GB2361063A

GB2361063A - Measuring device for the contents of tanker compartments used for the transport of fuel

Info

Publication number: GB2361063A
Application number: GB0011783A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jose M Gomez
Original assignee: Caldal SL
Current assignee: Caldal SL
Priority date: 2000-04-07
Filing date: 2000-05-16
Publication date: 2001-10-10
Also published as: GB0011783D0; ES1045826Y; PT9632T; ES1045826U

Abstract

The device is intended for use in fuel tanker road vehicles designed with one or more compartments and is joined fast to the tank (1), being adapted to follow the tanker profile. It comprises a transparent or translucent tube 16, calibrated or with a dipstick. At its lower end, the tube 16 is linked to a tank bottom valve 4; at its upper end, the tube 16 is coupled to a rigid tube 20 joined via a safety valve to a tank gas collector 19.

Description

2361063 1 MEASURING DEVICE FOR THE CONTENTS OF TANKER COMPARTMENTS USED

FOR THE TRANSPORT OF FUEL

DESCRIPTION

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION The purpose of this invention, a measuring device to gauge the contents of the tankers compartments used in the transport of fuel is to control the amount of available product in each compartment of the tanker avoiding the hazard of polluting gases being issued to the atmosphere, following the use of a device attached to the tanker.

STATE OF THE ART DESCRIPTION

The State of the Art concerning the measurement of the contents in fuel tankers used to convey the said fuel to the petrol stations or direct clients is based on the use of dipsticks with millimetre measurements which are introduced in an opening located at the flange or upper section of the tanker's compartment which has a vertical conductor pipe leading to its lower section.

The dipstick with millimetre measurements is introduced by an operator located on top of the tank within the conductor pipe through the cap screw located in the flange and when the former extracts the dipstick he shall be able to read the level of liquid in the compartment as the liquid shall impregnate the dipstick thus showing its level.

The problem with this type of measurement is that it is contrary to the European Community legislation on the issue of gas collection which establishes that as from the first of January of the year 2000, any external opening or access 2 should be closed during the loading and unloading process, and therefore the measuring systems set out in this application are needed in order to measure the amount of product available within the compartment without breaching the European Community environmental legal provisions which shall become 5 enforceable shortly.

DESCRIPTION

In order to solve the foregoing difficulties, this measurement device has been developed to be used in the compartments of the fuel tankers, thus leading to this application fora utility model.

The measuring device for the contents of the compartments within tankers used in the conveyance of fuel consists mainly in a transparent or translucent tube, preferably manufactured in plastic located on one side of the compartment and joined fast to the latter, thus adapting itself perfectly to the curvature of the abovementioned compartment without having any effect in its dimensions.

Next to the tube, and in the event that the latter has not been calibrated, there is a calibrated dipstick used for measuring, likewise curved and next to the tube, and both devices are protected as they are located within the inner section of a U-shaped extrusion profile, located together with its base on the rim of the tanker.

The dipstick is calibrated according to the tank in which it is located, as its dimensions are variable, thereby varying the volume contained, but the latter may be calculated by virtue of the tube's measurements which provides the level of the inside contents. The level regarding the dipstick's base in specific for each tanker vehicle by means of a calibration chart.

3 The measuring process is undertaken pursuant to the principle of communicating vessels which explains how two U-shaped tubes linked by their lower section, with the upper section subjected to equal pressure and in which a liquid is poured, provides the same liquid level in both vessels, whereby the product's level within the tanker, if the tanker and the tube are linked by a hose or a pipe, shall be that shown in the main dipstick in millimetres. In order to check the measurement with greater ease, the tube shall be provided with a ball or inner device, preferably made of plastic to allow it to float in the fuel therein contained due to its lower density when compared to the latter, and thereby, as we have previously mentioned, the fuel's level may be measured in the tube taking as reference the said ball which provides a reading for the attached dipstick.

The tube, as previously mentioned, shall be joined with the tank, thereby avoiding the use of other devices which may hinder its handling and the measuring of its contents.

The tank, divided into compartments, is linked to the tube by means of a pipe or hose which is linked on one end to the lower valve of each compartment and on the other end to the lower section of the measuring column (tube), while the purpose of the upper section of the tube is to link the liquid and gaseous phases in the tank's compartment with the tube used for its measurement. To that end, the upper part of the tank, where the product is available in its gaseous phase is linked to the upper end of the tube by means of a coupling, thus enabling the collection of gas. In this way the gas pressure within the tube and in the tank shall be equal, thereby complying with the directive on pollution and avoiding any external escape of gas.

The lower section of the tube is provided with a vent valve and a closing valve, from which a flexible connection is linked to the tanker, by means of a mechanism available within the latter, whether a converter or a coupling API connector, or a closing valve of the tanker whose purpose is to allow the hose 4 connection for the discharge of the product. On opening the bottom valve of the tank, and due to the communicating vessels, the product's level in the tube rises until the existing level of the product inside the tank is equalled.

