EP1346946A1 - Secure operation filling nozzle and filling installation including such a filling nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

The nozzle incorporates a ring (25) for attaching to a connector (4) in the vehicle fuel tank filler pipe, and a detector (30) that permits operation of the nozzle's trigger (70) once the connection has been made. The detector activates a kinematic linkage (52, 60, 63, 72) between the trigger and a nozzle valve (50), allowing fuel to flow through the nozzle only when it is properly attached to the fuel tank connector.

Description

The invention relates to a gun for filling a container with pressurized fluid. The invention has also relates to an installation for filling a tank of a motor vehicle in liquefied pure gas in which is used such a gun.

It is known, for example from US-A-5,904,302, use a bayonet system to secure a kerosene filling nozzle on an aircraft. In locking function, a lever can block a valve located in this tip. The bayonet lock is tricky to implement and use this system complex is, in practice, reserved for specialists working in airport areas.

In the field of petroleum gas distribution liquefied (LPG) as motor vehicle fuel, it is known that serious precautions should be taken to prevent gas from spilling into the atmosphere room. In particular, it is imperative that a connection watertight is made between the distribution device, or pump, and the vehicle tank. In the devices known, the user must have an end cap a flexible hose on a nozzle located on the vehicle then activate a locking lever for these tips. The user must then return to the pump to order a solenoid valve to supply the hose flexible in pressurized gas. These known maneuvers are not inconvenient and can confuse an uninformed user.

In addition, in known devices, the locking from the end of the hose on the end of the vehicle is usually achieved through a complex claw system and therefore unreliable. Such a claw system may be improperly engaged on the tip of the vehicle, resulting in a risk of off-axis connection which could lead to leaks gas.

The devices used in the field of filling of LPG motor vehicle tanks must also be compatible with the end caps standard mounted on vehicles.

It is to these limitations that most particularly respond to the invention by proposing a container filling gun, all particularly suitable for the distribution of LPG, which allows a fluid to be delivered in a sealed manner, while it ensures that no fluid is spilled into the atmosphere as long the gun is not connected to the nozzle with which he must cooperate, even if the user exerts an effort on the trigger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pistol such as fluid releases during its disconnection from the nozzle are minimized.

In this spirit, the invention relates to a pistol filling a container with a pressurized fluid, this pistol being provided with a means of attachment to a nozzle connected to the container, with a controlled valve, suitable for selectively blocking a fluid flow conduit, and a sensor for detecting the pistol hanging on a tip, this sensor being suitable, depending on this attachment, to make active a kinematic link between a control member and the valve, this connection allowing, in active configuration, to move the valve from a position where it closes the conduit to a position where it leaves a free passage for the fluid in this conduit, whereas, in the non-active configuration of the link, the valve cannot be actuated by means of the device supra. The kinematic link includes a lever, articulated on the valve, between a first position where it cannot be moved by the control unit and a second position where it can be moved by this body in driving the valve, the sensor being able to move the lever from its first to its second position. The organ of control is a trigger hinged on the gun and provided with at least one cut, notch or groove, the profile forms a first part which allows to receive a part of the lever without significant interaction between the lever and the trigger. The cut, groove or notch also includes a second part which has a geometry different from the first part and extends it, the element integral with the lever being able to slide along the profile of the first part of the cut, groove or notch, when the lever is in its first position, and at cooperate with the profile of the second part, when the lever is in its second position, so that it allows the transmission of a force between the trigger and the the sink.

Thanks to the invention, the kinematic connection between the control trigger and the valve does not allow to make passing the pistol until it is hooked on a tip. The attachment is detected thanks to the lever which is integral with an element making it possible to pass the trigger from a configuration where she is "crazy" to a configuration where it is "active". In the configuration crazy, the aforementioned element cooperates with the profile in its first part, while he cooperates with the profile in his second part when the trigger is in configuration active.

According to advantageous but not compulsory aspects of the invention, a pistol can incorporate one or more features mentioned in the claims dependent.

