Claims
- 1. A fuel-dispenser station useable by a customer to transfer fuel, which the customer has purchased from a fuel vendor, from the fuel vendors fuel-storage tank to a fuel reservoir of the customer, said fuel-dispenser station comprising:fuel-dispenser station frame-structure to which other components of said fuel-dispenser station are directly or indirectly engaged and from which said other components of said fuel-dispenser station derive support directly or indirectly; a hydraulics system through which fuel is transferred between the fuel vendors fuel-storage tank and one or more fuel dispenser hoses when said fuel-dispenser station is operated; a hydraulics module that comprises a hydraulics-module frame-structure and hydraulics components of said hydraulics system that are mounted to and supported by said hydraulics module frame structure; wherein said hydraulics module comprises one or more pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection component which are engaged directly or indirectly to and are supported directly or indirectly by said hydraulics-module frame-structure; wherein said inlet connection-component and said outlet connection-component of each pair of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component of said hydraulics module are in fluid communication with one another through a fuel-flow path defined through a series of hydraulics components connected in series between said inlet-connection-component and said outlet connection-component; wherein all active and reactive hydraulics components of said hydraulics system that are downstream of said inlet connection-components of said hydraulics module are connected in series between said inlet connection-component and said outlet connection-component; wherein said hydraulics components that are connected in series between said one or more pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet-connection-component are engaged directly or indirectly to and derive support directly or indirectly from said hydraulics-module frame structure; and wherein said hydraulics module further comprises any and all electrical connections-components and/or mechanical connection-components necessary to connect all components of said hydraulics module to one another to enable proper functioning of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 2. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 1, further comprising:head-electronics components that enable control of all aspects of operation of said fuel dispenser station; a fuel-dispenser head-electronics module that comprises a plurality of said head-electronics components and a head-electronics-module frame-structure to which said head-electronics components of said head-electronics module are engaged and by which said head-electronics components of said head-electronics module are supported; wherein said head-electronics module further comprises any and all electrical connections-components and/or mechanical connection-components necessary to connect all components of said head-electronics module to one another to enable proper functioning of said fuel-dispenser station; and wherein said hydraulics-module frame-structure and said head-electronics-module frame-structure are each releasably engaged to said fuel-dispenser station frame structure.
- 3. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 2, further comprising:one or more fuel-hose modules each of which comprises a hose-module frame-structure; wherein each of said fuel-hose modules comprises one or more of said fuel hoses through which fuel flows after it flows through said hydraulics system and a fuel-dispenser nozzle at a dispensing end of each of said fuel hoses of each of said fuel-hose modules; wherein each of said fuel-hose modules comprises nozzle-hanging structure upon which each of said fuel-dispenser nozzles of said fuel-hose module may be hung when not in use; wherein said fuel-hose, said fuel-dispenser nozzles, and said nozzle-hanging structure of each fuel-hose module are all commonly engaged to and supported by said hose-module frame structure; wherein said fuel-hose module further comprises an inlet connection-component for each of said fuel hoses of said fuel-hose module; wherein each of said inlet connection-components of said fuel-hose module is mounted directly or indirectly to said hose-module frame-structure, is in fluid communication with an inlet end of one of said fuel hoses and is connected to and in fluid communication with one of said outlet connection-components of said hydraulics module; wherein said fuel-hose module further comprises any and all electrical connections-components and/or mechanical connection-components necessary to connect all components of said fuel-hose module to one another to enable proper functioning of said fuel-dispenser station; and wherein said hydraulics-module frame-structure, said head-electronics-module frame-structure, and said hose-module frame-structure are each releasably engaged to said fuel-dispenser station frame-structure.
- 4. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 3, wherein:one or more of said modules of said fuel dispenser station, which modules comprise said hydraulics module(s), said head-electronics module(s), and said hose module(s), comprise(s) multiple redundant connection-component arrays each of which comprises connection components for enabling mechanical and/or electrical connection of said module to other components of said fuel-dispenser station; and wherein each connection-component array of said one or more modules that comprise multiple redundant connection-component arrays is located upon a different side of said module than are said other connection-component arrays.
- 5. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 4, wherein:said one or more hydraulics modules comprise all active and reactive hydraulics components of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 6. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 5, wherein:said one or more hose modules comprise all fuel hoses, all dispenser nozzles, and all nozzle-hanging structures of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 7. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 6, wherein:said one or more head-electronics modules comprise all of said head-electronics components of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 8. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 7, wherein:each of said hydraulics module, said fuel-hose module, and said head electronics module comprises all connection components necessary to mechanically and/or electrically connect components thereof to other components of said fuel-dispenser station; and all of said connection components of said hydraulics module, said fuel-hose module, and said electronics module are engaged directly or indirectly to and supported directly or indirectly by said hydraulics-module frame-structure, said hose-module frame structure, and said head-electronics-module frame structure respectively.
