JPH05139498A - Oil filling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To detect erroneous operation of a pressure sensor or the like and to make correct judgment possible to determine the kind of fuel oil when automatic judgment is executed with vapor sucked from a fuel oil tank of a car by a method wherein variation of negative pressure in a sampling passageway is monitored when the vapor is sucked. CONSTITUTION:A read-in time setting means 61 in a pressure signal processing section 60 of a control device outputs, at specified intervals, read-in signals, based on ON-signals from a nozzle switch SW and on signals outputted from a comparing means 63. A data reading means 62 takes in, based on the read-in signals, signals from a measuring circuit 51 of a pressure switch PS. The comparing means 63 compares the taken-in signals with reference values from a reference value storage circuit 64, and outputs signals to the read-in time setting means 61 when processing is enabled to be transferred to a next step. Then the comparing means 63 outputs signals, as the result of final judgment, selectively to an oil kind judging means when a sampling system operates correctly and to an alarming device 7 when there is an abnormality.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refueling device for automatically determining the type of fuel oil by sucking vapor in a fuel tank of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are two types of automobiles, one that uses gasoline as its fuel and the other that uses light oil. If an incompatible fuel is used, the engine will be seriously hindered. You For this reason, prior to refueling, the vapor in the vehicle fuel tank was sucked into the gas sensor to determine the oil type in the fuel tank, and the type of oil to be used in the vehicle matched the type of fuel oil to be refueled. There has been proposed an oil supply device capable of discharging fuel only in some cases (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 1-199900).

[0003] In such a refueling device, the refueling device main body is usually equipped with a gas sensor for determining the type of oil based on the vapor, and this is connected to the vapor suction port of the refueling nozzle by an air tube to connect it to gasoline. The distinction from light oil is configured to determine the type of fuel oil based on that the vapor concentration of the fuel tank containing gasoline is higher than that of the tank containing light oil. When such a detection method is adopted, it is important to detect the start of vapor sampling, so a pressure detector is usually provided in the sampling conduit. The pressure sensor used for such pressure detection is composed of a pressure responsive portion in which a permanent magnet is fixed to a diaphragm that is displaced by a change in pressure, and a lead switch that is turned on and off by magnetic force lines from the permanent magnet. The fact that the lead switch is turned on or off when a predetermined vacuum degree is reached is used.

[0004]

According to such an apparatus, although the vapor suction start time can be reliably detected and the vapor detection timing can be surely detected, the signal from the pressure detecting means is an ON-OFF signal. Since it is a binary signal that has been used, there is a problem that the negative pressure change process in the vapor sampling process cannot be monitored and the reliability is uncertain. The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to monitor the operation of a vapor sampling process and to monitor the operation of components of a sampling system to obtain a fuel oil. It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel refueling device capable of detecting the type of oil with high reliability.

[0005]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, a main valve operated by an oil supply lever is housed, and a nozzle having a vapor conduit opening at the tip of a cylinder and one end. Is connected to a negative pressure generating source and an air source through a switching means, and the other end is connected to a vapor conduit, and switches by receiving signals from the gas detecting means and the pressure detecting means, and the gas detecting means and the pressure detecting means. The means is provided with a control means for outputting a switching signal, and the pressure detecting means detects the continuous displacement amount of the pressure responsive member.

[0006]

[Function] Since the time-dependent change in the negative pressure of the sampling line during the vapor suction is monitored, the malfunction of the pressure sensor or the negative pressure generating means can be detected, and the fuel oil in the automobile fuel tank can be highly reliably supplied. It can be detected.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 2 shows an example of an oil supply device to which the present invention is applied. In the drawing, reference numeral 1 is an oil supply pump driven by a pump motor M, and an oil supply hose is provided at a discharge port via a flow meter 2. 3 is connected, and the fuel oil in the underground tank is sent to the refueling nozzle 20. The flow meter 2 is provided with a flow rate pulse transmitter 4, and a signal from this is displayed by the control device 5 on the display device 6 as the amount of refueling. Reference numeral SW in the drawing indicates a nozzle switch provided near the nozzle hook 8.

In the figure, reference numeral 10 is an air supply source, and an air conduit extending from the air supply source is provided with a mist separator 12 and a regulator 13 as shown in FIG.
₁ , a second valve V ₂ , and a third valve V ₃ composed of a 3-port 2-position switching valve are connected in parallel, and the first valve V ₁ further includes a nozzle hook 8 via a vacuum ejector 14. Of the second valve V ₂ is connected to the air conduit 11 via the fixed orifice 16, and the third valve V ₃ is connected to the fixed orifice 17 through the fixed orifice 16. Connection to the air supply source 10 via the air supply source 10, and at the position a, the connection between the air conduit 11 and the vacuum ejector 14 which will be described later, b
In the position, the air supply source 10 and the air conduit 11 are connected to each other.

