Arrangement for docking at automatic fuelling of vehicles

• US 5,758,701 A
• Filed: 02/10/1997
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Autofill Patent AB
• Original Assignee: Autofill Patent AB
• Inventors: Corfitsen, Sten
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/776,886
• Time in Patent Office: 477 Days
• Field of Search: 141/98, 141/231, 141/279, 141/312, 141/346, 141/382, 141/383, 141/386, 141/387, 141/388, 901/11, 901/16, 901/45
• US Class Current: 141/386
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0421 with locking devices
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0453 recognising the fuel to be dispensed
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0474 of the filling nozzle relative to the fuel tank opening, e.g. engagement between nozzle and tank opening
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0401 arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 Filling nozzles

Abstract

A docking arrangement for the automatic fueling of automotive vehicles, primarily cars, where a robot is provided including a robot head that can be moved in relation to the robot and positioned in relation to an adapter (3), the adapter being arranged for fastening to the upper orifice of the fuel-tank pipe (2) of a vehicle. According to the invention the robot head includes a rearward part (13) and a front part (14) as seen in its axial direction, wherein the rearward part (13) is attached to the robot and the front part (14) is carried by the rearward part (13) with the aid of a spring (15) which enables the front part (14) to be moved from a rest position towards the rearward part (13) and angled relative to the rearward part; in that the front part (14) has an axially forwardly projecting flange (16) which extends along a lower part (17) of the periphery (18) of the front part and which fits on the mantle surface (19) of the adapter (3; 39) and in that when docking the front part (14) with the adapter (3; 39), the flange (16) will lie in abutment with the mantle surface (19) of the adapter, whereby the front part (14) is angled against the spring force at an angle at which the adapter and the front part will lie in abutment with one another.

Claims

1. A docking arrangement for the automatic fuelling of an automotive vehicle with the aid of a robot comprising a robot head having a rearward part adapted to be attached to a robot and a front part, spring means resiliently mounting said front part from said rearward part and permitting said front part to move from a rest position towards said rearward part and to angularly adjust relative to said rearward part, an adapter adapted for connection to a fuel tank pipe of a vehicle, said front part of said robot head and said adapter having cooperating conical surfaces which facilitate docking therebetween, said front part having an axially forward projecting flange extending around its lower peripheral portion and conformed to fit on the lower peripheral surface of said adapter, the conical surface of said adapter lying in a vertical plane such that it will be directed obliquely upwards when said adapter is connected to a fuel tank pipe, whereby said robot head is moved by a robot to a docking position with said adapter said flange abuts the lower peripheral surface of said adapter and said front part automatically adjusts against the force of said spring means so that said cooperating conical surface of said front part and said adapter abut one another.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said spring means (15) is a helical spring.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said front part (14) extends slightly upwards in its rest position.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, comprising a wire (24) extending between the rear part (13) and the upper part (25) of the front part (14), wherein the length of the wire is such that when the front part (14) is in its rest position, said front part will extend slightly upwards under the influence of said spring force.

5. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein both ends of said flange (16) are bevelled (29, 30) such as to provide guide surfaces for coaction with guide means (31, 32) which project out on said adapter (3;

39) and which are so positioned that when docking has taken place, the guide means will extend perpendicular to the flange (16) and be located at the junction (33) between the bevelled ends (29,

     30) and the forwardly facing surface of the front part (14) or slightly to one side of said junction.

6. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the conical surface of the adapter (3) includes an essentially V-shaped recess (34) intended for coaction with a member (35) which projects out forwardly from the front part (14), said member being positioned so that when docking the tip of the member (35) will be located in the bottom of the V-shaped recess (34).

7. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the flange (16) extends arcuately around the periphery of the front part and contains an angle of arc in a range of between 45 and 270 degrees around said periphery.