Automatic fueling system and components therefor

• US 6,024,137 A
• Filed: 02/18/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: R Strnad Enterprises LLC, Gore Enterprise Holdings Incorporated (W.L. Gore and Associates)
• Original Assignee: R Strnad Enterprises LLC
• Inventors: Marshall, John F., Magleby, Spencer P., Sorensen, Carl D., Warnick, Ryan W., Schellenberg, Aaron T., Bent, David S., Cloward, Lisa, Gaglione, Adam, Stout, W. Douglas, Strnad, Rudolph A., Cvetko, Robert, Baroldy, Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/025,684
• Time in Patent Office: 727 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/98-231, 141/232, 141/250, 141/311 R, 141/351, 141/352, 141/387, 141/388, 901/6, 901/16, 901/46, 901/47, 342/42, 342/140
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0417 Manipulator arms
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0419 Fuelling nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0436 according to a spatial coordinate system
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0463 optically
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0473 optically
• 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 7/344 by checking a correct coupling or coded information

Abstract

An automatic fueling system includes a pump having a telescoping arm capable of placement in three-dimensional space, a flexibly mounted nozzle on the end of the arm and a docking cone to mate with the fuel port on a vehicle. A camera provides a view of the side of the vehicle on a monitor with guides visible to the operator of the vehicle to assist in locating the vehicle within range of the pump. A light and a camera located adjacent to the nozzle are used to recognize retro-reflective light from an annular target about the intake port. Multiple approximations of the distance and location of the intake port are made with the nozzle moving closer to mating with the intake port. A data link is provided through the mated nozzle with a keypad accessible by the vehicle operator. The vehicle includes a control actuator which selectively couples actuator cables associated with the fuel door and the fuel inlet valve with the emergency brake cable to engage the emergency brake, open the fuel door and open the inlet valve. A vacuum system on an evaporation canister insures that vapor is drawn from the fuel tank as it is being displaced by incoming fuel.

Claims

1. A method for fueling a vehicle driven by an operator and having a fuel receiving area in a refueling station having a monitor observable by the operator while in the vehicle, comprising:

driving the vehicle by the operator into the refueling station;

observing the vehicle by the operator in the vehicle in the monitor, the monitor having position limit indicators; and

locating the vehicle by the operator in the vehicle with the fuel receiving area appearing in the monitor between the position limit indicators.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

opening a fuel door located in the fuel receiving area by the operator in the vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising

inserting a fuel probe in the vehicle fuel receiving area;

establishing data communication between the fuel probe and the fuel receiving area.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising

prompting selections for fueling on the monitor;

responding through the data link.

5. A method for fueling a vehicle driven by an operator in a refueling station having a monitor observable by the operator while in the vehicle, the vehicle having a fuel receiving area, a parking brake, a fuel door, a control to the fuel door and a control actuator to selectively interconnect the parking brake and the control to the fuel door, comprising

driving the vehicle by the operator into the refueling station;

observing the vehicle by the operator in the vehicle in the monitor, the monitor having position limit indicators;

locating the vehicle by the operator in the vehicle with the fuel receiving area appearing in the monitor between the position limit indicators;

engaging the fuel door control with the control actuator;

opening the fuel door including activating the parking brake with the fuel door control engaged with the control actuator.