Fuel dispenser for dispensing an operating substance

Description

[0001] The subject of the present application is an arrangement comprising a flexible hose for conveying a medium and a control unit for delivering electrical power.

[0002] Modern combustion engines can be supplied with additional operating fluids in addition to fuel to reduce emissions of harmful substances. Modern diesel engines, in particular, utilize SCR technology, which uses an aqueous urea solution, also known as "AdBlue®", to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. These additional operating fluids are consumed during operation, so the vehicles' existing operating fluid tanks must be refilled regularly. Gas stations typically have separate fuel pumps for this purpose.

[0003] Since the AdBlue® operating fluid freezes at temperatures as low as -11°C, it is generally known from the prior art to use heating devices to prevent the operating fluid from freezing in cold ambient temperatures. For example, DE 10 2015 115 922 A1 proposes heating the interior of the fuel pump housing, in which a fuel tank is located, and also storing the dispensing hose within the housing when not in use. Furthermore, it is known from US 2016 / 0280532 A1 or WO 2014 113 277 A1 to provide additional line systems in the dispensing hose through which a heated fluid is passed to heat the hose. In WO 2012 / 015685, it is proposed to sufficiently heat the operating fluid to be dispensed by means of a temperature control system and to enable flow through the dispensing hose with the aid of a circulation system, even when the hose is not in use.A dispensing system for dispensing an aqueous urea solution is also known from document US 2016 / 060096 A1. Documents US 2005 / 0063689 A1, US 2018 / 0124876 A1, US 5,381,511, and US 2005 / 0274713 A1 disclose heatable fluid lines. EP 3 050 842 A1 discloses a device for injecting an additive. DE 10 2011 014 520 A1 relates to a hose reel assembly with a hose that can be wound up and unwound and a heating medium located therein.

[0004] The disadvantage of existing fuel dispensing systems is that they require a lot of maintenance and operation, and they can be complicated for the user. Furthermore, existing fuel dispensing systems often have the problem that they do not meet the requirements for operation in Zone 1 or 2 according to the ATEX Directive 1999 / 92 / EC. Therefore, for explosion protection reasons, they cannot be installed adjacent to fuel pumps or within a multi-dispenser pump with at least one fuel pumping point.

[0005] Against this background, it is the object of the present invention to provide an arrangement comprising a flexible hose for conveying a medium, which at least partially avoids the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] Accordingly, the present invention relates to an arrangement according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are described in the subclaims.

[0007] First, some of the terms used in this disclosure will be explained. A Zone 0 according to the ATEX Working Environment Directive 1999 / 92 / EC is an area in which an explosive atmosphere, consisting of a mixture of air and flammable gases, vapors, or mists, is present continuously, for long periods, or frequently. The term Zone 1 according to the ATEX Working Environment Directive 1999 / 92 / EC refers to an area in which, during normal operation, an explosive atmosphere, consisting of a mixture of air and flammable gases, vapors, or mists, can occasionally occur. A Zone 2 according to the ATEX Working Environment Directive 1999 / 92 / EC is an area in which, during normal operation, an explosive atmosphere, consisting of a mixture of air and flammable gases, vapors, or mists, does not normally occur, or only occurs for short periods. These definitions correspond to the definitions in Annex I, Section 2 of Directive 1999 / 92 / EC.

[0008] The term "explosive atmosphere" is used in accordance with Directive 2014 / 34 / EU, Article 2, No. 4, and refers to a mixture of air and flammable gases, vapors, mists or dusts under atmospheric conditions in which the combustion process, after ignition, spreads to the entire unburned mixture.

[0009] If a device within the scope of this disclosure is designed to be operated in a Zone 0 according to the ATEX Working Environment Directive 1999 / 92 / EC (hereinafter also ATEX Zone 0), this is equivalent to the device meeting the requirements of Directive 2014 / 34 / EU, which are placed on Equipment Group II, Equipment Category 1 (see Annex I, Section 2a) of Directive 2014 / 34 / EU). If a device within the scope of this disclosure is designed to be operated in a Zone 1 according to the ATEX Working Environment Directive 1999 / 92 / EC (hereinafter ATEX Zone 1), this is equivalent to the device meeting the requirements of Directive 2014 / 34 / EU, which are placed on Equipment Group II, Equipment Category 2 (see Annex I, Section 2b) of Directive 2014 / 34 / EU).If a device within the scope of this disclosure is designed to be operated in a Zone 2 according to the ATEX Working Environment Directive 1999 / 92 / EC (hereinafter also Atex Zone 2), this is equivalent to the device meeting the requirements of Directive 2014 / 34 / EU, which are placed on Equipment Group II, Equipment Category 3 (see Annex I, point 2 c) of Directive 2014 / 34 / EU).

[0010] For a fuel dispenser, the spatial position of Zone 0, Zone 1 and Zone 2 as well as the requirements for equipment operated in these zones are clearly defined by the ATEX Operating Directives 1999 / 92 / EC and 2014 / 34 / EU. If the hose (hereinafter also referred to as the dispensing hose) and the nozzle of a dispensing system are designed to be operated in one of the specified zones in accordance with the ATEX Operating Directive 1999 / 92 / EC, this means that the dispensing system can be operated in compliance with the directive next to a fuel dispenser or integrated into a multi-dispenser dispensing system, even if the dispensing hose and / or the nozzle can be moved into this zone of the fuel dispenser or multi-dispenser dispensing system while the system is in use (e.g. during refueling).Since the requirements for operation in a Zone 0 are more stringent than the requirements for operation in a Zone 1, which in turn are more stringent than the requirements for operation in a Zone 2, devices designed for operation in a higher-level zone can also be operated in a lower-level zone in compliance with the directive.

[0011] If the installation space of the dispensing system is designed to be zone-free, this means that the installation space is free of an Atex zone even if the dispensing system is positioned so that the dispensing hose and / or the dispensing valve are located in an Atex zone (zone 0, 1, or 2) or can be moved into this zone. The installation space can therefore be designed to shield against such a zone. For example, the installation space can be integrated into a housing of the dispensing system, whereby the housing can be shielded from the environment by design measures so that the penetration of an explosive atmosphere into the housing is prevented or reduced and / or sufficient ventilation measures can dilute any explosive vapors that may penetrate so that no explosive atmosphere can develop within the housing. It is also possible for a zone-free sub-housing to be present within the housing in which the installation space is located.In this case, the entire housing of the dispensing system does not have to be zone-free.

