0)
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`Europaisches Patentamt
`
`European Patent Office
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`Office européen des brevets
`
`KN
`0 433 041 A2
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`@) Publication number:
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`@)
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`EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION
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`@t) Application number: 90313506.9
`
`@) Dateoffiling: 12.12.90
`
`@) Priority: 15.12.89 US 452286
`
`Date of publication of application:
`19.06.91 Bulletin 91/25
`
`Designated Contracting States:
`AT BE CH DE DK ES FR GB GRIT LIELU NL SE
`
`@) Applicant: GILBARCO INC.
`7300 West Friendly Avenue P.O. Box 22087
`Greensboro North Carolina 27420(US)
`
`@) Inventor: Young, Harold R.
`
`®) A fuel dispenser system.
`
`
`
`@ int. cl: B67D 5/56, GOSD 11/13
`
`1489 Old Coach Road
`Kernersville, North Carolina, 27284(US)
`Inventor: Ronchetti, John J.
`1025 Pine Knolls Road
`Kernersville, North Carolina, 27284(US)
`
`Representative: Cockayne, Gillian et al
`The General Electric Companypic Patent
`Department GEC Marconi Research Centre
`West Hanningfield Road
`Great Baddow, Chelmsford Essex CM2
`8HN(GB)
`
`@) A fuel dispensing system includes a manifold
`(38)
`for
`receiving one or more grades of fuel at
`individual input ports and a plurality of output ports.
`The output ports are each connected to individual
`input ports of selection valves (13, 17 and 21), the
`latter having output ports connected to inlets of
`nozzles and hose assemblies (23, 25, 27 and 41). A
`controller (29) is included that is site programmable
`for designating a particular hase/nozzle assembly for
`
`fuel. The controller (29) is responsive to the selec-
`tion of a given nozzle (41) by a user for energising
`and controlling one or more flow control valves (5,
`7), and the selection valve (13, 17 or 21) associated
`with the selected nozzle, for delivering the required
`grade or grades of fuel
`to the manifold (33) for
`dispensing the grade of
`fuel associated with the
`selected nozzle,
`in a desired amount under closed
`loop control.
`
`dispensing a particular straight grade or blend of
`
`CONTROLLER
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`EP0433041A2
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`Xerox Copy Centre
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`A FUEL DISPENSER SYSTEM
`
`This invention relates generally to dispensing
`systems for delivering at least a high octane fuel, a
`low octane fuel, and a fixed blend of the two to a
`user.
`
`Certain petrol stations include fuel dispensers
`for dispensing at least three grades or octane lev-
`els of fuel, one of which may be a blend. Typically,
`a blending dispenser includes alternative dispens-
`ing of a high octane fuel, a low octane fuel, and a
`blend of the two. The blended fuel is a fixed blend
`predetermined at the fuel site where the fuel dis-
`penseris located. Such dispensers usually include
`orifice flow technology, that is orifices of fixed size
`to control the blend ratio of the typically high and
`low octane fuels for obtaining the intermediate
`grade or octane fuel.
`If
`it is desired to change the
`intermediate fuel blend ratio at the site, the chang-
`ing of orifices is time consuming, and awkward. To
`overcome this problem, recent fuel dispensing sys-
`tems have been developed to use proportional flow
`valves with electronic feedback control in place of
`the orifices.
`In such a fuel dispenser, the controller
`is programmed at the site in order to provide the
`desired fixed blend of the high and low octane
`fuels at the fuel dispenserisland. In such full three
`grade multiple product fixed blend fuel dispensers,
`a total of four flow meters would be typically re-
`quired for each bank of three hoses, with one
`fuelmeter being required for tracking the volume of
`fuel dispensed for each one of the low and high
`octane fuels, and two flow meters being required in
`the blending operation for the intermediate grade
`fuel.
`
`One known system for providing dispensing of
`high and low octane fuels, and a third fixed blend-
`ed fuel, is the Gilbarco "MPD Fixed Blender™ prod-
`uct
`line (manufactured by Gilbarco Inc., Greens-
`boro, N.C.) This system uses orifice flow technol-
`ogy, and meters the blended fuel.
