So Those Quick Disconnects On Gas Pump Hoses?

Rob Croson said:

They really do work pretty well.

For the first time ever, I saw someone drive off with the hose still in their car. I'm just standing there pumping gas, and I hear someone yelling from behind me. "HEY! STOP!" Then there's a loud THUNK! I turn around and some guy in a pick up had just stopped about 10' from the pump, nozzle sill in filler tube, with the gas hose trailing behind.

The quick disconnect popped, and there really wasn't much gas around at all. A strong smell, but no spewing gas, and no big puddles. They guy gets out, puts the hose over the trash can, puts the gas cap on, then gets back in and drives off.

Nice to know that those quick disconnects work so well.

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Lil4X said:

I understand from an old customer who makes piping products for gasoline vendors that one of those breakaway fittings costs about $80 - some cheaper ones are designed to work once and be scrapped. More recent designs, whether magnetic or mechanical can be inspected and reconnected rather easily. It's basically a pair of valves that snap shut under spring tension and separate when the delivery hose is pulled - and it takes a pretty good yank to trip the valves and allow the connection to separate. They're required in US gas stations to prevent the pump (called a "dispenser" in their business), from continuing to flood the driveway with fuel. What escapes the breakaway coupling when it separates is pretty minimal, making the chances of a serious fire much less likely.

Delivery hoses are concentric with a vent line - which makes them and their associated fittings a bit expensive. More stations today are being plumbed with fiberglass piping with a concentric sleeve for carrying vapor back to the underground tank. It's a LOT more efficient than a rubber hose, the flow dynamics of the underground distribution network uses a fiberglass tube - far superior for a given diameter rubber line (allowing higher flow rates that translate to more customers served on the driveway in a given length of time. In case of a drive-off, the proper thing to do is to stop and return the hose to the station - notify the attendant and have them shut off the pump . . . and be ready to pay $60 to $200 (wholesale) for repair parts, depending on the amount of the damage to the fittings.

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