Liquid-dispensing nozzle assembly and sealing device

Claim 2

A sealing device for use with a liquid dispensing nozzle assembly having a nozzle housing with an elongated discharge spout and a flexible vapor collector surrounding the spout with one free end and the other end attached to the nozzle housing or in proximity thereto and provided with a means to allow for vapor removal during delivery of liquid from the spout to a liquid receiver inlet which comprises: a sealing device carried by the free end of the vapor collector for forming a surface seal against the outer surface of said receiver inlet; said sealing device comprising mounting means located adjacent to the free end of the said vapor collector and sealant material means adjacent thereto for contacting the surface of said receiver inlet, said spout extending beyond the end of said sealant material; compressible equalizer means interposed between said mounting means and said sealant material means so as to urge said sealant material means toward said receiver inlet when said spout is inserted into and said sealant material contacts said receiver inlet, provided that said equalizer means substantially regains its original configuration after removal of the spout from the receiver inlet, and the compression of a part of the equalizer means by contact with a part of the surface of the receiver inlet does not substantially reduce the force exerted by another part of the equalizer means against the sealant material when the spout and the receiver inlet are not axially aligned at the sealant material receiver inlet interface, during such contact.

Claim 3

A sealing device as in claim 1 wherein said equalizer means comprises a ring with a plurality of resilient prongs which urges said sealant material means towards said receiver inlet when said spout is inserted in said receiver inlet.

Claim 4

A sealing device as in claim 2 wherein said ring is affixed to said mounting means.

Claim 5

A sealing device as in claim 2 wherein said ring is affixed to said mounting means by a plurality of resilient prongs.

Claim 6

A sealing device as in claim 2 wherein said ring is affixed to said mounting means by a plurality of springs.

Claim 7

A sealing device as in claim 5 wherein said springs are coil springs.

Claim 8

A sealing device as in claim 2 wherein said resilient prongs extend away from said mounting means and toward said sealant means.

Claim 9

A sealing device as in claim 1 wherein said sealant means is constructed from a compressible cellular plastic material and the liquid is a fuel.

Claim 10

A sealing device of claim 8 wherein said compressible cellular plastic material is obtained from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polychloroprene latex, polyethylene, silicone, urethane polymer, poly (vinyl chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose acetopropianate, a urea-formaldehyde resin, fluorine containing elastomers, nitrile elastomers, epichlorohydrin containing elastomers, and polyacrylic elastomers.

Claim 11

A sealing device of claim 8 wherein the compressible cellular plastic material is obtained from a polymer selected from the group consisting of fluorine containing elastomers, nitrile elastomers, epichlorohydrin containing elastomers, and polyacrylic elastomers and the material is compressible under normal loads in the range of from 5 to 85% of its original volume.

Claim 12

A sealing device of claim 8 wherein the exposed surface face of the compressible cellular plastic material comprises an additional sealant material.

Claim 13

A sealing device assembly of claim 11 wherein said additional material is leather.

Claim 14

In a liquid dispensing nozzle assembly for delivery of liquid from a liquid source to a liquid receiver having an inlet, said assembly being provided with means to allow for the removal of vapor during delivery of liquid to said receiver inlet from said source, said nozzle assembly comprising: a liquid dispensing nozzle having a nozzle inlet, a nozzle housing and an elongated discharge spout adapted for insertion into said receiver inlet; a flexible vapor collector surrounding, in space relation thereto and forming a chamber therearound, the upper portion of said spout nearest said nozzle housing, said chamber being in fluid communication with the receiver inlet when said spout is inserted into said liquid receiver, one end of said vapor collector being sealed to said nozzle housing or in proximity thereto, a sealing device carried by the free end of said vapor collector for forming a surface seal against the outer surface of said receiver inlet, said spout extending beyond the other end of said sealing device; means for removing vapor from said chamber, said sealing device comprising mounting means located adjacent to the free end of the said vapor collector and sealant material means adjacent thereto for contacting the surface of said receiver inlet, said spout extending beyond the end of said sealant material; compressible equalizer means interposed between said mounting means and said sealant material means so as to urge said sealant material means toward said receiver inlet when said spout is inserted into and said sealant material contacts said receiver inlet, provided that said equalizer means substantially regains its original configuration after removal of the spout from the receiver inlet, and the of a part of the equalizer means by contact with a part of the surface of the receiver inlet does not substantially reduce the force exerted by another part of the equalizer means against the sealant material when the spout and the receiver inlet are not axially aligned at the sealant material receiver inlet interface, during such contact.

