System and method for controlling the dispensing of fuel into the tank of a vehicle

Abstract

A system for controlling the dispensing of fuel into a tank of a vehicle from a fuel dispenser having a dispensing organ (8), the system (1) having: one RFID tag (2) applicable near a tank filler neck (19) of the tank; two RFID readers (3) having respective antennas (4); a support body (5), which supports the two antennas (4) and has fastening means (11) for being attached to the dispensing organ (8) in such a way that the two antennas (4) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis (8a) of the dispensing organ (8) to ensure that, in use, when the dispensing organ (8) is inserted into the tank filler neck (19) the two antennas (4) can be arranged at respective distances from the RFID tag (2) to allow the RFID readers (3) to read the RFID tag (2); and a control unit (12) associable with the fuel dispenser and configured to generate a consent signal to allow the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel for a period of time when both RFID readers (3) read the RFID tag (2).

Description

[0001] "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE DISPENSING OF FUEL INTO THE TANK OF A VEHICLE"

[0002] Cross-Reference to Related Applications

[0003] This Patent Application claims priority from Italian Patent Application No . 102024000001338 filed on January 24 , 2024 , the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

[0004] Technical field

[0005] The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling the dispensing of fuel into the tank of a vehicle .

[0006] In particular, the present invention has an advantageous , but not exclusive , application in sel f-service refuelling stations , to which the description that follows will refer explicitly, but without thus losing its general nature .

[0007] Context

[0008] Sel f-service refuelling stations for vehicles comprise at least one fuel dispenser and a reservation system comprising an automatic payment machine to reserve the fuel dispenser after the automatic payment machine has veri fied the payment . The fuel dispenser comprises a pump, and a dispensing organ, which is connected to the pump and is adapted to engage a tank filler neck of the tank of the vehicle .

[0009] Fuel dispensing control systems that comprise detection means for detecting whether the dispensing organ engages the tank filler neck of the vehicle are known . These detection means identi fy the tank and authorise dispensing, avoiding the fraudulent withdrawal of fuel simultaneously with the refuelling operation performed by means of the dispensing organ .

[0010] One of the known systems for controlling the dispensing of fuel comprises an RFID tag applicable to the dispensing organ, an RFID reader, which is mountable on board the vehicle and comprises an antenna mountable close to a tank filler neck of the vehicle , so that the RFID reader can detect the presence of the RFID tag when the dispenser is inserted into the tank filler neck, and a control unit associated with the refuel ling station communicatively connected with the reservation system and capable of communicating in wireless mode with the RFID reader to authorise the dispensing of fuel when the RFID reader detects the presence of the RFID tag .

[0011] The aforesaid control system of dispensing of fuel is rather expensive , since it requires the mounting of an RFID reader on each vehicle and is subj ect to frequent communication problems , because the control unit must be finely configured and calibrated to communicate with the RFID readers mounted in various ways on the respective vehicles . Another serious drawback of the aforesaid control system of dispensing of fuel is not always preventing the fraudulent withdrawal of fuel . In fact , i f the dispenser is held close to the tank filler neck, but turned so as to be inserted into an external container, the RFID reader detects the RFID tag even i f the fuel is not put into the tank .

[0012] Another of the known systems for controlling the dispensing of fuel di f fers from the one described above in the fact that the RFID tag is generally mounted close to the tank filler neck and the RFID reader is associated with the fuel dispenser and has at least its own antenna mounted on the dispenser . An example of such a system is described in the US patent application published with no . US2016 / 0012261A1 . The system described in said document has an RFID reader that is mounted on the dispenser and comprises an optimisation module , which is configured to provide a refuelling authorisation signal when the communication between the reader and the tag is of good quality, and an antitampering protection to generate an alarm signal after an attempted removal of the RFID reader . The advantages of this system are a lower cost , as it only requires one RFID reader for each fuel dispenser and not for each vehicle and is subj ect to more minor communication problems between the RFID reader and the control unit , since the RFID reader can be mounted in more convenient points for the communicative connection with the control unit . However, even this system does not reduce the risk of fraudulent withdrawal of fuel .

[0013] Contents

[0014] The obj ect of the present invention is to obtain a control system for the dispensing of fuel into the tank of a vehicle that is free from the problems described here above and, at the same time , is simple and economical to manufacture .