The purpose of the vent valve within the tube is twofold, on the one hand it effectively acts as a blowoff valve which empties the tube of that amount of product which has been used as a measurement, and on the other hand it acts as a connector to a Pump which is operated either by a pneumatic, electrical or hydraulic mechanism, or manually in order to transfer the product used in the measurement back to the tank.

By means of this invention, the problems posed by the former measuring methods prior to this application for a utility model are solved.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to provide a better comprehension of the measuring for the contents of the compartments within tankers used for the conveyance of fuel, two drawings are attached to this application for a utility model which attempt to provide a fuller understanding of the grounds on which this invention is based, and a better view of the description regarding one of the most successful ways of executing it taking into account that the drawings are purely for information purposes and does not limit other possibilities.

Drawing 1 provides a view of the rear section where the measuring tube is located as well as of the different elements which take part in any measurement conducted.

Drawing 2 provides a partial lateral view of the tank in which the measuring tube and a section of the latter is shown.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEVICE'S PREFERRED EXECUTION

The measuring device for the contents of the compartments within tankers used for the conveyance of fuel comprises several linked elements, the main one being a measuring column (tube) (16) joined to the tank (1) and curved in order to adapt itself to the latter's profile.

The purpose of this device is to measure the contents of the tankers avoiding the emission of polluting gas to the environment. The device is based on the principle of communicating vessels and allows for the measurement of the liquid's level if the latter is subjected to the same pressure in both vessels and the vessels are connected by their lower section.

The measuring process is simple as the measuring tube (16) is made of transparent or translucent material in order to check the level of the product which must be equal to that inside the tank (1) and the said tube is provided with a plastic ball inside it in order to simply the measuring process. This tube may have millimetre marks or be attached to a dipstick with millimetre markings (15) calibrated according to each tanker. The measuring tube (16) and the measuring dipstick (15) are located inside an extruded U-shaped profile (14) of aluminium joined likewise to the tank.

The connection of the product in its liquid phase (2) between the measuring tube (16) and the tank (1) is conducted by a bottom valve, located in the tank (1) and through a dry fast coupling (10) linked to the measuring tube (16) by means of a flexible hose (18). Between the abovementioned lower(bottom) valve (4) of the tank (1) and the fast coupling (10) the following elements are stream arranged, linked to the bottom valve (4) there is a loading and unloading pipe (5), and next an API loading and unloading coupling connected to a API/DIN convertor (5) and between the latter and the fast coupling (10) a special coupling is provided (8).

6 Next to the fast coupling, a closing valve is located (9) which isolates the system from outside. Another special coupling is attached to the latter valve (11) in order to link the fuel(2) unloading hose (12) to the tank (1).

The link between the two foregoing elements, but this time in their gaseous phase (3), is linked to the tube (16) by means of link connectors of rigid tubing (20) with the transparent tube, the latter being the measuring tube (16). The rigid tube joints the measuring column tube (16) with the gas collectors (19) of the tank, thus avoiding the emission of gases to the atmosphere.

Once this connection has been carried out, the measuring process is conducted by visualising the tube's measurement (16) which is matched against specific conversion tables for each tank in order to find out the remaining volume in each compartment.

The invention, considering its essential elements herein set out, may be executed in other ways which only differ from that mentioned above in minor details, by way of example. Therefore, the device may be manufactured in any size and shape, with the materials and means considered the most adequate and with the accessories deemed appropriate, and its component elements may be replaced by others technically equivalent, as all the foregoing is included within the scope of the claims herebelow.

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Claims

1. Measuring device for the contents of the tankers' compartments used in the conveyance of fuel intended for its use in fuel tanker road vehicles designed with one or more compartments and with the specification that the measuring device is joined fast to the tank.

2. Measuring device for the contents of the tankers' compartments used in the conveyance of fuel as per the first claim, with the specification that the measuring device adapts itself to the tank's profile which notwithstanding, does not influence the measurement made.

3. Measuring device for the contents of the tankers' compartments used in the conveyance of fuel, as per the above claims, with the specification that the device in question is made up of a transparent or translucent tube which may have millimetre markings, or else be calibrated, or have a calibrated or millimetre markings dipstick, and all the foregoing may be protected by a U-shaped extrusion profile joined fast to the tank at base level.

4. Measuring device for the contents of the tankers' compartments used in the conveyance of fuel, as per the above claims, with the specification that the measuring tube is linked in its lower section to a valve on the bottom of the tank by means of a fast dry coupling connection, a special coupling, a convertor, a loading and unloading coupling and a loading and unloading piping.

5. Measuring device for the contents of the tankers' compartments used in the conveyance of fuel, as per the above claims, with the specification that the measuring tube is linked in its upper section by means of several connectors to a rigid tube which is joined through a safety valve to the gas collector of the tank.

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6. Measuring device for the contents of the tankers' compartments used in the conveyance of fuel, as per the fourth claim, with the specification that by means of the special coupling it becomes possible to connect a pump which is either operated by pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical or manual means in order to return the product used when measuring the tank.