JPH0346398B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a liquid supply device, that is, a fuel supply device installed at a refueling station such as a gas station.

[Prior art] When refueling a car, etc., there are cases in which a fixed amount, such as "10" or "20", is determined in advance and refueled, but the fuel tank of the car is filled with oil, so-called "full tank". There are many cases.

In such cases, a liquid level sensor has conventionally been used that is attached to a fuel nozzle of a fuel supply device and detects the level of a supplied liquid such as gasoline. When performing refueling work using a refueling device that has such a liquid level sensor, when the amount of refueling approaches ``full'', the liquid level sensor detects the level of liquid such as gasoline and issues a signal, causing the refueling device to shut down. It is set to stop automatically.

Such liquid level sensors emit signals when they come into contact with the actual liquid level, but during refueling operations, oil bounces inside the tank, causing droplets to fly, and bubbles to rise before the liquid level. In some cases, such droplets and bubbles caused the liquid level sensor to issue a signal, causing the refueling to be stopped.

When refueling is stopped in this way, restarting the refueling work has conventionally been done manually.For example, simply opening the valve could cause the droplets and foam mentioned above
Since the liquid level sensor repeats the operation of emitting a signal, it is necessary to throttle the valve to some extent to reduce the discharge amount per unit time. It is necessary to set an appropriate throttle amount for the valve from the viewpoint of work efficiency, and such valve operation requires skill.
In addition, if the worker is inexperienced, the above-mentioned inconvenience may be repeated by restarting refueling without throttling the valve and increasing the discharge amount per unit time, and therefore repeating the refueling operation many times. The need arose, which worsened work efficiency.

Therefore, there is a need for a refueling device that can automatically restart refueling and control the discharge amount even if refueling is stopped due to a liquid level sensor emitting a signal due to splashes or bubbles. .

In contrast, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 58-30998, the present applicant provided a liquid level sensor in the refueling nozzle, and based on the signal of this liquid level sensor, the instantaneous flow rate from the refueling nozzle per unit time was controlled. We are proposing a refueling device that is equipped with a control device and can automatically control the flow rate from the nozzle depending on the refueling state.

However, in this device, when the liquid level sensor detects oil bubbles, the flow rate is reduced.
For example, when the flow rate is 40/min, the bubbles are squeezed after touching the liquid level sensor installed at the tip of the oil supply nozzle, so because the flow rate is high, the bubbles or oil may rise and overflow from the fuel supply port.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 60-52299 discloses a refueling nozzle equipped with a foam detection device and a liquid level detection device located above the foam detection device. However, as described above, this known technique has problems when the amount of liquid supplied is large.

[Problems to be Solved] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid supply device in which the liquid does not overflow from the liquid supply port even if the amount of liquid supplied is large.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, in a liquid supply device provided with a liquid supply control means that controls the flow rate based on the output of a liquid level sensor provided in a nozzle and stops liquid supply when the tank is full, A first liquid level sensor is provided near the tip of the nozzle, which emits a signal in the direction of the liquid surface and detects when the liquid surface approaches by receiving the signal reflected from the liquid surface. A second liquid level sensor is provided behind the first liquid level sensor, the flow rate is throttled based on the detection signal of the first liquid level sensor, and the liquid supply is stopped based on the detection signal of the second liquid level sensor. It is equipped with a control device to

[Description of the effects of the invention] Therefore, when the liquid level rises during liquid supply work, the first liquid level sensor first detects that the liquid level has approached. The control device then throttles the flow rate, which slows down the rate at which the liquid level rises. When it comes into contact with the second liquid level sensor, the control device stops the liquid supply based on a signal from the second liquid level sensor. Therefore, even if the amount of liquid supplied per unit time is large, there is sufficient time for control, and it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid from overflowing from the liquid supply port.

Furthermore, since the amount of liquid supplied per unit time can be increased, the time required for liquid supply can be shortened, and work efficiency can be improved.

[Preferred embodiment] The signal emitted by the first liquid level sensor in the direction of the liquid level is preferably a light or ultrasonic signal, and in the case of an optical signal, the signal emitted by the first liquid level sensor and the second liquid level sensor is preferably a light signal or an ultrasonic signal. Preferably, a light emitter (for example a light emitting diode) and a light receiver (for example a phototransistor) are used.

When implementing the present invention, an external light sensor (for example, a phototransistor) that detects light in a position darker than external light
In addition, the control device is provided with a sensor signal discrimination means, and if the sensor signal discrimination means determines that the amount of light received by the light receiving body when the light emitter of the first liquid level sensor is turned off is greater than the amount of light received by the external light sensor, the nozzle is refueled. If it is not inserted into the mouth and is small, it is determined that it is inserted, and if there is an amount of light received by the photoreceptor when the light emitter is turned on, it is determined that the liquid level has been predicted;
It is preferable to determine that the liquid level has been detected when the amount of light received by the photoreceptor disappears when the light emitter of the first liquid level sensor is turned on.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a refueling machine embodying the present invention. The fuel supply machine 1 has a pump 3 driven by a motor 2, and a suction pipe 4 and a discharge pipe 5 connected to an oil storage tank (not shown) are connected to the pump 3. This discharge piping 5 is provided with a flow meter 6 and a flow control valve 7, and a hose 8 is further connected to this discharge piping. A nozzle 9 is connected to this hose 8. At the tip 9a of this nozzle 9, there is a first liquid level sensor 10 that remotely detects the liquid level in a non-contact manner, and a second liquid level sensor 10 that detects the liquid level by contacting the liquid slightly upstream of the liquid level sensor 10. In addition, the fuel dispenser 1 is provided with a nozzle switch 12 that detects when the nozzle 9 is removed from the fuel dispenser 1. Reference numeral 13 denotes an external light sensor that detects light at a position darker than the external light, and uses, for example, a phototransistor.

The flow meter 6 is provided with a flow rate pulse transmitter 14 that converts the flow rate into a pulse signal. The opening and closing of the flow rate control valve 7 is controlled by a valve driving section 15. The pulses transmitted from the flow rate pulse transmitter 14 are sent to the display drive section 17 via the control device 20, and the flow rate measured by the flow meter 6 is digitally displayed on the display meter 18. . In addition, each sensor 10, 1
1, 13 and the nozzle switch 12 are sent to a control device 20, and the control device 20 controls the driving of the valve drive section 15 and motor drive section 19.

FIG. 2 shows details of the first liquid level sensor 10 and the second liquid level sensor 11. The tip 9a of the nozzle 9 is defined by a wall W into two chambers A and B, where chamber A is a passage for oil liquid, and chamber B is provided with various sensors to be described later.

The first liquid level sensor 10 includes a light emitter (e.g., a light emitting diode) 10a and a photoreceptor (e.g., a phototransistor) 10b, which emit light in a fixed angle area approximately in the axial direction within the chamber B, and includes a sensor signal discriminating means 21 (described later). If the amount of light received by the photoreceptor 10b is smaller than the amount of light received by the external light sensor 13 when the light emitter 10a is turned off, it is determined that the nozzle 9 has been inserted into the fuel filler port, and the nozzle 9 is inserted into the filler port. In this case, if there is an amount of light received by the photoreceptor 10b when the light emitter 10a is turned on, it is determined that the liquid level has been predicted based on the reflected light from the liquid surface.

The second liquid level sensor 11 is the same as the first liquid level sensor 1.
The sensor signal discriminating means consists of a light emitting body (e.g., a light emitting diode) 11a provided on the upstream side and a light receiving body (e.g., a phototransistor) 11b provided opposite to the light emitting body (e.g., a phototransistor) 11a. 21 indicates the light receiving body 1 when the light emitter 11a lights up.
When no light is received from 1b, it is determined that the liquid level has been detected. The sensitivity of the first liquid level sensor 10 is set higher than that of the second liquid level sensor 11 in order to detect any reflected light from the liquid surface that is not in the air.

