Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/38—Arrangements of hoses, e.g. operative connection with pump motor
  • B67D7/40—Suspending, reeling or storing devices
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/04—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D7/00—Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
  • B67D7/06—Details or accessories
  • B67D7/38—Arrangements of hoses, e.g. operative connection with pump motor
  • B67D7/40—Suspending, reeling or storing devices
  • B67D7/403—Suspending, reeling or storing devices the hose carrier comprising a sliding unit

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of fuel dispensing units and in particular to a device for handling at least one hose in such a fuel dispensing unit, the device allowing the hose to be pulled out from a hose storage space and return the hose to the hose storage space.
• a fuel dispensing unit such as a petrol pump typically comprises a pump part standing on the ground, a display part positioned above the pump part and showing the chosen type of petrol, cash readout, volume readout etc., and a column or frame to which one or more petrol hoses are connected.
• the driver parks the vehicle beside the petrol pump and opens the cover or cap of the petrol tank. The driver then selects the desired type of petrol and places the pump nozzle in the inlet of the vehicle’s petrol tank and puts in the desired volume of petrol.
• a difficulty that may arise in connection with filling-up is that the hose does not reach to the vehicle if parked a distance from the petrol pump.
• the reason why the vehicle has not been parked sufficiently close to the pump may be difficulty in maneuvering owing to a limited space round the petrol pump.
• To allow the hose to reach the vehicle it is usually necessary for the driver to park his vehicle so that the side of the vehicle where the filler cap is positioned faces the petrol pump. It is not always known to a driver of an unfamiliar vehicle whether the filler cap is positioned on the left or right side. This may result in the driver by mistake parking the vehicle on the wrong side of the pump and thus not being able to fill up the tank without moving the vehicle to the other side of the petrol pump since the hose does not reach all the way round the vehicle.
• One way of facilitating access to the petrol pump is to provide it with a longer hose. This may, however, cause problems since a longer hose may tend to land on the ground when not used and thus get stuck in or be damaged by passing cars or other vehicles. To prevent this, the fuel dispensing unit may be provided with some kind of returning mechanism for the hose.
• US 6 328 060 discloses a gasoline dispensing unit and method according to which one end of a cord is attached to a dispensing hose to support the hose relative to a dispenser unit during non-use.
• the other end of the cord is attached to a drum having a tapered outer surface and a continuous spiral groove.
• the cord is wound on the drum from the largest-diameter drum portion to the smallest-diameter portion. The cord thus unwinds from the drum from its smallest-diameter portion to the largest-diameter portion when the hose is pulled from the housing to provide a mechanical advantage and reduce the required pulling force.
• GB 782 882 discloses a swinging arm hose retriever for fluid
• the hose of the fluid dispensing apparatus is retracted by a spring drum which, together with a spring-biased swinging arm, is mounted on a cover replacing the normal cover for the usual aperture in the top of the dispensing cabinet.
• the cover carries a support from which a spindle and a frame carrying the arm are supported by bearings.
• a spring connected to a fork pivoted to the spindle biases the arm to its normal position.
• a problem common for the hose returning devices described above is their size, or their extension within the fuel dispensing unit, which results in bulky and complicated structures.
• a device for handling at least one hose in a fuel dispensing unit the device allowing the hose to be pulled out from a hose storage space and return the hose to the hose storage space, the device comprising
• a cable element connected to a motor for feeding and retracting the cable element, wherein when the cable element is being retracted, the hose will be returned to the hose storage space, wherein when the cable element is being fed, the hose will be allowed to be pulled out from the hose storage space,
• control unit for controlling the motor based on input from the device for measuring the tension of the cable elements
• control unit is adapted to stop the motor from feeding the cable element when the tension of the cable element is below a first threshold.
• “cable element” is generally meant any type of line, rope, wire, etc. which may be flexible or not.
• the present invention is based on the realization that by letting the motor feed the cable element only when a tension (strain, etc.) in the cable element is below a first threshold, tangling of the cable element may be avoided. Moreover, the tension of the cable element may be based on whether the hose is being pulled or not, and if the hose is not being pulled, there is no need to feed more cable from the motor. Consequently, power may be saved, and wear of the motor may be reduced.
