AU596495B2 - Fuel supplying apparatus having learning mode - Google Patents

Description

i- -i i i i lx 596495 S F Ref: 48938 FORM COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: P Priority: Related Art: Class Int Class This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for Sprimting, Name and Address of Applicant: Tokico Ltd.

No.6-3, 1-Chome, Fujimi Kawasaki-Ku, Kawasaki-Shi Kanagawa-Ken

JAPAN

Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia Address for Service: Complete Specification for the invention entitled: Fuel Supplying Apparatus Having Learning Mode The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us 11 5845/3 -2- 2 1 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to fuel supplying apparatuses having a learning function, and more particularly to a fuel supplying apparatu9 having a learning function for automatically producing data for driving a motor in minute driving times for use during a ao preset fuel supplying mode, an integral quantity supplying mode, an automatic filling up mode and the like, depending on various conditions such as the set-up condition and the kind of fuel.

Generally, when supplying a predetermined quantity of fuel to a fuel tank of a vehicle, it is possible to carry out the fuel supplying operation in an arbitrary one of a plurality of fuel supplying modes. For example, the fuel supplying operation can be carried out in a preset fuel supplying mode by presetting a desired quantity (or price) of fuel before the start of the fuel supplying operation. In addition, the fuel supplying operation can be carried out in an integral quantity supplying mode in which the fuel supplying operation is stopped when a quantity of supplied fuel reaches an integral quantity closest to and greater than or equal to a desired quantity (or price) of fuel.

A fuel supplying apparatus having the preset fuel supplying mode was previously proposed in a United States Patent No.4,637,525 in which the assignee is the same as the applicant of the present application. In addition, a fuel supplying apparatus having the integral quantity supplying mode was previously proposed in a United States Patent No.4,572,405 in which the assignee is the same as the applicant of the present application. An Australian Patent Application No.31941/84 filed August 1984 corresponds to the United States Patent No.4,572,405.

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1 FIG.1 generally shows a system block diagram of the fuel supplying apparatus having the integral quantity supplying mode and disclosed in the United States Patent No.4,572,405 referred above. The fuel supplying apparatus comprises a motor 1, a pump 2 which is driven by the motor i, measuring means 3 for measuring a flow quantity V of the fuel supplied from the pump 2, integral quantity designating means 4, memory means 6 and control means 7.

The integral quantity designating means 4 comprises a push button switch or the like located near an operating position where an operator works to carry out the fuel supplying operation. The integral quantity designating means 4 designates the stopping of the fuel supply so that the quantity of supplied fuel is stopped at _n integral quantity P which is greater than or equal to the quantity of supplied fuel at the time when the stopping of the fuel supply is designated. The iemory means 6 pre-stores in a form of a data table 5 minute driving times t I through tn of the motor 1 in correspondence with minute flow quantities q 1 through qn so that it is possible to supply a predetermined minute quantity q of fuel by the pump 2.

The data table 5 is shown in FIG.2.

When the integral quantity designating means 4 is manipulated, the control means 7 stops the pump 2 by stopping the motor 1 and thereafter sets as a target quantity the integral quantity P which is closest to and is greater than or equal to the measured flow quantity V obtained from the measuring means 3. After confirming that the pump 2 is stopped, the control means 7 calculates a difference (P V) between the target quantity P and the measured flow quantity V, and selects a driving time At of the motor 1 that would reduce the difference (P V).

This driving time At is selected from the minute driving 4- -4- 1 time t, that is, the minute driving times t I through t n pre-stored in the memory means 6, and the motor 1 is driven for the selected minute driving time so as to drive the pump 2. Such an operation of the control means 7 is repeated until the difference (P V) becomes zero, that .is, P V, and the supply of fuel is controlled so that the measured flow quantity V reaches the target quantity

P.

However, the minute quantity q with respect to the minute driving time t differs depending on various conditions such as the rated rotation frequency of the motor 1, the power source frequency for the motor 1 such as 60 Hz and 50 Hz, the kind of fuel such as gasoline and light oil, and the lengths and diameters of the pipe arrangement and the fuel supplying hose. For this reason, there is a problem in that the data table 5 shown in FIG.2 must be prepared for each of various specifications of the fuel supplying apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a novel and useful fuel supplying apparatus having a learning function, in which the problems described heretofore are eliminated.

Another and more specific object of the present inventioh is to provide a fuel supplying apparatus having a learning function so that a data table for use in controlling minute driving times of a motor can be produced automatically in the fuel supplying apparatus.

According to the fuel supplying apparatus of the present inventiun, there is no need to prepare various data tables for different specifications of the fuel supplying apparatus, and it is possible to adjust the contents of 5 the data table depending on a change In the flow characteristic with time.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention ther-e is disclosed a fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode, ,aid fuel supplying apparatus comprising: a pump for supplying a fuel; a motor for driving said pump; measuring means for measuring a flow quantity of the fuel which is supplied by said pump; learning mode setting means for setting an operation mode of the fuel supplying apparatus to the learning mode; and control means for controlling said motor in the learning mode, said control means comprising memory means having filst, second and third memory parts, said control means driving said motor m times for each of n mutually different driving times MT(n) in n stages and storing m flow quantities bm measured by said measuring means into said first memory part for each of said n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, said control means storing a maximum flow quantity b mmax out of the m flow quantities bm Into said second memory part as a flow 20 quantity Qn corresponding to one of the n driving times MT(n) for each of a said n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, said control means automatically making a data table of driving times t(q) of said motor corresponding to remaining quantities q of fuel from the flow quantities Qn stored in said second memory part for each of the n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, and storing said data table into said third memory part, *said data table in said third memory part being used to drive said motor during a fuel supplying mode in which a supply of fuel is carried out in small quantities before being stopped when a quantity of supplied fuel reaches a predetermined quantity.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode, said fuel supplying apparatus comprising: a pump for supplying a fuel; a motor for driving said pump; IAD/871o ,4 C

A

5A measuring means for measuring a flow quantity of the fuel which is supplied by said pump; learning mode setting means for setting an operation mode of the fuel supplying apparatus to the learning mode; and control means for controlling said motor in the learning mode, said control means comprising memory means having first, second and third memory parts, said control means driving said motor m times for each of n mutually different driving times MT(n) in n stages and storing m flow quantities b measured by said measuring means into said first memory I part for each of said n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, I said control means storing an average flow quantity bmav of the m flow quantities bm into said second memory part as a flow quantiLi Qn corresponding to one of the n driving times MT(n) for each of said n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, said control means automatically making a data table of driving times t(q) of said motor corresponding to remaining quantities q of fuel from the flow quantities Qn stored in said second memory part for each of the n driving times MT(n) In the n stages, and storing said data table into "2 0 said third memory part, said data table in said third memory part being used to drive said 'notor during a fuel supplying mode in which a supply of fuel is a carried out in small quantities before being stopped when a quantity of supplied fuel reaches a predetermined quantity.

0 IAD/871o -6- 1 Other objects and further features of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.l is a system block diagram generally showing a conventional fuel supplying apparatus having an integral fuel supplying mode; FIG.2 shows a data table pre-stored in memory 4 means of the fuel supplying apparatus shown in FIG.l; FIG.3 generally shows an embodiment of the fuel supplying apparatus according to the present invention applied1 to a fixed type fuel supplying apparatus, with a part shown in cross section; FIGCA is a system block diagram showing the I' circuit construction of the embodiment of the fuel supplying apparatus according to the pre-ent invention shown in FIG.3; FIG.5 shows a flow quantity versus time characteristic for explaining a fuel supplying operation in an integral quantity supplying mode; FIGS.6A through 6C are flow charts for explaining the operation of a control device of the embodiment shown in FIG!4; FIG.7 shows an embodiment of a memory structure of a data memory of the control device; FXGS.8A and 8B show the relationship between the f low speed and time and the relationship between the motor ON/OFF state and time, respectively; and FIG.9 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the data memory.

