EP1621429A1 - Fuel dispensing facilities arrangement - Google Patents

Fuel dispensing facilities arrangement Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1621429A1
EP1621429A1 EP04017714A EP04017714A EP1621429A1 EP 1621429 A1 EP1621429 A1 EP 1621429A1 EP 04017714 A EP04017714 A EP 04017714A EP 04017714 A EP04017714 A EP 04017714A EP 1621429 A1 EP1621429 A1 EP 1621429A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
bus
petrol
station system
fuel
pumps
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP04017714A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Günter Marx
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Continental Automotive Trading Nederland BV
Original Assignee
Siemens VDO Trading BV
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens VDO Trading BV filed Critical Siemens VDO Trading BV
Priority to EP04017714A priority Critical patent/EP1621429A1/en
Publication of EP1621429A1 publication Critical patent/EP1621429A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F13/00Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs
    • G07F13/02Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume
    • G07F13/025Coin-freed apparatus for controlling dispensing or fluids, semiliquids or granular material from reservoirs by volume wherein the volume is determined during delivery
    • GPHYSICS
    • G07CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07FCOIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
    • G07F9/00Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
    • G07F9/002Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a filling station system according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Gas station systems are known with several, usually at least two and up to ten or twenty gas pumps. Each gas station has a plurality of input and output units, which are usually equipped with different, for example. Parallel or serial interfaces, which are often not bus-capable.
  • the input and output units are designed, for example, as a payment / billing unit, which has a pin-pad, a card reader, a printer for printing receipts or the like, as a fuel pump with control and counter or as a display.
  • These input and output units are each connected to a computer arranged in the fuel pump, which causes the control and data processing. After completion of the refueling process, the computers of the individual pump columns can be queried from a central cash register. Since a complete computer system must be available decentrally in each fuel pump, this known system is expensive.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a simplified and cheaper gas station system.
  • the fueling stations of the filling station system are connected via a bus of a local network to a central computer linked, wherein the gas pumps are each coupled via a bidirectional serial interface to the bus.
  • the petrol pumps each have a converter, which connects the non-bus-capable interfaces of the input and output units with the serial interface of the bus of the local network.
  • the central computer is assigned to a cash register. Once a refueling process has been completed and the user wants to pay for the refueled fuel, the refueled fuel and the price to be paid can be read directly at the cash register.
  • the local network is preferably designed as Ethernet.
  • FIG. 1 schematically shows a filling station system 10 with a plurality of fuel pumps 1, 2, 3, which are linked to a central computer 20 via an annular bus 30.
  • a filling station system has at least two, but usually not more than fifteen to twenty, gas pumps.
  • the fuel pumps are essentially identical.
  • the example of the fuel pump 3, the construction of a fuel pump 1, 2, 3 of the gas station system 10 of the invention will be explained.
  • the fuel pumps 1 and 2 are formed substantially identical to the fuel pump 3.
  • the fuel pump 3 has a plurality of input and output units, e.g. a fuel pump 6 with control and counter, a display 7 and a payment / billing unit 8.
  • the payment / billing unit 8 may include, for example, a pin-pad, a card reader and a printer for printing receipts.
  • the pump 6 has a serial, bus-capable interface via which the pump 6 is connected directly to the bus 30. If further bus-capable components are present in the fuel pump 3, they can also be connected directly to the bus 30.
  • the display 7 and the payment / billing unit 8 are connected to a converter 5 via non-busable, for example parallel interfaces.
  • the converter 5 translates the terminals of the input and output units into a bidirectional bus-capable connection, usually a serial interface, for coupling to the bus 30.
  • non-bus components of the fuel pump 3 are also connected via the converter 5 to the bus 30 .
  • components with a bus-capable interface such as e.g. the pump 6 are connected via the converter 5 to the bus 30, so that the number of interfaces to be connected to the bus 30 is lower.
  • the refueling process of a user proceeds as follows. Once the user starts to fuel at the fuel pump 3 fill the tank of his vehicle, communicate the fuel pump 6 directly via the bus 30 and the display 7 via the converter 5 and the bus 30 to the central computer 20. In the central computer 20, the price per liter of fuel deposited and is detected as a lot of fuel at which capacity reaches the tank of the vehicle. The user sees on the display 7 thus, as usual, the amount of fuel used and the price to be paid. After completion of the refueling process, the user goes to a checkout 25, which is connected to the central computer 20. As soon as he indicates the number of the fuel pump 3 to which he has fueled, the fuel quantity and the price to be paid can be read out. Thus, no difference is apparent to the user as to whether he has fueled a conventional gas station system and distributed intelligence or the gas station system 10 according to the invention.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Loading And Unloading Of Fuel Tanks Or Ships (AREA)

Abstract

A petrol station has a number of fuel pumps [1-3] that are connected to the computer [20] coupled the transaction unit [25] of a central accounting system. The communication is provided via a serial bus [30] and each fuel pump station has a converter [5] that allows connection with the bus interface.

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Tankstellensystem gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1.The invention relates to a filling station system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Bekannt sind Tankstellensysteme mit mehreren, in der Regel mindestens zwei und bis zu zehn oder zwanzig Tanksäulen. Jede Tanksäule weist mehrere Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten auf, die in der Regel mit unterschiedlichen, bspw. parallelen oder seriellen Schnittstellen ausgestattet sind, die häufig nicht busfähig sind. Die Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten sind zum Beispiel als Bezahl-/Abrechnungseinheit, welche ein Pin-Pad, einen Kartenleser, einen Drucker zum Drucken von Belegen oder dergleichen aufweist, als Kraftstoffpumpe mit Steuerung und Zählwerk oder als Display ausgebildet. Diese Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten sind jeweils mit einem in der Tanksäule angeordneten Rechner verbunden, der die Steuerung und Datenverarbeitung bewirkt. Nach Abschluss des Tankvorgangs können von einer zentralen Kasse die Rechner der einzelnen Tanksäulen abgefragt werden. Da in jeder Tanksäule dezentral ein komplettes Rechnersystem vorhanden sein muss, ist dieses bekannte System aufwendig.Gas station systems are known with several, usually at least two and up to ten or twenty gas pumps. Each gas station has a plurality of input and output units, which are usually equipped with different, for example. Parallel or serial interfaces, which are often not bus-capable. The input and output units are designed, for example, as a payment / billing unit, which has a pin-pad, a card reader, a printer for printing receipts or the like, as a fuel pump with control and counter or as a display. These input and output units are each connected to a computer arranged in the fuel pump, which causes the control and data processing. After completion of the refueling process, the computers of the individual pump columns can be queried from a central cash register. Since a complete computer system must be available decentrally in each fuel pump, this known system is expensive.

Die Aufgabe der Erfindung liegt darin, ein vereinfachtes und kostengünstigeres Tankstellensystem bereit zu stellen.The object of the invention is to provide a simplified and cheaper gas station system.

Die Aufgabe wird erfindungsgemäß gelöst durch ein Tankstellensystem gemäß dem Anspruch 1.The object is achieved by a gas station system according to claim 1.

Vorteilhafte Weiterbildungen der Erfindung sind in den Unteransprüchen angegeben.Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

Erfindungsgemäß sind die Tanksäulen des Tankstellensystems über einen Bus eines lokalen Netzes mit einem zentralen Rechner verknüpft, wobei die Tanksäulen jeweils über eine bidirektionale serielle Schnittstelle an den Bus ankoppelbar sind. Die Tanksäulen weisen jeweils einen Umsetzer auf, welcher die nicht busfähigen Schnittstellen der Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten mit der seriellen Schnittstelle des Busses des lokalen Netzes verbindet. Die gesamte Rechnerintelligenz ist somit nur einmal und nicht in jeder Tanksäule separat erforderlich. Auf diese Weise können hohe Kosten eingespart werden.According to the invention, the fueling stations of the filling station system are connected via a bus of a local network to a central computer linked, wherein the gas pumps are each coupled via a bidirectional serial interface to the bus. The petrol pumps each have a converter, which connects the non-bus-capable interfaces of the input and output units with the serial interface of the bus of the local network. The entire computer intelligence is thus required only once and not separately in each fuel pump. In this way, high costs can be saved.

Vorzugsweise ist der zentrale Rechner einer Kasse zugeordnet. Sobald ein Tankvorgang abgeschlossen ist und der Benutzer den getankten Kraftstoff bezahlen möchte, kann an der Kasse direkt der getankte Kraftstoff und der zu zahlende Preis abgelesen werden.Preferably, the central computer is assigned to a cash register. Once a refueling process has been completed and the user wants to pay for the refueled fuel, the refueled fuel and the price to be paid can be read directly at the cash register.

Vorzugsweise ist das lokale Netz als Ethernet ausgebildet.The local network is preferably designed as Ethernet.

Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung wird anhand der folgenden Figur ausführlich erläutert. Es zeigt

Figur 1
ein Tankstellensystem mit mehreren Tanksäulen, welche über einen Bus eines lokalen Netzes mit einem zentralen Rechner verknüpft sind.
An embodiment of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the following figure. It shows
FIG. 1
a petrol station system with several petrol pumps, which are linked via a bus of a local network to a central computer.

In Figur 1 ist schematisch ein Tankstellensystem 10 mit mehreren Tanksäulen 1, 2, 3 dargestellt, welche über einen ringförmigen Bus 30 mit einem zentralen Rechner 20 verknüpft sind. In der Regel weist ein Tankstellensystem zumindest zwei, jedoch in der Regel nicht mehr als fünfzehn bis zwanzig Tanksäulen auf. Dabei sind die Tanksäulen im Wesentlichen identisch ausgebildet.FIG. 1 schematically shows a filling station system 10 with a plurality of fuel pumps 1, 2, 3, which are linked to a central computer 20 via an annular bus 30. As a rule, a filling station system has at least two, but usually not more than fifteen to twenty, gas pumps. The fuel pumps are essentially identical.

Am Beispiel der Tanksäule 3 soll der Aufbau einer Tanksäule 1, 2, 3 des erfindungsgemäßen Tankstellensystems 10 erläutert werden. Die Tanksäulen 1 und 2 sind im Wesentlichen identisch zur Tanksäule 3 ausgebildet.The example of the fuel pump 3, the construction of a fuel pump 1, 2, 3 of the gas station system 10 of the invention will be explained. The fuel pumps 1 and 2 are formed substantially identical to the fuel pump 3.

Die Tanksäule 3 weist mehrere Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten auf, z.B. eine Kraftstoffpumpe 6 mit Steuerung und Zählwerk, ein Display 7 und eine Bezahl-/Abrechnungseinheit 8. Die Bezahl-/Abrechnungseinheit 8 kann beispielsweise ein Pin-Pad, einen Kartenleser und einen Drucker zum Drucken von Belegen aufweisen.The fuel pump 3 has a plurality of input and output units, e.g. a fuel pump 6 with control and counter, a display 7 and a payment / billing unit 8. The payment / billing unit 8 may include, for example, a pin-pad, a card reader and a printer for printing receipts.

Die Pumpe 6 weist eine serielle, busfähige Schnittstelle auf, über welche die Pumpe 6 direkt mit dem Bus 30 verbunden ist. Falls weitere busfähige Komponenten in der Tanksäule 3 vorhanden sind, können diese ebenfalls direkt an den Bus 30 angeschlossen werden.The pump 6 has a serial, bus-capable interface via which the pump 6 is connected directly to the bus 30. If further bus-capable components are present in the fuel pump 3, they can also be connected directly to the bus 30.

Das Display 7 und die Bezahl-/Abrechnungseinheit 8 sind über nicht busfähige, bspw. parallele Schnittstellen mit einem Umsetzer 5 verbunden. Der Umsetzer 5 übersetzt die Anschlüsse der Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten in einen bidirektionalen busfähigen Anschluss, in der Regel eine serielle Schnittstelle, zur Ankopplung an den Bus 30. Weitere, nicht busfähige Komponenten der Tanksäule 3 sind ebenfalls über den Umsetzer 5 mit dem Bus 30 verbunden. Selbstverständlich können auch Komponenten mit einer busfähigen Schnittstelle wie z.B. die Pumpe 6 über den Umsetzer 5 an den Bus 30 angeschlossen werden, so dass die Zahl der an den Bus 30 anzuschließenden Schnittstellen geringer ist.The display 7 and the payment / billing unit 8 are connected to a converter 5 via non-busable, for example parallel interfaces. The converter 5 translates the terminals of the input and output units into a bidirectional bus-capable connection, usually a serial interface, for coupling to the bus 30. Further, non-bus components of the fuel pump 3 are also connected via the converter 5 to the bus 30 , Of course, components with a bus-capable interface such as e.g. the pump 6 are connected via the converter 5 to the bus 30, so that the number of interfaces to be connected to the bus 30 is lower.

Der Tankvorgang eines Benutzers läuft z.B. wie folgt ab. Sobald der Benutzer beginnt, an der Tanksäule 3 Kraftstoff in den Tank seines Fahrzeugs einzufüllen, kommunizieren die Kraftstoffpumpe 6 direkt über den Bus 30 und das Display 7 über den Umsetzer 5 und den Bus 30 mit dem zentralen Rechner 20. In dem zentralen Rechner 20 ist der Preis pro Liter Kraftstoff hinterlegt und wird erfasst, wie viel Kraftstoff bei welcher Förderleistung in den Tank des Fahrzeugs gelangt. Der Benutzer sieht auf dem Display 7 somit wie gewöhnlich die Menge des getankten Kraftstoffes und den zu zahlenden Preis. Nach Abschluss des Tankvorgangs geht der Benutzer zu einer Kasse 25, welche mit dem zentralen Rechner 20 verbunden ist. Sobald er die Nummer der Tanksäule 3, an welcher er getankt hat, angibt, kann die getankte Menge Kraftstoff und der zu zahlende Preis ausgelesen werden. Für den Benutzer ist somit kein Unterschied erkennbar, ob er an einem herkömmlichen Tankstellensystem und dezentraler Intelligenz oder dem Tankstellensystem 10 gemäß der Erfindung Kraftstoff getankt hat.The refueling process of a user, for example, proceeds as follows. Once the user starts to fuel at the fuel pump 3 fill the tank of his vehicle, communicate the fuel pump 6 directly via the bus 30 and the display 7 via the converter 5 and the bus 30 to the central computer 20. In the central computer 20, the price per liter of fuel deposited and is detected as a lot of fuel at which capacity reaches the tank of the vehicle. The user sees on the display 7 thus, as usual, the amount of fuel used and the price to be paid. After completion of the refueling process, the user goes to a checkout 25, which is connected to the central computer 20. As soon as he indicates the number of the fuel pump 3 to which he has fueled, the fuel quantity and the price to be paid can be read out. Thus, no difference is apparent to the user as to whether he has fueled a conventional gas station system and distributed intelligence or the gas station system 10 according to the invention.

Für den Betreiber eines Tankstellensystems 10 ergeben sich jedoch dadurch Vorteile, dass nicht in jeder Tanksäule 1, 2, 3 ein Rechner erforderlich ist, welcher die Steuerung der Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten und die Datenverarbeitung der von den Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten gelieferten Daten bewirkt, sondern dass ein zentraler Rechner mit jeder der in das Tankstellensystem integrierten Tanksäulen 1, 2, 3 kommuniziert. Die Kosten für eine Vielzahl von Rechnern entfallen somit. Das Bussystem ermöglicht auch die Ankopplung zusätzlicher Tanksäulen an die verlegte Busleitung, so dass ein einfacher kostengünstiger Ausbau der des Tankstellensystems jederzeit möglich ist.For the operator of a gas station system 10, however, there are advantages in that not in each fuel pump 1, 2, 3, a computer is required, which causes the control of the input and output units and the data processing supplied by the input and output units, but a central computer communicates with each of the petrol pumps 1, 2, 3 integrated into the petrol station system. The costs for a large number of computers are thus eliminated. The bus system also allows the coupling of additional fuel pumps to the routed bus, so that a simple cost-effective expansion of the gas station system is possible at any time.

BezugszeichenlisteLIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11
Tanksäulepetrol pump
22
Tanksäulepetrol pump
33
Tanksäulepetrol pump
55
Umsetzerconverter
66
Pumpepump
77
Displaydisplay
88th
Bezahl-/AbrechnungseinheitBezahl- / billing unit
1010
Tankstellensystemgas station system
2020
zentraler Rechnercentral computer
2525
Kassecashbox
3030
Busbus

Claims (3)

Tankstellensystem (10) mit mehreren Tanksäulen (1, 2, 3), welche jeweils mehrere Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten mit unterschiedlichen, teils nicht busfähigen Schnittstellen aufweisen,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Tanksäulen (1, 2, 3) über einen Bus (30) eines lokalen Netzes mit einem zentralen Rechner (20) verknüpft sind, dass die Tanksäulen (1,2,3) jeweils über wenigstens eine bidirektionale serielle Schnittstelle an den Bus (30) ankoppelbar sind, und dass die Tanksäulen (1, 2, 3) einen Umsetzer (5) aufweisen, welcher zumindest die nicht busfähigen Schnittstellen der Ein- und Ausgabeeinheiten mit der seriellen Schnittstelle zum Anschluss an den Bus (30) des lokalen Netzes verbindet.
Petrol station system (10) with several petrol pumps (1, 2, 3), which each have a plurality of input and output units with different, partly non-bus-capable interfaces,
characterized in that the petrol pumps (1, 2, 3) are linked to a central computer (20) via a bus (30) of a local network , that the petrol pumps (1, 2, 3) each have at least one bidirectional serial interface the bus (30) can be coupled, and that the fueling columns (1, 2, 3) have a converter (5) which at least the non - bus interfaces of the input and output units with the serial interface for connection to the bus (30) of local network connects.
Tankstellensystem nach Anspruch 1,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der zentrale Rechner (20) einer Kasse (25) zugeordnet ist.
Petrol station system according to claim 1,
characterized in that the central computer (20) is associated with a cash register (25).
Tankstellensystem nach Anspruch 1 oder 2,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das lokale Netz als Ethernet ausgebildet ist.
Petrol station system according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the local network is designed as Ethernet.
EP04017714A 2004-07-27 2004-07-27 Fuel dispensing facilities arrangement Withdrawn EP1621429A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04017714A EP1621429A1 (en) 2004-07-27 2004-07-27 Fuel dispensing facilities arrangement

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04017714A EP1621429A1 (en) 2004-07-27 2004-07-27 Fuel dispensing facilities arrangement

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1621429A1 true EP1621429A1 (en) 2006-02-01

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ID=34925946

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Country Status (1)

Country Link
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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020111924A1 (en) * 2000-11-14 2002-08-15 Tokheim Corporation Fuel dispensing system utilizing XML processors
US20020128988A1 (en) * 2000-02-28 2002-09-12 Steve Covington System and method for controlling an automated fueling station
JP2003281243A (en) * 2002-03-26 2003-10-03 Osaka Gas Co Ltd Fuel gas feed control system for vehicle

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20020128988A1 (en) * 2000-02-28 2002-09-12 Steve Covington System and method for controlling an automated fueling station
US20020111924A1 (en) * 2000-11-14 2002-08-15 Tokheim Corporation Fuel dispensing system utilizing XML processors
JP2003281243A (en) * 2002-03-26 2003-10-03 Osaka Gas Co Ltd Fuel gas feed control system for vehicle

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 2003, no. 12 5 December 2003 (2003-12-05) *

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