Liquid transportation

• US 9,499,389 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CHS Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CHS Incorporated
• Inventors: Evans, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Application Number:
  US14/564,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20150090363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 714 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/83, 141/94, 141/95, 141/231
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0617 specially adapted for fluid materials

Abstract

A liquid transportation system includes a loading station where a liquid is loaded into a container of a delivery vehicle, and a drop off location where the delivery vehicle transfers the liquid into a storage tank. The storage tank includes a tank marker including a first identification device that generates a first signal. The first signal identifies a type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank. The delivery vehicle includes a product marker having a control system and a second identification device. The second identification device identifies a type of liquid contained in the container. The control system receives the first signal and the second signal and determines whether the type of the liquid stored in the container is the same as the type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

Claims

1. A system for reducing unintentional mixing of different liquid types in a storage tank, the system comprising:

a tanker truck, the tanker truck including a container having a liquid stored therein;

an operator selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch, the selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch configured to generate a first signal when an operator selects a liquid type;

a relay device including a first communication device and an identification tag reader that operates to;

receive identifying information via the identification tag reader from a second signal originating from an identification tag located proximate to the storage tank; and

transmit the identifying information via the first communication device;

a control system including at least one processing device that operates to;

receive the first signal including the operator selected liquid type;

receive the identifying information from the relay device via a second communication device; and

determine whether a type of liquid stored in the container is the same as a type of a liquid to be stored in the storage tank, based on comparison of the operator selected liquid type and the identifying information, prior to a transfer of the liquid from the container of the tanker truck into the storage tank.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a liquid flow control system operable to control the transfer of the liquid from the container into the storage tank, wherein the liquid flow control system inhibits the transfer of the liquid if the control system determines that the type of the liquid stored in the container is not the same as the type of the liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the operator selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch is located on the tanker truck.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the operator actuates the selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch that indicates the type of the liquid stored in the container.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm, wherein the alarm is activated if the control system determines that the type of the liquid stored in the container is not the same as the type of the liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag associated with the storage tank includes a resistor, the resistor having a resistance selected to be within a range of resistances to provide the identifying information indicating the type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank when a current is passed therethrough.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification tag associated with the storage tank includes a programmed liquid type identifier, the liquid type identifier being identifying information that indicates the type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third identification device, the third identification device coupled to the tanker truck, the tanker truck including a second container having a second liquid stored therein, the third identification device configured to generate a third signal; and

the control system programmed to receive the third signal, to receive a fourth signal from a fourth identification device associated with a second storage tank, and to determine whether a type of the second liquid stored in the second container is the same as a type of the liquid to be stored in the second storage tank, prior to a transfer of the second liquid from the second container of the tanker truck into the second storage tank.

9. A method for reducing unintentional mixing of different liquid types in a storage tank, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal including a liquid type selected by an operator via an operator selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch coupled to a tanker truck, wherein the first signal is associated with a type of liquid in a container of the tanker truck;

receiving a second signal via a second communication device from a relay device having a first communication device, the second signal originating from an identification tag associated with the storage tank, wherein the second signal is associated with a type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank;

determining, using a control system containing at least one processing device, whether the type of the liquid stored in the container is the same as the type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank using the first signal and the second signal; and

dispensing the liquid from the container of the tanker truck into the storage tank after determining that the type of the liquid stored in the container is the same as the type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising detecting an initiation of an unload operation prior to receiving the first and second signals.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising inhibiting a transfer of the liquid from the tanker truck to the storage tank and generating an alarm if the type of the liquid stored in the container is not the same as the type of the liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising permitting a transfer of the liquid from the tanker truck to the storage tank if the type of the liquid stored in the container is the same as the type of the liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a third signal from the operator selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch after the transfer of the liquid; and

generating an alarm if the third signal does not indicate that the container is empty.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a bypass input from an operator; and

permitting a transfer of the liquid from the tanker truck to the storage tank even if the type of the liquid stored in the container is not the same as the type of the liquid to be stored in the storage tank.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

storing data in memory to record one or more dates or times of events including the result of the determination; and

communicating at least some of the data to a computing device onboard the tanker truck.

16. The method of claim 9, including reprogramming the identification tag associated with the storage tank when the storage tank is used with a different liquid.

17. A method for reducing unintentional mixing of different liquid types in a storage tank, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal including a liquid type from an operator selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch, wherein the first signal is associated with a type of liquid in a container of the tanker truck;

receiving a second signal via a second communication device from a relay device having a first communication device, the second signal originating from an identification tag associated with the storage tank, wherein the second signal is associated with a type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank;

determining, using a control system containing at least one processing device, whether the type of the liquid stored in the container is the same as the type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank using the first signal and the second signal;

dispensing the liquid from the container of the tanker truck into the storage tank after determining that the type of the liquid stored in the container is the same as the type of liquid to be stored in the storage tank;

emptying the storage tank; and

reprogramming the identification tag associated with the storage tank to indicate the storage tank has a different liquid therein such that the storage tank is ready for use with the different liquid.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving a second signal is provided via a second wireless communication device from a relay device having a first wireless communication device.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein receiving the first signal includes receiving the liquid type from the operator selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch wherein the operator selects the liquid type.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the operator selectable mechanical liquid type selector switch is located on the tanker truck.