EP2474500A1 - Device for connecting a storage vat to a supply and method for managing such a connection - Google Patents

Abstract

The device (14) has a connecting conduit (18) comprising an inlet (18A) connected to a power supply and an outlet (18B) connected to a liquid or gaseous product storage tank. A retention chamber (20) is connected to the conduit in parallel and equipped with a sampling valve (24) i.e. solenoid valve. The conduit has a loading authorization valve (22) situated between the retention chamber and the outlet of the conduit. A control unit generates a control signal for controlling opening of the load authorization valve based on information relative to nature of produce from the retention chamber. An independent claim is also included for a method for managing connection of a liquid or gaseous product storage tank to a power supply.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for connecting a liquid or gaseous product storage tank to a feed, comprising a connecting pipe having an inlet adapted to be connected to the supply and an outlet intended to be connected to the tank.

More particularly, it is a device used for the removal of a chemical product, that is to say to transfer this product from a transport tank to the storage tank. In this case, the supply is an outlet pipe of the tank. For unloading, also called loading, this supply is connected to the inlet of the connecting pipe, the outlet of which is connected to the tank, the connection device remaining in place with its outlet connected to the tank.

It is important to make the connection to ensure that the product coming from the feed and feeding the tank is the desired product.

This is particularly important with respect to the removal of a chemical. Indeed, if the product deposited is not the desired product, it may react with the product contained in the tank, this reaction can be dangerous and cause phenomena such as a release of toxic vapor, a release of heat or an explosion.

To limit these risks, we can put in place safety barriers, to confine the effects of such a reaction in a specific area. Such confinement is obviously not entirely satisfactory, in that it treats the effects of an unfortunate mixture, but does not prevent such an unfortunate mixture. In any case, in certain situations such as a large-scale reaction, causing a toxic cloud, confinement is not possible.

In order to avoid such a large-scale reaction, it is known to start the removal by a preliminary test phase during which only a small quantity of product from the feed is poured into the tank. Thanks to sensors equipping the tank, it then detects the occurrence of a possible chemical reaction, before continuing the removal.

These precautions facilitate the containment of the effects of an unwanted mixture of products in the tank. However, they do not prevent such unwanted mixing. On the one hand, if the products Unfortunately, the sensors present in the tank do not necessarily make it possible to detect the error at the end of the test phase, so that the risk that the tank is filled by the undesired product is not discarded. On the other hand, these precautions can only detect a feeding error once the unwanted product has been introduced into the tank, thus polluting all of its contents. As a result, the tank must be drained and washed, and its contents are lost.

WO 98/20342 and GB 2,401,976 relate to the supply of the tank of a vehicle from a fixed tank. Sensors make it possible to close a stop valve if parameters, detected by these sensors and compared in a processor, do not match. In the same context, US 2009/315729 compares data relating to the fluid to be supplied and the fluid in the original reservoir.

These devices are of a delicate implementation and are not perfectly reliable, insofar as they do not allow to confine the fluid used to detect the parameters relating thereto, and possibly introduced by mistake.

US 5,722,469 also relates to feeding the tank of a vehicle from a fixed tank. To avoid loading the wrong fluid, the device is equipped with a barcode reader and a comparator. This device does not avoid the risk of unwanted mixing, especially in the case where the bar code would be wrong.

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a connection device capable of avoiding a supply of the storage tank to an undesired product or, at least, to limit the risks of such a power supply.

This object is achieved by the fact that the connecting device according to the invention comprises a retention chamber, which is connected in shunt to the connecting pipe and which is equipped with a sampling valve and the fact that the connecting pipe comprises a loading authorization valve, located between the retention chamber and the outlet of the connecting pipe.

Thanks to these arrangements, it is possible, after connecting the power supply to the input of the connecting pipe, to allow a small quantity of product from the feed, to reach the retention chamber, while the loading authorization valve is closed, so that this product does not enter the tank.

It is then possible to take the product contained in the retention chamber and to verify its nature, in particular by a chemical analysis and / or by comparison with a sample of the product previously contained in the tank, which will have been preserved.

