Patent EP0518662A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0518662A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid discharge monitor system and method
Assignee: Emco Wheaton UK Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-06-11
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2012-06-11
Abstract
Abstract An electronic apparatus for monitoring the discharge of fluid from the compartment of a transport container to a static tank comprising a means (25, 28, 31) for identifying the fluid stored in the compartment, a means (25, 28, 31) for communicating with a remote device at the static tank to determine the identity of fluid in the static tank and a means (25) for comparing the identity of fluid in the compartment with that of the static tank. The apparatus may further comprise means (25, 26) for preventing discharge of fluid from the compartment. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Simon Hugh Arnison James
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 06:07
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/08; B67D7/14; B67D7/145; B67D7/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
An electronic apparatus for monitoring the discharge of fluid from a compartment of a transport container to a static tank via an associated outlet and a fluid connection means between the outlet and the tank, comprising a means for identifying the fluid stored in the compartment, a means adapted to automatically communicate with a remote device at the static tank via the fluid connection means to determine the identity of the fluid stored, or intended to be stored, in the static tank, and a means for comparing the identity of the fluid in the compartment and that stored, or intended to be stored, in the static tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the communication means is arranged to send electrical signals to a remote device located at the static tank and to receive electrical signals therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, including the remote device and in which the remote device does not include a power supply but is a passive device that responds to signals from the communication means to provide a return signal identifying the fluid of the static tank.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the remote device includes a charge storage means which is responsive to charging signals sent from the communication means and which, when discharging, provides sufficient power to enable the remote device to output a return signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
25 words
An apparatus as claimed in claims 2, 3 or 4 in which the apparatus is operable to periodically switch to earth any accumulating stray charge.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim in which the identifying means comprises means for storing a signal representation of the identity of the fluid stored in the compartment.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further adapted to monitor the loading of the compartment with fluid from a loading arm via an associated inlet, the identifying means comprising a means adapted to automatically respond to or communicate with the loading arm to determine the identity of the fluid being loaded into the compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the identifying means comprises sensors located at the inlet to directly sense the characteristics of the connection made between the inlet of the compartment and the outlet of the loading arm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the identifying means comprises one or more Hall effect sensors disposable around the aperture of the inlet and adapted to sense the magnetic field of one or more magnets arranged around the outlet of the loading arm.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
44 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a means for preventing discharge of fluid from the compartment if the comparison means indicates that the identity of fluid in the compartment is incompatible with or different from that of the static tank.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 10 in which the means for preventing the discharge of fluid includes a control valve arrangable in the pneumatic system of a transport container to prevent discharge of fluid through the compartment outlet.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
33 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a means for signalling the result of the comparison of the identity of the fluid in the compartment and that of the static tank.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
56 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a power source in the form of a chargeable battery system, operable to charge up from the electrical system of the transport container when the container is not discharging or loading fluid, and to disconnect or isolate itself from the vehicle electrical system during discharge or loading.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
41 words
An apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim comprising a means for monitoring the opening and closing of the inlet and outlet of a compartment of the tanker to provide a subsequent indicator of the occurrence of an opening and closing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
66 words
A remote device for use in the apparatus of any preceding claim comprising a means for establishing an electrical connection isolated from earth with the communication means of the monitoring apparatus via the fluid connection means between the outlet and the static tank and a means responsive to signals from the communication means of the apparatus to provide a return signal identifying the static tank contents.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A fluid transport container including an apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 14.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of electronically monitoring the discharge of fluid from a compartment of a transport container via an associated outlet to a static tank, comprising providing a means for identifying the fluid stored in the compartment, providing a means for automatically communicating with the static tank, and a comparison means, and including the steps of identifying the fluid stored in the container, automatically communicating with the static tank via a connection between the outlet and the static tank to determine the fluid stored, or intended to be stored, in the static tank, and comparing the identity of the fluid stored in the compartment with that stored or intended to be stored, in the static tank.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising preventing the discharge of fluid from the compartment if the identity of the fluid in the compartment is incompatible with or different from that of the static tank.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 or 18 comprising providing a communication means operable to send or receive electrical signals via the connection made between the outlet and the static tank and providing a remote device located in or on the static tank, and further comprising sending electrical signals from the communication means to the remote device and identifying the fluid of the static tank accordingly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.