Automatic fueling apparatus and method

Abstract

An improved below-ground apparatus and method for fueling a vehicle through an inlet on a exposed tank bottom. The apparatus is characterized by a frame carrying an upwardly-facing nozzle, a lift to move the frame and the nozzle from a fully-retracted to an intermediate position and from the intermediate position to a position for full engagement with the inlet. The intermediate position is determined by sensing the vertical position of the tank bottom and, at the intermediate position, the nozzle member is positioned on the frame in vertical alignment with the inlet prior to final lifting. In preferred embodiments, a blower creates an air ride for the nozzle member facilitating its positioning on the frame, and another blower creates a vacuum to hold the nozzle member is proper position and to eliminate fuel vapors. The nozzle member is preferably conical in shape.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.