Apparatus for monitoring and controlling pump and valve system operations

• US 6,931,305 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2001
• Issued: 08/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Spillguard Technologies, Inc., Spliiguard Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Spillguard Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Sherwood, Randall L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Application Number:
  US09/877,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20020188382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700281-285, 702/45, 137/455, 137392-395, 137/487.5, 73/11.6, 73/13.5, 73/13.7, 73/14.4, 73/18.3, 701/29, 340/616, 340/618, 340/619, 141/1, 141/16, 141/21
• US Class Current: 700/282
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0635 by action on throttling means G05D7/0688, G05D7/0694 take precedence

Abstract

A centralized monitoring and control unit for a fluid transfer facility has a connective interface providing signal connectivity to overfill and ground circuitry in individual fill lanes, to pump and valve control circuitry, and to individual ones of input mechanisms, and executable logic routines for monitoring input at the connective interface, and for providing output signals through the connective interface to external devices and equipment including at least the pump and valve control circuitry, the input mechanisms for input of fill parameters, and to the one or both of overfill and ground monitoring circuits.

Claims

1. A supervisory Independent Secondary Shutoff Control System (system) that interfaces with at least one stream of fluid transfer in a fluid transfer facility, each stream of fluid transfer with (i) flow control device that is either an start/stop switch or a batch controller system (BCS) that includes an optional preset in communication with a meter, and a flow control valve connected to the meter;

(ii) a pump and valve controller system (PVS), in communication with the BCS, the PVS with a secondary flow control valve connected to the flow control valve, a pump connected to the secondary flow control valve and to a product storage tank, and a motor control connected to the pump;

(iii) a Emergency Shut Down or Emergency Fuel Shut Off circuit (ESD) connected to the PVS;

(iv) a ground detection unit connected to the PVS; and

(v) an overfill detection system connected to the PVS, wherein the BCS is adapted to send operation signals to the PVS and the PVS is adapted to respond to operation signals from the BCS wherein the operation signals include signals to start the pump, signals to open the secondary flow control valve, or both of these signals,

the system comprising (A) a monitoring system (MS) in communication with (B) a supervisory pump and valve control system (SPVS), or (C) the ESD circuit, or both

the MS including

a input channel connected to the meter;

an input channel connected to the overfill-detection system, the ground-detection-unit, or both;

an output channel;

executable logic routines adapted to process signals received through any of the input channels; and

executable logic routines adapted to sending signals through the output channel to the SPVS, to sending signals through the output channel for activating the ESD circuit, or to sending signals through the output channel to both; and

the SPVS connected to the PVS and adapted to

receiving signals from the MS;

enabling or disabling pumping in response to the signals; and

opening or closing the secondary flow control valve in response to the signals.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein opening or closing the secondary flow control valve includes enabling or disabling opening of the secondary flow control valve.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the executable logic routines of the MS are adapted to sending signals through the output channel to the ESD circuit for activating the emergency shutdown operation.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the executable logic routines of the MS are adapted to sending signals through the output channel to the SPVS.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wireless communication system adapted to providing at least part of the communication between the MS and the SPVS.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the wireless communication system is a radio frequency communication system.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a wired communication system adapted to providing at least part of the communication between the MS and the SPVS.

8. The system of claim 1 adapted such that a failure in the fluid transfer facility equipment, a failure in the system, or a failure in both disables pumping, disables valve opening, or disable both for at least one stream of fluid transfer in the fluid transfer facility.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the MS additionally includes other output channels and input channels connected to other indicators in the fluid transfer facility.

10. The system of an claim 8 wherein an input channel is operably connected to the flow control device for receiving a flow-authorized status and wherein the executable logic routines are further adapted to process signals on the input channels.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein

one of the input channels is a pump-run channel operably connected to the SPVS for receiving a pump run status,

one of the input channels is a pump-authorized channel operably connected to the flow control device for receiving a pump-authorized status, and

the executable logic routines are further adapted to process signals from the pump-run channel and the pump-authorized channel.

12. The system of claim 8 characterized in that the system, through continued execution of the executable logic routines, monitors the conditions of the fluid transfer facility, and automatically disables pumping, disables opening of the flow control valve, disables opening of the secondary flow control valve, initiates system lockout, or any combination of these when the system detects pre-determined conditions on one or more of the input channels.

13. The system of claim 12 additionally comprising a reset switch wherein the executable logic routines are additionally adapted to respond to the reset switch signal, resetting a system lockout.

14. The system of claim 11 further comprising a wireless communication system adapted to providing at least part of the communication between the MS and the SPVS.

15. The system of claim 8 further including local or remote alert equipment and the MS further includes other executable logic routines related to alert signaling wherein execution of the alert signaling routines causes the MS, in response to conditions of the transfer facility, in response to conditions of the system, or in response to both, to send a signal through at least one output channel wherein the alert equipment is adapted to respond to the signal.

16. The system of claim 1 further including a display for displaying status and conditions of the fluid transfer facility.

17. The system of claim 1 further comprising one or more inputs for immediately enabling or disabling one or more functions or operations in the fluid transfer facility.