Collecting liquid product volume data at a dispenser

• US 20060161374A1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pilot Travel Centers LLC (Berkshire Hathaway Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Flying J Inc.
• Inventors: Hillam, John D., Shellabarger, Gary I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,346,427 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/130
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 15/063 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/022 for recording
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/026 arrangements for monitoring a plurality of temperatures, e.g. by multiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/12 combined with sampling devices for measuring temperatures of samples of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 3/06 in respect of space

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, systems, and computer program products for collecting liquid product volume data at a dispenser. The dispenser can include first and second totalizers that receive signals from a pulser that identifies the flow rate of liquid product dispensed from the dispenser. The dispenser further includes a data acquisition unit communicating with at least the second totalizer, the data acquisition unit receives data indicative of a volume of the liquid product dispensed from the dispenser from the second totalizer. The method can include receiving a plurality of pulses at a first totalizer and a second totalizer within the dispenser. Upon receiving the pulses, the method includes generating data indicative of a volume of liquid product flowing from the dispenser. Following generating the data, the method can include sending the data corresponding to the second totalizer to at least one of a retail system and a central inventory management system.

Claims

1. A dispenser for delivering a liquid product to a consumer through a nozzle, the dispenser comprising:

a first totalizer that receives signals from a pulser;

a second totalizer, in parallel with said first totalizer, that receives signals from said pulser; and

a data acquisition unit communicating with at least said second totalizer, wherein said data acquisition unit receives from said second totalizer data indicative of a volume of the liquid product dispensed through the nozzle.

2. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein said data acquisition unit is in signal communication with said second totalizer.

3. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein said data acquisition unit further comprises a control module that controls a receipt of said data from said second totalizer.

4. A dispenser as recited in claim 3, wherein said control module delivers said data to at least one of a retail system and a centralized inventory management system.

5. A dispenser as recited in claim 3, wherein said control module wirelessly transmits said data to at least one of a retail system and a centralized inventory management system.

6. A dispenser as recited in claim 1, wherein said data acquisition unit further comprises a temperature module that collects temperature data indicative of a temperature of the liquid product dispensed from the dispenser.

7. A dispenser as recited in claim 6, further comprising an outlet conduit disposed between said nozzle and a dispenser meter of the dispenser.

8. A dispenser as recited in claim 7, wherein said temperature module is in signal communication with a temperature probe disposed in said outlet conduit.

9. A dispenser for delivering a liquid product, the dispenser comprising:

a pump meter that directs the liquid product from a tank and to a nozzle;

a pulser cooperating with said pump meter, said pulser generating a plurality of pulses indicative of a volume of the liquid product that said pump meter directs to said nozzle;

a first totalizer that receives a plurality of signals from said pulser;

a second totalizer, in parallel with said first totalizer, that receives said plurality of signals from said pulser; and

a data acquisition unit in signal communication with said first totalizer and said second totalizer, wherein said data acquisition unit receives from said second totalizer data indicative of a volume of the liquid product dispensed through said nozzle.

10. A dispenser as recited in claim 9, wherein said data acquisition unit further comprises:

a control module that controls a receipt of said data from said second totalizer; and

a temperature module that collects temperature data indicative of a temperature of the liquid product dispensed through said nozzle.

11. A dispenser as recited in claim 10, wherein said control module delivers said data and said temperature data to at least one of a retail system and a centralized inventory management system.

12. A dispenser as recited in claim 10, wherein said control module wirelessly transmits said data and said temperature data to at least one of a retail system and a centralized inventory management system.

13. A method for collecting flow data using a dedicated totalizer within a dispenser, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of pulses at a first totalizer within the dispenser;

upon receiving data representative of said plurality of pulses from said first pulser at a second dedicated totalizer within the dispenser, generating reading data indicative of a volume of liquid product flowing from the dispenser; and

sending said reading data corresponding to said dedicated totalizer to at least one of a retail system and a centralized inventory management system.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein sending said reading data comprises wirelessly transmitting said reading data to at least one of said retail system and said centralized inventory management system.

15. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising comparing said reading data against said volume of liquid product flowing from the dispenser defined by said first totalizer.

16. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising generating a pulse to gallon conversion ratio based upon said reading data and said volume of liquid product flowing from the dispenser defined by said first totalizer.

17. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising collecting temperature data indicative of a temperature of the liquid product dispensed from the dispenser.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, further comprising collecting said temperature data from a temperature probe disposed in an outlet conduit disposed between a nozzle and a dispenser meter of the dispenser.