attached to a second fixed point P.sub.2 at one end and to the
second hose guiding means 16 at the other end. The second elastic
element 14 is adapted to extend from the second fixed point P2,
upwards vertically through the second side part 18 to the second
outer end 22 of the top part 19, over the third guiding element 11
which is arranged at the second outer end 22 of the top part 19,
horizontally through the top part 19 to a first outer end 21 of the
top part 19, over the fourth guiding element 12 which is arranged
at the first outer end 21 of the top part 19, out of the frame
element 8 and to the second hose guiding means 16. The second hose
guiding means 16 is thereby movable away from the frame element 8
allowing the hose 3 to be pulled from an idle position to an
operating position when the second elastic element 14 is extended.
The second hose guiding means 16 is adapted to enclose the hose 3
and is arranged adjacent to the first outer end 21 of said top part
19 when the hose 3 is in said idle position.
[0023] In FIG. 2b, the device 2 is illustrated when one of the
hoses 3 (on the left side of the fuel dispensing unit 1) is in an
operating position.
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates the device 2 according to a second
embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the device 2 is
arranged to handle two hoses 3 and the frame element 8 further
comprises a fifth and a sixth guiding element 24, 25. The first
elastic element 13 is attached to a third fixed point P.sub.3
(located at the first outer 21 end of the top part 19) at one end
and to the first hose guiding means 15 at the other end. The first
elastic element 13 is adapted to extend from the third fixed point
P.sub.3, downwards vertically through the first side part 17 to a
lower end 26 of the first side part 17, below the fifth guiding
element 24 arranged at the lower end 26 of the first side part 14,
upwards vertically through the first side part 17 to the first
outer end 21 of the top part 19, over the first guiding element 9
arranged at the first outer end 21 of the top part 19, horizontally
through the top part 19 to the second outer end 22 of the top part
19, over the second guiding element 10 arranged at the second outer
end 22 of the top part 19, out of the frame element 8 and to the
first hose guiding means 15. The second elastic element 14 is
attached to a fourth fixed point P.sub.4 (located at the second
outer 22 end of the top part 19) at one end and to the second hose
guiding means 16 at the other end. The second elastic element 14 is
adapted to extend from the fourth fixed point P.sub.4, downwards
vertically through the second side part 18 to a lower end 27 of the
second side part 18, below the sixth guiding element 25 arranged at
the lower end 27 of the second side part 18, upwards vertically
through the second side part 18 to the second outer end 22 of the
top part 19, over the third guiding element 11 arranged at the
second outer end 22 of the top part 19, horizontally through the
top part 19 to the first outer end 21 of the top part 19, over the
fourth guiding element 12 arranged at the first outer end 21 of the
top part 19, out of the frame element 8 and to the second hose
guiding means 16.
[0025] When the hose 3 is to be used to refuel a vehicle, the hose
3 is merely pulled by a user. The hose guiding means 15, 16 will
follow the hose 3 and move away from the frame element 8 to an
operating position, thereby extending the elastic element 13, 14
attached to the same. When the vehicle has been refueled and the
user releases the pressure applied to the hose 3, the elastic
element 13, 14 will pull the hose guiding means 15, 16 as well as
the hose 3 back to the idle position.
[0026] The skilled person realizes that a number of modifications
of the embodiments described herein are possible without departing
from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended
claims.
[0027] For instance, elastic element can be made of any suitable
material, such as a rubber band, a spring wire, wire connected to a
spring, and a roll of spring-loaded coiled wire.
[0028] The hose guiding means can be of any suitable shape and
size. In one embodiment of the hose guiding means, the hose can
slide freely through the same during use.
[0029] The guiding elements can be of any suitable shape and size
and are not limited to rollers. The guiding element can, for
example, be made of low friction materials and be shaped as a
curved groove in which the hose can slide.
[0030] The fixed point can be located at any suitable location,
both within and outside of the device as well as the fuel
dispensing unit.
* * * * *