Vapor recovery diagnostic testing system
AssigneeMarconi Commerce Systems Inc.
InventorsSteven L. Rowland, Hal C. Hartsell, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for monitoring and testing the operation of a vapor recovery system within a fuel dispensing device. The system utilizes strategically placed sensors within the fuel dispensing device to gather data pertaining to each pump and hose combination for that fuel dispensing device. The gathered data is forwarded to an internal digital controller processing device where calculations are performed and results are compared to baseline results stored in memory within the digital controller. Anomalous results are displayed and/or printed. The system operates in both automatic and manual diagnostic modes. The automatic diagnostic mode runs continuously without interfering with the normal operation of the fuel dispensing device.
Claims39
A vapor recovery diagnostic monitoring system within a single pump or multi-pump fuel dispensing apparatus having a vapor recovery system comprising one or more vapor pumps, motor drivers, vapor valves, and vapor lines for receiving and transporting vapors to an underground storage tank, said fuel dispensing apparatus further including at least one pump and hose combination terminating in a nozzle assembly adapted to fit into an automobile gas tank, said vapor recovery diagnostic monitoring system comprising:
- (a) a plurality of sensor devices situated variously throughout said vapor lines for sensing and measuring various environmental conditions relating to the operation of the vapor recovery system;
- (b) a processing device coupled to each of said sensor devices for receiving and processing sensed data;
- (c) memory means within said processing device for storing a baseline profile of operating parameters of the vapor recovery system elements for each pump and hose combination of the fuel dispensing apparatus;
- and
- (d) a test tee having an opening located on the outside of the fuel dispensing apparatus and adapted to receive said nozzle assembly, said tee having a plurality of sensor devices for sensing and measuring various environmental conditions relating to the operations of the vapor recovery system,
- wherein said sensed data is compared to the baseline profile of operating parameters in order to determine whether the vapor recovery system is operating outside of acceptable limits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.