Automatic fueling system

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6382269
  • Patent Number
    6,382,269
  • Date Filed
    Monday, September 25, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, May 7, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
An automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle contains a fueling machine containing a fueling pipe led to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to the fueling pipe via a hose, a nozzle conveyance unit containing an arm mechanism, a mechanism control unit for controlling the movement of the arm mechanism, and a fuel-port sensor for sensing the position of a fueling port of the vehicle, the nozzle conveyance unit automatically conveying the fueling nozzle to the fueling port and automatically inserting the fueling nozzle thereto under the control of the mechanism control unit, and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to the fueling machine and the nozzle conveyance unit, the fueling nozzle being conveyed by unit of the nozzle conveyance unit to the fueling port in either case where the fueling port faces the fueling machine or the fueling port does not face the fueling machine by the receipt of the fueling information from the data input/output apparatus, the fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, the fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from the mechanism control unit.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to an automatic fueling system, more specifically to an automatic fueling system wherein fueling can be performed to a vehicle of which fueling port is existed on either side of the vehicle and by which all the fueling operation steps are automatically carried out without manual operations.




The present invention further relates to an automatic fueling system of which production can be carried out by a minimum manufacturing cost, and by which all the fueling operation steps are carried out without manual operations.




2. Discussion of Related Art




Recently, many proposals were made to prepare fueling systems which are convenient, safe, and advantageous in view of cost.




For instance, fueling systems are reported which have fuel-sort discrimination units for preventing from dispensing different sorts of fuel from the ones in fuel tanks of cars as disclosed in Japanese Kokai Publications 6 (1994)-115598 and 8 (1996)-169498, fueling systems which automatically dispense fuel to cars to the full-tank level thereof by the provision of full-tank fueling units as disclosed in Japanese Kokai Publications 58 (1983)-41095 and 63 (1988)-125196.




All of the above-mentioned fueling systems are effectively used with a minimum number of fueling operators. These systems, however, need well-trained fueling operators, for inserting fueling nozzles to fueling ports of cars.




As Japanese Kokai Publication (1997)-156699 and Japanese Patent Application 11(1999)-328535, an automatic fueling system is disclosed wherein all the fueling steps are automatically carried out substantially without a manual operation. However, it is impossible to perform fueling to a car of which fueling port locates opposite to the fueling mechanism. Namely, drivers of the car have to always recognize on which sides of the cars the fueling ports exist, and they need to chose fueling machines which are to face the fueling port of their cars.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an automatic fueling system by which can be perform fueling to a vehicle entered a fueling area regardless of the direction of the fueling port of the vehicle with respect to the fueling machine, and by which all the fueling steps are carried out automatically.




A second object of the present invention is to provide an automatic fueling system which can be manufactured by a minimum cost, and by which all the fueling steps are carried out automatically.




The first object of the present invention is attained by an automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle, comprising a fueling machine comprising a fueling pipe led to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to the fueling pipe via a hose; a nozzle conveyance means comprising an arm mechanism, a mechanism control unit for controlling the movement of the arm mechanism, and a fuel-port sensor for sensing the position of a fueling port of the vehicle the nozzle conveyance means automatically conveying the fueling nozzle to the fueling port and automatically inserting the fueling nozzle thereto under the control of the mechanism control unit; and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to the fueling machine and the nozzle conveyance means, the fueling nozzle being conveyed by means of the nozzle conveyance means to the fueling port in either case where the fueling port faces the fueling machine or the fueling port does not face the fueling machine by the receipt of the fueling information from the data input/output apparatus, the fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, the fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from the mechanism control unit.




The second object of the present invention is attained by an automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle, comprising a fueling machine comprising at least one fueling pipe led to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to the fueling pipe via a hose; a nozzle conveyance means comprising an arm system, a mechanism control unit, for automatically conveying the fueling nozzle to a fueling port of the vehicle by grasping the fueling nozzle, and automatically inserting the fueling nozzle by the movement of the arm system under the control of the mechanism control unit; and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to the fueling machine and the nozzle conveyance means, the fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, the fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from the mechanism control unit, the nozzle conveyance means being independent of the fueling machine.




Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:





FIG. 1

is a front view of an automatic fueling system according to the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a plan view of the automatic fueling system according to the present invention;





FIG. 3

is a schematic view of a fueling system of the present invention for explaining components and a fueling state thereof;





FIG. 4

is a cross-section of a nozzle mechanism for use in the present invention;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of a data input mobile for use in the present invention;





FIG. 6

is a block diagram for explaining the components of an automatic fueling system of the present invention and the functional relationship thereof;





FIG. 7

is a schematic diagram of a fueling port of a car to be fueled by the automatic fueling system of the present invention;





FIG. 8

is a flow-chart for explaining the function of a data input/output apparatus for use in the present invention;





FIG. 9

is a flow-chart for explaining the function of a fueling machine for use in the present invention;





FIG. 10

is a diagram for explaining a waiting position of a fueling machine for use in the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a diagram for explaining an end position of a fueling machine for use in the present invention;





FIG. 12

is a schematic view of a fueling system of the present invention for explaining components and a fueling state thereof;





FIG. 13

is a front view of an automatic fueling system according to the present invention;





FIG. 14

is a partial view of a bending hose of an articulated arm system for use in the present invention;





FIG. 15

is a cross-section of another nozzle mechanism for use in the present invention;





FIG. 16

is a plan view of a fueling system of the present invention;





FIG. 17

is a block diagram for explaining the components of an automatic fueling system of the present invention and the functional relationship thereof;





FIG. 18

is a flow-chart for explaining operations of a data input/output apparatus for use in the present invention;





FIG. 19

is a schematic view of a fueling system of the present invention for explaining components and a fueling state thereof;





FIG. 20

is a schematic view of a fueling system of the present invention for explaining components and a fueling state thereof;





FIG. 21

is a perspective view of a fueling system according to the present invention;





FIG. 22

is a diagram for explaining a structure of a fueling machine for use in the present invention;





FIG. 23

is a diagram for explaining the motion of a third arm member in a nozzle conveyance means for use in the present invention;





FIG. 24

is a block diagram for explaining the components of an automatic fueling system of the present invention and the functional relationship thereof;





FIG. 25

is a is a flow-chart for explaining the function of a data input/output apparatus for use in the present invention;





FIG. 26

a flow-chart for explaining the function of a fueling machine for use in the present invention;











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS




In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic fueling system comprising a fueling machine, a nozzle conveyance means and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to the fueling machine and the nozzle conveyance means. The nozzle conveyance means for use in the present invention is novel, comprising an arm mechanism, a mechanism control unit for controlling the movement of the arm mechanism, and a fuel-port sensor for sensing the position of the fueling port. The nozzle conveyance means automatically conveying the fueling nozzle to a fueling port of a car and automatically inserting a fueling nozzle of the fueling machine thereto. It is preferable that the fuel-port sensor sense the position of the fueling port by detecting a signal generated from a transmitter provided on the vehicle nearby the fueling port.




By the fueling system according to the present invention, the fueling nozzle is conveyed by means of the nozzle conveyance means, to the fueling port in either case where the fueling port faces the fueling machine or the fueling port does not face the fueling machine by the receipt of the fueling information from the data input/output apparatus. The fueling machine starts and stops fueling based on the fueling information, and the fueling nozzle is extracted from the fueling port after the automatic fueling operation is completed under the control of the mechanism control unit.




It is possible in the present invention to provide a fueling system wherein the fueling machine and the nozzle conveyance means are united. For instance, the fueling machine can play a role of a support for the nozzle conveyance means. Namely, the fueling pipe of the fueling machine can be introduced in the arm mechanism, passed therethrough in the longitudinal direction, and can project therefrom.




