FR2632942A1 - ANTI-MIXING SECURITY INSTALLATION OF PRODUCTS DEPOSITED BETWEEN A FIXED TANK AND A MOBILE CISTERN - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety arrangement for preventing the mixing of products during the transferring operations between at least one fixed storage tank and at least one movable reservoir, each provided with at least one filling or emptying valve (3, 2a) respectively. The arrangement according to the invention is distinguished in that it comprises a key which is coded as a function of the product to be transferred and which is connected by a linking means (6) to one (3) of the valves, that of the storage tank or the reservoir respectively, locking systems (30) which are mounted on the said valves, and an unlocking device (5a) which is arranged in the vicinity of the other valve (2a), that of the reservoir or the storage tank respectively, and which comprises a recognition means coded as a function of the product and so as to be matched to the said key, so as to control the unlocking of the said locking systems when the coding of the recognition means corresponds to that of the key.

Description

Anti-mixing safety device for de-iced products

  between a fixed tank and a mobile tank.

  The invention relates to a safety installation for avoiding product mixtures during de-stuffing operations between at least one fixed vessel and at least one mobile tank. The unfortunate mixtures of products, made during deliveries, and more particularly of fuel deliveries between the tanker trucks and the tanks of the stations

service are very numerous.

  The risks of mixing are enormous when it is known that service stations are generally provided with several tanks with filling valves of identical appearance and that tanker trucks are also provided with several valves for emptying, sometimes several separate compartments or tanks . The risks of mixing are further increased by the fact that the allocations of the receiving tanks, such as those of the vats of the truck vary over time so that one vat for one product becomes a vat for another product, while a mixture of the two products often leads to the total loss of

  products and requires important tank cleaning work.

  The resulting mixtures cause in all cases

costs often considerable.

  In order to avoid mixing, it is possible to increase the checking and checking instructions and, if necessary, to reduce the number of tanks or compartments of tanker trucks. However, this obviously does not give satisfaction and, on the contrary, it is necessary to increase the delivery possibilities with the arrival of new types of fuels, which can not be achieved.

  increase the risks of mixtures.

  This is why the inventor has devised a safety installation for the de-stuffing of products between at least one fixed tank and at least one mobile tank, each provided with at least one filling or draining valve, which installation is remarkable. in that it comprises a key which is coded according to the product to be discharged and which is connected by means of connection to one of the valves, that of the tank or tank respectively, locking systems, which are mounted on said valves, and an unlocking device which is arranged in the vicinity of the other valve, that of the tank or tank respectively, and which comprises a means of recognition coded according to the product and in conjunction with said key , so as to control the unlocking of said locking systems when the coding of the means of

  recognition corresponds to that of the key.

  The invention relates more particularly to fuel delivery facilities, as will be specified below, but the invention is generalized of course to the unloading

other products.

  In addition, if generally the transfer is effected from the mobile tank to the fixed vessel, said transfer may well

sure to go the other way.

  The locking systems can be arranged to be unlocked by any means, electrical or otherwise. However, a preferred embodiment is remarkable in that said valve locking systems are arranged to be unlocked by the action of a fluid, in that the connecting means is a flexible pipe, in that the device the unlocking device is connected to a fluid supply circuit and the key is arranged to allow the fluid of said supply circuit to actuate the unlocking of the locking systems when the key corresponds to the recognition means of the unlocking device , which means of

  recognition is arranged to receive and retain said key.

  Advantageously in this case the key is tubular and comprises at least one passage at its end, while the unlocking device comprises a double-pass valve, intended to put the fluid supply circuit in communication, on the one hand, with the inside of the key and thus with the locking system of one of the valves, via the flexible pipe and, secondly, with the locking system of the other valve which is provided with said device of

  unlocking, via a control line.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the valve comprises a part which is slidably mounted and which is provided with at least one aperture intended to put the supply circuit in communication with the passage of the key, through said aperture of the part. when it is pushed by the key against the effect of an elastic means which urges said piece towards a closed position, while a valve biased to closure by another elastic means allows to put in communication the circuit of supply with the control line when it is solicited against said other means

  resilient by at least a portion of the slider.

  -The recognition means of the locking device is, for example, a receptacle provided with retaining means arranged in conjunction with complementary means of the key to retain the latter when said complementary means cooperate with each other. The receptacle provided with the retaining means is, for example, removably fixed so as to be changed at will depending on the product contained in the tank or tank respectively, whose valve is equipped with the unlocking device. However, according to one variant, said receptacle is a moving part provided with several sets of retaining means, so as to make it possible to select a set of means according to the position of said moving part, as a function of the product contained in the tank or respectively the tank, whose

  valve is equipped with the unlocking device.

  For an installation between several fixed tanks and a tank truck provided with several compartments, there are, for example, several keys connected to as many tanks while said compartments are each provided with a valve and an unlocking device, each key being coded according to the product to be received and each unlocking device being provided with a recognition means -coded according to the product

  contained in the corresponding compartment.

  When the unlocking control means of the locking systems are actuated by a fluid, the latter may be oil or a gas. However, for a tanker truck, it is obviously advantageous for the fluid in question to be air and for the supply circuit to be the pneumatic circuit.

of servitude of the truck.

  The invention will be well understood and other features

  will appear on reading the description which follows and which

  Referring to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 schematically shows a tanker truck in the process of unloading operation with a fixed vessel, - Figure 2 shows one of the valves of the truck equipped according to the invention, - the figure 3 is an enlarged view of part of the system of FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a view along arrow IV of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 shows one of the elements of FIG. 6 shows a key according to the invention, - Figures 7a, 7b and 7c show in section along VII-VII the device of Figure 3 in three positions, Figures 7b and 7c further showing the key of Figure 6

introduced into the system.

  Figure 1 shows a tanker truck 1 with a battery of valves 2a to 2k. Each valve 2 generally corresponds to a tank or a compartment of the tanker truck and makes it possible to transfer the product of said compartment to a fixed tank equipped with a valve

  such as 3, by means of a stripping pipe 4.

  In FIG. 1, the valve 2a is in function and as shown in FIG. 3, the valve 3 is connected via a flexible pipe 6 to a device 5a associated with said valve 2a and of which it will be discussed in more detail below. The pipe 6 is arranged to be stored at rest

  in a support 7, for example by winding.

  FIG. 2 shows one of the valves of the truck, referenced by the general number 2. This valve 2 can open and close by means of an operating handle 8. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the handle 8 can be locked at the opening (which is done by a pulling action to the front), by a single-acting cylinder, which constitutes a locking system 9 for- said valve .. The locking system 9, and more particularly the actuator constituting it, is connected, by a control line schematically in 10, to a device for unlocking

  general reference 5 (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4).

  The unlocking device 5 is designed to receive

  the end of the flexible pipe 6 (Figures 1 and 2).

  The device 5 is arranged to receive a tubular piece 12, shown in perspective in isolation in Figure 5, while the end of the pipe 6 is equipped with a tubular key 13 shown in isolation in Figure 6 and is intended to be introduced into the room

tubular 12 (Figures 2, 7a and 7b).

  The device 5 comprises a housing 14 (FIG. 4) for receiving a corresponding part 14 'of the part 12 (FIG. 5) while a blocking means 15 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided for locking and unlocking the part 12 which is provided with conjugate means 15 '(FIG. 5), said means possibly also being

  bayonet type for example, or otherwise.

  As shown in FIGS. 7a to 7c, the part 12 is provided with spring loaded plungers 16 and 17. By way of example, the pusher 16 is a split spring plunger and the

  Pusher 17 is a hexagonal spring head.

  The pushers 16 and 17 are intended to constitute retaining means for the key 13 (FIGS. 7b and 7c), when the latter is provided with conjugate means in the form of a groove 18

(Figures 6).

  The pushers 16 and 17 constitute for the piece 12, means for recognizing and retaining the key 13, when it is provided with conjugate means. It is therefore clear that the key can be coded at will according to the product to be received by the tank whose valve 3 is connected to the pipe 6, while in the same way, the part 12 can be coded according to the product contained in the truck compartment which corresponds to the valve 2 connected by 9 to the unlocking device provided with

said piece 12 (Figure 2).

  It is also clear that the codings are easy to achieve in the examples shown since it is sufficient to provide pushers in the room 12 and grooves on the key 13 to

selected places.

  The device 5 and more generally all the unlocking devices (5a to 5k, one per truck valve) are connected to the pneumatic servitude circuit of the truck by means of a main body 19 which is provided with a central bore in which circulates

  the air circuit according to the arrow F1 (Figures 7a, 7b, 7c).

  In the body 19 (FIGS. 7a to 7c) is provided a part 20 which is slidably mounted in leaktight manner by means of joints

O-rings 21.

  The piece 20 is provided with at least one aperture such as 22, arranged to communicate with the central bore of the body 19 (FIGS. 7b and 7c) when said part is sufficiently slid (towards the right with respect to FIGS. 7c) against the

solicitation of a spring 23.

  In addition, the part 20 is provided with a lug 24 intended to urge a spherical valve 25. The valve 25 is intended when it is pushed by the lug 24, to put in communication the bore, central body 19 with an outlet 26 (Figure 7c), the latter being connected to the control line 10 (Figure 2), while another spring 27 urges the valve 25 to close. The piece 12 is further provided with a stop ring

26.32942

  28, intended to come at the end of the race in abutment with the body 19.

  The key 13 is provided at its end with a passage 29 (FIG. 6) and the valve 3 of the fixed vessel (FIG. 1) is provided with an opening means such as a flywheel 11 locked by a means 30, which can be unlocked pneumatically. As shown

  FIG. 1, the means 30 is connected to the pipe 6.

  The operation is simple to understand.

  Each valve 3 is provided with a pipe 6 and a key 13, coded according to the product to be received. Each device 5 (5a to 5k in FIG. 1) is provided with a part 12 encoded in

  function of the product of the corresponding compartment of the tank.

  Initially, the valve 3 is locked by the system 30 and each valve 2 (2a to 2k) is blocked by its system.

lock 9.

