Fuel delivery system with enhanced functionality and diagnostic capability

• US 20040039549A1
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Fueling Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: FE Petro Incorporated
• Inventors: Kenney, Donald Patrick, Watzke, Donald Edward Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 7,260,499 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/183
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/04 for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/32 Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3209 relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892

Abstract

A control system for a fuel delivery system provides enhanced functionality and diagnostic capabilities relative to known systems. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, enhanced functionality and diagnostic capability is provided by integrating the pump controller and the tank gauge by way of a control or integration unit. The control unit includes a microprocessor and communication hardware for communicating with the tank gauge and the pump controllers. In accordance with alternate embodiments of the invention, a control unit is included which provides additional functionality, such as automatic logging of controller faults.

Claims

1. A control system for a fuel delivery system having one or more tank gauges and one or more pump controllers, the control system comprising:

a control unit which includes a processor, memory and a plurality of communication interfaces, said integration unit configured to communicate with said one or more pump controllers and said one or more tank gauges, to provide diagnostics as a function of the status of said one or more tank gauges and the status of said one or more pump controllers.

2. The control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to automatically determine a condition relating to a first pump being located too far from the bottom of the tank.

3. The control system as recited in claim 2, wherein the control unit is configured to determine said first condition as a function of one of said one or more controllers indicating an empty tank condition.

4. The control system as recited in claim 3, wherein the control unit is configured to indicate said first condition as a function of whether said tank gauge indicating a fuel drop.

5. The control system as recited in claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to indicate said first condition as a function of whether said tank gauge indicates a low-level alarm.

6. The control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to automatically reset a pump controller fault during predetermined conditions.

11. The control unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to poll the status of said one or more controllers and said one or more tank gauges.

12. The control unit as recited in claim 11, wherein one or more diagnostic messages are provided as a function of the status of said one or more controllers and said one or more tank gauges.

13. The control unit as recited in claim 12, wherein said one or more messages are provided as a function of said tank gauge indicating a leak status and one of said controllers indicating a fault status.

14. The control unit as recited in claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to test for a pressure transducer failure.

15. The control unit as recited in claim 14, wherein at least one of said one or more controllers is a variable frequency controller.

19. The control system as recited in claim 4, wherein said control unit is configured to poll said one or more tank gauges and to automatically adjust the tank gauge low level alarm when an empty tank condition exists.

7. A control system for a fuel delivery system having one or more pump controllers, the control system comprising:

a control unit having a processor, memory including non-volatile memory and a plurality of communication interfaces, said unit configured to automatically monitor the fault status of said one or more controllers.

8. The control system as recited in claim 7, wherein said control unit is configured to automatically log controller faults to said non-volatile memory.

9. The control system as recited in claim 8, wherein said control unit is configured to check for controller under load faults.

10. The control system as recited in claim 9, wherein said control unit is configured to provide one or more messages as a function of the status of said underload faults.

16. A control system for a fuel delivery system including a storage tank and a leak detection system, the control system comprising:

a control unit having a processor, and one or more communication interfaces, the control system configured to operate said solenoid valve to enable calibration of said leak detection system.

18. The control system as recited claim 16, wherein said control unit is configured to open said solenoid to verify that said line leak detection system is operational.

17. A control system for a fuel delivery system having a plurality of tank gauges, a plurality of pump controllers, a plurality of tanks, a pump associated with each tank, said tanks being connected to a manifold by way of a check valve with an integral pressure relief valve, the system comprising:

a control unit coupled to said one or more pump controllers and said one or more tank gauges, the control unit configured to automatically sensing failure of said check valve or relief valve.