Moreover, insofar as the retention chamber is disposed in shunt on the connecting pipe, it can be left in this chamber a small amount of the product contained in the tank, which has been allowed to enter this retention chamber. during the previous unloading, that is to say during the previous loading of the tank. In this case, if the product from the feed is not the correct one, a reaction may occur with the product previously contained in the retention chamber. Insofar as this chamber has by definition a small volume relative to that of the storage tank, it is easy to ensure that the amount of product supplied is comparable to the amount of product previously present in the retention chamber. Thus, the feed product is not diluted in a large amount of the product of the tank, so that if a chemical reaction occurs, this reaction is easily detectable. In addition, if the product from the food is not good, only the small volume of product contained in the retention chamber is polluted, while the contents of the tank remains pure. Thus, only the retention chamber must be drained.

Thus, the loading authorization valve will be controlled to allow loading only when it is ensured that the product whose loading is envisaged, using the supply connected to the connecting pipe, is the desired product.

Advantageously, the device of the invention comprises a control unit able to generate an opening control signal of the loading authorization valve on the basis of information relating to the nature of the product taken from the retention chamber. .

The information relating to the nature of the sampled product may be its chemical composition, obtained after its analysis, or a physico-chemical parameter, for example obtained by a physicochemical analysis such as spectrography. It may also result from a comparison between the sampled product and a reference product, in particularly the product previously contained in the tank. The signal can be generated automatically by the control unit. For example, the control unit may be equipped with a microprocessor or cooperate with a microprocessor, capable of making a comparison between the information relating to the nature of the product taken from the retention chamber and expected information, for example , information relating to the nature of the product previously contained in the storage tank, stored in a memory zone of the microprocessor. The same control unit can manage several connection devices according to the invention, in which case the microprocessor can search the useful information in a database containing the information relating to the nature of products stored in different storage tanks, associated with a identification of these tanks.

Advantageously, the retention chamber is connected to the connecting pipe by a bypass member such as a bypass valve or a bypass pump, said member being adapted to be activated to connect the retention chamber to the connecting pipe.

This bypass member may be activated (i.e. the bypass valve may be opened or the bypass pump turned on) at the beginning of a load to allow feeding of the bypass chamber. retention of product from the supply connected to the inlet of the connecting pipe. If charging is permitted, the bypass may be deactivated (closing the bypass valve or stopping the bypass pump) at the beginning or during charging, to prevent the charged product from passing through the retention chamber. or that the connection to this chamber does not cause turbulence in the product flow discharged into the tank. The bypass member may also be momentarily activated during charging to supply the retention chamber with charged product and thus allow a quantity of product present in the storage tank to be stored in this chamber to be used for the preliminary tests to be carried out. the authorization of the following loading.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for controlling the bypass member as a function of the volume of liquid or gas present in the retention chamber.

For example, in pre-load tests, the bypass valve may be opened to allow a desired amount of product from the feed to enter the retention chamber, and then be closed automatically when that amount is reached. Likewise, after the product used for loading authorization tests has been withdrawn from the retention chamber, this bypass valve can be reopened during loading to discharge a desired quantity of charged product into the retention chamber. , which will remain in this room to serve as a test product used to authorize the next load.

Advantageously, the device comprises means for controlling the sampling valve so as to take a determined volume in the retention chamber.

This makes it possible to carry out the tests prior to the authorization of the loading on this determined volume of product.

Advantageously, the input of the connecting line is equipped with a lock, and the control unit is able to control the unlocking of the lock to allow the connection of the supply with said input, on the basis of information relating to the nature of the product present in the diet.

This is a first safety, which can avoid the obviously wrong connections. For example, the information relating to the nature of the product present at the feed is entered by the deliverer to perform the loading on the basis of the data available to him, relating to the product contained in the tank whose output constitutes the food. This information can be entered manually or semi-automatically, for example by an optical reading of a code such as a bar code relating to the product contained in the tank. The information relating to the nature of the product present in the diet may also result from a chemical or physicochemical analysis of this product.

Advantageously, the control unit is capable, while the loading authorization valve is in the closed state, to emit successively an opening control signal of the sampling valve, a closing control signal of the sampling valve, and a valve opening command signal authorization of loading, established from information relating to the nature of the product taken from the retention chamber.

As will be seen later, this control sequence is advantageous for ensuring the security of the connection, in order to avoid undesired loading.

Advantageously, the control unit is able, moreover, to control the activation of the bypass member while the loading authorization valve is in the closed state.

The invention also relates to a method for managing the connection of a liquid or gaseous product storage tank to a supply, in which the input of a connection line, the output of which is connected to the storage tank.

As indicated above, especially when the connection is made to allow the removal of a chemical in the storage tank, it is necessary to ensure that the product from the feed and feeding the tank is the desired product .

