NOZZLE HAVING A LOCKABLE CONTROL LEVER

Abstract

The invention relates to a nozzle (13) for dispensing a fluid, comprising a manually operated control lever (15), which can be moved between a closed position and an open position in order to control the dispensing of the fluid.

According to the invention, the control lever (15) comprises a latching pawl (23), which is designed to engage in a slotted guide (22) of the nozzle (13), the latching pawl (23) being designed to follow an opening movement of the control lever (15) in an opening direction (18) and a closing movement of the control lever (15) in a closing direction (18), the latching pawl (23) being able to be moved, by cooperation with the slotted guide (22), relative to the control lever (15) in a direction perpendicular to the opening and closing direction (18) into a catch position (25), in which the latching pawl (23) fixes the control lever (15) in the open position. Because of the interaction of the latching pawl (23) and the slotted guide (22), a locking device that is easy for the user to operate is created for the control lever by means of a simple design.

Claims

1. Filling nozzle (13) for dispensing a fluid, having a manually operatable control lever (15) which, for controlling the dispensing of fluid, is movable between a closing position and an opening position and which has an engaging pawl (23) which is configured for engaging in a gate guide (22) of the filling nozzle (13), wherein the engaging pawl (23) is configured for following an opening movement of the control lever (15) along an opening direction (18) as well as a closing movement of the control lever (15) along a closing direction (18), wherein the engaging pawl (23) by interacting with the gate guide (22) is movable relative to the control lever (15) along a direction perpendicular to the opening or closing direction (18) into a catch position (25) in which the engaging pawl (23) fixes the control lever (15) in the opening position, characterized in that the gate guide (22) has at least one guide face for the engaging pawl (23) that conjointly with the opening or closing direction (18) encloses an angle, wherein the guide face comprises at least one directing portion which, by interacting with the engaging pawl (23), is able to be deflected counter to a restoring force.

2. Filling nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the gate guide (22) has a gate path (27) along which the engaging pawl (23) is movable, wherein the gate path (27) has an initial position (26) and the catch position (25).

3. Filling nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the gate path (27) has a catch position entrance path (32) along which the engaging pawl (23), proceeding from the initial position (26), is movable into the catch position (25).

4. Filling nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the catch position entrance path (32) has a first portion along which the engaging pawl is entrained by a movement of the control lever (15) in the opening direction (18), and a second portion along which the engaging pawl (23) is entrained by a movement of the control lever (15) in the closing direction.

5. Filling nozzle according to claim 4, wherein the first portion of the catch position entrance path (32) has an upper end (31a) which is formed by a detent for the engaging pawl (23) and/or for the control lever (15).

6. Filling nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the gate path (27) has a catch position exit path (33) along which the engaging pawl (23), proceeding from the catch position (25), is movable into the initial position (26).

7. Filling nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the catch position exit path (33) has a first portion along which the engaging pawl (23) is entrained by a movement of the control lever (15) in the opening direction (18), and a second portion along which the engaging pawl (23) is entrained by a movement of the control lever (15) in the closing direction (18).

8. Filling nozzle according to claim 7, wherein the first portion of the catch position exit path (33) has an upper end (31b) which is formed by a detent for the engaging pawl (23) and/or for the control lever (15).

9. Filling nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the directing portion is able to be returned to a resting position by the restoring force.

10. Filling nozzle according to claim 9, wherein the gate path (27) has at least one point of constriction (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) which comprises the directing portion and which in a movement of the control lever (15) in a first direction is able to be passed by the engaging pawl (23) in that the engaging pawl (23) in passing deflects the directing portion, wherein the point of constriction (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) in a movement of the control lever (15) in a second direction, counter to the first direction, blocks the gate path (27) for the engaging pawl (23).

11. Filling nozzle according to claim 10, wherein the point of constriction (30a, 30b, 30c, 30d) is formed by the directing portion and a guide face which lies opposite said directing portion, wherein the spacing between the directing portion and the guide face is enlarged by the deflection of the directing portion in a movement of the control lever (15) in the first direction, and wherein the spacing between the directing portion and the guide face is reduced by the deflection of the directing portion in a movement of the control lever (15) in the second direction.

12. Filling nozzle according to claim 10, wherein the point of constriction (30a) is disposed in the catch position entrance path (32), wherein the first direction is the opening direction and the second direction is the closing direction.

13. Filling nozzle according to claim 10, wherein the point of constriction (30b) is disposed in the catch position entrance path (32), wherein the first direction is the closing direction and the second direction is the opening direction.

14. Filling nozzle according to claim 10, wherein the point of constriction (30c) is disposed in the catch position exit path (33), wherein the first direction is the opening direction and the second direction is the closing direction, and/or wherein the point of constriction (30d) is disposed in the catch position exit path (33), wherein the first direction is the closing direction and the second direction is the opening direction.

15. Filling nozzle according to claim 2, wherein the gate path (27) is inherently closed.

Description

[0019] The invention will be explained in an exemplary manner hereunder by means of a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0020] FIG. 1: shows a longitudinal sectional view of a filling nozzle according to the invention;

[0021] FIG. 2: shows an enlarged lateral sectional view of the fragment B marked in FIG. 1; and

[0022] FIG. 3: shows a cross-sectional view of a fragment of the filling nozzle according to the invention along the line D-D shown in FIG. 1.

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view through a filling nozzle 13 according to the invention. The filling nozzle on the one side comprises a connector 14 for connecting the filling nozzle 13 to a fuel hose (not shown) and on the other side comprises an outlet pipe 12 which can be introduced into the tank of a motor vehicle, for example, so as to deliver fuel supplied by way of the connector 14 into the tank. The delivery of the fuel can be controlled with the aid of a control lever 15.

[0024] The control lever 15 is connected in an articulated manner to a housing 17 of the filling nozzle 13 and in a known manner is moreover connected to a main valve which, depending on the position of the control lever 15, enables or blocks the flow of the fuel through the filling nozzle. The movement of the control lever 15 takes place along an opening or closing direction which is identified by means of a double arrow 18 in

[0025] FIG. 1. For the sake of simplicity, the opening direction as well as the closing direction hereunder will be identified by the reference sign 18. By virtue of the articulated connection between the control lever 15 and the housing 17, the direction 18 runs along a circular path. The opening or closing direction 18 thus also runs along a circular path.

[0026] A closing force acts on the control lever 15 such that an external force (for example the manual force of a user) counter to the closing force has to be applied in order for the control lever 15 to be moved from the closing into the opening position. In FIG. 1, the control lever 15 is situated in an opening position in which the flow of the fuel through the filling nozzle is enabled.

[0027] A gate guide 22 according to the invention is disposed on the filling nozzle 13, in which gate guide 22 engages an engaging pawl which cannot be seen in FIG. 1. The control lever 15 is able to be arrested in the opening position with the aid of the interaction of the gate guide 22 and the engaging pawl. This will be explained in detail hereunder with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0028] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of a fragment of FIG. 1, said fragment in the latter being identified by the letter B. It can be seen in the view of FIG. 2 that an engaging pawl 23 is fastened to the rear end of the control lever 15. The engaging pawl 23 is connected to the control lever 15 by way of an articulated connection 20 which prevents a movement of the engaging pawl 23 relative to the control lever 15 along the direction 18. The engaging pawl 23 in a movement of the control lever 15 along the direction 18 is therefore entrained by said control lever 15 and is moved conjointly with the control lever along the direction 18. In contrast, the articulated connection 20 enables a rotating movement of the engaging pawl 23 relative to the control lever 15 about the axis 21 which in FIG. 2 is indicated by a dashed line.

[0029] The engaging pawl 23 comprises a latching protrusion 19 which, by virtue of the rotatability about the axis 21, is movable in a direction perpendicular to the direction 18. The latching protrusion 19 engages in the gate guide 22 of the filling nozzle. On account of the mobility of the engaging pawl 23 along the axis 18 as well as the rotatability of the engaging pawl 23 about the axis 21, the latching protrusion 19 in a movement of the control lever 15 is guided within the gate guide 22.

[0030] In particular, the latching protrusion 19 in a movement of the control lever 15 from the closing into the opening position can be moved into a catch position of the gate guide 22. In this catch position, the engaging pawl 23 fixes the control lever 15 in the opening position such that the control lever 15 remains in the opening position even without an external force being applied. This will be explained hereunder with reference to FIG. 3.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a cross section along the axis D-D shown in FIG. 1 in the region of the fragment identified by the letter B. It can be seen in this view that the gate guide 22 has a gate base 35 which is aligned so as to be parallel with the image plane of FIG. 3, as well as a plurality of wall elements 28, as well as a plurality of guide protrusions 29a, 29b, 29c which project from the gate base. The wall elements 28 and the guide protrusions 29a, 29b, 29c have guide faces which are at least in part inclined relative to the opening or closing direction 18. The guide faces define a gate path 27 along which the engaging pawl, or the latching protrusion 19 of the latter is movable. Different positions of the latching protrusion 19 are illustrated in FIG. 3 by the reference signs 19a and 19b. The gate path 27 comprises a catch position entrance path 32 which from an initial position 26 of the engaging pawl in an anti-clockwise manner leads to a catch position 25 of the engaging pawl. The gate path 27 moreover comprises a catch position exit path 33 which from the catch position 25 in an anti—clockwise manner leads back to the initial position 26. The catch position entrance path 32 and the catch position exit path 33 conjointly form a closed path.

