Fuel dispenser

A fuel dispenser is a machine at a filling station that is used to pump gasoline, diesel, CNG, CGH2, HCNG, LPG, LH2, ethanol fuel, biofuels like biodiesel, kerosene, or other types of fuel into vehicles. Fuel dispensers are also known as bowsers (in Australia). [cite magazine | journal = Ozwords | url=http://www.anu.edu.au/andc/pubs/ozwords/pdfs/ozwords_oct05.pdf | publisher= Australian National Dictionary Centre | month = October | year = 2005 | author = Mark Gwynn | title = When people become words | quote = But one doesn’t have to be an Australian to enter the Australian lexicon — take bowser ‘petrol pump’ (in Australia), which is named after a company established by U.S. inventor and entrepreneur S.F. Bowser (d. 1938).] , petrol pumps (in Commonwealth countries), or gas pumps (in North America).

History

The first gasoline pump was invented and sold by Sylvanus F. Bowser in Fort Wayne, Indiana on September 5, 1885. [http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2008/09/dayintech_0905] This pump was not used for automobiles, as they hadn't been invented yet. It was instead used for some kerosene lamps and stoves. He later improved upon the pump by adding safety measures and also by adding a hose to directly dispense fuel into automobiles. For a while, the term "bowser" was used to refer to a vertical gasoline pump. Although the term is not used anymore in the United States, it still is used sometimes in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Design

A modern fuel dispenser is logically divided into two main parts — an electronic "head" containing an embedded computer to control the action of the pump, drive the pump's displays, and communicate to an indoor sales system, and secondly, the mechanical section containing an electric pump and valves to physically pump the fuel. In some cases the actual pump may be sealed and immersed inside the fuel tanks on a site, in which case it is known as a submersible pump. A black handle is used to warn people that the fuel dispensed is diesel. In the United States, diesel fuel pumps commonly use green hoses and green slipcovers over the nozzle, but this convention isn't necessarily universal.

Modern designs

In modern pumps, the major variations are in the number of hoses or grades they can dispense, the physical shape, and the addition of extra devices such as pay-at-pump devices and attendant "tag" readers.

In some countriesIndia (for 2stroke 2wheelers), etc., pumps are able to mix two grades of fuel together before dispensing; this is referred to blending. Typical usages are to add oil to petrol for two-stroke motorcycles, to produce an intermediate octane rating from separate high and low octane fuels or blending of hydrogen and compressed natural gas (HCNG) for ICE.

Flow measurement

One of the most important functions for the pump is to accurately measure the amount of fuel pumped. Flow measurement is typically done by a turbine in the fuel flow. In older gas pumps, the turbine is physically coupled to reeled meters (moving wheels with numbers on the side), while newer pumps turn the turbine's movement into electrical pulses using a rotary encoder.

Communications components

The technology for communicating with gas pumps from a point of sale or other controller varies widely, involving a variety of hardware (RS-485, RS-422, current loop, and others) and proprietary software protocols. Traditionally these variations gave pump manufacturers a natural tie-in for their own point-of-sale systems, since only they understood the protocols. [http://www.ifsf.org/Software/IFSF%20Management%20Intro%20-%20V3.01.pdf IFSF Management Intro, sec 1.1 Background history]

An effort to standardize this in the 1990s resulted in the International Forecourt Standards Forum, which has had considerable success in Europe, but has less presence elsewhere. ("Forecourt" refers to the land area on which the fuel dispensers are located.)

Autocut in fuel dispenser

Other components

A modern fuel pump will often contain control equipment for the vapor recovery system, which prevents gasoline vapor from escaping to the air.

Manufacturers

Fuel dispensers are made by many different companies throughout the world. In earlier decades, it was common for each country to have several competing manufacturers, but consolidation and globalization has occurred in this industry, so that many formerly well-known names such as Satam and EIN no longer exist as independent companies.

Some of the largest remaining manufacturers are Tokheim [ [http://www.tokheim.com/main/index1.php Tokheim corporate website] ] , Gilbarco Veeder-Root [ [http://www.gilbarco.com/ Gilbarco Veeder-Root corporate website] ] , Dresser Wayne [ [http://www.wayne.com/ Dresser-Wayne corporate website] ] (of Dresser Industries), and Tatsuno Corporation [ [http://www.tatsuno.co.jp/ Tatsuno corporate website] ] .

Variations

Early designs

Regulations

Since fuel dispensers are the focal point of distributing fuel to the general public, and fuel is a hazardous substance, they are subject to stringent requirements regarding safety, accuracy and security. The exact details differ between countries and can depend to some extent on politics.

For example in countries fighting corruption, such as Mexico [ [http://articles.latimes.com/2006/jun/13/business/fi-stickup13 Not Quite Measuring Up at Mexico's Gas Pumps - Los Angeles Times] ] , gas pumps may be more stringently monitored by government officials, in order to detect attempts to defraud customers.

Typically, individual pumps must be certified for operation after installation by a government weights and measures inspector, who tests that the pump displays the same amount that it dispenses.

See also

* Cascade storage system
* Point of sale electronic system connected to fuel dispensers for processing sale transactions

References

External links

[http://ottawacitizen.com/gas Hosed at the Pumps] : an Ottawa Citizen investigation in to Canadian fuel pump accuracy, with a searchable database on inspection records. By journalists Glen McGregor, Jessey Bird, Doug Schmidt, and Barb Pacholik.

* [http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_263.html How does a gas pump know to shut itself off?] from The Straight Dope