Automatic fueling system
First Claim
1. An automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle, comprising:
- a fueling machine comprising a fueling pipe connected to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to said fueling pipe via a hose, a nozzle conveyance means comprising an arm mechanism, a mechanism control unit for controlling the movement of said arm mechanism, and a fuel-port sensor for sensing the position of a fueling port of the vehicle, said nozzle conveyance means automatically conveying said fueling nozzle to the fueling port and automatically inserting said fueling nozzle thereto under the control of said mechanism control unit, the fueling port being located in at least one of two locations, a first location on a first side of the vehicle and a second location on a different side of the vehicle, and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to said fueling machine and said nozzle conveyance means, said fueling nozzle being conveyed by said nozzle conveyance means to the fueling port in one of said first and second locations by the receipt of the fueling information from said data input/output apparatus, said fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, said fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from said mechanism control unit.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle contains a fueling machine containing a fueling pipe led to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to the fueling pipe via a hose, a nozzle conveyance unit containing an arm mechanism, a mechanism control unit for controlling the movement of the arm mechanism, and a fuel-port sensor for sensing the position of a fueling port of the vehicle, the nozzle conveyance unit automatically conveying the fueling nozzle to the fueling port and automatically inserting the fueling nozzle thereto under the control of the mechanism control unit, and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to the fueling machine and the nozzle conveyance unit, the fueling nozzle being conveyed by unit of the nozzle conveyance unit to the fueling port in either case where the fueling port faces the fueling machine or the fueling port does not face the fueling machine by the receipt of the fueling information from the data input/output apparatus, the fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, the fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from the mechanism control unit.
96 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle, comprising:
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a fueling machine comprising a fueling pipe connected to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to said fueling pipe via a hose, a nozzle conveyance means comprising an arm mechanism, a mechanism control unit for controlling the movement of said arm mechanism, and a fuel-port sensor for sensing the position of a fueling port of the vehicle, said nozzle conveyance means automatically conveying said fueling nozzle to the fueling port and automatically inserting said fueling nozzle thereto under the control of said mechanism control unit, the fueling port being located in at least one of two locations, a first location on a first side of the vehicle and a second location on a different side of the vehicle, and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to said fueling machine and said nozzle conveyance means, said fueling nozzle being conveyed by said nozzle conveyance means to the fueling port in one of said first and second locations by the receipt of the fueling information from said data input/output apparatus, said fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, said fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from said mechanism control unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle, comprising:
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a fueling machine comprising at least one fueling pipe connected to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to said fueling pipe via a hose, a nozzle conveyance means comprising an arm system, a mechanism control unit, for automatically conveying said fueling nozzle to a fueling port of the vehicle parked on either side of said fueling machine by grasping said fueling nozzle, and automatically inserting said fueling nozzle by the movement of said arm system under the control of said mechanism control unit, and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to said fueling machine and said nozzle conveyance means, said fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, said fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from said mechanism control unit, said nozzle conveyance means being independent of said fueling machine. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification