Hose separation transmitter system and methods

• US 6,924,733 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2003
• Issued: 08/02/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Propane Technologies, LLC
• Original Assignee: Mctier Supply Company
• Inventors: McDonough, William B., Glandon, Jack, McTier, Samuel E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Walk, Samuel J.
• Application Number:
  US10/645,808
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/438, 340/825.69, 417/9, 417/10, 417/63, 251/89, 137/456, 137/68.18, 137/804, 137/805, 137/553
• US Class Current: 340/425.5
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3218 relating to emergency shut-off means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/1684 With alarm or indicator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2065 Responsive to condition external of system
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2071 And causing change or correction of sensed condition

Abstract

A hose separation transmitter system includes a shock sensor and a transmitter that are secured to the delivery hose. If the hose becomes disconnected, the shock sensor will generate a shock signal when the hose falls to the ground and the transmitter will respond to the shock signal by generating an encoded RF signal. A receiver at the vehicle receives the RF signal from the transmitter, determines that a hose disconnect has occurred, and automatically disables a fluid pump or closes a valve to stop the flow of fluid. The shock sensor preferably uses a strip of piezoelectric material. Related methods are also disclosed. For quick connect and disconnect, the shock sensor and transmitter are preferably secured to the hose by a hook and loop fabric material. The transmitter is immune to normal ambient vibration levels. Related methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a source of fluid and for automatically terminating the flow of fluid in response to determining that the delivery hose has disconnected or separated, said system comprising:

a transmitter;

a shock sensor for providing a shock signal when a disconnected or separated hose strikes the ground or comes into contact with any object, said transmitter responsive to the shock signal from the shock sensor to transmit a disconnect signal;

means for securing the transmitter and shock sensor to said delivery hose;

a receiver for receiving the disconnect signal from the transmitter and for determining that a disconnect signal has been transmitted by the transmitter; and

means for terminating the flow of fluid from the source of fluid in response to the receiver determining that a disconnect signal has been transmitted by the transmitter.

2. The system for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of fluid includes a fluid pump and wherein said means for terminating the flow of fluid includes means for terminating flow of fluid through the pump.

3. The system for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source of fluid includes a valve in communication with the flow of fluid through said delivery hose, said means for terminating the flow of fluid includes means for automatically closing said valve.

4. The system for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 1 wherein said shock sensor is a strip of piezoelectric material.

5. The system for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 1 wherein said means for securing the transmitter and shock sensor to the hose is a hook and loop material.

6. The system for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmitter transmits an encoded radio frequency disconnect signal.

7. The system for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 1 wherein said transmitter includes electronic circuitry that has immunity to normal ambient vibration levels.

8. A transmitter for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a source of fluid and for transmitting a disconnect signal in response to determining that the delivery hose has disconnected or separated, said transmitter comprising:

a shock sensor for providing a shock signal when a disconnected hose strikes the ground or comes into contact with any object;

electronic circuitry responsive to the shock signal from the shock sensor to transmit a disconnect signal; and

means for securing the transmitter to said delivery hose.

9. The transmitter for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 8 wherein said shock sensor is a strip of piezoelectric material.

10. The transmitter for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 8 wherein said means for securing the transmitter to the hose is a hook and loop material.

11. The transmitter for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 8 wherein said transmitter transmits an encoded radio frequency disconnect signal.

12. The transmitter for determining whether a delivery hose has disconnected or separated in accordance with claim 8 wherein said electronic circuitry has immunity to normal ambient vibration levels.

13. A method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a source of fluid said method comprising the steps of:

securing a shock sensor and transmitter to said delivery hose;

generating a shock signal in the shock sensor when the delivery hose falls to the ground or comes into contact with any object; and

transmitting a disconnect signal from a transmitter to a receiver when the shock sensor generates the shock signal.

14. The method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from the source of fluid in accordance with claim 13, said method comprising the additional steps of:

receiving the disconnect signal from the transmitter at a receiver; and

determining at the receiver that a disconnect signal has been transmitted by the transmitter.

15. The method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a liquid delivery vehicle in accordance with claim 14, said method comprising the additional step of:

automatically terminating the flow of fluid from the source of fluid in response to the receiver determining that a disconnect signal has been transmitted by the transmitter.

16. The method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from the source of fluid in accordance with claim 15, wherein the source of fluid includes a fluid pump, said method comprising the additional step of:

terminating the flow of fluid by automatically disabling the fluid pump.

17. The method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a source of fluid in accordance with claim 15, wherein the source of fluid includes a controllable valve, said method comprising the additional step of:

terminating the flow of fluid by automatically closing the controllable valve.

18. The method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a source of fluid in accordance with claim 13, wherein the step of generating a shock signal in the shock sensor includes sensing the shock with a strip of piezoelectric material.

19. The method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a liquid delivery vehicle in accordance with claim 13, wherein the step of securing the shock sensor and transmitter to the delivery hose includes securing the shock sensor and transmitter to the delivery hose with a hook and loop material.

20. The method for determining that a delivery hose has disconnected or separated from a source of fluid in accordance with claim 13, wherein the step of transmitting a disconnect signal includes the step of transmitting an encoded radio frequency disconnect signal.