US3118475A

US3118475A - System and mechanism for dispensing fluids

Info

Publication number: US3118475A
Application number: US135106A
Authority: US
Inventors: James W Hammond
Original assignee: Curtiss Wright Corp
Current assignee: Curtiss Wright Corp
Priority date: 1961-08-28
Filing date: 1961-08-28
Publication date: 1964-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1981-01-21

Description

Jan. 21, 1964 J. w. HAMMOND SYSTEM AND MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING FLUIDS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 28, 1961 J 3 Wm A M \w a f 7 Wig M a k m w 0 M c A r W 1- /6 M9 lw M F w a Z ZOW RHTE COND/ T/O/V Jan. 21, 1964 J w, HAMMOND 3,118,475

SYSTEM AND MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING FLUIDS Filed Aug. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JHMES' W. f/nMna/vp nite States This invention relates to an improved liquid dispensing system and mechanism or unit by the use of which for example highly volatile liquids such as fuel for internal combustion engines can be very quickly and safely dispensed or transferred as from a distribution or main supply tank into the fuel tanks of various motor vehicles by closed pressure operation (explained presently) or, alternatively, can be dispensed at various low rates suitable for filling small containers or, generally, open vent type fuel feeding operations as fully explained in a copending application of Walter S. Gearhart and the present applicant, Serial No. 127,973, filed July 31, 1951, owned by the assignee hereof, hereinafter usually referred to as said prior application.

High flow rate or range of fuel feeding or the term high flow as used herein signify flow on the order of 100 gallons per minute (g.-p.m.), more or less; and low flow or low flow range will be taken to mean from zero to for instance 20 g.p.m. or whatever under practical environmental circumstances would or could'be considered safe for filling open fuel tanks or drums. Universal as applied to the fuel dispensing mechanism hereof means that the mechanism is safely usable interchangeably for high flow closed pressure fueling operations and low ilow open vent fueling operations. Closed pressure (dispensing or refueling operations) means that the dispensing nozzle unit of the system, as during high flow rate fuel feeding operations, is sealed to a receiving neck or filler adapter of the tank or container to be filled, and has suitable provision safely to carry toward an appropriate disposal point or region vapor displaced from the tank or container by the incoming fuel. The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved universal filling system and mechanism.

In said prior application, for enabling selective low flow and high flow dispensing operations while preventing accidental and hazardous operation at high flow into small containers or open-vented tanks, a manual control lever of the dispensing nozzle assembly or unit operating 1y connected to the control or dispensing valve thereof has a movable fulcrum which is automatically disposed in an inoperative (non-fulcrum-establishing) position when, for example, the nozzle unit is connected to a supply tank or pump set to deliver fuel at predetermined pressure, but the normal or usual manipulative operation of the control lever cannot result in high-flow-rate dispensing of fuel into -(e.g.) such small containers. One object hereof is to avoid the expense and complexity of design and assembly incident to provision of such movable fulcrum for the control lever. The control lever in each of two herewith illustrated forms of nozzle unit has a fixed-position fulcrum.

Said prior application shows a control-valve operating means whereby manual operation to obtain low-flow dispensing of liquid is directionally different from the operation to obtain high flow dispensing. The present invention, indicating another object thereof, includes an alternative arrangement whereby different control-membermovement directions are necessary in order to produce or enable, respectively, lolw-flow and high-flow dispensing of liquids.

Said prior application includes means responsive to attainment of a predetermined liquid level in the container or tank to be charged by closed pressure operation.

atent The present invention, indicating a further object, provides a simpler, stronger and functionally improved liquidlevel-responsive means for initiating control-valve-shutdown, as will be described.

Objects of the present invention not indicated by the above discussion will be brought out in the following description of a preferred form of unit apparatus assembly as shown in the drawings. The essential characteristics are summarized in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an assembly view of the nozzle unit N hereof as conditioned for open vent type filling at suitably limited low rates.

FIG. 2 is a partly schematic detail sectional view of a positive pressure pickup portion of the nozzle unit taken as indicated at 2-2 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional detail plan view of components of a control-valve-tlatching and flow-rate-limiting mechanism J, taken as indicated at 33 on FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged scale viewv of the control-valvelatching and flow rate-limiting mechanism J similar to the showing thereof in FIG. 1 but conditioned to block or prevent full opening of the control valve CV.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view showing principally a normally closed conditioner valve mechanism CP which is automatically opened preparatory to effecting closed pressure filling operations.

