JP2002174399A - Gas station system for compressed natural gas automobile - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a gas station system for compressed natural gas automobile allowing an unmanned gas station by allowing the automatic grasping and management of the amount of compressed natural gas supplied by whom, when, to which CNG automobile in a gas station in the site (the gas station) or a place apart from the gas station (e.g. a supplying company of natural gas). SOLUTION: This system comprises a gas meter 2 for measuring the feed quantity of the gas supplied from a pressurization feeder 1 for supplying compressed natural gas to CNG automobiles to the CNG automobiles, a discrimination card 3 with information necessary for discrimination of the vehicle written therein, and a charging management device 4. The charging management device comprises a database for storing information on every customer; a card reader for reading the information stored in a discrimination card; a collating means for collating the information read by the card reader with the information on every customer stored in the database; and a supply control means for outputting a gas supply allowance signal to the pressurization feeder when the collation result obtained by the collating means is matched.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to compressed natural gas (Co).
The present invention relates to a gas station (gas filling station) system for supplying and managing compressed natural gas to a compressed natural gas vehicle (hereinafter, referred to as a CNG vehicle) that operates using mpressed natural gas as a fuel. Incidentally, as one of the methods for supplying compressed natural gas to CNG vehicles, a pressure booster equipped with a gas compressor (Vehicle Refueling Appl.)
, the pressure of low-pressure natural gas supplied from a gas conduit similar to that drawn by ordinary households to the maximum filling pressure of CNG vehicles (about 20 MPa), and attached to the booster supply device And supplying the fuel to a fuel tank of a CNG vehicle through a filling hose. In the gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to the present invention,
The gas supply work for CNG vehicles is basically performed by customers, and is assumed to be an unmanned gas station without a stand service person.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A pressurized gas supply system for supplying compressed natural gas to a CNG vehicle simply supplies compressed natural gas to a CNG vehicle. By visually checking the indicated value of a gas meter connected to the pressurized gas supply device. Barely, the amount of gas supplied at that time can be observed.
In other words, in the booster, who, when, and which C
It was not possible to automatically know how much compressed natural gas was supplied to the NG vehicle, and thus the unmanned gas station could not be established.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a method of determining who supplied a CNG vehicle and how much compressed natural gas to a gas station at a time (at the gas station) or at a distance from the gas station. It is an object of the present invention to provide a gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle that can be automatically grasped and managed by a place (for example, a natural gas supply company) and can make the gas station unmanned.

[0004]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle, comprising: a pressurized supply device for supplying compressed natural gas to a compressed natural gas vehicle; A gas meter with a transmission function for measuring the amount of gas supplied from the supply device to the compressed natural gas vehicle, an identification card issued for each vehicle and written with information necessary for vehicle identification, and a filling management device A database storing information for each customer, a card reader for reading information recorded on the identification card, and collating the information read by the card reader with information for each customer stored in the database. And a supply system that outputs a gas supply permission signal to the boosting supply device when the collation results obtained by the collation means match. And means, in which was characterized in that it consists of. At this time, the filling management device includes a gas supply amount calculating unit that calculates a gas supply amount to the compressed natural gas vehicle based on a signal output from the gas meter, and a calculation result of the gas supply amount calculation unit. A means for issuing a slip each time the gas supply is completed based on claim 2 (claim 2), or when the gas supply is to be performed without checking the information by the identification card, Preferably, a gas supply rejection signal is output (claim 3). Further, in the gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to claim 4 of the present invention, the filling management device installed in each gas station and a place separated from each gas station (for example, a natural gas supply company)
A data processing device for the administrator (personal computer for the administrator) installed in the vehicle is connected by a communication line, and the data processing device for the administrator is connected to a database storing information for each customer and a vehicle based on the database. And a bill issuing means for issuing a bill for each vehicle from the gas charge counting means. At this time, the administrator data processing device may be provided with a report creating means for creating a daily / monthly report based on the database (claim 5), or the filling management device and the administrator data Two-way communication for updating the database can be automatically performed with the processing device (Claim 6), or failure information of the filling management device can be automatically sent to the data processing device for the administrator. It is preferable to configure so as to transmit (claim 7).

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to the present invention, and a pressurized supply device for supplying compressed natural gas to a CNG vehicle (not shown). 1, a gas meter 2 for measuring a supply amount of compressed natural gas supplied from a pressurized supply device 1 to a CNG vehicle, an identification card 3 issued for each vehicle, and a supplied gas amount for each customer. It comprises a filling management device 4 and an administrator data processing device 6 connected by a communication line 5 such as a general or dedicated telephone line.

[0007] The pressurized gas supply device 1 is for supplying compressed natural gas to a CNG vehicle. It is also known as a small-sized filling machine, and is a conventional well-known one equipped with a gas compressor and a filling hose. Low-pressure natural gas supplied from a gas conduit similar to that drawn by
Pressurized to the maximum filling pressure (about 20MPa) of G car, and compressed natural gas is passed through filling hose to CN
It is designed to supply fuel to the fuel tank of G cars.
Whether the compressed natural gas is actually supplied to the CNG vehicle is controlled by a filling management device 4 described later.

[0008] The gas meter 2 is provided with
This is for measuring the supply amount of compressed natural gas supplied to the G vehicle, displaying the supply amount of the gas on the spot (at the gas station), and simultaneously outputting the data to the filling management device 4 as a CNG vehicle. It has a function of digitally or analogly displaying the supply amount of compressed natural gas supplied to the filling window 2a, and a transmitting function of outputting the supply amount of gas to the filling management device 4 as a pulse signal.

The identification card 3 is used to identify or specify a vehicle to which compressed natural gas is to be supplied. The identification card 3 is issued for each vehicle, and information necessary for identifying (specifying) the vehicle is stored in a magnetic or IC memory. And so on. Incidentally, the information necessary for identifying (specifying) the vehicle written in the identification card 3 includes, for example, customer information such as a customer name and a customer registration number and vehicle information such as a vehicle registration number.

The filling management device 4 includes a database storing information for each customer, a card reader 4a for reading information recorded on the identification card 3, and a card reader 4a.
And a supply control unit for outputting a gas supply permission signal to the pressurized supply device 1 when the collation result obtained by the collation unit matches the information read for each customer stored in the database. Gas supply amount calculating means for calculating the gas supply amount to the CNG vehicle based on the signal output from the gas meter, and issuing a slip each time the gas supply ends based on the calculation result of the gas supply amount calculation means It is composed of a slip issuing means and an improper supply preventing means for outputting a gas supply rejection signal to the pressurized supply apparatus 1 when gas is to be filled without checking the information by the identification card 3. , Installed at each gas stand.

The database storing the information for each customer is recorded on a storage medium such as a hard disk (hereinafter simply referred to as a storage medium) mounted inside the filling management device 4. At this time, the customer-specific information stored in the database includes, for example, customer information such as a customer name, a customer address, and a customer registration number, vehicle information such as a vehicle registration date and a vehicle registration number, and customer-specific information. There is gas usage information such as gas usage and the amount received.

The customer-specific information stored in the database of the filling management device 4 is recorded on the identification card 3 read by the card reader 4a by an electronic program (collating means) incorporated in the storage medium of the filling management device 4. The information is collated with the information, and the collation result is output to the boosting supply device 1 by another electronic program (supply control means). That is, when the collation result by the collation unit matches the customer-specific information stored in the database, the supply control unit outputs a gas supply permission signal to the boosting supply device 1. If the collation result does not match, the gas supply permission signal is output again. The identification card 3 is inserted into the card reader 4a, and a signal for prompting collation is output. When the gas is to be supplied without collating the information by the identification card 3, a gas supply rejection signal is sent to the boosting supply device 1 by another electronic program (an unauthorized supply preventing means). It is programmed to output.

On the other hand, a signal output from the gas meter 2 to the filling management device 4 as, for example, a pulse signal is converted into a pulse signal of the counted pulse signal by an electronic program (gas supply amount calculating means) incorporated in a storage medium of the filling management device 4. The calculation is performed using the number and the registered coefficient, and at that time, the supply amount of the natural gas supplied from the booster supply device 1 to the CNG vehicle is calculated. The calculation result of the gas supply amount at that time is stored as gas usage information in the database of the filling management device 4 and, at the same time, the date and time of supply and the supply place ( A slip (receipt) on which the customer name, gas supply amount and the like are printed together with the stand name) is issued.

The filling management device 4 installed in each gas station is a data processing device for managers installed in the gas station or at a place remote from the gas station (for example, a natural gas supply company). 6 and a communication line 5 such as a general or dedicated telephone line.
The configuration is such that two-way communication for updating the database can be automatically performed between the server and the administrator data processing device 6.

As the data processing device 6 for the administrator, for example, a personal computer is used, and a hard disk installed in the main body of the data processor 6 stores a database in which information for each customer is stored, and a database for each customer stored in the database. Means for counting gas rates for each vehicle,
It incorporates programs such as a bill issuing means for issuing a bill for each vehicle from the gas charge totaling means and a report creating means for creating a daily / monthly report from the database.

The database storing information for each customer includes:
Similarly to the database stored in the filling management device 4, for example, customer information such as a customer name, a customer address, and a customer registration number, vehicle information such as a vehicle registration date and a vehicle registration number,
Then, gas usage information such as the gas usage amount for each customer and the amount received is recorded. The gas usage status at each gas station (compressed natural gas supply status to each CNG vehicle) is transmitted from the filling management device 4 installed at each gas station to the manager data processing device 6 via the communication line 5. Are stored in the database of the data processing device 6 for managers. Accordingly, the two-way communication for updating the database can be automatically performed between the filling management device 4 and the data processing device 6 for the administrator, and the failure information of the filling management device 4 is processed by the data processing for the administrator. It is configured to automatically transmit to the device 6.

On the side of the data processing device 6 for the manager, based on the information for each customer stored in the database, an electronic program (gas charge totaling means) is operated to total the gas charges for each vehicle, and Then, another electronic program (billing means) is operated to issue a bill for each vehicle from the gas charge totaling means. here,
Although it has been described that the calculation of the gas fee and the issuance of the bill are performed for each vehicle, the calculation is the same for the vehicle owner, the notification, and the biller.

Next, referring to FIG. 2, a process flow for supplying compressed natural gas to a CNG vehicle at each gas station will be described. The filling management device 4 monitors whether or not the identification card issued for each vehicle is inserted into the card reader. When the identification card is inserted into the card reader (401), it is written on the identification card. Data (customer / vehicle information, etc.) is read,
The read information is collated with the information for each customer stored in the database, and it is collated whether the card is a legitimate identification card (402). As a result of the collation, if the identification card inserted into the card reader is a legitimate card, a gas supply permission signal is output to the booster supply device (404),
If it is determined that the identification card is not valid, the user is prompted to insert the identification card again (403). The filling management device 4 that has output the gas supply permission signal starts counting signals (pulse signals) output from the gas meter (40).
5) Measure the amount of compressed natural gas supplied to the CNG vehicle. The determination of the completion of the supply of the compressed natural gas is made, for example, when there is no pulse signal from the gas meter within the designated time. The supply amount of gas supplied at this time is calculated (406), and the calculation result is stored as gas use information in a database (407). At the same time, the date and time of supply and the supply location ( A slip (receipt) on which the name of the stand), the name of the customer, the gas supply amount, and the like are printed is issued (408). And this C
The usage information of the compressed natural gas for the NG vehicle is updated in the database as new customer-specific information (see (410) and (411) in FIG. 3).

Next, a processing flow in the administrator data processing device 6 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 shows a processing flow for updating the database in the data processing device 6 for managers. The information of the new customer in the administrator data processing device 6 is manually input each time (601), and the database is updated (60).
2). On the other hand, when compressed natural gas is supplied to a CNG vehicle at a gas station, the information (when and when
Information such as how much compressed natural gas was supplied to the NG vehicle) was requested to update the new customer-specific information (40).
As 9), it is transmitted from the filling management device 4 to the data processing device 6 for the administrator via the communication line 5 (603), and the database of information for each customer is updated on the data processing device 6 for the administrator (604). ) (605). At this time, if there is new customer information in the database of the manager data processing device 6, the information is automatically transmitted to the filling management device 4 side (604). The request for data communication can be made from either the administrator data processing device 6 or the filling management device 4.

In this manner, a report such as a daily report and a monthly report is created based on the updated database of the administrator data processing device 6, and a bill is issued. That is, FIG. 4A shows an example of processing for creating a report such as a daily report and a monthly report, and FIG. 4B shows an example of processing for issuing a bill. The time for creating a report such as a daily report and a monthly report can be arbitrarily set (606). When the set time is reached, a customer name, a customer address, and a customer are stored in a database stored in the manager data processing device 6. Customer information such as registration number, vehicle information such as vehicle registration date, vehicle registration number,
Then, the gas usage information such as the gas usage amount and the received amount of money for each customer, and the information such as the supply date and time and the supply place (stand name) are processed in the designated format (607), and after updating the database, (608), it is output to the printer in the designated format (609). The billing time can also be set arbitrarily (610), and the date and time of supply, the place of supply (stand name), and the monthly gas consumption can be determined by customer from the database stored in the data processing device for managers. The designated information such as the monthly receipt amount is processed in the designated format (611), the database is updated (612), and the data is output to the printer in the designated format (613).

[0021]

According to the gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention, information recorded on an identification card in which information issued for each vehicle and necessary for identifying the vehicle is written is filled. The information is compared with the information for each customer stored in the database of the management device, and the result of the comparison is output to the booster supply device. Can be automatically grasped and managed on the spot (at the gas station), and a gas supply permission signal is output to the booster only when the collation results match. By doing so, it is possible to restrict the use (illegal use) of the booster supply device for vehicles that do not have a proper identification card. Therefore, it is possible to make the gas station that supplies compressed natural gas to the CNG vehicle unattended without a stand service person.

