The present invention relates to valves for preventing fluid loss and, more particularly, to valves used to prevent gasoline loss.
In the United States, well over 100 million automobiles and 50 million trucks are in use. Moreover, millions of motor boats are used at least seasonally every year. The result is a large number of vehicles that must be filled with liquid fuel, such as gasoline, oil, or a mixture of both. In the process of filling these vehicles, a small amount of gasoline is inevitably released even after the pump has been shut off. The result is a small degree of spillage of the gasoline on the ground, water, or the exterior of the vehicle. Multiply this small amount of gasoline loss for each car and truck and boat by the total number of individuals experiencing this spillage and we have an unbelievably large amount of gasoline being lost. This gasoline spillage is damaging to the environment. Both the liquid and the gasoline fumes are potentially hazardous to the environment. Moreover, such spillage of fuel is wasteful of our natural resources.
Although there exist several varieties of one-way valves for liquids, none of these specifically addresses the need to prevent gasoline leakage from common, everyday gasoline pumps.
None of the previously produced one-way valves addresses the specific problem of leakage from a conventional gasoline dispensing pump. These previously produced one-way valves do not have dimensions that allow them to be used, without equipment modification, with a standard gasoline pump and automobile filling pipes.
It is an object of the invention to provide a one-way gas valve that allows gasoline to pass through it only when the gasoline pump is in operation.
It is a further object of the invention to provide easy compliance with conventional gasoline dispensing pump nozzle assemblies.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a one-way gasoline valve that is functional with gasoline pumps in the United States today. A hollow, tube-shaped body is open at both ends. One end is threaded to allow it to be placed into the end of a threaded gasoline dispensing pump nozzle. Attached to an interior crossbar is a spring. This spring runs the length of the hollow outer tubing, and has a large metal ball permanently attached to the end that is not threaded. This ball rests in position against a curved surface, at the non-threaded end of the outer tubing, the curved surface conforming to the curvature of the ball.
A complete understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when considered in conjunction with the subsequent, detailed description, in which:
For purposes of clarity and brevity, like elements and components will bear the same designations and numbering throughout the FIGURES.
The present invention is a gas saving device to be marketed under the trademark GaSaver and used with a conventional gas dispensing pump handle. The device includes a valve ball 26 that automatically shuts off the flow of fluid (e.g., liquid fuel, such as liquid gasoline) upon release of the flow operating lever 18.
Referring now to
At the proximal end of GaSaver device 20, valve ball 26 is attached to a metal, coil spring 30 by welding or mechanically fastening in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. It should be understood, however, that spring 30 need not be a coil spring 30, but must provide resiliency to valve ball 26. Moreover, spring 30 need not be metallic. The spring 30 is also attached to a crossbar 28 by welding or mechanically fastening in a manner well known to those skilled in the art. The spring 30 is of a tension that allows valve ball 26 to open when pressure of the fuel is applied thereto.
Permanently connected to the distal end of outer tubing 22 is crossbar 28, as mentioned hereinabove. The spring 30 is thereby seated relative to GaSaver device 20 by means of crossbar 28. The crossbar 28 is preferably fabricated from metal or other suitable material.
Since other modifications and changes varied to fit particular operating requirements and environments will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention is not considered limited to the example chosen for purposes of disclosure, and covers all changes and modifications which do not constitute departures from the true spirit and scope of this invention.
Having thus described the invention, what is desired to be protected by Letters Patent is presented in the subsequently appended claims.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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1379474 | Osborne | May 1921 | A |
2004203 | Howell | Jun 1935 | A |
2322966 | Oberly | Jun 1943 | A |
2450938 | Copeland | Oct 1948 | A |
2627418 | Ainsworth | Feb 1953 | A |
2996077 | Taggert | Aug 1961 | A |
4062480 | Bjorklund | Dec 1977 | A |
5377729 | Reep | Jan 1995 | A |
5704522 | Orgeolet et al. | Jan 1998 | A |
Number | Date | Country |
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42 39 837 | Jun 1994 | DE |
0 732 301 | Sep 1996 | EP |
2 761 974 | Oct 1998 | FR |