GB2574813A

GB2574813A - Fuel delivery vehicle manifold

Info

Publication number: GB2574813A
Application number: GB201809940A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Poulter Trevor
Original assignee: Fairfax 3d Design Ltd
Current assignee: Fairfax 3d Design Ltd
Priority date: 2018-06-18
Filing date: 2018-06-18
Publication date: 2019-12-25
Also published as: GB201809940D0

Abstract

A manifold 100 for use with a fuel delivery vehicle comprises inlet conduits 130 and an outlet port 120, connected in fluid communication through a collector conduit 112. Each inlet conduit has an inlet aperture 132 for coupling to a fuel valve. The inlet apertures are arranged in a common plane. The collector conduit has a ceiling extending along its length, i.e. that part of the internal bore of each collector conduit which in cross-section perpendicular to its length is closest to the common plane. This ceiling is inclined relative to the common plane. In other words, the collector conduit is inclined to enable a separation of the liquid and gaseous phases which minimises gases becoming entrained in the dispensed fuel. The manifold may comprise a sight glass 150 for checking whether the fuel is free of gas before dispensing. The manifold may be used on a compartmented fuel tank.

Description

FUEL DELIVERY VEHICLE MANIFOLD

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to fuel delivery vehicle manifolds, systems for fuel delivery vehicles and fuel delivery vehicles.

BACKGROUND

Contemporary fuel delivery vehicles for transporting liquid petroleum fuel typically have a multi-chamber fuel tank, coupled through respective fuel valves and a manifold to an outlet. By use of separate chambers, different grades of petroleum fuel may be transported. Each chamber dispenses through a respective fuel valve and into the manifold, entering the manifold through a respective input port of a collector (conduit), and exiting the collector through an outlet port. The collector extends generally parallel to the ground beneath the fuel delivery vehicle. Accordingly, in use, the ceiling of the collector is substantially parallel to the underlying ground on which the fuel delivery vehicle stands, which should deviate from the horizontal by no more than a few degrees, during fuel delivery to a customer.

At the start of dispensing fuel from the fuel chamber of the multi-chamber tank, the respective valve is opened, and fuel flows into the collector. Gas (e.g. air or petroleum vapour) is present in the collector before liquid fuel is dispensed. Once the liquid fuel enters the collector, one or more pockets of gas may become trapped against the ceiling of the collector. A substantial pocket of gas may be trapped if the fuel delivery vehicle is parked on ground that slopes. Further, the flow of liquid fuel into the collector is turbulent, causing bubbles of gas to become entrained into the liquid fuel.

Bubbles rising to the ceiling of the collector and any pockets of gas become trapped by the horizontal (or approximately horizontal) ceiling and may become entrained into the flow of liquid fuel during fuel delivery. Further, during fuel delivery, the flow of liquid fuel through the collector between the open valve and the outlet causes agitation of the liquid fuel elsewhere in the collector, leading to gas in the gas pockets within the collector to become entrained into the flow. However, the delivery of fuel is typically measured volumetrically, and the entrainment of gas into the liquid fuel introduces errors into the volumetric measurement of the delivered fuel.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a fuel delivery vehicle manifold and a fuel delivery vehicle as set forth in the appended claims.

According to a first aspect, there is provided a fuel delivery vehicle manifold comprising: a plurality of manifold inlet conduits each having a respective inlet aperture for coupling to a fuel valve; a manifold outlet port; and a collector conduit providing fluid communication between the manifold inlet conduits and the manifold outlet port wherein the inlet apertures are arranged in a common plane, and the collector conduit has a ceiling extending along its length that is the part of the internal bore of each collector conduit that, in cross-section perpendicular to its length, is closest to the common plane, and the ceiling is inclined relative to the common plane.

According to a second aspect, there is provided a fuel delivery system comprising: a multichamber fuel tank; a fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any preceding claim; and an arrangement of fuel valves coupled between respective chambers of the multi-chamber fuel tank and fuel delivery vehicle manifold.

According to a third aspect, there is provided a fuel delivery vehicle having a trailer provided with the fuel delivery system of the second aspect.

The collector conduit may comprise first and second collector conduits that each has a ceiling extending along its length that is the part of the internal bore of the collector conduit that, in cross-section perpendicular to its length, is closest to the common plane, and each ceiling is inclined relative to the common plane, and the ceilings of the first and second collector conduits are oppositely inclined relative to the common plane.

The or each ceiling may be inclined relative to the common plane by an angle of at least 10°.

The or each ceiling may be inclined relative to the common plane by an angle of 10° to 15°.

The manifold inlet conduits may extend substantially perpendicularly to the common plane.

The collector conduit may be provided with a sight glass.

The manifold inlet conduits may have respective connecting faces that are coplanar with the common plane.

The manifold inlet conduits may have respective connecting faces with coupling faces that are inclined relative to the common plane.

The manifold inlet conduits and a collector conduit may be formed as a single piece.

The manifold inlet conduits and a collector conduit may comprise a plurality of modular sections.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a first fuel delivery vehicle manifold;

• Figure 1B shows a cutaway view of the fuel delivery vehicle manifold of Figure 1 A;

• Figure 1C shows a cutaway view of part of a fuel delivery system including the fuel delivery vehicle manifold of Figure 1B;

• Figure 1D shows a fuel delivery vehicle having the fuel delivery system of Figure 1C;

• Figures 2A and 2B show a perspective view and a cutaway view of a second fuel delivery vehicle manifold;

• Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a third fuel delivery vehicle manifold;

• Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a fourth fuel delivery vehicle manifold; and • Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a fifth fuel delivery vehicle manifold.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In the described examples, like features have been identified with like numerals, albeit in some cases having one or more of: increments of integer multiples of 100; and suffix letters. For example, in different figures, 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 have been used to indicate a fuel delivery vehicle manifold, and 110A, 110B, 210A, 210B, 310A, 310B, 410A, 410B and 510 have been used to indicate a collector.

Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a fuel delivery vehicle manifold 100, which is shown schematically in a cutaway view in Figure 1B. Figure 1C schematically illustrates a fuel delivery system 160 having the fuel delivery vehicle manifold 100 of Figure 1B, and Figure 1D shows the fuel delivery system built into a fuel delivery vehicle 180.

The manifold 100 has two collectors (collector conduits) 110A, 110B that couple between a plurality of manifold inlet conduits 130A-130E (e.g. five manifold inlet conduits) and a manifold outlet port (or manifold outlet conduit) 116, provided with a manifold outlet valve (not shown). At the opposite ends of the manifold inlet conduits 130A-130E from the collectors 110, 110B, the manifold 100 is provided with apertures 132 for coupling to the valves V1-V5 and the associated chambers 172 of the multi-chamber fuel tank 170, in the fuel delivery system 160. The centres of the apertures 132 of the inlet conduits 130A-130E are arranged in a common plane P, e.g. substantially parallel to the ground on which the fuel delivery vehicle 180 stands during dispensing.

In the illustrated manifold 100, the inlet conduits 130A-130E are provided with flanges 134 around the apertures 132, for connecting to the valves V1-V5, or intervening further conduits, which are parallel (e.g. coplanar) with the common plane P. The flanges 134 may be coplanar with the common plane P, as shown in Figures 1A and 1B. Alternatively, the flanges 134 may be inclined relative to the common plane P (not shown).

The manifold inlet conduits may extend substantially perpendicularly away from common plane P of the apertures.

Extending along the length of each collector 110A, 110B, there is a ceiling 118A, 118B, which is the part of the internal bore of each collector, in the perpendicular cross-section, that is closest to the plane P. The ceiling 118A, 118B of each collector 110A, 110B is inclined (non-parallel) relative to the common plane P of the inlet apertures by a substantially uniform angle Θα, Θβ along the length of the ceiling, of at least 10° (e.g. 10-15°, e.g. 12°).

