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US-12617667-B2 - Vapor line coupler

US12617667B2US 12617667 B2US12617667 B2US 12617667B2US-12617667-B2

Abstract

A system including an coupler configured to be coupled to an adapter, the coupler including a body defining a fluid path through which vapor is configured to flow, and a valve positioned in the fluid path. The valve is biased to a closed position and configured to be moved to an open position when the coupler is coupled to an adapter. The coupler further includes an arm coupled to the body, wherein the arm includes a first arm portion located on a first side of the body and a second arm portion located on a second, opposite side of the body. The arm is configured to be moved to an energized position wherein the first and second arm portions are both biased radially inwardly. The arm is thereby configured such that when the coupler receives the adapter, having a groove, in the coupler at a sufficient depth the first and second arm portions each move radially inwardly into the groove to thereby couple the coupler and the adapter.

Inventors

  • Jeffrey Scott Cousineau
  • Joseph Patrick Roth
  • Tod David Usrey

Assignees

  • Jeffrey Scott Cousineau
  • Joseph Patrick Roth
  • Tod David Usrey

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20241112

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A system including a coupler configured to be coupled to an adapter, the coupler comprising: a body defining a fluid path through which vapor is configured to flow; a valve positioned in the fluid path, wherein the valve is biased to a closed position and configured to be moved to an open position when the coupler is coupled to an adapter; and an arm coupled to the body, wherein the arm includes a first arm portion located on a first side of the body and a second arm portion located on a second, opposite side of the body, wherein the arm is configured to be moved to an energized position wherein the first and second arm portions are both biased radially inwardly and thereby configured such that when the coupler receives the adapter, having a groove, in the coupler at a sufficient depth the first and second arm portions each move radially inwardly into the groove to thereby couple the coupler and the adapter.
  2. 2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the arm is configured such that when the arm is in the energized position the first and second arm portions are deformed in a radially outward direction from their undeformed positions, to thereby cause the first and second arm portions to be biased radially inwardly.
  3. 3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the arm is configured such that the first and second arm portions are each deformable in the radially outward direction by engagement of the arm with an outer surface of the body when the arm is moved in an axially rearward direction.
  4. 4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the arm is positioned externally of the fluid path, wherein both arm portions are oriented generally parallel to the fluid path, and wherein the body includes a pair of axially extending recesses formed therein, each recess receiving at least part of an arm portion therein.
  5. 5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the arm includes a gripping portion coupled to the first arm portion at one end thereon and to the second arm portion at the other end thereof, wherein the gripping portion is oriented generally transverse to the fluid path, and wherein the gripping portion, the first arm portion and the second arm portion are a single continuous component that is generally “U” shaped in top view.
  6. 6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the coupler is configured such that when the coupler receives the adapter therein at the sufficient depth the first and second arm portions each automatically move radially inwardly into the groove, without any manual manipulation of the arm portions by an operator, to thereby couple the coupler and the adapter.
  7. 7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured such that when the coupler is coupled to the adapter, the arm is retractable in an axial direction to cause the first and second arm portions to move radially outwardly to thereby decouple the adapter and the coupler.
  8. 8 . The system of claim 1 wherein the first arm portion includes a first cam coupled to a distal end of a main body the first arm portion, and wherein the second arm portion includes a second cam coupled to a distal end of a main body the second arm portion, and wherein the first and second cams are each configured move radially inwardly into the groove to thereby couple the coupler and the adapter.
  9. 9 . The system of claim 8 wherein the first cam is pivotally coupled to the distal end of the main body of the first arm portion, and is also pivotally coupled to the body, and wherein second cam is pivotally coupled to the distal end of the main body of the second arm portion, and is also pivotally coupled to the body.
  10. 10 . The system of claim 9 wherein a position at which each cam is coupled to the body is adjustable in an axial direction.
  11. 11 . The system of claim 9 wherein the first cam is coupled to the body at a pivot location, and wherein the second cam is coupled to the body at a pivot location, and wherein each pivot location is adjustable in an axial direction.
  12. 12 . The system of claim 11 further comprising a pair of cam couplers that are removably couplable to the body and configured to be coupled to an associated cam when the cam couplers are coupled to the body to fix the pivot location of each cam at a first axial location, and wherein the pair of cam couplers are replaceable with another set of cam couplers that, when coupled to the body, fix the pivot location of each cam at a second axial location.
  13. 13 . The system of claim 12 wherein each cam includes at least one of a pin or a recess, and wherein each cam coupler has at least one of the other one of a pin or recess that is configured to be removable coupled to the at least one of a pin or recess of the associated cam to thereby axially couple each cam to an associated cam coupler.
  14. 14 . The system of claim 12 wherein the body includes a pair of slots and wherein each cam coupler is configured to be closely and removably received in the slot.
  15. 15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the arm is positioned on the body such that the arm is in the energized position due to engagement between the arm and the body, and wherein the arm is axially movable to a supplemental energized position wherein the first and second arm portions are both biased radially inwardly with a greater force compared to when the arm is in the energized position.
  16. 16 . The system of claim 1 wherein the arm is configured to be automatically moved to the energized position when the coupler receives the adapter therein due to engagement between the arm and the adapter.
  17. 17 . The system of claim 1 wherein the coupler includes a seal positioned in the fluid path, the seal having a circumferentially extending groove defining a pair of circumferentially extending lips on opposite axial sides of there groove, wherein one of the lips is configured to sealingly engage the adapter when the adapter is coupled to the coupler.
  18. 18 . The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid path includes an entrance portion with a relatively large cross sectional area, a distal portion with a relatively small cross sectional area compared to the entrance portion, and a throat portion positioned between the entrance portion and the distal portion, wherein the throat portion has an internal shape generally corresponding to a Gaussian distribution curve.
  19. 19 . The system of claim 18 wherein a forward end and a rearward end of the internal shape of the throat portion is parallel or generally parallel with the inner walls of the entrance portion and the distal portion, and wherein a maximum slope of the internal shape of throat portion is located at or adjacent to a center of the throat portion in an axial direction.
  20. 20 . The system of claim 1 wherein the fluid path includes an entrance portion with a central axis and a distal portion with central axis at an angle of between about 115 degrees and about 155 degrees relative to the central axis of the entrance portion, wherein the entrance portion and the distal portion are made of relatively rigid materials such that the entrance portion and the distal portion retain their relative angular orientation in the absence of any outside forces.

