JPH0159195B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a device for detecting the type of liquid contained in a storage tank. The present invention relates to a device that prevents confusion of liquid types when different loaded liquids are sequentially discharged into storage tanks corresponding to the liquid types or loaded into a vehicle from the storage tanks.

[Conventional technology]

When discharging the desired type of liquid at a gas station from a tank truck that transports one or more types of liquid, there are cases where the storage tank in which the liquid should be discharged is misunderstood, or the display of the liquid type on the storage tank becomes faded. Sometimes. In such a case, if a hose for discharging liquid is connected to a storage tank storing a different type of liquid, a situation may arise where the type of discharged liquid and the type of stored liquid do not match.

In order to avoid this problem, a method has already been proposed in which a connector with a built-in current carrying body having a different shape depending on the type of liquid is installed in each storage tank having a different type of liquid stored therein. In such a device, an energizing terminal that can be connected to any connector is provided so as to move along with the vehicle hose, and the type of liquid contained in the storage tank is determined by the connection between the energizing terminal and the connector. However, whether or not it can be discharged is now being confirmed.

However, if the liquid to be determined is highly flammable, using electrical signals to detect the type of liquid may cause a fire or a fire due to sparks or short circuits generated when connecting connectors. If the tank were to explode, this could lead to an extremely dangerous situation.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

In order to prevent the above-described fire from occurring, a high level of safety can be ensured by transmitting and receiving optical signals via optical fiber cables instead of using electrical signals to determine the type of liquid. For example, JP-A-60
Japanese Patent No. 123387 describes a device that transmits and receives optical signals through an optical fiber cable. According to this, a plurality of pairs of light transmitting and light receiving fibers are provided, and when light is blocked in any one of the plurality of light beams traveling from the plurality of light transmitting fibers to the same number of light receiving fibers, the light receiving fiber is The type of liquid is determined by utilizing the fact that the presence or absence of light reception by the light receiving sensor provided in each case is different.

If the presence or absence of returned light and the number of returned lights are detected in this way, at least two light transmitting fibers and at least two light receiving fibers are required to discriminate between the three liquid types. In other words, two pairs of light transmitting and light receiving fibers are provided. Even more so,
If the number of liquid types exceeds four, three pairs of fibers will be required, and in the device of the above configuration, the optical fiber cable will be thick and have low operability. Furthermore, since the number of fibers is large and the mechanical structure for controlling the amount of light is complicated, there is a problem that the device itself becomes expensive. Therefore, even when using optical fiber cables, it is possible to send and receive a large number of signals using the minimum number of optical fibers and to simplify the detection structure, just as when using electrical signals. It is desirable to be familiar.

The present invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to reduce misunderstandings and erroneous operations by workers when discharging a desired liquid type into a storage tank or loading it from a storage tank into a vehicle, and to distinguish between liquid types. To ensure safe discharge and loading operations, avoiding dangers such as liquid ignition during detection operations, the minimum number of optical fibers should be used for signal lines to ensure safety. Provides a storage tank liquid type detection device that can be used as an inexpensive liquid type detection device as a highly operable cable that is suitable for mounting on vehicles and frequent connection operations. It is to be.

[Means to solve the problem]

In the device for detecting the type of liquid contained in a storage tank of the present invention, a light emitting source, a light receiving sensor, and an optical fiber cable for transmitting light between these are installed in a vehicle, and a connector attached to each storage tank of different liquid type is provided with a light emitting source, a light receiving sensor, and an optical fiber cable for transmitting light between these. When the fiber cable is connected, the type of liquid contained in the storage tank can now be determined through a light transmitting member that transmits light from the light emitting source at a different amount of light depending on the type of liquid. It is applied to the contained liquid type detection device.