In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an automatic fueling system comprising a fueling machine, a nozzle conveyance means and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to the fueling machine and the nozzle conveyance means, of which nozzle conveyance means is provided independently of the fueling machine. The nozzle conveyance means comprises an arm system, a mechanism control unit, for automatically conveying the fueling nozzle to a fueling port of a car to be fueled. The fueling nozzle of the fueling system is grasped by the arm system and automatically inserted to a fueling port of a car. The movement of the arm system is controlled by the mechanism control unit. The fueling machine starts and stops the automatic fueling operation based on the fueling information from the data input/output apparatus. With the completion of fueling, the fueling nozzle is extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from the mechanism control unit.




In the fueling system of the second aspect, it is preferable that a camera such as CCD camera and an image processing means are provided on the nozzle conveyance means, and that a fueling port of a car to be fueled is detected.




Other features of this invention will become apparent in the course of the following description of exemplary embodiments, which are given for illustration of the invention and are not intended to be limiting thereof.




A first preferred embodiment of the automatic fueling system


10


, as a first aspect, according to the present invention is illustrated as a front view in

FIG. 1

, and a plan view of the fueling system


10


is described in FIG.


2


. In each of

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a fueling machine


11


and a data input/output apparatus


40


are provided on an island


2


in a fueling area A (FIG.


2


). In the present invention, a fueling nozzle (not shown) in the fueling machine is automatically moved to a position corresponding to a fueling port of a car


3


stopped at the fueling area A.




The fueling machine


11


in this first embodiment contains of a long and narrow support


13


stood upon a base plate


12


on the island


2


. A first arm member


14


is linked to the support


13


by the rotational connection of the upper end of the support


13


with one end of the first arm member


14


, and a second arm member


15


is rotatably linked to the other end of the first arm member


14


. Here, the support, and the first and the second arm members constitute an arm mechanism. Another end of the second arm member


15


is further linked with a nozzle mechanism


16


with the rotational linkage therebetween. The fueling machine


11


in the first embodiment is moved back and forth along a rail


18


provided on the island


2


by the control of a horizontal movement control unit


17


provided on a base plate


12


by the support


13


.




On the island


2


, as shown in

FIG. 1

, an entry sensor


36


is provided for sensing the entrance of a car to the fueling area. Below the island (underground), fueling pipes


19




a


,


19




b


and


19




c


are connected to fuel-storage tanks provided underground (not shown) respectively of regular, premium and diesel. The fueling pipes


19




a


,


19




b


and


19




c


are connected to hoses


22




a


,


22




b


and


22




c


which are introduced to the support


13


with the provision therebetween pumps


20




a


,


20




b


and


20




c


and flow-meters


21




a


,


21




b


and


21




c


. As will precisely explained later in relation to

FIG. 4

, the hoses


22




a


,


22




b


and


22




c


are respectively connected to fueling nozzles in a set of pipes


37


passing through the support


13


, the first arm member


14


and the second arm member


15


, and being lead to the nozzle mechanism


16


. Each of the pipes


37


is linked by joint members such as rotational joints and/or hoses to perform smooth movements of the linked parts in the support


13


, the first arm member


14


, the second arm member


15


, and the nozzle mechanism


16


, and not to hinder the necessary movements, for instance, the expansion and contraction of the arms members.




In each of

FIGS. 1 and 4

, an entrance judge lamp


34


is provided on the support


13


which indicates whether or not a car can enter the fueling area A. For instance, when it is ready to accept a car to the fueling area, a blue lamp is lit, while when it is not ready to accept a car thereto, a red lamp is lit. Moreover, a fueling position sensor


35


for detecting on which side of a car a fueling port exists is provided on the second arm member


14


around a rotationally linked part with the second arm member


15


.




The nozzle conveyance means in this embodiment is composed of the first arm member


14


; the second arm member


15


; the nozzle mechanism


16


; a rotary movement control unit


33


; the horizontal movement control unit


17


by which the movements of the first arm member


14


, the second arm member


15


and the nozzle mechanism


16


are controlled; the fueling position sensor


35


; and the fueling port sensor


32


. The nozzle conveyance means carries a fueling nozzle to an appropriate position to be fit to a fueling port of a car even when the fueling port exists on the opposite side with respect to the fueling machine.




By the provision of the nozzle conveyance means, a car with a fueling port on either side thereof can be smoothly fueled as illustrated in FIG.


3


.




In

FIG. 3

, the support


13


is formed to have the top end thereof much higher than a roof of a car


3


to be fueled in the fueling area A with taking into consideration the fueling to a car of which fueling port is on the opposite side with respect to a fueling machine (hereinafter referred to as opposite-side fueling). The first arm member


14


rotates on the axis I with respect to the support


13


in the directions shown by arrows X, X′ to be horizontally provided above the roof of the car. The second arm member


15


rotates in the directions of arrows Y, Y′ on the axis II with respect to the first arm A. Here, the length of the first arm member


14


is determined as the end connected with the second arm member


15


locates above the car roughly at the center part thereof, and the length of the second arm member


15


is decided to be enough to reach a fueling port either on a nearby side (shown by a solid line) or opposite side (shown by a two-dot chain line) with respect to the fueling machine. As shown in

FIG. 3

the nozzle mechanism


16


is rotary connected to the second arm member


15


and the fueling is performed with the insertion of one of nozzles to the fueling port of the car, of which mechanism is explained below.





FIG. 4

is a cross-section of the nozzle mechanism


16


. One end of a casing


24


is connected to the second arm member (FIG.


3


), and the other end thereof opened forming an opening


25


with being protruded, thereby forming a discharge pipe. The fueling nozzles


23




a


,


23




b


and


23




c


is contained in the casing


24


, one of the fueling nozzles


23




a


,


23




b


and


23




c


is to be extruded from the opening


25


as indicated by a two-dot chain line for the case of the fueling nozzle


23




a


. The extrusion of the fueling nozzles


23




a


,


23




b


and


23




c


are performed by the provision of bellows


26




a


,


26




b


and


26




c


and opening-closing valves


27




a


,


27




b


and


27




c


, and the fueling nozzles


23




a


,


23




b


and


23




c


are connected to the hoses


22




a


,


22




b


and


22




c


contained in the previously mentioned pipes


37


via the valves


27




a


,


27




b


and


27




c


. The casing


24


has an insertion sensor


31


and a vapor absorption port


28


at the side of the opening


25


, and the vapor absorption port


28


is connected to a sensor


29


, and then to an absorption pump


30


. Furthermore, a fuel-port sensor


32


for detecting a fuel port of a car is provided on the casing


24


.




Referring back to

FIG. 1

, the data input/output apparatus


40


is composed of a stand


41


and a housing part


42


wherein provided are an indicator


43


, a communicator


44


, and a data input mobile


46


connected to the casing by means of a signal line


45


.




As more concretely shown in the perspective view of

FIG. 5

, the data input mobile


46


has an indication part


47


, a keyboard


48


, a setting button


49


, and a confirmation button


50


, and a card reading/writing unit


51


. This data input mobile


46


is illustrated as being connected with the signal line


45


to the housing part


42


, although the mobile


46


may be prepared as wireless. The card reading/writing unit


51


reads information recorded on a credit card, a banking card, a fueling card, a prepaid card, and an IC card, and writes new information thereon.




The functional relationship of the constituents of the automatic fueling system


10


according to the present invention will be explained more precisely with referring to a block diagram shown in FIG.


6


.




The fueling machine


11


comprises a fuel-control unit


60


comprising, for instance, a full-tank fueling unit


61


and a fuel-sort discrimination unit


62


, the fuel-control unit


60


being connected to a pump


20


, a flow-meter


21


, an opening-closing valve


27


, a fuel-sort sensor


29


, a suction pump


30


, and an insertion sensor


31


.




