Abstract: An improved service station car wash system. A car wash kiosk is coupled to the fuel dispenser communication loop in the forecourt of the service station so that the car wash kiosk appears to the service station controller just as a fuel dispenser would. The car wash kiosk sends a car wash request over the fuel dispenser communication loop to the service station site controller. The service station controller handles any payment processing needed, as it would for payment entered at a fuel dispenser, and in turn communicates such request to a car wash controller for initiation of a car wash. The service station site controller is able to communicate to the car wash kiosk in a similar manner as communication occurs with a fuel dispenser, thereby making the functionality present in the service station controller for fuel dispenser applicable and reusable for a car wash kiosk.

Abstract: A retail environment having retail terminals with data entry point devices selectively encrypts input received by the data entry point devices and passes the encrypted data to a security module. The selective encryption is based on whether or not sensitive or confidential information, such as a personal identification number (PIN) associated with a debit card, is being input. To prevent hacking of the software of the retail terminal, content destined for display on the retail terminal is authenticated prior to display. In this manner, the retail terminal may be assured that confidential information is input only when desired, and thus may be encrypted only as needed.

Abstract: An in-dispenser leak pan provided inside the housing of a fuel dispenser. The leak collection chamber collects any fuel that leaks from fuel-handling components located inside the fuel dispenser above the pan. The pan is secondarily contained by an outer pan or container such that an interstitial space is formed therebetween. If a breach exists in the top part of the pan, the captured leaked fuel will be contained in by the outer pan in the interstitial space. The interstitial space of the pan is drawn under a vacuum level using a vacuum-generating source to monitor for leaks. If a leak is detected, a control system may generate an alarm and/or cause the submersible turbine pump to stop supplying fuel, or cause the dispenser product line shear valves to close, thereby only stopping fuel flow to the individual fuel dispenser containing the leak.

Abstract: A security module used in a retail establishment has two zones of operation. The first zone uses a first encryption scheme between data entry point devices, such as a PIN keypad and the security module. The second zone uses a second encryption scheme between the security module and the host network computer. Both the local encryption scheme and the host encryption scheme may be selectively and independently switched from a legacy encryption scheme to a new encryption scheme to accommodate evolving encryption requirements.

Abstract: A lower cost meter comprised of an inner housing constructed out of a high permeable material surrounded by an outer housing constructed out of a lower cost, lower permeable material. A port is placed in the outer housing that runs down to the surface of the inner housing to detect the rotation of a rotational component that rotates inside the meter as fluid or gas flows through the meter. A sensor is placed in the port to detect rotation of the rotational component through the lower permeable material inner housing. The lower cost meter can be used for any application for measuring fluid or gas, and may be used in a service station environment for measuring fuel or vapor in vapor recovery applications.

Abstract: A leak collection chamber is provided inside the housing of a fuel dispenser. The leak collection chamber collects any leaked fuel from fuel handling components inside the fuel dispenser so that the fuel does not leak to the environment. The leak collection chamber can be removed from the fuel dispenser for evacuation. The control system inside the fuel dispenser can determine the liquid level inside the leak containment chamber and generate signals and alarms if the liquid level exceeds a threshold liquid level value and/or the rate of increase in liquid level exceeds a threshold liquid level increase value. The control system can alert service personnel and/or other systems of the leak collection chamber liquid level. Further, the control system and/or other systems shut down the submersible turbine pump that services the fuel dispenser with fuel in response to catastrophic leak condition.

Abstract: A leak collection chamber is provided inside the housing of a fuel dispenser. The leak collection chamber collects any leaked fuel from fuel handling components inside the fuel dispenser so that the fuel does not leak to the environment. The leak collection chamber can be removed from the fuel dispenser for evacuation. The control system inside the fuel dispenser can determine the liquid level inside the leak containment chamber and generate signals and alarms if the liquid level exceeds a threshold liquid level value and/or the rate of increase in liquid level exceeds a threshold liquid level increase value. The control system can alert service personnel and/or other systems of the leak collection chamber liquid level. Further, the control system and/or other systems shut down the submersible turbine pump that services the fuel dispenser with fuel in response to catastrophic leak condition.

Abstract: A fueling environment's safety is improved by adding static charge sensors to the fuel dispenser and its peripherals. The static charge sensors detect static charge proximate the fuel dispenser and provide an indication of the static charge to a threshold detector. If the static charge is above a predetermined threshold, one or more safety devices may be activated to disperse or reduce the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser. Reduction in the amount of hydrocarbon vapors proximate the fuel dispenser helps reduce the risk of harm from the static charge.

Abstract: A system and method of preventing theft of the use of goods or services, particularly fuel dispensed from a fuel dispenser, comprised of providing a security system including a controller, a card reader and/or fingerprint reader that is operable to read data stored within an identification card and/or fingerprint and to report the identification data and/or fingerprint data to the controller. A locking mechanism adapted to restrict access to the goods or services, wherein the locking mechanism is operable by the controller. The locking mechanism is engaged to restrict access to the goods or services until either payment is made, an identification card and/or fingerprint entered into the card reader and/or fingerprint reader, or both, by a user desiring access to the goods or services.

