Unloading assembly for a tank vehicle or silo vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an unloading assembly for a tank vehicle or silo vehicle, comprising a pressure generator and a pressure line which can be connected at one end to the pressure generator and at the other end to a loading container of the tank vehicle or silo vehicle for generating an unloading pressure in the loading container by means of the pressure generator, wherein: the loading container can be connected via an unloading line to a container to be loaded so that a load is unloaded from the loading container into the container to be loaded via the unloading line by means of the unloading pressure generated in the loading container; the unloading assembly also comprises a pressure sensor which measures the dynamic pressure in the pressure line; and the unloading assembly also comprises a controller which controls the pressure generator in such a way that the dynamic pressure measured in the pressure line by means of the pressure sensor corresponds to a target pressure. The invention also relates to method for unloading a tank vehicle or silo vehicle.

Description

[0001] Unloading arrangement for a tank or silo vehicle

[0002] The invention relates to an unloading arrangement for a tank or silo vehicle, comprising a pressure generator and a pressure line connectable to the pressure generator on the one hand and to a loading container of the tank or silo vehicle on the other hand for generating a discharge pressure by the pressure generator in the loading container, wherein the loading container is connectable to a container to be loaded via a discharge line, so that a cargo is discharged from the loading container into the container to be loaded via the discharge line by the discharge pressure generated in the loading container.

[0003] The invention also relates to a tank or silo vehicle with such an unloading arrangement and to a method for unloading a tank or silo vehicle, in which a load is unloaded from a loading container of the tank or silo vehicle via an unloading line into a container to be loaded by generating a unloading pressure in the loading container by means of a pressure generator via a pressure line.

[0004] Tank vehicles are used to load liquid cargo or products. Molasses is just one example of a liquid cargo. Bulk goods are loaded into silo vehicles. Tank or silo vehicles have a loading container for the cargo. To unload the cargo into a container to be loaded, for example a stationary tank or bulk container, the cargo is conveyed from the loading container via a discharge line into the container to be loaded. For this purpose, pressure is exerted on the cargo in the loading container, which forces the cargo via the discharge line into the container to be loaded. To build up the pressure required for unloading, a pressure generator is provided, which can be a compressor or a pump, for example. A drive for the pressure generator is operated manually by an operator for the unloading process.Typically, the operator sets the pressure generator drive to a specific power level, such as speed, at the beginning of the unloading process, which is then maintained throughout the entire unloading process. Experience has shown that the unloading process conducted in this way takes considerably longer than necessary. It has also been shown that operators do not respond to changes in the unloading system's conditions, such as a change in operating pressure. This can lead to overloading of the unloading system.

[0005] Based on the explained prior art, the invention is therefore based on the object of providing an unloading arrangement, a tank or silo vehicle and a method of the type mentioned at the outset, with which the unloading process can be carried out more efficiently and safely.

[0006] The invention solves the problem by the independent claims 1, 15 and 16. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

[0007] For a discharge arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset, the invention achieves the object in that the discharge arrangement further comprises a pressure sensor which measures the back pressure in the pressure line, and in that the discharge arrangement further comprises a control device which controls the pressure generator in such a way that the back pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the pressure line corresponds to a desired pressure.

[0008] For a method of the type mentioned at the outset, the invention achieves the object accordingly in that the pressure in the pressure line is measured and the pressure generator is controlled such that the pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the pressure line corresponds to a target pressure. As already explained, tank or silo vehicles have a loading container for receiving the cargo. In the case of tank vehicles, this can be a liquid cargo, for example. In the case of silo vehicles, the cargo can be bulk material. For an unloading process, the loading container is connected to a container to be loaded via a unloading line. As explained, the container to be loaded can, for example, be arranged in a stationary location.To discharge the cargo from the loading container of the tank or silo vehicle into the container to be loaded, a pressure generator and a pressure line connectable to the pressure generator on the one hand and to the loading container of the tank or silo vehicle on the other hand are also provided. The pressure generator can build up a discharge pressure in the loading container of the tank or silo vehicle via the pressure line, particularly in an area above the cargo in the loading container. This discharge pressure forces the cargo from the loading container into the container to be loaded via the discharge line.

[0009] According to the invention, the unloading system further comprises a pressure sensor that measures the back pressure in the pressure line, i.e., the pressure built up in the pressure line by the pressure generator and accumulated by downstream components. The unloading system further comprises a control device to which pressure measurement values ​​from the pressure sensor are applied. Based on the pressure measurement values ​​received from the pressure sensor, the control device controls the pressure generator such that the back pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the pressure line corresponds to a previously determined target pressure. On this basis, the back pressure is adjusted, in particular constantly, to the target pressure. Since the basis for the pressure control according to the invention is the back pressure measured in the pressure line, the individual conditions of the entire unloading system—in addition to the pressure line, i.e., in particular, the loading container, the unloading line, and the container to be loaded—are taken into account during pressure control.Influences on the unloading system caused by the cargo being unloaded, which affect the dynamic pressure, are also taken into account by measuring the dynamic pressure. This also applies to any changes in the unloading system that may occur during an unloading process, to which the pressure generator reacts by appropriately controlling the dynamic pressure in the pressure line so that the dynamic pressure in the pressure line again corresponds to the specified target pressure. The target pressure can, for example, be specified by the manufacturer for the unloading arrangement according to the invention.

[0010] The inventive measurement of the backpressure in the pressure line thus takes into account the individual characteristics of the entire unloading system, including the product to be unloaded. Control based on the pressure measurement in the pressure line allows the unloading rate for the individual unloading system to be kept constant and maximized even with changing unloading parameters, while simultaneously ensuring a high level of unloading reliability by taking the individual characteristics of the unloading system into account.

[0011] According to a particularly practical embodiment, the pressure generator can comprise a compressor and / or a pump. A discharge compressor typically has an approved speed range, the limits of which can be stored in the control device as limit values ​​for the pressure control according to the invention. The pressure measured and controlled according to the invention in the pressure line can also be generated in a particularly practical manner by a pump.

[0012] The pressure generator can be driven by a power take-off of the tanker or silo vehicle. The control device can control the power take-off of the tanker or silo vehicle such that the dynamic pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the pressure line corresponds to the target pressure. For this purpose, measurement signals from the pressure sensor can be applied to a control device of the tanker or silo vehicle for controlling the power take-off. The control device of the tanker or silo vehicle can comprise the control device of the unloading arrangement according to the invention. The power take-off of tanker or silo vehicles is also referred to as a power take-off (PTO). It typically comprises a switchable mechanical drive source at a secondary output of the transmission. This makes it particularly efficient and eliminates the need for a separate drive for the pressure generator.The pressure sensor can transmit its measurement signals to the engine management system of the tanker or silo vehicle, in particular to a control unit for the power take-off, whereby, for example, the engine speed of the power take-off is increased or reduced depending on the requirements specified by the pressure control. The pressure generator, for example a compressor or a pump, can be driven via a shaft, such as a cardan shaft, of the power take-off. By coupling the pressure sensor directly to the engine management system of the tanker or silo vehicle, a particularly simple design is achieved, as no additional control device is required. Instead, the control unit of the tanker or silo vehicle can form the control unit. The control unit of the tanker or silo vehicle can therefore itself compare the measured values ​​of the pressure sensor with the target pressure and control the pressure generator accordingly via the power take-off to maintain the target pressure.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the pressure sensor can be arranged on the pressure line. This allows for direct measurement of the pressure in the pressure line. This allows the dynamic pressure to be measured particularly reliably. According to the invention, any pressure sensor, as is generally known to those skilled in the art, can be used.

[0014] According to a further embodiment, the target pressure can be selected such that the maximum operating pressure of the system consisting of the loading container, discharge line, and container to be loaded is not exceeded. The maximum operating pressure can also be determined by the cargo to be unloaded if this pressure is below the system consisting of the loading container, discharge line, and container to be loaded. The maximum operating pressure is determined by the weakest link, i.e., the component of the unloading system that can withstand the lowest maximum pressure. As a rule, the target pressure, which corresponds to the dynamic pressure in the pressure line, is greater than the maximum operating pressure due to the corresponding line resistances.The relationship between the target pressure and the respective maximum operating pressure can be determined empirically or, for example, assumed to be known for certain tank or silo vehicles, unloading lines and containers to be loaded and, if applicable, goods to be unloaded and stored in the control device.

[0015] The target pressure can also be selected to correspond to the maximum operating pressure of the system consisting of the loading container, unloading line, and container to be loaded, and possibly the cargo to be unloaded. This advantageously achieves a maximum unloading rate within the permitted maximum operating pressure. The pressure control according to the invention eliminates damage to the components of the entire unloading system. Manual monitoring is not required.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, the control device can be designed to switch off the pressure generator if the back pressure measured in the pressure line exceeds the target pressure during minimum operation of the pressure generator. If the back pressure measured in the pressure line exceeds the target pressure even during minimum operation of the pressure generator, there is a risk of overloading the unloading system. This embodiment can therefore reliably prevent overloading of the unloading system, even in the event of a malfunction, for example. The pressure generator can be switched off, for example, by switching off a drive that drives the pressure generator, for example a power take-off of the tanker or silo vehicle. The minimum operation of the pressure generator can be predetermined, for example, by a minimum speed of the pressure generator or a drive that drives the pressure generator.

[0017] The control device can then be further designed to switch the pressure generator back on, and thus continue the control according to the invention, when the back pressure measured in the pressure line falls below the target pressure. Preferably, the control device is then designed to only switch the pressure generator back on again when an enable signal from an operator is present, i.e. the operator wishes to continue the discharge process. For example, it is conceivable that an operator would first want to check and rectify the cause of the previous increase in back pressure above the target pressure during minimum operation of the pressure generator before continuing the discharge process. The enable signal can be input into the control device by the operator, for example.

[0018] According to a further embodiment, several target pressures can be stored in the control device, from which an operator can select a target pressure for the pressure control according to the invention. This provides greater flexibility for the unloading arrangement. The embodiment offers the operator the option of individually selecting a lower target pressure, for example, if a container to be loaded is designed for a lower pressure or a load is designed for a lower pressure. The target pressures are permanently stored in the control device and can each be preset by selection. The target pressures can, for example, be stored by the manufacturer.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the target pressure can be individually entered into the control system by an operator. This provides even greater flexibility, as the target pressure can essentially be freely selected by the operator, naturally within the permissible limits of the pressure generator, for example, the approved speed range, the performance of a power take-off, and the pressure line.

[0020] According to a further embodiment, the control device can display to an operator the operating pressure resulting from the target pressure(s) of the system consisting of the loading container, discharge line, and container to be loaded, and possibly the cargo to be unloaded. This allows the operator to select the target pressure based on the maximum operating pressure resulting from the target pressure. This allows the operator to specifically adapt the selected target pressure to the specific conditions at the unloading location.

[0021] Purely as an example, a target pressure of 2.5 bar for the dynamic pressure in the pressure line can lead to an operating pressure of 2 bar in the unloading system consisting of the loading container, unloading line, and container to be loaded. Such a pressure may be too high for some containers to be loaded or cargo to be unloaded. For example, it is possible that these can only withstand a pressure of less than 2 bar, for example, only approximately 1 bar. This can be easily accommodated by the aforementioned design.

[0022] The invention also relates to a tank or silo vehicle comprising an unloading arrangement according to the invention. In addition to the unloading arrangement, the tank or silo vehicle also comprises, in particular, the loading container of the tank or silo vehicle and the unloading line connectable to the container to be loaded. The pressure line can be connected, on the one hand, to the pressure generator and, on the other hand, to the loading container of the tank or silo vehicle. Accordingly, the unloading line can be connected to the loading container and the container to be loaded. The invention also relates to a system comprising a tank or silo vehicle of the aforementioned type and the container to be loaded.

[0023] The method according to the invention can be carried out with the unloading arrangement according to the invention or with the tank or silo vehicle according to the invention. Accordingly, the unloading arrangement according to the invention and the tank or silo vehicle according to the invention can be designed to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0024] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing. The single figure schematically shows a tank or silo vehicle according to the invention.

