U.S. patent number 3,650,303 [Application Number 05/000,019] was granted by the patent office on 1972-03-21 for method and apparatus.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Atlantic Richfield Company. Invention is credited to Robert R. Chambers, Rudolph S. Stokan.
United States Patent |
3,650,303 |
Chambers , et al. |
March 21, 1972 |
METHOD AND APPARATUS
Abstract
A new method and apparatus for filling a vehicle gasoline tank
and automatically recording the identity of the vehicle and the
amount of gasoline added is disclosed. These systems are further
useful in a method for periodically maintaining a group of vehicles
which are parked for a relatively long time as in a daily parking
lot. The vehicles can thus be maintained with gas, oil, etc.,
without the necessity for the owner or driver being present.
Inventors: |
Chambers; Robert R. (Scarsdale,
NY), Stokan; Rudolph S. (Harvey, IL) |
Assignee: |
Atlantic Richfield Company (New
York, NY)
|
Family
ID: |
21689519 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/000,019 |
Filed: |
January 2, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
141/1; 137/234.6;
141/98; 705/413; 141/232 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60P
3/14 (20130101); G06Q 50/06 (20130101); Y10T
137/3802 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
B60P
3/14 (20060101); B67d 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;137/234.6
;141/98,1,231,232,233,266,279,284,248 ;222/192
;235/151,151.2,151.34 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
3410320 |
November 1968 |
Ginsburgh et al. |
3527268 |
September 1970 |
Ginsburgh |
3536109 |
October 1970 |
Ginsburgh et al. |
|
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bell, Jr.; Houston S.
Claims
We claim:
1. A method for periodically maintaining a vehicle left parked and
unattended which comprises,
establishing in the proximate area of the vehicle a servicing unit
which includes a gasoline storage unit, gasoline transfer means, an
automatic code identifier and recording means,
arranging the gasoline transfer means for delivery of gasoline into
the gasoline tank filler means of the vehicle,
identifying the particular vehicle in the automatic code
identifier,
transferring gasoline from the gasoline storage unit to the vehicle
gasoline tank, and
recording the amount of gasoline transferred.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a permanent
record of the gasoline transferred.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the permanent record is provided
by the automatic recording means.
4. An improved method for filling a vehicle gasoline tank with
gasoline and identifying the particular vehicle comprising:
establishing in the same proximate area a vehicle and a servicing
unit which includes a gasoline storage unit, gasoline transfer
means, an automatic code identifier and recording means;
arranging the gasoline transfer means for delivery of gasoline into
the vehicle gasoline tank receiving means;
identifying the particular vehicle in the automatic code
identifier;
registering the particular vehicle identity on the recording
means;
filling the vehicle gasoline tank with gasoline from the gasoline
storage unit;
and registering the amount of gasoline inserted on the recording
means.
5. Apparatus for dispensing gasoline to a vehicle and identifying
the vehicle to which the gasoline is dispensed comprising:
a. Vehicle identification means adapted for attachment to a vehicle
for identifying the particular vehicle to which the vehicle
identification means is attached; and
b. Vehicle servicing means including:
1. vehicle identification sensing means adapted to connect to
vehicle identification means to sense the identity of the
particular vehicle identified by the vehicle identification
means;
2. gasoline storage means;
3. gasoline transfer means connected to the gasoline storage means
and adapted for transferring gasoline from the gasoline storage
means to a vehicle gasoline inlet pipe; and
4. recording means connected to the gasoline transfer means and to
the vehicle identification sensing means for recording the identity
of the particular vehicle sensed by the vehicle identification
sensing means and the amount of gasoline transferred from the
gasoline storage means to the vehicle gasoline inlet pipe.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said recording means includes
means to record the price of the gasoline transferred from the
gasoline storage means.
7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said vehicle identification
means are coded means adapted to be attached to a vehicle gasoline
inlet pipe cap, said cap being secured to a vehicle.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the vehicle identification
means comprise a plurality of resistance elements disposed in
sequence and having resistance values corresponding to a numerical
code identifying the vehicle.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the gasoline transfer means
includes suitable connecting means to transmit the resistance
values of the identity means to the recording means.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the resistance elements of the
vehicle identification means are connected to projecting pins and
the gasoline transfer means includes sockets adapted to correspond
with the projecting pins.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a stepping switch
connected to the sockets to receive the resistance value of each of
the resistance elements in succession, and means to energize the
gasoline transfer means after all the resistance values have been
determined.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said stepping switch
comprises two sections of contacts which operate in unison, the
first section of which is connected to the resistance elements and
to the recording means whereby the values of the resistance
elements are determined in succession and transferred to the
recording means and the second section of which contains one more
contact than the number of resistance elements, said last contact
being connected to a motor starter whereby when said contact is
energized, the motor starter energizes the gasoline transfer
means.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 further including means to deactivate
the motor starter when contact between the gasoline transfer means
and vehicle identification means is ceased.
14. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a vehicle having a
gasoline tank and a gasoline inlet pipe connected to the gasoline
tank, the vehicle identification means connected to the vehicle
adjacent the vehicle gasoline inlet pipe.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising connecting means
connecting the vehicle identification sensing means to the gasoline
transfer means, said connecting means in conjunction with the
manner of connection of the vehicle identification means to the
vehicle ensuring that the gasoline transfer means is within the
vehicle gasoline inlet pipe when gasoline is transferred from the
gasoline storage means.
Description
This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for
filling the gasoline tank of a vehicle, such as an ordinary
automobile, and automatically recording the identity of the vehicle
and the amount of gasoline added. Apparatus for performing the
method is also disclosed. These systems are useful in a method for
periodically maintaining one or more of a larger group of vehicles
which are parked for a relatively long time, such as is typically
found in the commuter parking lots within any large urban area or
any major employment center. The vehicle or vehicles can thus be
maintained automatically with gas, oil, etc., without the necessity
for the owner and/or driver being present.
In today's society, large numbers of people commute to work daily
by car. Often these cars are left parked all day in a parking lot
which can be adjacent to the work place of the commuter or at a
relatively short distance away. The cars are parked generally in
the morning, are left on the lot all day and then are retrieved at
the end of the work day for the drive home. These vehicles, of
course, require periodic maintenance as well as refueling of
gasoline and changes of oil, with the refueling of gasoline being
more prevalent generally than maintenance. For the average commuter
refueling requires an added stop during his commuting trip to work
or to home thus lengthening his trip and causing some
inconvenience. It has been occasionally suggested that the commuter
park his car at a convenient gasoline station and/or garage where
this periodic maintenance and refueling can be done during the day.
However, the number of these service stations and/or garages in
relation to the number of commuters is very small. Also, under
present practice the commuter has no way of determining exactly
what was done to his vehicle in terms of refueling and/or
maintenance other than what is told to him when he returns to the
car. Many people are reluctant to leave their automobiles in such a
situation. Some refueling and periodic maintenance can be achieved
by in effect bringing service stations to the automobile, that is
providing a transportable gasoline carrying vehicle which could be
used to refuel the automobile wherever it is parked. However, the
commuter still has no concrete idea of exactly how much fuel is
added and a particular commuter may not be interested in this kind
of service.
It has now been found that many of the problems associated with on
the site refueling and maintenance can be alleviated through the
use of a portable maintaining unit along with a means to identify
the vehicle to be maintained and further means to record the amount
of maintenance and refueling done. Utilization of the invention
herein disclosed provides the commuter who uses the service with a
record of the amount and cost of the fuel applied to his car and
the type of maintenance which has been done. The auto owner is thus
provided with a permanent true record of the work which has been
performed. The services are done during the day while the
automobiles are parked in their commuting lot thus eliminating any
need for stopping on the way to or from work on the part of the
commuter. Utilization of the invention as disclosed herein will
thus result in a saving of time for most of the people using the
service. The invention will be further described herein in
reference to a large parking lot which can be considered typical of
those found in large urban centers or in any work area where a
plurality of cars are parked during the day.
The commuter who partakes in the periodic maintenance system herein
described may be given a means to identify his vehicle in the clear
view of an observer whereby that vehicle within a group of vehicles
can be identified by a casual glance. This identifying means shows
that he is a member of the service and can be given on a regular,
periodic basis such as, for example, on a monthly basis and can be,
for example, a sticker. The sticker can be a windshield, window,
back window or bumper sticker of a particular color or size so as
to be readily observant to anyone walking in the approximate area
of the vehicle or this means can be in the form of a card board or
other paper-type sheet which can be inserted in the windshield or
back window area so as also to be readily observable.
Once the vehicle is identified as being a member of this service,
the maintenance program can be started. The vehicle can be taken to
a servicing unit or, alternatively, a servicing unit can be
established in the proximate area of the vehicle. The latter, e.g.,
establishing the servicing unit in the approximate area of the
vehicle, is preferred because of savings in time. The driving of
cars to and from the servicing unit can be time-consuming and this
time increases with the increasing number of vehicles taking part
in the program. As will become even more apparent below, the use of
this latter method offers increasing efficiencies for the operators
of the program as the percentage of cars within a large parking
area taking part in the program increases.
The servicing unit can include a gasoline storage unit, a gasoline
transfer means such that gasoline can be transferred from the
servicing unit to the vehicle to be serviced, an automatic code
identifier and a recording means. The gasoline transfer means is
inserted into the gasoline delivery or receiving means of the
vehicle gasoline tank and gasoline is added to fill up the tank.
The gasoline receiving means of the vehicle gasoline tank
preferably contains an identity means. The identity means is
adapted to identify the vehicle by a predetermined code such that
when the gasoline transfer means from the servicing unit is
inserted into the said gasoline receiving means the vehicle can be
identified by code in the servicing unit code identifier. As the
amount of gasoline is added to the gasoline vehicle tank through
the gasoline receiving means, the amount and its concomitant price
is further recorded in the recording means on the servicing unit by
suitable electrical or mechanical means.
The inventions will be more fully described below with reference to
the appended drawings in which
FIG. 1 is a representation of the process of this invention in
which a parked vehicle is being serviced from a servicing unit
established in the proximate area of the vehicle;
FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of one embodiment of a vehicle
gasoline tank identity means suitable for use in the present
invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an electrical circuit
including the vehicle gasoline tank identity means; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a
vehicle gasoline tank identity means suitable for use in the
present invention.
The large parking lot 1 shown generally in FIG. 1 is typical of
those encountered in urban centers and work areas. As shown
therein, a number of vehicles 2 are parked in rows 3, generally two
autos deep with an open aisleway 4 between adjacent rows.
A servicing unit 5 can be established in an aisleway 4 to service
the particular vehicles parked adjacent that aisleway. The
servicing unit 5 is preferably motorized, either as an integral
unit or it could be, for example, mounted behind and connnected to
a cab-type motoring means. The servicing unit 5 can include a
gasoline storage unit 6, gasoline transfer means including a pump
6' and delivery means 7 such as a hose of a length sufficient to
service the vehicles in the proximate area, which can be, for
example, up to about 20 feet or more, of the servicing unit, an
automatic code identifier 8 and a recording and printing means 9.
The servicing unit can also contain a number of accessories (not
shown) such as oil cans, rags, windshield wipers, battery water
storage and transfer means, etc., useful in performing accessory
services to a vehicle. Although the automatic code identifier 8 and
the recording and printing means 9 are shown as discrete units in
the servicing unit, they may also be physically combined into one
unit.
The servicing unit can be established in the proximate area of a
particular vehicle 10 which is identified as a member of the
periodic maintenance system, as by means of the sticker 11 located
on the rear bumper of vehicle 10. The gasoline transfer means 7 can
be inserted into the gasoline receiving means of the vehicle
gasoline tank, indicated generally as 12. As is more fully
explained hereinbelow, the gasoline receiving means of the vehicle
gasoline tank contains an identity means adapted to identify the
particular vehicle being serviced by a predetermined code so that
when the gasoline transfer means 7 is inserted into the gasoline
receiving means the vehicle is automatically identified in the code
identifier 8 in the servicing unit 5. As gasoline is added to the
vehicle gasoline tank from the storage tank 6 through the transfer
means 7, the amount of gasoline transferred and its concomitant
price is further recorded in the recording means 9 on the servicing
unit 5 by suitable electrical or mechanical means.
The identity means can be permanently attached to the vehicle
gasoline receiving means which is a part of the vehicle gasoline
storage tank. Such identity means can be any suitable electrical or
mechanical combination which will identify the vehicle being
serviced by means of a predetermined code. The identity means as is
more fully explained below, is adapted to insure that the gasoline
is delivered into the vehicle.
One such vehicle identity means is illustrated in FIG. 2. The
identity means therein shown is disposed in an annular ring 13
adapted to be located about the mouth 12a of the vehicle gasoline
receiving means 12. The identity means is preferably permanently
connected to the gasoline receiving means as, for example, by
welding, brazing or soldering, although the identity means can be
attached by means of a chain or other suitable connecting means.
The ring 13 can contain projecting pins 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19,
each connected to one end of the associated resistance elements 20,
21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, respectively. Each of the resistance
elements 20 through 25 has its second end connected to a common
terminal 26 which is further connected to projecting pin 27 by wire
28. The ring 13 can further contain projecting pins 29 and 30 which
are connected to each other by wire 31.
The resistance elements 20 through 25 can have a sequence of values
which are arranged to correspond to the identification number
assigned to the vehicle. Each digit of the number will be
represented by one resistor so that only the first digit of the
resistance value would be used. This makes unnecessary the use of
high precision ultrastable resistors of correspondingly high price
and enables the use of lower precision resistors of a lower cost.
For example, resistors of values 500 ohms, 1,500 ohms, 2,500 ohms,
3,500 ohms, . . . etc., could be used to represent the digits 0
through 9; a six-digit number such as 216,547 could be identified
by ring containing resistors of the following values arranged in
sequence; 2,500, 1,500, 6,500, 5,500, 4,500 and 7,500 ohms.
The gasoline transfer means 7 can contain at its delivery end a
mating socket 32 which contains sockets 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38
adapted to mate with projecting pins 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19,
respectively. Similarly, mating socket 32 contains sockets 39, 40
and 41 adapted to mate with projecting pins 29, 30 and 27
respectively. The central aperture 42 of the transfer means 7 is
further adapted to correspond with the mouth 12a of the vehicle
receiving means. The mating socket 32 is adjusted to be joined with
the identity means such that each of the projecting pins is
disposed in its respective socket and the apertures 12a and 42 are
in correspondence. This joining can be facilitated by the provision
of suitable means (not shown) on the circumferences of the socket
and ring such as reference lines or a dove and tail joint. Other
suitable means may also be employed.
As is shown in FIG. 3, each of the sockets 33 through 41 is
connected to wires 42 through 50, which can be arranged
peripherally around the circumference of the transfer means 7, and
each wire is then connected to the master control apparatus,
indicated generally as 52.
The master control apparatus 52 includes a power source 53 which is
connected to a master control relay 54, the output of which
controls a motor starter 55 which in turn is connected to the
gasoline storage unit pump motor 56. The output of relay 54 is also
connected to the recording and printing means 9, which additionally
receives a binary coded decimal input from digital ohmmeter 57.
Stepping switch 59 includes two sections 60 and 61 of contacts. The
resistance elements 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, respectively, are
connected through the corresponding projecting pins 14-19 and
sockets 33-38 and through wire leads 42-47 to step contacts 62, 63,
64, 65, 66 and 67, respectively, in section 60 of stepping switch
59. The rotary contact arm 68 of section 60 is connected to the
input of digital ohmmeter 57 by wire 86. Common terminal 26 is
connected via its projecting pin 27 and socket connection 41 and
via line 50 to the input of digital ohmmeter 57. The joined
contacts 29 and 30 are connected via sockets 39 and 40 and via
wires 48 and 49 to the master control relay 54.
Section 61 of the stepping switch 59 contains at least one more
contact than the number of digits in the identification code. In
the embodiment herein described, a six-digit number has been used.
Section 61 therefore contains at least seven contacts of which the
seventh contact 71 is connected by wire 72 to motor starter 55. The
rotary contact arm 77 of section 61 is also connected to the master
control relay 54 through wire 78. The rotary contact arms 68 and 77
are mechanically driven, as indicated generally at 79 and 80, by
the stepping switch step coil 81 and reset coil 82. These coils
each have their common terminal connected to one terminal of master
control relay 54 by wire 83. Step coil 81 is connected to the
recording and printing means 9 by wire 87, and reset coil 82 is
connected to the second terminal of master control relay 54 by
means of wire 84 and normally open momentary contact switch 85.
Switch 85 can alternatively be of an automatic operation as is more
fully explained below.
Another suitable vehicle identity means is illustrated in FIG. 4.
In this embodiment, the suitable electrical or mechanical
combination is incorporated into the vehicle gasoline tank cap 13'
which is adapted to fit about the end of the vehicle gasoline
receiving means 12. The cap 13' is permanently attached to the
receiving means 12 or to another part of the vehicle by means of a
chain or other suitable connecting means whereby the cap can be
removed from the receiving means 12 to allow the transfer means 7
to be inserted but, preferably without allowing the cap 13' to be
moved away from the proximity of the receiving means. The chain can
thus be of a length of, for example, a few inches, such as about 2
to 3 inches.
The cap 13' can contain projecting pins 14', 15', 16', 17', 18' and
19', each connected to one end of the associated resistance
elements 20', 21', 22', 23', 24' and 25', respectively, in the same
manner as the embodiment of FIG. 2. Similarly, each of the
resistance elements 20' through 25' has its second end connected to
a common terminal 26' which is also a projecting pin. The cap 13'
can further contain projecting pins 29' and 30' which are connected
to each other by wire 31'.
In this embodiment, the mating socket 32' on gasoline transfer
means 7, adapted to mate with cap 13', can be positioned on the
periphery of the transfer means 7 at a distance, say 3 to 5 inches,
above the delivery end. If the cap 13' is attached by a 2 -inch
chain and the delivery end of the transfer means 7 extends about 3
to 5 inches into the receiving means 12, the necessary mating can
be accomplished. However, such mating without the transfer means 7
being within the receiving means 12 will be difficult, thereby
assuring that the gasoline is delivered into the tank. The mating
socket 32' contains sockets 33' through 41' which correspond in
function to sockets 33 to 41 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 and are
connected through wires 42' through 50' to master control apparatus
identical to that shown in FIG. 3 as 52. This embodiment functions
in the same manner as hereinafter set forth for the embodiment of
FIGS. 2 and 3.
In operation, when the mating socket 32 is connected to the
identity means, lines 48 and 49 are tied together by line 31. This
energizes master control relay 54. As a consequence, step coil 81
of stepping switch 59 is energized to step arms 68 and 77 in unison
over the contacts of stepping switch sections 60 and 61,
respectively when actuated by printer 9. Digital ohmmeter 57
"reads" the value of resistance element 20 through contact position
62. The first digit of this value is transmitted by BCD code
through wires 69 and 70 to printer 9. Printer 9 energizes step
switch coil 81 through wire 87 to advance rotary contact arm 68 to
contact position 63. The first digits of resistance values of the
remaining resistance elements 20 through 25 are then received by
printer 9 as the rotary contact arm 68 of section 60 advances to
each successive contact position 62 through 67. These values are
recorded on a suitable ticket means in the recording and printing
means 9 as the vehicle identification code number. After rotary
contact 68 reaches contact position 67 the code number has been
completely read, and step coil 81 is again activated to step
contact arm 77 to position 71. Power is then provided from relay
54, through section 61 of the stepping switch 59 to activate the
motor starter 55 of fuel pump motor 56. At this point, gasoline is
transferred from the storage unit 6 to the vehicle through the
transfer means 7. The gasoline storage unit 6 can further be
provided with metering means (not shown) which is adapted to
measure the amount of gasoline transferred from the storage tank to
the vehicle. This information can also be supplied to the recording
and printing means 9 by suitable means (not shown) for inclusion on
the ticket means.
When the gasoline transfer is completed and the mating socket 32
removed from the identity means, the stepping switch reset switch
85, can be activated to reset the stepping switch 59 to its
original "rest" position. The activation can be performed manually
by the servicing unit operator or automatically by the inclusion of
suitable means to be activated when the mating socket-identity
means joint is disengaged.
While an annular ring disposed about the mouth of the gasoline
receiving means and a gasoline receiving means cap, both containing
resistance elements have been disclosed above to exemplify two
modes of establishing the vehicle code means, it is recognized that
these are not the only alternatives in which the code
identification can be made and transmitted the recording means.
Other suitable identification means can be used; and is preferably
arranged so that when identifying contact between the gasoline
delivery and receiving means is made, the delivery means is
positioned so that the gasoline can only go into the receiving
means and the vehicle tank.
The recording means on the servicing unit can be, as noted before,
a printer or card punch or other suitable device. The recording
means is also preferably adapted to record the amount of gasoline
and the price for the gasoline delivered to the vehicle. The
recording means thus provides a permanent copy of the amount of
work and the price thereof done to the vehicle. Preferably, at
least one copy of the printed or punched bill is made so that after
the refueling has taken place a copy can be left for the owner or
driver of the vehicle as by leaving it under the windshield
wiper.
At the time during which the refueling is taking place, other
amenities of typical service station operations such as cleaning
the windshield and other windows of the vehicle, checking the air
in the vehicle tires, checking the oil and water levels can be
performed. If, for example, the oil is found to be low, it can be
refilled by manual means by the operator of the servicing unit
which can carry oil in suitable containers such as are now
presently available. The servicing unit can also contain various
means to perform the other ancillary operations such as a
compressed air tank to add air to the tires of the automobile and
water tanks with suitable water delivery means so that, for
example, the battery or radiator can be refilled. At the same time
as the ticket is left with the automobile, the operator of the
servicing unit can note thereon other deficiencies which he has
noted which would require approval by the owner or driver before
fixing. For example, if while checking the oil and water it is
noticed that a fan belt is loose or is beginning to wear or if the
oil appears dirty and should be changed, a notation to that effect
can be made on the printed slip left for the driver so that
instructions may be left for the performance of these operations.
These further operations could be performed while the car is being
left for the day either in the lot where it is usually left or, if
prior arrangements are made, the vehicle can be transferred to a
service station and be returned during the day.
It has been found in a large scale consideration of the operation
thus disclosed above that by regular servicing of this type that
the average vehicle only requires refueling approximately twice a
week, e.g., Mondays and Thursdays, or Tuesdays and Fridays. It has
also been found that the underhood services noted are generally
required on an average of about once a week. The invention of this
application thus will allow a one-man operated service unit to
service a large number of cars in one area.
* * * * *