Fuel dispensing nozzle

• US 6,374,870 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IDE Til Produkt AS
• Original Assignee: IDE Til Produkt AS
• Inventors: Müller, Odd
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/372,098
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 141/59, 141/94, 141/198, 141/392, 705/413, 702/45, 235/375, 235/381
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/067 using communication means
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/425 including components powered by electricity or light
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/426 including means for displaying information, e.g. for advertising B67D7/425 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/54 with means for preventing escape of liquid or vapour or for recovering escaped liquid or vapour B67D7/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

A gasoline refueling nozzle (3) includes a system for preventing theft of gasoline by leaving without payment after refueling. The nozzle communicates both ways with a chip (7) on the car and a central unit (9) in the gasoline station via two air interfaces (5, 6, 8). The nozzle is equipped with an easily legible display (20) and with a built-in battery (17) for its operation, and the battery is recharged inductively from the gasoline pump (2) via an adapter unit.

Claims

1. A refueling nozzle comprising:

a forward filling spout;

a main body in which said filling spout is attached;

a handle section, including a finger operated trigger mechanism, connector with said main body;

a connector part for connection with a fuel-conducting hose;

a transceiver unit for two-way electromagnetic communication via two air interfaces with a vehicle identification unit associated with a vehicle parked for refueling and a central unit in a fueling station area for transmitting vehicle identification to the central unit, respectively; and

a display unit for displaying changing visual information received from the central unit and from a built-in quantity control system in said nozzle, said display unit comprising two parts including a part displaying refueling data and a part displaying additional information;

wherein said main body has a curved nozzle top surface and said display unit has a top cover that has a curved shape to substantially match and lie flush with said curved nozzle top surface.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said two parts of said display unit are provided by superimposing the refueling data and the additional information such that the refueling data are always visible during refueling.

3. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said main body further comprises a built-in power supply system including a first part of an inductive power transfer unit operative when said nozzle is in a nozzle cradle between refueling phases, a recharge circuit connected to said first part of said inductive power transfer unit, a rechargeable battery connected with said recharge circuit and a CPU connected with said recharge circuit.

4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said main body comprises a forward part including a fuel condensate recovery unit comprising a forwardly tapered sleeve surrounding a rear part of said filling spout, said sleeve having an exterior covered with a soft material to provide a sealing effect when said sleeve engages a car filler neck edge, an internal sleeve region where vapor may condense and be returned to said filling spout, a forward edge, and at least one opening in said forward edge for receiving fuel vapor to flow into said internal sleeve region.

5. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein said internal sleeve region comprises a Venturi principle structure for returning vapor to said filling spout.

6. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said nozzle comprises electronic systems including a communication system, a power supply system, a user information system and a quantity control system.

7. The nozzle of claim 6, wherein said user information system and communication system include a battery powered CPU connected to an RF communication unit, which includes said transceiver unit, and said display unit.

8. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein the additional information is advertising information.

9. A refueling nozzle comprising:

a forward filling spout;

a main body in which said filling spout is attached;

a handle section, including a finger operated trigger mechanism, connected with said main body;

a connector part for connection with a fuel-conducting hose;

a transceiver unit for two-way electromagnetic communication via two air interfaces with a vehicle identification unit associated with a vehicle parked for refueling and a central unit in a fueling station area for transmitting vehicle identification to the central unit, respectively; and

a display unit for displaying changing visual information received from the central unit and from a built-in quantity control system in said nozzle, said display unit comprising two parts including a part displaying refueling data and a part displaying additional information;

said main body comprising a built-in power supply system including a first part of an inductive power transfer unit operative when said nozzle is in a nozzle cradle between refueling phases, a recharge circuit connected to said first part of said inductive power transfer unit, a rechargeable battery connected with said recharge circuit and a CPU connected with said recharge circuit; and

a nozzle cradle for receiving said main body with said filling spout between use phases, said nozzle cradle including a second part of said inductive power transfer unit, said second part being connected with a fuel supply unit and a power supply net by an adapter unit, wherein said adapter unit comprises connectors for connecting said adapter unit to said fuel supply unit.

10. The nozzle of claim 9, wherein said adapter unit further comprises adaptation circuitry.

11. A refueling nozzle comprising:

a forward filling spout;

a main body in which said filling spout is attached;

a handle section, including a finger operated trigger mechanism, connected with said main body;

a connector part for connection with a fuel-conducting hose;

a transceiver unit for two-way electromagnetic communication via two air interfaces with a vehicle identification unit associated with a vehicle parked for refueling and a central unit in a fueling station area for transmitting vehicle identification to the central unit, respectively; and

a display unit for displaying changing visual information received from the central unit and from a built-in quantity control system in said nozzle, said display unit comprising two parts including a part displaying refueling data and a part displaying additional information;

wherein said nozzle comprises electronic systems including a communication system, a power supply system, a user information system and a quantity control system; and

wherein said quantity control system comprises a battery-powered CPU connected to trigger, valve and flow rate sensors and to a tank filling level sensor.

12. The nozzle of claim 11, wherein said quantity control system further comprises said battery-powered CPU being connected with a quantity meter of a fuel pump by an RF communication unit.

13. The nozzle of claim 11, wherein said CPU is operative to control at least one valve in said main body for starting and stopping of fueling, dosage of fuel and kick stop based on signals from said trigger, flow rate and tank filling level sensors.

14. The nozzle of claim 11, wherein said tank filling level sensor is an optical sensor.