Catlow, Inc.

Helix Enterprises, Inc.

Paul D Carmack

Leonard R Nitzberg

Rodger P Grantham

David L Imler

Robert M Csortos

Robert D Murphy

James A Asbury

A breakaway coupling for a fuel supply hose includes a male valve body interfitting with a female valve body for defining a fuel passage, and the valve bodies enclose axially movable spring biased poppet valve members. The valve bodies are connected by a permanent magnetic coupling system which provides for moving the valve bodies from a connected position to a disconnected position in response to a substantial axial tension force on the valve bodies. In one embodiment, the coupling system includes an annular strike member surrounding the fuel passage and a mating annular magnet member supporting a plurality of circumferentially spaced permanent magnets of rare earth materials. In another embodiment, the valve bodies define a vapor return passage with a poppet valve member and disposed either radially outboard or inboard of the fuel passage. The magnetic coupling system also simplifies reconnecting the valve bodies.

Breakaway hose coupling with a magnetic connection

A fuel dispensing nozzle includes a nozzle body defining a fuel supply passage in which a main control valve is operated by a hand actuated lever pivotally connected to an automatic shut-off mechanism. A protective guard member encloses the lever, and a trigger member is pivotally connected to the lever for manual movement to engage a stop supported by the guard member. A torsion wire coil spring includes a plurality of helical turns surrounding the pivot pin for the trigger member and has one projecting end portion engaging the lever and an opposite end portion biasing the trigger member.

Fuel dispensing nozzle having a lever trigger biased by a torsion wire coil spring

A vapor assisted fuel dispensing nozzle has a projecting aluminum outer spout tube surrounding an internal fuel supply tube, and the tubes define therebetween a vapor return passage. The inner fuel supply tube extends from a spring biased poppet valve for producing a venturi suction in response to fuel flow. The outer spout tube encloses a stainless steel spout extension reinforcing tube having peripherally spaced vapor return flutes or grooves and an internal valve seat at the distal end for receiving a recessed valve member. In one embodiment, the valve member is connected by a stiff wire to a spring biased fuel pressure sensing disk slidable within a cylinder located upstream of the poppet valve. In another embodiment, the valve member is guided by a cup-shaped cage recessed within a tip chamber of the extension tube.

Fuel dispensing nozzle having a dripless spout

A fuel dispensing nozzle includes a nozzle body and a projecting spout and surrounding bellows which define a fuel supply passage and a vapor return passage connected to corresponding concentric passages within flexible coaxial hoses. The body supports a manually actuated control valve within the fuel passage, and a pressure responsive check valve is also located within the fuel passage adjacent the spout. The check valve includes a valve member normally biased against a tapered valve seat, and a first venturi suction passage extends from the valve seat to control a pressure responsive diaphragm mechanism for automatically closing the manually actuated valve when fuel blocks a suction vent line within the of the spout. A second venturi suction passage extends from the valve seat through the nozzle body and connects with a fuel evacuation passage within a flexible tube which extends downwardly into the vapor passage within the coaxial hoses. The vapor return passage within the nozzle body is normally closed by a spring biased valve member which opens in response to collapsing of the bellows, and excessive vapor pressure within the vapor passage also operates the diaphragm mechanism to close the manually actuated valve.

Vapor recovery fuel dispensing nozzle

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 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 first valve body has a tubular portion which releasably connects with a second valve body, and each valve body defines a center fuel supply passage in which a movable valve closure member is spring biased against an annular seat. Each valve body also defines a set of circumferentially spaced arcuate fuel vapor passages spaced outwardly from the corresponding fuel passage, and corresponding vapor passages within the valve bodies are connected by an annular chamber within the tubular body portion. Each fuel passage receives a closure ring which cooperates with an internally threaded end portion of the valve body for threadably receiving a coaxial fuel fitting, and resilient rings form fluid-tight seals between corresponding fuel and vapor passages.

Growing community of inventors

Tipp City, OH, United States of America

Paul D Carmack