Field of Invention

The present invention concerns an adaptor for a tanlc. The adaptor provides a connection point for a nozzle. The nozzle has a portion which forms a dry disconnect coupling which releasabily connects to the adaptor.

Background

Dry disconnect fuel systems are known. Fleet vehicles, such as busses employ diy disconnect fueling systems. The fuel systems allow for rapid fueling of buses with no leakage of fuel into the environment. In general the system includes a fill neck assembly attached to a fuel tanlc of the bus. The fill neck assembly includes a fill tube and a mounting plate. The mounting plate is between a first and a second open end of the fill tube. The mounting plate connects the fill neck assembly to the fuel tanlc. The second end of the fill tube is disposed in the fuel tanlc.

The first end of the fill tube is connected to an adaptor. The adaptor allows connection of a fueling nozzle. Generally, the adaptor and fueling nozzle have cylindrical end portions which mate with each other. The fueling system provides for leak free fueling because the adaptor and fueling nozzle have valves which seal off the fuel entiy of the adaptor and fuel exit of the nozzle unless the adaptor and nozzle are properly coupled.

The fill neck assembly can include a pressure relief valve. It can also include a vent which allows air and vapor displaced by the diesel fuel entering the tanlc to exit the tanlc during filling of the tanlc. The vent automatically closes when the fuel reaches a certain level in the tanlc.

U.S. Patent 5,839,489, Ganachaud, discloses a filling adaptor for a fuel tanlc. The adaptor includes a tubular body having a first open end communicating upstream with a filling orifice and a second open end commuting downstream with a filler pipe. During filling, fumes and displaced air discharged from the tank, are fed into a space via a degassing circuit entirely different from the fill pipe.

U.S. Patent 3,590,862, De Graaf, discloses a fuel adaptor and coupler assembly. The adaptor includes a swing valve. The valve swings between a closed position and an open position. A loading coupler, which couples to the adaptor, includes an annular locking ring surrounding an annular end portion of the coupler. The locking ring helps connect the loading coupler to the adaptor.

U.S. Patent 5,904,302, Brown, discloses an aircraft fueling nozzle in connection with an adaptor. During operation an operator aligns the nozzle body with the adaptor. The nozzle is coupled to the adaptor in part by a locking ring on the nozzle body. Once proper engagement of the nozzle to the adaptor is achieved, the operator may then commence fueling by pivoting an arm which actuates a valve in the coupling to an open position. The movement of the valve to the open position moves a valve in the adaptor to an open position.

Summary

An example of an adaptor assembly embodying the present invention includes a housing member having a flange intermediate a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion. The first coupling portion has an open end. An internal member is at least partially disposed within the housing. An air escape channel having an air entry and air exit is formed by the internal member. Also a filling channel having a filling orifice and a filling exit is formed by the internal member. A plurality of vents open through a surface of the housing. The vents are in fluid communication with a hollow formed by the housing. The assembly further includes a valve having a valve stem and head. The valve head, when the valve is in a closed position, is in sealing engagement with the housing. The head in the closed position seals off the filling orifice but does not seal off the air escape channel.

The assembly can include a closure having a closed position, hi the closed position the closure covers at least a portion of the vents opening through the housing surface. A spring biases the closure in the closed position.

The first coupling portion of the assembly can include threads on a portion of its surface.

The adaptor assembly's first coupling portion can be coupled to a fuel nozzle and the valve oriented to an open position. In the open position fuel can flow through the filling channel and air can exit through the air escape channel.

The term air as used herein includes all gases and gaseous mixtures, such as vapors from the fuel, which can be found in a fuel tank during normal use. Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a stripped down adaptor assembly coupled to a fuel nozzle embodying the invention; the sectional view is talcen along the adaptor assembly's longitudinal axis so as to pass through the adaptor assembly's air escape channel.

Fig. 2A is a sectional view of an adaptor assembly embodying the invention showing more detail than the assembly shown in the Figure 1 ; the sectional view is talcen along the assembly's longitudinal axis to pass through the assembly's filling channel and pressure relief vents but not pass through the air escape channel; the section is talcen along view lines AA of Fig. 3.

Fig. 2B is a perspective sectional view of the adaptor assembly of Figure 2A; the section is talcen along the assembly's longitudinal axis to pass through the air escape channel and oppositely orient the sectional view as compared to the section shown in figure 2A; the section omits the spring member around the valve stem shown in figure 2A.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the adaptor assembly of Figure 2 A.

Fig. 4 is a side perspective view of the adaptor assembly of Fig. 2A.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the assembly of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective open end view of the housing of the adaptor assembly of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a perspective sectional view of the internal member of Fig. 2A.

Fig. 8 is a perspective side view of the internal member or of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a stripped down schematic diagram showing an adaptor assembly, embodying the present invention, coupled to a fill tube; the fill tube is coupled to a fuel tank.

Detailed Description

Figs. 1 and 9 disclose an adaptor assembly 20 which embodies the present invention. The adaptor assembly is engaged with a fueling nozzle 22. The adaptor valve 24 and nozzle valve 26 are open and fuel is flowing from the nozzle 22 into the adaptor assembly 20. Fuel passes through a fuel exit 30 of the nozzle and enters a filling orifice 32 of a filling channel 34. The channel is defined by a portion of the adaptor. Fuel then passes through the filling channel 34 defined by a portion of the adaptor. The fuel 28, downstream of the filling channel, enters a fuel tank 36. See figure 9. A fill tube 37, see figure 9, fluidly couples the adaptor to the tank. As fuel 28 enters the tank 36, air and gas fumes 38 in the tank are displaced by the fuel. The air and gas vapor exit the tank and pass into an air escape channel 40 fluidly coupled to the tank. The channel 40 is formed by a portion of the adaptor. The air, which includes fuel vapor, 38 exits the air channel 40 into the environment through an air exit 41 formed in a portion of the adaptor at the end of the escape channel. The adaptor assembly further forms a pressure relief valve 43. See figure 2 A. The pressure relief valve allows for pressure to escape through vents 100 of the pressure relief valve after the nozzle 22 has been removed from the adaptor, and also in an overfilling situation, should the nozzle fail to automatically shut off, it will prevent the tanlc from being over pressured. The pressure relief also relieves excessive pressure in the fuel tanlc, should the tanlc temperature elevate. The pressure relief valve allows the pressure from expanding air including, fuel vapors, to exit the tanlc.

The adaptor assembly has a first coupling portion 45 which is threaded to allow the adaptor to be threadibly coupled to a fill tube of a fleet vehicle such as a buss. Other coupling constructions can be used.

In more detail the adaptor assembly includes a housing portion 47 and an internal portion 49 at least partially disposed within the housing portion. The internal portion can be properly referred to as an internal member and the housing portion can properly be referred to as a housing member. The housing member 47 includes the first coupling portion 45, which is a cylindrical insert portion, which on its exterior surface can have threads 55. The housing's internal surface 50 fonns an open hollow 52. The first coupling portion 45 has an open end 56 leading into the hollow. A cylindrical flange 54 axially spaced from the open end 56 forms part of the housing 47. The coupling portion 45 extends from said flange 54 in a first axial direction 104. The coupling portion couples the adaptor assembly to the fill tube 37 of a fuel tanlc. The first coupling portion 45 can have a flange 1056 as opposed to threads. See figure 9. The flange provides a way to mount the adaptor to the fill tube engagement member 120. The housing portion further includes a second coupling portion 60 which is an insert ring extending axially from said flange portion 54 in a second axial direction 106. The flange is thus intermediate said ring portion 60 and said insert portion 45. Intermediate simply means somewhere between. The insert ring 60 of the adaptor assembly includes a recessed raceway 62. The ring also includes a flange 64 with cut-outs 66. The flange, in part, forms said raceway. The cutouts open into said raceway. The insert ring formed with said raceway 62, flange 64, cut-outs 66 and detents 68, provides a catch which locks to a locking ring 70 of the fuel nozzle 22 to securely couple the fuel nozzle to the adaptor assembly. The first coupling portion 45, flange portion 54, and insert ring 60 have a seamless monoblock construction.

The internal member 49, partially disposed within said hollow 52, forms the filling orifice 32 of a filling channel 34. It further forms an exit 35 of the filling channel 34. It also forms an air entry 42 of the air channel 40. Further, in cooperation with said flange member, it forms the air exit 41 of the air channel. The air exit 41 opens through a first end 71 of the internal member and the flange portion 54. The internal member, towards its central area, forms an axially extending stem guide 72 which guides the stem 74 of a valve 24. The internal member 49 is press fit within said housing member 47 so it is not movable relative to said housing member during normal use. Alternatively, it can be integral with the housing member 47. The internal portion is a monobloc seamless construction and forms the filling channel 34 and air channel 40.

The adaptor assembly further includes valve 24 which can properly be referred to as a poppet or poppet valve. The valve has a head 78 and a stem 74. The stem fits within the stem guide 72 of the internal member 49. A spring 80 extends around a portion of said stem guide 72 and the stem 74. The spring 80 has an end 81a abutting against the internal member 49 and an end 81b abutting against an internal end of the head. The head, on its circumferential surface 82, includes a sealing ring 84. The circumferential surface 82 and sealing ring seal 84 seal off the fueling orifice 32 when the poppet 24 is in the closed position. See Fig. 2A. The head seals the orifice because its circumferential surface and a surface of the sealing ring are in sealing engagement with a radially inward extending flange 85 of the insert ring 60. The spring 80 biases the valve head 78 in a closed position.

Pressure relief valve 43 is formed with and from said adaptor assembly. It can be considered part of the adaptor assembly. The relief valve includes a series of vents 100 extending through said flange portion 54 and opening out of an axially facing surface 102 of the flange portion. The axial surface 102 faces the first axial direction 104, away from the direction the insert ring extends, and in the same direction in which said insert portion extends. The vents are in fluid communication with the hollow. The air channel 40 does not open into said vents or said hollow. The vents 100 are normally covered by a polymeric closure 108 biased against the flange surface by a compression spring 1 10. The closure 108, when biased against the flange seals the vents. One end 1 1 la of the compression spring abuts a support or spring seat 1 12. The support 1 12 is circumferentially disposed around the insert portion at the insert portion open end 56. The other end 1 1 lb of the spring is biased against the sealing closure 108. As pressure builds in the fuel tank, it escapes the tank through the adaptor assembly by passing into adaptor hollow 52 and out the vents 100. The pressure from the air and/or gas fumes forces the closure away from the vents.

To facilitate passing fuel into the tank and to facilitate allowing air to exit the tank during fueling, a polymeric tube 1 14a may be attached to the internal member at the open end 42 (air entry) of said air channel and another tube 114b at the open end 35 (channel exit) of said fuel filling channel. The air open end 42 and filling channel open end 35 each have barbs 124 which help retain the tube.

The above adaptor assembly allows for easy interface with an existing fill tube of a vehicle such as a bus. With minimal machining, the adaptor assembly can be coupled to a buss's existing fill tube. A fill tube can be provided with a threaded or flanged engagement member 120. In figure 9 the coupling portion 45 is engaged with the fill tube's flanged engagement member 120 with its flange 1056. The adaptor is thus coupled to an existing fill tube of a fleet bus without much machining.

After assembly of the adaptor assembly to a fill tube, an operator can readily fill the tanlc of a fleet buss with a fueling nozzle such as that shown in Fig. 1. An operator aligns the nozzle 22 with the adaptor assembly 20 such that the locking ring 70 on the nozzle open end 30 can be locked to the adaptor assembly's insert ring 60. Once locked in engagement, an operator moves the fuel nozzle ami 122 to place fueling nozzle valve 26 in the open position. The movement of fueling nozzle valve 26 to the open position moves adaptor valve 24 to the open position. Fuel 28 then stalls entering into filling orifice 32, passes through channel 34 and into fuel tanlc 36.

The assembly would communicate with a level control valve. The valve would prevent air from entering air channel 40 when fuel rises to a certain level in the tanlc. As a result of preventing air from entering the air channel, the pressure would increase in the tanlc. The fuel nozzle would sense the increase in pressure and shut off.

The adaptor assembly has the advantage that it allows for easy venting of gas fumes and ah- during fueling and easy venting of gas fumes and ah- after fueling when the pressure in the tanlc increases, such as under heat.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract arid drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.