Patent Publication Number: US-11034574-B1

Title: Fuel transport sensor system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not Applicable 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
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     INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM 
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     STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The disclosure relates to fuel transport devices and more particularly pertains to a new fuel transport device for precise loading and unloading of fuel for transports. 
     (2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
     The prior art relates to fuel transport devices. Known devices are capable of detecting fluid levels and may sense identifying tags to ensure connection to correct fuel tanks. Existing devices depend on additional sensors to detect what type of fuel is being transported rather than using detection at the time of loading from the refinery. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a transport computer configured to be coupled to a fuel transport having a plurality of fuel compartments. Each of a plurality of load head sensors is in operational communication with the transport computer. Each load head sensor is configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of load heads of the fuel transport and in operational communication with a fire valve of the load head. A load arm sensor is in operational communication with the plurality of load head sensors and is configured to be in operational communication with a refinery computer that is in operational communication with the transport computer. The load arm sensor is configured to be coupled to a load arm of a terminal loading rack of a refinery. The load arm sensor and the load head sensor of the load head to which the load arm is attached communicate with the transport computer to track which fuel compartment is being filled with what fuel type. Each of a plurality of transmitter tags identifies a specific fuel and is configured to be coupled within a fill opening of an in-ground storage tank. A pair of hose sensors is configured to be coupled to a distal end of a delivery hose and a proximal end of the delivery hose. The hose sensor is coupled to the distal end is in operational communication with the transmitter tag and the transport computer. The hose sensor coupled to the proximal end is in operational communication with the load head sensor and the transport computer. The hose sensors confirm the delivery hose is connecting the load head with the correct fuel type for the in-ground storage tank before allowing the fire valve to be opened. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an in-use view of a fuel transport sensor system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure along the line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a detail isometric view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a detail in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a detail in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new fuel transport device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the fuel transport sensor system  10  generally comprises a computer housing  12  have an access door  14 . The computer housing  12  is configured to be coupled to a fuel transport  16  having a plurality of fuel compartments  18 . A transport computer  20  is coupled within the computer housing  12 . 
     Each of a plurality of float sensors  22  is in operational communication with the transport computer  20  and configured to be coupled within one of the fuel compartments  18 . The float sensors  22  detect the fuel levels within each fuel compartment  18  to prevent overfilling. Each float sensor  22  may include a vertical float track  24  coupled to a tank wall  26  of the fuel compartment, a buoyant float portion  28  slidably coupled to the float track  24 , and a wire harness  30  extending through the tank wall  26  and a pair of wires  32  extending to the transport computer  20 . 
     Each of a plurality of load head sensors  34  is in operational communication with the transport computer  20  and is configured to be coupled to one of a plurality of load heads  36  of the fuel transport. Each load head sensors  34  has a fire valve switch  38  configured to be in operational communication with a fire valve of the load head  36 . 
     A load arm sensor  40  is in operational communication with the plurality of load head sensors  34  and is configured to be in operational communication with a refinery computer  42  that is in operational communication with the transport computer  20 . The load arm sensor  40  is configured to be coupled to a load arm  44  of a terminal loading rack  46  of a refinery. The fuel capacity as determined by the float sensors  22  and the transport computer  20  is communicated to the refinery computer  42 , either hardwired or wirelessly as represented in  FIG. 7 , to determine if the amount of the given fuel type can fit into the respective fuel compartment  18  the load arm  44  is attached to in order to prevent spillage. 
     Each of a plurality of transmitter tags  48  identifies a specific fuel and is configured to be coupled within a fill opening  50  of an in-ground storage tank  52 . A pair of hose sensors  54  is configured to be coupled to a distal end  56  of a delivery hose  58  and a proximal end  60  of the delivery hose. Each hose sensor  54  may have a hose clamp  62 , a hose sensor housing  64  coupled to the hose clamp  62 , a wireless hose sensor transceiver  66  coupled within the hose sensor housing  64 , and a hose sensor battery  68  coupled within the hose sensor housing  64  and being in operational communication with the hose sensor transceiver  66 . The hose sensor housing  64  may be waterproof and fireproof. The hose sensor  54  coupled to the distal end  56  is in operational communication with the transmitter tag  48  and the transport computer  20 . The hose sensor  54  coupled to the proximal end  60  is in operational communication with the load head sensor  34  and the transport computer  20 . The hose sensor transceiver  66  may be directional so as to only interact with the load head sensor  34  of the load head  36  to which the proximal end  60  is attached. 
     In use, the load arm sensor  40  and the load head sensor  34  of the load head  36  to which the load arm  44  is attached communicates with the transport computer  20  to track which fuel compartment  18  is being filled with what fuel type. The plurality of float sensors  22  prevent overfilling. The hose sensors  54  confirm the delivery hose  58  is connecting the load head  36  of the fuel compartment  18  with the correct fuel type for the in-ground storage tank  52  before allowing the fire valve to be opened by the fire valve switch  38 . 
     With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the elements is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.