초록 ▼

A service station is provided with a plurality of vehicle servicing islands including liquid fuel blending pumps for dispensing and blending fuel components from underground storage tanks for refueling standard gasoline engine driven vehicles, standard diesel engine vehicles, vehicles with engines r

A service station is provided with a plurality of vehicle servicing islands including liquid fuel blending pumps for dispensing and blending fuel components from underground storage tanks for refueling standard gasoline engine driven vehicles, standard diesel engine vehicles, vehicles with engines requiring dual fuels, vehicles with HCCL engines require low octane gasoline blended with standard diesel fuel, and fuel cell powered vehicles having onboard reformers. Other service islands include pumps for dispensing compressed hydrogen to fuel cell powered vehicles that do not include onboard reformers. In addition, service islands are provided for recharging the batteries of pure electric powered vehicles. A service station is further provided with a wireless communicator for receiving signals indicative of a vehicle's fuel requirements and transmitting signals to direct the vehicle to a service island capable of servicing the vehicle.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A motorized vehicle service station comprising: a plurality of service islands for dispensing a plurality of different fuels to vehicles, said fuels including multiple grades of gasoline, multiple grades of diesel, and blends thereof; a vehicle wireless communicator in a vehi

What is claimed is: 1. A motorized vehicle service station comprising: a plurality of service islands for dispensing a plurality of different fuels to vehicles, said fuels including multiple grades of gasoline, multiple grades of diesel, and blends thereof; a vehicle wireless communicator in a vehicle entering said station for transmitting signals indicative of the vehicle's fuel requirements; a station wireless communicator for receiving signals from the vehicle wireless communicator, and responding thereto by sending signals back to said vehicle to direct the vehicle to a service island capable of servicing the vehicle; and said plurality of service islands each including a service wireless communicator for responding to signals from the vehicle wireless communicator of a vehicle directed thereto, respectively, for restricting fuel delivery to the vehicle based upon its detected fuel requirements. 2. A motorized vehicle service station comprising: a plurality of service islands for servicing vehicles requiring a plurality of different fuels, said fuels including multiple grades of gasoline, multiple grades of diesel, blends thereof, and/or hydrogen, and/or electric recharging; a vehicle wireless communicator in a vehicle entering said station for transmitting signals indicative of a vehicle's servicing requirements; a station wireless communicator for receiving signals from the vehicle wireless communicator, and responding thereto by sending signals back to said vehicle to direct the vehicle to a service island capable of servicing the vehicle; and said plurality of service islands each including a service wireless communicator for responding to signals from the vehicle wireless communicator of a vehicle directed thereto, respectively, for restricting fuel or electric recharging delivery to the vehicle based upon its detected fuel or electric recharging requirements. 3. A motorized vehicle service station comprising: a plurality of service islands each being configured to service particular types of motorized vehicles, including: at least one first island including at least a first liquid fuel blending pump, for refueling gasoline, diesel, and hydrogen powered vehicles, whereby said hydrogen powered vehicles include an onboard reformer for converting gasoline to hydrogen; at least one second island including a hydrogen dispensing system for refueling hydrogen powered vehicles that do not include an onboard reformer; at least one third island including an electric battery recharging system for recharging the batteries of electric driven vehicles; and a plurality of underground storage tanks for containing liquid fuel components, said tanks being individually connected to said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump or pumps; a vehicle wireless communicator being installed in individual vehicles, including activation means for permitting a vehicle operator to turn on the vehicle communicator when entering said service station to transmit signals coded to provide vehicle related information including the type of fuel required by the vehicle, and/or electric recharging requirements, the vehicle's driving condition, maintenance record, and inspection information; a station wireless communicator for communicating with a vehicle wireless communicator as it enters a service station, for directing the associated vehicle to one of said plurality of service islands capable of servicing the vehicle; and a plurality of service island wireless communicators each being dedicated to an individual one of said plurality of service islands, for receiving signals from a vehicle wireless communicator and responding thereto by configuring the associated service island to service the vehicle, by signaling to the vehicle wireless communicator that the associated service island is ready to service the vehicle or that the island operation has been terminated and cannot service the vehicle, and that if applicable the vehicle requires maintenance and/or inspection based upon information received from the vehicle's wireless communicator. 4. The service station of claim 3, further including: an additive tank for containing an additive component required in liquid fuels for powering certain vehicles, said additive tank being connected to said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump. 5. The service station of claim 3, further including: a sulfur sensor for sensing the sulfur content of a fuel component as it is being transferred from a tank truck to one of said plurality of underground storage tanks, said sulfur sensor including means for terminating the fuel component transfer if the sulfur content thereof exceeds a predetermined level. 6. The service station of claim 3, further including: a convenience store (C-Store) for providing vehicle occupants with an opportunity to purchase food, drinks, and various other items; said station wireless communicator being programmed for transmitting offerings of said C-Store to said vehicle wireless communicator, for the information of occupants of said vehicle, for receiving orders from said occupants via said vehicle wireless communicator, for transferring the orders to the C-Store. 7. The service station of claim 3, wherein said first liquid fuel blending pump includes a sulfur trap for removing sulfur from selected fuel types to be dispensed. 8. The service station of claim 7, further including: an inventory control system for automatically reordering liquid fuel components, and/or additives, and/or hydrogen, and/or C-Store items, whenever the respective inventory available thereof reduces to a predetermined level. 9. The service station of claim 3, further including each one of said plurality of wireless communicators associated with a first island being programmed to provide the fuel type of a vehicle at the associated island to a controller of the associated first liquid fuel blending pump for programming the blender to blend the fuel components and any necessary additive as required by the type for the associated vehicle. 10. The service station of claim 4, wherein said plurality of underground storage tanks include: a first tank containing fuel of 50 to 90 RON with up to 40 ppm S; a second tank containing fuel of greater than 100 RON with zero S content; a third tank containing diesel fuel of greater than 40 CN; and said first through third tanks each being individually connected to said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump, for providing different blended fuels including 87 RON regular grade gasoline with additive, 92 RON super grade gasoline with additive, greater than 100 RON gasoline with 50 to 90 RON gasoline for a dual fuel, greater than 100 RON gasoline with ultra low sulfur for fuel cell driven vehicles having an onboard reformer, greater than 40 CN diesel for standard compression ignition engines, and 50 to 90 RON gasoline with greater than 40 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines. 11. The service station of claim 4, wherein said plurality of underground storage tanks include: a first tank containing diesel fuel of 20 to 40 CN; a second tank containing low sulfur content diesel fuel of 40 to 55 CN with less than 10 ppm S; and a third tank containing gasoline of 87 RON with zero sulfur content; said first through third tanks each being individually connected to said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump, for providing different blended fuels including 87RON unleaded gasoline with additive, 87 RON gasoline with no sulfur content for fuel cell driven vehicles having onboard reformers, 20 to 40 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and low octane 87 RON gasoline blended with 40 to 55 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines. 12. The service station of claim 4, wherein said plurality of underground storage tanks include: a first tank containing diesel fuel of less than 30 CN; a second tank containing diesel fuel of greater than 50 CN with less than 10 ppm S; a third tank containing gasoline of greater than 100 RON with zero sulfur content; a fourth tank containing gasoline having an RON ranging from 50 to 90, with 40 ppm S; and said first through fourth tanks each being individually connected to said at least a first liquid fuel lending pump, for providing different blended fuels including regular gasoline of 87 RON with additive, super gasoline of 92 RON with additive, a dual fuel of greater than 100 RON gasoline blended with less than 50 to 90 RON gasoline, greater than 100 RON with zero content sulfur for fuel cells, 30 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and for HCCI engines a blend of low octane 50 to 90 RON gasoline with 50 CN low sulfur diesel and no additive. 13. The service station of claim 4, wherein said plurality of underground storage tanks include: a first tank containing fuel of 50 to 90 RON with up to 40 ppm S; a second tank containing fuel of greater than 100 RON with zero S content; a third tank containing diesel fuel of greater than 40 CN; a fourth tank containing an additive; said first through fourth tanks each being individually connected to said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump, for providing different blended fuels including 87 RON regular grade gasoline with additive, 92 RON super grade gasoline with additive, greater than 00 RON gasoline with 50 to 90 RON gasoline for a dual fuel, greater than 100 RON gasoline with ultra low sulfur for fuel cell driven vehicles having an onboard reformer, greater than 40 CN diesel for standard compression ignition engines, and 50 to 90 RON gasoline with greater than 40 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines; a fifth tank containing diesel fuel of 20 to 40 CN; a sixth tank containing low sulfur content diesel fuel of 40 to 55 CN with less than 10 ppm 5; and a seventh tank containing gasoline of 87 RON with