Fuel dispenser flow meter sensor fraud prevention
First Claim
1. A method for detecting fraud caused by tampering with a fuel flow meter, comprising the steps of:
- providing a fuel flow meter for measuring the flow of liquid fuel, said flow meter having at least one shaft supporting a rotor;
providing said flow meter with a rotary displacement sensor;
recording data indicative of a first angular position of said shaft upon termination of a first fueling transaction;
recording data indicative of a second angular position of said shaft upon initiation of a second fueling transaction; and
comparing data indicative of said first and second shaft angular positions to determine whether a difference exists.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems for detecting fraud caused by tampering with a fuel flow meter. In one embodiment, the method comprises providing a fuel flow meter for measuring the flow of liquid fuel. The flow meter has at least one shaft supporting a rotor. The method further comprises providing the flow meter with a rotary displacement sensor. Also, the method comprises measuring a first angular position of the shaft upon termination of a first fueling transaction and measuring a second angular position of the shaft upon initiation of a second fueling transaction. Finally, the method comprises comparing data indicative of the first and second shaft angular positions to determine whether fraud has occurred.
52 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A method for detecting fraud caused by tampering with a fuel flow meter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fuel flow meter for measuring the flow of liquid fuel, said flow meter having at least one shaft supporting a rotor; providing said flow meter with a rotary displacement sensor; recording data indicative of a first angular position of said shaft upon termination of a first fueling transaction; recording data indicative of a second angular position of said shaft upon initiation of a second fueling transaction; and comparing data indicative of said first and second shaft angular positions to determine whether a difference exists. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A fuel flow meter, comprising:
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a shaft supporting at least one rotor; a rotary displacement sensor comprising at least one sensing element, a processor, and memory; said displacement sensor adapted to store first data indicative of an angular position of said shaft in said memory upon termination of a first fueling transaction; said displacement sensor further adapted to generate second data indicative of an angular position of said shaft upon initiation of a second fueling transaction; said processor adapted to compare said first and second data to determine whether fa difference exists. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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14. A fuel dispenser, comprising:
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a control system having control system memory; internal fuel flow piping adapted for connection to a fuel flow path from a bulk storage tank to a nozzle; a fuel flow meter having a shaft, said fuel flow meter located along said piping; a rotary displacement sensor coupled to said fuel flow meter and in communication with said control system, said displacement sensor comprising displacement sensor memory; wherein said displacement sensor is adapted to determine data indicative of the angular position of said shaft; and wherein the data indicative of said angular position is stored in both said control system memory and said displacement sensor memory. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fuel flow meter, comprising:
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a shaft supporting at least one rotor; a rotary displacement sensor comprising a processor and memory; said displacement sensor comprising an optical encoder adapted to output an expected number of position signals per revolution of said shaft and one or more reference signals per revolution of said shaft; said displacement sensor adapted to store data indicative of said position signals and said one or more reference signals in memory; said displacement sensor adapted to compare a first number of position signals received after receiving a reference signal before termination of a first fueling transaction and a second number of position signals received after initiation of a second fueling transaction to said expected number of position signals to determine whether fraud has occurred. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for detecting fraud caused by tampering with a fuel flow meter, comprising the steps of:
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providing a fuel flow meter for measuring the flow of liquid fuel, said flow meter having a housing and at least one shaft supporting a rotor; providing said flow meter with a rotary displacement sensor having a housing and a shaft; and providing a first coupling between said flow meter shaft and said rotary displacement sensor shaft; wherein said first coupling is operative to cause one of said rotary displacement sensor shaft and said flow meter shaft to rotate relative to the other of said rotary displacement sensor shaft and said flow meter shaft upon removal of said rotary displacement sensor from said flow meter housing. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification