Apparatus and method for facilitating fueling a vehicle

• US 6,648,032 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Issued: 11/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Orpak Industries Ltd. (RAPAC Communication & Infrastructure Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Orpak Industries Ltd. (RAPAC Communication & Infrastructure Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kelrich, David, Kohen, Hayim
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): deVore, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/167,570
• Time in Patent Office: 523 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/94, 141/98, 141/206, 141/231, 141/382, 141/392
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03197 Systems for exchanging data
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/425 including components powered by electricity or light
• CPC Class Codes: F03B 13/00 Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18; Power stations or aggregates incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008

Abstract

A controlled fuel distribution system and method for use in a vehicle fuel filling facility, including at least one fuel pump having a nozzle and at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver for receiving information from a vehicle prior to discharge of fuel thereinto and communicating with an authorization subsystem located at the vehicle fuel filling facility, and a fuel flow driven transceiver power generator operated by fuel pumped by the at least one fuel pump and passing through the nozzle for powering the at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver.

Claims

1. A controlled fuel distribution system for use in a vehicle fuel filling facility comprising:

at least one fuel pump having a nozzle;

at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver for receiving information from a vehicle prior to discharge of fuel thereinto and communicating with an authorization subsystem located at said vehicle fuel filling facility; and

a fuel flow driven transceiver power generator operated by fuel pumped by said at least one fuel pump and passing through said nozzle, thereby providing electrical power for powering said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver.

2. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 1 and wherein said fuel flow driven transceiver power generator comprises an impeller located upstream of said nozzle.

3. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a battery for storing electrical power generated by said impeller and for supplying said electrical power to said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver.

4. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 2 and wherein said impeller also provides an indication of fuel flow through said nozzle.

5. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 4 and wherein said indication of fluid flow is employed to confirm proper operation of said fuel distribution system.

6. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 2 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a first nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said vehicle and a second nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said authorization subsystem.

7. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver and said fuel flow driven transceiver power generator are located together within a single housing threadably connected at one end to a fuel supply hose leading from said fuel pump and at an opposite end to said nozzle.

8. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a first nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said vehicle and a second nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said authorization subsystem.

9. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 1 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said vehicle and with said authorization subsystem.

10. A controlled fuel distribution system according to claim 1 and also comprising a battery for storing electrical power generated by said generator and for supplying said electrical power to said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver.

11. A controlled fuel distribution method for use in a vehicle fuel filling facility including at least one fuel pump having a nozzle and at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver, the method including:

receiving information from a vehicle prior to discharge of fuel thereinto;

communicating with an authorization subsystem located at the vehicle fuel filling facility; and

driving a fuel flow driven transceiver power generator by a flow of fuel pumped by said at least one fuel pump and passing through said nozzle to provide electrical power for powering said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver.

12. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 11 and wherein said fuel flow driven transceiver power generator comprises an impeller located upstream of said nozzle.

13. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 12 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a battery for storing electrical power generated by said impeller and for supplying said electrical power to said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver.

14. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 12 and wherein said impeller also provides an indication of fuel flow through said nozzle.

15. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 14 and wherein said indication of fluid flow is employed to confirm proper operation of said fuel distribution method.

16. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 12 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a first nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said vehicle and a second nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said authorization subsystem.

17. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver and said fuel flow driven transceiver power generator are located together within a single housing threadably connected at one end to a fuel supply hose leading from said fuel pump and at an opposite end to said nozzle.

18. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a first nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said vehicle and a second nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said authorization subsystem.

19. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 11 and wherein said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver comprises a nozzle-mounted transceiver for communication with said vehicle and with said authorization subsystem.

20. A controlled fuel distribution method according to claim 11 and also comprising a battery for storing electrical power generated by said generator and for supplying said electrical power to said at least one nozzle-mounted transceiver.