JP2007182242A - Liquid supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid supply system which replenishes an internal tank with a makeup liquid when a liquid in the internal tank of a fuel supply unit decreases. <P>SOLUTION: The liquid supply system 10 includes a plurality of liquid supply units 12 (12<SB>1</SB>to 12<SB>n</SB>), an external tank 14 buried underground, and a makeup pump 16 which pumps up a liquid (ureal water) stored in the external tank 14. A plurality of branch pipelines 30 (30<SB>1</SB>to 30<SB>n</SB>) are so branched that one end of each of the branch pipelines 30 (30<SB>1</SB>to 30<SB>n</SB>) communicates with a delivery port of the makeup pump 16 and the other end of the same communicates with each of switching valves 40 (40<SB>1</SB>to 40<SB>n</SB>) buried underground. The switching valves 40 (40<SB>1</SB>to 40<SB>n</SB>) are arranged to correspond to the liquid supply units 12 (12<SB>1</SB>to 12<SB>n</SB>), respectively. When the liquid levels of internal tanks 22 (22<SB>1</SB>to 22<SB>n</SB>) go down, the switching valves 40 (40<SB>1</SB>to 40<SB>n</SB>) are changed in connection to allow makeup pipelines 42 (42<SB>1</SB>to 42<SB>n</SB>) and the branch pipelines 30 (30<SB>1</SB>to 30<SB>n</SB>) to communicate with each other as the makeup pump 16 is driven. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a liquid supply system, and more particularly to a liquid supply system configured to supply liquid to an object to be supplied and to supply liquid to the internal tank.

  For example, there are two types of liquid supply devices for supplying a liquid such as fuel to a tank of a vehicle as shown in the following (1) and (2).

(1) It has a liquid supply path in which an internal pump, an internal tank for storing liquid, and a flow meter are arranged in a housing, and the liquid discharged from the internal pump is covered by a supply nozzle connected to the liquid supply path. Supply to the supplier. The internal tank is sized to be housed in the housing, and its capacity is inevitably smaller than that of the external tank. Therefore, liquid supply to the internal tank is not performed as frequently as the external tank. This replenishment work must be done manually. (2) Supplying liquid in an underground tank to a plurality of liquid feeders by submerged pumps (submerged pumps) (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2526069

  However, in the liquid supply machine of the above (1), it is necessary to manually supply the liquid to the internal tank as described above, and the more liquid is used, the more time is required.

  Further, in the liquid supply machine of the above (2) (Patent Document 1), the discharge amount by the submerged pump changes as the head changes due to the fluctuation of the liquid level of the underground tank. The replenishment time when replenishing liquid is not stable.

  Further, in the configuration of the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, since the liquid fed by a single submerged pump is supplied to a plurality of liquid supply units, each liquid supply unit can change the vehicle or the like depending on the number of operating liquid supply units. Since the supply amount supplied to the tank fluctuates, it is necessary to increase the capacity of the submerged pump so that the liquid supply units are operated at the same time and supply is not insufficient.

  Furthermore, in a fuel supply machine having an internal tank in the housing, it is desired to replenish liquid in a timely manner as the remaining amount of each internal tank decreases.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply system that solves the problem.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following means.

  The invention of claim 1 has a liquid supply path in which an internal pump, an internal tank for storing liquid, and a flow meter are arranged in a housing, and the liquid discharged from the internal pump is connected to the liquid supply path. A liquid supply device that supplies liquid to the supply body by a supply nozzle, an external tank that stores the liquid, a replenishment path that communicates the external tank and the internal tank, and the external tank via the replenishment path. And an external pump for supplying liquid to the internal tank.

  The invention according to claim 2 is provided with a switching valve that communicates the external tank and the internal tanks of the plurality of liquid supply units through the replenishment path, and switches the liquid supply direction to the replenishment path. Switching control means for switching the switching valve so as to replenish any one of the internal tanks with the liquid in the external tank.

  The invention of claim 3 is such that the switching control means replenishes the liquid in the external tank to the internal tank of the liquid supply machine that supplies liquid from the supply nozzle among the plurality of internal tanks. The switching valve is switched.

  According to the present invention, the supply of the liquid from the liquid supply machine is such that the liquid in the internal tank is pumped up by the internal pump and discharged from the supply nozzle. Since the liquid in the internal tank can be supplied by pumping the liquid in the external tank with an external pump, the manual replenishment work for the internal tank can be eliminated.

