Vapor recovery fuel nozzle apparatus

Abstract

A vapor recovery fuel nozzle apparatus wherein the apparatus allows rotational movement while sealingly engaging the filler pipe of a fuel holding tank.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fuel nozzle assemblies and to apparatuses for use in conjunction therewith for recovery of fumes.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

When the fuel tank of an automotive or other vehicle is being filled, the hydrocarbon vapors from within the tank are displaced into the atmosphere by the rising fuel level. It has been determined that such hydrocarbon losses contribute appreciably to the air pollution existing in and around the principal population centers of the country. Moreover, the loss of the vapors into the atmosphere results in a loss of energy which otherwise could be reprocessed for subsequent utilization as a fuel.

Typical of the apparatuses disclosed in the prior art is that of U.S. Pat. No. 3,581,782, to George R. Onufer, disclosing a "vapor emission control system suitable for gasoline and fuel delivery systems, adapted to eliminate the escape of fuel vapors to the atmosphere, and permit utilization of these vapors by the system. This disclosed embodiment of the control system includes a delivery conduit or line having a fuel delivery nozzle, an annular sealing means encircling the nozzle adapted to seal the nozzle within the opening to the container or tank, a vapor return line which may be vacuum operated, and a filter or other means adapted to store the vapors. In the disclosed embodiment of the nozzle assembly, the sealing means includes a flexible annular sleeve which is received within the container opening. The sleeve is expandable in one of the disclosed embodiments to seal the tank opening. In another embodiment, the sealing means is provided with a spring tensioned annular sealing ring adapted to seal the opening to the tank. In the latter embodiment, the vapors are conducted through apertures in the sleeve to the vapor return line." The combination of a spring mechanism together with a flexible rubber-like housing for sealing engagement of the nozzle to the tank opening has some disadvantages. It would be desirable to provide a means for sealable engagement of the nozzle so that the nozzle may easily be sealingly rotated within the tank opening without utilizing a spring-in-housing harness apparatus.

It is a major object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for recovering the hydrocarbon vapors displaced from such tanks during a filling operation in order to prevent their release into the atmosphere.

It is another object of the invention to provide a vapor recovery apparatus which may be constructed as an integral part of the tank filling system presently employed to fill fuel tanks. Accordingly, the use of this apparatus will not interfere with the normal tank filling operation.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a vapor recovery apparatus which may be readily installed upon existing tank filling systems by a slight modification of such system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which allows rotational movement or re-positioning while still sealingly engaging the fuel tank.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated from a reading of the drawings, the specification below, and the claims which follow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An apparatus is provided for use in transmitting fluid hydrocarbons from a holding tank to a receiving tank having a tubular receiving member, and for recovery of fumes resulting from said transmission, comprising an elongated tubular member for discharge therethrough of fluid hydrocarbons, means on the elongated tubular member for positioning the apparatus within the tubular receiving member of the receiving tank, ball means on the elongated tubular member for rotational movement between the elongated tubular member and means affixed to the ball means for sealing engagement of the apparatus to the tubular receiving member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of the nozzle apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a similar horizontal sectional view of the nozzle apparatus in sealing engagement with the filler pipe of a fuel tank.

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view of the base portion 6 of the apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, the present invention provides an apparatus having an elongated tubular member 1 with an opening 2 for flow of liquid hydrocarbons pumped from a holding tank (not shown) to a tansfer tank (not shown) of a car, truck, boat or other mobile apparatus, by means of a telescopically extending filler pipe 3 having an inwardly protruding circumferential flange 4 with a shoulder 5.

On the base portion 6 of the tubular member 1 is affixed by threads 7, or other securing means, an outer circumferentially extending housing 8 which may be affixed by connector threads 9 to a nozzle main body or receiving member 10, of a known type. The outer housing 8 has an angularly extending and protruding upper outer surface 11 which may be used to hand guide the entire nozzle assembly 12 into the opening 13 at the end of the filler pipe 3. Within a bore 14 in the outer housing 8 is a pre-loaded spring 15 which encircles a portion of the elongated tubular member 1 within the outer housing 8. The spring 15 at one end abuts a circumferentially extending shoulder 16 on the outer housing and at the other end abuts the end 17 of an elongated tubular extension 18 of a ball joint 19. An O-ring 20 within a groove 21 sealingly engages the extension 18 and the outer housing 8 when the apparatus is in operating position, as shown in FIG. 2. Spare O-rings 22 may be conveniently and temporarily placed within a saddle 23 on the extension 18 for subsequent replacement as needed from time to time of the O-ring 20 in the groove 21, without dismantling the nozzle assembly 12.

