JP7117153B2 - fuel unloading system - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel unloading system suitable for unloading fuel from a tank lorry to an underground tank, for example, at a filling station.

Generally, a tank lorry vehicle that delivers fuel from an oil depot or the like to a filling station to which it is unloaded is known. A plurality of hatches are mounted on the tank lorry vehicle, and each of these hatches is loaded with liquid-specific fuel ordered in advance from a filling station to which the tanker is to be unloaded. When the tank lorry arrives at the designated filling station, it will be discharged to the underground tank only if the liquid type of the fuel loaded in the designated hatch matches the liquid type stored in the underground tank to be unloaded. Unloading is started (see Patent Literature 1, for example).

JP 2013-193775 A

By the way, in the fuel unloading system according to the prior art, the tank lorry vehicle is provided with a computer for unloading management having operation buttons operated to instruct the start and stop of unloading. For this reason, the person in charge (operator) who performs the unloading work, for example, after manually connecting the unloading hose to the filling port of the underground tank of the filling station, has to go to the tank lorry vehicle to operate the operation button. It was necessary to return, which increased the burden on the person in charge and required a lot of time and effort.

Therefore, the inventors of the present invention use a portable terminal capable of communicating with a management computer for unloading management, so that the connection state between the unloading hose and the oil filling port of the underground tank can be visually confirmed. We examined the possibility of starting or stopping the unloading of fuel from a tank truck to an underground tank at a service station using a device. Here, if the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal is insufficient, communication between the mobile terminal and the management computer will be interrupted during unloading work. In order to secure it, it is necessary to charge the mobile terminal in advance.

In this case, since the charger for charging the mobile terminal is usually installed in the cab (cab) of the tank truck, the mobile terminal is charged at the connection point between the unloading hose and the filling port of the gas station. will be held in a remote location. Therefore, when the mobile terminal is charging, the staff must operate the mobile terminal in a position where they cannot visually check the connection status between the unloading hose and the filling port of the gas station. There is a problem that the fuel can be unloaded without visually confirming the connection state with the lubricating port.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art described above. to provide a system that

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a control means for unloading from the hatch to the tank by controlling the opening and closing of the bottom valve of the hatch in which the fuel is stored, provided in the tank truck, and a control means that can be carried by an attendant. In a fuel unloading system comprising a portable terminal that communicates with the control means by battery drive, a charger that is provided in the driver's cab of the tank truck for charging the portable terminal; determining means for determining whether or not the mobile terminal is being charged by the device, and the control means, when it is determined by the determining means that the mobile terminal is not being charged, It is characterized by enabling unloading based on the operation by the portable terminal device .

According to the present invention, when the portable terminal is not being charged, the fuel can be unloaded. It is possible to prevent the person in charge from unloading the fuel using the portable terminal, and it is possible to improve the safety and reliability of the fuel unloading work using the portable terminal.

1 is a configuration diagram showing a state in which fuel is unloaded from a tank truck to an underground tank at a gas station using the fuel unloading system according to the embodiment of the present invention; FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view schematically showing unloading work from a tank truck; It is a flowchart which shows the control processing of the unloading work using a portable terminal device.

Hereinafter, as an example of a fuel unloading system according to an embodiment of the present invention, a case of unloading from a tank truck to an underground tank of a gas station will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

In FIG. 1, an underground tank 2 for storing multiple types of fuel (for example, regular gasoline, high-octane gasoline, kerosene, light oil, etc.) is buried under the premises of a gas station 1 . The underground tanks 2 are usually separated or divided into a plurality of tanks, and liquid fuels of different liquid types (for example, regular gasoline, high-octane gasoline, kerosene, light oil, etc.) are accommodated and stored in each tank. be done.

