Petrol Station and Method for Refuelling Vehicles

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A fuel filling station for the supply of fuel to vehicles, comprising a fuel filling device for supplying fuel to a vehicle within an operating range thereof, characterised by a vehicle conveyor for moving vehicles in succession to within said operating range while fuel is being supplied to a vehicle that is present within said operating range.

2. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle conveyor is configured to convey the fuel filling device together with a vehicle.

3. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, wherein the fuel filling device is stationary, being configured to supply fuel to a vehicle while the latter is being conveyed.

4. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, wherein a conveying path of the vehicle conveyor forms an at least substantially closed circuit.

5. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, wherein a conveying path of the vehicle conveyor forms an at least substantially straight line.

6. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, wherein a conveying speed of the vehicle conveyor can be adjusted in dependence on the amount of fuel to be supplied to the vehicles.

7. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, wherein the fuel filling device comprises a slide provided to move along the vehicle conveyor, which slide is configured to accommodate a loop portion of a fuel hose connected to the fuel filling device between the fuel filling device and the inlet orifice, which fuel hose is provided with a connecting element at a free end thereof, which connecting element is to be connected to an inlet orifice of the fuel tank of a vehicle.

8. A fuel filling station according to claim 7, wherein the slide is provided near an upper side of a frame disposed beside the vehicle conveyor, such that the slide is at least partly positioned above the vehicle.

9. A fuel filling station according to claim 7, wherein an elongate arm is mounted to the slide for guiding the loop portion near a free end of the arm.

10. A fuel filling station according to claim 7, wherein the arm is pivotable between a first position, in which the longitudinal axis of the arm is at least substantially parallel to the first axis, and a second position, in which said longitudinal axis is at least substantially perpendicular to the first axis and the vertical axis of the frame, such that in the second position the arm extends to near the side of the vehicle remote from the fuel filling device.

11. A fuel filling station according to claim 7, further comprising a regulator-controlled driving mechanism for driving the slide, such that the slide is movable along the vehicle conveyor at a speed at least substantially the same as the conveying speed of the vehicle conveyor.

12. A fuel filling station according to claim 7, wherein the slide is furthermore provided with a holder for placement of the connecting element therein.

13. A fuel filling station according to claim 7, wherein the slide is further provided with a monitor that is visible to an occupant of the vehicle, which monitor serves to provide the occupant with information.

14. A fuel filling station according to claim 7, wherein an energy chain is provided between the fuel filling device and the slide for guiding connections between the fuel filling device and the slide.

15. A fuel filling station according to claim 14, wherein the connections to be guided by the energy chain comprise dispensing hoses, universal joints, electric cables and/or data cables.

16. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, further comprising a cashpoint system for payment of the fuel supplied to the fuel tank while fuel is being supplied to the vehicle.

17. A fuel filling station according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle conveyor comprises a belt conveyor or a chain conveyor provided with a pusher element to be placed behind a wheel of the vehicle, which is configured to receive vehicles driven onto the conveyor at the entrance and deliver said vehicles at the exit.

18. A method for the supply of fuel to vehicles, characterised in that vehicles are moved in succession into an operating range of a fuel filling device while fuel is being supplied to a vehicle present within the operating range.

19. A method according to claim 18, wherein the fuel filling device is conveyed together with a vehicle.

20. A method according to claim 18, wherein a vehicle is conveyed past a stationary fuel filling device, and fuel is supplied to the vehicle while the vehicle is being conveyed.

21. A method according to claim 18, wherein the vehicle is conveyed along a conveying path that forms an at least substantially closed circuit.

22. A method according to claim 18, wherein the vehicle is conveyed along a conveying path that forms an at least substantially straight line.

Description

[0063] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, in which

[0064] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel filling station in a preferred embodiment of the invention, viewed in a direction substantially opposite the direction of conveyance of the vehicles;

[0065] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fuel filling station in a preferred embodiment of the invention, viewed in the direction of conveyance of the vehicles;

[0066] FIG. 3 is a top view of a fuel filling station in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0067] FIG. 4 is a side view of a fuel filling station in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0068] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a fuel filling station in a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0069] FIG. 6 is a larger-scale view of a part of the fuel filling station that is shown in rear view in FIG. 5;

[0070] FIG. 7 shows part of the fuel filling station that is shown in side view in FIG. 4;

[0071] FIG. 8 is a rear view of the part shown in FIG. 7; and

[0072] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a fuel filling station in a preferred embodiment of the invention.

[0073] The figures show various views of preferred embodiments of a fuel filling station according to the invention, which is made up of various parts.

[0074] The fuel filling station 100 comprises a vehicle conveyor 103, which is configured to receive vehicles 200 driven onto the conveyor at an entrance 101, convey the vehicles along a conveying path 300 toward an exit 102 and subsequently deliver the vehicles at the exit 102. Said conveying path 300 extends along a substantially straight line in FIGS. 1-8. The vehicle conveyor 103 typically has a length of about 10 to 30 m, preferably 10 to 15 m. The conveyor could be a chain conveyor, for example, disposed under the left-hand or right-hand part of the vehicle, as is used in a carwash. It would also be possible to use a different technique for moving the vehicle forward.

