Dispensing system for preventing unauthorized fueling

• US 6,466,842 B1
• Filed: 08/02/2000
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems, Inc. (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:
  US09/630,748
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 700/231, 700/236, 700/244, 141/94, 141/98
• US Class Current: 700/231
• 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 including fuel delivery indicia;

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;

d. wherein said control system is further adapted to;

i. determine if said fuel dispenser is delivering a proper type of fuel for the vehicle;

ii. determine if the vehicle is receiving the proper type of fuel based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

iii. allow fuel delivery if said fuel dispenser is delivering the proper type of fuel for the vehicle and the vehicle is receiving the proper type of fuel.

2. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 1, wherein said control system is further adapted to detect an improper fueling condition and generate an output signal if said fuel dispenser is not delivering the proper type of fuel for the vehicle and the vehicle is not receiving the proper type of fuel.

3. 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 type 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 type indicia determined from monitoring delivered fuel; and

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

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

ii. determine if said fuel dispenser is delivering the fuel type;

iii. determine if the vehicle is receiving the fuel type based on the fuel type indicia; and

iv. allow fuel delivery if said fuel dispenser is delivering the fuel type and the vehicle is receiving the fuel type.

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

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

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

ii. determine if said fuel dispenser is delivering the fuel type;

iii. determine if the fuel container is receiving the fuel type based on the fuel type indicia; and

iv. allow fuel delivery if said fuel dispenser is delivering the fuel type and the fuel container is receiving the fuel type.

5. 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 including fuel delivery from the vehicle on a continuous basis;

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;

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

f. wherein;

i. said determining if fuel is being delivered further in step includes determining a quantity of fuel

ii. said determining if fuel is being received includes determining a quantity of fuel received by the vehicle based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

iii. said allowing step includes allowing fuel delivery if the quantity of fuel delivered from said fuel dispenser is equal to the quantity of fuel received by the vehicle.

6. The method for preventing unauthorized fueling in a fuel dispensing system of claim 5, further comprising detecting an improper fueling condition and generating an output signal if the quantity of fuel delivered from said fuel dispenser is not equal to the quantity of fuel received by the vehicle.

7. 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 including fuel delivery from the vehicle on a continuous basis;

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;

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

f. wherein;

i. said determining if fuel is being delivered further step includes determining if said fuel dispenser is delivering a proper type of fuel for the vehicle;

ii. said determining if fuel is being received includes if the vehicle is receiving the proper type of fuel based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

iii. said allowing step includes allowing fuel delivery if said fuel dispenser is delivering the proper type of fuel for the vehicle and the vehicle is receiving the proper type of fuel.

8. The method for preventing unauthorized fueling in a fuel dispensing system of claim 7, further comprising detecting an improper fueling condition and generating an output signal if said fuel dispenser is not delivering the proper type of fuel for the vehicle and the vehicle is not receiving the proper type of fuel.

9. 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; and

e. wherein said means for determining further determines;

i. if said fuel dispensing means is delivering a proper type of fuel for the vehicle; and

ii. if the vehicle is receiving the proper type of fuel based on the fuel delivery indicia; and

f. wherein said means for allowing fuel delivery if said fuel dispensing means is delivering the proper type of fuel for the vehicle and the vehicle is receiving the proper type of fuel.

10. The fuel delivery system for preventing unauthorized fueling of claim 9, further comprising means for detecting an improper fueling condition and generating an output signal if said fuel dispensing means is not delivering the proper type of fuel for the vehicle and the vehicle is not receiving the proper type of fuel.

11. The fuel delivery system of claim 9 wherein said means for determining and said means for allowing are a control system.