Automatic trip safety fill nozzle

Claim 2

A fluid-dispensing nozzle comprising a valve mechanism body having inlet and discharge passages, tank fill line sealing means displaceable on said body discharge passage preventing fluid splashage and vapor emission in a seated position on a tank fill line, a valve mechanism having a lever actuated linkage, means operatively connected with said sealing means and said linkage for valve mechanism deactuation upon unseating of said sealing means from said fill line and for preconditioning said linkage and said valve mechanism for actuation upon seating said sealing means upon said tank fill line, and means for deactivating valve mechanism operation upon pressure increase beyond a predetermined amount in the discharge passages.

Claim 3

A fluid-dispensing nozzle as claimed in claim 1, and means in said discharge passage communicating with said valve mechanism for deactuation of said valve mechanism upon fluid fill or contact.

Claim 4

A fluid-dispensing nozzle as claimed in claim 1, said sealing means being yieldably retained on said discharge passage for seating engagement with the open end of a tank fill line.

Claim 5

A fluid-dispensing nozzle as claimed in claim 1, said sealing means being yieldably biased on said discharge passage for seating and sealing the open end of a tank fill line, and means on said discharge passage for releasably locking the discharge passage on a tank fill line.

Claim 6

A fluid-dispensing nozzle as claimed in claim 1, said valve mechanism including a spring-loaded plunger valve assembly at said inlet passage, a valve-actuating section having a vacuum chamber and a positive pressure chamber in said body, said pressure chamber communicating with said inlet passage, said vacuum chamber having a pressure responsive means therein, said vacuum chamber communicating with said valve assembly to transmit a pressure differential therethrough, means in said discharge passage for transmitting a pressure differential to said vacuum chamber, means movable with said pressure responsive means connected to said valve mechanism preconditioning means whereupon seating engagement of said sealing means with a fill line said safety mechanism may be actuated for operation and upon disengagement of said sealing means with a fill line or failure to maintain a predetermined pressure differential in said vacuum chamber, said valve mechanism will be urged into a close position.

Claim 7

A fluid-dispensing nozzle as claimed in claim 5, said fluid pressure chamber in said body having pressure responsive means therein, said spring loaded plunger valve assembly having a restricted opening and a lever-engaging plunger extending from said valve, said pressure responsive means in said vacuum chamber having a diaphragm and a linkage-actuating plunger extending therefrom, said pressure-responsive means in said fluid positive pressure chamber having a diaphragm and a linkage-actuating plunger extending therefrom for cooperation with said linkage-actuating plunger of said vacuum chamber pressure-responsive means whereby reduction or lack of fluid pressure in said fluid pressure chamber or unseating of said sealing means or improper pressure differential in said vacuum chamber will terminate fluid flow or prevent full preconditioning for actuation of said linkage for said valve mechanism.

Claim 8

A fluid-dispensing nozzle as claimed in claim 1, said valve mechanism body discharge passage having an elongated tube for insertion into a tank fill pipe and a return line therein for transmitting a pressure differential communicating with the interior of said fill pipe to detect fluid level therein, said tank fill line sealing means having a resiliently biased collar for cooperatively seating engagement with the open end of a fill pipe guidably supported on said tube, fill pipe latching means on said tube for releasably engaging a fill pipe in the seated position of said sealing means on a fill pipe, said valve mechanism having a valve assembly in said inlet passage, said valve assembly having a spring-actuated plunger and valve forming the valve a restricted inlet orifice to restrict fluid flow in the valve open position, an inlet pressure chamber communicating with said inlet passage having a pressure responsive diaphragm and connected plunger, a vacuum chamber communicating with said return line and said tube and said restricted opening having a pressure responsive diaphragm and connected plunger, said plungers being adapted for cooperation with each other for transmitting a force when suitably preconditioned with fluid pressure and said inlet passage and the absence of a fluid in said tube, said lever actuated linkage connected to said sealing means and at least one of said plungers and having a manual actuating link adapted to cooperate with said linkage and one of said plungers and said valve assemblies spring actuating plunger whereby sealing means seating on a fill pipe and inlet fluid pressure precondition said lever actuated linkage for operation of said manual actuating link, and upon fluid pressure drop detected in said inlet pressure chamber below a predetermined lever or unseating of said sealing means from said fill pipe or fluid detection in said tube said linkage will be deactivated automatically positioning the valve mechanism in an inoperative position terminating fluid flow through the nozzle body.