Furthermore, the fueling machine


11


is provided with a rotary movement control unit


33


for controlling the movements of the first arm member


14


, the second arm member


15


and the nozzle mechanism


16


independently of the movement of each other. A horizontal movement control unit


17


causes the fueling machine


11


to horizontally move along the rail


18


previously mentioned in relation to FIG.


2


. The rotary movement control unit


33


and the horizontal movement control unit


17


are connected with a mechanism control unit


63


which is further connected with a fueling position sensor


35


for detecting on which side of a car a fueling port exists, and a fuel-port sensor


32


for exactly detecting the position of a fuel port of a car.




The data input/output apparatus


40


, on the other hand, contains a data control unit


64


for controlling data input and output. The control unit


64


is connected with an entry sensor


36


, an entrance judge lamp


34


, a keyboard


48


, an indicator


43


, a card reading/writing unit


51


, a communicator


44


, a setting button


49


, a confirmation button


50


, and an indication part


47


. Data transmission is performed from the data input/output apparatus


40


to the fueling apparatus


11


, and vice versa.




A car


3


to be fueled by the automatic fueling system according to the present invention should have a transmitter


5


such as a transponder nearby a fuel port


4


of the car for transmitting a positional information of the fuel port as shown a partial diagram of FIG.


7


.




The control functions of the fueling machine


10


and the data input/output apparatus


11


for use in the present invention will be explained respectively based on flow-charts in

FIGS. 8 and 9

.




In the case where there is no car in a fueling area, the entrance judge lamp


34


is being lit in blue, which is considered in the first embodiment as the indication of the allowance for a car to newly get into the fueling area. At this stage, as fueling machine


11


is in an initial state, namely in a waiting position, as shown in

FIG. 10

, with the first arm member


14


at the top of the support


13


being maintained in a horizontal position, the second arm member


15


, in a inclined position by the tip with the nozzle conveyance means directed to the support


13


, and the free end of the nozzle mechanism


16


pointing the end with the above-mentioned opening


25


to the fueling area A.




When a car enters the fueling area A and the entry sensor


36


turns on with the detection of the entrance of the car thereto (ST


1


in FIG.


1


), the data control unit


64


receives a car-detection signal to change the entry judge lamp from blue to red (ST


2


) to notify other cars the impossibility to enter the fueling area A.




The input of fueling data to the data input/output apparatus


40


is carried out by a customer with inserting a card such as a credit card, a banking card, a fueling card, a pre-paid card, or an IC card to the card reading/writing unit


51


of the data input mobile


46


(ST


3


), whereby the automatic fueling system of the present invention becomes ready for the following steps of the automatic fueling operation. When fueling data such as a required fuel sort and a quantity thereof is input from the keyboard (ST


4


), the input data is indicated on the indicator


43


and the indication part


47


. The confirmation button


50


is pressed (ST


5


) when the indicated data is confirmed to be correct, and then the setting button


49


is pressed for the fixation of the fueling data (ST


6


). Thus, the data control unit


64


transmits the fixed data to the fueling machine


11


.




Thus, the fuel data is transmitted from the data control unit


64


of the data input/output apparatus


40


to the mechanism control unit


63


in the fueling machine


11


(ST


11


in FIG.


9


). Thereafter, the positional detection of the fuel port is carried out by means of the fueling position sensor


35


on the first arm member


14


, and the fuelport sensor


32


on the nozzle mechanism


16


(ST


12


), the mechanism control unit


63


causes the horizontal movement control unit


17


and the rotary movement control unit


33


to move the tip of the nozzle mechanism


16


to a position facing the fuel port of the car (ST


13


). Here, the fueling position sensor


35


detects on which side the fueling port exists (rough detection), and the fuel-port sensor finely detects the position of the nozzle mechanism to be set (precise detection).




Where the fueling port


4


is detected by the fueling position sensor


35


to locate on a side facing the fueling machine


11


(nearby side), the fuel-port sensor


32


receives a positional signal generated from the transmitter


5


in the waiting position as shown in FIG.


10


. Based upon the detection signal, the mechanism control unit


63


gives a signal to the horizontal movement control unit


17


to control the fueling machine


11


to move along the rail


18


, in parallel giving a signal to control the rotary movement control unit


33


to rotary move the second arm member


15


and the nozzle mechanism


16


, and fit the tip of the casing


24


of the nozzle mechanism


16


to a position facing the fueling port.




When the fueling port


4


is detected to exist on the opposite side of the car body with respect to the fueling machine


11


by the fueling position sensor


35


(opposite side), the mechanism control unit


63


controls the rotary movement control unit


33


to rotate the first and second arm members


14


and


15


and nozzle mechanism


16


, so as to carry the nozzle mechanism


16


beyond the roof of the car, for instance, by bringing the first and second arm members


14


and


15


to be overlaid, then raising the connected part around the axis II upwards, e.g. to rotate the first and second arm members


14


and


15


on the axis I in the overlaid state to place a wide angle with respect to the support


13


, followed by bringing the second arm member


15


to the position for the opposite-side fueling as previously shown with the two-dot chain line in FIG.


3


.




After the rough detection, either in opposite-side fueling or nearby-side fueling, the fuel-port sensor


32


receives a positional signal transmitted from the transmitter


5


, as described above, with the nozzle conveyance means set in this state. Thereafter, the tip of the nozzle mechanism is brought to a position nearby the fueling port of the car.




With the tip of the nozzle having been moved to a position facing the fueling port, the second arm member


15


is caused to rotate to insert the nozzle mechanism to the fueling port, so that the insertion sensor


31


is turned on (ST


14


). At this stage, the fuel-control unit


60


causes the suction pump


30


to absorb vapor in a fuel tank of the car, and the fuel-sort discrimination unit


62


causes to work the fuel-sort sensor


29


for sensing the sort of fuel in the vapor form (ST


15


). The fuel-sort discrimination unit


62


judges if the fuel sort sensed by the fuel-sort sensor


29


is identical with the fuel-sort which has been instructed by the data input from the keyboard of the data input/output apparatus


40


(ST


16


). The fuel-control unit


60


opens the opening/closing valve


27


of a required fuel sort and starts to drive the corresponding pump


20


when the fuel sorts are identical with each other (ST


17


).




The fuel stored in an underground fuel-storage tank is transferred through a corresponding fueling pipe


19


under the pressure application by means of the pump


20


, and discharged into a fueling port by way of the flow-meter


21


, the hose


22


, the pipes


37


, the opening/closing valve


27


, the bellow


26


, and the fueling nozzle


23


. The tip of the fueling nozzle


23


contained in the nozzle mechanism


16


projects from the opening


25


of the nozzle mechanism


16


, with the bellow


26


extended by the liquid pressure of fuel driven by the pump


20


. Accordingly, a selected fueling nozzle


23


is deeply inserted to the fueling tank of a car, so that the fuel is never scattered outside the fueling port


4


. The fueling quantity measured by the flow-meter


21


is indicated on the indicator


43


and the indication part


47


.




As the fueling is being performed in this way, a full-tank fueling unit


61


functions (ST


19


). When the full-tank fueling unit


61


detects that the car is filled with fuel of a preset quantity or filled to a full-tank level (ST


20


), the fuel control unit


60


closes the opening-closing valve


27


, stops the pump


20


(ST


21


), and outputs the data of the fueled quantity to the data input/output apparatus


40


(ST


22


). Subsequently, the mechanism control unit


63


controls the rotary movement control unit


33


and the horizontal movement control unit


17


to extract the nozzle mechanism from the fueling port


4


, with the main body of the fueling machine


11


and the first and the second arm members


13


and


14


moved (ST


23


) back to the initial waiting position (ST


24


). Thereafter, the communicator


44


indicates the completion of fueling (ST


25


).