  Further, according to the present invention, since the switching valve for switching which internal tank of the plurality of liquid supply machines is to be replenished with the liquid in the external tank is provided, The liquid in the external tank can be replenished giving priority to the tank. Furthermore, the external pump is only used for supplying the liquid to the internal pump, and even if the liquid supply amount fluctuates, the liquid supply amount from the liquid supplier does not fluctuate. (Discharge capacity) can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the present invention, since the liquid in the external tank is supplied to the internal tank of the liquid supply machine that supplies the liquid from the supply nozzle, the liquid supply that needs to be replenished even if there are a plurality of liquid supply machines The liquid can be replenished in preference to the machine, and the liquid can be supplied efficiently.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an embodiment of a liquid supply system according to the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid supply system 10 includes a plurality of liquid supply machines 12 (12 _{1 to} 12 _n ), an external tank 14 buried underground, and liquid stored in the external tank 14 (this embodiment). In the example, a replenishment pump 16 that pumps up urea water) is provided. The external tank 14 has a capacity sufficiently larger than the internal tank 22 housed in the housing 20 of the plurality of liquid supply machines 12 (12 _{1 to} 12 _n ). For example, if the capacity of the internal tank 22 is 60 L to 100 L (liter), the external tank 14 has a capacity of 2 KL to 5 KL (kiloliter).

The replenishment pump 16 replenishes the internal tank 22 with liquid when the liquid level of each internal tank 22 of the liquid supply machine 12 (12 _{1 to} 12 _n ) drops below the full tank. The (discharge amount per unit time) is set to be equal to or less than the supply capacity of the liquid supply machine 12 (12 _{1 to} 12 _n ). Further, unlike the submerged pump, the replenishment pump 16 can replenish liquid with a constant discharge amount regardless of the variation in the head due to the liquid level of the external tank 14, so that the supply to the internal tank 22 can be performed. Stabilize.

The plurality of branch pipes (replenishment paths) 30 (30 ₁ to 30 _n ) have one end communicating with the discharge port of the replenishment pump 16 and the other end embedded in the ground with a switching valve 40 (40 ₁ to 40 _n ). It is branched to communicate with each of the above. The plurality of switching valves 40 (40 ₁ to 40 _n ) are provided corresponding to the plurality of liquid supply machines 12 (12 _{1 to} 12 _n ), respectively, and include, for example, electromagnetic valves, and branch pipes 30 A closed state that closes the tank, a supply pipe (supply path) 42 (42 _{1 to} 42 _n ) and a branch pipe 30 (30 ₁ to 30 _n ) inserted into the internal tank 22 (22 _{1 to} 22 _n ). Can be switched to any one of the valve open states communicating with each other.

As will be described later, the switching valve 40 (40 ₁ to 40 _n ) is only the switching valve 40 corresponding to the liquid supply machine 12 when the remaining amount of the internal tank 22 (22 _{1 to} 22 _n ) decreases below a predetermined amount. Is opened to replenish liquid to the internal tank 22 of the liquid supply machine 12.

The system management computer 50 is connected to the plurality of liquid supply units 12 (12 _{1 to} 12 _n ) via the communication line 52 so as to be able to perform data communication, and the remaining amount of the internal tank 22 is reduced to a predetermined amount or less. When the detected signal is transmitted, the switching valve 40 corresponding to the internal tank 22 is switched to the open state, and the replenishment pump 16 is driven and controlled. As a result, the liquid stored in the external tank 14 is replenished to one internal tank 22 via the branch line 30 and the replenishment line 42 corresponding to the liquid supply machine 12.

  FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of the liquid supply machine 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid supply machine 12 includes an internal tank 22 and a liquid supply path 24 that supplies the liquid in the internal tank 22 in the housing 20. The liquid supply path 24 is provided with an internal pump 56, a flow meter 58, and a solenoid valve 60 from upstream, and the liquid supply path 24 communicates with a hose joint 62, a hose 64, and a supply nozzle 66 on the side surface of the housing 20. Has been. A suction conduit 68 communicated with the suction port of the internal pump 56 is inserted into the internal tank 22 from above, and the lower end extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the internal tank 22. The internal tank 22 is provided with a liquid level sensor 70 that detects that the liquid level is at the full tank position. The supply capacity of the internal pump 56 is set to be equal to the supply pump 16 described above, and the supply amount from the supply nozzle 66 is the supply capacity of the internal pump 56 even if the supply capacity of the supply pump 16 is low. Therefore, the supply pump 16 may be smaller than the internal pump 56.

