Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6382269
-
Patent Number
6,382,269
-
Date Filed
Monday, September 25, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, May 7, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Birch, Stewart, Kolasch & Birch, LLP
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 141 59
- 141 98
- 141 94
- 141 231
- 141 312
- 141 368
- 141 382
- 141 388
- 141 192
- 141 392
- 141 198
- 141 104
-
International Classifications
-
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 |
|
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A |
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