JPH054692A - Oil supply apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To correctly identify an oil type of a fuel tank to prevent ambiguous identification of gas oil with highly volatile substance mixed by determining the oil type beyond an identification level of gas oil and gasoline and an identification level of gas oil with time exceeding an identification level of gasoline added. CONSTITUTION:A gas sensor GS for detecting vapor of an automobile fuel tank from an oil supply nozzle 20 is provided. A control means 5 having first and second identification levels for determining gas oil and gasoline based on vapor concentration is used to identify gasoline when a signal of the gas sensor GS when gas oil contains highly volatile substances exceeds the second identification level in a shorter time than time that the signal exceeds the first identification level and exceeds the second identification level. When the first level is not exceeded even after longer time than preset time, the type is identified to gas oil. Further, the type belongs none of these, the control means determines that the oil type identification is impossible.

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 fuel and the other that uses light oil. If an incompatible fuel is used, the engine will be seriously hindered. 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).

Such an oil supply device is usually equipped with a combustion type gas sensor or a semiconductor type gas sensor for detecting the vapor concentration, and the vapor from an automobile fuel tank is introduced therein to determine the oil type based on the vapor concentration. Is configured. In other words, in the case of gasoline vehicles, the vapor concentration is high,
Further, in the case of a light oil vehicle, since the vapor concentration is low, the difference in these vapor concentrations is used to determine the oil type of the vehicle fuel tank.

[0004]

By the way, in order to remove the water accumulated in the fuel tank of an automobile, a so-called draining agent containing alcohol as a main component is mixed in the fuel tank. In such a case, since the vapor pressure of the water removing agent is higher than that of light oil, the vapor concentration becomes higher than in the case of using light oil alone, and there is a fear that a light oil vehicle is erroneously determined as a gasoline vehicle. The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and its object is to accurately determine the oil type of an automobile fuel tank and to mix a highly volatile component such as a draining agent. An object of the present invention is to provide a novel oil supply device capable of preventing ambiguous determinations regarding light oil.

[0005]

In order to solve such a problem, in the present invention, gas detecting means for detecting the vapor of an automobile fuel tank from a fueling nozzle, and light oil and gasoline based on the concentration of the vapor. A first and a second determination level for determining whether or not the signal of the gas detecting means exceeds the first determination level when the gas oil contains a highly volatile component. If the second judgment level is exceeded in a shorter time than the judgment level is exceeded, it is gasoline, and if the first level is not exceeded even if a time longer than a preset time has elapsed, light oil is selected. Further, a control means for judging that the oil type cannot be discriminated when it does not belong to any of the above is provided.

[0006]

[Function] Since the oil type is judged by taking into consideration the judgment levels of light oil and gasoline, and the time after the judgment level of light oil is exceeded and the judgment level of gasoline is exceeded, the vapor concentration is higher than the judgment level of light oil. In the case of light oil containing a draining agent, which sometimes reaches the same level as the concentration of gasoline, it is definitely determined that the oil type cannot be determined.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 1 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 a nozzle 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.

In the drawing, 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.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the vapor conduit 21 has a vapor suction port 23 opened in the vicinity of the tip of the cylinder tip portion 22 of the liquid supply nozzle 20 and a stop valve 25 which is opened and closed by a lever 24 to supply oil. Inside, it is connected to the vacuum ejector 14 via the gas sensor GS, the third valve V ₃ and the pressure switch PS. The first, second, and third valves V ₁ , V ₂ , V ₃ are electromagnetic valves driven by an output signal from the control device 5, and the first valve V ₁ is an auxiliary valve. By being energized, the flow path from the air supply source 10 to the vacuum ejector 14 is opened, and the inside of the air conduit 11 connected to the vacuum ejector 14 is made 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 oil type is determined, and after the oil supply is stopped, the control device 5 urges a signal to switch to the b position to connect the air conduit 11 and the air supply source 10 to each other. The air from 10 is sent to the vapor conduit 21 to scavenge the inside. Pressure switch P provided in the middle of the air conduit 11
S is configured as a response switch that turns on the switch by a diaphragm that deforms when the inside of the conduit 11 becomes negative pressure.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of a refueling nozzle. A main valve 29 for opening the refueling lever 24 by pulling up the refueling lever 24 to send the fuel oil from the refueling hose 3 to the barrel tip portion 22 is housed in the 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 figure 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 blocked by the fuel oil in the fuel tank, and S
W indicates a nozzle switch provided near the nozzle hook.

Next, the operation of the device constructed as described above will be described with reference to the flow chart shown in FIG. 4, taking an example of the case where the device is applied to a gasoline refueling device. Nozzle 20
When is removed from the nozzle hook 8, the nozzle switch SW is turned on (step a), and the control device 5 causes the display 6 to return to zero and energizes the first valve V ₁ to open it (step a). ). As a result, the air from the air supply source 10 flows into the vacuum ejector 14 and the air conduit 11,
The inside of the air tube 31 is made negative pressure. Since the lever 24 is still lowered in this state, the stop valve 25 connected to the vapor conduit 21 is in a closed state, so that a strong negative pressure acts on the air conduit 11 and the pressure is reduced. The switch PS is turned on by this negative pressure (step C).

In this state, when the refueling nozzle 20 is inserted into the fuel tank of the automobile and the lever 24 is pulled, the main valve 29 is opened and the stop valve 25 is also opened by the lever 24. As a result, the air containing vapor in the fuel tank rapidly flows into the air tube 31 from the vapor suction port 23, the strong negative pressure of the air conduit 11 rapidly disappears, and the pressure switch PS is turned off (step 2). ).

The controller 5 reads the level L0 of the output signal from the gas sensor GS before the air containing vapor in the fuel tank reaches the gas sensor GS as a reference signal of zero vapor concentration and stores it in the storage means. (Step E), L0 + Lg and L0 + that are obtained by adding the concentration Lg caused by gasoline and the concentration Ld caused by light oil, respectively.
Ld is set as the gasoline judgment level and the light oil judgment level. In this state, the pump motor M is stopped so that the fuel oil is not discharged.

Subsequently, the vapor in the vehicle fuel tank reaches the gas sensor GS. Since the vapor of gasoline has a high concentration, as shown in FIG.
Will immediately output a signal that exceeds the reference level L0 + Ld for light oil determination (step F), and will output a signal that exceeds the gasoline determination level L0 + Lg within time ΔT ₁ (eg 0.4 seconds) (step yo). (Step). Therefore, the control device 5 determines that the fuel of the vehicle to be refueled is gasoline, and the first valve V ₁
Valve is closed and the second valve V ₂ is opened, and at the same time, the pump motor M is operated to start refueling (step
H). As a result, in parallel with the refueling operation, the air of the air source 10 is throttled from the second valve V ₂ by the orifice 16 and then flows into the vapor conduit 21 via the air conduit 11 little by little, and the air conduit 11 and the air are discharged. The inside of the tube 31 and the vapor conduit 21 is scavenged, and the vapor is prevented from flowing into the gas sensor GS during refueling.
Prevent the deterioration of S.

When the refueling lever 24 is pulled down and the main valve 29 is closed after the refueling of 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 (step step), the control device 5 stops the pump motor M (step step), and then closes the second valve V ₂ . Further, the third valve V ₃ is switched from the a position to the b position again (step). As a result, a large amount of air from the air supply source 10 flows into the vapor conduit 21, 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, and at the same time, the gas sensor GS is released. Clean with fresh air. Then, after a lapse of a certain time T, for example, 5 seconds (step E), the third valve V ₃ is returned to the position a (step W) to prepare for the next refueling.

By the way, from the time when the refueling lever 24 is pulled up and the pressure switch PS is switched from ON to OFF (step D), the output of the gas sensor GS is below the light oil judgment level L0 + Ld (step F). When the level is maintained for a predetermined time ΔT ₂ , for example, 2.5 seconds ((b) in FIG. 5) (step
F), the control device 5 determines that the fuel oil in the vehicle tank is light oil, closes the first valve V ₁ , and opens the second valve V ₂ , and further, by the alarm device 7. Notify that the oil types are different (STEP TA). As a result, the air of the air supply source 10 flows from the second valve V ₂ into the air conduit 11, the air tube 31, and the vapor conduit 21 to scaveng them, and also prevents the vapor from flowing into the gas sensor GS. Prevent the deterioration of the gas sensor GS.
When the nozzle 20 is returned to the nozzle hook 8 and the nozzle switch SW is turned off by noticing the misidentification of the oil type (step
Re), the control device 5 stops the operation of the alarm device 7 (step S), and prepares for the next refueling through the steps (L) and (W) described above.

On the other hand, when the cylinder tip portion 22 of the nozzle 20 is inserted into the vehicle fuel tank in order to refuel the light oil vehicle into which the water removing agent has been added, the vapor of the light oil and the vapor of the water removing agent are discharged from the vapor suction port 23. Since it flows in, the gas sensor GS is the sum L0 of the reference level L0 and the vapor concentration Ld of the light oil.
A signal higher than + Ld will be output (step F) ((c) and (d) in FIG. 5). However, since the concentration is lower than that of gasoline vapor, light oil level L0 + Ld
Even if the specified time ΔT ₁ elapses after exceeding, the gasoline judgment reference level L 0 + Lg is not exceeded (step). Therefore, the control device 5 determines that the fuel is indistinguishable from gasoline or light oil (step YO), closes the first valve V _1, and opens the second valve V ₂ for further notification. The device 7 informs that the oil type cannot be discriminated (step). As a result, the air of the air supply source 10 flows from the second valve V ₂ into the air conduit 11, the air tube 31, and the vapor conduit 21 to scaveng them, and also prevents the vapor from flowing into the gas sensor GS. Prevent the deterioration of the gas sensor GS. When the nozzle 20 is returned to the nozzle hook 8 and the nozzle switch SW is turned off (step S) because the oil type cannot be determined, the controller 5 stops the operation of the alarm device 7 (step S),
The next step is to prepare for the next refueling through the steps (1) to (3) described above. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the accident of accidentally refueling the light oil vehicle with gasoline.

In this way, every time the nozzle is removed from the nozzle hook and the refueling lever 24 is pulled up, the control device 5 sets the level L0 of the output signal from the gas sensor GS based on clean air to the reference of zero vapor concentration. The signal is read as a signal (step E), the reference level V ₀ is stored in the storage means, and the concentration Lg caused by gasoline and the concentration Ld caused by light oil are added to L0 + Lg and L0 + L, respectively.
Update d. As a result, an accurate judgment level for oil type judgment can be set automatically regardless of changes in sensitivity due to aging of the gas sensor and changes in the concentration of vapor remaining in the vapor sampling path. it can.

In this embodiment, the case where the drainage agent is mixed in the light oil has been described, but other misidentification factors, for example, the case where gasoline dripping from the nozzle is mixed in the light oil fuel tank or the underground from the tank truck is used. It is clear that the uncertain oil type determination can be prevented even in an environment in which the oil type determination is unsuccessful, such as when the surrounding area is filled with gasoline vapor due to refueling of the tank. In this embodiment, the gasoline refueling device is taken as an example, but when applied to a light oil refueling device, the step (f) in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4 is true (YE).
When S) is reached, the steps (h) and below may be executed.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Gas detection means for detecting the vapor of the automobile fuel tank from the fueling nozzle, and first and second determination levels for determining light oil and gasoline based on the concentration of the vapor are provided, and the gas oil has a high volatility component. When the signal of the gas detection means exceeds the second judgment level after the signal of the gas detection means exceeds the second judgment level in a time shorter than the second judgment level, gasoline is detected. Since a light oil is provided if the first level is not exceeded even if a time longer than a preset time has elapsed, and a control means for determining that the oil type cannot be determined if the fuel does not belong to any of the first levels. The oil type is judged by considering the judgment level of diesel oil and gasoline, and the time when the judgment level of diesel oil is exceeded and the judgment level of gasoline is exceeded. Only when it is impossible to oil species determination, it is possible to prevent an accident such as to stop the oil species judgment to refuel the gasoline to diesel vehicles in advance.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an oil supply apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conduit showing an embodiment of a sampling mechanism of the above apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of a fueling nozzle used in the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the above apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the operation of the above apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Pump 2 Flow Meter 3 Nozzle Hose 4 Flow Pulse Generator 5 Control Device 6 Display 7 Alarm 14 Vacuum Ejector 20 Nozzle 21 Vapor Conduit 23 Vapor Suction Port 25 Stop Valve 30 Opening 31 Air Tube PS Pressure Switch GS Gas Sensor SW Nozzle switch

Claims (1)

Claim: What is claimed is: 1. Gas detection means for detecting vapor of an automobile fuel tank from a fueling nozzle, and first and second gas determination means for determining light oil and gasoline based on the concentration of the vapor. When the gas has a determination level and the gas oil contains a highly volatile component, the signal of the gas detecting means is set to the second determination time which is shorter than the time when the signal exceeds the first determination level and exceeds the second determination level. If it exceeds the judgment level of, it is gasoline, if it does not exceed the first level even if a time longer than a preset time has elapsed, it is light oil, and if it does not belong to any of them, the oil type A refueling device comprising control means for determining that it is indistinguishable.