Patent ID: 6244310
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: B67D

Abstract:
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; and(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,(d) the baseline profile determined by running a set of tests relating to various elements of a vapor recovery system, the set of tests including at least three of the group of tests consisting of:a. a first test comprising dispensing fuel from a pump and recording the rate of flow for said pump within said memory means;b. a second test comprising sending a sensor device a predetermined signal to which a predetermined signal is to be returned in order to ensure said sensor device is properly operating;c. a third test comprising running a vapor pump associated with selected hanging hardware and recording the pressure drop across said hanging hardware with said memory means; andd. a fourth test comprising:i. activating a vapor pump to determine a volume of air per gallon of fuel being dispensed;ii. calibrating a vapor pump speed in order to achieve a predetermined air to liquid (A/L) ratio for the vapor pump; andiii. recording the vapor pump speed necessary to achieve the predetermined A/L ratio,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.