[0015] In accordance with the present invention, a system for controlling the dispensing of fuel into the tank of a vehicle from a refuelling station and a method for controlling the dispensing of fuel into the tank of a vehicle at a refuelling station are provided, according to what is de fined in the appended claims .

[0016] The claims describe preferred embodiments of the present invention and are to be considered as an integral part of this description .

[0017] Brief description of the drawings

[0018] The present invention will now be described with reference to the appended drawings , which illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof , wherein :

[0019] - Figure 1 shows the system for controlling the dispensing of fuel into the tank of a vehicle for a refuelling station obtained according to the dictates of the present invention;

[0020] - Figure 2 shows , in a side view, a dispensing pistol of a fuel dispenser of the refuelling station and, in a transverse cross- section, a supporting body of a part of the system of Figure 1 mounted on the dispensing organ of the dispensing pistol ; and - Figures 3 and 4 show two embodiments of the system of Figure 1 during use , i . e . with the dispensing body inserted into the tank filler neck of a tank of the vehicle .

[0021] Description of embodiments

[0022] In Figure 1 , the number 1 generically denotes , in its entirety, the system for controlling the dispensing of fuel into the tank of a vehicle (not shown) for a refuelling station (not shown) comprising at least one fuel dispenser having a pump and a dispensing organ, referred to below, for simplicity, as control system 1 .

[0023] The control system 1 comprises at least one RFID tag 2 , which is applicable near a tank filler neck of the tank, at least two RFID readers 3 comprising respective control modules ( of the known type and not shown) and respective antennas 4 , and at least one support body 5 , which supports the two antennas 4 and comprises fastening means for being attached to the dispensing organ of the fuel dispenser . The RFID tag 2 memorises an identi fication code that identi fies the tank with which it is associated . In other words , the support body 5 and the respective pair of RFID readers 3 are associated with the fuel dispenser and the RFID tag 2 is associated with a respective vehicle . Therefore , in the case in which the refuelling station comprises a plurality of fuel dispensers , the control system 1 comprises a respective plurality of support bodies 5 and a respective plurality of pairs of RFID readers 3 . In Figure 2 , the number 6 generically indicates a dispensing pistol of the fuel dispenser . The dispensing pistol 6 comprises a main body 7 and dispensing organ 8 , which is formed of a tubular element bent in a V shape having a cylindrical distal portion 9 adapted to be inserted into a tank filler neck of the tank of the vehicle and a cylindrical proximal portion 10 connected to the main body 7 . With reference to Figures 1 and 2 , the fastening means of the support body 5 comprise a hole 11 engageable by the cylindrical proximal portion 10 . In Figure 2 , the support body 5 is shown in transverse cross-section and engaged in the proximal portion 10 . The two antennas 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis I la of the hole 11 that lies on a diameter of the hole 11 . In particular, the fastening means comprise a hole 11 and a closing mechanism, known in itsel f and therefore not shown, arranged around the hole 11 to clamp the support body 5 onto the proximal portion 10 .

[0024] With reference to Figure 1 , the two antennas 4 comprise two respective groups of coils , each of which is coaxial to a respective antenna axis 4a, and the coils of the two groups of coils are parallel to a same virtual plane transverse to a longitudinal axis 11b of the hole 11 orthogonal to the transverse axis I la .

[0025] The support body 5 houses both RFID readers 3 . For this purpose , the support body 5 is for example partially hollow .

[0026] In accordance with an embodiment not shown, each RFID reader 3 is not completely arranged in the support body 5 , i . e . the support body 5 houses the antenna 3 , but not the control module of each RFID reader 3 . For example , the control modules of the RFID readers 3 are arranged in the fuel dispenser or in the refuelling station . Each antenna 4 is connected to the respective control module by means of an electric cable . In this manner, the support body 5 can be of lower dimensions and weight .

[0027] With reference to Figure 1 , the control system 1 comprises at least one control unit 12 , which is associable with the fuel dispenser and is configured to generate a consent signal adapted to allow the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel for a period of time when both RFID readers 3 read the RFID tag 2 . The control unit 12 is housed in the support body 5 and connected to the two RFID readers 3 .

[0028] In accordance with the embodiment not shown, in which the support body 5 does not house the control modules of the RFID readers 3 , the support body 5 also does not house the control unit 12 . For example , the control unit 12 is arranged in the fuel dispenser or in the refuelling station . In this manner, the support body 5 can be of lower dimensions and weight .

[0029] Advantageously, the fastening means of the support body 5 comprise a micro-switch 13 arranged in a manner to face radially inside the hole 11 and adapted to signal when the support body 5 is not clamped onto the proximal portion 10 . The control unit 12 comprises an acoustic or lighted indicator (not shown) and is configured to activate said indicator when the micro-switch signals lack of clamping of the support body 5 .

[0030] The control system 1 comprises , furthermore , an interface device 14 , which is external to the support body 5 , is associated to the refuelling station, is communicatively connected with the fuel dispenser and comprises its own control unit 15 , and means of communication associable to the refuelling station to transmit the consent signal to the interface device 14 .

[0031] Advantageously, said communication means comprise a first wireless communication module 16 , which is part of the interface device 14 , and at least a further wireless communication module 17 , which is housed in the support body 5 . Preferably, the two wireless communication modules 16 and 17 are radio communication modules .

[0032] In the case in which the refuelling station comprises a plurality of fuel dispensers , said communication means comprise a plurality of wireless communication modules 17 , each of which is housed in a respective support body 5 . The interface device 14 further comprises at least one command device 18 for each fuel dispenser . The command device 18 is commanded by the control unit 15 as a function of the consent signal transmitted by the wireless communication module 17 associated with the respective dispensing organ 8 and accounting capacity information of a subj ect associated with the vehicle , and therefore associated with the RFID tag 2 applied to the tank .

[0033] Advantageously, the interface device 14 is integrated into a gateway device as sociated with the refuelling station for access to the Internet network . Access to the Internet network allows the accounting capacity information of the subj ect associated with the vehicle to be acquired, according to a known process .

[0034] In accordance with the embodiment not shown, in which the support body 5 does not house the control modules of the RFID readers 3 , the support body 5 also does not house the wireless communication module 17 . For example , the wireless communication module 17 and the control unit 12 are arranged in the fuel dispenser, or the wireless communication modules 16 and 17 are not present and the control unit 12 is arranged generically in the refuelling station and is communicatively connected with the control unit 15 by means of wiring .

[0035] Figures 3 and 4 show the control system 1 during use , i . e . when the dispensing organ 8 , and in particular the distal portion 9 , is inserted into a tank filler neck 19 of the tank of the vehicle , said tank filler neck 19 facing out from an access opening 20 of the bodywork of the vehicle .

[0036] Figure 3 shows the use of a first embodiment of the control system 1 that comprises a single RFID tag 2 , which is applied close to the tank filler neck 19 , preferably above it . The support body 5 ensures that the antennas 4 are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis 8a of the dispensing organ 8 that lies on a diameter of the proximal portion 10 and therefore ensures that the two antennas 4 can be arranged at respective distances from the RFID tag 2 so as to allow both RFID readers 3 to read the RFID tag 2 .

[0037] In particular, the two RFID readers 3 are calibrated in the same manner so that they can both read the RFID tag 2 when the dispensing organ 8 is inserted into the tank filler neck 19 and the RFID tag 2 is substantially centred with respect to the position of the two antennas 4 . In other words , it is necessary to insert the dispensing organ 8 into the tank filler neck 19 and rotate it axially by an opportune angle so that the antennas 4 are arranged substantially at the same distance as the RFID tag 2 , so that both the RFID readers 3 read the RFID tag 2 .

[0038] The control unit 12 generates the consent signal for as long as both RFID readers 3 read the RFID tag 2 . The consent signal is transmitted to the interface device 14 through the communication modules 16 and 17 .

[0039] Figure 4 shows the use of a second embodiment of the control system 1 that di f fers from the one shown in Figure 3 in that it comprises two RFID tags 2 , which are applied close to the tank filler neck 19 in respective symmetrical positions with respect to a transverse axis 19a of the tank filler neck 16 . The support body 5 ensures that each antenna 4 can be arranged substantially at a same distance from a respective RFID tag 2 , so that each RFID reader 3 reads the respective RFID tag 2 .

[0040] The two RFID tags 2 memorise two respective identification codes for identi fying both the tank with which they are associated and the fact that a first RFID tag 2 is positioned to the right of the tank filler neck 19 and the other RFID tag 2 is positioned to the left of the tank filler neck 19 , or, according to a variant not shown, that the first RFID tag 2 is pos itioned above the tank filler neck 19 and the other RFID tag 2 is positioned below the tank filler neck 19 . The two RFID tags 2 allow more reliable detecting of the correct positioning of the dispensing organ 8 during refuelling, i . e . the dispensing organ 8 inserted into the tank filler neck 19 , in order to avoid fraudulent withdrawals of fuel .

[0041] In particular, the two RFID readers 3 are calibrated in the same manner so that they can read the respective RFID tags 2 when the dispensing organ 8 is inserted into the tank filler neck 19 and each of the two antennas 4 is substantially arranged in front of a respective RFID tag 2 . In other words , it is necessary to insert the dispensing organ 8 into the tank filler neck 19 and rotate it axially by an opportune angle so that the antennas 4 are arranged substantially in front of the respective RFID tags 2 , so that each RFID reader 3 reads the respective RFID tag 2 . Therefore , the control unit 12 generates the consent signal for as long as the two RFID readers 3 simultaneously read the respective RFID tags 2 .

[0042] According to a further embodiment not shown, the control system 1 di f fers from the one shown in Figure 1 in that the control unit 12 associated with each fuel dispenser is integrated into the interface device 14 so that what is transmitted to the interface device 14 is not a consent signal , but readings of the two RFID readers 3 . In particular, the control unit 15 of the interface device 14 implements the functions of the various control units 12 . In other words , the consent signal applied to the fuel dispenser is generated inside the interface device 14 .

[0043] According to a further embodiment not shown, the control system 1 di f fers from the one shown in Figure 1 in that the control unit 12 is connected to the interface device 14 in wired mode .

[0044] According to a further embodiment not shown, the support body 5 is integrated into the main body 7 of the dispensing pistol 6 . The control system 1 described above ef fectively implements a method for controlling the dispensing of fuel into a tank of a vehicle at a refuelling station comprising a fuel dispenser having a pump and a dispensing organ . According to such method :

[0045] - an RFID tag 2 i s applied or two RFID tags 2 are applied close to the tank filler neck 19 of the tank;

[0046] - the support body 5 is mounted on the dispensing organ 8 so that the two antennas 4 are arranged in a symmetrical position with respect to a transverse axis 8a of the dispensing organ 8 to ensure that , in use , when the dispensing organ 8 is inserted in the tank filler neck 19 , the two antennas 4 can be arranged at respective distances from the individual RFID tag 2 so as to allow both RFID readers 3 to read the RFID tag 2 ( Figure 3 ) or each antenna 4 can be arranged substantially at a same distance from a respective one of the two RFID tags 2 so that each RFID reader 3 reads the respective RFID tag 2 ( Figure 4 ) ; allow the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel for a period of time when both the RFID readers 3 read the RFID tag 2 ( Figure 3 ) or the two RFID readers 3 simultaneously read the respective RFID tags 2 ( Figure 4 ) at the same time .

[0047] The main advantage of the control system 1 described above is making practically impossible the fraudulent withdrawal of fuel during refuelling by inserting the dispensing organ 8 into a j erry can external to the vehicle with the support body 5 close to the tank fil ler neck 19 , since the support body 5 must necessarily be oriented in a transverse manner with respect to the position of correct functioning and only one of the RFID readers 3 will be able to read the single RFID tag 2 of the embodiment of Figure 3 or one of the two RFID tags 2 of the embodiment of Figure 4 .

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system for controlling the dispensing of fuel into a tank of a vehicle for a refuelling station comprising a fuel dispenser having a pump and a dispensing organ (8) , the system (1) comprising: one RFID tag (2) , which is applicable near a tank filler neck (19) of the tank; two RFID readers (3) comprising respective antennas (4) ; a support body (5) , which supports the two antennas (4) and comprises fastening means (11) for being attached to the dispensing organ (8) in such a way that the two antennas (4) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis (8a) of the dispensing organ (8) to ensure that, in use, when the dispensing organ (8) is inserted into the tank filler neck (19) the two antennas (4) can be arranged at respective distances from the RFID tag (2) such that both RFID readers (3) can read the RFID tag (2) ; and a control unit (12) , which is associable with the fuel dispenser and is configured to generate a consent signal to allow the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel for a period of time when both RFID readers (3) read the RFID tag (2) .

2. A system for controlling the dispensing of fuel into a tank of a vehicle for a refuelling station comprising a fuel dispenser having a pump and a dispensing organ (8) , the system comprising: two RFID tags (2) , which are applicable near a tank filler neck (19) of the tank at respective symmetrical positions with respect to a transverse axis (19a) of the tank filler neck (19) ; two RFID readers (3) comprising respective antennas (4) ; a support body (5) , which supports the two antennas (4) and comprises fastening means (11) for being attached to the dispensing organ (8) in such a way that the two antennas (4) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis (8a) of the dispensing organ (8) to ensure that, in use, when the dispensing organ (8) is inserted into the tank filler neck (19) each antenna (4) can be arranged at substantially the same distance from a respective RFID tag (2) such that each RFIDreader (3) reads the respective RFID tag (2) ; and a control unit (12) , which is associable with the fuel dispenser and is configured to generate a consensus signal to allow the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel for a period of time in which the two RFID readers (3) simultaneously read their respective RFID tags (2) .

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said dispensing organ (8) has at least one cylindrical portion (10) , said fastening means comprise a hole (11) engageable by the cylindrical portion (10) , and said two antennas (4) are positioned symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis (Ila) of the hole (11) .

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the two antennas (4) comprise two respective groups of coils, each of which is coaxial to a respective antenna axis (4a) , and the coils of the two groups of coils are parallel to a same virtual plane transverse to a longitudinal axis (11b) of the hole (11) .

5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the support body (5) houses both RFID readers (3) .

6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the support body (5) houses the control unit (12) .

7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, and comprising an interface device (14) , which is associable to the refuelling station, is external to the support body (5) , is communicatively connected with the refuelling station, and comprises said control unit (12) , and communication means (16, 17) associable to the refuelling station for transmitting readings from the two RFID readers (3) to the interface device (14) .

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the support body(5) houses both RFID readers (3) and the communication means comprise a first wireless communication module (16) , which is part of the interface device (14) , and a second wireless communication module (17) , which is housed in the support body (5) .

9. A method for controlling the dispensing of fuel into a tank of a vehicle at a refuelling station comprising a fuel dispenser having a pump and a dispensing organ (8) , the method comprising: attaching one RFID tag (2) near a tank filler neck (16) of the tank; mounting on the dispensing organ (8) a support body (5) supporting two antennas (4) of two respective RFID readers (3) in such a way that the two antennas (4) are arranged symmetrically with respect to a transverse axis (8a) of the dispensing organ (8) to ensure that, in use, when the dispensing organ (8) is inserted into the tank filler neck (19) the two antennas (4) can be arranged at respective distances from the RFID tag (2) such that both RFID readers (3) can read the RFID tag ( 2 ) ; and allow the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel for a period of time when both RFID readers (3) read the RFID tag (2) .

10. A method for controlling the dispensing of fuel into a tank of a vehicle at a refuelling station comprising a fuel dispenser having a pump and a dispensing organ (8) , the method comprising: attaching two RFID tags (2) near a tank filler neck (19) of the tank at respective symmetrical positions with respect to a transverse axis (19a) of the tank filler neck (19) ; mount on the dispensing organ (8) a support body (5) supporting two antennas (4) of two respective RFID readers (3) in such a way that the two antennas (4) are arranged in symmetrical positions with respect to a transverse axis (8a) of the dispensing organ (8) to ensure that, in use, when the dispensing organ (8) is inserted into the tank filler neck (19) each antenna (4) can be arranged at substantially the samedistance from a respective RFID tag (2) such that each RFID reader (3) reads the respective RFID tag (2) ; and allow the fuel dispenser to dispense fuel for a period of time when the two RFID readers (3) read their respective RFID tags (2) at the same time.

Images