The invention also relates to an installation for filling a tank of a motor vehicle with gas pure liquefied which includes a gun as before described and contemplated below.

• La figure 1 est une représentation schématique de principe d'une installation conforme à l'invention dont le pistolet et l'embout avec lequel il coopère sont représentés en coupe longitudinale ;
• La figure 2 est une vue à plus petite échelle du pistolet et de l'embout de la figure 1, lors de l'accrochage du pistolet sur l'embout ;
• La figure 3 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, lorsque le pistolet est accroché sur l'embout ;
• La figure 4 est une vue en perspective de l'embout et des éléments internes du pistolet dans la configuration de la figure 3 ;
• La figure 5 est une vue analogue à la figure 2 et à l'échelle de la figure 1, lorsque la gâchette du pistolet est commandée pour que s'écoule du fluide et
• La figure 6 est une vue du type de la figure 4, lorsque le pistolet est dans la configuration de la figure 5.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the light of the following description of an embodiment of a pistol and of an installation in accordance with its principle, given only at as an example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the principle of an installation according to the invention, the gun and the nozzle with which it cooperates are shown in longitudinal section;
• Figure 2 is a view on a smaller scale of the gun and the tip of Figure 1, during the attachment of the gun on the tip;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 3, when the gun is hung on the nozzle;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the tip and internal elements of the gun in the configuration of Figure 3;
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and on the scale of FIG. 1, when the trigger of the pistol is actuated so that fluid flows and
• FIG. 6 is a view of the type of FIG. 4, when the pistol is in the configuration of FIG. 5.

The gun 1 shown in the figures is connected on the downstream end of a flexible pipe 2, the end of which upstream is connected to a gas distribution pump 3 pure liquefied.

The gun 1 is intended to cooperate with tips such as the end piece 4 shown in the figures which is mounted on a motor vehicle 5 and which is connected by a conduit 6 integrated into the vehicle 5, to a gas tank 7 liquefied.

The nozzle 4 is equipped with a loaded valve 8 elastically by a spring 9 towards part 10 of the nozzle 4 forming a seat.

On its external peripheral surface, the end piece 4 is provided with a flared groove 11 as well as a recess 12 separated from the groove 11 by a flange 13.

The gun 1 comprises a body 20 inside which is housed a pipe 21 connected to an elbow 22 whose outlet in the form of a convergent 22a communicates with a volume 23 for receiving the nozzle 4 in the body 20. The volume 23 has a shape adapted to the external shape of the nozzle 4 and is equipped with an O-ring 24 for supporting an end chamfer 14 of the nozzle 4. Around the volume 23, the gun 1 is equipped with 'a ring 25 for retaining the endpiece 4 in the volume 23. This ring 25 is loaded elastically by a spring 26 exerting on it a force F ₁ perpendicular to a longitudinal axis XX' of the endpiece 4 and of the volume 23 when these are facing or engaged with each other, as shown in the figures.

When the gun 1 is moved towards the nozzle 4 in the direction of the arrows F ₂ in FIGS. 1 to 3, the collar 13 pushes the ring 25 against the force F ₁ , as shown in FIG. 2, then the ring 25 engages in the groove 13, under the effect of the force F ₁ , as shown in FIG. 3.

Elements 25 and 26 therefore constitute means for attaching the gun 1 to the nozzle 4.

A rod 30 is mounted, with the possibility of sliding parallel to the axis XX ′, in a housing 31 formed in the body 20. This rod 30 comprises a nose 32 intended to come into engagement in the recess 12 of the end piece 4. This rod also includes a notch 33 for partially receiving a part 25 a of the ring 25 opposite a part 25 b on which the force F ₁ is exerted.

