Dispenser leak detection
AssigneeGilbarco Inc.
InventorJohn S. Grose
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel dispensing apparatus includes a fuel reservoir having a pump to pump fuel from the reservoir into a first leg of piping. A master dispenser downstream of the first leg of piping has an outlet hose, a user-controllable switch activatable to turn on the pump to pump motor fuel from the reservoir to the master dispenser, a meter to detect the flow of motor fuel being dispensed through the master dispenser, and a second leg of piping downstream of the meter and exiting the master dispenser. A satellite dispenser is connected to second leg. An electronic means simulates the activation of the switch by turning on the pump and determines the meter's detection of the flow of motor fuel during a time of simulated activation of the switch and outputs a leak detection signal when such flow is detected.
Claims25
An apparatus for detecting leaks in piping connecting master and satellite motor fuel dispensers in which the master dispenser includes:
- a. a switch activatable to turn on a pump to pump motor fuel from a reservoir to the master dispenser,
- b. a meter to detect the flow of motor fuel being dispensed, and
- c. piping to the satellite dispenser downstream of the meter, said apparatus comprising electronic means for simulating the activation of the switch and for determining the meter's detection of the flow of motor fuel during a time of simulated activation of the switch and for outputting a leak detection signal when such flow is detected.
A fuel dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a fuel reservoir having a pump to pump fuel from the reservoir into a first leg of piping,
- a master dispenser downstream of said first leg of piping and having an outlet hose, a user-controllable switch activatable to turn on said pump to pump motor fuel from said reservoir to said master dispenser, a meter to detect the flow of motor fuel being dispensed through said master dispenser, a second leg of piping downstream of said meter and exiting the master dispenser,
- a satellite dispenser connected to said second leg, and
- electronic means for simulating the activation of said switch by turning on said pump and for determining said meter's detection of the flow of motor fuel during a time of simulated activation of said switch and for outputting a leak detection signal when such flow is detected.
A method of detecting leaks in piping connecting master and satellite motor fuel dispensers in which the master dispenser includes a switch activatable to turn on a pump to pump motor fuel from a reservoir to the master dispenser, a meter to detect the flow of motor fuel being dispensed, and piping to the satellite dispenser downstream of the meter, comprising
- simulating the activation of the switch, determining the meter's detection of the flow of motor fuel during a time of simulated activation of the switch, and signalling a leak when such flow is detected.
A fuel dispensing apparatus comprising:
- a fuel reservoir having a pump to pump fuel from the reservoir into a first leg of piping,
- a master dispenser downstream of said first leg of piping and having an outlet hose, a user-controllable switch activatable to turn on said pump to pump motor fuel from said reservoir to said master dispenser, a meter to detect the flow of motor fuel being dispensed through said master dispenser, a second leg of piping downstream of said meter and exiting the master dispenser,
- a satellite dispenser connected to said second leg and including a valve downstream of said second leg and an outlet hose downstream of said valve, and electronic means for
- a) periodically stimulating the activation of said switch by turning on said pump while maintaining said valve in said satellite dispenser closed and for determining said meter's detection on the flow of motor fuel during a time of simulated activation of said switch and for outputting a leak detection signal when such flow is detected, and
- b) detecting actual activation of the switch and terminates simulation upon detection of actual switch activation.
A method of detecting leaks in piping connecting master and satellite motor fuel dispensers in which the master dispenser includes a switch activatable to turn on a pump to pump motor fuel form a reservoir to the master dispenser, a meter to detect the flow of motor fuel being dispensed, and piping to the satellite dispenser downstream of the meter with a valve downstream of the piping in the satellite dispenser and an outlet hose downstream of the valve, comprising
- periodically simulating the activation of the switch while maintaining the valve closed, determining the meter's detection of the flow of motor fuel during a time of simulated activation of the switch, signalling a leak when such flow is detected, and
- monitoring actual activation of the switch and terminating simulation upon detection of actual switch activation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.