Automatic fueling apparatus and method
First Claim
1. Below-ground apparatus for fueling a stationary vehicle on the ground above it through an inlet on an exposed vehicle tank bottom comprising:
- a vertically-movable frame;
an upwardly-facing nozzle member carried by the frame;
lift means below the frame for moving the frame during each fueling operation between a retracted below-ground position in which the nozzle member is not engaged with the inlet and a fueling position in which the nozzle member and the inlet are engaged;
sensing means to sense the vertical position of said tank;
stopping means responsive to said sensing means to stop the lift means when the frame reaches an intermediate vertical position beneath the tank; and
positioning means to position the nozzle member on the frame in vertical alignment with said inlet, whereby further upward movement of the frame causes engagement of said nozzle member with said tank inlet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved below-ground apparatus and method for fueling a vehicle through an inlet on a exposed tank bottom. The apparatus is characterized by a frame carrying an upwardly-facing nozzle, a lift to move the frame and the nozzle from a fully-retracted to an intermediate position and from the intermediate position to a position for full engagement with the inlet. The intermediate position is determined by sensing the vertical position of the tank bottom and, at the intermediate position, the nozzle member is positioned on the frame in vertical alignment with the inlet prior to final lifting. In preferred embodiments, a blower creates an air ride for the nozzle member facilitating its positioning on the frame, and another blower creates a vacuum to hold the nozzle member is proper position and to eliminate fuel vapors. The nozzle member is preferably conical in shape.
27 Citations
29 Claims
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1. Below-ground apparatus for fueling a stationary vehicle on the ground above it through an inlet on an exposed vehicle tank bottom comprising:
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a vertically-movable frame; an upwardly-facing nozzle member carried by the frame; lift means below the frame for moving the frame during each fueling operation between a retracted below-ground position in which the nozzle member is not engaged with the inlet and a fueling position in which the nozzle member and the inlet are engaged; sensing means to sense the vertical position of said tank; stopping means responsive to said sensing means to stop the lift means when the frame reaches an intermediate vertical position beneath the tank; and positioning means to position the nozzle member on the frame in vertical alignment with said inlet, whereby further upward movement of the frame causes engagement of said nozzle member with said tank inlet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for automatic fueling, without manual intervention of a stationary ground-supported vehicle through an inlet on an exposed vehicle tank bottom by means of below-ground apparatus beneath the vehicle comprising:
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sensing the vertical position of the tank; lifting a vertically-movable frame from a retracted below-ground position to an intermediate vertical position fixed by the sensing step, said frame carrying an upwardly-facing nozzle member which is not engaged with the inlet when the frame is in the retracted and intermediate positions; positioning the nozzle member on the frame in vertical alignment with said inlet; and further lifting the frame until the nozzle member engages the inlet, thereby allowing fueling to proceed. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification