Fueling system

• US 6,068,030 A
• Filed: 10/15/1998
• Issued: 05/30/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tatsuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tatsuno Corporation
• Inventors: Tatsuno, Hiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Application Number:
  US09/172,650
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/95, 141/96, 141/83, 141/192, 141/198, 141/196, 141/392, 73/24.05, 73/24.06, 222/74, 222/75, 364/479.12, 364/479.1, 364/479.11
• 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 7/342 by discriminating the kind of liquid by analysis or by physical properties, e.g. vapour-pressure

Abstract

A fueling system is substantially composed of one or more fueling units, a liquidation managing machine, a first fueling state communicator, and a second fueling state communicator. The units contains a fuel sort discrimination unit for supplying fuel of which sort is consistent with fuel in a tank to be fueled, and a full-tank fueling unit for filling up the tank with fuel to a full-tank level. The liquidation managing machine settles accounts and controls signals input from the fueling units. The first fueling state communicator and the second fueling state communicator indicate fueling states of the fueling units, the first fueling state communicator functions by receiving signals from the liquidation managing machine, and the second fueling state communicator functions by receiving signals from the first fueling state communicator. In the fueling system, signals from the liquidation managing machine is transmitted to the second fueling state communicator invariably through the first fueling state communicator.

Claims

1. A fueling system comprising:

one or more fueling units;

a liquidation managing machine;

a first fueling state communicator; and

a second fueling state communicator;

wherein each of said fueling units comprises a fuel sort discrimination unit for supplying fuel of which sort is consistent with fuel in a tank to be fueled, and a full-tank fueling unit for filling up the tank with fuel to a full-tank level, and

wherein said liquidation managing machine settles accounts and controls signals input from said fueling units, said first fueling state communicator and said second fueling state communicator indicate fueling states of said fueling units, said first fueling state communicator functions by receiving signals from said liquidation managing machine, said second fueling state communicator functions by receiving signals from said first fueling state communicator wherein signals from said liquidation managing machine being transmitted to said second fueling state communicator invariably through said first fueling state communicator.

2. The fueling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said fueling units comprises a plurality of dispenser series respectively for dispensing predetermined sorts of fuel, each of said dispenser series comprises a fueling pipe connected to a fueling hose with a fueling nozzle at the free end thereof, and a nozzle rest, for accepting said fueling nozzle, said nozzle rest having a nozzle switch for actuating said fuel discrimination unit when said nozzle is taken off said nozzle rest, said full-tank fueling unit functioning only when said fuel sort discrimination unit judges fuel sort to be dispensed is consistent with fuel in a tank, said first fueling state communicator and said second fueling state communicator starting to function at the stage where said full-tank fueling unit operates, and stopping functioning when said nozzle switch is opened with said nozzle being hung on said nozzle rest, except for a function of turning on and off a liquidation lamp which is arranged at the first and second fueling state communicators and turned off when a liquidation completion signal is output from the liquidation managing machine.

3. The fueling system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said first fueling state communicator and second fueling state communicator function when said fuel sort discrimination unit judges that the fuel to be dispensed is inconsistent with fuel in a tank, and stops functioning when said nozzle switch is opened with said nozzle hung on said nozzle rest.