Fuel Station Vehicle Conveyor for Continuous Refueling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Increasing waiting times at fuel filling stations due to the inefficiency in fuel supply processes, where vehicles have to wait for their turn and move independently to the fuel filling device.
Innovation Solution
A fuel filling station with a vehicle conveyor that moves vehicles into the operating range of a stationary fuel filling device, allowing continuous fuel supply without interruption, and a slide mechanism to maintain a constant fuel hose connection to the vehicle's inlet orifice, along with a regulator-controlled driving mechanism and a cashpoint system for immediate payment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If vehicles move independently to the fuel filling device, then vehicles can be refueled, but waiting times increase and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle conveyor moves vehicles into position at the fuel filling device before refuelling begins. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for vehicles to wait and move independently, allowing continuous refuelling operations without interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The conveyor system enables continuous movement of vehicles through the refuelling process. Multiple vehicles can be positioned in sequence, ensuring that the fuel filling device operates continuously without idle time between refuelling operations.
2Productivity
If a conveyor system is introduced to reduce waiting times, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The vehicle conveyor acts as an intermediary mechanism between vehicle arrival and the refuelling process. It automatically manages vehicle positioning and sequencing, reducing the need for complex manual coordination while maintaining high throughput.
3Loss of time
If the fuel filling device moves with the vehicle, then continuous refuelling is possible, but device complexity and mechanical requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of moving the fuel filling device with the vehicle, the vehicle is moved to the stationary fuel filling device using a conveyor system. This inversion maintains the simplicity of the fuel filling device while achieving continuous refuelling operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobility function is extracted from the fuel filling device and transferred to the vehicle conveyor system. This allows the fuel filling device to remain stationary and mechanically simple while the conveyor handles all movement requirements.
4Ease of operation
If fuel hoses are made flexible to accommodate vehicle movement, then ease of operation improves, but connection reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of making the fuel hose flexible to accommodate vehicle movement, the vehicle is moved to the stationary fuel filling device. This inversion allows the use of rigid, reliable fuel hoses while maintaining ease of operation through automated vehicle positioning.
Data Source
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AI summary
Petrol station 100 for supplying fuel to vehicles (200), comprising a device (103) for transporting vehicles (200) in a queue within a refuelling area while refuelling a vehicle in said refuelling area.