Abstract: A dry disconnect coupling comprises an adapter connected to a liquid conduit and a coupler connected to another liquid conduit. The adapter and coupler each have poppets which seal passageway outlets thereof when they are disconnected. When connected, means are provided for simultaneously opening the poppets by displacing them with their end faces in contiguous relation. An O-ring, mounted in a groove in the end face of the coupler poppet sealingly engages the end face of the adapter poppet to prevent wetting of the end face surfaces of the poppets and thereby minimize liquid which could be a source of liquid when the coupler is disconnected from the adapter. Six alternate sealing rings, for providing an end face seal, are described.

Abstract: A drop tube/adapter unit, mounted on the riser pipe of a fuel storage tank, defines a fuel inlet path and an annular vapor return path during a loading operation. A vapor valve, provided in the vapor return path, prevents escape of vapors when a loading operation is not taking place. The drop tube is mounted for universally pivotal movement relative to a vapor valve member thereon, so that the vapor valve will reliably close, if the riser tube is out of plumb. A spring urges the drop tube, valve member to a closed position through a spring support. A stop means engages the spring support and precompress this spring, with the spring support positioned to facilitate its attachment to the adapter. The spring support is attached to the adapter by a threaded connection, comprising a threaded portion at the lower end of the adapter. This threaded portion is interrupted by a recess which positions a ring for sealing the adapter to the upper end of the riser pipe, when the adapter is threaded onto the riser pipe.

Abstract: A below grade, spill containment device for connection with the riser pipe of an underground fuel storage tank. The containment device is disposed within and isolated from a manhole, which is mounted in a concrete apron. The containment device comprises a compositely formed container, rigidly mounted on the riser pipe. The container formed of structural synthetic resin material elements held in assembled relation by snap fitted lugs and notches. A lid, for closing the upper, access opening, is mounted on a pivotable arm. A lever pivoted on the arm selectively engage latch means to lock the lid in a closed position. A projection on the lever prevents the manhole cover from seating if the lever is not in its lock position. A valve for draining fuel from the container to the riser pipe is closed when the lid is open and opened when the lid is closed. The manhole and the containment device are packaged in a shipping carton in spaced relation be corrugated paper sheets.

Abstract: A breakaway unit which is adapted to be mounted in series flow relation with a fuel nozzle. The breakaway unit comprises a flex section which assures an axial transmission of forces to a valve section which is separated when a vehicle drives away from a dispensing unit with the nozzle lodged in its fuel tank. The valve section comprises inlet and outlet couplers and means for releasable locking the couplers in an assembled relation. These means comprise fingers which are flexed outwardly when a separating force exceeds a predetermined value. Garter springs embrace the fingers to accurately control at which the couplers will separate. The fingers engage angularly spaced lugs which permit the fingers to be telescoped therebetween and then rotated to a locking position to facilitate reassembly of the couplers with a minimum of effort. Alternate embodiments of the invention disclose other forms of spring means for accurately controlling the force at which the couplers will separate.

Abstract: An emergency valve is provided to shut off the flow of fuel in the event a fuel dispenser is struck with sufficient force to rupture the fuel conduit means therefor. The valve comprises a lower housing connected to a source of pressurized fuel and an upper housing connected to conduit means which extend to a dispensing nozzle. The upper housing has a groove which defines the plane of a weakened portion. When the impacted with a relatively high lateral force, the portion of the upper housing, above the groove, will separate, or break away. A normally open, main control, flapper valve is mounted in the lower housing. A poppet check valve is mounted in the upper housing. When the separable portion of the upper housing breaks away, both the flapper valve and the check valve automatically close to minimize spillage of fuel. A bleed valve is provided to relieve pressure in the fuel conduit means to which the separable portion of the upper housing is connected, in the event a fire occurs upon its breaking away.

Abstract: The throttle of an aircraft can be alternatively controlled either by a flight control computer or by the manual control of the pilot. A clutch is installed between the throttle control lever and a control input to the flight control computer which in the autothrottle mode of operation is engaged to enable control of the throttle by the flight control computer with the control lever being positioned in accordance with such control. When manual takeover of the throttle control is desired, a switch is actuated by the pilot which operates to disengage the clutch and thereby disconnects the control output of the computer from the lever so that only manual control is provided. A unique clutch mechanism is employed which utilizes a pair of locking wedges which operate in conjunction with a pair of rollers. The wedges and rollers are driven into engagement with each other by a solenoid, the opposing plates of the clutch being held in locking engagement through the intermediary provided by the wedges and rollers.

