Richard Jack Lucas

US Patent:

6622757, Sep 23, 2003

Filed:

Nov 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/725727

Inventors:

Robert P. Hart - East Hampton CT
Richard K. Lucas - Enfield CT

Assignee:

Veeder-Root Company - Simsbury CT

International Classification:

B65B 3100

US Classification:

141 7, 141 4, 141 5, 141 45, 141 59, 141 83, 141 94, 141104, 141285, 141290

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance is disclosed. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a conventional gas pump nozzle naturally displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow (using a vapor flow sensor) on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide for the determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatus also provide for the determination of fuel dispensing system vapor containment integrity, and the differentiation of true vapor recovery failures as opposed to false failures resulting from the refueling of vehicles provided with onboard vapor recovery systems.

US Patent:

6802345, Oct 12, 2004

Filed:

Sep 26, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/672496

Inventors:

Robert P. Hart - East Hampton CT
Richard K. Lucas - Enfield CT

Assignee:

Veeder-Root Company Inc. - Simsbury CT

International Classification:

B65B 3100

US Classification:

141 7, 141 45, 141 59, 141 95, 141290, 73 52

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance is disclosed. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a conventional gas pump nozzle naturally displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow (using a vapor flow sensor) on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide for the determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatus also provide for the determination of fuel dispensing system vapor containment integrity, and the differentiation of true vapor recovery failures as opposed to false failures resulting from the refueling of vehicles provided with onboard vapor recovery systems.

US Patent:

6834534, Dec 28, 2004

Filed:

Mar 17, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/390346

Inventors:

Don Halla - Southington CT
Richard Dolson - Collinsville CT
Robert P. Hart - East Hampton CT
Richard Lucas - Enfield CT
Ray Hutchinson - Houma LA
Kent Reid - Canton CT

Assignee:

Veeder-Root Company - Simsbury CT

International Classification:

G01M 326

US Classification:

73 492, 22056003, 2205671, 2205672, 340605, 405 54

Abstract:

A storage tank leak detection and prevention system that detects a breach or leak in the interstitial space of a double-walled fuel storage tank in a service station environment. The interstitial space is placed under a vacuum using a submersible turbine pump that is also used to pump fuel to the fuel dispensers in the service station and therefore a separate vacuum generating source is not required. A sensing unit and/or tank monitor monitors the vacuum level in the interstitial space over time. If a significant vacuum level change occurs in the interstitial space after the interstitial space is placed under a vacuum level, a catastrophic leak detection alarm is generated. If a minor vacuum level change occurs in the interstitial space after the interstitial space is placed under a vacuum, a precision leak detection alarm is generated. Functional tests also ensure that the leak detection system is functioning properly.

US Patent:

6880585, Apr 19, 2005

Filed:

May 1, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/427364

Inventors:

Robert P. Hart - East Hampton CT, US
Richard K. Lucas - Enfield CT, US

Assignee:

Veeder-Root Company - Simsbury CT

International Classification:

B65B031/00

US Classification:

141 59, 141 94, 141285

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance is disclosed. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a conventional gas pump nozzle naturally displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow (using a vapor flow sensor) on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The disclosed methods and apparatus provide for the determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors. The disclosed methods and apparatus also provide for the determination of fuel dispensing system vapor containment integrity and the differentiation of true vapor recovery failures as opposed to false failures resulting from the refueling of vehicles provided with onboard vapor recovery systems.

US Patent:

6968868, Nov 29, 2005

Filed:

Dec 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/733480

Inventors:

Robert P. Hart - East Hampton CT, US
Richard K. Lucas - Enfield CT, US

Assignee:

Veeder-Root Company - Simsbury CT

International Classification:

B65B031/00

US Classification:

141 6, 141 59, 141 83, 141 95

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for monitoring and determining fuel vapor recovery performance. The dispensing of liquid fuel into a tank by a gas pump nozzle displaces a mixture of air and fuel ullage vapor in the tank. These displaced vapors may be recovered at the dispensing point nozzle by a vapor recovery system. A properly functioning vapor recovery system recovers approximately one unit volume of vapor for every unit volume of dispensed liquid fuel. The ratio of recovered vapor to dispensed fuel is termed the A/L ratio, which should ideally be approximately equal to one (1). The A/L ratio, and thus the proper functioning of the vapor recovery system, may be determined by measuring liquid fuel flow and return vapor flow using a vapor flow sensor on a nozzle-by-nozzle basis. The determination of A/L ratios for individual nozzles are calculated using a reduced number of vapor flow sensors.

US Patent:

6975964, Dec 13, 2005

Filed:

Oct 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/684258

Inventors:

Donald S. Reichler - West Simsbury CT, US
Adriano Baglioni - South Windsor CT, US
Thomas C. Zalenski - Avon CT, US
Robert P. Hart - East Hampton CT, US
Richard K. Lucas - Enfield CT, US

Assignee:

Veeder-Root Company - Simsbury CT

International Classification:

G06F019/00

US Classification:

702182, 222231

Abstract:

Determining a maximum dispensing efficiency of a dispensing point in a fuel dispenser and determining if a dispensing point has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the maximum dispensing efficiency is less than expected. The maximum dispensing efficiency is calculated by determining the dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume from a set of volume and time pair measurements for the dispensing point. The dispensing events exhibiting the lowest time for dispensed volume that are used to determine the maximum dispensing efficiency are taken from dispensing events where the amount of dead time, the time between the activation of a fuel dispensing event and the engaging of a nozzle and the time between the disengaging of the nozzle and the deactivation of the dispensing event, and customer or pre-pay transaction controlled reduced flow rates are minimized. In this manner, volume and time data that include more than the minimum amount of dead time in a dispensing event are not used in the determination of the maximum dispensing efficiency.

US Patent:

7152004, Dec 19, 2006

Filed:

Oct 12, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/963429

Inventors:

Donald S. Reichler - West Simsbury CT, US
Adriano Baglioni - South Windsor CT, US
Thomas C. Zalenski - Avon CT, US
Robert P. Hart - East Hampton CT, US
Richard K. Lucas - Enfield CT, US

Assignee:

Veeder-Root Company - Simsbury CT

International Classification:

G01F 17/00

US Classification:

702 55, 702 45

Abstract:

A system and method for calculating the flow rate of a dispensing point or flow capacity of a pump and fuel delivery system and determining if the dispensing point or fuel delivery system has a blockage and/or a performance problem if the calculated dispensing point flow rate is other than expected. The calculated dispensing flow rate is calculated by collecting fuel tank level data points for a dispensing point that fall within start and stop events of the dispensing event. The slope of a fitted line to the fuel tank level data points is used as the indication of the flow rate of the dispensing point. Different mathematical techniques may be used to improve the flow rate calculation to compensate for the minimum resolution of collecting fuel tank level data and the dead time included in the data of a dispensing transaction.

US Patent:

43049885, Dec 8, 1981

Filed:

Jul 31, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/062346

Inventors:

Richard K. Lucas - Enfield CT
Robert Kozak - Enfield CT

Assignee:

Veeder Industries Inc. - Hartford CT

International Classification:

H03K 2106
H03K 2132

US Classification:

235 92DE

Abstract:

A battery powered electronic counter with an electronic accumulator (12), a switch (22) for resetting the accumulator (12) and disconnecting the battery (20), and an accumulator indexing circuit with a first pair of switch input terminals (28) having separate high and low impedance connections to the battery (2) for minimizing battery drain and reducing input signal noise sensitivity, a second pair of AC/DC input terminals (30) for receiving an input pulse of up to 250 volts and a transistor circuit with a transistor (74) and a resistor (76) for limiting the current through an optical isolator (68) for the AC/DC terminals (30).