Novus International, Inc.

Richard E Etling

Stephen J Lorbert

Joseph R Read

Anthony Frank DeJohn

Philip H Allen

John P Bartley

Robert J Hantak

Kevin M Mowery

Samuel J Jenkins

The system and method include a fleet of vehicles to provide material to a plurality of tanks at various customer locations. An inventory indicator associated with each of the tanks provides a quantity signal to the central station indicating the quantity and temperature of each of the tanks. A processor at the central station monitors the quantity signals of each of the tanks to determine past usage rates of the contents of each of the tanks. The processor projects future tank quantities based on the past usage pattern and determines possible routes for each of the vehicles to each of the tanks. The processor optimizes the routes, delivery amounts, and delivery schedule to minimize total delivered cost for the products based on the projected future tank levels and the possible routes to dispatch each of the vehicles.

Integrated system monitoring use of materials, controlling and

A system for transferring fluid from a filling reservoir to a receiving tank. The system includes a fluid transfer line for conveying fluid from the filling reservoir outlet to the receiving tank inlet, and couplings for selectively connecting the fluid transfer line to a filling reservoir outlet and a receiving tank inlet. The system further includes a vapor return line for conveying vapor from a receiving tank vent to a filling reservoir inlet to simultaneously prevent pressure from building in the tank and a vacuum from developing in the reservoir as fluid is transferred from the reservoir to the tank, and couplings for selectively connecting the vapor return line to the filling reservoir inlet and the receiving tank vent. In addition, the system includes a portable platform adapted for movement to a position near the filling reservoir and the receiving tank, and a pump mounted on the platform for selectively inducing fluid to travel through the fluid transfer line from the filling reservoir to the receiving tank when the reservoir outlet valve and the tank inlet valve are open. The system also includes a compressed gas source in communication with the fluid transfer line for blowing gas through the line to remove residual fluid from the line to prevent the escape of residual fluid and associated odor from the line when the fluid transfer line couplings are uncoupled from the filling reservoir outlet and the receiving tank inlet.

Fluid transfer system

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St. Louis, MO, United States of America

Richard E Etling