Abstract: A sealing unit effects a connection between a loading boom and a manhole on a tank car. Liquids are delivered through the boom into the tank car. Vapors displaced from the tank are transmitted, through the sealing unit, to conduit means, which enable disposal of the vapors without contaminating the atmosphere. The unit comprises an upper plate which rests on the manhole. A sleeve is connected at its upper end to the upper plate and, at its lower end, to a lower plate. A pneumatic motor is actuated to draw the lower plate upwardly. When this occurs, the sleeve is bulged outwardly into sealing engagement with the manhole. Column springs are provided to assure that the central portion of the sleeve will bulge outwardly and provide sealing engagement with manholes of different diameters.

Abstract: A liquid impermeable barrier fabric which resists penetration of liquids under finite hydraulic heads and maintains that capable after upwards of 75 institutional washing/sterilization cycles. The barrier fabric istructurally characterized by a silicone membrane attached to a fabric substrate. The substrate is a tightly woven fabric which is constructed of polyester yarns. Attachment of the membrane to the fabric substrate by a bonding mechanism in which the silicone material is in intimate contact with a substantial portion of the looped portions of the yarn, which define the surface of the fabric. This bonding mechanism also includes hydrophilicity of the yarn surfaces with which the silicone is in intimate contact. The fabric is treated with a hydrophilic finish to provide this aspect of the bonding mechanism. This barrier fabric is provided through the use of coating/calendaring apparatus.

Abstract: A drop tube employed in the discharge of fuel into a storage tank of the type having an inlet, riser pipe is described. The drop tube a tubular member and an overfill valve. The overfill valve comprises a valve member having open and closed positions which is controlled by a float mounted thereon. The drop tube is insertable through the riser pipe to a position wherein the float displaces the valve member towards its closed position when the fuel in the tank reaches a desired level. A depression in the tubular member receives the float to facilitate insertion of the drop tube through the riser pipe. The valve member is freely pivotal from its open position to its closed position, being displaced thereto by the force of fuel discharged into the tank. A pressure relief valve provided to reduce the forces on the valve. A bleed valve is also provided for bleeding fuel from above the valve when it is in its closed position.

Abstract: An emergency vent valve for fuel storage tanks comprises a body member and a cover pivotally mounted thereon. The body member has a central passage which is sealed by cover in its closed position. The cover is held in this closed position by resetable latch means, which are responsive to a predetermined storage tank, vapor pressure to release the cover for displacement to an open position. In the open position, the cover is generally upright to provide an alert that the valve has been actuated. The latching means comprise a latch pin, mounted on the cover and a latch link, pivotal on the body member, having a cam surface, which is engaged by the latch pin to hold the cover in its closed position. A screw enables adjustment of the initial position of the latch link to vary the relative angle between the cam surface and the latch pin, to thus adjust the vapor pressure to which the valve is responsive.

Abstract: A breakaway unit which is adapted to be mounted in series flow relation with a fuel nozzle. The breakaway unit comprises a flex section which assures an axial transmission of forces to a valve section which is separated when a vehicle drives away from a dispensing unit with the nozzle lodged in its fuel tank. The valve section comprises inlet and outlet couplers and means for releasable locking the couplers in an assembled relation. These means comprise fingers which are flexed outwardly when a separating force exceeds a predetermined value. Garter springs embrace the fingers to accurately control at which the couplers will separate. The fingers engage angularly spaced lugs which permit the fingers to be telescoped therebetween and then rotated to a locking position to facilitate reassembly of the couplers with a minimum of effort. Alternate embodiments of the invention disclose other forms of spring means for accurately controlling the force at which the couplers will separate.

Abstract: A poppet valve assembly and method of making same are provided and such assembly comprises a housing; a flow passage in the housing with the passage having a central axis and being adapted to flow a fluid in either direction therethrough; a poppet structure for controlling flow through the passage; a support structure for supporting the poppet structure during movement thereof along the axes; an actuator contact on the poppet structure between its head and stem to enable movement of the poppet structure along the axes; and apparatus for engaging the contact to provide the movement wherein the support structure comprises a cylindrical inside surface provided on the housing and having an axial length generally of the order of several times the particular diameter, and the support structure also comprises a cylindrical outside surface on the stem which slideably engages the inside surface, with the inside and outside surface cooperating and defining sole means confining the poppet structure against movements tra

Abstract: A vapor recovery nozzle, employed in minimizing atmospheric pollution by fuel vapors is described. The nozzle comprises a bellows which is compressed against the fill pipe of a vehicle fuel tank during discharge of fuel therein. The bellows surrounds a nozzle spout to define a vapor return flow path which extends through a nozzle body. The body of the nozzle is compositely formed by a body member and a vapor path cap which compositely define the vapor return flow passage. Flow of fuel is controlled by a control valve which may be opened, or maintained opened, by an operating lever only when a trip mechanism stem is latched in an operative position. A mechanical interlock prevents latching of the trip mechanism stem unless the bellows is compressed in sealing engagement with a fill pipe. When the bellows is so compressed, the trip stem is latched. If the level of fuel in the fill pipe covers the end of the spout, vacuum actuated means unlatch the trip mechanism stem.

