Method of checking the loading and unloading of tankers by means of an electromagnetic identification system, and an identification system for use in said method

• US 5,070,328 A
• Filed: 12/05/1990
• Issued: 12/03/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek
• Original Assignee: N.V. Nederlandsche Apparatenfabriek
• Inventors: Fockens, Tallienco W. H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weldon, Ulysses
• Application Number:
  US07/622,189
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.31, 340/825.54, 340/825.55, 340/310 R, 340/310 A, 340/533, 340/870.02, 340/870.03, 361/212, 361/215, 361/216, 361/217, 222/23, 222/42, 222/132, 141/18, 141/94, 141/104, 141/231, 141/387, 128/200.19, 137/554, 137/265, 137/256
• US Class Current: 340/10.42
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/06 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 35/00 Special arrangements used in connection with end fittings of hoses, e.g. safety or protecting devices

Abstract

A system for, checking the loading and unloading of a tanker having at least one tank provided with a metal connecting pipe adapted to be coupled via a coupling to one end of a hose having a coupling at two ends, which hose can be coupled to a metal connecting pipe of a storage tank. The hose used is provided with an electric conductor extending between the couplings for the dissipation of electrostatic charges and the chassis of the tanker is grounded. A first inductive coupling is effected between one of the connecting pipes and an interrogator of an electromagnetic identification system, and a second inductive coupling is effected between the other connecting pipe and a passive responder generating a coded signal in an interrogation field. Thus an interrogation field formed by the interrogator cooperates via the first inductive coupling, the one connecting pipe, the electric conductor of the hose, the other connecting pipe, and the second inductive coupling with the responder. The code of the responder is checked prior to loading or unloading.

Claims

1. A system for checking the loading and unloading of tankers, comprising:

a plurality of compartments adapted to be loaded and unloaded with fluent material;

first grounding means to ground said plurality of compartments;

a valve system for selecting one of said plurality of compartments and displaying the selected compartment;

hose means having an electrical conductor;

first connecting means for electrically connecting said valve system to one end of said hose means;

a plurality of storage tanks adapted to be loaded and unloaded;

a plurality of pipes each connected to a respective one of said plurality of storage tanks;

second grounding means to ground each of said plurality of pipes;

a plurality of second connecting means each connected to a respective one of said plurality of pipes, a closed loop electrical circuit being created from ground through said plurality of compartments, first connecting means, hose means, one of said plurality of second connecting means, a respective one of said plurality of pipes and back to ground upon connection of one of said plurality of second connecting means to said hose means;

interrogator means, inductively coupled to said first connecting means, for generating an interrogation field and having indicator means for indicating to a user which storage tank is connected; and

a plurality of responders each inductively coupled to a respective one of said plurality of pipes, each having detection means for detecting the presence of said interrogation field and means responsive to detecting the presence of said interrogation field to send an identification signal through said closed loop electrical circuit, wherein said interrogator means receives said identification signal from a respective one of said plurality of responders inductively coupled to said electrical circuit and said indicating means produces an indicating signal identifying the one of said plurality of pipes connected to said electrical circuit.

2. An identification system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

first inductive coupling means for coupling said interrogator means to said first connecting means; and

a plurality of second inductive coupling means each for coupling a respective one of said plurality of responders to a respective one of said plurality of pipes characterized in that at least one of the first and plurality of second inductive coupling means is formed by a toroidal coil placed around the first connecting means and each of said plurality of pipes, respectively.

3. An identification system as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that at least one of the first and plurality of second inductive coupling means is formed by an electrical interruption in the first connecting means and plurality of pipes, respectively, bridged by windings of low impedance for low-frequency currents and D.C. current, and an antenna coil connected to one of the interrogator means and a respective one of the responder means in inductive relation to said low impedance windings.

4. In combination with a system for identifying one of a plurality of storage tanks adapted to be loaded and unloaded with fluent material conducted through an elongated hose having opposite ends in which one of a plurality of first electrically conductive couplings is connected to a first end of said hose and a second electrically conductive coupling is connected to a second end of said hose, with said plurality of first couplings adapted to be connected to respective ones of said plurality of storage tanks through a respective one of a plurality of pipes, said system having an interrogator electromagnetically producing an interrogation field and a plurality of responders each connected to respective ones of said plurality of pipes wherein said responder generates a coded signal in response to detection of said interrogation field, a method of checking the identity of said plurality of storage tanks prior to loading or unloading thereof, comprising the steps of:

electrically grounding said plurality of storage tanks and said second coupling at respective ends of the hose;

establishing a closed loop circuit through said hose between one of said plurality of storage tanks and the second coupling to dissipate electrostatic charges;

inductively coupling the interrogator to said second coupling for transmission of said interrogation field from the interrogator to one of said plurality of responders and inductively coupling said one of said plurality of responders to a respective one of said plurality of pipes in response to receipt of said interrogation field for transmission of the coded signal along said closed loop circuit through the hose to said interrogator; and

reading the transmitted coded signal indicated by said interrogator to identify the responder corresponding to the one of said plurality of storage tanks connected through said respective one of said plurality of pipes and first electrically conductive couplings to said hose.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second coupling is connected to a plurality of second tanks of a tanker vehicle.