Device and method for handling a hose

Abstract

 A device for handling a hose is provided. The device allows the hose (3) to be pulled out from a hose storage space (5) and is adapted to return the hose (3) to the hose storage space (5). The device comprises separately movable first hose guiding means (7) and second hose guiding means (9). The device is further characterised in that the first hose guiding means (7) is vertically moveable in a first plane (P1) in said hose storage space (5), and in that the second hose guiding means (9) is vertically moveable in a second plane (P2) in said hose storage space (5). A method for handling a hose and a fuel dispensing unit comprising a device for handling a hose are also provided.

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for handling a hose, which device allows the hose to be pulled out from a hose storage space and is adapted to return the hose to the hose storage space, said device comprising separately movable first hose guiding means and second hose guiding means. Further, the present invention relates to a fuel dispensing unit comprising a device for handling a hose. The present invention also relates to a method for handling a hose.

Technical Background

[0002] A fuel dispensing unit, such as a petrol pump typically comprises a pump part standing on the ground, a display part positioned above the pump part and showing the chosen type of petrol, cash readout, volume readout etc., and a column to which one or more petrol hoses are connected.

[0003] When the tank of the vehicle is to be filled up, the driver parks the vehicle beside the petrol pump and opens the cover or cap of the petrol tank. The driver then selects the desired type of petrol and places the pump nozzle in the inlet of the vehicle's petrol tank and puts in the desired volume of petrol.

[0004] A difficulty that may arise in connection with filling-up is that the hose does not reach to the vehicle if parked a distance from the petrol pump. The reason why the vehicle has not been parked sufficiently close to the pump may be difficulty in manoeuvring owing to a limited space round the petrol pump. To allow the hose to reach to the vehicle, it is usually necessary for the driver to park his vehicle so that the side of the vehicle where the filler cap is positioned faces the petrol pump. It is not always known to a driver of an unfamiliar vehicle whether the filler cap is positioned on the left or right side. This may result in the driver by mistake parking the vehicle on the wrong side of the pump and thus not being able to fill up the tank without moving the vehicle to the other side of the petrol pump since the hose does not reach all the way round the vehicle.

[0005] One way of facilitating access to the petrol pump is to provide it with a longer hose. This may, however, cause problems since a longer hose may tend to land on the ground when not used and thus get stuck in or be damaged by passing cars or other vehicles. To prevent this, the column may be provided with some kind of returning mechanism for the hose.

[0006] DE-8708333-U discloses hose returning means for a fuel dispensing unit. The hose is connected to a fuel supply connection arranged inside the housing, passes a first roller connected to the end of a pivotable arm and passes a fixedly mounted second roller before it exits the housing. The pivotable arm is connected to the housing, via a second arm, below the hose exit and in a lower part of the housing, and the second roller traverses basically the full height of the housing. The hose returning force is exerted by the first roller.

[0007] A problem with the technique above is that it is cumbersome and expensive to assemble the hose returning means.

[0008] US6334457 discloses a hose management system according to which two pulleys are respectively mounted for rotation to at least one pair of telescoping members. A hose extends around the pulleys, so that movement of the hose causes the pulleys move relative to each other, and the telescoping member to extend and retract in response to the movement of the pulleys.

[0009] Also this technique has drawbacks in that it is cumbersome and expensive to assemble the hose returning means.

[0010] EP-1243549 discloses a hose returning device having a hose housing and two sequentially cooperating hose returning means, which both are spring loaded. The first hose returning means comprises a spring loaded, vertically movable roll, and the second hose returning means comprises a spring loaded, pivotable lever having two rolls.

[0011] This hose returning device is also rather complicated, resulting in high manufacturing costs.

[0012] A problem common for the hose returning devices described above is their size, or their extension within respective hose housings, which results in bulky structures.

Summary of the Invention

[0013] In view of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention to provide a more efficient way for handling a hose.

[0014] This and other objects and advantages that will be apparent from the following description of the present invention are achieved according to a first aspect of the invention by a device for handling a hose, which device allows the hose to be pulled out from a hose storage space and is adapted to return the hose to the hose storage space, said device comprising separately movable first hose guiding means and second hose guiding means. The device is characterised in that the first hose guiding means is vertically moveable in a first plane in said hose storage space, and in that the second hose guiding means is vertically moveable in a second plane in said hose storage space. Such device is advantageous in that it enables effective hose handling.