Abstract: A containment device for minimizing soil contamination in filling underground storage tanks, comprises a bucket member, a bottom member and a bellows connection between the bottom member and a riser pipe extension. These elements comprise an upwardly open spillage container. A lower bellows connects the bottom member and the riser pipe extension, comprising a lower chamber. The containment device is mounted on the riser pipe of an underground tank by threading the lower end of the riser pipe extension thereon. A valve controlled passage, through the bottom member, permits spilled fuel to be drained from the spillage container into the lower chamber and then through openings in the riser pipe extension into the storage tank. The bottom member is releasably secured to the bucket member and the bellows are releasably clamped to the riser pipe extension, to permit these items to be removed from the bucket member for repair and replacement.

Abstract: An emergency valve shuts off the flow of fuel in the event a fuel dispenser is struck with sufficient force to rupture the fuel conduit means therefor. The valve comprises a lower housing connected to a source of pressurized fuel and an upper housing connected to conduit means which extend to a dispensing nozzle. The upper housing has a groove which defines the plane of a weakened portion. When the impacted with a relatively high lateral force, the portion of the upper housing, above the groove, will separate, or break away. A normally open, main control, is mounted in the lower housing. A check valve is mounted in the upper housing. When the separable portion of the upper housing breaks away, both the flapper valve and the check valve automatically close to minimize spillage of fuel. A bleed valve is provided to relieve pressure in the fuel conduit means to which the separable portion of the upper housing is connected, in the event a fire occurs upon its breaking away.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing nozzle construction, a diaphragm subassembly therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the diaphragm subassembly comprising a pin, a diaphragm support carried by the pin, a diaphragm, and a diaphragm retainer securing the diaphragm to the pin with the diaphragm being disposed and sandwiched between the diaphragm retainer and the diaphragm suppport, the diaphragm subassembly having structure requiring the descrution of at least one part of the diaphragm subassembly when the diaphragm subassembly has the parts thereof disassembled.

Abstract: A poppet valve assembly and method of making same are provided and such assembly comprises a housing; a flow passage in the housing with the passage having a central axis and being adapted to flow a fluid in either direction therethrough; a poppet structure for controlling flow through the passage; a support structure for supporting the poppet structure during movement thereof along the axes; an actuator contact on the poppet structure between its head and stem to enable movement of the poppet structure along the axes; and apparatus for engaging the contact to provide the movement wherein the support structure comprises a cylindrical inside surface provided on the housing and having an axial length generally of the order of several times the particular diameter, and the support structure also comprises a cylindrical outside surface on the stem which slideably engages the inside surface, with the inside and outside surfaces cooperating and defining sole means confining the poppet structure against movements tr

Abstract: A quick connect-disconnect coupling comprises a coupler joined to a standardized adapter to provide for fluid flow between first and second conduits. Locking mechanism comprises a four bar linkage which minimizes the manual effort required to connect and disconnect the coupler from the adapter. An over the center relation of the four bar linkage locks the coupler in coupled relation to the adapter to minimize inadvertent decoupling.

Abstract: A fluid dispensing nozzle construction, bellows-like tube therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the construction comprising a valve body having a dispensing spout extending therefrom, and a flexible bellows-like tube of polymeric material telescopically disposed on the spout and having opposed ends one of which is secured to the valve body and the other of which carries a face seal for engaging an annular lip of fill pipe of a fluid storage tank to seal around an opening in the fill pipe when the spout is inserted therein, the spout having an abutment for interlocking with an abutment of the fill pipe that is adjacent the opening thereof when the spout has been inserted into the opening a certain amount.

Abstract: An outlet valve comprising a unitary housing is described. An inlet end of the housing has a flange for attachment of the valve to the discharge conduit of a tote tank, and an outlet end of the housing has a flange for attachment of a dry disconnect coupler for delivery of product from the tank. A bridge member provides a sliding journal for the stem of a poppet assembly which is held in a closed position by a spring acting against the bridge. The bridge and poppet assembly can be removed for cleaning by removal of a snap ring which holds the bridge member in place in a bore in the housing. Cleaning is further facilitated by the opening of the groove into the bore being relatively wide. Clearance for mounting the dry disconnect coupler to the outlet end of the housing is provided by angling the inlet end of the housing relative to the remainder of the valve.