Fuel dispenser with intelligent switch
View Patent ↗A system for providing dispensing of fuel for refuelling vehicles, comprising a control unit and at least two switches. Each of said switches is connected to the control unit and comprises a microcontroller for storing a unique identifier, which identifier is associated with the switch and readable by the control unit, for allowing the control unit to identify each of the at least two switches.
1. A system for providing dispensing of fuel for refuelling vehicles, comprising a control unit and at least two switches, wherein each of said switches is connected to the control unit and comprises a microcontroller for storing a unique identifier, said identifier being associated with, and readable by, the control unit, for allowing the control unit to identify each of the at least two switches.
2. A system according to claim 1 , wherein each switch comprises a power source.
3. A system according to claim 1 , wherein each switch is configured to store a key which represents a condition that tampering of the fuel dispensing unit is undetected.
4. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the key is altered when the switch is released.
5. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the key is altered when the connection between the switch and the control unit is lost.
6. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to store a copy of each key, for the purpose of verifying if tampering of the fuel dispensing unit has occurred.
7. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to regularly read the key for each switch.
8. A system according to claim 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to regularly change the key for each switch.
9. A system according to claim 1 , wherein each of the at least two switches is connected to the control unit via a common communication line.
10. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising a fuel dispensing unit.
11. A system according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit is arranged in a first subspace of the fuel dispensing unit and each of the at least two switches is arranged in a second subspace of the fuel dispensing unit.
12. A system according to claim 11 , wherein the first subspace and the second subspace are arranged for preventing fuel vapour from spreading between the subspaces.
13. A system according to claim 10 , wherein each of the switches is connected to the control unit via a barrier device for explosion protection, said barrier device disposed between the switches and the control unit.
14. A system according to claim 10 , wherein a sealing member is arranged between the first subspace and the second subspace for close abutment against a communication line that connects each of the at least two switches to the control unit.
15. A system according to claim 14 , wherein a fuel flow meter is connected to the communication line.
16. A system according to claim 15 , wherein each of the switches is connected to the control unit via the fuel flow meter.
17. A system according to claim 10 , wherein the switches are arranged for detecting a respective fuel dispensing nozzle.
18. A system according to claim 1 , further comprising a fuel payment terminal.