US3604478A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fuel-tank-filling devices
Assignee: Mission Systems Wimborne Ltd
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Filing: 1969-05-20
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Granted: 1971-09-14
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Expires: 1989-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element comprising a hosecock 10 connected to a fuel supply hose and to a vent hose 16, a manually opened and spring closed valve in the hosecock 10 to shut off the supply of fuel, a head member 12 for coupling with a receiving unit mounted on the vehicle, passages 13, 14 in the head member 12 communicating with the hoses, spring-loaded valves closing the passages 13, 14 and arranged for automatic opening simultaneously with the operation of a springreleased manually operated latch 37 which is held manually against the action of the spring release to hold the head member 12 in engagement with the receiving unit, corresponding springloaded valves which close corresponding passages in the receiving unit also being opened by the action of coupling the coupling element with the receiving unit.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank Gowens
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 09:50
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element comprising a hosecock adapted to be connected to a hose and to a vent hose, said first-named hose leading from a fuel supply source, a manually opened and spring-closed valve in said hosecock to shut off the supply of fuel through the fuel supply hose, a receiving unit adapted to be mounted on a vehicle to be refueled, a head member carried by said hosecock and adapted for coupling with said receiving unit, passages in said head member communicating with said hoses, spring-loaded valves to close the said passages, said spring-loaded valves being arranged for automatic opening by the action of bringing the head member into coupled relation with the receiving unit, manually operated latch means arranged to hold said head member in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is applied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure, and means in said hosecock adapted to be coupled to sensing means in said receiving unit when said head member and the receiving unit are in engagement, to close the fuel passage in the hosecock when the fuel in the vehicle fuel tank rises to a predetermined level.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element comprising a hosecock adapted to be connected to a hose and to a vent hose, said first-named hose leading from a fuel supply source, a manually opened and spring-closed valve in said hosecock to shut off the supply of fuel through the fuel supply hose, a receiving unit adapted to be mounted on a vehicle to be refueled, a head member carried by said hosecock and adapted for coupling with said receiving unit, passages in said head member communicating with said hoses, spring-loaded valves to close the said passages, said spring-loaded valves being arranged for automatic opening by the action of bringing the head member into coupled relation with the receiving unit, manually operated latch means arranged to hold said head member in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is applied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure, and means in said hosecock adapted to be coupled to sensing means in said receiving unit when said head member and the receiving unit are in engagement, to close the fuel passage in the hosecock when the fuel in the vehicle fuel tank rises to a predetermined level.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
308 words
A device for filling a fuel tank in a vehicle comprising a combination of a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source, and a corresponding receiving unit adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, said coupling element including coupling means for coupling said coupling element to said receiving unit, a throughpassage defined in said coupling element, and a manually opened spring-closed valve for controlling fuel flow through the throughpassage; said receiving unit including a body defining a passage adapted to be connected in communication with the fuel tank and a spring-loaded valve closing said passage; wherein the improvement comprises the combination of: i. means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat; ii. a valve member movable within said throughpassage; iii. Spring means acting upon said valve member to urge said valve member to seat on said valve seat and close the throughpassage; and iv. said coupling means including manually operated latch means arranged to hold said coupling element in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is apPlied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure; the arrangement being such that said spring-urged valve member is moved against the action of said spring means to open said throughpassage automatically and said spring-loaded valve is opened simultaneously by the acting of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that said passage defined in said body is placed in communication with said throughpassage, and when the coupling element in connected to the hose and is held manually in coupled relation with the receiving unit which is mounted on the vehicle, fuel my be supplied to the fuel tank through fuel supply hose; said throughpassage and said passage defined in said body.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
308 words
A device for filling a fuel tank in a vehicle comprising a combination of a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source, and a corresponding receiving unit adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, said coupling element including coupling means for coupling said coupling element to said receiving unit, a throughpassage defined in said coupling element, and a manually opened spring-closed valve for controlling fuel flow through the throughpassage; said receiving unit including a body defining a passage adapted to be connected in communication with the fuel tank and a spring-loaded valve closing said passage; wherein the improvement comprises the combination of: i. means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat; ii. a valve member movable within said throughpassage; iii. Spring means acting upon said valve member to urge said valve member to seat on said valve seat and close the throughpassage; and iv. said coupling means including manually operated latch means arranged to hold said coupling element in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is apPlied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure; the arrangement being such that said spring-urged valve member is moved against the action of said spring means to open said throughpassage automatically and said spring-loaded valve is opened simultaneously by the acting of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that said passage defined in said body is placed in communication with said throughpassage, and when the coupling element in connected to the hose and is held manually in coupled relation with the receiving unit which is mounted on the vehicle, fuel my be supplied to the fuel tank through fuel supply hose; said throughpassage and said passage defined in said body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
236 words
A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source, a receiving unit mounted on a vehicle having a tank to be refueled, coupling means for coupling said coupling element to said receiving unit, a throughpassage defined in said coupling element, and a manually opened spring-closed valve for controlling fuel flow through the throughpassage, wherein the improvement comprises the combination of: i. means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat; ii. a valve member movable within said throughpassage; iii. spring means acting upon said valve member urge said valve member to seat on said valve seat and close the throughpassage; and iv. said coupling means including manually operated latch means arranged to hold said coupling element in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is applied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure; the arrangement being such that said spring-urged valve member is moved against the action of said spring means to open said throughpassage automatically by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that, when the coupling element is connected to the hose and is held manually in coupled relation with the receiving unit, fuel may be supplied to the receiving unit through the fuel supply hose and the throughpassage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
