Fuel dispenser flow meter fraud detection and prevention
First Claim
1. A fuel flow meter assembly comprising:
- a fuel flow meter comprising a shaft; and
a first displacement sensor comprising at least one transponder coupled for rotation with said fuel flow meter shaft and at least one interrogator electronics, said first displacement sensor operative to generate information representative of a first amount of fuel delivered through said fuel flow meter based on remote electronic communication between said at least one interrogator electronics and said at least one transponder;
a second displacement sensor comprising a disc operatively connected for rotation with said fuel flow meter shaft, said disc defining a plurality of radial slots therethrough, said second displacement sensor in optical communication with a light source and a detector;
wherein rotation of said fuel flow meter shaft allows light from said light source to pass through said plurality of radial slots and be detected at said detector; and
wherein said second displacement sensor is operative to generate information representative of a second amount of fuel delivered through said fuel flow meter.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fuel flow meter assembly for detecting fraud caused by tampering. The fuel flow meter assembly comprises a fuel flow meter comprising a shaft and a fiber optic displacement sensor operatively connected to the fuel flow meter shaft for generating information representative of an amount of fuel delivered through the fuel flow meter. The fuel flow meter assembly also comprises at least one transponder coupled with one of the fuel flow meter shaft and the displacement sensor. Further, the fuel flow meter assembly comprises at least one interrogator electronics coupled with the other of the fuel flow meter shaft and the displacement sensor. The at least one interrogator electronics is configured for remote electronic communication with the at least one transponder.
90 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A fuel flow meter assembly comprising:
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a fuel flow meter comprising a shaft; and a first displacement sensor comprising at least one transponder coupled for rotation with said fuel flow meter shaft and at least one interrogator electronics, said first displacement sensor operative to generate information representative of a first amount of fuel delivered through said fuel flow meter based on remote electronic communication between said at least one interrogator electronics and said at least one transponder; a second displacement sensor comprising a disc operatively connected for rotation with said fuel flow meter shaft, said disc defining a plurality of radial slots therethrough, said second displacement sensor in optical communication with a light source and a detector; wherein rotation of said fuel flow meter shaft allows light from said light source to pass through said plurality of radial slots and be detected at said detector; and wherein said second displacement sensor is operative to generate information representative of a second amount of fuel delivered through said fuel flow meter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting fraud in association with a flow meter assembly, said flow meter assembly comprising a flow meter comprising a shaft, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a first displacement sensor comprising at least one transponder and at least one interrogator electronics; generating information representative of a first amount of fluid delivered through said flow meter based on remote electronic communication between said at least one interrogator electronics and said at least one transponder; providing a second displacement sensor comprising a disc operatively connected for rotation with said flow meter shaft, said disc defining a plurality of radial slots therethrough, said second displacement sensor in optical communication with a light source and a detector; generating information representative of a second amount of fluid delivered through said flow meter based on light detected at said detector; and comparing said first amount with said second amount.
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Specification