Fuel dispensing unit with on-board refueling vapor recovery detection
First Claim
1. A vapor recovery system for recovering fuel vapor from a vehicle tank during dispensing of fuel into the vehicle tank at a fuel dispensing flow rate, said vapor recovering system comprising a vapor recovering line for transporting a stream of fuel vapor, and a controller, wherein a flow meter is arranged in or adjacent to the vapor recovery line for indicating the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor, a heated element is arranged in the vapor recovery line, and the controller is configured to:
- detect a cooling exerted on the heated element by the stream of fuel vapor,determine a correction for the detected cooling by weighting said cooling with the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor to compensate for an increase in cooling as the vapor flow rate increases, anddecrease or stop the stream of fuel vapor, if after correction, the detected cooling is smaller than a predetermined level.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A vapor recovery system recovers fuel vapor and includes a vapor recovery line for transporting a stream of fuel vapor from a vehicle tank. A flow meter is arranged in the vapor recovery line for indicating the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor, and a heated element is arranged in the vapor recovery line. One or more controllers are configured to: detect a cooling exerted on the heated element by the stream of fuel vapor, determine a correction for the detected cooling by weighting said cooling with the flow rate, and decrease or stop the stream of fuel vapor, if the detected cooling is smaller than a predetermined level.
20 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A vapor recovery system for recovering fuel vapor from a vehicle tank during dispensing of fuel into the vehicle tank at a fuel dispensing flow rate, said vapor recovering system comprising a vapor recovering line for transporting a stream of fuel vapor, and a controller, wherein a flow meter is arranged in or adjacent to the vapor recovery line for indicating the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor, a heated element is arranged in the vapor recovery line, and the controller is configured to:
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detect a cooling exerted on the heated element by the stream of fuel vapor, determine a correction for the detected cooling by weighting said cooling with the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor to compensate for an increase in cooling as the vapor flow rate increases, and decrease or stop the stream of fuel vapor, if after correction, the detected cooling is smaller than a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of regulating a vapor recovery system when recovering fuel vapor from a vehicle tank during dispensing of fuel into the vehicle tank at a fuel dispensing flow rate, said method comprising the steps of:
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transporting a stream of fuel vapor through a vapor recovery line, detecting a flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor by a flow meter arranged in or adjacent to the vapor recovery line, detecting a cooling exerted on a heated element by the stream of fuel vapor, determining a correction for the detected cooling by weighting said cooling with the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor to compensate for an increase of cooling as the flow rate increases, and decreasing or stopping the stream of fuel vapor, if after correction, the detected cooling is smaller than a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A fuel dispensing unit including a vapor recovery system for recovering fuel vapor from a vehicle tank during dispensing of fuel into the vehicle tank at a fuel dispensing flow rate, said vapor recovery system comprising a vapor recovery line for transporting a stream of fuel vapor, and a controller, wherein a flow meter is arranged in or adjacent to the vapor recovery line for indicating the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor, a heated element is arranged in the vapor recovery line, and the controller is configured to:
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detect a cooling exerted on the heated element by the stream of fuel vapor, determine a correction for the detected cooling by weighting said cooling with the flow rate of the stream of fuel vapor to compensate for an increase in cooling as the vapor flow rate increases, and decrease or stop the stream of fuel vapor, if after correction, the detected cooling is smaller than a predetermined level.
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Specification