JPH0231437Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] "Industrial Application Field" This invention relates to a refueling device used in gas stations and the like.

"Prior Art" In recent years, some such oil supply devices have a fuel nozzle equipped with a foam sensor that detects foam generated during discharge and a liquid sensor that detects the oil level.

Generally, when refueling to a full tank, the foam rises earlier than the oil level. If the foam sensor detects this foam, refueling is temporarily interrupted and refueling is resumed after waiting for the foam to disappear. However, as the oil level rises, the bubbles rise again, so if the bubble sensor detects bubbles, refueling is interrupted again. After repeated interruptions several times, when the oil level rises and the liquid sensor detects the oil level, refueling is stopped and full refueling is completed.

``Problem that the invention aims to solve'' By the way, in the above-mentioned oil supply system, if the liquid sensor fails, it will not be able to detect the full tank and complete the refueling, resulting in oil overflow. There was a problem.

This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a refueling device that can safely complete refueling without overflowing oil even if the liquid sensor fails.

``Means for Solving Problems'' This invention consists of a foam sensor that detects bubbles generated in the container to be refueled when oil is discharged from the refueling nozzle to the container to be refueled, and a foam sensor that detects the oil level in the container to be refueled. In addition to equipping the refueling nozzle with a liquid level sensor for detection,
The apparatus further comprises a refueling stop means for stopping the supply of oil to the refueling nozzle, and when a foam detection signal is output from the foam sensor, the refueling stop means is actuated to temporarily interrupt refueling by the refueling nozzle. , deactivating the refueling stop means to resume additional refueling based on the deactivation of the foam detection signal output from the foam sensor, and activating the refueling stop means based on the output of the liquid level detection signal from the liquid level sensor. In a refueling device configured to operate to end refueling by the refueling nozzle and perform full refueling, the number of times foam is detected by the foam sensor or the time from the time when the first foam detection signal is output from the foam sensor. a measuring means for measuring a predetermined number of times of foam detection by the foam sensor, which corresponds to a failure in which the liquid level sensor is unable to output a liquid level detection signal during the additional refueling, or the foam sensor, which corresponds to the failure. An abnormality in which a predetermined elapsed time from the time when the first bubble detection signal is output is stored in advance as abnormality determination data, and an abnormality signal is output when the measurement result by the measuring means matches the abnormality determination data. The present invention is characterized in that it comprises a determining means, and a refueling control means for stopping the pump motor and terminating refueling by the refueling nozzle when the abnormality signal is output from the abnormality determining means.

"Function" When it is determined that the number of times the foam is detected by the foam sensor matches the preset abnormality determination data (predetermined number of times), or when the time measured from the time when the first foam detection signal is output from the foam sensor is set in advance. If it is determined that the data match the abnormality determination data (predetermined time), the refueling stop means is activated to terminate refueling by the refueling nozzle even if the liquid level detection signal is not output from the liquid level sensor. As a result, even if the liquid level sensor fails, it is possible to refuel accurately and without causing oil to overflow from the refueling target container, and it is also possible to improve the safety of the refueling device.

"Embodiment" Hereinafter, an embodiment of this invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a refueling device according to an embodiment of this invention. In this figure, 1 is an oil storage tank, and 2 is an oil supply pump that pumps oil from the oil storage tank 1. 3 is a pump motor that drives the oil supply pump. Further, 4 is a pipe line for transferring oil pumped up by the oil supply pump, and 5 is a flow meter inserted in the middle of the pipe line 4. A flow rate pulse transmitter 6 is attached to the flow meter 5, and the flow pulse transmitter 6 outputs a flow rate pulse P corresponding to the flow rate of oil transferred through the pipe line 4.

Further, reference numeral 7 denotes an oil supply hose, which forms an oil flow path together with the pipe line 4, and transfers the oil pumped up by the oil supply pump 2. Further, 8 is a refueling nozzle attached to the tip of the refueling hose 7;
9 is a nozzle hook. This nozzle hook 9 is provided with a nozzle switch 10 that detects that the refueling nozzle 8 is turned on and outputs an on signal. Further, 11 is a display device that displays the amount of refueling, and 12 is a controller.

Next, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing the oil supply nozzle 8. As shown in FIG. The refueling nozzle 8 is provided with a valve body 22 consisting of a main valve 20 and a sub-valve 21 , and the valve body 22 is urged against a valve seat 24 by a spring 23 . When the operating lever 25 is pulled up, the valve body 22 is displaced upward against the biasing force of the spring 23 and opens a flow path toward the tip of the fuel nozzle 8 . Further, the lever 25 can be hung on a hook (not shown) to hold the valve body 22 in an open state.

Further, a chamber 26 is provided within the fuel supply nozzle 8, and this chamber 26 is defined by a diaphragm 27 into an operating pressure chamber A and a constant pressure chamber B. A shutter rod 28 is protruded from the surface of the diaphragm 27 on the constant pressure chamber B side, and as the diaphragm 27 is displaced, the shutter rod 28 moves and drives the bubble sensor 29. That is, the bubble sensor 29
consists of a photo interrupter and a shutter rod 2.
8 no longer blocks the detection light, it outputs an on signal.

Further, a negative pressure passage 31 is provided in the tip portion 30 of the refueling nozzle 8, and one end 31a of this negative pressure passage 31 opens at the tip of the refueling nozzle 8, while the other end 31b is connected to the It opens into pressure chamber A. As a result, when oil is discharged, the air pressure inside the negative pressure passage 31 tends to decrease due to the ventilating effect of a known negative pressure generating means (not shown) communicated with the negative pressure passage. One end 31a of
is open, so this change in atmospheric pressure is compensated for. Therefore, in this state, the diaphragm 27 is not displaced, the shutter rod 28 is not moved, and the bubble sensor 29 is turned off.
1a, the pressure in the negative pressure passage 31 is no longer compensated, and the pressure in the working pressure chamber A becomes lower than the pressure in the constant pressure chamber B, causing the diaphragm 27 to move toward the differential pressure chamber A. Accompanying shutter rod 28
moves and the bubble sensor 29 is turned on.

Further, a liquid sensor 32 is inserted into the negative pressure passage 31 near one end 31a thereof. This liquid sensor 32 detects a rise in the oil level based on a change in the received voltage of ultrasonic waves, and includes an ultrasonic transmitter and an ultrasonic receiver that are arranged opposite to each other across the negative pressure passage 31. When oil enters the negative pressure passage 31 and is present between the transmitter and the receiver, the receiving voltage of the ultrasonic wave of the receiver changes, and an ON signal is output.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the oil supply system, and in this figure, parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. In this figure, the controller 12 includes a refueling amount calculation means 40, a refueling control means 41, a detection number counting means 42, a timer 43, and two comparison means 44, 45. The refueling amount calculating means 40 resets an internal counter when an on signal is supplied from the nozzle switch 10, and when a flow pulse P is supplied from the flow pulse generator 6, it counts the number of pulses and outputs the counting result. Oil supply amount indicator 1
1 and the oil supply control means 41. The refueling amount display 11 displays the refueling amount based on the supplied counting results.

The detection number counting means 42 is the nozzle switch 10
When an ON signal is supplied from the bubble sensor 29, the internal counter is reset, and the ON signal supplied from the bubble sensor 29 is counted, and the counting result is supplied to the comparison means 44. When the counting result matches a preset number, the comparing means 44 outputs an on signal to an OR gate 46.
Refueling control means 4 as an abnormal oil completion signal via
Supply to 1.

The timer 43 is reset when an on signal is supplied from the nozzle switch 10, starts counting when an on signal is supplied from the foam sensor 29, and supplies the timing result to the comparison means 45. The comparison means 45 is
When the timing result supplied from the timer 43 matches a preset time, an on signal is sent to the OR gate 46.
is supplied to the oil supply control means 41 as an abnormal oil supply completion signal.

The oil supply control means 41 operates the pump motor drive means 4 when an on signal is supplied from the nozzle switch 10.
7 to rotate the pump motor 3, and when the signal from the nozzle switch 10 is turned off, a stop signal is supplied to the pump motor drive means 47 to stop the pump motor 3. Also,
When the on-signal is supplied from the foam sensor 29, the oil supply control means 41 supplies a stop signal to the pump motor drive means 47 to stop the pump motor 3, and then supplies a drive signal after a predetermined period of time has elapsed to stop the pump motor 3. Rotate. Note that this predetermined time is appropriately set as a time for the bubbles to disappear to a state where refueling is possible. In this manner, the oil supply control means 41 interrupts the rotation of the pump motor 3 for a predetermined period of time when the ON signal is supplied from the foam sensor 29. In this case, after the ON signal is supplied from the foam sensor 29 and a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the pump motor 3
When the foam sensor 29 and the liquid sensor 32 are configured as in the embodiment, the flow rate is sufficient for the foam sensor 29 and the liquid sensor 32 to operate. Control is performed to ensure refueling. Further, when an on signal is supplied from the foam sensor 29, the oil supply control means 41 determines whether or not an on signal is also supplied from the liquid sensor 32 at the same time. This is because ON signals may be supplied from both sensors at the same time. On the other hand, when the refueling control means 41 receives the ON signal from the liquid sensor 32, it supplies a stop signal to the pump motor driving means 47 as a normal full refueling completion signal to completely stop the pump motor 3. The oil supply control means 41 also supplies a stop signal to the pump motor drive stage 47 when an ON signal as an abnormal oil supply completion signal is supplied from the OR gate 46 to completely stop the pump motor 3. Note that 48 is an alarm device.

Next, the operation of the above oil supply device will be explained. When the worker picks up the refueling nozzle 8 from the nozzle hook 9,
An on signal is output from the nozzle switch 10 and the pump motor 3 starts rotating. Next, when the operating lever 25 is pulled, the valve body 22 is displaced and the refueling nozzle 8 is opened to start refueling. As a result, the atmospheric pressure in the negative pressure passage 31 and the working pressure chamber A tends to decrease by the negative pressure generating means, but the liquid level and the bubble level have not yet blocked the one end 31a of the negative pressure passage 31, so the above-mentioned The negative pressure generated by the negative pressure generating means is compensated and the bubble sensor 29 remains off. Next, as refueling progresses and the oil level rises, the bubbles rise accordingly, and when the bubbles eventually reach the tip of the refueling nozzle 8, the bubbles flow into the negative pressure passage 31.
One end 31a of the is closed. As a result, the working pressure chamber A
becomes a negative pressure, the diaphragm 27 is displaced, an ON signal is output from the bubble sensor 29, and the pump motor 3 is temporarily stopped. At this point, wait for the bubbles to disappear due to the stoppage of refueling. Then, after a predetermined period of time has elapsed, refueling is resumed. In this case, the flow rate is reduced as described above, the rising speed of the oil level is slowed down, and the generation of bubbles is suppressed.

As refueling was resumed, the oil level rose,
Along with this, the bubbles rise. When the bubbles block one end 31a of the negative pressure passage 31, the oil supply is temporarily interrupted again. After repeated interruptions in this way, when the oil level reaches the tip of the oil supply nozzle 8, the liquid enters into the negative pressure passage 31 from the end 31a due to the action of the negative pressure generating means, and the liquid sensor An on signal is output from 32, and the pump motor 3 is thereby completely stopped. In this way, full tank refueling is completed.

Next, what happens when the liquid sensor 32 fails will be explained. In this case, when the number of ON signals output from the foam sensor 29 matches the number of times set in the comparison means 44, or the time set in the comparison means 45 has elapsed since the first ON signal was supplied. When this happens, an ON signal is output from the comparison means 44 or 45, and the pump motor 3 is completely stopped.

In this way, even if the liquid sensor 32 fails, the pump motor 3 can be stopped and the oil supply can be completed.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, according to the present invention, there are provided a foam sensor that detects bubbles generated in the container to be refueled when the oil is discharged from the refueling nozzle to the container to be refueled, and an oil liquid in the container to be refueled. The refueling nozzle is equipped with a liquid level sensor that detects the surface of the oil supply nozzle, and a refueling stop means that stops the supply of oil to the refueling nozzle, and when a foam detection signal is output from the foam sensor, The refueling stop means is actuated to temporarily interrupt refueling by the refueling nozzle, and the refueling stop means is deactivated based on deactivation of the foam detection signal output from the foam sensor to resume additional refueling, and the liquid level sensor In the refueling device configured to operate the refueling stop means based on the output of a liquid level detection signal from the refueling nozzle to finish refueling and perform full refueling, the number of times the foam is detected by the foam sensor or the foam a measuring means for measuring time from the point at which the first foam detection signal is output from the sensor; and the foam sensor corresponding to a failure state in which the liquid level sensor is unable to output the liquid level detection signal during the additional refueling. A predetermined number of times of bubble detection by the above-mentioned failure or a predetermined elapsed time from the time when the first bubble detection signal is output from the bubble sensor corresponding to the failure is stored in advance as abnormality determination data, and the measurement result by the measurement means is stored in advance as abnormality determination data. an abnormality determination means that outputs an abnormality signal when matching the abnormality determination data; and a refueling control that stops the pump motor and terminates refueling by the refueling nozzle when the abnormality determination means outputs the abnormality means signal. Since the structure includes the means, even if the liquid level sensor fails, it is possible to perform full refueling without causing oil to overflow from the refueling target container. Furthermore, the safety of the refueling device is improved, and drivers can refuel with peace of mind at unmanned refueling stations where there are no workers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a fuel supply device according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view showing a fuel nozzle, and FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the electrical structure of the fuel supply device. 2... Refueling pump, 3... Pump motor (refueling stop means), 8... Refueling nozzle, 29... Foam sensor, 32... Liquid sensor (liquid level sensor), 41...
Refueling control means, 42... detection number counting means (measuring means), 43... timer (measuring means), 44... comparing means (abnormality determining means), 45... comparing means (abnormality determining means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A foam sensor that detects bubbles generated in a container to be refueled when oil is discharged from a refueling nozzle to the container to be refueled, and a liquid level sensor that detects the oil level in the container to be refueled. The refueling nozzle is equipped with a refueling stop means for stopping the supply of oil to the refueling nozzle, and when a foam detection signal is output from the foam sensor, the refueling stop means is actuated to The refueling by the refueling nozzle is temporarily interrupted, the refueling stop means is deactivated based on the deactivation of the foam detection signal output from the foam sensor, additional refueling is restarted, and the liquid level detection signal from the liquid level sensor is stopped. In the refueling device configured to actuate the refueling stop means based on the output to terminate refueling by the refueling nozzle and perform full refueling, the number of times the foam is detected by the foam sensor or the first foam detection signal from the foam sensor is determined. a measuring means for measuring the time from the time when the liquid level detection signal is output from the liquid level sensor during the additional refueling; A predetermined elapsed time from the time when the first bubble detection signal is output from the bubble sensor corresponding to the failure time is stored in advance as abnormality determination data, and the measurement result by the measuring means matches the abnormality determination data. and an oil supply control means that stops the pump motor and terminates oil supply by the oil supply nozzle when the abnormality signal is output from the abnormality determination means. Features a refueling device.