On the other hand, the data input/output apparatus


40


, into which fueling data has been input, outputs the data to the fueling machine


11


(ST


7


) as mentioned previously. The data input/output apparatus waits for data to be input from the fueling machine


11


while the fueling is performed by the fueling machine


11


. After the data of actually fueled quantity is input from the fueling machine


11


to the data input/output apparatus


40


(ST


8


), the apparatus


40


comes to be ready for accepting a customer's card for clearing off the fueling charge. With the completion of clearing off (ST


9


), the color of the entrance judge lamp is changed from red to blue. Thus, all the fueling steps are completed.




If it is judged at ST


16


in

FIG. 9

that the fuel sort already existing in the tank of the customer's car is not identical with the selected fuel sort to be dispensed, the data control unit


64


causes the communicator


44


to function for a certain period of time (ST


18


) to indicate the necessity to come back to ST


4


in

FIG. 8

, that is, to input again a new data. With the input of a correct fuel sort from the keyboard


48


, the subsequent fueling steps are carried out as described above.




It is preferable that the fueling machine


11


have the waiting state as shown in

FIG. 10

for smoothly starting fueling any time. The first and second arm members


14


and


15


and the nozzle mechanism


16


can be rotated as to be brought to assume a waiting state for a fueling area B (

FIG. 2

) opposite with respect to the island. Moreover, it is possible that the waiting position is decided as the position for the opposite-side fueling, as regards to the fueling in both the fueling areas A and B. With the position for the opposite-side fueling as shown by the two-dot chain line in

FIG. 4

employed as a waiting position, cars can be fueled by passing through the arm members


14


and


15


, and thereafter the fueling operation is carried out.




Furthermore, the first and second arm members


14


and


15


can be laid on the support


13


as shown in FIG.


11


. This end position, which does not interrupt the entrance or the leaving of a car, is preferably employed as an end position when the fueling operation has been completed.




In the above-embodiment, the nozzle conveyance means was explained as being composed of the first and second arm members, nozzle mechanism, mechanism control unit, horizontal movement control unit, rotary movement control unit, fueling position sensor, and fueling port sensor, and the nozzle mechanism is moved in a position appropriate for fueling by the rotational movements of the first and second arms and the nozzle mechanism by means of the mechanism control unit.




The arm mechanism may comprise three or more of arm members, and the lengths of the arms or the shapes thereof being selected to be appropriate with the opposite-side and nearby-side fueling taken into consideration. Moreover, it is possible to cause the support to rotate by that the provision of the horizontal movement control unit can be omitted.




A second preferred embodiment of the automatic fueling system, as a first aspect, of the present invention will now be explained, wherein a nozzle conveyance means is prepared in a different fashion from that in the above-mentioned first embodiment.




The automatic fueling system


10


of the present invention can be prepared as shown in a view shown in

FIG. 12

, wherein a fueling machine


11


with a nozzle conveyance means (which will be explained later) is provided on an island facing an fueling area A. A data input-output apparatus


40


is provided next to the fueling machine


11


as shown in FIG.


13


.




Referring to

FIG. 12

, the fueling machine


11


in the second embodiment has a long and narrow support


13


stood upon a base plate


12


on an island


2


. A hose container


70


is linked to the support


13


by the rotational connection of the upper end of the support


13


with one end of the hose container


70


. The other end of the container


70


is protruded above the fueling area A.




A hose carrier unit


71


is the system with the hose container, and an articulated arm system


72


is fit to the hose carrier unit


71


, with the provision of a nozzle mechanism


73


at the free end of the articulated arm system


72


. For performing fueling to a car


3


, the support


13


is rotary moved in the directions as described by arrows Z and Z′ by means of a support rotation means


74


which is, for instance, provided nearby the support


13


.




Also in the second embodiment, the support


13


is formed to have the top end thereof much higher than a roofs of a car


3


to be fueled in the fueling area A with taking into consideration the opposite-side fueling. The hose container


70


can be formed, as shown in this embodiment, as a long and narrow box-like shape having the part attached to the support


13


to be wider than the other end, and the length thereof can be decided as the free end extends as to be enough for the opposite-side fueling. In

FIG. 12

, the hose container


70


is illustrated to have a length exceeding the side of the car opposite to the fueling machine.




An entrance judge lamp


34


and a fueling position sensor


35


which have the same functions as those explained in relation to the first embodiment are employed also in the second embodiment. In this embodiment, the entrance judge lamp


34


is provided on the upper surface of the hose container


70


at the end above the support


13


, and the fueling position sensor


35


is provided on lower surface of the hose container


70


at the longitudinal center thereof.




The above-mentioned hose carrier unit


71


contains in the hose container


70


as shown in

FIG. 12

, wherein a hose reel


75


; a hose


22


which is wound onto the hose reel


75


and drawn out therefrom; and a flat-car


77


for carrying the hose


22


; and a rail


78


provided on the bottom of the hose container


70


for guiding the hose


22


; a valve


79


which connects the tip of the hose


22


and a hose joint


80


provided on the flat-car


77


; and a pulley system


81


by which the flat-car


77


is moved along the rail


78


.





FIG. 13

is a front view of the fueling system


10


of the present invention as the second embodiment. Below the island, a fueling pipe


19


is connected to a fuel-storage tank provided underground (not shown). The fueling pipe


19


is introduced to a support


13


by way of a pump


20


and a flow-meter


21


and the rotational joint


5


and is connected to the hose


22


on the hose reel


75


(

FIG. 12

) in the hose container


70


. In

FIG. 13

, the articulated arm


12


with the nozzle mechanism


73


is suspended from the hose container


73


. It is possible in this embodiment to employ a plurality of fueling pipes


19


, pumps


20


and flow-meters


21


for the selection of fuel sorts, which are connected to a pipe lead to the support


13


by the connection by means of the rotational joint


5


, and that the selected sort of fuel is dispensed passing through the hose container


70


in the same way as described above.




The articulated arm system


72


is composed of a bending hose


91


within which an arm hose


90


is contained as shown in a partial view in FIG.


14


and is attached to the bottom surface of the flat-car


77


via a connection


82


as shown in FIG.


12


. The arm hose


90


communicates with the above-mentioned hose


22


to passing fuel therethrough to the nozzle mechanism.




The bending hose


91


is a pipe with a diameter appropriate for containing therein the arm hose


90


and can be made of a material such as a fiber reinforced rubber. The space between the inner surface of the bending hose


91


and the outer surface of the arm hose


90


is partitioned in the radial direction to have, for example,


3


air rooms


91




a


and the air rooms


91




a


are also partitioned in the longitudinal direction to give many small air rooms (not shown). The small air rooms are to be filled with compressed air. The bending hose


91


swells equally in the radial direction when compressed air is fed in the same pressure to all the air rooms


91




a


, and the bending hose


91


is bent when the compressed air in different pressures are fed depending on the air rooms, thereby freely changing the shape of the bending hose


91


. Accordingly, the small air rooms have a function as a pneumatic actuator to bend the arm hose


90


contained therein to a desired direction, whereby the nozzle mechanism


73


can be conveyed to a desired position which is provided at the end of the bending hose


91


.




Compressed air employed for the above-mentioned function can be fed from either of compressors provided in the gas station, which are employed for lifting up a car, washing a car, etc.





FIG. 15

is a schematic cross-section of the nozzle mechanism


73


as a preferable embodiment thereof. Here, the bending hose


91


of the articulated arm system


72


contains the arm hose


90


therein as being protruded therefrom. The nozzle mechanism


73


in this embodiment is composed of a nozzle adaptor


92


which is connected to the arm hose


90


by the provision of a bellow


93


which is extended by the liquid pressure of fuel when fueling is performed. It is possible to use the nozzle adaptor


92


for a car


3


provided with a fuel port adaptor


99


for a fuel port of the car, thereby performing fueling appropriately by fitting the fuel port adaptor


99


with the nozzle adaptor


92


.