Therefore, in the following description, a plurality of underground tanks 2-n (n=1, 2, 3, . In addition, in FIG. 1, for example, a total of three underground tanks 2-n are shown. Also, in FIG. 2, for example, a total of four lubricating ports 4-n (that is, lubricating ports 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4) are shown. However, this is for convenience of explanation, and the numbers and arrangements of the underground tanks 2 and the lubricating ports 4 are not limited to these. Further, the terms "liquid type" and "oil type" have the same meaning.

Each of the underground tanks 2-n is connected to a plurality of lubricating ports 4-n arranged at suitable locations via respective lubricating pipes 3 (plurality). Each underground tank 2-n is replenished with fuel from a tank lorry vehicle 8, which will be described later, through each lubricating pipe 3 from this lubricating port 4-n. Each underground tank 2-n is also connected to a refueling weighing machine placed at an appropriate location on the site through a supply pipe (none of which is shown). The weighing machine is equipped with devices such as a pump and a flow meter (none of which are shown), pumps up the fuel stored in each underground tank 2-n, and supplies it to a fueling target such as a fueling vehicle.

Each of the underground tanks 2-n is provided with a liquid level detector 5 for individually detecting the respective fuel levels, thereby individually monitoring the amount of remaining fuel in the underground tanks 2-n. Detection signals from these liquid level detectors 5 are output to a tank control terminal 6 installed at an appropriate site of the filling station 1 . This tank management terminal 6 is arranged at a position separated from the filling station office 7 . The tank management terminal 6 is connected to the main tank management device located at the filling station office 7 via a dedicated line (neither of which is shown), and the tank management terminal 6 is connected to the tank during unloading of fuel by the tank lorry vehicle 8, for example. Oil storage management information and the like are transmitted from the management device.

As a result, the tank management terminal 6 is individually connected to the liquid level detector 5 of each underground tank 2-n, and based on the measurement output from each liquid level detector 5, the remaining amount of fuel in each underground tank 2-n is detected. Liquid amount information such as (inventory amount) can be obtained by calculation. The tank management terminal 6, together with tank information such as preset individual identification information (for example, tank number) of each underground tank 2-n, stored liquid type, tank capacity, etc., stores the calculated underground tank 2-n. is stored in a data storage unit (not shown), and oil storage management of each underground tank 2-n can be performed based on the tank information and the liquid amount information.

In other words, the tank management terminal 6 can updateably store the remaining amount of fuel stored in each underground tank 2-n as an inventory amount for each tank, and the stored contents can be stored via the communication interface 6A. It can be electronically transmitted to the unloading computer 15, which will be described later. The remaining amount of fuel stored in the underground tanks 2-n (inventory amount for each tank) fluctuates depending on the pumping up of fuel by the weighing machine and the replenishment of fuel from the tank truck 8. FIG.

The tank truck 8 delivers fuel to the filling station 1 . A cab 8A defining a driver's cab is provided at the front of the tank truck 8, and an on-vehicle tank 9 is provided at the rear of the cab 8A. Inside the cab 8A, in addition to a driver's seat, steering wheel, etc. (not shown), a charger 18, which will be described later, is provided. On the other hand, the vehicle-mounted tank 9 of the tank truck 8 has a structure in which the inside is partitioned into a plurality of hatches 10-N (N=1, 2, 3, 4, . . . ) by partition plates. For example, FIG. 1 shows a case where a vehicle tank 9 is provided with a total of four hatches 10-N. However, these symbols are used for the convenience of explanation, and the number, arrangement, etc. of the hatches 10-N are not limited to this.

When the fuel is transferred, the tank lorry 8 is appropriately assigned the type of liquid and the amount of liquid loaded for each hatch 10-N according to the order from the delivery destination at an oil depot or the like as a shipping place. Every 10-N, the assigned liquid type is loaded by the assigned liquid volume by the shipping device. For example, hatch 10-1 stores "high-octane gasoline", hatch 10-2 stores "regular gasoline", hatch 10-3 stores "kerosene", hatch 10-4 stores " For each hatch 10-N, a predetermined amount of a predetermined liquid type according to an order from a delivery destination is loaded so that "light oil" is stored.

