US2580157A - Combination fluid dispensing nozzle and fluid level indicating means - Google Patents

Description

J. H. CHADWICK COMBINATION FLUID DISPENSING NOZZLE AND FLUID LEVEL INDICATING MEANS Dec. 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1947 v r r A INVENTOR.

JOSEPH CHADWICK J. H. CHADWICK 2,580,157 COMBINATION FLUID DISPENSING NOZZLE AND Dec. 25, 1951 FLUID LEVEL INDICATING MEANS 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1947 L/OSEPH H. CHADW/CK INVENTOR.

Patented Dec. 25, 1951 COMBINATION FLUID DISPENSING NOZZLE AND FLUID LEVEL INDICATING MEANS Joseph H. Chadwick, Portland, Oreg.

Application December 24, 1947, Serial No. 793,598 1 Claim. (01. 226-66) This invention relates to new and novel means for indicating, by an audible signal, the fluid level in a tank or receptacle when being filled.

It is one of the principal objects of the invention to provide a device of this character particularly well adapted for use in connection with filling nozzles such as are used on gasoline metering pumps in automobile service stations, air ports, and on many other types of supply hoses fitted with a dispensing nozzle.

Another important feature of the invention is that it prevents back pressure in the tank from escaping through the filling neck or opening and carrying the contents of the tank with it, as sometimes occurs while filling automobile gasoline tanks at filling stations.

A further object is the provision of a device of this character which is readily adaptable for operative attachment to all types of filling necks or openings in fuel tanks.

A still further object resides in the simplicity and compactness of construction, and wherein its several parts are readily removable for repair or replacement and one which may be quickly and conveniently attached to the filling opening of a gasoline tank for sealing the same by simply rotating a closure cap a few turns about the nozzle to actuate means for securely gripping the walls of the filling opening.

These and other objects will appear as my invention is more fully hereinafter described in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and finally pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention shown in operative engagement with the filling neck of a tank and with fragments broken away and partly in section for convenience of illustration.

Figure 2' is a top plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of a valve housing and cage for a float valve.

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged sectional plan views taken along the lines 5-5 and 66, respectively, in Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a greatly reduced side elevation of a tank illustrating one of a number of curved filling necks in open communication with the tank.

Figure 8 is an elevation of a fuel tank with a modified form of invention applied to the filler neck thereof.

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional side elevation of the invention and the filler neck as shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a side elevation of a conventional filling hose, actuating valve, filling nozzle.

Referring now more particularly to the drawmgs:

Reference numeral I indicates the filling neck of a tank. The upper end of the neck is turned inwardly on itself to form a locking flange 2 for engagement with a closure cap in the usual manner. The flange is partially cut out at diametrically opposed points to form slots 3 and 4 for attaching and detaching the closure cap.

The main body of the invention consists of a hollow cylindrical element, generally indicated at 5, reduced and threaded as at 6 to form a shoulder l, and further reduced as at 8 to form a second shoulder 9. The reduced portion 8 is adapted for attachment in any approved manner with the dispensing end of a supply hose and dispensing valve. (not shown) such as are commonly used on gasoline pumps in automobile service stations, and the like.

The lower portion of the cylindrical element 5 is preferably tapered as shown, and its lower end is in open communication with a length of flexible pipe or nozzle It by attachment thereto in the conventional manner. The lower end of the nozzle terminates in a collar II formed with an inlet opening I2 therein. The collar is preferably flattened over an area surrounding the inlet opening to prevent any surface-to-surface contact between the collar l l and the inside wall of a filling neck which might tend to block ofi the opening I2, as will be more fully hereinafter explained.

Atdiammetrically opposed points on the periphery of the lower portion of the cylindrical member 5, I provide spring fingers I3 by means of brackets M to which the fingers are backed by compression springs [6 to normally maintain the fingers in radially extended positions with respect to the cylindrical member. The upper end of the spring fingers should be well rounded for smooth operation while moving in and out of engagement with the locking flange 2. Moreover, the flanges [4 should not extend outwardly a greater distance than the spring fingers in any position, and their upper ends should also be rounded as shown so as not to interfere with disengagement from the locking flange. By means of the spring fingers engaging beneath the locking flange 2 and a locking cap ISA, the invention is held securely within the filling neck I of the tank and the tank and neck are thereby sealed against escapement of air. The cap is threadedly mounted on the threaded portion 6 of the cylindrical element 5 and a rubber gasket I! is carried by the cap for firm and air-tight engagement with the locking flange of the filling neck.

Attached in a vertical position on the interior of the cylindrical element 5 is a valve housing l8 formed at its upper end with an opening to provide a valve seat IQ for a float valve 20 mounted upon a valve stem 2| which is slidably mounted in concave ends 22 and 23 of a cage 24 securely positioned within the valve body I8. To the valve .stem is secured a float 25 made of any suitable buoyant material such as cork, or the like. It will be noted that the valve 20 and float 25 are spaced from the wall of the valve body l8 as best through the valverseatt. i9, and'ian elbowtfitting; 26 with an" air whistle 2T Which 'for-compactnessencircles the reduced portion 8 of the cylindrical element and is attached thereto at the shoulder portion 9 thereof.

The lower end of the valve-housing;- IBiCOII: nects, by means of a fitting 28, with one end of a length of flexible tubing 29 whose opposite end connects with a fitting 3B;0n-.the.interior of. the collar H for open communication with the inlet opening 12 formed in the collar.

