System and method for detecting pressure variations in fuel dispensers to more accurately measure fuel delivered
First Claim
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1. A fuel dispenser for dispensing fuel from at least one storage tank to a vehicle, the dispenser comprising:
- a control system;
a fuel flow path configured to receive fuel from the at least one fuel storage tank for dispensing to the vehicle;
a meter operatively coupled inline to the fuel flow path and through which fuel passes, wherein the meter is operatively connected to the control system and adapted to transmit a meter signal to the control system in relation to the amount of fuel passing through the meter; and
a first pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure in the fuel flow path, wherein the first pressure sensor is operatively connected to the control system and adapted to transmit a first signal representative of the pressure sensed by the first pressure sensor, whereinthe control system is adapted to;
calculate a volume or flow rate of the fuel delivered to the vehicle based on the meter signal;
determine if a non-steady state condition exists in the fuel flow path during fueling based at least in part on data corresponding to the first signal; and
compensate the calculated volume or flow rate of the fuel in response to the determination of the non-steady state condition.
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Abstract
A system and method for compensating a calculated or flow rate of fuel dispensed to a vehicle via a fuel flow path in response to a determination of a non-steady state condition based on data corresponding to a signal transmitted by a pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure therein, where the pressure sensor is adapted to transmit a signal representative of the sensed pressure.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A fuel dispenser for dispensing fuel from at least one storage tank to a vehicle, the dispenser comprising:
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a control system; a fuel flow path configured to receive fuel from the at least one fuel storage tank for dispensing to the vehicle; a meter operatively coupled inline to the fuel flow path and through which fuel passes, wherein the meter is operatively connected to the control system and adapted to transmit a meter signal to the control system in relation to the amount of fuel passing through the meter; and a first pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure in the fuel flow path, wherein the first pressure sensor is operatively connected to the control system and adapted to transmit a first signal representative of the pressure sensed by the first pressure sensor, wherein the control system is adapted to; calculate a volume or flow rate of the fuel delivered to the vehicle based on the meter signal; determine if a non-steady state condition exists in the fuel flow path during fueling based at least in part on data corresponding to the first signal; and compensate the calculated volume or flow rate of the fuel in response to the determination of the non-steady state condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A fuel dispenser for dispensing fuel from at least one storage tank to a vehicle, the dispenser comprising:
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a control system; a fuel flow path configured to receive fuel from the at least one fuel storage tank for dispensing to the vehicle; a meter operatively coupled inline to the fuel flow path and through which fuel passes, wherein the meter is operatively connected to the control system and adapted to transmit a meter signal to the control system in relation to the amount of fuel passing through the meter; a first pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure in the fuel flow path upstream from the meter, wherein the first pressure sensor is operatively connected to the control system and adapted to transmit a first signal representative of the pressure sensed by the first pressure sensor; and a second pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path and configured to sense pressure in the fuel flow path downstream from the meter, wherein the second pressure sensor is operatively connected to the control system and adapted to transmit a second signal representative of the pressure sensed by the first pressure sensor, wherein the control system is adapted to; calculate a volume or flow rate of the fuel delivered to the vehicle based on the meter signal; determine if a non-steady state condition exists in the fuel flow path during fueling based on data corresponding to at least one of the first and second signals; and compensate the calculated volume or flow rate of the fuel in response to the determination of the non-steady state condition. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for dispensing fuel received from at least one fuel storage tank to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving from a meter a meter signal in relation to the amount of fuel passing through the meter; calculating a volume or flow rate of the fuel dispensed to the vehicle based on the meter signal; detecting a non-steady state condition in a fuel flow path from the at least one storage tank to the vehicle during fueling based on data corresponding to a first signal transmitted by a first pressure sensor operatively coupled to the fuel flow path; and compensating the calculated volume or flow rate of the fuel in response to detection of the non-steady state condition. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification