Blender system for fuel dispenser
First Claim
1. A fuel dispensing system for dispensing low and high grades of fuel, and a blended combination thereof providing an intermediate grade of fuel, comprising:
- a plurality of nozzles for dispensing fuel of given grades or blends, respectively;
a plurality of hoses each having an outlet coupled to one of said plurality of nozzles, respectively, and each having an inlet end for receiving a given grade of fuel for dispensing;
a plurality of steering valves each having an outlet port coupled to an inlet end of one of said plurality of hoses, respectively, and each having an inlet port, said steering valves each being responsive to an individual steering signal for opening to permit the flow of fuel therethrough;
a plurality of pump operating switch means associated with individual ones of said plurality of nozzles, respectively, for generating individual pump handle signals, respectively, indicative of the selection of a particular one of said nozzles for dispensing an associated grade or blend of fuel; and
fuel flow control means having a plurality of outlet ports for connection to individual inlet ports of said plurality of steering valves, respectively, and at least first and second inlet ports for receiving said low and high grades of fuel, respectively, said fuel flow control means being responsive during a given dispensing cycle to individual fuel distribution signals for delivering to said inlet ports of given ones of said steering valves, either said low grade of fuel, or said high grade, or a desired mixture of the latter two fuels; and
controller means programmed for responding to said individual pump handle signals, for generating a combination of particular ones of said steering and fuel distribution signals, for delivering a grade of fuel preprogrammed to be associated with the selected one of said nozzles for dispensing said fuel.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel dispensing system includes a manifold for receiving one or more grades of fuel at individual input ports and a plurality of output ports. The output ports are each connected to individual input ports of steering valves, the latter having output ports connected to inlets of nozzle and hose assemblies. A controller is included that is site programmable for designating a particular hose/nozzle assembly for dispensing a particular straight grade or blend of fuel. The controller is responsive to the selection of a given nozzle by a user for energizing and controlling one or more flow control valves, and the steering valve associated with the selected nozzle, for delivering the required grade or grades of fuel to the manifold for dispensing the grade of fuel associated with the selected nozzle, in a desired amount under closed loop control.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A fuel dispensing system for dispensing low and high grades of fuel, and a blended combination thereof providing an intermediate grade of fuel, comprising:
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a plurality of nozzles for dispensing fuel of given grades or blends, respectively; a plurality of hoses each having an outlet coupled to one of said plurality of nozzles, respectively, and each having an inlet end for receiving a given grade of fuel for dispensing; a plurality of steering valves each having an outlet port coupled to an inlet end of one of said plurality of hoses, respectively, and each having an inlet port, said steering valves each being responsive to an individual steering signal for opening to permit the flow of fuel therethrough; a plurality of pump operating switch means associated with individual ones of said plurality of nozzles, respectively, for generating individual pump handle signals, respectively, indicative of the selection of a particular one of said nozzles for dispensing an associated grade or blend of fuel; and fuel flow control means having a plurality of outlet ports for connection to individual inlet ports of said plurality of steering valves, respectively, and at least first and second inlet ports for receiving said low and high grades of fuel, respectively, said fuel flow control means being responsive during a given dispensing cycle to individual fuel distribution signals for delivering to said inlet ports of given ones of said steering valves, either said low grade of fuel, or said high grade, or a desired mixture of the latter two fuels; and controller means programmed for responding to said individual pump handle signals, for generating a combination of particular ones of said steering and fuel distribution signals, for delivering a grade of fuel preprogrammed to be associated with the selected one of said nozzles for dispensing said fuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. The fuel dispensing system of claim further including:
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first through third ones of associated pairs of said hoses and nozzles on one side of a housing of said dispensing system; fourth through sixth ones of associated pairs of said hoses and nozzles on an opposite side of said housing; said fuel flow control means including a first manifold having first and second input ports for receiving said low and high grades of fuel, respectively, and first through third output ports connected to individual input ports of first through third ones of said plurality of steering valves, respectively, for providing the same grade of fuel thereto during a given dispensing cycle; said fuel flow control means further including a second manifold having first and second input ports for receiving said low and high grades of fuel, respectively, and first through third output ports connected to individual input ports of fourth through sixth ones of said plurality of steering valves, for providing the same grade of fuel thereto during a given dispensing cycle; and said controller means further including site programmable means for selecting the grade of fuel to be dispensed by each one of first through sixth nozzles, respectively.
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11. A fuel dispensing system for first and second grades of fuel, and blended combinations thereof, comprising:
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a plurality of nozzle means for dispensing one of said first and second grades of fuel, and blended combinations thereof, respectively; a plurality of flow path means for delivering fuel to independent ones of said nozzles, respectively; a plurality of steering valves each having an outlet port connected to an inlet port of individual ones of said plurality of flow path means, respectively, said steering valves each being responsive to an individual control signal for opening said steering valves, respectively, said steering valves each closing in response to the termination of an associated control signal; manifold means having a plurality of outlet ports connected individually to an inlet port of each one of said plurality of steering valves, respectively; first and second flow meters for producing first and second volume flow signals indicative of the volume of flow of said first and second grades of fuel, respectively, in given intervals of time; first and second control valves responsive to first and second flow rate signals for controlling the rate of flow of said first and second grades of fuel, respectively; said first flow meter and first control valve being connected in series in a flow path between one inlet port of said manifold means and a source of said first grade of fuel; said second flow meter and second control valve being connected in series in a flow path between another inlet port of said manifold means and a source of said second grade of fuel; and controller means being programmable for generating said individual control signals, and said first and second flow rate signals, in combinations for selectively supplying a different given grade or blend of fuel to said plurality of nozzle means, respectively, said controller means being responsive to said first and second volume signals for maintaining a desired blend of said first and second grades of fuel being dispensed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A fuel dispensing system comprising:
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a plurality of hose and nozzle assemblies each having an inlet port at one end of a hose for receiving fuel, and a nozzle for dispensing fuel at another end of said hose; a plurality of steering valves each having an output port connected individually to an input port of an associated one of said hose and nozzle assemblies, and each of said steering valves having an input port for receiving fuel, said steering valves being responsive to respective steering signals for opening to permit fuel to flow therethrough, respectively; manifold means for receiving at a plurality of input ports different grades of fuel, respectively, and a plurality of output ports connected to said input ports of individual ones of said plurality of steering valves, respectively, for providing at each of the latter input ports the same grade of fuel at the same time, whereby the grade of fuel is either a single grade of fuel at one of said input ports of said manifold means, or a blend of two or more grades of fuel received at respective input ports of said manifold means; and site programmable means for designating each one of said hose and nozzle assemblies for dispensing a given grade of fuel, including means for sensing the selection of one of said nozzles for producing a steering signal to turn on the associated one of said steering valves, and means for delivering the appropriate grade(s) of fuel to said manifold means in the required volume for completing a given dispensing cycle. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification