FUELING SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREFOR

• US 20100319803A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ehsan Mowzoon, Max Mowzoon
• Original Assignee: Ehsan Mowzoon, Max Mowzoon
• Inventors: Mowzoon, Max, Mowzoon, Ehsan
• Application Number:
  US12/488,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20100319803A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/063 Arrangement of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence

Abstract

An improved fueling system is disclosed. Each vehicle is equipped with its own operation means to control the distribution from a fuel pump to the vehicle. This will prevent people from having to touch the same fuel pumps. Each vehicle will have a memory device that will store information such as the type of fuel last used to fill the fuel tank of the vehicle, financial information of the vehicle'"'"'s owner, and the minimum standard of fuel required by the vehicle. Once the fuel pump receives this data from the vehicle'"'"'s memory device, then user may then initiate fuel transfer. This system may also prevent a car from refueling the stolen car if the fuel pump recognizes the vehicle'"'"'s data (e.g. VIN number) as having been reported stolen.

Claims

1. An improved fueling system comprising:

a fuel pump for dispensing at least one type of fuel; and

operation means for controlling the distribution of fuel to a vehicle, wherein the operation means is coupled to the vehicle.

2. The fueling system of claim 1 wherein the fuel pump comprises at least one fuel port.

3. The fueling system of claim 2 wherein the fuel pump comprises a plurality of fuel ports, each fuel port dispensing a different type of fuel.

4. The fueling system of claim 2 wherein the fuel pump comprises one fuel port for dispensing more than one type of fuel.

5. The fueling system of claim 1 wherein the operation means comprises at least one command key for controlling the fuel pump.

6. The fueling system of claim 5 wherein the operation means has a command key for at least one of starting fuel dispensing, ending fuel dispensing, selecting the type of fuel, and conducting a financial transaction.

7. The fueling system of claim 1 wherein the operation means further comprises a memory device for storing data particular to the vehicle.

8. The fueling system of claim 7 wherein the data comprises at least one of the type of fuel last used to fill a fuel tank of the vehicle, financial information of an owner of the vehicle, VIN number of the vehicle, and the fuel type required by the vehicle.

9. The fueling system of claim 1 further comprising a hose for delivering fuel from the fuel pump to the vehicle, wherein the hose has a first end coupled to a fuel tank of the vehicle and a second end coupled to the operation means.

10. The fueling system of claim 9 wherein the fuel pump further comprises a data port.

11. The fueling system of claim 10 wherein the operation means comprises:

a handle for a user to grip;

a fuel port connection end for coupling to the at least one fuel port of the fuel pump; and

a data port connection end for coupling to the data port of the fuel pump.

12. The fueling system of claim 4 further comprising:

a vehicle parking area;

an actuator that moves the fuel port vertically between a retracted stored position and an extended dispensing position; and

a sensor;

wherein the actuator moves the fuel port into the extended dispensing position when the sensor senses the presence of the vehicle in the parking area; and

wherein the actuator returns the fuel port into the retracted stored position when the sensor senses a departure of the vehicle from the parking area.

13. The fueling system of claim 12 wherein the operation means comprises an interactive terminal coupled to an interior of the vehicle proximate a driver'"'"'s seat.

14. The fueling system of claim 12 wherein the fuel port couples to a fuel tank of the vehicle.

15. The fueling system of claim 12 wherein the fuel pump further comprises a wireless receiver to receive data from a wireless transmitter housed within the vehicle.

16. An improved fueling system comprising:

a fuel pump for dispensing at least one type of fuel;

an operating handle for controlling the dispensing of fuel to a vehicle; and

a hose for delivering fuel from the fuel pump to the vehicle, wherein the hose has a first end coupled to a fuel tank of the vehicle and a second end coupled to the operating handle.

17. The fueling system of claim 16 wherein the fuel pump comprises:

at least one fuel port; and

a data port.

18. The fueling system of claim 17 wherein the operating handle comprises:

a handle portion for a user to grip;

a fuel port connection end for coupling to the at least one fuel port of the fuel pump;

a data port connection end for coupling to the data port of the fuel pump;

at least one command key for at least one of starting fuel dispensing, ending fuel dispensing, selecting the type of fuel, and conducting a financial transaction; and

a memory device for storing data particular to the vehicle.

19. The fueling system of claim 18 wherein the data comprises at least one of the type of fuel last used to fill the fuel tank of the vehicle, financial information of an owner of the vehicle, VIN number of a vehicle, and the fuel type required by the vehicle.

20. An improved fueling system comprising:

a fuel pump having one fuel port for dispensing at least one type of fuel, wherein the fuel port removably couples directly to a fuel tank of a vehicle;

an operating terminal for controlling the distribution of fuel to the vehicle, wherein the operating terminal is coupled to an interior of the vehicle;

a vehicle parking area;

an actuator that moves the fuel port vertically between a retracted stored position and an extended dispensing position; and

a sensor;

wherein the actuator moves the fuel port into the extended dispensing position when the sensor senses the presence of the vehicle in the parking area; and

wherein the actuator returns the fuel port into the retracted stored position when the sensor senses a departure of the vehicle from the parking area.

21. The fueling system of claim 20 wherein the operating terminal comprises:

a wireless transmitter;

at least one command key for at least one of starting fuel dispensing, ending fuel dispensing, selecting the type of fuel, and conducting a financial transaction; and

a memory device for storing data particular to the vehicle.

22. The fueling system of claim 21 wherein the fuel pump further comprises a wireless receiver to receive data from the wireless transmitter, wherein the data comprises at least one of the type of fuel last used to fill a fuel tank of the vehicle, financial information of an owner of the vehicle, VIN number of the vehicle, and the fuel type required by the vehicle.

23. A method for refueling a vehicle comprising the steps of:

providing a fueling system comprising;

a fuel pump for dispensing at least one type of fuel;

operation means for controlling the distribution of fuel to the vehicle, wherein the operation means is coupled to the vehicle; and

connection means for delivering fuel from the fuel pump to a fuel tank of the vehicle;

transmitting data from the vehicle to the fuel pump through a data connection, the data being specific to the vehicle; and

dispensing fuel from the fuel pump to the fuel tank according to the data transmitted from the vehicle to the fuel pump.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the fuel pump comprises:

at least one fuel port; and

a data port; and

wherein the operation means is an operating handle comprising;

a handle portion for a user to grip;

a fuel port connection end for coupling to the at least one fuel port of the fuel pump;

a data port connection end for coupling to the data port of the fuel pump;

at least one command key for at least one of starting fuel dispensing, ending fuel dispensing, selecting the type of fuel, and conducting a financial transaction; and

a memory device for storing the data particular to the vehicle; and

wherein the connection means is a hose comprising;

a first end coupled to the fuel tank of the vehicle; and

a second end coupled to the operating handle.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the fuel pump comprises:

one fuel port, wherein the fuel port removably couples directly to the fuel tank of a vehicle; and

a wireless data receiver; and

wherein the operation means is an operating terminal coupled to an interior of the vehicle, wherein the operating terminal comprises;

a wireless data transmitter; and

a memory device for storing the data particular to the vehicle; and

wherein the fueling system further comprises;

a vehicle parking area;

an actuator that moves the fuel port vertically between a retracted stored position and an extended dispensing position; and

a sensor.

26. The method of claim 25 further comprising the steps of:

parking the vehicle in the vehicle parking area;

sensing the presence of the vehicle by the sensor; and

extending the fuel port upwardly into the dispensing position to couple to the fuel tank of the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the steps of:

removing the vehicle from the vehicle parking area;

disengaging the fuel port from the fuel tank of the vehicle;

sensing the departure of the vehicle by the sensor; and

retracting the fuel port into the stored position.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein the data comprises at least one of the type of fuel last used to fill the fuel tank of the vehicle, financial information of an owner of the vehicle, VIN number of the vehicle, and the fuel type required by the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of withholding the dispensing of fuel when the data has been identified as data for a stolen vehicle.