OVERFILL SPILL PREVENTION DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING NOZZLES

Abstract

A filler neck adaptor for use with manually operated fuel dispensing nozzles. Adaptor provides a visual cue that a target fuel level in the tank has been reached during tank filling operations. Adaptor comprises a flanged extension tube with an overflow reservoir sealed to the upper surface of the flange. A slidably adjustable securement ring is mounted on the extension tube. The securement ring is designed to mate with tank closure features on the filler neck. An airlock tank seal is installed on the lower surface of the securement ring to establish a seal between the securement ring and the tank filler neck. During filling displaced air in the tank is forced to exit the tank via an air vent passageway between the nozzle and the inside surface of the adaptor extension tube. As the rising fuel level in tank nears the distal end of the extension tube, wisps of fuel becomes entrapped in the airstream and become visible in the transparent overflow reservoir. This visual cue that the tank is full allows the operator to stop fuel flow prior to overflow spillage.

Claims

1. A filler neck adaptor mountable to the filler neck of a tank fillable via a fluid dispensing nozzle, said filler neck adaptor giving a visual cue during filling of the tank that a target fluid level within the tank has been reached, said filler neck adaptor being open to allow a dispensing nozzle to extend therethrough into the tank, said filler neck adaptor comprising: a transparent overflow reservoir having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein said proximal end is open to receive a dispensing nozzle; a flanged extension tube axially extending downward from and fluidly sealed to said distal end of overflow reservoir; a securement ring with locking features compatible with mating features on said tank filler neck; a tank seal mounted on said securement ring to establish a fluid seal between said securement ring and said tank filler neck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS—FIGS. 1 TO 5

[0043] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a filler neck adaptor designed to provide visual cues to an operator during tank filling.

[0044] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment of a filler neck adaptor of FIG. 1.

[0045] FIG. 3 is an illustrative drawing of view of the filler neck adaptor of FIG. 1 installed on the filler neck of an aircraft wing tank. A fuel dispensing nozzle is shown inserted through the filler neck adaptor, into an aircraft wing tank.

[0046] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the filler neck adaptor of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0047] Referring to the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is disclosed and illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention disclosed herein, a filler neck adaptor 1 comprising a mostly transparent overflow reservoir 11, extension tube flange 12, extension tube 13, securement ring 14, tank seal 15, and depth setting screw 16.

[0049] FIG. 2 is a half-section view of the present invention. Overflow reservoir 11 comprises a generally cylindrical transparent compartment with an access opening 21 in its upper surface. An extension tube flange 12 forms the lower surface of the reservoir. The extension tube flange 12 is sealed both to the lower part of overflow reservoir 11 and to the outside surface of extension tube 13. Securement ring 14 is adjustably mounted on extension tube 13.

[0050] Securement ring 14 may be adjusted axially on extension tube 13 to and can be anchored in place using depth setting screw 16. The axial adjustment of securement ring 13 is used to set the depth to which the distal opening 23 of extension tube 13 extends into the tank being fueled (FIG. 4). Tank seal 15, installed on securement ring 14, is designed to form a temporary seal between filler neck adaptor 1 and tank filler neck 2. Securement lug 17, integral with securement ring 14, is designed to mate with features (not shown) of filler neck 2 to releasably secure filler neck adaptor 1 to filler neck 2.

[0051] FIG. 3 is an illustrative drawing showing filler neck adaptor 1 installed on filler neck 2 of an aircraft wing tank 3. A fuel dispensing nozzle 5 is shown inserted through filler neck adaptor 1 into an aircraft wing tank 3.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a half-sectional view of filler neck adaptor 1 installed on the filler neck 2 of an aircraft wing tank 3. A fuel dispensing nozzle 5 is shown inserted through filler neck adaptor 1 and into an aircraft wing tank 3.

[0053] Extension tube 13 is designed to fit easily into the inlet opening of tank filler neck 2 and to allow a non-restrictive annular air venting passageway 24 from the extension tube proximal opening 22 and the extension tube distal opening 23 of nozzle extension tube 13. Device securement ring 14 incorporates locking tabs 17, or equivalent features, for the purpose of engaging mating locking features in tank filler neck 2. Set screw 16 is installed in adaptor securement ring 14 for the purpose of locking support ring 14 in position on nozzle extension tube 13. Typical aviation fuel dispensing nozzles are approximately 6 inches long, and the overall length of one embodiment of the present design is approximately 5 inches. The overall length of nozzle extension tube 13 is approximately 3 inches. This length be made longer or shorter to accommodate specific tank filler neck lengths.

[0054] In the preferred embodiment of the present design, a static electricity discharge path is provided by constructing nozzle extension tube 13, and device support ring 14 of an electrically conductive material, aluminum, steel, or brass, for example. It is desirable to construct overflow reservoir 11 of a transparent non-breakable material, polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), for example. All other components may be made of any convenient material compatible with gasoline.

Operation

[0055] To understand the operation of the preferred embodiment of the present design it is helpful to refer to FIG. 3. A refueling operator removes the fuel tank's closure cap (not shown) and replaces the closure with the filler neck adaptor 1. The operator then inserts a fuel dispensing nozzle 5 completely through the overflow reservoir access opening 21, through extension tube 13, and into the fuel tank (fuel tank surface 3 is shown). The operator then opens the nozzle's flow control valve and commences filling the fuel tank. As the tank fills, air within the tank is expelled via an air venting passageway 24 formed between the dispensing nozzle 5 and the inside surface of the extension tube 13. As the fuel level 27 in the tank nears the extension tube distal opening 23, wisps of fuel and then a bolus of fuel will be swept into overfill reservoir interior 28. This bolus of fuel provides a visual cue that the fuel level in the tank has reached its target level coincident with the extension tube distal opening 23, allowing the operator to release the dispensing nozzle's flow control valve. The small amount of fuel now in overflow reservoir 11 will drain back into the fuel tank as the operator removes the fuel dispensing nozzle 5 from the filler neck adaptor 1. Finally, the operator removes the filler neck adaptor 1 and replaces the tank's closure. The target level in the tank may be adjusted by sliding and re-setting securement ring 14 position on extension tube 13 to allow a shallower or deeper protrusion of the extension tube distal opening 23 into the fuel tank.

SUMMARY

[0056] The present invention comprises a filler neck adaptor mountable onto the filler neck of a fuel tank for the purpose of aiding a refueling operator using a manually controlled, pressure-fed fuel dispensing nozzle in filling a tank to a target level. The tank filler neck adaptor disclosed herein is particularly useful in refueling tanks which do not allow effective use of an automatic cut-off dispensing nozzle, namely tanks which are designed with relatively short filler necks. The filler neck adaptor provides a visual cue to a fueling operator that the rising fuel level in a tank being filled is nearing or has reached a target level so that fuel flow may be manually stopped. Generally, the target level is that level at which the tank is full, just before the onset of overflow spillage.

[0057] The preferred embodiment of the filler neck adaptor comprises a flanged extension tube with an overflow reservoir sealed to the upper surface of the flange. A slidably adjustable securement ring is mounted on the extension tube. The securement ring is designed to mate with tank closure features on the filler neck. An airlock tank seal or gasket is installed on the lower surface of the securement ring to establish a seal between the securement ring and the tank filler neck. The tank seal forces air being displaced by fuel to exit the tank via the space between the outside surface of the nozzle and the inside surface of the adaptor extension tube. As the rising fuel level in tank nears the distal end of the extension tube, wisps of fuel will become entrapped in the airstream and become visible in the transparent overflow reservoir. This visual cue that the tank is full allows the operator to stop fuel flow prior to overflow spillage.