A control block diagram of the control device 20 is shown in FIG.

The control device 20 is provided with a sensor signal discrimination means 21 and an arithmetic control section 22.

The sensor signal determining means 21 detects the nozzle 9 based on the signals from the first liquid level sensor 10 and the external light sensor 13.
is inserted into the fuel filler port, determines whether the liquid level is sensed remotely in a non-contact manner based on the signal from the first liquid level sensor 10, and determines whether the liquid level is sensed remotely in a non-contact manner.
Determine whether the liquid level has been detected based on the signal of 1,
Each outputs a discrimination signal to the calculation control section 22.

The arithmetic control section 22 includes a refueling amount calculation means 23 for calculating the refueling amount, a flow rate calculating means 24 for calculating the instantaneous flow rate, a valve control means 25 for controlling the valve opening of the flow rate control valve 7, and a refueling amount calculating means 24 for calculating the refueling amount. An integer lubrication control means 26 etc. is provided to control the oil supply so that
The control signal is displayed based on the ON/OFF signal of the nozzle switch 12, the pulse signal of the flow rate pulse transmitter 14, and the discrimination signal of the sensor signal discrimination means 21.
It is designed to output to 5.

Next, the operation of the present invention will be explained mainly with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 4 shows the basic flow of the present invention. When the nozzle 9 is removed from the refueling machine 1, the nozzle switch 12 is turned on (step S1), and based on this ON signal, the refueling amount calculation means 23 returns the previous refueling amount memorized value to zero, and displays this on the display meter 18. (Step S2). When the nozzle 9 is inserted into the fuel filler port, the sensor signal determination means 21 outputs a nozzle insertion signal based on the signals from the first liquid level sensor 10 and the external light sensor 13 (step S3), and based on this insertion signal The arithmetic control unit 22 outputs a control signal to the motor drive unit 19 to start the motor 2, and the valve control unit 25 outputs a control signal to the valve drive unit 15 to half-open the flow rate control valve 7 (for example, to open the flow rate control valve 7 at a flow rate of 30/30%).
min) (step S4). When the valve of the nozzle 9 is opened to start refueling, the refueling amount calculating means 2
3 calculates and stores the oil supply amount based on the pulse signal from the flow rate pulse transmitter 14, and also displays the display meter 18.
to be displayed. Then, until a liquid level prediction signal is input from the first liquid level sensor 10 due to bubbles or the like during refueling (if step S5 is NO), the valve control means 25 fully opens the flow rate control valve 7 (for example, the flow rate is 50/50%).
(step S5).
→ Repeat S6 → S7 → S5). Then, when the flow rate control valve 7 is fully opened (step S6)
If YES), repeat steps S5→S6→S5. The first liquid level sensor 10 predicts the liquid level due to bubbles, etc., and the liquid level prediction signal is input (step S).
5), when the liquid level detection signal is not input from the second liquid level sensor 11 (NO in step S8), the valve control means 25 opens the flow rate control valve 7 slightly (flow rate 3/min) (steps S8→S9→S1)
0→S5 repetition). Then, when the flow rate control valve 7 is slightly opened (YES in step S9), steps S8→S9→S5 are repeated.
However, if the bubbles disappear and the liquid level prediction signal is no longer input while the flow rate control valve 7 is being throttled (NO in step S5), the valve control means 25 opens the flow rate control valve 7 as described above ( Repeat steps S5→S6→S7→S5). In this way, the flow rate control valve 7 is controlled by the valve control means 2 so that the discharge amount is the maximum that can prevent oil overflow.
5. When the liquid level signal is input (YES in step S8), the valve control means 25 closes the flow rate control valve 7 (step S11). Then, after a certain period of time (for example, 1 second) has passed (step S12), if the bubbles disappear and the liquid level signal is no longer input (step S13).
NO), the valve control means 25 opens the flow rate control valve 7 slightly to about 3/min (step S1).
4) Repeat the control in steps S5 to S13. If the liquid level signal is input even after a certain period of time has passed after the valve is closed (YES in step S13), the integer value control means 26 determines whether the oil supply amount is an integer (step S15), and if YES teeth,
A control signal is output from the calculation control section 22 to the motor drive section 19 to stop the motor 2 and stop the operation of the pump 3 (step S18). If NO, the valve control means 25 slightly opens the flow rate control valve 7 (step S16). When the amount of oil supplied becomes an integer (YES in step S17), the valve control means 25 fully closes the control valve 7 (step S25). Then, the motor 2 is stopped and the operation of the pump 3 is stopped (step S18). Finally nozzle 9
Apply to refueling machine 1 to turn nozzle switch 12 OFF
When this happens, control ends.

