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Liquid dispenser with sealing moduleRelated 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 ControlsLiquid dispenser with sealing module description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060102246, Liquid dispenser with sealing module. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 3356-179) filed on Nov. 18, 2004, entitled Liquid Dispenser with Stem Sealing System, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD [0002] This invention relates generally to liquid dispensing devices, and more particularly to seal assemblies for liquid dispensing devices. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Fluid dispensers include a variety of components for selectively controlling the flow of and dispensing a fluid. Fuel dispensing systems can include, for example, a stem for assisting in actuating a poppet valve between opened and closed positions to control fluid flow between an inlet and outlet port. For instance, a fluid dispensing system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,811,486 (the '486 Patent) to Wood, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. [0004] Fluid dispensing assemblies or nozzles can comprise a main body with an inlet port adapted to communicate with a source of pressurized fluid, and an outlet port adapted to dispense fluid from the main body. In such devices, a stem, for actuating a valve, slides relative to a seal or to a packing (typically loose material stuffed around the stem in a chamber). As described in further detail in the referenced '486 patent, the stem, together with a lever, can assist in actuating the valve, such as a poppet valve, to control fluid dispensing. [0005] Typically, the packing, an O-ring or a related flanged lip seal has been provided to prevent leakage of fluid along the stem, and more particularly between the stem and portions of the main body. In some devices, a flanged lip seal with an internal O-ring energizer has been utilized. [0006] However, such seals and sealing systems have exhibited problems with respect to sealing performance and/or durability. For example, such seals may exhibit rapid deterioration and wear from movement within the dispenser. Accordingly, the seal can become quickly compromised, resulting in leakage of the fluid. In addition, such seals typically have an inner surface which seals against the moving stem, or other component, and an outer surface which seals against the stationary dispenser body. Friction from movement of the seal caused by movement of the stem can compromise the sealing surface against the stem as well as the sealing surface against the stationary body. [0007] In addition, inserting a seal into a dispensing device can be time consuming and tedious. The seal is typically small and required to be fitted within a narrow chamber. Often, specialized tools are required to compress the seal and place it into the housing of the dispenser against the components being sealed. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Accordingly, it is desired to obviate problems and shortcomings of conventional seal assemblies. More particularly, in some embodiments, it is desired to provide improvements in durability and/or performance of seals in fluid dispensing apparatus. Moreover, in some embodiments, it is desired to reduce the difficulty and minimize the time needed for assembling a fluid dispensing apparatus. [0009] According to one aspect, a fluid dispenser is provided comprising a fluid dispenser housing having an inner chamber defined by a chamber surface, and a cylindrical stem that includes an outer surface. The stem is configured to control the flow of fluid through said housing. The dispenser also includes an insertable module which is selectively engaged with said inner chamber and includes an opening slidingly receiving said stem. A stem seal member is retained by said module and is in sealing contact with the outer surface of the cylindrical stem when the module is engaged with the inner chamber to provide a first seal. The stem seal member is separated from the housing by a portion of the module and the said stem seal member contacts the stem and a substantially non-porous portion of said module. The assembly also includes a housing seal member retained by the module and in sealing contact with the chamber surface of the housing when the module is engaged with the inner chamber to provide a second seal. The housing seal member is separated from the stem by a portion of the module whereby the second seal provides a static seal against the chamber surface. The module is configured to retain the stem seal member and the housing seal member when the module is disengaged from the chamber. [0010] According to another aspect, a fluid dispensing assembly is provided comprising a main body including an inlet port adapted to communicate with a source of pressurized fluid and an outlet port adapted to dispense fluid from said main body, the main body including an inner chamber defined by a chamber surface. The assembly also includes a stem having an outer surface, wherein the stem is adapted to assist in regulating fluid between said inlet port and said outlet port of said main body. In addition, the assembly includes a stem seal having an opening slidably receiving the stem and comprising an inner sealing surface, wherein the inner sealing surface sealingly contacts the outer surface of the stem to provide a first seal. In addition, the assembly includes a body seal sealingly contacting the chamber surface of the body to provide a second seal, and a module configured to selectively engage the inner chamber and including an opening for receiving the stem. The module is adapted to retain the stem seal and the body seal when the module is disengaged from the chamber. The stem seal provides the first seal against the stem when the module engages the inner chamber and the body seal provides the second seal against the chamber surface when the module engages the inner chamber. The assembly further includes a manual actuator adapted to control movement of the stem and control the flow of fluid through the main body. [0011] According to an additional aspect, a fluid dispenser is provided comprising a main body including an inlet port adapted to communicate with a source of pressurized fuel and an outlet port adapted to dispense fuel from said main body, wherein said main body includes an inner chamber defined by a chamber surface. The dispenser also includes a seal having a sealing surface, wherein the sealing surface sealingly contacts a component of the fuel dispensing assembly to provide a first seal. The dispenser also comprises an insertable retainer configured to selectively engage the inner chamber, wherein the retainer is adapted to retain the seal when the retainer is disengaged from said chamber, and wherein the seal provides the first seal against the assembly component when the retainer engages the inner chamber. The dispenser also includes a manual actuator adapted to control the flow of fuel through the main body, and a shut-off actuator configured to automatically shut off flow of fuel through the main body in response to a fill condition. [0012] According to another aspect, a method for assembling a fuel dispensing apparatus is provided, the method comprising placing a seal on a module such that the seal is held on said module, and providing components for assembling a fuel dispensing apparatus. The method also comprises engaging the module with a housing for a fuel dispensing apparatus, such that the seal contacts at least one of the housing and the components and provides a fluid-tight seal therewith. The method further comprises assembling the components and the housing as a fuel dispensing apparatus. [0013] In accordance with another aspect, a fluid dispenser is provided comprising a fluid dispenser housing having an inner chamber defined by a chamber surface, and a poppet stem assembly residing within the inner chamber. The poppet stem assembly comprises a cylindrical stem including an outer surface, the stem being configured to control the flow of fluid through the housing. The assembly also includes a stem seal member in sealing contact with the outer surface of said cylindrical stem to provide a first seal, wherein the stem seal member does not contact said housing. In addition, the assembly includes a housing seal member in sealing contact with the chamber surface of the housing to provide a second seal, wherein the housing seal member does not contact the stem. [0014] Still other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description wherein there are shown and described alternative illustrative embodiments including inventive aspect. These embodiments and descriptions are provided only as illustrative examples, and in no way are intended, nor should they be interpreted, as limiting. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other different embodiments, all without departing from the scope of the invention. These other possible embodiments will be understood by those skilled in the art based upon the description and teachings herein. Accordingly, the drawings and descriptions should be regarded as illustrative and exemplary in nature only, and not as restrictive. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the inventive aspects, it is believed the same will be better understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: [0016] FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a fluid dispensing assembly, made and operating in accordance with principles of the present invention; [0017] FIG. 2a is a cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a poppet stem seal module, made and operating according to principles of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 2b is a perspective view of the module of FIG. 2a; [0019] FIG. 3a is a cross sectional view of an illustrative embodiment of a seal that can be used in the stem seal module of FIGS. 1 and 2, in accordance with principles of the present invention; Continue reading about Liquid dispenser with sealing module... 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