SYSTEM FOR MANAGING FUEL DELIVERY FROM A GAS STATION TO A TANK, IN PARTICULAR TO A VEHICLE TANK

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a system for managing the dispensing of fuel from a refuelling station to a tank, in particular of a vehicle.

[0002] In particular, this invention is advantageously, but not exclusively, applicable in self-service refuelling stations, to which the following description explicitly refers without any loss of generality thereby.BACKGROUND

[0003] Self-service refuelling stations for vehicles comprise at least one fuel dispenser and a reservation system normally comprising a payment terminal provided with a pay machine for reserving the fuel dispenser once the pay machine has verified the payment. The fuel dispenser comprises a pump, a dispensing organ, which is designed to engage a mouth of the vehicle tank, is connected to the pump, and is provided with an opening lever, a housing for the dispensing organ, a switch activated by the dispensing organ to detect whether the latter is present in the housing, and a so-called electronic head, which is controlled via the switch and is designed to control the pump and to communicate with the reservation system.

[0004] The operating sequence for refuelling at a self-service refuelling station typically involves inserting bank notes or a payment card in the pay machine of the reservation system, waiting to check the authenticity of the bank notes or coverage of the payment card, and, upon a positive outcome, selecting a fuel dispenser among those available at the refuelling station.

[0005] The electronic head signals to the reservation system whether the relative fuel dispenser is available or occupied. If the dispensing organ is inserted in its housing, then the switch controls the electronic head to signal to the reservation system that the dispenser is available, i.e. it can be selected by the user and managed through the reservation system. When the fuel dispenser is available, it does not allow fuel to be dispensed. In contrast, if the dispensing organ is not in its housing because the fuel dispenser is dispensing fuel, then the switch controls the electronic head to signal to the reservation system that the dispenser is occupied, i.e. it cannot be selected by the user who queries the reservation system.

[0006] Control systems are known for dispensing fuel that comprise detection means for detecting whether the dispensing organ engages a mouth of the vehicle tank. These detection means identify the tank and authorise dispensing, avoiding fraudulent removal of fuel at the same time as the refuelling that is being carried out via the dispensing organ. In any case, these detection means are not particularly useful if used in combination with the standard reservation systems, because the latter require an additional interaction of the user in the location (check of the authenticity of the bank notes or coverage of the payment card) and, thus, do not allow complete automation of the whole refuelling process. A system according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from US 2010 265033 A1.SUMMARY

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a system for managing the dispensing of fuel in a refuelling station, which is free of the drawbacks described above and, at the same time, is easy and economical to produce.

[0008] In accordance with this invention, a system for managing the dispensing of fuel from a refuelling station to a tank, in particular of a vehicle, is provided, according to what is defined in the attached claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] This invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a refuelling station comprising the system for managing the dispensing of fuel produced according to the precepts of this invention; and Figure 2 schematically illustrates a part of the system in Figure 1. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In Figure 1, 1 generically identifies a refuelling station wherein there is at least one fuel dispenser 2 arranged in a respective refuelling forecourt 3 protected by a known protection structure 4, for example of the type comprising a roof that rests on the ground via at least one column or pillar.

[0011] The fuel dispenser 2 comprises a pump (not illustrated), a dispensing organ 5 connected to the pump, a housing 6 for the dispensing organ 5, and first detection means in form of a first switch 7 arranged in the housing 6 and activated, for example mechanically, by extracting the dispensing organ 5 from the housing 6 and inserting the dispensing organ 5 in the housing 6 to detect, in a known way, whether the dispensing organ 5 is present in the housing 6. For example, the first switch 7 is open when the dispensing organ 5 is present in the housing 6 and is closed when the dispensing organ 5 is not in the housing 6. For example, the dispensing organ 5 is of the type activated by a manual lever.

[0012] The refuelling station 1 comprises, in addition, a reservation system 8, which interfaces with the fuel dispenser 2 to enable the reservation thereof. Typically, the reservation system 8 comprises a known payment system, for example a payment terminal provided with an automatic pay machine.

[0013] Figure 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle 9, which comprises a tank 10 provided with a mouth 11 designed to be engaged by the dispensing organ 5, as indicated with the dashed line.

[0014] Figure 1 indicates, overall, with 12, the management system of this invention for managing the dispensing of fuel by the refuelling station 1 to the tank 10. The management system 12 comprises, in addition to the fuel dispenser second detection means 13 for detecting whether the dispensing organ 5 engages or disengages the mouth 11, a memory 14 that can be mounted on the vehicle 9 storing identification data of the tank 10, and in particular of the vehicle 9, i.e. data that uniquely identify the tank 10, and in particular the vehicle 9, and a data acquisition system 15, which enables the refuelling station 1 to acquire the engagement / disengagement status of the dispensing organ 5 in relation to the mouth 11 and the identification data when the dispensing organ 5 is engaged, i.e. when the second detection means 13 detect that the dispensing organ 5 engages the mouth 11.

[0015] In particular, the second detection means 13 comprise an RFID tag 16 mounted on the dispensing organ 5, a sleeve 17 that can be mounted around the mouth 11, and an RFID tag 18 fixed to the sleeve 17 to detect the presence of the RFID tag 16 when the dispensing organ 5 engages the mouth 11, and, as a result, the absence of the RFID tag 16 when the dispensing organ 5 disengages the mouth 11.

[0016] In particular, the data acquisition system 15 comprises a first radio transceiver module 19, which is associated with the tank 10, and in particular can be mounted on the vehicle 9, to transmit said engagement / disengagement status and said identification data, and a second radio transceiver module 20, which is associated with the refuelling station 1 to receive said engagement / disengagement status and said identification data. The radio transceiver modules 19 and 20 are Sub-1 GHz modules operating in a free frequency band, in particular in an IMS band, for example in the 868 MHz band.

[0017] Advantageously, the management system 12 comprises an electronic unit 21 that can be mounted on the vehicle 9 and comprising the memory 14, the radio transceiver module 19 and a control module 22 for coordinating the operation of the electronic unit 21. The electronic unit 21 communicates with the RFID reader 18 to acquire the engagement / disengagement status of the dispensing member 5 and the control module 22 controls the radio transceiver module 19 for transmitting the engagement / disengagement status and the identification data.

[0018] The management system 12 also comprises a remote server 23, which stores a database 24 of identification data of multiple authorised tanks, and a control unit 25, which is configured to communicate with the remote server 23 so as to transmit the identification data acquired and to receive authorisation whether the identification data acquired are present in the database 24.

[0019] The radio transceiver module 20 is associated with the control unit 25. The control unit 25 is connected to the remote server 23 through the internet. In particular, the control unit 25 comprises the radio transceiver module 20 for acquiring said identification data upon said engaging of the dispensing organ 5, a network interface 26 for communicating with the remote server 23, and a control module 27 for coordinating the operation of the control unit 25.

[0020] With reference to Figure 2 as well, the fuel dispenser 2 comprises an electronic head 28 connected to the first switch 7 and designed to signal to the reservation system 8 of the refuelling station 1 whether the fuel dispenser 2 is available or occupied. The control unit 25 comprises a second switch 29 that is connected to the first switch 7 so as to form a control circuit of the electronic head 28. The electronic head 28 is also designed to control the pump of the fuel dispenser 2.

[0021] In particular, the switches 7 and 29 are electrically connected in series so that the electronic head 28 signals that the fuel dispenser 2 is available when at least one of the two switches 7 and 29 is open and, as a result, signals that the fuel dispenser 2 is occupied when both switches 7 and 29 are closed. In particular, the second switch 29 consists of a relay controlled by the control module 27.

[0022] In general, the control unit 25 is associated with the refuelling station 1. In particular, the control unit 25 is mounted on the protection structure 4 in a position so that its radio transceiver module 20 easily communicates with the radio transceiver module 19 of any vehicle 9 that is located in any refuelling forecourt 3 of the refuelling station 1. Thus, the second switch 29 is connected to the electronic head 28 via a pair of wires 30 that extend from the control unit 25 to the electronic head 28, and, thus, to the fuel dispenser 2.

[0023] According to an embodiment not illustrated, the refuelling station 1 comprises multiple fuel dispensers 2, the control unit 24 comprises corresponding, multiple second switches 29, and the control module 17 is configured to manage the communication with the electronic units 21 of several vehicles 9.

[0024] According to one embodiment not illustrated, the control unit 25 is associated with a specific fuel dispenser 2, and, in particular, is housed in the fuel dispenser 2 casing. Advantageously, the control unit 25 is integrated with the electronic head 28.

[0025] The control unit 25, and in particular the control module 27, and the remote server 23 are configured to perform the following process for managing the dispensing of the fuel when a vehicle 9 stops in the refuelling forecourt 3 and the driver (i.e. the user of the refuelling station 1) extracts the dispensing organ 5 from the housing 6. Note that the management process has as an output variable the signal with which the electronic head 28 indicates to the reservation system 8 that the fuel dispenser 2 is available or occupied.

[0026] The control unit 25 controls the second switch 29 so as to normally be closed. Until the dispensing organ 5 is in the housing 6, the first switch 7 is open and, thus, the electronic head 28 signals that the fuel dispenser 2 is available, and, thus, can be selected by the reservation system 8.

[0027] As soon as the dispensing organ 5 is extracted from the housing 6, the first switch 7 is closed. Thus, both the switches 7 and 29 are closed and the electronic head 28 signals that the fuel dispenser 2 is occupied. In this case, the fuel dispenser 2 cannot be selected by the reservation system 8.

[0028] As soon as the dispensing organ 5 engages the mouth 11, the electronic unit 21 of the vehicle 9 transmits the engagement and the identification data, which are acquired by the control unit 25. The control unit 25 sends an authorisation request incorporating the identification data acquired to the remote server 23. The remote server 23 receives the authorisation request, compares the identification data acquired with all the identification data in the database 24 and transmits an authorisation if the identification data acquired are present in the database 24.

[0029] When the dispensing organ 5 engages the mouth 11, and the control unit 25 is waiting for the authorisation, then the control unit 25 opens the second switch 29 so that the electronic head 28 signals that the fuel dispenser 2 is available, and thus can be selected and managed through the reservation system 8.

[0030] In this way, the user uses a different reservation / payment method to the standard ones (for example, tokens, bank notes, or payment cards), i.e. that is linked to the identification of the tank 10, i.e. of the vehicle 9, and is only triggered by the coupling between dispensing organ 5 and the mouth 11 of the tank 10.

[0031] Following receipt of the authorisation, the control unit 25 closes the second switch 29 so that the electronic head 28 signals that the fuel dispenser 2 is engaged, thus enabling fuel to be dispensed. In particular, following receipt of the above-mentioned authorisation, the control unit 25 controls the electronic head 28 so that the latter activates the pump of the fuel dispenser 2 for dispensing the fuel.

[0032] When the driver decides to stop dispensing, they close the dispensing organ 5 and extract (disengage) it from the mouth 11, and for a certain period of time the dispensing organ 5 remains outside its housing 6. The disengagement of the dispensing organ 5 is transmitted to the control unit 25 by the electronic unit 21. The control unit 25 opens the second switch 29 again after a predetermined time interval T1 from the disengagement of the dispensing organ 5 that follows the dispensing of fuel so that, at the expiry of the time interval T1, the electronic head 28 signals that the fuel dispenser is available. This enables the reservation system 8 to close the dispensing procedure based on the fuel actually dispensed. The time interval T1 ranges between 3 and 10 sec. The time interval T1 can be configured within the control unit 25.

[0033] At the expiry of a successive predetermined time interval T2, contiguous with the first time interval T1, the control unit 25 closes the second switch 29, i.e. returns it to the initial situation necessary for when the dispensing organ 5 is present in the housing 6 again. The time interval T2 ranges between 3 and 10 sec. The time interval T2 can be configured within the control unit 25.

[0034] According to an embodiment not illustrated, the management system 12 does not have the second switch 29 and at least the control module 27 of the control unit 25 is integrated in the electronic head 28 and is programmed via software that implements the process described above. In particular, the control module 27 is configured via said software to control the electronic head 28 so that the latter generates the signal indicating the available / occupied status of the fuel dispenser 2, depending on the signal provided by the first switch 7, the engagement / disengagement status, and the identification data provided by the data acquisition system 15.

[0035] According to one embodiment not illustrated, the management system 12 does not comprise the remote server 23, i.e. the database 24 is stored in a local device of the refuelling station, for example in a memory of the control unit 25, and the latter is configured to directly query the database 24 so as to receive the authorisation to dispense fuel based on the identification data acquired, i.e. if the identification data acquired are present in the database 24. This embodiment is advantageous if the refuelling station is not fixed like the one described above with reference to Figure 1, but is mobile, i.e. it is integrated into a tank vehicle that must refuel other tanks in particularly inconvenient working environments.

[0036] Although the invention described above makes particular reference to a very specific embodiment, it is not to be considered limited to that embodiment, since it encompasses all those variants, modifications, or simplifications covered by the attached claims, such as, for example: the refuelling station 1 is not fixed, but is mobile, i.e. it is integrated onto a transportable tank; the tank 10 is not that of a vehicle 9, but is a generic fuel storage tank; the fuel dispenser 2 comprises, instead of the mechanical first switch 7, an optical detector, i.e. a switch that is controlled optically, or a magnetic detector, i.e. a switch that is controlled magnetically; the switches 7 and 29 are electrically connected in parallel so that the electronic head 28 signals that the fuel dispenser 2 is available when at least one of the two switches 7 and 29 is closed; and the management system 12 does not have the electronic unit 21, the detection device 12 comprises an RFID tag applied to the sleeve 17 and an RFID reader fixed to the dispensing organ 5, the identification data are stored in the RFID tag, the data acquisition system consists of the RFID reader and the control unit 25 is directly wired to the RFID reader.

[0037] The main advantage of the management system 12 described above is to enable effective authentication of the tank 10 during completely automatic fuel dispensing that is only triggered when the dispensing organ 5 engages the mouth 11 of the tank 10.

[0038] The authentication is ensured by the comparison between the identification data of the tank 10, acquired following the coupling between the dispensing organ 5 and the mouth 11, with authorised identification data present on a remote server 23, and the automation is made possible by the control unit 25 that modifies the behaviour of the electronic head 28 when the dispensing organ 5 is not in its housing 6 so as to signal to the reservation system 8 that the fuel dispenser 2 is available, and, thus, can be managed in a standard way, as though the dispensing organ 5 were still in its housing 6.

[0039] The management system 12 described above implements, thus, an authorisation process of the fuel dispensing that, in addition to the authentication of the tank 10, may also comprise a check of the user's solvency, via an exchange of information between the remote server 23 and a banking server, or, if the control unit 25 stores the database 24, between the control unit 25 and the banking server. Thus, it is no longer necessary to check the cash or bank credentials of the user via the automatic pay machine of the reservation system 8.

Claims

1. A system for managing the dispensing of fuel from a refuelling station to a tank, in particular of a vehicle, the system (12) comprising: a fuel dispenser (2) which comprises a dispensing organ (5) for engaging a mouth (11) of the tank (10), a housing (6) for inserting the dispensing organ (5), and an electronic head (28) ; the system further comprising second detection means (13) for detecting whether the dispensing organ (5) engages or disengages the mouth (11); memory means (14), which are associated with the tank (10), and in particular are mountable on the vehicle (9), and which are configured to store identification data of the tank (10), and in particular of the vehicle (9); a data acquisition system (15) configured for acquiring the engagement / disengagement status of the dispensing organ (5) in / from the mouth (11) and for acquiring the identification data when the second detection means (13) detect that the dispensing organ (5) engages the mouth (11); a database (24) of identification data of a plurality of authorised tanks; and a control unit (25), which is configured to query the database (24) such that it receives an authorisation to dispense fuel if the acquired identification data are present in the database (24); the system being characterized in that the fuel dispenser (2) comprises first detection means (7) for detecting whether the dispensing organ (5) is present or absent in the housing (6), in that the electronic head (28) is connected to the first detection means (7) and is configured for signalling to a reservation system (8) of the refuelling station (1) whether the fuel dispenser (2) is available or occupied, and in that the control unit (25) is configured to control the electronic head (28) such that the the electronic head signals that the fuel dispenser (2) is available when the dispensing organ (5) engages the mouth (11) and the control unit (25) is awaiting said authorisation.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said control unit (25) is configured to control the electronic head (28) such that the latter signals that the fuel dispenser (2) is occupied when the dispensing organ (5) engages the mouth (11) and the control unit (25) has received said authorisation.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said control unit (25) is configured to control the electronic head (28) such that the latter signals that the fuel dispenser (2) is available after a predetermined time interval (T1) from a disengagement of the dispensing organ (5) from the mouth (11) following a dispensing of fuel.

4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said first detection means comprise a first switch (7) operable, for example mechanically, by withdrawal and insertion of the dispensing organ (5) from and, respectively, into said housing (6), and said control unit (25) comprises a second switch (29) connected to the first switch (7) so as to form a control circuit of the electronic head (28) and is configured to control the electronic head (28) by means of the control of the second switch (29).

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the first switch (7) is open when the dispensing organ (5) is present in the housing (6) and is closed when the dispensing organ (5) is absent in the housing (6) and the second switch (29) is electrically connected in series to the first switch (7) such that the electronic head (28) signals that the fuel dispenser (2) is available when at least one of the two switches (7, 29) is open.

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said second detection means (13) comprise an RFID tag (16) applied to the dispensing organ (5), a sleeve (17) mountable around said mouth (11), and an RFID reader (18) fixed to the sleeve (17) to detect the presence of the RFID tag (16) when the dispensing organ (5) engages the mouth (11) .

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said data acquisition system (15) comprise a first radio transceiver module (19), which is associated with the tank (10), and in particular is mountable on the vehicle (9), and is capable of transmitting the engagement / disengagement status of the dispensing organ (5) with respect to the mouth (11) and said identification data when the second detection means (13) detect that the dispensing organ (5) engages the mouth (11), and a second radio transceiver module (20), which is associated with the control unit (25) to receive the engagement / disengagement status of the dispensing organ (5) with respect to the mouth (11) and the identification data.

8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and comprising a remote server (23), which stores said database (24), is connectable to the control unit (25) via the internet network and is configured to receive said acquired identification data, compare them with the identification data in the database (24) and transmit an authorisation if said acquired identification data are present in the database (24).

9. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said control unit (25) is associated with the refuelling station (1).

10. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said control unit (25) is associated with the fuel dispenser (2).