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Dripless fuel dispenser nozzleRelated Patent Categories: Fluent Material Handling, With Receiver Or Receiver Coacting Means, Automatic Control Of Flow Cutoff Or Diversion, Level Or Overflow Responsive, Manually Initiated Valve With Both Manual And Level Cut-off ControlsDripless fuel dispenser nozzle description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060185759, Dripless fuel dispenser nozzle. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This document relates to fuel dispensing nozzle systems, and more particularly to dripless nozzles for such systems. BACKGROUND [0002] Fuel dispensing nozzles in use at self service stations can create difficulties for customers by dripping automotive fuel, e.g., gasoline, on shoes and other articles of clothing as the nozzle is moved back and forth between the dispenser holster and the vehicle fill pipe. For example, dripping can occur while the customer handling the nozzle prior to fueling is attempting to insert the spout into the vehicle fill pipe or after refueling when the customer removes the spout from the fill pipe and returns the nozzle to its holstered position. Any fuel that does not drain into the vehicle fill pipe during refueling may drip onto the vehicle, the customer, or the ground. However, the nozzle spout retains any remaining fuel when the spout tip is raised above horizontal, including when the nozzle is holstered. [0003] Fuel dripping from a dispensing nozzle is also an environmental concern, since any fuel escaping from the nozzle after removal from the vehicle fill pipe immediately evaporates into the atmosphere. Even fuel remaining in the spout when the nozzle is holstered will slowly evaporate into the atmosphere via the open end of the spout tip. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has addressed these motor vehicle refueling problems by requiring that gasoline-dispensing nozzles demonstrate an ability to limit post-fueling dripping to an average of three (3) drops per fueling event. The CARB test procedure is described in the Phase II regulations under TP-201.2D "Post-Fueling Drips from Nozzle," the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. SUMMARY [0004] According to one aspect, a fuel dispensing nozzle comprises a nozzle body, a nozzle spout having a nozzle tip extending distally from the nozzle body, the nozzle spout defining a conduit for flow of fuel from the nozzle spout tip into a vehicle fuel tank fill pipe, and a dam disposed within the nozzle in communication with the conduit and defining a reservoir region for restricting draining of liquid fuel towards the nozzle spout tip. With the nozzle spout tip engaged in the vehicle fuel tank fill pipe and the nozzle spout disposed at a first angular orientation below horizontal, the dam defines a first volume of the reservoir region for retaining fuel against draining past the dam to drip from the nozzle spout tip. With the nozzle spout tip disengaged from the vehicle fuel tank fill pipe and the nozzle spout disposed at a second angular orientation below horizontal greater than the first angular orientation below horizontal, the dam defines a second volume greater than the first volume of the reservoir region for retaining fuel against draining past the dam to drip from the nozzle spout tip. [0005] Preferred embodiments of this aspect may include one or more of the following additional features. The dam is disposed within the nozzle spout. The first angular orientation below horizontal is about 30.degree. below horizontal. The first volume of the reservoir region for retaining fuel is about 20 drops. The second angular orientation below horizontal is up to about 90.degree. below horizontal. The second volume of the reservoir region for retaining fuel is up to about 40 drops. The dam comprises a cylindrical wall member disposed coaxially within the nozzle spout. Preferably, the cylindrical wall member comprises a cylindrical tubular insert disposed in engagement with the wall of the conduit. A segment of the annular volume is occupied including in at least a lower region when dispensing fuel. The annular volume is occupied over an arcuate segment including at least a lower region when dispensing fuel. Preferably, the arcuate segment extends more than 180.degree. including at least through the lower region. The annular volume is occupied by an insert member. [0006] According to another aspect, a fuel dispenser nozzle comprises a nozzle body for delivering liquid fuel from a fuel dispenser towards a vehicle fuel tank, and a nozzle spout associated with the nozzle body for delivering liquid fuel from the nozzle body into a vehicle fuel tank fill pipe inclined at approximately 30.degree. down from horizontal. The nozzle spout has an inner wall surface defining a liquid flow passageway from the nozzle body to a spout tip, the wall surface having a first region extending to the spout tip and being disposed with generally uniform radius about an axis, and a second region upstream from the first region and relatively closer to the nozzle body and being flared in a upstream direction, the second region of the inner wall surface being disposed at a predetermined angle to the axis. With the spout tip engaged in the vehicle fill pipe and the axis of the first portion disposed in general alignment with a vehicle fill pipe axis, the inner wall surface in the first region and the second region is disposed at effective angles below horizontal to encourage flow of liquid fuel toward the spout tip. When the spout tip is removed from the vehicle fill pipe after a predetermined interval following cessation of flow of fuel from the nozzle body into the conduit of the nozzle spout, dripping of residual liquid fuel from the spout tip is limited to a predetermined average number of drops of liquid fuel per fueling event. [0007] Preferred embodiments of this aspect may include one or more of the following additional features. The predetermined interval of time is approximately 10 seconds. The predetermined