JPH0732988A - Guiding device for fueled vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To automatically guide a fueled vehicle to a fueling area equipped with a weighing machine by providing an fueling area approaching direction guiding means which is provided for the vehicle approaching port of the fueling area or a place close thereto, and informs a driver of a specified vehicle approaching direction for a specified fueling area selected by a selecting means. CONSTITUTION:A vehicle approach detecting means 1 allows a control means 6 to issue a detection starting signal to an fueling port detecting means 2 upon detecting that a fueled vehicle approaches to a service station. The fueling port detecting means 2 detects at which side the fueling port of the fueling vehicle is located, right or left. A leading guide indicator 3 indicates a guide display for a guide path based on the result of detection by the fueling port detecting means 2 so that the fueling vehicle is property directed to a weighing machine 4. Each fueling area P1, P2 and P3 is set in advance in the neighborhood of each weighing machine 4a, 4b and 4c. The fueling vehicle M is stopped in one of these fueling areas, P1, P2 and P3 so as to be refueled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a refueling vehicle guide device for automatically guiding a refueling vehicle to a refueling area of a weighing machine at a service station.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a weighing machine for refueling a refueling vehicle, a refueling hose having a refueling nozzle at its tip is led out from a housing, and a pump for delivering an oil liquid to the refueling nozzle inside the housing, and a refueling machine. 2. Description of the Related Art A so-called ground-installed weighing machine is known, which accommodates equipment such as a flow meter that measures the amount of oil supplied from a nozzle. With this type of ground-based weighing machine,
The refueling vehicle stops and receives refueling in a predetermined refueling area that is within the reach of the refueling nozzle at the tip of the refueling hose.

[0003]

However, even if the refueling vehicle stops in this refueling area in order to receive refueling,
The vehicle may be stopped so that the side surface of the vehicle body provided with the fuel filler port faces the weighing machine casing, but the vehicle side surface not provided with the fuel filler port may be stopped so as to face the weighing machine casing. If it does, the worker must bypass the vehicle body to move the refueling hose and insert the refueling nozzle into the refueling port of the refueling vehicle. Therefore, there are problems that the refueling nozzle does not reach the refueling port, and even if the refueling nozzle reaches the refueling port, the refueling hose contacts the refueling vehicle and damages the vehicle body.

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, in a conventional fueling station, the fueling port of the refueling vehicle that has entered the refueling station is located on the vehicle body before the refueling vehicle stops in the refueling area of the ground-based weighing machine. The worker preliminarily determines whether it is on the left or right side, selects a weighing machine having a refueling area suitable for the position of the refueling port, guides the refueling vehicle to the refueling area of the selected weighing machine, or weighs. For example, the vehicle is guided toward the refueling area of the machine so that the side surface of the vehicle body having the refueling port faces the weighing machine casing. As a result,
As a refueling operation, the worker must not only operate the refueling vehicle by refueling the refueling nozzle to refuel, but also guide the refueling vehicle to the refueling area of the weighing machine described above, which puts a great burden on the worker. However, there is a problem that it is not preferable in terms of safety.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a refueling vehicle of a weighing machine is provided so that the side surface of the vehicle body provided with the refueling port faces the weighing machine casing. An object of the present invention is to provide a refueling vehicle guide device capable of automatically guiding to a refueling area.

[0006]

In order to achieve the above object, a refueling vehicle guiding apparatus according to claim 1 is provided at a refueling vehicle entrance of a refueling station, and the refueling vehicle has a refueling opening on either side of the vehicle body. From the plurality of vehicle approach directions for the predetermined refueling area, which corresponds to the refueling port position detection means for detecting whether the vehicle is on the
Selecting means for selecting a predetermined vehicle approach direction corresponding to the detection result of the fuel filler detecting means, and a predetermined fueling area selected by the selecting means provided at or near the vehicle entrance of the fueling station. It is characterized by comprising a refueling area approach direction guide means for notifying a predetermined vehicle approach direction.

Further, the refueling vehicle guiding device according to the second aspect is installed in the weighing machine or a predetermined refueling area of the weighing machine, and the predetermined machine of the weighing machine is selected depending on whether the weighing machine is on standby or in use. It is characterized in that it is provided with a refueling area entry availability guide means for notifying whether or not a refueling vehicle can enter the refueling area.

[0008]

According to the refueling vehicle guiding device of the first aspect, the refueling port position detecting means detects whether the refueling vehicle is located on the left or right side of the vehicle body, and the selecting means detects the predetermined refueling area. A vehicle approaching direction corresponding to the detection result of the fuel filler position detecting means is selected from among a plurality of vehicle approaching directions, and the predetermined vehicle approaching direction selected by the selecting means by the fueling area approaching direction guiding means is a vehicle at a gas station. By being notified at the entrance or in the vicinity thereof, the driver of the refueling vehicle can recognize the predetermined vehicle approach direction.

Further, according to the refueling vehicle guide device of the second aspect, the refueling area entry availability guide means notifies whether or not the refueling vehicle can enter a predetermined refueling area corresponding to the usage status of the weighing machine. Thus, the driver of the refueling vehicle can recognize whether or not to enter the predetermined refueling area.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of the entire system of a refueling vehicle guiding device, which includes a vehicle approach detection device 1, a refueling port detection device (refueling port position detection means) 2, a lead wire guide display (refueling area approach direction guiding means) 3 Is a device installed near the entrance of the fueling station, and the weighing machine 4 and the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator (refueling area entry availability indicating means) 5 are installed for each of a plurality of refueling areas in the gas station. It is a device.
Each of the above devices is connected to a control device (selection means) 6.

The vehicle approach detection device 1 detects that a refueling vehicle has entered a refueling station, and causes the control device 6 to send a detection start signal to the refueling port detection device 2. The device 2 is for detecting whether the position of the fueling port of the fueling vehicle is on the right side or the left side of the vehicle body, and the conductor guide indicator 3 is used for the weighing machine 4 based on the detection result of the fueling port detecting device 2. This is for displaying the guide route (lead wire) so that the refueling vehicle faces the appropriate direction.

The weighing machine 4 is for refueling the refueling vehicle, and the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5 is
Depending on whether the relevant weighing machine 4 is in use, the weighing machine 4
This is for displaying permission or prohibition of entry of the refueling vehicle into the refueling area.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire filling station. First, at the filling station entrance 7, that is, at the entrance of the vehicle at the filling station, there is a vehicle entrance detection device 1, a filling port detection device 2,
A conductor guide display 3 is installed. The vehicle approach detection device 1 has a sensor that detects the approach of the refueling vehicle M,
The refueling port detection device 2 has two cameras (not shown) that capture an image of the refueling vehicle M from the left and right, an image processing unit (not shown) that detects the refueling port 8 from this image, and the like. The lead wire guide display 3 is installed above the gas station entrance 7 and displays "" and "" numbers indicating a first approach wire and a second approach wire, which will be described later.

This gas station has three weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c.
The weighing machines 4a, 4b, and 4c are installed on the island 9, respectively. And each weighing machine 4
In the vicinity of a, 4b, and 4c, the lubrication areas P1, P2, and P3 are set in advance in consideration of the reaching range of the refueling nozzle and the installation direction of the indicator that displays the refueling amount, which will be described later for each weighing machine. The refueling vehicle M is in this refueling area P1, P2, P3.
It is designed to stop inside and refuel. The distance D between the islands 9 is substantially equal to the vehicle width of one vehicle, and the refueling areas P1, P2, P3.
It is impossible to refuel the vehicle that has entered into.

On the front surfaces of the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c, there are provided a refueling nozzle 10 for refueling and an indicator 11 for displaying information such as the amount of refueling. The refueling nozzle 10 is provided at the tip of a hose 12. Connected, weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c
It is designed to extend only to the front side of. Therefore,
It is necessary to stop the refueling vehicle M so that the refueling port installation surface of the refueling vehicle M is located on the front side of the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c. That is, as shown in the refueling area P1 of FIG.
When the refueling port position is on the right side of the vehicle body, the refueling vehicle M stops in the direction of arrow A. When the refueling port position is on the left side of the vehicle body, it points in the direction of arrow B and the refueling vehicle M. Therefore, the refueling vehicle M must be guided so that the vehicle stops.

Therefore, between the refueling station entrance 7 and the refueling areas P1, P2, P3, the first and second approach guide wires (vehicle guide paths) 13, 14 are provided as guide routes for the refueling vehicle M.
Is set. In FIG. 2, the first approach conducting wire 13 is a guidance route for a vehicle in which the fuel filler port 8 is on the left side of the vehicle body, and the second approach conducting wire 14 is a guidance route for a vehicle in which the fuel filler port 8 is on the right side of the vehicle body. Further, the refueling vehicle M is refueling areas P1, P2, P
As a route for exiting from No. 3, a first exit lead wire 15 is provided for the refueling vehicle M that has entered by the first approach lead wire 13, and a second exit lead wire 16 is provided for the refueling vehicle M that is entered by the second approach lead wire 14. It is set so that the refueling vehicle M exits the refueling station exit 17 through these exit conducting wires 15 and 16 after the end of refueling.

At both ends of each refueling area P1, P2, P3, refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicators 5, 5, ...
Is installed. The refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicators 5, 5, ... Are relevant to the refueling vehicle M that is about to enter the refueling areas P1, P2, P3 through the first and second entry conductors 13, 14. Refueling areas P1, P2, P
3 depends on whether or not the refueling area P1, P2,
A sign indicating permission to enter P3 and prohibition of entry to P3 is displayed.

Further, a control device 6 including a CPU, a storage device and the like is installed in a gas station office (not shown), and exchanges signals with the above-mentioned various devices so that each device can operate. It is in control.

Next, the procedure of the refueling process using the refueling vehicle guide device having the above-described configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the operation of the wire guide in the refueling vehicle guide device. First, the refueling vehicle M is connected to the refueling station entrance 7
When approaching from the vehicle and reaching the front of the vehicle approach detection device 1, the vehicle approach detection device 1 detects that the refueling vehicle M has entered and outputs a vehicle approach signal to the control device 6 (ss in FIG. 3 ss).
1). While the refueling vehicle M is not approaching, the vehicle approach detection device 1 continues to operate, and the control device 6 is in a state of waiting for a vehicle approach signal (ss2 in FIG. 3).

The control device 6 outputs a detection start signal to the fuel filler detection device 2. Then, the fuel filler detection device 2 operates,
It detects whether the refueling port 8 of the refueling vehicle M is on the right side or the left side of the vehicle body, and outputs the detection result to the control device 6 (ss3 in FIG. 3).

From the detection result of the refueling port detection device 2, when the refueling port 8 is on the right side of the vehicle body (ss4 in FIG. 3), the conductor guide indicator 3 guides the refueling vehicle M to the second approach conductor 14. Therefore, "" is displayed (ss5 in FIG. 3).

From the detection result of the fuel filler detection device 2,
When the fuel filler port 8 is on the left side of the vehicle body (ss6 in FIG. 3),
The lead wire guide display 3 displays "" to guide the refueling vehicle M to the first approach lead wire 13 (ss7 in FIG. 3).

Further, from the detection result of the fuel filler detection device 2, when the fuel filler 8 is neither on the right side nor the left side of the vehicle body (for example, when it is on the rear side of the vehicle body, ss8 in FIG. 3), the conductor guide indicator. 3, the refueling vehicle M, the first and second approach lead wires 13,
Both "" and "" are displayed to guide to any of 14 (ss9 in FIG. 3).

