Lighted supervisory system for a fuel dispensing nozzle

• US 6,899,151 B1
• Filed: 06/07/2004
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc. (Dover Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation Incorporated (Dover Corporation)
• Inventors: Latka, Walter G., Klima, Richard J., Jarvie, Ian Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/862,711
• Time in Patent Office: 358 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/392, 141206-216, 141/59, 702/45
• US Class Current: 141/392
• 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: B67D 7/426 including means for displaying information, e.g. for advertising B67D7/425 takes precedence

Abstract

A nozzle is provided for a fleet fuel dispensing system. The nozzle includes an input port that is adapted to receive fuel through a fuel supply hose, and a spout that is configured to dispense fuel into a fuel entry receptacle of a vehicle. A valve assembly is configured to couple the input port with the spout, and is further configured to selectively facilitate the passage of fuel from the input port to the spout. A status light is associated with the nozzle and includes a single LED that is connected with a fleet management system. The status light is configured to selectively illuminate as directed by a fleet management system. The illumination provides information as to whether a vehicle is authorized to receive fuel from the spout. A fuel dispensing system having such a nozzle is also provided.

Claims

1. A nozzle for a fuel dispensing system that is adapted to deliver fuel to fleet vehicles, the nozzle comprising:

an input port being adapted to receive fuel through a fuel supply hose;

a spout being configured to dispense fuel into a fuel entry receptacle of a vehicle;

a valve assembly being configured to couple the input port with the spout, and being further configured to selectively facilitate the passage of fuel from the input port to the spout; and

a status light associated with the nozzle and comprising a single LED connected with a fleet management system, the status light being configured to selectively illuminate as directed by a fleet management system, whereby said illumination provides information as to whether a vehicle is a member of an authorized fleet and therefore whether the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel from the spout.

2. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said LED is further configured to display information concerning status of pending authorization of a vehicle to receive fuel from the spout.

3. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said LED is further configured to display information concerning whether fuel is being dispensed from the spout.

4. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said LED is further configured to display information concerning whether an error has occurred that prevents fuel from being dispensed from the spout.

5. The nozzle of claim 4, wherein said LED is configured to indicate the nature of the error.

6. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said LED is further configured to display information concerning:

a) status of pending authorization of a vehicle to receive fuel from the spout;

b) whether fuel is being dispensed from the spout; and

c) whether an error has occurred that prevents fuel from being dispensed from the spout.

7. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said LED comprises a single-colored LED.

8. The nozzle of claim 1, wherein said LED comprises a multi-colored LED.

9. The nozzle of claim 1, further comprising a housing, an antenna, and a processor, the housing being associated with the spout and at least partially enclosing the antenna, the processor, and the status light, wherein the processor is electrically connected with both the antenna and the status light.

10. A nozzle for a fuel dispensing system that is adapted to deliver fuel to fleet vehicles, the fleet vehicles having an integrated vehicle identification unit, the nozzle comprising:

an input port being adapted to receive fuel through a fuel supply hose;

a spout being configured to dispense fuel into a fuel entry receptacle of a vehicle;

a valve assembly being configured to couple the input port with the spout, and being further configured to selectively facilitate the passage of fuel from the input port to the spout;

an antenna associated with the nozzle and being configured to communicate with a vehicle; and

a status light associated with the nozzle and comprising a first LED connected with a fleet management system, the status light being configured to selectively illuminate as directed by a fleet management system, whereby said illumination provides information as to whether a vehicle is a member of an authorized fleet and therefore whether the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel from the spout.

11. The nozzle of claim 10, wherein the status light further comprises a second LED being associated with the nozzle, being connected with a fleet management system and being configured to selectively illuminate as directed by a fleet management system.

12. The nozzle of claim 11, whereby said illumination of at least one of the first and second LEDs is configured to selectively provide information concerning at least one of:

a) the status of pending authorization of a vehicle to receive fuel from the spout;

b) whether fuel is being dispensed from the spout;

c) whether an error has occurred that prevents fuel from being dispensed from the spout; and

d) the nature of the error.

13. The nozzle of claim 11, whereby said illumination of at least one of the first and second LEDs is configured to selectively provide information concerning:

a) status of pending authorization of a vehicle to receive fuel from the spout;

b) whether fuel is being dispensed from the spout; and

c) whether an error has occurred that prevents fuel from being dispensed from the spout.

14. The nozzle of claim 10, further comprising a housing and a processor, the housing being associated with the spout and at least partially enclosing the antenna, the processor, and the status light, wherein the processor is electrically connected with both the antenna and the status light.

15. A fuel dispensing system for automatically and conveniently providing fuel to fleet vehicles, the fleet vehicles having an integrated vehicle identification unit, the system comprising:

a fuel storage tank;

a fuel dispenser having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, the fuel inlet being connected with the fuel storage tank, the fuel dispenser being configured to facilitate selective passage of fuel from the fuel inlet to the fuel outlet in response to a control signal;

a fleet management system being configured to determine if a vehicle is authorized to receive fuel and being configured to provide the control signal and a monitoring signal;

a fuel supply hose having a first end and a second end, the first end being connected to the fuel outlet, and the fuel supply hose being configured to conduct fuel from the first end to the second end; and

a fuel nozzle comprising;

an input port connected to the second end of the fuel supply hose, the input port being adapted to receive fuel from the fuel supply hose;

a spout being configured to dispense fuel into a fuel entry receptacle of a vehicle;

a valve assembly being configured to couple the input port with the spout, and being further configured to facilitate selective passage of fuel from the input port to the spout; and

a status light associated with the nozzle and comprising at least one LED being configured to selectively illuminate as directed by the monitoring signal from the fleet management system, whereby said illumination provides information as to whether a vehicle is a member of an authorized fleet and therefore whether the vehicle is authorized to receive fuel from the spout.

16. The fuel dispensing system of claim 15 wherein the nozzle further comprises an antenna for communicating with a vehicle.

17. The fuel dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the antenna is configured to receive information from a vehicle.

18. The fuel dispensing system of claim 17 wherein the antenna is configured to transmit information to a vehicle.

19. The fuel dispensing system of claim 16 wherein the nozzle further comprises a processor configured to effectively connect the status light and the antenna with the fleet management system.

20. The fuel dispensing system of claim 19 further comprising a cable associated with the fuel supply hose and connecting the processor with the fleet management system.