GB2437318A

GB2437318A - A system for immobilising a vehicle having a dry line liquid delivery system

Info

Publication number: GB2437318A
Application number: GB0607857A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Johann Heidt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-04-20
Filing date: 2006-04-20
Publication date: 2007-10-24
Anticipated expiration: 2026-04-20
Also published as: GB0607857D0; GB2437318B

Abstract

A vehicle 1 with a tank 2 having a dry line liquid delivery system 3 is immobilised by a control means 4 when liquid is detected by a sensor 7 at a position in a delivery hose 6. The liquid may be detected at highest point in the hose leading to a hose real. The system may further comprise a gas extractor to ensure only the liquid to be delivered is monitored. A filter may remove any debris upstream of the gas extractor. The immobilisation may be for example electrical/electronic disabling of the engine or vehicle system or a brake interlock. Further disclosed is an emergency over-ride.

Description

VEHICLE WITH DRY LINE DELIVERY SYSTEM

This invention relates to a liquid transportation and delivery vehicle provided with a Dry Line liquid delivery system, for use particularly, but not exclusively for delivering fuels.

Fuel tankers which dispense a liquid fuel through a hose can have a Wet Line system or a Dry Line system. With a Dry Line the hose is pumped clear after delivery, whereas a Wet Line hose remains filled with fuel.

A Dry Line system has a number of advantages over a Wet Line system. Firstly, an empty hose is lighter and more manoeuvrable, in particular when large bulk delivery hose is used, and secondly as the hose is cleared after each delivery, multiple fuel types can be delivered from one tanker with the same hose.

With a Dry Line system the delivery is controlled by a valve between the tank and the hose. A meter is provided at the same location, which measures the quantity of fuel leaving the tank and entering the hose. Thus, fuel which has passed over the meter and entered the hose belongs to the customer. When the purchased quantity has passed over the meter the valve is shut, and the hose is pumped clear, ensuring that all the fuel which has passed over the meter is delivered.

To ensure nothing in the hose can be fraudulently retained by the operator no valve is provided at the end of the hose. It must therefore be drained before the vehicle can leave. This is an effective measure to ensure compliance with the law, but it is a rather basic approach which does have a number of drawbacks.

Firstly, when a hose is pumped clear as normal, there is often a residue of product still inside the hose. When the hose is wound back onto the reel this residue can work towards the end of the hose and spill out. This residue is usually a negligible amount in terms of cost, but it can be sufficient to cause a health or safety risk when it spills out. In addition, in the event of an emergency during a delivery, there is no way to immediately stop the flow of fuel from the hose. Both of these drawbacks would be overcome if a closure valve were provided at the free end of the hose. What is needed is a novel Dry Line system which ensures compliance with the law, but which also allows a closure valve to be fitted to the end of the hose.

Therefore according to a first aspect of the present invention a vehicle comprises a tank, a Dry Line liquid delivery system and vehicle control means, in which the liquid delivery system comprises a pump, hose means, and first sensor means adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point in the hose means downstream of said pump, in which the vehicle control means immobilises the vehicle when the first sensor means detects a liquid.

With this arrangement the vehicle can only leave the delivery site once the Dry Line hose is clear of fuel, according to the sensor. Thus, it is no longer necessary to have an open ended hose to ensure compliance with the law, and a closure valve can be fitted to overcome the above described drawbacks.

The "hose means" referred to above can comprise pipes and/or hose leading from the tank to a hose reel, and a Dry Line hose mounted on said hose reel. There are various known arrangements of pipes and/or hose leading from the tank to the hose reel, including rigid pipes or a jump hose. The invention can work with any arrangement.

A stop valve can be provided between the tank and the pump to control the delivery of product.

In order to pump a Dry Line hose clear it can be necessary to allow air into the system upstream of the pump. This can be drawn from an empty compartment of the tanker, or from atmosphere. In a preferred embodiment a closable air inlet means can be provided upstream of the pump. In one construction the pipes and/or hose leading from the tank to the hose reel can be disconnected from the stop valve, such that the closable air inlet means can comprise an end of the pipes and/or hose.

However, preferably the closable air inlet means can comprise an air valve between the stop valve and the pump, which is openable to atmosphere. This air valve can be controlled by a second sensor means provided between the stop valve and the pump. This second sensor means can be adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point between the stop valve and the pump, and to open the air valve when it detects no liquid there.