As described above, the conductor guide indicator 3 displays the approach conductor suitable for the position of the fuel filler port. As an example, when the fuel filler port 8 is on the right side of the vehicle body, the conductor guide indicator 3 is "
Is displayed, the driver moves the refueling vehicle M along the second approach lead wire 14 according to this display and selects an arbitrary refueling area. For example, in this case, the refueling area P3 is selected. It is assumed that refueling vehicle M is moved to the near side.

The refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5 in front of the refueling area P3 indicates that the refueling area P3 of the refueling vehicle M is displayed.
The display shows whether or not entry to the refueling area is permitted.
The procedure of the operation for displaying the prohibition will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

First, in the control unit 6, the refueling area N
o. Initialize E. That is, E = 1 and refueling area No. Initialization is performed so that control is performed from 1 (s1 in FIG. 4).

Refueling area No. 1 weighing machine 4a, 4b,
When the refueling nozzle 10 of 4c is out of the nozzle hook, that is, when the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c are in use, a refueling work signal is output from the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c to the control device 6 (Fig. 4s2).

Therefore, the control device 6 causes the storage device to store the usage status data indicating whether the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c are in use or not, depending on whether or not the refueling work signal is output. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of usage status data of the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c.
1 "(hereinafter referred to as a state in which a flag is set),
When it is not used, the data is set to “0” (hereinafter, the state where the flag is not set). Therefore,
FIG. 5 shows that the weighing machine 4a is in use and the weighing machines 4b and 4c are not in use. In addition, this embodiment is shown in FIG.
In the case of n = 3.

When the refueling work signal is output from the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c to the control device 6, the flag is set (s4 in FIG. 4) when the flag is not set (s3 in FIG. 4). After that, the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5 displays the entry prohibition (s5 in FIG. 4), and the refueling area No.
To the next No. To (s6 in FIG. 4). Further, when the flag is set (s7 in FIG. 4), the entry prohibition is already displayed on the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5, so the process directly proceeds to step s6.

On the other hand, the refueling work signal is not output from the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c to the control device 6 (s8 in FIG. 4).
When, that is, when the weighing machines 4a, 4b, and 4c are unused, when the flag is set (s9 in FIG. 4)
After resetting the flag (s10 of FIG. 4), the entry permission is displayed on the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5 (s11 of FIG. 4), and the refueling area number. To the next No. To (s6 in FIG. 4). Further, when the flag is not set (s12 in FIG. 4), the entry permission is already displayed on the refueling area entry permission / prohibition display 5, so the process directly proceeds to step s6.

The refueling area No. Is repeated until the number of weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c installed in the gas station (3 in this embodiment) is reached (s1 in FIG. 4).
3) Display on the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5 for all the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c in the gas station (s14 in FIG. 4).

In this example, since the refueling area P3 is in an unused state, the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5 indicates entry permission, and the driver confirms this display before refueling. The vehicle M is stopped in the refueling area P3, and after the refueling is completed, the vehicle M exits from the fueling station exit 17 through the second exit conducting wire 16.

In the refueling vehicle guidance system of this embodiment,
The refueling port detection device 2 detects the refueling port position, and the wire guide indicator 3 displays the guidance route so as to guide the refueling vehicle M to the weighing machines 4a, 4b, 4c in the direction corresponding to the refueling port position. Therefore, even if the driver does not know the position of the refueling port 8, the refueling vehicle M can be guided in an appropriate direction for refueling without spending the labor of the worker at the refueling station. It is possible to refuel smoothly.

Further, the refueling vehicle M has refueling areas P1, P
When the vehicle is guided before 2, P3, the refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator 5 indicates the entry permission or the entry prohibition. Therefore, the driver can surely follow the display to ensure that the refueling areas P1, P2 , P3 refueling vehicle M
Can be entered.

On the other hand, when looking at the configuration of the entire gas station,
Since the refueling vehicle M is guided from two directions with respect to one weighing machine, it is not necessary to properly use the weighing machine for the right side of the vehicle or the weighing machine for the left side of the vehicle depending on the position of the refueling port 8. , Multiple weighing instruments can be used reasonably. Further, a plurality of islands 9 are provided as in the main gas station, and the distance D between the islands 9 is set to be substantially equal to the width of one vehicle, so that the location of the fuel area P in the gas station can be easily recognized. In a so-called gate type gas filling station, it is possible to predefine a vehicle to be filled with fuel in each filling area P according to the position of the filling port.
It is not necessary to provide a weighing machine for the one refueling area P on each of the islands on both sides of the one refueling area P, and the number of installed weighing machines can be reduced.

In this embodiment, the fuel filler detection device 2
Is composed of two cameras for capturing the image of the vehicle body from the left and right, and an image processing unit. Instead of this structure, a detection sticker is attached to the position of the fuel filler port of the refueling vehicle M to refuel. The sensor of the mouth detection device detects the seal to detect the position of the refueling port, and a customer card in which the position of the refueling port unique to the refueling vehicle is entered is created in advance, and the customer card is read. It may be configured to detect the position of the fuel filler port.

Various design changes can be made to the display pattern of the wire guide display 3 or the refueling area entry permission / prohibition display 5 in this embodiment.

[0038]

As described above in detail, the first aspect of the present invention is as follows.
According to the refueling vehicle guide device described above, the side surface of the vehicle body provided with the refueling port of the refueling vehicle faces the weighing machine casing by the refueling area approach direction guiding means based on the detection result of the refueling port position detection means. The appropriate approach direction will be notified so that even if the driver does not know the position of the refueling port, if the vehicle is moved according to the guidance, as in the conventional case, It is possible to guide the refueling vehicle in an appropriate direction for refueling without spending labor, and to refuel smoothly.

Further, according to the refueling vehicle guide device of the second aspect, the refueling area entry availability guide means informs whether or not the refueling vehicle can enter the refueling area to which the refueling vehicle is going to enter, and therefore, the usage status of the refueling area This allows the refueling vehicle to enter accurately.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a refueling vehicle guide device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the entire gas station to which the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a procedure of a wire guiding process in the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a procedure of a refueling area entry guide process in the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of usage status data of a weighing machine used for refueling area approach guidance processing.

[Explanation of symbols]

M Refueling vehicle 1 Vehicle approach detection device 2 Refueling port detection device (fueling port position detection means) 3 Conductor guide indicator (lubrication area approach direction guiding means) 4a, 4b, 4c Weighing machine 5 Refueling area entry permission / prohibition indicator ( Refueling area entry availability guide means) 6 Control device (selection means) 10 Refueling nozzle 13 First entry lead wire (vehicle guidance route) 14 Second entry lead wire (vehicle guidance route)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A refueling vehicle guiding device for guiding and guiding a refueling vehicle to a predetermined refueling area of a weighing machine installed in a refueling station, wherein the refueling vehicle entrance is provided at the refueling station, and the refueling port of the refueling vehicle is provided on the vehicle body. The refueling port position detecting means for detecting whether the refueling port is located on the right or left side, and the refueling port detecting means for detecting the refueling port position from a plurality of vehicle approaching directions for the predetermined refueling area corresponding to the respective refueling port positions Selection means for selecting a predetermined vehicle approaching direction corresponding to the detection result, and a predetermined vehicle approaching direction for the predetermined fueling area selected by the selecting means provided at or near the vehicle entrance of the gas station. A refueling vehicle guide device, comprising: a refueling area approach direction guide means for giving a notification. 2. The refueling vehicle guiding apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the refueling vehicle guide device is installed in the weighing machine or in a predetermined refueling area of the weighing machine, and the predetermined weighing machine is selected depending on whether the weighing machine is on standby or in use. A refueling vehicle guide device comprising a refueling area entry availability guide means for notifying whether or not a refueling vehicle can enter a refueling area.