Affixed on the elongated tubular member 1 at a distance from the ball joint 19 is an exteriorally encircling anchor catch or ring 28 positioned on the housing 1 by means of a set screw 28a housed within a bore 29. When the nozzle assembly 12 is not engaged within the filler pipe 3, the ring 28 will contact by its side surface 30, the ball joint 19 which is urged toward the ring 28 on the housing 1 by the extension of the pre-loaded spring 15, the ring 28 thus positioning the ball joint 19 and the spring 15. When the nozzle assembly 12 is inserted within the filler pipe 3, the side surface 30 of the ring 28 will grasp the shoulder 5 on the filler pipe 3 to maintain the nozzle assembly 12 in position within the filler pipe 3.

The receptacle 26 which encloses the ball joint 19, houses within the bore 31 a circumferentially extending and outwardly protruding screw ring 32 which is secured to the receptacle 26 by threads 33. The protrusion 34 of the screw ring 32 provides a means of adjusting the sealing tension of seal 35 extending circumferentially through the screw ring 32. The screw ring may be adjusted to tighten the seal 35 on the surface 63 of ball joint 19 by reducing the distance 37 between the end 38 of screw ring 32 and the shoulder 39 on the receptacle 26 within the bore 31. A seal 36, similar in structure to the seal 35, is housed within a groove 36a on the ball joint enclosing receptacle 26, and is simultaneously tensionally adjustable by means of the screw ring 32. The seals 35 and 36 may be of any known sealing material, such as rubber, or elastomeric material, but are preferably teflon.

Within and on the ball joint enclosing receptacle 26 is a ring-like circumferentially extending seal member 41 for sealing the nozzle assembly 12 to the end 42 of the filler pipe 3, and housed within the receptacle in a shaped groove 43. The seal member 41, which may be replaced when worn, is of a flexible rubber or rubber-like material. A circumferentially ported stabilizing means 60 housed within a bore 60a provides forward support for the ball joint 19 and permits flow of fumes through its ports 60b.

Between the ball joint 19 and the tubular housing 1 is an elongated circumferentially extending passage 46 extending around the housing 1 from an upper forward opening 47 for the communication of fumes from the interior 48 of the filler pipe 3 through the passage 46, and from a lower forward opening 49, which is normally in a noncommunicating position as the result of the engagement of the anchor catch 28 on the shoulder 5, and the urging of the ball joint 19 to the outer surface 50 on the end 42 of the filler pipe 3, and the sealing engagement thereon of seal member 41, the circular passage 46 lowerly and operationally extending within an outer receptacle 51 sealably engaged, as by threads 52, to the lower portion of the housing 8 which, in turn, is extendably connected as by threads 53, to the lowermost arm 58 on the nozzle assembly 12. The fumes travel thereafter through the nozzle assembly and the hose to a collecting tank (not shown) or other fume encapsulating means for subsequent treatment. Normally no valve or other fume containing means will be required within the nozzle assembly 12 in view of the fact that such means are normally contained within a fume holding tank.

The operation of the nozzle assembly 12 will now be described. As the assembly 12 is inserted within the opening 13 of the filler pipe 3, the anchor catch 28 will slide or otherwise pass and extend slightly inwardly and beyond the lower portion of the flange 4, while and until the seal member 41 becomes sealingly engaged to the outer surface 50 on the flange 4. When the seal member 41 engages flange 4, forward travel of the ball joint 19 and receptacle 26 will be terminated but the elongated tubular member 1 and the nozzle assembly 12 will continue forward slightly, the forward movement being resisted by the compression of the spring 15. After the anchor catch 28 is within the filler pipe 3 and past the flange 4, it is lowered and rested against the shoulder 5. Normally there after, because the filler pipe 3 will be slightly flexed, the nozzle assembly 12 will have a natural tendency to be urged laterally and upwardly until resisted by the contact of the surface 56 on the elongated tubular member 1 with the interior surface 57 of the filler pipe 3. This lateral movement may be successfully achieved while still thereafter providing sealing engagement of the nozzle assembly 12 to the filler pipe 3 by means of the rotated motion which is caused by the lateral movement of the seals 35 and 36 on the surface of the ball joint 19.

