Fuel-tank-filling Devices

Abstract

A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element comprising a hosecock 10 connected to a fuel supply hose and to a vent hose 16, a manually opened and spring closed valve in the hosecock 10 to shut off the supply of fuel, a head member 12 for coupling with a receiving unit mounted on the vehicle, passages 13, 14 in the head member 12 communicating with the hoses, spring-loaded valves closing the passages 13, 14 and arranged for automatic opening simultaneously with the operation of a spring-released manually operated latch 37 which is held manually against the action of the spring release to hold the head member 12 in engagement with the receiving unit, corresponding spring-loaded valves which close corresponding passages in the receiving unit also being opened by the action of coupling the coupling element with the receiving unit.

Description

This invention relates to fuel-tank-filling devices for transferring liquid fuel from a supply source to the fuel tanks of aircraft, vehicles and boats. The filling device according to the invention is particularly suited for use with helicopters or other aircraft, vehicles or boats for military uses which may have to be refueled under emergency conditions and may have to move away from the refueling point with no delay after refueling or even before refueling is completed.

If a helicopter is refueled under such conditions by removing a filler cap from a fuel pipe which leads to the helicopter's fuel tanks and by inserting the nozzle of a manually operated open-ended hosecock into the mouth of the fuel pipe, there is the danger that fuel will be discharged inadvertently from the open end of the nozzle, following hurried removal of the nozzle from the fuel pipe, and ignited, thus setting fire to the helicopter, by being ingested by the engine air intake while the engine is still running or, if the helicopter is of the kind having a normally exposed engine, by being sprayed onto hot parts of the engine.

According to one aspect of this invention a fuel-tank-filling device includes a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source and to be coupled with a receiving unit mounted on a vehicle to be refueled, the coupling element defining a throughpassage and having a spring-loaded valve closing the throughpassage and a manually 61and spring-closed valve for controlling fuel flow through that passage, the spring-loaded valve being arranged for automatic opening by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that, when the coupling element is connected to the hose and is coupled to the receiving unit, fuel may be supplied to the receiving unit through the fuel supply hose and the through passage.

Preferably the coupling element, which is also adapted to be connected to a vent hose, has a further throughpassage, and a further spring-loaded valve closing the further throughpassage, the further spring-loaded valve being arranged for automatic opening by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that, when the coupling element is connected the vent hose, the receiving unit is placed in the communication with the vent hose through the further through passage.

According to a feature of this invention, the fuel-tank-filling device includes spring-released manually operated latch means adapted to be held manually against the action of the spring release so as to hold the coupling element in coupled relation with the receiving unit.

The coupling element conveniently comprises a hosecock and a head member, the hosecock being adapted to be connected to the fuel supply hose and the head member being adapted for coupling with the receiving unit, the spring-loaded valve or valves being mounted within the head member. In such an arrangement means may be provided which are adapted to be coupled to sensing means the receiving unit, when the head member and the receiving unit are in engagement, and which are operable to shut off the supply of fuel through the fuel supply hose and the coupling element when the fuel in the vehicle fuel tank rises to a predetermined level.

According to another aspect of this invention a fuel-tank-filling device includes a coupling element comprising a hosecock adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source and to a vent hose, a manually opened and spring-closed valve in said hosecock to shut off the supply of fuel through the fuel supply hose, a head member carried by said hosecock and adapted for coupling with a receiving unit mounted on a vehicle to be refueled, passages in said head member communicating with said hoses, spring-loaded valves to close the said passages, said spring-loaded valves being arranged for automatic opening simultaneously with the operation of spring-released manually operated latch means adapted to be held manually against the action of the spring release so as to hold said head member in engagement with said receiving unit, and means in said hosecock adapted to be coupled to sensing means in said receiving unit when the head member and the receiving unit are in engagement, to close the fuel passage in the hosecock when the fuel in the vehicle fuel tank rises to a predetermined level.