Thus, when the stop valve is shut the pump can continue to run, drawing product downstream. Once this product has cleared the second sensor means, it will open the air valve, and the pump can draw air from atmosphere to pump the hose clear. The second sensor means and the air valve therefore comprise a vacuum breaker arrangement. The point where the second sensor means is mounted can be determined by the capacity of the pipes and/or hose between the stop valve and the pump, and the power of the pump, to ensure that the pump can draw product towards it to such an extent that the second sensor means will be cleared of product when the pump is left running. The air valve can be a pneumatic valve.

In a preferred construction, although it is not strictly necessary according to the invention, a hose end stop valve can be provided at the outer end of the Dry Line hose. This stop valve can be shut after a delivery to prevent spillage, and can also be shut if an emergency situation arises during a delivery.

In one embodiment the first sensor means can be adapted to detect the presence of a liquid at the highest point in the pipes and/or hose leading to the hose reel. This point is usually adjacent the hose reel. This arrangement ensures that all the purchased product must be pumped at least into the hose before the vehicle could be moved. The action of winding the hose back onto the reel urges any fluid therein back towards the first sensor, and therefore the hose must be cleared before it is wound back onto the reel otherwise the first sensor will detect any returning liquid and the vehicle will be immobilised once more.

The liquid delivery system can further comprises a gas extractor, a gas diversion passage and a liquid meter all disposed downstream of said pump. The gas extractor can be disposed between the pump and the liquid meter, and the gas diversion passage can extend from the gas extractor to a point downstream of the liquid meter. This arrangement ensures that the meter only measures product, and not any air or other gas which might be present upstream of the gas extractor.

The gas diversion passage can be provided with an expansion box and closure means. The closure means can comprise a spring loaded non return valve, which can be provided downstream of the expansion box. The spring loaded non return valve can be biased against the flow of gas. This arrangement allows gas extracted from the product to be gathered at low pressure, and to only enter the hose once a certain pressure has been built up. As the valve is a non return valve it does not allow any product to enter the gas diversion passage. The non return valve can be loaded with approximately 1.5 psi of pressure.

Filter means can be provided upstream of the pump, and upstream of the gas extractor, to filter out any debris which may clog up the system.

The vehicle control means can immobilise the vehicle in any of the known ways this can be achieved, including electrically or electronically disabling the vehicle or its engine system. However, in a preferred arrangement the vehicle can be provided with a parking brake, and the control means can be a parking brake interlock which immobilises the vehicle by preventing the release of the parking brake.

In one arrangement an emergency override system can be provided to allow the parking brake to be released in the event of an emergency. A seal can be provided which must be broken to access the emergency override system, to prevent its fraudulent use.

The invention also includes a Dry Line arrangement for fitting to an existing tanker.

Therefore, according to a second aspect of the present invention a Dry Line liquid delivery system for a vehicle with a tank, comprises a pump, hose means, vehicle control means and first sensor means adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point in the hose means downstream of said pump, in which the vehicle control means immobilises a vehicle with which the delivery system is used when the first sensor means detects a liquid.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1 a vehicle 1 comprises a tank 2, a Dry Line liquid delivery system, generally designated 3, and vehicle control means in the form of parking brake interlock 4. The liquid delivery system 3 comprises a pump 5, hose means, generally designated 6, and first sensor means, in the form of liquid sensor 7, which is adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point in the hose means 6 downstream of said pump 5. As described below the vehicle control means 4 immobilises the vehicle 1 when the first sensor means 7 detects a liquid.

(Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention, and the various features are shown with diagrammatic symbols. Figure 1 does not show an actual vehicle, nor any particular position thereon of any of the components of the vehicle, other than where specifically stated below.) The hose means 6 comprises a jump hose section 8 which leads from a bank of stop valves 9 at the tank 2 to the pump 5; a junction section 10 which leads from the pump 5 to a hose reel 11; and a delivery hose 12 mounted on the reel 11.

The tank 2 has a number of compartments, and each one is provided with an outlet controlled by one of the stop valves 9. The jump hose section 8 can be connected to any one of these stop valves 9 in use via a manifold 13, to dispense fuel from its corresponding tank as required. Connected to the manifold 13 is an air inlet passage 14, which can be opened and closed by a pneumatic air valve 15. The air valve 15 is controlled by liquid sensor 16. When the liquid sensor 16 detects the presence of a liquid at its location along the jump hose section 8, the air valve 15 is shut, and when the liquid sensor 16 detects no liquid the air valve 15 is opened.

A gas extractor 17 is mounted in the junction section 10 downstream of the pump 5. Liquid which enters the gas extractor 17 continues downstream to a meter 18, where its quantity measured. Any gas present in the liquid entering the gas extractor 17 is diverted to a gas diversion passage 19, which bypasses the meter 18, and rejoins the junction section 10 downstream thereof.

The gas diversion passage 19 is provided with an expansion box 20 and a spring loaded non return valve 21 downstream thereof. The spring loaded non return valve 21 is biased against the flow of gas from the expansion box 20, and is loaded with 1.5 psi of pressure.

The liquid sensor 7 is mounted at physically the highest point in the junction section 10, adjacent the hose reel 11. When the liquid sensor 7 detects a liquid at this point it sends a signal to the parking brake interlock 4, which operates to prevent a parking brake (not shown) from being released. When the liquid sensor 7 detects no liquid it sends a signal to the parking brake interlock 4, which unlocks to allow the parking brake to be released. The parking brake interlock 4 is provided with an emergency override system 22 which is only operable by breaking a seal (not shown).

A hose end stop valve 23 is provided at the outer end of the delivery hose 12, which can open and close the hose 12.

Filter means (not shown) are provided upstream of the pump 5, and upstream of the gas extractor 17, to filter out any debris which may clog up the system.

In use the vehicle 1 operates as follows. The tank 2 is loaded with fuel to be delivered, and the vehicle 1 is driven to the location of the customer's tank. During this journey the hose end stop valve 23 is shut to prevent any leakage therefrom, and as no fuel is present in the junction section 10, the parking brake interlock 4 does not effect the parking brake.

Once on site the jump hose section 8 is connected to the appropriate valve 9, via the manifold 13,, and the valve 9 is opened to flood the liquid delivery system 3.

As a result the sensor 16 detects a liquid and shuts the air valve 15, if it is not already shut. The hose 12 is pulled from the reel 11 and its end is placed in the customer's tank. Once in position the pump 5 is run, which draws fuel from the tank 2 and pumps it through the junction section 10, and down the hose 12. The hose end valve 23 is opened and the fuel is dispensed.

As soon as the liquid sensor 7 detects a liquid pumped to its location from the pump 5, it sends a signal to the parking brake interlock 4, which locks the parking brake on, immobilising the vehicle 1.

When the fuel exits the pump 5 it enters the gas extractor 17. Any gas present in the fuel is diverted to the gas diversion passage 19 where it enters the expansion box 20. The fuel itself is directed to the meter 18, which measures its quantity. If the gas in the expansion box 20 reaches more than 1.5 psi, the non return valve 20 opens and the gas rejoins the fuel entering the hose 12. As valve 20 is a non return valve fuel passing down the junction section 10 cannot enter the gas diversion passage 19. As the gas is removed from the fuel passing over the meter 18 an accurate measurement is taken of the fuel being dispensed.

When the desired quantity has been delivered, according to the meter 18, the appropriate stop valve 9 is shut. However, the pump 5 continues to run, which creates a vacuum in the jump hose section 8. The pump 5 is of sufficient power to draw the fuel beyond the position of the liquid sensor 16. As soon as this occurs, the liquid sensor detects the absence of liquid and the air valve 15 is opened. Thus, the vacuum is broken, and the pump 5 can drawn in air from atmosphere and continue to pump the remaining fuel from the hose 12 until it is effectively clear.

The liquid sensor 7 continues to detect the presence of liquid until all the liquid in the system has reached and passed the highest point. Once this occurs the liquid sensor sends a signal to the parking brake interlock 4, which unlocks to allow the parking brake to be released, and the vehicle I to move once again. If any fuel remains in the hose after this point, it will be forced back towards the liquid sensor 7 when the hose 12 is wound back onto the reel, and will then be detected by the liquid sensor 7, which will send another signal to the parking break interlock 4 to lock the parking brake on. Therefore, a user must ensure that the hose 12 is completely clear before he attempts to store the hose 12 prior to leaving the site.

Once the line purge has been completed, the pump 5 is shut down, and the hose end valve 23 is shut. The hose 12 is then wound back onto the reel 11. Any residue of fuel which is worked towards the end of the hose 12 by virtue of the storing process does not leak from the hose 12 because the hose end valve 23 is shut.

Thus, the vehicle operator cannot move the vehicle I until substantially all the fuel which has passed over the meter 18 has been pumped into the customer's tank.

This prevents him from shutting the hose end valve 23 early, and fraudulently retaining product.

In the event of an emergency during delivery, for example a spillage or a fire, the hose end valve 23 can be shut immediately to prevent further fuel exiting the hose and potentially exacerbating the problem.

