Vehicle fueling system

• US 6,065,511 A
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McClintock, Gene
• Original Assignee: McClintock, Gene
• Inventors: McClintock, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): Walczak, David J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/151,704
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: 141/1, 141/94, 141/98, 141/231, 141/232, 137/234.6, 137/236.1, 340/825
• US Class Current: 141/231
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 5/02 Supplying fuel to vehicles; General disposition of plant in filling stations apparatus for transferring measured quantities of petrol, oil, or the like from storage space to vehicles B67D

Abstract

A vehicle fueling system which uses a tank vehicle similar to or the same as those used for jets to rapidly and efficiently refuel trucks and other land motor vehicles. The truck driver parks his truck in a designated vehicle fueling station, gives the station attendant the station identifier, and arranges for payment. The station attendant then radios a tank vehicle operator. The tank vehicle operator takes a tank vehicle to the corresponding station and refuels the truck. The amount of time required to refuel the truck is dramatically reduced from one hour to approximately ten minutes. The driver has the option of returning to the road immediately or enjoying the amenities of a driver respite area. The driver can eat, sleep, or shower. The driver may also have his vehicle washed or repaired. When the driver is ready to leave, he is given a metered record detailing the amount of fuel delivered.

Claims

1. A vehicle fueling system comprising:

(a) a plurality of motor vehicle fueling stations, each vehicle fueling station being adapted to accommodate a plurality of motor vehicles, one motor vehicle being accommodated at a time by each vehicle fueling station, each vehicle fueling station having a station identifier, each motor vehicle being adapted to travel on land, each motor vehicle being operated by a driver, each motor vehicle having a fuel capacity;

(b) at least one tank vehicle, the tank vehicle being adapted to storing and transporting fuel for motor vehicles, the tank vehicle transporting fuel to each of the vehicle fueling stations, the tank vehicle having a refueling means for rapidly and efficiently delivering a volume of fuel to the motor vehicle accommodated in the vehicle fueling station having a particular station identifier, the refueling means operating independently without the driver of the motor vehicle being present;

(c) an accounting means for providing to the driver of the motor vehicle a record of the volume of fuel delivered to the motor vehicle;

(d) a driver respite area, the driver respite area being located within walking distance of the vehicle fueling stations; and

(e) a vehicle washing facility adapted to washing motor vehicles and a vehicle repair facility adapted to repairing motor vehicles, said vehicle washing facility and vehicle repair facility being located within walking distance of the vehicle fueling stations, said vehicle washing facility and vehicle repair facility operating independently without the driver of the motor vehicle being present.

2. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vehicle parking facility, said vehicle parking facility being located within walking distance of the driver respite area.

3. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one fuel storage tank, the fuel storage tank being located largely above ground level, the fuel storage tank storing fuel for transfer to the tank vehicle, the fuel storage tank being located within a relatively short distance from the vehicle fueling stations.

4. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 1, wherein the refueling means is a refueling means for delivering jet fuel to jets.

5. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 1, wherein the driver respite area includes a motel.

6. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 1, wherein

(a) said refueling means includes at least one pump, the pump providing a rate of flow sufficient to deliver a volume of fuel corresponding to the fuel capacity of the motor vehicle within a fill time;

and

(b) the motor vehicles accommodated in the vehicle fueling stations are selected from the group consisting of trucks, automobiles, and locomotives.

7. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 6, wherein

(a) the motor vehicles accommodated in the vehicle fueling stations are trucks;

and

(b) the fill time is no greater than 10 minutes.

8. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 1, wherein the driver respite area includes a food facility, a rest facility, and a recreation facility.

9. The vehicle fueling system according to claim 8, wherein the food facility includes a restaurant, the rest facility includes a shower area, and the recreation facility includes an exercise area and a television viewing area.