`Another known system for providing a site
`selectable blended fuel of high and low octane
`fuels, in combination with dispensing of each of the
`latter two,
`is the "Wayne Series 590 Fixed-Ratio
`Blending Dispenser"
`(manufactured by Wayne
`Pump Division of Dresser Industries,
`Inc., Salis-
`bury, Md.). This system includes stepper motor
`operated valves for adjusting the flow rates of the
`fuels being dispensed, and also for adjusting the
`blend ratio between the high and low fuels for
`blending the two to provide an intermediate grade
`fuel.
`
`for
`fuel dispensing apparatus
`Many other
`blending two or more fuels are knownin the field of
`the present invention. One example is Krone et al.
`US 3,847,302 which teaches the control of a plural-
`
`ity of solenoid operated vaives for dispensing a
`desired blend or grade of fuel. Preset valve open-
`ings are used in Krone in order to provide a pre-
`determined intermediate blend. The valves are
`preset via the use of needle control secondary
`valves within one solenoid valve of each one of two
`
`pairs of solenoid valves included in a digital valving
`arrangement. A related system is disclosed in
`Krone et al. US 3,895,738.
`Kierbow et al. US 4,265,266 discloses a sys-
`tem for blending at
`least two products together.
`The
`system includes proportional
`flow conirol
`valves, and closed loop conirol for at least one of
`two products being blended. Microprocessor con-
`trol
`is utilized for setting the openings of the pro-
`portional flow control vaives to in turn control hy-
`draulic motors, for controlling pumps in the pump-
`ing of liquids being blended together with dry ma-
`terials, in the example given.
`Vetter et at. US 4,440,314 discloses a method
`and apparatus for blending at least one liquid com-
`ponent, such as a hardener, with a primary lacquer.
`Closed loop control of the liquids being blended is
`maintained for controlling the flow rate of one of
`the liquids to insure maintenance of the desired
`blend. The speed of pumps pumping the liquids is
`controlled via feedback from tachometers asso-
`
`ciated with the pump for providing signals indicat-
`ing the flow rate of liquid being pumped at any
`given time.
`Shannon US 4,252,253 teaches a drink dis-
`pensing apparatus that
`includes a microprocessor
`for controlling the pressurisation and actuation of
`pumpsto dispense a desired blend of products for
`obtaining a particular beverage.
`Goodwin et al. US 4,083,473 discloses a liquid
`blending system for providing three grades of fuel,
`gasoline in the example given, high and low octane
`grades of fuel are provided, along with a fixed
`blend portion of the two. A blend contro! valve 9 is
`operated via a first solenoid to one extreme posi-
`tion for dispensing the high grade of fuel, by an-
`other solenoid to an opposite extreme position for
`dispensing a low grade of fuel, and is also op-
`erated by an electromagnetic clutch for rotating the
`mechanical contro! valve to a predetermined inter-
`mediate position for dispensing an intermediate
`grade of fuel having a fixed blend ratio. A closed
`loop control system monitors flow meters asso-
`ciated with the high and low octane fuel for main-
`taining the desired intermediate blend of the two.
`Lombard US 4,043,300 teaches an apparatus
`and associated control electronics for comparing
`the flow rates of air and fuel being delivered to an
`engine, for controlling a valve setting the flow rate
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`in order to maintain a
`of either the air or the fuel,
`desired ratio of air to fuel in mixing the two.
`Gulbrandsen US 3,717,283 discloses a fuel
`blending apparatus including a low octane fuel dis-
`penser for dispensing low octane fuel from a stor-
`age tank, a premium or high octane fuel dispenser
`for dispensing high octane fuel
`from a second
`storage tank, and an intermediate grade fuel dis-
`penser for dispensing an intermediate grade of fuel
`that
`is a blend of the premium and low octane
`fuels. Two solenoid operated valves are included
`for permitting high octane fuel to be delivered to a
`mixing point for mixing with low octane fuel
`for
`delivery to the intermediate fuel dispenser when-
`ever such a grade of fuel
`is selected by a user.
`The low octane fuel
`is ‘independently delivered to
`the low octane dispenser from the storage tank for
`such fuel. The solenoid operated valves are selec-
`tively energised for either permitting only high oc-
`tane fuel
`to be delivered to the high octane dis-
`penser, or for permitting high octane fuel
`to be
`delivered to a mixing point for mixing with low
`octane fuel being pumped through to the intermedi-
`ate dispenser, for providing the intermediate grade
`of fuel at a given time.
`Ernyei US 3,410,293 discloses a system for
`delivering first and second products to a tank 3, for
`providing a blend of the products when they are
`mixed within the tank. Digital flow meters are con-
`nected in series with each product supply line to
`monitor the volume of the associated product being
`delivered to the tank. A control circuit monitors the
`output from the respective flow meters for control-
`ling a control valve 14 connected in series with one
`of the product lines for adjusting the flow rate of
`that product for maintaining the desired blend of
`the two products within the tank.
`Gross US 3,229,077 teaches a similar system
`to Ernyei US 3,410,293, for monitoring the flow rate
`of two fluids, and adjusting the flow rates of one of
`the fluids via control of a servo valve in series with
`the product line for the one fluid, for maintaining a
`desired blend of the twofluids.
`This invention seeks to provide an improved
`multiole product blending system in a fuel dis-
`penser.
`invention there is
`According to the present
`provided a fuel dispensing system comprising:
`a plurality of fuel flow control means each ca-
`pable of supplying a known or determinable
`quantity of a particular grade of fuel;
`connection means including a plurality of inlets
`each receiving a respective different grade of
`fuel from a respective fuel flow control means,
`and a plurality of outlets, at least one of whichis
`capable of providing a blend of fuel received
`from at least two fuel flow control means; and
`a plurality of selection valves each for conirolling
`
`the flow of fuel from a respective outlet of the
`connection means.
`By employing the present invention it is possi-
`ble to reduce the number of flow meters required
`in a multi-product dispenser for dispensing at least
`two fuels, each at a given grace, and a third fuel
`that is a blend of the two.
`Various embodiment of the invention will now
`be described by way of example only with refer-
`ence to the drawings,
`in which like items are in-
`dicated by the same reference number, wherein:
`Fig. 1
`is a block diagram showing one embodi-
`ment of the invention.
`Fig 2 is a hydraulic/schematic diagram showing
`in greater detail the embodiment of Fig.
`1 applied
`for use in a fixed blending dispenser with three
`dispensing hoses on each side of the dispenserfor
`dispensing three different octane levels of fuel per
`side, respectively.
`Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing pump op-
`erating switch locations for
`the typical
`fuel dis-
`penser of Fig. 2.
`Fig. 4 is a block schematic diagram of the
`pump operating switch circuit of an embodiment of
`the invention.
`Fig. 5 is a block diagram of yet another em-
`bodiment of the invention.
`Fig. 6 shows a hydraulic/schematic diagram of
`the embodiment of Fig. 5 applied for use as a site
`programmable fixed blender having pump handles
`configured substantially as shown in the embodi-
`ment of Fig. 3.
`Fig. 7 is an isometric view looking down from
`the right of a manifold embodiment of the invention
`for use in the embodimentof Figs. 5 and 6.
`Fig. 8 is an isometric view of the manifold of
`Fig. 7 with the manifold turned 180° and rotated
`90° clockwiserelative to Fig. 7.
`Referring to Figure 1, a fuel dispenser includes
`a source of low octane fuel 1, and a source of high
`octane fuel 3 for delivery under pressure via asso-
`ciated fuel pumps (not shown) to proportional flow
`control valves 5 and 7, respectively. Flow meters 9
`and 11 are connected in series with the propor-
`tional valves 5 and 7, respectively. The output port
`of flow meter 9 is connected in common to the
`input ports of a selection solenoid valve 13, and a
`non-return valve 15. Similarly, an output port of
`flow meter 11 is connected in commonto an input
`port of a selection valve 17, and an input port of a
`non-return valve 19. Output ports of the non-return
`valves 15 and 19 are connected in commonto an
`input port of a third selection valve 21. The output
`ports of the selection valves 13, 17 and 21, are
`connected to one end of a low octane fuel delivery
`line 23, a high octane fuel delivery line 25, and a
`blended or intermediate octane fue! delivery line
`27, respectively. The other ends of the fuel deliver
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`lines 23, 25, and 27, are each connected to a
`dispensing nozzle 41, respectively, as shown.
