Fuel dispenser locking arrangement

Abstract

The present invention provides a lockable fuel pump dispenser comprising a fuel outflow nozzle, locking means a transferring unit and a converter unit. The converter unit transferring a mechanical motion rendering a locking unit that is having locking means on the fuel outflow nozzle to fixate the fuel outflow nozzle securely inside a fuel tank of a vehicle. The converter unit comprises a battery, a solenoid or an electrical motor, a computer and a transmitter/receiver unit. The converter unit being able to wirelessly communicate with a unit operated from inside the station. The battery is being charged when the fuel pump handle is placed in the pump station.

Claims

1. Fuel pump dispenser, said fuel pump dispenser comprising: a fuel outflow nozzle; a converter unit; a fuel pump handle; a transfer unit; and a locking unit, said transfer unit being connected between said locking unit and said converter unit, wherein said transfer unit is arranged for a mechanical motion by being moved in a predetermined direction, wherein said mechanical motion is being transferred by said converter unit, wherein said converter unit comprises a solenoid or an electrical motor, wherein said motion is rendering said locking unit having locking means on the fuel outflow nozzle, to move and thereby fixate the fuel outflow nozzle securely inside a fuel tank of a vehicle, and wherein said converter unit further comprises a transmitter/receiver unit for communicating and, wherein said communication to and from said transmitter/receiver unit is wireless, and wherein the locking means is at least two pivotable locking wings, which pivotable locking wings, when being in a locked position, are in direct contact against a fuel inlet of a vehicle.

2. Fuel pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the locking unit comprises several locking means.

3. Fuel pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pump dispenser also comprises a computer unit.

4. Fuel pump dispenser according to any claim 1, wherein the transfer unit comprises a bar, rod or wire.

5. Fuel pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein each locking means has a length in the range of 10-40 mm.

6. Fuel pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said converter unit comprises a battery.

7. Fuel pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pump dispenser comprises a battery and charging of the battery is done via induction.

8. Fuel pump dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the fuel pump dispenser comprises a battery and charging of the battery is done via electrodes.

9. Fuel pump dispenser according to claim 7, wherein the battery is charged when the fuel pump handle is positioned in a pump station.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a fuel pump dispenser with fuel outflow nozzle, converter unit and a locking unit with folded out locking means.

(2) FIG. 2 shows the transfer unit and the tube it runs through.

(3) FIG. 3 shows a locking unit with folded in locking means.

(4) FIG. 4 shows a locking unit with folded out locking means.

(5) FIG. 5 shows a fuel pump dispenser with fuel outflow nozzle, locking unit, and an open view of the converter unit and a fuel pump handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) The fuel pump dispenser 1 may be of different sizes. In one embodiment, it comprises a fuel outflow nozzle 2 and a converter unit 3. In one embodiment the converter unit 3 comprises a computer unit, a battery, a transmitter and receiver unit, and a solenoid. The converter unit 3 and fuel outflow nozzle 2 may in one embodiment be made up from more than one piece. In one embodiment the converter unit 3 is placed between the fuel outflow nozzle 2 and the fuel pump handle 12.

(7) In one embodiment parts of the converter unit 3 is placed inside the fuel pump handle 12. The fuel pump handle 12 may in one embodiment house the battery and/or the computer unit, and/or the transmitter and receiver unit and/or the solenoid unit. In one embodiment the entire converter unit 3 is being housed inside the fuel pump handle 12.

(8) In one embodiment the battery is being charged when the fuel pump handle 12 is placed in the fuel pump station. In one embodiment the battery is charged through induction and in one embodiment the battery may be charged through electrodes.

(9) In one embodiment a locking unit 5 comprising a pair of pivoted wings is placed at the fuel outflow nozzle 2. The wings 6 are connected to a movable transfer unit 4. In one embodiment the transfer unit 4 comprises a slidable rod that may run freely in a tube 11. The tube 11 may in one embodiment be infused and run lengthwise in the outflow nozzle 2. The rod may in one end be connected to the locking mean 6 and in its other end be connected to a solenoid. The solenoid, when operating, may push and pull the rod 4 back and forth in the tube 11 thereby folding out and in the wings 6. In another embodiment the transfer units rod, wire or bar may be turned to fold out and in the wings 6.

(10) In one embodiment the transfer unit 4 may be made of metal and in another embodiment the transfer unit 4 may be made of plastic or a composite material.

(11) In one embodiment the locking means 6 is only one pivoted wing 6 and in another embodiment the locking means 6 comprises more than two pivoted wings 6. In one embodiment a plurality of wings 6 are placed at the same distance from the converter unit 3, in another embodiment a plurality of wings 6 are placed at different places along the fuel outflow nozzle 2. In one embodiment one set of wings 6 are placed in the end of the outflow nozzle 2 and a plurality of sets are placed along the outflow nozzle 2 closer to the converter unit 3.

(12) In one embodiment, the locking mean 6 is connected to the fuel outflow nozzle 2 via a track that is letting the locking mean 6 slide from an unlocked position to a locked position. The locking mean 6 may in its unlocked position not enlarge the outflow nozzle 2 diameter.

(13) The wings 6 may in one embodiment be constructed to, when folded in, not enlarge the outflow nozzle 2 diameter. In one embodiment the wings 6 may have the length in range of 10-40 mm. In another embodiment the wings 6 may have a length in the range of 10-20 mm. In another embodiment the wings 6 may have a length in the range of 10-80 mm.

(14) In one embodiment the transfer unit 4 may be moved by a force created from the solenoid when it is being subject to a predetermined voltage from the battery. The created movement in the transfer unit 4 is then pushing the pivoted wings 6 outwards. The transfer unit 4 may be held in place, hence keep the wings 6 in outward position until the voltage in the solenoid is turned off.

(15) In one embodiment the transfer unit 4 may be connected to at least one spring. The spring moving the transfer unit 4 back into its resting state and thereby the pivoted wings 6 to its folded position once the voltage in the solenoid is turned off. The force created by the solenoid, when subject to a voltage, may be greater than the force in the opposite direction created by the spring.

(16) In one embodiment the converter unit 3 is equipped with a transmitter/receiver unit for wireless communication. In one embodiment such communication may be carried out via e.g. Bluetooth technology. The transmitter/receiver may in one embodiment communicate with a computer and the transmitter/receiver may be controlled by the station attendant.

(17) In one embodiment, the converter system is activated when the user is pushing the lever 14 on the fuel pump handle 12. A signal is sent from the lever 14 being pushed and the signal is received by the computer unit, which then sends a signal to activate the solenoid and also a signal via the transmitter/receiver to the station cash desk computer. The activated solenoid pushes the transfer unit 4, in its predetermined direction, thereby folding out the pivoted wings to its active position. The unfolded wings lock the fuel outflow nozzle 2 to the vehicles fuel tank. Once the wings are fully folded out, a signal may be wirelessly sent from the converter units 3 transmitter/receiver to the station cash desk computer, which then may start the pump.

(18) In one embodiment the solenoid is turned off by the station attendant sending a signal to the converter unit 3. In one embodiment the signal may be automatically sent from the cash desk computer to the converter unit 3 as soon as payment has been done without having the station attendant manually sending the signal. Once the signal is received the computer unit adjusts the voltage sent to the solenoid and thereby releasing the transfer unit 4. In one embodiment a spring moves the transfer unit 4 back into its starting position, thereby folding the wings 6 and releasing the grip of fuel outflow nozzle 2 from the vehicle tank. The customer may then pull out the fuel outflow nozzle 2 and place it back into the fuel pump station.

(19) In one embodiment the locking means 6 may be constructed from a rubber bushing that may swell when force is applied upon it. The rubber bushing when no force is applied on it, is in its rested state and has the same outer diameter as the outflow nozzle 2. In another embodiment the locking means 6 may be constructed from a split bushing. The split bushing may be made from metal and may enlarge when force is applied upon it. The split bushing when no force is applied on it, is in its rested state and has the same outer diameter as the outflow nozzle 2.

(20) In one embodiment the outflow nozzle 2 has a round or oval outer shape and in another embodiment the outflow nozzle 2 has a squared outer shape. In one embodiment the outflow nozzle 2 has a splash sensor 13, preventing from overfilling the fuel tank. In one embodiment the fuel outflow nozzle 2 may have an outer diameter between 15-25 mm. In one embodiment the fuel outflow nozzle 2 may have an outer diameter between 18-20 mm.

(21) The present invention is also directed to a fuel outflow nozzle 2 comprising a locking unit 5 with locking means 6 in the form of at least one pivoted wing.

(22) In one embodiment, the locking unit 5 may comprise several locking means 6, wherein each locking means 6 has a length in the range of 10-40 mm. In another embodiment the wings 6 may have a length in the range of 10-80 mm.