An automated system for filling oil tankers and other equipment with different materials. The system comprises product/additive pumps, a section for delivering product/additive, and optionally an emergency control.

A street sweeper configured to clean a street can include: at least one broom or sprayer configured to clean a street, a street surface deviation detection device coupled to the street sweeper, the street surface deviation detection device being configured to detect visual signatures of defects in a surface of the street; and a position device to measure the position of the street sweeper, wherein the position device is programmed to send the position to a central server.

A tank support system includes a hollow open-top container having a contiguous sidewall region and a bottom region coupled to the sidewall region. A loop antenna is coupled to a portion of the container's sidewall region. A tuning circuit coupled to the loop antenna provides for adjustment of the loop antenna's electrical impedance. A radio frequency identification (RFID) reader is coupled to the tuning circuit.

A cap for a fluid sensor is provided. The cap comprises a cap input port including a first toolless connector configured to removably couple to a cable; and a cap output port including a second toolless connector configured to removably couple to a cable. The cap may further comprise an interface circuit including a circuit input port, a circuit output port, and a sensor port configured to couple to the fluid sensor. The first toolless connector may be configured to removably couple the circuit input port to a cable and the second toolless connector may be configured to removably couple the circuit output port to a cable. The circuit will automatically sequence the signals on the cable, so standard one-to-one wired cables can be used.

Embodiments of the disclosure pertain to a system effective to monitor an amount of a material that includes a portable container, wherein the material is within the portable container; a sensor in the portable container, the sensor effective to detect a first level of the material in the portable container when the portable container is at a first location and to generate a first data signal based on the first level; and a processor in communication with the sensor, the processor effective to receive the first data signal and effective to generate a report based on the first data signal, the report relating to an amount of the material in the container.

A ground-level access operating system for a tank trailer. The ground-level system includes a cleaning/washing device, a venting device, an inspection access port, and device for loading/unloading the compartments. All devices in this system are located on the side of the semi-trailer, within an operator's reach on the ground. The devices locations are meant to be reachable to ensure operator safety. The operator of the trailer can execute all work without having to reach the top of the tank. Both of venting and cleaning/washing devices have their access port on top of the tank but are hooked up at a position proximate ground level, for an easy-to-reach operation and inspection by on operator on the ground.

A semi-tractor trailer for distribution of natural gas and a system and method for use of the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, a semi-tractor trailer supported fuel receptacle has a plurality of metered fuel dispensers along the sides thereof to permit customers to park along side the semi-tractor trailer and fuel their vehicles with clean natural gas, which may be compressed natural gas or liquid natural gas, for example. The semi-tractor trailer is filled at a central filling location and transported by a tractor to a convenient retail location. A volume monitor monitors the volume of clean natural gas in the semi-tractor trailer and transmits this information to the central filling location, which may dispense a replacement semi-tractor trailer upon the volume of clean natural gas reaching a pre-determined threshold and retrieve the spent semi-tractor trailer in one trip.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus (5) for determining a change in volume within a vessel (11) with regard to fluid (14) being added or removed from the vessel. The method involves measuring first and second surface levels (20, 20) of fluid (14) within the vessel (11) (with regard to fluid being added or removed therefrom), first and second roll values (23, 23) of the vessel, and first and second pitch values (26, 26) of the vessel. From these measurements, and in conjunction with the known interior dimensions and known interior total volume of the vessel, there are calculated first and second fluid volumes that are compared to determine a change in fluid within the vessel.

The present system is directed in one embodiment to a vehicle with a cargo tank or reservoir and a pumping system, comprising a centralized controlled area network (CAN) in operative communication with a programmed computing device, e.g., a programmed logic controller (PLC) that may automate the pumping process output to automatically adjust based on demand and may further enable a pump flow rate that is infinitely adjustable to match output requirements. In other embodiments, the pump speed is no longer dependent upon engine speed or RPM. In other embodiments, the CAN may monitor for vapor at the pump inlet and automatically slow the pump speed until the vapor problem is resolved. Other embodiments may comprise the CAN integrating various vehicle and pumping systems to maximize safety and safety issue annunciations.

A liquid-dispensing vehicle, such as a water truck, may deliver water from a tank through spray heads to combat dust at a worksite during a mission. Operating in an environment with potentially low-bandwidth and intermittent communications, the vehicle periodically transmits timestamped data relating to a tank level, truck movement, and a binary status of the spray heads to an external computing system. The computing system virtually reconstructs the operation of the truck and treatment of the worksite by building timelines and coverage maps from the timestamped data. In generating a smoothed water-level timeline, the system identifies refilling sections, stable sections, and draining sections of the tank from the timestamped data and filters noisy water readings during the draining sections. An activity timeline identifies various truck activities during the watering mission, and a coverage map builds a two-dimensional rendering of water treatment on the worksite based on geometric patterns of the active spray heads, all of which may be used to evaluate the mission or to control future operation of the vehicle.