Fuel Nozzle Presence Sensing With Exit Barrier Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle refueling systems fail to prevent vehicles from leaving a service station with a fuel nozzle still inserted, leading to potential damage and accidents due to driver inattention or miscommunication, and existing solutions either require human intervention or cause secondary hazards.
Innovation Solution
A safety system using sensor pairs and data processing units to detect the presence or absence of fuel nozzles, controlling an exit barrier to block vehicle movement until all nozzles are safely returned, integrated with electronic and computer technology compliant with safety standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If video surveillance system is used to monitor refueling area, then operator can detect anomalous situations, but the damage has already occurred by the time alarm is activated
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of nozzle presence/absence and proactively blocks vehicle exit before any potential accident can occur. The barrier is activated in advance based on sensor data, preventing the harmful event rather than responding after detection.
2Reliability
If strain-proof safety couplings are installed to automatically release hose, then vehicle movement is prevented, but whiplash of disconnected hose causes fuel leakage and unpredictable consequences
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by blocking the vehicle exit path with a barrier before the vehicle can move. This prevents the root cause of the problem (vehicle movement with nozzle inserted) rather than providing a secondary safety mechanism that releases the hose, thereby eliminating fuel leakage risk entirely.
3Extent of automation
If automatic sensor detection system is implemented, then human intervention is eliminated, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the safety monitoring function from manual human operation and implements it through dedicated automatic sensors and control units. Each nozzle has its own sensor pair, and the control unit automatically processes sensor signals to operate the barrier, eliminating the need for human operators while maintaining safety.
4Reliability
If barrier blocks vehicle exit, then vehicle is forced to remain stationary, but driver may misunderstand or misjudge the situation
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides visual feedback through sensor indicators that show the presence or absence of nozzles at each dispenser. This immediate visual information helps the driver understand the blocking reason and correct the situation (return the nozzle) to restore normal exit functionality.
Data Source
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
Safety system (100), during refueling by vehicles (102) in a service area, applied to a fuel dispensing column (200), in correspondence with each housing of the respective dispensing nozzles (204a, 204b, 204c), characterised in that comprising: - a first pair of sensors (201a, 201b) for the first dispensing nozzle (204a), a second pair of sensors (202a, 202b) for the second dispensing nozzle (204b), a third pair of sensors (203a, 203b) for the third dispensing nozzle (204c); means of transmitting data from the above said pairs of sensors (201a, 201b), (202a, 202b), (203a, 203b) to a data processing unit which acquires the respective status of the dispensing nozzles (204a), (204b), (204c) as "present" or "absent"; - data processing means which, based on the above said "present" or "absent" state of the delivery nozzles (204a), (204b), (204c), determines a "block" command if at least one of the delivery nozzles (204a), (204b), (204c) is "absent", or an "unlock and enable" command if all the delivery nozzles (204a), (204b), (204c) are simultaneously in the "present" state; means for transmitting the above said commands to a control unit of an exit barrier, which activates the respective means of automatic movement of the barrier based on the above said "block" or "unlock and enable" command; - an exit barrier (101) installed on the exit lane of the vehicle (102) from the service area, so that if the respective control unit receives the "lock" command, the activation of the movement systems brings the barrier (101) into a closed horizontal position, which prevents the passage of the vehicle (102), if instead the respective control unit receives the "unlock and go" command, the activation of the movement systems brings the barrier (101) into an open vertical position, which allows the passage of the vehicle (102).