• control unit is adapted to stop the motor from retracting the cable element when the tension in the cable element is above a second threshold, the second threshold being larger than the first threshold.
• this may allow for a reduction of wear of the motor.
• the device comprises:
• the first guiding means being spring suspended such that the first guiding means having a first and a second position, wherein the first guiding means is in the first position when a tension in the cable element is above the first threshold, and in the second position when the tension in the cable element is below the first threshold
• the device for measuring the tension of the cable element comprises a first sensor for sensing the position of the first guiding means, the first sensor being connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor from feeding of the cablee element when the guiding means is in the second position.
• guiding means is generally meant any type of means which may direct or guide the cable element in a particular direction.
• This embodiment provides a low complexity solution for measuring when the tension of the cable element is low (below the first threshold). Since a cable element not being tense may slack a bit, a spring suspended guiding means for the cable element may change position when this occur. Such change pf position may be easily measured with a sensor, which may output a signal relating to this change in positon to the control unit, to control the motor correspondingly.
• the first guiding means is spring suspended using two springs, wherein the first and the second spring is providing a force to the first guiding means in a similar direction, wherein the first spring provides the force to the guiding means during a first range of positions of the first guiding means, wherein the second spring provides the force to the first guiding means during a second range of positions of the first guiding means, wherein the first range is different from the second range, such that the guiding means having a third position, wherein the first guiding means is in the third position when the tension in the cable element is above the second threshold,
• the control unit is adapted to stop the motor from retracting the cable element when the guiding means is in the third position.
• a tension above the second threshold will cause a change in the position of the first guiding means, since a very tense cable element will have a different path/extent compared to a not so tense cable element or a slacking cable element.
• the second spring which starts providing a force to the first guiding means when the first guiding means is at a certain position (which is different from where the first spring starts affecting the first guiding means), may start affecting the first guiding means, thus moving the first guiding means further. Consequently, the first guiding means may have a third position when the tension of the cable element is high, and this position may be sensed by the first sensor, provided as input to the control unit to stop retraction of the cable element.
• the first sensor comprises a first sub- sensor for sensing when the guiding means is in the second position, and a second sub-sensor for sensing when the guiding means is in the third position.
• the device comprises a second guiding means for the cable element, the second guiding means being spring suspended such that the second guiding means having a first and a second position, wherein the second guiding means is in the first position when the tension in the cable element is above the second threshold, and in the second position when the tension in the cable element is below the second threshold, wherein the device for measuring the tension of the cable element further comprises a second sensor for sensing the position of the first guiding means, the second sensor being connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor from retracting the cable element when the second guiding means is in the first position.
• a second spring suspended guiding means is thus used to (via a second sensor and the control unit) stop the motor from retracting the cable element when the when the tension of the cable element is high, i.e. above the second threshold.
• the motor is suspended pivotally, such that the motor having a first position and a second position, wherein the motor is in the first position when the tension of the cable element is below the first threshold, and in the second position when the tension of the cable element is above the second threshold,
• the device for measuring the tension of the cable element comprises:
• a first sensor connected to the control unit for sensing when the motor is in the first position
• a second sensor connected to the control unit for sensing when the motor is in the second position
• control unit is adapted to stop the motor from feeding of the cable element when the motor is in the first position, and from retracting the cable element when the motor is in the second position.
• control unit is further receiving input when the fuel dispensing unit is dispensing fuel, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor from retracting the cable element when the fuel dispensing unit is dispensing fuel. This will increase security when operating the fuel dispensing unit and stop unnecessary use of the motor.
• control unit is further receiving input relating to if a nozzle connected to the hose is in an operating condition or not, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor from feeding of the cable element when the nozzle is not in an operating condition. For example, if the nozzle is suspended on the fuel dispensing unit, the nozzle is not in an operating condition for dispensing fuel. The nozzle may also be dysfunctional; in which case the hose may not be allowed to be pulled out. This will increase security when operating the fuel dispensing unit and stop unnecessary use of the motor.
• the fuel dispensing unit is connected to a pump for pumping fuel, wherein the control unit is further receiving input relating to the pump being involved in an ongoing transaction, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor from feeding of the cable element when the pump is involved in an ongoing transaction.
• the motor is adapted to be declutched. Consequently, the feeding of the cable element may be provided without the assistance of the motor. This may reduce wear of the motor.
• Fig. 1 shows a device for handling at least one hose in a fuel dispensing unit according to a first embodiment
• Fig. 2 shows a device for handling at least one hose in a fuel dispensing unit according to a second embodiment
• Fig. 3 shows a device for handling at least one hose in a fuel dispensing unit according to a third embodiment
• Fig. 4 shows a fuel dispensing unit according to one embodiment including the device of fig. 1.
• Fig. 5 shows a fuel dispensing unit according to another embodiment.
• Fig. 4 illustrates a fuel dispensing unit 400 having a device 100 for handling three hoses 404.
• the fuel dispensing unit 400 has an electrical cabinet (not shown) containing all the electronics for the fuel dispensing unit 400, a hydraulic cabinet (not shown) containing fuel dispensing means (not shown), e.g. fuel metering means, valves, vapor recovery system etc.
• the fuel dispensing unit 400 is connected to an underground reservoir (not shown) containing fuel.
• a pump not shown
• the fuel is pumped from the underground reservoir by means of a pump (not shown) which is located in the hydraulic cabinet, and from there to a hose connection (not shown) and out to a nozzle 406 via the hose 404.
• Each hose 404 are passed down around a deflecting roll 402. From the roll 402, the fuel hose 404 is passed upwards in the hose storage space (not shown).
• the deflecting roll 402 is adapted to be moved in the vertical direction, and will thus allow for the hose 404 to be returned to the hose storage space when moved down, and allow for the hose to be pulled out from the hose storage space when moved up.
• the position of the deflecting roll 402 is controlled by the device 100, and this will now be explained using figure 4 in conjunction with figure 1.
• the device 100 thus allow the hose 404 to be pulled out from the hose storage space and return the hose 404 to the hose storage space.
• the device comprises a cable element 104 connected to a motor 102 (in figures 1 -2 and 4-5, only a storage wheel 102 for the cable element 104 is show, which houses the cable when not fed to its fullest length, the storage wheel 102 being connected to the motor, shown in figure 3) for feeding and retracting the cable element.
• both ends of the cable element is connected to the motor 102, meaning that the cable element will be fed/retracted from both ends, thus increasing the efficiency of the device as will be described further below.
• a position of a first guiding means 112 When the cable element 104 is fed, a position of a first guiding means 112 will be changed, the first guiding element being spring suspended such that feeding of the cable element 104 will make the first guiding means 112 move in an upwards direction and retraction of the cable element will cause the first guiding element 112 to be moved in a downwards direction. Since the position of the first guiding element 112 control the position of the deflecting wheel 402, when the cable element 104 is being retracted, the hose 404 will be returned to the hose storage space, and when the cable element 104 is being fed, the hose 402 will be allowed to be pulled out from the hose storage.
• the device for handling at least one hose in a fuel dispensing unit comprises a device for measuring a tension of the cable element, and a control unit (not shown in the figures) for controlling the motor 102 (i.e. retraction and/or feeding of the cable element 104) based on input from the device for measuring the tension of the cable elements.
• the device 100 comprises a first guiding means 106 for the cable element 104, the first guiding means 106 being spring suspended using e.g. an extension spring 108 (other types of springs may be used, depending on the design of the device 100) fastened to a frame element 120 of the device. Consequently, the tension in the cable element 104 will exert a downwards force on the first guiding means 106 (moving the spring suspended guiding means 106 downwards), and the lack of tension will thus not exert a downwards force on the guiding means 106, leading to that the first guiding means 106 will be moved upwards due to the retracting force exerted on the guiding means 106 by the spring 108.
