The KamKey™ coupling is a standard camlock coupling configured with KamKey rings as shown below. In this case, a hose coupling is configured with KamKey rings representing Diesel fuel.
The hose coupling can only be assembled when the protrusions and recesses of the KamKey rings match and are aligned as shown below. Rotation of the KamKey ring on the camlock fitting is possible both before and after assembly of the coupling. This allows KamKey configured tight fill drop elbows to be rotated and aligned with KamKey configured hoses. This also ensures additional KamKey configured hoses and fittings are easily aligned with each other.
The KamKey ring protrusions and recesses are configured with a specific angular spacing for each type of fuel so that they are not interchangeable with each other. The image above shows a Diesel fuel configured hose coupling on the left and the Regular fuel configured hose coupling on the right that can only be assembled when the protrusion and recess rings match as shown.
The image above shows how a Diesel and Regular configured coupling are not compatible and cannot be assembled beyond the axial engagement shown. Other angular spacing’s of the protrusions and recesses are used for other grades and types of fuel.
KamKey™ Coupling: Eliminating Crossovers
A typical tanker trailer will carry and unload a combination of diesel fuel and various grades of gasoline. The camlock couplings used on the hoses and fittings are the same regardless of the fuel being loaded or unloaded and this can result in a crossover. Even with color coding and procedures in place crossovers can happen if a driver is not paying attention.
Prior to loading fuel into a trailer compartment, a fuel specific KamKey discharge elbow is installed on the unloading valve as shown below. This visually tags the compartment thereby eliminating the need for any other tagging procedures.
At the service station, the driver will only have pre-configured KamKey hose assemblies and drop elbows. Hose assemblies and drop elbows for Premium, Diesel and Regular are not interchangeable with each other.
As shown below only a Regular configured hose assembly will fit the Regular tagged discharge elbow and only the Regular configured tight fill drop elbow will fit between the Regular configured hose assembly and the Regular configured top seal connection on the underground storage tank.
The system shown above will also prevent crossovers during loading with the addition of fuel-specific RFID tags on the KamKey discharge elbows along with a corresponding RFID reader on the API coupler. The RFID control signal from the API coupler will only allow the terminal control system to discharge the fuel corresponding to the previously installed KamKey tagged discharge elbow.
In addition to the separate loading and unloading system shown above, the KamKey system is also easily adapted to trailers configured with combined loading/unloading API valves.
The KamKey coupling is the final barrier to preventing product mix-ups or crossovers. When used as a complete system where each fuel has its own KamKey coupling configuration it will prevent crossovers and simplify or eliminate existing procedures designed to prevent crossovers.
Please contact us to learn more about the KamKey coupling and how it can be used as part of a complete system to tag, load and unload fuel that will prevent crossovers or fuel mix-ups.