Other

Helix Enterprises, Inc.

Patent Development, Ltd.

Reclamite, Ltd.

Leonard R Nitzberg

Paul D Carmack

Paul D Manhardt

Paul D Manhradt

James A Asbury

A quickly-disconnecting coupling suitable for use in a fuel dispensing system reduces fluid pressure-generated axial separation forces on the coupling. A first body member has one or more fluid passages therethrough in fluid communication with corresponding fluid passages through a second body member. A detent is provided to couple the body members to each other in flow communication and to uncouple them when a force in excess of a predetermined level is exerted on the coupling. The detent may be frangible or infrangible. Means are provided to hold the first and second body members in axial juxtaposition with each other. Valving is provided for sealing fluid passages against loss of fluid when the detent releases the first and second body members from axial juxtaposition. A hydraulic seal is so located as to prevent the pressurized liquid contained in the fluid passages from entering between the first and second body members at the axial interface thereof, thus limiting fluid pressure-generated damage to coupling, including effects of line shock. A recouplable detent is also provided which has a spring with a contacting edge, a first annular recess in a first body member, a second annular recess in a second body member, the first annular recess being aligned with the second annular recess and the second body member having a camming surface. In the coupled position, the spring is located within the second annular recess with the contacting edge in contact with the camming surface.

Coupling system

An automatic shut-off duel dispensing nozzle with a flow rate limiting mechanism. The nozzle includes a valve which controls the flow of fuel through a passage leading from the nozzle inlet to the nozzle outlet which is normally connected to a spout. This valve is responsive to a manually operable lever and to a vacuum operated release mechanism which automatically shuts the flow of fuel through the nozzle off when the level of fuel in a tank reaches a preselected level or when the flow of fuel through the nozzle reaches a preselected threshold rate of flow.

Flow rate limiting device for an automatic shut-off liquid dispensing

A fluid coupling having a pair of body members having fluid passageways through which fluid may flow through an inlet in one of the body members and out an outlet in the other member. One of the body members is connected in flow communication with a flexible hose, and the other body member is connected in flow communication to a rigid conduit by a connecting member about which the body members may rotate relative to a swivel axis. Valving shuts flow communication through the body members when they uncouple. If the excessive tensile force is axially applied through the hose to the coupling, the body members uncouple by pulling apart in the direction along the line of action of the force, but if the excessive tensile force is non-axially applied, the body members, if they cannot be aligned with the axial force vector to uncouple, will be uncoupled by a twisting action resulting from the bending load caused by the force. The uncoupling due to the twisting action in several embodiments is aided by abutment members acting to provide a mechanical advantage to redirect and magnify the force into the axial direction. In other embodiments the uncoupling is the result of the failure of one or more frangible elements which fails as a result of excessive bending or twisting forces. The coupling is utilized in the fuel dispensing line at a fuel dispensing station, such station having either a fuel supply system or a fuel supply with a vapor return system.

Fuel supply detachable coupling

A tensile force actuated fuel line swivel-joint quick-disconnecting coupling device has a pair of body members including interlocking elements which cooperatively couple and provide fuel passageways through the body members, and uncouple when a tensile force above a predetermined limit is interposed on the fuel line. The interlocking elements are in the form of a mortise and tenon connection and pivot one relative to the other about a swivel axis. A connecting member is pivotably connected to one of the body members and to a rigid conduit or fuel nozzle for rotation about a pivot axis. The other body member has a diverted fluid passageway including a longitudinal axis that extends to a port connected to a flexible fuel line. The pivot axis, the longitudinal axis and the swivel axis are disposed so that the longitudinal axis may align itself with the direction of any tensile force applied through the flexible fuel line. A containment member which prevents relative bending between the tenon and mortise prior to such alignment is interconnected with the interlocking elements and locked to the body member having the mortise by a frangible shear pin or an infrangible detent, unlocks the containment member from the body members and permits them to uncouple when the predetermined tensile force is exceeded. Valving is disposed within each body member so that when the body members uncouple respective valves close the flow passageway therein.

Fluid-joint breakaway swivel coupling

A fuel dispensing nozzle for gasoline fuel pumping stations and the like has an inlet through which the fuel is supplied within a range of inlet pressures, an outlet from which fuel is discharged and a flow passage having valving for selectively opening communication between the inlet and the outlet in response to the pressure differential across the valving. The valving includes a housing within which a movable valve member is mounted, the valve member being actuated to open or partially close communication from an inlet of the housing to an outlet of the housing in response to the pressure differential across the valve member. As the pressure differential decreases above the pressure differential corresponding to the predetermined maximum rate, the valve member begins to close communication to prevent the flow from exceeding the predetermined maximum amount, and as the pressure differential increases communication is decreased so that the maximum predetermined flow rate is not exceeded.

Fuel dispensing nozzle having a flow rate limiter

A flow rate limiting device (40) for a fuel dispensing nozzle (10) having an inlet (12) through which fuel is supplied to said nozzle (10) from a supply hose (14) and an outlet (20) from which fuel is discharged, as into a tank of a vehicle. The device (40) includes a flow restrictor (42) which is mounted in the fuel dispensing nozzle in its internal flow passage (16) the flow restricter (42) is automatically operated to reduce the flow rate, when the flow rate of fuel through said nozzle (10) reaches a preselected threshold rate such as the rate established by governmental regulations. After the flow rate of the fuel in the internal flow passage (16) is reduced below the preselected threshold rate, the flow restriction is attentuated such that the flow in the passage (16) can increase and approach the threshold rate.

An automatic shut-off fuel dispensing nozzle (10) with a flow rate limiting mechanism (90). The nozzle (10) includes a valve (24) which controls the flow of fuel through a passage (16) leading from the nozzle inlet (12) to the nozzle outlet (20) which is normally connected to a spout. This valve (24) is responsive to a manually operable lever and to a vacuum operated release mechanism (26) which automatically shuts the flow of fuel through the nozzle off when the level of fuel in a tank reaches a preselected level or when the flow of fuel through the nozzle reaches a preselected threshold rate of flow.

A fuel dispensing nozzle for gasoline fuel pumping stations and the like has an inlet through which the fuel is supplied within a range of supply inlet pressures, an outlet from which fuel is discharged and a flow passage having valving for selectively opening communication between the inlet and the outlet. At least one turbulence generating body is located in the flow passage between the inlet and the outlet and a turbulence damping or laminar flow inducing member is disposed in the flow passage upstream from the turbulence generating body member. The turbulence damping body member ensures that substantially laminar flow is directed to the turbulence generating member which thereby may predictably limit the rate of fuel flow through the nozzle to a predetermined maximum rate independent of the fuel inlet pressure within the supply range and independent of the amount of communication provided between the inlet and the outlet by the valving.

Flow rate limiting device for fuel dispensing nozzles

A flow rate limiting device (24) for a dispensing nozzle (10) having an inlet (12) through which fuel is supplied to the nozzle (10) from a supply hose, an outlet (18) from which fuel is discharged, and an internal flow passage (14) along which fuel flows from the inlet (12) to the outlet (18). The flow rate limiting device (24) comprises turbulence generating means (26) mounted in the nozzle (10) within the internal flow passage (14) for generating a turbulence in the fuel flow, whereby such turbulence decelerates the flow of fuel through the passage (14).

A tensile force actuated quick disconnecting coupling device for a fuel line having a vapor return has a pair of body members including interlocking elements which cooperatively couple and provide fuel and vapor passageways through the body members, and uncouple when a tensile force above a predetermined limit is interposed on the line. The interlocking elements are in the form of a mortise and tenon connection having a detent type infrangible locking member for interconnecting the elements together. The interlocking elements pivot one relative to the other so that a combination swivel joint and quick disconnecting coupling device is provided. Valving is disposed within each body member so that when the body members uncouple respective valves close the fuel passageways therein. The valving may include cylindrical stems which abut and open the fuel passageways when the body members are coupled and additionally permit pivoting of one body member relatively to the other. In one embodiment valving is also disposed with the vapor inlet passageway to close this passageway also when the body members uncouple, and this valving may include a cylindrical stem for abutting a portion of one of the fuel valves for opening the vapor passageway when the body members are uncoupled.

Dual fluid path breakaway swivel coupling

A fluid swivel joint coupling has first and second body members pivotably connected together for pivoting about a swivel axis. The first body member includes an inlet portal, an outlet portal, a diverted fluid passageway opening into the outlet portal and a channel communicating the inlet portal with the diverted passageway. The second body member is pivotably mounted in flow communication with the outlet portal and has a second diverted passageway communicating through a second channel to a third portal. Each channel has an axis of elongation offset from the swivel axis so that fluid may enter the diverted passageway in the first body member tangentially from the first channel and flow therethrough in vortex fashion along the swivel axis into the second diverted passageway and leave the second diverted passageway tangentially to flow out the second channel. The body members may have interlocking elements which cooperatively couple, and which uncouple when a tensile force above a predetermined limit is interposed between the inlet portal and the third portal, and in that case the diverted passageways have volute configuration about valving which shuts flow through the body members when they uncouple. The fluid thus flows in a one revolution spiral to the first diverted passageway and from the second diverted passageway.

High velocity fluid swivel joint coupling

A combination spherical swivel joint and quick disconnect coupling device for a fuel supply line or the like permits universal swiveling of a spherical member within a socket member while the members are connected together in flow communication, and has interconnectable means for uncoupling when an external tensile force above a predetermined limit is applied to the fuel line. Valving is disposed within the spherical member and within the socket member so that when the members uncouple the passageway within each member is closed. A retaining member positioned within the socket member maintains the coupling relationship during normal operation. In one embodiment the retaining member is secured to the socket member by a frangible shear pin, while in another embodiment the retaining member is attached to the socket member by a compressible annular spring positioned with an annular groove having a cam surface which permits the spring to be compressed and released from the groove when the tensile force exceeds the predetermined limit.

Breakaway ball joint swivel coupling

A fluid swivel joint coupling has a body member, a first connecting member and a second connecting member. The body member includes an inlet portal, and outlet portal and a diverted fluid passageway connecting them. The first connecting member is pivotably mounted in flow communication with one of the portals for rotation about a first swivel axis, and the second connecting member is pivotably connected in flow communication with the other portal for rotation about a second swivel axis. The second connecting member has a diverted fluid passageway opening onto a third portal, a longitudinal axis extending through the third portal and a portion of the passageway. The first connecting member is operatively connected to a rigid conduit while the second connecting member is operatively connected at the third portal to a flexible conduit. The axes are disposed such that the longitudinal axis is never in the plane which passes through the first swivel axis parallel to the second swivel axis, so that the longitudinal axis may align itself with the direction of any flexible force applied through the flexible conduit. The body member and the second connecting member may have interlocking elements which cooperatively couple, and which uncouple when a tensile force above a predetermined limit is interposed between the flexible conduit and the rigid conduit.

Fluid joint swivel coupling

A tensile force actuated fuel line quick disconnecting coupling device has a pair of body members including interlocking elements which cooperatively couple and provide a fuel passageway through the body members, and uncouple when a tensile force above a predetermined limit is interposed on the fuel line. The interlocking elements may be in the form of a mortise and tenon connection having a detent type infrangible locking member for interconnecting the elements together. The interlocking elements may pivot one relative to the other so that a combination swivel joint and quick disconnecting coupling device is provided. Various types of interlocking members are disclosed as are both infrangible and frangible locking means. Valving is disposed within each body member so that when the body members uncouple respective valves close the flow passageways therein. The valving may include cylindrical stems which abut and open the passageways when the body members are coupled and additionally permit pivoting of one body member relatively to the other.

Breakaway swivel coupling

A method and machine for removing blockage and silt from abandoned auger holes preparatory to mining a portion of the remaining ore or preparatory to the placement of charges in said holes. Initially, the highwall is faced up by removing blockage proximate and external to the auger hole as with conventional earth moving equipment. The blockage from within the mouth of the auger hole is removed to expose blockage deposited within the auger hole at locations spaced from the auger hole mouth. Blockage at locations spaced from the auger hole mouth is removed by a apparatus which collapses to penetrate the blockage and is deployed to engage the blockage such that as the machine is withdrawn from the auger hole, the blockage is removed therewith. A device is provided for completing the auger hole cleaning operation by entraining silt or other contaminates in a stream of water and collecting the silt laden water which is transported and discharged at a remote location.

Growing community of inventors

Knoxville, TN, United States of America

Leonard R Nitzberg