Fuel flow shaper

Abstract

A system including a flow shaper configured to be positioned in a spout such that fuel flowing through the spout passes through the flow shaper and exits in a fuel stream. The flow shaper includes an outer wall and a plurality of cavities formed therein, each cavity having a L/D ratio. An average L/D ratio of the cavities, weighted by cross sectional area, is at least about 8:1.

1 . A system comprising:
 a flow shaper configured to be positioned in a spout such that fuel flowing through said spout passes through said flow shaper and exits in a fuel stream, wherein said flow shaper includes an outer wall and a plurality of cavities formed therein, each cavity having a L/D ratio, wherein an average L/D ratio of said cavities, weighted by cross sectional area, is at least about 8:1.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a spout configured to dispense fuel therethrough, wherein said flow shaper is positioned in said spout. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said flow shaper is positioned at a distal end of said spout. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said flow shaper is configured such that each cavity receives part of said fuel stream therein and such that the entirety of said fuel stream collectively passes through said plurality of cavities. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said flow shaper includes a spacer which blocks the flow of fuel therethrough, wherein said spacer has an outer portion positioned adjacent to said spout and extending at least about 60 degrees about an outer perimeter of said flow shaper. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said spout includes a shut-off opening formed therein, and wherein said spacer is generally radially aligned with said shut-off opening. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a fuel reservoir and a hose fluidly coupled to said nozzle and said fuel reservoir, and a pump configured to pump fuel from said fuel reservoir, through said hose, to said nozzle and through said fuel shaper. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein an average L/D ratio of said cavities, weighted by cross sectional area, is less than about 20:1. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said L/D ratio of each cavity is at least about 5:1. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the L/D ratio for any given cavity is the ratio of the length of the given cavity to the hydraulic diameter of the given cavity. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said flow shaper includes an outer wall and a plurality of vanes defining said plurality of cavities, wherein said plurality of vanes includes three major arcs, each major arc extending from one position on said outer wall to another, spaced apart position on said outer wall. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein each major arc is a circular arc, and wherein the plurality of vanes includes a pair of minor arcs, each minor arc extending between two associated major arcs. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein each minor arc extends between midsections of the associated major arcs. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of vanes defining said plurality of cavities, wherein an upstream end of each vane is tapered with respect to a direction of fluid flow through said spout. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein each cavity has a cross sectional area that is within at least about 50% of the cross sectional area of any other cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said flow shaper is configured such that at least a majority of the volume of said exiting fuel stream is fully developed or nearly fully developed fluid flow. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said flow shaper is configured such that all of the volume of said exiting fuel stream is fully developed or nearly fully developed fluid flow. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said flow shaper is configured such that all of the volume of said exiting fuel stream has a velocity profile that does not deviate from the velocity profile for fully developed flow of the fuel stream by more than about 20%. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising liquid fuel flowing through said flow shaper and exiting from said flow shaper, wherein said exiting fuel stream is fully developed on nearly full developed flow. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said flow shaper includes at least four cavities. 
     
     
         21 . A system comprising:
 a flow shaper configured to be positioned in a spout such that fuel flowing through said spout passes through said flow shaper and exits in a fuel stream, said flow shaper being configured such that at least a majority of the volume of said exiting fuel stream is fully developed or nearly fully developed fluid flow.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a spout configured to dispense fuel therethrough, wherein said flow shaper is positioned in said spout. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said flow shaper includes a plurality of cavities positioned such that each cavity receives part of said fuel stream therein and such that the entirety of said fuel stream collectively passes through said plurality of cavities, each cavity having a L/D ratio, wherein an average L/D ratio of said cavities, weighted by cross sectional area, is at least about 8:1. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22  wherein an average L/D ratio of said cavities, weighted by cross sectional area, is less than about 20:1. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said flow shaper includes a plurality of cavities configured such that each cavity receives part of said fuel stream therein and such that the entirety of said fuel stream collectively passes through said plurality of cavities, each cavity having a L/D ratio, wherein said L/D ratio of each cavity is at least about 5:1. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said flow shaper includes a plurality of cavities configured such that each cavity receives part of said fuel stream therein and such that the entirety of said fuel stream collectively passes through said plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity has a cross sectional area that is within at least about 50% of the cross sectional area of any other cavity. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said flow shaper includes an outer wall and a plurality of vanes defining said plurality of cavities, wherein said plurality of vanes includes three major arcs, each major arc extending from one position on said outer wall to another, spaced apart position on said outer wall. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said flow shaper is configured such that all of the volume of said exiting fuel stream is fully developed or nearly fully developed fluid flow. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising liquid fuel flowing through said flow shaper and exiting from said flow shaper in a fuel stream, wherein at least a majority of the volume of said exiting fuel stream is fully developed or nearly fully developed fluid flow. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said flow shaper is configured such that all of the volume of said exiting fuel stream has a velocity profile that does not deviate from the velocity profile for fully developed flow of the fuel stream by more than about 20%. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 21  wherein said flow shaper includes a spacer which blocks the flow of fuel therethrough, wherein said spacer has an outer portion positioned adjacent to said spout and extending at least about 60 degrees about an outer perimeter of said flow shaper. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein said spout includes a shut-off opening formed therein, and wherein said spacer is generally radially aligned with said shut-off opening. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 21  further comprising a fuel reservoir and a hose fluidly coupled to said nozzle and said fuel reservoir, and a pump configured to pump fuel from said fuel reservoir, through said hose, to said nozzle and through said fuel shaper. 
     
     
         34 . A system comprising:
 a flow shaper configured to be positioned in a spout such that fuel flowing through said spout passes through said flow shaper and exits in a fuel stream, wherein said flow shaper includes an outer wall and a plurality of cavities formed therein, each cavity having a L/D ratio of at least about 5:1.   
     
     
         35 . A method for dispensing fuel comprising:
 providing an nozzle system having a spout with a flow shaper positioned therein; and   causing fuel to flow through said nozzle system, said spout and said flow shaper such that fuel flowing through said spout passes through said flow shaper and exits in a fuel stream such that that at least a majority of the volume of said exiting fuel stream is fully developed or nearly fully developed flow.