The nozzle or pipe l0, and tubing 29 are flexib16580 as to;.conform; when inserted, to; thecurvae ture'of filling, necks of tanks, suchior instance,- as illustrated .in;Figure7. The openend. ofxthe neck l is sealed by the rubber-gaskethandcap IB-A asaforesaid, and as. the fillingoperation begins. by the; manipulation of the; dispensing: valve (not shown), the risingifluid levelcreates air-pressure in the tank and the only avenue'ofescape for theair'is through the openingltin the collar l I, through flexible tube 29; valve hous ing. [8, through open valve seat l9randiinto the air whistle-21 which continues toiunction as lon as the fluid level continues to rise in:-.the-tank; It will be noted that-the'floatZE, connected .with the valve.20;pis of sufficient weight'so asnot to be lifted 'bythe'air' pressureqas'it-rests in ,a:down-. ward or open position with respect to the'valve seat Iii-as shown in Figuree-i.

When the fluidiinathe tank reaches the level where it flowsthrough the opening; izlinto the; tube'29; the air-ofcourse, is cut ofi andthe. whistle ceases to functioniwhichindicates -tor the; operator that-the tank is:filled,;orrthat the contentszof theitank has reachedalevel .to which; the-'end'of the nozzle extends. It is.-to .be understood that the nozzle and tube may be ofzany: desired length for extending: throughafilling; necks of various lengths, or they'may beshortened-to a length whereby they may beinsertedidirectly into the tank through an ,ordinary fillinglopen-v mg,

When theflow of the fluidintoz; the tube'z'29? reachesthefioat 25; the 'valve-rzogwill's beeliftedr' by) the float to engage and T close vthevvalvez seat. l9-in=the valve housing l8 assshowndnwdotted linesdn Figure4; This seals ofi theltube e29i'and valve: housing, 18. to prevent escapementof the: fluid: .throughzthe whistle:

When thetank isfilledthe cap; "in .isrbacked: away from the locking flangeof the fillingneck: and .the cylindrical element 5 is-'rotated..through 90 degrees from the positiorrr'viewediinuFigures orthrough any, numberof degrees necessary;

torposition the spring; fingers so. that they; are free to pass out .through theslots 3-=and- .;4=,for: removing-thenozzle. l0-from' the;- filling neck; of the-tank.

In Figure 8, the filling neck. is made of; two;

parts-3i and 321joinedtogether bmarubberncollar'. or coupling 33, and the upper-endiof tnecpanta ering; 38E toprevent dirt; water; and iothenioreign substances from entering the openings therein which would interfere with the operation of the whistle.

Aspreviouslwstated; the form of the invention illustrated in'Eigures 1 to 6 is particularly adapted for use in connection with filling nozzles or fluid supplyhoses: while the form of the invention shown in Figures-8,9, and 10 is applied to, and made a permanent part of a filling neck of a tank? It being understood of course, that this form of the invention is. applied to any type of tank-,1. such astusedi on 2 automobiles,. trucks, aircraft; watercraft, fuel storage; tanks; and; the. like.v

In-r operating: the mo'dified'iform .of the invention; the" nozzle: 39' of :th'e. supply hose shown in Fi'gure- 10 is i inserted sin; the. filling;v neck: in the: usual. manner: Following; this; a rubber. disc. or: cap;40 mountedat the: inner: end oi' the nozzle is held: securely? against the: open end: of. the. filling neck to seal the tank against Lleakage: of air. As in the.v otherr'formof i the :invention'; the rising fluid level :in :axtankrbeing filled, forces air out of thetankiwhich when sealed in accordance with .my. invention can onlyescape through'the' valve'housingsfl, fitting 3 6:; and whistle 35;.which continues to function to'produce. an'audiblessignal so; long& as: the fluid levelzinsthe-z. tank is. rising. Then; whenthe float :isslifted: by the fluid the: valve: 2BALof. course seals ioflrthe' fitting 3 6 and J the whistle 38 indicating tozan operatorthat 'the tank .is "filled.

While @I have.=.show1r .ai.pa-rticular. form: of eme bodiment -i of my invention; I; am. aware. that manyrminor changes ltherein' will. readily suggest themselves: to others. skilled in. the art without departing: from". the. spirit sand-5 scope .of 3 the 1 invention. Having thus described the invention; what" claim. as': new. and: desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

An airtactuated: audible; signal for" indicating aafluidilevelzinz;aatankizhaving a: filler opening. said signal. consisting. of. an air: whistle sun-'- rounding; said; opening? and 1 in i open communica tion with a valve housing disposedon the interior of the opening, the valvec-liousing. being in op'en communication atI-one of its ends with the interior oi the tankgafioat disposed within the valveehousing, aavalve disposed within thevalve housing and attached to said float and normally held by gravity in an open position to permit passage ofair from: the interior of the tank through said housing: and into said whistle; said valve being adapted r to be moved into: a closed.- position to stop passage ofair tothe whistle whenaliftedby the fiuid in the tank acting. on the float when the fluid has reacheds-a predeterminedilevelfi therein?- J OSEPH' Hi nnrnanncustolrnn.

The followingreferencesare of record in' the file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES Number Name I Date-= 9897,8182 Wendi-mgr Mar; 2 1;: 1911 1,990,386? Kyso .1- Feb: 53 1935 2,073,360; B'i'ckley Mari 9, 1937 2,140,559 Sculley et al. Dec. 20, 1938 2 2053513. Eeatherston June '18; 1940 2393040" Scu'lly= Dec. 189 1945 2399, 167? Cliouinard Apr-2 305 1946

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