Rotational housing for an RFID tag on a fuel nozzle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11505447-B2
Application number	US-201716765612-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2017
Priority date	Nov 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 22, 2022
Grant date	Nov 22, 2022

Abstract

A repositionable radio frequency identification housing ( 18 ) for a fuel delivery nozzle ( 10 ) is disclosed. The RFID housing ( 18 ) is affixed to and is repositionable relative to the fuel delivery nozzle ( 10 ). A RFID reader is positioned within the housing ( 18 ) for communicating with a radio frequency identification tag associated with a vehicle. The RFID housing ( 18 ) is repositionable to accommodate vehicles of different physical geometries and to enhance wireless communication with the RFID tag.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A connector for attaching a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to a fuel dispensing nozzle, the connector comprising:
a collar assembly configured to surround and engage a fuel dispensing nozzle;
a rotating bracket assembly engaged with the collar assembly and configured to rotate relative to the collar assembly; and
a housing affixed to the rotating bracket assembly and configured to receive an (RFID) reader;
wherein the housing is repositionable by rotating the rotating bracket assembly relative to the collar assembly and the fuel dispensing nozzle.

2. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the rotating bracket assembly comprises:
a plurality of wings, each having an arcuate-shaped inner surface, the plurality of wings disposed adjacent to an outer surface of the collar assembly; and
a bearing disposed within at least one of the plurality of wings, the bearing biased to engage the collar assembly at a plurality of discrete locations.

3. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the rotating bracket assembly comprises:
a rear plate with a first central aperture, the first central aperture configured to receive the fuel dispensing nozzle; and
a plurality of wings affixed to the rear plate, each wing having a curved inner surface configured to interface with the collar assembly;
wherein the plurality of wings are mounted to the rear plate in a uniformly spaced orientation relative to the collar assembly.

4. The connector of claim 3 , further comprising a front plate with a second central aperture configured to receive the fuel dispensing nozzle, wherein the plurality of wings are disposed between the front and rear plates.

5. The connector of claim 1 , wherein the collar assembly comprises:
an inner collar having a first inner surface configured to contact the fuel dispensing nozzle and a first outer surface; and
a bushing affixed to the collar, the bushing having a second outer surface and a second inner surface; the second inner surface in contact with the first outer surface.

6. The connector of claim 5 , wherein the inner collar comprises a plurality of arcuate-shaped collar members.

7. The connector of claim 5 , wherein the bushing comprises a plurality of arcuate-shaped bushing members.

8. The connector of claim 1 , further comprising a stabilizer associated with the collar assembly and the rotating bracket assembly for stabilizing a position of the rotating bracket assembly relative to the collar assembly at a plurality of different positions.

9. The connector of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises:
a plurality of outwardly-facing detents disposed along an outer surface of the collar assembly; and
a bearing disposed within the rotating bracket assembly and biased to engage the plurality of outwardly-facing detents.

10. The connector of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises:
a plurality of inwardly-facing detents associated with the rotatable bracket assembly; and
a bearing disposed along an outer surface of the collar assembly and biased to engage the plurality of inwardly-facing detents.

11. The connector of claim 8 , wherein the stabilizer comprises a first and a second plurality of magnets, the first plurality of magnets disposed in spaced relation around the collar assembly and the second plurality of magnets disposed in spaced relation around the rotating bracket assembly.

12. A connector for attaching a radio frequency identification (RFID) reader to a fuel dispensing nozzle, the connector comprising:
a bracket configured to be affixed to and surround a fuel dispensing nozzle, the bracket configured to rotate relative to the fuel dispensing nozzle; and
a housing affixed to the bracket and configured to receive an (RFID) reader;
wherein the housing is repositionable after the connector is securely affixed to the fuel dispensing nozzle, by rotating the bracket relative to the fuel dispensing nozzle.

13. The connector of claim 12 , wherein the bracket comprises:
a collar assembly configured to surround and engage the fuel dispensing nozzle; and
a rotating bracket assembly engaged with the collar assembly and configured to rotate relative to the collar assembly.

14. The connector of claim 13 , wherein the collar assembly comprises:
an inner collar having an inner surface configured to contact with the fuel dispensing nozzle and an outer surface; and
a bushing affixed to the collar; the bushing having an outer surface and having an inner surface in contact with the outer surface of the collar.

15. The connector of claim 13 , wherein the rotating bracket assembly comprises:
a rear plate with a central aperture, the aperture configured to receive the fuel dispensing nozzle;
a first wing affixed to the rear plate and having a curved inner surface configured to interface with the collar assembly; and
a second wing affixed to the rear plate and having a curved inner surface configured to interface with the collar assembly;
wherein the first and second wings are mounted to the rear plate in a spaced orientation such that the first and second wings are positioned on opposite sides of the collar assembly.

16. The connector of claim 13 , further comprising a stabilizer associated with the collar assembly and the rotating bracket assembly for stabilizing a position of the rotating bracket assembly relative to the collar assembly at a plurality of different positions.

17. The connector of claim 16 , wherein the stabilizer comprises one of:
a plurality of detents disposed in spaced relation on an outer surface of the collar assembly, and at least one bearing disposed within the rotating bracket assembly and biased to engage the detents;
a plurality of detents disposed in spaced relation on a surface of the rotating bracket assembly, and at least one bearing disposed within the collar assembly and biased to engage the detents; or
a first and second plurality of magnets, the first plurality of magnets disposed in spaced relation around the collar assembly and the second plurality of magnets disposed in spaced relation around the rotating bracket assembly.

18. A method for enhancing the wireless communication between a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag associated with a vehicle and an RFID reader associated with a fuel delivery system; comprising:
providing a bracket configured to attach to and surround a nozzle of a fuel delivery system, the bracket configured to rotate relative to the nozzle;
securely attaching the bracket to the nozzle of the fuel delivery system;
attaching to the bracket a housing configured to hold an RFID reader; and
after securely attaching the bracket to the nozzle, repositioning the housing and at least a portion of the bracket relative to the nozzle.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the repositioning occurs with the nozzle positioned in the fuel inlet of a vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the repositioning includes at least one of a rotational movement and a linear movement of the housing.

Assignees

• Assa Abloy Ab

Inventors

• Boutelje Adrian
• Cowley Scot
• Koen Albertus Louis

Classifications

• B67D7/348 Primary

  by interrogating an information transmitter, e.g. a transponder (B67D7/145 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B67D7/145

  by wireless communication means, e.g. RF, transponders or the like · CPC title

• B67D7/42

  Filling nozzles · CPC title

• B67D7/425

  including components powered by electricity or light · CPC title