More precisely, the nozzle adaptor


92


of this embodiment has a short tube shape with a taper


92




a


of which wider end has a diameter to be connected with the bellow


93


. A fuel is dispensed from the tip


92




b


of the nozzle adaptor


92


. A vapor absorption port


92




c


is provided on the taper


92




a


and is lead to a suction pump


96


via a bellow part


94


and a fuel-sort sensor


95


. An excitation coil


97


is provided on the cylindrical part of the nozzle adaptor


92


. The fuel port adaptor


99


is to be provided on a fuel port of a car with a concave correspondingly to the shape of the nozzle adaptor


92


having a taper


99




a


and an opening


99




b


. There is provided a magnet


100


in the nozzle adaptor


92


at a position facing to the excitation coil


97


. A fuel-port sensor


98


is provided at the edge of the bending hose


91


, which is for detecting the position of a fuel port of a car and detecting whether or not the nozzle adaptor


92


is connected with the fuel port adaptor


99


.




As mentioned previously, the fueling system


10


according to the present invention in the second embodiment also has a data input/output apparatus


40


provided on the island


2


as shown in FIG.


13


. The data input/output apparatus


40


is identical with that shown in

FIG. 1

, so that same reference numerals are employed for the same members as in FIG.


1


. An entry sensor


36


is provided for sensing the entrance of a car to the fueling area.





FIG. 16

is a top diagram of the fueling system


10


of the present invention for explaining the motion of the hose container


70


wherein the fueling machine


11


and the data input/output apparatus


40


are provided on the island


2


. In this figure a car


3


is in a fueling area A and the hose container


70


is horizontally protruded over the car


3


. The hose container


70


is rotated to the directions of arrows E and E′ with the rotation of the support by means of the support rotation means


74


, to bring the hose container


70


, which is fixed to the support, to an appropriate position facing to the fueling port of the car


3


.




The functional relationship of the constituents of the automatic fueling system


10


in the second embodiment according to the present invention will be explained more precisely with referring to a block diagram shown in FIG.


17


.




The fueling machine


11


comprises a fuel-control unit


60


comprising, for instance, a full-tank fueling unit


61


and a fuel-sort discrimination unit


62


, the fuel-control unit


60


being connected to a pump


20


, a flow-meter


21


, an opening-closing valve


27


, a fuel-sort sensor


29


, a suction pump


30


, an fuel-port sensor


98


, the fuel-port sensor being connected also to a mechanism control unit


63


. The fueling apparatus


11


in the second embodiment is also provided with a mechanism control unit


63


for deciding the position of the nozzle mechanism


73


. The mechanism control unit


63


is connected to a fuel-port sensor


98


, a support rotation means


74


, a pulley system


81


, an articulated arm system


72


, a fueling position sensor


35


and an excitation coil


97


.




The fueling system


10


also contains a data input/output apparatus


40


contains wherein constituents have connections with each other in the same way as described relating to FIG.


6


. Data transmission is performed from the data input/output apparatus


40


to the fueling apparatus


11


, and vice versa.




As can be seen from the explanation so far, the nozzle conveyance means in the second embodiment is composed of the support, the hose carrier unit fixed onto the support, the articulated arm system suspended from the hose container, the nozzle mechanism attached at the end of the articulated arm system, the support rotation means for giving a rotational movement to the support, and the mechanism control unit for controlling the support rotation means and the motion of the hose carrier unit.




In the second embodiment, a car


3


to be fueled by the automatic fueling system according to the present invention may have a transmitter


5


such as a transponder nearby a fuel port


4


of the car for transmitting a positional information of the fuel port as shown a partial diagram of FIG.


7


.




The fueling machine


10


and the fueling machine


11


in the second embodiment functions as follows:




In the case where there is no car in a fueling area, the entrance judge lamp is being lit, for instance, in blue, which is considered as the indication of the allowance for a car to newly get into the fueling area. At this stage, as fueling machine


11


is in an initial state, namely in a waiting position, as shown in

FIG. 12

, with the articulated arm system


72


being at the position shown by a two-dot chain line. With the entrance of a car to the fueling area A, ST


1


to ST


6


are carried out as explained above with referring to FIG.


8


. Thus, the data control unit


64


transmits the fixed data to the fueling machine


11


.




The function of the fueling machine


11


will now be explained by referring to FIG.


18


.




The fuel data is transmitted from the data control unit


64


of the data input/output apparatus


40


to the mechanism control unit


63


in the fueling machine


11


(ST


31


). Thereafter, the positional detection of the fuel port, namely, previously mentioned rough detection is carried out by means of the fuel position sensor


35


provided on horizontally protruded hose container


70


at the bottom surface thereof, and then the fuel-port sensor


98


on the nozzle mechanism


73


detects the precise position of the fueling port (ST


32


) precise detection), the mechanism control unit


63


causes the support rotation means


74


, the pulley system


81


, and the articulated arm system


72


to move the tip of the nozzle mechanism


73


to a position facing the fuel port of the car (ST


33


).




Where the fueling port of the car is detected, by the fueling position sensor


35


, to locate on a side facing the fueling machine


11


(nearby side), the fuel-port sensor


98


receives a positional signal generated from the transmitter


5


in the waiting position as shown in FIG.


12


. Based upon the detection signal, the mechanism control unit


63


gives a signal to the support rotation means


74


to rotate the hose container


70


on the support


13


with the articulated arm system


72


being controlled to appropriately bend the bending hose


91


to rotary move the nozzle mechanism


73


to the position facing the nozzle mechanism


73


to the fueling port.




When the fueling port


4


is detected to exist on the opposite side of the car body with respect to the fueling machine


11


by the fueling position sensor


35


(opposite side), the mechanism control unit


63


controls the pulley system


81


to convey the flat-car


77


to the tip of the hose container


70


, so that the articulated arm system


72


is carried to the position as illustrated by the solid line in FIG.


12


. In this position, the mechanism control unit


63


controls the support rotation means


74


to rotationally move the hose container


70


, whereby the nozzle mechanism is carried to a position facing a fueling port. In the case where the car is provided with the previously explained fuel port adaptor


99


and the nozzle mechanism


73


has the nozzle adaptor


92


with the excitation coil


97


, the excitation coil


97


is pulled by the magnet


100


of the fuel port adaptor


99


under the magnetization of the coil by the electric supply thereto (ST


34


).




When the nozzle insertion to the fueling port is detected by the fuel-port sensor


98


(ST


35


), the fuel-control unit


60


causes the suction pump


96


to absorb vapor in a fuel tank of the car, and the fuel-sort discrimination unit


62


causes to work the fuel-sort sensor


95


for sensing the sort of fuel in the vapor form (ST


36


). The fuel-sort discrimination unit


62


judges if the fuel sort sensed by the fuel-sort sensor


95


is identical with the fuel-sort which has been instructed by the data input from the keyboard of the data input/output apparatus


40


(ST


37


). The fuel-control unit


60


causes the corresponding pump


20


to be driven when the fuel sorts are identical with each other (ST


38


).




The fuel stored in an underground fuel-storage tank is transferred through a fueling pipe


19


under the pressure application by means of the pump


20


, and discharged into a fueling port by way of the flow-meter


21


, the hose


22


, the pipe


37


, the bellow


93


, and, if any, the nozzle adaptor


92


and the fuel port adaptor


99


. In the case where the nozzle adaptor


92


and the fuel-port adaptor


99


are employed, the nozzle and the car are combined by the magnetic pulling force as mentioned above, so that the fueling is performed in a very stable manner. The fueling quantity measured by the flow-meter


21


is indicated on the indicator


43


and the indication part


47


.




