Fuel dispensing nozzle with automatic shut-off valve

Claim 1

An automatic shut-off type fuel dispensing nozzle, comprising in combination: a nozzle body internally defining a fuel passage and having a spout tube at the outlet of said fuel passage; a valve body liftably seated on a valve seat formed in said nozzle body for opening and closing said fuel passage; a valve spring for urging said valve body toward a valve closing direction; a valve stem having a first end thereof secured to said valve body and a second end protruded out of said nozzle body; a plunger slidably received in said nozzle body; a partition member and measn for moving said partition member in a predetermined direction when a fuel supplied from said spout tube reaches a predetermined liquid level; an engaging means for engaging a first end of said plunger with said partition member, for holding said plunger in a first position until said predetermined liquid level is reached, and for releasing said plunger upon movement of said partition member to permit said plunger to slide into a second position; an operating lever having a first end thereof pivotally supported on a second end of said plunger, being abutted against said second end of said valve stem in an intermediate portion of said operating lever, and forming a handle at a second end thereof; a lever guard provided on said nozzle body in a manner to underlie said operating lever; a slide rack having a first end thereof pivotally connected to said second end of said plunger, a second end of said slide rack comprising a rack portion slidably supported on an inner surface of said lever guard; and a trigger pivotally supported on said intermediate portion of said operating lever and comprising means for releasably engaging said rack portion of said slide rack.