FIG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 1 but showing the nozzle unit N in working relationship to a filling adapter unit A mounted in a tank identified by its portion T, the units thus constituting a closed pressure refueling apparatus assembly F. FIG. 6 also shows at LC the improved liquid level responsive shutdown signal valve mechanism hereof.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 showing a modified form of nozzle unit N.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged detail sectional view as indicated at 88 in FIG. 1 (control lever raised from its FIG. 1- illustrated position) showing a manually settable, spring released retainer device R for holding a control valve lever in a desired low-flow-obtaining position.

For convenience, i.e., reference purposes only, the nozzle unit N and the tank adapter assembly A of FIG. 6 will be described as though the principal components and fluid passages extended horizontally and vertically in use. Also, for convenience, valve mechanisms hereof will at least sometimes be identified by reference solely to their movable (e.g., plug) portions (as against plug, port and seat assemblies).

As shown in FIG. 1 the nozzle unit N has a main body member or section 1 including a fuel inlet passage 2 lead ing to a valve chamber VC which during dispensing operations communicates the inlet passage 2 with a discharge passage 3 partly formed in body section 3 and being continued as at 3' in a generally frusto conical outlet or nose section or portion 4. During operation of the nozzle unit N for low flow a skirt-like annular section 6 serves only as a guard for the nose portion 4. Section 6 will be fullly described in connection with FIG. 6.

Nozzle body sections

1, 4 and 6 are secured rigidly together as by a series of screws, one shown at 5. Aligned with the discharge passage 3' and suitably secured to the nose section 4 is a spout assembly 25 ill-i eluding a filler tube or spout 26 and a strainer 28 therewithin serving the usual purposes. Between filling operations the filler tube or spout 2 6 is protected by a slip-on, somewhat elastic, sheath 29 of suitable material and form. Tube 26 has a manipulating ring or collar 27 secured thereto near its upper end and adapted for engagement by a suitable wrench.

The main body section 1 of nozzle unit N, as shown in FIG. 1 (cf. FIG. 6) has an enlarged internally threaded portion 30 somewhat larger than the main portion of the inlet passage 2 and which receives a suitable fitting (not shown) for connection to a fuel supply tube or hose (not shown). At the inner end of the inlet passage 2 and around the control valve operating mechanism a vertical tubular wall portion 31 forms the principal portion of the valve chamber VC and is continued upwardly as at 32 to provide a generally closed cylindrical space 33 above the valve chamber. Wall portion 32 is intersected by a vertically extended slot or window 34 for a control valve lever CL. Circular space 33 contains portions of the nozzle control valve mechanism including the earlier mentioned flow-limiting and valve-latching mechanism J; a portion of the control valve lever CL, and portions of a manual shutdown mechanism MS. Mechanism J, as will be shown, prevents opening of the control valve CV more than a limited predetermined amount (see FIG. 4) when the nozzle unit N is used for open vent-type filling or is dissociated from the adapter unit A (see FIG. 6), or in case the nozzle unit is improperly placed upon the adapter unit is preparation for dosed pressure fueling operations or is improperly or accidentally lifted out of operating position during closed pressure fueling.

The control valve or valve assembly CV has a plug member 40 shown in FIG. 1 as closed against a generally conical seat 41 defining part of the bottom of the valve chamber VC. The plug member 40 is shown in its maximum high flow rate aflording position in FIG. 6. The valve plug member 40 is supported on a valve stem and head assembly which includes a stem member 42 and a dash pot piston 43 cooperating with a dash pot cylinder 44 containing a seal assembly 45, FIG. 1, around the stern member 42. A loading spring 47 acts oppositely against the

dash pot members

43 and 44 normally to maintain the valve plug 40 closed against the seat 41.

