JPH0317720B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides aspects of refueling work, namely refueling mode,
For example, the present invention relates to a refueling device in which a refueling mode in which refueling ends at an integer amount, a refueling mode for emergency stop, etc. can be selected by simply operating a changeover switch.

For example, when refueling a car, you may want to refuel by ``20'', but usually you are told to ``fill up'', that is, fill the car's fuel tank with oil. To this end, the refueling nozzle is provided with a liquid level sensor, and the refueling is stopped when the liquid level sensor issues a signal.

Ideally, the liquid level sensor would emit a signal when it comes into contact with the actual liquid level in the car's tank, but in reality,
Depending on the shape of the refueling port, the liquid level sensor may emit a signal when it comes into contact with splashes of oil discharged from the refueling nozzle, or it may emit a signal when it comes into contact with foam that rises before the liquid level. Then, refueling stops. In the conventional type, when refueling is stopped due to a signal from a liquid level sensor, it is necessary to manually open the valve in order to restart refueling. When restarting refueling, in order to eliminate the inconvenience caused by the droplets and bubbles mentioned above, it is possible to reduce the instantaneous discharge amount by closing the valve, but refueling with the valve closed requires skill in operating the valve. If you are inexperienced, you may have to restart refueling with a large discharge amount and repeat the refueling operation many times until the tank is "full", resulting in poor work efficiency.

In addition, with the development of electronic devices in recent years, the amount of refueling
can now be displayed to two decimal places.
For this reason, fractional calculations are troublesome, and it is desirable to refuel up to a predetermined number with good separation, such as one decimal place or 0.5 (hereinafter, the operation of refueling up to a predetermined number in this way is simply referred to as integer refueling.

Therefore, this integer does not have a mathematical meaning, but means that the end of the refueling amount is a predetermined number). In this way, especially when performing integer lubrication, if the amount of lubrication per unit time is large, a relatively large mechanical inertia force will be applied regardless of whether lubrication is stopped using a valve or a pump, making it difficult to control. from,
When "full tank" is about to stop refueling, the amount of refueling per unit time must be relatively small. However, when refueling, it is preferable to refuel the tank before the tank is full because the larger the amount of refueling, the shorter the refueling time and the more efficient refueling.

In order to satisfy these requirements, the present applicant has proposed a system in which the amount of oil supplied per unit time is gradually reduced at each stage based on a signal from a liquid level sensor, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-41095. We have developed a refueling device that has a refueling mode (hereinafter referred to as main mode). Although such a refueling mode is effective in itself, for example, when refueling the fuel tank of a large truck, it is not necessary to use a refueling mode in which the amount of refueling gradually decreases, but to refuel at a constant amount of refueling per unit time at each stage. The refueling mode (hereinafter referred to as mode A) in which this is performed is more efficient and preferable.
Further, it is preferable for safety to have a refueling mode (hereinafter referred to as mode B) for emergency stop when a dangerous situation occurs during refueling and it is desired to temporarily stop refueling.

Generally, when refueling a car's fuel tank, when the tank is almost full, a liquid level sensor detects bubbles or splashes, temporarily stops refueling, and automatically resumes refueling after a certain period of time to refuel in a small amount. A technique for refueling is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 143298/1983. However, in such known technology, there is only one type of refueling mode, and the control device built into the refueling system can control the refueling mode whether it is for a large fuel tank loaded on a large vehicle or a small car. It is necessary to refuel in one mode, and as a result, the efficiency of refueling operations deteriorates as described above.

Large vehicles such as trucks are equipped with two double tanks, and even if one tank is full, the other tank must be refueled. In this case, if refueling cannot be restarted, perform a refueling end operation (issue a slip, store refueling data, etc.) and perform a new refueling operation (the refueling start operation resets the previous refueling amount and newly counts the refueling amount). Must. When performing a new refueling operation, the amount of refueling that has been refilled cannot be displayed.
Refueling slips must also be issued for each tank.

Also, depending on the shape of the car's tank, the air in the tank may be compressed without escaping during refueling, and the remaining compressed air may escape into the atmosphere after refueling automatically ends, causing the liquid level to drop. In this case, you may want to add additional oil to cover the amount that the fluid has gone down. In this case as well, if refueling cannot be restarted, the same inconvenience as described above will occur.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to enable selection of a refueling mode and to perform additional refueling.
An object of the present invention is to provide a refueling device that allows suitable refueling work.

According to the present invention, refueling is automatically stopped when a liquid level sensor installed in a refueling nozzle detects the liquid level in a car's fuel tank, and refueling is automatically restarted after a certain period of time when the car's fuel tank is almost full. In a refueling device that automatically ends refueling, a control means is provided for restarting refueling after the automatic end of refueling and adds to the amount of refueling without resetting the amount of refueling up to now, and a switch for selecting a mode of the control means. is provided on the refueling nozzle.

Therefore, during refueling work, when the car to be refueled comes into the facility, the worker removes the refueling nozzle from the refueling machine body.
At that time, the refueling mode can be selected by operating the switch, and since the switch is provided on the refueling nozzle, it can be operated when removing the refueling nozzle from the nozzle hook, and the switch operation is easy.

Therefore, efficient refueling work can be performed on various types of automobiles, and since refueling can be performed automatically until the tank is almost full, extremely efficient refueling work can be performed.

In addition, when refueling is restarted, the control device can add the refueling amount after refueling without resetting the previous refueling amount. When air is released and further refueling is possible, issuing a slip, storing data, etc. is not performed twice, and as a result, the efficiency of refueling work is improved.

When implementing the present invention, it is extremely preferable for safety to have a refueling mode in which an emergency stop is made by operating a switch provided on the refueling nozzle. Further, the switch can be composed of a single push button or a plurality of push buttons.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functions of the present invention, and in the figure, a signal from a mode changeover signal generating means 30, for example, a mode changeover switch, is sent to a mode selection means 31. When the signal is input, the mode selection means 31 sends a specific mode selection signal to the refueling mode storage section 32 according to the current refueling state from the mode command means 33. The refueling mode storage unit 32 stores a main mode, mode A, and mode B as a plurality of refueling modes. The selected mode is then sent to the mode command means 33, which controls the refueling control means 34 according to the selected refueling mode, thereby performing automatic refueling work according to the refueling mode.
Note that the mode selection means, the refueling mode storage section, and the mode command means use the functions of a microcomputer.

Further, the oil supply control means may control a motor that drives a pump or may control a flow rate control valve, but in the embodiment, it will be described as controlling a flow rate control valve.

FIG. 2 shows an oil supply system embodying the present invention. The oil supply system S has a built-in pump 2 driven by a motor 1, and this pump 2 sucks oil stored in a tank (not shown). It is designed to be sucked up from a pipe 3 and sent to a discharge pipe 4. The discharge pipe 4 is provided with a flow meter 5 for measuring the flow rate and a flow control valve 6 for controlling the flow rate, and the discharge pipe 4 communicates with a refueling nozzle 8 via a refueling hose 7. The flow rate signal from the flowmeter 5 is sent from the transmitter 10 to the control device 11 as a pulse signal. The amount of oil to be supplied calculated by the control device 11 is sent to a display meter 12, where it is digitally displayed.

On the other hand, as will be described later, the valve driving device 13 is controlled by a signal from the control device 11 to control the flow rate control valve 6, thereby controlling the amount of oil supplied per unit time. At the tip of the discharge nozzle of the fuel supply nozzle 8, a fuel supply port sensor 17a for detecting that the discharge nozzle is inserted into the fuel supply port of the fuel tank and a liquid level sensor 17b for detecting the liquid level are provided. Also, a nozzle switch 18 that can detect whether the refueling nozzle 8 is hooked or removed from the nozzle hook.
is provided.

Additionally, the refueling system S has an audible alarm or buzzer 20 activated by the control device 11.
and a visual alarm or rotating indicator 2
1 is provided. The refueling nozzle 8 is provided with a mode changeover switch 22 as a mode changeover signal generating means.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the control mechanism applied to the embodiment of FIG. 2 in terms of hardware. Accordingly, elements in FIG. 3 that are the same as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are designated by the same reference numerals. The control device 11 includes a central control unit CPU 35, a read-only memory ROM 32, and a random access memory.
It consists of a microcomputer consisting of a RAM 36, an input/output interface (I/O) 37, and a timer T. ROM32 is a refueling mode storage section 3 that stores main mode, mode A, and mode B.
2a, valve opening storage unit 32b and notification storage unit 32
The RAM 36 has a count storage section 36a for storing the amount of oil supplied and a temporary storage section 36b.

Each component of the refueling device is a pump drive motor 1, a flow rate pulse transmitter 10, a refueling amount indicator 12, a valve drive device 13, a refueling port sensor 17a, a liquid level sensor 17b, a nozzle switch 18, and an alarm 2.
0, 21 and the mode changeover switch 22 are connected to the CPU 35 by a data bus 38 via an input/output interface 37.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained mainly with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. First, the amount of oil supplied per unit time is gradually decreased at each stage based on the signal from the liquid level sensor, and the amount of oil supplied per unit time is reduced by an integer amount. The case of refueling in the main mode where refueling ends (FIGS. 4a and 5a) will be described.

Initially, the CPU 35 is connected to the main mode of the refueling mode storage section 32a, and the refueling device is controlled according to this main mode. First, when refueling nozzle 8 is removed from the nozzle hook, nozzle switch 1
8 is turned on, and the signal is transmitted to the CPU 35 (step S ₁ ). The CPU 35 determines the signal as a refueling request signal, sends a reset signal to the count storage section 36a of the RAM 36, resets the count of the previous refueling, and returns the display meter 12 to zero (step S ₂ ).
When the refueling nozzle 8 is inserted into the refueling port of the fuel tank of a car, a signal from the refueling port sensor 17a is output.
The information is transmitted to the CPU 35 (step _S3 ). Then CPU3
5 determines the signal as a refueling preparation completion signal, sends a drive signal to motor 1, motor 1 rotates, and pump 2 is driven.

At the same time, a read signal is sent to the valve opening storage section 32b and the notification storage section 32c of the ROM 32, the number of valve opening pulses in the valve opening storage section 32b is read out, and the driving step of the flow rate control valve 6, which is the discharge amount control means, is read out. The signal is transmitted to the ping motor, and the valve opens at a flow rate of 3/min according to the command value (point b in Figure 5 a).
Similarly, the buzzer 20, which is an auditory alarm, is sounded at intervals of 2 seconds, for example, based on the signal read out from the notification storage section 32c (step _S4 ).

The flow rate pulse signal from the pulse transmitter 10 of the flow meter 5 is calculated by the CPU 35 and stored in the count storage section 36.
When the counted value stored in a is 50c.c., the process proceeds to the next step (step S ₅ , point c in FIG. 5a). If the mode changeover switch 22 is pressed before step _S6 after the refueling nozzle 8 is removed, it is temporarily stored in the temporary storage section 36b as an interrupt signal, and this memory is checked in step _S6 . That is, the CPU 35's mode selection determination function determines whether the mode selector switch 22 is on or off (step S ₆ ), and if it is off, the main mode remains, and the valve opening storage section 32b is stored in the same way as described above. The number of valve opening pulses is read from , the stepping motor is driven, and the valve 6 is fully opened (step S ₇ ). That is, the flow rate increases from point c to point d in FIG. 5a. The flow rate at that time is, for example, 45/min. In addition, in step _S6 ,
If the ON signal from the mode changeover switch 22 is stored in the temporary storage section 36b, the CPU 35
is determined to be a switching signal from the main mode to mode A, and is connected to mode A in the refueling mode storage section 32a, so that refueling is controlled by mode A from now on.

When the refueling operation progresses and a signal is received by the liquid level sensor 17b due to spray or bubbles in the fuel filler port of the fuel tank (step S ₈ , point e in FIG. 5a), the CPU 3
5 is determined to be a refueling stop signal, a fully close signal for valve 6 is generated, and valve 6 is closed (point f in FIG. 5a). At the same time, the buzzer 20 is made to sound at intervals of, for example, one second based on the signal read from the notification storage section 32c, and the timer T is activated (step _S9 ). This timer T is set to, for example, 3 seconds, which is a sufficient time for the bubbles or droplets to disappear, and a signal is sent to the CPU 35 after 3 seconds. Next, it is determined whether or not a signal indicating that 3 seconds has elapsed has come from the timer T. If the signal has come from the timer T, the CPU 35 determines that it is a signal to prepare for restarting refueling (step S ₁₀ , as shown in FIG. 5a). Point g), Next, it is determined whether or not there is a signal from the liquid level sensor 17b, that is, whether refueling can be resumed (step _S11 ). FIG. 5a shows the case where there is no signal from the liquid level sensor 17b. In other words, it is assumed that the tank is not yet "full." Then, the valve 6 is opened by the same operation as in step _S7 (step _S12 ). In step _S11 , if there is a signal from the liquid level sensor 17b, the CPU 35 determines that this signal is an almost full signal and that integer refueling can be started, and jumps to step _S19 , which will be described later. However, in this second stage the flow rate is 30/
It is controlled to min (point a and h in Figure 5). The liquid level sensor 17b again detects bubbles or droplets at the point i in FIG. 5a (step _S13 ), the valve 6 is closed as in step _S9 , the buzzer 20 sounds, and the timer T is activated. (Step S ₁₄ , point a j in Figure 5). Note that the interval at which the buzzer 20 sounds at this time is, for example, 0.6 seconds. Next, it is determined whether the set time of the timer T, for example, 3 seconds, has elapsed since the valve 6 was closed (step S ₁₅ ), and after 3 seconds have elapsed (point a k in FIG. 5), the process is repeated in the same way as step S ₁₁ . The presence or absence of a signal from the liquid level sensor 17b is determined (step _S16 ), and the liquid level sensor 1
If 7b does not detect the liquid level, valve 6 opens by the same operation as step _S7 (step _S17 , point a in Figure 5), but in this third stage, the flow rate is 20/2.
Controlled by min. Next, when the liquid level sensor 17b detects the liquid level (step _S18 , point a m in Figure 5), the CPU 35 determines that this signal is almost a full tank signal and that it is possible to start integer refueling, and opens the valve. degree storage section 3
The valve opening pulse number is read from 2b, the valve 6 is throttled by the read signal, and the buzzer sounds by the signal read from the notification storage part 32c. (Step S ₁₉ , point a n in Figure 5). This step _S19 is a process for integer oil supply. In this step _S19 , the valve 6 is controlled to a flow rate of 3/min, and the buzzer 20 is activated.
Sounds every 0.3 seconds. Next, the CPU counts storage section 36a
It is determined whether the 0.01 digit of the refueling amount counted and stored is, for example, 0 or not, that is, it is an integer amount (step S ₂₀ ), and when that digit becomes 0, it is determined that the integer refueling is completed (step S 20 ). 5, point a), close valve 6. The pump drive motor 1 is stopped and the alarm is activated (step S ₂₁ , point p in FIG. 5a).

At step _S21 , the buzzer 20 sounds at intervals of 0.1 seconds and at the same time the rotation indicator 21 is driven.

After step _S21 , it is determined whether the mode changeover switch 22 is off or not in the same manner as step _S6 (step _S22 ). If it is off, the nozzle is hung on the nozzle hook and the nozzle switch 18 is turned off. Determine whether the signal is coming (step
_S23 ), if it has not come, the CPU 35 determines that refueling is complete, stops the alarms 20 and 21 (step _S24 ), and ends all steps in the main mode.
That is, the worker visually recognizes the refueling device for which refueling has been completed using the rotary indicator 21, and hooks the refueling nozzle 8 of the refueling device to the nozzle hook to complete refueling. In addition, at step S ₂₂ , switch the mode changeover switch 2.
If the signal from 2 is coming, the CPU 35 determines to restart refueling, and the main mode is switched to mode A as in step _S6 .

The above is the mode of oil supply in the main mode. Next, the operation in mode A will be explained with reference to FIGS. 4b and 5b. This mode A is basically the same as the main mode as described above, but differs in that the valve is fully opened at each stage, as shown in FIG. 5b. If the mode changeover switch 22 is not off in step _S6 , the valve 6 is fully opened by the same operation as in step _S7 , and the buzzer sounds at 0.2 second intervals (step _S25 ). The liquid level sensor 17b detects the liquid level (foam,
(including splashing) is detected (step
_S26 ), the valve 6 is closed by the same operation as step _S9 , and a timer T is set (step _S27 ). Then, it is determined whether 3 seconds have passed since the valve was closed (step
_S28 ), then it is determined whether there is a signal from the liquid level sensor 17b (step _S29 ), and if there is a signal from the liquid level sensor 17b, the integer lubrication operation in step _S19 starts, but if there is no signal, Return to step S ₂₅ .

Next, the operation in mode B will be explained with reference to FIG. 4c. Mode B is a so-called interrupt mode and can be implemented for emergency stop. In other words, an interrupt is always generated during refueling, and at that time mode selector switch 2
2 is pressed, the counted value of the amount of refueling in the count storage section 36a is 50 cc or more, and the pump drive motor 1 is rotating, the CPU 35 determines the signal from the mode changeover switch 22 as an emergency stop signal. death,
Refueling is stopped (emergency stop) only while the mode changeover switch 22 is pressed, and when the mode changeover switch 22 is released, it returns to the original interrupt position.

When you press the mode changeover switch 22 (step
S ₃₀ ), the CPU 35 determines that the count in the count storage section 36a is
50 cc or more (step S ₃₁ ), and determines whether the pump drive motor 1 is on (step S ₃₂ ). If both steps S ₃₁ and S ₃₂ are YES, the CPU 35 It is determined that the valve 6 is stopped, and the state of the valve 6 at that time is stored in the temporary storage section 36b (step _S33 ). Next, it is determined whether or not the valve 6 is open (step S ₃₄ ), and if the valve 6 is open, the valve 6 is closed (step S ₃₅ ). Next, it is determined whether the signal from the mode changeover switch 22 is off (step _S36 ), and when the mode switch is turned off,
The memory of the valve state stored in the temporary storage section 36b is read out (step _S37 ), and if the memory is that the valve is open (step _S38 ), a signal is issued to open the valve 6 to that valve opening degree (step S37). S ₃₉ ), valve 6 opens and the interrupt ends.

In the above operation, if NO at steps S ₃₀ , S ₃₁ , and S ₃₂ , the CPU immediately returns to the interrupt position.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to select one of the various refueling modes and perform refueling that is appropriate for the actual refueling operation, so that the fuel tank can be "filled up" in a short time. can. Furthermore, as explained in the embodiment, the refueling mode can include an interrupt, and an emergency stop can be performed.
Extremely safe to operate.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram for explaining the functions of the present invention, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a refueling machine implementing the present invention, Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 4 Fig. 4a is a flowchart showing the case of refueling in main mode, Fig. 4b is a flowchart showing the case of refueling in mode A, Fig. 4c is a flowchart showing the case of emergency stop in mode B, and Fig. 4b is a flowchart showing the case of refueling in mode A. Figure a is a graph showing the main mode, the fifth
Figure b is a graph showing mode A. 11...control device, 30...mode selection means,
32...Refueling mode storage section, 33...Mode command means, 34...Refueling control means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 When the liquid level sensor installed in the refueling nozzle detects the liquid level in the car's fuel tank, it automatically stops refueling.
In a refueling system that automatically restarts refueling after a certain period of time and automatically ends refueling when the fuel tank of the vehicle is almost full, it is possible to resume refueling after the refueling has automatically ended, and to do so without resetting the previous refueling amount. A refueling device characterized in that a refueling nozzle is provided with a control means for adding to the amount of refueling, and a switch for selecting a mode of the control means.