13Cllllllll~ILICIIII~LCC I 7 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION First, a description will be given on an embodiment of the fuel supplying apparatus according to the present invention. FIG.3 generally shows the embodiment of the present invention applied to a fixed type fuel supplying apparatus In FIG.3, the fuel supplying apparatus comprises a main body 11 which is set on an island of a fuel supplying station, and a fixed pipe arrangement 12 is provided inside the main body 11. One end of the pipe arrangement 12 communicates to an underground tank (not shown). A pump 14 which is driven by a motor 13 and a flowmeter 15 for measuring a flow quantity of supplied fuel are provided at intermediate portions of the pipe arrangement 12. In addition, a flow quantity pulse generator 16 for generating flow quantity pulses proportional to the measured flow quantity is connected to the flowmeter A fuel supplying hose 17 is connected to another end of the pipe arrangement 12, and a fuel supplyii, nozzle 18 is provided on a tip end of the fuel supplying hose 17. The fuel supplying nozzle 18 is hooked on a nozzle hook 19 when not in use, The nozzle hook 19 is located on a right side of the main body 11 and has a nozzle switch 20 which opens when the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is hooked on the nozzle hook 19 and closeswhen the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is unhooked and removed from the nozzle hook 19.

A display device 21 is located on a front of the main body 11 and displays a quantity of supplied fuel. It is of course possible to additionally display a price of supplied fuel according to the needs. A fuel supplying quantity setting switch 22 is used for setting a fuel a~-a~-a 8 1 supplying quantity in a preset fuel supplying mode and an integral quantity supplying mode. In the present embodiment, the fuel supplying quantity setting switch 22 takes a form of a ten-key switch located on a left of the main body 11. A learning mode setting switch 22 is located below the fuel supplying quantity setting switch 22 and is used only when producing a data table of minute driving times for the motor 13.

A control device 24 is provided inside the main body 11. As shown in FIG.4, the control device 24 comprises an interface 25, a microprocessor 26, a program memory 27, a data memory 28 and the like. The interface is connected to the flow quantity pulse generator 16, the display device 21, the nozzle switch 20, the fuel supplying quantity setting switch 22 and the learning mode setting switch 23. The interface 25 is also coupled to the motor 13 through a motor driving circuit 29. The motor driving circuit 29 is connected to an A.C. power source E.

The microprocessor 26 has four basic functions, namely, first through fourth functions. According to the first function, the microprocessor 26 controls the driving and stopping of the motor 13 through the motor driving circuit 29 depending on the open and closed states of the nozzle switch 20 responsive to the manipulation of the supplying nozzle 18, and further resets the indication on the '%splay device 21 to zero responsive to the closed state of the nozzle switch 20. According to the second function, the microprocessor 26 counts the flow quantity pulses from the flow quantity pulse generator 16 and displays the quantity of supplied fuel on the display device 21.

According to the third function, when the fuel -9- 1 supplying quantity setting switch 22 is manipulated in the preset fuel supplying mode or the integral quantity supplying mode, the microprocessor 26 reads the set fuel supplying quantity. Based on a program (not shown) stored in the program memory 27 and a q-t(q) table 32 stored in the data memory 28, the microprocessor 26 supplies to the motor driving circuit 29 a signal, for driving and stopping the motor 13 in accordance with the process generally shown in FIG.5. The driving and stopping of the motor 13 a,-e repeated so that a predetermined quantity of fuel is supplied in the preset fuel supplying mode or the integral quantity supplying mode.

The first through third functions of the microprocessor 26 are substantially the same as those of the previously proposed fuel supplying apparatuses described before, But In the present embodiment, the program for carrying out the processes shown in FIGS.6A through 6C are stored in the program memory 27t and the microprocessor 27 has the fourth function for automatically producing the q-t(q) table 32 when the learning mode setting switch 23 is manipulated. This fourth function is a learning function, in order to carry out this learning funct$.on, the data memory 28 has an nt-b table 30, an MT(n)-Q table m n 31 and the q-t(q) table 32, where m, denotes a measurement repetition n~umber, b m denotes a minute flow quantity, MTln) denotes a minute driving time, Q n denotes a maximum minute flow quantity, q denotes a minute remaining 3o quantity and~ t(q) denotes a minute driving time. The -M table 30, the M'V(n)-Q n table 31 and the q-t(q) table 32 will hereinafter referred to as first, second and third tals respectively.

10 1 In the present embodiment, the motor 13 is driven three times, that is, m=1, 2 and 3. There are n mutually different minute driving times MT(n) in n stages, and the minute flow quantity bin is measured by the flowmeter 16 for each of the three times the motor 13 is driven during each of the minute driving times MT(n). The first table 30 stores for a predetermined time the minute flow quantity b for each case where 2 and 3, as shown in FIG.7. In the present embodiment, the minute flow quantity b is stored as a number of flow quantity pulses from the flow quantity pulse generator 16. Since the flow quantity pulse is generated once for every 0.01 liters (10 cc), a minute flow quantity of 0.1 liter (100 cc) is stored when a value "10" is stored as the minute flow quantity bm for example. The second and third tables 31 and 32 similarly store the respective data as numbers of flow quantity pulses.