• an extension spring 108 other types of springs may be used, depending on the design of the device 100
• the first guiding means 106 will move based on the tension of the cable element 104, such that the first guiding means 106 has a first and a second position, wherein the first guiding means 106 is in the first position when a tension in the cable element 104 is above a first threshold tension, and in the second position when the tension in the cable element 104 is below the first threshold tension.
• This change in position may be sensed by a first sensor 110.
• Any type of sensor 110 may be applied, e.g. a proximity sensor for sensing the first guiding means 106, an infra-red sensor etc.
• the control unit (not shown) of the fuel dispensing unit is in this embodiment adapted to receive input from the sensor 110, to be informed of when the first guiding means 106 is in the second position, i.e. when the tension in the cable element 104 is below the first threshold tension, and to stop the motor 102 from feeding of the cable element 104. Since the tension of the cable element 104 is relative low in this case, the motor 102 can stop the feeding of the cable element 104.
• the feeding of the cable element 104 may according to some embodiments be provided by declutching the motor 102. Declutching may be handled by the control unit, e.g. based on the tension of the cable element 104. In other embodiments, the motor helps the feeding my spinning the storage wheel 102 in a feeding direction.
• the first guiding means 106 in this embodiment is an elongated hollow structure, housing the cable element 104. This is just by way of example, and any type of suitable design of the guiding means 106 may be applied.
• the fuel dispensing unit may be adapted to handle a plurality of hoses.
• the device handles 2 hoses.
• Each hose is handled (i.e. allowing each hose of the plurality of hoses to be pulled out from a hose storage space and return the hose to the hose storage space) using further guiding means 112,
• the second guiding means 112 for the cable element (e.g. pulleys, discs, rollers, etc.) wherein the second guiding means 112 is connected to a deflecting roll 402 as described above.
• the movement of the second guiding means 112 in a vertical direction thus allow for the respective hose to be pulled out or returned to the hose storage space in an easy to use way for the customer using the fuel dispensing unit.
• the movement of the second guiding means 112 is used for measuring tension in the cable element 104, and to stop retraction of the cable element 104 by the motor 102.
• the second guiding means e.g. a pulley or roller
• the second guiding means being spring suspended (not shown) such that the second guiding means having a first and a second position, wherein the second guiding means 112 is in the first position when the tension in the cable element 104 is above the second threshold, and in the second position when the tension in the cable element 104 is below the second threshold.
• the second guiding means 112 when the tension in the cable element 104 is high (above the second threshold), the second guiding means 112 will be in a lower position (first position), since the cable element 104 will exert a downwards pulling force on the second guiding means 112. When the tension is lower (below the second threshold), the retracting force of the spring of the second guiding means 112 will pull the second guiding means upwards to a higher (second) position.
• the device comprises a second sensor 118 (similar to the first sensor 110) which is connected to the control unit and adapted to input a signal when the second guiding means 112 is in the lower (first) position.
• the control unit will then stop the motor 102 from retracting the cable element 104. This will reduce the wear of the cable element 104, as well as on the motor 102.
• Figure 2 shows a second embodiment for how to stop the motor 102 from retracting the cable element 104 when the tension of the cable element 104 is high.
• the embodiment of figure 2 is similar to the one of figure 1 , but the second sensor 118 for sensing the position of the second guiding means 112 is replaced by the first guiding means 106 being spring suspended using two springs 108, 202.
• the two springs 108, 202 provides force in a similar direction, i.e. the first spring 108 providing a force to the guiding means in a first directions (upwards in figure 2), and the second spring 202 providing a force to the guiding means in a similar direction (upwards in figure 2).
• the second spring 202 of figure 2 may thus be a compression spring.
• the second spring is placed differently in the device, and may thus be an extension spring.
• a more stretched cable element 104 will cause the second spring 202 to start affecting the first guiding means 106 to further push up the first guiding means 106, such that the guiding means having a third position, wherein the first guiding means 106 is in a third (highest) position when the tension in the cable element 104 is above the second threshold.
• the first spring 108 provides the force to the first guiding means 106 during a first range of positions of the first guiding means 106
• the second spring 202 provides the force to the first guiding means 106 during a second range of positions of the first guiding means 106, wherein the first range is different from the second range.
