US2577115A - Inventory control device for fuel dispensing devices - Google Patents

Description

Dec.. 4,*1951 E, R, Elm-)NER 2,577,115

INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES ec.1 4, w E. R. EICHNER 2,577,115

INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL. DISPENSNG DEVICES www/i292? @www @w @M/QW Dec.A 4, 1951 E. R. EICHNER 2577?5 INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 16, 1945 uunumummmmummmnn a6 55 nA M 2l/TlflllllllllllllllllllllllIIIIMM www E. R ECHNER Dec. 4, @5E

INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 16, 1945 iik/511er De@ 4, 1951 E. R. EIcHNl-:R 2,577M5 INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES Filed April 16, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 4,- 1951 2,577,115 OFFICE INVENTORY CONTROL DEVICE FOR FUEL DISPENSING DEVICES Edward R. Elchner, Montclair, N. J., assigner to Socony-Vacuum Oil Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 16, 1945, Serial No. 588,491

This inventionis directed to a retail dispenser of liquids of the type commonly known as curb pumps designed for delivery of gasoline and the like from a storage tank to the gasoline tank of an automobile or other container of small size for use by the ultimate consumer. More specifically, the invention is concerned with a novel element for use in connection with said pumps whereby wholesale deliveries to the retailer can be made on a more satisfactory basis.

Many gasoline retailers, or service stations, handle relatively small amounts of gasoline per unit of time and have limited cash and/or credit to pay for wholesale deliveries and must of necessity take small deliveries at frequent intervals. This involves considerable expense which should be avoided if possible.

I have designed a curb pump control which enables the supplier of such small retailers to make large deliveries, with the economy attendant thereon, while avoiding unjustiilable extension of credit. Primarily. the apparatus consists of means for setting the pump, which is to make deliveries from an.fassociated storage tank, to deliver only a predetermined 'quantity of liquid. After the delivery of the said quantity of liquid, it is necessary to reset the device, even though there may be large quantities of iluid in the associated storage tank, before further retail deliveries can be made.

One of the objects of my invention therefore is the provision of novel means to be associated with or used in combination with a liquid dispensing pump, for making said dispensing pump inoperative after the delivery of a predetermined amount of liquid until the mechanism is reset for further dispensing operations.

claims. (ci. 222-17) downward taken substantially on the line 4--4 of Figure 3;

Figure `5 is an enlarged top` plan view looking in the same direction as the sectional view of Figure 4, but having parts broken away to show details of the switch actuating mechanism;

l Figure 6 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 but showing the reset position of various elements; i

Figure 7 is a view in vertical section taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view corresponding somewhat to Figure 1, showing the electrical connections, and having parts not forming a part of the electric circuit showing in relatively light lines;

Figure 9 is a view in elevation of a. conventional curb pump illustrating another embodiment of my invention in operative position;

Figure 10 is a sectional view on the line III-I0 of Figure 9; f

Figure 11 is a plan view of the control device of i the embodiment of Figure 9, the clutch-operated interlock being omitted in the interest of con- A further object of the invention is the pro;

vision in combination with a dispensing means and a meter and register therefor of an electric circuit controlling said dispensing means, a clutch normally engaged to prevent resettingv of said register means and meansjoperated either by predeterm'ned movement of the register or by declutching movement of the clutch for break- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a conventional curb pump showing a preferred embodiment of this invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation,"

looking at right angles from the left to the view Figure 3 is a view in vertical section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2, the actu.

ating shaft and pinion being shown in elevation; Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section looking Cil venience of illustration;

Figure 12 is a view in section taken substantially on the line I2-I2 of Figure 11, the clutchoperated interlock being omitted in the interest of convenience of illustration;

Figure 13 is a view in section taken substantially on the line I 3-I3 oi Figure 11, including a circuit diagram showing schematically a clutchoperated circuit control switch;`

Figure 14 is a side elevation of a reset key mechanism used in connection with the control device of the embodiment shown in Fig-ure 9; and

Figure l5 is an end view of the reset keys shown in Figure 14 for use with the embodiment of my invention shown in Figure 9.

The curb pump shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 1 is of generally conventional design for the dispensing of gasoline and includes a casing I0, and a register indicated generally at I I and having a door I2 arranged to permit'access to the interior of the casing. Adjacent to the door within the casing is a control box I3 secured to the rear wall of the casing. The box I3 carries a totalizer I5. Below the box I3 is a liquid meter I6 which is connected through gearing later to be described, with the totalizer I5. The connection between the meter I6 and the totalizer I5 includes the shaft I1 of the meter, which lshaft may be designed for eight revolutions per gallon delivered.'v

Positioned below the meter I6 is a gasoline pump 2I driven through a belt 22 by an electric motor 23 and adapted to draw gasoline through a pipe 24 from an underground storage tank 25 and deliver the gasoline through a pipe 2B vto an air separator 21 and thence into the meter IB. From the meter I6 the gasoline is forced through pipes 28, 29 and 3| and is dispensed through a 3 hose 32. Interposed in the pipe 3| is a liquid flow indicator 33. Flow o1' gasoline through the meter I8 causes rotation of the shaft I1 and thus operates the register II which preferably may be capable of indicating the price per gallonbgallons dispensed and total price of the liquid dispensed.

As stated above, the totalizer I is also driven from the meter I6. This drive is through a series of gears and shafts shown most clearly in Figures l, 2, 3 and 4. The shaft I1 carries, keyed to it, a pinion 36 which meshes with a gear 31 secured to and carried by a shaft 88 passing through and carried by the control box I 3. The shaft 38 drives a bevel gear 39 keyed thereto and normally meshing with a bevel gear 4I carried by but rotatable on a sliding shaft 42 supported in keyways in the control box I3. The bevel gear 4I normally meshes with a bevel gear 43 carried on the upper end of and keyed to a shaft 44 also journaled in the control box I3. At its opposite lower` end the shaft 44 carries keyed to it another bevel gear 4l which meshes with still another bevel gear 46 carried on and keyed to a shaft 41. The shaft 41 is also journaled in the control box and extends into and operates the numerals of the totalizer I5. Thus, with the parts in position as shown, the pumping of gasoline operates the meter, which causes rotation of the shaft I1 and through the gears and shafts above enumerated operates the totalizer I5 to show the total number of gallons remaining to be dispensed before the totalizer has to bereset. The above described mechanism and especially the totalizer I5 comprises indicating means 'movable responsive to movement of the meter shaft.

Liquid dispensing means are provided as above described whereby with the parts in their normal operative position, gasoline may be dispensed from the device as desired. There is also provided an electric circuit controlling operation of the dispensing means. Referring particularly to Figure 8, it may be seen that provided the switch in the switch box 48 is closed (its normal condition) closing of the switch 49 (which is arranged to be operated manually as by lifting the nozzle 5I attached to the hose 32 from its hook and/or by operating a switch on the nozzle itself) completes an electric circuit from the power source 52 through electric wires 53, 54, 55 and 56, switch box 48, motor 23, and switch 49 and causes operation of the electric motor 23. This operates the pump 2| (Figure l) and forces gasoline through the path previously described and the hose 32 so that it may be dispensed from the nozzle 5I.

Means are also provided whereby the dispensing of a predetermined amount of gasoline will interrupt the further pumping of gasoline until the mechanism is reset. 'I'his constitutes means responsive to dispensing operations to interrupt the circuit and make the dispensing means inoperative after a predetermined movement of the indicating means. This is best shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. 'I'he shaft 44 carries a worm 62 which meshes with a worm wheel 63 carried by a shaft 64 and in turn drives a worm 65 carried by said shaft 64. The worm 65 drives a worm wheel 66 carried on a shaft 51. 'I'he worm wheel 66 carries a limit pin 68 which is adapted at times to ride upon an actuator leaf 69 mounted on the switch box 48. The switch in the switch box 48 is normally closed but when the actuator leaf 69 is depressed either by the limit pin 68 or by the safety cut out means hereinafter to be described, the switch is opened and prevents completion of the electric circuit to operate the motor 23. As will be presently described, the action of the limit pin 68 upon the actuator leaf 69 causes an interruption of the electrical circuit and prevents further operation of the motor to drive the gasoline pump.