According to a further feature of this invention a fuel-tank-filling device includes a receiving unit for mounting on a vehicle, the receiving unit being adapted for coupling with the coupling element and including a body defining a passage which is in communication with the vehicle fuel tank when the receiving unit is mounted on the vehicle, a spring-loaded valve closing the passage and arranged to be opened simultaneously with an associated spring-loaded valve in the coupling element by the bringing of the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit, so as to place said passage defined by said body in communication with a corresponding throughpassage defined in the coupling element.

One embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a coupling unit for a helicopter fuel-tank-filling device in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the coupling element of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a part-sectional side elevation similar to FIG. 1 sectioned on the line III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a receiving unit for a helicopter fuel-tank-filling device in accordance with this invention, with the cover removed;

FIG. 5 is a part-sectional elevation of the receiving unit of FIG. 4 sectioned on line V--V of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line VI--VI of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing a detail of the receiving unit of FIG. 4.

Referring to the FIGS. 1 to 3, the coupling element comprises a hosecock 10 which is generally similar to hosecocks conventionally used for supplying liquid fuel to the fuel tanks of motor road vehicles and which includes, in addition to the usual manually controlled shut off valve (not shown) operated by the usual hand lever 73, suction operated means 11 to close the passage through the hosecock 10 automatically, and a head unit 12 which is secured to the hosecock 10 and is formed with two parallel passages 13 and 14. Passage 13 is connected to the outlet end of the fuel passage 15 through the hosecock 10, and passage 14 is connected to a vent hose 16 which is secured to the hosecock 10 and which extends to a discharge point at a substantial distance from the refueling point. A stem 17 is mounted on a spider 18 in the passage 13 so as to protrude axially therefrom and a stem 19 is similarly mounted in the passage 14 on a spider 20. Each stem 17, 19 carries a respective fixed valve head 21 or 22. A sleeve member 23 is slidably mounted in the passage 13 and is urged outwardly by a spring 24 to seat on the valve head 21 and close the passage 13. A sleeve member 25 is slidably mounted in the passage 14 and is urged outwardly by a spring 26 to seat the valve head 22 and close the passage 14.

The suction operated means 11 is of the type in which the flow of fuel draws air from a chamber 27 in the hosecock 10, one wall of the chamber being defined by a flexible diaphragm 28. Air is drawn from the chamber 27 through a relatively small diameter pipe 29 which terminates in a spigot 30 fitted with a face seal and located adjacent the valve heads 21 and 22. Evacuation of air from the chamber 27 results in movement of the diaphragm 28 which trips a valve (not shown) to close the fuel passage 15.

The head member 12 carries a guard rail 31 which has a rim 32 and spokes 33 which diverge from the head member 12 and hold the rim 32 beyond the valve heads 21 and 22. A cover 34 (FIG. 1) is shown at the end of a retaining chain 35 which is secured to the head member 12. The cover 34 is adapted to be fitted over the end of the head member 12, as shown chain dotted in FIG. 1, so as to protect the spring-loaded valves and the spigot 30. The cover 34 is made of rubber, or other suitable material, and is provided with a recess 36 which has a narrow mouth opening into the sidewall 36a of the cover 34. In fitting the cover 34 to the head member 12 that part of the cover defining the narrow mouth of the recess 36 is snapped over the top spoke 33 so that the top spoke 33 enters and is retained within the recess 36. The cover 34 is held in position by the top spoke 33 retained in the recess 36.

A latch member 37 is pivotally mounted at 38 on the head unit 12 and carries rollers 39 and 40. The latch member 37 has a pair of handles 41 and 42 and is spring loaded to the position shown in FIG. 1 by a pair of springs 43.

Referring to FIGS. 4 to 7, the receiving unit, which may be mounted on the helicopter and connected to the upper, inlet end of a pipe (not shown) which is connected at its other end the helicopter fuel tank, comprises a hollow boxlike body 44 one sidewall of which is formed by a valve block 45 in which are formed two horizontal throughpassages 46 and 47. The passages 46 and 47 are spaced apart by the same distance as the passages 13 and 14 in the head unit 12. Passage 46 is closed by a spring-loaded valve closure member 48 which cooperates with an annular seating 49 in the passage 46 and passage 47 is closed by a spring-loaded valve closure member 50 which cooperates with an annular seating 51 in passage 47.

An annular shoulder 52 is defined in the wall of the passage 46 on the side of the annular seat 49 remote from the helicopter fuel tank and an annular shoulder 53 is similarly formed in the passage 47. A sealing ring 54 is mounted within the annular shoulder 52 and a sealing ring 55 is mounted within the annular shoulder 53.

A ring 56 is pressed into the passage 46 and positioned adjacent the annular seating 49 between the annular seating 49 and the annular shoulder 52 so as to define with the annular seating 49 a venturi nozzle in the passage 46. An annular space 57 is defined between the ring 56 and the annular seating 49 and the ring 56 is shaped so that the generally axially aligned walls of the space 57 are frustoconical and so that the space 57 opens towards the valve member 48.

A spout 58 is connected inside the body 44 to the end of the passage 46 remote from the shoulder 52 and depends through an opening 59 in the bottom of the body 44. The opening 59 is adapted to provide communication between the interior of the body 44 and he pipe leading from the receiving to the helicopter fuel tanks. A relatively small diameter pipe 60, which is shown alongside the spout 58 in FIG. 5 but which conveniently may be passed through the wall of the spout so as to extend inside the spout 58, leads to a third passage 61 (FIGS. 4 and 6) in the valve block 45, the third passage 61 having a central portion 61a of a smaller diameter than the two outer portions. An annular piston member 62 slides within the outer portion of the passage 61 remote from the pipe 60 and is mounted on one end of a hollow spindle 63 which slides within the outer portion 61a and which carries a valve head 64 within the outer portion of the passage 61. A spring 65 urges the piston member 62 away from the central portion 61a and thus urges the valve head 64 into engagement therewith. Ports 66 in the wall of the hollow spindle 63 provide communication between the interior of the spindle 63 and the outer portion of the passage 61 remote from the pipe 60, and with the other outer portion of the passage 61 when the valve head 64 is not in engagement with the central portion 61a.

A bore 67 in the valve body 45 opens at one end into the space 57 (see FIG. 5) and at its other end into the outer portion of the passage 61 remote from the pipe 60 (see FIG. 6). The end of the bore 67 opening into the passage 61 is isolated from the pipe 60 by the valve head 64 when the piston member 62 is in the position to which it is urged by the spring 65, but may be placed in communication with the pipe 60 by movement of the piston member 62 against the action of the spring 65.

The receiving unit is provided with an opening 68 in its top surface which is closed by a hinged or other cap (not shown).

A cover 69, which is pivotally mounted at 70 to the top of the valve block 45, is urged into the position shown in FIG. 5 by a torsion spring 71 and is held in that position magnetically by a permanent magnet 72 mounted at the bottom of the valve body 45. It will be appreciated that the cover closes the entrances to the three passages 46, 47 and 61.

FIG. 7 shows one of a pair of lugs 69a which are mounted on the side of the valve block 45.

In operation of the fuel-tank-filling device to carry out a refueling operation, the operator first removes the cover 34 from the head unit 12 and lifts the cover 69 out of magnetic engagement with the magnet 72 swinging it upwards about the pivot 70 against the action of the spring 71. The operator then brings the coupling element up to the receiving unit, using the rim 32 of the guard rail 31 to hold the cover 69 out of the way, and pushes the coupling element towards the receiving unit so that the valve heads 21 and 22 and the spigot 30 are inserted into the respective passages 46, 47 and 61 of the receiving unit. As the sleeves 23 and 25 enter the respective passages 46 and 47 they engage the respective shoulders 52 and 53 and are thus separated from the fixed valve heads 21 and 22 by further movement of the coupling element towards the receiving unit. As the coupling element is pushed towards the receiving unit the fixed valve heads 21 and 22 engage the corresponding valve closure members 48 and 50, move them out of engagement with their respective annular seatings 49 and 51 thereby establishing communication between the respective passages 13 and 14 in the coupling element and 46 and 47 in the valve body 45.