  The liquid stored in the internal tank 22 is, for example, oil used as fuel for vehicles such as automobiles, or chemicals other than fuel (for example, urea consumed by a purification device that purifies automobile exhaust gas) and so on.

  Further, the supply nozzle 66 has an air introduction port for sucking air by the negative pressure generated by the liquid supply at the discharge port, and when this air introduction port is blocked by the liquid surface, the supply nozzle 66 The built-in valve mechanism is configured to automatically close and stop supplying liquid. Since such an automatic valve closing mechanism based on liquid level detection is well known, detailed description thereof is omitted here.

  As a storage means, a flow rate display unit 72 that displays the supply amount or supply amount of liquid measured by the flow meter 58, a CPU (Central processing unit) that controls each valve, pump, and the like. The memory 82 is provided.

  In addition, a nozzle hook 74 for hooking the supply nozzle 66 when not in use is provided on the side surface of the housing 12. The nozzle hook 74 is provided with a nozzle hook switch 76 for detecting the supply nozzle 66. The nozzle hooking switch 76 functions as a pump start switch, and is turned on when the supply nozzle 66 is hooked on the nozzle hook 74 and turned off when the supply nozzle 66 is detached from the nozzle hook 74. When the supply nozzle 66 is turned off, a driving voltage is applied to the internal pump 56 to perform pump control.

  Here, the control process executed by the control device 80 of the liquid supply machine 12 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 80 checks whether or not the nozzle switch 76 is turned off in S11. When the worker removes the supply nozzle 66 from the nozzle hook 74, the nozzle hook switch 76 is turned off in S11, and thus the process proceeds to S12 to output a pump drive signal to drive the internal pump 56. Subsequently, in S13, the electromagnetic valve 60 is opened, and in S14, the integrated flow rate is reset to zero.

  In next S15, it is checked whether or not a preset value is set. When the preset value is not set in S15, the process proceeds to S16 and the full supply mode is set. Subsequently, in S17, it is checked whether or not a flow rate pulse is output from the flow meter 58. When the operator inserts the discharge port of the supply nozzle 66 into the supply port of a container (not shown) using the discharge port of the supply nozzle 66 and operates the nozzle lever of the supply nozzle 66 to the valve open position, the liquid stored in the internal tank 22 is discharged. It is supplied to the supply object through the supply nozzle 66. This supply amount is measured by the flow meter 58. If there is a flow rate pulse from the flow meter 58 in S17, the flow rate pulse is integrated in S18 and the flow rate integrated value is displayed on the flow rate display unit 72.

  In S19, it is checked whether or not the nozzle hooking switch 76 is turned on. When the nozzle hooking switch 76 is off, the liquid is being supplied, so the process returns to S17, and the processes of S17 to S19 are repeated.

  When full tank supply is completed by a liquid level detection mechanism (not shown) of the supply nozzle 66, the operator returns the supply nozzle 66 to the nozzle hook 74, and the nozzle hook switch 76 is turned on. Therefore, in S19, when the nozzle hooking switch 76 is on, it means that the liquid supply is finished, so the process proceeds to S20, the electromagnetic valve 60 is closed, and the driving of the internal pump 56 is stopped in S21.

  If the preset value is set in S15, the process proceeds to S22 and the preset supply mode is set. Subsequently, in S23, it is checked whether or not a flow rate pulse is output from the flow meter 58. When the operator inserts the discharge port of the supply nozzle 66 into the supply port of a container (not shown) using the discharge port of the supply nozzle 66 and operates the nozzle lever of the supply nozzle 66 to the valve open position, the liquid stored in the internal tank 22 is discharged. It is supplied to the supply object through the supply nozzle 66. This supply amount is measured by the flow meter 58. If there is a flow rate pulse from the flow meter 58 in S23, the flow rate pulse is integrated in S24 and the flow rate integrated value is displayed on the flow rate display unit 72.

  In S25, it is checked whether or not the integrated flow value has reached a preset value. In S25, when the integrated flow value has not reached the preset value, the process returns to S23, and the processes of S23 to S25 are repeated. In S25, when the integrated flow value reaches the preset value, the preset supply is completed, and thus the processes of S20 and S21 are performed.

  The control device 80 executes the liquid supply process shown in FIG. 3 and also executes the liquid level sensor detection process shown in FIG. 4 in parallel at predetermined time intervals. As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 80 reads the detection signal of the liquid level sensor 70 provided in the internal tank 22 in S31. In S32, when the detection signal of the liquid level sensor 70 is on, it is determined that the internal tank 22 is full. When the detection signal of the liquid level sensor 70 is off, the liquid level of the internal tank 22 is full. It is determined that the position has changed to a position lower than the tongue position.

  If the liquid level in the internal tank 22 falls below the full tank position in S32, the process proceeds to S33, and a replenishment signal for requesting liquid replenishment to the internal tank 22 is transmitted to the system management computer 50. Thereby, the system management computer 50 drives the supply pump 16.

  In S32, when the liquid level in the internal tank 22 is full, the process proceeds to S34, and the output of the replenishment signal is stopped. As a result, the system management computer 50 stops driving the supply pump 16.

Here, the control process of the replenishment pump 16 executed by the system management computer 50 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The system management computer 50 checks whether or not a replenishment signal is transmitted from the control device 80 of the liquid supply machine 12 in S41 shown in FIG. In S41, when a replenishment signal is input from any one of the control devices 80 of the plurality of liquid supply machines 12 _{1 to} 12 _n , the process proceeds to S42, and a drive signal is output to the replenishment pump 16. Thereby, the replenishment pump 16 draws up the liquid stored in the external tank 14 and supplies it to the branch pipe 30.

  Subsequently, in S43, a valve opening signal is output to the switching valve 40 corresponding to the liquid supply machine 12 that has output the replenishment signal, and the liquid supplied via the branch line 30 is supplied to the internal tank of the liquid supply machine 12. 22 is refilled with liquid.

  If the replenishment signal is not input from the control device 80 of the liquid supply machine 12 in S41, the process proceeds to S44 to check whether the output of the replenishment signal is stopped. If the output of the replenishment signal is not stopped in S44, the process returns to S41, and the processes of S41 and S44 are repeated. In S44, when the output of the replenishment signal is stopped, the process proceeds to S45, and the output of the valve opening signal to the switching valve 40 corresponding to the liquid supply machine 12 that has stopped outputting the replenishment signal is stopped. Thereby, the switching valve 40 is closed.

  In the next S46, it is checked whether or not a replenishment signal is input from another liquid supply machine 12. In S46, when a replenishment signal is input from another liquid supply machine 12, the process returns to S41, and the processes after S41 are executed. If the replenishment signal is not input from the other liquid supply machine 12 in S46, the process proceeds to S47 and the output of the drive signal to the replenishment pump 16 is stopped. Thereby, the replenishment pump 16 stops the supply of the liquid stored in the external tank 14.

  As described above, when the liquid level of the internal tank 22 of the liquid supply machine 12 falls below the full tank, the replenishment pump 16 is driven and the liquid stored in the external tank 14 is automatically supplied to the internal tank 22. Therefore, the work efficiency can be improved by eliminating the replenishment work by the worker.

  In the above description, when replenishment signals are output from a plurality of liquid supply machines 12, it is also possible to replenish liquids to the plurality of internal tanks 22 simultaneously by opening a plurality of switching valves 40. is there. In this case, since the discharge amount from the replenishment pump 16 is constant, the replenishment amount to the plurality of internal tanks 22 is reduced. However, the supply amount from the supply nozzle 66 is determined by the discharge capacity of the internal pump 56. Even if the replenishment amount from 16 to each internal tank 22 decreases, the discharge amount from the supply nozzle 66 does not decrease.

Here, a modified example of the control process of the replenishment pump 16 executed by the system management computer 50 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. The system management computer 50 checks whether or not a replenishment signal is input from the control device 80 of the liquid supply machine 12 in S51 shown in FIG. In S51, when the supply signal is input from any of the control device 80 of the plurality of liquid supply device ₁₂ 1 to 12 _n, the process proceeds to S52, and outputs a drive signal to the supply pump 16. Thereby, the replenishment pump 16 draws up the liquid stored in the external tank 14 and supplies it to the branch pipe 30.