[0075] The fuel filling station 100 further comprises a fuel filling device 104, also called fuel dispenser, for supplying fuel from a fuel reservoir to a fuel tank of the vehicle 200 via a fuel pump. The fuel filling device 104 is furthermore provided with a fuel hose 105 that is fixedly connected thereto, which fuel hose is provided at a free end thereof with a connecting element 106 to be connected to an inlet orifice 201 of the vehicle 200 for supplying fuel from the fuel filling device 104 to the fuel tank of the vehicle 200. As a rule, the fuel filling device 104 is a standard fuel dispenser for motor fuel, which comprises several fuel hoses 105 for supplying various fuels to vehicles 200. These include fuels such as petrol of different octane numbers, diesel fuel, biodiesel fuel, bio-ethanol, LNG, natural gas, CNG, biogas, HCNG, hydrogen gas, kerosene. This makes the fuel filling station 100 suitable for a large variety of vehicles.

[0076] The fuel filling device 104 of the fuel filling station 100 further comprises a slide 107 provided to move along the vehicle conveyor 103, which slide is configured for accommodating a loop portion of a fuel hose 105 connected to the fuel filling device 104 between the fuel filling device 104 and the inlet orifice 201. Said slide 107 guides the fuel hose 105 while fuel is being supplied to a vehicle 200 being conveyed by the vehicle conveyor 103, such that a length and orientation of an end portion 108 of the fuel hose to be directed toward the inlet orifice 201 will remain substantially constant. In this way it is ensured that the connection to the inlet orifice 201 will be maintained at all times. The slide 107 can move passively or actively along an upper side of a frame 109. The slide 107 can therefore guide the fuel hose 105 along the frame 109 while the vehicle 200 is being conveyed, so that the end portion 108 will move along with the vehicle. Connected to the slide 107 are one or more fuel hoses 105, depending on the number of different types of fuel products to be dispensed. When no refuelling is taking place, the fuel hoses 105 are held in a holder 110, also called nozzle box, via a connecting element 106, also called dispensing nozzle. The fuel hoses 105 are each connected to a pivot arm 111 that is attached to the slide 107. The pivot arm 111 can pivot toward the vehicle 200 for bridging the distance to the inlet orifice 201 of the vehicle 200. The slide 107 with the pivot arm 111 is configured so that the left-hand side as well and the right-hand side of the vehicle 200 can be reached with the connecting element 106. The slide 107 may be disposed either to the left of the right with respect to the vehicle 200 present on the vehicle conveyor 103. In the illustrated preferred embodiment, a slide 107 is provided on either side of the vehicle conveyor 103. These two slides 107 suffice in combination with a vehicle conveyor 103 having a length of about 12 to 15 m. The invention is not limited to this embodiment, however, but it also relates to embodiments having a longer vehicle conveyor 103 and possibly three or four vehicle conveyors beside or above the vehicle conveyor 103 as shown. Also mounted to the slide 107 is a frame 112 with a monitor 113 connected thereto, on which information for the customer is displayed. This information may for example consist of the amount of fuel supplied, the fuel price, the amount to be settled, the name of the product and/or other information relevant to the customer. This embodiment can also function without the monitor 113, however.

[0077] An energy chain is furthermore provided between the fuel filling device 104 and the slide 107 for guiding connections between the fuel filling device 104 and the slide 107. The connections to be guided by the energy chain typically comprise dispensing hoses, universal joints, electric cables and/or data cables. A special advantage of such an energy chain is that connections are guided in a controlled manner, in particular without kinks or torsion, during movement of the slide 107 toward and away from the fuel filling device 104.

[0078] The slide 107 can furthermore be driven by means of a regulator-controlled driving mechanism, which ensures that the slide 107 will move in a controlled and automated or non-automated manner along the frame 109, so that the slide can move along with the vehicle 200 at the speed of movement of the vehicle conveyor 103 while fuel is being supplied to the vehicle 200. The slide 107 may furthermore be provided with running wheels 115, on which the slide 107 runs along the frame 109. The running wheels 115 are preferably provided in such a manner that the slide 107 engages the frame 109 via the running wheels 115 and that both lateral movement and up and down movement of the slide 107 is minimised.

[0079] In one embodiment, the length of the vehicle conveyor suffices for accommodating two successive passenger vehicles, for example about 15 m. The speed of movement is about 5 m/s, for example 4.8 m/min. If the fuel being dispensed is petrol, the dispensing speed is preferably 40 litres per minute. When the connecting element is removed from the holder, the regulator will start the movement of the slide 107, possibly after a preset delay, if desired. The delay is adapted to the time the operator needs to open the inlet orifice of the vehicle and place a connecting element in the inlet orifice. The dimensioning of the vehicle conveyor and the speed of movement thereof are selected so that an average refill (about 45 litres) will be complete well before the vehicle reaches the end of the installation. In case refuelling should take longer than usual, the previously described safety system ensures that this cannot cause problems or dangerous situations. Once refuelling is complete, the slide will return to the starting point. This can take place at a higher speed, for example lm/s (60 m/min).

[0080] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment that is different from the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-8. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the fuel filling devices 104 are disposed on the vehicle conveyor 103, so that the fuel filling devices 104 move along with the vehicle 200 present on the vehicle conveyor 103. As a result, the distance between the fuel filling device 104 and the vehicle 200 will remain constant during a refill. As a result, a connection between the fuel filling device 104 and a fuel hose 105 connected thereto, which is to be connected to an inlet orifice of a fuel tank of a vehicle 200, can be of mechanically simple design. Furthermore, the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 9 of the fuel filling station 100 has a vehicle conveyor 103 that conveys vehicles 200 along a conveying path 300 that forms a substantially closed circuit. A special advantage of a conveying path 300 thus configured is that the fuel filling device 104 will at all times move in the direction of the entrance 101 of the fuel filling station 100 again and that consequently the operating range of the fuel filling device 104 can be kept within bounds.

[0081] The invention is not limited to the embodiments as shown herein, but it also extends to other preferred variants that fall within the scope of the appended claims.