DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to device for liquids to be filled into and/or dispensed from containers. In particular, the present invention relates to a nozzle for filling liquids such as oil / petrol / diesel / coolants through an arrangement, whereby no such liquid is lost due to dripping thereof. More particularly, the present invention relates to a dripless nozzle for dispensing liquids, such as oil, petrol, diesel, coolants etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For filling and/or dispensing liquids like oils, petrol, diesel or coolants etc. the nozzle design is very important. By using any arrangement in which, after dispensing certain specific quantity of liquid, the residual liquid drips from nozzle tip as a free flow, downgrades the housekeeping quality of the working area and also causes significant wastage of such liquids, which are predominantly expensive.

Normally, the liquid flows from an overhead or underground tank by the pump pressure through the nozzle and the pump stops after dispensing a predefined quantity of liquid. The nozzle allows the liquid remaining inside it to free flow due to the gravitational force. This is a serious impediment which is harmful to the working area as well as produces wasteful and undesirable effects. At present, there is no mechanism to stop this wasteful dripping of liquid from the dispensing nozzle tip to the ground. In our day to day life, we often experience this problem while filling petrol / diesel in our vehicles.

The conventional system for filling liquids in any vessel (e.g. at petrol pumps) is through the nozzle, where this expensive petrol/diesel is found dripping through the nozzle tip after dispensing a certain quantity thereof. The pump with a dispensing capacity of 25 LPM or more stops after a certain amount of liquid is dispensed through the pump.

However, the residual liquid present inside the pipe connected to the pump at one end and connected to the dispensing nozzle at the other end is not equipped to stop the free flow of liquid and unfortunately this dripping liquid completely goes waste.

Such dripping from the liquid dispensing nozzles is also quite dangerous, particularly in shop floors of manufacturing plants and servicing areas, where a huge oil spilling on the ground is regularly observed, which thereby makes the shop floors unsafe.

DISADVANTAGES WITH THE CONVENTIONAL LIQUID DISPENSERS

The following are the disadvantages with the conventional system for dispensing liquid discussed above:

• Liquid wastage (natural resources of fossil fuel)
• Inefficient liquid dispensing
• Hazardous working environment
• Serious Fire safety challenge

Therefore, the liquid dispensing nozzle must include an auto shut-off mechanism which is triggered as soon the pump stops dispensing.

PRIOR ART AND DISADVANTAGES THEREOF

US 5377729A discloses a check valve device for a fuel pump nozzle comprising a stopper with a slidable stem extending through the bore of support member securely engaged within the nozzle passage near the dispensing end thereof. The stopper has an offset plug member firmly attached to the stem to shut-off the nozzle passage by urging a spring mounted about the stem between the support member and stop member securely attached about the stem near the opposite end thereof. The check valve device prevents liquid such as gasoline from dripping or escaping out of the dispensing end of the nozzle when liquid is not being dispensed through the nozzle. However, the construction and operation of the check valve device based on spring action is substantially different from the pneumatic cylinder of the present invention.

US 7735529 B2 discloses a dripless nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle. The nozzle includes a body portion and a spout extending from the body portion. The spout passes fuel from the body portion to a vehicle. The body portion includes a fuel flow control member for allowing or preventing fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout into the vehicle. The spout has first and second portions. The first portion of the spout is positioned adjacent the body portion and the second portion of the spout is removed from the body portion. Preferably, at least one fuel collection member is provided for collecting fuel remaining in the body portion and the spout after the fuel control member shuts-off the flow of fuel through the spout to prevent dripping of fuel from the end of the spout. However, the construction and operation of the dual-fuel collection areas disclosed in this citation is substantially different from the pneumatic cylinder of the present invention.