Where the manifold has two collectors, one on each side of the manifold outlet port, and each inclined to promote the flow of gas bubbles along its ceiling away from the manifold outlet port, the angles of inclination of the collectors Θα, Θβ may be the same, or may be different.

In the illustrated manifold 100, a sight glass 150 is provided for viewing the lowest part 120 of the collectors 110A, 11 OB (in the orientation of ordinary use), which enables an operator to see whether any liquid fuel is present in the manifold, or whether the manifold is empty.

Figure 1C schematically illustrates the fuel delivery system 160 that is built into the fuel delivery vehicle 180 shown in Figure 1D. Liquid fuels 174A-174E are loaded into respective chambers 172 of the multi-chamber fuel tank 170. Each of the liquid fuels 174A-174E is coupled through a respective fuel valve V1-V5 to the inlet conduits 130A-130E of the manifold 100, for coupling to the manifold outlet port 116 of the manifold, for dispensing to a customer.

The fuel delivery system 160 is built into the fuel delivery vehicle 180, which may be a rigid truck and trailer, as shown in Figure 1D, or may be a trailer for articulated towing behind a tractor unit (not shown). The fuel delivery vehicle 180 has a cab 182 and a trailer 184 with a frame 186, to which the multi-chamber fuel tank 160 is mounted. A fuel control system 188 (e.g. mounted in a housing) is used by an operator to monitor and control the loading, delivery and unloading processes of the liquid fuels, and may control the fuel valves V1-V5 pneumatically. Each fuel chamber 172 has a top vent 190 and a bottom emergency/drain valve 192.

To commence dispensing fuel 174B from the corresponding chamber 172 of the tank 170, the manifold outlet valve (not shown) is maintained in the closed position. The fuel control system 188 is operated to open the appropriate fuel valve V2, allowing the chosen liquid fuel 174B to flow through the fuel valve V2, down the respective manifold inlet conduit 130B and into the respective collector 110A. The liquid fuel 174B flows through the collectors 110A, 110B, and flows partially into the adjoining parts of the collectors and some of the other manifold inlet conduits 130A, 130C-130E, as shown in Figure 1C.

Prior to the fuel valve V2 being opened, the gas within the manifold 100 would commonly be at atmospheric pressure (1Bar). As the manifold 100 is flooded with the liquid fuel 174B, gas previously within the manifold is compressed into gas pockets 178 in the other manifold inlet conduits 130A, 130C-130E (some other gas may pass into the chamber 172 that the liquid fuel 174B is leaving, by passing through the fuel valve V2 from the respective manifold inlet conduit 130B). For example, if the chamber 172 is full of fuel 174B, the pressure within the manifold 100 may rise by approximately 200mBar, when the fuel valve V2 is opened and the manifold becomes flooded with the liquid fuel. Accordingly, when fuel 174B flows from a substantially full chamber 172, the gas in the gas pockets 178 may be compressed by up to approximately one sixth in volume (the compression of the gas pockets 178 has been exaggerated in Figure 1C for the purposes of illustration).

Gas bubbles 176 become entrained in the liquid fuel 174B as the manifold 100 is flooded. Entrained gas bubbles 176 rise to the ceilings 118A, 118B of the collectors 110A, 110B. The ceilings 118A, 118B are inclined (by angle Θα, Θβ) relative to the plane P, and inclined relative to the horizontal during fuel delivery, and the gas bubbles 176 then travel along the ceilings 118A, 118B, travelling up and along until they reach and rise up the next manifold inlet conduit 130A-130E, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1C. The gas bubbles 176 rise into the gas pockets 178 in the other manifold inlet conduits 130A, 130C-130E, and up the manifold inlet conduit 130B that is in use to the fuel valve V2.