[0015] The first plane and the second plane may be arranged parallel to each other in a common profile, which is advantageous in that less hose storage space is used.

[0016] The first hose guiding means may comprise a carrier means and a hose returning unit having a roller, said hose returning unit being pivotable around said carrier means. Such embodiment is favourable in that it enables an improved handling of the hose.

[0017] The hose returning unit may further comprise a guiding element for engaging the hose, which is advantageous in that the hose is prevented from derailing from said hose returning unit. It also prevents the hose from undesired contact with other parts of the fuel dispensing unit, such as chafing against the bottom part of the fuel dispensing unit.

[0018] The second hose guiding means may comprise a carrier means and a roller, which enables low friction handling of the hose.

[0019] The first hose guiding means may be moveable between a first idle position at the lower end of the first plane and a first operating position above said first idle position, which is advantageous in that a greater part of the hose length is available to a user.

[0020] A first spring element may be arranged to move the first hose guiding means from the first operating position to the first idle position. Thus, a simple construction is utilized.

[0021] The second hose guiding means may be moveable between a second idle position at the upper end of the second plane and a second operating position below said second idle position, which is advantageous in that even a greater part of the hose length is available to a user.

[0022] A second spring element may be arranged to move the second hose guiding means from the second operating position to the second idle position, whereby a simple construction is applied.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the invention, a method for handling a hose is provided. The method, in which the hose for use is pulled out from a hose storage space and after use is returned to said hose storage space, by separately moving a first and a second hose guiding means, is characterised in that said first hose guiding means is moved vertically along a first plane in said hose storage space, and that said second hose guiding means is moved vertically along a second plane in said hose storage space. The advantages of the first aspect are also applicable for this second aspect of the invention.

[0024] The first plane and the second plane may be arranged parallel in a common profile.

[0025] The method may further comprise the step of guiding the hose around a roller of the first hose guiding means and around a roller of the second hose guiding means.

[0026] The step of moving the first hose guiding means may further comprise moving the first guiding means between a first idle position at the lower end of the first plane and a first operating position above said first idle position.

[0027] The step of moving the second hose guiding means may further comprise moving the second hose guiding means between a second idle position at the upper end of the second plane and a second operating position below said second idle position.

[0028] According to a third aspect of the invention, a fuel dispensing unit comprising a device for handling a hose according to the first aspect of the invention is provided. The fuel dispensing unit may comprise a bottom part, a top part and at least one column extending between the bottom part and the top part, wherein the column comprises the device for handling the hose. In that way, the device for handling the hose is efficiently incorporated in the fuel dispensing unit.

[0029] The column may comprise a first device for handling the hose arranged on one side of the column and a second device for handling the hose arranged on the opposite side of the column, which is advantageous in that two users simultaneously can use a device according to the first aspect of the invention.

[0030] The first device for handling the hose and the second device for handling the hose may be connected by a second profile, which is advantageous in that the construction is simple and requires less space.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0031] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, which shows examples of presently preferred embodiments of the invention.

Fig.1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fuel dispensing unit according to the third aspect of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a device according to the first aspect of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a top view of a profile of a device according to the first aspect of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the first hose guiding means.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the second hose guiding means.

Fig. 6-8 shows a device according to the first aspect of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing two devices according to the first aspect of the invention.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

[0032] Fig. 1 shows a fuel dispensing unit 100, having a bottom part 101, a top part 102 and two columns 103 extending between the bottom part 101 and the top part 102. The fuel dispensing unit is connected to an underground fuel container (not shown). When filling up the tank of a vehicle, the fuel is pumped from the underground container by means of a pump (not shown) which is located in the bottom part 101, and from there to one of the columns 103 and out to a nozzle 2 via a fuel hose 3. When filling-up does not take place, the fuel hose 3 is accommodated in a hose storage place 5 and the nozzle 2 is inserted in a nozzle boot. The hose 3 is handled by a hose handling device 1 according to the invention arranged at each column 103.

