Patent · US Active

Swivel safety breakaway connector

US8251084B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
68References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMar 18, 2009
Grant dateAug 28, 2012
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 9, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T137/87957
  • WIPO fieldMechanical elements
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A safety breakaway connector has a male fitting and a female fitting inserted into one another. The female fitting includes a swivel that rotates about an angle to a breakaway portion of the invention. The swivel has a female portion connected to the breakaway portion and a male portion that pivotally connects to a nozzle. The male portion has an axis spaced apart from the axis of the breakaway portion. The male portion rotates or pivots about the female portion subject to a biased cam. The biased cam has a ball bearing that travels within a race formed in the male swivel. The biased cam provides an offset to the connector so that a fuel line in communication therewith avoids an orientation perpendicular to the direction of travel of a vehicle. The breakaway portion then detaches the fuel line cleanly from the swivel that remains with the fuel nozzle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.