Liquid-dispensing nozzle assembly

Claim 1

A liquid dispensing nozzle assembly for delivery of liquid from a liquid source to a liquid receiver having a receiver 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: 1. a liquid dispensing nozzle having a nozzle inlet, a nozzle housing and an elongated discharge spout adapted for insertion into said receiver inlet; 2. a vapor collector surrounding, in spaced 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 nozzle is inserted into said liquid receiver, one end of said vapor collector being sealed to said nozzle housing, or in proximity thereto, a sealant means carried by the other end of said vapor collector and having an exposed face for forming a surface seal against the outer surface of said receiver inlet, said spout extending beyond the other end of said sealant means; and 3. means for allowing removal of vapor from said chamber; the improvement comprising said sealant means comprising a compressible cellular plastic material obtained from a fluorine-containing elastomer, said material having: a. a plurality of cells present as part of its structure; b. compressibility under normal nozzle loads of the material in contact with the outer surface of the receiver inlet in the range of from about 5 to about 85% of that part of the material's original preload volume; c. substantial resistance to the liquid dispensed and vapor being removed; and d. the ability to form a seal against the outer surface of said receiver inlet and reduce the amount of vapor escaping to the atmosphere during liquid dispensing when said spout is inserted into and said exposed face contacts the outer surface of said receiver inlet.