[0012] Alternatively, the installation space can also be positioned at a distance from the dispensing hose and / or nozzle, so that a zone located in the vicinity of the dispensing hose and / or nozzle has no influence on the installation space due to the distance alone. The installation space can be located, for example, in a petrol station building adjacent to the dispensing system or even underground. In this case, the heating wire and the control unit can be connected to each other by a cable for transmitting the electrical power.

[0013] The heating wire consists of an electrically conductive material that heats up according to the heat transfer law when an electric current flows through it. The electrical resistance of the heating wire can, for example, be in the range between 0.01 and 2 ohms / m, preferably between 0.05 and 1 ohm / m, more preferably between 0.1 and 0.5 ohms / m. The heating wire can, for example, comprise or consist of a resistance alloy according to DIN 17471 (for example a CrFeNi alloy or a CrFeAl alloy) or comprise or consist of a semiconducting material (for example silicon carbide, molybdenum disilicide or graphite). The heating wire preferably has a temperature coefficient with respect to its electrical resistance that is only slightly positive. For example, the temperature coefficient can be less than 10% / K, preferably less than 5% / K, more preferably less than 1% / K.Alternatively, the temperature coefficient can also be negative, so it can be a thermistor.

[0014] If the heating wire is embedded in the hose wall, this means that the heating wire is completely surrounded by the flexible wall material of the dispensing hose. The heating wire can, for example, be wound onto a prefabricated inner hose (produced, for example, by extrusion) so that it rests firmly on the inner hose. A thermoplastic sheet can then, for example, be placed circumferentially around the inner hose and the heating wire wound on it. A bond is then created between the inner hose and the plastic sheet by vulcanization, which results in the heating wire being completely surrounded by the plastic material of the inner hose and / or the plastic sheet. The semi-finished hose thus obtained can then be surrounded by an outer hose by extrusion.To increase stability, reinforcing braids can be inserted between the inner tube and the plastic plate and / or between the plastic plate and the outer tube. The heating wire can also be embedded in the dispensing hose in other ways known in the art. The hose with the embedded heating wire is hereinafter also referred to as the heating hose. The heating wire can be configured to deliver a heat output of between 5 and 200 W / m, preferably between 10 and 100 W / m, and more preferably between 20 and 70 W / m, based on the length of the dispensing hose.

[0015] It is preferred that the dispensing hose connects the dispensing valve directly to the delivery device. This ensures that the operating fluid is heated within the dispensing hose immediately after exiting the delivery device. It is also possible, in principle, for the dispensing hose to be connected to a connection coupling located on or within the housing of the dispensing system, which in turn is connected to the delivery device via a fluid line.

[0016] Within the scope of the present disclosure, it was recognized that the two measures of embedding the heating wire in the dispensing hose and arranging the control unit within the zone-free installation space can make the system suitable for operation in the vicinity of an ATEX zone in a particularly economical and safe manner. In particular, the optional positioning of the control unit within the zone-free installation space results in the control unit being arranged outside of an ATEX zone even if the dispensing system is located in the immediate vicinity or within such an ATEX zone. Therefore, it is not necessary for the control unit itself to be designed and approved for operation in an ATEX zone.

[0017] In addition, embedding the heating wire within the wall of the dispensing hose provides further advantages in an economical and fail-safe manner. Firstly, the heating wire is protected from mechanical influences (such as impacts) during system operation. This reliably prevents mechanical damage to the heating wire, which is inherently associated with the risk of sparks when electrical power is applied to the heating wire. Secondly, embedding the heating wire insulates it from any potentially explosive atmosphere present in the surrounding area. Even if mechanical damage to the heating wire occurs (for example, a break or short circuit), a high degree of safety is still maintained, as the risk of contact with the potentially explosive environment is avoided or at least significantly reduced by embedding the heating wire in the dispensing hose.

[0018] It was also recognized that the dispensing system offers particular advantages when used to dispense a gas, in particular a compressed or liquefied gas or gas mixture. The operating fluid can therefore also comprise or consist of such a compressed or liquefied gas. For example, the operating fluid can comprise or consist of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), or liquefied hydrogen. Due to the low temperature of the liquefied gas, the dispensing hose cools down significantly during dispensing, which can lead to an outer surface of the dispensing hose icing due to the humidity in the ambient air. Even when dispensing a compressed gas, icing can occur under certain circumstances due to expansion cooling.Ice buildup significantly impedes the handling of the dispensing hose and the associated nozzle, and therefore requires a complex removal process using the current technology. The heating wire embedded in the dispensing hose allows for easy and safe heating and defrosting.

[0019] The dispensing hose can have an inner tube designed to convey the fuel. The inner tube can be surrounded by an outer tube in which the heating wire is embedded. The outer tube can be a flexible plastic hose. The outer tube with the embedded heating wire can be manufactured in the manner described above. The outer tube with the embedded heating wire is also referred to below as the heating hose.

[0020] The use of an inner hose with a heating hose surrounding it is advantageous, for example, when the operating fluid is a cold medium that has a temperature significantly below 0°C. Significantly below 0°C means that the temperature can be less than -10°C, less than -30°C or even less than -50°C. In particular, the cold medium can have a temperature in the range between -10°C and -273.15°C. The medium can in particular be a compressed and / or liquefied gas. The inner hose can be designed to be pressure-resistant in a pressure range of more than 4 bar, preferably more than 6 bar. A bursting pressure of the inner hose can be more than 25 bar, preferably more than 30 bar, more preferably more than 35 bar. Furthermore, the inner hose can be designed to be temperature-resistant in a temperature range of less than -100°C, preferably less than -140°C.For example, the inner hose can be designed for operation in a temperature range between -100°C and -273.15°C. The temperature specifications refer to the medium transported through the inner hose. When the inner hose is used to transport liquefied natural gas (LNG), the inner hose can be designed for operation in a temperature range between -100°C and -210°C. When the inner hose is used to dispense liquid hydrogen, the inner hose can be designed for operation in a temperature range between -220°C and -273.15°C. The temperature and / or pressure resistance of the dispensing hose can be defined in particular according to at least one of the requirements specified in the standards DIN EN ISO 12617, DIN EN ISO 16924, ISO 21012, or ISO 20519. The inner hose can have or consist of a plurality of layers and / or a composite material.In particular, the inner tube can comprise reinforcement layers, for example, a braid or a fabric. A reinforcement layer can, for example, comprise a metal mesh. The inner tube can, in particular, be designed as a corrugated metal hose or comprise a corrugated metal hose.

[0021] The inner tube and the heating hose surrounding the inner tube can together form the dispensing hose. The heating hose can also comprise a plurality of plies or layers and / or a composite material, in particular reinforcing fibers. In a preferred embodiment, the heating hose comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of polyethylene (PE), ethylene-propylene-diene (monomer) rubber (EPDM), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and chloroprene rubber (CR).