As the fueling is being performed in this way, a full-tank fueling unit


61


functions (ST


40


). When the full-tank fueling unit


61


detects that the car is filled with fuel of a preset quantity or filled to a full-tank level (ST


41


), the fuel control unit


60


demagnetizes the excitation coil


97


, and stops the pump


20


(ST


42


), and outputs the data of the fueled quantity to the data input/output apparatus


40


(ST


43


). Subsequently, the mechanism control unit


63


controls the support rotation means


74


, pulley system


81


and articulated arm system


72


to move the nozzle mechanism


73


(ST


44


) to be detached from the fueling port of the car and to brought back to the initial waiting position (ST


45


). Thereafter, the communicator


44


indicates the completion of fueling (ST


46


).




On the other hand, the data input/output apparatus


40


, into which fueling data has been input, carries out ST


7


to ST


9


in the same way as explained with using FIG.


8


. Thus, all the fueling steps are completed.




If it is judged at ST


37


in

FIG. 18

that the fuel sort already existing in the tank of the customer's car is not identical with the selected fuel sort to be dispensed, the data control unit


64


causes the communicator


44


to function for a certain period of time (ST


39


) to indicate the necessity to come back to ST


4


in

FIG. 8

, that is, to input again a new data. With the input of a correct fuel sort from the keyboard


48


, the subsequent fueling steps are carried out as described above.




It is preferable that the articulated arm system of the fueling machine


11


have the waiting state as shown in

FIG. 12

by the two-dot line for smoothly starting fueling any time. However, the articulated arm system


72


can be positioned at the position for the opposite-side fueling as illustrated by the solid line.




In the second embodiment, it is possible to omit the hose reel


75


which is shown in

FIG. 12

by the provision of two hose containers as shown in

FIG. 19

, a first hose container


70




a


with one end fixed on the support


13


in the same manner as explained in

FIG. 12

, and a second container


70




b


which is provided under the first container


70




a


in parallel with each other. The flat-car


77


and a pulley system


81


by which the flat-car


77


is moved along the rail


78


are provided in the second container


70




b


. The fueling pipes lead


19


from an underground tank (not shown) reaches roughly the middle of the hose container


70




a


and is connected to the previously explained arm hose via the hose


22


, valve


79


.




Alternatively, it is possible to omit the reel as shown in

FIG. 20

by providing a moving box


84


below a single hose container


70


, being suspended from the flat-car


77


via a support member


83


. A connection


82


connects the moving box


84


with the articulated arm member


72


. Furthermore, a further valve


85


is provided in the moving box


84


.




The other reference numerals than those explained above in

FIGS. 19 and 20

respectively indicate the members or parts with the same reference numerals in FIG.


12


.




As explained above, the fueling system of the present invention in the second embodiment has the articulated arm system to which compressed air is introduced for appropriately bending the bending hose. Accordingly, the nozzle mechanism is brought into a suitable position facing a fueling port of a car. It is also possible to prepare the articulated arm system as an actuator by that the bending hose is partially covered with a spring system made of a shape-memory metal. To the metal, electricity is supplied to magnetize the same.




It is possible to replace the support rotation means by a horizontal movement control unit used in the first embodiment to move the support horizontally along a rail without rotating the same. The excitation coil explained in the second embodiment can be changed into another means for linking the nozzle to a fuel port adaptor, such as a mechanism by which a pressure contact between the nozzle adaptor and the fuel port adaptor is made by use of a spring or the like.




As can be seen from the above, in the automatic fueling system as the first aspect of the present invention, the opposite-side fueling is automatically performed. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate a fueling operator from the gas station where the automatic fueling system is installed, and a customer can enter the gas station without checking the fueling machine which is for his car.




The previously mentioned fueling position sensor and the fuel-port sensor to be employed in the first and the second embodiments of the present invention and in the variants thereof are selected from apparatus which carries out the positional detection with image processing methods, or can be sensors which functions by use of lights, electromagnetic waves or infrared radiation. In addition, in each of the first and the second embodiments, it is possible to further provide an independent car stopper on the island which protrudes an arm for inhibiting a car to leave the fueling area during the fueling or before the clearing off, under the cooperation with the entry sensor.




The second aspect of the fueling machine according to the present invention will now be explained.




In the perspective view in

FIG. 21

, a third embodiment of the fueling system


10


of the present invention is illustrated wherein a fueling machine


110


, an independent type nozzle conveyance means


130


, and a data input/output apparatus


140


are provided on an island


2


. The nozzle conveyance means


130


takes one of nozzles


117


of the fueling machine


110


to a fuel port of a car to perform fueling.




The fueling machine


110


comprises a casing


112


wherein, as shown by a schematic diagram of

FIG. 22

, fueling pipes


113


are respectively connected to fuel-storage tanks provided underground (not shown) of regular, premium and diesel. The fueling pipes


113


are connected to fueling hoses


118


with the provision therebetween pumps


114


, flow-meters


115


and opening-closing valves


116


. The fueling pipes


113


are led to a side of the casing


112


and are connected with the fueling hoses


118


, each with a fueling nozzle


117


at the tip thereof. There is a nozzle stocker


119


at the side of the fueling machine


110


on which the fueling nozzles


117


are hung.




The nozzle stocker


119


is, as also shown in

FIG. 21

basically prepared in the form of a horizontal plate with convex and concave parts thereon. The fueling nozzles


117


are placed on the nozzle stocker


119


, each with the side of the discharging pipe


117




a


being faced to the fueling machine


110


and the side of a nozzle grip


117




b


being faced to the nozzle conveyance means


130


. It is possible to provide the nozzle stocker at any part of the fueling machine as long as the provision of the nozzle stocker helps the smooth function of the nozzle conveyance means


130


.




The fueling nozzle


117


is provided with an absorption port (not shown) at the side of discharge pipe


117




a


for detecting which sort of fuel exists in a tank of a car. The gas absorbed from the absorption port is brought back to the underground tank, passing through a hose


121


provided in parallel with each of the fueling hoses


118


and led into the casing


112


together with the fueling hose


118


, the hose


121


having a fuel-sort sensor


122


and a suction pump


123


thereon inside the casing. There is provided an insertion sensor


124


on the discharge pipe


117




a


of the fueling nozzle


117


for detecting the insertion of the fueling nozzle


117


to a fueling port of a car, that will be explained later in detail.




Moreover, an entrance judge lamp


125


is provided on the casing


112


which indicates whether or not a car can enter a fueling area A (FIG.


21


). The details of the entrance judge lamp


125


are the same as those explained in the first and second embodiments.




As shown in

FIGS. 21 and 22

, the fueling machine


110


contains therein a fuel-control unit


120


which controls fueling operations.




The nozzle conveyance means


130


in

FIG. 21

is provided facing the nozzle stocker


119


on the island


2


, with a cylindrical main body


131


containing therein a vertical movement control unit


132


which moves up und down, a first arm member


133


attached on the main body


131


, a second arm member


134


on the first arm member


133


. In the figure, both the first and second arm members


133


and


134


have a stick like shape, and are employed in a horizontally laid state.




One end of the first arm member


133


is linked with the main body


131


, and the second arm member


134


is connected with the other end of the first arm member


133


. The first and second members


133


and


134


respectively rotate as shown by arrows in the directions V-V′ and W-W′. The nozzle conveyance means


130


further contains a third arm member


135


connected to have a rotational linkage with a free end of the second arm member


134


. The third arm member


135


has a gripping part for grasping the nozzle grip


117




a


of the fueling nozzle


117


. The first, second and third arm members


133


,


134


and


135


constitute a rotary arm system


128


.




The motion of the third arm member


135


is explained with referring to a partial view thereof in FIG.


23


. As explained above the third arm member


135


is attached on the second arm member


134


with the rotational linkage therebetween. The gripping part


135




a


of the third arm member


135


can be prepared as illustrated in

FIG. 32

by two stick-like members which move in the directions Q and Q′, thereby attaining a fine motion.




In

FIG. 21

, there is provided a camera


137


such as a CCD camera for detecting the position of a fueling port of a car. An image processing means


138


is provided in the main body


31


for processing the image obtained by the camera


137


, and detecting a fuel port of a car. Furthermore, a mechanism control unit


139


for controlling the vertical moving unit


132


, and a first, second and third arm members


133


,


134


and


135


are contained in the main body


31


, of which control is made based on the fueling-port positional information of the fueling port detected by the image processing means


138


and the information written on a card which will be explained later.




The island


2


has an entry sensor


151


at side face thereof to sense the entry of a car to a fueling area A.




The data input/output apparatus


140


is composed of a stand


141


and a housing part


142


thereon wherein an indicator


143


, a keyboard


144


for inputting fueling data or the like, a card reading/writing unit


145


, a printer


146


, a communicator


147


, a setting button


148


and a data control unit


149


are provided. The card reading/writing unit


145


reads information recorded on cards employed for clearing off such as a credit card, a banking card, a fueling card, a pre-paid card, and an IC card, and writes new information thereon, and further reads information such as a fueling-port positional data recorded on a fueling data memory card


150


and writes information thereon.





FIG. 24

is a block diagram for explaining the relationship among the constituents in fueling system of the present invention. The fueling machine


110


, the nozzle conveyance means


130


and the data input/output apparatus


140


perform necessary data exchange among them.




In this system, the fuel-control unit


120


controls the functions of the pumps


114


, suction pumps


123


, and the opening-closing valves


116


, and calculates the quantity fueled by the receipt of a signal from the flow-meter


115


. The fuel-control unit


120


contains the full-tank fueling unit


126


and the fuel-sort discrimination unit


127


. Furthermore, the fueling machine


110


comprises the fuel-sort sensor


122


and the insertion sensor


124


as mentioned previously.




Furthermore, the nozzle conveyance means


130


comprises therein the mechanism control unit


139


by which the above-mentioned rotary arm system


128


and the vertical movement control unit


132


are controlled. The camera


137


is connected to the mechanism control unit


139


by way of the image processing means


138


.




The data control unit


149


is contained in the data input/output apparatus


140


to which unit


149


a detection signal of a car is transmitted. As explained above, the data control unit


149


is connected with the entrance judge lamp


125


to which the detection signal is output. Furthermore, the data control unit


140


is connected with the keyboard


144


, the indicator


143


, the card reading/writing unit


145


, the printer


146


, the communicator


147


and the setting button


148


.




The functions of the fueling machine


10


and the data input/output apparatus


11


for use in the present invention are explained respectively based on flow-charts of

FIGS. 25 and 26

.




In the case where there is no car in a fueling area, the entrance judge lamp


125


is being lit in blue, which is considered also in the third embodiment as the indication of the allowance for a car to newly get into the fueling area A. At this stage, as fueling machine


110


is in an initial state, namely in a waiting position, as shown in

FIG. 21

, with the fueling nozzle


117


hung on the nozzle stocker


110


, and the gripping part


135




a


facing the fueling machine


110


.




When a car enters the fueling area A and the entry sensor


136


turns on with the detection of the entrance of the car thereto (ST


51


), the data control unit


146


receives a car-detection signal to change the entry judge lamp


125


from blue to red (ST


52


) to notify other cars the impossibility to enter the fueling area A.




The input of fueling data to the data input/output apparatus


140


is carried out by a customer with inserting a fueling data memory card


150


to the card reading/writing unit


145


(ST


53


). Then, the fueling-port positional data recorded on a fueling data memory card


150


is read and transmitted to the mechanism control unit


139


. In addition, further data such as a sort of fuel and quantity to be fueled are input from the keyboards


144


(ST


54


), whereby the automatic fueling system of the present invention becomes ready for the following steps of the automatic fueling operation. When fueling data such as a required fuel sort and a quantity thereof is input from the keyboard (ST


54


), the input data is indicated on the indicator


143


. The setting button


148


is pressed (ST


55


) for the fixation of the fueling data (ST


56


). Thus, the data control unit


149


transmits the fixed data to the fuel control unit


120


in the fueling machine


110


and the mechanism control unit


139


of the nozzle conveyance means


130


.




Thus, the fuel data is transmitted from the data control unit


149


of the data input/output apparatus


140


to the mechanism control unit


139


in the nozzle conveyance means


130


(ST


61


in FIG.


26


). In the first place, the rotary arm system


128


moves towards the fueling nozzle


117


of the selected fuel sort which is hung on the nozzle stocker


119


, to grasp the gripping part


135




a


, followed by carrying the fueling nozzle


117


towards the fueling port of a car waiting in the fueling area, based upon the fueling-port positional data obtained from the fueling data memory card


150


. Then, the image processing means


138


accurately detects the position of the fueling port by the fueling port captured by the camera


137


, so that the mechanism control unit


139


and the horizontal movement control unit


133


causes the rotary arm system


128


to insert the tip of the discharge pipe


117




a


into the fueling port of the car (ST


64


). At this stage, the fuel-control unit


120


causes the suction pump


123


to absorb vapor in a fuel tank of the car, and the fuel-sort discrimination unit


127


functions (ST


65


). The fuel-sort discrimination unit


127


judges whether or not the fuel sort sensed by the fuel-sort sensor


122


is identical with the fuel-sort which has been instructed by the data input from the keyboard of the data input/output apparatus


40


(ST


66


). The fuel-control unit


120


opens the opening/closing valve


116


of a required fuel sort and starts to drive the corresponding pump


114


when the fuel sorts are identical with each other (ST


67


).




The fuel stored in an underground fuel-storage tank is transferred through the corresponding fueling pipe


113


under the pressure application by means of the pump


114


, and discharged into the fueling port by way of the flow-meter


115


, the opening/closing valve


116


, the fueling hose


118


, and the fueling nozzle


117


. The fueling quantity measured by the flow-meter


115


is indicated on the indicator


143


.




As the fueling is being performed in this way, a full-tank fueling unit


126


functions (ST


69


). When the full-tank fueling unit


126


detects that the car is filled with fuel to a full-tank level (ST


70


), the fuel control unit


120


closes the opening-closing valve


116


, stops the pump


114


(ST


71


), and outputs the data of the fueled quantity to the data input/output apparatus


140


(ST


72


). Subsequently, the mechanism control unit


139


controls the rotary arm system


128


and the horizontal movement control unit


132


to extract the nozzle pipe


117




a


of the fueling nozzle


117


from the fueling port, with the nozzle conveyance means


111


moved (ST


73


) back to the initial waiting position (ST


74


). Thereafter, the communicator


47


indicates the completion of fueling (ST


75


).




On the other hand, the data input/output apparatus


140


, into which fueling data has been input, outputs the data to the fueling machine


11


(ST


57


). The data input/output apparatus waits for data to be input from the fueling machine


110


while the fueling is performed by the fueling machine


110


. After the data of actually fueled quantity is input from the fueling machine


110


to the data input/output apparatus


140


(ST


58


), the apparatus


140


comes to be ready for accepting a customer's card for clearing off fueling charge. With the completion of clearing off (ST


59


), the color of the entrance judge lamp is changed from red to blue. Thus, all the fueling steps are completed.




If it is judged at ST


66


in

FIG. 26

that the fuel sort already existing in the tank of the customer's car is not identical with the selected fuel sort to be dispensed, the data control unit


149


causes the communicator


147


to function for a certain period of time (ST


68


) to indicate the necessity to come back to ST


54


in

FIG. 25

, that is to input again a new data. With the input of a correct fuel sort from the keyboard


144


, the subsequent fueling steps are carried out as described above.