`In this example, the selection valves 13, 17 and
`21 are solenoid flow control valves, which in an
`engineering prototype were provided by ASCO
`222-763 valves, manufactured by Automatic Switch
`Company, Florham Park, New Jersey. The propor-
`tional flow control valves 5, and 7, and the flow
`meters 9 and 11, are in this example the same as
`taught in MceSpadden et al. US 4,876,653, issued
`October 24, 1989.
`In addition, controller 29 is sub-
`stantially the same
`as
`the controller of US
`4,876,653, but the controller 29 of the subject in-
`vention is programmed to provide the operation
`and functions to be illustrated below. All of
`the
`
`teaching of US 4,876,653° are incorporated herein
`by reference, which teachings include monitoring of
`flow meters 9 and 11, for controlling proportional
`valves 5 and 7, for maintaining a particular blend of
`the low octane fuel 1 and high octanefuel 3.
`Operation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 will now
`be described. A userfirst must select the particular
`octane level of fuel desired by lifting the appro-
`priate nozzle 41 from a boot 440 (see Fig. 4), and
`activating a switch 443 to be closed, either man-
`ually or automatically, for signalling controller 29
`that one of the three octane levels of fuel is to be
`dispensed. Note that the "pump operating switch"
`configuration will be described in greater detail
`below with reference to Fig. 4.
`If a low octane fuel
`is selected, controller 29 responds by turning on
`selection valve 13, and controlling the operating of
`proportional valve 5 via monitoring of the output
`signals from flow meter 9, for delivering a desired
`quantity of low octane fuel via hose or fuel line 23
`and the associated nozzle 41. Once a particular
`octane level of fuel
`is selected by removal of a
`nozzle 41 from an associated boot 440, the ones of
`the selection valves 13, 17, 21, and proportional
`valves 5, and 7 not associated with the fuel to be
`delivered are maintained in an inactive state, even
`if one of the other nozzles 41 happen to be re-
`moved from an associated boot 440 during delivery
`of another octane level of fuel during a particular
`dispensing cycle.
`In a similar manner to dispensing low octane
`fuel 1,
`if at the initiation of a given dispensing cycle
`the nozzle 41 associated with the high octane fuel
`3 is removed from its boot 440, controller 29 re-
`sponds by turning on proportional flow valve 7 and
`selection valve 17, for delivering a desired quantity
`of high octane fuel 3 via monitoring of output
`signals from flow meter 11.
`If an intermediate octane level or grade of fuel
`is desired, a nozzle 41 associated with the blended
`fuel line 27 is removed from its boot 440. Controller
`
`29 respondsby turning on the two proportional flow
`control valves 5 and 7, and selection valve 21. Low
`
`flow through non-return valve 15 to
`1
`octane fuel
`the input port of selection valve 21, and high oc-
`tane fuel 3 flows through non-return valve 19 to the
`selection valve 21. The low and high octane fuels
`1, 3, respectively, are mixed in flowing from non-
`return valves 15 and 19, and through selection
`valve 21, for delivery from blended fuel line or hose
`27 via the associated nozzle 41. The controller 29
`
`is programmed for operating the proportional flow
`valves 5 and 7 to maintain a predetermined blend
`of the low octane fuel 1 and high octane fuel 3, for
`providing a particular intermediate grade or octane
`level of fuel, as described.
`In Fig. 2, the embodiment of the invention of
`1
`is shown duplicated in a hydraulic diagram
`Fig.