Once sufficient time has been allowed to pass for gas bubbles 176 to flow into the manifold inlet conduits 130A-130E, the manifold outlet valve is opened, and the chosen liquid fuel 174B is able to flow from the respective fuel chamber 172, through the manifold 110, and out to the customer. Within the manifold 110, during fuel delivery, the flow of liquid fuel 174B passes down the respective manifold inlet conduit 130B, along the portion of the respective collector 110 between the manifold inlet conduit 130B and the manifold outlet 116, and out of the manifold outlet 116.

Due to the manifold inlet conduits rising up from the collectors 110A, 110B, gas rises up into gas pockets 178 that are compressed into the manifold inlet conduits 130A, 130C-130E, towards the common plane P of the apertures 132, each gas pocket having a free surface of the liquid fuel 174B that is spaced away from the flow path of the liquid fuel. Accordingly, gas from the gas pockets 178 does not become entrained into the flow of liquid fuel 174B during delivery (e.g. 400L/min flow rate).

The fuel valves used in fuel delivery systems are commonly poppet valves, in which a sealing element (plug) is lifted away from a valve seat against a spring to open the poppet valve (e.g. being opened by a pneumatic actuator, controlled by the control system). The poppet valves of current fuel delivery systems are vulnerable to briefly opening and allowing cross-contamination of fuels from different fuel chambers, if exposed to a high-pressure wave, which can arise when the delivery of fuel is abruptly stopped, due to the momentum of the liquid fuel flow (e.g. fuel may be delivered at 400L/min through a 40mm diameter manifold outlet port). In contrast, in the present manifold, the gas in the gas pockets 178 (accumulation regions) of the other manifold inlet conduits 130A, 130C-130E (e.g. which may be compressed by a maximum of approximately 200mBar) each act as a pneumatic buffer against a pressure wave travelling through the liquid fuel, mitigating accidental opening of the poppet valve. Further, even if any of the other fuel valves should open, due to the presence of the gas within the gas pockets 178, any fluid that should pass through the other fuel valves would be gas from the respective gas pocket, and not liquid fuel. Accordingly, with the present manifold, cross-contamination of liquid fuels may be avoided.

Additionally, it is previously known to address the accidental opening of the poppet valves by the provision of higher specification actuators to provide a high closure force. The provision of the gas pockets in the present manifold may render the use of such higher specification actuators unnecessary, reducing manufacturing costs and complexity.

Yet further, the alignment of the apertures 132 of the manifold inlet conduits 130A-130E in the common plane P facilitates the provision of fuel valves V1-V5 in linear arrangement (e.g. parallel with the common plane P).

Fuel delivery vehicles are typically parked on ground that slopes by no more than 5° to the horizontal, during fuel delivery. The ceilings 118A, 118B of the collectors 110A, 11 OB may be inclined relative to the plane P of the centres of the apertures 132 of the inlet conduits 130A-130E by at least 10° (e.g. 10°-15°, e.g. 12°). Accordingly, even if the fuel delivery vehicle 180 is parked on a 5° slope during fuel delivery, the ceilings 118A, 118B of the collectors 110A, 110B remain inclined to the horizontal, and the gas bubbles 176 travel along the ceilings, away from the manifold outlet port 116, to the inlet conduits 130A-130E.

The plurality of inlet conduits and the collector(s) of the fuel delivery vehicle manifold may have a single piece construction. Alternatively, the plurality of inlet conduits and the collector(s) of the fuel delivery vehicle manifold 100 may be formed from separate sections 112 that are connected together 114 (e.g. bolted together with intervening O-ring seals), as is shown in Figure 1A, and similarly in Figures 2A-4.

