Safety system for fueling vehicle

Abstract

The invention is an improved method and system to fuel a vehicle. The present invention includes a strategy to determine whether the vehicle is ready to receive fuel and to communicate a vehicle confirmation signal (VCS) to the fuel fill station when the strategy has determined the vehicle is ready to receive fuel. The strategy also includes a dispenser activation system comprising a device to receive the VCS and generate a second signal within the fuel fill station to release the fuel dispenser and fuel dispenser nozzle when the VCS is received. A vehicle locking system can be added to disable the vehicle while the vehicle fuel door is open or when the fuel station nozzle is attached to the vehicle nozzle receptacle. The strategy can determine whether the vehicle is ready to receive fuel by requiring the gearshift device to be in the “Park” position. If the vehicle has a manual transmission, the strategy requires the parking brake to be applied. Other required determinations, such as main power circuit off and emergency power circuit on, can also be added. The VCS communication can be by radio frequency (“RF”) signal, direct wire, or infrared (“IR”) signal. The direct wire communication can use threshold currents from a VCS circuit.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A system to transfer fuel, comprising: 
 a fuel fill station comprising a fuel dispenser line, a fuel dispenser line release, and a fuel dispenser nozzle;    a vehicle comprising a receptacle to mechanically receive the fuel dispenser nozzle, a strategy to determine the vehicle is ready to receive fuel, and a vehicle confirmation signal (“VCS”) that is communicated to the fuel fill station when the strategy has determined the vehicle is ready to receive fuel; and    a dispenser activation system comprising a device to receive the VCS and generate a second signal within the fuel fill station to release the fuel dispenser line and fuel dispenser nozzle when the VCS is received.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle fuel door and a vehicle locking system to disable the vehicle while the vehicle fuel door is open.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a vehicle locking system to disable the vehicle while the fuel dispenser nozzle is attached to the vehicle nozzle receptacle.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further comprises an automatic transmission and a gearshift device, and the strategy to determine the vehicle is ready to receive fuel comprises a requirement that the gearshift device be in a “Park” position.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further comprises a manual transmission and a parking brake, and the strategy to determine the vehicle is ready to receive fuel comprises a requirement that the parking brake be applied.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein VCS communication comprises a radio frequency (“RF”) signal.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein VCS communication comprises a direct wire signal.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the direct wire signal uses threshold current.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein VCS communication comprises an infrared (IR) signal.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle further comprises an electrical power source, a main power circuit, a main power circuit cutoff switch, an emergency power off (EPO) circuit, and an EPO circuit switch.  
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the strategy to determine the vehicle is ready to receive fuel comprises a requirement that the main power circuit cutoff switch is manually activated by a vehicle operator.  
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle further comprises: fuel detectors, malfunction alarms, and an active ventilation system, all powered by the EPO circuit.  
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the step determining whether the vehicle is ready to receive fuel comprises the requirement that the fuel detectors detect no fuel vapors, no malfunction alarms are activated, and the active ventilation systems are functioning normally.  
     
     
         14 . A fueling method, comprising the steps of: 
 determining whether a vehicle is ready to receive fuel;    communicating a vehicle confirmation signal (“VCS”) to a fuel fill station when the vehicle is ready to receive fuel;    activating a device to receive the VCS and generating a second signal within the fuel fill station releasing a fuel dispenser line and fuel dispenser nozzle after receiving the VCS; and    dispensing fuel to the vehicle.    
     
     
         15 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of disabling the vehicle until after closing a vehicle fuel door.  
     
     
         16 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of disabling the vehicle while a fuel dispenser nozzle is attached to a vehicle nozzle receptacle.  
     
     
         17 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , wherein determining whether a vehicle comprising an automatic transmission and a gearshift device is ready to receive fuel, further comprises the step of requiring the gearshift device be in a “Park” position.  
     
     
         18 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , wherein determining whether a vehicle comprising a manual transmission and a parking brake is ready to receive fuel, further comprises the step of requiring applying the parking brake.  
     
     
         19 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating a VCS comprises using a radio frequency (“RF”) signal.  
     
     
         20 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating a VCS comprises using direct wire signal.  
     
     
         21 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of communicating a VCS comprises using an infrared (IR) signal.  
     
     
         22 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , wherein the step determining whether a vehicle is ready to receive fuel comprises the step of requiring activating manually a main power circuit cutoff switch.  
     
     
         23 . The fueling method of  claim 14 , wherein determining whether a vehicle is ready to receive fuel comprises the step of requiring detecting no fuel vapors, activating no malfunction alarms, and active ventilation systems functioning normally.