Method of on-site refueling using electronic identification tags, reading probe, and a truck on-board computer

US5579233A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Robert Burns · Santa Clara, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 9, 1995
• Grant date: Nov 26, 1996
• Expiry date: Jan 9, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07F13/025
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of on-site refueling, i.e., delivering petroleum and similar products from a tank truck into customer vehicles or other tanks at a customer's site, that ensures the accurate delivery of products in accordance with the instructions on a series of delivery lists. The method of delivery includes the use of a probe having digital memory and capable of comparing input signals from passive electronic tags with stored data and the use of a truck on-board computer able to read the truck's accumulating gallonage meters, and able to set relay contacts to directly control the refueling of vehicles identified as critical vehicles. Each use of the probe in reading a tag is recorded in the probe stored in its memory, and later downloaded into the on-board computer used to calculate the gallons and identify the product delivered into each customer tank. At the end of the day, the on-board computer is downloaded into an office computer to complete customer billing records, evaluate driver compliance with the delivery process, and post inventory, sales, and financial records.