Combined nozzle and float controlled nozzle valve for gradual delivery of fuel to a fuel tank

Abstract

A float controlled nozzle valve for use in a fuel nozzle, to provide for gradual delivery of fuel to a fuel tank, the nozzle, having a housing, including a generally horizontally arranged spout, and embodying a float rod and float assembly, which act upon a valve provided within the nozzle housing, to detect and provide for the flow of fuel into an associated fuel tank, or to curtail the same. The float rod pivotally mounts within the nozzle housing, contains an adjustment screw, which can bias against a valve pin to determine when a valve ball is to be opened from its valve seat, to allow the passage of fuel, or when the valve ball is allowed to seat upon its valve seat, to curtail the further flow of fuel. The nozzle housing is provided for securement to the fuel tank, for which it detects the level of fuel within the tank, to determine when an additional supply of fuel is to be dispensed by way of the nozzle, into its associated fuel tank.

Claims

1. A float controlled nozzle valve for use in a fuel nozzle for gradual delivery of fuel to a fuel tank, comprising: a nozzle, said nozzle having a generally horizontally arranged spout when in usage; a float assembly, a float rod securing to said float assembly, said float rod extending into said nozzle spout and pivotally mounted within said nozzle for vertically shifting relative to said nozzle; said float assembly provided for buoyantly floating upon the fuel provided within said fuel tank and determining when additional fuel is to be gradually delivered to said fuel tank when said float assembly is lowered due to a low fuel level, or when delivery of fuel is to be curtailed due to a fill capacity of said fuel has been delivered to the fuel tank thereby causing the said float assembly to elevate and shut off the further delivery of fuel to the fuel tank; said nozzle including a nozzle housing, a valve provided within said nozzle housing, said valve including a valve stem and said valve stem operatively associated with said float rod and subject to shifting in response to the pivoting of the said float rod and its vertical shifting in response to the pivoting of the said float rod and the associated float assembly; said valve stem being adjustable to determine the duration the valve remains opened to fill said fuel tank in response to the location of the float rod and the said associated float assembly; and wherein said valve provides a miniscule flow there through, said valve having a valve seat, a ball valve provided within said flow path within the valve wherein said ball valve seats upon its valve seat to curtail the delivery of fuel therethrough, when the float assembly is elevated in response to a full capacity of fuel provided within the fuel tank, a valve pin provided between said valve stem and ball valve to force said ball valve off of its valve seat to initiate flow of fuel into the fuel tank, and said valve stem in response to the location of the float rod and float assembly capable of being lowered, due to fuel consumption from the fuel tank, to thereby open the ball valve from its valve seat and to allow for the gradual flow of fuel through the valve, its associated nozzle, and out of the nozzle spout, to automatically gradually refill the amount of fuel within the fuel tank during its operations.

2. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 1, wherein said valve stem is threadedly adjustable to the float rod and determines when the valve is opened or closed depending upon the location of the float assembly in response to the amount of fuel in the fuel tank during its operations.

3. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 1, wherein the flow of fuel through to the nozzle and into a fuel tank is within the range of two to ten gallons of fuel per hour.

4. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 3, wherein the flow of fuel through the valve and out of its nozzle and nozzle spout is approximately five gallons per hour.

5. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 1, wherein said valve flow path, said ball valve, said valve pin, and the adjustable valve stem, are vertically arranged within the nozzle housing, with the valve stem being approximately vertically locating within the structure of the float rod where it pivotally connects within the nozzle housing.

6. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 1, wherein said nozzle housing has an inlet through which fuel passes into said nozzle housing and which threadedly connects with an incoming fuel flow line during its assembly.

7. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 6, and including a fitting provided at the outlet end of the nozzle housing, said nozzle housing having a fuel outlet at the nozzle spout, and said fitting connecting with the nozzle spout, with the fitting being threadedly engaged with the nozzle housing at its fuel outlet.

8. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 1, wherein said valve flow path, its ball valve, the valve pin, and the adjustable valve stem, are vertically arranged within the nozzle housing with the valve stem being approximately vertically located within the structure of the float rod where it pivotally connects within the nozzle housing.

9. The float controlled nozzle valve of claim 1, wherein said float assembly is designed to pivot approximately 10 degrees, whereby in its upper limit, further flow of fuel into the fuel tank is restricted, such that as the float assembly lowers, up to approximately 10 degrees, the nozzle valve's restriction lessens to permit increased flow through the associated nozzle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In referring to the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the float controlled nozzle valve for use in combination in a fuel nozzle disclosing its nozzle housing, spout, and float assembly, for the furnishing for the gradual delivery of fuel to a fuel tank; and

(3) FIG. 2. shows a modification to the embodiment of the float controlled nozzle valve, and nozzle, for this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) In referring to the drawings, the depiction of this invention, as shown in cross-section, discloses the nozzle 1 comprising a nozzle housing 2, as noted, and through which fuel flows, when delivering the combustible fuel, or the diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), to a fuel tank (not shown), to which this nozzle is applied. As noted, the nozzle includes an elbow 3 which is threaded at its lower end, as at 4, and to which a fitting 5 threadedly engages, the fitting, plus the elbow, holding the valve components of this nozzle as can be seen. The bottom end of the fitting is also threaded, as at 6, and it is through this fitting that the incoming fuel flow line connects, for delivering the types of fuels as described to the nozzle for discharge into the associated fuel tank, as explained.

(5) The upper end of the elbow 3 is also threaded, as at 7, and an adaptor, as at 8, threadedly engages therein, and the adaptor has connected therewith a nozzle spout 9, as noted. The adaptor 8 may likewise have threads (not shown), at the region of 10, and which allow for the entire nozzle to be engaged with the fuel tank, when installed.

(6) Outwardly of the nozzle is the float assembly 11, which has, obviously, captured air, through connection of its end cap 12, and which assembly is designed to float upon the surface of any fuel provided within the fuel tank, and provide for gauging the level of fuel remaining within the tank, during usage of this nozzle, and its various delivering components, as noted. Connecting with the float assembly is a float rod 13, and the float rod, within the nozzle housing 3, connects with a rod extension 14, and the extension pivotally connects within the nozzle housing by means of a pivot pin 15 approximate its back end thereof.

(7) Extending through the extension 14 is a valve stem 16, this valve stem being an adjustment screw that threadedly engages through the extension 14, so that this adjustment screw can be extended upwardly, or downwardly, relative thereto, to control the operations of the float assembly, and to initiate the operations of the nozzle valve components, as noted at 17, during its operations. The adjustment screw 16 biases on top of a vertically oriented valve pin 18, and that valve pin is connected with an additional valve pin 19, which contacts and pressures at its lower end against a ball valve 20, as can be seen. This portion of the nozzle valve, as at 21, has a narrow sized flow path 22 provided therethrough, and locates a spring 23 that normally biases the ball valve against the valve seat 24, into closure, to prohibit the flow of fuel. But, when the float assembly lowers, and thereby lowers the associated adjustment screw 16, through the downward pivot of the float rod and its extension 14, this biases the additional valve pin 19 against the ball valve 20, forcing it off of its valve seat, to thereby allow for the flow of fuel through the nozzle, out of its spout 9, to gradually replenish the fuel within the associated fuel tank, as explained.

(8) It can be seen that there is a fuel flow path 25 that communicates with a fuel path 26, which communicates with the valve flow path 22, and the narrow passage 27 thereby allowing the flow of fuel to pass into the channels 28, 29 and into the nozzle housing 2, for flow through the spout 9, to allow the flow of fuel into the fuel storage tank, as described.

(9) Hence, as can be readily understood, when the float assembly is raised, due to full fuel, the spring 23 biases the ball valve 20 against its valve seat 24, and prevents the further flow of intake fuel, through the nozzle valve assembly. But, when the float assembly pivots downwardly, as shown in the figure, this pressures the adjust screw 16 against the valve pin 18, it lowers the valve pin 19, forcing the ball valve 20 to disengage from its valve seat 24, to allow for the gradual flow of fuel through the nozzle housing, and into the fuel tank, until such time as the tank fills, and elevates the float assembly, thereby shutting off the ball valve against its valve seat, and to prevent the further intake of fuel through the nozzle, discontinuing any further supply of fuel into the storage tank, once a full predetermined capacity, i.e. full or near full capacity, has been detected.

(10) As can be noted, the various passages, such as noted at 22, the narrow passage of 27, the flow passages at 28 and 29, are all of small dimensions, which means that the flow of fuel through the nozzle is of a low rate, thereby only gradually delivering fuel to the fuel tank, at a rate of approximately five gallons per hour, as previously explained. This not only makes the filling of the tank of a more gradual process, but it lessens the potential for the occurrence of any hazard, during operations of any associated mechanism, such as the fracking instrument and its truck, to prevent any accidents, as can occur in the oil fracking industry.

(11) Furthermore, for the type of nozzle as explained, it can be used for filling other types of fuel tanks, such as one that may be associated with a generator, or any other instrument that operates off a combustible fuel, to provide a continuous supply of gasoline, or any other type of diesel fuel, that may be needed to sustain the operations of associated mechanisms, such as internal combustion engines, during their continuous operations.

(12) A modification to the float controlled nozzle valve for use in a fuel nozzle can be seen in FIG. 2. In this particular embodiment, the valve components are arranged more on a horizontal position, relative to the nozzle housing and its spout, in order to condense the size of the nozzle, through its installation. As can be seen, the nozzle housing 32 includes a threaded inlet, as at 33, to which the incoming fuel line can be applied, to deliver fuel to the nozzle for further controlled flow into a fuel tank, of the type as previously described. The housing has its adaptor 34 threadedly engaged to its outlet end, and which further holds the spout 35 generally horizontally disposed as can be noted. This adaptor 34 may engage with the fuel tank for installation of the nozzle and into housing thereto. The float assembly 36 is applied to the end of the float rod 37, and the opposite end of the float rod is secured to a pivot mount 38 that pivots about its pin 39, as noted.

(13) The valve 40 includes a fluid passage 41, that communicates with a valve chamber 42, and holds a valve ball 43, and a spring 44, that normally biases the ball valve against its valve seat 45, as can be seen. There is a valve stem 46 threadedly engaged within the pivot mount 38, threadedly engaged to provide for its adjustment, as an adjustment screw, that cooperates with a valve pin 47 that provides for opening or closing of the valve ball 45, within the valve 40, depending upon the location of the float assembly, and its pivotal float rod, with respect to the quantity of fuel remaining within the fuel tank for which this nozzle replenishes fuel as required. When the float assembly is elevated within the fuel tank, because of a full capacity of fuel, the valve 40 remains closed, and does not allow the passage of any fuel through it, under those circumstances. But, when the fuel is being consumed, and the float assembly lowers, the pivot stem 46 biases against the valve pin 47, pushing the valve ball 45 off of its valve seat, and thereby allowing for almost a trickle flow of fuel through the passage 42, around the valve pin 47, and into the housing, for passage through the spout 35, and into the fuel tank, to replenish its quantity of fuel. As previously stated, this is accomplished generally at a low flow rate, so as to not disrupt the amount of fuel contained within the tank, or to cause an overfilling, which can lead toward some hazardous results, as previously reviewed.

(14) As can be seen, when the float assembly and its rod 37 are pivoted, within the spout, there is an approximate 10° range of pivot, between an open position for the valve, and a closed position for the valve, as when the float assembly is pivoted upwardly, upon the surface of the replenished fuel contained within the fuel tank, after a filling thereof.

(15) Variations and modifications to the subject matter of this invention may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the invention as described herein. Such variations, if within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to patent protection issuing upon this invention. The summarization of the invention, and its depiction in the drawings, are generally set forth for illustrative purposes only.