Out of the three minute driving times bm stored in the first table 30, a maximum minute driving time b mmnax is stored in the second table 31 as the maximum minute flow quantity Qn for each of the minute driving times MT(n) in the n stages, as shown in FIG.7. A minimum value for the minute driving time MT(n), that is, the minimum driving time MT(l), is set to 5 msec. Similarly, the minute driving times MT(2), MT(3), MT(n-1) and MT(n) are respectively set to 10 msec, 15, msec, 5 x (n-l) msec and 5 x n msec, so that the minute driving time MT(n) increases by 5 msec for each increment of n. In addition, the number of stages n of the minute driving time MT(n) is repeated until the maximum minute flow quantity Q becomes that is, 0.5 liter.

Furthermore, the third table 32 stores the minutG driving times t(q) corresponding to the minute 11 1 remaining quantities q by producing a data table from the maximum minute flow quantity Qn for each of the minute driving times MT(n) stored in the second table 31, as shown in FIG.7. The minute driving times t(q) are stored as minute driving times tl, t 2 t 50 respectively 6 corresponding to the minute remaining quantities ql, q 2 q50" When producing the third table 32 by referring to the second table 31, there may not be a maximum minute flow quantity Qn which has the same value as a predetermined minute remaining quantity q. In this case, an editing is carried out so that a minute driving time MT(n-l) corresponding to a maximum minute flow quantity Qn- which is immediately prior to the minute flow quantity Q is taken as a valid value, in order to ensure measuring accuracy and safety. On the other hand, when there exists in the second table 31 a plurality of maximum minute flow quantities Cn which have the same value as the predetermined minute remaining quantity q, an edit operation is carried out so that a minimum Value MT(n)min of the minute driving time MT(n) which corresponds to the minute flow quantity Qn is taken as a valid value, for the purpose of ensuring the measuring aocuX ano safety.

The third table 32 is substantially the s the data table 5 shown in FIG.2 describCd before.

In the present embodiment, the fuel supplyinq operation carried out in either the preset Lue, supplying mode or the integral quantity supplying mode by use of the third table 32 is substantially the same as that of the ^a previously proposed fuel supplying apparatus described before. For this reason, a description on the fuel supplying operation by use of thQ third table 32 will be omitted in the present specificaton.

Next, a more detailed deseripion will be given w 12 1 on the fourth function, that is, the process of producing the third table 32, by referring to steps Sl through S57 shown in FIGS.6A through 6C and FIGS,8A, 8B and 9.

First, in FIG.6A, a step Sl enters a learning mode instruction when the learning mode setting switch 23 is manipulated, and a step S2 displays on the display device 21 an indication that the mode of the fuel supplying apparatus is changed to the learning mode.

Then, the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is unhooked ftom the nozzle hook 19 thereby closing the nozzle switch 20, and the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is inserted into a drum can (not shown) or the like. When the discrimination result in a step S3 becomes YES by the closing of the nozzle switch 20, a step S4 resets the indication on the display device 21 to zero, and a step S5 resets an internal timer TM of the control device 24 to zero. For example, the internal timer TM is constituted by the microprocessor 26.

A step S6 drives the motor 13, a step S7 starts measuring the flow quantity of supplied fuel by the flowmeter and a step S8 discriminates whether or not the supplied quantity P is 500, that is, 5 liters, A step S9 stops the motor 13 when the discrimination result in the step S8 becomes YES. In other words, by the steps S6 through S9, the motor 13 is started and 5 liters of fuel is supplied continuously so as to ensure a satisfactory fuel supplying characteristic, A step S10 confirms the end of the measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel when the flow quantity pulse from the flow quantity pulse generator 16 is not obtained over a certain time. The process described heretofore corresponds to a flow speed characteristic 41 shown in FIG.8A and a motor characteristic 41' shown in FIG.8B.

