Truck compartment verification system with alternate truck ID

• US 8,731,725 B2
• Filed: 10/08/2009
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scully Signal Company
• Original Assignee: Scully Signal Company
• Inventors: Trottier, Robert R., Langlais, Kenneth L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lin, Jason
• Application Number:
  US12/575,934
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185334A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,685 Days
• Field of Search: 700/281, 700/282, 141/95, 141/98, 250/573, 137/386, 137/392, 732/93
• US Class Current: 700/281
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3209 relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/362 combined with over-fill preventing means indicating or measuring liquid level G01F23/00; level control G05D9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2925 using electrical detecting means
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2927 for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/24 Testing proper functioning of electronic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7306 Electrical characteristic sensing

Abstract

A fluid overfill detection and control system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments includes a plurality of overfill sensors that are connected in series with one another and that each produces an output pulse when the fluid level in its associated compartment is below a threshold level. A diagnostic line connected to each of the overfill sensors provides a diagnostic signal indicative of the number of overfill sensors that generate an output pulse, while a module on the vehicle provides an indication of the total number of overfill sensors located in the vehicle. To prevent a hazard due to the possible bypass of a overfill sensor, the controller compares the overfill sensor count signal to the diagnostic signal and inhibits the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the values do not match.

Claims

1. A fluid overfill detection and control system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments, the system comprising:

a plurality of overfill sensors, wherein each sensor is associated with a respective fluid compartment and produces a respective output pulse in response to a respective input pulse when a detected fluid level in the respective compartment is below a threshold level, and which does not produce the respective output pulse when the fluid level in the respective compartment has reached or exceeded the threshold level, and wherein the overfill sensors are arranged in series with one another such that the output pulse of one overfill sensor is provided as the input pulse to a next overfill sensor;

a controller that regulates the transfer of fluid into the transport vehicle and that provides an initial input pulse to a first overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors and receives a last output pulse from a last overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors, and that inhibits the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the last output pulse is not received;

a diagnostic line connected to each of the overfill sensors, the diagnostic line providing a diagnostic signal to the controller indicative of a number of the overfill sensors that generate a respective output pulse; and

a sensor count signal source that provides a sensor count signal to the controller indicative of a total number of overfill sensors located in the vehicle, the controller comparing the sensor count signal to the diagnostic signal and inhibiting the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the number of overfill sensors indicated by the diagnostic signal does not match the number of overfill sensors indicated by the sensor count signal,

wherein the diagnostic signal has an initial value, and

wherein each overfill sensor is configured to modify the diagnostic signal from the initial value by a predetermined amount when producing the respective output pulse.

2. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 wherein the controller is located at a fluid loading terminal.

3. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 2 wherein the lookup table is located at the fluid loading terminal.

4. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic signal comprises a diagnostic voltage and wherein the system further comprises a voltage lookup table module accessible by the controller that correlates the diagnostic voltage to a value indicative of a number of overfill sensors that are each providing an output pulse.

5. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 4 wherein the diagnostic voltage is at least partially formed by a set of parallel circuit paths each of which is created by a respective overfill sensor when that overfill sensor generates an output pulse.

6. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 further comprising a connection socket by which the overfill sensors are electrically connected to the controller.

7. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 wherein the sensor count signal source is located on the transport vehicle.

8. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 further comprising a compartment capacity signal source that, for each compartment of the transport vehicle, provides a capacity value indicative of a total maximum fluid capacity for that compartment.

9. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 8 wherein the compartment capacity signal source is located on the transport vehicle.

10. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1 further comprising a compartment fuel type signal source that, for each compartment of the transport vehicle, provides a fuel type information indicative of a fuel type for its associated compartment.

11. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 10 wherein the compartment fuel type signal source is located on the transport vehicle.

12. The fluid overfill detection and control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a non-volatile storage device comprising first and second identification information applicable to the transport vehicle,

wherein the controller regulates the transfer of fluid into the transport vehicle as a function of the respective states of the active and dummy overfill sensors and the first and second identification information.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein:

the first identification information comprises a unique serial number specific to the transport vehicle; and

the second identification information comprises an identifier applicable to one or more transport vehicles.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the controller regulates the transfer of fluid in a first mode of operation as a function of the first identification information; and

the controller regulates the transfer of fluid in a second mode of operation as a function of the second identification information.

15. A method of controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having multiple fluid compartments and a plurality of overfill sensors each associated with a respective compartment and each producing a respective output pulse in response to a received input pulse when a detected fluid level in the respective compartment is below a threshold level, the overfill sensors being arranged in series with one another such that the output pulse of one is provided as the input pulse to a next overfill sensor in series, the method comprising:

providing, with a controller that regulates the transfer of fluid into the vehicle, an initial input pulse to a first overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors;

monitoring, with the controller, for the presence of a last output pulse from a last overfill sensor in the series of overfill sensors and inhibiting the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the last output pulse is not detected;

receiving, with the controller, a diagnostic signal from a diagnostic line connected to each of the overfill sensors, the diagnostic signal being indicative of a number of overfill sensors that each generates an output pulse, wherein the diagnostic signal has an initial value;

comparing, with the controller, the diagnostic signal to an overfill sensor count signal indicative of the total number of overfill sensors located in the vehicle;

inhibiting, with the controller, the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if the number of overfill sensors indicated by the diagnostic signal does not match the number of overfill sensors indicated by the overfill sensor count signal; and

modifying, with each overfill sensor, the diagnostic signal from the initial value by a predetermined amount when producing the respective output pulse.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising comparing a voltage level of the diagnostic signal to a value from a voltage lookup table module to determine a number of overfill sensors that are each providing an output pulse.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising establishing a set of parallel circuit paths each of which is created by a respective overfill sensor when that overfill sensor is generating an output pulse, the diagnostic voltage being a function of the set of parallel circuit paths.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising electrically connecting, with a connection socket, the overfill sensors to the controller.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a capacity value for each compartment with a compartment capacity signal source, the capacity value being indicative of a total maximum fluid capacity for its associated compartment.

20. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a fuel type identifier for each compartment with a fuel type signal source, the fuel type identifier being indicative of a fuel type for its associated compartment.

21. A system for controlling the transfer of fluid into a transport vehicle having a plurality of compartments, the system comprising:

a plurality of active overfill sensors, each active overfill sensor associated with a respective compartment and configured to produce a respective output pulse, in response to a respective input pulse, only when a detected fluid level in its associated compartment is below a threshold level;

a number of dummy overfill sensors, each dummy overfill sensor configured to produce a respective output pulse in response to a respective input pulse, wherein a total number of dummy overfill sensors and overfill sensors is a first predetermined number and wherein the dummy and overfill sensors are arranged in series with one another such that the output pulse of one sensor is provided as the input pulse to a next sensor;

a diagnostic line connected to each of the active and dummy overfill sensors, the diagnostic line configured to provide a diagnostic signal indicative of a number of active and dummy overfill sensors that each generates an output pulse, wherein the diagnostic signal has an initial value;

wherein each active and dummy overfill sensor is configured to modify the diagnostic signal from the initial value by a predetermined amount when producing the respective output pulse; and

a controller configured to regulate transfer of fluid into the transport vehicle, the controller further configured to;

retrieve an expected value representing an expected total number of active and dummy overfill sensors and dummy overfill sensors to be detected on the vehicle;

provide an initial input pulse to a first sensor in the series of sensors on the vehicle;

detect the presence or absence of a last output pulse from a last overfill sensor in the series, in response to the initial input pulse;

detect a value of the diagnostic signal on the diagnostic line;

determine if the detected value of the diagnostic signal corresponds to the expected total number of active and dummy overfill sensors; and

prevent the transfer of fluid into the vehicle if;

the detected diagnostic signal value does not correspond to the expected total number;

or

the last output pulse was not detected.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said controller is further configured to:

retrieve the expected value of active and dummy overfill sensors from a non-volatile storage device located on the vehicle.