Gilbarco Inc.

Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.

Gilbasco Inc.

Mokori Commerce Systems Inc.

Richard R Sobota

Edward A Payne

Seifollah S Nanaji

Kenneth L Pope

William P Shermer

David L Kaehler

Brent K Price

A lower cost turbine flow meter comprised of an inner housing constructed out of a high permeable material surrounded by an outer housing constructed out of a lower cost, lower permeable material. A port is placed in the outer housing that runs down to the surface of the inner housing to detect the rotation of turbine rotors that rotate inside the meter as fluid or gas flows through the meter. A pickoff coil is placed in the port to generate a magnetic signal to penetrate through the inner housing wherein the turbine rotor vanes superimpose a pulse signal on the magnetic signal. The lower cost turbine flow meter can be used for any application for measuring fluid or gas, and may be used in a service station environment for measuring fuel or vapor in vapor recovery applications.

Increased sensitivity for turbine flow meter

A fueling environment having a vent on an underground fuel storage tank may be improved by adding a mass flow meter in conjunction with a vapor recovery membrane in a tank vent. The mass flow meter measures an amount of vapor that passes through the vent and thus allows alarms to be generated if the vapors passing through the vent exceed a predetermined level or an efficiency of the membrane drops below a predetermined threshold. Measurements from the mass flow meter may be provided to a site controller or a remote location for further analysis.

Membrane and sensor for underground tank venting system

A fuel dispenser includes vapor and hydrocarbon concentration sensors positioned in the vapor recovery line to provide accurate feedback relating to the speed and concentration of hydrocarbon laden vapor recovered by a vapor recovery system. The sensors provide diagnostic information about the vapor recovery process as well as insuring that the vapor recovery process is carried out in an efficient manner. Additionally, the sensors may be positioned in an underground storage tank vent apparatus to monitor fugitive emissions from the underground storage tank.

Vapor flow and hydrocarbon concentration sensor for improved vapor recovery in fuel dispensers

A vapor recovery system includes an anemometer positioned in the vapor return line to calculate the volume of returning vapor in the vapor return line. The anemometer is connected to a control system which compares the volume of returning vapor to the volume of fuel being dispensed and adjusts the speed at which vapor is recovered so that the two volumes approximately equal one another. The anemometer may be a Wheatstone bridge arrangement or a pair of thermometers.

Vapor recovery system for fuel dispenser

The present invention relates to a system and a method for compensating for predicted meter drift is a positive displacement meter comprising a pulser connected to the meter for generating a pulse stream indicative of a current volume delivered through the meter; and a pulse processor in electronic communication with the pulse generator. The pulse processor adds or subtracts pulses indicative of the inverse of the predicted meter drift to or from the pulse stream to create a corrected pulse stream. The amount of inverse applied is determined by the value of the current cumulative volume passed by the meter.

Meter calibration and drift compensation device

An apparatus and method for maintaining a desired pressure within a fuel storage tank or tanks while minimizing or eliminating the amount of pollutants discharged from the fuel storage tank(s). A fuel storage tank is provided with a conduit and a chamber interfaced along the path of the conduit such that all fluid passing through the conduit must pass through the chamber. A fractionating membrane is housed within the chamber for capturing pollutants while allowing air to pass through. As pollutants are collected on the fractionating membrane, they permeate, thereby reducing the pressure in the tank and associated conduit. A vapor pump is provided for drawing vapor through the conduit and the membrane, and for drawing pollutants off of the membrane. A pressure transducer located in the tank or associated piping makes the vapor pump responsive to the pressure therein. A vent is further provided for allowing air into the tank and piping and for depressurizing the tank and piping. The apparatus of the present invention may be provided with a conduit for returning the pollutants to the fuel storage tank(s).

Growing community of inventors

Kernersville, NC, United States of America

Richard R Sobota