A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

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.

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.

A multiply-redundant system that prevents a driver from starting and/or moving a vehicle if a compressed natural gas fill system is not correctly and completely disconnected from the vehicle. One or more sensors in combination with one or more optional microswitches combine to lock-out the vehicle's ignition or otherwise prevent it from starting and/or moving. For different levels of safety, different combinations of sensors can be used with the lowest level having a single proximity sensor sensing the presence or absence of a high-pressure fill hose. The highest level of safety being achieved by having separate proximity sensors on the fuel fill hose fitting, the gas cap cover and a manual safety valve along with a redundant microswitch. An optional override that may be restricted as to the number of times it can be used can allow starting with a faulty sensor in order to allow maintenance.

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 during a time 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 during the time 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 concludes that at least one of the fuel dispensing operations is anomalous and causes the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.

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.

A fuel dispensing terminal comprises a memory and a processor. The memory is configured to store fuel inventory data that indicates levels of fuel in a fuel tank during a time period. The processor is operably coupled to the memory and configured to determine an actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank based at least in part upon the fuel inventory data, determine a calculated amount of dispensed fuel associated with one or more fuel dispensing operations during the time period, and compare the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank with the calculated amount of dispensed fuel. The processor is further configured to determine that the actual amount of fuel that left the fuel tank is more than the calculated amount of dispensed fuel, conclude that at least one fuel dispensing operation is anomalous, and cause the fuel dispensing terminal to stop dispensing fuel.

A fuel dispensing terminal includes a memory that stores a threshold volume per unit time and a threshold wait period, and a processor operably coupled to the memory. During fuel dispensing, the processor periodically determines the cost-based volume of fuel dispensed and calculates a measured volume per unit time by dividing this value by the fuel cost per unit volume. The processor compares this measured rate to the stored threshold. If the measured volume per unit time falls below the threshold within the specified wait period, the terminal automatically stops dispensing fuel.

An apparatus, including a monitor system which includes a microphone, a first power supply, and a transmitter which transmits a first audible sound, indicative of a normal flow of fluid into a tank, or transmits a second audible sound, indicative of a need to cease a flow of the fluid into the tank; an attachment device to which the monitor system or the microphone is attached and which is attached to a ventilation pipe or an object in a vicinity of the ventilation pipe; and a receiver system which includes a receiver, which receives the first audible sound or the second audible sound, a second power supply, and a speaker which provides a first audio output, indicative of the first audible sound, or a second audio output indicative of the second audible sound. The speaker outputs the first audio output or outputs the second audio output.

A monitoring and control system (100) for containers (3). The containers (3) respectively have a container opening (5) for supplying and dispensing of stored goods. Each container (3) has a sensor unit (10) which has at least one sensor capturing environmental impacts, one processor evaluating sensor signals (13) and one interface unit (14) which operates in a contact-free manner.