The on-vehicle tank 9 of the tank lorry vehicle 8 is provided with a liquid supply port (not shown) for loading fuel, which is a cargo, at the top of each hatch 10-N, and at the bottom of each hatch 10-N , a bottom valve consisting of a normally closed pneumatic on-off valve and a discharge pipe for unloading (both not shown) are provided. Each of these bottom valves is connected in parallel to the discharge port 11 via discharge pipes for unloading. The discharge port 11 is provided on the side and/or the rear side of the tank truck 8, and communicates with the bottom valve of each hatch 10-N through each discharge pipe for unloading. The fuel loaded in each hatch 10-N is delivered to the discharge port 11 through each unloading discharge pipe when the corresponding bottom valve is opened. As shown in FIG. 2, an unloading hose 12, which will be described later, is connected to the discharge port 11 by a staff member M (eg, a driver of the tank truck 8, a worker at the gas station 1, etc.).

The unloading hose 12 is a hose for unloading the fuel from the hatch 10-N of the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2-n of the filling station 1. One end of the unloading hose 12 is connected to the discharge port 11 provided on the bottom side of the on-vehicle tank 9, and the other end of the unloading hose 12 is connected to one of the oil filling ports 4-n of the underground tank 2-n. It is connected to the oil filling port 4-n. The other end of the unloading hose 12 is provided with a hose liquid type key reader 13 into which a later-described liquid type key is inserted.

A repeater 14 is provided at one end of the unloading hose 12 to transmit a detection signal from the hose liquid type key reader 13 to the unloading control device 16, which will be described later. The unloading hose 12 is provided with a signal line (not shown) that connects between the relay 14 on one end and the hose liquid type key reader 13 on the other end to exchange signals between them. ing.

The tank truck 8 is provided with an in-vehicle unloading computer 15, for example, on the cab 8A side. The unloading computer 15 includes, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, an unloading control device 16 as control means composed of a microcomputer or the like, and a portable terminal device 17 as an unloading control panel for remotely controlling the unloading control device 16 by communication. and

The unloading control device 16 is connected to the tank management terminal 6, the portable terminal device 17, and the like via a wired or wireless line. Then, the unloading control device 16 individually controls the opening and closing of the bottom valves provided corresponding to the plurality of hatches 10-N of the tank truck 8 according to the operation of the portable terminal device 17. Fuel is unloaded from any of the hatches 10-N to any of the plurality of underground tanks 2-n.

The unloading control device 16 has a memory 16A consisting of storage devices such as non-volatile memory, RAM, and ROM. The memory 16A stores, for example, the unloading control processing program shown in FIG. In addition, in the memory 16A of the unloading control device 16, information on fuel stored in each hatch 10-N of the tank truck 8 and information on fuel stored in each underground tank 2-n of the filling station 1 are stored. are stored updatably. Based on these stored information (fuel information), the unloading control device 16 performs association (guidance processing) between hatches and tanks that can be unloaded among the plurality of hatches 10-N and the plurality of underground tanks 2-n. have a function.

As shown in FIG. 2, the portable terminal device 17 is a terminal such as a tablet PC that can be carried by a staff member M such as the driver of the tank truck 8, and is driven by a built-in rechargeable battery. The mobile terminal device 17 has a display screen 17A such as a liquid crystal screen. On this display screen 17A, for example, among the plurality of hatches 10-N and the plurality of underground tanks 2-n, the association display of hatches and tanks that can be unloaded, the status display of the underground tanks 2-n, and the A state display or the like is performed, and the attendant M is notified. Note that the notification means is not limited to the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17, and may be configured to perform notification using, for example, a voice synthesizer.

