Method and device for automatic refuelling of vehicles

Abstract

Nozzle for use in a device for automatic refuelling of vehicles, which nozzle in turn comprises a connecting means and a flexible filler pipe ( 100 ) with an open end ( 110 ), which filler pipe is arranged to, after the connecting means has been positioned in connection to an orifice of a tank pipe of the vehicle, be pressed, by an axial pressure applied to the filler pipe at a location spaced from the open end, with the open end first, into and down into the tank pipe and then to deliver the said fuel from a pump device, through the said open end and into the tank pipe. The invention is characterized in that the filler pipe comprises an inner fuel pipe ( 120 ) of flexible hard plastic material, through which fuel pipe fuel, which is delivered into the tank pipe, can flow on its way from the pump device, and an outer metal coil or a series of metal rings ( 130 ), in that the metal coil or metal rings is or are arranged to run in parallel to and outside of the fuel pipe, and in that the metal coil or metal rings is or are arranged to run in and along a recess ( 121 ) in the surface of the fuel tube.

1 . Nozzle for use in a device for automatic refuelling of vehicles, which nozzle in turn comprises a connecting means and a flexible filler pipe with an open end, wherein the nozzle is arranged at a main body, the main body is placeable by means of a locating means comprised therein such that the nozzle is connected to an orifice of a tank pipe of the vehicle, wherein the main body portion is movable further by means of the locating means towards the vehicle whereby the filler pipe is pressed, by an axial pressure applied to the filler pipe at a location spaced from the open end, with the open end first, into and down into the tank pipe and then to deliver the said fuel from a pump device, through the said open end and into the tank pipe, the filler pipe is between 15 and 100 cm long and comprises an inner fuel pipe of flexible hard plastic material, through which fuel pipe, fuel, which is delivered into the tank pipe, can flow on its way from the pump device, and an outer metal coil or a series of metal rings, wherein the metal coil or metal rings is or are arranged to run in parallel to and outside of the fuel pipe, and wherein the metal coil or metal rings is or are arranged to run in and along a recess in the surface of the fuel tube. 
     
     
         2 . Nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle further comprises a flexible channel, through which a gas can be brought from an opening at the open end to the pump device, and in that the channel is arranged to run along with and inside the fuel pipe. 
     
     
         3 . Nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel pipe and the metal coil or metal rings both run along the same stretch of at least 15 cm along the filler pipe. 
     
     
         4 . Nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein said recess is spiral-shaped and arranged to follow the metal spiral along the fuel pipe. 
     
     
         5 . Nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the recess is constituted by folds in the hard plastic material constituting the fuel pipe. 
     
     
         6 . Nozzle according to  claim 5 , wherein the outer radius of the metal coil or the metal rings, and the fuel pipe, respectively, are adapted to be substantially equal along a stretch of at least 15 cm along the filler pipe. 
     
     
         7 . Nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler pipe is substantially incompressible in its axial direction. 
     
     
         8 . Nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer diameter of the filler pipe is 15-22 mm. 
     
     
         9 . Nozzle according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler pipe is arranged to be able to be pressed, using the said axial pressure, towards a fuel cap which opens inwards towards the tank pipe and is arranged at the orifice of the tank pipe, and to thereby be able to open the cap so that the filler pipe by further axial pressure can be brought past the opened cap and on down into the tank pipe. 
     
     
         10 . Device for automatic refuelling of a vehicle, wherein the device comprises a nozzle according to  claim 1  and further comprising a locating means, arranged to bring the said nozzle to a position in connection to an orifice of a tank pipe of the vehicle, and an insertion means arranged to press the filler pipe of the nozzle, with its open end first, past the connecting means of the nozzle, into and down into the tank pipe, and wherein the device also comprises a filler device, arranged to deliver a liquid fuel into the tank pipe. 
     
     
         11 . Method for automatic refuelling of vehicles, in which a nozzle, having a flexible filler pipe and a connecting means, in a first step automatically is positioned in connection to an orifice of a tank pipe of the vehicle by means of a locating means comprised in a main body portion, wherein the nozzle in a second step, is connecting to the tank pipe, whereafter, in a third step, the locating means bring the main body portion further towards the vehicle so that the filler pipe is brought through the said orifice and down a certain distance into the tank pipe, and thereby can fill a liquid fuel from a pump device, through an open end of the filler pipe and into the tank pipe, and wherein the fuel in a fourth step is filled into the tank pipe from the pump device, wherein the filler pipe, which is between 15 and 100 cm long and has firstly an inner fuel pipe of flexible hard plastic material, through which fuel pipe fuel delivered into the tank pipe can flow on its way from the pump device, and secondly an outer metal coil or a series of metal rings running in parallel to and outside of the fuel pipe and in and along a recess ( 121 ) in the surface of the fuel pipe, while being pressed into and down into the tank pipe, adjusts its shape to the inner shape of the tank pipe by bending of the filler pipe. 
     
     
         12 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein a gas connection between the interior of the tank pipe and the pump device is established via a flexible channel, running through the nozzle, along with and inside the fuel pipe, from an opening at the said open end to the pump device, and in that the pump device senses a fuel level in the tank pipe via the said gas connection in order to control the supply of the fuel. 
     
     
         13 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . Method according to  claim 11 , wherein before the fuel is supplied into the tank pipe, the tank pipe is earthed through contact between the inner surface of the tank pipe and the external surface of the metal coil or the metal rings.