Automatic fuel dispensing control system

• US 4,263,945 A
• Filed: 06/20/1979
• Issued: 04/28/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bradford O Van Ness
• Original Assignee: Bradford O Van Ness
• Inventors: Van Ness, Bradford O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Jr., Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US06/050,477
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 141/98, 141/231, 141/232, 141/233, 141/266, 141/269, 141/279, 141/284, 141/1, 141/192-229, 141/392, 222/192, 137/234.6, 235/61 R, 340/147 R, 340/147 A
• US Class Current: 141/98
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3802 With vehicle guide or support, e.g., service station

Abstract

A new and improved automatic fuel dispensing control system intended for use in serving a fleet of vehicles or equipment and requiring no operator action. A fueling receiver mounted in the fuel dispenser, a fueling transmitter mounted in each authorized vehicle, and a transmitter programmer comprise the system. Effective system security is afforded through the elimination of any requirement for keys, coded cards or the like.

Claims

1. An automatic fuel control dispensing system for vehicles comprising:

a fuel control transmitter for mounting on a vehicle and operable on long wavelength at low power radio frequency,

said transmitter comprising a transmitting antenna which radiates modulated RF signals to a fuel control receiver, a programmable means for storing multiple digital input data comprising a meassage, and means including a carrier oscillator for selectively transmitting signals comprising said message through said transmitting antenna to the fueling receiver,

said message comprising vehicle identification and fuel requirement needs of the vehicle on which said transmitter is mounted,

said signals of said transmitter being modulated in a digital manner in a continuously repeated message,

a transmitter programmer for storing in said programmable means at least a part of said message comprising a vehicle identification code, a fuel type code, a fuel limit code and a user code,

a fuel control receiver for mounting on a housing of a fuel dispensing mechanism,

said receiver comprising an antenna for receiving signals comprising a message transmitted by said transmitter, a demodulator for extracting the encoded digital information in said message, means for storing the data content of the message received, means for checking the message against stored information and rejecting from storage all messages received having an incorrect user'"'"'s code and providing a visual indication of this condition, means for activating a fuel dispenser mechanism, and means for sequentially activating a recording device which monitors the operation of the previously actuated fuel dispenser mechanism.

2. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said antenna of said receiver is mounted on the fuel dispensing mechanism in close proximity to said transmitter mounted on the vehicel when the vehicle is positioned for receiving fuel.

3. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

a fuel dispensing mechanism comprising a fuel pump haivng a fuel hose and nozzle and said antenna of said receiver being mounted near said nozzle.

4. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said message comprises a synchronization signal to identify the start of each repeated message, a user signal to authorize the vehicel to draw fuel from the fuel dispensing mechanism, a fuel signal to control the type of fuel that may be dispensed to that vehicle, a fuel quantity signal to limit the maximum amount of fuel to be dispensed, and a security signal to insure accurate reception of the above signals prior to activation by said receiver of the fuel dispensing mechanism.

5. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 4 wherein:

said message further comprises signals to identify the distance traveled by the vehicle between fueling stops.

6. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 5 wherein:

said transmitter comprises an electron counter activated by a pulser attached to the speedometer drive of the associated vehicle.

7. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said transmitter comprises a means for inhibiting its transmission of said message if the electrical controls for energizing the operation of the associated vehicle is in the "on" state.

8. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

means for connecting said transmitter to the electrical system of the associated vehicle for energization thereof.

9. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

battery means within said transmitter capable of maintaining said message in a memory of said transmitter for a period of time of the electrical system of the associated vehicle fails.

10. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said receiver further comprises means for deactivating the associated recording device after it has received data transmitted to it by said receiver.

11. The automatic fuel dispensing system set forth in claim 1 in further combination with:

a recording device for receiving data transmitted by said receiver for accummulating and printing out data from said receiver for each vehicle serviced by said receiver.