JPH04367496A - Oil feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent from feeding incorrect kinds of oil to the oil tank of an automobile. CONSTITUTION:An oil-kind detecting sensor 12 is equipped at the front end of an oil feeding nozzle 9 and an air suction pump 15 is equipped in a measuring device 1. And the air collecting cylinder 14 surrounding the oil-kind detecting sensor 12 is connected to the air suction pump 15 by an air suction hose 13. After the oil feeding nozzle 9 has been inserted into the fuel tank ahead of actual feed of oil, the air suction pump 15 is driven to suck oil steam and the oil-kind detecting sensor 12 outputs a detection signal according to the concentration of oil vapour. The controller 17 judges the oil kind in the fuel tank in accordance with this detection signal and allows the pump motor to drive to actually deliver oil when the oil kind by a measuring machine 1 corresponds to the oil kind of the fuel tank.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refueling device used at a gas station, and more particularly to a refueling device suitable for use in preventing the wrong type of oil from being refueled into a fuel tank of a vehicle or the like.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a refueling device used at a gas station, the refueling pump is automatically driven when a refueling worker removes the refueling nozzle from the refueling device. Refueling is possible by inserting the refueling nozzle into the vehicle's refueling port. In this case, the type of liquid that can be refueled is limited to the oil in the underground tank pumped up by the refueling pump of the refueling system, and in order to refuel the vehicle with the necessary oil, it is necessary to A refueling nozzle with oil pumped from an underground tank of the same type of liquid must be used.

Incidentally, an accidental refueling prevention device is known as a device for preventing troubles such as a refueling worker accidentally refueling a vehicle equipped with a gasoline engine with light oil or refueling a vehicle equipped with a diesel engine with gasoline. ing. A ``lubrication device'' (Utility Application No. 162216/1983) has previously been proposed as an oil supply device equipped with this type of device. In this device, when a refueling nozzle is inserted into a vehicle's refueling port, a photosensor installed at the tip of the nozzle is immersed in the oil in the fuel tank, and the type of oil is determined based on the degree of light absorption by the photosensor. It is something to do.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, the above-mentioned conventional "lubrication device" has the following problems.

[0005] Because the fuel tank of a vehicle has a complicated piping shape from the fuel filler port to the tank body, the photo sensor may not reach the oil level, and therefore it is difficult to determine the type of oil. There were cases where this was not possible.

[0006] Even if the photosensor is immersed in oil, there is a risk that the sensitivity of the sensor will decrease due to oil contamination or consequent contamination of the sensor, resulting in erroneous detection of the type of oil. .

The present invention was proposed in view of the above problems, and in order to prevent the wrong type of oil from being refueled into the fuel tank of a vehicle, etc., the type of oil is determined based on the vapor concentration in the fuel tank prior to refueling. It is an object of the present invention to provide a refueling device that can reliably detect.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a pipe whose one end is connected to a tank, a pump provided in the middle of the pipe and driven by a pump motor, and a pump that controls the amount of oil supplied. In a refueling device comprising a flowmeter for measuring and a refueling nozzle provided at the other end of the piping via a hose and discharging oil sent from the pump into a fuel tank, , an oil type detection sensor that detects the oil type from the vapor concentration in the fuel tank, and a vapor suction means that sucks the vapor in the fuel tank toward the oil type detection sensor.

[0009]

[Operation] According to the present invention, when the refueling nozzle is inserted into the refueling port of the fuel tank, the oil type detection sensor provided in the refueling nozzle detects the vapor concentration in the fuel tank. The oil type is determined using a type discrimination circuit, etc. At this time, by providing a vapor suction means that sucks the vapor in the fuel tank toward the oil type detection sensor, the vapor may diffuse into the atmosphere when the fuel filler port is opened, causing false detection or detection time. This can prevent situations where it takes a long time.

0010

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, the application of the oil supply system of the present invention to a fixed type oil supply system will be described in detail based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an overall configuration diagram of the refueling system used in this embodiment. In the figure, 1 is a weighing machine installed on the premises of a gas station, and 2 is a weighing machine installed inside the weighing machine 1. With piping,
A pump 4 driven by a pump motor 3 and a flow meter 5 are provided in the middle of the pipe 2, and the flow meter 5 is equipped with a flow pulse generator 6 that transmits a flow pulse proportional to the flow rate. Further, on the front side of the weighing machine 1, there is provided a refueling amount display 7 for displaying the cumulative amount of refueling.

8 is a hose whose base end is connected to the piping 2, and 9 is a refueling nozzle provided at the distal end of the hose 8. When the refueling nozzle 9 is opened, oil liquid is discharged into the fuel tank. It is now possible to do so. Reference numeral 10 denotes a nozzle storage section provided on the side surface of the weighing machine 1, and the refueling nozzle 9 is attached to and removed from the nozzle storage section 10.
0 is provided with a nozzle switch 11 that opens and closes in conjunction with the hooking and unhooking of the refueling nozzle 9, and outputs a nozzle switch signal indicating that refueling work is in progress while the nozzle switch 11 is closed.

