Fuel Adapter And Coupler Assembly

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a fuel adapter and coupler assembly which includes an adapter body and a pair of coupler bodies, one for unloading operations and the other for loading operations, the adapter body having valve means connected to an exterior handle such that in one mode of operation the handle can be manually operated to open the valve while in another mode of operation the handle is maintained inoperative by a lost-motion connection and the valve means can therefore be automatically opened by the opening of a poppet valve associated with one of the coupler bodies.

Description

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in refueling equipment, and more particularly to a fuel adapter and coupler assembly wherein a single adapter is designed to be used with two different though related couplers depending upon the particular operation being carried out. For example, assuming that the adapter is connected to a fuel tank of a refueling truck, a hose which is connected to a ground tank or similar fluid source is connected to the adapter by a coupler which includes a valve which can be selectively opened and closed by an exterior handle. The adapter is so constructed that a valve thereof is automatically opened upon the opening of the coupler valve, and the adapter further includes means for closing the valve thereof automatically should the adapter and coupler become accidentally or inadvertently uncoupled. This appreciably reduces fuel spillage and the fire hazards attendant thereto.

When it is desired to unload the tank truck and return unused fuel to the fuel source, another coupler devoid of a valve is coupled to the adapter and the valve of the latter is opened manually by an exteriorly accessible handle. However, the handle is so connected to the adapter valve that it is only used for unloading operations at which time a positive connection between the handle and the adapter valve assures the positive opening thereof upon manual rotation of the adapter handle. However, the connection between the adapter valve and its handle is such as to transform this positive connection to a lost-motion connection to permit the adapter valve to be automatically opened by the valve of the loading coupler. Therefore, the adapter and its associated pair of couplers assures rapid yet safe operation during both the loading and unloading of fuel.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a novel fuel adapter and coupler assembly wherein the adapter includes a valve which can be manually opened during unloading operations by virtue of a positive mechanical connection between the handle and the adapter valve, but means are provided for transforming the positive connection into a lost-motion connection whereby during a loading operation it is unnecessary to manually open the adapter valve by manipulating the handle thereof, and the adapter valve can be automatically opened upon the manual opening of a poppet valve of the loading coupler.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel adapter and coupler assembly of the type heretofore set forth wherein the adapter valve is a swing valve, the coupler valve is a butterfly valve, and the swing valve is pivotally connected to the adapter at a point radially outwardly of the periphery of the butterfly valve whereby a large moment arm is created necessitating the application of relatively low opening forces to the coupler valve for opening the adapter valve.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel adapter and coupler assembly wherein the loading coupler includes an exterior locking ring rotatable between locked and unlocked positions, and said locking ring and coupler handle include cooperative surfaces for preventing the rotation of the coupler handle and the inadvertent opening of the coupler valve when the locking ring is in the unlocked position thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel adapter and coupler assembly as heretofore described wherein the coupling means between the adapter handle and adapter valve includes linkage means between a stem of the handle and the adapter valve, and the lost-motion connection is defined by a stem of the linkage means in telescopic relationship to and freely rotatably received in a tubular portion of the handle stem.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel adapter and coupler assembly wherein biasing means is positioned in a tubular stem for applying a force which normally maintains the lost-motion connection between the adapter handle and the adapter valve.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claimed subject matter, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an adapter and coupler assembly of this invention, and illustrates an adapter and one of a pair of couplers prior to being coupled together incident to a loading operation.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and illustrates a valve normally closing a passage of the adapter and the coupler, and a handle associated with each valve.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged end elevational view taken generally along line 3-3 of FIG. 1, and illustrates a plurality of pivotally mounted locking dogs and an associated rotatable locking ring for coupling and uncoupling the assembly.

FIG. 4 is a highly enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 3, and illustrates the position of one of the locking dogs prior to the complete insertion of the adapter into the coupler.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the coupled assembly, and illustrates the locking ring in its locked position at which the coupler handle is free to rotate incident to the performance of a loading operation.

FIG. 6 is a highly enlarged cross-sectional view taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 5, and illustrates a lost-motion connection between the adapter and a linkage connected to the adapter valve for permitting the latter to be automatically opened upon the opening of the coupler valve.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 6, and illustrates in phantom outline the manner in which the coupler valve opens the adapter valve.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the adapter and coupler assembly, but illustrates an unloading coupler prior to being connected to the adapter.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally along line 9-9 of FIG. 8, and illustrates a locking ring rotatably carried by the coupler.

FIG. 10 is an elevational view taken generally along line 10-10 of FIG. 8, and illustrates a plurality of locking dogs which are cam-actuated to a locked position by the rotation of the locking ring.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary axially sectional view of the interlocked coupler and adapter of FIG. 8, and illustrates the adapter valve in its open position after having been rotated thereto by the adapter handle.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along line 12-12 of FIG. 11, and illustrates the manner in which the lost-motion connection between the adapter handle and valve is transformed into a positive connection therebetween for opening the adapter valve upon the rotation of the handle.

A fuel adapter and coupler assembly of this invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 8 of the drawings, and is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The assembly 10 includes an adapter 11, a loading coupler 12 (FIG. 1) and an unloading coupler 13. The adapter 11 is secured to a tank T of a refueling truck while the couplers 12, 13 are secured to respective hoses H, H' which are in turn adapted to be coupled at opposite ends thereof to a source of fuel (not shown), such as underground fuel tanks. The coupler 12 is connected to the adapter 11 when it is desired to transfer fuel from the fuel source to the vehicle, while the coupler 13 is connected to the adapter 11 when it is desired to transfer fuel from the tank T to the fuel source.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, 6 and 7 of the drawings, the adapter 11 includes a tubular adapter body 14 defining a fuel passage 15. A forward end portion 16 of the adapter body 14 includes a radially inwardly directed flange 17 to which is secured an annular member 18 by a plurality of bolts 20 (FIG. 7). The annular member 18 terminates in a radially inwardly directed flange 21 which defines a valve seat (unnumbered) for a swing valve 22 carrying a conventional seal 23. The annular member 18 further includes an annular cam surface 24 (FIGS. 2 and 4) which bears against a tapered surface 25 of each of a plurality of locking dogs 26 carried by the coupler 12 to pivot the dogs 26 to the position shown in FIG. 4 and eventually results in the coupling engagement between a surface 27 of each of the locking dogs 26 and another tapered annular surface 28 of the annular member 18, as best shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

The valve 22 is mounted for swinging movement between the closed position (FIGS. 2 and 7) and the open position (FIG. 11) by means of a pivot arm 30 having an end portion 31 (FIGS. 6 and 7) apertured at 32 and an opposite T-shaped end portion 33 mounted for pivoting movement upon surfaces 34, 35 of the annular member 28. The surfaces 34, 35 are formed by tangentially cutting through a portion of a peripheral surface 36 of the annular member 18. The annular member 18 is also provided with an axial slot 37 (FIGS. 6 and 7) which is in alignment with an axial slot 38 formed in the flange 17. Prior to assembling the annular member 18 with the end portion 16 of the adapter body 14, the T-shaped end portion 33 of the arm 30 is seated upon the surfaces 34, 35 after which the annular member 18 is secured by bolts 20 to the end portion 16 with the arm 30 in alignment with the slots 37, 38. The surfaces 34, 35 thereby form pivot journals for the T-shpaed end portion 33 of the arm 30 while the aligned slots 37, 38 allow the arm 30 to swing therethrough from the position shown in FIG. 7 to the open position of FIG. 11.

The valve 22 is connected to an exterior handle 40 by connecting means which includes a linkage mechanism 41 which includes a pair of pivotal links 42, 43 straddling the end portion 31 of the arm 30 and pivotally connected thereto by a pin 44 and a cotter key (unnumbered). Opposite end portions of the links 42, 43 are pivotally connected to a bight portion 45 of a generally U-shaped member 46 having axially opposite directed and coaxially aligned ends or stems 47, 48 (FIG. 6). The end 47 is journaled for rotation in a bore 50 of the adapter body 14 while the stem 48 is received in a bore 51 of a stem 52 of the handle 40. The stem 52 of the handle 40 is journaled for rotation in a bore 53 of the adapter body 14. An O-ring 54 or similar conventional seal carried by the stem 52 prevents fuel from escaping outwardly of the adapter through the bore 53.

The innermost end portion of the stem 52 is faced-off as at 59 to form an axially extending slot 55 which is adapted to receive an offset or leg portion 56 of the U-shaped member 46. As thus far described, it will be noted that if it were possible to simply rotate the handle 40 through 90.degree. while in the position illustrated in FIG. 6, the link 46 would not move nor would the valve 22 open because of the relative rotation permitted between the stem 48 and the bore 51 of the stem 52 which thereby define a lost-motion connection between the handle 40 and the valve 22. However, upon manually sliding the stem 52 inwardly against the bias of a spring 57 in the bore 51 the slot 55 of the stem 52 will embrace the offset portion 56 of the link 46, as shown in FIG. 12, and thereafter rotation applied to the handle 40 will swing the link 46 and the links 42, 43 to both open and close the valve 22. However, the handle 40 is only manually rotated when the adapter 11 is connected to the coupler 13, but when connected to the coupler 12 the lost-motion connection between the stem 48 and the bore 51 of the stem 52 is at all times maintained effective by the bias of the spring 57 which urges the handle radially outwardly against and in underlying relationship to a portion of a bracket 58 which is secured to the exterior of the adapter body 14 by bolts 60.

The valve 22 is also normally biased to its closed position by a tension spring 61 having end portions 62, 63 respectively connected to the arm 30 and the bight portion 45 of the U-shaped member 46 in the manner readily apparent from FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The loading coupler 12 includes a coupler body 65 having a reduced, tubular, internally threaded end portion 66 and a larger annular end portion 67 which together define a passage 68 which is normally closed by a butterfly valve 70. The butterfly valve 70 includes a pair of threaded bosses 71, 72 (FIG. 2) which in turn receive partially threaded stems 73, 74 which are journaled for rotation in respective bores 75, 76 of the coupler body 65. The stem 73 is connected to an exterior handle 77 (FIGS. 1 and 5) which at one end portion thereof includes a flat surface 78 and an arcuate surface 80, the functions of which will be described more fully hereafter.

An internal portion of the coupler body 65 is relieved to form a seat 81 (FIGS. 2 and 4) for an annular seal structure 82. As best illustrated in FIG. 4 of the drawings, the annular seal structure 82 includes an annular seal 83 having an axial directed nose 84 and a radially inwardly directed sealing portion 85. The sealing nose 84 forms a seal with the annular member 18 of the adapter 11, as shown in FIG. 7, while the sealing portion 85 forms a seal with the peripheral surface (unnumbered) of the butterfly valve 70 when the latter is in its closed position (FIGS. 2, 4 and 7). The seal 83 is sandwiched between a pair of annular metallic reinforcing members 86, 87, and the entire seal structure 82 is held in position on the seat 81 by a plurality of identical fasteners 88 received in bores 90. As shown in FIG. 4, keyhole-shaped openings 91 are formed in the annular plate 86 for rapidly removing and replacing the seal structure 82 by simply rotating the annular plate 86 clockwise as seen in FIG. 3 for removal and counterclockwise for reassembly.

The annular end portion 67 of the coupler body 65 includes three identical axial slots 92 which through one side thereof each merge with a circumferential slot 93 having an abutment face 94 (FIGS. 2 and 3). Each of the slots 92 receives an associated one of the dogs 26 for pivoting movement between the fully open position shown in FIG. 4 and the closed position of FIG. 7.

An annular locking ring 95 surrounds the annular end portion 67 of the coupler 12, and includes a radially inwardly opening annular recess 96 and a radially inwardly directed flange 97. A tail 98 of each of the dogs 26 (FIG. 4) is received in the recess 96 with the flange 97 serving as a stop to limit clockwise pivoting of the dogs 26, as viewed in FIG. 4. An annular spring 100 surrounds and is locked to the coupler body 65 by a split ring 101 received in a circumferential groove 102. The spring 100 functions to normally bear against each dog 26 adjacent the tail thereof to bias each dog in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 4.

The locking ring 95 includes three identical radially inwardly directed abutment members 103 (FIGS. 2 and 3), each of which is positioned between one of the locking dogs 26 and the adjacent abutment surfaces 94 of the coupler end portion 67. As best viewed in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the contact between each abutment member 103 and its adjacent dog 26 functions as limiting means for clockwise rotation of the locking ring 95 while counterclockwise rotation of the locking ring is limited by contact between each abutment member 103 and the adjacent abutment surface 94.

An inner peripheral surface 105 of the locking ring 95 is identically relieved adjacent each of the abutment members 103 to form a recess 106 having a sidewall 107, a bottom wall 108 and a tapered camming surface 110. The camming surface 110 has a double taper in both an axial direction (FIG. 4) and a circumferential direction (FIG. 3) for bearing against a surface 111 (FIG. 4) of each of the dogs 26 to urge the same to the locked position shown in FIG. 7 which will be described more fully hereafter.

The exterior of the locking ring 95 includes a radially outwardly directed shelf 112 (FIGS. 3 and 5) which prevents the handle 77 from being rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5 to prevent the butterfly valve 70 from being pivoted in a direction opposite to that intended. In addition, a portion of the locking ring 95 is cut away to form surfaces 113, 114 (FIGS. 1 and 5) which are complementary to the respective surfaces 78, 80 of the handle 77.

Assuming the tank T is to be loaded, the coupler 12 is connected to the adapter 11 by pushing the end portion 67 of the coupler 12 upon the annular member 18 of the adapter. Prior to the contact between the surfaces 25 of the noses 26 and the camming surface 24 of the annular member 18, the spring 100 holds each of the dogs 26 in the position as shown in FIG. 3. As the surfaces 24, 25 contact each other and movement is continued, each of the dogs 26 is pivoted to the position shown in FIG. 4 causing portions of the dogs 26 to enter their respective recesses 106 with the surfaces 108, 111 in alignment. Eventually continued telescopic movement brings the surfaces 27, 28 into contact after which the annular member 18 of the adapter 11 contacts the nose 84 of the seal 83. At this time the locking ring 95 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3 whereupon the surface 110 acting against the surface 111 of each of the dogs 26 forces the surfaces 27, 28 into complete overlying relationship and draws the adapter fully into the coupler to form a fluid tight seal. The counterclockwise rotation is concluded upon the abutment members 103 and the adjacent abutment surfaces 94 at which time the surface 78 of the handle 77 is moved from the position in alignment with the surface 113 of the locking ring 95 to the position shown in FIG. 5 releasing the handle 77 for rotation to open the butterfly valve 70.

As the handle 77 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 5 or counterclockwise in FIG. 7, the butterfly valve 70 pivots in like directions and progressively opens the swing valve 22 of the adapter, as is schematically illustrated in FIG. 7, as the lowermost portion of the butterfly valve moves upwardly and to the right in FIG. 7. With the adapter handle 40 positioned as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the lost-motion connection between the stem 48 and the bore 51 permits the swing valve 22 to open freely and rapidly under the influence of the butterfly valve and the pressure of the fuel which quickly urges the swing valve 22 to its full-open position illustrated in the uppermost phantom outline position in FIG. 7.

It should be noted that after a portion of the arcuate surface 80 of the handle 77 enters into the arcuate slot 114 it is no longer possible to rotate the locking ring 95 because of the abutment between the surfaces 80, 114. Therefore, the adapter 11 and the coupler 12 cannot be inadvertently or accidentally uncoupled without first turning the handle 77 back from the phantom outline position of FIG. 7 to the position shown in FIG. 5 at which time the butterfly valve 70 is closed as is the swing valve 22 by means of the tension spring 61. It will therefore be seen that if, for example, loading must be terminated rapidly, it is necessary to close only the butterfly valve 70 of the coupler 12 which results in the automatic closing of the swing valve 22 after which uncoupling can be rapidly accomplished by again rotating the locking ring 95 from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 1 and then merely pulling the coupler 12 off the adapter 11.

Referring to FIG. 7, it will be noted that the pivot point of the swing valve 22 at the T-portion 33 is outboard of the periphery of the butterfly valve 70, and that the opening force of the butterfly valve 70 is initially applied to the swing valve 22 at the lowest point of the periphery of the butterfly valve 70. This construction provides a relatively long moment arm, namely, from the pivot point at the T-portion 33 to the lowermost portion of the butterfly valve periphery, thereby resulting in a very small force applied to the handle 77 to open both valves.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8 through 12 of the drawings wherein the unloading coupler 13 is illustrated as including a coupler body 115 having a reduced internally threaded end portion 116 connected to the hose H'. An annular seal 117 is positioned internally of the coupler body 115 and includes a radially outwardly directed peripheral portion 118 underlying a radially inwardly directed flange 120 of the coupler body 115, a radially inwardly directed peripheral portion 121 and a generally curved or arcuate sealing portion 122. The seal 117 is connected to the coupler body 115 by first inserting the peripheral portions 118, 121 in a recess 123 and thereafter threadably securing a flanged retainer to the position shown in FIG. 11 at which point a radially outwardly directed flange (unnumbered) of the retainer 122 overlies the peripheral portion 121 and cooperates with the flange 120 to retain the seal 117 positively secured in position. However, the removal and replacement of the seal 117 can be rapidly achieved by simply unthreading and removing the retainer 124.

The coupler body 115 also includes a radially outwardly directed portion 125 and a peripheral skirt 129. The peripheral skirt 129 is provided with three identical slots 126 (FIG. 10) in each of which is pivotally mounted an identical locking dog 127 by means of a pivot pin 128. Each locking dog has a camming surface 130, a generally V-shaped notch 131, and a radially inwardly directed nose 132. A spring bias ball detent 133 positioned in a bore 134 adjacent the nose 132 of each dog 127 normally biases each locking dog in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 11.

A locking ring 135 surrounds the peripheral skirt 129, and is similar in construction to the locking ring 95 of the coupler 12 in that it includes an inner peripheral surface 136 having three identical recesses 137 each defined by a generally radial surface 138, a bottom wall or surface 140, and a tapering surface 141. Rotation of the locking ring 135 is limited between locked and unlocked positions by surfaces 142, 143 of identical slots 144 and the heads of identical bolts 145 threadably secured in the peripheral skirt 129 of the coupler body 115.

Assuming it is desired to unload the tank T of FIG. 8 and that the locking ring 135 of the coupler 13 is positioned as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the coupler 13 is pushed upon the adapter during which time the annular camming surface 24 engages the camming surfaces 130 of the locking dogs 127 pivoting the same radially outwardly into the recesses 137 after which each dog is resiliently urged by the spring detent 133 to a position approximating that shown in FIG. 11. At this point the locking ring 135 is rotated in a clockwise direction whereupon the camming surfaces 141 of the recesses 137 engage the dogs and complete the coupling of the adapter 11 and the coupler 13 when the heads of the bolts 145 contact the abutment surfaces 142 of the slots 144.

The handle 40 is then pushed inwardly against the bias of the spring 57 until the offset portion 56 of the U-shaped link 46 is received in the axial slot 55 of the stem 52. This transforms the lost-motion connection into a positive connection and upon rotation of the handle 40 the swing valve 22 is opened, it being noted that the adapter body is provided with an upwardly opening groove 49 (FIG. 12) to accommodate the round end portion of the handle during the rotation thereof between the positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 12.

After the tank T has been unloaded, the handle 40 is simply again rotated from the position shown in FIG. 11 to that illustrated in FIG. 8 after which the locking ring 135 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 9 and the adapter and coupler are disassembled by relative movement therebetween.

While preferred forms and arrangements of parts have been shown in illustrating the invention, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in details and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claimed subject matter.

Claims

I claim:

1. An adapter and coupler assembly comprising an adapter body and a coupler body, means for telescopically uniting said adapter and coupler bodies, said adapter and coupler bodies each having a passage through which fluid is adapted to flow in a predetermined direction when said bodies are telescopically united, valve means normally closing said adapter body passage, handle means exteriorly of said adapter body, and means connecting said handle means to said valve means for manually opening said valve means in a direction generally opposite to the predetermined direction of fluid flow and further permitting the automatic opening of said valve means upon a reversal of direction of said fluid flow and the application of an opening force against said valve means in said reverse direction, and wherein said coupler body includes valve means normally closing said coupler body passage, means mounting said coupler body valve means for movement to contact and open said adapter body valve means, and means for moving said coupler body valve means to its open position thereby applying the opening force against said adapter body valve means resulting in the opening thereof.

2. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a lost-motion connection between said valve means and said handle means whereby said handle means remains inoperative during the automatic opening of said valve means, and said connecting means further includes means for transforming said lost-motion connection into a positive connection for manually opening said valve means.

3. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve means is a swing valve mounted for swinging movement in said adapter body passage between open and closed positions thereof, and spring means for biasing said swing valve toward its closed position.

4. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 1 including means for retaining said handle means in a manually inoperative position during the automatic opening of said valve means, and means for effecting relative movement between said retaining means and said handle means whereby said handle means can be manually operated to manually open said valve means.

5. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 1 including handle means connected to said coupler body, valve means for moving said coupler body valve means between open and closed positions thereof, means for coupling said adapter body to said coupler body, and means for preventing the operation of said coupler body handle means until said coupler and adapter bodies have been coupled together by said coupling means.

6. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said adapter body valve means is a swing valve, said coupler body valve means

7. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 1 including handle means pivotally connected to said coupler body valve means for moving said coupler body valve means between open and closed positions thereof, means for coupling said adapter body to said coupler body, said coupling means includes a locking ring mounted for rotation exteriorly of said coupled body between locked and unlocked positions relative to said adapter body, cooperative abutment means of said locking ring and said coupler body handle means for preventing pivot movement of said coupler body handle means in the unlocked position of said locking ring, and recess means adjacent the abutment means of said locking ring for receiving therein at least a portion of said abutment means of said coupler body handle means for permitting pivoting movement of said coupler body handle means in the locked position of said locking ring.

8. An adapter and coupler assembly comprising an adapter body and a coupler body, means for telescopically uniting said adapter and coupler bodies, said adapter and coupler bodies each having a passage through which fluid is adapted to flow in a predetermined direction when said bodies are telescopically united, valve means normally closing said adapter body passage, handle means exteriorly of said adapter body, positive connecting means connecting said handle means to said valve means for manually opening said valve means in a direction generally opposite to the predetermined direction of fluid and for closing said valve means, and means for transforming said positive connection means into a lost motion connection between said valve means and said handle means whereby said handle means remains inoperative permitting the automatic opening of said valve means upon a reversal of direction of said fluid flow and the application of an opening force against said valve means in said reverse direction, and wherein said handle means is mounted for pivoting movement about an axis generally transverse to the adapter passage axis, said handle means includes a stem projecting into said coupler body, said connecting means includes linkage means between said valve means and said stem, and said lost-motion connection is defined by a stem of said linkage means in telescopic relationship to and freely rotatable relative to said handle means stem.

9. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 8 including means for transforming said lost-motion connection into a positive connection of said stems.

10. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 9 wherein one of said stems is tubular and the other of said stems has an end portion received in said tubular stem, and said transforming means is defined by an axial slot in said tubular stem adapted to receive an offset portion of said other stem.

11. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 10 including means in said tubular stem normally maintaining said slot and offset portion disengaged.

12. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said connecting means includes a lost-motion connection between said valve means and said handle means whereby said handle means remains inoperative during the automatic opening of said valve means, and means for transforming said lost-motion connection into a positive connection for manually opening said valve means.

13. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 12 wherein said handle includes a stem projecting generally transversely into said adapter body, said connecting means includes linkage means between said valve means and said stem, and said lost-motion connection is defined by a stem of said linkage means in telescopic relationship to and freely rotatable relative to said handle means stem.

14. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said means for effecting relative movement between said retaining means and said handle means is a sliding connection between said stems whereby said handle means can be slid away from said retaining means for manually operating said valve means, and means for normally biasing said handle means toward said retaining means.

15. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein one of said stems is tubular and the other of said stems has an end portion received in said tubular stem, and said transforming means is defined by an axial slot in said tubular stem adapted to receive an offset portion of said other stem.

16. The adapter and coupler assembly as defined in claim 14 wherein one of said stems is tubular and the other of said stems has an end portion received in said tubular stem, and said transforming means is defined by an axial slot in said tubular stem adapted to receive an offset portion of said other stem.

17. A nozzle adapter body having a passage through which fluid is adapted to flow in each of two opposite directions, valve means for closing said passage, handle means exteriorly of said adapter body, positive connecting means connecting said handle means to said valve means whereby manual movement of said handle means closes and opens said valve means selectively permitting fluid flow through said passage in a first direction, means for transforming said positive connecting means into a lost-motion connection between said valve means and said handle means whereby said handle means is inoperative and said valve means is free to open automatically upon the application of a force applied thereagainst from a direction opposite to the first direction of fluid flow, and wherein said handle means is mounted for pivoting movement about an axis generally transverse to the passage axis, and means mounting said handle means for sliding movement along its pivot axis for selectively obtaining said positive and lost-motion connection.

18. A nozzle adapter comprising an adapter body having a passage through which fluid is adapted to flow in each of two opposite directions, valve means for closing said passage, handle means exteriorly of said adapter body, means positively connecting said handle means to said valve means whereby manual movement of said handle means opens said valve means and permits fluid flow through said passage in a first direction, and means for transforming said positive connecting means into a lost-motion connection whereby said handle means is inoperative but said valve means is free to open upon the application of a force applied thereagainst from a direction opposite to the first direction of said flow, and including means for preventing pivotal movement of said handle means when said handle and valve means are disengaged by the lost-motion connection.

19. The nozzle adapter as defined in claim 17 wherein said handle means includes a stem projecting into said adapter body, said connecting means includes linkage means between said valve means and said stem, and said lost-motion connection is defined by a stem of said linkage means in telescopic relationship to and freely rotatable relative to said handle means stem.

20. The nozzle adapter as defined in claim 19 wherein one of said stems is tubular and the other of said stems has an end portion received in said tubular stem, and said positive connecting means is defined by an axial slot in said tubular stem which receives an offset portion of said other stem.

21. The nozzle adapter as defined in claim 20 wherein one of said stems is tubular and the other of said stems has an end portion received in said tubular stem, and biasing means is positioned in said tubular stem for applying a force against said handle means to urge the same outwardly of said adapter body.

22. An adapted and coupler assembly comprising an adapter body and a coupler body, means for telescopically uniting said adapter and coupler bodies, said adapter and coupler bodies each having a passage through which fluid is adapted to flow in a predetermined direction when said bodies are telescopically united, valve means normally closing said adapter body passage, handle means exteriorly of said adapter body, positive connecting means connecting said handle means to said valve means for manually opening said valve means in a direction generally opposite to the predetermined direction of fluid and for closing said valve means, means for transforming said positive connection means into a lost-motion connection between said valve means and said handle means whereby said handle means remains inoperative permitting the automatic opening of said valve means upon a reversal of direction of said fluid flow and the application of an opening force against said valve means in said reverse direction, means for retaining said handle means in a manually inoperative position during the automatic opening of said valve means, and means for effecting relative movement between said retaining means and said handle means whereby said handle means can be manually operated to manually open said valve means.