Its feature is that, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the light transmitting member 18 is attached to the storage tank 1.
The connectors 17a to 17a on the side of the respective storage tanks 15a to 15c are made of a light-transmitting light-reducing material having different transmittances depending on the types of stored liquids 5a to 15c.
It will be installed at 17c. On the other hand, the optical fiber cable 13 connects the light emitting source 1 to transmit light to the light transmitting member 18.
The light transmitting fiber 13A is connected to the light transmitting fiber 13A, and the light returning fiber 13B returns the afterglow, which has been reduced in brightness by the light transmitting member 18, to the light receiving sensor 12. . Then, the light receiving sensor 1
The vehicle 10 is equipped with an operation command control device 20 that discriminates the type of liquid contained in the liquid based on the amount of light received by the vehicle 10 and performs control operation based on the liquid type discrimination signal.

[Effect]

First, a hose provided on the vehicle is connected to one storage tank, for example 15c. At the same time, the optical fiber cable 13 is let out from the vehicle 10,
The socket provided at the end of the storage tank 15
Connect to connector 17c of c.

After this connection, a predetermined amount of light is emitted from the light emitting source 11, and the light is transmitted to the socket via one light transmitting fiber 13A. The light is attenuated when passing through the light transmitting member 18 in the connector 17c, and its brightness is reduced by, for example, 40%. Brightness 60%
The afterglow is returned to the light receiving sensor 12 via the return fiber 13B. The light receiving sensor 12 converts the amount of light into an amount of electricity, and inputs a stored liquid type signal to the operation command control device 20.

The operation command control device 20 determines the type of liquid based on the signal, and displays the type of liquid contained in the storage tank 15c connected to the hose on a display panel or the like.
If the display does not indicate the desired liquid type, connect the socket to the connector of another storage tank, and repeat the connection operation and confirmation one after another until the display indicates the desired liquid type. When the desired liquid type is confirmed, the discharge valve and the corresponding bottom valve are opened.

During such work, the operator or another person can judge whether the discharge work is correct or not, and the frequency of mixed discharge and mixed loading of liquid types can be reduced. Furthermore, the optical fiber cable is capable of detecting many kinds of liquids by simply having one pair of light transmission fiber and return fiber. In addition, the light transmitting member may be of an extremely simple structure such as a transparent light attenuating material, and the device for detecting the liquid type can be simplified.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, the type of liquid contained in the storage tank can be confirmed using the optical fiber cable. Therefore, it is possible to prevent as much as possible the confusion of the discharged liquid type and the loaded liquid type due to misunderstanding or incorrect operation by the operator. In addition, since electrical signals are not used for detection, it is possible to eliminate the possibility of highly flammable liquids being ignited due to sparks or electrical leakage, making it possible to ensure safety during liquid discharge and loading operations. In addition, since the light-transmitting member uses light-transmitting light-reducing materials with different transmittances, each optical fiber cable can be constructed with one light-transmitting fiber and one light-returning fiber. The ease of attaching the cable as a transmission means to the vehicle and the operability of connecting it to the storage tank side are improved. Furthermore, the connection mechanism and light transmitting/receiving mechanism can also be made into a simple device.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail based on examples thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 10 equipped with a multi-chamber tank 3 is equipped with a light emitting source 11, a light receiving sensor 12, and an optical fiber cable 13 for transmitting light between them. The optical fiber cable 13 is composed of a light transmitting fiber 13A that sends out light from the light emitting source 11 and a return fiber 13B that returns the light to the light receiving sensor 12. It is installed along or independently of the discharge hose 14 connected to the discharge pipe 1 communicating therethrough.

On the other hand, each injection port 16 of a plurality of storage tanks 15a to 15c at the gas station 15
Optical fiber connectors 17a to 17c as shown in FIG. 2 are attached near the connector, and each connector has a built-in light transmitting member 18 that transmits light from the light emitting source 11 in different amounts. That is, this light transmitting member 18 includes storage tanks 15a to 15.
A light-transmitting light-attenuating material having different transmittances depending on the type of liquid contained in c. Note that the transmittance of this light transmitting member 18 is, for example, 100% for gasoline;
The rate is predetermined, such as 60% for kerosene and 30% for diesel oil. For this purpose, the optical fiber cable 13 has a minimum number of fibers, consisting of an integrated light transmission fiber 13A and a single light return fiber 13B that returns the afterglow whose brightness has been reduced by the light transmission member 18. All that is required is to use optical fiber.

The amount of light after passing through such a light transmitting member 18 will change until all of the afterglow returns to the light receiving sensor 1.
This impairs the liquid type discrimination performance according to 2. In order to avoid this, the total amount of afterglow after passing through the return fiber 13 is
A light transmitting member 18 is fixed at the center of the optical fiber connector 17 so as to return the light B, and a light transmitting member 18 is fixed in the socket 19 attached to the tip of the optical fiber cable 13 connected to this connector. Fiber 13A and return fiber 13
It is fixed so that its end faces with B face each other on the same straight line.

On the other hand, the vehicle 10 includes an operation command control device 2 such as a microcomputer that determines the type of stored liquid based on the amount of light received by the light receiving sensor 12.
0 is installed. This device 20 performs a control operation based on a liquid type signal when the type of contained liquid is detected according to the amount of light received by the light receiving sensor 12. An example of a simple operation command control is to turn on a lamp 22 corresponding to the liquid type on the display panel 21 as shown in FIG.
There is a method of vocalizing the liquid type using an electronic sound.

According to the embodiment with the above configuration, it is possible to safely detect the type of liquid in the storage tank as described below, and thereby prevent confusion of the type of liquid to be discharged or loaded due to operator error. can do.

Assuming that the vehicle tank is a multi-chamber tank 3 that individually stores gasoline, kerosene, and diesel oil in each chamber,
An example will be explained in which the kerosene loaded in one of the rooms is discharged into the kerosene tank of the gas station 15. As shown in FIG. 1, an operator connects the hose 14 connected to the discharge pipe 1 to the inlet 16 of a kerosene tank 15c of the storage tanks. At the same time, the optical fiber cable 13 is let out from the vehicle 10, and the socket 19 provided at its end is connected to the optical fiber connector 17c near the filling port of the kerosene tank 15c. In addition, when the optical fiber cable 13 is attached along the hose 14, the socket 19 can be connected without fail to the optical fiber connector of the storage tank to which the hose 14 is connected.

This connection indicates that the operation command control device 20
When the signal is input to the device 20, the light emitting source 11 emits a predetermined amount of light in response to the signal from the device 20. When this light is transmitted to the socket 19 via one of the light transmitting fibers 13A constituting the optical fiber cable 13, the light is attenuated as it passes through the light transmitting member 18 in the optical fiber connector 17. Brightness decreases. In the case of kerosene, the transmittance of the light transmitting member 18 is determined to be, for example, 60%, so the afterglow with a brightness of 60%, which has been reduced by 40%, is returned to the light receiving sensor 12 in the return fiber 13B. . The light receiving sensor 12 converts the amount of light into an amount of electricity, and the stored liquid type signal is input to the operation command control device 20.

The operation command control device 20 determines from the signal that it is kerosene. Then, the fact that the storage tank connected to the hose 14 stores kerosene is indicated by lighting a lamp 22 shown in FIG. 3 or by emitting an electronic sound. If such a display indicates that it is not kerosene, the operator connects socket 19 to the connector of another storage tank and repeats the connection operation and confirmation one after another until the indicated liquid type is kerosene. . When it is confirmed that it is kerosene, the discharge valve 2 is opened and the multi-chamber tank 3 is opened.
After confirming that kerosene is stored in the chamber 3B from the display plate 4 on the top or side, turn the operating handle 5B provided on the chamber 3B to open the bottom valve 6B.

Even if a worker misunderstands and makes an erroneous operation during such work, and the work continues without realizing it,
Other workers can judge whether their work is correct or not from the lighting of lamps, etc. Therefore, it is possible to allow a third party to point out the problem, to make it easier for the operator to reconfirm the problem himself, and to reduce the frequency of discharging mixed liquid types.

In addition, the operation command control device 20 determines whether the designated discharge liquid type and the liquid type stored in the storage tank match, whether the loaded liquid type and the liquid type stored in the storage tank match, or
If an alarm generation command function, a discharge prevention command function, etc. are activated in the event of a discrepancy, confusion of discharged liquid types can be more reliably prevented. Also, check whether the liquid type specified by the operator using a separate liquid type specifying device matches the liquid type in the storage tank, or check whether the liquid discharged from the multi-chamber tank 3 and the liquid in the storage tank into which it is injected. If the liquid types do not match, an alarm will be issued, and the discharge pipe 1
By activating a locking device installed separately,
It is also possible to automatically issue a command to prevent liquid discharge.

Furthermore, all the above-mentioned ideas can be similarly applied when loading the vehicle 10 from any of the storage tanks 25a to 25c of the base 25 shown in FIG. That is, before the loading arm 26 is inserted into the vehicle tank 3, the optical fiber 1 is
3 socket 19 to its loading arm 26.
Storage tank fiber optic connector 17 corresponding to
By connecting to , it is possible to prevent mix-up of liquid types before loading.

Of course, there are 27 manholes in each room.
A proximity switch 28 is attached to the manhole to detect the opening of the manhole, and upon receiving a signal from the switch, the above-mentioned operation command control device 20 stores the loaded liquid type and its storage chamber. You can also leave it there. When discharging in this case, in order to open the bottom valve 6 of one of the chambers shown in FIG. Then, the type of discharged liquid is determined. At this time, the type of liquid in the storage tank to be discharged to is input manually, and if it is determined whether the liquid type matches the input, the operator can check whether the type of liquid matches by lighting a lamp or sounding a buzzer. It can be confirmed. If they match, by opening the discharge valve 2,
A desired liquid type can be discharged.

As described above, since the liquid type is detected via an optical fiber, it is possible to avoid using electricity for detection. Therefore, even if the liquid to be determined is a highly flammable liquid such as the above-mentioned gasoline, sparks will not be generated when the connector and socket are connected, and there will be no electrical leakage. Therefore, extremely dangerous situations such as fire outbreaks and tank explosions cannot occur. Of course, since the type of liquid stored in the storage tank can be confirmed, there is no possibility of discharged liquid type or loading due to operator misunderstanding or incorrect operation. Confusion of liquid types can be avoided.

The optical fiber cable has only one light transmitting fiber and one return fiber, and the light transmitting member can be a very simple structure such as a light transmitting light attenuating material. It is possible to simplify the device and achieve high operability.

In the embodiment described above, the discharge from one chamber of a multi-chamber tank that transports three types of liquids has been described. Needless to say, this method can also be applied to cases where discharge is to be carried out into any one of a plurality of storage tanks, regardless of the number of chambers in the storage tank.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a diagram of a liquid discharge operation using the device for detecting the type of liquid contained in a storage tank according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the inlet of the storage tank, and Fig. 3 is a panel displaying the detected liquid type. As an example, FIG. 4 is a drawing of a liquid loading operation. 10... Vehicle, 11... Light emitting source, 12... Light receiving sensor, 13... Optical fiber cable, 13A...
...Light sending fiber, 13B... Light return fiber, 15
a~15c...Storage tank, 17, 17a~17
c... Connector (optical fiber connector), 18...
...Light transmitting member, 20...Operation command control device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light emitting source, a light receiving sensor, and an optical fiber cable for transmitting light between these are installed in a vehicle,
When the above optical fiber cable is connected to the connector attached to each storage tank of different liquid type,
A liquid type detection device configured to be able to determine the type of liquid contained in the storage tank through a light transmitting member that transmits light from the light emitting source in a different amount of light depending on the type of liquid, The light-transmitting member is formed of a light-transmitting light-reducing material having different transmittances depending on the type of liquid contained in the storage tank, and is installed in the connector on the storage tank side, and the optical fiber cable is configured to transmit the light to the storage tank. one light transmitting fiber connected to the light emitting source to transmit light to the light transmitting member; and one light returning fiber that returns the afterglow, which has been reduced in brightness by the light transmitting member, to the light receiving sensor. The vehicle is characterized by being equipped with an operation command control device comprising a fiber, which discriminates the type of liquid contained based on the amount of light received by the light receiving sensor, and performs control operation based on the liquid type half-specific signal. A device for detecting the type of liquid contained in a storage tank.