An oil type detection sensor 12 is provided at the tip of the discharge pipe 9a of the fuel supply nozzle 9 and detects the oil type from the vapor concentration of the oil in the fuel tank.
As shown in FIG. 3, a resistor 12a made of a mixture of synthetic resin (Teflon) and a conductor (carbon and other inorganic substances);
It is composed of a water-repellent resin 12b made of synthetic resin (Teflon) and covering the resistor 12a.
A weak current is applied to the This water-repellent resin 12
b has no affinity with water vapor, etc., is impermeable to water droplets, and allows only oil vapor to pass through, and the oil vapor that has passed through the resin 12b is reversible with the Teflon of the resistor 12a. , the resistance value of the resistor 12a changes. The degree of change in this resistance value depends on the concentration of oil vapor, and when oil vapor disappears from the vicinity of the oil type detection sensor 12, the resistance value returns to its original value in a short time. That is, the oil type detection sensor 12 detects the oil vapor concentration as a change in resistance value, in other words, as a change in output voltage.

Reference numeral 13 denotes an intake hose provided along the hose 8. One end of the intake hose 13 extends to the discharge pipe 9a of the oil supply nozzle 9. It opens into the cylinder 14. In addition,
The tip of the collecting pipe 14 serves as an open end 14a for sucking and discharging steam, and the collecting pipe 14 also serves as a protection member for the oil type detection sensor 12. On the other hand, the other end of the intake hose 13 is connected to the weighing machine 1.
A suction pump 15 extending within the measuring machine 1 and provided within the weighing machine 1
is connected to. Here, the intake pump 15 is composed of a motor that can rotate in forward and reverse directions, and a gas pump driven by the motor (both not shown). Similar vapor is taken in, and when the reverse rotation is performed, the air inside the weighing machine 1 is discharged to the collector cylinder 14 side. In the case of this embodiment, the intake hose 13, the collector pipe 14, the intake pump 15, etc. constitute a steam suction means.

In the figure, 16 is the discharge pipe 9 of the oil supply nozzle 9.
The insertion sensor 16 is provided at the tip of the fuel tank 16. The insertion sensor 16 is configured as an optical sensor using a light emitting element and a light receiving element, for example, and detects the insertion state based on the difference in brightness between the outside air and the inside of the fuel tank. Note that an ultrasonic sensor may be used as the insertion sensor 16.

Furthermore, 17 is a control device provided in the measuring machine 1, and the control device 17 includes an oil type setting circuit 18, a comparison circuit 19, an AND circuit 20, a pump motor control circuit 21,
It is composed of an intake pump control circuit 22 and the like. Here, the oil type setting circuit 18 sets a standard output voltage value output from the oil type detection sensor 12 for a specific oil type by the measuring machine 1, for example, gasoline. The comparison circuit 19 compares the output voltage from the oil type detection sensor 12 and the set voltage value of the oil type setting circuit 18 after a predetermined period of time based on the signal input from the insertion sensor 16, and determines whether the difference in voltage value between the two is outside the predetermined allowable value. Outputs an operation prohibition signal when the The AND circuit 20 outputs a refueling permission signal when signals are simultaneously input from the nozzle switch 11 and the insertion sensor 16, and outputs a refueling stop signal at other times. Further, the pump motor control circuit 21 drives the pump motor 3 only while the refueling permission signal is inputted from the AND circuit 20, and on the other hand, when the operation prohibition signal is inputted from the comparison circuit 19, the pump motor control circuit 21 drives the pump motor 3 only while the refueling permission signal is inputted from the AND circuit 20. Regardless, driving of the pump motor 3 is prohibited. Further, when a signal is input from the nozzle switch 11, the intake pump control circuit 22 rotates the intake pump 15 in the reverse direction to perform exhaust operation for a certain period of time, and then when a signal is input from the insertion sensor 16, the intake pump 15 is operated in the correct direction. The pump is rotated to perform an intake operation for a certain period of time (see Fig. 5).

Reference numeral 23 in the figure indicates an alarm device such as a buzzer or a lamp, and when the operation prohibition signal is input from the comparator circuit 19, the alarm device 23 notifies that the type of oil in the fuel tank is different.

Although the present embodiment is constructed as described above, its operation will be described below, taking as an example the case where the type of oil supplied by the metering machine 1 is gasoline.

First, in order to start refueling, when the refueling nozzle 9 is removed from the nozzle housing 10, the nozzle switch 11 is
is turned ON, and the intake pump control circuit 22 drives the intake pump 15 in reverse for a certain period of time. As a result, the previous oil vapor remaining in the intake hose 13 is discharged into the atmosphere.

Next, when the discharge pipe 9a of the refueling nozzle 9 is inserted into the refueling port of the fuel tank to refuel with gasoline,
The insertion sensor 16 detects this and outputs an insertion detection signal. As a result, a refueling permission signal is output from the AND circuit 20 to the pump motor control circuit 21.

On the other hand, when the insertion detection signal is output from the insertion sensor 16 to the intake pump control circuit 22, the intake pump control circuit 22 rotates the intake pump 15 in the normal direction for a certain period of time to collect the vapor remaining in the fuel tank. Cylinder 14, intake hose 13
suction through. As a result, the oil type detection sensor 12 located in the collecting pipe 14 is exposed to the sucked oil vapor, and the resistance value of the resistor 12a changes, causing the difference between before and after insertion into the fuel tank. Output voltage changes.

Now, when the oil remaining in the fuel tank is gasoline, the amount of vaporized vapor is large, so the resistance value of the resistor 12a becomes large, and the output voltage increases. At this time, since the reference voltage value corresponding to the predetermined allowable range of gasoline is set in the oil type setting circuit 18, the comparator circuit 19 detects the oil type detection sensor 12 after a predetermined time by the signal input from the insertion sensor 16. Based on the output voltage, it is determined that the fuel tank is for gasoline.

[0023] Thus, since the operation prohibition signal from the comparison circuit 19 is deactivated, in combination with the refueling permission signal outputted from the AND circuit 20, the pump motor 3 is activated and the metering machine 1 maintains the refueling enabled state. Then, if the fuel nozzle 9 is opened, the gasoline in the underground tank will flow through the pipe 2, pump 4,
Oil is supplied from the oil supply nozzle 9 via a flow meter 5 and a hose 8. When the desired amount of refueling is reached, the refueling nozzle 9 is closed and the fuel is pulled out of the tank, and the insertion sensor 16 indicates "OF".
F", the pump motor 3 stops, and if the refueling nozzle 9 is hung on the nozzle storage part 10, the nozzle switch 1 is turned on.
1 becomes "OFF" and the refueling work ends.

On the other hand, when the oil remaining in the fuel tank is light oil, the amount of vaporized vapor is small, so the resistance value of the resistor 12a of the oil type detection sensor 12 hardly changes. Therefore, the output voltage output from the oil type detection sensor 12 does not reach the predetermined tolerance range, and the comparison circuit 1
9 determines that the oil in the fuel tank is light oil and does not deactivate the operation prohibition signal. As a result, the pump motor control circuit 21 receives this operation prohibition signal and stops driving the pump motor 3, and the alarm 23 is also activated by this operation prohibition signal, and the oil type is different from the gasoline to be refueled. issue a warning to that effect.

In the embodiment, gasoline and light oil are used as oils, but the present invention is not limited to these examples and can be applied to other oils such as kerosene. In addition, although an example of suction means consisting of the suction hose 13, the suction pump 15, etc. is shown, an ejector pump may be disposed in the middle of the relief piping of the pump 4, and the oil liquid relieved by the pump 4 may be utilized. Alternatively, a small intake pump may be attached to the refueling nozzle 9. Further, although a fixed metering machine has been exemplified as the refueling device of the present invention, the present invention may also be applied to a suspended metering device in which the refueling nozzle is suspended from a high place in a refueling station.

[0026]

Effects of the Invention The refueling device according to the present invention is as described in detail above, and the refueling nozzle is provided with an oil type detection sensor for detecting the oil type from the vapor concentration in the fuel tank. Since a suction means for sucking toward the oil type detection sensor is provided, the following effects can be achieved.

[0027] Since the oil type detection sensor detects the vapor concentration of oil, there is no need to immerse it in oil, and even if the fuel filler port shape of the fuel tank is complicated, it can reliably detect the oil type. can be determined.

(2) Since the vapor in the fuel tank is sucked by the suction means, the time for the vapor to reach the oil type detection sensor is shortened, and the detection time can be shortened.

[0029] Since the vapor in the fuel tank is instantly sucked, highly reliable detection operation is possible without being affected by the environment such as wind direction or temperature.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a fixed oil supply device used in this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a main part of the tip of the oil supply nozzle shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an oil type detection sensor.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of a control device.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram showing the operation of the intake pump control circuit.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Weighing machine 2 Piping 3 Pump motor 4 Pump 5 Flow meter 8 Hose 9 Refueling nozzle 9a Discharge pipe 11 Nozzle switch 12 Oil type detection sensor 12a Resistor 12b Water repellent resin 13 Intake hose 14 Collecting cylinder 15 Intake pump 16 Insertion sensor 17 Control device 23 Alarm device

Claims (1)

[Claims] A pipe connected to a tank at one end, a pump driven by a pump motor and a flowmeter for measuring the amount of oil supplied, installed in the middle of the pipe, and a flowmeter installed at the other end of the pipe via a hose, connected to the pump. A refueling device comprising a refueling nozzle that discharges the delivered oil into a fuel tank, an oil type detection sensor provided in the refueling nozzle and detecting the oil type from vapor concentration in the fuel tank; An oil supply device comprising: steam suction means for sucking steam toward the oil type detection sensor.