Quick-release fuel coupling for racing cars

Abstract

A quick-release coupling suitable for refueling racing cars and the like which avoids jamming of the coupling parts during rapid disconnection in a condition of misalignment between the coupling parts. A housing connected with a fuel receptacle includes an open passage in which is positioned a valve seat. A plunger is resiliently biased against the downstream side of the valve seat to close it. A hollow probe connected to a fuel supply, such as a dump can, includes a nose connected to the probe by a stem. A sliding sleeve surrounding the probe is resiliently biased into sealing contact with the nose to prevent fluid flow outwardly of the nose. During coupling, the probe is inserted into the passage so that the nose contacts the plunger to unseat it from the valve seat while at the same time bringing an outer surface of the sleeve into sealing relation against the upstream side of the valve seat. Further inward movement of the nose unseats it from the sleeve, thereby enabling fluid flow through the probe and valve seat into the receptacle. To prevent the nose jamming against the downstream side of the valve seat during withdrawal if the probe is withdrawn in an axially misaligned relation to the passage, a joint is provided in the stem enabling the nose to deflect so that it can pass easily out of the passage.