Description

This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/548,247 filed on Nov. 13, 2023, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. The present invention is directed to a coupler for use with a vapor line, and more particularly, to coupler that can fluidly connect together portions of a vapor line. BACKGROUND Fluid tanks and the like are used to store relatively large amounts of fluid, such as fuels. When the fuel is transferred out of or into the tank, the incoming fuel expels a corresponding volume of vapors, which are usually desired to be captured during the fluid transfer process. Vapor lines, such as hoses and/or conduits, are typically connected to the tanks to capture the expelled vapors. Vapor couplers are, in turn, typically used to couple the vapor lines to the tank or to other components. Many existing vapor couplers utilize a pair of opposed handles that must be independently operated to in order to provide a secure vapor line coupling. In addition, many existing couplers require the coupler to be held in place while one or both handles are secured. However when used in the field the users/operators do not always secure both handles, which can lead to improper couplings and/or potential escape of vapor during refueling operations. SUMMARY In one embodiment the present invention is vapor coupler which is simple and intuitive to use, and provides a strong and reliable connection. More particularly, in one embodiment the invention is a system including an coupler configured to be coupled to an adapter, the coupler including a body defining a fluid path through which vapor is configured to flow, and a valve positioned in the fluid path. The valve is biased to a closed position and configured to be moved to an open position when the coupler is coupled to an adapter. The coupler further includes an arm positioned coupled to the body, wherein the arm includes a first arm portion located on a first side of the body and a second arm portion located on a second, opposite side of the body. The arm is configured to be moved to an energized position wherein the first and second arm portions are both biased radially inwardly. The arm is thereby configured such that when the coupler receives the adapter, having a groove, in the coupler at a sufficient depth the first and second arm portions each move radially inwardly into the groove to thereby couple the coupler and the adapter. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a refilling tank truck in conjunction with a storage tank; FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the vapor coupler of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the coupler of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a top view of the arm of the coupler of FIG. 2, shown in a rest position, and a first and a second retracted/biased position in broken lines; FIG. 5 is a side cross section of the coupler of FIG. 2; FIG. 6 is a detailed side cross section of the coupler of FIG. 2, shown in conjunction with an adapter; FIG. 7 shows the coupler and adapter of FIG. 6 in an initial step of being coupled together; FIG. 8 is a detail view of the coupler and adapter of FIG. 7, with the coupler and adapter further coupled together; FIG. 9 shows the coupler and adapter of FIG. 8, with the coupler and adapter further coupled together; FIG. 10 shows the coupler and adapter of FIG. 9, fully coupled together; FIG. 11 shows the coupler and adapter of FIG. 10, with the handle retracted to enable separation of the coupler and adapter; FIG. 12 shows the coupler and adapter of FIG. 10, where the adapter includes an alternate poppet valve; FIG. 13 shows the coupler and adapter of FIG. 10, where the adapter includes an adjustable handle; FIG. 14 is an rear perspective view of the coupler of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 shows the coupler of FIG. 14, with the cam retainers exploded away; FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a set of cam retainers; and FIG. 17 is a cross section of the coupler of FIG. 13. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The vapor coupler 10 described and shown herein can be used in the conveyance of vapor to and from various tanks. With reference to FIG. 1, the coupler 10 can in one case be used in conjunction with a storage tank 12 that is coupled to, or part of, an adjacent truck/tractor 14 that can transport the storage tank 12 to any of a variety of desired locations. In FIG. 1 the tractor 14 and storage tank 12 are shown positioned adjacent to a dispenser storage vessel 16. The storage tank 12 and dispenser storage vessel 16 can each be utilized to transport/store any of a wide variety of fluids, such as liquids and/or gases (termed a subject fluid herein) including but not limited to fuels, and more particularly petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline, diesel, natural gas, biofuels, oil or the like, or ethanol the like, or combinations thereof. In order to transfer the subject fluid from the storage tank 12 to the dispenser storage vessel 16, a subject fluid line 20 (s