`for delivering one of three octane levels of fuel at
`any given time at either side of a fuel dispenser 30,
`as shown in Fig. 3. As shown, the fuel dispenser 30
`has an "A" side, and a "B" side. On the "A" side
`three pump operating switches (see Fig. 4) are
`referenced as "Ai" and "Bi" for low-octane fuel,
`"A2" and "B2" for a blended or intermediate grade
`of fuel, and "A3" and "B3" for a high-octane fuel.
`Note that fuel filters 31 are shown connected in
`
`series between the low octane fuel supply 1 and
`the proportional flow meters 5A1 and 5B1 respec-
`tively, and between the high octane fuel supply 3
`and the proportional flow valves 7A3 and 7B3.
`Operation of the dispenser configuration of Fig.
`2 is substantially the same for each side of the
`dispenser 30 (see Fig. 3) as that of Fig. 1. Selec-
`tion valves 13A1 and 13B1 are associated with the
`
`delivery of low octane fuel, 17A3 and 17B3 with the
`delivery of high octane fuel, and 21A2 and 21B2
`with the delivery of a blend of the low octane fuel 4
`and high octane fuel 3. Note also that the particular
`blend of the low octane fuel 1 and high octane fuel
`3 for delivery of an intermediate grade of fuel via
`dispensing or fuel
`line 27 is in this example site
`programmable.
`In other words, controller 29 is ca-
`pable of being programmed at
`the site of
`the
`fueling station for delivering a predetermined blend
`of fuel to a user.
`
`in operation of the dispenser of Fig. 2, control-
`ler 29 is programmed for responding to appropriate
`boot signals to turn on valves 5A1 and 13A1 for
`delivering low octane fuel via fuel line 23A1; turning
`on valves 5Bi and 13B1 for delivering low octane
`fuel via fuel
`line 23B1; turning on valves 7A3 and
`17A3 for delivering high octane fuel via fuel
`line
`25A3;
`turning on valves 7B3 and 17B3 for de-
`livering high octane fuel via fuel line 25B3; turning
`on valves 5B1, 21B2, and 7B3, for delivering a
`blended fuel via fuel
`line 27B2; and valves 5A1,
`7A8, and 21A2 for delivering a blended fuel via fuel
`line 27A2. The controller 29 can be programmed at
`the site for responding to signals from meters 9A1,
`9B1, 11A3 and 11B3, for operating the proportional
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`valves 4A1, 5B1, 7A3 and 7B3 to deliver a desired
`quantity of high,
`low, or blended or intermediate
`octane fuel from the associated nozzle 41 at either
`side "A" or "B" of the dispenser 30, in this exam-
`ple.
`
`the pump
`With reference to Figs. 3 and 4,
`operating switches "A1" through "A3", and "B1"
`through "B3", are identically configured pump op-
`erating switches 400 as shownin Fig. 4. The refer-
`ence designations shown in Fig. 4 are identical to
`the reference designations used in McSpadden et
`al. US 4,876,653 for
`the same elements. Each
`pump switch configuration 400 includes a nozzle
`boot 440 with a pump handle element 442 that
`includes an SPST (single-pole-single-throw) switch
`443 operated by an associated pump handle lever
`42, When the nozzle 41 is inserted into its asso-
`ciated boot 440, the pump handle 442 is moved
`counter-clockwise, in turn causing the SPST switch
`443 to open, for signalling the end of a transaction
`via a signal line 444. When a new transaction is to
`be initiated, the associated nozzle 41 for delivering
`a desired octane level of fuel, is removed from iis
`boot 440. The pump handle 442 must be manually
`rotated in the direction of arrow 446 (clockwise in
`this example), for closing the SPST switch 443 for
`applying a +12.O0VDCsignal (+V,in this example)
`along signal
`line 444. The signal is connected via
`signal
`line 444 to a level shifter network 402, and
`therefrom to controller 29.
`More specifically, the level shifter network 402
`includes an isolation resistor 446 with one end
`connected to signal
`line 444, and its other end
`connect in common to grounding resistor 448 and
`an input
`terminal of a CMOS buffer level shifter
`450.