As shown in FIG. 4, the vapor conduit 21 extends from the vapor suction port 23 opened in the vicinity of the tip of the cylinder tip portion 22 of the oil supply nozzle 20 to the inside of the oil supply device through the stop valve 25 which is opened and closed by the lever 24. , Here gas sensor GS
And a third valve V ₃ and a pressure switch PS which will be described later, and is connected to the vacuum ejector 14. These first,
The second and third valves V ₁ , V ₂ , V ₃ are electromagnetic valves driven by an output signal from the control device 5,
The first valve V ₁ is activated so that the air supply source 10
To the vacuum ejector 14 are opened, and the inside of the air conduit 11 connected to the vacuum ejector 14 is set to a negative pressure to suck the vapor. The second valve V ₂ connects the air supply source 10 and the air conduit 11 by being energized, and the third valve V ₃ is in the de-energized state, and the air conduit 11 and the vacuum ejector 14 are normally operated. After the fuel supply is stopped, the control device 5 is energized by a signal from the control device 5 to switch to the b position, the air conduit 11 and the air supply source 10 are communicated with each other, and the air from the air supply source 10 is connected to the vapor conduit. It is configured so that it is sent to 21 to scavenge the inside.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a fueling nozzle, in which a main valve 29, which is opened by pulling up a fueling lever 24 and sends the fuel oil of a fueling hose 3 to a cylinder tip portion 22, is accommodated in a body portion 32. In addition, a vapor conduit 21 that connects a vapor suction port 23 having a hole at its tip and a stop valve 25 is provided in the cylinder tip portion 22. The stop valve 25 is a refueling lever 24.
Is provided with an operating rod 25a that interlocks with the air tube 31 and closes the air tube 31 and the vapor conduit 21 in a state where the lever 24 is pulled down, and compresses compressed air from the air tube 31 via the check valve 26. When the refueling lever 24 is pulled up, the air tube 31 and the vapor conduit 21 are communicated with each other.
Reference numeral 27 in the drawing denotes an air suction pipe that operates the automatic valve closing mechanism 28 by negative pressure when the cylinder tip portion 22 of the fuel supply nozzle 20 is closed by the fuel oil in the fuel tank.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of the above-mentioned pressure sensor PS, in which reference numeral 40 is a pressure responsive member, which is a negative pressure acting chamber 42 and an atmosphere opening chamber 43 formed in a base 41. And a flexible film 44 such as a diaphragm stretched so as to partition and a piston 46 that abuts against the flexible film 44 and is urged toward the atmosphere open chamber 43 by a spring 45,
A permanent magnet 47 is fixed to the tip of the piston 46. Reference numeral 48 denotes a hall element provided at a position sandwiching a partition wall 49 that forms a negative pressure action chamber 42 at a position facing the permanent magnet 47, and is provided in a measurement circuit 51 housed in an explosion-proof box 50. It is connected and outputs a voltage according to the distance to the permanent magnet 47, that is, the distance to the pressure responsive member 40. In the pressure sensor PS thus configured, the negative pressure acting chamber 42 is connected to the valve V ₃ and the ejector 14 by the air pipe 52, and the output thereof is connected to the control circuit 5 by the signal line 53. In addition,
Reference numeral 54 in the figure denotes an air filter provided at the opening of the atmosphere opening chamber 40.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the functions to be performed by the microcomputer constituting the above-mentioned control device. In the figure, reference numeral 60 is a pressure signal processing unit which is a main part of the present invention, and is a nozzle. A read time setting means 61 for outputting a read signal at a time interval determined at each stage by turning on the switch SW and a signal from a comparing means 63 described later, and a measuring circuit 51 based on the signal from this reading means 61. Data reading means 62 for taking in a signal from
And the read signal and the reference values L ₁ , L ₂ and L ₃ stored in the reference value storage means 64 are compared with each other, and the signal is sent to the reading time setting means 61 when the next step can be performed. When the sampling system operates normally as a final determination result, an operation command is output to the oil type determination means, and when there is an abnormality, a signal for operating the alarm device 7 is output.

Next, the operation of the apparatus thus constructed will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS.
When the nozzle 20 is removed from the nozzle hook 8, the nozzle switch S
W turns ON (step 6 in FIG. 6), and the control device 5
The display 6 is reset to zero and the first valve V ₁ is energized to open it, and at the same time, the output F ₁ of the pressure sensor TS in the state where the negative pressure is not yet acting is read as an initial value ( (Fig. 6 Step B).

