Automatic dispensing nozzle

Claim 2

In an automatic dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid fuel and the like to the filler pipe of a fuel tank, said nozzle having a supply conduit for said liquid terminating in a filler spout, a main control valve in said conduit, releasable means for holding said main control valve in open position, first vacuum responsive release means acting through said holding means for closing said main control valve, and means responsive to a surge of fluid about said spout for creating a vacuum impulse, the improvements which comprises a flow-regulating valve in said conduit, said flow-regulating angle normally residing in a first, full-flow position permitting flow of said liquid at a predetermined relatively high filling rate, second vacuum responsive means for shifting said flow-regulating valve to second flow restricting position wherein said liquid flow is limited to a predetermined low topping rate, means in said first position of said flow-regulating valve directing a first vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to said second vacuum responsive means for actuating said flow-regulating valve to said second, flow-restricting position, and means in said second flow-restricting position of said flowregulating valve, directing any subsequent vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to actuate said main control valve releasing device, terminating the dispensing operation.

Claim 3

An automatic dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 1 comprising delaying means effecting a predetermined time lag between said first and second positions of said flow-regulating valve, such that flow of fluid is substantially terminAted during such period to enable subsidence of surged fluid in the filler pipe.

Claim 4

An automatic dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 2 wherein said flow-regulating valve comprises an axially movable spool located within a cylinder, means for locking said spool in said first, full-flow position said second vacuum responsive means being responsive to such vacuum impulse to release said locking means.

Claim 5

An automatic dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 3 wherein said spool is moved in said cylinder from first to second position by line pressure in the fuel conduit.

Claim 6

An automatic dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 1 comprising means for returning said flow-regulating valve to said first-named position at the termination of said dispensing operation.

Claim 7

In an automatic dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid fuel and the like to the filler pipe of a fuel tank, said nozzle having a supply conduit for said liquid terminating in a filler spout, a main control valve in said conduit, releasable means for holding said main control valve in open position, first vacuum responsive release means acting through said holding means for closing said main control valve, and means responsive to surge of fluid about said spout for creating a vacuum impulse; the improvement which comprises: a vacuum responsive flow-regulating valve in said conduit and normally disposed in a first or full-flow valve position permitting said liquid to flow at a predetermined relatively high filling rate, second vacuum responsive means for shifting said flow-regulating valve to second flow-regulating position wherein said liquid flow is limited to a predetermined low topping rate, said flow-regulating valve in said first position, also directing a first vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to the control of said second vacuum responsive means such that said flow-regulating valve is caused to move thereby from said first position to second position, wherein said flow-regulating valve restricts said liquid flow to said relatively low topping rate; said flow-regulating valve in second position, directing any subsequent vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to said first vacuum responsive release means for closing said main control valve whereby a vacuum impulse during said topping step results in termination of the dispensing operation.

Claim 8

In an automatic dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid fuel and the like to the filler pipe of a fuel tank, said nozzle having a supply conduit for said liquid terminating in a filler spout, a main control valve in said conduit, releasable means for holding said main control valve in open position, first vacuum responsive release means acting through said holding means for closing said main control valve, and means responsive to surge of fluid about said spout for creating a vacuum impulse; the improvement which comprises: a vacuum responsive flow-regulating valve in said conduit and normally disposed in a first or full-flow valve position permitting said liquid to flow at a predetermined relatively high filling rate, second vacuum responsive means for shifting said flow-regulating valve to second flow-regulating position wherein said liquid flow is limited to a predetermined low topping rate, said flow-regulating valve in said first position, also directing a first vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to the control of said second vacuum responsive means such that said flow-regulating valve is caused to move thereby from said first position to second position, wherein said flow-regulating valve restricts said liquid flow to said relatively low topping rate; said flow-regulating valve in second position, directing any subsequent vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to said first vacuum responsive release means for closing said main control valve whereby a vacuum impulse during said topping step results in termination of the dispensing operation.

Claim 9

An automatic dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 6 wherein both said main valve and said flow-regulating valve are normally held in locked position and wherein said respective vacuum responsive means act in response to a surge of vacuum directed thereto to release said locking means.

Claim 10

An automatic dispensing nozzle as defined in claim 6 comprising time delay means effective to delay the actuation of said regulating valve from said first to said second position, a predetermined time lag effective to permit subsidence of surged fluid in said filler pipe.

Claim 11

In an automatic dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid fuel and the like to the filler pipe of a fuel tank, said nozzle having a supply conduit for said liquid terminating in a filler spout, a main control valve in said conduit, releasable means for holding said main control valve in open position, first vacuum responsive release mans acting through said holding means for closing said main control valve and means responsive to a surge of fluid about said spout for creating a vacuum impulse, the improvement which comprises a vacuum responsive flow regulating valve in said conduit downstream of said main control valve, said flow-regulating valve being normally disposed in first or full flow valve position permitting liquid flow at a predetermined relatively high filling rate, second vacuum responsive release means releasable in response to a first vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means for locking said flow-regulating valve in said first position, the line pressure in said conduit acting upon said flow-regulatinG valve to urge said valve to a second, flow restricting position, means associated with said flow-regulating valve in said first position directing said vacuum impulse to the actuation of said second vacuum responsive release means to release said flow-regulating valve means, such that said flow-regulating valve is free to move from said first position to said second position, said flow-regulating valve in second position limiting liquid flow in said conduit to a predetermined, restricted rate suitable for a topping step and means associated with said flow-regulating valve in said second position for directing any subsequent vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to said first vacuum responsive release means for closing said main valve whereby a vacuum impulse during said topping step results in termination of the dispensing operation.

Claim 12

In an automatic dispensing nozzle for supplying liquid fuel and the like to the filler pipe of a fuel tank, said nozzle having a supply conduit for said liquid terminating in a filler spout, a main control valve in said conduit, releasable means for holding said main control valve in open position, first vacuum responsive release mans acting through said holding means for closing said main control valve and means responsive to a surge of fluid about said spout for creating a vacuum impulse, the improvement which comprises a vacuum responsive flow regulating valve in said conduit downstream of said main control valve, said flow-regulating valve being normally disposed in first or full flow valve position permitting liquid flow at a predetermined relatively high filling rate, second vacuum responsive release means releasable in response to a first vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means for locking said flow-regulating valve in said first position, the line pressure in said conduit acting upon said flow-regulatinG valve to urge said valve to a second, flow restricting position, means associated with said flow-regulating valve in said first position directing said vacuum impulse to the actuation of said second vacuum responsive release means to release said flow-regulating valve means, such that said flow-regulating valve is free to move from said first position to said second position, said flow-regulating valve in second position limiting liquid flow in said conduit to a predetermined, restricted rate suitable for a topping step and means associated with said flow-regulating valve in said second position for directing any subsequent vacuum impulse from said surge responsive means to said first vacuum responsive release means for closing said main valve whereby a vacuum impulse during said topping step results in termination of the dispensing operation.