Patents by Inventor John S. McSpadden
John S. McSpadden has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7575015Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2006Date of Patent: August 18, 2009Assignee: Gilbarco, Inc.Inventors: Kent Reid, Ray Hutchinson, John S. McSpadden, Jeremy R. Baillargeon, David J. Bolt
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Patent number: 7111636Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2005Date of Patent: September 26, 2006Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Ray J. Hutchinson, John S. McSpadden
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Patent number: 7104278Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2004Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Ray J. Hutchinson, John S. McSpadden
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Patent number: 7028561Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2005Date of Patent: April 18, 2006Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Phil Robertson, John S. McSpadden, William P. Shermer, Seifollah Nanaji
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Patent number: 6913046Abstract: A shear valve assembly for a fuel dispenser that ensures that the energy from an impact to the fuel dispenser causes a shear valve placed inline to the fuel supply conduit to engage if there is a possibility that such impact could cause the fuel supply conduit to break thereby causing a leak of fuel to the environment. The shear valve assembly may be constructed as part of the fuel dispenser during the manufacture of the fuel dispenser, or the shear valve assembly may be constructed separately from the fuel dispenser and attached to the fuel dispenser in the field during installation of a fuel dispenser.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2002Date of Patent: July 5, 2005Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Ray J. Hutchinson, John S. McSpadden
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Patent number: 6789733Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method allowing customers to conduct a remote banking transaction at a fuel dispenser, including obtaining cash in association with the transaction at the dispenser or a common terminal in the dispenser forecourt. The system may include a cash dispenser at the dispenser, fueling position, or the central terminal, or, alternatively, a delivery system configured to deliver cash from a central location to the customer at the dispenser, fueling position, or central terminal. During a transaction for purchasing fuel or other products associated with the service station, a customer is provided an opportunity to conduct a remote banking transaction. Providing a customer the opportunity to conduct such a transaction in association with a dispenser transaction will attract more customers to the station because of convenience as well as provide customers with more disposable cash to spend at the associated quick-serve restaurants and convenience store.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Steven N. Terranova, John S. McSpadden
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Patent number: 6766949Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method allowing customers to conduct a transaction at a fuel dispenser and obtain cash back in association with the transaction at the dispenser or a common terminal in the dispenser forecourt. The system may include a cash dispenser at the fuel dispenser, fueling position, or the central terminal, or, alternatively, a delivery system configured to deliver cash from a central location to the customer at the dispenser, fueling position, or central terminal. During a transaction for purchasing fuel or other products associated with the service station, a customer is provided an opportunity to select an amount of cash to be dispensed or delivered in association with that transaction.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2002Date of Patent: July 27, 2004Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: Steven N. Terranova, John S. McSpadden
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Publication number: 20040079443Abstract: A shear valve assembly for a fuel dispenser that ensures that the energy from an impact to the fuel dispenser causes a shear valve placed inline to the fuel supply conduit to engage if there is a possibility that such impact could cause the fuel supply conduit to break thereby causing a leak of fuel to the environment. The shear valve assembly may be constructed as part of the fuel dispenser during the manufacture of the fuel dispenser, or the shear valve assembly may be constructed separately from the fuel dispenser and attached to the fuel dispenser in the field during installation of a fuel dispenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventors: Ray J. Hutchinson, John S. McSpadden
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Patent number: 6685089Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method allowing customers to conduct a remote banking transaction at a fuel dispenser, including obtaining cash in association with the transaction at the dispenser or a common terminal in the dispenser forecourt. The system may include a cash dispenser at the dispenser, fueling position, or the central terminal, or, alternatively, a delivery system configured to deliver cash from a central location to the customer at the dispenser, fueling position, or central terminal. During a transaction for purchasing fuel or other products associated with the service station, a customer is provided an opportunity to conduct a remote banking transaction. Providing a customer the opportunity to conduct such a transaction in association with a dispenser transaction will attract more customers to the station because of convenience as well as provide customers with more disposable cash to spend at the associated quickserve restaurants and convenience store.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2001Date of Patent: February 3, 2004Assignee: Gilbarco, Inc.Inventors: Steven N. Terranova, John S. McSpadden
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Publication number: 20030205619Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method allowing customers to conduct a remote banking transaction at a fuel dispenser, including obtaining cash in association with the transaction at the dispenser or a common terminal in the dispenser forecourt. The system may include a cash dispenser at the dispenser, fueling position, or the central terminal, or, alternatively, a delivery system configured to deliver cash from a central location to the customer at the dispenser, fueling position, or central terminal. During a transaction for purchasing fuel or other products associated with the service station, a customer is provided an opportunity to conduct a remote banking transaction. Providing a customer the opportunity to conduct such a transaction in association with a dispenser transaction will attract more customers to the station because of convenience as well as provide customers with more disposable cash to spend at the associated quick-serve restaurants and convenience store.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2003Publication date: November 6, 2003Inventors: Steven N. Terranova, John S. McSpadden