  In the next S53, it is checked whether or not there are a plurality of liquid supply machines 12 that have output replenishment signals. In S53, if there are a plurality of liquid supply machines 12 that have output replenishment signals, the process proceeds to S54, and it is checked whether there is a liquid supply machine 12 that is supplying liquid via the supply nozzle 66.

  In S54, when there is the liquid supply machine 12 that is supplying the liquid via the supply nozzle 66, the process proceeds to S55, the supply signal is output, and the switching valve 40 corresponding to the liquid supply machine 12 that is supplying the liquid. A valve opening signal is output. As a result, the liquid can be preferentially replenished to the internal tank 22 of the liquid supply machine 12 that is supplying the liquid.

  In S53, if there is one liquid supply machine 12 that has output a replenishment signal, the process proceeds to S56, and a valve opening signal is output to the switching valve 40 corresponding to the liquid supply machine 12 that has output the replenishment signal. To do. As a result, the liquid can be replenished to the internal tank 22 of the liquid supply machine 12 that is supplying the liquid.

In S51, when a replenishment signal is not input from any one of the control devices 80 of the plurality of liquid supply units 12 _{1 to} 12 _n , the process proceeds to S57, and the processes of S57 to S60 are executed. Since the processing of S57 to S60 is the same as the processing of S44 to S47 of FIG. 5 described above, the description thereof is omitted here.

Thus, in this modification, when the replenishment signal is output from the plurality of liquid supply units 12 _{1 to} 12 _n , the liquid supply unit 12 that is currently supplying the liquid can be supplied with priority. Therefore, even when the capacity of the internal tank 22 is small, it is possible to prevent supply shortage.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid supplier that supplies urea water to the vehicle has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this and can be applied to other liquid suppliers that supply other liquids.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the liquid supply system which has a some liquid supply machine was made into an example, it is not restricted to this, It can apply also to the thing of the structure which replenishes a liquid to one liquid supply machine from the outside. Of course.

  In the above-described embodiment, the liquid level sensor 70 provided in the internal tank 22 is described as detecting the liquid level when the internal tank 22 is full. Of course, the position may be set to be detected. For example, the position may be set so as to detect a position where a predetermined amount has been reduced from the liquid level when the tank is full or that the remaining amount of the internal tank 22 has been reduced to a predetermined amount.

It is a systematic diagram which shows one Example of the liquid supply system by this invention. 3 is a configuration diagram schematically showing a schematic configuration of a liquid supply machine 12. FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control process executed by a control device 80 of the liquid supply machine 12. 6 is a flowchart for explaining a liquid level sensor detection process executed by a control device 80 of the liquid supply machine 12. 4 is a flowchart for explaining a control process of a replenishment pump 16 executed by a system management computer 50. 10 is a flowchart for explaining a modification of the control process of the replenishment pump 16 executed by the system management computer 50.

Explanation of symbols

10 liquid supply system ₁₂ (12 1 _{to 12} n) Liquid feeder 14 external tank 16 supply pump 22 inside the tank ₃₀ (30 1 _{to 30} n) branch conduit ₄₀ (40 1 _{to 40} n) switching valve 42 ₍₄₂ 1 to 42 _n ) Supply line 50 System management computer 56 Internal pump 58 Flow meter 66 Supply nozzle 70 Liquid level sensor 80 Control device 74 Nozzle hook 76 Nozzle hook switch

Claims (3)

The casing has a liquid supply path in which an internal pump, an internal tank for storing liquid, and a flow meter are arranged, and the liquid discharged from the internal pump is supplied to the supply target by a supply nozzle connected to the liquid supply path. A liquid supply machine to supply;
An external tank in which the liquid is stored;
A replenishment path communicating the external tank and the internal tank;
An external pump for replenishing the internal tank with liquid from the external tank via the replenishment path;
A liquid supply system comprising: The external tank and each internal tank of a plurality of liquid supply machines communicate with each other via the replenishment path, and a switching valve that switches the liquid supply direction to the replenishment path is provided.
2. The liquid supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a switching control unit that switches the switching valve so as to replenish one of the plurality of internal tanks with the liquid in the external tank.   The switching control unit switches the switching valve so as to replenish liquid in the external tank to an internal tank of the liquid supply machine that supplies liquid from the supply nozzle among the plurality of internal tanks. The liquid supply system according to claim 2.

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