Dispenser with radio frequency on-board vapor recovery identification

• US 6,305,440 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 10/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Dresser Incorporated (Nagano Keiki Company Limited)
• Inventors: McCall, Don C., Taylor, Ken W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/646,237
• Time in Patent Office: 407 Days
• Field of Search: 141/4, 141/5, 141/7, 141/59, 141/94, 141/98, 141/219, 141/351, 141/360, 141/361, 340/5.61, 340/5.64
• US Class Current: 141/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0476 Vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like

Abstract

A dispensing system (10) that utilizes radio frequencies identification capabilities in a service station environment to reliably and accurately detect an on-board vapor recovery (ORVR) system in a vehicle (26). The dispensing system (10) includes a vapor recovery system (33) for recovering fuel vapors responsive to a fuel being dispensed. The vapor recovery system (33) has a disabling mechanism (42) for selectively preventing its operation. The dispensing system (10) also includes an antenna (22A, 22B, 24A, 24B) for detecting a radio frequency signal from a transmitter (23 or 25) in a vehicle (26). The radio frequency signal may be a single bit indicating that the vehicle (26) has the ORVR system, or may include additional bits indicating a type of fuel to be dispensed. When the transmitter (23 or 25) is within a predetermined distance from the antenna (22A, 22B, 24A, 24B), a controller (20) receives the radio frequency signal from the antenna (22A, 22B, 24A, 24B) and asserts a disable signal (41). The disabling mechanism, responsive to the asserted disable signal (41), prevents the vapor recovery system (33) from operating and thereby eliminates any unwanted accumulation of air.

Claims

1. A dispensing method with radio frequency on-board vapor recovery (ORVR) identification capabilities for controlling a vapor recovery system during a dispensing operation, the method comprising:

providing a fuel dispenser;

positioning a radio frequency receiver on the fuel dispenser;

connecting a plurality of antennae to the receiver;

transmitting, ORVR identification data from a plurality of transmitting sources near the antennae;

at least two of the antennae determining whether the ORVR identification data has been received from at least one of the transmitting sources; and

if the ORVR identification has been received, disabling the vapor recovery system during the dispensing operation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determination of whether the ORVR identification data has been received occurs following initiation of dispensing.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if the ORVR identification data has not been received, enabling the vapor recovery system during dispensing.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the receiver also emits a radio frequency signal within the dispenser range and transmission of the ORVR identification data is responsive to the emitted radio frequency signal being received by the transmitter.