Mobile distribution station with fail-safes
AssigneeFuel Automation Station, LLC
InventorRicky Dean Shock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A distribution station includes a mobile trailer, a pump on the mobile trailer, a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump, a plurality of hoses in communication with the manifold, and a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer. Each of the valves is situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses. Each of a plurality of fluid level sensors is associated with a respective different one of the hoses. The fluid level sensors are operable to detect respective different fluid levels. A controller is configured to operate the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors, activate and deactivate the pump, identify whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter, and deactivate the pump responsive to the risk condition.
Claims16
A fuel distribution station comprising:
- a mobile trailer;
- a pump on the mobile trailer;
- a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump;
- a plurality of hoses in fluid communication with the manifold;
- a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each of the valves situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses;
- a plurality of fluid level sensors, each of the fluid level sensors associated with a respective different one of the hoses, and the fluid level sensors operable to detect respective different fluid levels;
- and
- a controller configured to
- operate the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors, activate and deactivate the pump,
- identify whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter and deactivate the pump responsive to the risk condition, and
- limit the number of valves that are open based upon a minimum threshold fluid pressure by delaying the opening of one of the valves until closing of another one of the valves.
A method for a distribution station, the distribution station including a mobile trailer, a pump on the mobile trailer, a manifold on the mobile trailer and connected with the pump, a plurality of hoses in fluid communication with the manifold, a plurality of valves on the mobile trailer, each of the valves situated between the manifold and a respective different one of the hoses, a plurality of fluid level sensors, each of the fluid level sensors associated with a respective different one of the hoses, and the fluid level sensors operable to detect respective different fluid levels, the method comprising:
- selectively opening the valves responsive to signals from the fluid level sensors;
- in correspondence with opening the valves, activating the pump to convey a fluid through any open ones of the valves;
- identifying whether there is a risk condition based upon at least one variable operating parameter;
- deactivating the pump responsive to the risk condition;
- and
- limiting the number of valves that are open based upon a minimum threshold fluid pressure by delaying the opening of one of the valves until closing of another one of the valves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.