Tank car loading control and monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A method for automatically maximizing the quantity of a fluid which can be placed within a tank car comprising the steps of:
- placing a magnetostrictive probe having a movable float thereon within a tank car to be filled with a fluid, wherein the float is buoyed by the fluid;
determining a maximum product weight of the fluid for the tank car using the lesser of either the maximum weight limit of the tank car and the maximum calculated product weight at 2% outage;
wirelessly activating one of either a pump or a control valve to begin addition of fluid to the tank car;
calculating an outage value of the tank car based on a float line created by the float in the fluid;
wirelessly directing the outage value to a controller;
calculating a float line correction for a given fluid at a determined temperature;
wirelessly directing the float line correction to the controller;
adjusting, via the controller, the outage value of the tank car based on the float line correction;
repeating the steps of calculating a float line correction through adjusting the outage value for fluid temperature changes of at least 10 degrees F during addition of fluid to the tank car;
calculating the full point tank volume prior to complete filling of the tank car based upon the formula;
determined actual maximum product weight/(specific gravity of fluid at fluid temp×
8.33 lbs/gallons);
wirelessly directing the calculated full point tank volume to the controller;
determining, via the controller, a level point corresponding to the full point tank volume calculated;
then deactivating either one of a pump or a control valve to cease addition of fluid to the tank car when the fluid reaches the level point.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for automatically maximizing the quantity of a fluid which can be placed within a tank car having a maximum product weight based on the lesser of either an industry maximum product weight limit and a maximum calculated product weight at 2% outage is disclosed. The system includes a magnetostrictive probe having a movable float and a temperature gauge thereon and mounted within a tank car, such that the float is capable of being buoyed by a fluid. The system further includes a fluid pump capable of activation to transfer fluid from a bulk source to a tank car, and a controller coupled wirelessly to the magnetostrictive probe and an input device, and wired to one of either a fluid pump or shutoff valve, such that the maximum product weight is entered to the controller by the input device and the controller activates the pump or shutoff valve to begin addition of fluid to the tank car. A system monitor is coupled to the controller and wirelessly coupled to the magnetostrictive probe as well. In use, the system monitor obtains an outage value of the tank car based on a float line of the float in the fluid and the temperature of the fluid and the monitor calculates a float line correction for the given fluid at the determined temperature and then calculates a full point tank volume prior to complete filling of the tank car based upon the formula:
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for automatically maximizing the quantity of a fluid which can be placed within a tank car comprising the steps of:
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placing a magnetostrictive probe having a movable float thereon within a tank car to be filled with a fluid, wherein the float is buoyed by the fluid;
determining a maximum product weight of the fluid for the tank car using the lesser of either the maximum weight limit of the tank car and the maximum calculated product weight at 2% outage;
wirelessly activating one of either a pump or a control valve to begin addition of fluid to the tank car;
calculating an outage value of the tank car based on a float line created by the float in the fluid;
wirelessly directing the outage value to a controller;
calculating a float line correction for a given fluid at a determined temperature;
wirelessly directing the float line correction to the controller;
adjusting, via the controller, the outage value of the tank car based on the float line correction;
repeating the steps of calculating a float line correction through adjusting the outage value for fluid temperature changes of at least 10 degrees F during addition of fluid to the tank car;
calculating the full point tank volume prior to complete filling of the tank car based upon the formula;
determined actual maximum product weight/(specific gravity of fluid at fluid temp×
8.33 lbs/gallons);
wirelessly directing the calculated full point tank volume to the controller;
determining, via the controller, a level point corresponding to the full point tank volume calculated;
thendeactivating either one of a pump or a control valve to cease addition of fluid to the tank car when the fluid reaches the level point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for automatically correcting the quantity of fluid measured within a tank car during filling comprising the steps of:
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activating one of either a fluid pump or a control valve to begin addition of a given fluid to a tank car;
calculating an outage value of the tank car based on a float line of a float in the fluid and specific gravity of the fluid;
wirelessly directing the calculated outage value to a remote device;
measuring a temperature of the given fluid;
calculating a float line correction for the given fluid based on the determined temperature; and
wirelessly directing the float line correction to the remote device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27-44. -44. (canceled)
Specification