Dispenser malfunction detector

Claim 2

Monitor means for evaluating dispenser operation and for a system incorporating a dispenser for fluid under pressure and control means providing operation signals to the dispenser for controlling the open and closed conditions of the dispenser comprising sensing means, attached to the dispenser to sense the pressure of the fluid therein and generate a pressure signal reflective of the fluid pressure; and comparison means, connected to receive the pressure signal and the operation signal, for comparing the pressure signal to a preselected band of pressure values having a first pressure value at one end and a second pressure value at the other wherein said comparison is effected when the controller provides an operation signal to open the dispenser, and wherein the comparison means generates a malfunction signal when the pressure signal is outside of the band of pressure values.

Claim 3

A monitor as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the dispenser comprises a nozzle having an opening through which the fluid is dispensed and said first pressure is reflective of the opening being clogged.

Claim 4

A monitor as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the dispenser comprises a nozzle having an opening through which the fluid is dispensed and said preselected second pressure is reflective of the said opening being worn.

Claim 5

A monitor as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the pressure signal is an electrical signal, the monitor including shaping means, connected to receive said pressure signal, for shaping said pressure signal into a substantially pulse form and transmitting said shaped pressure signal to the comparison means.

Claim 6

A monitor as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the comparison means comprises switch means, connected to receive the pressure signal and the operation signal, for transmitting the pressure signal when the operation signal indicates the opening of the dispenser and comparator means, connected to receive the pressure signal from said switch means, for comparing the pressure signal to the preselected band of pressure values and for generating the malfunction signal.

Claim 7

A monitor as claimed in any of the preceding claims including information processing means connected to receive the said enable signal and the said malfunction signal, for processing said signals by counting each of the dispenser malfunctions and generating a signal reflective of said count.

Claim 8

For use in a system with a dispenser for fluid under pressure and control means providing operation signals to said dispenser for controlling the open and closed conditions of said dispenser, monitor means for evaluating dispenser operation, comprising, sensing means, attached to said dispenser, to sense the pressure of the fluid therein and generate an electrical pressure signal reflective of the fluid pressure; conditioning means, connected to receive said electrical pressure signal, for conditioning said pressure signal to an analog pulse signal which is generally proportional to that part of the pressure signal which is reflective of said dispenser in an open condition; and comparison means, connected to receive said conditioned analog signal and said operation signal, for comparing said analog signal to first and second preselected analog values when said operation signal indicates the opening of said dispenser and for generating a malfunction signal reflective of sai.d analog signal not being between said first and second analog values inclusive.

Claim 9

For use in a system with a dispenser for fluid under pressure and control means providing operation signals to said dispenser for controlling the open and closed conditions of said dispenser, monitor means for evaluating dispenser operation, comprising, sensing means, attached to said dispenser, to sense the pressure of the fluid therein and generate an electrical pressure signal reflective of the fluid pressure; conditioning means, connected to receive said electrical pressure signal, for conditioning said pressure signal to an analog pulse signal which is generally proportional to that part of the pressure signal which is reflective of said dispenser in an open condition; and comparison means, connected to receive said conditioned analog signal and said operation signal, for comparing said analog signal to first and second preselected analog values when said operation signal indicates the opening of said dispenser and for generating a malfunction signal reflective of sai.d analog signal not being between said first and second analog values inclusive.

Claim 10

For use in a system with a dispenser for fluid under pressure and control means providing operation signals to said dispenser for controlling the open and closed conditions of said dispenser, monitor means for evaluating dispenser operation, comprising, sensing means, attached to said dispenser, to sense the pressure of the fluid therein and generate a pressure signal reflective of the fluid pressure; first comparison means, connected to receive said pressure signal and said operation signal, for comparing said pressure signal to first and second preselected pressures when said operating signal indicates said dispenser is opened and for generating a malfunction signal reflective of said pressure signal not being between said first and second pressures inclusive; and second comparison means, connected to receive said pressure signal and said operation signal, for comparing said pressure signal to a third preselected pressure value and for generating a malfunction signal reflective of said pressure signal exceeding said third pressure value when said operation signal indicates said dispenser is not enabled.

Claim 11

For use in a system with a dispenser for fluid under pressure and control means providing operation signals to said dispenser for controlling the open and closed conditions of said dispenser, monitor means for evaluating dispenser operation, comprising, sensing means, attached to said dispenser, to sense the pressure of the fluid therein and generate a pressure signal reflective of the fluid pressure; first comparison means, connected to receive said pressure signal and said operation signal, for comparing said pressure signal to first and second preselected pressures when said operating signal indicates said dispenser is opened and for generating a malfunction signal reflective of said pressure signal not being between said first and second pressures inclusive; and second comparison means, connected to receive said pressure signal and said operation signal, for comparing said pressure signal to a third preselected pressure value and for generating a malfunction signal reflective of said pressure signal exceeding said third pressure value when said operation signal indicates said dispenser is not enabled.

Claim 12

A monitor as claimed in Claim 8 including clamping means, connected between said sensing means and said second comparison means, for clamping said sensor signal such that said sensor signal is only positive.

Claim 13

A monitor as claimed in Claim 5, further comprising system disable means, connected between said control means and said switch means for disabling the receipt of said operation signal by said switch means when said malfunction signal indicates that the sensor signal is not within said first and second preselected pressures inclusive.