Dispenser system for preventing unauthorized fueling

• US 6,381,514 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems, Inc. (Vontier Corp.)
• Inventors: Hartsell, Hal C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler, Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US09/140,293
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/236, 700/241, 700/244, 700/282, 700/283, 141/94, 141/95
• US Class Current: 700/236
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/3209 relating to spillage or leakage, e.g. spill containments, leak detection leak detectors for underground fuel dispensing systems G01M3/2892
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery

Abstract

A fuel dispensing system and method for preventing unauthorized fueling by controlling access and delivery of fuel from a fuel dispenser, based on information received from a vehicle or container via remote communications during a fueling operation. The vehicle transmits a signal including fuel delivery indicia to the dispenser. The dispenser uses the fuel delivery indicia to determine whether the vehicle is receiving fuel and determines whether it is delivering fuel. The dispenser maintains fuel delivery authorization if the vehicle indicates that it is receiving fuel and the dispenser is delivering fuel. If the vehicle indicates that it is not receiving fuel and the dispenser determines that it is delivering fuel, the dispenser may generate an output signal to identify an improper fueling condition and stop fuel delivery.

Claims

1. A fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling comprising:

a. a fuel dispenser adapted to deliver fuel to a vehicle configured to provide a signal including fuel delivery indicia to said fuel dispenser;

b. communication electronics associated with said fuel dispenser, said communication electronics adapted to receive the signal provided by the vehicle that comprises fuel delivery indicia indicative of actual fuel delivery to the vehicle; and

c. a control system associated with said fuel dispenser and said communication electronics, said control system adapted to;

i. receive the fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle via said communication electronics;

ii. determine if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispenser;

iii. determine if fuel is being received by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

iv. allow fuel delivery if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispenser and fuel is being received by the vehicle.

2. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 1, wherein said control system is further adapted to:

a. determine a rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser;

b. determine a rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

c. allow fuel delivery if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser is equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle.

3. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 2, wherein the fuel delivery indicia relates to a volume of fuel in a fuel tank associated with the vehicle, and said control system is adapted to determine:

a. a quantity of fuel received by the vehicle by calculating a difference in the volume of fuel in the fuel tank between two transmissions of the fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle; and

b. the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle by dividing the quantity of fuel received by the vehicle, by the time elapsed between volume measurements.

4. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 2, wherein the fuel delivery indicia relates to a difference in volume of fuel in a fuel tank associated with the vehicle between two transmissions of the fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle and said control system is adapted to determine:

a. a quantity of fuel received by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

b. the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle by dividing the quantity of fuel received by the vehicle, by the time elapsed between volume measurements.

5. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 2, wherein said control system is further adapted to detect an improper fueling condition and generate an output signal if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser is not equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle.

6. A fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling comprising:

a. a fuel dispenser adapted to deliver fuel to a vehicle configured to provide a signal including fuel delivery indicia to said fuel dispenser;

b. communication electronics associated with said fuel dispenser, said communication electronics adapted to receive the signal provided by the vehicle including fuel delivery indicia sufficient to provide or allow determination of rate of delivery; and

c. a control system associated with said fuel dispenser and said communication electronics, said control system adapted to;

i. receive the fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle via said communication electronics;

ii. determine a rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser;

iii. determine a rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

iv. allow fuel delivery if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser is equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle.

7. A fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling comprising:

a. a fuel dispenser adapted to deliver fuel to a fuel container configured to provide a signal including fuel delivery indicia to said fuel dispenser;

b. communication electronics associated with said fuel dispenser, said communication electronics adapted to receive the signal provided by the fuel container that comprises fuel delivery indicia indicative of actual fuel delivery to the vehicle; and

c. a control system associated with said fuel dispenser and said communication electronics, said control system adapted to;

i. receive the fuel delivery indicia from the fuel container via said communication electronics;

ii. determine if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispenser;

iii. determine if fuel is being received by the fuel container based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

iv. allow fuel delivery if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispenser and fuel is being received by the fuel container.

8. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 7, wherein said control system is further adapted to:

a. determine a rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser;

b. determine a rate of receipt of fuel by the fuel container based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

c. allow fuel delivery if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser is equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the fuel container.

9. A method for preventing unauthorized fueling in a fuel dispensing system comprising:

a. providing a fuel dispenser having a receiver adapted to receive a signal including fuel delivery indicia from a vehicle;

b. receiving the signal that comprises fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle on a continuous basis indicative of actual fuel delivery to the vehicle;

c. determining if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispenser;

d. determining if fuel is being received by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

e. allowing fuel delivery if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispenser and fuel is being received by the vehicle.

10. The method for preventing unauthorized fueling in a fuel dispensing system of claim 9, further comprising detecting an improper fueling condition and generating an output signal if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispenser and fuel is not being received the vehicle.

11. The method for preventing unauthorized fueling in a fuel dispensing system of claim 10, further comprising providing a human perceptible warning.

12. The method for preventing unauthorized fueling in a fuel dispensing system of claim 9, wherein:

a. the first determining step includes determining a rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser;

b. the second determining step includes determining a rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

c. the allowing step includes allowing fuel delivery if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser is equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle.

14. A fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling comprising:

a. fuel dispensing means having a receiver adapted to receive a signal including fuel delivery indicia from a vehicle;

b. means for receiving the signal including fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle on a continuous basis;

c. means for determining if;

i. fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispensing means; and

ii. fuel is being received by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia;

d. means for allowing fuel delivery if fuel is being delivered from said fuel dispensing means and fuel is being received by the vehicle;

e. said means for determining further determines;

i. a rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispensing means;

ii. rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

f. said means for allowing fuel delivery if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispensing means is equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle.

13. The method for preventing unauthorized fueling in a fuel dispensing system of claim 17, further comprising detecting an improper fueling condition and generating an output signal if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispenser is not equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle.

15. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 14, wherein the fuel delivery indicia relates to a volume of fuel in a fuel tank associated with the vehicle, and wherein said means for determining:

a. a quantity of fuel received by the vehicle by calculating a difference in the volume of fuel in the fuel tank between two transmissions of the fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle; and

b. the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle by dividing the quantity of fuel received by the vehicle by the time elapsed between volume measurements.

16. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 14, wherein the fuel delivery indicia relates to a change in volume of fuel in a fuel tank associated with the vehicle between two transmissions of the fuel delivery indicia from the vehicle, and said means for determining:

a. a quantity of fuel received by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

b. the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle by dividing the quantity of fuel received by the vehicle, by the time elapsed between volume measurements.

17. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 14, further comprising means for detecting an improper fueling condition and generating an output signal if the rate of delivery of fuel from said fuel dispensing means is not equal to the rate of receipt of fuel by the vehicle.