Automated fuel management system, components therefor, and methods of making the same

• US 5,727,608 A
• Filed: 08/30/1996
• Issued: 03/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Snyder Equipment Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Nusbaumer, Ronald Woods
• Inventors: Woods, Ronald, Nusbaumer, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/697,818
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 141/351, 364/464.1, 364/464.23, 705/413
• US Class Current: 141/94
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/145 by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/348 by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder B67D7/145 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

An automated fueling facility comprising a fuel receiving station, at least one fuel storage tank, at least one fuel dispensing station all these components connected by associated transfer piping and a central data collection station having novel secure fueling operation is provided. Each of the components is in electrical communication with the central data collection station through an interface terminal which processes a digital data string of information from vehicles desiring fueling. The interface terminal compares the transmitted information to selected stored information, authorizing properly coded vehicles access to fuel from the fuel dispensing station and ceases fueling operations at the respective fuel dispensing station when the digital data string is interrupted. The fuel dispensing station has a fuel dispensing nozzle adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank at a common datum line. The nozzle is fitted with a receiving antenna and the fuel receiving tank is fitted with a transmitting antenna, with receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna in such close proximity as to interrupt transmission of the digital data string and cause cessation of the fueling operation upon minimal withdrawal of the nozzle from the fuel tank.

Claims

1. In an automated fueling facility comprising a fuel receiving station, at least one fuel storage tank, at least one fuel dispensing station all connected by associated transfer piping and a central data collection station, each of said components having means for communicating with said central data collection station, said central data collection station having means for receiving information which is transmitted from a continuously operating identity transmitter mounted on at least one vehicle desiring fueling, said identity transmitter powered by the vehicle power source and requiring no special activation by the user, comparing said information to selected stored information, authorizing properly coded vehicles access to fuel from said fuel dispensing station and ceasing fueling operations at said fuel dispensing station when said transmitted information is interrupted, the improvement wherein said fuel dispensing station has a fuel dispensing nozzle adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank at a common datum line, said nozzle having a receiving antenna which comprises a circumferential band completely encircling said nozzle is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout and said fuel receiving tank has a transmitting antenna associated therewith, said transmitted information being a radio frequency signal, said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna being in such close proximity as to interrupt transmission of said information and to cause cessation of said fueling operation upon minimal withdrawal of said nozzle from said fuel tank when the line of sight between said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna is lost.

2. An automated fueling facility as described in claim 1 wherein said circumferential band is formed from a metallic material.

3. An automated fueling facility as described in claim 1 wherein said circumferential band is approximately eleven-sixteenths inch in width.

4. An automated fueling facility as described in claim 1 wherein said insulating material is an elastomeric material selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyparabenzamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone, viton, chloroprene, ethylene propylene polymer, isoprene, butyl, polystyrene or combinations thereof.

5. An automated fueling facility as described in claim 1 wherein said transmitting antenna is mounted in one location within a portion of said fuel receiving tank at a predetermined distance from said datum line and contains a flat disc disposed in one end thereof.

6. An automated fueling facility as described in claim 5 wherein said flat disc is a metallic material.

7. An automated fueling facility as described in claim 6 wherein said flat disc of metallic material is approximately five-eighths inch in diameter.

8. An automated fueling facility as described in claim 1 wherein said minimal withdrawal of said nozzle interrupts transmission of said radio frequency signal when said nozzle is withdrawn more than seven eighths of an inch from full mating engagement with said fuel receiving tank.

9. In a fueling dispenser having means for communicating with a central data collection station of a fueling facility, said central data collection station having means for receiving information transmitted from at least one vehicle desiring fueling, means for comparing said information to selected stored information, means for authorizing properly coded vehicles access to fuel from said fuel dispenser and means for ceasing fueling operations at said fuel dispenser when said transmitted information is interrupted, the improvement wherein said fuel dispenser has a fuel dispensing nozzle adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank at a common datum line, said nozzle having a receiving antenna associated therewith which comprises a circumferential band completely encircling said nozzle, is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout and said fuel receiving tank having a transmitting antenna associated therewith, said transmitted information being a continuous radio frequency signal, said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna are is such close proximity as to interrupt transmission of said information and to cause cessation of said fueling operation upon minimal withdrawal of said nozzle from said fuel tank when the line of sight between said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna is lost.

10. A fueling dispenser as described in claim 9 wherein said circumferential band is formed from a metallic material.

11. A fueling dispenser as described in claim 9 wherein said circumferential band is approximately eleven-sixteenths inch in width.

12. An fueling dispenser as described in claim 9 wherein said insulating material is an elastomeric material selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyparabenzamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone, viton, chloroprene, ethylene propylene polymer, isoprene, butyl, polystyrene or combinations thereof.

13. A fueling dispenser as described in claim 9 wherein said minimal withdrawal of said nozzle interrupts transmission of said radio frequency signal when said nozzle is withdrawn more than seven eighths of an inch from full mating engagement with said fuel receiving tank.

14. In a fueling nozzle adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank at a common datum line, said nozzle having a receiving antenna associated therewith and said fuel receiving tank having a transmitting antenna associated therewith, said fueling nozzle activated by transmitted information transmitted as a continuous radio frequency signal from continuously operating identity transmitter mounted on a vehicle desiring fueling, said identity transmitter powered by the vehicle power source and requiring no special activation by the user, the improvement wherein said receiving antenna comprises a circumferential band completely encircling said nozzle, is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout, and is in such close proximity with said transmitting antenna as to interrupt transmission of said information and to cause cessation of said fueling operation upon minimal withdrawal of said fueling nozzle from said fuel tank when the line of sight between said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna is lost.

15. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 14 wherein said circumferential band is formed from a metallic material.

16. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 14 wherein said circumferential band is approximately eleven-sixteenths inch in width.

17. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 14 wherein said insulating material is an elastomeric material selected from the group comprising polyethylene, polypropylene, polyamide, polyparabenzamide, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicone, viton, chloroprene, ethylene propylene polymer, isoprene, butyl, polystyrene or combinations thereof.

18. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 14 wherein said receiving antenna is disposed about the discharge end of said nozzle a predetermined distance from said datum line.

19. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 14 wherein said receiving antenna provides for receipt of said radio frequency signal at any circumferential engagement of said nozzle within said adaptor.

20. A fueling nozzle as described in claim 14 wherein said minimal withdrawal of said nozzle interrupts transmission of said radio frequency signal when said nozzle is withdrawn more than seven eighths of an inch from full mating engagement with said fuel receiving tank.