Patent Application
20140116515
During vehicular fueling, a “drive away” incident may occur. A vehicle may have a fuelling nozzle coupled with or inserted into a vehicle with fuel flowing from a dispenser to the vehicle and into its fuel tank. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for absent-minded drivers to drive away from the dispenser with the nozzle still remaining attached to the vehicle. This presents a dangerous situation because unless the nozzle detaches from the vehicle, a portion of the fueling line and dispenser or vehicle components may break or may be damaged as the vehicle drives away. In addition to causing damage to expensive components, fuel may be rapidly released into the environment.
A fuel release creates a risk of explosions in the case of combustible fuels, and cryogenic fuels create the hazard of freezing temperatures along with possible combustion. Moreover, the fuel dispenser may continue to pump fuel through broken portions of the fuel dispenser system, and it may be difficult to stop the escape of fuel.
Various break-away couplings exist in the art that provide a point within a fuel delivery system that will fail before other portions of the system fail. While some break-away couplings can stop the leak of fuel out of the failure point of the fuel dispenser system, this may not provide a safe resolution to the drive-away incident. For example, where fuel continues to be pumped through the system, dangerous pressure may result on the dispensing side despite a leak stop valve or the like. Likewise, any fluid that remains in the nozzle side of the system after a break-away may also be trapped and subsequently expand due to ambient temperature increases over time. Further, an explosive failure of the system may occur, which may be more dangerous than a simple leaking break in the fuel dispensing system.
The present subject matter disclosure will be described by way of exemplary embodiments but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like references denote similar elements, and in which:
a is a close-up side view of a fuel dispensing system having a break-away coupling in accordance with one embodiment.
b is a side view of a fuel dispensing system having a break-away coupling in accordance with one embodiment.
c is a perspective view of a break-away coupling in accordance with another embodiment.
a is a close-up cross section of the break-away coupling in accordance with the embodiment of
b is a close-up cross section of the break-away coupling in accordance with the embodiment of
Illustrative embodiments presented herein include, but are not limited to, systems and methods for providing a rapid-connect gas coupler.
Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.
By way of overview, an embodiment herein includes a break-away coupling within a fuel dispensing line configured to arrest the flow of fluid when broken away. Thus, the coupling includes a first end configured to engage a fluid dispensing nozzle and a second end configured to engage a fluid dispensing system. Then, a break-away body is disposed between the first end and the second end and the coupling includes a sensor configured to determine if the first end is separated from the second end in any manner. Such a separation may be caused by a large force applied to one end, such as a truck driving away with the fueling nozzle will engaged in the fuel talk. Thus, upon separation at the break-away point, the sensor may trigger a shut-off procedure at the fuel dispensing system.
In embodiments, the break-away body comprises a junction point of a first portion and a second portion suited to break when a suitable force is applied to the junction. The sensor comprises a pressure sensor, electric sensor or mechanical pin suited to provide a signal indicating coupling of the first end to the second end. Further, after separation, poppets may close each end after separation to assist with controlling flow of the fluids. Further yet, the nozzle end may also include two shafts angled with respect to each other wherein a first shaft having a first central axis is aligned with a central axis of the first end; and a second shaft having a second central axis is set at a non-zero angle with respect to the first central axis. These and other aspects will become more apparent below when each embodiment is discussed in detail with respect to
a is a perspective view of a break-away coupling 100 in accordance with an embodiment. The break-away coupling 100 may comprise a nozzle-side architecture 101 and a dispenser-side architecture 102 that are joined by a break-away body 103 that comprises a break-away slot 110. The break-away coupling 100 may extend from a nozzle end 115 to a dispenser end 120. The break-away coupling 100 may further comprises a sensor plug 125 coupled to the nozzle-side architecture 101.