For operation of the control valve CV (in the form of mechanism according to FIGS. 1 through 6) the control valve lever CL is pivotally supported on the valve stem 42 via a cross pin 42' of the stem; and the lever has a free end portion, within the enclosure or circular space 33 of body section 1. Said free end portion has a fiat surface 60 shown (see FIG. 4 particularly) in contact with a fulcrum pin 61 which is fixed in position within the space 33 (FIG. 1) as by being supported on a bracket or block member 62 secured in said space. Block member 62, as shown is adapted to form part of the vertical guide for the valve stem 42 and (in cooperation with an underlying circular plate 63 having a horizontal channel 64 thereacross) part of a horizontal guide for a valve latch yoke member 65 and a cooperating low flow limiting and latch release yoke member 66. Said

yoke members

65 and 66 occupy respective portions of the guide channel 64 on relatively opposite sides of the valve stem along the guide channel 64 as best shown by comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4.

Low flow limiting latch yoke 66 carries on its ilustrated parallel arms a roller 67 adapted to enter a notch 42a in the valve stem 42 under the influence of a fluid pressure operated motor M comprising, as shown, a flexible diaphragm 68 defining one side of a pressure chamber C, FIGS. 1 and 6, and connected to the yoke member 66 via a stem 66' thereon. The stem 66 has a suitable guide bushing device (construction evident) which serves as reactance for a loading spring 69 operatingly bearing on the diaphragm as will be apparent so as normally to urge the yoke member 66 to the right (FIGS. 1 and 4) and withdraw the roller 67 from the notch 420.

When a predetermined fluid presure occurs in the diaphragm motor chamber C the force of the loading spring 69 is overcome; the roller 67 is moved into the notch 42a of the valve stem 42 (see FIG. 4), and then, as will be evident, movement of the control valve is limited as earlier above outlined so that the operator by lifting the control valve lever CL cannot increase the flow rate beyond a safe amount or value for filling open containers or small open vented vehicle fuel tanks.

Yoke member has no function during the limited or low flow dispensing operation; but, for closed pressure operation, that yoke member (see FIG. 4) has a roller 70 adapted to enter a notch 71 of the valve stem under the influence of a loading spring 65' when the valve CV has been opened to the position shown in FIG. 6 via full range lifting of the control valve lever CL.

As one manner of supplying working pressure to the d'aphragm motor chamber C whenever liquid fuel is admitted under predetermined pressure to the nozzle inlet passage 2 a positive pressure pickup (Pitot) tube 50a, FIGS. 1 and 2, is mounted in the inlet passage preferably having its upstream-directed inlet centrally of the nozzle body inlet passage or at a region of low turbulence therein. The pitot tube 50a is shown as supported on an easily replaceable cartridge type mounting 53 secured to the body 1 as by a set screw 53 as shown in FIG. 2. The eflective positive pressure fluid pickup inlet (in tube 53a) leads through a passage or channel 50b FIG. 1 to the pressure chamber C as schematically shown in FIG. 1. During low flow operation the passage 50!) is open only at its two ends, and a branch passage 50c thereof (FIG. 1) is closed by the self closing or spring loaded conditioner valve CP as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the fuli operation of which will be described later.

During the above generally described operation of the nozzle unit N {or obtaining low flow delivery release of the control valve lever CL by the operator at any time results in shutdown under the influence of the control valve spring 47. Refer now particularly to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6 for the high flow, closed pressure system and mechanism.

As in said prior application the present dispensing apparatus F comprising the detachably associable nozzle unit N and adapter unit A, FIG. 6, necessary for closed pressure refueling contains passages constituting two open fluid circuits, respectively of and for primary and secondary shutdown mechanisms. The primary positive pressure fluid circuit includes already described passages 50a, 59b and 53c and the motor M which performs normal or automatic shutdown (valve latch releasing via yoke member 66 acting to push yoke member 65 leftwardly as the yokes are shown in FIG. 3). The passages constituting each of the circuits are formed in part in the nozzle unit N and in part in the adapter unit A. Two pairs of sealing rings (100, 101 and 101, 102, FIG. 6), preferably quad rings for long wear and maintenance of mounted position, isolate the circuit passages from each other at the juncture of mating portions of the two units as more fully explained in said application.

The adapter assembly A, FIG. 6, secured as will be evident to the top wall I of tank T, comprises as shown a head or neck member of generally tubular and flanged construction, having a rigid top wall portion 81, flange portion 82 and vapor vent skirt portion 84 which latter extends a short distance downwardly inside the tank or beyond the top wall t thereof. The adapter assembly A is completed pricipally by an appropriately selected length standpipe or filler tube 85 connected as by screw threads 85' inside the vapor vent skirt portion 84. Thus the tube 35 discharges fuel received from the nozzle unit N deeply into the tank or near the bottom, preferably through a splitter or splash deflector 86 of known or suitable form to minimize frothing during rapid rate or high flow filling of the tank.