In the automatic fueling system as the second aspect of the present invention, the nozzle conveyance means is independent from the fueling machine, so that it is possible to produce the fueling system in a minimum cost with eliminate the labor to incorporate a complicated pipe arrangement in the fueling machine, and the utilization of the conventional fueling machine and data input/output apparatus as they are. It is matter of course the fueling system of the present invention does not require a manual fueling operation except the insertion of a card to the data input/output apparatus.




In the above embodiment, the accurate positional detection is carried out by the camera provided on the rotary arm system. It is possible, however, to accurately detect the position of a fueling port by the provision of a transmitter such as a transponder as precisely described in the above first and the second embodiments.




In addition to the above, it is also possible to prepare the rotary arm member with the number of the arm members and the shapes thereof being differed from the above embodiments as long as the nozzle conveyance means appropriately carries a nozzle. For instance, the nozzle conveyance means can be prepared from arm members which rotary move in a vertical direction.




As is obvious from the above explanation, the fueling operation by use of all the types of the above-mentioned fueling system can be automatically performed a fueling operator in the gas station conveniently and safely. Therefore, it is not necessary to position in a gas station, a fueling operator who is well trained in the fueling operation. In the automatic fueling system of the present invention, it is only necessary for customers to insert cards to the system, and the customers also do not need to perform a substantial fueling operation with which some danger and/or annoyance such as scattering of fuel or unpleasant odor accompany.




The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.



Claims
  • 1. An automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle, comprising:a fueling machine comprising a fueling pipe connected to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to said fueling pipe via a hose, a nozzle conveyance means comprising an arm mechanism, a mechanism control unit for controlling the movement of said arm mechanism, and a fuel-port sensor for sensing the position of a fueling port of the vehicle, said nozzle conveyance means automatically conveying said fueling nozzle to the fueling port and automatically inserting said fueling nozzle thereto under the control of said mechanism control unit, the fueling port being located in at least one of two locations, a first location on a first side of the vehicle and a second location on a different side of the vehicle, and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to said fueling machine and said nozzle conveyance means, said fueling nozzle being conveyed by said nozzle conveyance means to the fueling port in one of said first and second locations by the receipt of the fueling information from said data input/output apparatus, said fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, said fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from said mechanism control unit.
  • 2. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said nozzle conveyance means is at least partially contained in said fueling machine.
  • 3. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel-port sensor senses the position of the fueling port by detecting a signal generated from a transmitter provided on the vehicle nearby the fueling port.
  • 4. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said nozzle conveyance means is at least partially contained in said fueling machine.
  • 5. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a fueling position sensor for sensing on which side of the vehicle the fueling port exists, and said fueling port sensor conducting the detection before the detection by said fuel-port sensor.
  • 6. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said arm mechanism comprises a first arm member, a second arm member of which one end is rotationally connected to said first arm member on the other end thereof and a nozzle mechanism connected to said second arm member on the other end thereof said fueling nozzle projects from said nozzle mechanism.
  • 7. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said nozzle conveyance means further comprises a horizontal movement control unit for horizontally moving said nozzle conveyance means and a rotary movement control unit for rotary moving said arm mechanism, said horizontal control unit and said rotary movement control unit being controlled by said mechanism control unit.
  • 8. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said arm mechanism comprises a support, a hose carrier unit, an articulated arm system, and a nozzle mechanism, said hose carrier unit is contained in a hose container, said hose container is in a long box-like shape being provided on said support with one end of said casing being fixed to said support, the other end thereof being connected with said articulated arm, said hose container is horizontally protruded over a fueling area in the gas station, said articulated arm system is suspended from said hose container and is movable in the longitudinal direction of said hose container, and said articulated arm system comprises therein an arm hose to which said fueling hose is connected.
  • 9. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said nozzle mechanism comprises a nozzle adaptor by which said nozzle is fit with a fueling port of a vehicle to be fueled.
  • 10. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 8, said hose container is fixed on said support, and said nozzle conveyance means further comprises a support rotation means, said support rotation means causes said support to rotate under the control of said mechanism control unit.
  • 11. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claims 10, wherein said nozzle adaptor comprises an excitation coil thereon to which electricity is supplied under the control of said mechanism control unit.
  • 12. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said nozzle conveyance means further comprises a horizontal movement control unit for horizontally moving said nozzle conveyance means under the control of said mechanism control unit.
  • 13. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said hose carrier unit further comprises a hose reel in said hose container, said hose is wound onto said hose reel and drawn out therefrom.
  • 14. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm mechanism comprises a first arm member, a second arm member of which one end is rotationally connected to said first arm member on the other end thereof and a nozzle mechanism connected to said second arm member on the other end thereof, said fueling nozzle projects from said nozzle mechanism.
  • 15. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said arm mechanism comprises a support, a hose carrier unit, an articulated arm system, and a nozzle mechanism, said hose carrier unit is contained in a hose container, said hose container is in a long box-like shape being provided on said support with one end of said casing being fixed to said support, the other end thereof being connected with said articulated arm, said hose container is horizontally protruded over a fueling area in the gas station, said articulated arm system is suspended from said hose container and is movable in the longitudinal direction of said hose container, and said articulated arm system comprises therein an arm hose to which said fueling hose is connected.
  • 16. An automatic fueling system to be provided in a gas station for dispensing fuel to a vehicle, comprising:a fueling machine comprising at least one fueling pipe connected to a fuel-storage tank provided in the gas station, and a fueling nozzle connected to said fueling pipe via a hose, a nozzle conveyance means comprising an arm system, a mechanism control unit, for automatically conveying said fueling nozzle to a fueling port of the vehicle parked on either side of said fueling machine by grasping said fueling nozzle, and automatically inserting said fueling nozzle by the movement of said arm system under the control of said mechanism control unit, and a data input/output apparatus for inputting fueling information therefrom and outputting the fueling information to said fueling machine and said nozzle conveyance means, said fueling machine starting and stopping fueling based on the fueling information, said fueling nozzle being extracted from the fueling port with the receipt of a signal from said mechanism control unit, said nozzle conveyance means being independent of said fueling machine.
  • 17. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said fueling machine comprises a casing and a nozzle stocker provided on the casing, said fueling nozzle is hung on said nozzle stocker and taken off therefrom by said nozzle conveyance means.
  • 18. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said nozzle conveyance means further comprises a camera and an image processing means for detecting the position of the fueling port, said image processing means outputting an image detection signal, said nozzle conveyance means grasps, carries and inserts said nozzle to the fueling port, and brings said fueling nozzle to an initial position.
  • 19. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said nozzle conveyance means further comprises a sensor for detecting the position of a fueling port of a vehicle, and is employed for a vehicle with a transmitter nearby a fueling port thereof.
  • 20. The automatic fueling system as claimed in claim 16, wherein said data input/output apparatus comprises a card reading/writing unit which reads a fueling port positional data recorded on a card, and outputs the data to said mechanism control unit.
Priority Claims (3)
Number Date Country Kind
12-043783 Feb 2000 JP
12-043784 Feb 2000 JP
12-167102 Jun 2000 JP
US Referenced Citations (4)
Number Name Date Kind
3642036 Ginsburgh et al. Feb 1972 A
5609190 Anderson et al. Mar 1997 A
6003568 Strnad, Jr. Dec 1999 A
6250347 Tatsuno Jun 2001 B1
Foreign Referenced Citations (6)
Number Date Country
5841095 Mar 1983 JP
63125196 May 1988 JP
6115598 Apr 1994 JP
8169498 Jul 1996 JP
9156699 Jun 1997 JP
11328535 Nov 1999 JP