Swivel joint of the fuel dispenser.

Abstract

DEPCT69 In order to provide a rotating joint for the fuel dispenser that prevents wear on the body... The rotation is prevented from being accelerated by the abrasive dust generated from the wear of the body for rotational purposes. The main body and bushing rotate smoothly relative to each other. The 20 rotating joint of the 100 fuel dispenser nozzle according to this invention shall be made to have Characteristic features include: a cylindrical main body, and bushings on the fuel dispensing side. Hollow element 1 is fitted into the fuel dispenser end 2A of the body. Principle 2; The hollow fuel hose bushing 3 is fitted into the end. The fuel hose 2B of the main body 2; the body for rotation 7 is placed between them. The surfaces for the assembly of main body 2 and bushing 1 allow for relative rotation of main body 2. And bushing 1; and body for rotation 7, which is placed between the surfaces for the fitting assembly. Main body 2 and bushing 3 to allow relative rotation of main body 2 and bushing 3 where no piece is provided. Assembled for sealing in the surface area for the assembly of the main body 2 and bushing 1 where The rotating body 7 will be positioned towards the main body end 1B of bushing 1 and others. And the sealing components 8 and 9 will be provided in the surface area for assembly. The main body 2 and bushing 1, where the rotating body 7 is located, are positioned towards the dispensing end. Fuel 2A for the main trunk 2 and others;

Description

Fuel nozzle swivel joint

[0001] The present invention relates to a swivel joint used when connecting a fuel filler nozzle of a fuel filler device to the tip of a fuel filler hose.

[0002] As shown in FIG. 1, connecting a fuel filler nozzle 30 to the tip of a fuel filler hose 31 via a swivel joint 20 improves the operability of the fuel filler nozzle 30 and expands the fuel fill range (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Although not shown in Figure 1, swivel joint 20 is equipped with a rotating body (ball) to ensure smooth rotation, and the area where this rotating body is located is filled with lubricating oil. However, when the body and bushing of swivel joint 20 rotate and slide relative to each other, the rotating body wears and generates wear powder. This powder further accelerates wear of the rotating body and interferes with sliding when the body and bushing of swivel joint 20 rotate relative to each other.

[0004] Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 183399 / 1983

[0005] The present invention has been proposed in consideration of the problems of the prior art described above, and aims to provide a swivel joint for a fuel nozzle that prevents wear on the rotating body from being accelerated by wear powder generated by wear on the rotating body, and that allows the main body and bushing to rotate smoothly relative to each other.

[0006] The swivel joint 20 of the fuel filler nozzle 100 of the present invention comprises a cylindrical main body 2, a hollow fuel filler nozzle side bushing 1 that fits into the fuel filler nozzle side end 2A of the main body 2, a hollow fuel filler hose side bushing 3 that fits into the fuel filler hose side end 2B of the main body 2, and a rotating body 7 that is interposed between the fitting surfaces of the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle side bushing 1 and between the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose side bushing 3 and allows relative rotation between the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle side bushing 1 and between the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose side bushing 3, and from a position where the rotating body 7 is located on the fitting surfaces of the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle side bushing 1 A sealing member is not provided in the region toward the main body side end 1B of the fuel filler nozzle side bushing 1, and in the region of the fitting surface between the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose side bushing 3 from the position where the rotor 7 is located toward the main body side end 3B of the fuel filler hose side bushing 3, but sealing members 8 and 9 are provided in the region of the fitting surface between the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle side bushing 1 from the position where the rotor 7 is located toward the fuel filler nozzle side end 2A of the main body 2, and in the region of the fitting surface between the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose side bushing 3 from the position where the rotor 7 is located toward the fuel filler hose side end 2B of the main body 2.

[0007] In the present invention, the sealing members 8, 9 arranged on the mating surfaces of the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle side bush 1, and on the mating surfaces of the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose side bush 3, are preferably configured as packings 8, 9 that are generally annular and have a U-shaped cross section.

[0008] The packings 8, 9 have a flat base over the entire circumference and two concentrically arranged ridges protruding from the base, and it is preferable that one surface of the packings 8, 9 is flush with the abutment surface between the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle side bush 1 or the abutment surface between the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose side bush 3.

[0009] In the swivel joint 20 having the above-described configuration, no seal members are provided in the region of the mating surface between the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle bushing 1 extending from the location of the rotor 7 toward the main body end 1B of the fuel filler nozzle bushing 1, and in the region of the mating surface between the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose bushing 3 extending from the location of the rotor 7 toward the main body end 3B of the fuel filler hose bushing 3. Therefore, fuel oil flowing through the interior of the swivel joint 20 reaches the rotor 7 via these two regions. Therefore, when fuel is supplied by the fuel supply device and the pressure in the flow passage fluctuates due to refueling and refueling stoppages, the fuel oil moves from the internal flow passage of the swivel joint 20 to the rotor 7 and then from the rotor 7 to the internal flow passage. This movement of fuel oil causes wear debris from the rotor 7 to flow into the internal flow passage and not accumulate near the rotor 7. Because the amount of wear debris generated is extremely small, no inconvenience occurs even if the wear debris is carried into the internal flow passage by the fuel oil. Furthermore, because the rotor 7 is immersed in fuel oil, it is lubricated in the same way as when lubricating oil is poured in, and wear is suppressed. And because the fuel oil acts as a lubricant, there is no need to pour in a separate lubricant (grease, etc.), and therefore there is no need to periodically replenish the lubricant.

[0010] Meanwhile, sealing members 8 and 9 are provided on the mating surfaces of the main body 2 and the fuel filler nozzle bushing 1 in a region extending from the location of the rotor 7 toward the fuel filler nozzle end 2A of the main body 2, and on the mating surfaces of the main body 2 and the fuel filler hose bushing 3 in a region extending from the location of the rotor 7 toward the fuel filler hose end 2B of the main body 2. These sealing members 8 and 9 prevent fuel oil from leaking outside the swivel joint 20. These sealing members 8 and 9 also prevent rainwater, salty water, and disinfectant from penetrating into the rotor 7 from the outside of the swivel joint 20 and causing rust. Furthermore, degraded and reduced-viscosity lubricating oil will not leak outside the swivel joint 20, eliminating complaints from customers mistakenly believing that fuel oil has leaked.

[0011] As described above, pressure fluctuations in the internal flow passages due to fuel supply and stoppage are transmitted to the housing portions (ball-containing portions 4, 5) of the seal members 8, 9, causing the seal members 8, 9 to move in the longitudinal direction CL in their housing portions. This movement further promotes the movement of fuel oil, making it easier for wear debris from the rotating body 7 to be discharged from the housing portion.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a fuel filler nozzle provided with a swivel joint. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a swivel joint of a conventional fuel filler nozzle and its vicinity. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a swivel joint of a fuel filler nozzle according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken at a cross section different from that of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a view showing the swivel joint of FIG. 3, corresponding to the view seen from the arrow A2 of FIG. 2. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining the action of a sealing member of the swivel joint of FIG. 3. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a type of U-packing different from that normally used. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a problem when a U-packing is provided at a position separated from the end of the main body.

[0013] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. To understand the illustrated embodiment, a conventional swivel joint for a fuel nozzle will first be described with reference to FIG.

[0014] 2, the swivel joint 20 of the fuel filler nozzle 100, which is configured to be freely rotatable, includes a fuel filler nozzle-side bushing (hereinafter referred to as "bush") 1, a main body 2, and a fuel filler hose-side bushing (hereinafter referred to as "bush") 3. The bushing 1 and the main body 2 are rotatable relative to each other, and the bushing 3 and the main body 2 are rotatable relative to each other, thereby improving the operability of the fuel filler nozzle 100.

[0015] The main body 2 and bushes 1 and 3 are hollow. Bush 1 is fitted to an inner circumferential surface 2C of an end 2A of the main body 2 on the fuel filler nozzle side, and bush 3 is fitted to an inner circumferential surface 2D of an end 2B of the main body 2 on the fuel filler hose side. Bush 1 is connected to a fuel filler nozzle main body (not shown in Fig. 2), and bush 3 is connected to a fuel filler hose (not shown). In Fig. 2, arrow AN indicates the fuel filler nozzle main body side.

[0016] The fuel nozzle 100 in Figure 2 has a portion on the bushing 1 side (nozzle-side ball-containing portion 4) in which a ball (rotating body) 7 is built in, and a portion on the bushing 3 side (hose-side ball-containing portion 5) in which a ball 7 is built in. Although not clearly shown in Figure 2, the main body 2 is provided with grease injection nipples for injecting grease (lubricant) into the nozzle-side ball-containing portion 4 and the hose-side ball-containing portion 5. When assembling the swivel joint 20, the ball 7 is inserted into the ball-containing portions 4 and 5 through holes for fastening the grease injection nipples (not shown).

[0017] 2, the bushings 1 and 3 have bushing protrusions T1 and T2 that protrude radially outward, against which the ends 2A and 2B of the main body 2 abut. In addition, a fuel oil seal member 6 (e.g., a U-packing) is provided on the mating surfaces between the outer peripheral surfaces 1A and 3A of the bushings 1 and 3 and the inner peripheral surfaces 2C and 2D of the main body 2, near the mating surfaces closer to the ends 1B and 3B of the bushings 1 and 3. The fuel oil seal member 6 is provided to prevent fuel oil flowing inside the swivel joint 20 from leaking to the outside.

[0018] When the main body 2 and the bushes 1, 3 rotate and slide relative to each other, the balls 7 wear in the ball-containing portions 4, 5. The wear debris generated by this wear accumulates in the ball-containing portions 4, 5, further accelerating wear of the ball 7 and reducing the sliding properties between the main body 2 and the bushes 1, 3. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the grease contained in the ball-containing portions 4, 5 may leak out of the swivel joint 20 from between the bushing protrusions T1, T2 and the ends 2A, 2B of the main body 2 via the mating surfaces between the inner circumferential surfaces 2C, 2D of the main body 2 and the outer circumferential surfaces 1A, 3A of the bushes 1, 3. Furthermore, there is a risk that rainwater, salty water, disinfectant, or the like may infiltrate from the outside of the swivel joint 20 via the grease leakage path. As a result, the parts into which the liquid has infiltrated may rust or decompose the grease contained in the ball-containing portions 4, 5.

[0019] Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Here, Fig. 3 shows a cross section taken along the line A4-A4 in Fig. 4, and Fig. 4 is a view of the swivel joint shown in Fig. 2 as seen from the direction indicated by the arrow A2. In the embodiment of the present invention described from Fig. 3 onwards, the same members as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0020] Although not shown in Figure 3, the swivel joint 20 is provided with a hose side end 2B of the main body 2, a bushing 3 and its outer peripheral surface 3A, an inner peripheral surface 2D of the main body 2 that fits into this bushing outer peripheral surface 3A, a main body side end 3B of the bushing 3, a hose side ball-containing portion 5, etc., similar to the one shown in Figure 2.

[0021] No seal is provided on the mating surfaces between the outer peripheral surfaces 1A, 3A of the bushings 1, 3 and the inner peripheral surfaces 2C, 2D of the main body 2, closer to the ends 1B, 3B. Therefore, fuel oil flowing through the flow passage 11 in the swivel joint 20 penetrates and reaches the ball-containing portions 4, 5. Because the ball 7 is immersed in the fuel oil, it is lubricated in the same way as lubricating oil, suppressing wear. Since the fuel oil acts as a lubricant, there is no need to inject grease separately. This eliminates the need for periodic lubricating oil replenishment. Furthermore, lubricating oil with reduced viscosity due to deterioration will not leak outside the swivel joint 20, eliminating the possibility of misinterpretation of a fuel oil leak. In FIG. 3 , a ball insertion hole 2E is connected to the ball-containing portions 4, 5, and the ball 7 is inserted into the ball-containing portions 4, 5 through the ball insertion hole 2E. A plug 12 is installed to close the ball insertion hole 2E.

[0022] When fuel is supplied by the fuel supply device and the pressure of the fuel oil in the flow passage 11 fluctuates due to supply and stoppage of fuel supply, the pressure fluctuations are attenuated but propagate to the fuel oil in the ball-incorporated portions 4 and 5 via the fitting surfaces between the outer circumferential surfaces 1A and 3A of the bushings 1 and 3 and the inner circumferential surfaces 2C and 2D of the main body 2. This pressure fluctuation allows the fuel oil to move between the flow passage 11 and the ball-incorporated portions 4 and 5. Even if the ball 7 is worn due to this movement, the resulting wear debris is carried to the flow passage 11. This prevents the ball 7 or the ball-incorporated portions 4 and 5 from being worn by the wear debris. Here, because the ball 7 is lubricated by the fuel oil, the amount of wear debris generated is extremely small, and no inconvenience occurs even if the wear debris is carried to the flow passage 11 by the fuel oil.

[0023] 3, a fuel filler nozzle-side seal member 8 (U-packing: seal member) is provided on the mating surface between the outer circumferential surface 1A of the bushing 1 and the inner circumferential surface 2C of the main body 2 in an area closer to the fuel filler nozzle than the ball-containing portion 4 (the side indicated by the arrow AN: left side in FIG. 3). The seal member 8 is generally annular and has a U-shaped cross section. The packing 8 has a base portion whose one surface (the surface abutting the end surface 1D) is flat over the entire circumference, and two concentrically arranged ridges (lips 8A, FIG. 5) protruding from the base portion.

[0024] 5, one side surface CT on the fuel filler nozzle side of the accommodation groove 1C that accommodates the seal member 8 is flush with the end surface 1D of the protruding portion T1 of the bushing 1. As a result, one surface of the fuel filler nozzle-side U-packing 8 is located on the end surface 1D of the protruding portion T1 of the bushing 1 (the abutment surface between the main body 2 and the bushing 1).

[0025] This U-packing 8 reliably seals the fuel oil in the region on the fuel filler nozzle side (arrow AN side) of the fitting surface between the outer peripheral surface 1A of the bushing 1 and the inner peripheral surface 2C of the main body 2, thereby preventing the fuel oil from leaking out of the swivel joint 20. To reliably prevent the fuel oil from leaking out of the swivel joint 20, the lip 8A of the U-packing 8 is positioned toward the ball-incorporating portion 4 side (the inside of the swivel joint 20).

[0026] The pressure in the flow passage 11 inside the swivel joint 20 is transmitted to the U-packing 8 via the mating surface between the outer peripheral surface 1A of the bushing 1 and the inner peripheral surface 2C of the main body 2. When pressure fluctuations in the flow passage caused by the start and stop of refueling are transmitted to the U-packing 8 via the fuel filler nozzle-side ball-mounted portion 4, the U-packing 8 moves within the housing groove 1C in the longitudinal direction CL of the swivel joint by a range indicated by a length L1 in Figure 5.

[0027] If the longitudinal dimension of the accommodation groove 1C (direction of arrow CL) is "L2" and the longitudinal dimension of the U packing 8 is "L3," then the range of movement L1 of the U packing 8 is expressed as L1 = L2 - L3. As the U packing 8 moves longitudinally within the range of length L1, the U packing 8 and the accommodation groove 1C of the U packing 8 act like a piston and cylinder, promoting the discharge of fuel oil from the U packing 8 side or the intake of fuel oil into the U packing 8 side. This further promotes the movement of fuel oil, making it easier for wear powder from the ball 7 in the fueling nozzle-side ball-incorporated portion 4 to be discharged from the ball-incorporated portion 4.

[0028] Although not shown in FIG. 3, a hose-side U-packing 9 (sealing member) configured similarly to the U-packing 8 (nozzle-side sealing member) is provided, and functions similarly to the U-packing 8 .

[0029] It is also possible to use X-packings instead of U-packings as the nozzle-side seal member 8 and the hose-side seal member 9. However, X-packings are larger than U-packings, which results in a corresponding increase in the weight of the cast body 2. Furthermore, because X-packings have twice as many lips (four) as U-packings, the lips abut against the body or bushing with a stronger force, resulting in stronger rotational (sliding) resistance between the body and bushing. Furthermore, X-packings are more susceptible to deformation due to relative rotation between the body and bushing than U-packings. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, U-packings are more suitable as seal members.

[0030] As the U-packing, not only the commonly used type but also the type of U-packing 13 shown in Figure 6 can be used. This modified U-packing 13 has not only a lip 13A on the open side but also a lip 13B on the opposite side (the so-called "closed side of the U"). The lip 13B is smaller than the lip 13A and is provided on one side of the closed U-shape (the upper side in Figure 6). Furthermore, O-rings and X-rings can also be used as the nozzle-side seal member 8 and the hose-side seal member 9.

[0031] Rainwater, saline water, and disinfectant present outside the swivel joint 20 may infiltrate the swivel joint 20 between the bushing protrusions T1, T2 and the ends 2A, 2B of the main body 2. As shown in FIG. 7 , if the U-packing 8 (sealing member) is located away from the end face 1D of the protrusion T1 of the bushing 1, disinfectant, rust inhibitor, rainwater, saline water, and other foreign matter may infiltrate the area on the ball-containing portion 4 side (on the right side in FIG. 7 ; the ball-containing portion 4 is not shown in FIG. 7 ). In FIG. 7 , the infiltration path is indicated by the dotted arrow A8. The infiltrated area (the area indicated by the symbol R8 in FIG. 7 ) of the mating surface between the main body 2 and the bushing 1 will then rust. Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment, the U-packing 8 is provided on the end face 1D of the protrusion T1 of the bushing 1 to prevent the above liquids from infiltrating the area on the ball-containing portion 4 side of the mating surface between the main body 2 and the bushing 1. U-packings 8 and 9 are arranged to receive pressure within the flow path to prevent fuel oil from leaking outside swivel joint 20, but because they are not subjected to pressure from the outside, they can prevent disinfectant, rainwater, and salty water from entering from outside swivel joint 20. This prevents rusting of ball 7 and ball-containing portions 4 and 5, and maintains the sliding properties of swivel joint 20.

[0032] The position of the U-packing has been described above for the nozzle-side U-packing 8, and the same applies to the position of the fuel supply hose-side U-packing 9, not shown in Figure 3. That is, the fuel supply hose-side U-packing 9 is disposed on the end face of the protruding portion T2 of the bushing 3. The other configurations and effects of the swivel joint 20 described with reference to Figures 3 to 7 are the same as those of the swivel joint shown in Figure 2.

[0033] The nozzle-side U-packing 8 is provided on the bushing 1. Although not explicitly shown in Figures 3 to 7, the fuel supply hose-side U-packing 9 is provided on the bushing 3. The U-packings 8, 9 can also be provided on the inner circumferential surfaces 2C, 2D of the main body 2. In this case, it is preferable to provide a buildup portion in the area of ​​the main body 2 radially outward from the locations where the U-packings 8, 9 are provided, in order to ensure a sufficient thickness. Even when the U-packings 8, 9 are provided on the inner circumferential surfaces 2C and 2D of the main body 2, the end face CT of the accommodation groove 1C that accommodates the U-packings 8, 9 is flush with the end faces of the bushing protrusions T1, T2.

[0034] It should be noted that the illustrated embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the technical scope of the present invention.

[0035] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1... Nozzle side bushing 1A... Outer peripheral surface of nozzle side bushing 1B... Body side end of nozzle side bushing 1C... Groove portion for accommodating U-packing 1D... End face of protruding portion T1 of nozzle side bushing 2... Body 2A... Fuel filler nozzle side end of body 2B... Fuel filler hose side end of body 2C... Fuel filler nozzle side inner peripheral surface of body 2D... Fuel filler hose side inner peripheral surface of body 3... Hose side bushing 3A... Outer peripheral surface of hose side bushing 3B... Body side end of hose side bushing 4... Fuel filler nozzle side ball-integrating portion 5... Fuel filler hose side ball-integrating portion 7... Ball (rotating body) 8... Nozzle side sealing member (nozzle side U-packing) 9... Hose side sealing member (hose side U-packing) 100... Fuel filler nozzle T1... Protruding portion of nozzle side bushing T2... Protruding portion of hose side bushing

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