WO2012037619A1

WO2012037619A1 - Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels

Info

Publication number: WO2012037619A1
Application number: PCT/BR2010/000313
Authority: WO
Inventors: João BATISTA JÚNIOR
Original assignee: Fluxx Metrologia E Inovação Ltda.
Priority date: 2010-09-24
Filing date: 2010-09-24
Publication date: 2012-03-29

Abstract

The autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels refers to an apparatus to be fixed, between the output of the pump and the hose. Said apparatus is destined to measure, volumetrically, the liquid fuel which is transferred from the gas station tank to the container or to the vehicle tank, each time the pump is actuated. The autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels is characterized to be formed by a sensor (1), a chamber (2), a pair of oval gears (3), four magnets (4), a magnetic switch (5), a process unit (6), an integrated circuit plate (7), an accelerometer (8), a battery (9), a tubular body (10), a shell (11) and a seat (12).

Description

Title: "AUTONOMOUS VOLUMETRIC METER FOR LIQUID FUELS".

The present invention refers to an apparatus to be mounted at an output connector of a pump - between the pump and the hose - that is used on filling stations. Said apparatus is destined to volumetrically meter the liq- uid fuel that is transferred to the container or to the fuel tank of the vehicle, every time the pump is actuated.

Several types of liquid fuels made on the oil refineries are delivered to the major distributors that, in turn, sell the fuel to the retail resellers; so called fuel resale stations or simply "gas stations" distributed all over the country.

The liquid fuels leave distributors by means of tank trucks which transports and distributes all the volume, selling to filling stations, which stores and sells all the stored volume in small amounts to the automotive vehicle owners and for other costumers of liquid fuel.

Recurrent broadcast news inform about criminal organizations specialized in adulterating liquid fuels, when the product leave the distributors. Such organizations acts mainly on the next to last step of the path traversed by the liquid fuels, that is, when they leave major distributors in tank trucks; it is in this path, at irregular stops, that the fraud is consummated.

Part of the volume of original fuel is removed and, to restore the original volume, fluids of low cost are added, such as: solvents, burned oils, alcohol, water among others.

Furthermore, the owners of gas stations themselves also participate on the adulteration, prejudicing directly the final consumer and, indirect- ly, the entire resale network, as it is involved on this criminal cycle, the tax evasion at significant values, which prejudices the state collection of taxes.

Moreover, no criminal activity remains restrict to its end activity, since its ramifications, essentially nefarious, directly or indirectly prejudices the society and increase the criminality rate on the region where they act.

Other long reach negative aspect is that, the adulteration of fuels unbalances the market, because of the price difference, causing an unfair competition between the resellers addicted to the criminal act, and the fair resellers that choose for the quality of their products. By paying taxes, their prices cannot be equal to those of the unfair resellers.

In the center of this scenario, the end consumer is the most prejudiced, because a high price is paid for a product of bad quality, with low effi- ciency and which, in a middle term, reduces the work life of the motor.

Poor legislation and the insufficient and inefficient supervision complete the chaotic picture of outrage on the sector. On the other hand, it is impossible to have an omnipresent supervision, capable of supervising a huge number of gas stations in large territorial area.

Despite all efforts, of acts and initiatives to minimize the effects and to act at a preventive manner, the problem tends to grow up, increasing the prejudices for the government and final consumer revenues.

To reduce these problems, the autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels" was developed. This equipment is capable of detecting the fraud occurring along the transportation, as well as the frauds made by the gas stations owners themselves.

In order to enhance comprehensibility of the text, the autonomous volumetric measurer to liquid fuels will be referred to as "MVA".

MVA is formed by two parts: an electronic module and a mechani- cal sensor. The electronic module is located inside a shell externally attached to the sensor body; the volumetric sensor is located at a part with an elongated format threaded on both ends, to be brought between the output of the pump and the hose.

The volumetric sensor of MVA comprises a group of two oval gears of positive displacement to measure the flow of fluids. The gears spin due to the effect of mass displacement, when occurs the fuel flow inside the hose. One of the gears contains four magnets to generate four magnetic fields with the same distance and intensity.

Electronic module is formed by: an independent energy source (battery) which permits an autonomous operation; a magnetic switch, for detection of difference of potential (of the magnetic fields), causing the opening and the closing of the circuit generating pulses; a processing unit to store and process data; an accelerometer for detection of three-dimensional displacements, which works with a safety device against violation and, all parts being interconnected to an integrated circuit plate provided with a radio transmitter circuit . Said plate manages all the components and, transmits data via radio frequency to an external remote unit, duly protocolled to receive the information.

Once correctly installed, the MVA works automatically measuring the volume and transmitting data for a reception remote unit. As it is provided with a security system, any attempt to displace, remove or, by any means, to prevent its work, this occurrence will be transmitted and stored in the same control and data reception unit.

It is possible to split, solely for didactical effect, the MVA in two parts: an electronic module and a sensor.

Mechanic and electro-mechanic components:

The volume sensor consists of a meter chamber, wherein a pair of oval gears spin, when occurs the flow of fluid to be measured. Each displacement of the pair of gears corresponds directly to a constant volume of displaced fluid. In one of the gears, four magnets diametrically arranged were mounted. These magnets create four different magnetic fields, with the same distance and intensity.

Such magnetic fields open and close the circuit, when they pass next to magnetic switch which detects the difference of potential, they are computed as electric pulses. The pulses are counted and stored in the electronic module of MVA which, in turn, transmits the number of revolutions of the magnetized gear to the processing unit, which receives, stores and processes data which are transmitted via radio frequency, to a remote device having the same transmission standards and a protocol for reception of such data.

The accelerometer is a component which detects displacements made in the MVA, considering variations on the gravitational axes x, y or z, to prevent any fraud attempt, like the removal of the MVA. The accelerometer is interconnected with the process unit. Therefore, in case of any attempt of move / displace the electronic module and/ or the assembly (sensor and module), a signal is generated for the process unit, the event is registered and stored, and also transmitted via radio frequency, to the external device remotely interconnected thereto.

External device (a computer) stores not only the entry volume of fuels (via invoice) but also totalizes and stores all the output data, and the received occurrences via radio emitted by the MVA, installed in the fuel pumps.

The process unit is a low energy consumption micro-processor capable of receiving, storing, totalizing and processing data.

Integrated circuit plate manages the work of all the components of the circuit and, includes a radio frequency circuit for the data transmission to the external medium, with standards, radio transmission, and exclusive protocol.

All the electronic part is powered by a battery which also is located inside of the electronic module.

The operation:

MVA is installed in the output of the pump, in the exact point of the connection with the hose. The MVA is installed between the pump and the hose. Thus, the fuel which is transferred for the outside of the pump, inexorability passes through the volume metering chamber of the sensor and is detected by the magnetic switch which transmits the pulses to the processing unit, which receives, processes, stores and transmit via radio frequency, the same data to the remote device having the same standards of transmission and protocol for data reception. The transferred volume is registered, not only on the process unit but also on the external unit (computers).

The confrontation of the input volume of fuel on the gas station tank, obtained via invoice, with the total of output volume registered by the MVA, should be equal to zero or a value very close to these, within prede- termined tolerance limits. Any difference of volume, after discounted the tolerance limit, will characterize a situation that must be investigated. The variation must be always of less volume compared to input invoice, considering loss factors - evaporation, leakage, among others - or on the contrary, the adulteration or fraud is characterized.

MVA has already been tested in practical conditions of field and, the results were excellent. Agreements and contracts for implantation of a network of such equipments, for monitoring the liquid fuels quality and also the possible tax evasion are under implementation with local governments, and the negotiations are ongoing in other locations.

The invention as above disclosed does not include have a sole, rigid circuit topography or plastic form. Thus, the figures which follow and integrate the present specification are merely illustrative, not constituting any limitation of efficiency and reach of the claimed protection.

Figure 1 represents a view perpendicular to the horizontal plan of the tubular body 10 of MVA, wherein the shell 11 and the indication of the section AA are seen.

Figure 2 represents a view perpendicular to the vertical plan of the tubular body 10 of MVA, wherein the shell 11 is seen.

Figure 3 represents a perpendicular view to vertical and longitudinal section plan AA of MVA showing: sensor module 1 , the metering chamber 2, the pair of oval gears 3, with indication of the spin sense and, in the lateral face of one of the gears 3, the four magnets 4 diametrically arranged. There can be also seen: the magnetic switch 5, the process unit 6, the integrated circuit plate 7, the accelerometer 8, the battery 9, the tubular body 10, the shell 11 and a seat 12 for the magnetic switch 5.

Figure 4 represents a view of the lateral face of the pair of oval gears 3, out of the chamber, showing the four magnets 4 diametrically arranged in one of gears.

MVA, as described above, includes a sensor 1 , a metering chamber 2, a pair of oval gears 3, four magnets 4, an magnetic switch 5, a process unit 6, an integrated circuit plate 7 with radio transmitter circuit, an accelero- meter 8, a battery 9, a tubular body 10, a shell 11 and one seat 12 for an magnetic switch 5.

As it can be noticed by a person skilled in the art, the apparatus of the present invention is a useful practical and functional part, simple off being used and which can be produced in industrial scale with a competitive price.

MVA, besides the provided advantages, includes characteristics which are of novel, creative and inventive, joining all the conditions of obtain the Patent of Invention, so that it meets the legal requirements, by combining and modifying known elements, resulting in an new apparatus, capable to reach unexpected results.

Claims

1. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, characterized by a sensor (1), a chamber (2), a pair of oval gears (3), four magnets (4), a magnetic switch (5), a processing unit (6), an integrated circuit plate (7), an accelerometer (8), a battery (9), a tubular body (10), a shell (11) and a seat (12).

2. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that one of oval gears (3) includes four magnets (4) diametrically arranged to magnetize a magnetic switch (5) which opens and closes the circuit by generating pulses which are computed by a process unit (6).

3. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that each cycle of oval gears (3) corresponds directly to a constant volume of liquid fuel removed from the gas station tank.

4. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the integrated circuit plate (7) manages all the data received and transmits, via radio frequency, to a remote unit with the same frequency and exclusive protocol for receiving the data.

5. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the accelerometer (8) is connected to the inte- grated circuit plate (7) and, detects any displacement of the apparatus.

6. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the processing unit (6) registers, totalizes, stores and transmits all data of the sensor (1) and of the accelerometer (8).

7. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that all the required energy to supply the electronic components is provided by the battery (9) located inside the shell (11).

8. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular body (10) includes a seat (12) for the magnetic switch (5).

9. Autonomous volumetric meter for liquid fuels, according to the claim 1 , characterized in that the tubular body (10) includes two threaded ends to be located between the output of the pump and the hose.