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US 6,681,814 B1Granted
Hazardous area power interlock
AssigneeGilbarco Inc.
InventorsJack F. Bartlett, Howard M. Myers, Russel D. Leatherman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel dispenser contains a vapor sensor in the non-hazardous electronics chamber. The vapor sensor is operatively connected to a power interlock. When hydrocarbon vapors exceed a predetermined threshold in the electronics chamber, power is decoupled from the electronics in the electronics chamber to prevent explosions. The power interlock may further decouple power from the entire fuel dispenser. The detection of hydrocarbon vapors may also be communicated to another system including a remote location.
Claims25
A fuel dispenser, comprising:
- a housing, comprising:
- an electronics chamber containing electronics for performing functions associated with the fuel dispenser;
- and
- a fuel-handling chamber, said fuel handling chamber generating fuel vapors, said fuel-handling chamber isolated from said electronics chamber;
- and
- a vapor sensor for detecting said fuel vapors within said electronics chamber.
3 more elements
A method of using a fuel dispenser, comprising:
- installing a vapor sensor in an electronics chamber of the fuel dispenser distinct from a fuel-handling chamber of the fuel dispenser;
- and
- sensing fuel vapor within the electronics chamber to determine if said fuel vapor has infiltrated said electronics chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.