B67D7/3281

Form-coded underground storage tank filling port
11905161 · 2024-02-20 ·

A form-coded collar assembly that is configured to be attached around a filling pipe extending into an underground fuel storage tank and comprises a radial lip defining an opening at its open end, and a system having a plurality of such form-coded collar assemblies. The collar assembly has a base plate with a hollow center comprising a greater footprint than the filling pipe; a form-coded collar that corresponds to a substance contained within the underground storage tank; and a sidewall extending between a user-facing surfaces of said base plate and said form-coded collar.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTONOMOUSLY CONTROLLING FLUID REFILL STATION
20240051814 · 2024-02-15 · ·

A system for autonomously controlling a fluid refill station (FRS) includes a sensor that generates an input signal indicative of an amount of fluid in a tank of an autonomous truck and a central controller. The central controller monitors the amount of fluid in the tank and assigns the autonomous truck to the FRS if the amount of fluid has reached a minimum threshold value. The central controller determines an alignment of the tank of the autonomous truck with a fluid outlet of the FRS, directs the FRS to refill the tank with fluid if the tank is in alignment with the fluid outlet of the FRS, and directs the FRS to stop refilling the tank when the amount of fluid in the tank has reached a maximum threshold value. The central controller marks the FRS as non-functional based on a determination of an anomaly with the FRS.

Distribution manifold for multi-port fuel distribution
11891296 · 2024-02-06 · ·

A fuel distribution system includes a fuel intake in communication with at least one fuel source that delivers a fuel through a fuel path. A filtering mechanism is positioned within the fuel path. A surge tank operates to maintain a minimum fluid pressure within the fuel path. A fuel manifold selectively delivers the fuel to a plurality of external fuel couplings. A flow meter monitors a flow of the fuel through the fuel manifold. The plurality of external fuel couplings are configured to contemporaneously deliver the fuel at a consistent flow rate.

BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM
20190352168 · 2019-11-21 ·

A beverage dispensing system includes at least one web-enabled beverage dispenser and a web-based entity connectable with the at least one beverage dispenser via a data network, the web-based entity being adapted to perform at least one of the following functions: a status reporting function for providing status information regarding the at least one beverage dispenser to a third party over the data network; a statistics function for providing information regarding use statistics of the at least one beverage dispenser to a third party over the data network; a stock check function for providing current information regarding stock of consumables of the at least one beverage dispenser to a third party over the data network; a consumer profile function for storing consumer preferences and providing the stored consumer preferences to the at least one web-enabled beverage dispenser; a remote diagnostics function providing a video stream and/or an audio stream to a third party over the data network; an access function enabling dispensing a beverage by the at least one beverage dispenser for a pre-determined validity period.

FUEL CAPLESS UNIT HAVING VARIABLE SPRING STIFFNESS

A capless fuel system comprises a fuel inlet body, a flapper pivotably mounted within the fuel inlet body, a biasing member associated with the flapper, an axially movable shaft associated with the biasing member, and a tension calibrator associated with the biasing member, whereby tension on the controller spring may be adjusted by the calibrator. The biasing member may be of a variety of biasing elements but is preferably a controller spring. The shaft is reversibly movable from a tensioning position in which the electromechanical driver assembly is deactivated to a tension-lowering position in which the electromechanical driver assembly is activated. The capless fuel system includes a fuel pump nozzle position sensing system. The capless fuel system relies upon a single, multi-function flapper that functions as both the capless fuel system debris cover and a sealing member to prevent evaporative emission leaks.

Anomaly detection and controlling fuel dispensing operations using fuel volume determinations

A system determines that a fuel dispensing operation may be anomalous. In response, the system accesses fuel inventory data that indicates fuel levels in a fuel tank within a threshold period. The system determines a measure amount of fuel that left the fuel tank based on the fuel inventory data. The system determines a calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with one or more fuel dispensing operations within the threshold period. The system compares the measured amount of fuel that left the fuel tank with the calculated amount of dispensed fuel. The system determines that the measured amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel. In response, the system confirms that the fuel dispensing operation is anomalous and communicates an electronic signal to the fuel dispensing terminal that causes the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.

System and method for dispensing and sale of bulk products
10377623 · 2019-08-13 · ·

A system for managing bulk product dispensing and sale in a retail establishment includes a bulk product dispenser for dispensing bulk product into a re-usable container which includes an ID tag identifying said container. A user interface receives a product fill request for a bulk product selected from a plurality of bulk products capable of being dispensed. Then a dispenser controller verifies the compatibility of said product fill request with said container by verifying the product requested satisfies restrictions based on information associated with the ID tag, and responsive to said verifying, either controlling said dispenser to fill said container with the requested product, or displaying a warning to a user if the request is not compatible.

Fuel filling apparatus and method for bi-fuel vehicle

A fuel filling apparatus and method for a bi-fuel vehicle using both gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel are provided to an LPG fuel tank. The fuel filling apparatus and method are capable of temporarily burning a portion of LPG fuel after collecting a fuel portion, using a gasoline fuel tank and a canister, when the internal pressure of the LPG fuel tank in the bi-fuel vehicle is equal to or greater than an LPG filling pressure of a filling gun. Additionally, the internal pressure of the LPG fuel tank is decreased to a level below the LPG filling pressure of the filling gun, thereby achieving smoother LPG fuel filling of the LPG fuel tank by the filling gun.

Anomaly detection and controlling operations of fuel dispensing terminal during operations

A system detects a fuel dispensing operation that indicates fuel is being dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal. The system determines an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal. The system determines a measured volume per unit time parameter associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal by dividing the determined identifier value by a unit parameter. The system compares the measured volume per unit time parameter with a threshold volume per unit time parameter. In response to determining that the measured volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold volume per unit time parameter, the system communicates an electronic signal to the fuel dispensing terminal that instructs the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.

ANOMALY DETECTION DURING FUEL DISPENSING OPERATIONS

A system detects a fuel dispensing operation that indicates fuel is being dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal. The system determines an identifier value associated with a volume of fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal. The system determines a measured volume per unit time parameter associated with the fuel dispensed from the fuel dispensing terminal by dividing the determined identifier value by a unit parameter. The system compares the measured volume per unit time parameter with a threshold volume per unit time parameter. In response to determining that the measured volume per unit time parameter is less than the threshold volume per unit time parameter, the system instructs the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.