Mobile distribution station with fail-safes
DCFirst Claim
1. A fuel distribution station comprising:
- a mobile trailer;
a pump on the mobile trailer;
a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump;
a plurality of hoses in fluid communication with the manifold;
a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each of the valves situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses;
a plurality of fluid level sensors, each of the fluid level sensors associated with a respective different one of the hoses, and the fluid level sensors operable to detect respective different fluid levels; and
a controller configured tooperate the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors,activate and deactivate the pump, andidentify whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter and deactivate the pump responsive to the risk condition,wherein the variable operating parameter includes fluid pressure, and the controller identifies whether there is the risk condition based upon change of the fluid pressure within a preset time period of the pump being activated.
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Abstract
A distribution station includes a mobile trailer, a pump on the mobile trailer, a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump, a plurality of hoses in communication with the manifold, and a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer. Each of the valves is situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses. Each of a plurality of fluid level sensors is associated with a respective different one of the hoses. The fluid level sensors are operable to detect respective different fluid levels. A controller is configured to operate the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors, activate and deactivate the pump, identify whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter, and deactivate the pump responsive to the risk condition.
70 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A fuel distribution station comprising:
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a mobile trailer; a pump on the mobile trailer; a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump; a plurality of hoses in fluid communication with the manifold; a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each of the valves situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses; a plurality of fluid level sensors, each of the fluid level sensors associated with a respective different one of the hoses, and the fluid level sensors operable to detect respective different fluid levels; and a controller configured to operate the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors, activate and deactivate the pump, and identify whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter and deactivate the pump responsive to the risk condition, wherein the variable operating parameter includes fluid pressure, and the controller identifies whether there is the risk condition based upon change of the fluid pressure within a preset time period of the pump being activated. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
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11. A fuel distribution station comprising:
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a mobile trailer; a pump on the mobile trailer; a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump; a plurality of hoses in fluid communication with the manifold; a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each of the valves situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses; a plurality of fluid level sensors, each of the fluid level sensors associated with a respective different one of the hoses, and the fluid level sensors operable to detect respective different fluid levels; and a controller configured to activate and deactivate the pump, open and close the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors, and identify whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter and deactivate the pump responsive to the risk condition, wherein the at least one variable operating parameter includes fill level of a tank such that the risk condition exists if the controller identifies that one of the valves is opened to begin filling that tank but there is no change in the fluid level associated with that tank within a preset time period.
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Specification