The invention aims to provide a connection method that avoids a supply of the storage tank to an undesired product or, at least, to limit the risks of such a power supply.

• on achemine le produit provenant de l'alimentation depuis la conduite de liaison dans une chambre de rétention,
• on prélève un échantillon du mélange de produit présent dans la chambre de rétention pour établir une information relative à la nature de ce mélange, et
• si l'information établie correspond à une information attendue, on ouvre une vanne d'autorisation de chargement pour faire communiquer la sortie de la conduite de liaison avec la cuve.

This goal is achieved by allowing loading of the storage tank from the feed according to the following procedure:

• the product coming from the feed is conveyed from the connecting pipe into a retention chamber,
• a sample of the product mixture present in the retention chamber is taken to establish information relating to the nature of this mixture, and
• if the information established corresponds to an expected piece of information, a loading authorization valve is opened to communicate the outlet of the connecting line with the tank.

This method makes it possible to verify the nature of the product coming from the feed from the retention chamber, before the introduction of this product into the storage tank and to authorize the loading of the tank only after this verification. made.

Advantageously, the retention chamber initially contains product contained in the tank.

It suffices to ensure, during the previous loading, to feed the retention chamber with the product used for this loading and to leave this product in this room until the next load. This will make it possible to easily detect the possible occurrence of a chemical reaction between the product initially contained in the retention chamber, which is the same as that contained in the tank, and the product that is intended to be loaded, which normally also to be the same as that contained in the tank. The fact that a chemical reaction occurs means that the product we are considering loading is not the right one. In this case, the information relating to the nature of the sample taken can be the simple fact that this sample produces a release of heat or vapor, which is a sign that a chemical reaction is in progress. Of course, if no chemical reaction is detected, it will nevertheless be desirable to supplement this information by chemical or physicochemical analysis or by comparison with a reference product relating to one or more given parameters.

Advantageously, if the established information does not correspond to the expected information, the retention chamber is emptied.

• on établit une information relative à la nature du produit présent à l'alimentation,
• on compare cette information à une information attendue et
• on relie l'alimentation à l'entrée de la conduite de liaison si l'information établie correspond à l'information attendue.

Advantageously, the power supply is connected to the input of the connection line according to the following procedure:

• information on the nature of the product present in the diet is established,
• this information is compared to expected information and
• the supply is connected to the input of the connection line if the information established corresponds to the expected information.

This constitutes a preliminary step of the method of the invention making it possible to limit the risks of error by preventing obviously erroneous connections, as has been indicated in connection with the device of the invention.

• La figure 1 montre une cuve de stockage à laquelle est reliée une citerne de chargement via un dispositif de raccordement ;
• La figure 2 montre le dispositif de raccordement selon un premier mode de réalisation;
• La figure 3 montre un boîtier de commande pour le chargement de la cuve ;
• La figure 4 est une vue analogue à la figure 2, pour un deuxième mode de réalisation ; et
• La figure 5 est un schéma synoptique montrant les différentes phases d'un chargement.

The invention will be better understood and its advantages will appear better on reading the following detailed description of embodiments. represented as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which:

• The figure 1 shows a storage tank to which is connected a loading tank via a connecting device;
• The figure 2 shows the connection device according to a first embodiment;
• The figure 3 shows a control box for loading the tank;
• The figure 4 is a view similar to the figure 2 for a second embodiment; and
• The figure 5 is a synoptic diagram showing the different phases of a loading.

On the figure 1 , there is shown a storage tank 10 for containing a liquid or gaseous product, in particular a chemical reagent. This tank must be regularly recharged. In this case, the figure 1 shows the situation being loaded, the tank 12 of a truck being connected to the storage tank, via a connecting device 14. For the purposes of this patent application, the flexible pipe 13 output of the tank is supply of the tank.

The filling of the tank 10 is carried out using a pump 16 which, in this case, is disposed downstream of the device 14. The connection device could also operate with a pump which would be arranged upstream of this device immediately out of the tank.

The connecting device 14 comprises a connecting pipe 18 which is connected, as input, to the tank 12 via the connecting hose 13 and at the outlet to the tank 10. This device also comprises a retention chamber 20, which is connected bypass on the connecting line 18.

The conformation of the connecting device will be better understood by referring to the figure 2 , which illustrates a first embodiment.

This figure shows the connecting pipe 18, with its inlet 18A through which it can be connected to the supply 13 and its outlet 18B connected to the storage tank 10.

Once in place, the connecting device 14 is fixed. Thus, the outlet 18B of the connecting pipe 18 can be connected in permanence to the tank 10 for example by a pipe 17 on which is placed the pump 16, while its inlet 18A remains stationary, to be connected with a supply tank to perform a loading (unloading) of the tank 10.

On the figure 2 , the retention chamber 20 takes the form of a blind pipe section, one end 20A of which is connected to the connecting pipe 18, between its inlet 18A and its outlet 18B, and the opposite end 20B of which is closed. Thus, the connecting pipe 18 and the retention chamber 20 together form a T.

Between its outlet 18B and its connection with the retention chamber at the end 20A of the latter, the connecting pipe 18 is equipped with a loading authorization valve 22. On its side, the retention chamber 20 is equipped a sampling valve 24, which is close to the closed end 20B of this chamber. On the side of its open end 20A, the retention chamber 20 is equipped with a bypass valve 26. It is understood that when this bypass valve 26 is open, the retention chamber 20 communicates with the connecting pipe 18, while it is isolated when the valve 26 is closed. It can also be chosen that the retention chamber is permanently connected to the connecting pipe, in which case the bypass valve is not necessarily present.

Advantageously, it is ensured that the supply of the retention chamber 20 with product from the feed is at a low flow rate. This makes it possible to limit the risks of sudden reactions and explosions, if the product coming from the food is not the right one and reacts with the product already contained in the chamber 20. This low flow rate can be obtained using a restriction 28 through which the retention chamber 20 is connected to the connecting pipe 18. This restriction can be placed towards the inlet 20A of the retention chamber 20, as shown in FIG. figure 2 . If the bypass valve 26 is present, the restriction 28 can also be placed downstream of this valve 26 or be integrated with this valve.

The retention chamber 20 is also equipped with a decompression valve 30. The valve 30 opens automatically under the effect of an undesired pressure increase in the chamber 20, which may be due to the occurrence of a reaction. chemical in this room. The The valve allows a release of the excess pressure to avoid deterioration of the retention chamber and the connecting pipe. It should be noted here that the volume of the retention chamber is small, so that the amount of steam possibly released by the valve is too insignificant to be a source of pollution.

The device further comprises a control unit 32 which, in this case, comprises an automaton 34 and a control interface box 36. In order to carry out a loading, the driver communicates with the PLC via the control interface 36 which, as we see on the figure 3 , for example comprises a series of buttons 1 to 5 and via a communication module 37 (for example by display or sound) which can be integrated in the housing 36 or the controller 34 as in the example shown.

The control unit 32 is specific to the connecting device. We see moreover on the figure 2 it can be arranged in the same housing B as all the elements of the device which have just been described. However, it is advantageous for the control unit to communicate with a central control management unit 38, associated with several connection devices associated, each, with a storage tank.

The control units 34 and 38 are electronic control units ("ECUs") comprising microprocessors and memory areas.

Advantageously, at least one of the valves of the loading authorization valve 22 and the sampling valve 24 is a solenoid valve. Similarly, when present, the bypass valve 26 is preferably a solenoid valve.

It is preferable that at least the loading authorization valve 22 can be controlled, using the control unit, without direct human intervention, and after checking that the product to feed the storage tank is the right product.

The sampling valve can be a manual valve, but the fact that it is a solenoid valve makes it possible to secure the connection procedure. On the one hand, this makes it possible to respect the sequence of opening of the various valves which will be explained below, the valve 22 can not normally be opened until a Sampling will have been performed in the retention chamber 20 using the sampling valve 24 to verify the nature of the product present in this chamber. On the other hand, this facilitates the removal of a determined quantity of product in the retention chamber.

Indeed, the device advantageously comprises means for controlling the sampling valve 24 so as to collect in the retention chamber 20 a determined volume.

In the present case, these means comprise two level probes which equip the retention chamber 20, in this case a high level probe S1 and a low level probe S2, the sampled volume being delimited between these two probes. To automate the process, the probes S1 and S2 are connected to the control unit 32 by data transmission lines LS1 and LS2, the signals thus transmitted by these probes making it possible to control the opening or closing of the valves 24. and 26.

In the present case, the two valves 22 and 24, as well as the bypass valve 26, are solenoid valves and one has schematized on the figure 2 their electrical controls, respectively designated by the references 22 ', 24' and 26 ', these commands being respectively connected to the control unit 34 by control lines L22, L24 and L26.

It is further noted that the inlet 18A of the connecting pipe 18 is equipped with a latch 40, which must be unlocked to allow the connection of the supply (flexible 13 from the tank) with the connecting pipe.

For example, the input 18A of the connecting line is in the form of a key connection mouth 19, access to this key being prevented by the latch 40 when it is locked. This lock is preferably electrically controlled by an electrical control 40 ', which is connected to the control unit 34 by a control line L40.

In addition, the control unit 32 can control the activation of the pump 16 by a control line L16.

It should be noted that the various lines of command and data transmission that have just been mentioned can be real lines or virtual lines, the transmission of commands and data can be operated in a non-wired manner.

The various elements of the connection device are arranged in a housing B, remaining at a station in the immediate vicinity of the tank of 10. It is advantageous in this respect that the inlet 18A of the connecting pipe 18 is in a first compartment B1 of this housing, while the current part of the connecting pipe 18, the retention chamber 20, the different valves 22, 24, 26, the probes S1 and S2 and, optionally, the control unit 32, are separated in this compartment B1, for example by being arranged in the same second compartment B2 of the housing B.

In addition to or instead of the latch 40 previously described, it can be provided that the first compartment B1 of the housing is normally closed by a wall locked by a lock that can not be opened until after the first check described below. In particular, this lock could be controlled by the control unit 32. It is for example an electromagnetic type lock.

We now describe the figure 4 , which illustrates another embodiment of the connecting device.

In this figure, the elements unchanged relative to the figure 2 are denoted by unchanged references.

The second embodiment is distinguished from the first by the fact that the bypass valve 26 is replaced by a pump 126 which is disposed on a bypass line 128. For example, as in the case shown, this bypass pipe may have a internal section lower than that of the connecting pipe 18, so as to form a restriction generating a pressure drop. In particular, the bypass line 128 may be formed by two sections of hose, respectively an upstream section 128A connected by quick couplings to the connecting pipe 18 and the pump 126, and a downstream section 128B connected by quick couplings to the pump 126 and the inlet 120'A of the retention chamber 120. Making the bypass line in this form makes it possible to position the retention chamber 120 and the pump 126 optimally in view of the space available.

Another difference lies in the fact that the valve 30 of the first embodiment is here replaced by a vent located at the upper end 120A of the retention chamber 120. In the example shown, the vent is formed by a flexible 130 fixed to the upper end 120A of the chamber 120 by a quick connector.

For the rest, we recognize on the figure 4 the loading authorization valve 22 located between the outlet of the connecting pipe and the connection thereof to the bypass pipe 128, the sampling valve 24 located towards the lower end 120B of the retention chamber 120, the probes of high and low levels S1 and S2, and the lock 40 which equips the input 18A of the connecting pipe 18.

The control unit 32 is also recognized with the controller 34 and the control interface box 36. This unit is connected to the probes S1 and S2 by control lines LS1 and LS2, to the valves 22 and 24 by means of control lines L22 and L24, to the pumps 16 and 126 by control lines L16 and L126, and to the lock 40 by a control line L40.

The retention chambers 20 and 120 may be formed of tube sections assembled by screw connections, as can be seen in FIG. figure 4 with fitting 121.

Referring also to the figure 5 the operation of the connecting device is now described.

Initially, the deliveryman brings the tank near the storage tank, in a position for connecting the supply with the connecting line 18.

A first check to verify that the product in the tank corresponds to the expected product is carried out. If this verification is positive, the connection can be authorized. For this, information relating to the nature of the product present in the supply is supplied to the control unit.

If this information corresponds to an expected information, the control unit controls the actuation of the lock 40, thus allowing the connection. The information relating to the nature of the product present at the feed can be entered in any suitable form: entry by the deliveryman of a "product code" via the control interface 36, direct reading of a product code (by example of barcode type) by a sensor linked to this interface, or else, result of a chemical or physicochemical analysis of the product contained in the tank, after sampling directly on the tank. This result can be transmitted to the central unit 38 which, if it corresponds to the desired result, can transmit to the control unit 32 a branch control authorization.

It should be noted that, being associated with several connecting devices associated, each, to a storage tank, the central unit 38 can manage a database consisting of chemical or physicochemical parameters of the products contained in the different tanks. Thus, verification that the result of the analysis corresponds to the desired result can be done by comparing the parameters obtained by this analysis, with those included in the database, in association with the tank considered.

Of course, if the information relating to the nature of the product present in the supply does not correspond to the expected information, the connection of the supply with the input of the connecting line is prohibited. This is a first level of security. However, it may happen that the information relating to the product present in the feed is wrong (bar code or incorrect entry) or that the information relating to the product present in the tank is wrong (error on the numbering of the tank or error on the database). The invention therefore allows a second level of security, implemented if the connection has been authorized.

Indeed, in this situation, we proceed to a sample preparation phase. For this, once the connection has been authorized, the product coming from the supply is conveyed into the retention chamber 20 or 120, the loading authorization valve 22 remaining closed.

For this, after making the connection, the deliveryman can actuate the button 1 "on" of the control unit 36, the communication module 37 may if necessary invite him to check that the outlet valve of the tank is open.

At this stage, the sampling valve 24 is kept closed, but the bypass valve 26 or the pump 126, if present, are controlled to be activated (opening of the valve or starting of the pump).

Normally, the retention chamber 20 or 120 initially contained product contained in the storage tank, from the previous loading of this tank. For example this product was present in a volume determined by the low level probe S2 and was protected against evaporation or degradation by the fact that the chamber of Retention 20 or 120 was closed since this previous loading by closing the bypass valve 26 or stopping the pump 126.

To prepare a sample, the valve 26 is opened or the pump 126 is turned on, until the volume of product present in the retention chamber 20 or 120 corresponds to the level of the high level probe S1. The sample therefore consists of a mixture of the product from the feed with the product initially present in the retention chamber, in proportions and volumes determined by the probes S1 and S2.

At the end of the sample preparation phase, the deliveryman can be invited by the communication module 37 to close the outlet valve of the tank.

If the product from the feed is not the desired product and is very reactive with the product initially present in retention chamber 20 or 120, a chemical reaction may occur and be readily detectable because it causes a release of heat or gas evolution increasing the pressure in the retention chamber 20 or 120. In this regard, an explosion or degradation of the chamber 20 or 120 due to an excess of sudden pressure is avoided by the valve 30 or by the vent 130.

However, it may happen that an error on the product introduced into the retention chamber is not so easily detectable. This is why the next step of the method consists in taking a sample of the mixture coming from the retention chamber, controlling the opening of the sampling valve 24 until the level of product present in the the retention chamber 20 or 120 has reached the low level detected by the probe S2. For the deliveryman, this sampling can be simply performed by pressing the button 2 "sampling" of the control box 36, after being invited.

From this sample, information is provided on the nature of this mixture, in particular by a chemical or physicochemical analysis.

The second verification is then carried out, which consists in ensuring that the sample taken corresponds to the expected sample, for example by comparison between the information that has just been established and memorized information relating to the nature of the product contained in the storage tank 10.

If this check is positive, you can start loading. The deliveryman can for this purpose actuate the button 3 "loading" of the control box 36. In this case, the loading authorization valve 22 can be opened and the pump 16 can be activated by the control unit 32. At the same time, the bypass valve 26 can remain closed or the bypass pump 126 can remain inactive, since the product remaining in the retention chamber 20 or 120, which is at the low level, corresponds to the expected sample (c that is to say the product that will pour into the tank 10), and can therefore be used for the preparation of a next sample during the next loading.

The end of the loading can be detected by any appropriate means, for example by an automatic shutdown of the pump 16 when, the tank being empty, this pump is no longer in charge.

For safety reasons, when the end of the loading is detected, the deliveryman can be invited by the communication module 37 to formalize the end of the loading by an actuation of the button 4 "end of loading" of the control box 36, this action putting all the valves in the waiting position of a next load and causing a return of the latch 40 in the locked position, as soon as the connection port 19 of the input 18A of the connecting duct 18 has been released.

If an error on the product that has been introduced into the retention chamber is detected, loading is not allowed. It is further desirable to proceed with a total, and preferably rapid, emptying of the retention chamber.

For this, the outlet valve of the tank being closed (or the communication module 37 inviting the driver to verify that this valve is closed), the deliveryman can actuate the button 5 "quick drain" of the control box 36, which causes the sampling valve 24 to open until complete emptying of the retention chamber 20 or 120. Preferably, this also causes the opening of the bypass valve 26 or the start-up of the pump 126 when they are present, to ensure that the product contained in the connecting pipe 18, upstream of the valve 26 or the pump 126, can also be evacuated.

When such an emptying has been carried out, the retention chamber no longer contains any product that can be used to prepare a sample for the next loading.

In this case, this "empty retention chamber" information can be stored in the central unit 38 and / or in the control unit 32. This "empty retention chamber" information can result from the fact that a third probe (no shown) located in the lower part of the retention chamber, under the probe S2, detects no product in the retention chamber.

If the retention chamber is empty, the operator in charge of the inventory management may be invited to perform a manual sample of a test sample of product present in the tank so that, on the next attempt to load the tank this sample may be mixed with product from a tank connected to the connecting line.

During this next loading attempt, the first check prior to the connection of the power supply on the connecting line can be carried out normally. On the other hand, the second check can not be performed. In this case, the product from the feed can be sampled normally from the holding chamber by the sampling valve, but the feed authorization valve can remain blocked as long as a special order, validating the sampled product. after mixing in the laboratory with the product test sample taken from the tank, was not entered.

The storage tank can have a volume of several cubic meters. By way of example, the maximum volume of the retention chamber, determined by the high level probe S1, can be between 300 and 1000 ml, for example being of the order of 500 ml, while its retention volume, determined by the low level probe S2, may be between 100 and 500 ml, for example being of the order of 250 ml.

Claims (16)

Device for connecting a storage tank (10) of liquid or gaseous product to a supply (12, 13), comprising a connecting pipe (18) having an inlet (18A) adapted to be connected to the supply and a outlet (18B) adapted to be connected to the tank,
characterized in that it comprises a retention chamber (20; 120) which is connected in shunt to the connecting line (18) and which is equipped with a sampling valve (24) and in that the connection comprises a loading authorization valve (22), located between the retention chamber and the outlet of the connecting pipe. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (32) capable of generating an opening control signal of the loading authorization valve (22) on the basis of information relating to the nature of the product taken from the retention chamber (20; 120). Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the retention chamber (20; 120) is connected to the connecting line (18) by a bypass member, such as a bypass valve (26) or a pump bypass means (126), said member being operable to connect the retention chamber to the connecting line. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means (32, S1) for controlling the bypass member (26; 126) as a function of the volume of liquid or gas present in the retention chamber (20; 120). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the retention chamber (20; 120) is connected to the connecting pipe (18) by a restriction (28; 128) generating a pressure drop. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises means (32, S1, S2) for controlling the sampling valve (24) so as to take a determined volume from the retention chamber ( 20; 120). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the retention chamber (20) is equipped with a decompression valve (30). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the retention chamber (120) is equipped with a vent (130). Device according to Claim 2 and any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the inlet (18A) of the connecting pipe (18) is equipped with a latch (40) and in that the unit control unit (32) is able to control the unlocking of the lock to allow the connection of the power supply with said input, on the basis of information relating to the nature of the product present at the power supply. Device according to Claim 2 and any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control unit (32) is suitable, while the loading authorization valve (22) is in the closed state, successively issuing an opening control signal of the sampling valve (24), a closing control signal of the sampling valve (24), and an opening control signal of the charging authorization valve. (22), based on information relating to the nature of the product taken from the retention chamber (20; 120). Device according to claims 3 and 10 and any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the control unit (32) is further adapted to control the activation of the branch member (26; 126) while the loading authorization valve (22) is in the closed state. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one of the valves of the loading authorization valve (22) and the sampling valve (24) is a solenoid valve. A method of managing the connection of a liquid or gaseous product storage tank (10) to a supply (12, 13), wherein the input (18A) of a connecting line (18) is connected to the supply ), whose output (18B) is connected to the storage tank (10),
characterized in that loading of the storage tank from the feed is authorized according to the following procedure: the product coming from the feed is conveyed from the connecting line (18) into a retention chamber (20; 120), a sample of the product mixture present in the retention chamber (20; 120) is taken to establish information relating to the nature of this mixture, and - If the established information corresponds to an expected information, opens a loading authorization valve (22) for communicating the output of the connecting pipe (18) with the vessel (10). Process according to claim 13, characterized in that the retention chamber (20; 120) initially contains product contained in the vessel (10). Method according to Claim 13 or 14, characterized in that , if the established information does not correspond to the expected information, the retention chamber (20; 120) is emptied. Process according to one of Claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the feed is connected to the inlet (18A) of the connecting pipe (18) according to the following procedure: - information is established on the nature of the product present in the diet, - this information is compared to information expected and the supply is connected to the input of the connection line if the information established corresponds to the expected information.

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