Coupler identification systems
First Claim
1. A system for treating fluids selected from a plurality of fluid sources,said systems comprisinga plurality of supply conduits, respectively, connected to known, fluid sources,each of said supply conduits having a distal end from which fluid in the fluid source, to which it is connected, may be discharged,at least one utilization conduit having a distal end adapted for connection to the distal end of a supply conduit,means for sealingly connecting the distal end of the utilization conduit to the distal end of any one of the supply conduits, andutilization signal generating means characterized byantenna means disposed adjacent the distal end of each supply conduit,means for transmitting a request signal from each antenna means,a tag disposed adjacent the distal end of the utilization conduit,said tag comprising means for generating an identifying signal,said means for generating an identifying signal being actuated by the request signal transmitted from the antenna means of a supply conduit when the utilization conduit is connected thereto, andmeans responsive to generation of said identifying signal for generating a utilization signal indicative of the supply conduit to which the utilization conduit is connected,further characterized in thateach antenna means comprises a wound coil disposed generally coaxially of the supply conduit with which it is associated and generates a magnetic field which is disposed coaxially of that supply conduit, said magnetic field being toroidal and having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its diameter.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for blending fluids comprises a plurality of fluid sources to which utilization conduits are selectively connected. The blending operation for a predefined combination of fluids is controlled by a computer employing a software control program. An rf signal tag is mounted on each utilization conduit. When the utilization conduit is connected to a supply conduit for a given fluid source, a utilization signal input is provided to the computer and control program to provide assurance that the predefined fluids are connected for a given blending operation as well as the utilization conduit being properly locked on the supply conduit.
85 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A system for treating fluids selected from a plurality of fluid sources,
said systems comprising a plurality of supply conduits, respectively, connected to known, fluid sources, each of said supply conduits having a distal end from which fluid in the fluid source, to which it is connected, may be discharged, at least one utilization conduit having a distal end adapted for connection to the distal end of a supply conduit, means for sealingly connecting the distal end of the utilization conduit to the distal end of any one of the supply conduits, and utilization signal generating means characterized by antenna means disposed adjacent the distal end of each supply conduit, means for transmitting a request signal from each antenna means, a tag disposed adjacent the distal end of the utilization conduit, said tag comprising means for generating an identifying signal, said means for generating an identifying signal being actuated by the request signal transmitted from the antenna means of a supply conduit when the utilization conduit is connected thereto, and means responsive to generation of said identifying signal for generating a utilization signal indicative of the supply conduit to which the utilization conduit is connected, further characterized in that each antenna means comprises a wound coil disposed generally coaxially of the supply conduit with which it is associated and generates a magnetic field which is disposed coaxially of that supply conduit, said magnetic field being toroidal and having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its diameter.
-
4. A fluid handling system comprising
supply fluid conduit means, and utilization fluid conduit means, wherein at least one of the conduit means comprises a plurality of individual conduits, and the other of the conduit means comprises at least one individual conduit, said system further comprising means for connecting the individual Conduit from said other conduit means to a selected individual conduit of said one conduit means, said system further including utilization signal generating means for generating a signal indicating that desired individual conduits of the supply conduit means and the utilization conduit means are connected, said utilization signal generating means comprising (i) antenna means associated with and disposed adjacent the distal end of each individual conduit of one of said supply conduit means and said utilization conduit means, (ii) means for transmitting a request signal from each antenna means, (iii) a tag associated with and disposed adjacent the distal end of each of the other of said conduit means, said tag comprising means for generating an identifying signal, said means for generating an identifying signal being actuated by the request signal transmitted from the antenna means when the desired individual conduits of the supply and utilization conduit means are connected to each other, and (iv) means, responsive to generation of said identifying signal, for generating the utilization signal indicative of the individual conduits which are connected, characterized in that each antenna means comprises a wound coil disposed generally concentrically of the conduit with which it is associated and generates a magnetic field which is disposed coaxially of that conduit, said magnetic field being toroidal and having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its diameter, further characterized in that said tag includes an antenna having a generally linear, magnetic field propagated longitudinally outwardly from the distal end of the conduit with which the tag is associated.
-
5. A fluid handling system comprising
supply fluid conduit means, and utilization fluid conduit means, wherein at least one of the conduit means comprises a plurality of individual conduits in relatively fixed and closely spaced relationship, and the other of the conduit means comprises at least one individual conduit, said system further comprising means for sealingly connecting the individual conduit from said other conduit means to a selected individual conduit of said one conduit means, said connecting means comprising a generally tubular adapter mounted on each individual conduit of one of said conduit means, a coupler mounted on each individual conduit of the other of said conduit means, said system further including utilization signal generating means for generating a signal indicating that desired individual conduits of the supply conduit means and the utilization conduit means are connected, said utilization signal generating means comprising (i) antenna means mounted on each adapter, (ii) means for transmitting a request signal from each antenna means, (iii) a tag mounted on each coupler, said tag comprising means for generating an identifying signal, said means for generating an identifying signal being actuated by the request signal transmitted from the antenna means when the desired individual conduits of the supply and utilization conduit means are connected to each other, and (iv) means, responsive to generation of said identifying signal, for generating the utilization sisal indicative of the individual conduits which are connected, characterized in that each antenna means comprises a wound coil disposed generally concentrically of the conduit with which it is associated and generates a magnetic field which is disposed coaxially of that conduit, said magnetic field being toroidal and having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its diameter, further characterized in that each antenna means comprises an annular housing, said housing having a recess receiving the wound, wire coil, and means for mounting the coil on the adapter.
-
8. A fluid handling system comprising
supply fluid conduit means, and utilization fluid conduit means, wherein at least One of the conduit means comprises a plurality of individual conduits, and the other of the conduit means comprises at least one individual conduit, said system further comprising means for connecting the individual conduit from said other conduit means to a selected individual conduit of said one conduit means, said system further including utilization Signal generating means for generating a signal indicating that desired individual conduits of the supply conduit means and the utilization conduit means are connected, said utilization signal generating means comprising (i) antenna means mounted on each adapter, (ii) means for transmitting a request signal from each antenna means, (iii) a tag mounted on each coupler, said tag comprising means for generating an identifying signal, said means for generating an identifying signal being actuated by the request signal transmitted from the antenna means when the desired individual conduits of the supply and utilization conduit means are connected to each other, and (iv) means, responsive to generation of said identifying signal, for generating the utilization signal indicative Of the individual conduits which are connected, characterized in that each antenna means comprises a wound coil disposed generally concentrically of the conduit with which it is associated and generates a magnetic field which is disposed coaxially of that conduit, said magnetic field being toroidal and having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its diameter, wherein the connecting means comprise an adapter mounted on the distal end of each individual conduit of one conduit means, and a coupler, mounted on the distal end of each individual conduit of the other conduit means, each coupler being releasably connectable to any adapter, and further characterized in that a tag is mounted on each coupler.
-
15. A fluid handling system comprising
supply fluid conduit means, and utilization fluid conduit means, wherein at least one of the conduit means comprises a plurality of individual conduits, and the other of the conduit means comprises at least one individual conduit, said system further comprising means for connecting the individual conduit from said other conduit means to a selected individual conduit of said one conduit means, said system further including utilization signal generating means for generating a signal indicating that desired individual conduits of the supply conduit means and the utilization conduit means are connected, said utilization signal generating means comprising (i) antenna means mounted on each adapter, (ii) means for transmitting a request signal from each antenna means, (iii) a tag mounted on each coupler, said tag comprising means for generating an identifying signal, said means for generating an identifying signal being actuated by the request signal transmitted from the antenna means when the desired individual conduits of the supply and utilization conduit means are connected to each other, and (iv) means, responsive to generation of said identifying signal, for generating the utilization sisal indicative of the individual conduits which are connected, characterized in that each antenna means comprises a wound coil disposed generally concentrically of the conduit with which it is associated and generates a magnetic field which is disposed coaxially of that conduit, said magnetic field being toroidal and having a longitudinal dimension substantially greater than its diameter, wherein the connecting means include locking means engageable to lock the distal end of an individual conduit of one conduit means in sealed relation on any individual conduit of the other conduit means, and further characterized in that the utilization signal generating means include means for indicating that the locking means are engaged to lock connected individual conduits.
Specification