Fuel dispenser fuel meter error detection device, system and method

A system that measures the flow rate or volume of a fluid, comprising:

• a control system;
• a meter, comprising:
• a meter flow path coupled to the fluid conduit;
• and
• a pulser that sends a pulser signal in relation to the flow of fluid through the meter flow path to the control system;
• and
• a flow switch coupled to the fluid conduit, comprising:
• a flow switch flow path;
• and
• a sensor that communicates a flow switch signal to the control system when the fluid is passing through the flow switch flow path;
• the flow switch flow path fluidly coupled to the meter flow path such that fluid that passes through the meter flow path also passes through the flow switch flow path;
• the control system receives the pulser signal and calculates a flow rate or volume of the fluid passing through the meter flow path based on the pulser signal;
• and
• the control system detects a flow switch error when the pulser signal is being received and the flow switch signal is not received, or a meter error when the flow switch signal is being received and the pulser signal is not being received.

A method of determining an error in a fuel dispenser that dispensed fuel to a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• passing the fuel through the flow path of a meter;
• the meter generating a pulser signal in response to the fuel passing through the flow path of the meter when the meter is operating properly;
• passing the fuel through a flow switch fluidly coupled to the flow path;
• the flow switch generating a flow switch signal in response to fuel passing through the flow switch when the flow switch is operating properly;
• determining the flow rate or volume of fuel passing through the flow path of the meter based on the pulser signal;
• generating a flow switch error if the pulser signal is being received by a control system and the flow switch signal is not being received by the control system;
• and
• generating a meter error when the flow switch signal is being received by the control system and the pulser signal is not being received by the control system.

A method of determining an error in a system that measures the flow rate or volume of a fluid, comprising the steps of:

• passing the fluid through the flow path of a meter;
• the meter generating a pulser signal in response to the fluid passing through the flow path of the meter when the meter is operating properly;
• passing the fluid through a flow switch fluidly coupled to the flow path;
• the flow switch generating a flow switch signal in response to fluid passing through the flow switch when the flow switch is operating properly;
• determining the flow rate or volume of the fluid passing through the flow path of the meter based on the pulser signal;
• generating a flow switch error if the pulser signal is being received by a control system and the flow switch signal is not being received by the control system;
• and
• generating a meter error when the flow switch signal is being received by the control system and the pulser signal is not being received by the control system.