[0025] The tank or silo vehicle, shown only very schematically, comprises a loading container 10 containing a cargo 12 to be unloaded, for example a liquid cargo 12 or a bulk material. Of the tank or silo vehicle, only the trailer with two wheels 14 surrounding the loading container 10 is shown in the figure. A discharge line 18 is connected to the interior of the loading container 10 via a discharge connection 16. The other end of the discharge line 18 opens via a container inlet 20 into a container 22 to be loaded, which can be a stationary container 22, for example. The figure shows that part of the cargo 12 is already located in the container 22 to be loaded.

[0026] For unloading the tank or silo vehicle, an unloading arrangement is provided, which comprises a pressure generator 24, for example, a compressor or a pump. The pressure generator 24 is also connected to the interior of the loading container 10 via a pressure line 26 and a pressure inlet 28. As can be seen in the figure, the pressure line 26 opens into the loading container 10 from an upper side, and the discharge line 18 is connected to a lower side of the loading container 10.

[0027] Furthermore, a pressure sensor 30 is arranged on the pressure line 26, which measures the back pressure occurring in the pressure line 26 when the cargo 12 is unloaded. The measured values ​​of the pressure sensor 30 are applied to a control device 32. Based on the measured values ​​received from the pressure sensor 30, the control device 32 controls the pressure generator 24 such that the back pressure measured by the pressure sensor 30 in the pressure line 26 corresponds to a defined target pressure. In the example shown, the pressure generator 24 is driven by a power take-off of the tank or silo vehicle, as indicated in the figure by the arrow 34. The power take-off of the tank or silo vehicle is not shown in detail and is known per se to those skilled in the art. The control device 32 can be part of the control device of the tank or silo vehicle, which, among other things, controls the power take-off.The power take-off usually has an output shaft which, in the example shown, can drive the pressure generator 24, which is designed as a compressor, for example, at a speed such that the target pressure is maintained in the pressure line 26.

[0028] The target pressure generated by the control device 32 in the pressure line 26 will generally be higher than the operating pressure in the loading container 10 or the container 22 to be loaded. The target pressure can be selected such that it does not exceed a maximum operating pressure of the system comprising the loading container 10, the discharge line 18, and the container 22 to be loaded, preferably such that it corresponds to this maximum operating pressure. The operating pressure can also take into account the cargo 12 to be unloaded. If this can withstand a lower maximum operating pressure than the system comprising the loading container 10, the discharge line 18, and the container 22 to be loaded, the target pressure can be selected accordingly such that it does not exceed the maximum operating pressure of the cargo 12, preferably corresponding to this.

[0029] The control device 32 can store a plurality of target pressures from which an operator can select a target pressure. It is also conceivable for the target pressure to be entered individually by an operator into the control device 32. The control device 32 can comprise an operator output, for example a display device on the tank or silo vehicle. An application on a smartphone, a tablet, a computer, or the like, which comprises a corresponding display for an operator, is also conceivable. It is then further possible for the control device 32 to display to an operator an operating pressure of the system comprising the loading container 10, the discharge line 18, and the container 22 to be loaded, which operating pressure results for the respectively selected target pressure. Again, the operating pressure acting on the load 12 can also be displayed if necessary.

[0030] Due to the pressure generated via the pressure generator 24 and the pressure line 26, a corresponding pressure is exerted from above on the cargo 12 in the loading container 10, as illustrated in the figure by arrows 36. Due to this pressure, the cargo 12 is conveyed via the discharge line 18 into the container 22 to be loaded, as illustrated in the figure by arrow 38.

[0031] The tank or silo vehicle according to the invention allows the unloading process to be optimally controlled at any time, taking into account the individual conditions of the components used during unloading as well as the load 12, even if these conditions change during an unloading process, in particular to achieve a maximum unloading speed. At the same time, overloading of the components involved in unloading is reliably avoided.

[0032] 10 loading containers

[0033] 12 cargo

[0034] 14 wheels

[0035] 16 Discharge connection

[0036] 18 Discharge line

[0037] 20 Container inlet

[0038] 22 Container to be loaded

[0039] 24 pressure generators

[0040] 26 pressure line

[0041] 28 Pressure inlet

[0042] 30 pressure sensor

[0043] 32 Control device

[0044] 34 Arrow

[0045] 36 arrows

[0046] 38 Arrow

Claims

Claims 1. Unloading arrangement for a tank or silo vehicle, comprising a pressure generator (24) and a pressure line (26) connectable to the pressure generator (24) on the one hand and to a loading container (10) of the tank or silo vehicle on the other hand, for generating a discharge pressure by the pressure generator (24) in the loading container (10), wherein the loading container (10) is connectable to a container (22) to be loaded via a discharge line (18), so that a cargo (12) is discharged from the loading container (10) into the container (22) to be loaded via the discharge line (18) by the discharge pressure generated in the loading container (10), characterized in that the unloading arrangement further comprises a pressure sensor (30) which measures the dynamic pressure in the pressure line (26), and in that the unloading arrangement further comprises a control device (32) which controls the pressure generator (24) such that the back pressure measured by the pressure sensor (30) in the pressure line (26) corresponds to a target pressure.

2. Discharge arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure generator (24) comprises a compressor and / or a pump.

3. Unloading arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure generator (24) is driven by a power take-off of the tank or silo vehicle.

4. Unloading arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that the control device (32) controls the auxiliary drive of the tank or silo vehicle in such a way that the dynamic pressure measured by the pressure sensor (30) in the pressure line (26) corresponds to the desired pressure. Unloading arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that measurement signals from the pressure sensor (30) are applied to a control device of the tanker or silo vehicle for controlling the auxiliary drive. Unloading arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the control device of the tanker or silo vehicle comprises the control device (32). Unloading arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure sensor (30) is arranged on the pressure line (26). Unloading arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the target pressure is selected such that a maximum operating pressure of the system comprising the loading container (10), the unloading line (18), and the container to be loaded (22) is not exceeded. Unloading arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the target pressure is selected such that it corresponds to the maximum operating pressure of the system comprising the loading container (10), the unloading line (18), and the container to be loaded (22).Discharge arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (32) is designed to deactivate the pressure generator (24) when the dynamic pressure measured in the pressure line (26) exceeds the target pressure during minimum operation of the pressure generator (24). Discharge arrangement according to claim 10, characterized in that the control device (32) is further designed to deactivate the pressure generator (24). to be switched on again when the dynamic pressure measured in the pressure line (26) falls below the target pressure, and preferably when an operator has given a release signal. Unloading arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a plurality of target pressures are stored in the control device (32), from which an operator can select a target pressure. Unloading arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the target pressure can be individually entered into the control device (32) by an operator. Unloading arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (32) displays to an operator an operating pressure of the system comprising the loading container (10), the unloading line, and the container (22) to be loaded, which operating pressure results from the target pressure or pressures. Tank or silo vehicle, comprising an unloading arrangement according to one of the preceding claims.Method for unloading a tanker or silo vehicle, in which a load (12) is unloaded from a loading container (10) of the tanker or silo vehicle via an unloading line (18) into a container (22) to be loaded, by generating an unloading pressure in the loading container (10) by means of a pressure generator (24) via a pressure line (26), characterized in that the pressure in the pressure line (26) is measured, and in that the pressure generator (24) is controlled such that the pressure measured by the pressure sensor (30) in the pressure line (26) corresponds to a desired pressure. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that the target pressure is selected such that a maximum operating pressure of the system comprising the loading container (10), the unloading line (18), and the container to be loaded (22) is not exceeded. Method according to claim 17, characterized in that the target pressure is selected such that it corresponds to the maximum operating pressure of the system comprising the loading container (10), the unloading line (18), and the container to be loaded (22). Method according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that a plurality of target pressures are stored, from which an operator can select a target pressure. Method according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the target pressure is individually specified by an operator.Method according to one of claims 16 to 20, characterized in that an operating pressure resulting from the target pressure or target pressures in the system comprising the loading container (10), the unloading line (18), and the container to be loaded (22) is displayed to an operator. Method according to one of claims 16 to 21, characterized in that it is carried out with an unloading arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 14 or with a tank or silo vehicle according to claim 15.

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