During the establishment of such communication, the spigot 30 has moved the spring-loaded piston member 62 against the action of the spring 65 thus displacing the valve head 64 from engagement with the central portion 61a and placing the space 57 in communication with the pipe 60 via the bore 67, the outer portions of the passage 61, the ports 66 and the interior of the hollow spindle 63. The interengagement between the spigot 30 the end face of the piston member 62 is such as to make an adequate seal which permits suctions to be applied to the interior of the pipe 29 by the flow of fuel through the venturi nozzle in the passage 46, such suction being applied through the bore 67 and the ports 66 in circumstances which will be described below.

Once the operator has pushed the coupling element into its final engaged position relative to the receiving unit, he moves the latch handle 41 thus rotating the latch member 37 about the pivots 38 against the action of the springs 43 and bringing the rollers 39 and 40 into engagement with the lugs 69a. The operator maintains his hold on one of the latch handles 41 and 42 to prevent release of the coupling element from the receiving unit and then opens the hosecock 10 by means of the hand lever 73, causing fuel to flow into the fuel tank of the helicopter through the passages 13 and 46 and the spout 58.

At any time when fueling is to be terminated, the operator releases the latch handle 41 and the hosecock hand lever 73, with the result that the coupling unit is force out of engagement with the receiving unit by the action of the springs 24 and 26 acting on the valve sleeves 23 and 25 of the coupling element, the springs acting on the valve closing members 48 and 50 of the receiving unit, and the disengagement of the rollers 39 and 40 from the lugs 69a under the influence of the springs 43, whereupon the helicopter is at once free to move away, the passages 13 and 14 in the hosecock unit and 46 and 47 in the receiving unit being automatically closed to prevent spillage of fuel. Even if the operator fails to release the hosecock hand lever 73, no fuel will be spilled owing to the closure of the spring-loaded valve in the passage 13.

If the operator should become incapacitated during a refueling operation, the latch handle 41 would would be moved automatically by its springs 43 to release the latch thus disengaging the rollers from the lugs 69a. In such a maneuver, the coupling element will be separated from the receiving unit in the same way as if the latch handle 41 had been released intentionally.

It will be appreciated that the passages 47 and 14 and the vent hose 16 allow air to escape from the fuel tanks during a refueling operation. The flow of fuel through the venturi nozzle in the passage 46 creates suction which draws air from the passage 61 through the bore 67 and the annular space 57. The air drawn through the bore 67 is normally drawn from the area at the end of the pipe 60 below the opening 59, but, if the fuel in the tanks rises to this level such that it submerges the end of the pipe 60, the air is drawn from the chamber 28 through the pipe 29 with the result that the pressure of air in the chamber 28 is reduced and the associated valve is tripped shutting off the supply of fuel through the hosecock 10. If this valve should fail to close, any fuel which may overflow through the passages 47 and 14 is conducted by the vent hose 16 to a remote position where it presents no risk of fire causing danger to the helicopter.

The refueling device described above enables the fueling of helicopters to be carried out safely with the engine of the helicopter running and the rotors rotating, the danger of fire resulting from inadvertent spillage onto the hot parts of the engine being minimized.

It will be appreciated that the fuel-tank-filling device described above is not limited in its application to helicopters and may be employed to safely refuel aircraft, vehicles or boats whilst their engines are running. Furthermore, the receiving unit may be mounted on the vehicle at a point below the maximum permissible level of fuel in the vehicle's fuel tanks. In such an arrangement the spout 58 and the pipe 60 would be arranged so as to extend upwardly from the body 44, the pipe 60 terminating at the maximum fuel level.

The helicopter may be refueled under normal conditions, when the helicopter's engine is not running and is not hot enough to ignite spilled fuel, through the opening 68 using a conventional hosecock.

In order to increase the section generated inside the pipe 29 if it is found to be insufficient to trip the valve and close the fuel passage 15 satisfactorily at both high and low rates of fuel flow through the passage 15, the stem 17 may be mounted within the spider 18 so as to be freely slidable therein. In such an arrangement the valve head 21 would move with movement of the stem 17 and would abut the valve closure member 48 when the coupling element is engaged with the receiving unit, and the two parts 21 and 48 would move together according to the fuel flow volume passing through the passages 15 and 46, the valve closure member 48 being moved against its spring loading by the fuel pressure. It will be understood that the freely movable stem 17 carries a stop which limits its movement to the left in FIG. 3 so that the sleeve member 23 can be brought into engagement with the valve head 21 to close the fuel passage 13.

Although the pipe 29 is shown running outside the remainder of the coupling elements, the two parts it interconnects may be interconnected by a suitable passage formed with the body of the coupling element.

Claims

I claim:

1. A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element comprising a hosecock adapted to be connected to a hose and to a vent hose, said first-named hose leading from a fuel supply source, a manually opened and spring-closed valve in said hosecock to shut off the supply of fuel through the fuel supply hose, a receiving unit adapted to be mounted on a vehicle to be refueled, a head member carried by said hosecock and adapted for coupling with said receiving unit, passages in said head member communicating with said hoses, spring-loaded valves to close the said passages, said spring-loaded valves being arranged for automatic opening by the action of bringing the head member into coupled relation with the receiving unit, manually operated latch means arranged to hold said head member in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is applied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure, and means in said hosecock adapted to be coupled to sensing means in said receiving unit when said head member and the receiving unit are in engagement, to close the fuel passage in the hosecock when the fuel in the vehicle fuel tank rises to a predetermined level.

2. A device for filling a fuel tank in a vehicle comprising a combination of a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source, and a corresponding receiving unit adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, said coupling element including coupling means for coupling said coupling element to said receiving unit, a throughpassage defined in said coupling element, and a manually opened spring-closed valve for controlling fuel flow through the throughpassage; said receiving unit including a body defining a passage adapted to be connected in communication with the fuel tank and a spring-loaded valve closing said passage; wherein the improvement comprises the combination of:

i. means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat;

ii. a valve member movable within said throughpassage;

iii. Spring means acting upon said valve member to urge said valve member to seat on said valve seat and close the throughpassage; and

iv. said coupling means including manually operated latch means arranged to hold said coupling element in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is applied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure; the arrangement being such that said spring-urged valve member is moved against the action of said spring means to open said throughpassage automatically and said spring-loaded valve is opened simultaneously by the acting of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that said passage defined in said body is placed in communication with said throughpassage, and when the coupling element in connected to the hose and is held manually in coupled relation with the receiving unit which is mounted on the vehicle, fuel my be supplied to the fuel tank through fuel supply hose; said throughpassage and said passage defined in said body.

3. A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source, a receiving unit mounted on a vehicle having a tank to be refueled, coupling means for coupling said coupling element to said receiving unit, a throughpassage defined in said coupling element, and a manually opened spring-closed valve for controlling fuel flow through the throughpassage, wherein the improvement comprises the combination of:

i. means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat;

ii. a valve member movable within said throughpassage;

iii. spring means acting upon said valve member urge said valve member to seat on said valve seat and close the throughpassage; and

iv. said coupling means including manually operated latch means arranged to hold said coupling element in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is applied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure; the arrangement being such that said spring-urged valve member is moved against the action of said spring means to open said throughpassage automatically by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that, when the coupling element is connected to the hose and is held manually in coupled relation with the receiving unit, fuel may be supplied to the receiving unit through the fuel supply hose and the throughpassage.

