System and method for controlling product dispensation utilizing metered valve apparatus and electronic interconnection map corresponding to plumbing interconnections
First Claim
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1. A system for the controlled and metered dispensing of fluids comprising:
- a central controller including a computer, a display and a manual input;
at least one remote control center, including a microprocessor;
said microprocessor at said remote control center and said controller being coupled together for two-way signal transmission; and
said remote control center including;
(a) at least one bulk fluid stored in a bulk container;
(b) a plurality of individual work stations with manual valves at said work stations for dispensing said fluids;
(c) fluid flow lines coupling said containers to said manual valves at said work stations;
(d) a flow meter in each fluid flow line providing electrical signals to said microprocessor representative of fluid flow; and
(e) electrically controlled valves in series with said manual valves, said electrically controlled valves being operatively coupled to said microprocessor for permitting dispensing of amounts of fluids in accordance with signals from said central controller and said signals from said flow meter.
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Abstract
A method and system for controlling dispensation of fluids utilizing at least one metered valve apparatus controlling a movement of fluid from at least one bulk fluid reservoir through at least one conduit in response to an authorization signal. A central controller establishes an electronic interconnection map corresponding to plumbing interconnections between at least one bulk fluid reservoir and at least one fluid conduit and employs the electronic interconnection map to generate the authorization signal. A remote communication link from the central processor to at least one metered valve apparatus facilitates transmission of the authorization signal.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A system for the controlled and metered dispensing of fluids comprising:
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a central controller including a computer, a display and a manual input; at least one remote control center, including a microprocessor; said microprocessor at said remote control center and said controller being coupled together for two-way signal transmission; and said remote control center including; (a) at least one bulk fluid stored in a bulk container; (b) a plurality of individual work stations with manual valves at said work stations for dispensing said fluids; (c) fluid flow lines coupling said containers to said manual valves at said work stations; (d) a flow meter in each fluid flow line providing electrical signals to said microprocessor representative of fluid flow; and (e) electrically controlled valves in series with said manual valves, said electrically controlled valves being operatively coupled to said microprocessor for permitting dispensing of amounts of fluids in accordance with signals from said central controller and said signals from said flow meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for controlling the dispensing of materials comprising:
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at least one metered quantity control apparatus controlling a movement of materials from at least one bulk material supply in response to an authorization signal; a central controller for establishing an electronic interconnection map corresponding to interconnections between said at least one bulk material supply and said at least one metered quantity control apparatus, said central processor employing said electronic interconnection map to generate said authorization signal; and a remote communication link for providing said authorization signal from said central processor to said at least one metered quantity control apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for controlling a dispensation of a fluid comprising the steps of:
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providing a central controller; providing at least one remote fluid dispensing station, each said station including at least one fluid dispensing conduit, at least one metered valve apparatus for regulating movement of fluids through said at least one fluid dispensing conduit and a processor for controlling said at least one metered valve apparatus, each said processor being electrically connected to said central controller via a communication link; establishing, at said central controller, system configuration information and transaction records including an electronic fluid-station interconnection map corresponding to fluid-station plumbing interconnections between said at least one fluid and said at least one dispensing station; and employing said electronic fluid-station interconnection map to provide from said central controller, via said communication link, an authorization to dispense a predetermined quantity of a selected fluid of said at least one fluid through a selected conduit of said at least one fluid conduit to said processor controlling said metered valve apparatus of said selected conduit. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method for controlling a dispensation of a fluid comprising the steps of:
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providing an authorization signal to at least one metered valve apparatus for controlling a movement of fluid from at least one bulk fluid reservoir through at least one bulk fluid conduit; providing a remote communication link between said at least one metered valve apparatus and a central controller; configuring, at said central controller, an electronic reservoir-conduit interconnection map corresponding to reservoir-conduit plumbing interconnections between said at least one bulk fluid reservoir and said at least one fluid conduit; employing said electronic reservoir-conduit interconnection map to generate said authorization signal; and employing said remote communication link to transmit said authorization signal from said central controller to said at least one metered valve apparatus.
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23. A method for controlling a dispensation of a fluid comprising the steps of:
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providing at least one metered valve apparatus, each said apparatus being operationally coupled to a fluid dispensing conduit and regulating a movement of fluid therethrough in response to an authorization signal, each said apparatus generating fluid dispensing signals in response to said fluid movement; providing a central controller for generating said authorization signal in response to said fluid dispensing signals; and establishing a remote communication link between said central controller and said at least one metered valve apparatus facilitating transmissions of said authorization signal and said fluid dispensing signals.
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Specification