Assembly for automatic vehicle fueling
AssigneeSwiftflo, LLC
InventorsRonald F. Horvath, Kenneth J. Dragotta, Frank M. Bilicki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel tank inlet assembly for receiving fuel during automatic vehicle fueling and a pump assembly for delivering fuel during automatic vehicle fueling and the combination thereof. The fuel tank inlet assembly includes a fuel conduit with a fuel exit for operative connection with a fuel tank and the pump assembly includes a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the inlet assembly. One preferred embodiment of the invention includes a positioning system which utilizes inductive triangulation to connect the pump assembly to the inlet assembly.
Claims43
An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
- a pump assembly including a fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel;
- and
- a fuel tank inlet assembly having (a) a fitting with at least a first, second and third opening and (b) a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel entrance for operative connection with the fuel nozzle, the fuel exit for operative connection with the fuel tank, the first opening for operative connection to the fuel nozzle during fueling, the second opening operatively connected to the fuel line, and the third opening operatively connected to the fuel tank.
An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank inlet assembly having a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the standard fuel tank;
- and
- a pump assembly including (a) a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel entrance, (b) a nozzle sheath having a sheath cavity, the nozzle positioned in the sheath cavity before fueling, (c) a collar for mating engagement with the fuel entrance, the collar connected with respect to the nozzle sheath, and (d) a frame supporting the fuel nozzle, the frame positioned below the vehicle before fueling and being upwardly moveable to provide operative connection between the nozzle and the fuel entrance, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel.
An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank inlet assembly having a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the standard fuel tank;
- and
- a pump assembly including (a) a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel entrance, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel, and (b) a frame supporting the fuel nozzle, the frame positioned below the vehicle before fueling and being upwardly moveable to provide operative connection between the nozzle and the fuel entrance, the frame being connected with respect to at least one riser which powers upward and downward movement of the frame and with respect to a lateral movement device which moves the frame so that the nozzle is substantially aligned with the fuel inlet adapter.
An automatic vehicle fueling assembly for use with a standard vehicle fuel tank and fuel line, the automatic fueling assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank inlet assembly having a fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the standard fuel tank;
- and
- a pump assembly including (a) a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel entrance, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel, (b) a frame supporting the fuel nozzle, the frame positioned below the vehicle before fueling and being upwardly moveable to provide operative connection between the nozzle and the fuel entrance, (c) a fuel pipe operatively connected to the nozzle, and (d) a vacuum blower operatively attached to the fuel pipe for removing fuel vapor from the fuel tank during fueling.
A vehicle fuel tank inlet assembly for use with a fuel tank having a fuel line leading to a fueling position which allows manual fueling, the assembly delivering fuel to a fuel tank during automatic fueling and comprising:
- a flexible fuel conduit with a fuel entrance and a fuel exit, the fuel exit for operative connection with the fuel tank;
- a first unidirectional valve positioned between the fuel tank and the fuel entrance to prevent fuel from moving toward the fuel entrance;
- a second unidirectional valve positioned between the fuel tank and the fueling position to prevent fuel from moving toward the fueling position;
- and
- a fuel inlet adapter connected with respect to the fuel entrance, the fuel inlet adapter being mounted to the vehicle and having an inlet cavity for receiving a fuel nozzle during automatic fueling.
A fuel pump assembly for automatic fueling of a vehicle fuel tank, the vehicle having a conductive reference marker located at a known position relative to the fuel tank, the assembly comprising:
- a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel tank, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel;
- and
- a positioning system for moving the fuel nozzle into operative connection with the fuel tank during automatic fueling, the positioning system comprising:
- a lateral movement device operatively supporting the nozzle;
- at least three sense inductors for locating the conductive reference marker, each sense inductor located at a known position relative to the nozzle and experiencing inductance variation due to the distance between the marker and the respective sense inductor changes;
- and
- a controller for moving the lateral movement device in response to inductance variation so that the nozzle is substantially aligned for operative connection to the fuel tank.
A fuel pump assembly for automatic fueling of a vehicle fuel tank, the vehicle having a reference marker located at a known position relative to the fuel tank, the assembly comprising:
- a fuel nozzle for operative connection with the fuel tank, the fuel nozzle defining a passageway for fuel;
- and
- a positioning system for moving the fuel nozzle into operative connection with the fuel tank during automatic fueling, the positioning system comprising:
- a lateral movement device operatively supporting the nozzle;
- sensors for locating the reference marker, each sensor located at a known position relative to the nozzle and sensing the position of the reference marker;
- and
- a controller for moving the lateral movement device in response to the sensors so that the nozzle is substantially aligned for operative connection to the fuel tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.