Patent ID: 8461804

Claim:
A service station facility for replenishing energy sources onboard different types of automotive vehicles, said service station facility comprising: a rack; a plurality of replaceable storage devices stocked on the rack and storing fluids or charges utile as motivational energy sources for automotive vehicles; a service module positioned directly below an automotive vehicle having a depleted storage device; a lift system configured to raise, while the service module is directly below the automotive vehicle, the service module toward the depleted storage device for transfer of the depleted storage device from the automotive vehicle to the service module, the lift system further configured to lower the service module, while the service module is directly below the automotive vehicle and while the depleted storage device is positioned on the service module, such that the depleted storage device is lowered away from the automotive vehicle by the lift system; at least one rail; at least one carriage engaged with the rail and configured to move the depleted storage device along the rail toward a location for stocking the depleted storage device on the rack at the location, the at least one carriage further configured to move one of the replaceable storage devices along the rail toward the automotive vehicle; a fluidal hose; a robotic arm configured to establish a fluidal connection between the depleted storage device and the fluidal hose such that the fluidal hose is connected to the depleted storage device while the depleted storage device is stocked on the rack; and an electrical cable connected to the depleted storage device while the depleted storage device is stocked on the rack, wherein the lift system is configured to raise, while the service module is directly below the automotive vehicle and while the one replaceable storage device is positioned on the service module, the service module for transfer of the one replaceable storage device from the service module to the automotive vehicle.