JP3633418B2 - Automatic oiling device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to an automatic fueling device that automatically feeds fuel oil by detecting a fueling port of an automobile.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The present applicant has proposed an oil supply device provided with an oil type determination means to prevent the supply of different oil types, for example, in JP-A-6-115598, JP-A-8-169498, and the like. Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication Nos. 58-41095, 63-125196, and the like have proposed oil filling apparatuses which are provided with a full tank refueling means and automatically fill up to full tanks.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Each of the above conventional techniques is effective. However, since the insertion of the oil supply nozzle into the oil supply port of the automobile is manual, a skilled worker is required. Further, the position of the fuel filler port differs depending on the type of automobile, and may be on the fueling device side or on the opposite side.
[0004]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an automatic fueling apparatus that can perform fueling regardless of the position of a fueling port of an automobile and can eliminate the need for a fueling worker. It is said.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, an automatic fueling device of the present invention comprises a position sensor for detecting whether a fueling port of a fuel tank of an automobile parked in a fueling area is on the front side or on the opposite side, and fueling data. In the automatic fueling device composed of a data input device for setting the oil and a fueling device provided with a fueling mechanism controlled by a fueling control means, the fueling device is an upper end portion of a support column formed sufficiently higher than the height of the automobile. The first arm is connected so that one end side is pivoted and the other end side is formed in a length located at the upper part of the automobile when horizontally pivoted and the position sensor is attached to the other end. The second arm is connected to the other end of the first arm so that one end of the first arm is pivoted. The second arm is formed to have a length that reaches the fuel filler port on the opposite side of the automobile when the other end is pivoted obliquely downward. arm, An arm mechanism having a beauty this second arm throat mechanism coupled to rotate the other end provided with a fueling nozzle which is connected by a pipe to the oil supply mechanism, also the control of the mechanism control means said arm mechanism And an insertion sensor for detecting insertion of the oil supply nozzle into the oil supply port, and the mechanism control means is configured to detect the arm rotation based on the position signal of the oil supply port detected by the position sensor. The drive mechanism is driven to move the nozzle mechanism to the fuel filler port, and the fuel nozzle is inserted into the fuel filler port.When the insertion sensor detects the insertion into the fuel filler port, the fuel control means is activated to set the fuel data to be set. Based on this, refueling is started and refueling is stopped. By detecting the oil supply port, inserting the oil supply nozzle, starting the oil supply based on the oil supply data set by the data input / output device, and stopping the oil supply, it is possible to eliminate the need for an oil supply worker.
[0008]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to an illustrated embodiment. FIGS. 1 to 9 are diagrams for explaining an automatic fueling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view of the automatic fueling device, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the automatic fueling device, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a nozzle mechanism. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fueling state of the automatic fueling device, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a standby state of the automatic fueling device, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a storage state of the automatic fueling device, and FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portable data input device, and FIG. 9 is a front view of a fuel filler port portion of an automobile.
[0009]
In these drawings, an automatic fueling device 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with an arm-moving type oiling machine 11 and a data input / output device 40 on an island 2 in a fueling area 1 of a gas filling station. This is a device that automatically moves the fuel nozzle of the fuel filler 11 in accordance with the position of the fuel filler port of the automobile 3 that has stopped.
[0010]
The refueling machine 11 includes an elongated support column 13 erected on the top of the base plate 12 on the island 2, a first arm 14 that is connected to the upper end portion of the support column 13 so that one end thereof rotates, and the first arm 14. A second arm 15 connected to the other end of the arm 14 so that one end of the arm 14 rotates, and a nozzle mechanism 16 connected to the other end of the second arm 15 to rotate. Yes. The oil feeder 11 is moved left and right along a rail 18 provided on the elongated island 2 by a left and right moving device 17 provided on the base plate 12. The support column 13 is formed sufficiently higher than the height of the automobile 3, and the first arm 14 is long enough to be positioned at the top of the automobile 3 that stops in the fueling area 1 when the first arm 14 rotates horizontally. The second arm 15 is formed in such a length as to reach the fuel filler port on the opposite side of the automobile 3 when the end side is rotated obliquely downward. In addition, an entry propriety lamp 34 is provided on the top of the column 13 to display whether the entry of the automobile is lighted in blue or red, and the automobile 3 that stops in the fueling area 1 is provided at the end of the first arm 14. An oil supply position sensor 35 for detecting which side of the oil supply position is located is attached. Further, an approach sensor 36 is provided on the entrance side of the automobile 3 on the side surface of the island 2 facing the fueling area 1.
[0011]
In the basement below the island 2, there are oil supply pipes 19a, 19b, 19c connected to the oil tanks of regular gasoline, high-octane gasoline, and light oil constituting the oil supply mechanism. , 21b, and 21c, hose 22a, 22b, and 22c are connected to each and introduced into the support column 13. These hoses 22a, 22b, and 22c are connected to the oil supply nozzles 23a, 23b, and 23c of the nozzle mechanism 16 through pipes 37 disposed inside the support column 13, the first arm 13, and the second arm 14, respectively. ing. The pipes 37 inside the support column 13, the first arm 14, and the second arm 15 are connected by, for example, a rotary joint, a hose, or the like so that the connection portion can be rotated.
[0012]
As shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle mechanism 16 has a main body 24 formed in a short case shape, and an end portion of the main body 24 is connected so as to rotate to an end portion of the second arm 15. The side is formed in a discharge pipe 25 that is elongated and has an open end. In this discharge pipe 25, oil supply nozzles 23a, 23b, and 23c are arranged, and each of the oil supply nozzles 23a, 23b, and 23c faces the opening part of the discharge pipe 25, and the other end part is extendable. The bellows tubes 26a, 26b, 26c and the open / close valves 27a, 27b, 27c are connected to the hoses 22a, 22b, 22c through the pipe 37. An insertion sensor 31 and a vapor suction port 28 are provided on the distal end side of the discharge pipe 25, and the vapor suction port 28 is connected to a suction pump 30 via an oil type sensor 29. The main body 24 on the side where the discharge pipe 25 is formed is provided with a fuel filler sensor 32 for detecting the fuel filler 4 of the automobile 3.
[0013]
The data input / output device 40 is provided with a case 42 at the top of a stand 41 erected on the top of the island 2, and portable data connected to the case 42 by a display 43, an alarm 44, and a signal line 45. An input device 46 is provided. As shown in FIG. 8, the portable data input device 46 includes a display unit 47, a keyboard 48, a setting button 49, a confirmation button 50, and a card reader / writer 51. The card reader / writer 51 reads and writes customer credit cards, bank cards, refueling cards, prepaid cards, IC cards, and the like.
[0014]
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the refueling machine 11 includes, for example, a refueling control unit 60 having a full tank refueling unit 61 and an oil type discriminating unit 62. The pump 20, the flow meter 21, the on-off valve 27, The sensor 29, the suction pump 30, and the insertion sensor 31 are connected. Furthermore, the oil feeder 11 is provided with an arm rotation device 33 that independently rotates the first arm 14, the second arm 15, and the nozzle mechanism 16. The left / right moving device 17, the arm rotation device 33, the fuel filler sensor 32, and the fuel filler position sensor 35 are connected to the mechanism control means 63. Further, the data input / output device 40 includes data control means 64 for controlling each part, and each includes an entry sensor 36, an entry enable / disable lamp 34, a keyboard 48, a display 43, a card reader / writer 51, an alarm 44, and a setting button. 49, the confirmation button 50, and the display unit 47. Data is exchanged between the fueling machine 11 and the data input / output device 40.
[0015]
For example, as shown in FIG. 9, the automobile 3 that is refueled by the automatic fueling device 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a transmitter 5 that transmits its position in the vicinity of the refueling port 4. As such a transmitter 5, for example, a transponder can be preferably used.
[0016]
Next, operation | movement of the automatic fueling apparatus 10 is demonstrated based on a flowchart. 10 and 11 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the automatic fueling device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the control operation of the data input / output device, and FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the control operation of the fueling device.
[0017]
First, when the automobile 3 to be refueled is not in the refueling area 1, the entry permission / prohibition lamp 34 is lit in blue. Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, in the fueling machine 11, the nozzle mechanism 16 places the discharge pipe 25 in the fueling area at a position where the first arm 14 is in a horizontal position and the second arm 15 is inclined toward the front side. The standby position in the initial state is located at the position toward the 1 side. When the vehicle 3 to be refueled enters the refueling area 1 and the ingress sensor 36 detects that the vehicle 3 has entered and is turned on (ST1), the data control means 64 receives the vehicle detection signal and changes the entry enable / disable lamp 34 from blue to red. (ST2) to prevent other vehicles from entering.
[0018]
Next, when the customer takes the portable input device 46 of the data input / output device 40 and inserts the card into the card reader / writer 51 (ST3), the data input / output device 40 inputs the refueling data and automatic refueling is possible. It becomes a state. When oil supply data such as oil type and oil supply amount is input with the keyboard 48 (ST4), the oil supply data is displayed on the display unit 43 and the display unit 47, the confirmation button 50 is pressed (ST5), and then the setting button 49 is pressed. Refueling data is set (ST6), and the data control means 64 transmits the set data to the fueling machine 11.
