Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~2~780~
This invention relates to a new hose assembly
and to a new method of making such a hose assembly.
It is known to provide a hose assembly having
a first fluid passage therein for rsspectively
conveying a volatile liquid in one direction to a
container, and a second fluid passage thereln for
returning the vapors of the volatile liquid from
the container. The assembly comprises a flexible
inner hose having an outer peripheral surface and
defining the first fluid passage therein, and a
flexible outer hose having an inner peripheral
surface and being disposed around the inner hose,
the inner peripheral surface of the outer hose and
the outer peripheral surface o~ the inner hose
defining the second fluid passage therebetween, the
inner hose having a Venturi means therein that
tends to remo~e liquid from a certaln arqa of the
second fluid passage.
It is also known to provide wire reInforcing
means in a hose construction to tend to prevent
inward crushing of that hose construction.
It is also known~to provide an outer hose of a
hose assembly that is corrugated in a helical
manner so thst the inner periphersl surface means
thereof defines alternating crests and valleys with
each crest and valley dsfining an arcua-te surface.
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It is also known to provide a hose assembly having
fluid passages therein for respectively conveying a
volatile liquid in one direction to a container and
returning vapours of the volatile liquid from the
container, the assembly comprising a flexible inner
hose having an outer peripheral surface and defining an
inner one of the passages, a flexible outer hose having
an inner peripheral surface and being disposed around
the inner hose, the inner peripheral surface of the
outer hose and the outer peripheral surface of the
inner hose defining an outer one of the passages, a
coupling fixed to an end portion of the outer hoser a
tubular fitting fixed to an end portion of the inner
hose, and clip means holding the fitting and the end
portion of the inner hose substantialiy concentrically
within the coupling and the~outer hose to define a
continuation for the outer passage.: For example, see
~0 the U.S. patent to Bas:ham, No. 3,980,112.
It is an object~ of~one aspect of this invention to
provide a new hose assembly havlng means to protect the
Venturi means of the inner hose~thereof.:~
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It is an ob~ect of another aspect of this
invention to provide new means in the hose assembly to
tend to remove, as much as possible, the liquid that
accumulates in a low portion of the outer passage of
the hose assembly.
It is an object of yet another aspect of this
invention to provide a new hose assembly having a
1~ unique clip means for holding parts of the hose
assembly substantially in concentric relation.
It is an object of still another aspect of this
invention to provide a new hose assembly having fluid
passages therein for respectively conveying a volatile
~5 liquid in one direction to a container and returning
vapours of the volatile liquid from the container, the
hose assembly of this aspect of the invention having
one or more of the novel features as will be set forth
hereinafter.
~0 ~n object of still another aspect of this
invention is to provide a new method of making such a
hose assembly, the method of this aspect of the
invention having one or more of the novel features as
will be set forth above hereinafterO
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By one aspect of this invention an improvement is
provided in a hose assembly having a first ~luid
passage therein for conveying a volatile liquid in one
direction to a container, and a second fluid passage
therein for returning the vapours of the volatile
liquid from the container, the assembly comprising a
flexible inner hose having an outer peripheral surface
and defining the first fluid passage therein, and a
flexible outer hose having an inner peripheral surface
and being disposed around the inner hose, the inner
peripheral surface of the outer hose and the outer
peripheral surface of the inner hose defining the
second fluid passage therebetween, the inner hose
having a Venturi means therein that tends to remove
liquid from a certain area of the second fluid passage,
the Venturi means having an inlet opening that is
generally flat and generally faces the inner peripheral
2~ surface so as to be adapted to interconnect the second
fluid passage with the first fluid passage through the
Venturi means. The improvement comprises an outer hose
which is corrugated in a helical manner so that the
inner peripheral surface thereof defines alternating
crests and valleysj with éach crest and each valley
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defining an arcuate surface, the arcuate valleys and
crests being of such a size that they will not
completely block the inlet opening when the ïnlet
opening is engaging the inner surface of the outer
hose.
