SYSTEM FOR REPLENISHING ENERGY SOURCES ONBOARD DIFFERENT TYPES OF AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES

• US 20070113921A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Capizzo
• Original Assignee: Peter Capizzo
• Inventors: CAPIZZO, PETER
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,143 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/231
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/063 Arrangement of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/067 Mounting of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2001/0472 from below
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/26 Rail vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/305 Communication interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/62 in response to charging parameters, e.g. current, voltage or electrical charge
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/65 involving identification of vehicles or their battery types
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/66 Data transfer between charging stations and vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/665 Methods related to measuring, billing or payment
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 53/80 Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/00 Servicing, maintaining, repairing, or refitting of vehicles vehicles adapted to carry a workshop for servicing or maintenance B60P3/14; servicing rail locomotives B61K
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0401 arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0192 with external bearing means
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/0364 flexible or articulated, e.g. a hose
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2205/037 Quick connecting means, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/012 Hydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/033 Methane, e.g. natural gas, CNG, LNG, GNL, GNC, PLNG
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2221/035 Propane butane, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2223/0153 Liquefied gas, e.g. LPG, GPL
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/0135 : Pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2227/04 : Methods for emptying or filling
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2250/032 : using computers
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2265/065 : for refuelling vehicle fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0139 : Fuel stations
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0168 : by vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 2270/0184 : Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: F17C 5/007 : for individual gas tanks or containers, e.g. in vehicles filling with liquid fuel not under pressure, B60S5/02, B67D7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 15/005 : dispensed for the electrical charging of vehicles electrical charging as such, B60L50/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/06 : by returnable containers , i.e. reverse vending systems in which a user is rewarded for returning a container that serves as a token of value, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/32 : Hydrogen storage
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 : Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 : Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/12 : Electric charging stations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/14 : Plug-in electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 : Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/167 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 30/14 : Details associated with the interoperability, e.g. vehicle recognition, authentication, identification or billing

Abstract

A service station facility for replenishing various motivational energy sources onboard different types of automotive vehicles is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the service station facility includes a rack, replaceable fuel tanks, a service module, and an electronic computer control system. The replaceable fuel tanks are stocked on the rack and substantially filled with various fluids, such as hydrogen, which are utile as motivational energy sources within fuel-operated automotive vehicles. The service module is mounted on the rack, and the electronic computer control system is connected in electrical communication with the service module. In this configuration, the service module is controllably operable to receive a depleted replaceable fuel tank from a fuel-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of the filled replaceable fuel tanks onboard the automotive vehicle. In another embodiment, the service station facility may also stock replaceable batteries for selective delivery onboard battery-operated automotive vehicles.

Claims

1. A service station facility for replenishing energy sources onboard different types of automotive vehicles, said service station facility comprising:

a rack;

a plurality of replaceable fuel tanks stocked on said rack and substantially filled with various fluids utile as motivational energy sources within fuel-operated automotive vehicles;

a service module mounted on said rack; and

an electronic computer control system connected in electrical communication with said service module;

wherein said service module is controllably operable to receive a depleted replaceable fuel tank from a fuel-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of said filled replaceable fuel tanks onboard said fuel-operated automotive vehicle.

2. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a hitch mounted on said rack; and

a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted at the bottom of said rack;

wherein both said hitch and said wheels facilitate towing of said service station facility.

3. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said various fluids utile as motivational energy sources include at least one fluid selected from the group consisting of biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane, butanol, compressed air, compressed hydrogen, compressed natural gas, diesel, ethanol, gasoline, hydride, hydrogen, hythane, liquefied natural gas, liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, methane, methanol, oxygen, P-series fuel, propane, vegetable oil, and a fuel blend.

4. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a conveyor system mounted on said rack and connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

wherein said conveyor system is controllably operable to circulate said replaceable fuel tanks about said service station facility so that said service module has selective access to each of said replaceable fuel tanks.

5. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

an electrolyzer system connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system and controllably connectable in fluidal communication with any of said replaceable fuel tanks that are designated for retaining hydrogen;

wherein said electrolyzer system is controllably operable to receive both water and electricity to thereby produce hydrogen so as to substantially fill any of said replaceable fuel tanks designated for retaining hydrogen.

6. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a plurality of replaceable batteries stocked on said rack and substantially charged with electric charges utile as motivational energy sources within battery-operated automotive vehicles;

wherein said service module is controllably operable to receive a discharged replaceable battery from a battery-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of said charged replaceable batteries onboard said battery-operated automotive vehicle.

7. A service station facility according to claim 6, wherein said replaceable batteries stocked on said rack include at least one battery selected from the group consisting of a lead-acid type battery, a lithium-ion type battery, a nickel-cadmium type battery, a nickel/metal-hydride type battery, and a silver-zinc type battery.

8. A service station facility according to claim 6, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a conveyor system mounted on said rack and connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

wherein said conveyor system is controllably operable to circulate said replaceable batteries about said service station facility so that said service module has selective access to each of said replaceable batteries.

9. A service station facility according to claim 6, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

an electric charging system connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system and controllably connectable in electrical communication with any of said replaceable batteries that are designated for charging;

wherein said electric charging system is controllably operable to substantially charge any of said replaceable batteries designated for charging.

10. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

at least one position sensor mounted on said rack and connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

wherein each said position sensor is controllably operable to sense the position of an automotive vehicle relative to said service station facility so as to facilitate alignment and controlled operation of said service module relative to said automotive vehicle while said automotive vehicle is serviced.

11. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a transceiver mounted on said rack and connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

wherein said transceiver is controllably operable to establish communication with an automotive vehicle and thereby identify said automotive vehicle so as to accordingly service said automotive vehicle with said service module.

12. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a service control panel connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

a service display monitor connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system; and

a pay terminal connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

wherein both said service control panel and said service display monitor facilitate controlled operation of said service station facility by a service attendant, and said pay terminal facilitates payment by drivers of said automotive vehicles.

13. A service station facility according to claim 1, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a self-service control panel connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

a self-service display monitor connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system; and

a pay terminal connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

wherein both said self-service control panel and said self-service display monitor facilitate controlled operation of said service station facility by drivers of said automotive vehicles, and said pay terminal facilitates payment by said drivers.

14. A service station facility for replenishing energy sources onboard different types of automotive vehicles, said service station facility comprising:

a rack;

a plurality of fuel storage tanks mounted on said rack and adapted to retain various fluids utile as motivational energy sources within fuel-operated automotive vehicles;

a fluid pumping system mounted on said rack and connected in fluidal communication with said fuel storage tanks;

a service module mounted on said rack and connected in fluidal communication with said fuel storage tanks; and

an electronic computer control system connected in electrical communication with said fluid pumping system and said service module;

wherein said service module is controllably operable to establish fluidal communication with a fuel-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of said various fluids into a depleted fuel tank onboard said fuel-operated automotive vehicle.

15. A service station facility according to claim 14, wherein said various fluids utile as motivational energy sources include at least one fluid selected from the group consisting of biodiesel, bioethanol, biomethane, butanol, compressed air, compressed hydrogen, compressed natural gas, diesel, ethanol, gasoline, hydride, hydrogen, hythane, liquefied natural gas, liquid hydrogen, liquid nitrogen, methane, methanol, oxygen, P-series fuel, propane, vegetable oil, and a fuel blend.

16. A service station facility according to claim 14, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

an electrolyzer system connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system and connected in fluidal communication with any of said fuel storage tanks that are designated for retaining hydrogen;

wherein said electrolyzer system is controllably operable to receive both water and electricity to thereby produce hydrogen so as to substantially fill any of said fuel storage tanks designated for retaining hydrogen.

17. A service station facility according to claim 14, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

an electric charging system connected in electrical communication with both said electronic computer control system and said service module;

wherein said service module is controllably operable to establish electrical communication with a battery-operated automotive vehicle and also substantially charge a discharged battery onboard said battery-operated automotive vehicle.

18. A service station facility according to claim 14, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a service control panel connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

a service display monitor connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system; and

a pay terminal connected in electrical communication with said electronic computer control system;

wherein both said service control panel and said service display monitor facilitate controlled operation of said service station facility by a service attendant, and said pay terminal facilitates payment by drivers of said automotive vehicles.

19. A service station facility for replenishing energy sources onboard different types of automotive vehicles, said service station structure comprising:

a rack;

a plurality of replaceable fuel tanks stocked on said rack and substantially filled with various fluids utile as motivational energy sources within fuel-operated automotive vehicles;

a plurality of fuel storage tanks mounted on said rack and adapted to retain various fluids utile as motivational energy sources within fuel-operated automotive vehicles;

a fluid pumping system mounted on said rack and connected in fluidal communication with said fuel storage tanks;

a service module mounted on said rack and connected in fluidal communication with said fuel storage tanks; and

an electronic computer control system connected in electrical communication with said fluid pumping system and said service module;

wherein said service module is controllably operable to receive a depleted replaceable fuel tank from a fuel-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of said filled replaceable fuel tanks onboard said fuel-operated automotive vehicle; and

wherein said service module is controllably operable to establish fluidal communication with a fuel-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of said various fluids into a depleted fuel tank onboard said fuel-operated automotive vehicle.

20. A service station facility according to claim 19, wherein said service station facility further comprises:

a plurality of replaceable batteries stocked on said rack and substantially charged with electric charges utile as motivational energy sources within battery-operated automotive vehicles;

an electric charging system connected in electrical communication with both said electronic computer control system and said service module and controllably connectable in electrical communication with any of said replaceable batteries that are designated for charging;

wherein said service module is controllably operable to receive a discharged replaceable battery from a battery-operated automotive vehicle and also selectively deliver one of said charged replaceable batteries onboard said battery-operated automotive vehicle;

wherein said electric charging system is controllably operable to substantially charge any of said replaceable batteries designated for charging; and

wherein said service module is controllably operable to establish electrical communication with a battery-operated automotive vehicle and also substantially charge a discharged battery onboard said battery-operated automotive vehicle.