- 9. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 8, wherein:said connection components of said hydraulics module, said fuel-hose module, and said head-electronics module are arranged in connection-component arrays; each of said hydraulics module, said fuel-hose module, and said head-electronics module comprise multiple redundant connection component arrays; and each of said multiple redundant connection-component arrays is disposed upon a different side of a module which comprises it than are those connection component arrays with respect to which it is redundant.
- 10. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 5, wherein:said fuel-dispenser station comprises one and only one hydraulics module which comprises all of said active and reactive hydraulics components of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 11. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 5, wherein:said fuel-dispenser station comprises two or more hydraulics modules, each of which comprises an integer number of pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component with a series of hydraulics components connected between them; each of said hydraulics modules comprises a hydraulics-module frame-structure separate and distinct from hydraulics-module frame-structures of each other hydraulics module; and each hydraulics-module frame-structure is releasably engaged directly or indirectly to said fuel-dispenser station frame-structure.
- 12. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 5, wherein:said fuel-dispenser station comprises one and only one fuel-hose module which comprises all of said fuel hoses, fuel-dispenser nozzles, and nozzle-hanging structures of the fuel-dispenser station.
- 13. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 5, wherein:said fuel-dispenser station comprises two or more fuel-hose modules each of which comprises only one fuel hose, only one fuel-dispenser nozzle, and only one nozzle-hanging structure; each of said fuel-hose modules comprises a hose-module frame-structure which is separate and distinct from hose-module frame-structures of other fuel-hose modules; and each of said hose-module frame-structures is releasably engaged directly or indirectly to said fuel-dispenser station frame-structure.
- 14. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 1, wherein:said hydraulics module comprises two or more redundant connection-component arrays, each of which comprises connection components for mechanically and/or electrically connecting said hydraulics components of said hydraulics module to other components of said fuel-dispenser station; said connection components of said hydraulics module are directly or indirectly engaged to said hydraulics-module frame-structure and directly or indirectly derive support therefrom; and each of said redundant connection-component arrays is disposed upon a side of said hydraulics module different from connection-component arrays relative to which it is redundant.
- 15. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 2, wherein:said head-electronics module comprises all head electronics components of said fuel-dispenser station; said head-electronics module comprises an outer casing within which head-electronics components of said head-electronics module are enclosed; and said outer casing of said head electronics module is sufficiently sealed against the penetration of fuel vapors therethrough that the spaced confined by said outer casing of said head electronics module may be considered a non-hazardous zone.
- 16. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 1, wherein:said hydraulics components connected in series between each of said pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component comprise a flow-control valve and a fuel-metering device.
- 17. A fuel-dispenser station useable by a customer to transfer fuel, which the customer has purchased from a fuel vendor, from the fuel vendors fuel-storage tank to a fuel reservoir of the customer, said fuel-dispenser station comprising:fuel-dispenser station frame structure to which other components of said fuel-dispenser station are directly or indirectly engaged and from which said other components of said fuel-dispenser station derive support directly or indirectly; a hydraulics system through which fuel flows as it is transferred from the fuel vendor's fuel-storage tank to the customer's fuel reservoir; a fuel-hose module which comprises one or more fuel hoses, one or more fuel-dispenser nozzles, nozzle-hanging structure, and a hose-module frame structure to which said fuel hoses, said fuel-dispenser nozzles, and said nozzle-hanging structure are all directly or indirectly engaged and from which said fuel hoses, said fuel-dispenser nozzles, and said nozzle-hanging structure directly or indirectly derive support; wherein said fuel-hose module further comprises an inlet connection-component for each of said fuel hoses of said fuel-hose module; wherein each of said inlet connection-components of said fuel-hose module is mounted directly or indirectly to said hose-module frame-structure, is in fluid communication with an inlet end of one of said fuel hoses and is connected to and in fluid communication with an outlet connection-component of said hydraulics system and receives fuel therefrom when fuel is being transferred from the fuel vendor's fuel-storage tank to the customer's fuel reservoir; wherein said fuel-hose module further comprises any and all electrical connections-components and/or mechanical connection-components necessary to connect all components of said fuel-hose module to one another to enable proper functioning of said fuel-dispenser station; and said hose-module frame structure is releasably engaged directly or indirectly to said fuel-dispenser station frame-structure.
- 18. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 17, wherein:said fuel-hose module comprises any and all connection components necessary to mechanically and/or electrically connect all components of said fuel-hose module to other components of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 19. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 18, wherein:all of said connection components of said fuel-hose module, other than connection components that connect components of said fuel hose module to one another, are arranged in multiple redundant connection-component arrays; and each of said redundant connection-component arrays is disposed upon a side of said fuel-hose module different from sides upon which connection-component arrays with respect to which it is redundant are disposed.
- 20. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 19, wherein:said hydraulics system of said fuel-dispenser station comprises one or more hydraulics modules; said hydraulics module comprises a hydraulics-module frame-structure and hydraulics components of said hydraulics system that are mounted to and supported by said hydraulics module frame structure; said hydraulics module comprises one or more pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection component which are engaged directly or indirectly to and are supported directly or indirectly by said hydraulics-module frame-structure; said inlet connection-component and said outlet connection-component of each pair of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component of said hydraulics module are in fluid communication with one another through a fuel-flow path defined through a series of hydraulics components connected in series between said inlet-connection-component and said outlet connection-component; all active and reactive hydraulics components of said hydraulics system that are downstream of said inlet connection-components of said hydraulics module are connected in series between said inlet connection-component and said outlet connection-component; said hydraulics components that are connected in series between said one or more pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet-connection-component are engaged directly or indirectly to and derive support directly or indirectly from said hydraulics-module frame structure; wherein said outlet connection-components of said hydraulics module are connected to and in fluid communication with said inlet connection-components of said fuel-hose module; wherein said hydraulics module further comprises any and all electrical connections-components and/or mechanical connection-components necessary to connect all components of said hydraulics module to one another to enable proper functioning of said fuel-dispenser station; and said hydraulics module and said fuel-hose module are each releasably engaged directly or indirectly to said fuel-dispenser station frame structure.
- 21. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 20 wherein:said fuel-hose module comprises all fuel hoses, fuel-dispenser nozzles, and nozzle-hanging structure of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 22. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 21, wherein:said hydraulics module comprises any and all connection components necessary to mechanically and/or electrically connect any and all hydraulics components of said hydraulics module to other components of said fuel-dispenser station; and said connection components of said hydraulics module are directly or indirectly engaged to said hydraulics-module frame-structure and directly or indirectly derive support therefrom.
- 23. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 22, wherein:said connection components that said hydraulics module comprises are arranged in redundant connection-component arrays; and each of said redundant connection-component arrays is disposed upon a side of said hydraulics module different from connection-component arrays relative to which it is redundant.
- 24. The fuel-dispenser station of claim 19, wherein:said fuel dispenser station comprises two or more fuel-hose modules each of which comprises one and only one hose-module frame-structure, one and only one fuel hose, one and only one fuel-dispenser nozzle, and one and only one nozzle-hanging structure; and each of said hose-module frame-structures is releasably engaged directly or indirectly to said fuel-dispenser frame structure.
- 25. A hydraulics module for inclusion as part of a fuel-dispenser station and for connection between a fuel-storage tank and one or more fuel hoses of the fuel-dispenser station so that fuel flows from the fuel-storage tank, through the hydraulics module, and subsequently to one or more of the fuel hoses of the fuel dispenser station, when the fuel-dispenser station is operated to transfer fuel from the fuel-storage tank to a customer's fuel reservoir, said hydraulics module comprising:a hydraulics-module frame-structure; hydraulics components that are all directly or indirectly engaged to and derive support directly or indirectly from said hydraulics-module frame-structure; wherein said hydraulics components comprise one or more pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component; wherein said hydraulics components comprise a flow-control valve and a fuel-metering device connected in series between said inlet connection-component and said outlet connection-component of each of said pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component; wherein each of said inlet connection-components is in fluid communication with its complimentary outlet connection-component through a fuel-flow path that is defined through hydraulics components, including said flow-control valve and said fuel-metering device, connected in series between said inlet connection-component and said outlet connection component; and wherein said hydraulics module further comprises any and all electrical connections-components and/or mechanical connection-components necessary to connect all components of said hydraulics module to one another to enable proper functioning of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 26. The hydraulics module of claim 25 for use in a fuel-dispenser station that further includes electrical components including head electronics for controlling operation of the fuel-dispenser station, wherein:said hydraulics module further comprises one or more electrical components said hydraulics module further comprises a complete set of electrical connection-components necessary to electrically connect any and all electrical components of said hydraulics module to the electrical components of the fuel-dispenser station; and said electrical connection components of said hydraulics module are all directly or indirectly engaged to and derive support from said hydraulics-module frame-structure.
- 27. The hydraulics module of claim 26, wherein:said hydraulics module comprises multiple redundant pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component; and each of said redundant pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component is connected to opposite ends of a same series of hydraulics components, which defines a fuel-flow path therethrough, as one or more other redundant pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component are connected to opposite ends of.
- 28. The hydraulics module of claim 27, wherein:said hydraulics module comprises multiple redundant complete sets of electrical connection-components each of which is connected to all of said electrical components of said hydraulics module and can, therefore, be utilized to electrically connect any and all electrical components of said hydraulics module to the electrical components of the fuel-dispenser station.
- 29. The hydraulics module of claim 28, wherein:all of said inlet connection-components, said outlet connection-components, and said electrical connection-components are arranged in connection-component arrays; and each connection-component array has a same combination of inlet connection-components, outlet connection-components, and/or electrical connection-components and a same spatial arrangement of said connection components as one or more other connection-component arrays, which are redundant with respect to said connection-component array and which are disposed upon sides of said hydraulics module different from a side of said hydraulics module upon which said connection-component array is disposed.
- 30. The hydraulics module of claim 25, wherein:said hydraulics module comprises multiple redundant pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component; and each of said redundant pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component is connected to opposite ends of a same series of hydraulics components, which defines a fuel-flow path therethrough, as one or more other redundant pairs of an inlet connection-component and an outlet connection-component are connected to opposite ends of.
- 31. The hydraulics module of claim 30, wherein:all of said inlet connection-components and said outlet connection-components are arranged in connection-component arrays; and each connection-component array has a same combination of inlet connection-components and/or outlet connection-components and a same spatial arrangement of said connection components as one or more other connection-component arrays, which are redundant with respect to said connection-component array and which are disposed upon sides of said hydraulics module different from a side of said hydraulics module upon which said connection-component array is disposed.
- 32. A fuel-hose module for inclusion in a fuel-dispenser station and for controlling flow of fuel from a hydraulics system of the fuel-dispenser station, through the fuel-hose module and into a customer's fuel reservoir, said fuel-hose module comprising:a hose-module frame structure; one or more fuel hoses, one or more fuel-dispenser nozzles, and one or more nozzle-hanging structures, all of which are directly or indirectly engaged to and directly or indirectly derive support from said hose-module frame structure; wherein each of said fuel-dispenser nozzles is attached to one of said fuel hoses at a dispensing end thereof and is in fluid communication with said fuel hose to which it is attached; wherein each of said nozzle-hanging structures is constructed and positioned such that one or more of said fuel-dispenser nozzles may be hung upon it when said fuel-dispenser nozzles are not in use; and one or more inlet connection components each of which is directly or indirectly mounted to and directly or indirectly derives support from said hose-module frame-structure and each of which is in fluid communication with an inlet end of one of said fuel hoses; and wherein said fuel-hose module further comprises any and all electrical connections-components and/or mechanical connection-components necessary to connect all components of said fuel-hose module to one another to enable proper functioning of said fuel-dispenser station.
- 33. The fuel-hose module of claim 32 for use in a fuel-dispenser station that further includes electrical components including head electronics for controlling operation of the fuel-dispenser station, wherein:said fuel-hose module further comprises one or more electrical components; said fuel-hose module further comprises a complete set of electrical connection-components necessary to electrically connect any and all electrical components of said fuel-hose module to the electrical components of the fuel-dispenser station; and said electrical connection components of said fuel-hose module are all directly or indirectly engaged to and derive support from said hose-module frame-structure.
- 34. The fuel-hose module of claim 33, wherein:said fuel-hose module comprises multiple redundant inlet connection-components; and each of said redundant inlet connection-components is in fluid communication with a same inlet end of a fuel hose of said fuel-hose module as are one or more other redundant inlet connection-components.
- 35. The fuel-hose module of claim 34, wherein:said fuel-hose module comprises multiple redundant complete sets of electrical connection-components each of which is connected to all of said electrical components of said fuel-hose module and can, therefore, be utilized to electrically connect any and all electrical components of said fuel-hose module to the electrical components of the fuel-dispenser station.
- 36. The fuel-hose module of claim 35, wherein:all of said inlet connection-components and said electrical connection-components are arranged in connection-component arrays; and each connection-component array has a same combination of inlet connection-components and/or electrical connection-components and a same spatial arrangement of said connection components as one or more other connection-component arrays, which are redundant with respect to said connection-component array and which are disposed upon sides of said fuel-hose module different from a side of said hydraulics module upon which said connection-component array is disposed.
- 37. The fuel-hose module of claim 32, wherein:said fuel-hose module comprises multiple redundant inlet connection-components; and each of said redundant inlet connection-components is in fluid communication with a same inlet end of a fuel hose of said fuel-hose module as are one or more other redundant inlet connection-components.
- 38. The fuel-hose module of claim 37, wherein:all of said inlet connection-components are arranged in connection-component arrays; and each connection-component array has a same combination of inlet connection-components and a same spatial arrangement of said connection components as one or more other connection-component arrays, which are redundant with respect to said connection-component array and which are disposed upon sides of said fuel-hose module different from a side of said hydraulics module upon which said connection-component array is disposed.
CONTINUING DATA
This application hereby claims the benefit under Title 35, United States Codes § 119(e) of any U.S. application Ser. No. 60/379,963 filed May 13, 2002, and is hereby incorporated by reference.
US Referenced Citations (7)
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60/379963 |
May 2002 |
US |