Method and apparatus for monitoring for a restriction in a stage II fuel vapor recovery system

• US 8,448,675 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2012
• Issued: 05/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Franklin Fueling Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: Franklin Fueling Systems Incorporated (EBW, Inc.)
• Inventors: Mellone, Joseph A., Boucher, Randall S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/413,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20120160367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 448 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/4, 141/5, 141/44, 141/45, 141/47, 141/50, 141/54, 141/55, 141/59, 141/61, 141/94, 141/98, 141/392
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0476 Vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0478 constructional features or components vapour recovery nozzles B67D7/54
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0496 Performance test devices therefor

Abstract

Systems and methods for detecting a failure in a Stage II fuel vapor recovery system are disclosed. An exemplary failure is a restriction in the vapor recovery system. In one detection system dispensing points may be flagged if it is determined that there has been a series of detected A/L ratios at the respective dispensing point below a first threshold. Further, an estimated ORVR penetration percentage may be determined for each dispensing point. In a second detection system an average A/L ratio for each dispensing point may be determined. The average A/L ratio may be an approximation of the average A/L ratio for non-ORVR transactions.

Claims

1. For a fuel dispensing system for dispensing fuel from a dispensing nozzle into ORVR and non-ORVR equipped vehicles, the fuel dispensing system including a vapor recovery system, a method for monitoring for a restriction in the vapor recovery system comprising:

for each fueling transaction, determining over a period of time an average of the A/L ratio for each fueling transaction either below a lower threshold or above an upper threshold, the upper threshold being greater than the lower threshold;

determining whether a number of sequential fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the lower and upper thresholds exceed a threshold number;

including fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the lower and upper thresholds in the average of the A/L ratios if the number of sequential fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the upper and lower thresholds exceed the threshold number, such inclusion to continue until a fueling transaction having an A/L ratio below the lower threshold or above the upper threshold is determined;

comparing the determined average of the A/L ratios to a first lower test threshold and to a first upper test threshold; and

providing an indication if the determined average of the A/L ratios is below the first lower test threshold or above the first upper test threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the threshold number of sequential fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the upper and lower thresholds is eleven.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the period of time is a day.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

determining a weekly ORVR average as an average of seven consecutive daily averages;

comparing the determined average of the A/L ratios to a second lower test threshold and to a second upper test threshold; and

providing an indication if the determined average of the A/L ratios is below the second lower test threshold or above the second upper test threshold.

5. For a fuel dispensing system for dispensing fuel from a dispensing nozzle into ORVR and non-ORVR equipped vehicles, the fuel dispensing system including a vapor recovery system, a system for monitoring for a restriction in the vapor recovery system comprising:

a controller, wherein the controller;

for each fueling transaction, determines over a period of time an average of the A/L ratio for each fueling transaction either below a lower threshold or above an upper threshold, the upper threshold being greater than the lower threshold;

determines whether a number of sequential fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the lower and upper thresholds exceed a threshold number;

includes fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the lower and upper thresholds in the average of the A/L ratios if the number of sequential fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the upper and lower thresholds exceed the threshold number, such inclusion to continue until a fueling transaction having an A/L ratio below the lower threshold or above the upper threshold is determined;

compares the determined average of the A/L ratios to a first lower test threshold and to a first upper test threshold; and

provides an indication if the determined average of the A/L ratios is below the first lower test threshold or above the first upper test threshold.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the threshold number of sequential fueling transactions having A/L ratios falling between the upper and lower thresholds is eleven.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the period of time is a day.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the controller:

determines a weekly ORVR average as an average of seven consecutive daily averages;

compares the determined average of the A/L ratios to a second lower test threshold and to a second upper test threshold; and

provides an indication if the determined average of the A/L ratios is below the second lower test threshold or above the second upper test threshold.

9. A fuel dispensing system for dispensing fuel from a plurality of dispensing nozzles into vehicles, the fuel dispensing system including a vapor recovery system, a system for monitoring for a restriction in the vapor recovery system comprising:

a controller, wherein the controller;

determines over a period of time, for each dispensing nozzle, a plurality of A/L ratios, each A/L ratio being associated with a respective dispensing transaction of the dispensing nozzle; and

flags one of the dispensing nozzles if it is determined that there has been a consecutive series of dispensing transactions of the dispensing nozzle wherein the respective A/L ratios of the consecutive series of dispensing transactions are below a first threshold.