Programmable multiple blender

In a fluid blending system for blending first and second products together in a desired ratio prior to dispensing, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a first flow path for said first product;
• providing a second flow path for said second product;
• isolating said first and second flow paths;
• producing first flow rate signals indicative of the actual flow rate of said first product at a given time;
• producing second flow rate signals indicative of the actual flow rate of said second product at a given time;
• statisically developing from the combination of a theoretical model for the operation of the system and data from the actual performance of said system on a real time basis, based upon total volume delivered at each measuring time, a predicted model of behavior for said system, for deriving idealized first and second flow rate signals having values for compensating for both preset and predicted future errors in said blend, for providing substantially the exact desired blend of said first and second products relative to the sum of the total accumulated volume thereof at a given time;
• calculating the error between the actaul and ideal ones of said first and second flow rate signals, respectively;
• and
• changing both simultaneously and individually, in an independent manner, over different time periods of a dispensing cycle, respectively, the rates of flow of said first and second products prior to the actual blending thereof, to compensate for the calculated errors thereof at any given time.

A system for blending first and second fluids together in desired ratio prior to dispensing, comprising:

• manifold means having a first port for receiving said first fluid, a second port for receiving said second fluid, a chamber for mixing said first and second fluids, and an outlet port for discharging therefrom the resultant blend of said first and second fluids;
• first valve means responsive to a first control signal for controlling the rate of flow of said first fluid from a source thereof to said first port of said manifold means;
• second valve means responsive to a second control signal for controlling the rate of flow of said second fluid from a source thereof to said second port of said manifold means;
• first flow meter means connected in series with said first valve means between said source of said first fluid and said first port of said manifold means, for producing first flow rate pulses proportional to the actual rate of flow of said first fluid;
• second flow meter means connected in series with said second valve means between said source of said second fluid and said second port of said manifold means, for producing second flow rate pulses proportional to the actual rate of flow of said second fluid;
• ratio tracker means responsive to the desired blend ratio, said first flow rate pulses, and said second flow rate pulses, for producing idealized first and second flow rate signals, for providing said desired blend of said first and second products relative to the sum of the total accumulated volume thereof at a given time;
• calculating means for determining the errors both between the actual and ideal first flow rate pulses, and between the actual and ideal second flow rate pulses;
• and
• control signal producing means responsive to said errors for changing said first and second control signals to compensate for the errors in the rates of flow of first and second fluids for obtaining the desired blend ratio thereof.

A system for selective fluid blending and dispensing first and second products, comprising:

• first and second flow control valve means for individually controlling the rate of flow of said first and second products in response to first and second control signals, respectively;
• first and second flow meter means, connected in series with said first and second flow control valve means, respectively, for producing first and second flow rate signals indicating the rate of flow of said first and second products, respectively;
• dispensing means having first and second ports for receiving said first and second products, respectively, from said series connected first and second flow control valve means and first and second flow meter means, respectively, for both (1) blending together said first and second products, and (2) dispensing the resultant blend;
• and
• closed loop control means including blend selection means for selectively producing a blend signal indicative of a desired blend or mixture ratio of said first and second products for dispensing, blended product flow rate selection means for selectively changing at any given time as demanded by a user product flown rate for dispensing and processing means responsive to said blend signal, a total flow rate signal produced by said blended product flow rate selection means, and said first and second flow rate signals, for producing said first and second control signals for operating said flow control valve means to jointly change the rates of flow of said first and second products at the same time in a first mode of operation, respectively, over a given dispensing cycle, prior to actual blending of said first and second products, for both maintaining the desired blend, and desired blended product flow rate at any given time.

A system for selectively blending and dispensing fluid products, comprising:

• first flow control valve means, responsive to a first control signal, for directly controlling the flow rate of a second product;
• second flow control valve means, responsive to a second control signal, for directly controlling the flow rate of a second product;
• first positive displacement flow meter means connected in series with said first flow control valve means, for producing a first flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of said first product;
• second positive displacement flow meter means connected in series with said second flow control valve means, for producing a second flow rate signal indicative of the flow rate of said second product;
• dispensing means connected for receiving said first and second products from said series connected first flow control valve means and first flow meter means, and said series connected second flow control valve means and second flow meter means, respectively, for sequentially blending and selectively dispensing the blended said first and second products, the flow rates thereof determining the ratio of the first product to the second product in the resilient blend of the two being dispensed;
• control means including blend selection means for producing a blend signal indicative of a desired blend of said first and second products, and processing means responsive to said blend signal, and said first and second flow rate signals, for producing said first and second control signals for simultaneously controlling in a closed loop manner said first and second flow control valve means for changing the relative rates of flow of said first and second products for maintaining the mixture ratio of the blend of the first and second products being dispensed prior to the actual blending thereof;
• and
• said dispensing means including blend manifold means for blending or mixing said first and second products together, and nozzle means connected to said blend manifold means for receiving the blended product therefrom and providing selective dispensing of the blended fuel.