Gilbarco Inc.

Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.

Masconi Commerce Systems Inc.

Exact Flow, LLC

Gilbraco Inc.

Gilbasco Inc.

Mokori Commerce Systems Inc.

Seifollah S Nanaji

Edward A Payne

William P Shermer

Richard R Sobota

Kenneth L Pope

Brent K Price

John S McSpadden

Hal C Hartsell, Jr

Steven N Terranova

Philip A Robertson

Paul D Olivier

David S Shuttleworth

Phil Robertson

A system and method for compensating a calculated or flow rate of fuel dispensed to a vehicle via a fuel flow path in response to a determination of a non-steady state condition based on data corresponding to a signal transmitted by a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure therein, where the pressure sensor is adapted to transmit a signal representative of the sensed pressure.

System and method for detecting pressure variations in fuel dispensers to more accurately measure fuel delivered

A system and method for enhancing the accuracy of fuel flow measurement by a fuel dispenser are provided. Pressure sensors positioned in the fuel flow path detect pressure in the fuel flow path and communicate pressure signals to a control system in the fuel dispenser. The pressure signals are used by the control system to enhance the accuracy of the fuel flow rate and fuel dispensed that the control system determines by converting meter signals from a meter. In particular, the pressure signals are used by the control system to determine whether a non-steady state condition exists in the fuel flow path and compensate the fuel flow rate and fuel dispensed due to the non-steady state condition.

A lower cost 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 a rotational component that rotates inside the meter as fluid or gas flows through the meter. A sensor is placed in the port to detect rotation of the rotational component through the lower permeable material inner housing. The lower cost 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 liquid meter

A flow switch used in conjunction with a fuel meter in a fuel dispenser to determine when fuel is flowing. A flow switch can only be activated if fuel is flowing through the flow path of the flow switch. If fuel is flowing as indicated by the fuel flow switch, but the meter is not registering fuel flow, there is a meter error, which may be an error internally with components of the meter and/or a pulser that generates pulse signals indicative of fuel flow. If the meter pulser is registering fuel flow, but the flow switch is not registering fuel flow, then an error exists with the flow switch. If fuel is flowing and there are no errors, both the meter and the flow switch should indicate fuel flow.

Fuel dispenser fuel meter error detection device, system and method

A dual piston/poppet valve in a fuel dispenser works with a two-stage valve to help eliminate errors from an inferential flow meter. When the two-stage valve opens partially, a secondary fuel path is opened in the dual piston/poppet valve. A sensor detects the opening of the secondary fuel path and reports its opening to a control system. The two-stage valve opens fully and a primary fuel path is opened concurrently. During transaction completion, the two-stage valve partially closes, resulting in the closing of the primary fuel path. When the two-stage valve closes completely, the secondary fuel path closes. The sensor detects the closing of the secondary fuel path and reports the closing to the control system. Based on the outputs of the sensor, the control system accepts or declines input from a flow meter.

Dual piston/poppet flow switch

A flow switch used on conjunction with a fuel flow meter in a fuel dispenser to determine when fuel flow rate signals form a fuel flow meter should be ignored in the calculation of flow rate and/or volume of fuel dispensed. An inferential fuel flow meter may be used as the fuel flow meter. The inferential fuel flow meter may be a turbine flow meter that comprises one or more turbine rotors that rotate in response to fuel flow flowing through the turbine flow meter. The turbine rotors may continue to generate pulses even when fuel is no longer flowing. A flow switch determines when fuel is actually flowing and fuel is not actually flowing. The flow switch is described as either a single poppet or dual poppet flow switch in examples described herein.

Fuel dispenser fuel flow meter device, system and method

A vapor pressure equalizer system for reducing the pressure of a storage tank that contains volatile liquid or fuel. A conduit is connected to the storage tank that draws vapors present in the ullage of the storage tank into the conduit. The vapors are circulated through the conduit to cool the vapor and return the vapor to the storage tank. In this manner, the pressure of the storage tank is reduced since the vapors being returned are cooler and smaller in volume than when the vapors entered the conduit. The conduit may be an open system that circulates vapors, or may be a closed system that circulates a cooling media through a radiator in the ullage of the storage tank. An electronic controller controls the operation of the system according to measurements that indicate an overpressure condition or a likelihood of future over-pressurization.

Underground storage tank vapor pressure equalizer

A fuel dispenser with a flow meter prevents fraud in the form of flow meter replacement by storing a unique identifier in the memory associated with the flow meter. The unique identifier is stored in the memory of the fuel dispenser as well. Prior to each fueling transaction, the unique identifiers in the respective memories are compared. In the event that a match is not found, an alarm may be generated. A calibration factor may likewise be stored in both memories and compared concurrently with the unique identifiers. In an alternate embodiment, each element of the flow meter has a unique identifier which is compared prior to a fueling transaction.

Tamper proof meter

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 turbine flow meter used as a vapor flow meter in a vapor recovery-equipped fuel dispenser. The turbine flow meter measures the vapor recovered by the fuel dispenser during a fueling operation that is returned back to the underground storage tank. The turbine flow meter measurements may be ignored when fuel is no longer flowing through the fuel dispenser since the turbine rotors in the turbine flow meter may continue to rotate even after vapor is no longer being recovered.

Output control for turbine vapor flow meter

A vapor recovery system in a fuel dispenser includes the ability to self diagnose the continued viability of a hydrocarbon sensor positioned within the vapor recovery system. A control system associated with the vapor recovery system performs a series of tests including passing pure air over the hydrocarbon sensor and passing a gas known to have hydrocarbons therein over the sensor and evaluating the output of the sensor to see if expected values are output. If the measured values are not within tolerable limits, an alarm is generated.

Growing community of inventors

Greensboro, NC, United States of America

Seifollah S Nanaji