The peripheral interior of the thick wall upper tubular portion 81 of the adapter section 80 is frusto conical as at 83, i.c., approximately complementary to the external frusto conical surface 89 (FIG. 1) of the nose portion 4 of the nozzle unit N. A fairly large plurality of generally vertical passages 90, one shown in FIG. 6, intersect the lower surface 84 of the skirt 84 and the internal frusto conical surface 88 of adapter member 80. The vent passages 90, via a peripheral collector groove 91 around the nose portion 4, connect an axial passage 92 formed principally in body section 1 with an unrestricted vapor vent passage V formed serially in components or

main body sections

95 and 96 of the nozzle unit N as in said prior application and leading to a discharge end portion 37 of the vent passage V. Said end portion 37 is shown threaded to receive a flexible vapor discharge tube fitting, not shown. The two threaded portions 30 and 37 of

body sections

1 and 96 provide for parallel disposition of flexible tubes (not shown) such as the well known Siamese type hose or tube construction as described in said prior application, particularly if air or fumes from the tank or container T are to be conveyed to the fuel supply source.

When the mating portions of the nozzle and adapter units N and A are in their relationship illustrated in FIG. 6 the units can for example be detachably secured to.- gether by a spring loaded ball detent means which as shown includes a peripheral groove 6a around the tubular head or neck portion 81 of the adapter and a plurality of spring loaded detent balls 6b in the sleeve or collar 6, one ball and spring unit of several detent assemblies being shown.

The branch 500 of the positive pressure pickup passage portion 50b leads to valve chamber 50c of the conditioner valve CP shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and 6 about 160 out of actual position counterclockwise if the nozzle unit is viewed from above it. The valve assembly CP shown in greater detail in FIG. 5 occupies a base or flange supporting portion of the main body section 1. The outlet port 500" (FIG. 5) of the conditioner valve chamber 56c is normally closed by a spring loaded poppet type valve 55 having a stem 55 in a suitable guide bore of the valve assembly but is opened whenever the nozzle and adapter units are coupled as illustrated. The axis of operation of the conditioner valve stem 55 is generally parallel to that of the outlet passage 3, 3' of the nozzle unit main body hence to the working axis of the control valve CV and the surface atthe top of the adapter neck portion 81 abutted by the valve stem 55' (or a similar surface on a cap-attaching or mounting collar 57 as in said prior application) is continuous so that the mating parts of the nozzle and adapter units do not require any particular angular relationship about their axis of alignment.

The operation of properly mounting the nozzle unit N on the adapter unit A (through resulting opening of the conditioner valve CP the outlet port of which leads via an annular groove 50d in the nozzle nose portion 4 and a connected tube 502 to the then-open fuel-level-responsive signal valve mechanism LC) results in immediately and substantially reducing the positive pressure in the diaphragm motor chamber C so that the associated loading spring 69 moves the control valve stroke limiting yoke 66 to its FIG. 6 illustrated position, :freeing the control valve stem 42 for full-stroke valve-opening movement by the control valve lever CL. Such valve movement is then effected and the latch yoke 65 retains the control valve CV open as shown in FIG. 6 (roller 70 moving into notch 71 which is more clearly shown in FIG. 4) until automatic shutdown is accomplished or the operator works the manual shutdown control mechanism MS to be further described later. The notch 72 of the control valve stem 42 (compare FIGS. 3, 4 and 6) receives the pin 67 of the diaphragm-connected yoke 66 when, for automatic shutdown, the yoke 66 is moved by positive fluid pressure on the diaphragm 68, to thrust the arms of yoke 66 against the arms of latch yoke 65 and move the latter to the valve releasing position (same position as in FIG. 4 wherein the roller 76 is being held in contact with a non-indented portion of valve stem 42).