Alternative modifications will be obvious and can be easily made. For example, the housing 8 may be secured to the elongated tubular housing member 1 by means of a set screw or a plurality of set screws, rather than by utilizing threads, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Additionally, the nozzle assembly of the present invention is equally compatible with filler pipes having outwardly protruding flanges, as it is with the inwardly protruding flange 4.

Although the invention has been described in terms of specified embodiments which are set forth in detail, it should be understood that this is by illustration only and that the invention is not necessarily limited thereto, since alternative embodiments and operating techniques will become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the disclosure. Accordingly, modifications are contemplated which can be made without departing from the spirit of the described invention.

Claims

What I claim and desire to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a nozzle apparatus for use in transmitting fluid hydrocarbons from a holding tank to a receiving tank having a tubular receiving member, and for recovery of fumes resulting from said transmission, the improvement which comprises:

A. an elongated tubular member for discharge therethrough of fluid hydrocarbons;

B. means on the elongated tubular member for positioning the apparatus within the tubular receiving member of the receiving tank;

C. ball means on the elongated tubular member for rotational movement relative to the elongated tubular member;

D. means affixed to the ball means for sealing engagement of the apparatus to the tubular receiving member; and

E. means for transmission of fumes within the tubular receiving member through the nozzle apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means on the elongated tubular member for positioning the apparatus within the tubular receiving member of the receiving tank comprises an exteriorally encircling anchor catch.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ball means comprises:

A. a ball member encircling the elongated tubular member;

B. a receptacle member for housing said ball member; and

C. means affixed to the receptacle member for sealable rotation of the ball member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 additionally comprising means for tensional adjustment of the means affixed to the receptacle member for sealable rotation of the ball member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for transmission of fumes within the tubular receiving member through the nozzle apparatus comprises the elongated tubular housing and the ball means forming a cylindrical passageway therebetween.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 additionally comprising means for resisting forward motion of the elongated tubular member in relation to the ball means.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the said means for resisting forward motion comprises a spring.

8. In a nozzle apparatus for use in transmitting fluid hydrocarbons from a holding tank to a receiving tank having a tubular receiving member, and for recovery of fumes resulting from said transmission, the improvement which comprises:

A. an elongated tubular member for discharge therethrough of fluid hydrocarbons;

B. means on the elongated tubular member for positioning the apparatus within the tubular receiving member of the receiving tank;

C. ball means on the elongated tubular member for rotational movement relative to the elongated tubular member; and

D. means affixed to the ball means for sealing engagement of the apparatus to the tubular receiving member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means on the elongated tubular member for positioning the apparatus within the tubular receiving member of the receiving tank comprises an exteriorally encircling anchor catch.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the ball means comprises:

A. a ball member encircling the elongated tubular member;

B. a receptacle member for housing said ball member; and

C. means affixed to the receptacle member for sealable rotation of the ball member.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 additionally comprising means on the receptacle member for tensional adjustment of the means affixed to the receptacle member for sealable rotation of the ball member.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for transmission of fumes within the tubular receiving member through the nozzle apparatus comprises the elongated tubular housing and the ball means forming a cylindrical passageway therebetween.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 additionally comprising means for resisting forward motion of the elongated tubular member in relation to the ball means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the said resisting means comprises a spring.

15. An apparatus for affixation to a nozzle assembly for use in transmitting fluid hydrocarbons from a holding tank to a receiving tank having a tubular receiving member, and for recovery of fumes resulting from said transmission, the apparatus having a trigger activated valve assembly therein, comprising:

A. an elongated tubular member for discharge therethrough of fluid hydrocarbons;

B. means on the elongated tubular member for positioning the apparatus within the tubular receiving member of the receiving tank;

C. ball means on the elongated tubular member for rotational movement relative to the elongated tubular member;

D. means affixed to the ball means for sealing engagement of the apparatus to the tubular receiving member;

E. means for transmission of fumes within the tubular receiving member through the nozzle apparatus; and

F. means on said apparatus for connection of the apparatus to the nozzle assembly.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means on the elongated tubular member for positioning the apparatus within the tubular receiving member of the receiving tank comprises an exteriorally encircling anchor catch.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the ball means comprises:

A. a ball member encircling the elongated tubular member;

B. a receptacle member for housing said ball member; and

C. means affixed to the receptacle member for sealable rotation of the ball member.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 additionally comprising means on the receptacle member for tensional adjustment of the means affixed to the receptacle member for sealable rotation of the ball member.