Assembly for automatic vehicle fueling
First Claim
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1. An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
- a pump assembly including a fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel; and
a fuel tank inlet assembly having (a) a fitting with at least a first, second and third opening and (b) a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel entrance for operative connection with the fuel nozzle, the fuel exit for operative connection with the fuel tank, the first opening for operative connection to the fuel nozzle during fueling, the second opening operatively connected to the fuel line, and the third opening operatively connected to the fuel tank.
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Abstract
A fuel tank inlet assembly for receiving fuel during automatic vehicle fueling and a pump assembly for delivering fuel during automatic vehicle fueling and the combination thereof. The fuel tank inlet assembly includes a fuel conduit with a fuel exit for operative connection with a fuel tank and the pump assembly includes a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the inlet assembly. One preferred embodiment of the invention includes a positioning system which utilizes inductive triangulation to connect the pump assembly to the inlet assembly.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
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a pump assembly including a fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel; and
a fuel tank inlet assembly having (a) a fitting with at least a first, second and third opening and (b) a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel entrance for operative connection with the fuel nozzle, the fuel exit for operative connection with the fuel tank, the first opening for operative connection to the fuel nozzle during fueling, the second opening operatively connected to the fuel line, and the third opening operatively connected to the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
a nozzle sheath having a sheath cavity, the nozzle positioned in the sheath cavity before fueling; and
a collar for mating engagement with the fuel inlet adapter, the collar connected with respect to the nozzle sheath.
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17. The fueling assembly of claim 16 wherein the nozzle sheath is compressible such that when upward movement of the frame causes the collar to contact the fuel inlet adapter, the sheath stops moving upward and the nozzle continues to move upward out of the sheath cavity and into the inlet cavity to provide operative connection with the fuel hose.
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18. The fueling assembly of claim 16 wherein the pump assembly further includes:
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a pan for preventing fuel spills, the pan extending outwardly from the nozzle sheath and having a drain opening;
a flexible drain hose connected with respect to the drain opening and extending to a container;
a shroud for preventing fuel spills, the shroud connected with respect to the pan and having a shroud recess, the collar positioned within the shroud recess.
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19. The fueling assembly of claim 17 wherein the pump assembly further comprises a fuel pipe and the nozzle is operatively connected to the fuel pipe.
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20. The fueling assembly of claim 19 wherein the pump assembly further comprises a vacuum blower operatively attached to the fuel pipe for removing fuel vapor from the fuel tank during fueling.
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21. The fueling assembly of claim 7 wherein the pump assembly further comprises a fuel pipe and the nozzle is operatively connected to the fuel pipe.
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8. An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
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a fuel tank inlet assembly having a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the standard fuel tank; and
a pump assembly including (a) a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel entrance, (b) a nozzle sheath having a sheath cavity, the nozzle positioned in the sheath cavity before fueling, (c) a collar for mating engagement with the fuel entrance, the collar connected with respect to the nozzle sheath, and (d) a frame supporting the fuel nozzle, the frame positioned below the vehicle before fueling and being upwardly moveable to provide operative connection between the nozzle and the fuel entrance, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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11. An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
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a fuel tank inlet assembly having a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the standard fuel tank; and
a pump assembly including (a) a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel entrance, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel, and (b) a frame supporting the fuel nozzle, the frame positioned below the vehicle before fueling and being upwardly moveable to provide operative connection between the nozzle and the fuel entrance, the frame being connected with respect to at least one riser which powers upward and downward movement of the frame and with respect to a lateral movement device which moves the frame so that the nozzle is substantially aligned with the fuel inlet adapter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
at least three sensors located at known positions with respect to the nozzle; and
a controller for moving the lateral movement device so that the nozzle is substantially aligned with the fuel inlet adapter; and
whereby the distance between the reference marker and the sensors causes variation in each sensor and the controller uses the variation to calculate the position of the fuel inlet adapter relative to the nozzle.
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14. The fueling assembly of claim 13 wherein the controller can calculate the position of the fuel inlet adapter relative to the nozzle as the nozzle is moved upwardly and laterally.
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22. An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
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a fuel tank inlet assembly having a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the standard fuel tank; and
a pump assembly including (a) a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel entrance, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel, (b) a frame supporting the fuel nozzle, the frame positioned below the vehicle before fueling and being upwardly moveable to provide operative connection between the nozzle and the fuel entrance, (c) a fuel pipe operatively connected to the nozzle, and (d) a vacuum blower operatively attached to the fuel pipe for removing fuel vapor from the fuel tank during fueling.
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23. A vehicle fuel tank inlet assembly for use with a fuel tank having a fuel line leading to a fueling position which allows manual fueling, the assembly delivering fuel to a fuel tank during automatic fueling and comprising:
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a flexible fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the fuel tank;
a first unidirectional valve positioned between the fuel tank and the fuel entrance to prevent fuel from moving toward the fuel entrance;
a second unidirectional valve positioned between the fuel tank and the fueling position to prevent fuel from moving toward the fueling position; and
a fuel inlet adapter connected with respect to the fuel entrance, the fuel inlet adapter being mounted to the vehicle and having an inlet cavity for receiving a fuel nozzle during automatic fueling. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A fuel pump assembly for automatic fueling of a vehicle fuel tank, the vehicle having a conductive reference marker located at a known position relative to the fuel tank, the assembly comprising:
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a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel tank, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel; and
a positioning system for moving the fuel nozzle into operative connection with the fuel tank during automatic fueling, the positioning system comprising;
a lateral movement device operatively supporting the nozzle;
at least three sense inductors for locating the conductive reference marker, each sense inductor located at a known position relative to the nozzle and experiencing inductance variation due to the distance between the marker and the respective sense inductor changes; and
a controller for moving the lateral movement device in response to inductance variation so that the nozzle is substantially aligned for operative connection to the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
a nozzle sheath having a sheath cavity, the nozzle positioned in the sheath cavity before fueling; and
a collar for mating engagement with the fuel entrance, the collar connected with respect to the nozzle sheath.
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36. The pump assembly of claim 35 wherein the nozzle sheath is compressible such that when upward movement of the frame causes the collar to contact the fuel entrance, the sheath stops moving upward and the nozzle continues to move upward out of the sheath cavity.
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37. The pump assembly of claim 32 further including:
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a pan for preventing fuel spills, the pan extending outwardly from the nozzle sheath and having a drain opening;
a flexible drain hose connected with respect to the drain opening and extending to a container; and
a shroud for preventing fuel spills, the shroud connected with respect to the pan and having a shroud recess, the collar positioned within the shroud recess.
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38. The pump assembly of claim 32 further comprising a fuel pipe, the nozzle being operatively connected to the fuel pipe so that fuel passes from the fuel pipe through the nozzle.
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39. The fueling assembly of claim 38 wherein the pump assembly further comprises a vacuum blower operatively attached to the fuel pipe for removing fuel vapor from the fuel tank during fueling.
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40. A fuel pump assembly for automatic fueling of a vehicle fuel tank, the vehicle having a reference marker located at a known position relative to the fuel tank, the assembly comprising:
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a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel tank, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel; and
a positioning system for moving the fuel nozzle into operative connection with the fuel tank during automatic fueling, the positioning system comprising;
a lateral movement device operatively supporting the nozzle;
sensors for locating the reference marker, each sensor located at a known position relative to the nozzle and sensing the position of the reference marker; and
a controller for moving the lateral movement device in response to the sensors so that the nozzle is substantially aligned for operative connection to the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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Specification