BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel filler nozzle according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present filler nozzle having been partially inserted into a fuel filler pipe having a capless closure device.
FIG. 3 illustrates the nozzle of FIGS. 1 and 2 in fully inserted position.
FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of the present nozzle having a unitary guide spud and vacuum shroud.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1, nozzle assembly 10 has a generally tubular, axially insertable guide spud 26, for opening capless filler pipe closure devices of the type shown at 23 in FIGS. 2 and 3. Spud 26 has a bell mouth 30, to which two mounting rails, 38, are attached. Vacuum shroud 34, which has a matching bell mouth, 35, is also attached to mounting rails 38. Vacuum shroud 34 is movable axially relative to spud 26 by sliding shroud 34 along rails 38. The relative position of shroud 34 with respect to spud 26 is determined by compression springs 42, which are mounted upon rails 38, as well as by slide lock latches 54 which cooperate with grooves 46 and 50 formed in rails 38 to precisely position vacuum shroud 34 upon rails 38. For the sake of clarity, springs 42 are shown as being broken away in the area of grooves 50 of FIGS. 1 and 2.
As shown first in FIG. 1, rails 38 have upper annular grooves 46 cut in their outside surfaces. These annular grooves cooperate with slide lock latches 54, which are operated by air cylinders 58, to lock vacuum shroud 34 upon rails 38, so as to prevent relative movement of shroud 34 with respect to spud 26. When vacuum shroud 34 is positioned as shown in FIG. 1, fuel nozzle 10 is configured for insertion into a fuel filler pipe. Note, too, in FIG. 1, that fuel supply tube 62, having a flexible tip 66, is in a retracted position in which fuel supply tube 62 and particularly, flexible tip 66 are telescoped into guide spud 26. Thus, the relatively more rigid structure of guide spud 26 is available to push through trap door 22 of capless closure device 23, as shown in FIG. 2.
In the spatial relationship depicted in FIG. 2, spud 26 has pushed trap door 22, located within capless fill pipe closure device 23, to an open position. Moreover, flexible tip 66 of fuel supply tube 62 has been inserted into filler pipe 14. Those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that capless closure device 18 may have a variety of different constructions, such as trap doors which swing open to the inside or sideways, or perhaps, diaphragm or iris designs. In a common thread, all such devices require not insubstantial force to push a filler nozzle through the capless closure device, and this prevents the use of a flexible pipe in the absence of the present invention.
In the state of insertion shown in FIG. 2, vacuum shroud 34 is in an unlocked position because once guide spud 26 has been pushed into position within capless closure device 18, slide lock latches 54 are released by latch operating cylinders 58 and vacuum shroud 34 is allowed to slide down guide rails 38, against the force of springs 42, in the direction of guide spud 26. When vacuum shroud 34 has reached a certain position, springs 42 will be compressed, and ultimately, shroud 34 will be in its lower position, and when this position is reached, slide lock latches 54 will be locked in lower annular grooves 50 by air cylinders 58. The air cylinders may be operated by a controller or manually; this detail is beyond the scope of the present invention. Moreover, slide lock latches 54 could be operated by hydraulic cylinders, or by linear motors, or by other actuators known to those skilled in the art and suggested by this disclosure.
In the illustration of FIG. 3, shroud 34 is shown as being locked by slide lock latches 54 in cooperation with lower annular grooves 50 in mounting rails 38. Also, switches 70 and 74 are closed. Switch 70 is interposed between bell mouth 30 of guide spud 26 and bell mouth 35 of vacuum shroud 34. Switch 70 is actuated by pushrod 68, which is part of switch 70. Switch 74, on the other hand, is interposed between vacuum shroud 34 and fuel supply tube 62. When switch 70 closes, springs 42 have been completely compressed. Thereafter, further insertion of fuel supply tube 62 will cause switch 74 to close, advising the operator of the nozzle that the system is ready to provide fuel to the vehicle's fuel tank.
FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment in which a one-piece vacuum shroud and guide spud, 80, is provided. According to another aspect of the present invention, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a partial vacuum is pulled in the vicinity of bell mouth 30 of guide spud 26 by means of an annular vacuum chamber, 78 formed around fuel tube 62 by outer housing tube 76. Although this aspect of the present invention is shown only with respect to FIG. 4, those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that such a vacuum collection feature may be employed with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for refueling a vehicle includes the steps of inserting nozzle assembly 10 having guide spud 26 into capless closure device 18, and then releasing slide locks on rails 38, so as to allow the shroud 34 to be moved relative to guide spud 26, while fuel supply tube 62 and flexible end 66 are inserted into fill pipe 14. Then, with springs 42 fully compressed and slide lock latches 54 engaged within grooves 50, and with contact switches 70 and 74 closed, fuel may be introduced into fill pipe 14. Thereafter, fuel supply tube 62 and flexible tip 66 will be withdrawn from fuel pipe 14, and particularly from closure device 18, and then fuel nozzle 10 will be removed from the capless closure device.
Although the present invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various modifications, alterations, and adaptations may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.
Patent Application
20080000544
