Fuel dispensing method and control system for refueling from master and satellite dispensers

• US 20030065422A1
• Filed: 12/06/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edward A. Payne, William S. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Edward A. Payne, William S. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, William S., Payne, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,697,705 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/241
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

A control system for a fuel dispensing system and a method for simultaneously refueling from at least two fuel dispensers to provide a single transaction total wherein the two fuel dispensers are a master/satellite fuel dispenser pair. A first communication means enables the dispenser control circuitry in the master dispenser to control the dispensing of fuel from the satellite dispenser. A second communication means enables the dispenser control circuitry to receive data regarding the amount of fuel dispensed by the satellite dispenser. A combination means generally associated with the dispenser control circuitry combines the total amount of fuel dispensed from the master/satellite fuel dispenser pair to a single vehicle. A device mounted on the master dispenser displays the total volume and price for the customer as a single transaction.

Claims

1. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling from at least two fuel dispensers to provide a single transaction total, the two fuel dispensers being a master dispenser and a satellite dispenser, the master dispenser having dispenser control circuitry, each fuel dispenser further including valve controls for dispensing fuel, dispensing meter, pulser circuitry associated with the dispensing meter for emitting transactional data signals responsive to meter activity, and a device for displaying at least the volume and price of the total fuel dispensed, the control system comprising:

first communication means for enabling the dispenser control circuitry to communicate with the valve controls of the satellite dispenser;

second communication means for enabling the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser to communicate with the dispenser control circuitry; and

means for combining the transactional data signals from the satellite dispenser with the transactional data signals from the master dispenser to form combined transactional data signals representative of the total amount of fuel dispensed by the master and satellite dispensers.

2. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein the refueling occurs simultaneously.

3. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein the transactional data signal is a pulser data signal.

4. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein the dispenser control circuitry includes the combining means.

5. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein the combining means comprises electronic circuitry and computer software.

6. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein the combined transactional data signals communicate with the device for displaying the combined volume and price for fuel dispensed by the master dispenser and the satellite dispenser as a single transaction.

7. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein the master dispenser and the satellite dispenser each further include a fueling conduit for fuel dispensing and are separated by a physical distance sufficient to accommodate a vehicle for simultaneous refueling using both conduits.

8. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein each fuel dispenser further includes means for detecting and recovering fuel vapor during fuel dispensing.

9. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 8 wherein the means for detecting and recovering fuel vapor includes a first vapor recovery circuitry associated with the master dispenser and in communication with the pulser circuitry of the master dispenser and with the dispenser control circuitry, and a second vapor recovery circuitry associated with the satellite dispenser and in communication with the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser and with the dispenser control circuitry.

10. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein a multi-dispenser housing includes a master dispenser and a satellite dispenser.

11. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 10 wherein a plurality of multi-dispenser housings are arranged in a substantially linear array, and wherein the multi-dispenser housings are separated by a physical distance sufficient to accommodate a vehicle for simultaneous refueling from a master dispenser in one multi-dispenser housing and a satellite dispenser in another multi-dispenser housing.

12. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of multi-dispenser housings are bordered on one end by a single dispenser housing containing a master dispenser and on the other end by a single dispenser housing containing a satellite dispenser.

13. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of multi-dispenser housings are bordered on one end by a single dispenser housing containing a master dispenser and on the other end by a multi-dispenser housing.

14. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 13 wherein the master dispenser of the multi-dispenser housing on the other end is a stand-alone dispenser.

15. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 1 wherein the first communication means includes a first demultiplexer associated with the master dispenser, the first demultiplexer being in communication with the dispenser control circuitry for converting parallel data signals from the dispenser control circuitry into data signals for transmission to the satellite dispenser, and a second multiplexer associated with the satellite dispenser, the second multiplexer being in communication with the first demultiplexer and with the valve controls of the satellite dispenser for converting serial signals from the first demultiplexer into parallel data signals for transmission to the valve controls of the satellite dispenser, and wherein the second communication means includes a second demultiplexer associated with the satellite dispenser, the second demultiplexer being in communication with the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser for converting parallel data signals from the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser into serial data signals for transmission to the master dispenser, and a first multiplexer associated with the master dispenser, the first multiplexer being in communication with the second demultiplexer and with the dispenser control circuitry for converting serial data signals from the second demultiplexer into parallel data signals for transmission to the dispenser control circuitry.

16. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 15 wherein the first multiplexer and the first demultiplexer are combined into a first multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit associated with the master dispenser and the second multiplexer and the second demultiplexer are combined into a second multiplexer/demultiplexer circuit associated with the satellite dispenser.

17. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 16 wherein the transactional data signal is a pulser data signal.

18. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 17 wherein the first and second multiplexer/demultiplexers are electronically connected by two wires.

19. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 15 wherein the combined transactional data signals communicate with the device for displaying the combined volume and price for fuel dispensed by the master dispenser and the satellite dispenser as a single transaction.

20. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 15 wherein the master dispenser and the satellite dispenser each further includes a fueling conduit for fuel dispensing and are separated by a physical distance sufficient to accommodate a vehicle for simultaneous refueling using both conduits.

21. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 15 wherein each fuel dispenser further includes means for detecting and recovering fuel vapor during fuel dispensing.

22. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 21 wherein the means for detecting and recovering fuel vapor includes a first vapor recovery circuitry associated with the master dispenser and in communication with the pulser circuitry of the master dispenser and with the dispenser control circuitry, and a second vapor recovery circuitry associated with the satellite dispenser and in communication with the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser and with the dispenser control circuitry.

23. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 15 wherein a multi-dispenser housing includes a master dispenser and a satellite dispenser.

24. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 23 wherein a plurality of multi-dispenser housings are arranged in a substantially linear array, and wherein the multi-dispenser housings are separated by a physical distance sufficient to accommodate a vehicle for simultaneous refueling from a master dispenser in one multi-dispenser housing and a satellite dispenser in another multi-dispenser housing.

25. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of multi-dispenser housings are bordered on one end by a single dispenser housing containing a master dispenser and on the other end by a single dispenser housing containing a satellite dispenser.

26. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 24 wherein the plurality of multi-dispenser housings are bordered on one end by a single dispenser housing containing a master dispenser and on the other end by a multi-dispenser housing.

27. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 26 wherein the master dispenser of the multi-dispenser housing on the other end is a stand-alone dispenser.

28. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for simultaneously refueling from at least two fuel dispensers to provide a single transaction total, the two fuel dispensers being a master dispenser and a satellite dispenser, wherein the master dispenser and the satellite dispenser are separated by a physical distance sufficient to accommodate a vehicle for simultaneous refueling therebetween, the master dispenser having dispenser control circuitry, each fuel dispenser further including fueling conduits for dispensing fuel, valve controls for controlling the flow of fuel through the fueling conduits, dispensing meter, pulser circuitry associated with the dispensing meters for emitting pulser data signals responsive to meter activity, means for detecting and recovering fuel vapor during fuel dispensing, and a device for displaying at least the volume and price of the total fuel dispensed, the control system comprising:

first communication means for enabling the dispenser control circuitry to communicate with the valve controls of the satellite dispenser, the first communication means including a first multiplexer/demultiplexer associated with the master dispenser, the first multiplexer/demultiplexer and being in communication with the dispenser control circuitry for converting parallel data signals from the dispenser control circuitry into datastream signal for transmission to the satellite dispenser, and including a second multiplexer/demultiplexer associated with the satellite dispenser, the second multiplexer/demultiplexer being in communication with the first multiplexer/demultiplexer and with the valve controls of the satellite dispenser for converting datastream signal from the first multiplexer/demultiplexer into parallel data signals for transmission to the valve controls of the satellite dispenser;

second communication means for enabling the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser to communicate with the dispenser control circuitry, the second communication means including the second multiplexer/demultiplexer being in communication with the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser for converting parallel data signals from the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser into datastream signal for transmission to the master dispenser, and including the first multiplexer/demultiplexer being in communication with the second multiplexer/demultiplexer and with the dispenser control circuitry for converting datastream signal from the second multiplexer/demultiplexer into parallel data signals for transmission to the dispenser control circuitry; and

means associated with the dispenser control circuitry for combining the pulser data signals from the satellite dispenser with the pulser data signals from the master dispenser to form combined pulser data signals representative of the total amount of fuel dispensed by the master dispenser and satellite dispenser, wherein the combined transactional data signals communicate with the device for displaying the combined volume and price for the total amount of fuel dispensed by the master and satellite dispensers as a single transaction.

29. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 28 wherein the combining means comprises electronic circuitry and computer software.

30. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 28 wherein the means for detecting and recovering fuel vapor includes a first vapor recovery circuitry associated with the master dispenser and in communication with the pulser circuitry of the master dispenser and with the dispenser control circuitry, and a second vapor recovery circuitry associated with the satellite dispenser and in communication with the pulser circuitry of the satellite dispenser and with the dispenser control circuitry.

31. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 28 wherein a multi-dispenser housing includes a master dispenser and a satellite dispenser.

32. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 31 wherein a plurality of multi-dispenser housings are arranged in a substantially linear array, and wherein the multi-dispenser housings are separated by a physical distance sufficient to accommodate a vehicle for simultaneous refueling from a master dispenser in one multi-dispenser housing and a satellite dispenser in another multi-dispenser housing.

33. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 32 wherein the plurality of multi-dispenser housings are bordered on one end by a single dispenser housing containing a master dispenser and on the other end by a single dispenser housing containing a satellite dispenser.

34. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 32 wherein the plurality of multi-dispenser housings are bordered on one end by a single dispenser housing containing a master dispenser and on the other end by a multi-dispenser housing.

35. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 34 wherein the master dispenser of the multi-dispenser housing on the other end is a stand-alone dispenser.

36. A control system for a fuel dispensing system for refueling according to claim 28 wherein the first and second multiplexer/demultiplexers are electronically connected by two wires.

37. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing electronic communication between a first fuel dispenser and a second fuel dispenser;

(b) positioning the vehicle between the first fuel dispenser and the second fuel dispenser;

(c) connecting a fuel hose from the first fuel dispenser to one tank of the vehicle;

(d) dispensing fuel to the vehicle from the first fuel dispenser;

(e) connecting a fuel hose from the second fuel dispenser to another tank of the vehicle;

(f) dispensing fuel simultaneously to the vehicle from the second fuel dispenser;

(g) measuring the volume of fuel dispensed from the first fuel dispenser;

(h) measuring the volume of fuel dispensed from the second fuel dispenser;

(i) combining the volume measurements from the first and second fuel dispensers; and

(j) displaying at least the total combined volume and price of fuel dispensed to the vehicle from the first and second fuel dispensers.

38. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle according to claim 37 wherein steps (d) and (f) further comprise the step of controlling the dispensing of fuel from the first and second fuel dispensers with dispenser control circuitry in the first fuel dispenser.

39. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle according to claim 37 wherein step (i) further comprises the steps of:

(1) transmitting volume measurements and fuel price from the first fuel dispenser to dispenser control circuitry in the first fuel dispenser;

(2) transmitting volume measurements and fuel price from the second fuel dispenser to dispenser control circuitry in the first fuel dispenser; and

(3) combining the volume measurements and fuel prices from the first and second fuel dispensers in the dispenser control circuitry to generate a combined volume measurement and combined price for fuel dispensed to the vehicle from the first and second fuel dispensers.

40. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle according to claim 37 and further comprising the step of:

(k) enabling a person to pay for the total combined volume and price of fuel dispensed from the first and second fuel dispensers with one payment at a payment card reader installed at the first fuel dispenser.

41. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle according to claim 37 and further comprising the steps of:

(k) detecting first fuel vapor emissions at the connection point between the fuel hose of the first fuel dispenser and one tank of the vehicle;

(l) detecting second fuel vapor emissions at the connection point between the fuel hose of the second fuel dispenser and another tank of the vehicle;

(m) recovering a majority of the first fuel vapor emissions; and

(n) recovering a majority of the second fuel vapor emissions.

42. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle according to claim 37 wherein step (a) further comprises the steps of:

(1) placing a first fuel dispenser and a second fuel dispenser in a multi-dispenser housing;

(2) arranging a plurality of multi-dispenser housings in an array with a physical distance between each multi-dispenser housing sufficient to accommodate a vehicle between each multi-dispenser housing and sufficient to accommodate a plurality of vehicles within the array; and

(3) establishing electronic communication between the first fuel dispenser in one multi-dispenser housing with the second fuel dispenser in an adjacent multi-dispenser housing.

43. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle according to claim 42 and further comprising the steps of:

(4) placing a single dispenser housing with a first fuel dispenser at one end of the array of multi-dispenser housings; and

(5) placing a single dispenser housing with a second fuel dispenser at the other end of the array of multi-dispenser housings.

44. A method of simultaneously fueling two tanks in a vehicle and displaying at least the volume and price of the total amount of fuel dispensed to the vehicle according to claim 42 and further comprising the steps of:

(4) placing a single dispenser housing with a first fuel dispenser at one end of the array of multi-dispenser housings; and

(5) placing a multi-dispenser housing at the other end of the array of multi-dispenser housings, wherein the first fuel dispenser of the multi-dispenser housing at the other end of the array is a stand-alone fuel dispenser.