Adapter for standardized flow line of service station urea dispensing gun, assembly comprising such adapter and method of dispensing urea using such adapter

Abstract

Adapter for a service station urea dispensing gun line equipped with a control element for opening / closing said line, said adapter, positionable around the flow line, having the form of an elongated hollow body delimiting an axial through passage developing longitudinally from a leading end of the hollow body towards the opposite led end of said hollow body, this hollow body housing a magnet extending around the axial through passage.The adapter has, at its leading end, a conical external shape, the cone of this conical leading end having a cross-section that increases from said conical leading end towards the opposite led end of said body, in that the external perimeter of the leading end of the body is at least at the level of the opening of the leading end less than 116 mm and in that the angle at the apex of the cone is between 16° and 36°, preferably between 20° and 32°. Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 4.

Description

Title of the invention: Adapter for a standardized flow line of a service station urea dispensing gun, an assembly comprising such an adapter and a method for dispensing urea using such an adapter

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter for a standardized flow line of a service station urea dispensing gun, an assembly comprising such an adapter and a method of dispensing urea using such an adapter.

[0002] It relates in particular to an adapter for a standardized flow line of a service station urea dispensing gun equipped with a control element for opening / closing said line in the form of a magnetic switch or a sliding ring housed inside a skirt surrounding said flow line, said adapter, positionable around the flow line, having the form of an elongated hollow body delimiting an axial through passage extending longitudinally from a so-called leading end of the hollow body towards the so-called driven end opposite said hollow body with the leading end corresponding to the first end by which said body is positioned around the flow line, this hollow body housing a magnet extending around at least a part of the axial through passage.

[0003] For many vehicles, the nitrogen oxides produced during the operation of internal combustion engines must be reduced using a system called an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalytic converter, which operates with a very pure and clear urea solution. This DIN-standardized urea solution is marketed under the brand name “AdBlue” (registered trademark). This urea solution is increasingly dispensed at service stations using a dispensing nozzle attached to a pump at the station. These dispensing nozzles have a flow line, i.e., a standardized dispensing line. To prevent the urea from being mixed with the fuel, market players use a dispensing nozzle incorporating an opening / closing control device, which may be in the form of a magnetic switch that can only be activated by the presence of a magnet in the inlet of the vehicle's fuel tank.However, some car fuel tank openings do not have a magnet, unlike those on vans and trucks. Furthermore, this limitation prevents refilling jerrycans. For these reasons, adapters, also known as keying devices, have appeared on the market in recent years. An adapter that incorporates a magnet, when positioned on the flow line of a fuel nozzle, simulates the presence of a magnet. from a magnetic reservoir, thus dispensing urea into any container offers numerous advantages. However, there are also more complex dispensing guns that incorporate, within their dispensing line, a control mechanism for opening / closing said line in the form of a sliding ring housed inside a skirt surrounding the dispensing line.

[0004] An object of the invention is to propose an adapter of the aforementioned type called universal whose design allows it to adapt both to control elements for the opening / closing of the flow line of a dispenser gun in the form of a magnetic switch or a sliding ring.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to an adapter for the flow line of a service station urea dispensing gun equipped with a control element for opening / closing said line in the form of a magnetic switch or a sliding ring housed inside a skirt surrounding said flow line. Said adapter, which can be positioned around the flow line, is in the form of an elongated hollow body delimiting a longitudinal axial passage extending from a leading end of the hollow body towards the opposite driven end of said hollow body, with the leading end corresponding to the first end by which said body is positioned around the flow line. This hollow body houses a preferably annular magnet extending around at least a portion of the axial passage. The adapter is characterized in that, at its leading end,an external conical shape, the cone of this conical leading end having a cross-section that increases from said conical leading end towards the opposite led end of said body, in that the external perimeter of the leading end of the body is at least 116 mm at the opening of the leading end and in that the apex angle of the cone is between 16° and 36°, preferably between 20° and 32°. It should be noted that by opening of the leading end is meant the area of ​​the leading end at which the axial passage opens outside the body. The external perimeter of the leading end of the body, that is to say the circumference of the leading end of the body, is at least 116 mm at the opening of the leading end. In other words, the diameter of the leading end is less than 36,5 mm. The fact that the outer perimeter of the driving end of the body is at least 116 mm at the opening of the driving end allows the driving end to penetrate at least partially inside the skirt when present and to form a drive element by moving the ring through contact with said ring. The fact that the angle at the apex of the cone is between allows for a clamping effect of the adapter inside the skirt. Thus, during the filling phase, the operator does not have to, to keep the adapter in place on the flow line, despite the fact that the spring-loaded sliding ring tends to exert pressure on the adapter in the direction of an adapter exiting the skirt.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, the outer perimeter of the leading end of the body is kept less than 116 mm at least up to a point on the body that is offset from the opening of the leading end by a distance of at least 10 mm.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the axial through passage is a cylindrical passage.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the inner diameter of the axial through passage is at least equal to 19.5 mm.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the body is in at least two parts. This results in easy insertion of the magnet into said body.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the magnet, which includes a north pole and a south pole, is oriented with the north pole closest to the leading end. This arrangement allows the adapter to always be used in the same direction on the flow line, regardless of the type of control device for opening / closing said line present on said line.

[0011] The invention further relates to an assembly comprising a service station urea dispensing gun including a flow line and an adapter positionable around said flow line, said flow line being equipped with an opening / closing control element in the form of a magnetic switch or a sliding ring housed inside a skirt surrounding said flow line, said adapter positionable around the flow line being in the form of an elongated hollow body delimiting a longitudinal axial passage extending from a so-called leading end of the hollow body towards the opposite so-called driven end of said hollow body with the leading end corresponding to the first end by which said body is positioned around the flow line,this hollow body housing a preferably annular magnet extending around at least part of the axial through passage, characterized in that the adapter has a conical external shape at its driving end, the cone of this conical driving end having a cross-section that increases from said conical driving end towards the opposite driven end of said body, in that the external perimeter of the driving end of the body is at least at the opening of the driving end less than 116 mm in order to be able to penetrate at least partially inside the skirt when it is present and to form a drive element in displacement of the ring by bearing on said ring and in that the angle at the apex of the cone is between 16° and 36°, preferably between 20° and 32° to allow to generate a , the effect of the adapter getting stuck inside the skirt.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the adapter is of the aforementioned type.

[0013] The invention further relates to a method of dispensing urea by means of a service station urea dispensing gun comprising a standardized flow line equipped with a control element for opening / closing said line in the form of a sliding ring housed inside a skirt surrounding said flow line, said method comprising a step of positioning an adapter around the flow line, characterized in that the adapter being of the aforementioned type, the step of positioning the adapter is continued until the leading end is introduced into the skirt and the leading end is brought into contact with the ring.

[0014] The invention further relates to a method of dispensing urea by means of a service station urea dispensing gun comprising a standardized flow line equipped with a control element for opening / closing said line in the form of a magnetic switch housed inside said flow line, said method comprising a step of positioning an adapter around the flow line, characterized in that the adapter being of the aforementioned type, the step of positioning the adapter is continued until the adapter is brought around the magnetic switch. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] [Fig-1] represents a cross-sectional view of an adapter according to the invention;

[0017] [Fig.2] represents a partially cross-sectional view of an assembly conforming to the invention with a detailed view of the connection of the adapter to the flow line of the gun in the unmounted state of the adapter on the line;

[0018] [Fig.3] represents a partial front view of an assembly according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.4] represents a partially cross-sectional view of an assembly conforming to the invention, the control element for opening / closing the flow line being a sliding ring housed inside a skirt, as well as a detailed view of the connection of the adapter to the gun line;

[0020] [Fig.5] represents a partially cross-sectional view of an assembly according to the invention, the control element for opening / closing the flow line being a magnetic switch with a detailed view of the connection of the adapter to the flow line of the gun.

[0021] As mentioned above, the invention relates to an adapter of the type shown in [Fig. 1]. This adapter 1 is intended to be positioned around the The flow line 12 of a urea dispenser nozzle 10, a known type of urea dispenser, is equipped with a control device 11 for opening and closing the line 12. This control device 11 may be a magnetic switch 110, as illustrated in [Fig. 5]. This magnetic switch 110 is configured to move from the closed position to the open position under the action of a magnet disposed at least partially around said magnetic switch 110. Alternatively, this control device 11 may be, as illustrated in [Fig. 2], a sliding ring 111 housed inside a skirt 112 surrounding the flow line 12. This ring 111 is spring-loaded. This spring (not shown) tends to return the ring 111 to a position corresponding to the closed position of the flow line 12.The sliding movement of the ring 111 along the flow conduit 12 against the action of the spring allows the flow conduit 12 to move from a closed position to an open position.

[0022] The adapter 1, which is intended to be positioned around the flow line 12, is in the form of an elongated hollow body 2 defining an axial passage 3 extending longitudinally from a leading end 4 of the hollow body 2 towards the opposite driven end 5 of said hollow body 2, with the leading end 4 corresponding to the first end by which the body 2 is positioned around the flow line 12. The body 2 is thus introduced by its leading end onto the flow line 12 of the dispensing gun 10 and, by means of said body 2, surrounds the line 12, as illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. The adapter 1 is moved axially along said line 12 to a position determined by the design of the line 12 and the control element 11 for opening / closing the line 12 fitted to said line 12.

[0023] To allow positioning of the adapter 1 on the pipe 12, the inner diameter of the axial through passage 3 of the adapter 1 is at least equal to 19.5 mm, this axial through passage 3 being a cylindrical passage.

[0024] The hollow body 2, represented as a body 2 in two parts 81 and 82 joined together by interlocking or welding, houses a magnet 6. This magnet 6 is, in the example shown, in the form of a ring surrounding the axial passage 3 of the body 2. This magnet 6 may be made of one or more parts. This annular magnet 6 may be in the form of a continuous or discontinuous ring. This magnet 6 comprises a North pole and a South pole. This magnet 6 is oriented with the North pole closest to the leading end 4 and the opposite pole furthest from the leading end 4.

[0025] The adapter 1 has, at its driving end 4, an external conical shape, in particular a frustoconical one. The cone 7 of this driving end 4 is conical presents a section which grows from said conical driving end 4 towards the opposite driven end 5 of the body 2. The outer perimeter of the driving end 4 of the body 2 is at least at the level of the opening of the lower driving end 4 of 116 millimeters to allow the driving end 4 of the body 2 to be able to penetrate at least partially inside the skirt 112, when it is present, and form a driving member in movement of the ring 111 by bearing on said ring 111.

[0026] The apex angle, represented in A in [Fig.1], of the cone 7 is between 16° and 36°, preferably between 20° and 32° to allow for a wedging effect of the adapter 1 inside the skirt 112. The outer perimeter of the leading end 4 of the body 2 is kept less than 116 millimeters, that is to say, kept at a diameter D of the leading end less than 36.5 millimeters at least up to a point of the body 2 separated from the opening of the leading end 4 by a distance L1 of at least 10 mm as illustrated in [Fig.4].

[0027] The invention also relates to the assembly formed by the adapter 1 and the dispenser gun 10 described above.

[0028] The distribution of urea by means of a service station urea dispenser gun 10 comprising a standardized flow line 12 equipped with a control element 11 for opening / closing the line 12 in the form of a sliding ring 111 housed inside a skirt 112 surrounding said flow line 12 comprises, at least one positioning step of an adapter 1 around the flow line 12 for the introduction of the flow line 12 into the axial passage 3 of the adapter 1 on the leading end side of the adapter 1, as illustrated in [Fig.2]. This step of positioning the adapter 1 around the flow conduit 12, by relative sliding displacement of the adapter 1 along the flow conduit 12, is continued until the leading end 4 is introduced into the skirt 112 and the leading end 4 comes to rest on the ring 111 as illustrated in figures 3 and 4.This support generates a sliding movement of the sliding ring 111 against the action of the spring (not shown), to control the opening of the flow conduit 12. The movement of the ring 111 is visible in [Fig. 4]. The interaction of the conical portions of the driving end 4 of the adapter 1 with the free edge of the skirt 112, as illustrated in [Fig. 4], allows the adapter 1 to be wedged and held in position, at least partially, inside the skirt 112 until further intervention by the operator. During this further intervention, the operator acts on the adapter 1 to cause a sliding movement of the adapter towards the free end of the flow conduit 12, once the dispensing is complete.

[0029] The distribution of urea by means of a 10-point urea dispenser at a service station comprising a standardized flow conduit 12 equipped with a control device 11 for opening / closing said conduit 12 in the form of a magnetic switch 110 housed inside said flow conduit 12, includes a positioning step of an adapter 1, as described above, around the flow conduit 12 by inserting the flow conduit 12 into the axial passage 3 of the adapter 1 on the leading end side of the adapter 1. The positioning step continues until the adapter 1 is brought around the magnetic switch 110. The interaction of the adapter 1 with the magnetic switch 110 allows the flow conduit 12 to move from the closed position to the open position. Removing the adapter 1 from the flow conduit 12, when the distribution is complete, allows the magnetic switch 110 to close the flow conduit 12.

[0030] The adapter 1, as described above, can be considered as a universal adapter adaptable to the standardized flow conduit of urea dispensing guns regardless of the type of control element for opening / closing said flow conduit 12.

[0031]

Claims

Claims

1. Adapter (1) for a flow pipe (12) of a service station urea dispenser gun (10) equipped with a member (11) for controlling the opening / closing of said pipe (12) in the form of a magnetic switch (110) or a sliding ring (111) housed inside a skirt (112) surrounding said flow pipe (12), said adapter (1), positionable around the flow pipe (12), being in the form of an elongated hollow body (2) delimiting an axial through passage (3) developing longitudinally from a so-called driving end (4) of the hollow body (2) towards the so-called driven end (5) opposite said hollow body (2) with the driving end (4) corresponding to the first end by which said body (2) is positioned around the flow pipe (12), this hollow body (2) housing a magnet (6), preferably annular, extending around at least part of the axial through passage (3),characterized in that the adapter (1) has, at its driving end (4), a conical external shape, the cone (7) of this conical driving end (4) having a section which increases from said conical driving end (4) in the direction of the driven end (5) opposite said body (2), in that the external perimeter of the driving end (4) of the body (2) is at least at the outlet of the driving end (4) less than 116 mm and in that the angle (A) at the apex of the cone (7) is between 16° and 36°, preferably between 20° and 32°.,

2. Adapter (1) for a flow line (12) of a urea dispenser gun (10) for a service station according to claim 1, characterized in that the outer perimeter of the driving end (4) of the body (2) is kept less than 116 mm at least up to a point of the body (2) spaced from the outlet of the driving end (4) by a distance at least equal to 10 mm.

3. Adapter (1) for a flow line (12) of a urea dispenser gun (10) for a service station according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the axial through passage (3) is a cylindrical passage.

4. Adapter (1) for a flow line (12) of a urea dispenser gun (10) for a service station according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner diameter of the axial through passage (3) is at least equal to 19.5 mm.

5. Adapter (1) for a flow line (12) of a urea dispenser gun (10) for a service station according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the body (2) is in at least two parts (81, 82).

6. Adapter (1) for a flow line (12) of a urea dispenser gun (10) for a service station according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the magnet (6) which comprises a north pole and a south pole is oriented with the north pole closest to the driving end (4).

7. Assembly comprising a service station urea dispenser gun (10) comprising a flow pipe (12) and an adapter (1) positionable around said flow pipe (12), said flow pipe (12) being equipped with a member (11) for controlling the opening / closing of said pipe (12) in the form of a magnetic switch (110) or a sliding ring (111) housed inside a skirt (112) surrounding said flow pipe (12), said adapter (1) positionable around the flow pipe (12) being in the form of an elongated hollow body (2) delimiting an axial through passage (3) developing longitudinally from a so-called driving end (4) of the hollow body (2) towards the so-called driven end (5) opposite said hollow body (2) with the driving end (4) corresponding to the first end by which said body (2) is positioned around the flow line (12),this hollow body (2) housing a preferably annular magnet (6) extending around at least part of the axial through passage (3), characterized in that the adapter (1) has at its driving end (4) a conical external shape, the cone (7) of this conical driving end (4) having a section which increases from said conical driving end (4) in the direction of the driven end (5) opposite said body (2), in that the external perimeter of the driving end (4) of the body (2) is at least at the level of the outlet (41) of the driving end (4) less than 116 mm to be able to penetrate at least partially inside the skirt (112) when it is present and to form a drive member for moving the ring (111) by pressing on said ring (111) and in that the angle at the apex of the cone is between 16° and 36°,preferably between 20° and 32° to enable a wedging effect of the adapter (1) to be generated inside the skirt (112).,

8. Assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the adapter (1) conforms to one of claims 2 to 6.

9. Method for dispensing urea by means of a service station urea dispenser gun (10) comprising a flow pipe (12) equipped with a member (11) for controlling the opening / closing of said pipe (12) in the form of a sliding ring (111) housed inside a skirt (112) surrounding said flow pipe (12), said method comprising a step of positioning an adapter (1) around the flow pipe (12), characterized in that the adapter (1) being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 6, the step of positioning the adapter (1) is continued until the driving end (4) is introduced into the skirt (112) and the driving end (4) comes to bear on the ring (111).

10. Method for dispensing urea by means of a service station urea dispenser gun (10) comprising a flow pipe (12) equipped with a member (11) for controlling the opening / closing of said pipe (12) in the form of a magnetic switch (110) housed inside said flow pipe (12), said method comprising a step of positioning an adapter (1) around the flow pipe (12), characterized in that the adapter (1) being in accordance with one of claims 1 to 6, the step of positioning the adapter (1) is continued until the adapter (1) is brought around the magnetic switch (110).

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