The fuel delivery vehicle manifold 100 illustrated in Figures 1A-1D has five manifold inlet conduits 130A-130E, in a symmetrical arrangement. However, the manifold may have a different number of manifold inlet conduits (e.g. three or more manifold inlet conduits). Figure 2A illustrates a manifold 200 having three manifold inlet conduits 230A-230C coupling into respective collectors 210A, 210B in a symmetrical arrangement, and Figure 2B shows a corresponding cutaway view. In a further alternative, Figure 3 illustrates a manifold 300 having four manifold inlet conduits 330A-330D coupling into respective collectors 310A, 310B in an asymmetric arrangement, in which two manifold inlet conduits 330A, 330B are coupled into the end or intermediary portion of the first collector 31OA, and one manifold inlet conduit 330C is coupled into the end of the second collector 31 OB. In a yet further alternative, Figure 4 illustrates a manifold 400 having six manifold inlet conduits 430A-430F coupled to respective collectors 41 OA, 41 OB in an asymmetric arrangement, in which three manifold inlet conduits 430A-430C are coupled into the end or intermediary portion of the first collector 410A, and two manifold inlet conduits 430E, 430F are coupled to the end or an intermediary portion of the second collector 410B.

The fuel delivery manifold 400 has a modular construction, being formed from end section 412-1, 412-4, an outlet section 412-3, and a plurality of intermediary sections 412-2. The intermediary sections 412-2 each have a collector element of a common design, which comprises part of the respective collector 410A, 410B and at projecting conduit, which may each be topped with a respective extension section 436-1, 436-2, 436-3 (e.g. of different thicknesses, perpendicular to the common plane P) to form a composite manifold inlet conduit 430C, 430D, 430E that terminates with an aperture 432 in the common plane P. The use of intermediary sections 412-2 having a collector element of a common design reduces the number of different component parts required to manufacture the modular fuel delivery manifold 400, which reduces the manufacturing cost.

Figure 5 illustrates a fuel delivery vehicle manifold 500 having a single collector 510 into which the plurality of manifold inlet conduits 530A-530C couple. In the illustrated manifold 500, three manifold inlet conduits are provided, although a larger number of manifold inlet conduits could alternatively be provided. The ceiling 518 of the collector 510 is inclined relative to the common plane P passing through the apertures 532 at the opposite ends of the manifold inlet conduits 530A-530C from the collector 510, having an angle of inclination of at least 10° (e.g. 10°-15°, e.g. 12°).

The figures provided herein are schematic and not to scale.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including 5 any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any 10 accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to 15 public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims

1. A fuel delivery vehicle manifold comprising:

a plurality of manifold inlet conduits, each having a respective inlet aperture for coupling to a fuel valve;

a manifold outlet port; and a collector conduit providing fluid communication between the manifold inlet conduits and the manifold outlet port wherein the inlet apertures are arranged in a common plane, and the collector conduit has a ceiling extending along its length that is the part of the internal bore of each collector conduit that, in cross-section perpendicular to its length, is closest to the common plane, and the ceiling is inclined relative to the common plane.

2. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to claim 1, wherein the collector conduit comprises first and second collector conduits that each has a ceiling extending along its length that is the part of the internal bore of the collector conduit that, in cross-section perpendicular to its length, is closest to the common plane, and each ceiling is inclined relative to the common plane, and the ceilings of the first and second collector conduits are oppositely inclined relative to the common plane.

3. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the or each ceiling is inclined relative to the common plane by an angle of at least 10°.

4. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to claim 3, wherein the or each ceiling is inclined relative to the common plane by an angle of 10° to 15°.

5. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein the manifold inlet conduits extend substantially perpendicularly to the common plane.

6. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein the collector conduit is provided with a sight glass.

7. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein the manifold inlet conduits have respective coupling faces that are coplanar with the common plane.

8. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the manifold inlet conduits have respective connecting faces with coupling faces that are inclined relative to the common plane.

5

9. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any preceding claim, wherein the manifold inlet conduits and a collector conduit are formed as a single piece.

10. The fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the manifold inlet conduits and a collector conduit comprise a plurality of modular sections.

11. A fuel delivery system comprising:

a multi-chamber fuel tank;

a fuel delivery vehicle manifold according to any preceding claim; and an arrangement of fuel valves coupled between respective chambers of the multi15 chamber fuel tank and fuel delivery vehicle manifold.

12. A fuel delivery vehicle having a trailer provided with the fuel delivery system of claim 11.