Fuel dispenser having acoustic waves coriolis flow meter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10173885-B2
Application number	US-201715452123-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2017
Priority date	Mar 7, 2016
Publication date	Jan 8, 2019
Grant date	Jan 8, 2019

Abstract

A fuel dispenser comprises a fuel nozzle configured to be connected to a vehicle fuel system. Fuel piping configured to transfer fuel from at least one fuel storage tank associated with the fuel dispenser through the fuel nozzle into the vehicle fuel system is also provided. A flow control valve and a flow measurement device are located along the fuel piping, the flow measurement device having a housing defining a flow path therethrough. The flow measurement device includes a first exciter for producing a first wave in fuel moving along the flow path. A second exciter produces a second wave in the fuel which passes through the first wave, wherein the second wave has a higher frequency than the first wave. At least one sensor is spaced apart from the first exciter and the second exciter, the at least one sensor being configured to detect at least one measurable characteristic of the second wave from which flow rate can be derived.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel dispenser comprising:
a fuel nozzle configured to be connected to a vehicle fuel system;
fuel piping configured to transfer fuel from at least one fuel storage tank associated with the fuel dispenser through the fuel nozzle into the vehicle fuel system;
a flow control valve located along said fuel piping; and
a flow measurement device located along said fuel piping having a housing defining a flow path therethrough, said flow measurement device including:
i. a first exciter for producing a first wave in fuel moving along said flow path;
ii. a second exciter for producing a second wave in said fuel which passes through said first wave, wherein said second wave has a higher frequency than said first wave;
iii. at least one sensor spaced apart from said first exciter and said second exciter, said at least one sensor being configured to detect at least one measurable characteristic of said second wave from which flow rate can be derived.

2. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first exciter produces said first wave to have a frequency of between approximately 1 KHz to 20 KHz.

3. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 2 , wherein said second exciter produces said second wave to have a frequency of at least approximately 20 KHz.

4. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said second exciter produces said second wave to have a frequency of between approximately 1 KHz and 20 KHz.

5. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first exciter produces said first wave to be orthogonal to an axial direction of said flow path.

6. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said first exciter comprises a pair of diametrically opposed exciters located across said flow path.

7. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 6 , wherein said pair of diametrically opposed exciters produce said first wave as a standing wave.

8. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said first exciter comprises one of a magnetostriction driver, a piezoelectric disc, and an acoustic vibratory node.

9. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 3 , wherein said second exciter comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

10. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor comprises a sensor array.

11. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said sensor array includes at least one ultrasonic sensor and at least one pressure sensor.

12. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor is located downstream of said first exciter and said second exciter.

13. The fuel dispenser as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said second exciter is located upstream of said first exciter.

14. A flow measurement device for determining the mass flow rate of a fluid flowing in a conduit, said flow measurement device comprising:
a first exciter for producing a first wave in said fluid;
a second exciter for producing a second wave in said fluid passing through said first wave, wherein said second wave has a higher frequency than said first wave;
wherein said first wave causes a change in at least one measurable characteristic of said second wave;
a sensor array spaced apart from said first exciter and said second exciter, said sensor array being configured to detect said at least one measurable characteristic of said second wave; and
a processor in electronic communication with said sensor array to receive signals representative of said at least one measurable characteristic of said second wave, said processor configured to calculate the mass flow rate of said fluid.

15. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said sensor array comprises at least one pressure sensor to detect alterations in the pressure of said fluid caused by inertial forces acting on said fluid.

16. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said first exciter produces said first wave to have a frequency of between approximately 1 KHz to 20 KHz.

17. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 16 , wherein said second exciter produces said second wave to have a frequency of at least approximately 20 KHz.

18. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said second exciter produces said second wave to have a frequency of between approximately 1 KHz and 20 KHz.

19. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said first exciter produces said first wave to be orthogonal to an axial direction of flow of said fluid.

20. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 19 , wherein said first exciter comprises a pair of diametrically opposed exciters located across said axial direction of said flow of said fluid.

21. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 20 , wherein said pair of diametrically opposed exciters produce said first wave as a standing wave.

22. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 21 , wherein said first exciter comprises one of a magnetostriction driver, a piezoelectric disc, and an acoustic vibratory node.

23. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 17 , wherein said second exciter comprises an ultrasonic transducer.

24. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said sensor array includes at least one ultrasonic sensor and at least one pressure sensor.

25. The flow measurement device as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said second exciter is located upstream of said first exciter.

Assignees

• Gilbarco Inc

Inventors

• Carapelli Giovanni

Classifications

• G05D7/0635

  by action on throttling means (G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence) · CPC title

• B67D7/56

  Arrangements of flow-indicators, e.g. transparent compartments, windows, rotary vanes (indicating or recording presence, absence or direction of movement G01P13/00) · CPC title

• B67D7/36 Primary

  Arrangements of flow- or pressure-control valves (associated with nozzles B67D7/42) · CPC title

• G01F1/849

  having straight measuring conduits · CPC title

• B67D7/08

  Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred (arrangement of flow- or pressure-control valves B67D7/36; computing, calculating, counting G06; coin-freed apparatus for dispensing fluids G07F13/00; prepayment devices for metering liquids G07F15/00) · CPC title