Fueling nozzle for an automated fuel management system, components therefor and methods of making the same

• US 5,944,069 A
• Filed: 03/10/1998
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snyder Equipment Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Nusbaumer, Ronald Woods
• Inventors: Woods, Ronald, Nusbaumer, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/037,365
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 141/351, 705/413
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A fueling nozzle having a rotatable locking ring adjacent its discharge end and adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank adapter at a common datum line has a receiving antenna associated with the nozzle and the fuel receiving tank has a transmitting antenna associated therewith. The fueling nozzle is activated by information transmitted as a continuous radio frequency signal from a continuously operating identity transmitter mounted on a vehicle desiring fueling. The identity transmitter is powered by the vehicle power source and requires no special activation by the user. The receiving antenna comprises a circumferential band completely encircling the nozzle and is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout. The receiving antenna is in such close proximity with the transmitting antenna as to interrupt transmission of the information and to cause cessation of a fueling operation upon withdrawal of the fueling nozzle from the fuel tank by more than a maximum functional distance.

Claims

1. In a fueling nozzle having a rotatable locking ring adjacent its discharge end and being adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank adapter at a common datum line, said nozzle further having a receiving antenna associated therewith and said fuel receiving tank having a transmitting antenna associated therewith, said fueling nozzle activated by transmitted information transmitted as a continuous radio frequency signal from a continuously operating identity transmitter mounted on a vehicle desiring fueling, said identity transmitter powered by the vehicle power source and requiring no special activation by the user, the improvement wherein said receiving antenna comprises a circumferential band completely encircling said nozzle, is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout, and is in such close proximity with said transmitting antenna as to interrupt transmission of said information and to cause cessation of said fueling operation upon withdrawal of said fueling nozzle from said fuel tank more than a maximum functional distance.

2. A fueling nozzle as in claim 1 wherein said transmitting antenna is mounted in one location within a portion of said fuel receiving tank adaptor at a predetermined distance from a common datum line and contains a flat disc disposed in one end thereof.

3. A fueling nozzle as in claim 2 wherein said disc is disposed in a recess of an insulating plug press fitted into an internal cylindrical portion of a tubular member of said transmitting antenna mounted in said one location.

4. A fueling nozzle as in claim 3 wherein said tubular member is threadingly engaged in a threaded bore through said flange of said fuel tank adaptor.

5. A fueling nozzle as in claim 4 wherein said tubular member is disposed into said flange a distance greater than said functional distance thereby preventing removal of said tubular member during a fueling operation without interrupting the fueling operation.

6. A fueling nozzle as in claim 3 wherein an outer edge of said insulating plug is flush with an end of said tubular member.

7. A fueling nozzle as in claim 6 wherein said tubular member is disposed into a bore at said one location to a depth such that said end is just flush with an inner bore of said fuel tank adaptor to prevent damage to said disc during the insertion of a discharge end of said fuel nozzle.

8. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 6 wherein said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna are substantially aligned when said fueling nozzle is releasably attached to said fueling adaptor.

9. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 8 wherein said maximum functional distance is established when an outboard edge of said receiving antenna is nearing an outer diameter of said end of said tubular member.

10. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 9 wherein said maximum functional distance is substantially equal to one half the width of said receiving antenna and one half the diameter of said end.

11. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 10 wherein said maximum functional distance is seven eighths inch.

12. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 2 wherein said flat disc is a metallic material.

13. In an improved fueling system for moving a supply of liquid through an automatic nozzle for dispensing a liquid into a container, said nozzle including a valve means, means including an operating lever for opening said valve means, pivotally mounted latch means, vacuum responsive means including a reciprocable member, trip means including a pivotally mounted lever connected to said reciprocable member and pivotally mounted concentrically with said latch means for engaging said latch means upon movement of said vacuum responsive means, means for biasing said latch means into automatic latching engagement with said operating lever upon actuation thereof to an open position, and means including conduit means for creating and supplying a vacuum to said vacuum responsive means for actuating said reciprocable member to trip and release said valve means when the liquid in said container reaches a preselected level, a fill pipe connected to said container, and a hollow adaptor for receiving the nozzle, said nozzle spout having separate liquid dispensing and air removal passages, said air removal passage being connected at one end to said vacuum responsive means, said fill pipe adaptor having first end and a second end, said first end being attached to said filler pipe and said second end extending into said filler pipe, said second end having a reduced diameter, and a frustoconical section between said first end and said second end, an air conduit connected to said first end of said fill pipe adaptor and to the interior of said container to remove air from said container to the interior of said fill pipe adaptor, a vacuum chamber between said nozzle spout and said fill pipe adaptor when said nozzle spout is inserted in said fill pipe adaptor, the length of said nozzle spout being of a length to extend into said frustoconical section and to provide a narrow space between the end of the nozzle spout and the wall of the frustoconical section, whereby the velocity of the liquid flowing out of the nozzle spout draws air through said narrow space between the end of said nozzle spout and the wall of said frusto-conical section to create a partial vacuum in said vacuum chamber to supply vacuum to said vacuum responsive means, the improvement wherein said nozzle further has a receiving antenna associated therewith and said container has a transmitting antenna associated therewith, said fueling nozzle activated by transmitted information transmitted as a continuous radio frequency signal from a continuously operating identity transmitter mounted on a vehicle desiring fueling, said identity transmitter powered by the vehicle power source and requiring no special activation by the user wherein said receiving antenna comprises a circumferential band completely encircling said nozzle, is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout.

14. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 13 wherein said receiving antenna is in such close proximity with said transmitting antenna as to interrupt transmission of said information and to cause cessation of said fueling operation upon minimal withdrawal of said fueling nozzle from said container.

15. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 14 said transmitting antenna is spaced from said receiving antenna by a radial distance less than a maximum functional distance.

16. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 15 wherein said maximum functional distance is seven eighths inch.

17. In a fueling nozzle having a rotatable locking ring adjacent its discharge end and being adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank adapter at a common datum line, said nozzle further having a receiving antenna associated therewith and said fuel receiving tank having a transmitting antenna associated therewith, said fueling nozzle activated by transmitted information transmitted as a continuous radio frequency signal from a continuously operating identity transmitter mounted on a vehicle desiring fueling, said identity transmitter powered by the vehicle power source and requiring no special activation by the user, the improvement wherein said receiving antenna comprises a circumferential band completely encircling said nozzle, is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout, and is in such close proximity with said transmitting antenna as to prevent cross talking with any other transmitter.

18. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 17 wherein said transmitting antenna is spaced from said receiving antenna by a radial distance less than a maximum functional distance.

19. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 18 wherein said radial distance between said transmitting antenna and said receiving antenna is approximately one quarter inch.