Mobile fueling system

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile fueling system for fueling a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, from a stationary tank, wherein the fueling system comprises an industrial truck which is drivably propelled by means of a propulsion system, and a module cart which is coupled to the industrial truck and on which a fueling module is located, which fueling module comprises a first connection for connection to a stationary connection of a stationary tank, and a second connection for connection to a fueling connection of the vehicle.

Description

[0001] Mobile refueling system

[0002] The invention relates to a mobile refueling system for refueling a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, from a stationary tank.

[0003] Stationary refueling systems are provided, for example, at airports. These include tank hydrants on the airport apron, which are often connected to one or more stationary fuel tanks via underground pipeline systems. Hydrant dispensers are used to refuel aircraft from such stationary tanks. These are trucks with a conventional combustion engine, on which a refueling module is mounted. The refueling module has connections for connecting to a tank hydrant on the one hand and an aircraft tank on the other. An operator drives the truck to the aircraft to be refueled and, after connecting it to the stationary refueling system and the aircraft tank, refuels.

[0004] In the wake of increasing environmental requirements, there is a desire to offer emission-free solutions for such mobile refueling systems. However, trucks with, for example, electric drive and refueling modules are currently not feasible within the required cost framework and with the potential effort.

[0005] Based on the prior art explained above, the object of the invention is to provide a mobile refueling system of the type mentioned at the outset, which offers a flexible solution in a simple and cost-effective manner, even with regard to emission-free drives.

[0006] The invention solves this problem by independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments can be found in the dependent claims, the description, and the figures. For a mobile refueling system of the type mentioned above, the invention solves this problem in that the refueling system comprises an industrial truck driven by a travel drive and a modular trolley coupled to the industrial truck, on which a refueling module is arranged. The module has a first connection for connection to a stationary connection of a stationary tank and a second connection for connection to a refueling connection of the vehicle.

[0007] The mobile refueling system according to the invention is intended for stationary tank systems, for example at an airport. The stationary tank of the stationary tank system can contain, for example, fuel for (air) vehicles, such as kerosene. The stationary tank has a stationary connection, which can be connected, for example, via an underground pipe system to one or more stationary tanks. With the refueling system according to the invention, for example, fuel such as kerosene can be pumped from the stationary tank into the tank of an (air) vehicle, such as an airplane. For this purpose, the mobile refueling system according to the invention comprises an industrial truck, which can basically be of conventional design.It has, in the usual way, several wheels and is movable via a drive and, in particular, is freely steerable, so that it can be moved freely on a surface, for example an airport field, in particular controlled by an operator.

[0008] According to the invention, the industrial truck is coupled to a modular trolley having a refueling module. In this way, the modular trolley and with it the refueling module are moved with the industrial truck as it travels, in particular to a vehicle to be refueled. The modular trolley can also be designed conventionally as a so-called fuel cart. The refueling module serves as the connection between the stationary tank and the vehicle's tank and for conveying a medium to be refueled, for example a fuel, from the stationary tank into the vehicle's tank. For this purpose, the refueling module has a first connection with which it can be connected to a stationary connection of the stationary tank. It also has a second connection with which it can be connected to a refueling connection of the vehicle connected to the vehicle's tank.A tank line runs between the first connection and the second connection, through which the medium to be refueled can be pumped from the stationary tank into the vehicle's tank. The first connection can be connected to the stationary connection directly or indirectly, for example via a tank line, such as a tank hose. The second connection can also be connected directly or indirectly, for example via a tank line, such as a tank hose, to the vehicle's refueling connection. The system consisting of the stationary tank and connection, in particular the hydrant system, usually provides sufficient pressure to pump the medium to be refueled from the stationary tank into the tank to be filled. The refueling module usually has a volume measuring device for measuring the amount of product pumped from the stationary tank.Furthermore, it can have a filter device for the medium to be refueled and / or a pressure regulator for regulating the tank pressure. A safety circuit, in particular an emergency stop switch and / or a deadman's switch, can also be provided on the refueling module. To control the refueling process, the refueling system can have a control device that, for example, controlled by an operator, activates the conveying device for conveying the medium to be refueled.

[0009] The invention exploits the fact that various, in particular emission-free, drive systems can be implemented easily and cost-effectively for available industrial trucks or are already present in existing industrial trucks. The modular trolley with the refueling module, in particular a so-called fuel cart, is also available in a form that can be used for the present invention. By coupling the industrial truck, which can in particular be a forklift truck, to the refueling module so that the latter is moved with the industrial truck, for example, to the vehicle to be refueled, the vehicle can be refueled in a particularly simple manner. The invention combines components that are easily available on their own, namely the industrial truck with the tanker with refueling module, to form a mobile refueling system that easily meets even high emission-free requirements and requires little approval.The mobile refueling system according to the invention is considerably simpler, more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly to implement than a conventional hydrant dispenser.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the industrial truck can have a personnel basket for accommodating an operator for a refueling process. A refueling line connected to the first connection can be led from the refueling module to the personnel basket. In this embodiment, the industrial truck has a personnel basket which is occupied by an operator during operation. A refueling line is provided which runs from the refueling module past the industrial truck to the personnel basket and which, for a refueling process, is connected on the one hand to the first connection which can be connected to the stationary connection, and on the other hand to the second connection which can be connected to the refueling connection of the vehicle.An operator standing in the personnel basket can manually connect the second connection to the refueling connection of the (air) vehicle and, with the first connection connected to the stationary connection, start the refueling process. For this purpose, a control unit that can be operated by the operator can be provided on the personnel basket. The control unit can also be mobile, so that the operator can carry it with them, or can be arranged on the industrial truck or the refueling module. Of course, a third connection could also be provided on the refueling module, to which the refueling line is connected to a fourth connection. The refueling line on the personnel basket can also be connected to another refueling line, for example a refueling hose, which has the second connection for connection to the refueling connection.The refueling line can be designed as a flexible line, in particular a flexible hose, or as a rigid line, in particular a rigid pipe, for example made of metal or plastic. A mixed design is also possible, in particular as a rigid line in a first section leading from the refueling module to the industrial truck and as a flexible line in a second section leading from the industrial truck to the personnel basket. An at least partially flexible refueling line facilitates connection to the vehicle's refueling connection, particularly when the personnel basket is movable.

[0011] According to a further embodiment, the height of the personnel basket can be adjusted by means of a lifting device on the industrial truck. Such lifting devices are often already provided on conventional industrial trucks and can be easily used according to the invention. This allows the personnel basket to be flexibly adapted to different vehicles to be refueled and to different refueling positions. The lifting device can be driven by the drive system of the industrial truck or have a separate lifting drive. If a separate lifting drive is provided, this can be an electric drive, for example. The lifting device or the lifting drive can be controlled by a controller mounted on the personnel basket.

[0012] According to a further embodiment, at least one electrical line can be routed from the refueling module and / or the industrial truck to the personnel basket. Such an electrical line can be, for example, a supply line and / or a control line, for example for a control system or the like that may be provided on the personnel basket. The electrical line can, for example, be routed parallel to the refueling line. Of course, a wireless connection between the refueling module and the industrial truck and / or the personnel basket is also possible, for example a secure wireless connection. According to a particularly practical configuration, the drive can be an electric drive. Electric drives are already readily available for industrial trucks. The mobile refueling system according to the invention is therefore emission-free and thus also meets strict environmental standards.As already explained, such an electric drive cannot be implemented within a reasonable cost framework for conventional truck hydrant dispensers.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the modular trolley can be coupled to a trailer coupling of the industrial truck, so that the industrial truck pulls the modular trolley with the refueling module. This embodiment, in which the industrial truck acts as a towing vehicle, makes the mobile refueling system particularly easy to control for an operator.

[0014] As already explained in principle, the mobile refueling system according to the invention can be used in particular for refueling aircraft and / or helicopters on airport grounds, for example, the airport apron. Stationary refueling systems are often found at airports.

[0015] An embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. They show schematically:

[0016] Figure 1 shows a mobile refueling system according to the invention in a perspective view,

[0017] Figure 2 shows the mobile refueling system from Figure 1 in a side view.

[0018] Unless otherwise stated, the same reference symbols in the figures refer to the same objects.

[0019] The mobile refueling system shown in the figures is used to refuel an aircraft, such as a plane or helicopter, at an airport equipped with a stationary refueling system. In particular, the airport may have stationary connections designed as hydrants, which are connected, for example, via an underground piping system, to one or more stationary tanks. The tanks store, for example, fuel such as kerosene for aircraft.

