Fluid handling – With casing – support – protector or static constructional... – Vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-26
2001-12-11
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
With casing, support, protector or static constructional...
Vehicle
C137S355230, C242S376000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06328060
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
This invention relates to a gasoline dispensing unit and method and, more particularly, to such a unit and method according to which it is relatively easy to move the dispensing hose to and from the housing of the dispensing unit.
In gasoline services station installations, the gasoline is pumped from underground storage tanks, and through conduits, or tubes, to the hydraulics section of a dispenser unit. Conduits are provided in the hydraulics section and are connected to the conduits extending from the storage tank. The conduits in the hydraulics section extend through the dispensing unit and are connected to one or more hoses that extend from the dispenser unit for dispensing the gasoline into a vehicle tank through nozzles attached to the hoses. A system valve is provided to control the gasoline flow, and a meter is connected in the system for metering the flow so that the volume of gasoline dispensed can be displayed on the dispenser unit and the customer charged accordingly.
If the system is adapted for vapor recovery, an additional hose is provided which receives vapor in the vehicle tank during the dispensing operation and passes the vapor to an additional conduit in the dispenser unit. The latter conduit is, in turn, connected to a conduit at the hydraulics section that extends back to the storage tank for returning the vapors to the tank.
The above-mentioned hoses are usually retracted, or gathered, relative to the housing of the dispenser unit during non-use and must be pulled out from the unit by the customer prior to use. However, as can be appreciated, these hoses are relatively heavy and it takes a great deal of effort and strength for the customer to handle them properly. To compound this problem, the amount of force required to pull the nozzle and the hose out from the housing increases as the nozzle and hose are pulled out due to the provision of a spring, or the like, which is put under tension in the pulling-out process and which functions to aid in retracting the hose when the dispensing is completed. Thus, as a portion of the hose is pulled out from the housing, the force required to pull the remaining portion increases.
Therefore, what is needed is a dispensing unit and method according to which the force required to pull the hose out from the dispensing unit does not increase as the hose is being pulled out thus reducing the effort required by the customer.
SUMMARY
Accordingly, a gasoline dispensing unit and method is provided according to which one end of a cord is attached to a dispensing hose to support the hose relative to a dispenser unit during non-use. The other end of the cord is attached to a drum having a tapered outer surface and a continuous spiral groove, and, when the hose is not in use, the cord is wound on the drum from the largest-diameter drum portion to the smallest-diameter portion. The cord thus unwinds from the drum from its smallest-diameter portion to the largest-diameter portion when the hose is pulled from the housing to provide a mechanical advantage and reduce the required pulling force.
Thus, in accordance with the system and method of the above embodiment, the force required to pull the dispensing nozzle and the hose out from the dispensing unit does not increase as the hose is being pulled out. As a result the effort required by the customer to pull the hose completely out of the dispensing unit is decreased.
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Chambers A. Michael
Dresser, Inc.
Jenkens & Gilchrist P.C.
McShane Thomas L.
LandOfFree
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