System for diagnosing, maintaining and reporting the performance and safety condition of apparatus during refueling
First Claim
1. A system for automatically maintaining the performance and safety condition of an apparatus during apparatus refueling by communicating at least one non-fuel fluid between the apparatus that requires periodic maintenance of the non-fuel fluid and an off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply located at a fuel service location comprising means responsive to the initiation of the refueling to establish fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and control means for determining a quantity of maintenance fluid to be supplied to the apparatus from the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and for controlling non-fuel fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and wherein the non-fuel fluid is maintained by renewing a contaminant removal device that cleans the non-fuel fluid while the apparatus operates between fueling.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for automatically and simultaneously diagnosing apparatus performance and safety condition, maintaining on-apparatus components and sub-systems, and reporting apparatus condition and maintenance action taken during apparatus refueling. Diagnostic sub-systems include means for determining the condition of fluids or components that are consumed or deteriorate during use. Maintenance sub-systems include means for replacing, replenishing or renewing non-fuel fluids or components that are consumed or deteriorate during use. Reporting sub-systems include means for communicating information between on- and off-apparatus sub-systems and for generating reports that document apparatus performance and safety condition and the maintenance actions taken during refueling. A report can be presented to the apparatus operator, apparatus maintenance technician and/or to a central reporting facility. The report can be used to identify existing or potential apparatus system/sub-system or component failure, to schedule needed repair, to certify regulatory compliance, to optimize the performance of the apparatus, apparatus sub-system or operator, or to manage the cost of apparatus operation.
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Citations
64 Claims
- 1. A system for automatically maintaining the performance and safety condition of an apparatus during apparatus refueling by communicating at least one non-fuel fluid between the apparatus that requires periodic maintenance of the non-fuel fluid and an off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply located at a fuel service location comprising means responsive to the initiation of the refueling to establish fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and control means for determining a quantity of maintenance fluid to be supplied to the apparatus from the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and for controlling non-fuel fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and wherein the non-fuel fluid is maintained by renewing a contaminant removal device that cleans the non-fuel fluid while the apparatus operates between fueling.
- 3. A system for automatically maintaining the performance and safety condition of an apparatus during apparatus refueling by communicating at least one non-fuel fluid between the apparatus that requires periodic maintenance of the non-fuel fluid and an off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply located at a fuel service location comprising means responsive to the initiation of the refueling to establish fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, wherein the apparatus includes a port comprising single or a plurality of ports for communicating fluids having one or more connectors communicating with one or more apparatus components that require periodic non-fuel fluid maintenance, and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply includes a hose with one or more conduits and a hose nozzle containing one or more connectors oriented for establishing communication between the connectors at the apparatus port and the appropriate maintenance fluids at the maintenance fluid supply, and control means for determining a quantity of maintenance fluid to be supplied to the apparatus from the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and for controlling non-fuel fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply.
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62. A system for automatically maintaining the performance and safety condition of an apparatus during apparatus refueling at a fuel service location comprising at least one first sub-system on the apparatus for providing fluid communication between an apparatus fluid communication port and an apparatus component that requires periodic maintenance of a non-fuel fluid for proper operation, a second sub-system mounted at an off-apparatus fuel service location for providing a supply of maintenance fluid for a multitude of apparatus equipped with the first sub-system and for communicating the supply of maintenance fluid to the port on the apparatus, and control means, operative in response to the initiation of refueling, for determining the quantity of the maintenance fluid to be supplied by the second sub-system to the first sub-system, and for controlling fluid communication of the maintenance fluid from the second sub-system to the first sub-system during refueling.
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63. A system for automatically diagnosing, maintaining and reporting the performance and safety condition of a multitude of apparatus during refueling that require periodic maintenance of at least one non-fuel fluid for proper operation comprising means for sensing apparatus performance and safety condition, means for communicating at least one non-fuel fluid between the apparatus and an off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply at a fuel service location, means for communicating information between the apparatus and the off-apparatus fuel service location, and control means responsive to the initiation of the refueling for:
- a) determining a quantity of maintenance fluid to be supplied to the apparatus from the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, b) controlling both non-fuel fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply and information communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus fuel service location during refueling, and c) reporting, at the completion of refueling, apparatus maintenance information.
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64. A system for automatically maintaining the performance and safety condition of an apparatus during apparatus refueling by communicating at least one non-fuel fluid between the apparatus that requires periodic maintenance of the non-fuel fluid and an off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply located at a fuel service location comprising means responsive to the initiation of the refueling to establish fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and control means for determining a quantity of maintenance fluid to be supplied to the apparatus from the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply, and for controlling non-fuel fluid communication between the apparatus and the off-apparatus maintenance fluid supply.
Specification