In one variant thereof, the Venturi means has a
plurality of the inlet openings that radiate outwardly
in spaced apart relation about the Venturi means. The
outer hose preferably has wire reinforcing means
therein to tend to prevent inward crushing of the outer
hose in a manner to damage the Venturi means. Prefera-
bly, the wire reinforcing means comprises a single wire
of metallic material disposed in a helical manner along
the axial length of the outer hose.
By another aspect of this invention an improvement
is provided in a method of making a hose assembly
having a first fluid passage therein for conveying a
volatile liquid in one direction to a container, and a
second fluid passage~therein for returning the vapours
of the volatile liquid~from the container, the assembly
comprislng a flexlble inner hose having an outer
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peripheral surface and defining the first fluid passage
therein, and a flexible outer hose having an inner
peripheral surface and being disposed around the inner
hose, the inner peripheral surface of the outer hose
and the outer peripheral surface of the inner hose
defining the second fluid passage therebetween, the
inner hose having a Venturi means therein that tends to
remove liquid from a certain area of the second fluid
passage, the Venturi means having an inlet opening that
is generally flat and generally faces the inner
peripheral surface so as to be adapted to interconnect
the second fluid passage with the first fluid passage
through the Venturi means. The improvement in the
method includes the steps:of form1ng the outer hose to
be corrugated ln a helical manner so that the lnner
peripheral surface thereof defines alternating crests
~ and valleys, with each crest and~each valley defining
; 20 an arcuate surface;~and forming the arcuate valleys and
crests to be of such a size:that they will not com-
- pletely~block the lnlet~opening when the lnlet opening
: is engaging the inner surface of the outer hose.
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In the accompanying drawings,
FIG. 1 is a side view of the hose assembly of one
aspect of this invention being utilized for dispensing
gasoline from a conventional curbside gasoline pump or
the like to a nozzle means for insertion in the
gasoline tank of a transportation vehicle or the like;
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view
of one end of the hose assembly of this aspect of this
invention;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 and illustrates
the inner hose of the hose assembly pulled outwardly
relative to the outer hose thereof;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken
on line 4-4 of FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a cro:ss =ectlonal view taken an line 5-5
of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partially
in cross-section~ of th= V=nturl~reglon of FIG. l;
~FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7
of FIG. 6;
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FIG. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view that is
partlally ln:cros=-=ectlon of a~part of the assembly of
FIG. 6;
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FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a part
of FIG. 6 and illustrates one position of the inlet
means of the Venturi means relative to the inner
surface of the outer hose; and
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 and
illustrates another possible position of the inlet
means of the Venturi means of the inner hose relative
to the inner surface of the outer hose.
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the new hose
assembly of aspects of this invention is generally
indicated by the reference numeral 20 and is shown in
FIG. 1 as having one end 21 thereof interconnected to a
lS conventional gasoline pump 22 or the like, and the
other end 23 thereof interconnected to a conventional
dispensing nozzle 24 which is shown in a normal
position for dispensing fuel into the gas tank or
storage ^ontainer of a transportation vehicle or the
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like. An intermediate portion 25 of the hose assembly
20 provides a low portion thereof from which any
collected liquid therein is to be removed by the hose
assembly 20 of an aspect of this invention in a manner
hereinafter set forth and for the reasons set forth in
the U.S. patent to Furrow et al, No. 4,566,504.
The hose assembly 20 comprises a flexible inner
hose 26 having an outer peri.pheral surface 27 and
defining an inner passage 28 therein through which the
liquid from the pump means 22 is adapted to be conveyed
in a direction toward the noz21e 24 in a conventional
manner. The hose assembly 20 also comprises a flexible
outer hose 29 that has an inner peripheral surface 30,
(see FIG. 6~, that cooperates with the outer peripheral
surface 27 of the inner hose 26 to def ine an outer
passage 31 therebetween through which vapours of the
dispensed volatile liquid can be returned from the
~0 nozzle means 24 back to the pump means 22 in a manner
conventional in the art, e.g. as set forth in the
aforementioned~U,S. patent to Furrow et al, No.
4,566,504, as well as in the aforementioned U.S, Patent
to Basham, No. 3,980,112.
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While the inner hose 26 has substantially smooth
inner and outer peripheral surfaces, the main body
portion 32 of the outer hose 29 of an aspect of this
invention is corrugated in a helical manner to define
alternating crests 33 and valleys 34 on the inner
peripheral surface 30 thereof as well as corresponding
and alternating crests 35 and valleys 36 on the outer
peripheral surface 37 thereof as illustrated in FIG. 6,
with each crest 33 and each valley 34 defining an
arcuate surface 33' or 34'
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for a purpose her~inafter described.
In addition, ths outer hose 29 has a
reinforcing wire-like mamber 38 that is embedd~d
therein and is also disposed in a helical manner
along the length of the body portion 32 of the hose
29. The wire reinforcing member 38 is formed of
any suitable material, such as metallic material,
thereby rendering the outer hose 29 substantially
resistant to inward crushing thereof about the
inner hose 26 for a purpose hereinafter set forth.
However, because the body portion 32 o~ the outer
hose 29 is corrugated in the manner prevlously set
forth, the outer hose 29 is relatively flexible.
While the body portion 32 of the outer hose 29
can be formed of any suitable material, one working
embodiment thereof comprises a precurved wire helix
with an external urethane coating extruded thereon.
Thereafter, an outer cover of urethane is extruded
over the coated wirs whereby the thus coated wire
helps the preforming of the wire and enhances the
adhesion of the outer urethane material to the
reinforcing wire while the resulting structure has
the wire 38 effectively embedded thereon. Of
course, the body portion 32 of the outer hose 29
could be formed of different materials and by a
different method, if desired.
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In order to attach outer couplings 39 to the
opposed ends of the body portion 32 o~ the outer
hose 29, substantially smooth and non-rein~orced
cylindrical cuffs 40 of urethane are respectively
bonded or molded to the opposed ends of the outsr
hose 29 so that the cuffs 43 can be secured to the
couplings 39 in any suitable manner, such as in the
manner set forth in the aforementioned U.S. patent
to Basham, No. 3,980,112.
However, as illustrated in FIG. 4, it can be
seen that the end portion 40 of the outer hose 2g
is inserted into the coupling 39 and an internal
metallic sleeve 39' is radially outwardly expanded
to compress the end portion 40 against the internal
peripheral surface 39" of the coupling 39 and also
to hold the end portion in deformed relation into
annuIar grooves of the coupling 39.
It is also to be understood that the outer
hose 29 could be formed from other than the
aforementioned plastic materlals and thereby can
comprise any suitable polymerlc material that is
reslstant to gasoline, oil, etc.
For example, another working embodiment of the
outer hose 29 of this invention was not corrugated
but had a hellcally disposed: wire reinforcing
member embedded therein with the same being formed
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from an inner tube of nitrile rubber having a rayon
braid laid on the same and then a jacket o~ nitrile
rubber disposed on top of the rayon braid. The
wire reinforcing helix was disposed on the jacket
and then another rayon braid was disposed over the
same. An outer cover was disposed on top of the
outer rayon braid and comprised a compound of
nitrile rubber and PVC with the resulting outer
hose being relatively smooth on the inner and outer
peripheral surfaces thereof. The ends of such
outer hose were joined to couplings similar to
couplings 39.
The inner hose 26 of the hose assembly 20 of
this invention can also be formed of any suitable
polymeric material, and in one working embodiment
thereof comprises a tube of nitrile rubber that is
wire reinforced and has a cover of a compound
comprising nitrile rubber and PVC.
As illustrated ln FIGS. 3 and 4, each opposed
end portion 41 of the inner hose 26 is attached to
a metallic fitting 42 substantlally in the same
manner set forth above in regard to the coupling
39, or as in the aforementioned patent to Basham,
No. 3,980,112, and the interconnected fitting 42 is
held in substantially concentric relation within
lts cooperating coupling 39 by a clip means of this
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invention that is generally indicated by the
reference numeral 43.
The clip means 43 is formed from any suitable
material, such as extruded aluminum, and has a
ring-like portion 44 that is adapted to be
telescopically disposed on a cylindrical portion 45
of the fitting 42 and to be held against a shoulder
46 thereof by a C-ring 47 received in an annular
groove 48 in the fitting 42. The clip means 43
includes a plurality of integral arms or legs 49
extending radially outwardly from the ring portion
44 and in spaced apart relation so that the end
surfaces 50 of the arms 49 are adapted to engage
against an internal peripheral surface 51 of the
coupling 39 to maintain the concentric relationship
illustrated in FIG. 4.
In addition, the arms 49 of the clip means 43
are adapted to abut against an internal shoulder 52
of the coupling 39 to positively conneat the inner
and outer hoses 26 and 29 together.
In particular, with the 1nner hose 29 having
one end thereof fi~ed to the pump 22 by its
coupling 39 and ~itting 42, a person pulling on the
outer hose 29 toward the nozzle 24 causes the
coupling 39 ad;acent the nozzle 24 to have its
shoulder 52 engage against the arms 49 of the c11p
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means 43 and thereby not be movable relative to -the
inner hose 26 as the clip means 43 is fastened to
the inner hose 26 at the fitting 42 thereof as
previously set forth.
Therefore, by utilizing the interlocking
feature of the clip means 43 as previously
described, the outer hose 29 can be formed of the
aforementioned lightweight plastic material.
Also, it can be seem that the spacing 53
between the arms 49 of the clip means 43 as
illustrated in FIG. 5 provides a continuation of
. the outer passage 31 o the hose assembly 20 for
conveying vapors therethrough for the purpose fully
set forth in the aforementioned patent to Baqham,
No. 3,980,112.
As ful1y described in the aforementioned U.S.
patent to Furrow et al, No. 4,56:6,504, 11quid in
the outer passage 31 of the hose assembly 20 tends
to collect at the low point or area 25 as
illustrated in FIG. l. It is known from others to
include a Venturi means in ~the lnner hose 26 so
that the ~ame can have its inlet means disposed in
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the passage~means 31 at the area 25 or sucking the
li~uid from: that area 25 back into the inner
passage 28 and, thus,~ to the nozzle 24 as the
li~uid flows through the inner passage 28 from the
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pump 22 and passes through the Venturi means to the
nozzle 24.
Such Venturi means is generally indicated by
the reerence numeral 54 in FIG. 6 and comprises a
tubular metallic member 55 having opposed ends 56
and 57 respactively coupled to ad~acent end
portions 58 and 59 of the inner hose 26 by coupling
members 60 of this invention.
In particular, it can readily be seen in FIG.
8 that each coupling member 60 is interconnected to
its respective end portion 58 or 59 of the inner
hose 26 by an internally disposed metallic sleeve
61 that is internally expanded in the end portion
58 or 59 to trap the end portion 58 or 59 against
the internal perlpheral surface 62 of the coupling
60 as well as into the annular grooves 62' thereof
as illustrated.
Each coupling 60, in turn, has an externally
threaded projeation 63 which is adapted to be
threaded into the internally threaded end 56 or 57
of the Venturi tube 55 and to be sealed against the
same by an 0-ring seal means 6~ and/or by a
suitable sealant disposed between the
interconnected threads. In this manner the
ad~acent ends 58 and 59 of the inner hose 26 are
respectively interconnected to a Venturi passage
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means 65 that passes through the tubular member 55
and functions in a manner conventional in the
Venturi art for drawing fluid through an inlet 66
thereof that leads from the external peripheral
surface 67 of the tubular member 55 to the Venturi
passage 65 thereof.
For example, the inle-t 65 can comprise three
such equally spaced apart passages 66 radiating
about the tubular member 55 and each having a
porous filtering member 66' therein containing a
one-way check valve means therein (not shown) and
extending outwardly from the external peripheral
surface 67 of the tubular member 55 to define a
substantially flat inlet means 69 that is in
communication with the outer passage 31 of the hose
assembly 20.
While the Venturi tubs 55 and couplings 60 can
be formed of any suitable material, one working
embodi=ent thereof has the Venturi tube formed of
brass and the couplings 60 formed of aluminum.
It is believed that by forming the internal
peripheral surface 30 of the outer hoee 29 with the
alternating crests 33 and valleys 34 each having an
arcuate surface 33' or 34', the hottom inlet means
69 of the Venturi means 54 can be disposed ad~acent
the same as illustrated respectively in FIGS. 9 and
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lO. It can be seen that the substantially flat
inlet means 69 is not completely blocked by such
crests 33 or valleys 34 so tha-t the majority of the
liquid that collects in the low point 25 of the
passage 31 of the hose assembly 20 will be far more
readily removed therefrom by the Venturi means 54
than would be the case where the lowest inlet means
thereof is complately blocked by engaging against a
non-corrugated internal peripheral surface of the
outer hoseO
Thus, it can be seen that in the operation of
the hose assembly 20 of this invention, the lnner
passage 28 thereof is adapted to permit a flow of
fuel from the pump 20 out through the nozzle 24 in
a conventional manner, and as a flow of fual passes
through the lnner passage 28, the flow of fuel
causes the Venturi means 54 to act as a pump and
thereby draw, by suction, any liquid that collects
in the outer passage 31 in the low area 25 thereof
into that flowing~ stream:of:fuel through the inner
passage 28 to tend to remove the samé from bloc~ing
the outer passage 31, which is utilized for
returning vapors:from the nozzle 24 back to the
pump means 22 ln the~manner fully set forth in the
aforementioned U.S. patents to Furrow et al, No.
: 4,566,504, and to Basham, No. 3,980,112.
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From the above, it can be seen that the hose
assembly 20 of this invention is relatively
lightweight and flexible while still being adapted
to withstand the constant abuse that is normally
provided at filling stations and the like, such as
the constant flexing, abrasion, pulling etc., that
is associated with any curb pump hose arrangement.
In addition, the outer hose 29 of the hose assembly
20 of this invention providas sufficient support
through the wire reinforcing means 38 thereof to
protect ths Venturi means 54 of the inner hose 26
that is utilized in the vapor recovery operation as
previously described.
The inner hose 26 of the hose assembly 20 of
this invention is adapted to handle end forces that
result from excessive pulling on the hose assembly
20 because the inner hose 26 utilizes a wire braid
reinforcing construction.
The outer ho~e 29 1s lightweight and flexible
while still being rigid enough to protect the
Venturi means 54 because the same is corrugated for
flexibility, has the wire reinforcement means 38
for protection, and is formed of urethane to
provide the light weighi thereof.
The spider-like clip maans 43 ~ this
invention which ho~ld the aouplings 39 and the
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fittings 42 at each end of the hose assembly 20 in
concentric relation also transfer any end pull
forces on the outer hose 2g to the inner hose 26
and thereby permits the use of a lightweight and
flexible outer hose 29.
Also, it can be seen that the attaching of the
outer hose 29 to the non-reinforced cuffs 40, each
of which has smooth inner and outer peripheral
surfaces, allows for internal expansion of a sleeve
39' in each coupling 39 to improve the vapor flow
therethrough, each expanded length 39' also acting
as a strain reliever that minimizes bends on both
the inner and outer hoses 26 and 29. Also, a clip
(not shown) can be attached to the ~ire
reinforcement 38 throu~h the cuff 40 and can be
attached to the outer coupling 39 so as to act as a
static ground.
In addition, lt can be seen that othsr
polymeric structures can be molded or bonded to the
outer hose 29 of the hose assembly in the same
manner as the cuffs 40. For example, a suitable
member 40', FIG. 1, can be molded or bonded to an
intermeqiate part o~ the outer hose 29 and can
provide a means for attaching a conventional sprlng
loaded reel-in line (not shown) from the pump means
22 to the hose assembly 20. 0~ course, such member
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40' could be formed of other material and can
merely be fastened to the outer hose 29 by
fastening means other than by molding or bonding,
as desired.
In regard to the inner hose 26, the couplings
are attached to the inner hose 26 by the
internally expanded sleeves 61 to allow for maximum
flow through the inner hose 26, and the 0-ring seal
and/or thread sealant design of the couplings 60
permits the c~uplings 60 to mate with the threads
of the Venturi tube 55 so that 0-rings 64 and/or
thread sealant provide excellent seals between the
coupling members 60 and the Venturi tube 55. Also,
the screw threads 63 on the Venturi tube 55 and
couplin~ members 60 provide good pull strength for
the entire assembly 20.
Thus, it can be seen that this invention also
provides a new method of making such a hose
assembly.
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