If the vehicle must be moved at this point, or at any other point where the liquid sensor 7 still detects a liquid, this is possible by activating the emergency override feature 22. This is only accessible by breaking a seal which is provided by Weights and Measures. The seal ensures that the override cannot be used without leaving evidence.

Thus, a vehicle is provided with a Dry Line delivery system which cannot be abused by the operator, but which is also provided with significant safety advantages over known arrangements.

The invention also includes a Dry Line arrangement for fitting to an existing tanker, and it is clear from the above description how such an arrangement could be fitted to an existing Dry Line delivery vehicle. It is simply necessary to fit sensors 7 and 16, air vent 14 and air valve 15, hose end stop valve 23, and the parking brake interlock 4. The means by which all this can be achieved is well known.

The embodiment shown in Figure 1 could be altered without departing from the scope of Claim 1. For example in one alternative embodiment (not shown) the second sensor 16 and the air vent 14 and air valve 15 are not included. Instead the jump hose section 8 is disconnected from the manifold 13 to brake the vacuum created by the pump in use and allow it to pump the hose 12 clear.

In addition, in other alternative embodiments (not shown) the means by which the vehicle is immobilised are different, and comprise known types of electronic vehicle immobilisers.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A vehicle comprising a tank, a Dry Line liquid delivery system and vehicle control means, in which the liquid delivery system comprises a pump, hose means, and first sensor means adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point in the hose means downstream of said pump, in which the vehicle control means immobilises the vehicle when the first sensor means detects a liquid.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim I in which the hose means comprises pipes and/or hose leading from the tank to a hose reel, and a Dry Line hose mounted on said hose reel.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 2 in which a stop valve is provided between the tank and the pump.

4. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 3 in which closable air inlet means are provided upstream of the pump.

5. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 4 in which pipes and/or hose leading from the tank to the hose reel can be disconnected from the stop valve, such that the closable air inlet means comprises an end of the pipes and/or hose.

6. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 4 in which the closable air inlet means comprises an air valve between the stop valve and the pump, which is openable to atmosphere.

7. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 6 in which second sensor means are provided between the stop valve and the pump, in which the second sensor means are adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point between the stop valve and the pump, and in which the air valve is opened to atmosphere when the second sensor means detects no liquid at said point.

8. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 7 in which the air valve is a pneumatic valve.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which a hose end stop valve is provided at an outer end of the Dry Line hose.

10. A vehicle as claimed in any of the preceding Claims in which the first sensor means are adapted to detect the presence of a liquid at the highest point in the pipes and/or hose leading to the hose reel.

11. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 10 in which said highest point is adjacent said hose reel.

12. A vehicle as claimed in any of the previous Claims in which the liquid delivery system further comprises a gas extractor, a gas diversion passage and a liquid meter all disposed downstream of said pump, in which the gas extractor is disposed between the pump and the liquid meter, and in which the gas diversion passage extends from the gas extractor to a point downstream of the liquid meter.

13. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 12 in which the gas diversion passage is provided with an expansion box and closure means.

14. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 13 in which the closure means comprises a spring loaded non return valve, which is provided downstream of the expansion box, and in which the spring loaded non return valve is biased against the flow of gas from the expansion box.

15. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 14 in which the spring loaded non return valve is loaded with approximately 1.5 psi of pressure.

16. A vehicle as claimed in any of the previous Claims in which filter means are provided upstream of the pump, and upstream of the gas extractor. p

17. A vehicle as claimed in any of the previous Claims in which the vehicle is provided with a parking brake, and in which the control comprises a parking brake interlock which immobilises the vehicle by preventing the release of the parking brake.

18. A vehicle substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. A Dry Line liquid delivery system for a vehicle with a tank, comprising a pump, hose means, vehicle control means and first sensor means adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point in the hose means downstream of said pump, in which the vehicle control means immobilises a vehicle with which the delivery system is used when the first sensor means detects a liquid.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 17. A vehicle as claimed in any of the previous Claims in which the vehicle is provided with a parking brake, and in which the control comprises a parking brake interlock which immobilises the vehicle by preventing the release of the parking brake.

18. A vehicle substantially as described herein and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. A Dry Line liquid delivery system for use only with a vehicle with a tank, in which the dry line liquid delivery system comprises a pump, hose means, vehicle control means and first sensor means adapted to detect the presence of liquid at a point in the hose means downstream of said pump, in which the vehicle control means is adapted to immobilise a vehicle with which the delivery system is used when the first sensor means detects a liquid in use. a.

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