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US 10,846,975 B2Granted
Fluid filling station
AssigneeFountain Master, LLC
InventorsFrancis X. Tansey, Jr., Gwenivere R. Tansey, Joseph F. Tansey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid filling station which has a supply tank, filter, transfer pump, a high pressure valve, an optional flow meter, a pressure relief valve, at least one muffler, a filling head, a control module, a purge head, cylinder dispensing mechanism, and its method of use are provided for. This fluid filling station is capable of refilling many types of fluids, but is preferably for the use with carbon dioxide. Additionally, this station is capable of housing and dispensing prefilled refillable fluid containers.
Claims56
A fluid filling station for filling refillable fluid containers suitable for use at retail establishments, comprising:
- a holder constructed to receive and hold a refillable fluid container, wherein the refillable fluid container comprises a small aluminum cylinder up to 24 ounces in size;
- a supply tank configured to supply a fluid, the supply tank in fluid communication with a filling head, the filling head including a connector adapted to mate with the refillable fluid container, wherein the fluid comprises carbon dioxide;
- a lift mechanism configured to bring said refillable fluid container into fluid communication with the filling head so that the refillable fluid container can receive the fluid from the supply tank;
- a supply valve located between the supply tank and the filling head, the supply valve, when open, allowing the fluid from the supply tank to flow to the filling head;
- a presence sensor configured to sense presence of the refillable fluid container in the holder;
- and
- a controller executing stored instructions from a memory, the stored instructions configured to allow the controller to raise and lower the lift mechanism, to read the presence sensor and to control the supply valve,
- whereby, when the refillable fluid container is placed in the holder, the controller causes the lift mechanism to bring the refillable fluid container into fluid communication with the filling head, opens the supply valve to fill the refillable fluid container, closes the supply valve, and causes the lift mechanism to lower the refillable fluid container separating it from the filling head, wherein the refillable fluid container is filled with liquid carbon dioxide.
5 more elements
A fluid filling station, comprising:
- a fluid supply tank configured to supply a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises carbon dioxide;
- a supply valve attached to the fluid supply tank;
- at least one filling head;
- a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the filling head,
- wherein said supply tank, said supply valve, said pressure relief valve, and said at least one filling head are in fluid communication;
- a control module;
- a lift and rotation mechanism under control of the control module comprising a refillable fluid container holder having a scale and at least one tank gripper, the lift and rotation mechanism configured to lift or lift and rotate a refillable fluid container into fluid communication with the filling head, wherein the refillable fluid container comprises a small aluminum cylinder up to 24 ounces in size;
- a display, displaying a user interface used to communicate commands to the control module and display information from the control module;
- and
- a payment processing module in communication with the control module, the control module presenting payment information of the display and verifying payment from the payment processing module,
- wherein the control module moves the refillable fluid container into fluid communication with the filling head using the lift and rotation mechanism, opens the supply valve, determines when the refillable fluid container is full by weight using the scale, closes the supply valve, and moves the refillable fluid container away from the filling head, wherein the refillable fluid container is filled with liquid carbon dioxide.
8 more elements
A fluid filling station, comprising:
- a fluid supply tank configured to supply a fluid, wherein the fluid comprises carbon dioxide;
- a transfer pump;
- a supply valve;
- a flow meter;
- at least one filling head,
- wherein said supply tank, said transfer pump, said supply valve, said flow meter, and said at least one filling head are in fluid communication;
- a control module;
- a purge head;
- a lift and rotation mechanism under control of the control module comprising a refillable fluid container holder having a scale and at least one tank gripper, the lift and rotation mechanism configured to lift or lift and rotate a refillable fluid container into fluid communication with the at least one filling head, wherein the refillable fluid container comprises a small aluminum cylinder up to 24 ounces in size;
- a display, displaying a user interface;
- a battery backup;
- and
- a muffler, wherein said muffler is in fluid communication with said purge head,
- wherein the control module moves the refillable fluid container into fluid communication with the filling head using the lift and rotation mechanism, opens the supply valve, monitors fluid flow of the carbon dioxide with the flow meter, determines when the refillable fluid container is full by weight using the scale, closes the supply valve, and moves the refillable fluid container away from the filling head, wherein the refillable fluid container is filled with liquid carbon dioxide.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.