Smart Liquid Delivery Nozzle Assembly

Abstract

A nozzle assembly operable to deliver fluid to a tank to be filled and to sense a level of fluid in the tank, the assembly having a fluid outlet and a sensor portion, the sensor portion comprising a pressure sensor provided in fluid communication with a sensor conduit, the sensor conduit having a sensor conduit aperture provided therein, the assembly being operable in use whereby when a level of liquid in the tank being filled rises above a level of the sensor conduit aperture, the sensor conduit aperture is closed by the liquid and a pressure of gas trapped in the sensor conduit increases thereby indicating a “tank full” condition, the assembly being arranged to detect the increase in pressure of gas and to generate a pressure increase signal indicative of the in crease in pressure when the increase in pressure is detected.

1 . A nozzle assembly operable to deliver fluid to a tank to be filled and to sense a level of fluid in the tank, the assembly having a fluid outlet and a sensor portion, the sensor portion comprising a pressure sensor provided in fluid communication with a sensor conduit, the sensor conduit having a sensor conduit aperture provided therein, the assembly being operable in use whereby when a level of liquid in the tank being filled rises above a level of the sensor conduit aperture, the sensor conduit aperture is closed by the liquid and a pressure of gas trapped in the sensor conduit increases thereby indicating a ‘tank full’ condition, the assembly being arranged to detect the increase in pressure of gas and to generate a pressure increase signal indicative of the increase in pressure when the increase in pressure is detected. 
     
     
         2 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the signal indicative of the increase in pressure is provided in the form of an RF pressure signal. 
     
     
         3 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor conduit is arranged to project from the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         4 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor conduit is coupled to an interior portion of the fluid outlet whereby fluid flowing out from the fluid outlet flows over and in contact with at least a portion of the sensor conduit. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor conduit is coupled to the fluid outlet such that at least a portion of the sensor conduit is substantially coaxial with the fluid outlet. 
     
     
         6 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  in combination with a spout removably coupled to the fluid outlet, the spout being arranged to direct fluid flowing through the assembly through an outlet of the spout 
     
     
         7 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the fluid outlet comprises a spout arranged to direct fluid flowing through the assembly through an outlet of the spout. 
     
     
         8 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the sensor conduit is provided in juxtaposition with a wall of the spout. 
     
     
         9 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the sensor conduit is provided on an inner side of the wall of the spout. 
     
     
         10 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the sensor conduit is substantially coaxial with the spout. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the sensor conduit is provided on an outer side of the wall of the spout. 
     
     
         12 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the sensor conduit is arranged to project along at least a portion of a length of the spout. 
     
     
         13 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the sensor conduit projects along substantially the whole length of the spout. 
     
     
         14 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the sensor conduit projects beyond the outlet of the spout. 
     
     
         15 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor conduit comprises a substantially rigid member. 
     
     
         16 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the sensor conduit comprises a flexible member. 
     
     
         17 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the sensor conduit comprises a resiliently flexible member. 
     
     
         18 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  wherein a portion of the assembly is provided with a cavity therein, the cavity being arranged to house a control module. 
     
     
         19 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the cavity is provided in fluid communication with an interior of the sensor conduit. 
     
     
         20 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 19  wherein the pressure sensor is provided in the cavity. 
     
     
         21 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the pressure sensor is in fluid communication with the interior of the sensor conduit by means of a gas tight hose coupled to the sensor wherein a remainder of the interior of the cavity is in fluid isolation from the interior of the sensor conduit. 
     
     
         22 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 18  wherein the cavity is accessible from an outer surface of the assembly. 
     
     
         23 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising an RF transmitter, the assembly being arranged to transmit a presence signal indicating that the RF transmitter of the assembly is functioning correctly. 
     
     
         24 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 23  arranged to transmit the presence signal at prescribed periodic intervals. 
     
     
         25 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 23  arranged to transmit the presence signal substantially continuously. 
     
     
         26 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a flow sensor arranged to detect a flow of fluid through the assembly. 
     
     
         27 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 26  arranged to transmit a fluid flow signal when a flow of fluid through the assembly is detected. 
     
     
         28 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the fluid flow signal is an RF fluid flow signal. 
     
     
         29 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the flow sensor comprises a flap member arranged to pivot between a first condition when fluid is not flowing through the assembly and a second condition when fluid is flowing through the assembly. 
     
     
         30 . An assembly as claimed in  claim 29  wherein a position of the flap member is detectable by means of a sensor, optionally a microswitch. 
     
     
         31 . Apparatus for supplying liquid from a first storage tank to a second storage tank comprising an assembly as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         32 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  comprising a receiver arranged to receive the RF signal indicative of the increase in pressure. 
     
     
         33 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the receiver is provided in a repeater module, the repeater module being arranged in turn to transmit an RF signal to a tanker controller indicative of the increase in pressure. 
     
     
         34 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the assembly is arranged to generate a presence signal and the repeater module is arranged to transmit a signal to the tanker controller thereby to terminate a supply of liquid to the assembly in the event the presence signal is not detected by the repeater module. 
     
     
         35 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 34  wherein the repeater module is arranged to transmit a signal to the tanker controller to terminate a supply of liquid to the assembly in the event the presence signal from the assembly is not detected for a prescribed period of time. 
     
     
         36 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 31  wherein the repeater module is arranged to transit an RF signal indicating a presence of the repeater module, the tanker controller being arranged to terminate a supply of liquid to the assembly in the event that the RF signal indicating the presence of the repeater module is not received. 
     
     
         37 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the tanker controller is arranged to terminate a supply of liquid to the assembly in the event that the RF signal indicating the presence of the repeater module is not received for a prescribed period of time. 
     
     
         38 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 33  wherein the repeater module is a portable module arranged to be carried by a tanker operative. 
     
     
         39 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the repeater module is operable by an operative to commence or terminate a supply of fluid to the assembly. 
     
     
         40 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the receiver is provided in a tanker controller. 
     
     
         41 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the tanker controller is arranged to terminate a supply of liquid to the assembly when the RF signal indicative of the increase in pressure is received by the tanker controller from the assembly. 
     
     
         42 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 40  wherein the assembly is arranged to generate a presence signal and the tanker controller is arranged to terminate a supply of liquid to the assembly when the presence signal of the assembly is not received by the tanker controller. 
     
     
         43 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 42  wherein the tanker controller is arranged to terminate a supply of liquid to the assembly when the presence signal of the assembly is not received by the tanker controller for a prescribed period of time. 
     
     
         44 . Apparatus as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the receiver is further arranged to receive a signal indicative of a presence of flow of fluid through the assembly, the tanker controller being arranged to terminate a supply of fluid to the assembly in the event that a signal indicative of a presence of flow of fluid is not received within a prescribed period following commencement of delivery of fluid to the assembly. 
     
     
         45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . (canceled)