Automated fuel management system, components therefor, and methods of making the same

Claim 1

In an automated fueling facility comprising a fuel receiving station, at least one fuel storage tank, at least one fuel dispensing station all connected by associated transfer piping and a central data collection station, each of said components having means for communicating with said central data collection station, said central data collection station having means for receiving information which is transmitted from a continuously operating identity transmitter mounted on at least one vehicle desiring fueling, said identity transmitter powered by the vehicle power source and requiring no special activation by the user, comparing said information to selected stored information, authorizing properly coded vehicles access to fuel from said fuel dispensing station and ceasing fueling operations at said fuel dispensing station when said transmitted information is interrupted, the improvement wherein said fuel dispensing station has a fuel dispensing nozzle adapted for mating with and being secured to a fuel receiving tank at a common datum line, said nozzle having a receiving antenna which comprises a circumferential band completely encircling said nozzle is insulated therefrom and secured thereabout and said fuel receiving tank has a transmitting antenna associated therewith, said transmitted information being a radio frequency signal, said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna being in such close proximity as to interrupt transmission of said information and to cause cessation of said fueling operation upon minimal withdrawal of said nozzle from said fuel tank when the line of sight between said receiving antenna and said transmitting antenna is lost.