System and methods for delivering fuel and for aligning elements of a fuel delivery system

• US 6,418,985 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 07/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Freddie S. Aguilar
• Original Assignee: Freddie S. Aguilar
• Inventors: Aguilar, Freddie S.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US09/811,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20010022022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 141/232, 137/234.6
• US Class Current: 141/98
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0417 Manipulator arms
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0419 Fuelling nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0426 comprising several hoses for several fuels
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0436 according to a spatial coordinate system
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2007/0459 by interrogating a transponder
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0401 arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3802 With vehicle guide or support, e.g., service station
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49229 Prime mover or fluid pump making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49769 Using optical instrument [excludes mere human eyeballing]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49778 with aligning, guiding, or instruction

Abstract

A system for delivering fuel comprising a receiver coupled in liquid communication with a fuel tank of a vehicle, a nozzle coupled in liquid communication with a fuel source and interactive alignment structure for mating the nozzle with receiver in response to movement of the receiver and the nozzle.

Claims

1. An alignment system, comprising:

a receiver coupled in liquid communication with a receptacle, the receiver defining X, Y and Z axes;

a nozzle coupled in liquid communication with a fuel source, the nozzle defining X′

, Y′ and

Z′

axes; and

interactive alignment structure for guiding alignment of the Z and Z′

axes in response to movement of the receiver along the X axis and the nozzle along the Y′

axis, the interactive alignment structure comprising;

an emitter carried by one of the receiver the nozzle for emitting a stimulus, and

sensor apparatus carried adjacent the other one of the receiver and the nozzle for receiving the stimulus, the sensor apparatus comprising;

a first sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Y and Y′

axes and the Z and Z′

axes in a common two-dimensional plane in response to movement of the receiver along the X axis, and

a second sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Z and Z′

axes in response to movement of the nozzle along the Y′

axis.

2. The alignment system of claim 1, wherein the stimulus comprises laser light.

3. The alignment system of claim 2, wherein the first sensor comprises a light sensor.

4. The alignment system of claim 3, wherein the second sensor comprises a light sensor.

5. The alignment system of claim 1, further including drive apparatus for moving the nozzle in reciprocal directions along the Y′

axis.

6. A system for delivering fuel, comprising:

a receiver coupled in liquid communication with a fuel tank of a vehicle, the receiver defining X, Y and Z axes;

a nozzle coupled in liquid communication with a fuel source, the nozzle defining X′

, Y′ and

Z′

axes; and

interactive alignment structure for aligning the Z and Z′

axes and mating the nozzle with the receiver for fuel delivery in response to movement of the receiver along the X-axis and the nozzle along the Y′ and

Z′

axes, the interactive alignment structure comprising;

an emitter carried by one of the receiver and the nozzle for emitting a stimulus, and

sensor apparatus carried adjacent the other one of the receiver and the nozzle for receiving the stimulus, the sensor apparatus comprising;

a first sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Y and Y′

axes and the Z and Z′

axes in a common two-dimensional plane in response to movement of the receiver along the X axis, and

a second sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Z and Z′

axes in response to movement of the nozzle along the Y′

axis.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the stimulus comprises laser light.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the first sensor comprises a light sensor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the second sensor comprises a light sensor.

10. The system of claim 6, further including drive apparatus for moving the nozzle in reciprocal directions along the Y′

and Z′

axes.

11. A method of aligning elements of a fuel delivery system comprising the steps of:

providing a receiver coupled in liquid communication with a receptacle, the receiver defining X, Y and Z axes;

providing a nozzle coupled in liquid communication with a fuel source, the nozzle defining X′

, Y′ and

Z′

axes;

providing interactive alignment structure responsive to movement of the receiver along the X axis for aligning the Y and Y′

axes and the Z and Z′

axes in a common two-dimensional plane, the interactive alignment structure comprising;

an emitter carried by one of the receiver and the nozzle for emitting a stimulus, and

sensor apparatus carried adjacent the other one of the receiver and the nozzle for receiving the stimulus, the sensor apparatus comprising;

a first sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Y and Y′

axes and the Z and Z′

axes in a common two-dimensional plane in response to movement of the receiver along the X axis, and

a second sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Z and Z′

axes in response to movement of the nozzle along the Y′

axis; and

moving the receiver along the X axis.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the stimulus comprises laser light.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the first sensor comprises a light sensor.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the second sensor comprises a light sensor.

15. A method of engaging a fuel source with a fuel tank in liquid communication comprising the step of:

providing a receiver coupled in liquid communication with a fuel tank of a vehicle, the receiver defining X, Y and Z axes;

providing a nozzle coupled in liquid communication with a fuel source, the nozzle defining X′

, Y′ and

Z′

axes;

providing interactive alignment structure responsive to movement of the receiver along the X axis and the nozzle along the Y′ and

Z′

for aligning the Z and Z′

axes and mating the nozzle with the receiver for fuel delivery, the interactive alignment structure comprising;

an emitter carried by one of the receiver and the nozzle for emitting a stimulus, and

sensor apparatus carried adjacent the other one of the receiver and the nozzle for receiving the stimulus, the sensor apparatus comprising;

a first sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Y and Y′

axes and the Z and Z′

axes in a common two-dimensional plane in response to movement of the receiver along the X axis, and

a second sensor for receiving the stimulus for indicating alignment of the Z and Z′

axes in response to movement of the nozzle along the Y′

axis;

moving the receiver along the X axis; and

moving the nozzle along the Y′ and

Z′

axes.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the stimulus comprises laser light.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first sensor comprises a light sensor.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second sensor comprises a light sensor.