Dual hose assembly and control system for truck-to-truck fuel transfer
First Claim
1. A system for transmitting liquid fuel from a transport truck tank to an airport refueler, comprising:
- a hose assembly for transmitting fuel from the transport truck tank to the airport refueler, including;
an inner hose and an outer hose, the inner hose being adapted for transmitting liquid fuel,sealing means coupled to the inner hose and outer hose for forming a sealed passage therebetween, andmeans for connecting one end of the hose assembly to a fuel port of the transport truck tank and another end of the hose assembly to a refueler tank within the airport refueler,said assembly including at least two sensor ports;
leakage sensing means coupled to the sensor ports for detecting leakage of fuel from the inner hose to the passage and for generating sensor signals, including;
pressure sending means for detecting a change in pressure within the passage, andliquid sensing means for detecting the presence of liquid within the passage;
control means responsive to the sensor signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when fuel leakage is detected by either one of the group consisting of the pressure sensing means and the liquid sensing means;
fuel level detection means within the refueler tank for detecting when a fuel level within the refueler tank is equal to or greater than a threshold level and generating alarm signals therefrom;
wherein the control means are responsive to the alarm signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when the fuel level in the refueler tank reaches the threshold level,the fuel level detection means include refueler liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at the threshold level within the refueler tank,the refueler tank has an atmospheric vent,the fuel level detection means further include vent liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at a level of the atmospheric vent, and for generating and transmitting vent alarm signals based on said detection, andsaid control means are responsive to the vent alarm signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when the fuel level in the refueler tank reaches the level of the atmospheric vent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hose assembly is provided for transmitting liquid fuel between the fuel tank of a highway truck and the fuel tank of an airport refueler. The assembly comprises inner and outer hoses. The inner hose transmits liquid fuel. A sealed passage is formed between the inner and outer hoses. Each end of the hose assembly is connected to a respective port for transferring the fuel between the highway truck fuel tank and airport refueler tank. The assembly includes at least one sensor port for connecting the passage to sensing means to detect leakage from the inner hose to the passage. A leakage sensing system is coupled to the sensor port for detecting leakage of fuel from the inner hose to the passage and for generating sensor signals. The leakage sensing system includes: (1) a pressure sensor for detecting a change in pressure within the passage, and (2) a liquid sensor for detecting the presence of liquid within the passage. A control mechanism is responsive to the sensor signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when fuel leakage is detected by either the pressure sensor or the liquid sensor.
115 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A system for transmitting liquid fuel from a transport truck tank to an airport refueler, comprising:
a hose assembly for transmitting fuel from the transport truck tank to the airport refueler, including; an inner hose and an outer hose, the inner hose being adapted for transmitting liquid fuel, sealing means coupled to the inner hose and outer hose for forming a sealed passage therebetween, and means for connecting one end of the hose assembly to a fuel port of the transport truck tank and another end of the hose assembly to a refueler tank within the airport refueler, said assembly including at least two sensor ports; leakage sensing means coupled to the sensor ports for detecting leakage of fuel from the inner hose to the passage and for generating sensor signals, including; pressure sending means for detecting a change in pressure within the passage, and liquid sensing means for detecting the presence of liquid within the passage; control means responsive to the sensor signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when fuel leakage is detected by either one of the group consisting of the pressure sensing means and the liquid sensing means; fuel level detection means within the refueler tank for detecting when a fuel level within the refueler tank is equal to or greater than a threshold level and generating alarm signals therefrom; wherein the control means are responsive to the alarm signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when the fuel level in the refueler tank reaches the threshold level, the fuel level detection means include refueler liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at the threshold level within the refueler tank, the refueler tank has an atmospheric vent, the fuel level detection means further include vent liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at a level of the atmospheric vent, and for generating and transmitting vent alarm signals based on said detection, and said control means are responsive to the vent alarm signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when the fuel level in the refueler tank reaches the level of the atmospheric vent.
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2. A system for transmitting liquid fuel from a transport truck tank to an airport refueler, comprising:
a hose assembly for transmitting fuel from the transport truck tank to the airport refueler, including; an inner hose and an outer hose, the inner hose being adapted for transmitting liquid fuel, sealing means coupled to the inner hose and outer hose for forming a sealed passage therebetween, and means for connecting one end of the hose assembly to a fuel port of the transport truck tank and another end of the hose assembly to a refueler tank within the airport refueler, said assembly including at least two sensor ports; leakage sensing means coupled to the sensor ports for detecting leakage of fuel from the inner hose to the passage and for generating sensor signals, including; pressure sensing means for detecting a change in pressure within the passage, and liquid sensing means for detecting the presence of liquid within the passage; control means responsive to the sensor signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when fuel leakage is detected by either one of the group consisting of the pressure sensing means and the liquid sensing means; fuel level detection means within the refueler tank for detecting when a fuel level within the refueler tank is equal to or greater than a threshold level and generating alarm signals therefrom; wherein the control means are responsive to the alarm signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when the fuel level in the refueler tank reaches the threshold level, the fuel level detection means include refueler liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at the threshold level within the refueler tank, the refueler tank has a vapor recovery port, the fuel level detection means further include vapor recovery port liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at a level of the vapor recovery port, and for generating and transmitting vapor recovery port alarm signals based on said detection, and said control means are responsive to the vapor recovery port alarm signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when the fuel level in the refueler tank reaches the vapor recovery port.
