초록 ▼

A fluid dispenser has a housing in which fluid flow control components are located and a fluid conduit completing a fluid flow path between a fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The fluid dispenser further has a control system, at least one controllable valve and a fluid flow met

A fluid dispenser has a housing in which fluid flow control components are located and a fluid conduit completing a fluid flow path between a fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to the housing. The fluid dispenser further has a control system, at least one controllable valve and a fluid flow meter located along the fluid flow path. The fluid dispenser further has a fluid temperature conditioning subsystem located along the fluid flow path upstream of the flow meter. The control system selectively operates the fluid temperature conditioning subsystem upon detection of a predetermined temperature. At least one controllable recirculation valve may also be provided, and the control system may selectively actuate the controllable recirculation valve such that the fluid flows back to the fluid storage tank. A method of measuring the flow rate of a fluid in the fluid dispenser is also disclosed.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fluid dispenser for installation in a forecourt in a fueling environment for dispensing liquid from at least one fluid storage tank remote from said fluid dispenser into a vehicle, comprising: a housing in which fluid flow control components are located;a fluid conduit completing a fluid flow p

1. A fluid dispenser for installation in a forecourt in a fueling environment for dispensing liquid from at least one fluid storage tank remote from said fluid dispenser into a vehicle, comprising: a housing in which fluid flow control components are located;a fluid conduit completing a fluid flow path between said at least one fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to said housing;a fluid flow meter located along said fluid flow path;a control system; anda fluid temperature conditioning subsystem positioned in said housing, said fluid temperature conditioning subsystem located along said fluid flow path upstream of said fluid flow meter so as to condition a temperature of said liquid before said liquid is metered, wherein the liquid is diesel exhaust fluid and or liquid fuel. 2. A fluid dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said fluid temperature conditioning subsystem comprises a heating device. 3. A fluid dispenser as in claim 2, wherein said heating device is an induction heater. 4. A fluid dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said fluid temperature conditioning subsystem comprises a cooling device. 5. A fluid dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said control system is adapted to selectively operate said fluid temperature conditioning subsystem upon detection of a predetermined temperature. 6. A fluid dispenser as in claim 5, wherein said control system is in electronic communication with at least one thermometric probe. 7. A fluid dispenser as in claim 1, wherein said fluid dispenser further comprises at least one controllable recirculation valve, said control system being adapted to selectively actuate said at least one controllable recirculation valve such that said liquid flows back to said at least one fluid storage tank. 8. A fluid dispenser as in claim 1, further comprising a recirculation pump coupled to said fluid flow path. 9. A fluid dispenser as in claim 8, wherein said fluid dispenser further comprises at least one controllable recirculation valve, said control system being adapted to selectively actuate said at least one controllable recirculation valve and said recirculation pump such that liquid recirculates along said fluid flow path through said fluid dispenser without returning to said fluid storage tank. 10. A fluid dispenser as in claim 8, further comprising a fluid inlet along said fluid flow path for ingress of an evacuation fluid. 11. A fluid dispenser as in claim 10, wherein said fluid dispenser further comprises at least one controllable recirculation valve, said control system being adapted to selectively actuate said at least one controllable recirculation valve and said recirculation pump, such that liquid is evacuated from said fluid conduit and returned to said fluid storage tank. 12. A fluid dispenser as in claim 1, further comprising a pump controlled by a motor positioned within said housing to draw liquid from said at least one fluid storage tank. 13. A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid from at least one fluid storage tank into a vehicle, comprising: a housing in which fluid flow control components are located;a control system;a first fluid conduit completing a first flow path between said at least one fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to said housing;a second fluid conduit completing a second flow path between said nozzle and said at least one fluid storage tank;at least one controllable valve located along said second flow path;wherein the temperature of flowing fluid is conditioned upstream of a fluid flow meter inside said fluid dispenser housing, the fluid is diesel exhaust fluid and or liquid fuel; andsaid control system is adapted to selectively actuate said at least one controllable valve such that said flowing fluid flows to said at least one fluid storage tank when said fluid dispenser is not in use. 14. A fluid dispenser as in claim 13, wherein the temperature of said flowing fluid is conditioned by a temperature conditioning subsystem, said temperature conditioning subsystem comprising a heating device. 15. A fluid dispenser as in claim 13, wherein the temperature of said flowing fluid is conditioned by a temperature conditioning subsystem, said temperature conditioning subsystem comprising a cooling device. 16. A fluid dispenser as in claim 13, further comprising at least one thermometric probe along at least one of said first and second flow paths, said at least one thermometric probe in electronic communication with said control system. 17. A fluid dispenser as in claim 16, wherein the temperature of said flowing fluid is conditioned by a temperature conditioning subsystem, said control system being adapted to selectively operate said fluid temperature conditioning subsystem upon detection of a predetermined temperature. 18. A fluid dispenser as in claim 13, wherein said first and second flow paths are in fluid communication with a flow manifold in said fluid dispenser housing. 19. A fluid dispenser as in claim 13, further comprising a dual-channel hose extending between said housing and said nozzle, said dual-channel hose defining first and second separate flow channels allowing flow in both directions. 20. A fluid dispenser as in claim 19, further comprising a bypass valve providing fluid communication between said first and second flow channels in said hose when said bypass valve is open. 21. A fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid from at least one fluid storage tank into a vehicle, comprising: a housing in which fluid flow control components are located;a control system;a first fluid conduit adapted for fluid communication with a nozzle, said first fluid conduit completing a first flow path through said fluid dispenser;a second fluid conduit adapted for fluid communication with said nozzle, said second fluid conduit completing a second flow path through said fluid dispenser;a junction at which said first fluid conduit and said second fluid conduit are in fluid communication with each other, said junction being spaced apart from said nozzle;said junction further defining an inlet for fluid communication with said at least one fluid storage tank;a valve in fluid communication with said inlet upstream of said junction; anda recirculation pump coupled to said second fluid conduit;said control system being operative to actuate said valve and said recirculation pump such that fluid recirculates through said housing when said fluid dispenser is not in use, wherein the fluid is diesel exhaust fluid and or liquid fuel. 22. A fluid dispenser for dispensing a first fluid from at least one fluid storage tank into a vehicle, comprising: a housing in which fluid flow control components are located;a control system;a first fluid conduit completing a first flow path between said at least one fluid storage tank and a nozzle;a second fluid conduit completing a second flow path between said nozzle and said at least one fluid storage tank;a first controllable valve located along said first flow path;a fluid inlet for an evacuation fluid, said fluid inlet located along said first flow path downstream of said first controllable valve; anda recirculation pump coupled to said second flow path;said control system being operative to close said first controllable valve and cause a first fluid to be evacuated from said first and second fluid conduits when said fluid dispenser is not in use by a flow path from said first fluid conduit to said second fluid conduit and back to said at least one fluid storage tank, wherein the fluid is diesel exhaust fluid and or liquid fuel. 23. A method of measuring the flow rate of a fluid in a fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid to a vehicle in a fueling environment, comprising the steps of: providing a fluid dispenser defining a fluid conduit connectable to a fluid flow path between at least one fluid storage tank and a nozzle coupled to said fluid dispenser;providing a fluid flow meter located along said fluid flow path;providing a fluid temperature conditioning subsystem positioned in housing of said fluid dispenser, said fluid temperature conditioning subsystem located along said fluid flow path upstream of said fluid flow meter and downstream of a shear valve;measuring the temperature of said fluid;comparing the temperature of said fluid to a predetermined temperature; andif the temperature of said fluid differs from said predetermined temperature, conditioning the temperature of said fluid upstream of said fluid flow meter, wherein the fluid is diesel exhaust fluid and or liquid fuel.