System for transport, delivery and dispensation of industrial liquid fluids

• US 5,154,314 A
• Filed: 03/29/1991
• Issued: 10/13/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Roger P Van Wormer
• Original Assignee: Roger P Van Wormer
• Inventors: Van Wormer, Roger
• Primary Examiner(s): Huppert, Michael S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US07/677,144
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 222/1, 222/14, 222/52, 222/67, 222/64, 222/71, 222/608, 222/626, 141/20, 141/231, 141/382, 364/403, 364/465, 364/510, 235/94 R, 235/94 A
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A secure control system for delivery, dispensing and inventory of several liquid fluids (products). A stocked liquid delivery vehicle 100 provides coordinated and measured filling of liquids through a site dispensing subsystem 200 to site storage containers 302. The liquids from the storage containers are subsequently delivered under inventory control, and in measured amounts, back through the fill lines to the dispenser. The dispenser CPU records the amounts of each liquid dispensed to each user through various spouts 224. Users are identified by a code number entered into the dispenser unit via a keyboard 208 or card reader. The dispenser CPU 202 contains program information to identity authorized users of the system. The system respnds to user solicitation of liquids by verifying the user'"'"'s identity, querying as to which liquid is desired, the amount desired (if variable) and enables a control switch/indicator 232 to indicate the dispensing port 224 and readiness. The system maintains an inventory estimate of the liquid level remaining in its container storage bank 300 and generates user/product reports on the storesusage, printing such data on a hard copy and/or relaying it, via power 204/telephone 600 modem, to the vehicle 100 or source of the products 400 (depot). The system can also be queried via telephone and its inventory information directed to remote centers for alternate usage.

Claims

1. A system for delivering, storing and dispensing various liquids to an end user comprising:

a delivery subsystem including a vehicle comprising an onboard O/B computer for managing onloading, storing and offloading the various liquids, inventorying and reporting data relating to said onloading, storing and offloading and for transmitting said data to offboard computing means, said delivery subsystem also including on said vehicle plumbing means, valving means and plural safety switch means, said plumbing means comprising pipes, hoses and tubes for conveying the various liquids into and out of a drum bank that is used for said storing, said valving means including valves for directing the liquids during said onloading, storing and offloading, said valves responsive to signals from said O/B computer, said plural safety switch means comprising a storage unit overflow detection means and at least one float switch means disposed within a container for communicating an overflow or full-level indication to said O/B computer, said plumbing means also including at least one pump means controlled by said O/B computer and responsive to a driving force comprising compressed gaseous fluid, wherein said O/B computer is controlled by an operator to accept onloading of the fluids from a supply source through at least one quick-disconnect fitting of a vehicle plumbing inlet, said quick-disconnect fitting comprising a hole-coded, male nipple means and a corresponding pin-coded, female receptacle means, said onloading providing suitable fluid inventory recorded by said computer and amenable to hard copy printout by an O/B computer peripheral printer;

a site storage subsystem located at a customer facility and comprising a containment elevated above a liquid dispensing point, a plurality of containers residing within said containment, plural safety switch means including at least one said float switch disposed in each said container and at least one said storage unit overflow detection means having a communicative link with an on-site computer and ultimate communication, through said on-site computer with said O/B computer, on-site plumbing and valving means responsive to on-site computer control; and

at least one dispenser subsystem comprising the on-site plumbing and valving means necessary to receive delivery of liquids from said delivery subsystem and including at least one said quick disconnect in conjunction and compatibly coded therewith, said dispenser subsystem further comprising a discrete unit with a drip-catch basin means and including a housing, said housing comprising said on-site computer and a control means to coordinate user solicitation and actual dispensing of liquids, a lightable pushbutton to indicate valve enablement, and at least one specified liquid dispensing spout communicative with said site storage subsystem through a valve means that is responsive to activation by said pushbutton, said dispenser discrete unit computer electronically connected to a telephone modem and, during replenishment of said storage subsystem, through a power modem to said O/B computer, whereby a user identifies him/herself, selects a product to be dispensed in desired quantity, is recognized and accommodated by said on-site computer and control means which lights a pushbutton to allow the user to command actuation of a valve controlling a specific liquid dispensation from said storage subsystem, which command will, through said control means, result in said specific liquid dispensation through said spout, all while said on-site computer maintains inventory and safety controls thereover.

2. The dispenser subsystem of claim 1 wherein said control means is a dispenser control department intercom and is used to identify a user so that personnel of said department may activate said dispenser through said on-site computer.

3. The dispenser subsystem of claim 1 wherein said control means is said on-site computer including keyboard and display operating under a programed protocol of identification with selective valve and pushbutton activations.

4. A system for delivering, storing and dispensing various liquids to an end user comprising:

a delivery subsystem comprising a vehicle with an O/B computer, plumbing means, valving means and plural safety switch means with said plumbing means comprising pipes, hoses and tubes that are connected discretely to offboard pipes, hoses and tubes by pin/hole coded quick-disconnect means to avoid ambiguity of connections, said O/B computer capable of communication with offboard computing means through suitable electrical connections, said plumbing means also containing air-operated valves which derive operating air pressure from offboard compressed air source means wherein, under control of an operator, said O/B computer may receive specific liquid product onto said vehicle for direction, inventory and controlled storage thereonboard;

a site storage subsystem physically located at an elevation above points of dispensation of liquids contained therein, said site storage subsystem containing bulk containers provided with plural safety switch means and susceptible of control by an on-site computer; and

a dispenser subsystem unit comprising plumbing means and valving means necessary to receive liquids therethrough and direct delivery thereof to said site storage subsystem and for ultimate receipt therethrough and dispensation of said liquids to users, at least one said quick disconnect communicative and compatible with an off-the-site liquid source and said site storage subsystem, a catch basin means, said on-site computer for controlling identification of users and inventory of products stored/used on the site, said computer containing read-out display means, keyboard means, pushbutton-valve actuation network and peripheral equipment comprising a power modem for hook-up and communication to and with said vehicle delivery subsystem and a telephone means for communication off-site.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said dispenser subsystem unit comprises at least one quick-disconnect that is compatible with a delivery subsystem quick-disconnect, contains a computer controlled protocol for transferring liquids from the delivery subsystem to bulk storage and, for liquids so transferred, includes valving and, under suitable control means, transfers the liquids out of bulk storage to a dispensing point colocated on said unit.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein said pin/hole coded quick-disconnect means comprises pin-coded female disconnect means and compatible hole-coded male disconnect means, at least one said female disconnect means located on an uploading hose of said delivery subsystem and at least one downloading hose of said delivery subsystem and at least one male disconnect means compatible with said one female disconnect means located at a delivery port of a site of said dispenser subsystem unit.

7. The invention of claim 5 wherein said telephone means comprises a dispenser subsystem telephone modem connected to said on-site computer and an off-site telephone system.

8. In a system for delivering, storing and dispensing various liquids to an end user and which comprises a vehicle delivery subsystem containing liquid storage means, onload and offload means and an onboard O/B computer means, a site storage subsystem for storing therein various liquids and a site dispenser subsystem unit including computer-controlled site storage delivery and individual liquid dispensation means within the same dispenser subsystem unit, the improvement comprising:

a dispenser subsystem unit comprising at least one quick-disconnect that is compatible with a quick-disconnect of the delivery subsystem, a computer controlled by a program for the purposes of transferring liquids from the delivery subsystem to bulk storage and control means, including valving and pushbutton actuators for further transferring said liquids from said bulk storage, under suitable control means, to a dispensing point colocated on said unit;

said quick-disconnect of said delivery subsystem having coded means for compatible connection with said quick-disconnect of said dispenser subsystem unit in order to avoid mixing of liquid products delivered by said delivery subsystem; and

automatic polling means comprising an on-site computer, an off-site computer, modem linking means located on-site and a polling protocol programatically resident in both said computers.

9. A method for effecting delivery, storage and dispensation of various liquids to an end user comprising the steps of:

uploading a vehicle delivery subsystem with a plurality of liquids;

transporting via the vehicle subsystem said liquids to a customer site;

downloading said liquids from said vehicle subsystem through a plurality of hoses equipped with coded quick disconnects in order to avoid the mixing of said liquids and passing said liquids through a dispensing means while storing same on the site;

a first providing of data related to the type and quantity of liquids transferred in the preceding steps, said downloading, storing and providing performed by and through a discrete dispensing unit;

dispensing subsequently and on a selective basis any of said plurality of liquids from a storing location through the dispensing unit according to the following protocol;

a) identifying through identification and control means a user of the dispensing subsystem to receive one or more of said liquids;

b) enabling valve means via suitable control means in order to prepare discrete plumbing to conduct a selected liquid(s);

c) visually indicating to the user the aforesaid enabling;

d) actuating visible indication means in order to commence dispensing of said liquid; and

e) a second providing of data relating to said dispensing step.