4. A fuel-tank-filling device according to claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises said valve head being carried by a stem mounted within said throughpassage, and said valve member comprising a sleeve member mounted slidably within said throughpassage, said spring means acting to urge said sleeve member outwardly to seat on said valve seat and hold the stem against the stop means so as to close said throughpassage.

5. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said coupling element, which is also adapted to be connected to a vent hose, has a further throughpassage and a further spring-loaded valve closing the further throughpassage, the further spring-loaded valve being arranged for automatic opening by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that, when the coupling element is connected to the vent hose, the receiving unit is placed in communication with the vent hose through the further through passage, and fuel which overflows from the receiving unit during refueling is conducted away from the vehicle through the vent hose.

6. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 5, in which said receiving unit includes a body defining two passages which are in communication with the fuel tank when the receiving unit is mounted on the vehicle, two spring-loaded valves, each spring-loaded valve closing a corresponding one of said passages defined in said body and arranged to be opened simultaneously with an associated spring-loaded valve in the coupling element by the bringing of the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit, so as to place each said passage defined in said body in communication with a corresponding throughpassage defined in the coupling element, the arrangement being such that fuel is supplied to the fuel tank through one of the passages defined in said body and fuel which flows from the fuel tank during a refueling operation flows out of the receiving unit through the other of the two passages defined in said body.

7. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each spring-loaded valve in the receiving unit comprises a valve closure member which is spring loaded into engagement with an annular seating defined in the wall of the respective passage.

8. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 7, including sensing means comprising a venturi nozzle, the annular seating of the passage in the body which corresponds to the fuel supply passage defined in the coupling element being defined by the venturi nozzle, a bore defined in the body another passage which extends through the body from the face of the receiving unit adjacent the coupling element and which is in communication with a pipe which depends from the body so as to terminate at the predetermined fuel level within the vehicle fuel tank when the receiving unit is mounted on the vehicle, wherein one end of the bore communicates with the throat of the venturi nozzle and the other end is placed in communication with the other passage when the coupling element is coupled to the receiving unit.

9. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said coupling means includes a pair of lugs suitably placed on said body which are adapted to receive rollers carried by a pivotally mounted latch member which is mounted on the coupling element, the arrangement being such that the coupling element is held in coupled engagement with the receiving unit when the rollers are in engagement with respective lugs.

10. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 6, including a hinged cap which is adapted to close an opening defined in the top surface of the receiving unit, the arrangement being such that the vehicle on which the receiving unit is mounted may be refueled through said opening.

11. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring-urged valve member is arranged to be moved to open said throughpassage simultaneously with opening of a corresponding spring-loaded valve by bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit, the corresponding spring-loaded valve controlling a corresponding passage in said receiving unit leading to the vehicle fuel tank.

12. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling element includes a hosecock which contains said manually opened spring-closed valve and automatic cutoff means for said manually opened spring-closed valve, the hosecock being adapted to be connected to the fuel supply hose.

13. A fuel-tank-filling as claimed in claim 12, including means adapted to sensing means in the receiving unit, when the coupling element and the receiving unit are in engagement, and which coacts with said automatic cutoff means for said manually opened spring-closed valve to shut off the supply of fuel through the fuel supply hose and coupling element when he fuel in the vehicle fuel tank rises to a predetermined level.

14. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat comprises a stem mounted within said throughpassage and protruding axially therefrom, and a fixed element carried by the end of the stem outside said passage and serving as said valve seat, said valve member comprising a sleeve member slidably mounted within said passage and spring-loaded so as to be urged outwardly to seat on the valve seat and close said throughpassage.

15. A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said spring released manually operated latch means comprises a latch member which is pivotally mounted on the coupling element and which carries rollers which are adapted to engage with suitably placed lugs on the receiving unit to hold the coupling element in engagement with said receiving unit, the latch member being provided with a handle by which it may be held with the rollers engaged with the lugs against the spring loading of said release spring means.