JP5578493B2 - Lubrication device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fueling device that supplies fuel to automobiles and other vehicles. More specifically, the present invention relates to a fuel supply device that can prevent inconvenience due to air and water mixed in fuel oil supplied to a vehicle.

At gas stations (gas stations), a large amount of water may flow into underground storage tanks due to heavy rain. Further, cracks and holes may be formed in the piping due to piping work and corrosion, and water may enter from there.
If water is mixed in due to various reasons like this, when gasoline containing water is supplied to the vehicle and the gasoline (containing water) flows into the combustion chamber of the engine, knocking or engine stop due to poor combustion In some cases, it may lead to the worst situation of engine damage. According to some surveys, about 80% of oil accidents at gas stations are caused by water in fuel oil in underground storage tanks.
Here, if you sell the gasoline (gasoline mixed with water) without being able to detect that water is mixed in the gasoline, you need to check the sales customer data and contact each customer. A great deal of effort must be expended in handling or responding to such matters as reporting to the government office.

In order to cope with the above-described problem, a technique has been proposed in which a liquid level gauge attached to an underground storage tank detects water accumulated at the bottom of the tank based on the amount of movement of the float (see Patent Document 1).
Also, a technology that measures the rate of change of the water level or the amount of water using a water level measuring device that detects the level of water accumulated in the underground tank, and issues a warning when a certain amount of water accumulates in the underground tank based on the rate of change. Has also been proposed (see Patent Document 2).
These conventional techniques can prevent water from being mixed into the fuel oil to some extent.

However, since the piping system from the underground tank to the fueling device is under negative pressure, water near the piping flows into the piping due to poor seals and corrosion at the piping joints, and enters the fuel oil flowing through the piping. May end up.
In the above-described conventional technologies (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2), even if the water accumulated in the underground tank can be detected, the water that has entered the piping system from the underground tank to the fueling device flows through the piping system. It is not possible to cope with the situation where it is mixed with excess fuel oil.
In addition to this, in the above-described prior art (Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2), even when it is possible to cope with water mixing into the fuel oil, but when air is mixed into the fuel oil. I can not respond. When air is mixed into the fuel oil, the amount actually supplied to the vehicle (actual oil supply amount) is less than the fuel supply amount (measured value: display value) measured by the flow meter. As a result, a measurement accuracy problem occurs.
As described above, it is desired that troubles in the underground tank and the underground piping system are constantly monitored before vehicle refueling and dealt with promptly.

JP-A-9-323799 JP 2005-15033 A

  The present invention has been proposed in view of the above-described problems of the prior art, and accurately detects that water or air has been mixed in the fuel oil to be supplied by the fuel supply device, and moreover than the underground tank. An object of the present invention is to provide a fueling device that can cope with the case where water or air is mixed into fuel oil from the region on the fueling device side.

In order to cope with the above-described problem, it is desirable to configure so that it is possible to detect that water or air is mixed in the fuel oil in the fueling device.
Therefore, according to the present invention, fluid foreign matter detection means (water / air detection means 50) is provided in the piping system (2) for sending fuel oil, and fluid is generated by the output from the fluid foreign matter detection means (50). In the fuel supply apparatus having the control device (10) for notifying the mixing of the foreign particle (C), the control device (10) is configured to display parameters indicating the mixing of the fluid foreign material (C) (the amount of reflected light and the amount of transmitted light). ) Variation rate is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is determined that the fluid foreign matter (C) is water, and the variation rate of parameters (the amount of reflected light and the amount of transmitted light) indicating the inclusion of the fluid foreign matter (C) is determined. Has a function of determining that the fluid foreign matter (C) is air.
Here, the fluid foreign matter (C) is, for example, water or air.
The piping system (2) for feeding fuel oil includes not only the fuel oil piping (2) but also a pump (3) and a flow meter (4).

  In carrying out the present invention, the reflection / transmission ratio (= reflection light amount / transmission light amount) obtained by dividing the transmission light amount by the reflection light amount is obtained, and the mixing rate of the fluid foreign matter (C) is determined using the reflection / transmission ratio. preferable.

  When obtaining the reflection / transmission ratio, the output of the transmitted light amount measuring means (transmitted light receiving sensor 56) for measuring the amount of light (transmitted light amount) transmitted through the fuel oil flowing through the piping system (2), the fuel It is preferable to use the output of the reflected light amount measuring means (reflected light receiving sensor 57) that measures the amount of light (reflected light amount) reflected by the fluidic foreign matter (C) mixed in the oil.

  Alternatively, the amount of light measured by the received light amount measuring sensor (reflected light receiving sensor 57) disposed in the vicinity of the light emitting device (55) (the reflected light amount reflected by water or air mixed in the fuel oil and the light emitting device 55). It is preferable to obtain the reflection / transmission ratio based on the total amount of light reflected from the opposite channel wall surface and returned to the reflected light receiving sensor 57.

  Further, the control device (10) outputs the transmitted light amount measuring means (transmitted light receiving sensor 56) for measuring the amount of light (transmitted light amount) transmitted through the fuel oil flowing through the piping system (2), or the fuel. Using only one of the outputs of the reflected light amount measuring means (reflected light receiving sensor 57) that measures the amount of light (reflected light amount) reflected by the fluid foreign matter (C) mixed in the oil, the fluid foreign matter is mixed. It is possible to have a notification function.

  In carrying out the present invention, the fluid foreign matter detection means (water / air detection means 50) includes a light emitting device and a light receiving device (for example, built in the optical fiber 51: the light emitting device is, for example, an LED 55, and the light receiving device is, for example, a light receiving sensor 57). The light emitting device (55) and the light receiving device (57) are exposed to the region (2F) where the fuel oil flows through the piping system (2), and the light emitting device (55) emits light. It is preferable that a cleaning device (for example, a wiper 54) for cleaning the portion (the irradiation portion of the LED 55, the lens 52) and the light receiving portion of the light receiving device (the light receiving portion or the sensing portion of the sensor 57) is provided.

According to the fuel supply device (100) of the present invention having the above-described configuration, the fluid foreign matter detection means (water / air detection means 50) is provided in the piping system (2) for feeding fuel oil, and the fluid foreign matter is provided. Since the output from the detection means (50) is configured to notify the mixing of fluid foreign matter (for example, water, air C), it is determined that water or air is mixed in the fuel oil. 100).
Therefore, when fluid foreign matter (for example, water C) is mixed in the fuel oil supplied to the vehicle or the like, the fuel oil is detected immediately before the fuel oil is supplied to the vehicle, and the fuel oil containing water is used for the vehicle. Can prevent accidents such as knocking and stopping.
In addition, since it is possible to detect that the fluid foreign matter (C) has been mixed into the fuel oil, the actual oil supply amount is greater than the fuel supply amount (measured value: display value) measured by the flow meter (4). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the measurement accuracy from being lowered.

In the present invention, the light emitting device (LED 55: optical fiber 51 and lens 52) of the fluid foreign matter detection means (water / air detection means 50) is exposed in the region where the fuel oil flows through the piping system (2). If a cleaning device (for example, a wiper 54) for cleaning the light emitting portion (LED irradiation portion, lens 52) of the light emitting device (55) is provided at a place, the dirt attached to the light emitting portion (55) is removed by the cleaning device. By removing, it can always be maintained in a clean state.
And since the stain | pollution | contamination adhering to the light emission part (52) is removed and it maintains in a clean state, a fixed light quantity is always irradiated from the light emission part (52), and an exact detection is attained.

Further, when the control device (10) in the present invention has a fluctuation rate of parameters (the amount of reflected light and the amount of transmitted light) indicating the contamination of the fluid foreign matter (C) below a predetermined value, the fluid foreign matter is water. If the variation rate of the parameters (the amount of reflected light and the amount of transmitted light) indicating the contamination of the fluid foreign matter (C) is greater than a predetermined value, it is determined that the fluid foreign matter (C) is air. If it has the function to do, it can be judged correctly whether the fluid foreign material (C) mixed in the fuel oil is water or air.
Then, by accurately determining whether the fluid foreign matter (C) is water or air, maintenance and inspection work can be appropriately executed.

Here, the transmission state of the light irradiated into the fuel oil is the color of the fuel oil flowing through, transparency (turbidity), refractive index, dirt in the oil, and irradiation (light emission) from the light emitting device (for example, LED 55). It is affected by factors such as changes in light intensity and temperature changes.
And it is difficult to accurately grasp the amount of change in transmittance and reflectance due to such factors. Therefore, the light amount (transmitted light amount or reflected light amount) measured by the measuring devices (56, 57) includes an error caused by the factor.
In implementing the present invention, a reflection / transmission ratio (= reflection light amount / transmission ratio light amount) obtained by dividing the transmitted light amount by the reflected light amount is obtained, and the mixing rate of the fluid foreign matter is determined using the reflection / transmission ratio. For example, the influence of the above factor on the transmitted light amount and the influence of the above factor on the reflected light amount appear in each case, so that the reflection / transmission ratio hardly changes with the mixing rate, and thus the influence of the above factor can be eliminated. This makes it possible to accurately determine the mixing rate of fluid foreign matters.

It is a front view of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is an expanded front sectional view which shows the detection means in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which simplifies and shows the principal part of the detection means in 1st Embodiment. It is a characteristic view which shows the mixing rate of water and air, and the characteristic of reflected light quantity or transmitted light quantity. It is a characteristic view which shows the mixing rate of water and air, and the characteristic of reflection / transmission ratio. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus used by 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control in 1st Embodiment. It is a block diagram which simplifies and shows the principal part of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a procedure for determining the mixing ratio of water and air in the second embodiment, and is a characteristic diagram illustrating a procedure for estimating a transmitted light amount characteristic curve and a reflected light amount curve. FIG. 10 is a characteristic diagram similar to FIG. 9 illustrating a procedure for estimating the transmitted light amount and the reflected light amount from the output of the reflected light sensor in order to obtain the reflection / transmission ratio. FIG. 6 is a characteristic diagram showing characteristics of water and air mixing ratio and reflection / transmission ratio, and is the same diagram as FIG. 5. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus used by 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control in 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which simplifies and shows the principal part of 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus used by 3rd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control in 3rd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which simplifies and shows the principal part of 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control apparatus used by 4th Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the control in 4th Embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In FIG. 1, the code | symbol 100 has shown the oil supply apparatus with which this invention is applied.
An oil supply pipe 2 communicating with an underground oil storage tank (not shown) is provided in the housing 1 of the oil supply apparatus 100, and a pump 3 and a flow meter 4 are interposed in the oil supply pipe 2.
An oil supply hose 6 is connected to the oil supply pipe 2 via a rotatable joint 5. An oil supply nozzle 8 is provided at the tip of the oil supply hose 6 via a rotatable joint 7.
In the state of FIG. 1, the oil supply nozzle 8 is locked to a nozzle hook 9 provided in the housing 1.

In the housing 1 of the fueling device 100, a control unit 10 (control device), a pump drive motor 30, a notification device 20, a keyboard 40 for input operation, and a display device 60 are provided.
In addition, the oil supply device 100 is provided with water / air detection means 50, and the water / air detection means 50 is interposed in a region between the pump 3 and the flow meter 4 in the oil supply pipe 2. The fuel oil (oil: for example, gasoline) flowing through the oil supply pipe 2 has a function of detecting water and air.

The nozzle hook 9 is provided with a nozzle switch (not shown) and is connected to the control unit 10 via an input signal line Si1.
The keyboard 40 is connected to the control unit 10 via the input signal line Si2.
The flow meter 4 is connected to the control unit 10 via the input signal line Si3.
The water / air detection means 50 is connected to the control unit 10 via the input signal line Si4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water / air detection means 50 includes an optical fiber 51, a lens 52, a fixture 53 for attaching the optical fiber 51 and the lens 52 to the oil supply pipe 2, and a wiper 54. Although not clearly shown, the LED 55 (see FIG. 3) and the reflected light receiving sensor 57 (see FIG. 3), which are light emitting devices, are built in the optical fiber 51 (see FIG. 2).
The fixture 53 is configured as a stepped plug whose side cross-sectional shape is a hat shape, and the small diameter side 53i (left side in FIG. 2) of the fixture 53 perforates a part of the annular wall of the oil supply pipe 2. The through hole 2a is formed.
A lens 52 is embedded in the end surface of the oil supply pipe 2 on the flow path 2F side on the small diameter side 53i of the fixture 53. The optical fiber 51 connected to the lens 52 protrudes from the large-diameter side 53o (right side in FIG. 2) of the fixture 53 and is connected to the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a (see FIGS. 1 and 6) of the controller 10. Has been.

Here, if the lens 52 becomes dirty, there is a possibility that the measurement becomes inaccurate. On the other hand, the wiper 54 is provided in the illustrated embodiment. The wiper 54 has a function of removing dirt by wiping the lens 55 (or the irradiating portion of the LED 55) which is a light emitting portion of the light emitting device, and thus, the light emitting portion (irradiation of the lens 52 or the LED 55) of the light emitting device. Part) is kept clean.
The wiper 54 has a wiping arm 54a, a rotation shaft 54b, and an operation lever 54c. In FIG. 2, the wiping arm 54a, the rotation shaft 54b, and the operation lever 54c are integrally connected to form a crank-shaped member. Yes.
The rotating shaft 54b of the wiper 54 is rotatably supported by a shaft hole 2b formed in the annular wall of the oil supply pipe 2. When the dirt on the lens 52 is removed by the wiper 54, the operation lever 54c is swung by an actuator (not shown), and the dust attached to the lens 52 (or the irradiation portion of the LED 55) is wiped by the swinging of the wiping arm 54a. To do.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the water / air detection means 50 is interposed in the flow path 2 </ b> F (oil supply pipe 2) in the region between the pump 3 and the flow meter 4.
However, the position where the water / air detection means 50 is provided is not limited to the region between the pump 3 and the flow meter 4. Although not shown, for example, the water / air detection means 50 can be disposed (built in) in the pump 3 or the flow meter 4, or in a region closer to the oil supply nozzle 8 than the flow meter 4. It is also possible to arrange a water / air detection means 50.

In addition to the configuration described with reference to FIG. 2, the water / air detection unit 50 includes a light emitting device (for example, LED) 55, a transmitted light receiving sensor 56 that is a light receiving device, and reflected light, as shown in FIG. A light receiving sensor 57 is provided.
In FIG. 3, the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 is arranged on the tube wall opposite to the light emitting device 55 (the left side in FIG. 3) with respect to the central axis of the fuel supply pipe 2 (the central axis itself is not shown in FIG. 3). ing.
On the other hand, the reflected light receiving sensor 57 is arranged on the tube wall in the vicinity of the light emitting device 55 on the same side as the light emitting device 55 (right side in FIG. 3) with respect to the central axis of the fuel supply pipe 2.

The amount of light transmitted through the fuel oil flowing through the flow path 2F is measured by the transmitted light receiving sensor 56, and the amount of reflected light reflected by water or air (fluid foreign matter) mixed in the fuel oil flowing through the flow path 2F is reflected light receiving sensor 57. It is measured by. In the first embodiment, mixing of water or air is detected using the transmitted light amount measured by the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the reflected light amount measured by the reflected light receiving sensor 57.
In FIG. 3, the reflected light reflected by the foreign matter (for example, water or air) mixed in the fuel oil flowing through the flow path 2 </ b> F is indicated by a symbol C.
Further, the symbol Fo in FIG. 3 indicates the flow direction of the fuel oil.

The transmittance (or the amount of transmitted light) and the reflectance (or the amount of reflected light) are radiated from the color of the fuel oil flowing through, transparency (turbidity), refractive index, dirt in the oil, light emitting device (for example, LED) 55 (light emission). ) Affected by factors such as changes in light intensity and temperature changes.
And it is difficult to accurately grasp the amount of change in transmittance and reflectance due to such factors. Therefore, the amount of transmitted light and the amount of reflected light measured by the sensors (56, 57) include errors due to the factors.
Here, if the ratio between the reflected light amount and the transmitted light amount, the ratio between the reflectance and the transmittance, that is, the “reflection / transmission ratio (= reflected light amount / transmitted light amount)” is obtained, The influence of the above factors occurs in the same manner, and the ratio is almost constant with respect to the mixing rate regardless of the influence. In other words, the influence of the above factors can be removed.
For this reason, in the control according to the first embodiment, control is performed by obtaining the mixing rate of water or air using the reflection / transmission ratio (= reflected light amount / transmitted light amount) (= reflectance / transmittance).

FIG. 4 shows the relationship (Lt line) between the light reception level (vertical axis) of the transmitted light amount and the contamination rate of water / air (horizontal axis), the light reception level (vertical axis) of the reflected light amount and the contamination rate of water / air ( A horizontal axis) (Lr line) is shown.
As shown in FIG. 4, the transmitted light amount (Lt line) and the reflected light amount (Lr line) have a relationship in which the other value decreases when one value is large.
In the first embodiment, the reflection / transmission ratio (= reflected light amount) is calculated from the transmitted light amount measured by the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 (see FIG. 3) and the reflected light amount measured by the reflected light receiving sensor 57 (see FIG. 3). / Transmitted light amount).
Then, the water at the time when the transmitted light amount and the reflected light amount are measured from the characteristic (Rtr line: see FIG. 5) of the predetermined mixing ratio (horizontal axis) of water or air and the reflection / transmission ratio (vertical axis). Obtain the rate of air and air contamination.
The characteristics indicated by the Rtr line in FIG. 5 are stored in the storage block 10f in FIG.

FIG. 6 shows the internal structure of the control unit 10. Here, the control unit 10 has a function of performing control to detect mixing of water and air and preventing inconvenience due to mixing of water and air.
In FIG. 6, the control unit 10 includes a reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10 a, a mixing rate calculation block 10 b, a first comparison block 10 c, and a sensor output fluctuation amount calculation block 10 d (hereinafter referred to as “variation”). A second comparison block 10e, a storage block 10f, and a determination block 10g.
The control unit 10 also includes a timer 10t, a notification processing block 10h, an oil supply stop processing block 10i, and a maintenance / inspection processing block 10j.

The reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a is connected to the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the reflected light receiving sensor 57 (see FIG. 3) via a line La, and receives output information from the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the reflected light receiving sensor 57. , And a function of calculating a reflection / transmission ratio.
The mixing rate calculation block 10b is connected to the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a via a line Lb, and is connected to the storage block 10f via a line Lfb. The mixing rate calculation block 10b supplies oil from the reflection / transmission ratio transmitted from the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a and the characteristics transmitted from the storage block 10f (reflective / transmission ratio and mixing rate characteristics: see FIG. 5). It is configured to have a function of calculating the mixing ratio of water / air contained in the oil flowing through the pipe.

The first comparison block 10c is connected to the mixing rate calculation block 10b via a line Lc, and is connected to the storage block 10f via a line Lfc. The first comparison block 10c compares the mixing rate of water / air contained in the oil flowing through the oil supply pipe calculated by the mixing rate calculation block 10b with the first threshold value stored in the storage block 10f (first block). 1). Here, the first threshold is whether or not the mixing rate of water / air contained in the oil flowing through the oil supply pipe is at a level that does not require any of notification, oil supply stop, and maintenance / inspection. It is a threshold value.
The fluctuation amount calculation block 10d is connected to the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the reflected light receiving sensor 57 via the line Lsd, is connected to the first comparison block 10c via the line Ld, and is connected to the timer 10t ( Time measuring means). The fluctuation amount calculation block 10d is based on the sensor output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and / or the reflected light receiving sensor 57, the comparison result performed in the first comparison block 10c, and the elapsed time measured by the timer 10t. Thus, the fluctuation amount per unit time in the sensor output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 is calculated.

The second comparison block 10e is connected to the fluctuation amount calculation block 10d via a line Le, and is connected to the storage block 10f via a line Lfe. The second comparison block 10e includes a fluctuation amount per unit time calculated in the fluctuation amount calculation block 10d (a fluctuation amount per unit time in the sensor output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57), and The second threshold value stored in the storage block 10f is compared (a second comparison is performed).
Here, the second threshold value is a fluctuation amount per unit time in the sensor output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57, and the fluctuation amount when the fluid foreign matter is water, It is used to determine the amount of fluctuation when the fluid foreign substance is air (the amount of fluctuation when water is smaller than the amount of fluctuation when air is used).

The determination block 10g is connected to the first comparison block 10c via the line Lcg, is connected to the second comparison block 10e via the line Lg, and is connected to the storage block 10f via the line Lfg. The determination block 10g includes the comparison result performed in the first comparison block 10c and the comparison result performed in the second comparison block 10e, the refueling stop threshold value and the maintenance inspection threshold value stored in the storage block 10f. And the necessity for notification of foreign matter (water / air) mixing, the necessity for refueling stop processing, and the necessity for maintenance inspection are determined.
Here, the threshold value for refueling stop determines whether it is sufficient to notify only when foreign matter (water / air) is mixed up to a level that requires notification, or whether refueling stop processing should be performed. It is a threshold for As for the threshold value of maintenance inspection, if foreign matter (water / air) is mixed to the level that requires maintenance inspection, it is necessary to stop the refueling alone, or whether further maintenance inspection is required. This is a threshold value for judgment.
The determination block 10g is connected to the notification processing block 10h via the line Lgh, is connected to the refueling stop processing block 10i via the line Lgi, is connected to the maintenance inspection processing block 10j via the line Lgj, and is connected to the storage block 10f via the output line Lgf. Connected to the monitor M (display unit 60 in FIG. 1) via a line Lgm. The determination result by the determination block 10g is transmitted to the notification processing block 10h, the refueling stop processing block 10i, the maintenance / inspection processing block 10j, and the monitor M.

The notification processing block 10h that has received the determination result determines that foreign matter (water / air) is mixed up to a level that requires notification (for example, when the water / air mixing rate is 1% or more). ), A signal for performing processing necessary for notification is transmitted to the notification means 20 via the line Lh. The notification unit 20 is, for example, a sound generation device or a lighting (flashing) device.
Refueling stop processing block 10i that has received the determination result determines that foreign matter (water / air) is mixed up to a level that requires refueling stop (for example, the water / air mixing rate is 3% or more). In this case, a control signal (for example, a stop signal for the pump driving motor 9) for performing processing necessary for stopping the refueling is sent to the means for stopping the refueling (for example, the pump driving motor 9) via the line Lj. To communicate.
The maintenance / inspection processing block 10j that has received the determination result determines that foreign matter (water / air) is mixed up to a level that requires maintenance / inspection (for example, a water / air mixing rate of 5% or more). In this case, a control signal (for example, a start signal for a maintenance / inspection alarm generator (not shown)) for performing processing necessary for maintenance / inspection processing is transmitted to the means for performing maintenance / inspection processing via the line Li. To do.

Next, with reference mainly to FIG. 7, the control in 1st Embodiment is demonstrated with reference also to FIGS.
In step S <b> 1 of FIG. 7, the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10 a in the control unit 10 reads the output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57. In step S2, the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a calculates the reflection / transmission ratio.
If the reflection / transmission ratio is calculated, the process proceeds to step S3, and the mixing rate calculation block 10b calculates the mixing rate of air or water mixed in the fuel oil flowing through the flow path 2F. Then, the process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, the first comparison block 10c determines whether or not the mixing rate calculated in step S3 is greater than or equal to the first threshold value stored in the storage block 10f.
If the mixing rate calculated in step S3 is less than the first threshold (NO in step S4), the water / air mixing rate in the control cycle is such that no notification, refueling stop, or maintenance inspection is required. Judged to be low. And it returns to step S1 and repeats step 1 and the following.
On the other hand, if the mixing rate calculated in step S3 is equal to or greater than the first threshold (step S4 is YES), it is determined that notification, refueling stop, and maintenance inspection are necessary. In step S5, the fluctuation rate calculation block 10d calculates the fluctuation rate per unit time in the output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57.

In step S6, the second comparison block 10e causes the variation rate calculated in step S5 (the variation rate per unit time in the output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57) to be the second value. It is determined whether or not the threshold value is exceeded.
If the fluctuation rate (the fluctuation rate per unit time in the output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57) is equal to or greater than the second threshold (YES in step S6), the process proceeds to step S7. The determination block 10g determines that “air is mixed in” and proceeds to step S9.
On the other hand, if the variation rate (the variation rate per unit time in the output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57) is less than the second threshold (NO in step S6), step S8 is performed. The determination block 10g determines that “water is mixed in” and proceeds to step S9.

In step S9, it is determined by the determination block 10g whether the mixing rate of air or water is equal to or higher than a threshold value for stopping fuel supply. If the mixing rate of air or water is less than the refueling stop threshold (NO in step S9), the process proceeds to step S10.
And the mixing rate of air or water needs to notify workers in the gas station that air or water is mixed in the fuel oil, but it has not reached the level at which refueling is stopped. Judgment is performed and processing necessary for notification is executed.
On the other hand, if the mixing rate of air or water is equal to or higher than the threshold value for stopping refueling (YES in step S9), it is determined that the mixing rate of air or water is equal to or higher than a level that requires stopping refueling, and the process proceeds to step S11. move on.

In step S11, the determination block 10g determines whether or not the mixing rate of air or water is equal to or higher than a maintenance threshold value, so that the mixing rate of air or water may be a level that only requires refueling. Or whether it is a level that requires a maintenance check in addition to stopping refueling.
If the mixing rate of air or water is less than the maintenance inspection threshold value (NO in step S11), the process proceeds to step S12, and it is determined that the mixing rate of air or water is at a level that only requires refueling. Processing necessary for stopping (for example, stopping the motor 30 and stopping the pump 3) is executed. In this case, the stop of refueling is also notified at the same time.
On the other hand, if the mixing rate of air or water is equal to or greater than the maintenance inspection threshold value (YES in step S11), the process proceeds to step S13, and the mixing rate of air or water is a level that requires maintenance inspection in addition to stopping refueling. Therefore, it is necessary to perform processing necessary for stopping refueling (for example, stopping motor 30 and pump 3) and processing for maintenance inspection (maintenance inspection processing needs to be performed in maintenance inspection processing block 10j). Communicate information to that effect). In this case, the stop of refueling is also notified at the same time.

According to the illustrated first embodiment, the water / air detection means 50 is provided in the oil supply pipe 2 in the oil supply device 100, and fluid foreign matter (for example, water, air C) is output by the output from the water / air detection means 50. ). Therefore, it is possible to detect in the fuel supply apparatus 100 that water or air is mixed in the fuel oil.
Therefore, when a fluid foreign substance (for example, water C) is mixed in the fuel oil supplied to the vehicle or the like, the fuel oil is detected immediately before the fuel oil is supplied to the vehicle. It is possible to prevent an accident in which the vehicle knocks and stops due to oil.
Further, since it is possible to detect that the air that is the fluid foreign matter C is mixed in the fuel oil, the actual oil supply amount becomes smaller than the fuel supply amount (measured value: display value) measured by the flow meter 4. It is possible to avoid a situation where the measurement accuracy is lowered.

In the illustrated first embodiment, the light emitting device 55 of the water / air detecting means 50 is exposed to a portion where the fuel oil in the fuel supply pipe 2 is exposed to the area where the fuel oil flows (light emitting portion of the LED 55, lens). 52) is provided, and the dirt attached to the light emitting portion 55 is removed by the wiper 54, so that a clean state can always be maintained.
Since the dirt adhering to the lens 52 is removed and maintained in a clean state, a constant amount of light is always emitted from the light emitting portion 55, and accurate detection is always possible.

In addition, the control unit 10 in the illustrated first embodiment is configured so that the fluid foreign matter C is water if the variation rate of the parameters indicating the contamination of the fluid foreign matter C (the amount of reflected light and the amount of transmitted light) is equal to or less than a predetermined value. And has a function of determining that the fluid foreign matter C is air if the variation rate of the parameters (the amount of reflected light and the amount of transmitted light) indicating the contamination of the fluid foreign matter C is greater than a predetermined value. doing. Therefore, it is possible to accurately determine whether the fluid foreign matter C mixed in the fuel oil is water or air.
Then, by accurately determining whether the fluid foreign matter C is water or air, maintenance and inspection work can be performed appropriately.

Here, the transmission state of the light irradiated into the fuel oil is the color of the flowing fuel oil, transparency (turbidity), refractive index, dirt in the oil, irradiation from the light emitting device (for example, LED) 55 (light emission). Affected by factors such as changes in the amount of light and temperature changes.
And it is difficult to accurately grasp the amount of change in transmittance and reflectance due to such factors. Therefore, the light quantity (the amount of received light and / or the amount of reflected light received) measured by the light receiving sensors 56 and 57 includes an error caused by the factor.
In the illustrated first embodiment, when determining the mixing ratio of water and air, the reflection / transmission ratio (= reflected light amount / transmitted light amount) obtained by dividing the reflected light amount by the transmitted light amount is used. And the influence of the above factor on the amount of reflected light occurs, but the ratio is almost constant with respect to the mixing rate regardless of the influence, and thus the influence of the above factor can be eliminated. As a result, the mixing rate of fluid foreign matter (for example, water or air) C can be accurately determined.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
The second embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 13 is different from the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 in the aspect of obtaining the mixing rate of water and air, and the configuration and control related thereto are different. ing.
In the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, as shown in FIG. 3, the water / air detector 50 includes a transmitted light receiving sensor that measures the amount of light (transmitted light amount) transmitted through the fuel oil flowing through the flow path 2 </ b> F. Two types of light receiving sensors are required: 56 and a reflected light receiving sensor 57 that measures the amount of reflected light reflected by water or air mixed in the fuel oil.
On the other hand, in the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, only the reflected light receiving sensor 57 that measures the amount of reflected light is used, and the channel tube wall 2i on the opposite side (left side in FIG. 8) of the light emitting device 55 is used. The transmitted light receiving sensor 56 is not provided.

With reference to FIGS. 8-11, the procedure which determines the mixing rate of water and air only with the reflected light light-receiving sensor 57 in 2nd Embodiment is demonstrated.
In FIG. 8, a reflection member 58 is provided on the flow path wall surface 2 i on the opposite side (left side in FIG. 8) of the light emitting device 55.
The reflected light receiving sensor 57 reflects the reflected light amount reflected by water or air (fluid foreign matter) C mixed in the fuel oil flowing in the flow path 2F, and is reflected from the light emitting device 55 and reflected by the reflecting member 58 (reflected). Both the returned light quantity is received.
In the following description, the light quantity Q ₂ reflected by the reflecting member 58 provided on the flow path wall surface 2 i on the opposite side of the light emitting device 55 and returning to the reflected light receiving sensor 57 is handled as the transmitted light quantity Q. Accordingly, the amount of light measured by the reflected light receiving sensor 57 in FIG. 8 is reflected by the amount of reflected light Q ₁ reflected by water or air (fluid foreign matter) C mixed in the fuel oil and the light emitted from the light emitting device 55. This is the total value of the transmitted light quantity Q ₂ reflected by the member 58 and returning to the reflected light receiving sensor 57.

The characteristics of the mixing ratio of water and air and the amount of transmitted light tend to be as shown by the solid line (curve) Lt in FIG. Further, the characteristics of the mixing ratio of water and air and the amount of reflected light tend to be indicated by a broken line (curve) Lr in FIG.
Since the characteristic tendency is known, if the measured value (zero point) of the transmitted light amount when the mixing ratio of water and air is zero is obtained, the characteristic curve Lt of the mixing ratio of water and air and the transmitted light amount is estimated. I can do it. If the transmitted light quantity characteristic curve Lt is known, the mixing ratio of water and air and the reflected light quantity characteristic curve Lr can also be estimated.
If the characteristic curve Lt of the mixing ratio of water and air and the amount of transmitted light and the characteristic curve Lr of the mixing ratio of water and air and the amount of reflected light are obtained, the reflected light quantity Q ₁ measured by the reflected light receiving sensor 57 in FIG. from sum of the transmitted light quantity Q _2, it is possible to determine the amount of reflected light and transmitted light quantity at the time measured by the reflected light receiving sensor 57.

Here, similarly to the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, if the reflection / transmission ratio, which is the ratio of the reflected light amount (or reflectance) and the transmitted light amount (or transmittance), is used, depending on the influence of various factors. It can be measured.
Therefore, also in the control in the second embodiment, the mixing ratio of water and air is obtained by using the reflection / transmission ratio (= the amount of reflected light / the amount of transmitted light), and the control is performed.

First, as shown in FIG. 9, a general transmitted light characteristic curve Lt and reflected light characteristic curve Lr are obtained. By determining the measured value (zero point) of the transmitted light amount in a state where the mixing ratio of water and air is zero with respect to such general characteristic curves Lt and Lr, the transmitted light characteristic curve and the reflected light characteristic curve To decide.
The determined transmitted light characteristic curve Lt is indicated by a solid line in FIG. 10, and the reflected light characteristic curve Lr is indicated by a broken line in FIG.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10, the total value of the transmitted light amount and the reflected light amount measured by the reflected light receiving sensor 57 and the characteristics of the mixing ratio of water and air (characteristic curve Lσ in FIG. 10) are obtained. The characteristic curve Lσ can be created by measuring in advance, for example.
Then, the sum of the amount of transmitted light Q ₂ and the reflected light amount Q ₁ at the time measured by the reflected light receiving sensor 57 of FIG. 8, if a point in the characteristic curve Lσ "Σ", reflection at the time the light quantity Q ₁ Is estimated to be the intersection α1 of the vertical axis Y passing through the point Σ and the reflected light characteristic curve Lr. Further, the amount of transmitted light Q ₂ at that time is presumed to intersection α2 between the vertical axis Y and the transmitted light characteristic curve Lt passing through the point sigma. The reflection / transmission ratio (= reflection light amount / transmission light amount) is “α1 / α2”.
If the characteristics (characteristic curve Rtr shown in FIG. 11) between the reflection / transmission ratio (= reflected light quantity / transmitted light quantity) and the water / air mixing ratio are obtained in advance, “α1 / α2” and the characteristic curve Rtr in FIG. From this, the mixing rate of water and air can be obtained.
In FIG. 10, it is also possible to determine the mixing ratio of water and air directly from the intersection of the vertical axis Y from the output Σ of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 and the horizontal axis of FIG.