FIG. 5 shows an interrupt control flow for checking whether the nozzle 9 has come off the fuel filler port during execution of the above basic control flow.

In other words, the arithmetic control unit 22 always makes sure that the nozzle 9 is removed from the refueling machine 1 and the nozzle switch 12 is turned on.
(Step S20), the sensor signal determining means 21 determines that the amount of light received by the light receptor 10b is smaller than the amount of light received by the external light sensor 13 when the light emitter 10a of the first liquid level sensor 10 is off. That is, if the nozzle 9 is inserted into the fuel filler port (step S21), and if both steps S20 and S21 are YES, the arithmetic control unit 22 executes the basic control flow shown in FIG. 4 (step S2).
2) This step is executed repeatedly. If step S21 is NO, that is, if the nozzle 9 is removed from the refueling port during refueling (or if the nozzle 9 is removed from the refueling port, or if refueling is finished), the light emitting body 10a of the first liquid level sensor 10 When the sensor signal determining means 21 determines that the amount of light received by the photoreceptor 10b when the light is turned off is greater than the amount of light received by the external light sensor 13, the valve control means 25 outputs a control signal to the valve driving section 15. At the same time as closing the flow rate control valve 7, the calculation control section 22 outputs a control signal to the motor drive section 19 to stop the motor 2 and stop the operation of the pump 3, thereby preventing oil from flowing out from the nozzle 9. Yes (step S23).

[Summary] As explained above, according to the present invention, throttle control is performed with time margin from the time when the liquid level is detected by the first liquid level sensor, and as a result, oil spills from the oil filler port. can be reliably prevented. Furthermore, since the amount of liquid supplied per unit time can be increased, the efficiency of liquid supply work can be improved.

Although the embodiment has been described assuming that the flow rate control valve 7 is controlled to throttle, the rotation of the motor 2 of the pump 3 may be controlled instead of the flow rate control valve 7.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a refueling device embodying the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of a nozzle tip showing details of a first liquid level sensor and a second liquid level sensor;
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the control device, FIG. 4 is a basic control flowchart, and FIG. 5 is an interrupt control flowchart. 2...Motor, 3...Pump, 6...Flowmeter,
7...Flow rate control valve, 10...First liquid level sensor, 11...Second liquid level sensor, 20...Control device, 21...Sensor signal discrimination means, 25...
Valve control means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 In a liquid supply device equipped with a liquid supply control means that controls the flow rate based on the output of a liquid level sensor installed in the nozzle and stops liquid supply when the tank is full, a signal is emitted in the direction of the liquid level to stop the liquid supply from reaching the liquid level. A first liquid level sensor is provided near the tip of the nozzle, which detects the proximity of the liquid surface upon reflection of a signal, and a second liquid level sensor, which detects the liquid level by contact with the liquid, is connected to the first liquid level sensor. A control device is provided at the rear of the liquid supply system, and the control device throttles the flow rate based on the detection signal of the first liquid level sensor, and stops the liquid supply based on the detection signal of the second liquid level sensor. liquid equipment.