METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FLUID TRANSPORT, STORAGE AND DISPENSING

• US 20040045623A1
• Filed: 09/07/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Olami Inc.
• Original Assignee: Frank L. Parker III, Walter D. Klatch
• Inventors: Parker, Frank L. III, Klatch, Walter D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,715,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A highly efficient apparatus and method for managing the transport, delivery, holding, dispensing, and removal of fluid material from a source to a user is disclosed. Material from the source in bulk form is transported to a customer in the quantity that is transmitted automatically from monitors or indicated manually. At the customer site, material is transferred directly via pipes and couplers, held and monitored at the user site in mini-tanks, and dispensed according to user needs. Data such as material volume in holding and other operational and monitoring data are gathered and transmitted automatically to a central processing center, where re-ordering and delivery planning are performed. These data are also utilized for analysis and business/operational planning.

Claims

1. A method for efficiently maintaining an adequate supply of a plurality of different fluids at customer sites by controlling the periodic delivery of needed amounts of such fluids to such sites from a bulk supplier of such fluids, comprising the steps of:

(a) maintaining bulk supplies of such fluids at the supplier;

(b) periodically delivering amounts of such fluids from said bulk supplies to mini-tank containers at said customer sites using a vehicle including a separate bulk tank for each of said fluids, said customer sites each including a separate mini-tank container for each of said fluids being delivered to such customer site;

(c) monitoring the amount of fluid in each of said mini-tank containers at said customer sites by means of sensors associated with each of said mini-tank containers;

(d) dispensing said fluids from said mini-tank containers to end users, and

(e) automatically transmitting information concerning the level of fluid in each of said mini-tank containers to the supplier and the amount of each fluid delivered to each customer site during a periodic delivery being controlled based on said information transmitted by such customer site to said supplier.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said amounts of such fluid for periodic delivery is determined by said supplier based on information transmitted by said customer sites.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said delivering step further includes delivering fluid from said vehicle to each tank at said customer site via separate fluid delivery lines.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said delivering step further includes delivering fluid from said vehicle to each tank at said customer site via a multi-conduit cable.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said delivering step further includes delivering fluid from said vehicle to a location accessible from the exterior of said customer'"'"'s site.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically transmitting information concerning the level of fluid in each of said mini-tank containers to the supplier and the amount of each fluid delivered to each customer site during a periodic delivery is available for customer review.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of periodically delivering amounts of such fluids from said bulk supplies to mini-tank containers at said customer sites further requires customer approval.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically transmitting information concerning the level of fluid in each of said mini-tank containers to the supplier and the amount of each fluid delivered to each customer site during a periodic delivery is transmitted to said supplier without customer intervention.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring the amount of fluid in each of said mini-tank containers at said customer sites by means of sensors associated with each of said mini-tank containers further includes the monitoring of temperature, humidity and fluid characteristics at said customer site.

10. An apparatus for distributing one or more fluids in bulk form to one or more customer sites, said apparatus comprising:

delivery means for transporting said one or more fluids in bulk form;

dispense means, coupled to said delivery means, to dispense said one or more fluids from said delivery means;

customer site storage structure disposed at said customer site, said customer site storage structure for storing said one or more fluids;

coupling structure, disposed at said customer site and coupled to said customer site storage structure and selectively coupled to said dispense means, said coupling structure for effecting access to said customer site storage structure by said delivery means;

customer site dispensing structure disposed at said customer site and coupled to said customer site storage structure, said customer site dispensing structure for dispensing said one or more fluids stored in said customer site storage structure; and

monitoring means for monitoring the condition of said coupling structure and said customer site storage structure and further monitoring the amount of said one or more fluids stored in said customer site storage structure.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said customer site storage structure comprises one or more tanks.

12. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said delivery means are trucks comprising one or more tanks disposed thereon.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said delivery means are trucks comprising a single tank divided into multiple sections.

14. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said dispense means further comprise a hose and a nozzle, wherein said nozzle is configured to couple to said coupling structure.

15. A method of distributing fluid material from a materials supplier to a materials reseller comprising the steps of:

developing a reseller sales projection;

receiving at least one fluid material in bulk form from said materials supplier;

delivering said at least one fluid material in bulk form to said materials reseller; and

providing infrastructure disposed at said reseller premises to receive, store, and dispense said at least one fluid material in bulk form.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein said step of delivering utilizes trucks with tanks specifically catered to each of said fluid materials.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein said step of delivering occurs during off-peak business hours.

18. A method according to claim 15 wherein said infrastructure comprises a coupler disposed outside said reseller premises to effect delivery of said at least one fluid material without personnel entering said reseller premises.

19. A method according to claim 15 wherein said infrastructure comprises a coupler disposed outside said reseller premises to effect delivery of said at least one fluid material, wherein said coupler is keyed such that connection can be made thereto in only one orientation.

20. A method according to claim 15 wherein said infrastructure comprises tanks to store said at least one fluid material and dispensing structure, coupled to said tanks, comprising piping, propellant, and taps to dispense said at least one fluid material.