Fuel dispensing nozzle with ultrasonic transducer for regulating fuel flow rates

• US 9,718,666 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Issued: 08/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veeder-Root Co (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Veeder-Root Co (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Cornett, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US14/964,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20160167942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 141 59, 141206, 141219
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/12 operated by movement of delivery hose or nozzle or by devices associated therewith
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/425 including components powered by electricity or light

Abstract

Systems and methods for regulating the flow rate of fluid at a fluid dispensing nozzle. In one embodiment, a nozzle includes a body, a spout coupled with the body, and at least one fluid flow path disposed within the body. The at least one fluid flow path is configured for fluid communication with a fluid dispensing hose. An ultrasonic transducer is disposed within the body and operatively coupled with the at least one flow path. Control electronics are in electronic communication with the ultrasonic transducer. The control electronics are operative to cause the ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves into the at least one fluid flow path. The ultrasonic waves are modulated with information representative of a desired fluid flow rate.

Claims

1. A fluid dispensing nozzle, comprising:

a body;

a spout coupled with said body;

at least one fluid flow path disposed within said body, said at least one fluid flow path configured for fluid communication with a fluid dispensing hose;

an ultrasonic transducer disposed within said body and operatively coupled with said at least one flow path; and

control electronics in electronic communication with said ultrasonic transducer;

wherein said control electronics are operative to cause said ultrasonic transducer to transmit ultrasonic waves into said at least one fluid flow path;

wherein said ultrasonic waves are modulated at the time of transmission with information representative of a desired fluid flow rate.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a handle.

3. The nozzle of claim 2, further comprising a position sensor operatively connected with said handle and in electronic communication with said control electronics.

4. The nozzle of claim 3, wherein actuation of said handle causes said position sensor to provide information representative of the position of said handle to said control electronics.

5. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising at least one button in electronic communication with said control electronics, wherein actuation of said at least one button provides information representative of said desired flow rate to said control electronics.

6. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a shutoff mechanism.

7. The nozzle of claim 6, further comprising an attitude device.

8. The nozzle of claim 6, further comprising an interlock operatively coupled with said shutoff mechanism and in electronic communication with said control electronics.

9. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a power source in electrical communication with said control electronics and said ultrasonic transducer.

10. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a valve disposed along said flow path, said valve being biased to a closed position in the absence of fluid flow.

11. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said ultrasonic waves are modulated with information representative of the identification of said nozzle.

12. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said nozzle is a vapor recovery nozzle.

13. A fluid dispenser, comprising:

a housing;

at least one fluid flow path disposed within said housing, said at least one fluid flow path configured for fluid communication with a fluid dispensing hose;

a control system;

an ultrasonic transducer in electronic communication with said control system, said ultrasonic transducer operatively coupled with said at least one flow path;

at least one flow control component in electronic communication with said control system, said at least one flow control component disposed along said at least one fluid flow path and operative to adjust the flow rate of fluid in said at least one fluid flow path;

wherein said ultrasonic transducer is operative to receive ultrasonic waves propagating along said at least one flow path;

wherein said ultrasonic waves are modulated at the time they are transmitted with information representative of a desired fluid flow rate.

14. The fluid dispenser of claim 13, wherein said fluid is liquid fuel.

15. The fluid dispenser of claim 13, wherein said at least one flow control component is a proportional valve.

16. The fluid dispenser of claim 13, further comprising control electronics in electronic communication with said ultrasonic transducer and operative to demodulate said ultrasonic waves.

17. The fluid dispenser of claim 13, wherein said control system is operative to actuate said at least one flow control component based on said information representative of said desired fluid flow rate.

18. A method of regulating the flow rate of fluid at a nozzle in fluid communication with a fluid dispenser, said method comprising the steps of:

transmitting, from an ultrasonic transducer located in said nozzle, ultrasonic waves modulated at the time of transmission with information representative of a desired fluid flow rate, said ultrasonic waves propagating along a fluid dispensing hose extending between said nozzle and said fluid dispenser;

receiving, at an ultrasonic transducer located in said fluid dispenser, said ultrasonic waves modulated with information representative of said desired fluid flow rate;

demodulating said ultrasonic waves to obtain said information representative of said desired fluid flow rate; and

adjusting at least one flow control component disposed along a flow path in said fluid dispenser based on said information representative of said desired fluid flow rate.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said fluid dispensing hose is a dual-channel hose.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said ultrasonic waves propagate through fluid flowing along a channel of said dual-channel hose.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of receiving, at control electronics located in said nozzle, information representative of a position of a handle of said nozzle.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of interrupting said transmission of said ultrasonic waves from said ultrasonic transducer located in said nozzle based on actuation of an interlock located in said nozzle.