US 8066037 B2 discloses a nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle, which includes a body portion and a spout extending therefrom. The spout passes fuel from the body portion to a vehicle during refueling. The body portion includes a fuel flow control member to allow or prevent fuel from passing through the body portion and spout into the vehicle. A fuel collector collects the residual fuel in the body portion and spout after the fuel flow control member shuts-off the fuel flow through the body portion and spout. Preferably, the fuel collector is configured to allow fuel collected in the fuel collector when the vehicle is being refueled to drain into the fuel tank of the vehicle after the flow control member prevents fuel from passing through the body portion and the spout but prior to removal of the spout from the fuel tank of the vehicle.; It is further preferred that the fuel collector be configured such that it has a centrally located hollow passageway for permitting fuel to pass through the fuel collector while the vehicle is being refueled. The fuel collector and sidewalls of the nozzle are preferably configured to maximize the size of the passageway through which fuel passes while the vehicle is being refueled. However, the construction and operation of the cylindrical fuel collector having an inner tubular member and an outer profiled/inclined tubular member disclosed in this citation is substantially different from the pneumatic cylinder of the present invention.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Some of the objects of the present invention - satisfied by at least one embodiment of the present invention - are as follows:

An object of the present invention is to provide a dripless nozzle for dispensing liquids.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dripless nozzle for dispensing liquids, which is simple in construction and thus inexpensive.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dripless nozzle for dispensing liquids, which prevents leakage of the residual liquid from the nozzle.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a dripless nozzle for dispensing liquids, which enhances safety in the shop floors.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a dripless nozzle for dispensing liquids, which reduces risks to personnel due to liquid contaminated work areas as well as occurrence of fire due to leakages of dripped liquids.

A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a dripless nozzle for dispensing liquids, which avoids wastage of costly liquid during dispensing thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description, when read with the accompanying figures of drawing, which are however not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The nozzle made in accordance with the present invention is configured such that as soon as the liquid dispensing pump is stopped, a conical stopper connected to a small pneumatic cylinder is lowered to perfectly align and seat in the corresponding conical cavity formed in the outlet of the liquid dispensing nozzle. Preferably, the conical stopper is made of a chemically inactive material such as Ebonite. This conical stopper is very important as it stops the flow of liquid matching with the female cone cavity.

Nozzle is configured with a standard pneumatic cylinder disposed at the top and opposite the dispensing outlet thereof in order to stop the free flow of liquid by sealing the conical cavity by this conical stopper made of ebonite.

Preferably, the conical surfaces of the conical stopper and the conical cavity make an angle of about 180 with the axis of the liquid dispenser.

As soon as the liquid dispensing pump stop operation, the pneumatic cylinder is actuated to lower the conical stopper and once seated in the conical cavity in the nozzle outlet, the residual liquid flow stops completely.

Thereby, any free flow of the liquid is totally avoided to protect personnel, work areas as well as to stop wastage of expensive liquids, such as petrol, diesel, coolants etc.

This dripless nozzle configuration can be deployed in any type of liquid dispensing system. This system works even when the day reservoir tank is situated overhead.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a dripless liquid dispensing nozzle assembly connected to a liquid dispensing pump, comprising:
• a nozzle body, preferably a cylindrical hollow body having an inlet and an outlet and configured with a conical cavity in the center of the inner bottom surface thereof;

• a liquid supply line connected to the inlet of the nozzle body;

• a spout formed at the outlet of the nozzle body for dispensing liquid therefrom;

• a pneumatic cylinder assembly is disposed above the nozzle body;

wherein the pneumatic cylinder assembly is selectively operated by means of a controller to allow dispensing of liquid from the nozzle assembly when the liquid dispensing pump is on or to prevent any liquid dripping from the nozzle assembly when the liquid dispensing pump is switched off.

Typically, the pneumatic cylinder assembly comprises a centrally depending ram disposed from the bottom surface thereof and the distant end thereof fitted with a stopper configured to be selectively lowered to be seated in a sealing manner in the central cavity of the nozzle body to prevent any liquid dripping or selectively raised therefrom for allowing liquid to be dispensed.

Typically, the controller is a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured for controlling the selective lowering and raising of the ram fitted with the stopper.

Typically, the PLC is configured to read a scanning bar code or adapted to be entered with the liquid quantity to be dispensed.

Typically, the PLC is configured to allow dispensing a predefined liquid quantity until the liquid dispensing pump is stopped.

Typically, the stopper is configured as a conical stopper and the cavity is configured as a conical cavity.

Typically, the conical surfaces of the conical stopper and the conical cavity make an angle of about 180 with the axis of the liquid dispensing nozzle assembly.
Typically, the conical stopper and the conical cavity mutually compliment the profiles thereof for ensure a complete sealing of the spout formed at the outlet of the nozzle body for preventing any liquid dripping therefrom.

Typically, the stopper is made of ebonite.

In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a process for selective liquid dispensing by using a nozzle assembly connected to a liquid dispensing pump, the process comprises the steps of:

• Selecting a predefined liquid quantity programed by the PLC reading the scanning bar code or the quantity entered therein;

• Switching on the liquid dispensing pump;

• Receiving by the PLC a liquid flow signal through a flow meter to determine the liquid quantity to be discharged;

• Stopping the liquid dispensing pump as soon the predefined liquid quantity is dispensed from the nozzle assembly;

• Issuing a signal by the PLC to the pneumatic cylinder on stoppage of the liquid dispensing pump, for enabling the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder;

• Lowering the ram of the pneumatic cylinder into the cavity configured in the nozzle assembly;

• Completely sealing the conical cavity by completely resting the stopper by closing the free flow of liquid from the nozzle spout; and

• Issuing another signal by the PLC, whenever the liquid dispensing pump is to be switched on again for liquid dispensing to retract the stopper from the sealed cavity to enable the liquid flow through the spout of the liquid dispensing nozzle assembly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The present invention will be briefly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 shows a conventional liquid dispensing nozzle assembly with the liquid dripping even after liquid dispensing pump has been stopped from dispensing liquid.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the liquid dripping from the nozzle assembly of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a schematic arrangement of the dripless liquid dispensing nozzle assembly configured in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the dripless nozzle assembly shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 5 shows the liquid flow though the nozzle assembly of Fig. 4, while the liquid dispensing pump is in operation.

Figure 6 shows the liquid flow though the nozzle of Fig. 4 after stopping the liquid dispensing pump due gravitation free flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

In the following, the dripless system for dispensing liquid configured in accordance with the present invention will be described in more details with reference to the accompanying drawings without limiting the scope and ambit of the present invention in any way.

Figure 1 shows a conventional liquid dispensing nozzle assembly with liquid dripping even after the liquid dispensing pump has been stopped from dispensing liquid. It includes a liquid dispensing nozzle assembly 10 connected via a supply hose 12 to a liquid storage device (not shown). The nozzle assembly 10 is used for dispensing liquid in a container 20. However, for the reason discussed above, there is dripping 14 of the residual liquid present in the spout 16 even after the liquid dispensing pump (not shown) has been stopped after delivery of a predetermined quantity of liquid therefrom.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the liquid dripping from the nozzle assembly of Figure 1. Although, the supply hose 12 has stopped (x) supplying liquid to the liquid dispensing nozzle assembly 10 via supply hose 12, there is some residual liquid 18 present inside the liquid dispensing nozzle 10, which drips as leakage 14 through the spout 16 thereof. This dripping liquid 14 poses a safety and fire hazard and also constitutes wastage.

Figure 3 shows a schematic arrangement of the dripless liquid dispensing nozzle assembly 100 configured in accordance with the present invention. It includes a supply line 102 for supplying liquid to the nozzle assembly 100. An electrical line 104 and a pneumatic line 106 is connected to a pneumatic cylinder 110 disposed at the top of the spout 116, which dispenses liquid to the container 120 through an inlet 122 thereof.

Figure 4 shows an enlarged schematic cross-sectional view of the dripless nozzle assembly 100 shown in Figure 3. It includes a supply line 102 for supplying liquid to the nozzle assembly 100 disposed inside the body 108 thereof. The pneumatic cylinder 110 is disposed at the top of the spout 116 on the nozzle body 108. A ram carrying a conical stopper 112 at the bottom end thereof is provided for opening and closing a conical cavity 114 at the inlet of the spout 116 by means of the pneumatic cylinder 110 on starting and stopping the liquid dispensing pump (not shown).

Figure 5 shows the liquid flow though the nozzle assembly 100 of Fig. 4, while the liquid dispensing pump (not shown) is in operation. Here, the conical cavity 114 is open as the conical stopper 112 is maintained slightly raised above the conical cavity 114 to allow the liquid 114 to be dispensed through the spout 116 thereof.
Figure 6 shows the liquid flow though the nozzle assembly 100 of Fig. 4 once the liquid dispensing is stopped (x) by the pump (not shown). Here, the conical cavity 114 is closed by the conical stopper 112 brought down therein. This completely closes the conical cavity 114 for stopping the liquid from being dispensed through the spout 116 thereof. Although, a certain amount of residual liquid 118 is present inside the body 108 of the nozzle assembly 100 even after this stoppage of the liquid dispensing pump. No liquid drips down from this completely closed and sealed nozzle spout 116. Accordingly, this configuration of the dripless liquid dispensing nozzle assembly 100 successfully eliminates safety or fire hazards normally present with the conventional dispensing nozzle assembly 10. This also eliminates avoidable wastage of costly liquids like petrol, diesel, coolants in their respective fields of applications while using such dripless dispensing nozzles assembly 100.

WORKING OF THE INVENTION

The sequence of operation of the dripless liquid dispensing nozzle configured in accordance with the present invention is given below:

• Select the quantity programed by scanning bar code or by entering quantity.

• Switch-on the liquid dispensing machine.

• Pump is started and a signal of the liquid flow through the flow meter is received by the PLC. The flow meter determines the liquid quantity being discharged.

• PLC is programed for a predefined quantity, and as soon this predefined liquid quantity is dispensed, the pump is stopped.

• On stoppage of the pump, a signal is issued to the pneumatic cylinder 110 disposed above the liquid dispensing nozzle spout 116 for actuation thereof.

• The pneumatic cylinder 110 lowers the ram fitted with a conical stopper 112 at its lower end thereof into conical cavity 114 of nozzle assembly 100.

• This conical stopper 112 seals the conical cavity 114 by completely closing to stop the free flow of liquid from the open nozzle spout 116.

• Whenever, the pump is switched on again, another signal is issued to the pneumatic cylinder 110 to retract the conical stopper 112 from the seat of the conical cavity 114.

• Thereby, it enables the liquid to again flow through the liquid dispensing nozzle assembly 100.

TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE

The dripless liquid dispensing nozzle configured in accordance with the present invention has the following technical and economic advantages:

• Eliminates safety and fire hazards due to liquid dripping on shop floor/work areas.

• Avoids wastage of expensive liquids like petrol, diesel, oil, coolant etc.

• Simple and inexpensive construction.

• Facilitates an efficient liquid dispensing.

• Deployable in any type of liquid dispensers.

In the previously detailed description, different features have been summarized for improving the conclusiveness of the representation in one or more examples. However, it should be understood that the above description is merely illustrative, but not limiting under any circumstances. It helps in covering all alternatives, modifications and equivalents of the different features and exemplary embodiments.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept. Many other examples are directly and immediately clear to the skilled person because of his/her professional knowledge in view of the above description.

These innumerable changes, variations, modifications, alterations may be made and/or integrations in terms of materials and method used may be devised to configure, manufacture and assemble various constituents, components, subassemblies and assemblies according to their size, shapes, orientations and interrelationships. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments.

The exemplary embodiments described in this specification are intended merely to provide an understanding of various manners in which this embodiment may be used and to further enable the skilled person in the relevant art to practice this invention. The description herein is purely exemplary and for illustration.