In various embodiments, and referring to
In an embodiment, and as discussed in further detail herein, the coupler 100 may be configured to break or fail in response to a drive-away incident. For example, as depicted in
Accordingly, the break-away coupling 100 may be configured to fail before other portions of a fuel delivery system 10 and may be further configured to limit, prevent, or stop the release of fuel into the environment. For example, as discussed herein, the break-away body 103 may be configured to fail at desired load point at a break axis Z, which is perpendicular to a coupler body axis X. In some embodiments, and referring to
Additionally, a break-away coupling 100 may be mounted, positioned or configured in other ways in a fuel-delivery system 10. For example, while
In an embodiment, the break-away coupling 100 may be used in liquid natural gas (“LNG”) re-fueling applications. Accordingly, the break-away coupling 100 may be configured to operate under cryogenic temperatures of about −200° F., −260° F., −300° F. or the like. The break-away coupling 100 may be further configured to operate at flow rates of about 10, 50, 100, 200, 400 gallons per minute (“GPM”), or the like. While various embodiments are described herein in relation to fuel dispensing and portions of a fuel-delivery system 10, alternative embodiments may be used in and configured for various types of fluids, at various temperatures, with various applications. Accordingly, the present disclosure should not be construed to limit the break-away coupling 100 to the example embodiments disclosed herein.
The break-away coupling 100 may further comprise a dispenser-side architecture 102 that couples with a fuel dispenser 20 or fuel dispenser fitting 30 at a dispenser end 120 having a dispenser coupling portion 225. A dispenser-side housing 230 defines a dispenser-side cavity 235 and a dispenser-side poppet 240 is disposed within the dispenser-side housing 230.
In various embodiments, it may be desirable for one or more portions of the break-away coupling 100 to be absent or modified so that a user may select fittings and couplings for use with the break-away coupling 100. For example, in one embodiment, the nozzle-end coupling portion 205 may be blank so that a user may weld a desired fitting at the nozzle end 115. Similarly, the dispenser end 120 may also be blank in some embodiments.
The nozzle-side architecture 101 and dispenser-side architecture 102 may be coupled by the break-away body 103, which comprises a break-axis Z, which may be perpendicular to axis X.
The nozzle-side architecture 101 may further comprise a first shaft portion 245, which is aligned with axis X. The dispenser-side architecture 102 may also be aligned with axis X as depicted in
In an embodiment, it may be desirable for the first and second shaft portion 245, 250 to be disposed at an angle such that axes X and Y are not parallel so that if force is applied to the break-away coupling 100 from the nozzle and dispenser ends 115, 120 (e.g., during drive-away incident), a shearing force may be applied to the break-away body 103 instead of a force that is substantially parallel to axis X or perpendicular to break-axis Z. Such a shearing force may be desirable because the break-away body 103 may be designed to fail or break at a desired shear threshold and calibrating such a shear threshold may be easier than calibrating a break threshold when a breaking force is primarily applied perpendicular to the break-axis Z or parallel to the axis X. Additionally, in some embodiments a break generated by a shear force may provide for a clean break or failure instead of only a partial failure of the break-away body 103. Breaking or failure of the break-away body 103 is described in more detail in relation to
The break-away coupling 100 may further include a sensor plug 125 that includes a ring 255 and plug head 260. The ring 255 may encircle the nozzle-side architecture 101 and support the plug head 260, which may be threaded. In an embodiment, pneumatic tubing (not shown) from a pressure switch (not shown) associated with a fuel-delivery system 10 may be coupled with the plug head 260. The pressure switch may be activated in the event of a drive-away where the nozzle side architecture 101 and dispenser size architecture 120 break apart.
For example, in a drive away incident, the break-away body 103 may fail and allow the nozzle-side architecture 101 to travel with the nozzle (not shown) and/or nozzle-side hose 40 that remains in the drive-away vehicle. Pneumatic tubing coupled to the plug head 260 would be sheared off the sensor plug 125 and trip a pressure switch (not shown) and trigger an emergency shutoff of the fuel delivery system 10. This may provide for prevention of or reduction of fuel release into the environment as a result of the break-away coupling 100.
In one embodiment, an emergency shutoff may be achieved during a drive-away incident in other ways. For example, the sensor plug 125 may be coupled to a line that pulls a pin, button or lever to initiate a dispenser shutoff. In some embodiments, there may be a structure that mechanically or electronically senses when the nozzle-side architecture 101 and dispenser-side architecture 102 have separated and/or when the break-away body 103 breaks.
a is a close-up cross section view of the break-away coupling 100 in accordance with the embodiment of
As discussed herein, the break-away body 103 may be configured to break or fail at a failure point 305. The failure point 305 may be configured to fail along break axis Z. In an embodiment, the failure point 305 may be a thin section of a contiguous break-away body 103, which is configured to break or fail at a desired point. In some embodiments, the failure point 305 may comprise a weld, adhesive, magnet, friction fitting or other suitable coupling that is configured to fail at a desired point.
When the break-away body 103 is intact as depicted in
The nozzle-side poppet 220 may comprise a nozzle-side poppet shaft 310, a nozzle-side poppet spring 315, and a nozzle-side poppet head 320. The dispenser-side poppet 240 may comprise a dispenser-side poppet shaft 325, a dispenser-side poppet spring 330, and a dispenser-side poppet head 335. A nozzle-side and dispenser-side poppet support 340, 345 may support each respective poppet 220, 240.
The poppet heads 320, 335 may be slidably biased on the respective poppet shafts 310, 325 by the respective poppet springs 315, 330. The poppets 220, 240 may face each other and interface at respective poppet tips 375, 380 such that the poppets 220, 240 are compressed within the break-away cavity 350.
When the break-away body 103 fails about the failure point 305, the poppets 220, 240 extend into the configuration depicted in
In an embodiment, the extended configuration of poppets 220, 240 stops fluid from escaping from the separated nozzle-side architecture 101 and dispenser side architecture 102. Accordingly, when the break-away body 103 fails, the release of fluid from the coupler may be prevented or reduced when the nozzle-side architecture 101 and dispenser side architecture 102 are sealed by the respective poppets 220, 240.
In an embodiment, one or more of the poppets 220, 240 may be configured allow a controlled leak of fluid. For example, in the context of a fluid delivery system 10 (
In some embodiments that utilize fluids that have a normal temperature close to an ambient temperature, the nozzle-side poppet 220 may substantially seal the nozzle-side architecture 101 without a controlled leak. For example, in the context of a fuel delivery system 10, the nozzle-side hose 40 and nozzle (not shown) may be pressurized, but may not experience increased pressurization as with the dispenser-side fitting 30 (e.g., due to continued fuel pumping by the fuel dispenser 20). Accordingly, a controlled leak via the nozzle-side poppet 220 may not be necessary to prevent over-pressurization of the nozzle-side hose 40, nozzle-side architecture 101 and nozzle.
However, in other embodiments that utilize fluids that have a very low temperature when compared to an ambient temperature (such as with cryogentic fluids like LNG), the nozzle-side poppet 220 may substantially seal the nozzle-side architecture 101 but also feature a controlled leak so as to alleviate pressure that may build up as the fluid may begin to expand when heated (for example, as the cryogentic fluid begins to rise in temperature toward the ambient temperature). Thus, in the context of a fuel delivery system 10, the nozzle-side hose 40 and nozzle (not shown) may be pressurized initially, but may experience increased pressurization (e.g., due to expanding fluid with rising temperatures). Accordingly, a controlled leak via the nozzle-side poppet 220 may be used to prevent over-pressurization of the nozzle-side hose 40, nozzle-side architecture 101 and nozzle as well.
After a break-away body 103 fails, the break-away coupling 100 may be serviced to replace the break-away body 103 so that the break-away coupling 100 may be used again. For example, the break-away body 103 may be coupled with the nozzle-side architecture 101 and dispenser-side architecture 102 via corresponding threads 355, 360, which allows the broken portions of the break-away body 103 to be unscrewed from the dispenser and nozzle-size architecture 101, 102 and allows a replacement break-away body 103 to be screwed into the dispenser and nozzle-size architecture 101, 102.
Additionally, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art and others, that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the embodiments described herein. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiment discussed herein. While various embodiments have been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments described herein.
The instant application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/717,597, filed Oct. 23, 2012, which application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61717597 | Oct 2012 | US |