`In this example, +V volts is connected to the
`level shifter 450, for changing the voltage level of
`the +12VDC signal to the logic level of +5VDC,in
`this example. As shown in Fig. 4,
`in association
`with pump handle A1, a signal
`line 452 is con-
`nected from the output of
`the level shifter 402
`(output of
`level shifter 450) to the controller 29.
`When controller 29 receives this signal,
`indicating
`the initiation of a dispensing operation, controller
`29 responds by turning on selection valve 13A1
`and proportional valve 5A1, for delivering low oc-
`tane fuel via fuel line 23A, as shown in the embodi-
`ment of Fig. 2. Otherwise the operation of
`the
`dispensing cycle is substantially the same as that
`of McSpadden et ail. US 4,867,653. As shown in
`Fig. 4, each pump handie or pump handle station
`Ai
`through A3, and B1
`through B3 operate in
`substantially the same manner as that for pump
`handie A1. The associated initiation of operation
`signals are provided over signal lines 452-457, for
`pump handles A1-A3, and B1 through B3, respec-
`tively.
`In the embodiment of the invention of Fig. 1,
`
`ihe associated fuel dispenseris fixed at the factory
`relative to the positioning of
`the low, high, and
`intermediate grades or octane levels of fuel asso-
`ciated with fuel
`lines or fuel hoses 23, 25, and 27
`respectively. One site programming of coniroller 29
`can only be made of changing the blend ratio of
`the low octane fuel
`1
`and high octane fuel 3
`delivered via fuel hose 27. As will be described, in
`an alternative embodiment of the invention, control-
`ler 29 is site programmable for selectively des-
`ignating which ones of the fuel
`lines or fuel hoses
`23, 25 and 27 are to be used for dispensing low,
`high, or intermediate octane levels or grades of
`fuel, in addition to providing for programming of the
`octane level for the intermediate grade of fuel via
`adjustment of the blend ratio between the low and
`high octane fuels 1, 3, respectively.
`In the alternative embodiment of the invention
`of Fig. 5, the basic configuration is substantially the
`same as that of Fig. 1, but with the addition of the
`manifold 33. Note that up to a practical
`limit, the
`manifold 33 can be provided to have more than
`three output ports for delivering fuel to more than
`three selection valves 13, 17, and 21, up to a
`higher number of selection valves S,, as shown.
`However, for purposesofillustration, the alternative
`embodiment will be described for a manifold hav-
`ing three output ports for connection to the selec-
`tion valves 13, 17, and 21, respectively. Also, the
`number of series connected non-return valves, flow
`meters, flow control valves, and sources of different
`grades of fuel can be extended within practical
`limits to Cn, Mn, Vn and Fn,
`respectively. The
`numberof input ports of manifold 33 would also be
`extended to some number n, when “n" is an in-
`teger number.
`the non-return
`In the alternative embodiment,
`valves 15 and 19 receive at their input ports low
`actane fuel 1 and high octane fuel 3, respectively.
`The output ports of non-return valve 15 and 19 are
`connected to input ports of manifold 33. As will be
`described in greater detail below, the manifold in-
`cluded in the preferred embodiment of the inven-
`tion is of a relatively compact minimum volume
`design,
`for
`reducing the contamination of one
`grade of fuel delivered at the initiation of the dis-
`pensing cycle from fuel remaining of another oc-
`tane level within the manifold from a last completed
`dispensing cycle. Controller 29 is site program-
`mable for selecting the one of the selection valves
`13, 17, and 21 to be turned on with proportional
`valve 5 for delivering low octane fuel
`into the
`associated fuel
`line or hose 23, 25, 27, respec-
`tively. Similarly, controller 29 is site programmable
`for selecting which one of the selection valves 13,
`17, and 21 is to be turned on in combination with
`proportional valve 7 for delivering high octane fuel
`to the associated one of the fuel hoses 23, 25, 27,
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`respectively. Lastly, controller 29 is site program-
`mable for selecting which one of
`the selection
`valves 13, 17, and 21 is to be turned on in com-
`bination with each one of the proportional valves 5
`and 7 for delivering a programmed blend of the low
`and high octane fuels 1, 3 to an associated one of
`the fuel hoses 23, 25, and 27, respectively. In this
`manner, a fueling station is given the flexibility of
`programming controller 28 to select which ones of
`the fuel hoses 23, 25, and 27 are to be associated
`with either a low octane fue! 1, high octane fuel 3,
`or a particular blend of
`the two for offering an
`intermediate grade of fuel.
`The alternative embodiment of the invention of
`
`Fig. 5 can be duplicated as shown in Fig. 6 for
`providing the functions thereof in a dispenser 30,
`as shownin Fig. 3. As shown, non-return valves 35
`through 38 are included for preventing fuel de-
`livering to the manifolds 40 and 42 (each being
`substantially identical to manifold 33) from return-
`ing fuel
`from the manifolds 40, 42 back to asso-
`ciated feed lines 44 through 47,
`respectively.
`In
`comparing the alternative embodiment of Fig. 6 to
`that of Fig. 2, the alternative embodiment includes
`the addition of two manifolds 40 and 42, and a
`different arrangement for the associated non-return
`valves 35 through 38. As shown, in the illustrated
`example,
`low octane fuel
`is delivered via a feed
`line 44, through non-return valve 35, to one input
`port of manifold 40, and high octane fuel
`is deliv-
`ered via ieedline 45, through non-return valve 36 to
`another input port of manifold 40. The output ports
`of manifold 40 are connected to input ports of
`selection valves 13A1, 21A2, and 17A3, respec-
`tively. Similarly,
`low octane fuel
`is delivered via
`feedline 46,
`through non-return valve 37 to one
`input port of manifold 42, and high octane fuel is
`delivered via feedline 47 through non-return valve
`38 to the other
`input port of manifold 42. The
`output ports of manifold 42 are connected to input
`ports of selection valves 17B3, 21B2, and 13B1.
`Controller 29 is site programmable for selecting (1)
`which individual one of selection valves 13A1,
`21A2, and 17A3 are to be individually turned on at
`the same time as proportional valves 5A1, for de-
`livering low octane fuel to an associated one of the
`dispensing hoses 23A1, 27A2, and 25A3; (2) which
`other one of the selection valves 13A1, 21A2, and
`17A3 are to be turned on in combination with
`
`proportional valve 7A3 for delivering high octane
`fuel; and {3) which remaining one of
`the three
`valves 13A1, 21A2 and 17A3 is to be turned on in
`combination with proportional vaives 5A1 and 7A3,
`for delivering an intermediate grade of fuel pro-
`vided by a mixture of the low and high octane fuels
`1, and 3 that are initially mixed in manifold 40 for
`delivering to a user. Similarly, controller 29 is pro-
`grammed for selecting the one of selection valves
`
`17B3, 21B2, and 13B1, associated with manifold
`42, are to be turned on in combination with propor-
`tional valve 5B1 for delivering low octane fuel;
`which one is to be turned on in combination with
`proportional valve 7B3 for delivering high octane
`fuel; and which one is to be turned on in combina-
`tion with proportional valve 7B3 for delivering high
`octane fuel; and which one is to be turned on in
`combination with proportional valves 5B1 and 7B3
`for delivering or dispensing an intermediate grade
`of fuel to an associated one of fuel
`lines or hoses
`25B3, 27B2, and 23B1. Accordingly, the alternative
`embodiment provides a site manager with greater
`flexibility in programming controller 29 to dispense
`fuel of a particular octane level through a particular
`one of ihe dispensing hoses located on either side
`of a fuel dispenser 30, as previously described for
`the example given. Also as previously indicated,
`the manifolds 40 and 42, for providing a greater
`numberof intermediate blends of fuel between the
`high and low octane graces, as would be apparent
`to one of ordinary skill in the art.
`,
`As previously indicated,
`in the preferred em-
`bodiment of the invention, the manifold 33 is de-
`signed to be as compact and of minimal volume as
`possible. Figs. 7 and 8 illustrate such a manifold 33
`used in an engineering prototype for the alternative
`embodiment.