Faxt, when the step S10 confirms the end of the a

I

13 1measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel, a step Sil starts it" internal timer TM. A step S12 discriminates whether or not a timed value TI of the internal tim- TM has reached 1000 msec (1 sec), and a step S13 ends the timing operation of2 the internal timer TM when the discrimination result in the step Sl2 becomes YES. A step S14 sets n of the second table 31 to the first stage and a step 815 sets the minute driving time MT(n) to 5 msec x n. A step S16 sets the measurement repetition number m of the first table 30 to I'1l. A step S17 resets the indication on the display device 21 to zero, and a step S18 resets the internal timer TM to zero.

A step S19 through a step S22 shown in FIG.6B drive -the motor 13 for 5 msec and measure the quantity of supplied fuel. That is, the step S19 starts the measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel, a step drives the motor 13, a step S21 starts the internal timer TM and the step S2,2 discriminates whether not the timed value TI of the internal counter TM is equal to the minute driving time MT When the timed value TI of t:he internal timer TM reaches 5 msec and the discrimination result in the step S22 becomes YES, a step S23 stops the motor 13. A step 824 ends the timing operation of the internal timer TM, a step 825 r;4sets the internal timer TM to zero and a step S26 starts the measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel. A step S27 discriminates whether or not the timed value TI of the internal timer TM is equal to 1000 msec. A step 828 ends the measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel, and a, step S29 ends the timing operation of the internal timer TM. As a result, the first supply of fuel for 5 msec is ended. A step 830 reads the supplied quantity P, and a step S31 stores this supplied quantity P into the first table 30 as 14 1 the minute f low quantity b mfor m=l, that is, as b 1 In the present embodiment, -the minute flow quantity is "01" when the motor 13 is driven for 5 msec the first time.

Next, when the storing of the supplied quantity P is ended, a step S32 discriminates whether or not m is equal to When the discrimination result in the step 4 ,,S32 is NO, a step S33 sets m by incrementing the value of m, and the process returns to the step S17 shown Q o 00 in FIG.6A so as to similarly carry out the process of supplying fuel for 5 msec the second and third times. In the present embodiment, the minute f low quantities b 2 and b 3 for the second and third times are both zero as shown in FIG.9, In addition, the flow speed characteristic and the m~otor characteristic for the first through third times are respectively indicated by 42A, 42B and 42C in FIG.8A and by 42A, 42B I and 42C I in PIG. 8B.

Therefore, the step S32 discriminates whether or not the measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel is carried out three times for the minute driving time of 5 msec. Wheni the di s(.rim Ination result in the step S32 becomes YES, a step S34 selects as the maximum minute flow quantity Q 1 one o± the minute flow quantities b 1 b 2 and b 3 having the maxinuim minute f low quantity bmmx and stores the maximum minute f low quantity b mmax into the second table 31 as th~e maximumI mrinute flow quantity Q 1 In the present embodiment, Q 1 is "10"1.

When the process described heretofore is completed for the first stage, a step S35 discriminates whether or not the maximum minute flow qu'antity b has mmax reached 50 flow quantity pulses, that is, 0.5 liter. When the discrimination result in the step S35 is NO, a step S36 sets n to 4*21 by incrementing n. As a result, the second stage n=_2 of the third table 32, that is, the 15 1 minute driving time of 10 msec is set. After the step S36, the process returns to the step S15 shown in FIG.6A to repeatedly drive the motor 13 three times with the minute driving time of 10 msec, and the minute flow quantities obtained thereby are respectively stored in the S first table 30 as the minute flow quantities bl, b 2 and b3. In the present embodiment, these minute flow a iquantities b, b 2 and b 3 obtained with the minute driving 2 b3 o time of 10 msec are and as shown in FIG.9, 10 respectively. In addition, the flow speed characteristic ,a and the motor characteristic for the first through third times with the minute driving time of 10 msec are respectively indicated by 43A, 43B and 43C in FIG.8A and S: by 43A', 43B' and 43C' in FIG.8B. In addition, the j|d 15 maximum minute flow quantity bax in this case is stored Sinto the second table 31 as the maximum minute flow quantity Q 2 In the present embodiment, Q 2 is Next, when the process described heretofore is completed for the second stage, n is set to that is, the minute driving time of 15 msec is set. By carrying out a process similar to that described before, the minute flow quantities bl, b 2 and b 3 of 2 and obtained with the minute driving time of 15 msec as shown in FIG. 9 are stored in the first table 30. In addition, the 25 maximum minute flow quantity ba is stored in the second S~mmax Stable 31 as the maximum minute flow quantity Q 3 The flow Sspeed characteristic and the motor charat 'eristic for the Sfirst through third times with the minute driving time of msec are respectively indicated by 44A, 44B and 44C in FIG.8A and by 44A', 44B' and 44C' in FIG.8B.

Similar processes are repeated for n stages until the maximum minute flow quantity Q, (b mmax) reaches and the second table 31 shown in FIC.7 is obtained.

-16 1 The first table 30 during this time repeat the storing process in accordance with FIG.9.

Thereafter, when the discrimination result in the step S35 becomes YES, a step S37 through a step S49 shown in FIG.6C carry out the process of editing the third table 32.

In other words, the step S37 resets the minute remaining quantity q to an initial value of zero, and a step S38 resets the minute driving time t(q) to an initial 4 10 value of zero. A step S39 shown in FIG.6C then incrernent6 the minute remaining quantity q to q and a step makes access to the second table 31lso as to look for the minute driving time MT(n) which corresponds to the maximum minute flow quantity Qr by using Qn as the address which is '11" since q =1 in tis case. A step S41 discriminates whether or not there ex~ists a value of the corresponding minute driving time MT(n)j.

r I In the present embodiment, value of the minute driving time MT(n) corresponding to Q n exists and is 10 msec. Hence, the discrimination result in the step $41 is YES, anda step S43 stores the minute driving time t(q) corresponding to q 1 of the third table 32 as t(q) Next, a step S44 discriminates whether or not q In this case, the minute remaining quantity q has not yet reached "150"1, and the discrimination result in the step S44 is NO. As a result, the process returns to the step S39. This time, the step S39 increments the minute remaining quantity q to q ;42. Accordingly, similarly as in the case elescribed before, the minute driving time NT(n) which ccrresponds to the maximum minute flow quantity Q n is looked for in the second tablo 31 forQn 2, and the minute driving ti., e t corresponiding to q 2 of the~ third table 32 is stored as t(q) 17 Next, when the process described above is ended, the step S39 increments the minute remaining quantity q to q 3. Accordingly, similarly as in the case described before, the minute driving time MT(n) which corresponds to the maximum minute flow quantity Qn is looked for in the second table 31 for Qn 3. However, in the present embodiment, Qn 3 does not exist in the second table 31, and the discrimination result in the step S41 becomes NO.

As a result, a step S42 sets a minute driving time t(q) to t(q) 1 so as to improve the measuring accuracy when the fuel is supplied additionally. In other words, in the present em-odimerit, the step S42 stores the minute driving time t(q) corresponding to q 3 of the third table 32 as t(q) W 15 The minute driving time t(q) for q 4, 5, is stored similarly in the third table 32, and when the discrimination result in the step S44 becomes YES, the third table 32 is edited to the data table shown in FIG.7.

Hence, the third table 32 which is subltantially the samr as the data table shown in FIG.2 described before is produced autoraatically according to the present embodiment. When the discrimination result in the stiep S44 is YES, a step S45 resets the indication on the display device 21 to zero, a step S47 raisets the internal timer TM to zero, and a step S47 informs the end of the production of the third table 32 by an indication on the display device 21. In addition, a step $48 internally starts the measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel for the purpose of detecting an open state of a valve Of the fuel supplying nozzle 18 as will be described later.

When the operator closes the valve of the fuel supplying nozzle 18 and hooks the fuel supplying nozzle 18 him- 4 -18- 1 on the nozzle hook 19, the nozzle switch 20 opens and the production of the third table 32 by the process of the steps S37 through S47 is ended.

However, when the fuel supplying operation is carried out in the preset fuel supplying mode or the integral quantity supplying mode by controlling the motor 13 which drives the pump 14, the supply of fuel is ended in a state where the valve of the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is open. In iother words, the supply of fuel is ended in a state where a nozzle lever (not shown) is locked by a lever lock at a position where the valve is open. For this reason, it is necessary to detect whether or not the valve of the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is open when the supply of fuel is ended.

Accordingly, in the present embodiment, steps S48 through S57 shown in FIG.6C are carried out subsequent to the end of the production of the third table 32 at the step S47. The process carried out by the steps S48 through S57 determines an open valve detection quantity when the valve of the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is open.