  To proceed with the removal, it is necessary to introduce the key 13 of the pipe 6 into the part 12 of the corresponding device 5. FIG. 7a shows the device before the introduction of the key 13, the air of the service circuit of the truck passing through the

body 13 according to the arrow F1.

  Figure 7b shows the key 13 'in the partial insertion position. In this position, the piece 20 pushed by the end of the key 13 communicates the opening 22 of the piece 20 with the central bore of the body 19. The passage 29 of the key 13 (Figure 6) is arranged with to position substantially coaxially with the aperture 22 of the pawl 20 when said key is fully pressed into the part 12, so that the air of the body 19 reaches the key 13, as the

  shows the arrow F of Figures 7b and 7c.

  The key 13 must be pushed further to take the position of Figure 7c and open the valve 25 so as to

  send air through 26 according to arrow F3.

  It is clear that the key 13 is held in the piece 12 (FIG. 7c) only if the push-buttons 16, 17 correspond to the

18 throat of the key.

  In the position of FIG. 7c, pressurized air is sent, on the one hand, along F2 to the system 30 of the valve 3 via line 6, which allows pneumatic unlocking of said system 30 and, on the other hand, according to F3 to the system 9 via line 10 (FIG. 2), which allows an unlocking of said system 9 and consequently a possible unloading between the truck

and the fixed bowl.

  If the compartments or vats of trucks are intended to receive various products, it is sufficient for each filling of the

  truck, to provide the proper parts.

  However, to facilitate this operation, it is possible to provide a single piece 12 provided with several inputs and mounted for example rotating to allow

  select the coding according to its angular position.

  Many variations and modifications can

  obviously be provided without departing from the scope of the invention.

  Thus, the coding means can be very diverse, positions of the pistons and / or shapes and various sections, In addition, if the pneumatic system described seems preferable, it could of course be hydraulic, and even electrical, the piece 12 to be considered as a means of

  coded recognition of a coded key 13.

  The locking systems of the truck side valves could also be, according to one embodiment, a control of the bottom valves of the compartments under consideration, said flaps

  being actuated by the unlocking devices.

  Finally, many arrangements are possible, particular colors being for example provided for

  ducts 6 and parts 12 according to the products, ...

Claims (9)

  1) Anti-product mixing safety device during the unloading operations between at least one fixed tank and at least one mobile tank each provided with at least one filling or draining valve (3.2), characterized in that it comprises a key (13) which is coded according to the product to be discharged and which is connected by a connecting means (6) to one (3) of the valves, that of the tank or respectively of the tank, locking systems (9,30), which are mounted on said valves, and an unlocking device (5) which is arranged in the vicinity of the other valve (2), that of the tank or tank respectively , and which comprises a means of recognition (12) coded according to the product and in conjunction with said key, so as to control the unlocking of said locking systems when the coding of the means of   recognition corresponds to that of the key.   2) Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking systems (9,30) of the valves are arranged to be unlocked by the action of a fluid, in that the connecting means isafconduite flexible (6) , in that the unlocking device (5) is connected to a fluid supply circuit and in that the key (13) is arranged to allow the fluid of said supply circuit to actuate the unlocking of the locking systems when the key corresponds to the recognition means (12) of the unlocking device, which recognition means is arranged to receive and hold said key.   3) Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the key (13) is tubular and comprises at least one passage (29) at its end, while the unlocking device (5) comprises a valve 'double passage, for to put the fluid supply circuit in communication, on the one hand, with the interior of the key (13) and thus with the locking system (30) of one of the valves (3), via the pipe flexible (6) and, on the other hand, with the locking system (9) of the other valve (2) which is provided with said   unlocking (5) via a control line (10).   4) Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that the valve comprises a part (20) which is slidably mounted and which is provided with at least one aperture (22) for communicating the supply circuit with the passage (29) of the key, through said aperture of the piece (20) when it is pushed by the key (13) against the effect of an elastic means (23) which urges said piece towards a closed position , while a valve (25) biased to closure by another elastic means (27) allows to put the supply circuit in communication with the control pipe (10) when it is solicited against the other elastic means by at least   a portion (24) of the slider.   5) Installation according to one of claims 1 to 4,   characterized in that the means for recognizing the unlocking device is a receptacle (12) provided with retaining means (16, 17) arranged in conjunction with complementary means (18) of the key for retaining the latter when said means cooperate with each other.   6) Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the receptacle (12) provided with retaining means is removably attached so as to be changed at will depending on the product contained in the tank or respectively the   tank, whose valve is equipped with the unlocking device.   7) Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that the receptacle (12) provided with the retaining means is a movable part provided with several sets of retaining means, so as to select a set of means according to the position of said mobile part, depending on the product contained in the tank or tank respectively, whose valve is   equipped with the unlocking device.   8) Installation according to one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that several keys are connected to as many fixed tanks and in that the mobile tank is a tanker truck provided with several compartments each provided with a valve (2a to 2k) and an unlocking device (5a to 5k ), each key being coded according to the product to be received and each unlocking device being provided with a coded recognition means in   function of the product contained in the corresponding compartment.   9) Installation according to the set of claims 2 and   8, characterized in that the control fluid is air and the supply circuit, the pneumatic servitude circuit of the truck.