At its end 34 opposite the parts 32 and 33, the rod 30 is articulated, around a geometric axis Y-Y ', on a rocker 40 formed by two plates 41 and 42 mounted in a yoke around the end 34 and articulated on the body 20 around a geometric axis Y ₁ -Y ' ₁ perpendicular to the axis X-X', this axis being materialized by a pin 43 passing through the plates 41 and 42. Each of the plates 41 and 42 is provided with a heel 44, respectively 45, of generally parallelepiped shape.

A valve 50 is mounted in the elbow 22 and comes to bear, under the effect of an elastic force exerted by a spring 29, against the convergent 22 a forming the downstream part of the elbow 22.

The valve 50 is extended by a rod 51 articulated around an axis Y ₂ -Y ' ₂ with a lever 60 formed by two plates 61 and 62 taking the end 52 of the rod 51 as a yoke. The axes Y ₁ -Y ' ₁ and Y ₂ -Y' ₂ are parallel.

The plates 61 and 62 have a geometry such that they come respectively opposite heels 44 and 45.

Plates 41 and 61 have been added to Figures 2, 3 and 5 for the clarity of the drawing.

Furthermore, a cylindrical pin with circular section 63 is mounted through the plates 61 and 62 along an axis parallel to the axis Y ₂ -Y ' ₂ .

A trigger 70 is articulated on a support 27 integral with the pipe 21. We denote Y ₃ -Y ' ₃ the axis of articulation of the trigger 70, this axis being parallel to the axis Y ₁ -Y' ₁ .

The trigger 70 is provided with a notch 71 that crosses the pawn 63 and in which it can move.

The profile of this notch comprises a first part shaped in an arc C ₁ centered on the axis Y ₃ -Y ' ₃ . In this sense, the part 71 a is in the form of an arc of a circle. The notch 71 also includes a second part 71 b with which the part 71 a communicates and which extends in a direction AA ′ generally perpendicular to the part 71 a in the junction zone between these parts. The bottom of the part 71 b forms a seat 71 c in which the pin 63 can be retained.

The trigger 70 is also provided, on its face 70 ₁ visible in FIGS. 1 to 5, with a groove 72 which comprises a first part 72 a ₁ generally shaped according to an arc of circle C ₂ centered on the axis Y ₃ -Y ' ₃ , as well as a second L-shaped part 72 b ₁ which communicates with part 72 a ₁ . A pin 46 ₁ is mounted on the plate 41 and extends, along an axis Y ₄ -Y ' ₄ parallel to the axis Y ₁ -Y' ₁ , towards the groove 72 ₁ . The pin 46 ₁ is intended to slide in the groove 72 ₁ .

On its opposite face 70 ₂ visible in FIG. 6, the trigger 70 is provided with a second groove 72 ₂ of the same geometry as the groove 72 ₁ , with a part in an arc 72 _b2 and an L-shaped part 72 _a2 . The plate 42 carries a pin 46 ₂ intended to slide in the groove 72 ₂ .

The operation is as follows:

When the gun 1 is hung on the nozzle 4, as explained above, the nose 32 of the rod 30 is pushed in the direction of the arrow F ₃ in FIG. 3, which has the effect of sliding the rod 30 in the housing 31, in the direction of this arrow, a corresponding displacement of the end 34 being obtained. This displacement has the effect of tilting the rocker 40, around the axis Y ₁ -Y ′ ₁ in the direction of the arrow F ₄ , to the point that the heels 44 and 45 come to bear against the plates 61 and 62, which induces a pivoting of the lever 60 in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 3. The bearing force of the heels 44 and 45 on the lever 60 is represented by the arrow F ₅ in FIG. 3, while the pivoting of this lever is represented by arrow F ₆ . Due to the pivoting of the lever 60, the pin 63 which, in the configuration of FIG. 1 is engaged in the part 71 a of the groove 71, is moved towards the part 71 b in the direction of the seat 71 c .

