U.S. patent number 3,590,862 [Application Number 04/782,379] was granted by the patent office on 1971-07-06 for fuel adapter and coupler assembly.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Parker-Hannifin Corporation. Invention is credited to Paul A. De Graaf.
United States Patent |
3,590,862 |
De Graaf |
July 6, 1971 |
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.
Inventors: |
De Graaf; Paul A. (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Parker-Hannifin Corporation
(Cleveland, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
25125874 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/782,379 |
Filed: |
December 9, 1968 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
137/522; 137/614;
137/614.06; 251/83; 251/96; 251/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16L
37/30 (20130101); F16K 15/033 (20130101); F16L
37/121 (20130101); F16K 1/2057 (20130101); F16K
1/2028 (20130101); F16K 1/2007 (20130101); Y10T
137/87925 (20150401); Y10T 137/87973 (20150401); Y10T
137/7876 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
F16K
15/03 (20060101); F16K 1/20 (20060101); F16L
37/28 (20060101); F16L 37/00 (20060101); F16L
37/30 (20060101); F16K 1/18 (20060101); F16K
15/02 (20060101); F16L 37/12 (20060101); F16k
015/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/522,614.06,614
;141/348,349,350 ;251/82,83,96,142,303 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Dority, Jr.; Carroll B.
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.
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.
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