When the valve V ₁ is opened, the air from the air supply source 10 flows into the vacuum ejector 14 and the air conduit 11,
Also, a negative pressure is generated inside the air tube 31. In this state, the lever 24 is still in the lowered state, so that the stop valve 25 connected to the vapor conduit 21 is closed, so that the negative pressure begins to act in the air conduit 11. When a certain time T ₁ , for example, 100 milliseconds has elapsed since the valve V ₁ was opened (step C in FIG. 6), the output signal F ₂ of the pressure sensor PS was read again (step D in FIG. 6), and the previous output signal was read. difference F ₂ -F ₁ and the first reference value L ₁ and F _1, for example, compared with 100 millivolts (Figure 6 step e). If the difference F ₂ −F ₁ becomes larger than the first reference value L ₁ within a predetermined time T ₄ , for example, within 1 second, the ejector 14, the pressure sensor PS, etc. are operating normally. Then, move to the next step.

When a certain time T ₂ , for example 1.5 seconds has elapsed from the time of comparison (step E in FIG. 6) (FIG. 6)
Step f) The output signal F ₃ from the pressure sensor PS is read again (step in FIG. 6), and the output signal of the pressure sensor PS is compared with the second reference value L ₂ , for example, 3000 millivolts (step in FIG. 6). As a result of the comparison, when the output signal of the pressure sensor PS exceeds the second reference value L ₂ , the pressure response member 4 of the pressure sensor PS.
It is judged that a sufficient negative pressure up to the state where 0 reaches the partition 49 (the state of the right half portion of the pressure response member 40 in FIG. 5) has acted in the air conduit 11, and the next step without issuing an alarm. Then, when time T ₃ , for example, 100 milliseconds has elapsed from the comparison time (step 6 in FIG. 6) (FIG. 6).
Step), output signal F from pressure sensor PS
₄ is read (step 6 in Fig. 6) and the previous output signal F ₃
It calculates the difference F ₃ -F ₄ with, for comparing the difference F ₃ -F ₄ and the third reference value L _3, for example a 100 millivolts. The following steps (i) to (i) are repeated with a cycle of time T ₃ .

In such a state, when the fueling nozzle is inserted into the fuel tank of the automobile to raise the fueling lever 24, the stop valve 25 is opened and the air tube 31 is opened.
Since the vapor of the automobile fuel tank flows into the air conduit 11 via the air conduit 11, the negative pressure in the air conduit 11 is reduced. As a result, decreases the level of the output signal from the pressure sensor PS, since the difference F ₃ -F ₄ is to exceed the third reference value L ₃ (see FIG. 8), the control unit 5, the oil supply at this point It is judged that the lever has been pulled, and the signal from the gas sensor GS is taken in (step 7 in FIG. 7).

The signal L from the gas sensor GS is compared with the set value Lg set corresponding to the vapor concentration when the fuel oil is gasoline, and the signal L from the gas sensor GS is compared.
When the value exceeds the set value Lg, it is determined that the fuel oil in the vehicle tank is gasoline (step 7 in FIG. 7).

The control device 5 closes the first valve V ₁ and opens the second valve V _2, and at the same time, the pump motor M 1
To start refueling (Fig. 7 step).
As a result, a small amount of air narrowed down by the orifice 16 in parallel with the refueling operation is generated in the air conduit 11 and the air tube 31.
Gas sensor G by flowing into the vapor conduit 21 via
The inside of S, the air conduit 11, the air tube 31, and the vapor conduit 21 is scavenged, and vapor is prevented from flowing into the gas sensor GS during refueling to prevent deterioration of the gas sensor GS.

When the refueling lever 24 is pulled down and the main valve 29 is closed after refueling a predetermined amount, the stop valve 25 is also closed in conjunction with the lever 24. When the nozzle 20 is returned to the nozzle hook 8 and the nozzle switch SW is turned off (see FIG. 7).
After stopping the pump motor PM (step 7 in FIG. 7), the control device 5 closes the second valve V ₂ and further switches the third valve V ₃ from the a position to the b position (step S). Figure 7 Stepne). As a result, a large amount of air from the air supply source 10 flows into the vapor conduit 21 again, the check valve 26 provided in the stop valve 25 is opened, and the vapor remaining therein is discharged into the atmosphere together with the air. At the same time, the gas sensor Clean the GS with fresh air. Then, at a stage where a certain time T ₆ , for example, 5 seconds has elapsed (step 7 in FIG.
3), the third valve V ₃ is returned to the a position (step S in FIG. 7), and the next refueling is prepared.