In this configuration, if the user exerts on the trigger 70 a force F ₇ directed towards the handle part 28 of the body 20, the trigger exerts, by the front edge 71 b ₁ of the part 71 b and on the pin 63 carried by the lever 60, a tensile force F ₈ resulting in a corresponding tensile force F ₉ on the valve, this force having the effect of detaching the valve 50 from the convergent 22 a . This allows a flow E of pressurized fluid from its source 3 towards the reservoir 7 connected to the nozzle 4.

If the trigger 70 is released, the spring 29 pushes the valve 50 towards its seat 22 a .

A device 80 is provided for temporarily blocking the trigger 70 in the configuration of FIG. 5. This device comprises an arm 81 articulated on the body 20 around an axis Y ₅ -Y ' ₅ parallel to the axis Y ₁ -Y ' ₁ and a shuttle 82 slidingly mounted on the arm 81 and retained in position by a screw 83.

When the trigger 70 is subjected to the force F ₇ , it moves the shuttle 82 in the direction of the arrow F ₁₀ in FIG. 5, so that it locks against an external radial shoulder 81a of the arm 81. When it is advisable to stop the flow E, an additional effort F ′ ₇ , in the same direction as the effort F ₇ but of higher intensity, can be exerted, which has the effect of bringing about, by an overtravel, the shuttle 82 abuts against the head of the screw 83 and then to tilt the arm 81 in the direction of the arrow F ₁₁ , against an elastic force exerted by a spring 84. The end 73 of the trigger 70 is then released relative to the arm 81, the trigger 70 can then return to the position of FIG. 3.

Thus, when the gun 1 is hooked on the nozzle 4, the fluid flow can be controlled by the trigger 70.

If the force F ₇ is exerted on the handle 70 in the configuration of FIG. 1, the pin 63 slides in the part 71 a of the notch 71 without a traction force being transmitted to the lever 60, such so that the valve 50 remains in abutment against its seat formed by the convergent 22 a . In this configuration, the edge 71 a ₁ of the part 71 a closest to the axis Y ₃ -Y ′ ₃ essentially defines the sliding path of the pin 63.

Thus, the active parts of the notch 71 are the edges 71 a ₁ and 71 b ₁ which are defined by the profile of a solid part 74 of the trigger 70.

Thus, it is not possible to operate the valve 50 as long as the kinematic connection between the trigger 70 and the valve is not made active by the movement of the lever 60 towards its position in which the pin 63 is engaged in the part 71 b of the notch 71.

A torsion spring 90 is disposed around the pin 64 constituting the physical axis of articulation between the end 52 of the valve 50 and the plates 61 and 62 of the lever 60, so that the end 91 of this spring exerts on the lever 60 an effort F ₁₂ tending to return the lever 60 to its position in FIG. 1.

In addition, the cooperation of the pins 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ and the grooves 72 ₁ and 72 ₂ prohibits separation of the gun 1 and the nozzle 4 when the valve 50 is detached from the convergent 22 a . When the pin 63 slides in the part 71 a of the notch 71, the pins 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ can slide in the parts 72 to ₁ and 72 to ₂ of the grooves 72 ₁ and 72 ₂ . On the other hand, when the heels 44 and 45 push the lever 60, as shown by the arrow F ₅ in FIG. 3, the tilting F ₄ of the rocker 40 has the effect of bringing the pins 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ into the parts 72 b ₁ and 72 b ₂ notches 72 ₁ and 72 ₂ . Then, due to the displacement of the trigger 70 under the effect of the force F ₇ , the pins 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ each slide along a lateral surface 72 c ₁ , respectively 72 c ₂ , of the notches 72 ₁ and 72 ₂ . The pins 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ are then in abutment against the surfaces 72 c ₁ and 72 c ₂ , so that the rocker 40 can no longer rock around the axis Y ₁ -Y ′ ₁ in a direction opposite to the arrow F ₄ .

The rocker 40 thus being locked by its cooperation with the surfaces 72 c ₁ and 72 c ₂ in a lowered configuration of its pins 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ , it exerts on the rod 30 a tensile force F ₁₃ which has the effect of pressing firmly a surface 33 a delimiting the notch 33 against a surface 25 c of the ring 25.

The surface 33 a is inclined at an angle α equal to about 45 ° relative to a longitudinal axis X ₁ -X ' ₁ of the rod 30 which is parallel to the axis X-X'. The surface 25 c is,

as for it, inclined by the same angle α with respect to the axis X-X ', the axes X ₁ -X' ₁ and XX 'being parallel to each other.

The force F ₁₃ is thus transmitted to the ring 25 in the form of a force F ₁₄ in the same direction and in the same direction as the force F ₁ , this force holding the ring 25 firmly in engagement in the groove 11.

Thus, it is not possible to remove the gun 1 from the nozzle 4 as long as the pins 46 ₁ and 46 ₂ remain respectively in abutment against the surfaces 72 c ₁ and 72 c ₂ , that is to say as long that it is possible to operate the valve 50 thanks to the trigger 70.

Note that the valves 8 and 50 are in support areal one against the other, which contributes to the tightness of the coupling produced between the elements 1 and 4. We also note that the valve 8 is pushed back towards downstream under the effect of the pressure of the fluid circulating in the pipe 21 and in the elbow 22.

The invention has been described with reference to its use in an LPG supply installation of a motor vehicle which is particularly advantageous. A pistol according to the invention can however be used in other types of installation pressurized fluid supply in which a high degree of security is sought.

The invention has been represented with levers or rockers 40 and 60 formed of two plates taking in screed the parties 34 or 52 with which they cooperate. of the levers formed in one piece can be considered.

The invention has been shown with a notch 71 and grooves 72 ₁ and 72 ₂ , it can however be implemented with a trigger provided with a notch of equivalent geometry in place of the grooves and / or with grooves in the notch place. The grooves, if any, can be provided on one side of the trigger 70. The geometry of the grooves and notches is not limited to that shown in the figures. In practice, the functional parts of these grooves are essentially the seat 71 c and the bearing surfaces 72 c ₁ and 72 c ₂ . The other parts of these grooves are clearances intended to allow the movement of the pins 46 ₁ , 46 ₂ and 63, these clearances being able to have various shapes.

The invention has been shown with a notch 71 inscribed in the trigger 70 and having a generally constant width which is adapted to the diameter of the pin 63 to allow its guidance. Alternatively, two grooves may be formed on either side of trigger 70 to receive the fingers carried by the lever 60. According to another variant, the first and second parts 71 a and 71 b above can be formed by a cut formed around a solid door similar to part 74, this cut-out possibly leading to the front edge of the trigger 70.

In all cases, the profile of the cut, notch or groove provided on the trigger to receive the element integral with the lever makes it possible to obtain the two configuration "Crazy" and "active" of the trigger.

In the same way, the grooves 72 ₁ and 72 ₂ can be replaced by a cut or notch which crosses the trigger 70. Here again, the profile of this groove, cut or notch, which is defined in particular by the surfaces 72 c ₁ and 72 c ₂ which adjoins a central tongue 75, provides the desired safety operation.

Claims (12)

