Automated vehicle fueling apparatus and method
First Claim
1. An automated vehicle fueling apparatus comprising:
- a fuel transfer housing mounted adjacent to a vehicle lane;
a fuel storage tank connected to the fuel transfer housing by a fixed fuel discharge pipe;
a plenum tube supported for movement in a fuel transfer opening through a front wall of the fuel transfer housing, and a tube motor connected to the plenum tube and operable to move the plenum tube between a tube fueling position extending out of the fuel transfer housing and into the vehicle lane and a tube retracted position extending inside the fuel transfer housing and out of the vehicle lane;
a robot mounted inside the fuel transfer housing and having a tool end assembly and operable to extend the tool end assembly through the plenum tube and into the vehicle lane;
a programmable controller connected to the robot and operable to control movement of the tool end assembly;
a control console positioned adjacent to the vehicle lane, connected to the programmable controller, and having at least one information receiving member that is reachable from a vehicle operator'"'"'s station when a vehicle is in the vehicle lane and in a vehicle fueling position;
at least two cameras connected to the programmable controller and positioned to view a fuel cap, on a fuel receiving tank of the vehicle, and guide the tool end assembly to a position for removing the fuel cap, and wherein the programmable controller activates the robot to remove the fuel cap, moves the fuel cap to a fuel cap storage location, moves a fuel discharge tube, connected to a fuel discharge valve and the fuel discharge pipe, into a fuel entry port in the fuel receiving tank, and opens the fuel discharge valve to dispense fuel into the fuel receiving tank;
an air and fuel vapor separator mounted in said fuel transfer housing and including an air flow fan that draws air and fuel vapors from the fuel receiving tank, through the plenum tube, into said fuel transfer housing and into the air and fuel vapor separator where fuel and fuel vapors are collected and cleaned air is discharged from said fuel transfer housing through a clean air discharge passage from the fuel transfer housing through a clean air discharge pipe;
wherein the programmable controller activates the robot to remove the fuel discharge tube from the fuel entry port in the fuel receiving tank after the fuel discharge valve is closed, moves the fuel discharge tube to a fuel discharge pipe storage location, retrieves the fuel cap from the fuel cap storage location, returns the fuel cap to the fuel entry port, close the fuel entry port and retracts the robot to a robot rest position; and
wherein the plenum tube is moved to the tube retracted position by the tube motor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multi axis robot is mounted in a fuel transfer housing. A programmable controller is connected to the robot. A control console receives instructions, from a vehicle operator who remains in an operator'"'"'s station, and transmits instructions to the controller. Cameras locate the vehicle fueling port. A tube is extended from the transfer housing toward the fueling port. The port is opened by robot arm and tools extending through the tube. The cap is stored. A fuel discharge is connected to the port. A fuel pump is activated and then deactivated. The fuel discharge is removed from the port. The robot retrieves the fuel cap, closes the port and closes other port covers. The tube is retracted into the transfer housing. During fueling air and fuel vapors are sucked into the housing. Filters separate air. Captured fuel is returned to storage. The operator and vehicle separate from the fuel housing.
31 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An automated vehicle fueling apparatus comprising:
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a fuel transfer housing mounted adjacent to a vehicle lane; a fuel storage tank connected to the fuel transfer housing by a fixed fuel discharge pipe; a plenum tube supported for movement in a fuel transfer opening through a front wall of the fuel transfer housing, and a tube motor connected to the plenum tube and operable to move the plenum tube between a tube fueling position extending out of the fuel transfer housing and into the vehicle lane and a tube retracted position extending inside the fuel transfer housing and out of the vehicle lane; a robot mounted inside the fuel transfer housing and having a tool end assembly and operable to extend the tool end assembly through the plenum tube and into the vehicle lane; a programmable controller connected to the robot and operable to control movement of the tool end assembly; a control console positioned adjacent to the vehicle lane, connected to the programmable controller, and having at least one information receiving member that is reachable from a vehicle operator'"'"'s station when a vehicle is in the vehicle lane and in a vehicle fueling position; at least two cameras connected to the programmable controller and positioned to view a fuel cap, on a fuel receiving tank of the vehicle, and guide the tool end assembly to a position for removing the fuel cap, and wherein the programmable controller activates the robot to remove the fuel cap, moves the fuel cap to a fuel cap storage location, moves a fuel discharge tube, connected to a fuel discharge valve and the fuel discharge pipe, into a fuel entry port in the fuel receiving tank, and opens the fuel discharge valve to dispense fuel into the fuel receiving tank; an air and fuel vapor separator mounted in said fuel transfer housing and including an air flow fan that draws air and fuel vapors from the fuel receiving tank, through the plenum tube, into said fuel transfer housing and into the air and fuel vapor separator where fuel and fuel vapors are collected and cleaned air is discharged from said fuel transfer housing through a clean air discharge passage from the fuel transfer housing through a clean air discharge pipe; wherein the programmable controller activates the robot to remove the fuel discharge tube from the fuel entry port in the fuel receiving tank after the fuel discharge valve is closed, moves the fuel discharge tube to a fuel discharge pipe storage location, retrieves the fuel cap from the fuel cap storage location, returns the fuel cap to the fuel entry port, close the fuel entry port and retracts the robot to a robot rest position; and wherein the plenum tube is moved to the tube retracted position by the tube motor.