[0022] By surrounding the inner tube with the heated hose, the inner tube, which carries the cold medium (e.g., compressed and / or liquefied gas), is shielded to a certain extent from the ambient air, thus preventing any humidity present in the ambient air from accumulating on the inner tube and freezing solid. However, completely airtight shielding or insulation of the inner tube is very complex, so that icing can regularly occur on the inner tube despite the outer tube, and cold is transferred from the inner tube to the outer tube. The heating wire embedded in the outer tube can counteract both icing of the inner tube and icing of the outer tube.

[0023] It has been shown that the service life of a fuel pump hose, which has a corrugated metal hose as an inner tube, for example, can be significantly increased with the help of a heated hose. In the prior art, the icing of such corrugated metal hoses significantly restricted the mobility of the fuel pump hose, which made connecting the hose to a fuel tank nozzle significantly more difficult during refueling. In the prior art, this regularly meant that the user had to exert great force to connect the icy corrugated metal hose to a fuel tank nozzle or to detach it from the fuel tank nozzle in order to at least partially break up the layer of ice and increase mobility. Naturally, this was accompanied by considerable mechanical stress on the corrugated metal hose and often led to premature destruction of the corrugated metal hose.Furthermore, due to the low temperatures prevailing on the outer surface of the corrugated metal hose, complex safety measures were required in the prior art to prevent users from suffering from frostbite from contact with the outer surface. The dispensing hose, on the other hand, can significantly increase the service life of the inner hose and make operation easier and safer for the user.

[0024] The heated hose can be directly adjacent to the media-carrying inner hose, or there can be a gap between the inner hose and the heated hose. This gap can be evacuated or filled with air or another material. An intermediate hose can also be arranged between the inner hose and the outer hose, which is designed to limit the maximum bending angle of the dispensing hose. For this purpose, the intermediate hose can, in particular, have a plurality of hose segments, each of which is interlocked with adjacent hose segments. Such a hose is known, for example, from document US 2001 / 0015233 A1 and is also referred to as FloppyGuard™.

[0025] The idea of ​​providing an arrangement according to claim 1 for dispensing a cold medium, in particular for dispensing a compressed and / or liquefied gas, wherein the hose has an inner hose designed to convey the medium and an outer heating hose, has independent inventive content. In particular, with such a dispensing system, it is not necessary for the dispensing hose and the dispensing valve to be designed for operation in a Zone 2 according to the ATEX Operating Directive 1999 / 92 / EC. Nor is it necessary for the dispensing system to have a zone-free installation space in which the control unit is positioned.

[0026] Finally, as already mentioned above, the invention is not limited to dispensing hoses for conveying compressed or liquefied gas. In one embodiment, the dispensing hose or the inner hose can be designed to convey any medium. Especially when conveying low-temperature media, the dispensing hose can reduce or prevent the risk of icing, thus increasing the safety and flexibility of the hose.

[0027] The nozzle and / or the dispensing hose can be configured for operation in Zone 1 according to the ATEX Directive 1999 / 92 / EC. It is also possible for the nozzle to be designed for operation in Zone 0 according to the ATEX Directive 1999 / 92 / EC. In this case, the nozzle and the dispensing hose can be moved into Zone 0, i.e., a zone with a high risk of explosion, allowing the dispensing system according to the invention to be positioned even more flexibly.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, the dispensing system comprises a housing. The housing can be a standalone housing of a fuel pump, which can be installed adjacent to a fuel pump, for example. Alternatively, the housing can also be part of the housing of a multi-dispenser dispensing system with at least one fuel dispensing point. The installation space can be arranged within the housing, whereby the interior of the housing can be designed to be completely zone-free. Alternatively, a zone-free sub-area in which the installation space is arranged can be provided within the housing.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the heating wire has two wire sections running along the axial direction of the dispensing hose, which are connected to the control unit on the conveyor side and which are short-circuited together on the dispensing valve side. It has been shown that this configuration significantly simplifies the manufacture of the dispensing hose and the embedding of the heating wire, since both wire sections can be guided along the hose simultaneously during hose manufacture and it is not necessary to return the wire to the beginning of the hose after it has been guided from the beginning of the hose to the end of the hose. The two wire sections can be guided around the hose axis at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the hose, for example parallel to one another in the manner of a double helix.

[0030] The two wire sections can be routed out of the nozzle hose at the nozzle valve end and short-circuited together outside the nozzle hose. When using two wire sections, short-circuiting the two wire sections is a critical process that must be carried out carefully to prevent sparks, especially in the nozzle valve area. It has been shown that routing the heating wire out of the nozzle hose ensures safe access to the ends of the wire sections and allows the ends to be connected to each other in an electrically conductive manner. For example, the wire ends can be connected to each other using an electrically conductive clamping device.

[0031] Preferably, the two wire sections extend outward from the dispensing hose on the conveyor side and are routed outside the dispensing hose to the control unit. This design allows the wire sections to be safely routed outside the hose to the control unit. This eliminates the need to modify a connection coupling used to connect the dispensing hose to the housing in such a way that the wire sections are routed inside the connection coupling.

[0032] In one embodiment, the dispensing system can have a tank signal transmitter for detecting a refueling process and transmitting a tank signal to the control unit. The tank signal transmitter is configured to determine whether the fuel is being dispensed. For example, it can determine whether the conveying device is in operation. If dispensing is taking place, the tank signal transmitter transmits a tank signal to the control unit, which can then supply electrical power to the heating wire. Activation of the heating hose triggered by a tank signal is particularly advantageous when dispensing a compressed or liquefied gas, since in this case, icing must be counteracted precisely when the dispensing system is in operation.The control unit is preferably designed to determine a power value upon receipt of the fueling signal, taking into account the length of the dispensing hose, and to deliver a corresponding power to the heating wire. Further preferably, the control unit is designed to access a database containing power values ​​for various dispensing hose lengths to determine the power value. The database can be stored in the control unit. The term "database" is to be understood broadly. In particular, hardware-based coding of the data is also possible, and the use of database software or the like is not necessary. This significantly simplifies the determination of the heating power required to adequately heat the dispensing hose.

[0033] It can be provided that the tank signal transmitter also emits a tank signal to the control unit upon completion of a tanking process, wherein the control unit is preferably configured to switch off the power output after receiving the tank signal within a predetermined period of time.

