Fueling station for unmanned aerial vehicle of the vertical takeoff types

• US 9,815,684 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brian Kamradt, Dart A. Fox
• Original Assignee: Brian Kamradt, Dart A. Fox
• Inventors: Kamradt, Brian, Fox, Dart A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNIE, REXFORD N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mourad, Rasem
• Application Number:
  US13/998,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20150123462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,474 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64C 39/024 of the remote controlled vehicle type, i.e. RPV
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 10/10 Rotorcrafts
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2101/60 for transporting passengers; for transporting goods other than weapons
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 2201/10 autonomous, i.e. by navigating independently from ground or air stations, e.g. by using inertial navigation systems [INS]
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 50/34 In-flight charging photovoltaics B64U50/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/30 for capturing UAVs in flight by ground or sea-based arresting gear, e.g. by a cable or a net
• CPC Class Codes: B64U 70/90 Launching from or landing on platforms
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00089 Remote control means, e.g. by electromagnetic signals
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/02 for transferring liquids other than fuel or lubricants
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0401 arrangements for automatically fuelling vehicles, i.e. without human intervention
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/78 Arrangements of storage tanks, reservoirs or pipe-lines
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/845 Trolleys or like movable supports

Abstract

An unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station for fuels of all sorts (gasoline, pesticides, water, fertilizers etc.) a tank, docking, and coupling system for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) of the vertical takeoff types. The station can be independent of public power and communication utilities and can operate by remote control without an on-site attendant. The preferred system has a central command center with a control computer in communication with a station control computer located at one or more satellite stations through a communications link. The station control computer can be controlled remotely by the command center. The station control computer programming has control over the activities of the station through an electrical generation subsystem with a solar array, battery bank, battery charger and standby generator; a fuel dispensing subsystem; a security subsystem with video cameras; a communications link and a status sensor subsystem.

Claims

1. An unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station for different fuels for a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) comprising:

a plurality of fuel storage tanks of different sizes, each fuel storage tank of the plurality of fuel storage tanks holding a different fuel to be dispensed to at least one of the UAVs of the plurality of UAVs,

a landing platform for landing the UAV,

a docking and coupling system,

a pump adapted to deliver fuel,

a piping system fluidly connected to the pump to transmit fuel from at least one fuel storage tank,

at least one fuel coupling and dispensing system connected to the piping system, wherein the plurality of fuel storage tanks of different sizes, the pump, the piping system, and the coupling system form a subsystem configured to be fitted to different sized UAVs of the plurality of UAVs,

a communications link operable to communicate with a control computer at a central command center remote to the station, the control computer having a remote control to remotely operate the station through the communications link,

an auto-steering guidance system to operate the station, and

a station control on-board computer operably coupled to the communications link and a controller for the pump, the computer being configured to permit the control computer to remotely monitor and operate the station,

wherein the station is a self-propelled unmanned motorized vehicle operable with the auto-steering guidance system and the remote control.

2. The unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station of claim 1 further comprising wheels.

3. The unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station of claim 1, wherein the station is anchored to a foundation.

4. The unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station of claim 1 further comprising a temperature sensor to monitor a temperature of the station control on-board computer.

5. The unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station of claim 1 further comprising at least one of a solar array, battery bank, battery charger or standby generator to power the station control on-board computer.

6. The unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station of claim 1 further comprising a security subsystem with video cameras and motion sensors.

7. The unmanned self-sustained fuel dispensing station of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuel storage tank comprises a fuel level sensor.