Method of on-site refueling using electronic identification tags, reading probe, and a truck on-board computer

Abstract

A method of on-site refueling, i.e., delivering petroleum and similar products from a tank truck into customer vehicles or other tanks at a customer's site, that ensures the accurate delivery of products in accordance with the instructions on a series of delivery lists. The method of delivery includes the use of a probe having digital memory and capable of comparing input signals from passive electronic tags with stored data and the use of a truck on-board computer able to read the truck's accumulating gallonage meters, and able to set relay contacts to directly control the refueling of vehicles identified as critical vehicles. Each use of the probe in reading a tag is recorded in the probe, stored in its memory, and later downloaded into the on-board computer used to calculate the gallons and identify the product delivered into each customer tank. At the end of the day, the on-board computer is downloaded into an office computer to complete customer billing records, evaluate driver compliance with the delivery process, and post inventory, sales, and financial records.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONI. Field of the InventionThis invention relates generally to a method of on-site refueling, i.e., delivering petroleum and similar products from a tank truck into customer vehicles or other tanks at a customer's site. More particularly, it relates to a method of ensuring the delivery of the proper petroleum or similar product, and the accurate recording of the delivery, from a plurality of petroleum and similar products carried on a tank truck, into customer vehicle fuel tanks (whether the vehicles are, for example, automobiles, trucks, or buses in a restricted company parking lot; or are construction machines and trucks at a construction site), and later verifying compliance with this method of delivery.II. Discussion of the Related ArtThe present invention is related to the Petroleum Delivery Method set out in Applicant's earlier-filed U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 296,727, filed Aug. 26, 1994 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,420,707). That earlier-filed Application ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

At the end of each day, the driver turns in to the refueler's main office the driver's hand-held probe and the PCMCIA mass storage device from the on-board computer, which contains all of the data recorded by both computers during the day, including exception reports, refueling lists, and customer bills. This data allows the refueler's office computer to complete all customer billing requirements, to prepare all tax-refund schedules, and to post inventory, sales, and financial records. In addition, the data allows monitoring the driver's conformity with the delivery procedures, and analyzing the processes for the purpose of improving them.

Problems solved by technology

Because the meter is located on the delivery truck, and considering that the delivery hose may be up to 150 feet long, this can be very wasteful of the driver's time.

One solution is a radio-operated meter readout device carried by the driver, which saves walking time, but still requires manual recording by the driver and manual transcription by an office employee, both subject to error.

If the driver refuels a gasoline-powered vehicle with diesel fuel, or vice versa, and the error goes undiscovered until the engine quits, the repair can be very costly.

Even more serious is erroneously refueling emergency vehicles or small aircraft.

In addition, some diesel vehicles in cold weather may require a blend of #1 and #2 diesel fuel to operate dependably, which is up to 10 percent more expensive than straight #2 fuel; yet, refueling all diesel vehicles with this blend may be unnecessarily costly, or may not be desired by some customers.

(State tax laws will not be considered here because they differ from each other, and only add additional complexity.)

There are serious penalties for refuelers who violate these tax laws.

Even innocent mistakes can be very costly to the refueler since the taxes on each gallon can be more than ten times the refueler's gross margin on each gallon sold.

The environmental laws and regulations add another layer of complexity to the refueling process.

This fuel is sold tax-free to the refueler dyed red, and is never legal in a highway vehicle.

There are severe penalties for failure to follow these environmental regulations covering gasoline and diesel fuel deliveries, including fines of up to $25,000 per day per violation.

Even inadvertence may not prevent a citation.

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