[0034] The dispensing system can further comprise a humidity sensor connected to the control unit and / or a temperature sensor connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to take a measured temperature and / or a measured humidity into account when determining the power value delivered to the heating wire. For this purpose, the database can contain corresponding power values ​​for different temperatures and / or humidity values. When dispensing a compressed or liquefied gas, the icing of the dispensing hose is influenced by the ambient temperature and, in particular, by the ambient humidity, so that the heating output can be significantly better adapted to actual requirements thanks to the aforementioned features.

[0035] In one embodiment, particularly when dispensing liquid urea, the dispensing system has a temperature sensor for determining the ambient temperature of the dispensing system, with a signal output of the temperature sensor connected to the control unit. Knowing the outside temperature allows the electrical heating output delivered by the control unit to be adjusted according to the actual heating demand.

[0036] The control unit is preferably designed to determine a power value, taking into account the length of the dispensing hose and the ambient temperature, and to deliver a corresponding electrical power to the heating wire. The control unit can also be designed to access a database containing power values ​​for various temperatures and hose lengths to determine the power value. The database can be stored in the control unit. The term "database" is to be understood broadly. In particular, hardware-based coding of the data is also possible, and the use of database software or the like is not necessary. This significantly simplifies the determination of the heating power required to adequately heat the dispensing hose.The control unit can be configured to supply electrical power to the heating wire only when the ambient temperature falls below a threshold value, which can be, for example, 5°C. The threshold value can be stored accordingly in the database.

[0037] In an advantageous embodiment, the control unit can be provided with an input device for presetting the length of the dispensing hose. If the heating wire material, the heating wire cross-section, and the type of routing of the heating wire along the dispensing hose are specified, the electrical resistance of the heating wire is essentially determined by the length of the dispensing hose (and to a lesser extent by the ambient temperature). The features described above therefore have the advantage that, in order to commission the dispensing system, it is only necessary to set the existing hose length of the dispensing hose once using the input device. This input is easy to make and can be verified by an operator simply by visually inspecting the dispensing hose.By accessing the database, the control unit can then independently supply the appropriate heat output to the heating wire for each ambient temperature and / or humidity value. This avoids operating errors that could occur, for example, when manually entering a temperature- or humidity-dependent heat output curve.

[0038] The control unit can be configured to deliver power to the heating wire as soon as a specified ambient temperature is undershot or as soon as a fuel signal is received. For a fixed ambient temperature, the database can contain specifications for changing the power over time. Furthermore, the power output can be adjusted when the ambient temperature changes, based on the power values ​​stored in the database.

[0039] By determining the start of power output and the adjustment of power output entirely by the power values ​​stored in the database, the error susceptibility of the system according to the invention can be significantly reduced. When creating the database, all influencing factors that affect the conversion of electrical power into thermal energy (e.g., a change in the electrical resistance of the heating wire depending on temperature, the heat capacity and thermal conductivity of the hose, and the flow rate of the operating fluid) were taken into account. Therefore, apart from an initial input of the hose length, no adjustments to the control unit are necessary. Operating errors can thus be ruled out.

[0040] In one embodiment, the control unit comprises a safety module designed to shut off the power output to the heating wire if a safety-relevant event occurs (safety shutdown). In particular, the safety module can be designed to measure at least one actual electrical variable of the heating wire, to determine a deviation between the measured actual variable and a predetermined target variable, and to shut off the power output to the heating wire if the actual variable deviates from the target variable. The shutdown can be performed, for example, if the deviation between the actual variable and the target variable exceeds a predetermined limit. The deviation of an actual variable from a corresponding target variable therefore represents a safety-relevant event.

[0041] To determine the target value, the safety module is preferably configured to access a correlation table in which the corresponding target values ​​of the heating wire are stored for different total lengths of the dispensing hose and, if applicable, for different ambient temperatures. Like the database, the correlation table can also be formed by hardware-based data encoding.

[0042] The actual electrical quantity can be a current flowing through the heating wire and / or a voltage applied to the heating wire and / or the electrical resistance of the heating wire. Alternatively or additionally, the actual electrical quantity can be a fault current flowing from the heating wire to a ground.

[0043] Preferably, the safety module is configured to monitor all of the above-mentioned actual electrical variables, which are thus given by a current flowing through the heating wire, a voltage applied to the heating wire and a fault current flowing from the heating wire to an earth, wherein the safety module is configured to switch off the power output to the heating wire if one of the actual variables deviates from the corresponding target variable.

[0044] The safety module can also be configured to detect a supply voltage provided to the control unit by a power grid and to deactivate the power output to the heating wire if the detected supply voltage deviates from a setpoint (or setpoint range). Furthermore, the safety module can be configured to monitor a temperature value detected by the temperature sensor for determining an ambient temperature of the dispensing system and to deactivate the power output to the heating wire if the temperature value lies outside a specified temperature range (e.g., outside -70°C and +70°C). Deviations of the temperature and supply voltage described above from corresponding setpoints (or setpoint ranges) can also represent examples of safety-relevant events.

[0045] Using the safety module described above, a safety shutdown of the electrical power output can be safely implemented for all possible fault types (in particular, short circuits between heating wire sections or to ground, cable breaks, faulty supply voltage, or malfunctions of the temperature sensor), so that in the event of a fault, the risk of spark generation can be minimized or even completely eliminated. In particular, a faulty short circuit (which occurs in addition to any short circuit that may already exist between the wire sections) leads to a higher current and a lower voltage than expected being measured at a given power output, which causes the power output to be shut down. In the event of a cable break, too little or no current flows through the heating wire, which also triggers a shutdown.Finally, incorrect adjustment of the hose length will result in both the current and the voltage being too low or too high (depending on whether the actual hose length deviates upwards or downwards from the set hose length), so that in this case a safety shutdown can also occur.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the safety module has a normal mode in which power can be delivered to the heating wire, and a fault mode in which power delivery is blocked. Preferably, the safety module and / or the control unit is designed to switch the safety module from normal mode to fault mode after a safety shutdown. Because power delivery is blocked in fault mode, power delivery can only occur after the safety module has been reset from fault mode to normal mode. To reset the safety module, a manual reset device is preferably provided, which can be formed, for example, by a manual reset button. In this way, it can be ensured that operation of the heating wire can only be resumed after a safety shutdown if the reset device has been manually operated, for example, by a service technician.Before resetting the dispenser, the service technician should check the dispenser, identify the fault that triggered the safety shutdown, and correct it if possible.

[0047] The control unit can have a power output module configured to determine the power value and deliver a corresponding electrical power to the heating wire. The power output module and the safety module are configured to exchange control signals, and the power output module and / or the safety module are configured to shut off the power output to the heating wire if no control signal is received within a predetermined period of time. The failure to receive a control signal therefore also represents a safety-relevant event.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the control unit is connected to a power grid and galvanically isolated from the power grid. This galvanic isolation ensures that fluctuations in the electrical power levels present in the power grid have no effect on the heating wire, or at least have a reduced effect.

[0049] The inner diameter of the dispensing hose can be between 10 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 15 mm and 25 mm. In particularly preferred embodiments, the diameter is 16 mm or 21 mm. The length of the dispensing hose is preferably less than 6 m and can, for example, be between 1 m and 6 m.

[0050] The subject of an embodiment of the present invention is further an arrangement comprising a fuel filling station and a dispensing system arranged adjacent to the fuel filling station for dispensing a fuel. The arrangement has a zone 2 according to the ATEX operating directive 1999 / 92 / EC, wherein the dispensing hose and / or the dispensing valve of the dispensing system according to the invention are designed to be movable into zone 2, and wherein the control unit is arranged outside a zone according to the ATEX operating directive 1999 / 92 / EC. The arrangement can be further developed by further features which were described above in connection with the dispensing system for dispensing a fuel. In particular, the arrangement can also have a zone 1 and / or a zone 0 into which the dispensing hose and / or the dispensing valve of the dispensing system according to the invention can be moved. The respective ATEX zone is caused by the fuel filling station.Since the control unit is located in the zone-free installation space, the control unit itself does not have to be designed for operation in an Atex zone.

[0051] In one embodiment, the dispensing system further comprises a thermal fuse that is in thermal contact with the heating wire and is configured to interrupt a current flow through the heating wire if a temperature of the thermal fuse exceeds a limit value. The thermal fuse can be in direct mechanical contact with the heating wire. The thermal fuse can also be in indirect thermal contact with the heating wire. For example, the thermal fuse can be embedded in the heating hose (e.g., enclosed by the plastic material of the heating hose) or can be in mechanical contact with a surface of the heating hose. In one embodiment, the thermal fuse is located in an area outside of Zone 0, preferably outside of Zone 1, more preferably outside of Zone 2 according to the ATEX Works Directive 1999 / 92 / EC.For this purpose, the thermal fuse can be positioned, in particular, on a section of the heating wire extending from the dispensing hose on the conveyor side. The thermal fuse is preferably located within a zone-free installation space (for example, in the installation space in which the control unit is also located), which can be located in a housing of the dispensing system.

[0052] Furthermore, the thermal fuse can comprise a switching element integrated into a wire section of the heating wire for interrupting the flow of current through the heating wire. The thermal fuse is preferably designed independently and separately from the control unit or the safety module. Furthermore, the thermal fuse is preferably independent of a power supply of the control unit or the safety module. The thermal fuse can be designed to be irreversible, meaning that it cannot be reset to a conductive state after a shutdown process. It is also possible for the thermal fuse to be reset to a conductive state only by a specific reset device.It may be provided that such a reset device is only made available to trained service personnel who can carry out a thorough investigation into the cause of the fault that led to the thermal fuse being triggered.

[0053] The dispensing system of the arrangement according to the invention can be designed as a stand-alone fuel pump, with the fuel filling point being designed as a stand-alone fuel pump located adjacent to the dispensing system. Alternatively, the arrangement can be designed as a multi-dispenser dispensing system, with the fuel filling point and the dispensing system according to the invention being designed as part of the multi-dispenser dispensing system.

[0054] The invention relates to an arrangement according to claim 1. The arrangement according to the invention can be further developed by further features that were described above in connection with the dispensing system according to the invention or the arrangement according to the invention. In particular, the hose can have further features that were described above in connection with the dispensing hose according to the invention.

[0055] Within the scope of the invention, it was recognized that the advantages described above are not limited to the application of a dispensing system, but also apply to a general hose for conveying a medium. The medium may, for example, be a chemical that needs to be tempered during conveyance through the hose to prevent, for example, freezing, a deterioration in quality, or any other change in the chemical or physical properties (e.g., viscosity) of the chemical.

[0056] In the event that the medium has a low temperature, the outer surface of the hose can also be heated with the help of the heating wire and the control unit in order to prevent the humidity from settling and freezing and to simplify the handling of the hose and increase the safety for a user.

[0057] In one embodiment, the heating wire comprises two wire sections running along the axial direction of the hose, which are connected to the control unit on the inlet side and which extend outward from the hose on the outlet side and are short-circuited together outside the hose. This design offers a high level of safety and reliability, particularly when conveying explosive or flammable media.

[0058] According to the invention, the arrangement is designed to determine a power value based on the length of the hose and to deliver a corresponding power to the heating wire. The control unit is preferably designed to access a database containing power values ​​for different hose lengths to determine the power value. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may have an input device for presetting a hose length.

[0059] In an advantageous embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a temperature sensor for determining an ambient temperature, wherein a signal output of the temperature sensor is connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to determine a power value taking into account the ambient temperature and to deliver a corresponding power to the heating wire, wherein the control unit is preferably configured to access a database in which power values ​​for different ambient temperatures are stored in order to determine the power value.

[0060] In one embodiment, the arrangement further comprises a conveying signal transmitter which is designed to detect a conveying process and to emit a conveying signal to the control unit. The conveying signal transmitter can be designed, for example, to monitor the operation of a conveying device for the medium. Alternatively, the conveying signal transmitter can also be designed to measure a flow rate through the hose. The control unit can further be designed to determine a power value upon receipt of the conveying signal, taking into account the length of the hose, and to emit a corresponding power to the heating wire, wherein the control unit is further preferably designed to access a database in which power values ​​for different lengths of the hose are stored in order to determine the power value.

[0061] The hose can have an inner tube carrying the medium and an outer tube surrounding the inner tube, with the outer tube encompassing the tube wall into which the heating wire is embedded. Furthermore, the medium can be a compressed and / or liquefied gas. Alternatively, the medium can also be an aqueous urea solution.

[0062] The invention is explained below using an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Figure 1: a dispensing system for dispensing a fuel in a side view; Figure 1A: another dispensing system for dispensing a fuel in a side view; Figure 1B: another dispensing system for dispensing a fuel in a side view; Figure 2: a multi-dispenser dispensing system in a side view; Figure 3: a three-dimensional side view of a dispensing hose of the dispensing system; Figure 4: a schematic representation of a control unit of the dispensing system; Figure 5: a side view of a hose according to the invention for conveying a compressed and / or liquefied gas; Figure 6: a lateral sectional view along the Figure 5 shown line AA.

[0063] Figure 1shows a dispensing system 13 according to the invention for dispensing a fuel in a schematic side view. The fuel in this case is an aqueous urea solution (AdBlue ®<). The system 13 is designed as a fuel pump with a pump housing 14. A nozzle 15 for dispensing the fuel is suspended on each side of the housing 14. Also located in the housing 14 is a conveying device 12, which is connected to the nozzles 15 via a respective dispensing hose 16. A fuel tank connected to the conveying device 12 can be arranged below the housing 14 (not shown).

[0064] A heating wire is embedded in each of the dispensing hoses 16, which extends from the nozzle valve end to the conveyor device end of the dispensing hose 16. In the area of ​​the conveyor device 12, the heating wire is led out of the dispensing hose 16 and is guided via connecting cable 11 to a control unit 17 located within the housing (in Figure 1 (illustrated schematically) which is designed to apply electrical power to the heating wire. A temperature sensor 19 for determining an ambient temperature is arranged in an area below a fuel pump head 18. The temperature sensor 19 is configured to transmit temperature data to the control unit 17.

[0065] The dispensing hose 16 and the dispensing valves 15 are suitable for operation in an ATEX zone 1. Furthermore, the housing 14 is designed to shield the control unit 17 located therein from an ATEX zone 1 and 2 located outside the housing 14. The interior of the housing 14 therefore represents a zone-free installation space. It is therefore possible to install the dispensing system 13 adjacent to a fuel pump whose immediate surroundings are classified as ATEX zone 1 or ATEX zone 2. Even if it is possible to move the dispensing valve 15 and the dispensing hose 16 into ATEX zone 1 or 2 of the fuel pump, the dispensing system 13 can still be operated in compliance with the ATEX operating directives 1999 / 92 / EC and 2014 / 34 / EU.

[0066] In the alternative embodiment of the Figure 1AOnly a portion of the housing 14, namely the column head 18, is designed to be zone-free, and the control unit 17 is arranged in this zone-free portion. The entire column head 18 in this case forms a zone-free installation space. In alternative embodiments, the zone-free installation space can also occupy a portion of the column head 18; it is therefore not necessary for the entire column head 18 to be zone-free. In the alternative embodiment of the Figure 1B The control unit 17 is arranged in a zone-free installation space located outside the housing 14. For this purpose, the connecting cables 11 and the temperature sensor 19 are routed to a common connection 40, which in turn is connected to the control unit by corresponding lines 41. The control unit 17 can be located, for example, in an outbuilding or a separate housing. The embodiments of the Figures 1A and 1BApart from the differences described above, the design of the Figure 1 identical.

[0067] In an alternative embodiment, the Figure 1The dispensing system shown can also be designed to dispense LNG. In this case, the conveying device 12 can be configured to emit a tank signal to the control unit 17 at the beginning and after the end of a refueling process and thus represents a tank signal transmitter. Alternatively, a separate tank signal transmitter can of course be provided which, for example, monitors the opening of the dispensing valve or the flow rate of a section of the dispensing system in order to determine the beginning and end of a refueling process and to emit corresponding tank signals. Furthermore, in this embodiment, in addition to the temperature sensor, a humidity sensor (not shown) connected to the control unit is provided. After receiving the tank signal, the control device 17 applies electrical power to the heating wire, taking into account the ambient humidity and the ambient temperature.During the refueling process, the filling hose 16 is heated by the heating wire, effectively preventing icing of the filling hose 16. After the refueling process, the control unit 17 receives the refueling signal again and, after a predetermined time interval, stops supplying power to the heating wire.

[0068] Figure 2 shows a multi-dispenser dispensing system 20 according to the invention, which comprises a dispensing system 13' for dispensing an aqueous urea solution and four dispensing points 21 for dispensing a fuel. The multi-dispenser dispensing system 20 has a common housing 22, in which the dispensing points 21 and the dispensing system 13' are integrated. A part 14' of the housing 22 is assigned to the dispensing system 13'. The fuel dispensing points 21 are designed in a manner basically known from the prior art. The dispensing system 13' comprises the further above-mentioned in connection with Figure 1described elements, so that they are not described again.

[0069] Since fuel vapors may escape during use of the fuel pumps 21, the area surrounding the fuel pumps 21 is designated as Atex Zone 1 (in Figure 2 illustrated by a checkered hatching) and as Atex Zone 2 (in Figure 2 illustrated by simple hatching). It can be seen that the dispensing hose 16 and the dispensing valve 15 are located within Atex zone 2 and at the edge of Atex zone 1. Within the housing 22 there is a space in which the control unit 17 (in Figure 2 not visible) is arranged, which is designed to deliver power to the heating wire embedded in the dispensing hose 16. The installation space (in Figure 2The control unit (not shown) is spatially separated from the environment in such a way that fuel vapors cannot form an explosive atmosphere within the installation space. The installation space is therefore free of any ATEX zones. The control unit itself is not designed for operation in an ATEX zone and, due to its positioning within the installation space, can nevertheless be operated in compliance with the directive.

[0070] Figure 3shows a nozzle-valve-side end 23 and a conveyor-device-side end 24 of the dispensing hose 16 of a system according to the invention for dispensing a fuel. At the nozzle-valve-side end 23 of the dispensing hose 16 there is a coupling 25 for connection to the nozzle valve. At the housing-side end 24 of the dispensing hose 16 there is a coupling 26 for connecting the dispensing hose 16 to the conveyor device. In this case, a heating wire is embedded in the dispensing hose, which consists of a first heating wire section 27 and a second heating wire section 28. The two sections 27, 28 are wound at a distance from one another, approximately parallel, in the manner of a double helix around the central axis of the hose 16. In this way, even heat distribution can be achieved.

[0071] At the nozzle-side end 23 of the dispensing hose 16, the wire sections 27, 28 are each led out of the hose 16 through an opening 29 in the hose wall and short-circuited together by means of a crimp sleeve 30. At the housing-side end 24, the wire sections 27, 28 are also led out of the hose 16 through corresponding openings and connected by means of two crimp sleeves 32 to a supply line 31, via which a connection to the control unit is established.

[0072] Figure 4 shows a schematic representation of the control unit 17 of the system according to the invention. The control unit 17 comprises a power output module 33, which is designed to determine a power value and deliver a corresponding electrical power to the heating wire embedded in the heating hose 16. To supply electrical energy, the control unit 17 is connected to a power grid via a galvanic isolation 38.

[0073] The control unit 17 also includes a database 34 in which performance values ​​are stored for various lengths of the discharge hose 16 and for various ambient temperatures. These performance values ​​are designed to ensure that the discharge hose is heated sufficiently so that the operating fluid flowing through it does not freeze. This configuration is particularly useful when the operating fluid is an aqueous urea solution. Furthermore, the control unit includes an input device 36 for the initial input of a discharge hose length.

[0074] The power output module 33 receives a temperature value from the temperature sensor 19 at regular intervals. Using this temperature value and the initially entered dispensing hose length, the power output module 33 extracts a suitable power value from the database 34 and then delivers a corresponding power to the heating wire.

[0075] In the alternative case where the dispensing system is configured to dispense LNG, performance values ​​for various air humidity values ​​can also be stored in the database 34. In this case, the performance values ​​are designed to heat the dispensing hose sufficiently to prevent or at least reduce icing of the dispensing hose due to the air humidity present in the ambient air. In this case, after receiving the tank signal, the power output module accesses the database 34, taking into account the ambient temperature, air humidity, and the initially entered dispensing hose length, and extracts a suitable performance value from it in order to deliver the corresponding power to the heating wire.

[0076] The control unit 17 also includes a safety module 35, which is designed to measure a voltage applied to the heating wire, a current flowing through the heating wire, and a fault current flowing from the heating wire to a ground 37. The safety module 35 checks at short intervals whether the measured values ​​correspond to specified target values ​​or deviate from the target values ​​only within specified tolerances. The corresponding target values ​​are stored in a correlation table, which the safety module can access. As soon as a deviation outside a tolerance limit is detected, the safety module 35 stops the power supply to the heating wire, thus resulting in a safety shutdown.In addition, the safety module regularly checks whether the supply voltage provided by the mains and the temperature measured by temperature sensor 19 are within specified setpoint ranges. If this is not the case, the safety module also stops the power output to the heating wire. Finally, the power output module 33 and the safety module are designed to exchange control signals. As soon as one of the power output module and the safety module no longer receives a control signal from the other within a specified period of time, it shuts off the power output to the heating wire.

[0077] After a safety shutdown, the safety module 35 activates a fault mode in which the power supply to the heating wire is blocked. Only when the safety module is manually switched back from fault mode to normal mode, for example, by a service technician, can power be supplied to the heating wire again. Resetting the safety module 35 to normal mode can be performed via the input device 36. In alternative embodiments, a separate, manual reset button can be provided for the reset.

[0078] Figure 5 shows a side view of a hose 16 according to the invention for conveying LNG. The hose 16 of Figure 5 can be used in a dispensing system according to the invention. In addition, the hose 16 can be used together with the Figure 4shown control unit can be used in an arrangement according to the invention. The hose 16 has, on the one hand, an inlet 41 and, on the other hand, an outlet 42. At the outlet 42 there is a coupling part 43 which is designed to establish a connection to a container or to a nozzle (not shown). The inlet 41, which can also be equipped with a coupling part (not shown here), leads to a conveying device (not shown). LNG conveyed by means of the conveying device can be introduced into the container through the hose 16. The temperature of the conveyed LNG is usually between -110°C and -170°C. During conveyance, the LNG is usually under a pressure between 7 bar and 15 bar. The LNG is conveyed through an inner hose 47 of the hose 16 (see Figure 6). The inner tube 47 is designed for the above temperature and pressure ranges. The tube 16 also has an outer tube 44 surrounding the inner tube 47, which is designed as a heating tube in the present case. This means that a heating wire is guided along the axial direction within the outer tube 44. The heating wire is, as in the embodiment of the Figure 3 on the inlet side and the outlet side, out of the outer tube 44, with the heating wire being short-circuited on the outlet side and led to a control unit (not shown) on the inlet side. Since the design and positioning of the heating wire in the embodiments of the Figures 3 and 5 is essentially identical, the heating wire is shown in the diagram for the sake of clarity. Figures 5 and 6 omitted. The control unit is analogous to the one used in conjunction with Figure 4 described control unit and in the Figures 4 and 5also not shown again.

[0079] The coupling part 43 comprises a fitting 45 and an outer sleeve 46, which tightly surrounds the outer hose 44 and thus fixes the hose elements to the coupling piece 43 in a generally known manner. Further details of the design of the hose 16 are known from Figure 6 which shows a lateral sectional view along the Figure 5 shown line AA can be seen.

[0080] In Figure 6In particular, the inner tube 47 of the tube 16 can be seen. In this case, the inner tube 47 comprises a corrugated metal tube and a metal braid that encloses the corrugated metal tube. The metal braid increases the pressure resistance of the inner tube 47. Furthermore, an intermediate tube 48 is arranged between the inner tube 47 and the outer tube 44. This intermediate tube 48 has a plurality of interlocking tube elements and a spring spiral element that extends spirally around the outer contour of the intermediate tube 48 in a basically known manner. Such an intermediate tube can also be referred to as FloppyGuard™. Two adjacent interlocking tube elements of the intermediate tube 48 can be pivoted relative to one another up to a certain maximum bending angle, so that free bending of the tube 16 is possible within a certain angular range.When the maximum bending angle is reached, adjacent hose elements lock, thus preventing further bending of the hose. In alternative embodiments, the intermediate hose can also be designed as a pure spring coil (i.e., without interlocking hose elements). Such a spring coil also serves to limit the maximum bending angle. It has also been shown that the aforementioned intermediate hoses can easily establish suitable thermal contact between the inner and outer hoses, reliably preventing icing of the inner and outer hoses during LNG delivery while simultaneously activating the heating hose.

[0081] Between the intermediate hose 48 and the outer hose 44 there is also a sleeve 49, which serves to fix the hose elements to the outer sleeve 46. The sleeve 49 extends in the axial direction over a portion of the hose 16. Particularly in sections of the hose 16 that are longitudinally distant from the outer sleeve 46, there is a gap 50 filled with air between the outer hose 44 and the intermediate hose 48. In alternative embodiments, the outer hose 44 can also be directly adjacent to the intermediate hose 48.

[0082] During the discharge of LNG, the inner tube 47 cools down considerably and reaches a temperature in the range between -110°C and -170°C. The cold is transferred to the outer tube 44 via the intermediate tube 48 and the compression sleeve 49 or the intermediate space 50, which is filled with air. During the discharge of the LNG, the control unit is switched on to the settings already described above in connection with the Figures 1 to 4The heating element 44 is activated in the manner described above to deliver electrical power to the heating wire. This heats the outer hose 44 and reduces or even completely prevents the formation of ice on the outer surfaces of the inner hose 47, the intermediate hose 48, and the outer hose 44. The hose 16 thus remains movable, allowing a user to easily connect the coupling part 43 to a container and detach it again after a conveying operation. Furthermore, the heated hose protects the user from frostbite.

Claims

1. Assembly comprising a flexible hose (16) for the passage of a medium, and a control unit (17) for outputting electric power, wherein the hose (16) has an inlet (41), an outlet (42) and a hose wall, into which a heating wire (27, 28) routed along an axial direction of the hose (16) is embedded, wherein the control unit (17) is configured to output electric power to the heating wire (27, 28) in order to heat an outer surface of the hose (16) and / or a medium conveyed through the hose (16), characterized in that the assembly is furthermore designed to determine a power value taking into account a length of the hose (16) and to output a corresponding power to the heating wire (27, 28).

2. Assembly according to Claim 1, in which the heating wire (27, 28) has two wire sections (27, 28), which run along the axial direction of the hose, which are connected to the control unit (17) on the inlet side, and which are passed out of the hose (16) to the outside on the outlet side and are short-circuited to one another outside the hose (16).

3. Assembly according to Claim 1 or 2, which is furthermore designed to access a database (34), in which power values for different lengths of the hose (16) are stored, in order to determine the power value, and / or in which assembly the control unit (17) has an input device (36) for presetting a length of the dispensing hose (16) .

4. Assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 3, which furthermore has a temperature sensor (19) for determining an ambient temperature, wherein a signal output of the temperature sensor (19) is connected to the control unit (17), wherein the control unit is configured to determine a power value, taking into account the ambient temperature, and to output a corresponding power to the heating wire (27, 28), wherein the control unit (17) is preferably designed to access a database (34), in which power values for different ambient temperatures are stored, in order to determine the power value.

5. Assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 4, in which the control unit (17) has a safety module (35), which is designed to measure at least one actual electrical variable of the heating wire (27, 28), to determine a deviation between the measured actual variable and a predetermined setpoint variable, and to switch off the power output to the heating wire (27, 28) if the actual variable deviates from the setpoint variable, wherein the actual electrical variable is, as a further preference, a current flowing through the heating wire (27, 28) and / or a voltage applied to the heating wire (27, 28) and / or a fault current flowing from the heating wire (27, 28) to a ground system (37), wherein the safety module (35) is preferably designed to access a correlation table, in which respectively associated setpoint variables are stored for different total lengths of the hose (16) and optionally for different ambient temperatures, in order to determine the setpoint variable.

6. Assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 5, in which the control unit (17) has a power output module (33) and a safety module (35), wherein the power output module (33) and the safety module (35) are designed to exchange check signals, wherein the power output module (33) and / or the safety module (35) are / is designed to switch off the power output to the heating wire if no check signal is received within a predetermined period of time, wherein the control unit (17) is preferably connected to a supply network and is galvanically isolated from the supply network.

7. Assembly according to either of Claims 5 or 6, in which the safety module (35) has at least one of the following features: - the safety module (35) is configured to determine a supply voltage supplied to the control unit (17) by a supply network and to switch off the power output to the heating wire in the event of a deviation of the determined supply voltage from a setpoint value or a setpoint value range and / or - the safety module (35) is configured to monitor a temperature value determined by a temperature sensor (19) in order to determine an ambient temperature of the dispensing system (13, 13`), and to switch off the power output to the heating wire if the temperature value is outside a predetermined temperature range and / or - the safety module (35) has a normal mode, in which a power output to the heating wire is possible, and a fault mode, in which the power output is blocked, wherein the safety module (35) and / or the control unit are / is designed to switch the safety module from the normal mode to the fault mode after a safety shutdown, wherein the safety module (35) preferably has a manual reset device for resetting the safety module from the fault mode to the normal mode.

8. Assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 7, which furthermore has a conveying signal transmitter, which is designed to detect a conveying process and to output a conveying signal to the control unit (17), wherein the control unit (17) is designed to determine the power value when the conveying signal is received, and to output the corresponding power to the heating wire (27, 28).

9. Assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 8, in which the hose (16) has an inner hose (47), which carries the medium, and an outer hose (44), which surrounds the inner hose (47), wherein the outer hose (44) comprises the hose wall into which the heating wire (27, 28) is embedded, wherein the medium preferably is a compressed and / or liquefied gas, wherein the inner hose (47) is, as a further preference, designed as a corrugated metal hose.

10. Assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 9, furthermore comprising: - a conveying device for the medium, and - a dispensing valve (15) for dispensing the medium, wherein the hose (16) connects the conveying device to the dispensing valve (15), wherein the assembly is designed as a dispensing system (13, 13') for delivering the medium to a vehicle tank, wherein the medium is an operating fluid, in particular an aqueous urea solution or a compressed and / or liquefied gas, wherein the hose is a flexible dispensing hose (16), which allows the dispensing valve (15) to be positioned on a filler neck of the vehicle tank or on an operating fluid container.

11. Assembly according to Claim 10, in which the dispensing hose (16) and the dispensing valve (15) are configured to be operated in a zone 2 according to ATEX Workplace Directive 1999 / 92 / EC, and wherein the dispensing system (13, 13') furthermore has an installation space which is designed to be zone-free and in which the control unit (17) is positioned.

12. Assembly according to Claim 11, which further has a housing (14, 14'), wherein the installation space is arranged within the housing.

13. Assembly according to any of Claims 10 to 12, in which the operating fluid is a compressed and / or liquefied gas, wherein the assembly further has an atmospheric humidity sensor connected to the control unit (17) and / or a temperature sensor (19), wherein the control unit is designed to take into account a measured temperature and / or a measured atmospheric humidity when determining the power value output to the heating wire.

14. Assembly according to any of Claims 10 to 13, which furthermore comprises a thermal fuse that is in thermal contact with the heating wire and is configured to interrupt a current flow through the heating wire if a temperature of the thermal fuse exceeds a limit value, wherein the thermal fuse is preferably located in a region outside a zone 0 according to ATEX Workplace Directive 1999 / 92 / EC, and wherein the thermal fuse is, as a further preference, positioned on a section of the heating wire that is passed out of the dispensing hose on the conveying device side.

15. Multi-dispenser dispensing system, having a fuel dispensing point (21) and an assembly according to any of Claims 10 to 14 arranged next to the fuel dispensing point (21), wherein the fuel dispensing point (21) has a zone 2 according to ATEX Workplace Directive 1999 / 92 / EC, wherein the dispensing hose (16) and / or the dispensing valve (15) are / is designed to be movable into zone 2, and wherein the control unit (17) is arranged outside a zone according to ATEX Workplace Directive 1999 / 92 / EC.