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3. A system for transmitting liquid fuel from a transport truck tank to an airport refueler, comprising:
a hose assembly for transmitting fuel from the transport truck tank to the airport refueler, including; an inner hose and an outer hose, the inner hose being adapted for transmitting liquid fuel, sealing means coupled to the inner hose and outer hose for forming a sealed passage therebetween, and means for connecting one end of the hose assembly to a fuel port of the transport truck tank and another end of the hose assembly to a refueler tank within the airport refueler, said assembly including at least two sensor ports; leakage sensing means coupled to the sensor ports for detecting leakage of fuel from the inner hose to the passage and for generating sensor signals, including; pressure sensing means for detecting a change in pressure within the passage, and liquid sensing means for detecting the presence of liquid within the passage; control means responsive to the sensor signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when fuel leakage is detected by either one of the group consisting of the pressure sensing means and the liquid sensing means; and fuel level detection means within the refueler tank for detecting when a fuel level within the refueler tank is equal to or greater than a threshold level and generating alarm signals therefrom; wherein the control means are responsive to the alarm signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when the fuel level in the refueler tank reaches the threshold level, and wherein the transport truck tank and the refueler tank each have a respective vapor recovery port, the system further comprising means for transmitting liquid fuel from the vapor recovery port of the refueler tank to the vapor recovery port of the transport truck tank in the event of a failure of any one of the group consisting of the fuel level detection means and the control means.
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4. A system for transmitting liquid fuel from a transport truck tank to an airport refueler, comprising:
a hose assembly for transmitting fuel from the transport truck tank to the airport refueler, including; an inner hose and an outer hose, the inner hose being adapted for transmitting liquid fuel, sealing means coupled to the inner hose and outer hose for forming a sealed passage therebetween, and means for connecting one end of the hose assembly to a fuel port of the transport truck tank and another end of the hose assembly to a refueler tank within the airport refueler, said assembly including at least two sensor ports; leakage sensing means coupled to the sensor ports for detecting leakage of fuel from the inner hose to the passage and for generating sensor signals, including; pressure sensing means for detecting a change in pressure within the passage, and liquid sensing means for detecting the presence of liquid within the passage; control means responsive to the sensor signals for terminating transmission of the fuel when fuel leakage is detected by either one of the group consisting of the pressure sensing means and the liquid sensing means; and the refueler tank includes; valve means responsive to a pilot flow for admitting fuel into the refueler tank, and a jet level sensor, located at a jet level sensor height, for providing the pilot flow to the valve means only while a fuel level within the refueler tank is below the jet sensor height, wherein said pilot flow is interrupted if the fuel level within the refueler tank reaches the jet level sensor height, thereby causing said valve means to terminate flow of fuel into said refueler tank.
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5. A control system for controlling flow of liquid fuel from a transport truck tank to an airport refueler having a refueler tank with an atmospheric vent and a vapor recovery port, comprising:
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fuel level liquid detection means within the refueler tank for detecting when a fuel level within the refueler tank is equal to or greater than a threshold level and generating and transmitting level alarm signals when the fuel level reaches the threshold level; vent liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at a level of the atmospheric vent, and for generating and transmitting vent alarm signals when the fuel level reaches the atmospheric vent; vapor recovery port liquid sensing means for detecting fuel at a level of the vapor recovery port, and for generating and transmitting vapor recovery port alarm signals when the fuel level reaches the vapor recovery port, and control means responsive to any one of the group consisting of the level alarm signals, the vent alarm signals and the vapor recovery port alarm signals, for terminating transmission of the fuel to the refueler tank. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A system for transmitting liquid fuel from a mobile highway truck having a truck tank to a mobile airport refueler having a refueler tank, comprising:
a hose assembly for transmitting fuel from the truck tank to the refueler tank, including; an inner hose and an outer hose, the inner hose being adapted for transmitting liquid fuel, a sealed passage formed between the inner hose and the outer hose, and a releasable connection between one end of the hose assembly and a fuel port of the truck tank, and another connection between another end of the hose assembly and the refueler tank; at least one leakage sensor coupled to the hose assembly for detecting leakage of fuel from the inner hose to the passage; said refueler tank including a vapor recovery port and a conduit coupled between the vapor recovery port and the truck tank for recovering fuel from the vapor recovery port to the truck tank; a vapor recovery port liquid sensor for detecting fuel at a predetermined level; and a controller responsive to at least one of the leakage sensor and the vapor recovery port liquid sensor for terminating transmission of the fuel when, respectively, fuel leakage is detected by the leakage sensor and fuel is detected at the predetermined level.
Specification