Claim 15

In a liquid dispensing nozzle assembly for delivery of liquid from a liquid source to a liquid receiver having an inlet, said assembly being provided with means to allow for the removal of vapor during delivery of liquid to said receiver inlet from said source, said nozzle assembly comprising: a liquid dispensing nozzle having a nozzle inlet, a nozzle housing and an elongated discharge spout adapted for insertion into said receiver inlet; a flexible vapor collector surrounding, in space relation thereto and forming a chamber therearound, the upper portion of said spout nearest said nozzle housing, said chamber being in fluid communication with the receiver inlet when said spout is inserted into said liquid receiver, one end of said vapor collector being sealed to said nozzle housing or in proximity thereto, a sealing device carried by the free end of said vapor collector for forming a surface seal against the outer surface of said receiver inlet, said spout extending beyond the other end of said sealing device; means for removing vapor from said chamber, said sealing device comprising mounting means located adjacent to the free end of the said vapor collector and sealant material means adjacent thereto for contacting the surface of said receiver inlet, said spout extending beyond the end of said sealant material; compressible equalizer means interposed between said mounting means and said sealant material means so as to urge said sealant material means toward said receiver inlet when said spout is inserted into and said sealant material contacts said receiver inlet, provided that said equalizer means substantially regains its original configuration after removal of the spout from the receiver inlet, and the of a part of the equalizer means by contact with a part of the surface of the receiver inlet does not substantially reduce the force exerted by another part of the equalizer means against the sealant material when the spout and the receiver inlet are not axially aligned at the sealant material receiver inlet interface, during such contact.

Claim 16

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 13 wherein said equalizer means comprises a ring with a plurality of resilient prongs which contact said sealant material means when said spout is inserted in said receiver inlet.

Claim 17

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 14 wherein said ring is affixed to said mounting means.

Claim 18

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 14 wherein said ring is affixed to said mounting means by a plurality of resilient prongs.

Claim 19

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 14 wherein said ring is affixed to said mounting means by a plurality of springs.

Claim 20

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 17 wherein said springs are coil springs.

Claim 21

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 14 wherein said resilient prongs extend away from said mounting means and toward said sealant means and the liquid is a fuel.

Claim 22

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 13 wherein said sealant means is constructed from a compressible cellular plastic material and the liquid is a fuel.

Claim 23

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 20 wherein said compressible cellular plastic material is obtained from a polymer selected from the group consisting of polychloroprene latex, polyethylene, silicone, urethane polymer, poly(vinyl chloride), polytetrafluoroethylene, cellulose acetopropianate, a urea-formaldehyde resin, fluorine containing elastomers, nitrile elastomers, epichlorohydrin containing elastomers, and polyacrylic elastomers.

Claim 24

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly as in claim 20 wherein the compressible cellular plastic material is obtained from a polymer selected from the group consisting of fluorine containing elastomers, nitrile elastomers, epichlorohydrin containing elastomers and polyacrylic elastomers and the material is compressible under normal loads in the range of from 5 to 85% of its original volume.

Claim 25

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly of claim 20 wherein the exposed surface face of the compressible cellular plastic material comprises an additional sealant material.

Claim 26

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly of claim 23 wherein said additional sealant material is leather.

Claim 27

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly of claim 13 wherein said mounting means is an integral part of said vapor collector.

Claim 28

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly of claim 25 wherein said vapor collector is a bellows.