`In the pictorials shown for the mani-
`fold 33, for purposed of
`illustration, assume that
`port 49 is an input of port for low octane fuel, port
`51 is an input port for high octane fuel, and that
`ports 53, 55, 57 are output ports. For purposes of
`simplicity, mounting holes and/or mounting studs
`are not shown. Note that the design of the manifold
`33 is made compact with a cenirally located dis-
`tribution chamber 59 providing very short flow pas-
`sageways between any given two of the various
`ports.
`In this manner, contamination of a fuel dis-
`pensed in one cycle from fuel remaining in the just
`previous dispensing cycle is substantially reduced.
`The manifold 33 as applied for use in an engineer-
`ing prototype was approximately 14cm long and
`6.25cm square at each end, with the flanges asso-
`ciated at each port being about 5.5cm square.
`Many other advantages and variations of the
`present embodimenis in the invention may be ap-
`parent
`to those of skill
`in the art, wherein such
`variations or alternative embodiments are meant to
`
`be covered by the spirit and scope of the appen-
`ded claims. Certain of these variations have been
`mentioned in the above description of the inven-
`tion. Also, with further reference to Fig. 6, valves
`13A1 and 17A3 can be programmed to open with
`different blend combinations of flow valves 5A1 and
`
`in a manner similar to that previously de-
`7A3,
`scribed for line 27A2 and valve 21A2.
`
`70
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`

`

`11
`
`EP 0 433 041 A2
`
`12
`
`Claims
`
`A fuel dispensing system comprising:
`a plurality of fuel flow control means each
`capable of supplying a known or determin-
`able quantity of a particular grade of fuel;
`connection means including a plurality of
`inlets each receiving a respective different
`grade of
`fuel
`from a respective fuel
`flow
`control means, and a plurality of outlets, at
`least one of which is capable of providing a
`blend of fuel received from at least two fuel
`flow control means; and
`a plurality of selection valves each for con-
`trolling the flow of fuel from a respective
`outlet of the connection means.
`
`A fuel dispensing system as claimed in Claim
`1, comprising a plurality of hoses, each being
`connected at one end to the output of a re-
`spective selection valve, each being connected
`at its other end to a respective nozzle through
`which fuel is dispensable and each being asso-
`ciated with a respective different grade or
`blend of fuel.
`
`A fuel dispensing system as claimed in Claim
`1 or 2 for dispensing low and high grades of
`fuel, and a blended combination thereof pro-
`viding an intermediate grade of fuel, wherein in
`operation:
`said selection valves are each responsive to
`an individual selection signal for opening to
`permit the flow of fuel therethrough;
`a plurality of pump operating switch means
`(443) associated with individual ones of a
`plurality of nozzles (41), respectively, gen-
`erate individual pump handle signals,
`indi-
`cative of the selection of a particular one of
`said nozzles (41) for dispensing an asso-
`ciated grade or biend of fuel;
`a first and a second fuel flow control means
`are each responsive during a given dispens-
`ing cycle to individual fuel distribution sig-
`nals for delivering to respective inlet ports
`of the connection means, either said low
`grade of fuel, or said high grade respec-
`tively, or a desired mixture of the two fuels;
`and
`a controller means (29) is programmable for
`responding to said ‘individual pump handle
`signals, for generating a combination of par-
`ticular ones of said selection and fuel dis-
`tribution signals,
`for delivering a grade of
`‘fuel preprogrammed to be associated with
`the selected one of said nozzles for dis-
`pensing said fuel.
`
`70
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`The fuel dispensing system as claimed in
`Claim 3, wherein each said fuel flow contro!
`means include:
`a flow control valve (5, 7) having an inlet
`port for receiving a respective grade of fuel,
`and an outlet port connected to an inlet port
`of respective selection valves (13, 17, 21),
`wherein:
`the flow control valve (6) of said first flow
`control means (the first flow control valve),
`is responsive to a first fuel distribution sig-
`nal for opening to permit said low grade of
`fuel to flow to a first selection valve;
`the flow control valve (7) of said s