In other words, when the discrimination iresult in a step S49 which discriminates whether or not the nozzle switch 20 is open is YES, a step S50 starts driving the motor 13 and a step S51 starts the timing operation of the internal timer TM. A step S52 discriminates whether or not the timed value TI of the internal timer TM has reached 1000 msec, and a step S53 stops the motor 13 wheni the discrimination result in the step S52 becomes YES.

Furthermore, a step S54 ends the tivaing operation of the internal timer TM. A step S56 read8 a supplied quantity PA at this stage, and a step S56 stores an open valve detection quantity M in an open valve detection quantity storing table (not shown) within the data memory 28. For 19 1 example, the open valve detection quantity M is obtained by adding three flow quantity pulses to the supplied quantity P which is described by the flow quantjty pulses.

A step S57 ends the measurement of the flow quantity of supplied fuel.

The supplied quantity PA for the case where the motor 13 is driven again after the valve of the fuel got supplying nozzle 18 is closed and the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is hooked on the nozzle hook 19 is a small quantity because the valve of the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is closed. In other words, the supplied quantity PA in this case is such a small quantity of fuel that is supplied to the fuel supplying hose 17 due to inertia by causing the fuel supplying hose 17 to swell slightly.

Therefore, the supplied quantity PA is considerably small compared to the quantity of fuel ejected out of the fuel supplying nozzle 18 when the motor 13 is driven 1000 msec in a state where the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is hooked on the nozzle hook 19 with the valve open.

Accordingly, when the fuel supplying operaion carried out in the preset fuel supplying mode or the integral quantity supplying mode is ended and the nozzle switch 20 is closed, it is possible to discrimiiate whether or not the fuel supplying nozzle 18 is hooked on the nozzle hook 19 with the valve still open by comparing the open valve detection quantity M and the supplied quantity PA measured when the motor 13 is driven 1000 msec.

In the present, embodiment, when the production of the data table is instructed from the learning mode setting switch 23, the process carried out by the steps S2 through S36 produces the second table 31 by using the first table 30 as an auxiliary table. Then, the process p 20 1 carried out by the steps S37 through S47 automatically edits and produces the third table 32. Furthermore, the process carried out by the steps S48 through S57 automatically stores the open valve detection quantity M.

Therefore, there is no need to prepare a large number of data tables depending on the model of the fuel supplying apparatus 10, the kind of fuel, the frequency of the power source and the like. According to the present embodiment, the third table 32 can be produced by a simple process I 10 within the fuel supplying apparatus 10 itself when the fuel supplying apparatus 10 is set up in the fuel supplying station. Moreover, it is possible to cope with the change in the flow characteristic with time, because it is possible to adjust the contents of the third table 32.

In the described embodiment, the minute flow i c quantity b is obtained three times for each minute :i m driving time MT(n). However, the value of m is not limited to three. In addition, the maximum minute flow I 20 quantity bmmax out of the three minute flow quantities b Bi 1 b 2 and b 3 is stored in the second table 31 for each minute driving time MT(n), but it is possible obtain an average minute flow quantity b of the three minute flow quantities b

I

b 2 and b 3 and store in the second table 31 the average minute flow quantity b for each minute driving time MT(n).

Moreover, in the described embodiment, the minute driving times MT(n) increase by 5 msec for each increment of n, but it is not essential that the minute driving times MT(n) mutually differ by 5 msec.

The described embodiment is applied to the fixed type fuel supplying apparatus, however, it is of course possible to apply the present invention to other types of

~_JS~C-

21 1 fuel supplying apparatuses such as the hanging type.

Further, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, but various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (9)

1. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode, said fuel supplying apparatus comprising: a pump for supplying a fuel; a motor for driving said pump; measuring means for measuring a flow quantity of the fuel which is supplied by said pump; learning mode setting means for setting an operation mode of the fuel supplying apparatus to the learning mode; and control means for controlling said motor in the learning mode, said control means comprising memory means having first, second and third memory parts, said control means driving said motor m times for each of n mutually different driving times MT(n) in n stages and storing m flow quantities bm measured by said measuring means into said first memory part for each of said n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, said control means storing a maximum flow quantity bmmx out of the m flow quantities b into said second memory part as a flow quantity Qn corresponding to one of the n driving times MT(n) for each of said n driing times MT(n) in the n stages, said control means automatically making a data table of driving times t(q) of said motor corresponding to remaining quantities q of fuel from the flow quantities Qn stored in said second memory part for each of the n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, and storing said data table into said third memory part, said data table in said third memory part being used to drive said motor during a fuel supplying mode in which a supply of fuel is carried out in small quantities before being stopped when a quantity of supplied fuel reaches a predetermined cquantity,

2. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in claim I in which said control means stores a driving time MT(I-1) in said data table as a driving time tl(q) for an arbitrary remaining quantity ql when no corresponding driving time MT(i) exists for a flow quantity Qi In said second memory part. IAD/8710 23

3. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in claim 1 or 2 which further comprises a display device for displaying at least a quantity of supplied fuel based on the flow quantity of the fuel measured by said measuring means, said control means comprising means for displaying on said display device an indication indicative of the learning mode when the learning mode is set by said learning mode setting means.

4. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 In which said control means carries out an edit operation so that a minimum value MT(1)min of a driving time MT(1) which corresponds to an arbitrary flow quantity Qi is taken as a valid value to be stored in said data table when there exists in said second memory part a plurality of flow quantities Q which have the same value as a predetermined remaining quantity q 1 A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which m is selected to three, 6, A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 In which sald n driving times MT(n) have values which increase with increasing value of n, each of said n driving times MT(n) having a value which increases by a predetermined value for each increment of n,

7. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in claim 6 in which said predetermined value Is 5 msec.

8. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode, said fuel supplying apparatus comprising; a pump for supplying a fuel: a motor for driving said pump; i measuring means for measuring a flow quantity of the fuel which Is supplied by said pump; learning mode setting means for setting an operation mode of the fuel supplying apparatus to the learning mode; and control means for controlling said motor in the learning mode, said control means comprising memory means having first, second and third memory parts, said control means driving said motor m times for each of n Smutually different driving times MT(n) in n stages and storing m flow IAD/871o L. j I quantities b measured by said mea.str eans into said first memory part for each of said n driving ti.ms MT(n) in the n stages, said control means storing &n -verage flow quantity bma v of the m flow quantities bm Into sald spcond memory part as a flow quantity Qn corresponding to one of the n drfrivg timas MT(n) for each of said n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, said control means automattcally making a data table of driving times t(q) of said motor corresponding to remaining quantities q of fuel from the flow quantities Qn stored in said second memory part for each of the n driving times MT(n) in the n stages, and storing said data table into said third memory part, said data table In said third memory part being used to drive S said motor during a fuel supplying mode in which a supply of fuel is S carried out in small quantities befor being stopped when a quantity of S supplied fuel reaches a predetermined quantity.

9. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in claim 8 in which said control means stores a driving time MT(i-l) In said data table as a driving time t 1 for an arbitrary remaining quantity ql when no corresponding driving time MT(1) exists for a flow quantity Q in said second memory part, A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in claim 8 or 9 which further comprises a display device for displaying at least a quantity of supplied fuel based on the flow quantity of the fuel measured by said measuring means, said control means comprising means for displaying on said display device an indication indicative of the learning mode when the learning mode is set by said learning mode setting means. :11, A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in claim 8, 9 or 10 in which said control means carries out an edit operation so that a minimum value MT(i)min of a driving time MT(1) which corresponds to an arbitrary flow quantity Q 1 is taken as a valid value to be stored in said data table when there exists in said second memory part a plurality of flow quantities Qn which have the same value as a predetermined remaining quantity q 1 12, A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11 in which m is selected to three. ii 1~1 k;;2-8; i IAb/87lo T 1 I- 25

13. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning any one of claims 8 to 12 in which said n driving times which increase with increasing value of n, each of said MT(n) having a vwlue which increases by a predetermined increment of n.

14. A fuel supplying apparatus having a learning claim 13 in vYnich said predetermined value is 5 msec. A iuel supplying apparatus having a learning mode as claimed in MT(n) have values n driving times value for each mode as claimed in mode substantially i 4 4 4 SI I (I as hereinbefore described with reference to figures 3 through 9 of the accompanying drawings. DATED this NINETEENTH day of FEBRUARY 1990 Tokico Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant SPRUSON FERGUSON IrII 4. r* I I b4 44 It I II I I I d IAD/871o i