zero sulfur content; said fourth through seventh tanks each being individually connected to another first liquid fuel blending pump, for providing different blended fuels including 87 RON unleaded gasoline with additive, 87 RON gasoline with no sulfur content for fuel cell driven vehicles having onboard reformers, 20 to 40 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and low octane 87 RON gasoline blended with 40 to 55 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines; an eighth tank containing diesel fuel of less than 30 CN; a ninth tank containing diesel fuel of greater than 50 CN with less than 10 ppm S; a tenth tank containing gasoline of greater than 100 RON with zero sulfur content; an eleventh tank containing gasoline having an RON ranging from 50 to 90, with 40 ppm S; and said eighth through eleventh and fourth tanks each being individually connected to yet another first liquid fuel blending pump, for providing different blended fuels including regular gasoline of 87 RON with additive, super gasoline of 92 RON with additive, a dual fuel of greater than 100 RON gasoline blended with less than 80 RON gasoline, greater than 100 RON with zero content sulfur for fuel cells, 30 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and for HCCI engines a blend of low octane 50 to 90 RON gasoline with 50 CN low sulfur diesel and no additive. 14. The service station of claim 3, wherein said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump includes: an octane sensor system for terminating operation of said pump if the octane level of fuel being dispensed is below that required for a vehicle being refueled. 15. The service station of claim 3, wherein said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump includes: a sulfur sensor for terminating operation of said pump if the sulfur level of fuel being dispensed exceeds a predetermined maximum level for the fuel type required by the vehicle being refueled. 16. A method for providing a motorized vehicle service station for servicing vehicles of multiple vehicle technologies, comprising the steps of: installing a plurality of service islands each being configured to service particular types of motorized vehicles, including: configuring at least one first island to include at least a first liquid fuel blending pump, for refueling gasoline, diesel, and hydrogen powered vehicles, whereby said hydrogen powered vehicles include an onboard reformer for converting gasoline to hydrogen; configuring at least one second island to include a hydrogen dispensing system for refueling hydrogen powered vehicles that do not include an onboard reformer; configuring at least one third island to include an electric battery recharging system for recharging the batteries of electric driven vehicles; installing a plurality of underground storage tanks for individually containing different liquid fuel components, respectively; connecting individually said plurality of underground storage tanks to said at least a first liquid fuel blending pump or pumps; installing a vehicle wireless communicator in individual vehicles, including activation means for permitting a vehicle operator to turn on the vehicle communicator when entering said service station to transmit signals coded to provide vehicle related information including the type of fuel required by the vehicle, and/or electric recharging requirements, the vehicle's driving condition, maintenance record, and inspection information; installing in said station a station wireless communicator for communicating with a vehicle wireless communicator as it enters a service station, for directing the associated vehicle to one of said plurality of service islands capable of servicing the vehicle; and installing a service island wireless communicator in each individual one of said plurality of service islands, for receiving signals from a vehicle wireless communicator and responding thereto by configuring the associated service island to service the vehicle associated therewith, by signaling to the vehicle wireless communicator that the associated service island is ready to service the vehicle or that the island operation has been terminated and cannot service the vehicle, and that if applicable the vehicle requires maintenance and/or inspection based upon information received from the vehicle's wireless communicator. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of installing a plurality of underground storage tanks for individually containing different liquid fuel components, respectively, further includes for servicing the refueling requirements of internal combustion engine driven vehicles including HCCI, turbo charged high compression ratio gasoline engines, and dual fuel engines requiring blends of gasoline and diesel, the steps of: filling a first tank to contain fuel of 50 to 90 RON with up to 40 ppm S; filling a second tank to contain fuel of greater than 100 RON with zero S content; filling a third tank to contain diesel fuel of greater than 40 CN; filling a fourth tank to contain an additive component required in liquid fuels for powering certain vehicles; and operating said at least one first service island to provide different blended fuels to meet the fuel requirements of vehicles being serviced, respectively, said blended fuels including 87 RON regular grade gasoline with additive, 92 RON super grade gasoline with additive, greater than 100 RON gasoline with 50 to 90 RON gasoline for a dual fuel, greater than 100 RON gasoline with ultra low sulfur for fuel cell driven vehicles having an onboard reformer, greater than 40 CN diesel for standard compression ignition engines, 50 to 90 RON gasoline with greater than 40 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines, and fuel blends with additive where required. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of installing a plurality of underground storage tanks for individually containing different liquid fuel components, respectively, further includes for servicing the refueling requirements of internal combustion engine driven vehicles including HCCI, turbo charged high compression ratio gasoline engines, and dual fuel engines requiring blends of gasoline and diesel, the steps of: filling a first tank to contain diesel fuel of 20 to 40 CN; filling a second tank to contain low sulfur content diesel fuel of 40 to 55 CN with less than 10 ppm S; filling a third tank to contain gasoline of 87 RON with zero sulfur content; filling a fourth tank to contain an additive component required in liquid fuels for powering certain vehicles; and operating said at least one first service island to provide different blended fuels to meet the fuel requirements of vehicles being serviced, respectively, said blended fuels including 87 RON unleaded gasoline with additive, 87 RON gasoline with no sulfur content for fuel cell driven vehicles having onboard reformers, 20 to 40 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and low octane 87 RON gasoline blended with 40 to 55 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of installing a plurality of underground storage tanks for individually containing different liquid fuel components, respectively, further includes for servicing the refueling requirements of internal combustion engine driven vehicles including HCCI, turbo charged high compression ratio gasoline engines, and dual fuel engines requiring blends of gasoline and diesel, the steps of: filling a first tank to contain diesel fuel of less than 30 CN; filling a second tank to contain diesel fuel of greater than 50 CN with less than 40 ppm S; filling a third tank to contain gasoline of greater than 100 RON with zero sulfur content; filling a fourth tank to contain gasoline having an RON ranging from 50 to 90, with 40 ppm S; filling a fifth tank to contain an additive compound required in liquid fuels for powering certain vehicles; and operating said at least one first service island to provide different blended fuels to meet the fuel requirements of vehicles being serviced, respectively, said blended fuels including regular gasoline of 87 RON with additive, super gasoline of 92 RON with additive, a dual fuel of greater than 100 RON gasoline blended with less than 50 to 90 RON gasoline, greater than 100 RON with zero content sulfur for fuel cells, 30 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and for HCCI engines a blend of low octane 50 to 90 RON gasoline with 50 CN low sulfur diesel and no additive. 20. The method of claim 16, wherein said step of installing a plurality of underground storage tanks for individually containing different liquid fuel components, respectively, further includes for servicing the refueling requirements of internal combustion engine driven vehicles including HCCI, turbo charged high compression ratio gasoline engines, and dual fuel engines requiring blends of gasoline and diesel, the steps of: filling a first tank to contain fuel of 50 to 90 RON with up to 40 ppm S; filling a second tank to contain fuel of greater than 100 RON with zero S content; filling a third tank to contain diesel fuel of greater than 40 CN; filling a fourth tank to contain an additive compound required in liquid fuels for powering certain vehicles; and operating said at least one first service island to provide different blended fuels to meet the fuel requirements of vehicles being serviced, respectively, said blended fuels including 87 RON regular grade gasoline with additive, 92 RON super grade gasoline with additive, greater than 100 RON gasoline with 50 to 90 RON gasoline for a dual fuel, greater than 100 RON gasoline with ultra low sulfur for fuel cell driven vehicles having an onboard reformer, greater than 40 CN diesel for standard compression ignition engines, and 50 to 90 RON gasoline with greater than 40 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines; filling a fifth tank to contain diesel fuel of 20 to 40 CN; filling a sixth tank to contain low sulfur content diesel fuel of 40 to 55 CN with less than 10 ppm S; and filling a seventh tank to contain gasoline of 87 RON with zero sulfur content; said fourth through seventh tanks each being individually connected to at least a fourth service island to provide different blended fuels including 87 RON unleaded gasoline with additive, 87 RON gasoline with no sulfur content for fuel cell driven vehicles having onboard reformers, 20 to 40 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and low octane 87 RON gasoline blended with 40 to 55 CN diesel without additive for HCCI engines; filling an eighth tank to contain diesel fuel of less than 30 CN; filling a ninth tank to contain diesel fuel of greater than 50 CN with less than 10 ppm S; filling a tenth tank to contain gasoline of greater than 100 RON with zero sulfur content; filling an eleventh tank to contain gasoline having an RON ranging from 50 to 90, with 40 ppm S; and said seventh through eleventh and fourth tanks each being individually connected to at least a fifth service island to provide different blended fuels including regular gasoline of 87 RON with additive, super gasoline of 92 RON with additive, a dual fuel of greater than 100 RON gasoline blended with less than 80 RON gasoline, greater than 100 RON with zero content sulfur for fuel cells, 30 CN diesel fuel for standard compression ignition engines, and for HCCI engines a blend of low octane 50 to 90 RON gasoline with 50 CN low sulfur diesel and no additive.