Abstract: A service station for the sale and dispensing of fuel into customers' vehicles and a method of optionally delivering a transaction accounting thereof to the customer, wherein the receipt station is located separately from the fuel dispensers. Costs to manufacture and maintain a plurality of fuel dispensers are reduced by migrating this function to a single station. Upon fueling, an indicia is associated with each transaction, and this indicia is input at the receipt station to retrieve the associated transaction data. In the preferred embodiment, the indicia is sensed automatically by the receipt station via a transponder mounted on the customer's vehicle or carried by the customer.

Abstract: A pump housing that contains a pump that draws fuel from an underground storage tank containing fuel to deliver to fuel dispensers in a service station environment. The pump is coupled to a double-walled fuel pipe that carries the fuel from the pump to the fuel dispensers. The double-walled fuel piping contains an inner annular space that carries the fuel and an outer annular space that captures any leaked fuel from the inner annular space. The outer annular space is maintained through the fuel piping from the pump to the fuel dispensers so that the outer annular space can be pressurized by a pump to determine if a leak exists in the outer annular space or so that fuel leaked from the inner annular space can be captured by a leak containment chamber in the pump housing.

Abstract: A submersible turbine pump includes a power head enclosed in a casing. A vacuum source associated with the submersible turbine pump draws a vacuum in the interior space of the casing. A pressure sensor may be used to monitor the vacuum in the interior space to detect a leak in the power head or the casing. If a leak is detected, an alarm may be generated and the submersible turbine pump may be deactivated.

Abstract: A fraud detection system within a fuel dispenser includes the ability to measure the amount of fuel dispensed through the fuel dispenser. The measurement is compared to a value independently created representing what the amount of fuel dispensed should approximate. If the values are not comparable, an alarm may be generated to indicate that the fuel dispenser has been modified to perpetrate fraud upon the customers. In particular, a reference used in the comparison is created bearing on a flow rate of the fuel being dispensed through the fuel dispenser. The flow rate is derived from a source independent of a pulser within the fuel dispenser providing the needed authenticity.

Abstract: A pump housing that contains a pump that draws fuel from an underground storage tank containing fuel to deliver to fuel dispensers in a service station environment. The pump is coupled to a double-walled fuel pipe that carries the fuel from the pump to the fuel dispensers. The double-walled fuel piping contains an inner annular space that carries the fuel and an outer annular space that captures any leaked fuel from the inner annular space. The outer annular space is maintained through the fuel piping from the pump to the fuel dispensers so that the outer annular space can be pressurized by a pump to determine if a leak exists in the outer annular space or so that fuel leaked from the inner annular space can be captured by a leak containment chamber in the pump housing.

Abstract: A submersible turbine pump includes a power head enclosed in a casing. A vacuum source associated with the submersible turbine pump draws a vacuum in the interior space of the casing. A pressure sensor may be used to monitor the vacuum in the interior space to detect a leak in the power head or the casing. If a leak is detected, an alarm may be generated and the submersible turbine pump may be deactivated.

Abstract: A retail transaction system provides enhanced customer convenience and increased transaction security by sending transaction information to a cellular network provider via a customer's digital cellular phone. For example, a fuel dispenser is equipped with a communications link allowing direct communications to a customer's cellular phone. When a customer desires to conduct a transaction using the fuel dispenser, the fuel dispenser transmits select information to the customer's cellular telephone using this communications link. A telephone number is included in the select information. When the customer presses send, or otherwise causes their telephone to dial the number transferred from the fuel dispenser, the select information along with any additional customer information is sent to the cellular network.

Abstract: A flow switch used in conjunction with a fuel meter in a fuel dispenser to determine when fuel is flowing. A flow switch can only be activated if fuel is flowing through the flow path of the flow switch. If fuel is flowing as indicated by the fuel flow switch, but the meter is not registering fuel flow, there is a meter error, which may be an error internally with components of the meter and/or a pulser that generates pulse signals indicative of fuel flow. If the meter pulser is registering fuel flow, but the flow switch is not registering fuel flow, then an error exists with the flow switch. If fuel is flowing and there are no errors, both the meter and the flow switch should indicate fuel flow.

Abstract: The present invention is a fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions, which includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer when a cash transaction is indicated. A cash transaction indicator is adapted to signal the control system that a cash transaction is taking place, and may be selectable by the customer or an operator of the system at the beginning of the transaction. The system may also include a transmitter adapted to transmit the customer-related information to the remote communication unit associated with the customer, or may include memory for storing the customer-related information in association with the identification indicia. The system may store credit for change based on a cash transaction, or may provide and store loyalty points on or in association with a transponder.

Abstract: The present invention is a fuel dispensing system for enhancing cash transactions, which includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including identification indicia from a remote communications unit associated with a customer when a cash transaction is indicated. A cash transaction indicator is adapted to signal the control system that a cash transaction is taking place, and may be selectable by the customer or an operator of the system at the beginning of the transaction. The system may also include a transmitter adapted to transmit the customer-related information to the remote communication unit associated with the customer, or may include memory for storing the customer-related information in association with the identification indicia. The system may store credit for change based on a cash transaction, or may provide and store loyalty points on or in association with a transponder.

Abstract: A submersible turbine pump includes a power head enclosed in a casing. A vacuum source associated with the submersible turbine pump draws a vacuum in the interior space of the casing. A pressure sensor may be used to monitor the vacuum in the interior space to detect a leak in the power head or the casing. If a leak is detected, an alarm may be generated and the submersible turbine pump may be deactivated.