Point of purchase gasoline analyzing/blending

• US 6,163,738 A
• Filed: 05/31/1991
• Issued: 12/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marathon Petroleum Company LP (Marathon Petroleum Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum Company LLC
• Inventors: Miller, Charles B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gordon, Paul P.
• Application Number:
  US07/708,585
• Time in Patent Office: 3,490 Days
• Field of Search: 222/14, 222/16, 222/26, 222/28, 222/71, 222/132, 222/145, 700/231, 700/239, 700/240, 700/242
• US Class Current: 700/239
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/747 involving means responsive to the octane level, e.g. octane sensor, knock engine
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/744 involving digital counting
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/2829 Mixtures of fuels

Abstract

Two, preferably three or more gasoline (or other fuel) blending components are delivered to a point adjacently point of sale to the motorist and are blended by an apparatus which proportions the flow of individual components in response to signals indicative of the gasoline quality variables, octane, Reid vapor pressure, percent alcohol, etc. (The preferred octane for control purposes is motor octane, but pump octane or research octane or any combination of these three may be utilized.)

Claims

1. A flexible apparatus for location at or near the point of sale for the dispensing of quantities of fuels of variable octane and/or other fuel quality parameters comprising in combination:

(a) multiple fuel component storage means 20 having at least three compartments respectively communicating through

(b) individual conduit means 30 to

(c) metering means 40 comprising variable-speed motors actuating said positive displacement pumps for each component in response to a feedback signal and to

(d) mixer means 49 for producing a blended product comprising at least three of said fuel components

(e) near infrared absorbance analyzer 62 measuring at least a portion of said blended product and providing a first signal to

(f) computer means 70, which provides a feedback signal to said metering means 40

(g) Reid vapor pressure analyzer 64 measuring at least a portion of said blended product and providing a second signal to said computer means 70

(h) computer input means 80 having input means for user inputting of desired levels of octane or cetane and at least one other fuel parameter;

(i) computer display means 90 which displays fuel price after said user inputting, and before said dispensing of said fuel; and

(j) fuel dispensing means 100 communicating with said mixer means.