Automatic shut-off nozzle having an arrangement for controlling when automatic shut off occurs in response to pressure in a sealed tank

Claim 2

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, and force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure.

Claim 3

The nozzle according to claim 1 in which said responsive means includes flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means includes resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, and said force control means controls the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds.

Claim 4

The nozzle according to claim 2 in which said force control means includes means to change the length of said resilient means.

Claim 5

The nozzle according to claim 3 in which said flexible means includes a diaphragm.

Claim 6

The nozzle according to claim 2 in which said force control means includes support means, said resilient means includes a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, and said force control means includes shifting means, separate from said support means, supported by said body and exerting a force on said support means when said shifting means is moved relative to said body to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring.

Claim 7

The nozzle according to claim 5 in which said flexible means includes a diaphragm.

Claim 8

The nozzle according to claim 5 including a fixed member supported by said body and said shifting means being supported by said fixed member for motion relative thereto.

Claim 9

The nozzle according to claim 2 in which said flexible means includes a diaphragm.

Claim 10

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said force control means including means to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring, and means to cause movement of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.

Claim 11

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said force control means including means to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring, and means to cause movement of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.

Claim 12

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said force control means including shifting means to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring, means to cause movement of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means, and said causing means including means to prevent rotation of said support means when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.

Claim 13

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said force control means including shifting means to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring, means to cause movement of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means, and said causing means including means to prevent rotation of said support means when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.

Claim 14

The nozzle according to claim 10 including a fixed member, said shifting means being supported by said fixed member for motion only in the axial direction of said spring, and said fixed member having means to limit the movement of said shifting means toward said support means.

Claim 15

The nozzle according to claim 11 in which said rotation preventing means includes means supported by said fixed member and said support means having means to cooperate with said means supported by said fixed member.

Claim 16

The nozzle according to claim 12 in which said shifting means is a screw.

Claim 17

The nozzle according to claim 11 in which said shifting means is a screw.

Claim 18

The nozzle according to claim 10 in which said rotation preventing means includes fixed means and said support means having means to cooperate with said fixed means.

Claim 19

The nozzle according to claim 15 in which said shifting means is a screw.

Claim 20

A sub-assembly for securing to an automatic shut-off nozzle body and responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank including a valve seat, a cap, flexible means disposed between said valve seat and said cap and responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank when the sub-assembly is mounted on the nozzle body, means to secure said cap and said valve seat to each other with said flexible means therebetween to form the sub-assembly, first exerting means disposed within said cap and acting on said flexible means to exert a force in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said flexible means, force control means carried by said cap to control the force exerted on said flexible means to cause said flexible means to respond to a predetermined pressure in the sealed tank to stop flow through the nozzle body, and at least one of said valve seat, said cap, and said flexible means including means to enable the sub-assembly to be secured to the nozzle body.

Claim 21

A sub-assembly for securing to an automatic shut-off nozzle body and responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank including a valve seat, a cap, flexible means disposed between said valve seat and said cap and responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank when the sub-assembly is mounted on the nozzle body, means to secure said cap and said valve seat to each other with said flexible means therebetween to form the sub-assembly, first exerting means disposed within said cap and acting on said flexible means to exert a force in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said flexible means, force control means carried by said cap to control the force exerted on said flexible means to cause said flexible means to respond to a predetermined pressure in the sealed tank to stop flow through the nozzle body, and at least one of said valve seat, said cap, and said flexible means including means to enable the sub-assembly to be secured to the nozzle body.

Claim 22

The sub-assembly according to claim 17 in which said flexible means is a diaphragm.

Claim 23

The sub-assembly according to claim 18 in which said force control means includes support means carried by said cap and said force exerting means includes a spring having one end acting on said diaphragm and its other end acting on said support means.

Claim 24

The sub-assembly according to claim 19 in which said force control means includes shifting means carried by said cap and acting on said support means to change the length of said spring.

Claim 25

The sub-assembly according to claim 20 including said shifting means shifting said support means to change the length of said spring and means carried by said cap and cooperating with said support means to cause motion of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.

Claim 26

The sub-assembly according to claim 17 in which said force control means includes support means carried by said cap and said force exerting means includes a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means.

Claim 27

The sub-assembly according to claim 22 in which said force control means includes shifting means carried by said cap and acting on said support means to change the length of said spring.

Claim 28

The sub-assembly according to claim 23 including said shifting means shifting said support means to change the length of said spring and means carried by said cap and cooperating with said support means to cause motion of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.

Claim 29

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said support means having means disposed within a portion of said spring adjacent the other end of said spring to support said spring, and said force control means including shifting means acting on said support means to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring.

Claim 30

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said support means having means disposed within a portion of said spring adjacent the other end of said spring to support said spring, and said force control means including shifting means acting on said support means to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring.

Claim 31

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said force control means including shifting means supported by said body and exerting a force on said support means when said shifting means is moved relative to said body to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring, a fixed member, said shifting means being separate from said support means and supported by said fixed member, and said fixed member having means, separate from said shifting means and its support by said fixed member, cooperating with said support means to allow movement of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.

Claim 32

An automatic shut-off nozzle comprising a body having an inlet and an outlet, a valve in said body controlling flow of liquid from said inlet to said outlet, manual operated means controlling the operation of said valve, a spout communicating with said outlet and having its free end for disposition in an opening of a fill pipe of a vehicle tank or the like, release means to release said manual operated means to allow closing of said valve and stoppage of liquid flow, means to return vapor from the tank being filled, sealing means to form a seal between the fill pipe opening and said vapor return means when said spout is disposed in the fill pipe, responsive means responsive to the pressure in the sealed tank to cause said release means to close said valve to stop liquid flow through said body when the pressure in the sealed tank exceeds a predetermined pressure, means exerting a force on said responsive means in opposition to the pressure in the sealed tank acting on said responsive means, force control means to control the force exerted by said exerting means on said responsive means to cause said responsive means to respond at the predetermined pressure, said responsive means including flexible means having one side exposed to the pressure in the sealed tank, said exerting means including resilient means acting on the other side of said flexible means to exert a force on said flexible means, said force control means controlling the force exerted on said flexible means by said resilient means to control the predetermined pressure at which said responsive means responds, said force control means including support means, said resilient means including a spring having one end acting on said flexible means and its other end acting on said support means of said force control means, said force control means including shifting means supported by said body and exerting a force on said support means when said shifting means is moved relative to said body to shift the position of said support means to change the length of said spring, a fixed member, said shifting means being separate from said support means and supported by said fixed member, and said fixed member having means, separate from said shifting means and its support by said fixed member, cooperating with said support means to allow movement of said support means only in the axial direction of said spring when said shifting means shifts the position of said support means.