On the display screen 17A of the portable terminal device 17, for example, a "unloading start button" or a "unloading stop button" or the like is displayed by a touch panel. When unloading the fuel from the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2 of the gas station 1, the staff member M checks the connection state between the unloading hose 12 and the oil filling port 4-n, while checking the displayed "Unloading Operate to press the start button with your fingertip. As a result, the unloading control device 16 transmits a unloading start signal to the pneumatic control unit (not shown) of the tank truck 8 to open the bottom valve and start unloading fuel from the tank truck 8. Let Further, when the "unloading stop button" is pressed, the bottom valve is closed to stop unloading of the fuel from the tank truck 8.

A charger 18 for the mobile terminal device 17 is provided inside the cab 8A of the tank truck 8, for example. The battery charger 18 charges the battery incorporated in the mobile terminal device 17 when the mobile terminal device 17 is connected. The portable terminal device 17 is provided with a charging determination unit 17B as determination means for determining whether charging by the charger 18 is being performed (charging is being performed). The charging determination unit 17B outputs a signal indicating that the mobile terminal 17 is being charged to the unloading control device 16 when the mobile terminal 17 is being charged. Then, the unloading control device 16 enables the unloading work when the charge determination unit 17B determines that the mobile terminal 17 is not being charged.

Further, the unloading control device 16 prohibits the unloading operation when the charge determination unit 17B determines that the mobile terminal 17 is being charged. That is, when the portable terminal device 17 is charged using the charger 18 in the cab 8A, the attendant M is placed at a location ( In the cab 8A), there is a possibility that the mobile terminal device 17 is being operated without sufficiently confirming the connection between the two, so the unloading work is prohibited in order to ensure safety. Here, if the unloading work is prohibited because the mobile terminal 17 is being charged, the unloading control device 16 displays, for example, "Unloading is not possible because the mobile terminal 17 is charging" on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17. is displayed, and the staff member M is notified that the unloading work is prohibited because the portable terminal 17 is being charged.

On the other hand, even after fuel unloading has started, if the mobile terminal 17 is charged by the charger 18 during this unloading work, the unloading control device 16 stops the unloading work ( interrupt). In this case, the unloading control device 16 displays, for example, "Unloading has been stopped due to charging" on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17, and the mobile terminal 17 is charged to the attendant M. It is notified that the unloading work has been stopped due to the state.

Further, the mobile terminal 17 is provided with a battery remaining amount detection unit 17C as a battery remaining amount detection means for detecting the remaining amount of the built-in battery (battery remaining amount). 17 C of battery residual amount detection parts output a signal which shows a battery residual amount to the unloading control apparatus 16 while displaying a battery residual amount on the display screen 17A of the portable terminal device 17. FIG. The unloading control device 16 enables the unloading operation when the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 detected by the remaining battery level detection unit 17C is equal to or higher than a preset predetermined value. Here, the predetermined value of the remaining battery level is more than the power consumption consumed from the start (opening of the bottom valve) to the end (closing of the bottom valve) of unloading work using the mobile terminal device 17, for example. set as a large value.

Then, the unloading control device 16 prohibits the unloading operation when the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 detected by the remaining battery level detection unit 17C is less than a predetermined value. When the unloading work is prohibited because the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device 17 is insufficient (less than a predetermined value), the unloading control device 16 displays, for example, "Insufficient battery level Unloading is not possible due to this" is displayed, and the staff member M is notified that unloading work is prohibited due to insufficient remaining battery power.

On the other hand, even after the unloading work has started, if the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device 17 becomes less than the predetermined value during the unloading work, the unloading control device 16 stops (suspends) the unloading work. ). In this case, the unloading control device 16 displays, for example, "Unloading has been stopped due to charging" on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17, and tells the staff member M that the remaining battery level is insufficient. Notifies that the unloading work has been stopped.

The fuel unloading system according to the embodiment has the configuration as described above. Next, the operation of unloading fuel from the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2 of the filling station 1 will be described.

When the tank truck 8 arrives at the filling station 1 , the staff member M connects one end of the unloading hose 12 to the discharge port 11 provided on the bottom side of the vehicle tank 9 , and connects the other end of the unloading hose 12 to the underground tank 2 . - connect to one of the lubricating ports 4-n of n. These oil inlets 4-n are provided with liquid type keys (not shown) corresponding to liquid types (fuel types) stored in the respective underground tanks 2-n.

The other end of the unloading hose 12 is provided with a hose liquid type key reader 13 into which the liquid type key is inserted. Any one of the liquid type keys is selectively inserted into the hose liquid type key reader 13 . One end of the unloading hose 12 is provided with a repeater 14 for transmitting a detection signal from the hose liquid type key reader 13 to the unloading control device 16 . By selectively inserting any one of the liquid type keys, the hose liquid type key reader 13 transmits data communication based on the inserted liquid type key to the unloading computer 15 via the repeater 14. and the unloading control device 16.

Therefore, when the staff member M performs the connection work of connecting the other end of the unloading hose 12 to the lubricating port 4-n, the hose liquid type key reader 13 is connected to one of the plurality of lubricating ports 4-n. Corresponding liquid type data (type data) can be read from the liquid type key of the lubricating port 4-n. The liquid type data of the underground tank 2-n read by the hose liquid type key reader 13 is transferred to the unloading computer 15 (unloading control device 16) of the tank truck 8 via the repeater . When the liquid type information sent from the hose liquid type key reader 13 matches the liquid type of the hatch 10-N, the unloading control device 16 permits unloading of the oil loaded in the hatch. In this state, the worker M operates the mobile terminal 17 to unload the fuel from the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2 .

Therefore, control processing executed by the unloading control device 16 when the mobile terminal 17 is used to unload fuel will be described with reference to FIG.

When the control process of FIG. 3 starts, in step 1, it is determined whether or not the mobile terminal 17 is being charged using the charger 18, based on the signal from the charging determination section 17B of the mobile terminal 17. . If "YES" is determined in step 1, the mobile terminal 17 is being charged, so the process proceeds to step 2, and the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17 displays "cannot be unloaded because it is being charged". and notify the staff member M, and return to step 1.

In this way, the attendant M charges the portable terminal device 17 using the charger 18 in the cab 8A, so that the connection between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the lubricating port 4-n is not fully confirmed. If there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 17 is being operated by the user, the unloading work can be prohibited in order to ensure safety. On the other hand, the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal device 17 displays "cannot be unloaded because it is being charged" to inform the staff member M, thereby instructing the staff member M to stop charging the mobile terminal device 17 and unload the hose. 12 and the lubricating port 4-n.

If "NO" is determined in step 1, then in the next step 3, based on the signal from the remaining battery level detection unit 17C of the mobile terminal 17, it is determined whether the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. determine whether or not If it is determined as "NO" in step 3, the battery remaining amount of the mobile terminal device 17 is consumed from the start of the unloading work (bottom valve opening) to the end (bottom valve closing). Since the amount of power consumption is less than the power consumption, the process proceeds to step 4, the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17 displays "cannot be unloaded due to lack of remaining battery power" to inform the staff member M, and the process returns to step 1.

As a result, if there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 17 runs out of battery during the unloading work, the mobile terminal 17 becomes inoperable, and communication with the unloading computer 15 is interrupted, the unloading work can be carried out in advance. can be prohibited. On the other hand, the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal device 17 displays "cannot be unloaded due to lack of remaining battery power" to notify the staff member M, thereby prompting the staff member M to charge the mobile terminal device 17. .

If it is determined as "YES" in step 3, the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device 17 is equal to or greater than the predetermined value, so in the following step 5, the unloading work is started. 193775) is executed. Specifically, the staff member M operates the “unloading start button” on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17 . As a result, the unloading control device 16 transmits a unloading start signal to the pneumatic control unit of the tank truck 8 to open the bottom valve. Therefore, the fuel is unloaded from the selected hatch 10-N of the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2-n of the filling station 1 through the unloading hose 12.

In the next step 6, it is determined again whether or not the mobile terminal 17 is being charged during the unloading work. If "NO" is determined in step 6, the mobile terminal 17 is not connected to the charger 18, and the staff member M confirms the connection between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the lubricating port 4-n. It is considered that the portable terminal device 17 is operated in a state where Therefore, if the determination in step 6 is "NO", the unloading work is continued.

In the next step 7, it is determined again whether or not the remaining battery level of the portable terminal 17 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value during the unloading work. If it is determined as "YES" in step 7, the unloading work is continued as it is. At 17A, it is determined whether or not the "unloading stop button" has been operated. If the determination in step 8 is "NO", the process returns to step 6. If the determination in step 8 is "YES", the process proceeds to step 9. In step 9, an unloading completion signal is transmitted to the pneumatic control unit of the tank truck 8 to close the bottom valve. Thus, the unloading operation of the fuel from the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2 is completed.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 6 is "YES", the process proceeds to step 10, in which "unloading has been stopped due to charging" is displayed on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17, and the attendant M is notified. After that, the process proceeds to step 9 to complete the unloading work. As a result, even during unloading work, the mobile terminal 17 is connected to the charger 18, and the mobile terminal 17 is connected without confirming the connection between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the lubricating port 4-n. Safety can be ensured by terminating (suspending) the unloading operation when there is a possibility that it has been manipulated. In addition, by displaying "Unloading has been stopped due to charging" on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17 and notifying the staff M, the staff M is informed that the other end of the unloading hose 12 It is possible to prompt the user to operate the portable terminal 17 near the connection site with 4-n.

Further, if the determination in step 7 is "NO", the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device 17 is insufficient, and the mobile terminal device 17 may become inoperable during the unloading work. For this reason, if the determination in step 7 is "NO", the process proceeds to step 11, and the message "Unloading has been stopped due to insufficient battery power" is displayed on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal device 17, and the staff member M , the process proceeds to step 9 to end the unloading work. As a result, the unloading work is finished (interrupted) before the portable terminal 17 runs out of battery during the unloading work, the portable terminal 17 becomes inoperable, and the communication with the unloading computer 15 is interrupted. can be done. In addition, the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal device 17 displays "Unloading has been stopped due to insufficient remaining battery power" to notify the staff member M, thereby prompting the staff member M to charge the mobile terminal device 17. be able to.

Thus, according to the embodiment, the unloading control device 16 charges the mobile terminal 17 when unloading the fuel from the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2 of the filling station 1. (the mobile terminal 17 is being charged), and if it is determined that charging is being performed based on the signal from the charging determination unit 17B of the mobile terminal 17, the unloading work is prohibited. . As a result, the attendant M operates the mobile terminal 17 while charging the mobile terminal 17 at a place (inside the cab 8A) away from the connecting portion between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the lubricating port 4-n. Unloading work may be prohibited if there is a possibility that As a result, it is possible to prevent the staff M from unloading the fuel using the mobile terminal 17 at a position where the connection state between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the lubricating port 4-n cannot be visually confirmed. Safety can be ensured.

On the other hand, when it is determined that the portable terminal 17 is not charged, the unloading control device 16 transmits a unloading start signal to the pneumatic control unit of the tank truck 8 to open the bottom valve. Let As a result, the unloading operation of fuel from the hatch 10-N of the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2-n of the filling station 1 can be started. After the unloading work is started, when the mobile terminal 17 is charged by the charger 18 during the unloading work, the unloading control device 16 controls the air pressure control unit of the tank truck 8. to close the bottom valve. As a result, even in the middle of the fuel unloading operation, the portable terminal 17 is in a charged state, and it is considered that the staff member M has left the connecting portion between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the oil filler port 4-n. , the unloading work can be stopped (interrupted), and the safety of the unloading work can be ensured.

When the unloading work is prohibited because the mobile terminal 17 is being charged, a message such as "cannot be unloaded because it is being charged" is displayed on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17.例文帳に追加In addition, when the unloading work is to be stopped (interrupted) because the mobile terminal 17 is charged during the unloading work, the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17 displays "unloading is stopped because charging is in progress". has been completed." is displayed. As a result, the attendant M is notified that the unloading work is prohibited if the mobile terminal 17 is being charged during the unloading work, and the mobile terminal 17 is unloaded during the unloading work. When the battery is charged, it can be notified that the unloading work will be stopped.

Further, the unloading control device 16 determines whether the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value when unloading fuel, and determines that the remaining battery level is less than the predetermined value. In such cases, unloading work is prohibited. As a result, the remaining battery power of the mobile terminal device 17 is less than the amount of power consumed from the start of the unloading work (opening of the bottom valve) to the end of the unloading work (closing of the bottom valve). If there is a possibility that the mobile terminal device 17 will become inoperable on the way, it is possible to ensure safety by prohibiting the unloading work.

On the other hand, when determining that the remaining battery level of the portable terminal device 17 is equal to or higher than the predetermined value, the unloading control device 16 transmits a unloading start signal to the pneumatic control unit of the tank truck 8 to and start fuel unloading. After the unloading work has started, if the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device 17 becomes less than a predetermined value during the unloading work, the unloading control device 16 performs the air pressure control of the tank truck 8. An unloading end signal is sent to the unit to close the bottom valve and stop the unloading operation. Thus, if there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 17 becomes inoperable even during the fuel unloading work, the unloading work can be prohibited to ensure safety.

When the unloading work is prohibited because the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 is less than a predetermined value, a message such as "Cannot unload due to insufficient battery level" is displayed on the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal 17. display is performed. In addition, when the remaining battery level is less than a predetermined value during unloading work and the unloading work is to be stopped (suspended), the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal device 17 displays "unloading due to insufficient battery power". Stopped" or the like is displayed. As a result, the staff member M is notified that the unloading work is prohibited if the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal device 17 is less than a predetermined value (insufficient battery level) when unloading work is performed, When the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 becomes less than a predetermined value during the unloading work, it is possible to notify that the unloading work will be stopped, and ask the staff M to charge the mobile terminal 17. can be encouraged.

In the above-described embodiment, the portable terminal device 17 is charged using the charger 18 mounted inside the cab 8A of the tank truck 8 as an example. However, instead of the charger 18 mounted in the cab 8A, for example, a portable charger (not shown) may be used to charge the portable terminal device 17. FIG. When the mobile terminal 17 is charged using this portable charger, sparks generated when the mobile terminal 17 is inserted into or removed from the connector of the charger stay around the tank truck 8. Vapor such as gasoline may catch fire.

In contrast, in the embodiment, even when the portable terminal device 17 is charged using a portable charger, the fuel unloading operation can be prohibited or stopped (interrupted) by the unloading control device 16. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the vapor such as gasoline from being ignited by sparks generated when the portable terminal 17 is inserted into or pulled out of the connector of the charger, and the safety of the fuel unloading operation can be ensured.

Thus, according to the embodiment, the control means for unloading from the hatch 10-N to the underground tank 2 by controlling the opening and closing of the bottom valve of the hatch 10-N provided in the tank truck 8 and storing fuel. and a mobile terminal 17 that can be carried by an attendant M and communicates with the unloading control device 16 by battery drive. Charging for charging the mobile terminal 17 and a charging determination unit 17B as determination means for determining whether the mobile terminal 17 is being charged by the charger 18, and the unloading control device 16 controls the charging determination unit 17B to 17 is determined to have not been charged, it is configured to enable unloading.

Thus, fuel can be unloaded from the tank truck 8 to the underground tank 2 only when the mobile terminal 17 is not being charged. As a result, it can be assumed that the staff member M is operating the mobile terminal device 17 while confirming the connection state between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the lubricating port 4-n in the vicinity of the connecting portion. Since the fuel unloading work is possible only when possible, the safety and reliability of the fuel unloading work using the mobile terminal device 17 can be enhanced.

In the embodiment, the mobile terminal device 17 includes a battery level detection unit 17C as battery level detection means for detecting the battery level, and the unloading control device 16 detects the battery level detected by the battery level detection unit 17C. It is configured to enable unloading when the remaining amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. According to this configuration, the battery remaining amount of the mobile terminal device 17 is less than the power consumption consumed from the start (bottom valve opening) to the end (bottom valve closing) of the fuel unloading work. In other words, when there is a possibility that the mobile terminal 17 becomes inoperable during the unloading work, the unloading work can be prohibited to improve safety and reliability.

In the embodiment, the mobile terminal device 17 has a display screen 17A as a notification means for notifying the staff, and the unloading control device 16 detects that the mobile terminal device 17 is being charged by the charging determination unit 17B. When it is determined, it is configured to notify on the display screen 17A. According to this configuration, it is possible to notify the attendant M that unloading work is prohibited because the mobile terminal 17 is being charged, and the attendant M interrupts charging of the mobile terminal 17, It is possible to prompt the user to operate the mobile terminal 17 near the connection portion between the other end of the unloading hose 12 and the lubricating port 4-n.

Further, the unloading control device 16 is configured to notify on the display screen 17A when the remaining battery level detected by the remaining battery level detection unit 17C after unloading is started becomes less than a predetermined value. According to this configuration, the attendant M can be notified that the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 is insufficient, and can be urged to charge the mobile terminal 17 .

In addition, in the embodiment, the mobile terminal 17 is provided with the remaining battery level detection unit 17C for detecting the remaining battery level of the mobile terminal 17 as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the charger 18 may be provided with a remaining battery level detection unit.

Moreover, in the embodiment, the case where the notification means for notifying the staff member M is configured by the display screen 17A provided in the mobile terminal device 17 is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a display screen provided on the tank truck 8, a voice synthesizer, or the like may constitute the notification means.

Also, the display screen 17A of the mobile terminal device 17 of the present invention may display the numerical value of the remaining battery power. Also, based on the relationship between the remaining battery capacity of the mobile terminal device 17 and the power consumption required for the aforementioned unloading work, whether or not the unloading work is possible (for example, "unloading ○" or "unloading ×", etc.) ) may be displayed on the display screen 17A. Furthermore, when the remaining battery level is less than the predetermined value required for unloading work and the mobile terminal 17 is to be charged, the required charging time until the remaining battery level exceeds the predetermined value required for unloading work is It may be displayed on the display screen 17A. As a result, it is possible to improve the workability of the unloading work of the staff.

1 gas station 2-n underground tank 4-n lubricating port 6 tank control terminal 8 tank truck 10-N hatch 15 unloading computer 16 unloading control device (control means)
17 mobile terminal device 17A display screen (informing means)
17B charging determination unit (determining means)
17C battery level detection unit (battery level detection means)
18 Charger

Claims (4)

Control means for unloading from the hatch to the tank by controlling the opening and closing of the bottom valve of the hatch that is provided on the tank truck and stores fuel;
In a fuel unloading system equipped with a mobile terminal that can be carried by a staff member and communicates with the control means by battery drive,
a charger provided in the driver's cab of the tank truck for charging the mobile terminal device;
determining means for determining whether or not the portable terminal is being charged by the charger;
The fuel unloading system, wherein the control means enables unloading based on the operation of the mobile terminal when the determination means determines that the mobile terminal is not charged. A battery level detection means for detecting the battery level of the mobile terminal,
2. The fuel unloading system according to claim 1, wherein said control means enables unloading when the remaining battery level detected by said remaining battery level detecting means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. A battery level detection means for detecting the battery level of the mobile terminal,
The control means stops unloading when the remaining battery level detected by the remaining battery level detection means becomes less than a predetermined value after the start of unloading by the judgment means. Item 1. The fuel unloading system according to Item 1. 4. The fuel unloading system according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein said predetermined value is set in advance as a value larger than electric power consumed from the start of unloading until the end of unloading.

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