Gun for filling a container (7) with a pressurized fluid, said gun being provided with means (25) for hooking on a nozzle (4) connected to said container, with a controlled valve (50), capable of closing off selectively a fluid flow conduit (21, 22), and a sensor (30) for detecting the attachment of said gun to a nozzle (4), said sensor being capable, according to said attachment, of making active a kinematic connection (52, 60, 63, 71) between a control member (70) and said valve (50), said connection allowing, in active configuration, to move said valve from a position where it closes said conduit (21 , 22) towards a position where it leaves free a passage (E) for said fluid in said conduit, while, in the non-active configuration of said connection, the valve cannot be actuated by means of said control member, said kinematic connection comprising a lever (60) articulated on said valve (50), between a first position on (fig. 1) where it cannot be moved by said control member (70) and a second position (fig. 3, 5) where it can be moved by said control member by driving said valve, said sensor (30) being able to move said lever from said first position to said second position, characterized in that said control member is a trigger (70) hinged to the gun (1) and provided with at least one cutout, notch (71) or groove, the profile forms a first portion (71a) adapted to receive an element (63) integral with said lever (60) , without significant interaction between said lever (60) and said trigger (70), while a second part (71 b ) of said profile has a different geometry (A-A ') from that of said first part and extends it, said element (63) being able to slide along the profile of the first part (71 a ) when said lever (60) is in its first position and to cooperate with the profile of said second part (71b, 71c) when said lever (60 ) is in its second position, so that it allows the transmission of a force (F ₈ ) between said trigger and said lever. Gun according to claim 1, characterized in that said cutout, notch (71) or groove is inscribed in said trigger (70) and has a substantially constant width allowing guidance of said element (63) in abutment on one or the other of its edges. Gun according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first part (71 a ) is generally shaped in an arc (C ₁ ) centered on an axis (Y ₃ -Y ' ₃ ) of articulation of said trigger (70). Gun according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second part (71 b ) extends in a direction (A-A ') generally perpendicular to said first part (71 a ) in the junction zone between these parts (71 a , 71 b ) and forms a seat (71 c ) for retaining said element (63) integral with said lever (60). Gun according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (90) for elastic return (F ₁₂ ) of said lever (60) to a position in which said element is engaged in the first part (71a) of said groove or notch (71). Gun according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises means (30, 40) for locking said hooking means (25) in the hooking configuration of said gun (1) on a nozzle (4), said locking means being able to lock said hooking means according to the configuration of said kinematic link. Gun according to claim 6, characterized in that said locking means comprise a rocker (40) articulated on said sensor (30) which is rigid, said rocker being able to exert on said sensor a force (F ₁₃ ) transmitted by said sensor to said attachment means (25) and resulting (F ₁₄ ) in their locking. Gun according to Claim 7, characterized in that the said hooking means comprise a ring (25) capable of surrounding a nozzle (4) and of partially engaging in a peripheral groove (11) of the said nozzle, the said ring being provided with 'a surface (25 c ) inclined relative to a central axis (X-X') of said ring, said surface being able to come into abutment against a surface (33a) of said sensor (30) inclined relative to a direction ( X ₁ -X ' ₁ ) of sliding (F ₃ ) of said sensor, the transmission of said force (F ₁₃ , F ₁₄ ) from said sensor to said ring taking place by pressing between said surfaces. Gun according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that said rocker (40) is provided with at least one relief (46 ₁ , 46 ₂ ) capable of cooperating with a corresponding relief (72 c ₁ , 72 c ₂ ) provided on said control member (70), the cooperation of said reliefs maintaining said rocker in a position where it exerts said force (F ₁₃ ) on said sensor (30). Gun according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the said control member is a trigger (70) provided with at least one cutout, notch or groove (72 ₁ , 72 ₂ ) capable of receiving an element (46 ₁ , 46 ₂ ) integral with said rocker (40), said cutout, notch or groove comprising a first part (72 a ₁ , 72 a ₂ ) capable of receiving said element without significant interaction between said rocker (40) and said trigger (70 ), and a second part (72 b ₁ , 72 b ₂ ) towards which said element (46 ₁ , 46 ₂ ) is moved when said kinematic link is made active, the positioning of said element in said second part holding the rocker (40) in a position where, when said trigger is subjected to an actuating force (F ₇ ) for the movement of said valve (50), said rocker exerts on said sensor (30) said force (F ₁₃ , F ₁₄ ) transmitted to said means attachment (25). Gun according to Claim 10, characterized in that the said first part is generally shaped in an arc (C ₂ ) centered on an axis (Y ₃ -Y ' ₃ ) of articulation of the said trigger (70). Installation (1-3) for filling a tank (7) of a motor vehicle (5) with liquefied pure gas, characterized in that it comprises a gun (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

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