Meansare provided to set the apparatus to make possible the delivery of any desired amount of gasoline before the circuit is interrupted. `Re ferring now to Figures 3 and 6 it may be seen that the' bevel gear 4I although mounted for rotation on the shaft 42 may not move longitudinally relative to the shaft 42 being restrained by collars 48 and 10 and that theshaft 42 normally holds the bevel gear 4I in mesh with the gears 39 and 43 (as shown in Figure 6) the shaft being positioned between a spring 1I and the bolt 12a of the lock 12. By means of the key 13, a representative of the wholesaler may withdraw the dowels of the lock 12 from their slots and the bolt allowed tomove to the left to the position y shown in Figure 6. 'Ihereupon the shaft or rod 42 (urged by the spring 1I) moves to the left and the bevel gear 4I moves out of mesh with the bevel gears 39 and 43. The bevel gear 4I thus constitutes a clutch means for connecting the indicating means to the dispensing means. As the shaft 42 moves to the left it carries with it to the left a. rod 14 so that the lower end 15 of said rod 14 rides on the actuator leaf 69 mounted on the switch box 48. Thereupon the electric circuit is broken. At such time the representative of the wholesaler may (by means of a key tted into the keyway 16 (see Figure 2,) of the totalizer I5) rotate the shaft 41 to reset the totalizer and the associated gearing at any desired point. This rotation turns the shaft 44 and the bevel gears 45 and 43 and the worm 62 thereon and rotates the worm wheelI 66 carrying the limit pin 6I! but (assuming that the bevel gear 4l has moved to the left) does not affect the bevel wheels 4I and 39 or the shaft 38, the shaft I1 or any of the intermediate gears or shafts. The totalizer is set to show the number of gallons which may be dispensed. When the pump is again operated each gallon dispensed subtracts from the total shown on the totalizer and moves the limit pin 68 closer to the actuator leaf 69 so that when the last allowable gallon is dispensed the totalizer reaches zero and the limit pin 68 rides upon the actuator leaf 69 to depress the leaf 69 and open the electric circuit. 'Thus the rod 14, together with its associated parts, constitute a safety cut out means, operated by disconnecting movement of the clutch means (the bevel gear 4I) to interrupt the circuit and make the dispensing means inoperative. The shaft 41 carrying the keyway 16 constitutes means operable only when the clutch means is disconnected for resetting said indicating means and for returning said additional switch means to a position in which it does not interrupt said electric circuit.

As has been pointed out above, means are proy vided to permit resetting the limit mechanism so that additional gasoline may be dispensed and means are also provided whereby while the limit mechanism is being reset, gasoline may not be dispensed.

The structure of thel switch included in the switch box 48 is best shown in Figure 7. As may be seen the box 48 houses a spring leaf 11 securedv by screws 18 to an inlet. pole 19 and carrying at its opposite end a contact element 86 adapted to move with a snap action between contacts 8| and 82 secured in the box by screws such as screws 83. However inasmuch as contact 82 'is insulated from all electrical connections, it is only when the element 19 is in contact with the con- 5 tact 8| that a circuit is formed. The contact 3l is secured by the screws 83 and is connected with the outlet pole 04. The element is normally maintained in contact with the contact 8| but is moved out of contact so that the electric circuit is broken whenever said element 80 is depressed by a pin 85 bearing at its lower end on the element 11 but having its upper end extending through the switch casing and contacted by the actuator leaf 69.

It is believed that the operation of the above described embodiment wil1 be readily understood. Upon initial installation the control mechanism Will be set so that the pin 68 depresses the leaf 69 and the switch 80-8I is open and no gasoline may be dispensed. Thereafter the representative of the wholesaler may fill the storage tank 25 partially or completely. Upon payment by the retailer for any specified gallonage, the bolt 12a of the lock 12 is withdrawn disengaging the bevel wheel (or clutch) 4I. The shaft 41 is then rotated to set the indicator I5 to show the gallonage paid for. This rotates the pin 68 away from the leaf 69 but the rod 14 (which was moved over the leaf 69 when the shaft 42 with withdrawn) prevents the completion of the circuit through the contacs Bil-BI. Then the representative pushes the bolt of the lock 12 in, moving the bevel wheel 4| into mesh with the Wheels 39 and 43 and moving the rod 14 off of the leaf 59. This allows the contacts |30-8| to close. Upon closing of the manual switch 49 gasoline may be dispensed.

` The flow of gasoline through the meter I6 rotates the shaft I1 driving the register and the worm wheel E0. Movement of the wheel 66 eventually (when the indicator I 5 reaches zero) moves the pin 08 onto the leaf 69 and again prevents further operation of the pump. Another payment or arrangement for creditmust be made by the retailer and the mechanism must be reset before more gasoline may be dispensed.

The curb pump shown somewhat diagrammatically in Figure 9 is of generally conventional design, including a casing |I0 and a register panel indicated generally at III. In the wall of the casing IIO is the usual door II2 to permit access to the interior of the pump and immediately behind said door is a control box I I3 mounted in any suitable manner, as from the spider |I4 (not shown in Figure 9). The box |I3 carries two totalizers I I5 and I I6, the former being connected with the meter forming part of the operative pump mechanism in a manner more fully discussed below while the latter is independent of the pump except for the support it receives from the main structure. Connection between the meter |52 and the totalizer ||5 is by means of the shaft I I1 of the pump meter |52, which shaft usually is designed for 8 revolutions per gallon delivered. A pinion II8 is keyed to the meter shaft III.

The pinion I I8 meshes with a gear I I9 rotatable about a shaft passing through and carried by the control box I I3, which shaft drives a bevel gear |24 keyed thereto and meshing with a bevel gear |25 on the shaft |28 of totalizer ||5. Shaft |20 is driven from gear ||9 through a jaw clutch |40, operated by clutch lever I4I, the purpose of which will appear hereinafter. The elements are so arranged that rotation of the meter shaft II1 will cause reverse motion of the register in totalizer I I5, reducing the number thereon by one for each eight rotations of shaft II1, indicating one gallon dispensed.

Also carried by and keyed to shaft |20 is a worm ISI in driving relation with a worm wheel |2| on shaft |22. Asecond worm |23 on shaft |22 is in driving relationship with a worm wheel |21 carried in bearings on brackets from the wall of the control box. This latter worm wheel is adapted, when a predetermined position is reached, to operate a relay opening the pump circuit or to otherwise render the pump inoperative. In the embodiment shown, a pin |28 on the worm wheel |21 engages an arm |29 carried by the mounting of a mercury switch |30 which is normally biased to closed position by a spring |32. The gear trains driving totalizer ||5 and worm wheel |21 from shaft |20 are so related that mercury switch |30 will be opened when the reading on totalizer II5 is zero. The switch |30 is in series with the pump motor by line |33, and it will thus be seen that no deliveries may be made from the curb pump after totalizer I I5 reaches the zero position.

Resetting of totalizer |I5 and operation of totalizer IIS is by means of a key mechanism shown in Figures 14 and 15. This consists of a bar |34 carrying two combined totalizer keys |35 and |36 corresponding to the totalizers I I5 and IIG of the curb pump. The totalizer keys and |35 each have shafts adapted at one end to engage and drive the shafts of totalizers |I5 and II6 as by the keys |31 and |38, shown here as square and triangular in cross-section, respectively. At their opposite ends, the shafts of totalizers |35 and |36 are adapted to receive a keyed handle |39 in driving relationship. Thus, the totalizers I I5 and I I6 can only be operated by means of the keys |31 and |38 driven by shafts of totalizers |35 and |36, respectively, thus maintaining a record of the extent to which the totalizing key mechanism has been used.

Let it be assumed that a deliverly of 3000 gallons of gasoline is made to a retailer who can pay for only 500 gallons. The driver of the delivery tank truck disengages clutch |40 and advances totalizer ||6 by 3000 units after delivering that amount, takes pay for 500 gallons and advances totalizer |I5 by 500 units, after which the jaw clutch is again engaged. As the retailer dispenses gasoline, the reading on totalizer ||5 decreases until the operator deems it expedient to pay for additional gasoline and have the totalizer ||5 reset. Payment may be accepted by a special agent or by a tank driver who happens to be in the neighborhood and the totalizer II5 is correspondingly reset. If, however, the retailer fails to pay for all the gasoline in his storage tank, he will be unable to dispense an amount in excess of that for which he has paid. An interlock is provided to prevent pumping when the clutch |40 is disengaged. Such an interlock is diagrammatieally illustrated in Figures 9 and 13. The switch I4Ia in the circuit including mercury switch |30 and the driving motor I5I for the pump |53 closes said circuit when the clutch is engaged, while if the clutch is disengaged the motor |5I may not be operated. This arrangement serves to prevent frauds on the part of retail service station attendants since the amount of gasoline dispensable is entirely dependent upon the pre-set condition of register ||5. If an attempt were made to operate the pump |53 without the register. it would be necessary to disengage clutch I 40 which would automatically open the motor circuit.

It will be further apparent that both the retail operator and the truck driver have accurate records of net transactions. The driver, and his employer, can readily determine both the amount delivered and the amount for which payment was accepted; and the retailer has a record of total deliveries and of the amount he can dispense without making additional payment.

It is to be understood that the above described embodiments are for the purpose of illustration only and various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

This application is a continuation-in-part of applicants copending application Serial No. 444,655, filed May 27, 1942, now Patent No. 2,414,031. The embodiment of applicants invention illustrated in Figures 9 to 15, inclusive, of this application was disclosed in the copending application, and the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 8, inclusive, of this application represents an improvement -thereover.

,What is claimed is:

1. In a dispensing apparatus including a dispensing outlet, a supply tank, a mechanized pump for conveying fluid from said tank to said outlet, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pump, switch means in said circuit and registering means controlled by fluid i'low from said tank, a meter and gear train between said pump and registering means, and said fluid flow acting upon said meter and said gear train, the improvement comprising clutch means constituting a part of said gear train, lock means for rendering said clutch engaged or disengaged with said gear train, an additional switch means in said circuit, automatic means actuated by said gear train to open said additional switch means at a predetermined period of operation, means operable upon disengagement of said clutch to open said additional switch means and means operable only when said clutch is disengaged to reset said automatic means.

2. In a dispensing apparatus including a dispensing outlet, a supply tank, a mechanized pump for conveying fluid from said tank to said outlet, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pump, switch means in said circuit and registering means controlled by fluid flow from said tank, said fluid ow acting upon a meter and gear train between said pump and registering means, the improvement comprising a. disengageable gear in said gear train, lock means for maintaining said gear in and out of mesh with said gear train, an additional switch means in said circuit, a gear in said gear train having a projection thereon operable to open said additional switch at a predetermined point of operation, means operable upon disengagement of said disengageable gear to open said additional switch means and means operable only when said disengageable gear is disengaged to reset said gear having a projection thereon.

3. In a dispensing apparatus including a dispensing outlet, a supply tank, a mechanized pump for conveying fiuid from said tank to said outlet, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pump, switch means in said circuit and registering means controlled by fluid flow from said tank, said uid flow acting upon a meter and gear train between said pump and registering means, the improvement comprising a disengageable gear in said gear train, a shaft carrying said disengageable gear, said gear being mounted for rotation but xed longitudinally with respect to said shaft, a rod rigidly carried by said shaft, lock means for said shaft maintaining said gear engaged or disengaged with said gear train, at least one additional vswitch means in said circuit, a worm gear in said train, a pin fixed with and carrled by said Worm gear, means actuated by said pin to interrupt said circuit, said rod operative to interrupt said circuit upon disengagement of said disengageable gear, means operative when said disengageable gear is disengaged to set said registering means and said worm gear whereby said pin will interrupt said circuit at a predetermined interval of dispensing operation which dispensing operation is made possible only upon re-engaging said disengageable gear.

4. In a dispensing apparatus, a fluid pumping means, an indicating means therefor, an electric circuit controlling the operation of said pumping means, a gear train between said pumping means and said indicating means, clutch means in said gear train for connecting said indicating means to said pumping means whereby said indicating means is operated by operation of said pumping means, switch means interposed in said circuit, means operated by disconnecting movement of said clutch means to operate said switch to interrupt said circuit and render said dispensing means inoperative comprising an actuating leaf element in connecting relation with said switch means and a projecting rider adapted to operate said leaf element when moved by movement of said clutch means, additional switch operating means movable responsive to movement of said indicating means during dispensing operations to open said switch and render said dispensing means inoperative after a predetermined movement of said indicating means comprising a worm Wheel in said gear train, a pin secured to said worm wheel, and arranged at times `to ride upon said leaf, and means operable only when said clutch means are disconnected for resetting said indicating means and for returning said additional switch operating means to a position in which the switch does not interrupt said electric circuit.

5. In combination, a dispensing apparatus comprising a pump, an electric motor driving said pump, an electric circuit supplying electric energy to said motor, -a meter having a member moving proportionately to the flow of fluid through said meter, means to conduct fluid from said pump to said meter, means to conduct fluid from said meter, a control device driven from said moving meter member, a register operative responsive to movement of said control device, a rotatable element driven responsive to movement of said control device, a pin carried by said rotatable element, a normally closed switch in said circuit, means engageable by said pin to open said switch, means to disengage said control device, means operative upon disengagement of said control device to open said switch, means to reset said register and said rotatable element independently of said meter operative when said control device is disengaged.

- EDWARD R. EICHNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,948,984 Grandberg Feb. 27, 1934 2,247,480 Damon et al July 1, 1941 2,269,937 Hart Jan. 13, 1942 2,414,030 Eichner Jan. 7, 1947

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