Abstract:
Method for spill-free refilling for a liquid solution selective catalytic reduction, SCR, an exhaust after-treatment technology for diesel engines. The method includes the steps of establishing a liquid-tight connection between a coupling part of a tank ( 37 ), and a coupling part of a dispensing nozzle of a gun ( 9 ) for spill-free refilling. A system for spill-free refilling of liquids and a gun for spill-free refilling of liquids, a connection for a vehicle tank, a method and a system for control and communication in a spill-free liquid re-filling system, a method and a system for media provision in a spill-free refilling system, a spill-free and liquid-tight refilling connection and computer programme products are disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Technical field  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to the use of a method and a system for spill-free refilling of liquids for e.g. vehicles, according to the introductory part of claim  1 .  
         [0003]     The invention further relates to a gun for spill-free refilling of liquids.  
         [0004]     The invention also relates to a connection for a tank.  
         [0005]     The invention further relates to a method and a system for control and communication in a spill-free liquid refilling system.  
         [0006]     The invention also relates to a method and a system for media provision in a spill-free refilling system.  
         [0007]     The invention further relates to a spill-free and liquid-tight refilling connection.  
         [0008]     The invention also relates to computer programme products.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0009]     Previously known are methods and systems for spill-free refuelling of e.g. vehicles, such known techniques involving a spill-free coupling comprising a, normally male, fuel container part and a, normally female, refuelling nozzle part of a refuelling gun. According to such techniques, refuelling is not possible until a spill-free connection is established between said parts.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     According to recent development for reducing emissions from diesel engines, a liquid solution for selective catalytic reduction, SCR, an exhaust after-treatment technology, is used, a specific such compound being called AdBlue® and comprising a 32.5% by weight solution of urea in water, the compound being specified in the DIN standard DIN V 70 070, the urea solution, when applicable, being kept in a separate vehicle mounted tank or container of the diesel engine vehicle.  
         [0011]     According to a first aspect of the present invention, use is made of a method and a system for spill-free refilling of a liquid solution for SCR, into tanks as a solution to the problem of unwanted distribution of such compounds which, although classified as non-toxic, are corrosive etc. in certain environments and have special properties with regard to exposure to air and cold, and the problem of supervising the use and consumption of such compounds.  
         [0012]     According to a second aspect of the present invention, a gun for spill-free refilling is provided as a solution to the problem of establishing a safe and detectable spill-free connection between a liquid container and a refilling nozzle, and the problem of handling solutions for SCR, when applicable.  
         [0013]     According to a third aspect of the present invention, a liquid container connection is provided as a solution to the problem of providing a standard connection for specific liquids.  
         [0014]     According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a method and a system for control and communication in a spill-free refilling system is provided as a solution to the problem of supervising the media provision as far as kind of media and, when applicable, refilling order is concerned, the problem of stopping the refilling at a predetermined liquid level in the liquid container and the problem of collecting static and dynamic specific information and refilling information to e.g. a central management system employing a spill-free refilling system.  
         [0015]     According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a method and an arrangement for media provision in a spill-free refilling system is provided as a solution to the problem of keeping record of the consumption etc. of a stored liquid and the problem of freezing of the liquid.  
         [0016]     According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, a spill-free and liquid-tight refilling connection is provided as a solution to the problem of obtaining a reliable coupling and release mechanism and of signalling coupling and release of the connection.  
         [0017]     According to a seventh aspect of the present invention computer programme products are provided.  
         [0018]     These and other associated problems are solved by means of the inventions specified in the attached independent claims. Preferred embodiments are specified in the respective dependent claims.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     A better understanding of the present invention will be had upon the reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views, and in which:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  schematically shows an axial section of a first embodiment of a tank inlet and a first embodiment of an adapter to be fitted into the inlet and carrying a male part of a spill-free coupling,  
         [0021]      FIGS. 2   a  and  b  show, partly in an axial section, both a male coupling part, fitted into a tank inlet according to  FIG. 1  by means of an adapter according to  FIG. 1 , and a female coupling part, carried by a refilling gun, in an unconnected state (a) and the two parts in a connected state (b),  
         [0022]      FIG. 3   a  shows, partly in an axial section, in more detail the male part substantially according to  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3   b  shows, partly in an axial section, in more detail the female part substantially according to  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 3   c  shows, also in more detail, the two coupling parts of  FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  in a connected state,  FIG. 3   d  showing the female part of  FIG. 3   a  without axial section,  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  shows a side view of a coupling collar according to e.g.  FIGS. 3   a  and  c,    
         [0024]      FIG. 5   a  schematically shows an axial section of a second embodiment of a tank inlet and a second embodiment of an adapter fitted into the inlet and carrying a male part of a spill-free coupling;  
         [0025]      FIG. 5   b  schematically shows an assembly according to  FIG. 5   a  in three perspective views, one partly sectioned, one complete and one with a cap for cover,  
         [0026]      FIG. 6  shows an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a refilling gun according to the invention,  
         [0027]      FIG. 7  shows the gun of  FIG. 6  in a partly exploded perspective view, in which one half of the cover is removed, together with one half of the cover,  
         [0028]      FIG. 8  shows the gun of  FIG. 7  in a non-exploded state,  
         [0029]      FIG. 9  shows a full perspective view of the gun according to  FIG. 6 ,  
         [0030]      FIG. 10  shows the gun according to  FIG. 9  together with i.a. two halves of cover in a perspective view,  
         [0031]      FIG. 11  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 10  put together as an assembly,  
         [0032]      FIG. 12  shows, in a perspective view, substantially one half of the spill-free coupling, substantially according to  FIG. 2 , specifically showing an identification etc. transponder arranged in the female coupling part and an antenna arranged in the adapter for fitting the male coupling part into the vehicle tank inlet,  
         [0033]      FIG. 13  schematically shows communication in a control and communication system in a spill-free liquid refilling system,  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  schematically shows communication between multiple channel program cards of vehicle and pump control and communication modules and  
         [0035]      FIG. 15   a - c  schematically show a comparatively small stand-alone tank unit (a), a mobile refilling unit (b) and an integrated system (c).  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0036]     The arrangement, the connection, according to  FIG. 1  for spill-free refilling comprises a tank inlet  1  in the form of a preferably cylindrical pipe part  2  protruding from a tank-wall piece  3 . An adapter  4  is arranged to be fitted axially into the tank inlet and to carry a tank coupling part  5  of the spill-free connection, the tank coupling part being intended to be connected to a refilling gun coupling part  6 ,  FIG. 2 e .g., for spill-free and liquid-tight refilling as described below and shown in e.g.  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0037]     In order to standardize the refilling arrangement for different liquids and, e.g., vehicles and for providing a mechanical selectivity system, the tank inlet has standard dimensions so that a standard adapter/coupling part designed for a specific liquid may be fitted into it. According to a preferred embodiment, the arrangement is intended for refilling for SCR by means of AdBlue®.  
         [0038]     Further, as shown in e.g.  FIG. 2   a,  according to a preferred embodiment the adapter carries an antenna  7  arranged to communicate with a transponder  8  carried by the refilling gun  9 .  
         [0039]     The adapter part turned from the tank is preferably adapted, preferably by means of threads  4 ″or the corresponding, to receive a cap  10  covering the adapter and, thus, the tank coupling part.  
         [0040]     Further, the connection is preferably sealed, as indicated in  FIG. 1 , so that refilling is possible only through the tank coupling part by the refilling gun coupling part.  
         [0041]     The spill-free and liquid-tight refilling connection is shown in more detail in  FIGS. 2-4  and comprises a first coupling part  6  carried by a refilling gun  9  and a second coupling part  5  carried by a tank inlet adapter, the coupling parts being arranged to co-act in order to open a refilling connection in at least two steps, the first coupling part  6  opening the second coupling part  5 , which thereafter opens the first coupling part during establishment of a refilling connection between the coupling parts, and to close the refilling connection in at least two steps, the first coupling part first being closed and thereafter closes the second coupling part when the connection is released, the procedure taking place between the two states shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  
         [0042]     The first coupling part  6  comprises a coupling collar  11 ,  FIG. 4 , movable between a coupling position, shown in  FIGS. 2   b  and  3   b,  and a release position, shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  3   a,  and comprising flange means  12  arranged to co-act with flange means  13  of a release sleeve  14  of the gun arranged to be moved axially from a coupling position to a release position for moving the coupling collar to the release position of the coupling collar.  
         [0043]     According to a preferred embodiment, the release sleeve  14  is movable by means of a link element  15 ,  FIG. 6 e .g. of the gun, the link element being intended to be operated by a refilling operator at release. Further, the link element is intended to serve also as a signalling means, indicating when coupling connection is established and released, respectively, the link element being turnable between a release position and a raised connection position and vice versa.  
         [0044]     Further, according to a preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and specifically in  FIG. 9 , the link element  15  is arranged to provide a releasable locking function to prevent movement of the release sleeve to the release position if a trigger handle  20 ′, described later, is out of a non-refilling position. According to the embodiment shown, the link element is provided with two link arms  15 ′, one on each side of the release sleeve  14  for movement of the sleeve, and pivotably fastened preferably together with the trigger handle  20 ′, the link element being arranged with at least one but preferably two elongated holes  15 ″, one on each side, in which holes two locking pins  20 ″ of the trigger handle are fitted so that the link element is pivotable to move the release sleeve to a release position when the trigger handle is in a non-refilling position as shown in  FIG. 9  and so that the link element is locked by means of the holes and pins and not pivotable to move the release sleeve to the release position when the trigger handle is in a refilling position as is obvious from  FIG. 9 .  
         [0045]     Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment, the second coupling part is arranged in the tank inlet adapter so that the tank is ventilated both for over-pressure in the tank due to refilling and for under-pressure in the tank due to consumption of the tank content. Over-pressure is ventilated e.g. by means of a, e.g. ring-shaped, membrane  16 , e.g. a rubber membrane associated with the second coupling part at the tank inlet adapter, as shown schematically in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b.  Under-pressure is ventilated e.g. by means of the second coupling part, which is opened against a spring force, the second coupling part being arranged with a spring  17  sufficiently soft for opening for ventilating the tank at under-pressure in the tank. Other solusions are also imaginable. Thus, according to yet another embodiment, threads  4 ″ for mounting the cap  10  to the tank inlet adapter are provided with at least one channel, not shown, for ventilating the tank at under-pressure.  
         [0046]     According to the second embodiment of a tank inlet  1 ′ and the corresponding adapter  4 ′,  FIGS. 5   a  and  b,  the adapter as a unit comprises both a tank coupling part  5  of the spill-free connection and a principally open inlet  1 ″ for refilling arranged in a housing  1 ′″ of the adapter  4 ′, the housing thus comprising two openings arranged comparatively close together and arranged to be covered by a cap  10 ′ in a non-refilling mode. According to preferred embodiments the non-spillfree open inlet is provided with a separate removable cap  10 ″.  
         [0047]     Further, according to a preferred embodiment electronics, antenna etc, not shown, for the operation of the refilling procedure etc are arranged in the housing.  
         [0048]     For spill-free and liquid-tight refilling of liquids, a refilling gun  9  is provided, said gun,  FIGS. 6-11 , comprising a dispensing nozzle  9 ′, i.e. said first coupling part  6 , a handle part  19 , a trigger  20  intended to be operated by a refilling operator, a valve arrangement  21  to be activated by the trigger and a liquid input connection  22  for connecting the gun to a liquid provision pipe  23  connected to a pump  23 ′,  FIG. 13 . According to a preferred embodiment,  FIG. 7 e .g., the gun is provided with a trigger device for transferring a trigger handle  20 ′ movement performed by an operator of the gun to valve means  21 ′, the trigger device providing a sealed, liquid-tight mechanical movement transfer between the trigger handle and the valve means and comprising a lever rod  24  carrying a centrally located substantially spherical sealing and journalling body  25  arranged between an upper  26  and a lower  27  sealing and lever rod guiding seat, the trigger handle being arranged for applying a force to the lever rod end  28  turned to the trigger handle, the lower end, said force being substantially perpendicular to the axial direction of the lever rod for turning the lever rod, and thus the body  25 , in the journalling arrangement in a plane substantially parallel to the axial direction of the lever rod, the lever rod end  29  turned from the trigger handle, the upper end being arranged for applying an axial force to a valve rod  30  to open the gun valve  30 ′ when said lever rod is turned, the valve rod  30  being pulled against a spring force by said force, the arrangement being schematically shown in  FIGS. 6-8 . The seat  26 ,  27  and body  25  arrangement for the lever rod is supported and held in a sleeve-like housing  31  of the gun handle. Thus, no liquid is intended to pass the body  25  to the trigger handle end of the lever rod.  
         [0049]     According to a preferred embodiment the gun handle comprises an inner housing  32  or cover, in which the gun valve arrangement etc. is arranged and which carries the first coupling part, the coupling sleeve, the link element etc., and an outer housing  33  or cover,  FIGS. 10 and 11 , also providing a safety frame  34  for the trigger handle.  
         [0050]      FIG. 13  shows a preferred embodiment of a control and communication system for a spill-free refilling system according to the invention, the system comprising, as two basic parts, a vehicle part  35  and a pump part  36 , the vehicle part being located mainly in the left portion of  FIG. 13  and the pump part mainly in the right part of  FIG. 13 .  
         [0051]     A basic element of the system is a wireless two-way communication system, indicated by communication arrows, for communication between a, e.g. vehicle-mounted, control and communication module VCM and a pump, control and communication module PCM for controlling the refilling of at least one, e.g. vehicle-mounted, tank  37 .  
         [0052]     Further elements of the system are 
        spill-free nozzle with the first coupling part and transmitter for pump identification;     tank inlet adapter with pump identification receiver, antenna, connected to the VCM;     level sensor or meter  38  connected to the VCM, for detecting a predetermined upper liquid level indicating an upper limit level in the tank and preferably for detecting levels below said predetermined upper limit liquid level for indicating the need for refilling;     pump  23 ′ and pump control system POS for detecting and registering the amount refilled and for controlling the refilling procedure;     various vehicle-mounted sensors and transmitters, not shown, for transfer of vehicle-specific data to the VCM, e.g. kilometer pulse sensor and pressure and temperature sensors for gaseous fuels.        
 
         [0058]     In  FIG. 12  the information transfer arrangement provided in the spill-free coupling is specifically illustrated, the arrangement comprising a transmitter, a preferably passive identity, e.g. RF, carrier, applied to the gun nozzle for wireless transfer of pump identity and, preferably, gun nozzle identity to the VCM by means of a, e.g. RF, antenna connected to the VCM, the antenna being positioned adjacent to the corresponding tank inlet.  
         [0059]     Parameter initiation and other configuration of the VCM and the PCM are in both cases arranged to be performed via direct connection to a serial port, wireless communication or a superior system, e.g. with Internet access, arranged for communication with the VCM/PCM, respectively, or combinations thereof (not shown).  
         [0060]     According to preferred embodiments, the control and supervision performed by means of the system relates to at least one of the following features: 
        refilling a certain medium into the correct tank;     starting refilling at a level below a predetermined level;     stopping the refilling at said predetermined level;     transferring static and dynamic vehicle specific information carried by the vehicle and refilling information to a superior compiling and/or storing management system.        
 
         [0065]     Further, according to preferred embodiments, a refilling procedure comprises the following steps, the system being provided with the corresponding arrangements: 
        activating the PCM wireless communication e.g. by removing the gun from a gunstoring position at the pump;     establishing a spill-free and liquid-tight connection between the gun nozzle and the tank inlet by means of the first and the second coupling part;     registering, checking and storing the pump identity of the gun nozzle and verifying by the VCM the correctness of the combination of tank, gun and pump, i.e. the liquid provided; performing the communication between the PCM and the correct VCM, using the pump identity information and transferring further vehicle information, when applicable, to the PCM for storing and, preferably, checking against authorisation information in a superior system;     checking the need for refilling by means of an upper limit level sensor or level meter communicating with the VCM before giving access to pump start and refilling;     automatically stopping the refilling when a predetermined upper limit level detected by said sensor/meter is communicated to the PCM via the VCM, and, preferably,     registering the refilling information e.g. in a superior compiling and/or storing management system.        
 
         [0072]     Further, preferred is also that the refilling is automatically stopped when the dispensing nozzle connection to the tank inlet is disconnected and also that the refilling is automatically stopped when the wireless communication between the VCM and the PCM is broken.  
         [0073]      FIG. 14  shows, schematically, communication between program cards  39  of a vehicle-based VCM and program cards  40  of pump-based PCM:s, each VCM card comprising four channels  41  corresponding to four tanks of the vehicle and each PCM comprising two channels  42  corresponding to two pumps by means of pump  23 ′ ID transferred via the gun/tank inlet connection to the VCM, a check being intended to be performed between the VCM card channel and the PCM card channel in order to check that a correct liquid is refilled to the tank of this channel. Of course, the card may be designed to comprise only one channel or more channels, e.g. two or four as in  FIG. 14 .  
         [0074]     The different storing arrangements shown in  FIG. 15  are specifically arranged for handling liquid solutions for selective catalytic reduction, especially AdBlue®. For this, the respective containers  43 , tanks, are provided by a temperature sensor for supervision of the solution temperature, AdBlue® specifically freezing at about −11° C. Further, each container is provided with means (not shown) for measuring the container content in order to keep a strict record of the consumption, incoming amount and outgoing amount. This shall be the case irrespective of if the container is part of a comparatively small stand-alone unit  44 ,  FIG. 15   a,  a mobile unit  45  with pump arrangement etc.,  FIG. 15   b,  or integrated in a service and refilling depot  46 ,  FIG. 15   c.    
         [0075]     The methods as well as the function of the systems and other arrangements according to the invention should to a substantial part have been made clear from the description given above.  
         [0076]     Thus, the basic method and system function is the ones described in association with  FIG. 13 , the main idea being to fully control and supervise the spill-free refilling process, keeping record of the liquid consumption as well as liquid input and output of the system together with additional information for statistics etc. This goes especially for AdBlue® or the corresponding liquid solutions for SCR since it is very important that the correct product, e.g. AdBlue®, is used and that it is used in amounts specified for a certain diesel engine.  
         [0077]     Furthermore, also the components of the described systems are adapted for liquids like AdBlue® or other corresponding SCR liquids, spill-free and liquid-tight performance being an important feature.  
         [0078]     Crystal formation at air exposure has been considered for certain components of the systems and arrangements, especially for the spill-free coupling parts. Thus, in the first coupling part, e.g.  FIG. 3   a,  an internal space  42  available for axial movement of an internal ring-shaped element  43  against a spring force for opening the coupling part is arranged so that it is always exposed to the liquid, a sealing  44  between the outer peripheral surface  45  of said element and the inner surface  46  of an element-guiding sleeve part  47  of the coupling preventing air from entering into said space, whereby crystal formation is prevented.  
         [0079]     Part of the present invention are also computer programme product comprising a programme code for performing method steps of, primarily, anyone of the attached claims  21 - 34 ,  48  and  49 . The programme code may e.g. be stored on a computer readable media or directly stored in an internal memory of a computer. According to preferred embodiments the necessary computer capacity and the corresponding memory capacity are part of both the VCM and the PCM further computer program products are specified in claims  53 - 59  as part of the present invention.  
         [0080]     Above, the invention has been described in association with preferred embodiments.  
         [0081]     Of course, further embodiments and minor changes and additions may be imagined without leaving the basic inventive idea.  
         [0082]     Thus, according to preferred embodiments the other housing  33 ,  FIGS. 10 and 11 , is made up of two halves  33 ′,  33 ″ corresponding to each other and being arranged to be put and held together as a cover for the inner housing  32  comprising the valve arrangement. The outer housing provides an opening  15 ″ for the link element  15 , a part of said element being arranged to protrude out of the opening in the revised connection position described above.  
         [0083]     The outer housing end part  33   a  being intended to be turned to a pipe, not shown, for liquid provision to the gun, also provides a seat  33   b  for holding the inner housing end part and valve connection  32   a,  and a seat  32   b  for the liquid input connection  22 , the connection  22  comprising flange means  22 ′ being rotatably clamped in said seat offering a swivel configuration for the connection  22  in the outer housing end part  33   b,  the connection being intended to be e.g. by means of O-rings  22 ″, sealingly introduced into the inner housing end part  32   a.    
         [0084]     Further, according to a preferred embodiment a locking arm  20   a,    FIGS. 7 and 10  e.g., is provided for releasably holding the trigger handle  20 ′, in a refilling position, i.e. upwards from the non-refilling position shown in e.g.  FIG. 10 , the locking arm being arranged in the rear end of the outer cover and having a fastening piece  20   a ′ in its end turned from the trigger handle, a preferably platelike push piece  20   a ″ in its other end, this end being free, and a support piece  20   a ′″ turned to the trigger handle between said ends, the looking arm being resilient and intended to be pushed against a spring force from a non-locking position shown in e.g.  FIG. 11  to a locking position in which the free end  20 ′″ of the trigger handle in a refilling position rests upon the support piece preferably by means of a groove, not shown, in the trigger handle free end, the locking arm by its resilience being intended to return to the non-locking position when the trigger handle is lifted and thus releases the support piece  20   a ′″ and thus permitting the trigger handle to return to the non-refilling position. The locking arm is preferably made of a polymeric material in one piece.  
         [0085]     Also it should have been made clear that the invention, although especially designed for a solution for SCR, such as AdBlue®, to a considerable extent is applicable for other liquids, such as diesel fuel, other vehicle fuels etc., and for other applications than vehicles. Also issued have been made clear that, although the invention is especially designed for vehicles and refilling related to vehicles, the application of the invention for vehicles should be considered as an example, the invention being applicable for other objects than vehicles, e.g. stationary objects of various kinds. Thus, the tank subject to refilling does not have to be a vehicle tank but e.g. a stationary or mobile storage tank. Furthermore, the pump does not have to be stationary but may e.g. be carried by a vehicle. Further, a locking arm  20 a are described above may be applied in other guns for refilling and not only in the ones described here.  
         [0086]     Thus, the invention shall not be considered limited to the embodiments shown but may be varied within the scope of the attached claims.