Energizing or secondary shutdown, in event of malfunctioning of the liquid-level-responsive valve mechanism LC or of the existence of dangerously high pressure in the tank T, is accomplished essentially as fully shown 6 and described in the said prior application through operation of a motor piston device VS (FIGS. 1 and 6) exposed to vapor pressure in the passage V and which acts through the diaphragm assembly and connected rod 66' on the latch release yoke member 66 of FIGS. 3 and 4 to move that yoke member to valve-releasing position.

The liquid level responsive shutdown signal producing means LC as shown in FIG. 6 comprises in part a tubular body 164, having apertured

end wall members

105 and 106, adapted to be secured to the filler tube or standpipe as by a suitable bracket means, not shown. Body 164 contains an annular partition wall portion or member 197 between the end wall members providing at the lower end of its axial bore 108 a downwardly facing valve seat 108a. Just above the top side of the partition wall 107 the wall of the tubular body 104 is laterally open into the general interior of the tank T as through series of openings 169 (one fully shown). The tube 50:: which is connected to the branch portion 50c of the positive pressure pickup passage 56a, 50b etc. via the conditioner valve CP is connected to discharge liquid received through said branch passage 500 into the interior of tubular body 104 through the bottom wall member 105 or into a valve chamber 105a of the body and formed in part by the valve seat 108a.

A float and valve plug assembly 110 comprises, as shown, a stem 112 extending loosely through the bore 108 of the wall member 167 and having a generally spherical float 113 at its top end and a generally spherical valve plug 114 on its bottom end, both rigid with the stem 112.

In operation, the normally open, serially connected valves CI and LC discharge the fuel picked up by the pitot tube Sfia so that negligible pressure exists in the diaphragm motor chamber C, wherefore the control valve CV can be conditioned and latched in high flow position or as shown in FIG. 6. The float 113 is of course lifted a short distance by the fuel being discharged from the tube Sue, permitting discharge thereof into the tank T thorugh the holes lll9'but without seating the spherical plug 114. When the fuel level reaches approximately the horizontal plane of the float 113 the float is lifted gradually until the plug 114 is nearly in contact with its seat 1118a and then the valve device LC is closed with a snap action as flow from the tube 50:? augments the buoyancy of the float 113. In case the diameter of the float 113 is fairly close to that of the interior of the body 104 then the aperture 195a in the wall 106 may be needed as a fluid vent to minimize lagging of the valve assembly 110 either in the valve closing or valve opening direction of movement. The valve mechanism LC as shown and just described is very rugged and freely acting and the float and plug assembly 118 is fully protected against being damaged or rendered insensitive by sloshing or shifting of fuel in the tank.

When the fulcrum or fixed

pivotal support

60, 61 for the inner end of the control lever is made with approximately maximum simplicity or for example as shown in FIG. 4 the position of the control lever will not indicate whether or not the control valve CV is open or closed. The visual indicator VP of control valve position comprises as shown a plunger 115 freely movable as in a tubular guide 116 in the cap section 96 of the nozzle body and having a light spring 117 arranged to cause the plunger 115 to follow up the control valve stem 42 via (e.g.) an arm 118 rigid with the valve stem. Thus, as shown by FIG. 6, the plunger 115 is concealed by the nozzle body when the control valve is closed or during low flow but in observable (as at 115x) during high flow fuel dispensing. Preferably the upper end portion of the plunger 115 carries luminous material so that the fully open condition of the control valve CV can be observed at night.

The manual overriding shutoff device MS of FIGS. 1 and 6 is the same as that of said prior application and comprises an upwardly spring loaded plunger 120 having an exposed manipulating head or button 121 and an 7 inner reduced diameter end portion 122 engageable with a cam on the control valve latch yoke member, as is evident from comparison of FIGS. 1 and 6, to release the valve stem 42 from raised and latched position.

During operation for open vent type filling it is often highly desirable for the operator to have both hands free solely for manipulation of the nozzle. The control lever retainer device R, FIGS. 1 and 8, permits the operator to open the control valve (as to approximately maximum low flow limit) and then to release the control valve lever CL while ilow continues to take place. Device R comprises a plunger 123 having a very light spring 124 normally biasing it away from the plane of operation of the lever but permitting the inner end of the plunger to engage and be retained in contact with the under side of the lever frictionally as in FIG. 8 wherein the lever is shown overlying a head portion of the plunger (via force supplied by the control valve return spring 47). When the lever is manually raised slightly (not shown), the plunger 123 is returned to inactive position by its spring 124.