On the other hand, even when the signal L from the gas sensor GS is read (step 7 in FIG. 7) and compared with the set value Lg (step 7 in FIG. 7), even when a predetermined time T ₅ , for example, one second has elapsed. When the signal L of the gas sensor GS does not exceed the set value Lg (step 7 in FIG. 7),
When it is judged that the fuel oil contained in the vehicle fuel tank is diesel oil, the first valve V ₁ is closed and the second valve V ₂ is opened, and at the same time, the alarm 7 is operated to operate the oil. Pay attention to the fact that the species are different (Fig. 7, Step no). By the operation of these valves V ₁ and V ₂ , air flows into the vapor conduit 21 via the air conduit 11 and the air tube 31, and the gas sensor GS, the air conduit 11 and the air tube 3 are connected.
1 and the inside of the vapor conduit 21 is scavenged. When the nozzle 20 is returned to the nozzle hook and the nozzle switch SW is turned off (step 7 in FIG. 7), the alarm device 7 is stopped from operating (step 7 in FIG. 7), and then step (n) in the following. The operation is finished after the process of (i).

On the other hand, the pressure sensor PS and the valves V ₁ , V ₂ , V
If there is a problem with either ₃ or the ejector 14, the nozzle switch SW is turned on (step 6 in FIG. 6), and after reading the data F ₁ as the initial value from the pressure sensor PS, the time T ₁ Even if the data F ₂ is read after the lapse of time, the output of the pressure sensor PS does not change, and therefore the difference F ₂ −F ₁ does not exceed the first reference value L ₁ (step E in FIG. 6). When this state continues for a predetermined time T ₄ , for example, 1 second (step in FIG. 6).
E) and even if the difference F ₂ −F ₁ exceeds the first reference value L ₁ (step E in FIG. 6), the data F ₃ read in (step F in FIG. 6) after the time T _{2 has} elapsed (step F in FIG. 6).
G) When the second reference L ₂ is not exceeded (step 6 in FIG. 6), the control device 5 controls the negative pressure generation source such as the air compression source or the ejector, the valve V ₁ , the valve V ₂ , the valve V ₃ or the like. And a failure occurs in any of the pressure sensors PS and the sampling system is not operating normally (step W). By this notification, the nozzle 20 is returned to the nozzle hook 8 and when the nozzle switch SW is turned off (step C), the operation of the oil supply device is stopped.
As a result, it is possible to detect a failure in the sampling system prior to the oil type determination, and prevent erroneous refueling due to the wrong oil type determination.

Next, the operation of the second embodiment will be described with reference to the flow charts shown in FIGS. When the nozzle 20 is removed from the nozzle hook 8, the nozzle switch SW is turned on (step B in FIG. 9), and the controller 5 resets the indicator 6 to zero and energizes the first valve V ₁ to open it. At the same time, the output signal F ₁ of the pressure sensor PS in the state where the negative pressure is not yet applied (the state of the left half portion of the pressure response member 40 in FIG. 5) is read as the initial value (FIG. 9).
Stepro).

In this state, the air from the air supply source 10 flows into the vacuum ejector 14 and the air conduit 11,
Also, since the inside of the air tube 31 is negatively pressured, and the lever 24 is still lowered and the stop valve 25 connected to the vapor conduit 21 is still closed, the air conduit 1
Negative pressure also begins to work inside 1. When a certain time T ₇ , for example, 100 milliseconds has elapsed since the opening of the first valve V ₁ (step C in FIG. 9), the output signal F ₂ of the pressure sensor PS is read again (step D in FIG. 9), and the previous time. of calculating the difference F ₂ -F ₁ and the output signal F _1, it is compared with this setting value L _1, for example, 100 millivolts (Figure 9 step e). If the difference F ₂ −F ₁ becomes larger than the first set value L ₁ within a predetermined time T ₁₀ , for example, 1 second, it is determined that the sampling system is operating normally for the time being, A certain time T8 from the time of comparison, for example, 1
When 00 milliseconds has elapsed (step F in FIG. 9), the output signal F ₃ from the pressure sensor PS is read (see FIG. 10).
Step)) The difference F _3-1 −F ₃ is calculated with the data F _3-1 one time before and the data read this time as F ₃ .
The difference F _3-1 -F ₃ and the reference value L _4, compared for example with the 30 millivolts. The repeated steps the steps of (f)及至(h) until the difference F _3-1 -F ₃ exceeds the reference value L _4.

