Fluid handling – Destructible or deformable element controlled – Destructible element
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2001-10-30
Rivell, John (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Destructible or deformable element controlled
Destructible element
C285S002000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308727
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to hoses for dispensing fuel and other flammable liquids.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Fuel dispensers such as those used for filling vehicle tanks at gasoline stations include a hose extending from the dispenser and terminating in a fuel delivery nozzle. Not infrequently, inattentive vehicle operators have been known to drive their vehicles away from the refueling area without disengaging the fuel nozzle from the vehicle fillpipe, resulting in damage to the dispenser and/or the vehicle, and often resulting in spillage of fuel and escape of fuel vapors.
My prior patent, Healy U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,574, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes a coaxial breakaway assembly designed, preferably, to be installed between a short whip hose attached to the dispenser and a relatively long fuel dispensing hose terminating in a fuel dispensing nozzle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the invention, a swivel breakaway assembly for use in combination with a fuel dispenser apparatus has a breakaway body having a first body portion and a second body portion, the first body portion and the second body portion, in an assembled state, defining a first conduit for flow of fuel from a fuel dispenser hose in communication with the first body portion to a fuel dispensing nozzle in communication with the second body portion, and defining a second conduit for flow of vapor from the fuel dispensing nozzle to the fuel dispenser hose. The swivel breakaway assembly also has a fuel shut-off valve disposed in the first conduit, having a first, open position for flow of fuel when the first body portion and second body portion are in the assembled state and a second, closed position for resisting flow of fuel when the first body portion and the second body portion are in a separated state. The fuel shut-off valve is adapted to move from the first, open position to the second, closed position upon separation of the second body portion from the first body portion. The swivel breakaway assembly also has a vapor shut-off valve disposed in the second conduit, having a first, open position for flow of vapor when the first body portion and second body portion are in the assembled state and a second, closed position for resisting flow of vapor when the first body portion
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and second body portion
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are in the separated state. The vapor shut-off valve is adapted to move from the first, open position to the second, closed position upon separation of the second body portion from the first body portion. A securement assembly secures the first body portion and the second body portion in the assembled state, the securement assembly being responsive to a separation force of predetermined magnitude to permit separation of the second body portion from the first body portion.
Preferred embodiments of the invention may include one or more of the following additional features. The second body portion has a first swivel element and a second swivel element joined for rotation in a first plane, and the second swivel element is joined for rotation to the fuel dispensing nozzle in a second plane. The first and second planes intersect to provide a dual plane swivel. The first and second conduits are coaxial. The second conduit is within the first conduit. The separation force of predetermined magnitude permitting separation of the second body portion from the first body portion is generated by forces applied during vehicle drive-off. The separation force of predetermined magnitude is about 250 pounds. The securement assembly engages aligned apertures of the first and second body portions. The first body portion has multiple apertures alignable with an aperture of the second body for engagement of the securement assembly. The fuel shut-off valve is disposed in the first body portion, and spring biased toward the second, closed position. The fuel shutoff valve is urged open by engagement with a surface of the second body portion. During separation of the second body portion from the first body portion, the fuel shut-off valve is drawn toward the second, closed position, by engagement, e.g., interference engagement, with a surface of the second body portion. The vapor shut-off valve is disposed in the first body portion, and spring biased toward the second, closed position. The vapor shut-off valve is urged open by engagement with a surface of the second body portion.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for connecting a fuel dispensing nozzle to a fuel dispenser hose in a dual plane, swiveling engagement employing a breakaway assembly having a first body portion connected to the fuel dispenser hose and a second body portion connected to the fuel dispensing nozzle, the first body portion joined to the second body portion by releasible engagement responsive to a separation force of predetermined magnitude, comprises the steps of joining the first and second body portions with a securement assembly disposed in a pair of aligned orifices comprising a first orifice defined by the first body portion and an orifice defined by the second body portion. After a drive-off incident in which a separation force of predetermined magnitude is applied to separate the second body portion from the first body portion, joining the first body portion to the second body portion with a replacement securement assembly disposed in a pair of aligned orifices comprising a second orifice defined by the first body portion and the orifice defined by the second body portion.
Preferred embodiments of the inventive method may include one or more of the following additional features. After the drive-off incident in which the separation force of predetermined magnitude is applied to separate the second body portion from the first body portion, the step of joining the first body portion to a second body portion with a replacement securement assembly includes joining the first body portion to a replacement second body portion, or the step of joining the first body portion to a second body portion with a replacement securement assembly includes rejoining the first body portion to the second body portion.
The invention thus provides a coaxial hose, dual plane, swivel breakaway assembly that prevents or reduces substantial damage to service station gasoline dispensing equipment in the event of a vehicle drive-off (whether accidental or with a purpose) while the hose nozzle is engaged in the vehicle fillpipe. Preferably, the swivel breakaway assembly is equipped with a shear pin which fails when the hose is under a tension force of, e.g., 250 pounds maximum. When shear pin failure occurs, the swivel breakaway assembly automatically seals the gasoline passage on the dispenser side of the assembly. The swivel breakaway assembly also provides for automatic sealing of the vapor passage on the dispenser side of the assembly, thus preventing the vapor vacuum pump from ingesting air into the ullage space of underground storage tanks with resultant release of vapor into the environment, or from releasing vapor directly into the environment when the vacuum pump is not in operation.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will be seen from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment, and from the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3171444 (1965-03-01), Fromm
patent: 4449545 (1984-05-01), Vernor
patent: 4646773 (1987-03-01), Klop et al.
patent: 4827960 (1989-05-01), Nitzberg et al.
patent: 4905733 (1990-03-01), Carow
patent: 5209262 (1993-05-01), Carow et al.
patent: 5297574 (1994-03-01), Healy
patent: 5433247 (1995-07-01), Guertin
patent: 5570719 (1996-11-01), Richards et al.
patent: 5695221 (1997-12-01), Sunderhaus
PCT International Search Report; PCT/US00/01932; John Rivell; Apr. 11, 2000.
Fish & Richardson P.C.
Healy Systems, Inc.
Rivell John
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