[0032] Points of constriction 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d are formed at various positions of the gate path 27 between the guide faces of the guide protrusions 29a, 29b, 29c and the wall elements 28. The points of constriction 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d are distinguished in that the spacing between the guide faces that form the gate path is smaller than a cross-sectional extent of the latching protrusion along said spacing such that the latching protrusion initially cannot pass the points of constriction 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d. However, in the region of the points of constriction 30a - 30d, the guide protrusions 29a, 29b, 29c are embodied so as to be movable and, on account thereof, form directing portions in the context of the present invention, said directing portions being deflectable counter to a restoring force. The directing portions can therefore be deflected by interacting with the latching protrusion 19 such that the latching protrusion 19 can overcome the points of constriction 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d along a predefined direction in this way. The deflection capability of the directing portions can be implemented in that, for example, said directing portions are formed from an elastic material, wherein a connection between the guide protrusions and the gate base 35 in the region of the deflecting portions is preferably weakened or interrupted such that the deflecting portions are movable relative to the gate base 35.

[0033] When the control lever 15 is moved out of the closing position in the direction of the opening position by the manual force of a user, the engaging pawl 23 or the latching protrusion 19 engaging in the gate guide 22 proceeding from the initial position 26 is moved upwards along the opening direction 18. Said latching protrusion 19 here encounters the guide protrusion 29a and by the inclined guide face situated there is moved substantially along the catch position entrance path 32 in the direction of the point of constriction 30a which is formed by a deflectable directing portion and a stationary guide face of a wall element 28 that lies opposite the directing portion.

[0034] Having arrived there, the latching protrusion 19 displaces the movable directing portion to the left in FIG. 3 and in this way enlarges the spacing between the directing portion and the stationary guide face. The latching protrusion 19 can then pass the point of constriction 30a.

[0035] After passing the point of constriction 30a, the latching protrusion 19 can still be moved a little further in the opening direction until the control lever 15 impacts on a detent not shown in the figures. The portion of the catch position entrance path 32 from the initial position to said upper end 31a of the catch position entrance path 32 is presently also referred to as the first portion of the catch position entrance path 32. The mobility of the control lever 15 as well as of the latching protrusion 19 in the opening direction is thus upwardly delimited by the detent.

[0036] In a subsequent movement of the control lever in the closing direction 18, the latching protrusion 19 is not guided through the point of constriction 30a once more, but is directed by guide faces of the guide protrusions 29a, 29b, 29c in the direction of the catch position 25. Said latching protrusion 19 here passes a further point of constriction 30b which is formed by two deflectable directing portions of the guide protrusions 29a and 29b. When passing the point of constriction 30b, the directing portion of the guide protrusion 29a is deflected to the right in FIG. 3, and the directing portion of the guide protrusion 29b is deflected to the left, such that the latching protrusion 19 can pass the point of constriction 30b and assume the catch position 25. The portion of the catch position entrance path 32 from the upper end 31a of the catch position entrance path 32 from the upper end 31a of the catch position entrance path 32 to the catch position 25 is presently also referred to as the second portion of the catch position entrance path 32.

[0037] In the catch position, the latching protrusion 19 bears on a bearing face of the gate guide 22 such that closing forces that are introduced into the engaging pawl 23 by way of the control lever 15 and act in the closing direction 18 are absorbed by the bearing face. In the catch position 25, the bearing face is moreover laterally delimited by upwardly-pointing guide faces of the guide protrusions 29a, 29c such that the latching protrusion 19 is held securely in the catch position. The control lever 15 is therefore fixed by the latching protrusion 19 situated in the catch position such that the fuelling procedure can be performed in a comfortable manner without the user having to manually apply an opening force.

[0038] Upon completion of the fuelling procedure, the user can bring the control lever 15 back into the closing position in that said user initially moves the control lever 15 in the opening direction, on account of which the latching protrusion 19 from the catch position 25 is moved along the catch position exit path 33 (along a first portion of the catch position exit path 33) to an upper end 31b of the catch position exit path 33. The upper end of the catch position exit path 33, like the upper end of the catch position entry path 32, is defined by a detent which is not shown in the figures, the mobility of the control lever 15 (and thus also of the latching protrusion 19) being delimited in the opening direction by said detent. In the subsequent movement of the control lever 15 as well as of the latching protrusion 19 in the closing direction 18, the latching protrusion 19 follows the remaining part of the catch position exit path 33 (second portion of the catch position exit path 33) and by way of the point of constriction 30d returns back to the initial position 26. The point of constriction 30b which can be passed only in one direction, in a manner analogous to the manner already described above, ensures that the latching protrusion 19 makes its way into the catch position exit path 33 as desired and does not run backwards through the catch position entrance path 32. The further point of constriction 30d serves for directing the latching protrusion 19 into the catch position entrance path 32 in a subsequent new fuelling procedure.