236 words
A fuel-tank-filling device including a coupling element adapted to be connected to a hose leading from a fuel supply source, a receiving unit mounted on a vehicle having a tank to be refueled, coupling means for coupling said coupling element to said receiving unit, a throughpassage defined in said coupling element, and a manually opened spring-closed valve for controlling fuel flow through the throughpassage, wherein the improvement comprises the combination of: i. means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat; ii. a valve member movable within said throughpassage; iii. spring means acting upon said valve member urge said valve member to seat on said valve seat and close the throughpassage; and iv. said coupling means including manually operated latch means arranged to hold said coupling element in coupled relation with said receiving unit so long as manual pressure is applied to said latch means, and spring release means arranged to disengage said latch means upon removal of said manual pressure; the arrangement being such that said spring-urged valve member is moved against the action of said spring means to open said throughpassage automatically by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that, when the coupling element is connected to the hose and is held manually in coupled relation with the receiving unit, fuel may be supplied to the receiving unit through the fuel supply hose and the throughpassage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A fuel-tank-filling device according to claim 3, wherein the improvement further comprises said valve head being carried by a stem mounted within said throughpassage, and said valve member comprising a sleeve member mounted slidably within said throughpassage, said spring means acting to urge said sleeve member outwardly to seat on said valve seat and hold the stem against the stop means so as to close said throughpassage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said coupling element, which is also adapted to be connected to a vent hose, has a further throughpassage and a further spring-loaded valve closing the further throughpassage, the further spring-loaded valve being arranged for automatic opening by the action of bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit so that, when the coupling element is connected to the vent hose, the receiving unit is placed in communication with the vent hose through the further through passage, and fuel which overflows from the receiving unit during refueling is conducted away from the vehicle through the vent hose.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
154 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 5, in which said receiving unit includes a body defining two passages which are in communication with the fuel tank when the receiving unit is mounted on the vehicle, two spring-loaded valves, each spring-loaded valve closing a corresponding one of said passages defined in said body and arranged to be opened simultaneously with an associated spring-loaded valve in the coupling element by the bringing of the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit, so as to place each said passage defined in said body in communication with a corresponding throughpassage defined in the coupling element, the arrangement being such that fuel is supplied to the fuel tank through one of the passages defined in said body and fuel which flows from the fuel tank during a refueling operation flows out of the receiving unit through the other of the two passages defined in said body.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein each spring-loaded valve in the receiving unit comprises a valve closure member which is spring loaded into engagement with an annular seating defined in the wall of the respective passage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
138 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 7, including sensing means comprising a venturi nozzle, the annular seating of the passage in the body which corresponds to the fuel supply passage defined in the coupling element being defined by the venturi nozzle, a bore defined in the body another passage which extends through the body from the face of the receiving unit adjacent the coupling element and which is in communication with a pipe which depends from the body so as to terminate at the predetermined fuel level within the vehicle fuel tank when the receiving unit is mounted on the vehicle, wherein one end of the bore communicates with the throat of the venturi nozzle and the other end is placed in communication with the other passage when the coupling element is coupled to the receiving unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
68 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said coupling means includes a pair of lugs suitably placed on said body which are adapted to receive rollers carried by a pivotally mounted latch member which is mounted on the coupling element, the arrangement being such that the coupling element is held in coupled engagement with the receiving unit when the rollers are in engagement with respective lugs.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
48 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 6, including a hinged cap which is adapted to close an opening defined in the top surface of the receiving unit, the arrangement being such that the vehicle on which the receiving unit is mounted may be refueled through said opening.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the spring-urged valve member is arranged to be moved to open said throughpassage simultaneously with opening of a corresponding spring-loaded valve by bringing the coupling element into coupled relation with the receiving unit, the corresponding spring-loaded valve controlling a corresponding passage in said receiving unit leading to the vehicle fuel tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
44 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the coupling element includes a hosecock which contains said manually opened spring-closed valve and automatic cutoff means for said manually opened spring-closed valve, the hosecock being adapted to be connected to the fuel supply hose.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A fuel-tank-filling as claimed in claim 12, including means adapted to sensing means in the receiving unit, when the coupling element and the receiving unit are in engagement, and which coacts with said automatic cutoff means for said manually opened spring-closed valve to shut off the supply of fuel through the fuel supply hose and coupling element when he fuel in the vehicle fuel tank rises to a predetermined level.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
79 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means within said throughpassage defining a valve seat comprises a stem mounted within said throughpassage and protruding axially therefrom, and a fixed element carried by the end of the stem outside said passage and serving as said valve seat, said valve member comprising a sleeve member slidably mounted within said passage and spring-loaded so as to be urged outwardly to seat on the valve seat and close said throughpassage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
86 words
A fuel-tank-filling device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said spring released manually operated latch means comprises a latch member which is pivotally mounted on the coupling element and which carries rollers which are adapted to engage with suitably placed luGs on the receiving unit to hold the coupling element in engagement with said receiving unit, the latch member being provided with a handle by which it may be held with the rollers engaged with the lugs against the spring loading of said release spring means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-13 | 1975-03-15 | 1975-09-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-13 | 1979-03-15 | 1979-09-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-13 | 1983-03-15 | 1983-09-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |