Search

EP-3849936-B1 - FLUID DISPENSING OR RECOVERY SYSTEM

EP3849936B1EP 3849936 B1EP3849936 B1EP 3849936B1EP-3849936-B1

Inventors

  • SILVEIRINHA, Joáo Curado
  • Kim, Chris
  • Varma, Niran
  • PEATTIE, ADAM

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20190910

Claims (15)

  1. A fluid dispensing system (10) comprising: a dispensing nozzle (12) coupled to a supply conduit (14) for dispensing fluid from a fluid supply associated with the supply conduit, said supply conduit including a coupling assembly (32) connected directly to an inlet of the dispensing nozzle (12); a receiver (16) adapted to couple to a fluid recipient, the dispensing nozzle (12) being detachably connected to the receiver (16) for dispensing the fluid from the fluid supply and delivering it to the fluid recipient; a receiver identification device (18) associated with the receiver (16), said identification device (18) configured to provide recipient data including but not limited to a unique receiver identifier associated with the fluid recipient; an electrical identification circuit (30) being contact-based and including the receiver identification device (18); an electronics module (20) connected to the supply conduit (14) at the coupling assembly (32) and arranged to communicate with the electrical identification circuit (30) whereby connection of the dispensing nozzle (12) to the receiver (16) completes the electrical identification circuit (30) and permits communication of the recipient data to the electronics module (20).
  2. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in claim 1 also comprising a controller (26) arranged to communicate with the electronics module (20) to receive data obtained from the recipient data and delivered from the electronics module (20) whereby dispensing of the fluid from the fluid supply is controlled by the controller (26) depending on the received data.
  3. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in claim 2 wherein the electronics module (20) includes a processor operatively coupled to a wireless transmitter (38) arranged to wirelessly send the data to a wireless data receiver (40) associated with the controller (26), the processor configured to receive the recipient data and process it to obtain the data sent to the controller (26).
  4. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in claim 3 wherein the electronics module (20) includes a power source operatively coupled to the processor and the wireless transmitter (38) to power them.
  5. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims also comprising a nozzle identification device (44) associated with the dispensing nozzle (12), said identification device (44) configured to provide nozzle data including a unique nozzle identifier associated with the dispensing nozzle (12) which is sent to the electronics module (20) at the coupling assembly (32) of the supply conduit (14), the electronics module (20) is arranged to communicate with the controller (26) to deliver data obtained from the nozzle data to the controller (26) whereby fluid transfer to the dispensing nozzle (12) is authorised depending on the delivered data.
  6. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in claim 5 wherein the nozzle identification device (44) includes a nozzle identification tag arranged to provide the nozzle data to the electronics module (20) at the coupling assembly (32) of the supply conduit (14), the data obtained from the nozzle data being wirelessly communicated to the controller (26) via a wireless transmitter of the electronics module (20) for validation of the dispensing nozzle (12) at the controller (26) to authorise fluid transfer via the dispensing nozzle (12).
  7. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the receiver identification device (18) includes a receiver identification tag (18) forming part of the electrical identification circuit (30), the electrical identification circuit (30) hardwired to the electronics module (20) via the dispensing nozzle (12) for completion of said circuit on connection of the dispensing nozzle (12) to the receiver (16).
  8. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the dispensing nozzle (12) and the receiver (16) are of a dry-break design, the dry break nozzle (12) and the receiver (16) being compatible to permit connection.
  9. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the coupling assembly (32) is detachably fitted to the dispensing nozzle (12) wherein removal of the coupling assembly (32) from the dispensing nozzle (12) breaks the electrical identification circuit (30).
  10. A fluid dispensing system (10) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the supply conduit (14) includes a supply line (22) detachably fitted to the coupling assembly (32), said system also comprising an anti-theft feature extending between the electronics module (20) and the supply line (22) whereby removal of the supply line (22) from the coupling assembly (32) activates the anti-theft feature which is then communicated from the electronics module (20) to the controller (26) to allow predetermined actions.
  11. A fluid recovery system (10) comprising: a recovery nozzle (12) connected to a delivery conduit (14) for delivering fluid to a fluid recipient associated with the delivery conduit, said delivery conduit including a coupling assembly (32) connected directly to an outlet of the recovery nozzle (12);a receiver (16) adapted to couple to a fluid supply, the recovery nozzle (12) being detachably connected to the receiver (16) for recovering the fluid from the fluid supply and delivering it to the fluid recipient; a receiver identification device (18) associated with the receiver (16), said identification device (18) configured to provide supply data including but not limited to a unique receiver identifier associated with the fluid supply; an electrical identification circuit (30) being contact-based and including the receiver identification device (18); an electronics module (20) connected to the delivery conduit (14) at the coupling assembly (32) and arranged to communicate with the electrical identification circuit whereby connection of the recovery nozzle (12) to the receiver (16) completes the electrical identification circuit (30) and permits communication of the supply data to the electronics module (20).
  12. A fluid recovery system (10) as claimed in claim 11 also comprising a controller (26) arranged to communicate with the electronics module (20) to receive data obtained from the supply data and delivered from the electronics module (20) whereby recovery of the fluid from the fluid supply is controlled by the controller (26) depending on the received data.
  13. A fluid recovery system (10) as claimed in claim 12 wherein the electronics module (20) includes a processor operatively coupled to a wireless transmitter (38) arranged to wirelessly send the data to a wireless data receiver associated with the controller, the processor configured to receive the supply data and to process it to obtain the data sent to the controller (26).
  14. A fluid recovery system (10) as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13 also comprising a nozzle identification device (44) associated with the recovery nozzle (12), said identification device (44) configured to provide nozzle (12) data including a unique nozzle identifier associated with the recovery nozzle (12) which is sent to the electronics module (20) at the coupling assembly (32) of the delivery conduit (14), the electronics module (20) arranged to communicate with the controller (26) to deliver data obtained from the nozzle data to the controller (26) whereby fluid transfer at the recovery nozzle (12) is authorised depending on the delivered data.
  15. A fluid recovery system (10) as claimed in claim 14 wherein (a) the nozzle identification device (44) includes a nozzle identification tag arranged to send the nozzle data to the electronics module (20) at the coupling assembly (32) of the delivery conduit (14) , the data obtained from the nozzle data being wirelessly communicated to the controller (26) via a wireless transmitter of the electronics module (20) for validation of the recovery nozzle (12) at the fluid controller (26) to authorise fluid transfer via the recovery nozzle (12), and (b) the receiver identification device (18) includes a receiver identification tag forming part of the electrical identification circuit (30), the electrical identification circuit (30) hardwired to the electronics module (20) via the recovery nozzle (12) for completion of said circuit (30) on connection of the recovery nozzle (12) to the receiver (16).

Description

Technical Field The present invention relates broadly to a fluid dispensing system as well as a fluid recovery system. Background Fuel management systems fall within the more general field of fluid dispensing systems. A typical fuel management system is a combination of hardware and software products designed to enable security, access and control of fuel stores, whilst monitoring delivery and consumption. On the delivery side, a robust system should provide accurate and transparent data disclosure ensuring that the fuel or other fluid received accurately matches that delivered. On the dispensing side, the system should efficiently and securely dispense fuel or other fluid. The applicant has designed fuel management systems which set out to provide these essential features. At the heart of these systems there are dispensing nozzles of either a dry-break or splash fill design. These nozzles are used in conjunction with compatible receivers to provide the efficient and secure delivery of fuel with a reduced risk of theft. US 5 605 182 A discloses such a fluid dispensing system. The applicant's Australian patent no. 737046 illustrates one example of a dry-break nozzle/receiver suitable for inclusion in a secure fuel management system. The receiver is uniquely identified with an ID chip and this is communicated via a hardwired electrical identification circuit to a monitoring system. The electrical identification circuit includes a data wire passing through the nozzle and inside a fuel hose connected to the nozzle. The electrical identification circuit is only complete when a poppet valve of the dry-break nozzle engages and opens a poppet valve of the receiver wherein the receiver (or vehicle to which it is installed) is identified. The monitoring system may only permit refuelling on valid identification of the vehicle. The applicant in Australian patent no. 737066 describes a similar arrangement in both a splash fill and dry-break configuration. The electrical identification circuit is once again hardwired including a data wire extending from the nozzle and through the associated fuel hose back to the monitoring system. International patent publication No. WO 03/104135 is broadly directed to a vehicle fuelling management system including a dispensing nozzle having a coupling element configured to connect to a fuel tank coupling element in a dry-break arrangement. The tank coupling element includes a data storage device including vehicle ID data which on insertion of the nozzle into the tank coupling element is sent to a signal receiver mounted to the nozzle. The vehicle ID or other stored data may be sent to the signal receiver of the nozzle by wired or wireless communication. The signal receiver then wirelessly communicates bi-directionally with a processor assembly located at a fuel dispenser. The processor, relying on data received from the signal receiver at the nozzle, thus controls operation of the fuel dispenser and its fuel dispensing activity. International patent publication No. WO 01/003983 is directed to a fuel dispensing system including a fuel dispensing nozzle of a splash-fill design. The splash-fill nozzle includes a nozzle and an associated handle to which an RF module is mounted. The vehicle includes an RFID tag near its fuel inlet spout into which the splash-fill nozzle is inserted. The RFID tag at close range to the dispensing nozzle is interrogated by the RF module and returns a signal including stored data such as vehicle ID from the RFID tag. The dispensing system includes an interrogator which wirelessly interrogates the RF module which forwards its stored data to the interrogator which in turn sends the stored data to a pump controller. The pump controller, depending on the stored data it receives from the interrogator, controls dispensing of fuel via a fuel dispenser associated with the dispensing nozzle. Summary of Invention According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid dispensing system comprising: a dispensing nozzle coupled to a supply conduit for dispensing fluid from a fluid supply associated with the supply conduit;a receiver adapted to couple to a fluid recipient, the dispensing nozzle being detachably connected to the receiver for dispensing the fluid from the fluid supply and delivering it to the fluid recipient;a receiver identification device associated with the receiver, said identification device configured to provide recipient data including a unique receiver identifier associated with the fluid recipient;an electrical identification circuit being contact-based and including the receiver identification device;an electronics module connected to the supply conduit and arranged to communicate with the electrical identification circuit whereby connection of the dispensing nozzle to the receiver completes the electrical identification circuit and permits communication of at least the unique receiver identifier to the electronics module. Prefe