Fuel dispenser leak detector

In an electrical circuit for supplying power from a source to an electrically powered device, a liquid level actuated circuit interrupter comprising:

• a latching circuit normally operable in an unlatched condition to provide power from the source to the device and switchable to a latched condition to interrupt the supply of power from the source to the device;
• and
• an optical liquid sensing probe including optical coupling to the latching circuit, the probe being effective in a first state to maintain the latching circuit in its unlatched condition, and changing to a second state upon detecting an accumulation of liquid to switch the latching circuit to its latched condition thereby disabling the device, wherein the latching circuit remains in the latched condition once it is switched thereto regardless of the state of the optical liquid sensing probe thereafter and the latching circuit delatched and power restored to the device only by active operator intervention to disconnect the latching circuit from the source and then reestablish the supply of power to the device, the active operator intervention including clearing any accumulation of liquid from the optical liquid sensing probe prior to disconnecting the latching circuit from the source.

In an electrical circuit for supplying power from a electrical source to an electrically powered device, a circuit interrupter comprising:

• a circuit including a light source and a light responsive device normally operable with the light source illuminating the light responsive device to provide power from the electrical source to the electrically powered device and switchable to a second condition when the light source is not illuminating the light responsive device to interrupt the supply of power from the electrical source to the electrically powered device;
• and
• a circuitous optical pathway coupling the light source to the light sensitive device, the pathway including an optical switch operable in a first state to transmit light along the pathway and in a second state to prevent the transmission of light along the pathway, the switch changing to the second state upon the occurrence of an unsafe condition to switch the circuit to its second condition thereby disabling the electrically powered device, the electrically powered device comprising a liquid dispenser having a pump and a dispenser containment box with at least one access door, said switch associated with an access door and operable in the first state only so long as the door remains closed, the switch changing to the second state upon the door being opened to disable the liquid dispenser.