In the procedure described above with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11 (procedure for obtaining the mixing rate of water and air), the measured value (zero point) of the transmitted light amount in a state where the mixing rate of water and air is zero, For example, the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 (in FIG. 8) when the deadline operation is stopped is used.
However, due to the secular change and usage state of the fuel supply device 100, water and air may be mixed into the fuel oil supplied by the fuel supply device 100 even when the deadline operation is stopped.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment, the reflected light receiving sensor 57 (FIG. 8) in a state where 100% fuel oil flows at the time of equipment installation (a state where no fluid foreign matter such as water or air is mixed). ) And the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 (in FIG. 8) when the closing operation is stopped are stored immediately after shipment of the fueling device 100, and “the reflected light receiving sensor output when the closing operation is stopped” are stored. As “history” (hereinafter simply referred to as “history”).
Then, by referring to the stored or stored “history”, the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 (in FIG. 8) when the deadline operation is measured as “zero point” is mixed with water or air. It is possible to determine whether or not the result is measured in the absence of the result.
When it is determined that there is a high possibility that water or air is mixed when the deadline operation is stopped, the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 when the deadline operation is stopped is referred to by referring to the “history”. , It can be calibrated to the proper “zero point”.
For calibration, a known technique can be applied.

FIG. 12 shows the internal structure of the control unit 10A. The control unit 10A performs the control for executing the mode described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11, and the inconvenience due to mixing of water and air. It has a function to prevent.
In FIG. 12, only the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 is input to the control unit 10A. A zero point calibration block 10k and a transmitted light amount / reflected light amount determination block 10m are provided as blocks that are not included in the control unit 10 in the first embodiment. Here, the zero point calibration block 10k calibrates the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 when the deadline operation is stopped as a pre-processing of the calculation in the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a, and calibrates the above-mentioned “zero point”. It has a function to execute.

The zero point calibration block 10k is connected to the reflected light receiving sensor 57 via a line Lsk, and is connected to the storage block 10f via a line Lfk.
The zero point calibration block 10k is based on the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 and the history stored in the storage block 10f (input to the zero point calibration block 10k via the line Lfk). The sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 is configured to have a function of calibrating as a “zero point”.

The transmitted light amount / reflected light amount determination block 10m is connected to the zero point calibration block 10k via a line Lsm and is connected to the storage block 10f via a line Lmf.
The transmitted light amount / reflected light amount determination block 10m includes a zero point (input to the transmitted light amount / reflected light amount determination block 10m via the line Lsm) calibrated by the zero point calibration block 10k, and a general block stored in the storage block 10f. The transmittance characteristic curve and the reflectance characteristic as shown in FIG. 10 are obtained by the transmittance characteristic curve and the reflectance characteristic curve Lt, Lr (see FIG. 9: input to the transmitted light quantity and reflected light quantity determination block 10m via the line Lmf). The curves Lt and Lr are specified.
Then, a point Σ (see FIG. 10) in the characteristic curve Lσ shown in FIG. 10 is determined from the sensor output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57, and reflection is performed from the specified transmittance characteristic curve and reflectance characteristic curves Lt and Lr. determining the amount of light _{Q 1} and transmitted light quantity _{Q 2.}

  In FIG. 12, the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a, the mixing rate calculation block 10b, the first comparison block 10c, the sensor output fluctuation amount calculation block 10d, the second comparison block 10e, and the storage in the control unit 10A. The configuration and functions of the block 10f, the determination block 10g, the timer 10t, the notification processing block 10h, the refueling stop processing block 10i, and the maintenance / inspection processing block 10j are the same as those described in the first embodiment with reference to FIG. It is.

Next, the control in the second embodiment will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 13 and also with reference to FIGS.
In step S <b> 21 of FIG. 13, the control unit 10 reads the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57. Then, the process proceeds to step S22, where the zero point calibration block 10k uses the history stored in the storage block 10f to determine the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57 when the deadline operation is stopped, the zero point for determining the characteristic curve Lt. (Zero point calibration is performed), and the process proceeds to step S23.

In step S23, the transmitted light amount and reflected light amount determination block 10m determines the transmitted light amount characteristic Lt (FIG. 10) and the reflected light amount characteristic Lr from the calibrated zero point and the tendency of the characteristic curves Lt and Lr stored in the storage block 10f. (FIG. 10) is specified.
In the following step S24, as described with reference to FIG. 10, the transmitted light amount and the reflected light amount are estimated using the output characteristic curve Lσ, the transmitted light amount characteristic Lt, and the reflected light amount characteristic Lr. . Then, the process proceeds to step S25.

The control in steps S25 to S36 in FIG. 13 is the same as step S2 to step S13 in the control in FIG. 7 (control in the first embodiment), and redundant description is omitted.
According to the second embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 13, as described above, only the reflected light receiving sensor 57 that measures the amount of reflected light is used, and the flow path tube on the opposite side (left side in FIG. 8) of the light emitting device 55. Since the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 is not provided on the wall 2i, the number of parts and the number of connection points are reduced accordingly, and maintenance is easy.