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2. An automated vehicle fueling apparatus comprising:
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a fuel transfer housing mounted adjacent to a vehicle lane; a fuel storage tank connected to the fuel transfer housing by a fixed fuel discharge pipe; a plenum tube supported for movement in a fuel transfer opening through a front wall of the fuel transfer housing, and a tube motor connected to the plenum tube and operable to move the plenum tube between a tube fueling position extending out of the fuel transfer housing and into the vehicle lane and a tube retracted position extending inside the fuel transfer housing and out of the vehicle lane; a multi axis robot mounted inside the fuel transfer housing and having a tool end assembly on an end of at least two arms, and a plurality of robot motors that are operable to extend the tool end assembly through the plenum tube and into the vehicle lane; a programmable controller connected to the multi axis robot and operable to control movement of the tool end assembly by the plurality of robot motors; a control console positioned adjacent to the vehicle lane, connected to the programmable controller, and having at least one information receiving member that is reachable from a vehicle operator'"'"'s station when a vehicle is in the vehicle lane and in a vehicle fueling position; at least two cameras connected to the programmable controller and positioned to view a fuel cap, on a fuel receiving tank of the vehicle, and guide the tool end assembly to a position for removing the fuel cap, and wherein the programmable controller activates the robot to remove the fuel cap, moves the fuel cap to a fuel cap storage location, moves a fuel discharge tube, connected to a fuel discharge valve and the fuel discharge pipe, into a fuel entry port in the fuel receiving tank, and opens the fuel discharge valve to dispense fuel into the fuel receiving tank; an air and fuel vapor separator mounted in said fuel transfer housing and including an air flow fan that draws air and fuel vapors from the fuel receiving tank, through the plenum tube, into said fuel transfer housing and into the air and fuel vapor separator where fuel and fuel vapors are collected and cleaned air is discharged from said fuel transfer housing through a clean air discharge pipe; wherein the programmable controller activates the robot to remove the fuel discharge tube from the fuel entry port in the fuel receiving tank after the fuel discharge valve is closed, moves the fuel discharge tube to a fuel discharge pipe storage location, retrieves the fuel cap from the fuel cap storage location, returns the fuel cap to the fuel entry port, close the fuel entry port and retracts the robot to a robot rest position; and wherein the plenum tube is moved to the tube retracted position by the tube motor. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An automated vehicle fueling method comprising:
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receiving a signal, from a vehicle to be fueled, identifying a vehicle model to be fueled; sending the vehicle model to be fueled to a programmable controller; sending a signal identifying a fuel transfer housing to be used; moving the vehicle to be fueled into a fueling lane adjacent the fuel transfer housing to be used; stopping the vehicle to be fueled with an operator'"'"'s station positioned adjacent to a control console that is engageable from the operator'"'"'s station; transferring information including fuel to be supplied, vehicle identification, and method of payment to the control console; transferring information from the control console to the programmable controller; energizing a motor to move a plenum tube telescopically relative to a fuel transfer opening in the fuel transfer housing and to a plenum tube position extending into the fueling lane; activating a camera to locate a fuel cap and determine a fuel cap orientation and transferring the location of the fuel cap and the fuel cap orientation to the programmable controller; energizing a fuel vapor separator to draw air and fuel vapors through said plenum tube and into the fuel transfer housing; energizing a robot to remove the fuel cap, and moving the fuel cap to a storage position; energize the robot to retrieve a fuel discharge tube from the fuel transfer housing; moving the fuel discharge tube through said plenum tube and into a fuel entry port in a fuel receiving tank mounted on the vehicle to be fueled; energizing a fuel pump to move fuel from a fuel storage tank through a fuel discharge pipe, a flexible discharge hose, a discharge valve, the fuel discharge tube and into the fuel receiving tank; closing the discharge valve when the desired quantity of fuel is in the fuel receiving tank; energizing the robot to move the fuel discharge tube from the fuel entry port, through said plenum tube and into the fuel transfer housing; energizing the robot to retrieve the fuel cap, move the fuel cap through said plenum tube and replace the fuel cap on the fuel receiving tank; energize the robot to move to a starting position in the fuel transfer housing; separating fuel and fuel vapors from air drawn through said plenum tube and discharge cleaned air from the fuel transfer housing; energizing the motor to retract said plenum tube from the fueling lane; releasing the vehicle to be fueled to move from the fueling lane; de-energizing the fuel vapor separator when the air in the fuel transfer housing is free of fuel and fuel vapors; and returning captured fuel and fuel vapors from the fuel vapor separator to the fuel storage tank. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification