Automotive vehicle fueling system

• US 6,032,703 A
• Filed: 09/08/1998
• Issued: 03/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Bates, Bradford, Baker, Richard Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/149,855
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 141/4, 141/5, 141/9, 141/11, 141/83, 141/94, 141/98, 141/100, 141/102-105, 141/231, 340/825.34, 340/825.35, 222/26, 222/28, 222/145.1
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03348 for supplying additives to fuel
• 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: B67D 7/74 Devices for mixing two or more different liquids to be transferred coin-freed apparatus G07F13/06

Abstract

A system for fueling an automotive vehicle includes a transmitter mounted on the vehicle for identifying the type of fuel required by the vehicle and a fuel control and communication subsystem providing fuel which is blended to achieve the characteristics called for by the vehicle mounted transmitter.

Claims

1. A system for fueling an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a dispensing subsystem for providing a plurality of fuel components to an automotive vehicle;

a transmitter, adapted to be mounted on a vehicle, for identifying the type of fuel required by the vehicle; and

a fuel control and communications subsystem for communicating with a vehicle through the transmitter, so as to determine the type of fuel required by the vehicle, with said control and communications system also operating the fuel dispensing subsystem so as to provide the vehicle with the required blend of fuel components.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel dispensing subsystem is equipped with a plurality of liquid fuel components.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel dispensing subsystem is equipped with at least one liquid fuel component and at least one gaseous fuel component.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the fuel dispensing subsystem is equipped with at least one base liquid fuel component and at least one fuel additive.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a transponder.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a transmitter having an output which is a function of at least one engine operating parameter.

7. A system for fueling an automotive vehicle, comprising:

a fuel dispensing subsystem for providing at least one base fuel, at least one fuel additive, and at least one auxiliary fluid to an automotive vehicle;

a transponder, mounted on a vehicle, for identifying the type of fuel, fuel additive, and auxiliary fluid required by th e vehicle; and

a fuel control and communications subsystem for communicating with a vehicle through the transponder, so as to determine the type of fuel, fuel additive, and auxiliary fluid required by the vehicle, with said control and communications system also operating the fuel dispensing subsystem so as to provide the vehicle with the required blend of base fuel and fuel additive, as well as the auxiliary fluid.

8. A system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one base fuel comprises a gaseous fuel.

9. A system according to claim 7, wherein said at least one auxiliary fluid comprises a urea solution which is not mixed with the base fuel, but which is carried in a tank separate from the vehicle'"'"'s fuel tank.

10. A method for fueling an automotive vehicle, comprising the steps of:

providing a fuel dispensing subsystem for furnishing a plurality of fuel components to an automotive vehicle;

determining a desired value for at least one blendable fuel characteristic, based upon a sensed value of at least one engine operating parameter, with said determination being performed by an on-board engine controller;

receiving and storing the desired blendable characteristic value within a memory located within a transmitter operatively connected with the engine controller, with said transmitter being carried upon the vehicle;

communicating with the vehicle through the transmitter by means of a stationary control and communications system, so as to receive the blendable characteristic value from the transmitter;

determining the blend of fuel components required to obtain the desired blendable characteristic value; and

operating the fuel dispensing subsystem so as to provide the vehicle with a blend of fuel components required to obtain the blendable characteristic value.