TRUCK COMPARTMENT VERIFICATION SYSTEM WITH ALTERNATE TRUCK ID

• US 20100185334A1
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scully Signal Company
• Original Assignee: Scully Signal Company
• Inventors: Langlais, Kenneth L., Trottier, Robert R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,731,725 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/281
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3209 relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/362 combined with over-fill preventing means indicating or measuring liquid level G01F23/00; level control G05D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2925 using electrical detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2927 for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/24 Testing proper functioning of electronic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7306 Electrical characteristic sensing

Abstract

A fluid overfill detection and control system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments includes a plurality of overfill sensors that are connected in series with one another and that each produces an output pulse when the fluid level in its associated compartment is below a threshold level. A diagnostic line connected to each of the overfill sensors provides a diagnostic signal indicative of the number of overfill sensors that generate an output pulse, while a module on the vehicle provides an indication of the total number of overfill sensors located in the vehicle. To prevent a hazard due to the possible bypass of a overfill sensor, the controller compares the overfill sensor count signal to the diagnostic signal and inhibits the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the values do not match.

Claims

1. A fluid overfill detection and control system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments, the system comprising:

a plurality of overfill sensors, wherein each sensor is associated with a respective compartment and produces an output pulse in response to an input pulse when the fluid level in its respective compartment is below a threshold level, and which does not produce an output pulse when the fluid level in its respective compartment has reached the threshold level, and wherein the overfill sensors are arranged in series with one another such that the output pulse of one overfill sensor is provided as an input pulse to a next overfill sensor;

a controller that regulates the transfer of fluid into the transport vehicle and that provides an input pulse to a first overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors and receives an output pulse from a last overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors, and that inhibits the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the output pulse is not received;

a diagnostic line connected to each of the overfill sensors, the diagnostic line providing a diagnostic signal input to the controller indicative of a number of the overfill sensors that generate an output pulse; and

a sensor count signal source that provides a sensor count signal to the controller indicative of the total number of overfill sensors located in the vehicle, the controller comparing the sensor count signal to the diagnostic signal and inhibiting the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the number of overfill sensors indicated by the diagnostic signal does not match the number of overfill sensors indicated by the sensor count signal.

2. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is located at a fluid loading terminal.

3. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic signal comprises a diagnostic voltage and wherein the system further comprises a voltage lookup table module accessible by the controller that correlates the diagnostic voltage to a value indicative of a number of overfill sensors that are each providing an output pulse.

4. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 3 wherein the lookup table is located at the fluid loading terminal.

5. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 3 wherein the diagnostic voltage is at least partially formed by a set of parallel circuit paths each of which is created by a respective overfill sensor when that overfill sensor generates an output pulse.

6. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 further comprising a connection socket by which the overfill sensors are electrically connected to the controller.

7. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 wherein the sensor count signal source is located on the transport vehicle.

8. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 further comprising a compartment capacity signal source that, for each compartment of the transport vehicle, provides a capacity value indicative of a total maximum fluid capacity for that compartment.

9. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 8 wherein the compartment capacity signal source is located on the transport vehicle.

10. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 further comprising a compartment fuel type signal source that, for each compartment of the transport vehicle, provides a fuel type information indicative of a fuel type for its associated compartment.

11. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 10 wherein the compartment fuel type signal source is located on the transport vehicle.

12. A method for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments and a plurality of overfill sensors each associated with a respective compartment and each producing an output pulse in response to an input pulse when the fluid level in its respective compartment is below a threshold level, the overfill sensors being arranged in series with one another such that an output pulse of one is provided as an input pulse to a next overfill sensor in series, the method comprising:

providing, with a controller that regulates the transfer of fluid into the vehicle, an input pulse to a first overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors;

monitoring, with the controller, for the presence of an output pulse from a last overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors and inhibiting the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the output pulse is not detected;

receiving, with the controller, a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic line connected to each of the overfill sensors, the diagnostic signal being indicative of a number of overfill sensors that each generates an output pulse;

comparing, with the controller, the diagnostic signal to a overfill sensor count signal indicative of the total number of overfill sensors located in the vehicle; and

inhibiting, with the controller, the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the number of overfill sensors indicated by the diagnostic signal does not match the number of overfill sensors indicated by the overfill sensor count signal.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising correlating a diagnostic voltage of the diagnostic signal to a value from a voltage lookup table module indicative of a number of overfill sensors that are each providing an output pulse.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising establishing a set of parallel circuit paths each of which is created by a respective overfill sensor when that overfill sensor is generating an output pulse, the diagnostic voltage being a function of the set of parallel circuit paths.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising electrically connecting, with a connection socket, the overfill sensors to the controller.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a capacity value for each compartment with a compartment capacity signal source, the capacity value being indicative of a total maximum fluid capacity for its associated compartment.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a fuel type identifier for each compartment with a fuel type signal source, the fuel type identifier being indicative of a fuel type for its associated compartment.

18. A system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having a plurality of compartments, the system comprising:

a plurality of overfill sensors, each overfill sensor associated with a respective compartment and configured to produce an output pulse, in response to a respective input pulse, only when a fluid level in its associated compartment is below a threshold level;

a number of dummy overfill sensors, each dummy overfill sensor configured to produce an output pulse in response to a respective input pulse, wherein a total number of dummy overfill sensors and overfill sensors is a first predetermined number;

a controller configured to regulate transfer of fluid into the transport vehicle, the controller further configured to;

retrieve an expected value representing an expected number of output signals to be detected on the vehicle;

provide an input pulse to each overfill overfill sensor and each dummy overfill sensor on the vehicle;

detect the presence or absence of an output pulse from each overfill sensor and each dummy overfill sensor, in response to the respective input pulse;

count a number of received output pulses;

compare the counted number of received output pulses to the expected value; and

prevent the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the counted number of overfill sensors does not equal the expected value.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said controller is further configured to:

retrieve the expected value of output signals from a non-volatile storage device located on the vehicle.

20. A method of controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having a plurality of compartments and a plurality of overfill sensors, each overfill sensor associated with a respective compartment and configured to produce an output pulse, in response to a respective input pulse, only when a fluid level in its associated compartment is below a threshold level;

and a number of dummy overfill sensors, each dummy overfill sensor configured to produce an output pulse in response to a respective input pulse, wherein a total number of dummy overfill sensors and overfill sensors is a first predetermined number, the method comprising;

retrieving an expected value representing an expected number of output signals to be detected on the vehicle;

providing an input pulse to each overfill sensor and each dummy overfill sensor on the vehicle;

detecting the presence or absence of an output pulse from each overfill sensor and each dummy overfill sensor, in response to the respective input pulse;

counting a number of received output pulses;

comparing the counted number of received output pulses to the expected value; and

preventing the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the counted number of overfill sensors does not equal the expected value.

21. A fluid overfill detection and control system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments, the system comprising:

a plurality of overfill sensors, each overfill sensor associated with a respective compartment and configured to produce an output pulse, in response to a respective input pulse, only when a fluid level in its associated compartment is below a threshold level;

a non-volatile storage device comprising first and second identification information applicable to the transport vehicle; and

a controller that monitors the overfill sensors and regulates the transfer of fluid into the transport vehicle as a function of the respective states of the overfill sensors and the first and second identification information.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein:

the first identification information comprises a unique serial number specific to the transport vehicle; and

the second identification information comprises an identifier applicable to one or more transport vehicles.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein:

the controller regulates the transfer of fluid in a first mode of operation as a function of the first identification information; and

the controller regulates the transfer of fluid in a second mode of operation as a function of the second identification information.