A counter mountable fluid dispenser includes a below deck reservoir for storing a fluid comprising at least one of a soap, an anti-bacterial cleanser, a disinfectant, and a lotion, an above deck spout including an outlet port in fluid communication with the reservoir for dispensing fluid stored in the reservoir and an external supply port connected with the reservoir by a supply passage to supply fluid to the reservoir, a supply access valve connected with the supply passage and operable to block flow from the external supply port to the reservoir in a closed position and to permit flow from the external supply port to the reservoir in the open position, and a controller in communication with the supply access valve for controller operation of the supply access valve from a closed position to an open position in response to receipt of an authorized supply signal at the controller.

A fuel dispensing system includes a fuel tank adapted to contain a quantity of fuel. A fuel dispenser in is fluid communication with the fuel tank via piping. A pump is operative to transfer fuel from the fuel tank to the fuel dispenser. A corrosive detection assembly operative to identify presence of a corrosive substance in the fuel is also provided. The corrosive detection assembly has at least one thermoelectric detector positioned to be in contact with fuel vapor in the fuel dispensing system, the thermoelectric detector producing a detector signal indicating presence of the corrosive substance. Electronics are in electrical communication with the thermoelectric detector, the electronics being operative to interpret the detector signal and produce an output if the corrosive substance is present. The at least one thermoelectric detector may comprises a plurality of thermoelectric detectors at different locations in the fuel dispensing system.

A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condition.

A robotic system for fueling or charging a vehicle having a vehicle connector, the robotic system including a robotic arm having a plurality of sequentially arranged articulated links and at least one group of operating cables extending from a proximal end of the arm to terminate at a control link, for controlling the position of that link, the cables each having a path comprising a passage in each successive more proximal link for closely receiving the cable, a flexible conduit operably connected with the robotic arm for delivering a fluid or an electrical current, respectively, to a vehicle, the conduit being connected to a source at a first end and a delivery connector at a second end, and a control system for operating the robotic arm and the hose or cable, wherein the control system directs the robotic arm to engage the vehicle connector with the delivery connector and, upon engagement of the vehicle connector and delivery connector, the control system relaxes the robotic arm to an under-constrained condition.

A fuel transport sensor system for precise loading and unloading of fuel for transports includes a transport computer configured to be coupled to a fuel transport having a plurality of fuel compartments. Each of a plurality of load head sensors is in operational communication with the transport computer and coupled to one of a plurality of load heads. A load arm sensor coupled to a load arm and the load arm sensors communicate with the transport computer to track which fuel compartment is being filled with what fuel type. A pair of hose sensors coupled to a delivery hose confirm the delivery hose is connecting the load head with the correct fuel type for an in-ground storage tank before allowing a fire valve of the load head to be opened.

System, methods, and other embodiments described herein relate to controlling a fuel dispenser. In one embodiment, a method of controlling a fuel dispenser includes broadcasting a pairing signal to a vehicle, receiving, from the vehicle, a confirmation signal confirming completion of a pairing process between the fuel dispenser and the vehicle, transmitting, subsequent to the confirmation signal, a disable signal to the vehicle in response to data from one or more proximity sensors indicating that the vehicle is within a threshold range and a determination that the vehicle is refueling, and transmitting an enable signal to the vehicle in response to a determination that the vehicle is no longer refueling. The disable signal disables a moving capability of the vehicle, and the enable signal restores the moving capability of the vehicle.

Systems and processes may provide for commerce at a fuel dispenser. In one general aspect, a system and process at a fuel dispenser may have the ability to present a user interface including data regarding at least one merchant remote from the fuel dispenser's fueling facility and to determine if ordering data corresponding to the remote merchant has been received. If ordering data corresponding to the remote merchant has been received, the system and process may have the ability to present a user interface regarding payment data. The system and process may also have the ability to determine if payment data has been received and, if payment data has been received, generate a message regarding the ordering data for a remote merchant computer.

Fuel dispenser (100) comprising: a fluid inlet (105IN) for receiving fuel from a fuel source, a fluid outlet (105OUT) and a conduit (110) disposed therebetween; inspection means (152) for inspecting the fuel within the conduit (110), the inspection means (152) being configured to provide an output indicative of a type of fuel in the conduit (110); valve means (120) operable selectively to prevent or allow flow of fluid through the conduit (110) from the fluid inlet (105IN) to the fluid outlet (105OUT); and control means (150) configured automatically to cause the valve means (120) to prevent or allow flow of fuel through the conduit (110) in dependence on the output of the fuel inspection means (152) and permitted fluid information, the permitted fluid information being information indicative of a type of fuel that is to be permitted to flow through the conduit (110), the apparatus (100) comprising an electrical generator (140) configured to generate electrical power to charge a charge storage device in response to flow of fluid through the apparatus (100) during an operation in which fluid flows from the fluid inlet (105IN) to the fluid outlet (105OUT) via the conduit (110), the charge storage device being arranged to provide a supply of electrical power for the apparatus.

Fuel dispenser (100) comprising: a fluid inlet (105IN) for receiving fuel from a fuel source, a fluid outlet (105OUT) and a conduit (110) disposed therebetween; inspection means (152) for inspecting the fuel within the conduit (110), the inspection means (152) being configured to provide an output indicative of a type of fuel in the conduit (110); valve means (120) operable selectively to prevent or allow flow of fluid through the conduit (110) from the fluid inlet (105IN) to the fluid outlet (105OUT); and control means (150) configured automatically to cause the valve means (120) to prevent or allow flow of fuel through the conduit (110) in dependence on the output of the fuel inspection means (152) and permitted fluid information, the permitted fluid information being information indicative of a type of fuel that is to be permitted to flow through the conduit (110), the apparatus (100) comprising an electrical generator (140) configured to generate electrical power to charge a charge storage device in response to flow of fluid through the apparatus (100) during an operation in which fluid flows from the fluid inlet (105IN) to the fluid outlet (105OUT) via the conduit (110), the charge storage device being arranged to provide a supply of electrical power for the apparatus.

A supply control apparatus includes a display information output unit configured to output display information to allow a user to recognize an identifier of a supply object and information to prompt the user to decide on the supply object when the supply object is supplied to a supply destination container and a supply control unit configured to remove a supply limit for the supply destination container of the supply object when a decision operation in which the user confirming the display information decides on the supply object is detected.