Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – With signal – indicator – recorder – inspection means or exhibitor
Patent
1995-03-03
1997-09-30
Jacyna, J. Casimer
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
With signal, indicator, recorder, inspection means or exhibitor
141 98, 141383, 141231, 141284, 901 6, 901 16, 901 40, 901 46, 342 42, 342140, G01S 1374, B67D 508, B60S 502
Patent
active
056717865
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to apparatus for automatic refuelling of vehicles, primarily cars.
2. Description of the Related Art
An apparatus by means of which cars are fuelled automatically is described in Swedish Patent Specification No. 8901674-5. The apparatus according to that publication comprises a robot which includes a fuelling nozzle or corresponding device and which when the vehicle is placed in a predetermined position in relation to the robot is intended to move the fuelling nozzle automatically from a rest position to a vehicle fuelling position in response to sensing and control means. The fuelling nozzle includes a rigid first tubular element or tube which is intended to be moved by the robot towards an adapter provided with a hole which belongs to the vehicle fuelling location. A flexible, second tube is arranged for movement within the first, rigid tube from a first end position in which the outer free end of the second tube is located within the first tube, to a second end position in which the second tube projects out from the first tube. A tube connection is provided between said hole and the vehicle fuel-tank pipe. The robot is constructed to move the free end of the second tube out of the first tube and down into said tube connection, or down into the vehicle fuel-tank pipe, and pump fuel through the second tube down into the tank of the vehicle.
Swedish Patent Specification No. 9001575-1 describes a method of opening and closing a vehicle fuelling flap which lies flush with the vehicle chassis and which can be swung between an open and a closed position around a vertical or horizontal axis and which covers the space in which the inlet orifice of the fuel-tank pipe is located. According to that patent publication, the flap, or cover plate, is opened in two stages and different opening means are used in each of said stages.
One problem is that a large number of mutually different fuel-tank flaps exist and that these flaps are positioned in mutually different places. The problem is that it is necessary for the robot head to perform many different movements when a flap opening device is maneuvered by means of robot head movement.
According to the last-mentioned patent publication, a vehicle-mounted transponder which coacts with a transceiver unit fitted to the robot head contains information relating to the particular pattern of movement that is to be carried out by the robot head in the case of the vehicle concerned at that time. The transceiver unit also coacts with the transponder to initially position the robot head in relation to the vehicle.
It is desired to simplify the opening process and to render those parts of an automatic fuelling system that are fitted to the vehicle less expensive.
These desiderata are fulfilled by the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus, the present invention relates to an apparatus for the automatic fuelling of vehicles, primarily cars, including a robot which has a robot head that is movable relative to the robot so as to enable it to be brought to a predetermined position in relation to the vehicle fuel-tank pipe. The positioning of the robot head is effected by means of a positioning system which includes a transceiver unit that is mounted adjacent the robot head, said unit preferably being constructed to operate at microwave frequency, and a passive transponder which is placed in a predetermined position on the vehicle. The robot head includes an outer tube and an inner tube which is housed within said outer tube and movable out of said tube, wherein the outer tube is intended to be docked with an adapter which is attached to the upper orifice of the fuel-tank pipe. Subsequent to docking said outer tube, the free forward end of the inner tube is intended to be projected to a position down in the fuel-tank pipe, whereafter fuel is delivered through the inner tube. The robot head carries a flap opening device which functions to open a fuel-tank flap of a vehicle in response to mov
REFERENCES:
patent: 3527268 (1970-09-01), Ginsburgh
patent: 3536109 (1970-10-01), Ginsburgh et al.
patent: 3642036 (1972-02-01), Ginsburgh et al.
patent: 4728955 (1988-03-01), Hane
patent: 4846233 (1989-07-01), Fockens
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