  Other configurations and operational effects in the second embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 13 are the same as those of the first embodiment of FIGS.

14 to 16 show a third embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 14, in the water / air detection means of the third embodiment, only the reflected light receiving sensor 57 is provided. The reflected light receiving sensor 57 in FIG. 14 measures the amount of reflected light reflected by water or air C mixed in the fuel oil flowing through the flow path 2F.
In the following, with respect to the third embodiment, portions that are different from the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 will be mainly described.

FIG. 15 shows the structure of the control unit 10B. The control unit 10B determines the mixing rate of water and air using only the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57, and prevents inconvenience due to mixing of water and air. It has a function to perform control.
The control unit 10B shown in FIG. 15 does not have the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a and the mixing rate calculation block 10b in the control unit 10 (see FIG. 6) in the first embodiment, but the reflectance calculation block 10n. I have.

In FIG. 15, the reflectance calculation block 10 n is connected to the reflected light receiving sensor 57 via the line Ln, and is configured to calculate the reflectance based on the output from the reflected light receiving sensor 57.
The sensor output variation calculation unit 10d per unit time is connected to the reflectance calculation block 10n via a line Lnd.
About another structure and its function, it is the same as that of the control unit 10 (FIG. 6) of 1st Embodiment.

Next, the control in 3rd Embodiment is demonstrated with reference to FIG.
In FIG. 16, in step S <b> 41, the control unit 10 </ b> B reads the output of the reflected light receiving sensor 57. In step S42, the reflectance calculation block 10n calculates the reflectance and calibrates as necessary.
Steps S43 to S52 in FIG. 16 are the same as steps S4 to S13 in the control of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7), and thus the description after step S43 in FIG. 16 is omitted.

  Other configurations and operational effects in the third embodiment of FIGS. 14 to 16 are the same as those of the first embodiment of FIGS.

17 to 19 show a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 17, in the fourth embodiment, only the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 is provided in the water / air detection means. The transmitted light receiving sensor 56 measures the amount of transmitted light that has passed through the fuel oil flowing through the flow path 2F. Hereinafter, the difference between the fourth embodiment and the first embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7 will be mainly described.

FIG. 18 shows the structure of the control unit 10C in the fourth embodiment. The control unit 10 </ b> C has a function of determining the mixing rate of water and air using only the output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 and performing control to prevent inconvenience due to mixing of water and air.
In FIG. 18, the control unit 10C is not provided with the reflection / transmission ratio calculation block 10a and the mixing rate calculation block 10b in the control unit 10 (see FIG. 6) of the first embodiment, and includes a transmittance calculation block 10o. ing.

In FIG. 18, the transmittance calculation block 10 o is connected to the transmitted light receiving sensor 56 via a line Lo, and has a function of calculating the transmittance based on output information from the transmitted light receiving sensor 56.
The sensor output variation calculation unit 10d per unit time is connected to the transmittance calculation block 10o via a line Rod.
Regarding other configurations, the control unit 10C in FIG. 18 is the same as the control unit 10 in FIG. 6, and the function of each block is the same as that of each block shown in FIG.

Next, control in the fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
In step S61 of FIG. 19, the control unit 10C reads the output of the transmitted light receiving sensor 56. In step S62, the transmittance calculation block 10o calculates the transmittance at that time, and calibrates the calculated transmittance as necessary.
Steps S63 to S72 of FIG. 19 are the same as steps S4 to S13 (see FIG. 7) of the control of the first embodiment. Therefore, the description of steps S63 to S72 in FIG. 19 is omitted.

  Other configurations and operational effects in the fourth embodiment of FIGS. 17 to 19 are the same as those of the first embodiment of FIGS.

It should be noted that the illustrated embodiment is merely an example, and is not a description to limit the technical scope of the present invention.
6, 12, 15, and 18 are functional block diagrams, and each of the control units 10, 10 </ b> A to 10 </ b> C displayed by each is, for example, a single computer (e.g., PC, other information processing) (Computer with capability).
In the present invention, the sensors (water / air detection means 50, light receiving sensors 56, 57) are provided in the oil supply pipe 2 in the oil supply device 100. However, in the present invention, a sensor is provided in an oil supply pipe (not shown) for unloading fuel oil to an oil storage tank (not shown) to judge the difference in the type of oil flowing in the oil supply pipe and prevent unloading. You can also do it.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Housing 2 ... Oil supply pipe 3 ... Pump 4 ... Flowmeter 5, 7 ... Rotary joint 6 ... Oil supply hose 8 ... Oil supply nozzle 9 ... Nozzle hook 10 10A, 10B, 10C ... control means / control unit 20 ... notifier 30 ... pump drive motor 50 ... water / air detection means 60 ... display

Claims (2)

In a fuel supply apparatus having a control device for providing fluid foreign matter detection means in a piping system for feeding fuel oil and notifying the mixing of fluid foreign matter by an output from the fluid foreign matter detection means, the control device is fluid-like. If the fluctuation rate of the parameter indicating the contamination of foreign matter is not more than a predetermined value, it is determined that the fluid foreign matter is water. If the variation rate of the parameter indicating the contamination of foreign matter is larger than a predetermined value, the fluid foreign matter is air. It has the function to determine that it is. The fluid-like foreign matter detecting means has a light emitting device and a light receiving device, and the light emitting device and the light receiving device are exposed to a region where the fuel oil flows through the piping system. The oil supply device according to claim 1, wherein a cleaning device for cleaning a light receiving portion of the light receiving device is provided.

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