Apparatus and method for monitoring fluid or material transfer into a receiving tank or receptacle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12570517-B2
Application number	US-202418892401-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2024
Priority date	Apr 2, 2022
Publication date	Mar 10, 2026
Grant date	Mar 10, 2026

Abstract

An apparatus, including a monitor system which includes a microphone, a first power supply, and a transmitter which transmits a first audible sound, indicative of a normal flow of fluid into a tank, or transmits a second audible sound, indicative of a need to cease a flow of the fluid into the tank; an attachment device to which the monitor system or the microphone is attached and which is attached to a ventilation pipe or an object in a vicinity of the ventilation pipe; and a receiver system which includes a receiver, which receives the first audible sound or the second audible sound, a second power supply, and a speaker which provides a first audio output, indicative of the first audible sound, or a second audio output indicative of the second audible sound. The speaker outputs the first audio output or outputs the second audio output.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus, comprising:
a monitor system, wherein the monitor system further comprises:
a microphone;
a first power supply, wherein the first power supply provides electrical power to the microphone or to the monitor system; and
a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a first audible sound, wherein the first audible sound is indicative of a normal flow of a fluid into a tank during a refilling operation, or wherein the transmitter transmits a second audible sound, wherein the second audible sound is indicative of a need to cease a flow of the fluid into the tank;
an attachment device, wherein the monitor system or the microphone is attached to the attachment device, and further wherein the attachment device is attached to a ventilation pipe associated with the tank, or wherein the attachment device is attached to an object in a vicinity of the ventilation pipe; and a receiver system, wherein the receiver system further comprises:
a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the first audible sound or the second audible sound;
a second power supply, wherein the second power supply provides electrical power to the receiver system; and
a speaker, wherein the speaker provides a first audio output indicative of the first audible sound or provides a second audio output indicative of the second audible sound,
wherein the speaker outputs the first audio output indicative of the normal flow of the fluid into the tank during the refilling operation, or wherein the speaker outputs the second audio output, indicative of the need to cease the flow of the fluid into the tank.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system further comprises:
a computer, wherein the computer controls an operation of the receiver system.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system further comprises:
an input device, wherein the input device inputs information or an instruction into the receiver system.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system further comprises:
a display, wherein the display displays a visual representation of the first audible sound, or wherein the display displays a visual representation of the second audible sound.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system further comprises:
at least two indicator lights, wherein a first indicator light of the at least two indicator lights indicates the normal flow of the fluid into the tank, and further wherein a second indicator light of the at least two indicator lights indicates a problem or unsafe condition regarding the flow of the fluid into the tank.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system further comprises:
a second transmitter, wherein the second transmitter transmits a control signal to close an emergency shut-off valve to stop the flow of the fluid into the tank.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system further comprises:
a second transmitter, wherein the second transmitter transmits a control signal to open an emergency shut-off valve to allow a flow of the fluid into the tank.

8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment device is a magnet.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment device is a strap, and further wherein the strap further comprises a hook and loop fastening element.

10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system is a headset.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system is an earpiece.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system is a wearable device.

13 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the receiver system is a handheld device.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the handheld device is a cellular telephone.

15 . An apparatus, comprising:
a monitor system, further comprising:
a microphone;
a first power supply; and
a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a first audible sound, wherein the first audible sound is indicative of a normal flow of a fluid or material into a tank during a refilling operation, or wherein the transmitter transmits a second audible sound, wherein the second audible sound is indicative of a need to cease a flow of the fluid or material into the tank;
an attachment device, wherein the monitor system or the microphone is attached to the attachment device, and further wherein the attachment device is attached to a ventilation pipe associated with the tank or is attached to an object in a vicinity of the ventilation pipe; and a receiver system, wherein the receiver system further comprises:
a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the first audible sound or the second audible sound;
a second power supply; and
a speaker, wherein the speaker provides a first audio output, wherein the first audio output is indicative of the first audible sound, or wherein the speaker provides a second audio output, wherein the second audio output is indicative of the second audible sound,
wherein the speaker outputs the first audio output to indicate the normal flow of the fluid or material into the tank during the refilling operation, or wherein the speaker outputs the second audio output indicative of the need to cease the flow of the fluid or material into the tank.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the fluid or material is heating oil.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the fluid or material is a liquid.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the fluid or material is a hazardous material or a hazardous substance.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the fluid or material is a solid substance.

20 . An apparatus, comprising:
a monitor system, further comprising:
a microphone;
a first power supply; and
a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a first audible sound, wherein the first audible sound is indicative of a normal flow of a fluid or material into a tank during a refilling operation, or wherein the transmitter transmits a second audible sound, wherein the second audible sound is indicative of a need to cease a flow of the fluid or material into the tank;
an attachment device, wherein the monitor system or the microphone is attached to the attachment device, and further wherein the attachment device is attached to a ventilation pipe associated with the tank or is attached to an object in a vicinity of the ventilation pipe; and a receiver system, wherein the receiver system further comprises:
a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the first audible sound or receives the second audible sound;
a second power supply; and
a speaker, wherein the speaker provides a first audio output, wherein the first audio output is indicative of the first audible sound, or wherein the speaker provides a second audio output, wherein the second audio output is indicative of the second audible sound; and
a nozzle, wherein the nozzle dispenses the fluid or the material into the tank during the refilling operation, and further wherein the nozzle further comprises:
an emergency shut-off valve, wherein the emergency shut-off valve is electronically controllable via an electronic control unit,
wherein the speaker outputs the first audio output, indicative of the normal flow of the fluid or material into the tank during the refilling operation, or wherein the speaker outputs the second audio output indicative of the need to cease the flow of the fluid or material into the tank, and further wherein a transmission of a first control signal to the emergency

Assignees

• Kessler William
• Joao Raymond Anthony

Inventors

• Kessler William
• Joao Raymond Anthony

Classifications

• B67D7/04 Primary

  for transferring fuels, lubricants or mixed fuels and lubricants · CPC title

• B67D7/3227

  relating to venting of a container during loading or unloading · CPC title

• B67D7/3209

  relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection (leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892) · CPC title

• B67D2007/329

  Function indicator devices · CPC title

• G08B21/182

  Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold · CPC title