Fluid management system and fluid dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12030770-B2
Application number	US-202017100331-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 20, 2020
Priority date	Sep 15, 2017
Publication date	Jul 9, 2024
Grant date	Jul 9, 2024

Abstract

A fluid management system includes a fluid management controller and a fluid dispenser. The controller authorizes control of the one or more fluid management components over a wireless interface. A dispensing meter can be activated by an authentication device. The fluid meter includes a cartridge valve with a valve cartridge and a valve stem. The cartridge valve guides the valve stem and provides the only sealing surface for the dynamic seals and control seal disposed on the valve stem. The handheld meter dispenses through a nozzle, which includes an overmolded stem tip that generates a laminar fluid flow as the fluid exits the nozzle. The handheld fluid meter includes circuitry configured to invert the orientation of a visual output provided by a display of the handheld fluid meter to facilitate installation of the handheld fluid meter for use in an oil bar application.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of authorizing a fluid dispense, the method comprising:
generating, at a near field communication (NFC) programming unit, dispense-authorization data for a fluid dispense event;
writing, by the NFC programming unit, the dispense-authorization data to an NFC data source;
placing the NFC data source within an operable range of an NFC receiver disposed on a fluid dispensing meter having a meter body, a handle, and a trigger;
providing, by the NFC receiver, the dispense-authorization data to a processor of the fluid dispensing meter, the dispense-authorization data including a desired fluid type;
recalling, from the memory of the fluid dispensing meter, initial configuration data configured to indicate a fluid type associated with the fluid dispensing meter;
comparing, by the processor, the desired fluid type from the dispense-authorization data and the fluid type associated with the fluid dispensing meter from the initial configuration data;
determining, by the processor, an authorization status of the fluid dispense event based on the comparison of the desired fluid type from the dispense-authorization data and the fluid type associated with the fluid dispensing meter from the initial configuration data; and
controlling, with the processor, a trigger control mechanism of the fluid dispensing meter between an activated state and a deactivated state based on the comparison of the desired fluid type from the dispense-authorization data and the fluid type associated with the fluid dispensing meter from the initial configuration data.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispense-authorization data includes a plurality of dispense authorizations for a plurality of fluid dispense events.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
removing, by the processor of the fluid dispensing meter, the dispense information from the NFC data source based on the processor authorizing the fluid dispense event.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
writing to the NFC data source, by the processor of the fluid dispensing meter, dispense information regarding the fluid dispense event.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispensing meter includes:
a control board comprising:
the processor; and
the memory; and

the NFC data receiver in communication with the control board, the NFC data receiver configured to receive the dispense-authorization data from the NFC data source.

6. The controller of claim 1 , wherein the dispense-authorization data further includes dispense volume information.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the dispense-authorization data including at least one dispense authorization for a dispense event, and further comprising removing, from the processor, a dispense authorization of the at least one dispense authorization from the dispense-authorization data to reduce a count of the dispense authorizations remaining in the dispense-authorization data.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fluid dispensing meter comprises:
the meter body having the handle;
the trigger control mechanism disposed in the meter body, the trigger control mechanism controllable between the activated state, where the fluid dispensing meter can dispense fluid, and the deactivated state, where the fluid dispensing meter is prevented from dispensing fluid;
the NFC data receiver disposed in the fluid dispensing meter; and
the processor disposed in the fluid dispensing meter and configured to control the trigger control mechanism between the activated state and the deactivated state based on the data received from the external data source.

9. The fluid dispensing meter of claim 8 , further comprising:
a fluid inlet extending into the meter body;
a valve chamber extending into the meter body, the valve chamber comprising:
a first circumferential flow passage; and
a second circumferential flow passage;

a valve inlet extending fluidly connecting the fluid inlet and the first circumferential flow passage;
a valve outlet extending downstream out of the valve chamber from the second circumferential flow passage;
a valve disposed in the valve chamber, the valve comprising:
a valve cartridge mounted in the valve chamber, the valve cartridge comprising:
a cartridge body extending between a first end and a second end, the cartridge body including a third circumferential flow passage in the first end and a fourth circumferential flow passage in the second end;
a radial inlet extending through the first end between the first circumferential flow passage and the third circumferential flow passage;
a radial outlet extending through the second end between the second circumferential flow passage and the fourth circumferential flow passage; and
a control seat disposed about an interior of the cartridge body between the third circumferential flow passage and the fourth circumferential flow passage; and

a valve stem disposed in the valve cartridge, the valve stem comprising:
an upper portion disposed within the first end, the upper portion including an annular control seal groove;
a lower portion disposed within the second end, the lower portion including an actuating tip extending out of the second end of the valve cartridge;
an elongate portion extending between and connecting the upper portion and the lower portion; and
a control seal disposed in the control seal groove, the control seal configured to be engaged with the control seat with the valve stem in a closed position and to be disengaged from the control seat with the valve stem in an open position.

10. The fluid dispensing meter of claim 8 , further comprising:
the trigger configured to control fluid flow through the meter body;
a fluid inlet extending into the meter body;
a fluid outlet extending into the meter body; and
a nozzle fluidly connected to the fluid outlet, the nozzle including:
a connector having a receiving end and a connector bore extending through the connector;
a nozzle body attached to the connector, the nozzle body comprising:
a receiving end;
a dispensing end disposed opposite the receiving end, the dispensing end defining a fluid outlet, the fluid outlet comprising:
an upstream portion having a first diameter;
a downstream portion having a second diameter, the second diameter smaller than the first diameter; and
a connecting portion extending between and connecting the upstream portion and the downstream portion, the connecting portion comprising a cone-shaped passage; and

a nozzle bore extending through the nozzle body between the receiving end and the dispensing end, wherein the seating end extends into the nozzle bore and is connected to the receiving end; and

a nozzle stem disposed in the nozzle bore between the seating end and the fluid outlet, the nozzle stem including an overmolded tip, the overmolded tip including a tip cone configured to mate with and seal against the cone-shaped passage with the nozzle stem in a closed position.

11. The fluid dispensing meter of claim 8 , further comprising:
a fluid inlet extending into the handle;
a fluid outlet extending out of an end of the meter body opposite the handle;
a trigger configured to be manually displaced to control a flow of fluid between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet;
a bezel housing mounted on the meter body, the bezel housing including a display opening;
a display screen fixedly mounted within the display opening;
a user input fixedly mounted on the bezel housing, the user input including a plurality of buttons;
display circuitry configured to provide a visual output at the display screen in a plurality of orientations;
user input circuitry configured t

Assignees

• Graco Minnesota Inc

Inventors

• Kahler Bradley G
• Bauck Mark L
• Holmstadt Joshua R
• Highland Glenn E
• Paar Benjamin J
• Igo Chad G
• Sieckert Gregory D
• Ebben James R
• Lorden David J
• Bloom Michael E
• Norman Shane A
• Kuschel Anthony J

Classifications

• B67D7/163

  of fixed measuring chamber type · CPC title

• B67D7/145 Primary

  by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like · CPC title

• B67D7/04

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

• G07F13/025

  wherein the volume is determined during delivery · CPC title

• G07F9/001

  Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices · CPC title