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Publication number: 20020070271Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method allowing customers to conduct a transaction at a fuel dispenser and obtain cash back in association with the transaction at the dispenser or a common terminal in the dispenser forecourt. The system may include a cash dispenser at the fuel dispenser, fueling position, or the central terminal, or, alternatively, a delivery system configured to deliver cash from a central location to the customer at the dispenser, fueling position, or central terminal. During a transaction for purchasing fuel or other products associated with the service station, a customer is provided an opportunity to select an amount of cash to be dispensed or delivered in association with that transaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 11, 2002Publication date: June 13, 2002Inventors: Steven N. Terranova, John S. McSpadden
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Publication number: 20010045457Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method allowing customers to conduct a remote banking transaction at a fuel dispenser, including obtaining cash in association with the transaction at the dispenser or a common terminal in the dispenser forecourt. The system may include a cash dispenser at the dispenser, fueling position, or the central terminal, or, alternatively, a delivery system configured to deliver cash from a central location to the customer at the dispenser, fueling position, or central terminal. During a transaction for purchasing fuel or other products associated with the service station, a customer is provided an opportunity to conduct a remote banking transaction. Providing a customer the opportunity to conduct such a transaction in association with a dispenser transaction will attract more customers to the station because of convenience as well as provide customers with more disposable cash to spend at the associated quick-serve restaurants and convenience store.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2001Publication date: November 29, 2001Inventors: Steven N. Terranova, John S. McSpadden
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Patent number: 6253779Abstract: A system for blending two-blend components to form a blended final product including a first supply line for supplying a first blend component at a first flow rate and a second supply line for supplying a second blend component at a second flow rate. The first supply line and the second supply line intersect to form a blended product line. The system further includes a blended product measuring device positioned in the blended product line for measuring the flow rate of the blended product and an auxiliary measuring device positioned in the first supply line for measuring the flow rate of the first blend component. The auxiliary measuring device may have a degree of accuracy less than that of the blended product meter. Alternatively, the auxiliary measuring device may have the same level of accuracy as that of the blended product meter.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1999Date of Patent: July 3, 2001Assignee: Masconi Commerce Systems Inc.Inventors: Seifollah S. Nanaji, John S. McSpadden
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Patent number: 6089284Abstract: A fuel dispensing system for providing dual-stage preconditioning and authentication for enhancing a fueling transaction. The system includes a fuel dispenser associated with a control system and a receiver adapted to receive signals, including a first indicia, from a remote communications unit of a customer. The receiver is operatively associated with the control system and enables the control system to retrieve the first indicia and precondition the dispenser for fueling. The control system is adapted to receive second indicia subsequent to receiving the first indicia, and authenticate a transaction involving the remote communications unit by determining the requisite authentication data based on the first indicia and correlating the authentication data with the second indicia. Authentication occurs when the second indicia and the requisite transaction indicia correlate. Various security and encryption techniques may be used when receiving the first and second indicia.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: Marconi Commerce Systems Inc.Inventors: David L. Kaehler, John S. McSpadden, Timothy E. Dickson, Anthony G. Blake
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Patent number: 5979705Abstract: A fuel dispensing installation that includes first and second fuel tanks containing first and second fuels of different octane levels. The tanks are provided with first and second octane level sensors mounted in the first and second fuel tanks respectively for measuring fuel octane levels and generating output signals indicative of the octane levels of the first and second fuels. Conduits from the first and second tanks transport the fuel to one or more fuel dispensers. The fuel dispensers include a blending system for blending the first and second fuels to form at least one blended fuel having an intermediate octane. A site controller in electronic communication with the blending system receives the output signals and controls the blending system to permit the dispensing of one or more blended fuels based on the measured octane levels of the first and second fuels.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 1998Date of Patent: November 9, 1999Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: David L. Kaehler, John S. McSpadden, Steven N. Terranova
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Patent number: D414779Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: October 5, 1999Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: John S. McSpadden, Cheryl Felix, Charles C. Keane
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Patent number: D415166Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: October 12, 1999Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: John S. McSpadden, Cheryl Felix, Charles C. Keane
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Patent number: D416915Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: November 23, 1999Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: John S. McSpadden, Cheryl Felix, Charles C. Keane
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Patent number: D418523Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 1998Date of Patent: January 4, 2000Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: John S. McSpadden, Cheryl Felix, Charles C. Keane
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Patent number: D429739Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1998Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Gilbarco Inc.Inventors: John S. McSpadden, Cheryl Felix, Charles C. Keane