초록 ▼

A fluid dispensing nozzle includes a removable valve subassembly that controls the flow of fluid and the recovery of fluid vapor through the body of the nozzle. The subassembly may be pre-assembled and installed within a nozzle body as a single unit. The nozzle may include a vacuum-driven automatic

A fluid dispensing nozzle includes a removable valve subassembly that controls the flow of fluid and the recovery of fluid vapor through the body of the nozzle. The subassembly may be pre-assembled and installed within a nozzle body as a single unit. The nozzle may include a vacuum-driven automatic shut-off system which prevents fluid from flowing through the nozzle when the downstream end of the nozzle spout is submerged. The shutoff system may also be magnetically actuated to allow for dry testing in which the automatic shut-off functionality is testing without dispensation of fluid.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A nozzle for dispensing fluid, the nozzle comprising: a nozzle body having an inlet end and an outlet end;a self-contained valve subassembly receivable within and separable from said nozzle body as a subassembly, said valve subassembly comprising: a fluid control component moveable between an ope

1. A nozzle for dispensing fluid, the nozzle comprising: a nozzle body having an inlet end and an outlet end;a self-contained valve subassembly receivable within and separable from said nozzle body as a subassembly, said valve subassembly comprising: a fluid control component moveable between an open position and a closed position;an intermediate component;a fluid control valve having a valve body and a valve seat, said fluid control valve moveable from a closed position in which said valve body is seated in said valve seat to an open position in which said valve body is spaced away from said valve seat, said fluid control valve moveable to its open position when said fluid control component is in its open position,a vapor control component moveable between an open position and a closed position;a carriage sized to receive said fluid control component and said vapor control component, securement of said carriage to said intermediate component capturing said fluid control component, said fluid control valve and said vapor control component between said carriage and said intermediate component to form said self-contained valve subassembly; anda vapor control valve operably coupled with said vapor control component, said vapor control valve moveable between a closed position and an open position in response to a corresponding movement of said vapor control component. 2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said self-contained valve subassembly further comprises a biasing means for closing said fluid control valve, said biasing means biasing said fluid control component toward said valve body, the securement of said carriage to said intermediate component further capturing said biasing means between said carriage and said intermediate component. 3. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising at least one coupling member disposed in said nozzle body, said coupling member moveable between an engaged position in which said fluid control component and said vapor control component are coupled, and a disengaged position in which said fluid control component and said vapor control component are decoupled, wherein said vapor control component is moveable with respect to said fluid control component when said at least one coupling member is in the disengaged position. 4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said self-contained valve subassembly further comprises a rolling diaphragm having a first end coupled to said nozzle body and a second end coupled to said fluid control valve, such that said rolling diaphragm sealingly isolates said vapor control valve from said fluid control valve. 5. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein said vapor control valve is positioned to interrupt a vapor flow path and said fluid control valve is positioned to interrupt a fluid flow path, said roiling diaphragm disposed between the vapor flow path and the fluid flow path. 6. The nozzle of claim 1 further comprising a coupler having a vapor control valve seat shaped to cooperate with said vapor control valve, said coupler coupled to said nozzle body at said inlet end, and said valve subassembly being urged toward said outlet end by said coupler when said coupler is coupled to said nozzle body. 7. The nozzle of claim 6 wherein a biasing means for closing said vapor control valve biases said vapor control component toward said vapor control valve, said vapor control component urging said vapor control valve toward said vapor control valve seat, the securement of said carriage to said intermediate component further capturing said biasing means for closing said vapor control valve between said carriage and said intermediate component. 8. A method of assembling a nozzle comprising the steps of: pre-assembling a self-contained valve subassembly, the step of pre-assembling including: installing a fluid control component into a carriage, such that the fluid control component is moveable within the carriage between an open position and a closed position;installing a fluid control valve proximal said fluid control component, such that said fluid control valve is in a closed position when said fluid control component is in its closed position;installing a vapor control component into said carriage, such that the vapor control component is moveable independently of said fluid control component within the carriage between an open position and a closed position; andcoupling a vapor control valve to said vapor control component, such that said vapor control valve is in a closed position when said vapor control component is in its closed position;inserting said self-contained valve subassembly into a nozzle body of the nozzle along a direction of insertion; andattaching a coupler to said nozzle body, the coupler urging said valve subassembly in the direction of insertion to couple said valve subassembly with said nozzle body. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of pre-assembling said self-contained valve subassembly further comprises: installing a fluid control biasing element into said carriage, such that the fluid control biasing element biases said fluid control valve toward its dosed position;at least partially compressing said fluid control biasing element by engaging an intermediate component with said carriage, said intermediate component capturing said fluid control biasing element, said fluid control component, and said fluid control valve when said intermediate component engages with said carriage. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of pre-assembling said self-contained valve subassembly further comprises: installing a vapor control biasing element into said carriage, such that the vapor control biasing element biases said vapor control valve toward its closed position;at least partially compressing said vapor control biasing element by engaging an intermediate component with said carriage, said intermediate component capturing said vapor control biasing element and said vapor control component, when said intermediate component engages with said carriage. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said coupler includes a vapor control valve seat shaped to cooperate with said vapor control valve, said step of attaching said coupler further comprising: engaging said vapor control valve seat with said vapor control valve to urge said vapor control valve along said direction of insertion. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein said vapor control biasing element biases said vapor control component toward said vapor control valve, said vapor control component urging said vapor control valve toward the closed position of the vapor control valve, said step of attaching said coupler further comprising: compressing said vapor control biasing element to bias said vapor control valve toward said vapor control valve seat. 13. The method of claim 8, wherein said coupler includes a vapor control valve seat shaped to cooperate with said vapor control valve, said step of attaching said coupler further comprising: engaging said vapor control valve seat with said vapor control valve to urge said vapor control valve along said direction of insertion. 14. The method of claim 8, further comprising installing at least one coupling member in said nozzle body, such that said coupling member moveable between an engaged position in which said fluid control component and said vapor control component are coupled, and a disengaged position in which said fluid control component and said vapor control component are decoupled, wherein said vapor control component is independently moveable with respect to said fluid control component when said at least one coupling member is in the disengaged position. 15. The method of claim 8, wherein said step of pre-assembling said self-contained valve subassembly further comprises: coupling a first end of a rolling diaphragm to said nozzle body;coupling a second end of said rolling diaphragm to said fluid control valve, such that said rolling diaphragm sealing isolates said vapor control valve from said fluid control valve. 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising: positioning said vapor control valve within the nozzle body to selectively interrupt a vapor flow path; andpositioning said fluid control valve within the nozzle body to selectively interrupt a fluid flow path; anddisposing said rolling diaphragm between the vapor flow path and the fluid flow path.