METHOD AND APPARATUS

• US 3,650,303 A
• Filed: 01/02/1970
• Issued: 03/21/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert R. Chambers, Rudolph S. Stokan
• Original Assignee: Robert R. Chambers, Rudolph S. Stokan
• Inventors: Stokan, Rudolph S., Chambers, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Jr., Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US05/000,019
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 137/234.6 141/98,1,231,232,233,266,279,284,248 222/192 235/151,151.2,151.34
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/14 the object being a workshop for servicing, for maintenance, or for carrying workmen during work lifting devices for movable platforms or cabins for workmen B66F11/04
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3802 With vehicle guide or support, e.g., service station

Abstract

A new method and apparatus for filling a vehicle gasoline tank and automatically recording the identity of the vehicle and the amount of gasoline added is disclosed. These systems are further useful in a method for periodically maintaining a group of vehicles which are parked for a relatively long time as in a daily parking lot. The vehicles can thus be maintained with gas, oil, etc., without the necessity for the owner or driver being present.

Claims

1. A method for periodically maintaining a vehicle left parked and unattended which comprises, establishing in the proximate area of the vehicle a servicing unit which includes a gasoline storage unit, gasoline transfer means, an automatic code identifier and recording means, arranging the gasoline transfer means for delivery of gasoline into the gasoline tank filler means of the vehicle, identifying the particular vehicle in the automatic code identifier, tranSferring gasoline from the gasoline storage unit to the vehicle gasoline tank, and recording the amount of gasoline transferred.

2. gasoline storage means;

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the permanent record is provided by the automatic recording means.

4. recording means connected to the gasoline transfer means and to the vehicle identification sensing means for recording the identity of the particular vehicle sensed by the vehicle identification sensing means and the amount of gasoline transferred from the gasoline storage means to the vehicle gasoline inlet pipe.

5. Apparatus for dispensing gasoline to a vehicle and identifying the vehicle to which the gasoline is dispensed comprising:

a. Vehicle identification means adapted for attachment to a vehicle for identifying the particular vehicle to which the vehicle identification means is attached; and

b. Vehicle servicing means including;

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said recording means includes means to record the price of the gasoline transferred from the gasoline storage means.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said vehicle identification means are coded means adapted to be attached to a vehicle gasoline inlet pipe cap, said cap being secured to a vehicle.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vehicle identification means comprise a plurality of resistance elements disposed in sequence and having resistance values corresponding to a numerical code identifying the vehicle.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the gasoline transfer means includes suitable connecting means to transmit the resistance values of the identity means to the recording means.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the resistance elements of the vehicle identification means are connected to projecting pins and the gasoline transfer means includes sockets adapted to correspond with the projecting pins.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a stepping switch connected to the sockets to receive the resistance value of each of the resistance elements in succession, and means to energize the gasoline transfer means after all the resistance values have been determined.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said stepping switch comprises two sections of contacts which operate in unison, the first section of which is connected to the resistance elements and to the recording means whereby the values of the resistance elements are determined in succession and transferred to the recording means and the second section of which contains one more contact than the number of resistance elements, said last contact being connected to a motor starter whereby when said contact is energized, the motor starter energizes the gasoline transfer means.

13. The apparatus of claiM 12 further including means to deactivate the motor starter when contact between the gasoline transfer means and vehicle identification means is ceased.

14. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a vehicle having a gasoline tank and a gasoline inlet pipe connected to the gasoline tank, the vehicle identification means connected to the vehicle adjacent the vehicle gasoline inlet pipe.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising connecting means connecting the vehicle identification sensing means to the gasoline transfer means, said connecting means in conjunction with the manner of connection of the vehicle identification means to the vehicle ensuring that the gasoline transfer means is within the vehicle gasoline inlet pipe when gasoline is transferred from the gasoline storage means.