Fuel dispenser with fraud detecting breakaway valve assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11008210-B2
Application number	US-201816179373-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 2, 2018
Priority date	Nov 3, 2017
Publication date	May 18, 2021
Grant date	May 18, 2021

Abstract

A fuel dispenser includes 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, and a fraud detection valve apparatus. The fraud detection valve apparatus includes a cutoff valve configured to selectively prevent flow of fuel, a flow sensor configured to sense a flow of fuel, and processing circuity. The processing circuitry is configured to receive an indication of flow of fuel through the fuel flow control valve apparatus, determine an authorization status, and in response to a determination of no authorization during flow, cause the cutoff valve apparatus to close.

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; and
a fraud detection valve apparatus comprising:
a housing structure defining a flow passage;
a cutoff valve situated along the flow passage and closeable to selectively prevent flow of fuel;
a flow sensor situated along the flow passage and configured to sense a flow of fuel, wherein the flow sensor comprises a turbine flow sensor that is also configured to provide power to the processing circuitry; and
processing circuitry configured to:
receive an indication of the flow of fuel through the flow passage detected by the flow sensor;
determine an authorization status; and
in response to a determination of no authorization and flow, cause the cutoff valve to close.

2. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the fraud detection valve apparatus is incorporated into a breakaway assembly having a separable portion allowing disconnection of at least one of a fuel hose and the fuel nozzle at a predetermined pulling force, the breakaway assembly including at least one mechanical valve that closes when the separable portion is detached.

3. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the cutoff valve comprises an electromechanical actuated valve.

4. The fuel dispenser of claim 3 , wherein the cutoff valve closes when energized and opens when deenergized.

5. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
cause the cutoff valve to open, in response to authorization data.

6. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein authorization data is received wirelessly from a control system of the fuel dispenser.

7. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to open or close the cutoff valve based on control signals from a remote computing device.

8. The fuel dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
cause an alert in response to causing the cutoff valve to close.

9. A fraud detection valve apparatus comprising:
a housing structure defining a flow passage;
a cutoff valve situated along the flow passage and closeable to selectively prevent flow of fuel;
a flow sensor situated along the flow passage and configured to sense a flow of fuel, wherein the flow sensor comprises a turbine flow sensor that is also configured to provide power to the processing circuitry; and
processing circuitry configured to:
receive an indication of the flow of fuel through the flow passage detected by the flow sensor;
determine an authorization status; and

in response to a determination of no authorization and flow, cause the cutoff valve to close.

10. The fraud detection valve apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the fraud detection valve apparatus is incorporated into a breakaway assembly having a separable portion allowing disconnection of at least one of a fuel hose and a nozzle at a predetermined pulling force, the breakaway assembly including at least one mechanical valve that closes when the separable portion is detached.

11. The fraud detection valve apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the cutoff valve comprises an electromechanical actuated valve.

12. The fraud detection valve apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the cutoff valve closes when energized and opens when deenergized.

13. The fraud detection valve apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
cause the cutoff valve to open, in response to authorization data.

14. The fraud detection valve apparatus of claim 9 , wherein authorization data is received wirelessly from a control system of the fuel dispenser.

15. The fraud detection valve apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to open or close the cutoff valve based on control signals from a remote computing device.

16. The fraud detection valve apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:
cause an alert in response to causing the cutoff valve to close.

Assignees

• Gilbarco Inc

Inventors

• Carapelli Giovanni
• Myers Howard

Classifications

• B67D7/3218

  relating to emergency shut-off means · CPC title

• B67D7/348

  by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder (B67D7/145 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D7/04

  for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants · CPC title

• B67D7/34 Primary

  Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid · CPC title

• B67D7/085

  Testing or calibrating apparatus therefore (testing or calibrating apparatus for measuring volume flow in general G01F25/00) · CPC title