Modified Nozzle Unit The valve assembly CV of FIG. 7 comprises as shown an oppositely-spring-closed, double-plug valve device having a single operating member or stem connected to one of the plugs for operation to open the valve both for low flow and high flow dispensing of liquid.

In the control valve assembly CV the inner one (125) of two concentric

valve plug assemblies

125 and 135 which are spring loaded, as by springs 125a and 135a, to close their ports by movement respectively in opposite directions (and which are manipulable by a common operating part or stem (see 126) connected to the inner plug) controls a discharge passage or port 127 through the outer valve plug assembly 135 to dispense liquid from a common receiving chamber (VC') into a common outlet (e.g. 3) for the chamber. The control lever CL of FIG. 7 has a bifurcated inner end portion 130 for engagement with a fixed fulcrum pin 61 and when the control valve CV is fully closed the exposed free end of the control lever is capable of being moved downwardly for low flow operation (opening the valve via plug assembly 125) and of being moved upwardly for high flow operation (via movement of piston assembly 137 relative to the main nozzle body seat in an already described manner).

In FIG. 7 the notch 128 in the control valve stem 126 is shown occupied by the roller 67 of yoke member 66. Thus when fuel at predetermined supply pressure is admitted to the nozzle inlet passage 2 and the conditioner valve CP FIGS. 1 or 5 is closed the valve assembly 135 of FIG. 7 cannot be lifted by raising the control lever CL One way of adjustably limiting the low flow rate to various maximum values is to provide an adjusting screw 140 on the control valve lever CL adapted to abut an associated surface, e.g. 141, on the main body section 1.

I claim:

I. A liquid dispensing nozzle unit comprising a body formed with an inlet passage and an outlet passage intercommunicating via a valve chamber, a self closing valve movable in the valve chamber between closed and open positions, a manual control lever supported on the body and connected to open the valve, a spring loaded latch movably mounted on the body and arranged to hold the valve in a fully open position, a trip device movable on the body and engageable with the latch to release it, said trip device being operatingly connected to the valve to block full opening movement thereof while permitting low-flow-rate-aifording opening of the valve by the lever, a fluid motor connected to the trip device to move it to its blocking posiiton, and means operating to supply fluid under a predetermined pressure to the motor to operate it to release the latch.

2. A liquid dispensing nozzle unit comprising a body formed with an inlet passage and an outlet passage intercommunicating via a valve chamber, a self closing valve movable in the valve chamber between closed and open positions, a manual control lever supported on the body and connected to open the valve, a spring loaded latch movably mounted on the body and arranged to hold the valve in a fully open position, a trip device movable on the body and engageable with the latch to release it, said trip device being operatingly connected to the valve to block full opening movement thereof while permitting low-flow'rate-aifording opening of the valve by the lever, a fluid motor connected to the rip device to move it to its blocking position, and means operating as a function of admission of liquid from an external source at predetermined pressure to the inlet of said body for supplying operating fluid pressure to the motor.

3. A liquid dispensing nozzle unit comprising a body formed with an inlet passage and an outlet passage intercommunicating via a valve chamber, a self closing valve movable in the valve chamber between closed and open positions, a manual control lever having a pivotal support on the body and connected to open the valve, a spring loaded latch movably mounted on the body and arranged to hold the valve in a fully open position, a trip device movable on the body and engageable with the latch to release it, said trip device being operatingly connected to the valve to limit movement thereof to less than said fully open position while permitting low-llow-rate-afiording opening of the valve by the lever, a fluid motor connected to the trip device to move it to its valvc-travel-limiting position, and means operating as a function of admission of liquid from an external source at predetermined pressure to the inlet of said body and before the valve has been opened for supplying operating fluid pressure to the motor.

4. A liquid dispensing nozzle unit comprising a body formed with an inlet passage and an outlet passage intercommunicating via a valve chamber, a self closing valve member movable in the valve chamber between a closed position and a fully open position, a stem partition of said valve member having a plurality of notches therein, a

rmual control lever pivotally supported on the body and connected to the stem to open the valve, latching means movably mounted on the body and engaging one notch in the stem to hold the valve member in the fully open position, a trip device movable on the body and engageable with the latch to release it, said trip device having a portion positionable in another notch in the stem such as to limit movement of the valve member to less than said fully open position while permitting low-flow-rate-affording opening of the valve member by the lever, a fluid motor connected to the trip device to move its said portion toward the stem for engagement with said other notch, and means to supply operating pressure fluid to the motor.

5. A liquid dispensing nozzle unit comprising a body formed with an inlet passage and an outlet passage intercommunicating via a valve chamber having a valve seat portion, a control valve device movable in the valve chamber and comprising a first plug element spring biased toward the seat, said plug element having a chamber communicating with said valve chamber and also having a valve seat axially opposed to the valve seat of said body, a second plug element coaxial with the first plug element, a spring acting axially thereon and reacting on the first plug element to hold the second plug element normally on the seat of the first plug element, a manual operating member on the body connected to the second plug element for movement thereof axially in one direction relative to the first plug element for accomplishing low flow dispensing of liquid, the connection of the operating member with the second plug element also enabling opposite movement thereof thereby to move the first plug element to open position for accomplishing high flow dispensing of liquid, and releasable latch means arranged to hold the two plug elements in high flow dispensing position.

6. The nozzle unit according to claim 5 wherein the second plug element has a stem along the common axis of the two plug elements, the operating member is a lever permanently pivotally connected to the body on a fixed axis and operatingly connected to the stem for two-way axial movement thereof.

7. In a closed pressure liquid dispensing or filling means for a tank or container, a nozzle unit having an inlet, a manually opened normally closed control valve, and a nose portion constituting an outlet, a filler adapter unit on or for installation in such tank or container and having a neck portion adapted for peripherally sealed mating relationship to the nose portion during filling operations, releasable latching means for the control valve to hold it in an open position, a fluid operated motor on the nozzle unit connected to trip or release the valve latching means, a source of motor operating pressure fluid in the nozle unit and passage means therein connecting said source to the motor, said passage means including a branch connected as between the source and motor to a continuation passage segment in or on the filler adapter unit when the nozzle and filler adapter units are in mating relationship, and liquid-level-responsive normally open valve means on the filler adapter unit arranged when closed to block flow through the continuation passage segment whereby to actuate said motor, said valve means comprising a tubular body in generally upright position and having its lower end connected to receive liquid from the continuation passage, an axially apertured valve-seat-constituting partition wail between the two ends of the tubular body, and a buoyant unit comprising a float, a valve plug and an interconnecting stem disposed so that the float is above said wall, the plug below it and the stem passing loosely through the axial aperture, the tubular body having a generally unrestricted liquid inlet passage disposed above said partition wall.

8, The construction according to claim 7 wherein the tubular body has in addition to the liquid inlet passage, a fluid vent above the top of the float.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,402,036 Geiger June 11, 1946 2,681,073 Fraser June 15, 1954 2,837,240 Boone June 3, 1958 3,025,893 Botkin Mar. 20, 1962 3,029,833 De Frees Apr. 17, 1962

Claims

1. A LIQUID DISPENSING NOZZLE UNIT COMPRISING A BODY FORMED WITH AN INLET PASSAGE AND AN OUTLET PASSAGE INTERCOMMUNICATING VIA A VALVE CHAMBER, A SELF CLOSING VALVE MOVABLE IN THE VALVE CHAMBER BETWEEN CLOSED AND OPEN POSITIONS, A MANUAL CONTROL LEVER SUPPORTED ON THE BODY AND CONNECTED TO OPEN THE VALVE, A SPRING LOADED LATCH MOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE BODY AND ARRANGED TO HOLD THE VALVE IN A FULLY OPEN POSITION, A TRIP DEVICE MOVABLE ON THE BODY AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE LATCH TO RELEASE IT, SAID TRIP DEVICE BEING OPERATINGLY CONNECTED TO THE VALVE TO BLOCK FULL OPENING MOVEMENT THEREOF WHILE PERMITTING LOW-FLOW-RATE-AFFORDING OPENING OF THE VALVE BY THE LEVER, A FLUID MOTOR CONNECTED TO THE TRIP DEVICE TO MOVE IT TO ITS BLOCKING POSITION, AND MEANS OPERATING TO SUPPLY FLUID UNDER A PREDETERMINED PRESSURE TO THE MOTOR TO OPERATE IT TO RELEASE THE LATCH.