1. A method for enabling a first truck having an electrical system that can accept shore power to be supplied with shore power, the method comprising the steps of:
parking the first truck, and while the first truck is stationary, connecting an electric cable between an electrical system and an APU of a second truck that not only can deliver AC electricity to electrical loads in the second truck but also can export AC electricity as shore power;
confirming, via a communication link between the first truck and the second truck, a condition precedent to enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first truck that can accept shore power; and
upon confirmation of the condition precedent, enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first truck that can accept shore power.
2. The method as set forth in claim 1 in which the step of confirming, via a communication link between the first truck and the second truck, the condition precedent to enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first truck that can accept shore power comprises confirming that each of the first truck and the second truck are stationary by a device in each of the first truck and the second truck disclosing that a respective truck is stationary.
3. The method as set forth in claim 2 in which the step of confirming that both the first truck and the second truck are stationary by the device in each of the first truck and the second truck disclosing that the respective truck is stationary comprises confirming that a park brake in each of the first truck and the second truck is in an applied condition.
4. The method as set forth in claim 3 in which the step of confirming, via a communication link between the first truck and the second truck, the condition precedent to enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first truck that can accept shore power includes confirming that a transmission in a power train of the first truck is in a disengaged condition.
5. The method as set forth in claim 1 in which the step of confirming, via a communication link between the first truck and the second truck, the condition precedent to enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first truck that can accept shore power comprises confirming that a transmission in a power train of the second truck is in a disengaged condition.
6. The method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of:
measuring a quantity of electric shore power exported by the second truck.
7. The method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the steps of:
calculating a price for the quantity of electric shore power exported by the second truck; and
billing the price to an owneroperator of the first truck.
8. The method as set forth in claim 1 in which the step of confirming, via a communication link between the first truck and the second truck, the condition precedent to enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first truck that can accept shore power comprises a processor in second truck reading confirming data on a data link in the electrical system of the first truck.
9. A system for supplying AC electricity to an electrical system of a first stationary truck whose power train engine is shut off from a second stationary truck whose power train engine is also shut off, the system comprising:
an electric cable for connecting the electrical system of the first stationary truck with an APU on the second stationary truck that is delivering AC electricity to an electrical system of the second stationary truck to enable the APU to concurrently deliver AC electricity to the first stationary truck; and
a data communication link between the electrical system of the first stationary truck and the electrical system of the second stationary truck for confirming a condition precedent to enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first stationary truck, and for enabling the APU to export AC electricity to the first stationary truck upon confirmation of the condition precedent.
10. The system as set forth in claim 9 in which the condition precedent includes a device in both the first stationary truck and the second stationary truck disclosing that each of the first stationary truck and the second stationary truck, respectively, are stationary.
11. The system as set forth in claim 10 in which the device comprises a park brake in each of the first stationary truck and the second stationary truck.
12. The system as set forth in claim 11 in which the condition precedent further includes a transmission in a power train in each of the first stationary truck and the second stationary truck in a disengaged condition.
13. The system as set forth in claim 9 in which the second stationary truck comprises a device for measuring a quantity of electric shore power exported by the second stationary truck to the first stationary truck.
14. The system as set forth in claim 9 in which the data communication link is through the electric cable.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A liquid dispensing apparatus comprising:
a container which contains a liquid;
a dispensing probe which dispenses said liquid in said container;
a light beam generator;
an illumination angle control mechanism which reflects a light beam from said light beam generator toward said container and said liquid in said container, said illumination angle control mechanism changing an illuminating angle of said light beam toward said container and liquid in said container to illuminate said light beam at a plurality of illumination angles to said container and said liquid in said container;
a photosensor which receives said light beam which is reflected a plurality of times from said container and said liquid in said container;
a controller which computes a liquid surface level of said liquid in said container on the basis of the plurality of illumination angles of said light beam and output signals received from said photosensor; and
a dispensing controller which controls operations of said dispensing probe in accordance with said liquid surface level.
2. A liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photosensor is capable of detecting a difference in a light receiving position of said photosensor in at least a one-dimensional direction.
3. A liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said illumination angle control mechanism includes a mechanism for changing an incident angle of the light beam, and
said controller computes the liquid surface level of said liquid in said container based on an incident angle of the light beam and a corresponding output signal received from said photosensor.
4. A liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:
a memory which stores sets of reflected light data for plural types of containers beforehand; and
container identifying means for identifying the type of said container by comparing the reflected light data stored in said memory with an output signal received from said light receiving means.
5. A liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, which further includes at least one of an electrostatic capacitance liquid surface detecting system and a pressure liquid surface detecting system wherein a liquid surface of said liquid is detected based on at least one of electrostatic capacitance and pressure.