Time T in steps (f) and (h)
In the process of repeating the reading operation of the output signal F ₃ from the pressure sensor PS every 8 times (to the step in FIG.
H) When the refueling nozzle is inserted into the vehicle fuel tank to refuel and the refueling lever 24 is pulled up, the stop valve 25 is opened and the air conduit 11 is opened via the air tube 31.
Automotive fuel tank vapor flows into the air conduit 1
The negative pressure of 1 decreases (see FIG. 8). As a result, since the latest data F ₃ from the pressure sensor PS is lower than the previous, the difference F _3-1 -F ₃ reference values L _4, will exceed for example 30 millivolts (Figure 9 step h). As a result, it is promptly determined that the refueling lever has started to be pulled down, and the output signal F ₄ from the pressure sensor PS is read after a lapse of time T9, for example, 100 milliseconds from this point (step S in FIG. 9).

The difference between this data F ₄ and data F ₃ F ₃ −
When F ₄ exceeds the reference value L ₅ , for example, 100 millivolts, it is determined that the refueling lever has been completely pulled down, and the same step (T) shown in FIG. 10 as described above.
The process moves to the last step (YA), and the oil type determination operation and the oil supply operation are executed.

On the other hand, if the difference F ₂ -F ₁ does not exceed the set value L ₁ even after a preset time T ₁₀ , for example, 1 second has elapsed (step 9 in FIG. 9), the control device 5 , It judges that there is a failure in the sampling system and gives a notification (step 9 in Fig. 9), and stops the operation of the fueling device.
Further, even if the time T ₁₁ has elapsed, the difference between the data F ₃ and F ₃ −F
_{If 4} does not exceed the reference value L ₅ (Step 9 in FIG. 9)
Y) In the sampling system, particularly when the pressure sensor PS has an abnormality, for example, dust enters the negative pressure action chamber 42 and the pressure responsive member 40 cannot move smoothly, resulting in slow operation. Then, a notification to that effect is issued (step 9 in FIG. 9), and the pressure sensor PS is inspected. When the nozzle 20 is returned to the nozzle hook 8 and the nozzle switch SW is turned off (step 9 in FIG. 9), the operation of the oil supply device is stopped. According to this embodiment, the refueling nozzle 20 is removed from the nozzle hook 8 and the refueling lever 2 is quickly fed.
Even when 4 is pulled, it is possible to respond quickly and refueling is possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the hall element that outputs the electromotive force proportional to the strength of the magnetic field is used as the means for detecting the movement of the pressure responsive member. When a magnetoresistive element whose electric resistance changes is used, it is obvious that the same effect can be obtained by also using a means for converting the resistance output into voltage or current.

[0028]

As described above, according to the present invention,
A nozzle that accommodates a main valve operated by a refueling lever and has a vapor conduit opening at the tip of the cylinder, one end connected to a negative pressure generation source and an air source through a switching means, and the other end connected to the vapor conduit. The gas detecting means and the pressure detecting means are connected, and the control means for receiving the signals of the gas detecting means and the pressure detecting means and outputting the switching signal to the switching means, the pressure detecting means is the continuous displacement amount of the pressure responsive member. Since it is possible to detect the change in the pressure of the sampling line during the vapor suction process, it is possible to monitor the operating state of the components of the vapor sampling system such as the pressure detection means. The type of fuel oil in a vehicle fuel tank can be detected with high reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functions to be performed by a microcomputer.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a pipe line configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a sampling mechanism of the same apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of an oil supply nozzle used in the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a pressure sensor used in the above apparatus, with a negative pressure acting and a negative pressure not acting.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the negative pressure of the sampling system and the output of the pressure sensor in the same apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of the apparatus of the second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 pump 2 flow meter 3 oil supply hose 4 flow pulse transmitter 5 control device 6 indicator 7 alarm 14 vacuum ejector 20 nozzle 21 vapor conduit 23 vapor suction port 25 stop valve 30 opening 31 air tube 32 body PS pressure sensor GS gas Sensor SW Nozzle switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A nozzle which accommodates a main valve operated by an oil supply lever and which has a vapor conduit opening at a cylinder tip, and one end of which is connected to a negative pressure generation source and an air source through a switching means,
The pressure detecting means includes a gas detecting means and a pressure detecting means, the other end of which is connected to a vapor conduit, and a control means which receives a signal from the gas detecting means and the pressure detecting means and outputs a switching signal to a switching means. An oil supply device that detects the amount of continuous displacement of a pressure responsive member.