average number of drops of liquid fuel dripped per fueling event is about 3 drops or less. [0008] According to another aspect, a fuel dispenser nozzle comprises a nozzle body for delivering liquid fuel from a fuel dispenser towards a vehicle fuel tank, and a nozzle spout associated with the nozzle body for delivering liquid fuel from the nozzle body into a vehicle fuel tank fill pipe inclined at approximately 30.degree. down from horizontal. The nozzle spout has an inner wall surface defining a liquid flow passageway from the nozzle body to a spout tip, the wall surface having a first region extending to the spout tip and being disposed with generally uniform radius about an axis, a second region upstream from the first region and relatively closer to the nozzle body and flared in a upstream direction, the second region of the inner wall surface being disposed at a first predetermined angle to the axis, and a third region upstream of the second region and relatively closer to the nozzle body and flared in an upstream direction, the third region of the inner wall surface being disposed at a second predetermined angle to the axis. With the spout tip engaged in the vehicle fill pipe and the axis disposed in general alignment with a vehicle fill pipe axis, the inner wall surface in the first, second, and third regions is disposed at effective angles below horizontal to encourage flow of liquid fuel toward the spout tip, whereby, when the spout tip is removed from the vehicle fill pipe after a predetermined interval following cessation of flow of fuel from the nozzle body into the liquid flow passageway of the nozzle spout, dripping of residual liquid fuel from the spout tip is limited to a predetermined average number of drops of liquid fuel per fueling event. [0009] Preferred embodiments of this aspect may include one or more of the following additional features. The predetermined interval of time is approximately 10 seconds. The predetermined average number of drops of liquid fuel dripped per fueling event is about 3 drops or less. The first predetermined angle is about 22.degree. to the axis. The second predetermined angle is about 7.degree. to the axis. [0010] According to yet another aspect, a fuel dispenser nozzle comprises a nozzle body for delivering liquid fuel from a fuel dispenser towards a vehicle fuel tank, and a nozzle spout associated with the nozzle body for delivering liquid fuel from the nozzle body into a vehicle fuel tank fill pipe inclined at approximately 30.degree. down from horizontal. The nozzle spout has an inner wall surface defining a liquid flow passageway between the nozzle body and a spout tip. The wall surface has a first region extending from the spout tip and disposed with generally uniform radius about an axis, and a second region extending upstream from the first region to an aspirator ring and check valve assembly positioned in the liquid flow passageway relatively closer to, but spaced along, the liquid flow passageway from the nozzle body, the second region of the inner wall surface being flared in a upstream direction and disposed at a predetermined angle to the axis. With the spout tip engaged in the vehicle fill pipe and the axis disposed in general alignment with a vehicle fill pipe axis, the inner wall surface in the first region and the second region of the nozzle spout is disposed at effective angles below horizontal to encourage flow of liquid fuel toward the spout tip, whereby, when the spout tip is removed from the vehicle fill pipe after a predetermined interval following cessation of flow of fuel from the nozzle body into the liquid flow passageway of the nozzle spout, dripping of residual liquid fuel from the spout tip is limited to a predetermined average number of drops of liquid fuel per fueling event. [0011] Preferred embodiments of this aspect may include one or more of the following additional features. Following cessation of flow of fuel from the nozzle body into the liquid flow passageway of the nozzle spout, the aspirator ring and check valve assembly seals an upstream portion of the liquid flow passageway, between the aspirator ring and check valve assembly and the nozzle body, to arrest leakage of residual fuel from the upstream portion into the first region and the second region of the liquid flow passageway downstream of the aspirator ring and check valve assembly for dripping from the spout tip. The predetermined interval of time is approximately 10 seconds. The predetermined average number of drops of liquid fuel dripped per fueling event is about 3 drops or less. [0012] The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0013] FIG. 1 is a side plan view of a fuel dispenser nozzle, while FIG. 2 is a side plan view, partially in section, of a nozzle spout assembly, both equipped with a first embodiment of a nozzle spout tip portion. [0014] FIG. 3 is a side section view of the nozzle spout tip portion of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 4 is a side section view of an alternate embodiment of the nozzle spout tip portion, while FIGS. 4A and 4B are front and side section views, respectively, of a dam insert configured for occupying a lower region of the annular volume defined by the dam in the nozzle spout tip portion of FIG. 4. [0016] FIG. 5 is a side section view of a nozzle spout assembly equipped with another embodiment of nozzle spout tip portion. [0017] FIG. 6 is side section view of the nozzle spout tip portion of FIG. 5. [0018] FIG. 7 is a side section view of a nozzle spout assembly equipped with still another embodiment of nozzle spout tip portion. [0019] FIG. 8 is side section view of the nozzle spout tip portion of FIG. 7. [0020] FIG. 9 is a side section view of a vent tip assembly of FIG. 7. Continue reading about Dripless fuel dispenser nozzle... Full patent description for Dripless fuel dispenser nozzle Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Dripless fuel dispenser nozzle patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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