According to the gas stand system of the second aspect of the present invention, the gas supply amount calculating means for calculating the gas supply amount to the CNG vehicle based on the signal output from the gas meter, and the gas supply amount A slip issuing means for issuing a slip each time the gas supply is completed based on the calculation result of the quantity calculating means is provided, so that each time the compressed natural gas is supplied, the compressed natural gas supply date, supply location (stand name), Customer name,
It is possible to automatically print the gas supply amount and the like and pass it on.

Further, according to the gas stand system of the third aspect of the present invention, when gas is to be supplied without collating the information with the identification card, the gas supply is refused to the pressurized supply device. Since the signal is output, it is possible to prevent a person who does not have a proper identification card from performing fraudulent or mischievous gas supply.

Further, according to the gas station system according to claim 4 of the present invention, the gas filling system is installed at each gas station and installed at a location remote from each gas station (for example, a natural gas supply company). A gas rate totalizing means for connecting the data processing device for the administrator with a communication line, and summing up a gas fee for each vehicle based on a database of information for each customer stored in the data processing device for the administrator; Since there is provided a bill issuing means for issuing a bill for each vehicle from the tallying means, even at a place remote from the gas station (for example, a natural gas supply company), who and when CNG
It is possible to automatically grasp and manage how much compressed natural gas was supplied to automobiles, and to store information such as the amount of compressed natural gas used by customers and vehicles and gas rates in one place (for example, A natural gas supplier).
Invoices can be issued for each customer / vehicle.

According to the gas station system of the fifth aspect of the present invention, the data processing device for the administrator is provided with the report creating means for creating the daily report and the monthly report based on the database. Daily and monthly reports can be created, and gas usage and gas charges for each customer and vehicle can be totaled, and various statistics can be obtained as needed.

According to the gas station system of the present invention, two-way communication for updating the database can be automatically performed between the filling management device and the data processing device for the manager. Therefore, the latest information (data) such as new customer / vehicle information registered by the data processing device for the manager and gas usage information for each customer recorded by the filling management device for the boosting supply device can be shared by both parties. .

Further, according to the gas stand system of the present invention, the failure information of the filling management device is automatically transmitted to the data processing device for the manager, so that there is no unmanned standman. Even if the filling management device breaks down at a gas station, the failure information of the filling management device is immediately transmitted to the data processing device for the manager, so that the failure status can be grasped without going to the site and quick failure response is possible. Become.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram showing one embodiment of a gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process associated with a supply operation of compressed natural gas to a CNG vehicle at each gas station.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process of updating a database in the administrator data processing device.

FIG. 4A is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for creating a report such as a daily report and a monthly report, and FIG. 4B is a flowchart illustrating an example of processing for issuing a bill.

[Explanation of symbols]

1: booster supply device 2: gas meter 3: identification card 4: filling management device 5: communication line 6: manager data processing device

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) F17C 13/02 301 F17C 13/02 301A (72) Inventor Taizo Ikeda 1-17 Chiyo, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture No. 1 F-term in Seibu Gas Co., Ltd. (reference) 3D026 CA04 CA09 3E072 AA03 DA01 GA30 3E083 AA20 AB18 AC01

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A pressurized gas supply device for supplying compressed natural gas to a compressed natural gas vehicle, a gas meter with a transmission function for measuring a supply amount of gas supplied from the pressurized gas supply device to the compressed natural gas vehicle, An identification card in which information necessary for vehicle identification is written and a filling management device, wherein the filling management device reads a database storing information for each customer and information recorded on the identification card. A reader, matching means for matching information read by the card reader with information for each customer stored in the database, supply control means for outputting the matching result obtained by the matching means to the boosting supply device, A gas stand system for compressed natural gas vehicles, characterized by comprising: 2. A gas supply amount calculation means for calculating the gas supply amount to the compressed natural gas vehicle based on a signal output from the gas meter, and a calculation by the gas supply amount calculation means. 2. A gas stand system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a slip issuing means for issuing a slip each time the gas supply ends based on the result. 3. The compressed natural gas according to claim 1, wherein a gas supply rejection signal is output to said booster supply device when gas supply is attempted without performing collation of information by said identification card. Gas stand system for gas vehicles. 4. An administrator data processing device connected to the filling management device via a communication line, wherein the administrator data processing device stores a database storing information for each customer and a vehicle based on the database. 2. A gas stand system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to claim 1, comprising: gas charge totaling means for totalizing each gas charge; and bill issuing means for issuing a bill for each vehicle from said gas charge totaling means. . 5. The gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said manager data processing device includes a report creating means for creating a daily / monthly report from said database. 6. The gas for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to claim 4, wherein bidirectional communication for updating a database can be automatically performed between the filling management device and the data processing device for the manager. Stand system. 7. The gas station system for a compressed natural gas vehicle according to claim 4, wherein failure information of said filling management device is automatically transmitted to said manager data processing device.