[0033] Except for the pump, the bottom part 101 also houses fuel dispensing means (not shown), e.g. fuel metering means, valves, vapour recovery system etc. Pump electronics are further located in the bottom part 101. Such electronics, such as means for choosing the desired type of fuel and display means for showing the chosen type of fuel, the volume of dispensed fuel etc, are securely isolated in order to encapsulate electronic components from possible presence of flammable gases. The pump electronics can also include a payment terminal.

[0034] Fig. 2 shows the device 1 for handling a petrol hose 3 in more detail. The device 1 has a first hose guiding means 7 and a second hose guiding means 9. The first hose guiding means 7 is vertically moveable in a first plane P1, and the second hose guiding means is vertically moveable in a second plane P2.

[0035] As shown in fig. 3, the first and second planes P1, P2 are arranged parallel to each other in a profile 4, which also is forming the hose storage space 5. The petrol hose 3 is connected to the nozzle 2 at its free end, and the hose 3 runs along the first hose guiding means 7 and the second hose guiding means 9. The hose 3 is connected to the fuel dispensing unit 100 somewhere in the column 103 at or below the operating position B2 (see below) of the second hose guiding means 9.

[0036] Now referring to fig. 4, the first hose guiding means 7 has a carrier means 11 and a hose returning unit 13 which is pivotably connected to the carrier means 11. The hose returning unit 13 has a roller 15 and a guiding element 17 for engaging the hose 3. The carrier means 11 has portions 23 on both sides, which are shaped to slide with low friction in grooves 26 arranged in the profile 4. The plane along the grooves 26 forms the first plane P1.

[0037] In fig. 5, the second hose guiding means 9 is shown in detail. The second hose guiding means 9 has a carrier means 19 with portions 25 which are shaped to slide with low friction in grooves 27 arranged in the profile 4. The plane along the grooves 27 forms the second plane P2.The second hose guiding means 9 also has a roller 21, which periphery is adapted to engage with the hose 3.

[0038] Fig. 6, 7 and 8 show the device 1 during handling of a hose, schematically illustrated by the dashed line. The first hose guiding means 7 and the second hose guiding means 9 are mounted on the profile 4. When the hose is not used, as illustrated in fig. 6, the first hose guiding means 7 is located at or near the bottom of the profile 4 at a first idle position A1, and the hose returning unit 13 is in a resting position. The resting position is preferably achieved simply by gravity, i.e. the weight of the hose returning unit 13 forces it to hang freely. However, the hose returning unit 13 may also be spring loaded, so that the illustrated resting position is achieved by means of a spring (not shown). The idle position A1 is preferably achieved by the weight of the first hose guiding means 7. However, the hose guiding means 7 may also be spring loaded, so that the idle position A1 is achieved by means of a first spring element 29 (see fig. 8). The carrier means 11 is moveable in a vertical direction by means of the portions 23 which are arranged to slide with low friction in the profile 4.

[0039] The second hose guiding means 9 is arranged in an idle position A2 when the hose is not used. The hose guiding means 9 is spring loaded, so that the hose guiding means 9 is kept in the idle position A2 by means of a second spring element 28 (see fig. 8).

[0040] Fig. 7 illustrates the device 1 when a user (not shown) pulls the hose, illustrated by the dashed line. The force acting on the hose is transferred to the hose returning unit 13 of the first hose guiding means 7, such that the hose returning unit 13 is pivoting and the guiding element 17 is aligning towards the direction in which the hose is pulled.

[0041] If the hose length is not sufficient, the first hose guiding means 7 will start to move in an upward direction when pulling the hose further. Thus, the hose guiding means 7 will depart from its idle position A1 and move towards an operating position B1 (see Fig. 8). The hose is then extracted from the hose storage space 5, leading to a longer hose available for the user.

[0042] When the first hose guiding means 7 has reached the operating position B1, further pulling of the hose will induce a vertical movement of the second hose guiding means 9 from the idle position A2 towards an operating position B2. If the hose is connected to the fuel dispensing unit 100 at a position below the idle position A2, more hose will be available for the user. To this end the hose is preferably connected at or somewhat below the operating position B2. Fig. 8 shows the device 1, the first hose guiding means being in the operating position B1 and the second hose guiding means being in the operating position B2.

[0043] The sequential movement of the first and second hose guiding means 7, 9 provides a uniform load to the user during the complete hose handling period.

[0044] After filling-up is finished, the user puts the nozzle in the nozzle boot. Hence, the second spring element 28 that holds the second hose guiding means 9 is deprived from the external load and the second hose guiding means 9 returns to the idle position A2. In a similar way, the first hose guiding means 7 is moved from the operating position B1 to the idle position A1. This movement of the first hose guiding means 7 is preferably provided by the weight of the first hose guiding means, or by a first spring element 29, or a combination thereof.

[0045] The hose is thereby returned to the hose storage space 5 and prevented from twisting or touching the ground.

[0046] Fig. 9 shows an arrangement comprising two devices 1, 1', each handling a separate hose 3, 3'. The profile 4 of the first device 1 is connected to the profile 4' of the second device 1' by means of a profile 105. The arrangement is used in fuel dispensing units for enabling a user to park on either side of the fuel dispensing unit.

Claims

1. A device (1) for handling a hose (3), which device allows the hose (3) to be pulled out from a hose storage space (5) and is adapted to return the hose (3) to the hose storage space (5), said device comprising separately movable first hose guiding means (7) and second hose guiding means (9),
characterised in that
the first hose guiding means (7) is vertically moveable in a first plane (P1) in said hose storage space (5), and in that
the second hose guiding means (9) is vertically moveable in a second plane (P2) in said hose storage space (5).

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the first plane (P1) and the second plane (P2) are arranged parallel to each other in a first profile (4).

3. A device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first hose guiding means (7) comprises a carrier means (11) and a hose returning unit (13) having a roller (15), said hose returning unit (13) being pivotable around said carrier means (11).

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein the hose returning unit (13) further comprises a guiding element (17) for engaging the hose (3).

5. A device according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the second hose guiding means (9) comprises a carrier means (19) and a roller (21).

6. A device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the first hose guiding means (7) is moveable between a first idle position (A1) at the lower end of the first plane (P1) and a first operating position (B1) above said first idle position (A1).

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein a first spring element (29) is arranged to move the first hose guiding means (7) from the first operating position (B1) to the first idle position (A1).

8. A device according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the second hose guiding means (9) is moveable between a second idle position (A2) at the upper end of the second plane (P2) and a second operating position (B2) below said second idle position (A2).

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein a second spring element (28) is arranged to move the second hose guiding means (9) from the second operating position (B2) to the second idle position (A2).

10. A method for handling a hose, in which the hose for use is pulled out from a hose storage space and after use is returned to said hose storage space, by separately moving a first and a second hose guiding means,
characterised in that
said first hose guiding means is moved vertically along a first plane in said hose storage space, and that
said second hose guiding means is moved vertically along a second plane in said hose storage space.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first plane and the second plane are arranged parallel to each other in a first profile.

12. A method according to any one of claims 10 or 11, further comprising the step of guiding the hose around a roller of the first hose guiding means and around a roller of the second hose guiding means.

13. A method according to any one of claims 10-12, wherein the step of moving the first hose guiding means further comprises moving the first guiding means between a first idle position at the lower end of the first plane and a first operating position above said first idle position.

14. A method according to any one of claims 10-13, wherein the step of moving the second hose guiding means further comprises moving the second hose guiding means between a second idle position at the upper end of the second plane and a second operating position below said second idle position.

15. A fuel dispensing unit (100), such as a petrol pump,
characterised in that it comprises a device (1) for handling a hose (3) as claimed in any one of claims 1-9.

16. A fuel dispensing unit according to claim 15, comprising a bottom part (101), a top part (102) and at least one column (103) extending between the bottom part (101) and the top part (102), wherein the column (103) comprises the device (1) for handling the hose (3).

17. A fuel dispensing unit according to claim 16, wherein the column (103) comprises a first device (1) for handling the hose (3) arranged on one side of the column (103) and a second device (1') for handling the hose (3) arranged on the opposite side of the column (103).

18. A fuel dispensing unit according to claim 17, wherein the first device (1) for handling the hose (3) and the second device (1') for handling the hose (3) are connected by a second profile (105).

Drawing