Patent classifications
B67D7/303
Dispensing meter and nozzle for fluid dispensing
A nozzle for dispensing fluid includes a nozzle stem that controls the flow of fluid out of a dispensing end of the nozzle. The nozzle stem includes an overmolded stem tip on a reduced diameter portion of the nozzle stem. The overmolded stem tip is formed from a compliant material and includes a sealing portion and a tip cone extending from the sealing portion.
Automated fueling preset conversion and controls
An improved fluid transfer accuracy, information collection, and overall management. A system may utilize a pump to transfer fluid from a source to a target vessel, a meter for measuring an amount of fluid transferred, a density meter to detect actual fluid density, and a control unit to determine actual fluid transfer amount based on density. As an example, a fluid flow meter can be coupled with a flow conduit to determine fluid volume, along with the density meter to detect real-time density of transferred fluid. During a fluid transfer event, such as aircraft refueling, LPG fueling, or other refined fuels or valuable liquids, fluid volume can be converted to fluid weight in real-time based on actual density. The real-time fluid weight can be used to determine if a target fluid weight has been reached, and fluid flow can be shut off at the appropriate time.
WHOLESALE FUEL DISCOUNT SYSTEM
An improved control system for a fuel dispenser solves the problems of the prior art by enabling processing of prepaid fuel discount cards that discount only the wholesale price component of the per unit retail fuel price. The control system recalculates the per unit retail price based upon the applied discount. Upon purchase of the prepaid fuel discount card, a snapshot of the wholesale price components is taken of all fuel dispensers in a region and locked in for the purchaser at the time of purchase of the prepaid discount fuel card. A central server performs back office processing and recalculates the retail per unit price of fuel at the time of delivery of the fuel based upon a discount applied to the per unit wholesale price component for the fuel dispenser location where the fuel is being delivered. With the novel system disclosed herein, the wholesaler can control the amount of the discounts applied to the retail unit price of fuel. The system enables the wholesaler to create an elastic demand for the fuel and regain customer loyalty for fuel credit cards. Initially the purchaser deposits an initial amount of money in the account. The average weighted wholesale price per gallon is determined after each deposit is made. The average weighted wholesale price is used to pay for delivery of gasoline.
Product delivery systems for liquid product transport vehicles and methods of loading liquid products using the same
A product delivery system includes a product transport vehicle having at least a plurality of tank compartments, internal valves, control valves, fluid property sensors, temperature sensors, overfill sensors, pressure sensors, a system controller, and a memory module. The product delivery system may be operable to communicatively connect with the loading system at a loading station, a fleet management system, or a cloud system to obtain information, such as the amount of liquid product to be loaded into a tank compartment. The product delivery system may be operable to compare the volumes of the tank compartments with the amounts of liquid product to be loaded at a loading station and maintain the internal valve or control valve in a locked state or transition the internal valve or control valve to an unlocked state based on the comparison. Other comparisons based on liquid type or distribution tank volume can also be made.
System and Method for Automatic Fueling of Hydraulic Fracturing and Other Oilfield Equipment
A system and method for fueling multiple saddle tanks of hydraulic fracturing equipment from a single self-propelled cart. The cart having multiple retractable fuel lines for providing and obtaining fuel. Each retractable fuel supply line uses a flowmeter, a ball valve, and an electrically actuated valve to provide remote control to a controller based on a user's selected fueling requirements. An electronic reporting system provides fuel data to operators and users. Fuel data such as fuel tank status, an amount of fuel usage over a stage level, a daily level, or job level along with a fill level of the fuel tank.
DISPENSING METER FOR FLUID DISPENSING
A handheld fluid meter includes circuitry configured to invert the orientation of a visual output provided by a display of the handheld fluid meter and to modify the functionality of buttons that control scrolling on the display. The control circuitry inverts the orientation of the visual output based on a command provided to the control circuitry by a user or by a position sensor.
DISPENSING METER AND NOZZLE FOR FLUID DISPENSING
A nozzle for dispensing fluid includes a nozzle stem that controls the flow of fluid out of a dispensing end of the nozzle. The nozzle stem includes an overmolded stem tip on a reduced diameter portion of the nozzle stem. The overmolded stem tip is formed from a compliant material and includes a sealing portion and a tip cone extending from the sealing portion.
CONSUMER WHOLESALE GAS DISCOUNT CARD SYSTEM
A wholesale gas discount card system allows an oil company to provide a uniform percentage discount across regions where the wholesale price per gallon varies and at the same time allows consumers to get a discount on the retail price per gallon of gas. The wholesale gas discount card system operates as a subscription system in which only subscribing consumers are able to receive discounts at participating retail gas stations. The discount is based upon a predetermined amount of the wholesale price component of the retail gas price per gallon, for example 5%. The percentage wholesale price discounts can vary depending on the gasoline type, i.e. regular, mid-range, premium and diesel. In this way, a wholesaler can control their price margin across regions with varying wholesale price components per gallon. Participating consumers can download a software application onto their smart phone that provides the locations of participating retail gas stations in a given area and the discounted retail gas prices per gallon. Once a retail station is selected, the consumer inserts a discount credit card into the gas dispenser. The system uses the account information from the credit card and the location of the gas pump to process the transaction as the consumer pumps gas into their vehicle. The gas is charged to their credit account. Based upon a predetermined discount, the total discounted cost of the transaction is determined back office and credited on the consumer's account and optionally displayed on the pump.
Fuel data collection unit with temperature compensation and over-fill prevention
A fueling data collection unit associated with a fuel transfer apparatus and for use with a system for managing fueling transactions of a fleet operator using fuel transfer apparatuses at one or more locations includes a fueling data interface module and a temperature compensation module. The temperature compensation module compensates for a volume variance of the fuel as a result of temperature variance from the standard temperature data to determine a volume correction factor at the measured fuel temperature, while the temperature compensation module uses the measured fuel temperature to determine a compensated, more accurate volume and/or mass of fuel dispensed through the fuel meter. In this way, the fuel data collection unit can accurately measure the volume and/or mass of fuel being delivered. This allows the provider and the recipient to more accurately sell/buy what was actually delivered and can avoid over-filling a fueling order.
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A FUEL DISPENSER
An improved control system for a fuel dispenser is disclosed that enables fuel dispensers to process prepaid gas cards based upon a discounted wholesale cost or a non-discounted price that is locked in at the time of the purchase without taking delivery. The control system has access to a snap shot of the regional wholesale gasoline costs across an entire region, such as the US, at the time of purchase of the prepaid gas card. This enables the prepaid gas card to provide a discount on the wholesale cost component of a gallon of gas at any location across the entire region. Since the discount only applies to one component of the retail gas price per gallon; namely, the wholesale gas cost per gallon, the control system automatically calculates a discounted retail gas price at the time and location of delivery based upon the discounted or locked in wholesale cost at the time of purchase of the prepaid gas card. The prepaid gas discount card is received in a magnetic card reader at the fuel dispenser in the same manner as conventional credit cards and provides a wholesaler the ability to create an elastic demand for the gas and regain customer loyalty for gas credit cards.