Onboard vapor recovery detection using pressure sensing means

• US 5,992,395 A
• Filed: 02/11/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Tucker, Mark B., Payne, Edward A., Miller, Paul D., Hartsell, Hal C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, CARL STUART
• Application Number:
  US09/022,296
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 123/520, 123/519, 123/516, 123/518, 123/521, 141/94, 141/95, 141/96, 141/59, 141/83
• US Class Current: 123/516
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0476 Vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/048 Vapour flow control means, e.g. valves, pumps

Abstract

An apparatus for detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system having a fuel dispenser configured to deliver fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle, a vapor recovery system operatively associated with the fuel dispenser having a vapor path for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation, and a hydrocarbon vapor sensor associated with the vapor path for sensing the fuel vapors in the vapor path, wherein when the vapor sensor does not sense fuel vapor during the fueling operation, the fuel dispenser determines the vehicle contains an onboard vapor recovery system. Once a vehicle having an onboard vapor recovery system is detected, the vapor recovery system is either shut off or adjusted during the fueling operation to minimize fugitive emissions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing fuel and detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system comprising:

a fuel dispenser configured to deliver fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle;

a vapor recovery system operatively associated with said fuel dispenser having a vapor path for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation and a vapor recovery controller; and

a pressure sensor associated with said vapor path for measuring pressure in said vapor path and providing a vapor signal to said vapor recovery controller;

said controller adapted to determine whether or not the vehicle has an onboard vapor recovery system based on the pressure measured in said vapor path and control said vapor recovery system accordingly.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vapor recovery controller is configured to adjust said vapor recovery system according to said vapor signal.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vapor recovery controller is configured to turn off said vapor recovery system according to said vapor signal.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a vent for venting said vapor path to atmosphere upon detection of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said vapor recovery system uses a liquid driven vapor recovery pump operatively associated with said vapor recovery path, said pump driven by the fuel delivered to the vehicle.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said dispenser'"'"'s vapor recovery system continues to monitor said vapor path after detection of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein said vapor recovery system resumes substantial vapor recovery if the vapor recovery system of the vehicle malfunctions.

8. An apparatus for dispensing fuel and detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system comprising:

a fuel dispenser configured to deliver fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle;

a vapor recovery system operatively associated with said fuel dispenser having a vapor path for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation and a vapor recovery controller; and

a pressure sensor associated with said vapor path for sensing pressure in said vapor path and providing a vapor signal to said vapor recovery controller;

said controller adapted to determine whether or not the vehicle has a vapor recovery system based on the pressure measured in said vapor path;

wherein said vapor recovery controller is configured to adjust said vapor recovery system according to said vapor signal to pull in an amount of air or hydrocarbon vapor mixture to reduce breathing losses.

9. An apparatus for dispensing fuel and detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system comprising:

a fuel dispenser configured to deliver fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle;

a vapor recovery system operatively associated with said fuel dispenser having a vapor path for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation and a vapor recovery controller; and

a pressure sensor associated with said vapor path for sensing pressure in said vapor path and providing a vapor signal to said vapor recovery controller;

said controller adapted to determine whether or not the vehicle has a vapor recovery system based on the pressure measured in said vapor path; and

wherein said vapor recovery system is adjusted by said vapor recovery controller in a manner to assist vapor recovery during the fueling operation upon the sensing of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system, whereby the respective vapor recovery systems operate in conjunction to maximize fuel vapor recovery.

10. A method for dispensing fuel and detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system comprising:

delivering fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle from a fuel dispenser having a vapor recovery system with a vapor recovery path operatively associated with the fuel dispenser for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation;

sensing pressure in the vapor recovery path; and

determining whether the vehicle has an onboard vapor recovery system when the sensed pressure attains a level indicative of the presence of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising controlling the vapor recovery system of the fuel dispenser according to the pressure sensed in the sensing step.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising redirecting air flow in the vapor recovery path to atmosphere upon detection of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10 further comprising deactivating the vapor recovery system of the fuel dispenser upon detection of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system.

12. A method for dispensing fuel and detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system comprising:

delivering fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle from a fuel dispenser having a vapor recovery system with a vapor recovery path operatively associated with the fuel dispenser for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation;

sensing pressure in the vapor recovery path;

determining whether the vehicle has an onboard vapor recovery system from the pressure sensed in the sensing step;

controlling the vapor recovery system of the fuel dispenser according to the pressure sensed in the sensing step;

wherein said controlling step includes adjusting vapor recovery to pull in an amount of air or hydrocarbon vapor mixture to reduce breathing losses.

15. An apparatus for dispensing fuel and detecting a vehicle having a vapor recovery system comprising:

a fuel dispenser configured to deliver fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle;

a vapor recovery system having a vapor recovery path operatively associated with said fuel dispenser for removing fuel vapor expelled from the fuel tank of the vehicle during a fueling operation and a vapor recovery controller; and

a pressure sensor operatively associated with said fuel dispenser for sensing an increase in vacuum in said vapor recovery path due to a vapor recovery system associated with the vehicle working in opposition of said vapor recovery system of said fuel dispenser and providing a pressure signal to said vapor recovery controller.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said fuel dispenser further includes

a nozzle for dispensing fuel into a vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank through a filler pipe;

and

a boot concentrically mounted about said nozzle and configured to sealably engage the vehicle'"'"'s filler pipe to form a vacuum chamber operatively connected to said vapor recovery system for removing vapors during the fueling operation.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said fuel dispenser further includes an automatic shut-off associated with said nozzle for stopping fuel flow when the vacuum reaches a predetermined threshold and said boot includes an orifice limiting the increase in vacuum to a level above which said pressure sensor can detect the vehicle'"'"'s vapor recovery system and below which will cause activation of the automatic shut-off.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said vapor recovery system is adjusted during the fueling operation upon the sensing of a vehicle having a vapor recovery system.