• the control unit may be adapted to stop the motor from retracting the cable element 104 when the first guiding means 106 is in the third position.
• the sensing of the first, second and third position of the first guiding means 106 is handled by a single sensor.
• a first sub-sensor 204 is used for sensing when the first guiding means 106 is in the second position
• a second sub-sensor 206 is used for sensing when the first guiding means 106 is in the third position.
• Figure 3 shows a further design of how to sense tension in the cable element 104.
• the motor 102, 302 is suspended 310 pivotally using a spring 308 (fastened in a frame 312 of the device), such that it can move in a horizontal direction based on the tension of the cable element 104.
• the motor 102, 302 (in this embodiment surrounded by a housing 314) thus has a first position (to the left in figure 3) and a second position (to the right in figure 3) which depends on the tension of the cable element 104.
• the tension is low, the pulling force of the spring 308 will move the housing 314 to the left, such that it touches, or otherwise interact with, a first sensor 306.
• the control unit may use input from the two sensors 304, 306 to stop the motor 102, 302 from feeding of the cable element 104 when the motor 102, 302 is in the first position (to the left), and from retracting the cable element 104 when the motor 102, 302 is in the second position (to the right).
• the fuel dispensing unit is for dispending fuel using a pump (not shown) pumping fuel through the hose 404 and the nozzle 406 into e.g. a vehicle.
• a pump not shown
• the hose 404 is not retracted while the fuel dispensing unit is dispensing fuel.
• control unit is further receiving input when the fuel dispensing unit is dispensing fuel, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor 102 from retracting the cable element 104 when the fuel dispensing unit is dispensing fuel.
• control unit may further receive input relating to if a nozzle 406 connected to the hose 404 is in an operating condition or not, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor 102 from feeding of the cable element 104 when the nozzle is not in an operating condition.
• the pump for pumping fuel may be activated or not for a certain hose 404 and connected nozzle 406.
• the control unit is further receiving input relating to the pump being involved in an ongoing transaction, wherein the control unit is adapted to stop the motor from feeding of the cable element when the pump is involved in an ongoing transaction.
• FIG. 112, 116 may be a problem for the motor 102 to handle. It is advantageous if a weaker motor 102 can be used, both for cost reasons and for reducing power needed to run the fuel dispensing unit.
• Figure 4 and 5 shows different solution to this problem.
• the cable element is guided via a plurality of guiding means 112, 116.
• upper guiding mean 112 of the plurality of guiding means 112, 116 is spring suspended such that this guiding means 116 having a first and a second position (depending on the tension of the cable element 104). The position of the remaining guiding means 116 is fixed.
• At least one of the first and the second position of the movable guiding means 112 is located at a different altitude compared to an altitude of the fixed position of the remaining guiding means 116.
• Such positions of the guiding means 112, 116 will increase friction when the cable element 104 is retracted by the motor 102.
• the cable element 104 is connected to the motor 102 in both ends of the cable element 104 such that when the cable element 104 is being retracted or fed, the cable element 104 is retracted or fed from both ends of the cable element 104.
• feeding/retracting from both ends of the cable element 104 increase the speed of the feeding/retraction operation, and reduce wear of the motor 102 since less rotations of the storage wheel is needed.
• the plurality of guiding means 116, 112 consists of three guiding means, wherein the spring suspended guiding means 112 is positioned in between the other two guiding means 116 in a horizontal direction, wherein the cable element is guided via the three guiding means in a horizontal order.
• This is a low complexity design for moving the deflecting roller 402 as described above.
• the number of hoses 404 handled by the device (and motor 102) may be three or more.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=66448560

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2018
  • 2018-05-08 SE SE1850545A patent/SE542951C2/en unknown
• 2019
  • 2019-05-07 EP EP19722878.6A patent/EP3790836B1/de active Active
  • 2019-05-07 WO PCT/EP2019/061688 patent/WO2019215155A1/en unknown
  • 2019-05-07 AU AU2019266500A patent/AU2019266500B2/en active Active
  • 2019-05-07 PT PT197228786T patent/PT3790836T/pt unknown

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