Throughout this specification the word “comprise”, or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”, shall be understood to implies including a described element, integer or method step, or group of elements, integers or method steps, however, does not imply excluding any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or method steps. In the claims and the description, the terms “containing” and “having” are used as linguistically neutral terminologies for the corresponding terms “comprising”.

The use of the expression “a”, “at least” or “at least one” shall imply using one or more elements or ingredients or quantities, as used in the embodiment of the disclosure in order to achieve one or more of the intended objects or results of the present invention. Furthermore, the use of the term “one” shall not exclude the plurality of such features and components described.

The numerical values given of various physical parameters, dimensions and quantities are only approximate values and it is envisaged that the values higher or lower than the numerical value assigned to the physical parameters, dimensions and quantities fall within the scope of the disclosure unless there is a statement in the specification to the contrary.

The various features and advantageous details are explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiment/s in the above description in accordance with the present invention. The descriptions of well-known components and manufacturing and processing techniques are consciously omitted in this specification, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the specification. ,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A dripless liquid dispensing nozzle assembly connected to a liquid dispensing pump, comprising:

• a nozzle body, preferably a cylindrical hollow body having an inlet and an outlet and configured with a conical cavity in the center of the inner bottom surface thereof;

• a liquid supply line connected to the inlet of said nozzle body;

• a spout formed at the outlet of said nozzle body for dispensing liquid therefrom;

• a pneumatic cylinder assembly is disposed above said nozzle body;

wherein said pneumatic cylinder assembly is selectively operated by means of a controller to allow dispensing of liquid from said nozzle assembly when said liquid dispensing pump is on or to prevent any liquid dripping from said nozzle assembly when said liquid dispensing pump is switched off.

2. Nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pneumatic cylinder assembly comprises a centrally depending ram disposed from the bottom surface thereof and the distant end thereof fitted with a stopper configured to be selectively lowered to be seated in a sealing manner in said central cavity of said nozzle body to prevent any liquid dripping or selectively raised therefrom for allowing liquid to be dispensed.

3. Nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller is a programmable logic controller (PLC) configured for controlling the said selective lowering and raising of said ram fitted with said stopper.

4. Nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said PLC is configured to read a scanning bar code or adapted to be entered with the liquid quantity to be dispensed.
5. Nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said PLC is configured to allow dispensing a predefined liquid quantity until said liquid dispensing pump is stopped.

6. Nozzle assembly as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said stopper is configured as a conical stopper and said cavity is configured as a conical cavity.

7. Nozzle assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein said conical stopper and said conical cavity mutually compliment the profiles thereof for ensure a complete sealing of the said spout formed at the outlet of said nozzle body for preventing any liquid dripping therefrom.

8. Nozzle assembly as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the conical surfaces of said conical stopper and said conical cavity make an angle of about 180 with the axis of said liquid dispensing nozzle assembly.

9. Nozzle assembly as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, wherein said stopper is made of ebonite.

10. A process for selective liquid dispensing by using a nozzle assembly connected to a liquid dispensing pump and as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 9, the process comprises the steps of:

• Selecting a predefined liquid quantity programed by said PLC reading the scanning bar code or the quantity entered therein;

• Switching on said liquid dispensing pump;

• Receiving by said PLC a liquid flow signal through a flow meter to determine the liquid quantity to be discharged;

• Stopping said liquid dispensing pump as soon said predefined liquid quantity is dispensed from said nozzle assembly;

• Issuing a signal by the PLC to said pneumatic cylinder on stoppage of the liquid dispensing pump, for enabling the actuation of said pneumatic cylinder;

• Lowering said the ram of said pneumatic cylinder into said cavity configured in said nozzle assembly;

• Completely sealing said conical cavity by completely resting said stopper by closing the free flow of liquid from said nozzle spout; and

• Issuing another signal by said PLC, whenever said liquid dispensing pump is to be switched on again for liquid dispensing to retract said stopper from said sealed cavity to enable the liquid flow through the spout of said liquid dispensing nozzle assembly.

Dated: this 19th day of June 2017. SANJAY KESHARWANI
APPLICANT’S PATENT AGENT