[0020] The mobile refueling system shown in the figures comprises an industrial truck 10, which in the example shown has a driver's cab 12 with a control seat 14 for controlling the industrial truck 10 by an operator. The industrial truck can be driven and steered freely on the airport grounds via four wheels 16 in the example shown by means of an electric drive 18. At its front, the industrial truck 10 has a lifting device 20, which can also be driven, for example, by the electric drive 18.

[0021] In the present example, the lifting device 20 carries a personnel basket 22 designed to accommodate an operator. The height of the personnel basket 22 can be adjusted by means of the lifting device 20. In Figures 1 and 2, the personnel basket 22 is shown in a maximum raised position. For the operator to get in and out, the personnel basket 22 is moved downwards by means of the lifting device 20. In the example shown, the personnel basket 22 comprises a control device 24 for controlling a refueling module 26 coupled to the industrial truck 10. The refueling module 26 is arranged on a modular trolley 28, which in the example shown is mobile with several rollers 30. The modular trolley 28 is coupled to the industrial truck 10 via a trailer coupling, so that the industrial truck 10 pulls the modular trolley 28 and with it the refueling module 26.

[0022] In the example shown, the refueling module 26 has two hose reels 32, on each of which, for example, a tank hose (not shown in detail in the figures) can be unwound. At least one of the tank hoses has a first connection with which it can be connected to a stationary connection of a stationary tank of the stationary tank system. Figures 1 and 2 also show a refueling line 34, which is connected to the tank hoses via corresponding connections on the hose reels 32. The refueling line 34 has a rigid first section in the form of a rigid pipe, which runs from the hose reels 32 to a connecting connection 36 on the industrial truck 10.Connecting to the connecting port 36 is a second section of the refueling line 34, which in the example shown is designed as a flexible hose and extends to the passenger basket 22. At its end located at the passenger basket 22, it may have a second connection for connection to a refueling connection of the vehicle. It is also conceivable that a further refueling line (not shown in the figures) is connected to the section of the refueling line 34 ending at the passenger basket 22, which is then connected to the refueling connection of the vehicle.

[0023] The refueling module 26 further comprises a filter and / or volume measuring device 38 for filtering and / or measuring the fuel pumped from the stationary tank into the aircraft's tank. The refueling module 26 may also comprise a control and / or display unit 40, via which operating parameters can be read and, if necessary, controlled during refueling.

[0024] List of reference symbols

[0025] 10 industrial trucks

[0026] 12 Driver's cab

[0027] 14 Control seat

[0028] 16 wheels

[0029] 18 Drive

[0030] 20 lifting device

[0031] 22 person basket

[0032] 24 Control device

[0033] 26 refueling module

[0034] 28 modular wagons

[0035] 30 rolls

[0036] 32 hose reels

[0037] 34 Fuelling line

[0038] 36 connection port

[0039] 38 Conveying device

[0040] 40 Control and / or display unit

Claims

Claims 1. Mobile refueling system for refueling a vehicle, in particular an aircraft, from a stationary tank, characterized in that the refueling system comprises an industrial truck (10) driven by a travel drive and a modular trolley (28) coupled to the industrial truck (10), on which a refueling module (26) is arranged, which has a first connection for connection to a stationary connection of a stationary tank and a second connection for connection to a refueling connection of the vehicle.

2. Mobile refueling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the industrial truck (10) has a personnel basket (22) for accommodating an operator for a refueling process, and in that a refueling line (34) connected to the first connection is led from the refueling module to the personnel basket (22).

3. Mobile refueling system according to claim 2, characterized in that the personnel basket (22) is adjustable in height by means of a lifting device (20) of the industrial truck (10).

4. Mobile refueling system according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that at least one electrical line is led from the refueling module and / or the industrial truck (10) to the personnel basket (22).

5. Mobile refueling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive (18) is an electric drive.

6. Mobile refueling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the module trolley (28) is provided with a Trailer coupling of the industrial truck (10) is coupled so that the industrial truck (10) pulls the module trolley (28) with the refueling module.

7. Mobile refueling system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is intended for refueling aircraft and / or helicopters on an airport site.

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