[0019]
When the refueling data transmitted from the data control means 64 of the data input / output device 40 is input to the mechanism control means 63 of the oil supply machine 11 (ST11), first, the first arm 14 of the oil supply machine 11 in the standby state is in the standby state. An oil supply position sensor 35 provided at the end and an oil supply port sensor 32 provided in the nozzle mechanism 16 detect the position of the oil supply port 4 (ST12), and the mechanism control means 63 detects the arm rotation device 33 and the left / right movement device. 17 is controlled so that the tip of the discharge pipe 25 of the nozzle mechanism 16 is moved to a position facing the fuel filler 4 of the automobile 3 (ST13). More specifically, first, the refueling position sensor 35 detects whether the refueling port 4 of the automobile 3 is on the front side or the opposite side. Next, when the fuel filler 4 is on the near side, the fuel filler sensor 32 receives a signal related to the position transmitted from the transmitter 5 at the position in the standby state as shown in FIG. Based on this, the mechanism control means 63 controls the left / right moving device 17 to move the oil filler 11 left and right along the rail 18 and controls the arm rotating device 33 to rotate the first arm 15 and the nozzle mechanism 16. The tip of the discharge pipe 25 is moved to the fuel filler opening 4. If the oil supply port 4 is on the opposite side, first, the mechanism control means 63 controls the arm rotation device 33 to rotate the first arm 14, the second arm 15, and the nozzle mechanism 16. Then, the nozzle mechanism 16 is moved to the position of the opposite side refueling as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 4 beyond the upper part of the automobile 3, and then the signal relating to the position transmitted from the transmitter 5 in the same manner as described above. Is received by the fuel filler sensor 32, and the mechanism control means 63 controls the left / right moving device 17 based on the detection signal to move the fuel filler 11 left and right along the rail 18, and controls the arm rotating device 33. Then, the first arm 15 and the nozzle mechanism 16 are rotated to move the distal end portion of the discharge pipe 25 to the fuel filler opening 4. Next, in a state where the distal end portion of the discharge pipe 25 is moved to a position facing the oil supply port 4, the second arm 15 is rotated to insert the distal end portion of the discharge pipe 25 into the oil supply port 4 and the insertion sensor 31. Is turned on (ST14), the oil supply control means 60 drives the suction pump 30, the vapor in the oil supply port 4 is sucked, the oil type discrimination means 62 is activated (ST15), and the oil type signal from the oil type sensor 32 is detected. Based on the above, it is determined whether the oil type set on the keyboard 48 matches (ST16). If the oil types match, the oil supply control means 60 opens the set oil type on-off valve 27 and drives the pump 20 (ST17).
[0020]
The oil in the oil storage tank is pumped by the pump 20 through the oil supply pipe 19 and discharged into the oil supply port 4 through the flow meter 21, hose 22, pipe 37, opening / closing valve 27, bellows pipe 26, and oil supply nozzle 23. At this time, the bellows tube 26 is extended by the hydraulic pressure, and the tip of the oil supply nozzle 23 protrudes from the opening of the discharge tube 25 and is inserted deeply into the oil supply port 4, so that the oil may splatter from the oil supply port 4. Absent. The amount of oil measured by the flow meter 21 is displayed on the display 43 and the display unit 47.
[0021]
In this way, refueling is performed and the full tank refueling means 61 is operated (ST19). When the set amount is refueled or full (ST20), the refueling control means 60 closes the on-off valve 27 and turns off the pump 20. It stops (ST21) and outputs the data of the amount of oil supply to the data input / output device 40 (ST22). Subsequently, the mechanism control means 63 controls the arm rotation device 33 and the left / right movement device 17 to extract the discharge pipe 25 from the fuel filler opening 4 and move the fuel filler 11 to the initial standby position (ST23). Is reached (ST24), the refueling operation is terminated and the end of refueling is notified by the alarm device 44 (ST25).
[0022]
When the data input / output device 40 receives the fuel amount data from the refueling machine 11 (ST6) and settles the fueling fee with the customer's card (ST9), the entry permission lamp 34 lights from red to blue. finish. If the oil types do not match (ST16), the data control means 64 operates the alarm device 44 for a certain period of time (ST18) and prompts re-execution of the oil supply data input (ST4). Then, the correct oil type is set with the keyboard 48 and refueling is performed.
[0023]
The refueling machine 11 is preferably in the standby position as shown in FIG. 5 so that it can be refilled at any time. However, the first arm 13 and the second arm 14 are in the opposite refueling position. Also good. When the refueling operation is completed, it is preferable that the first arm 13 and the second arm 14 overlap with each other as shown in FIG.
[0024]
In the automatic fueling device 10 having the above-described configuration, when the vehicle 3 to be refueled enters the fueling area 1, the entry sensor 36 detects the vehicle and the entry permission lamp 34 is lit red to prohibit the entry of other vehicles. When the customer sets the oil supply data such as the oil type and the oil supply amount with the portable data input device 46 of the data input / output device 40, the oil supply position sensor 35 and the oil supply port sensor 32 detect the position of the oil supply port 4 to control the mechanism. Under the control of the means 63, the left / right moving device 17 and the arm rotating device 33 are driven, the first arm 14 and the second arm 15 are moved, the nozzle mechanism 16 approaches the fuel filler 4, and the fuel nozzle 23 is moved. When the discharge pipe 25 of the provided nozzle mechanism 16 is inserted into the oil filler port 4 and the insertion sensor 31 detects the insertion, the oil type is determined by the oil type control means 60 having the full tank oil supply means 61 and the oil type discrimination means 62. If the oil type is correct, start refueling. When the set oil amount or full tank is reached, the refueling is terminated and the oil amount data is sent to the data input / output device 40 for settlement and the other movement. In the machine 11, the mechanism control means 63 drives the left / right moving device 17 and the arm rotating device 33 to return to the initial position, so that all the refueling is performed automatically and no refueling worker is required.
[0025]
In the above embodiment, the first arm 14, the second arm 15, and the nozzle mechanism 16 are rotated to move the nozzle mechanism 16 to a position facing the fuel filler port 4 of the automobile 3. The arm mechanism may be composed of two or more moving arms, the shape and length thereof can be arbitrarily determined, and even a device that rotates the support column 13 instead of the left-right moving device 17 Good. Further, the sensors 35 and 32 for detecting the fuel filler 4 may be detected by any type of image processing, or may utilize light, electromagnetic waves, or infrared rays. Furthermore, although the example which does not provide the apparatus etc. which prevent the leaving of the motor vehicle 3 during refueling was demonstrated, the car stop which makes the motor vehicle 3 protrude when the approach sensor 36 detects, and immerses at the end of refueling may be provided, for example. . Moreover, although the portable data input machine 46 is assumed to be connected by the signal line 45, the signal line 45 may be eliminated so that it can be wirelessly connected.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the automatic fueling device of the present invention detects a fueling port of a vehicle to be refueled, inserts a fueling nozzle, starts refueling based on fueling data set by the data input / output device, and stops refueling. In addition, no matter where the position of the fueling port of the automobile is, it can be refilled without manual intervention, and a refueling worker can be dispensed with.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a front view of an automatic fueling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the automatic fueling device of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a nozzle mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a fueling state of the automatic fueling device of the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a standby state of the automatic fueling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a storage state of the automatic fueling device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of an automatic fueling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a portable data input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a fuel filler opening portion of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a control operation of the data input / output device according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a control operation of the fueling machine according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Refueling area 2 Island 3 Car 4 Refueling port 5 Transmitter 10 Automatic refueling device 11 Refueling device 12 Base plate 13 Strut 14 First arm 15 Second arm 16 Nozzle mechanism 17 Left and right moving device 18 Rail 19c Oiling pipe 20 Pump 21 Flow rate Total 22 Hose 23 Refueling nozzle 24 Main body 25 Discharge pipe 26 Bellows pipe 27 Opening and closing valve 28 Vapor suction port 29 Oil type sensor 30 Suction pump 31 Insertion sensor 32 Fuel supply port sensor 33 Arm rotation device 34 Entering permission lamp 35 Refueling position sensor 36 Entering Sensor 37 Piping 40 Data input / output device 41 Stand 42 Case 43 Indicator 44 Alarm 45 Signal line 46 Portable data input machine 47 Display unit 48 Keyboard 49 Setting button 50 Confirmation button 51 Card reader / writer 60 Oil supply control means 61 Filling up Means 62 Oil type discrimination means 63 Mechanism Control means 64 Data control means

Claims (1)

A position sensor that detects whether the position of the fuel filler port of the automobile tank that stops in the fueling area is on the front side or the opposite side, a data input device that sets fueling data, and a fueling mechanism that is controlled by the fueling control means In an automatic fueling device comprising a fueling machine comprising
The refueling machine is connected to an upper end portion of a support column formed sufficiently higher than the height of the automobile so that one end side is pivoted , and the other end side is positioned at a length above the automobile when pivoted horizontally. A first arm that is formed and has the position sensor attached to the other end, and is connected to the other end of the first arm so that one end rotates, and the other end is rotated obliquely downward. A second arm formed in a length that reaches the fuel filler port on the opposite side of the automobile, and a fuel nozzle connected to the oil filler mechanism by a pipe connected to the other end of the second arm. An arm mechanism having a nozzle mechanism, an arm rotation device that drives the arm mechanism under the control of a mechanism control means, and an insertion sensor that detects insertion of the fuel nozzle into a fuel filler port, The mechanism control means is Based on the position signal of the fuel filler port detected by the sensor, the arm rotation device is driven to move the nozzle mechanism to the fuel filler port, and the fuel nozzle is inserted into the fuel filler port. The insertion sensor detects the insertion into the fuel filler port. When this is done, the automatic fueling device is characterized in that the fueling control means operates to start fueling and stop fueling based on the set fueling data.

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