CA1069617A - Control and data system - Google Patents

Abstract

CONTROL AND DATA SYSTEM
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A gasoline dispenser control and data system comprising a central office and a plurality of local stations, each station having dispenser control functions, data storage functions and communication functions. The station has a dispenser control mode and data entry mode. In the dispenser control mode a dispenser may be set to dis-pense gasoline, such dispensing of gasoline resulting in the produc-tion of pulses which are accumulated in a counter. The dispenser may then be reset for the next sale. Upon reset the counter is returned to zero, and the previous sale is stored in a temporary memory for recall and display, also being stored in two separate permanent memories, one of which is accessible to the station operator and the other of which is not accessible to the station operator. In the data entry mode the station operator can enter data into some but not all permanent memories. The station data system may be telephoned by the central office and each memory interrogated. The central office may also enter new data in the station data system. Means are pro-vided for interrupting transmission for a limited time for operation of dispensers on a limited basis. Means are also provided for auto-matically entering data such as the amount of gasoline in storage tanks in the station memory, for "in use" and "ready" signals for each dispenser, and for an emergency off function.

Description

This application is a division of our parent application Serial No. 209,590, filed September 19, 1974.
BACKG~OUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to control and data storage systems, and more particularly to such systems as are suitable for controlling the dispensing of liquids and storing and retrieving data relating to the amounts of such liquids which are dispensed.

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2 Descri tion of the Prior Art P

Retail gasoline service stations commonly are provided with several, e.g. four, gasoline storage tanks, each of which contains a suction or submerged pump to pump gasoline to a plurality, e.g. 16 or more, dispensers for the gasoline. Each dispenser has a hose and nozzle with a hand-operated valve, and a manual switch to turn the dis-penser on and off. Counters are provided at the dispenser to create visual displays of the quantity of gasoline dispensed and the total amount of each sale in dollars.
Cumulative totals of gallons and dollars are also displayed.

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` 1~69617 1 In thc rctail dispensing o~ gasoline, self-service 2 stations have become more and more desira~e because of the

3 savings in cost of operation. In many such stations the

4 gasoline dispensing device counter drives a pulse generator, the pulses from which are fed to a central monitoring console 6 to produce a remote indication of the amount of gasoline and 7 dollar amount of each sale. Thus a single operator may 8 monitor sales of a number of gasoline dispensers and collect 9 payment for such sales.
11 To meet the demand for monitoring and control 12 systems for use in such self-service stations, a number of 13 systems have been devised. One of such system~ is that dis-14 closed in U. S. Patent No. 3,598,283 to Krutz, et al which provides means for presetting the sale amount on the pump.
16 A pulse generator at the pump provides pulses which a~e 17 counted and accumulated at the attendant's console, and a 18 display is provided so that the attendant may view the I9 amount of the sale.
21 Patent No. 3,437,240 to Keeler discloses another 22 system for providing the total of the gasoline sale to a 23 remote location, as does Patent No. 3,402,8Sl.

Most of the priox art systems utilize a separate 26 display for each pump, but the system of Patent No. 3,632,988 .
27 to Tamawaki~ et al provides for storing signals from a plura-2~ lity of pumps in a memory and selectively addressing the 29 memory to provide a display for a selected pump.

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1 In thc case of a gasoline retailer who owns a 2 num~er of stations, particularly stations which are 3 scattered over a wide area, it is often difficult to fully 4 monitor the operations of the stations. It is desirable for planning to be fully advised of sales and marketing 6 conditions at all locations, and to be able to promptly 7 advise station attendants of changes in prices and other 8 marketing practices. Previously such information was 9 obtainable only by time consuming methods, such as mail or telephone transmissions, and the accuracy of informa-11 tion obtained from station attendants was difficult to 12 chec~.

14 Systems have been devised for providing various control and monitoring functions between a central office I 16 and a plurality of service stations or other dispensing l~ 17 locations. Fox example, the patent to ~acket Nc. 3,130,867 18 discloses a pipeline metering and product delivery control 19 system by which the central office can preset amounts of liquid to be delivered to various locati~ns and can inter-~21 rogate counters located at de7ivery locations to determine 22 amounts delivered. A capability of monitoring and control-23 ling a number of stations is provided. Means are provided 24~ at the central office for displaying the amounts of sales.

, 26 However, no system has heretofore been devised hy 27~` which a central office Gan fully and promptly monitor the 28 operations of a number of local self-sexvice gasoline stations, 29 including sales from each dispenser, inventory, and other data ~30 important in planning future operations, and can at the same _ 3 _ ,, . . . -~0696~7 time be assured of the accuracy of the information obtained. Nor has any such system been devised which allows a single station operator to monitor sales on a plurality of dispensers, including temporarily storing data on a previous sale and recalling the previous sale whlch a further sale is continuing, and at the same time give the operator the capability of instantly determining fuel inventories and levels of water in each of a plurality of storage tanks.
Our parent application referred to above teaches an overall system for dispensing liquids and storing and retrieving data relating to the amounts of such liquids which are dispersed, such system overcoming or at least alleviating many of the drawbacks of the prior art systems referred to above.
This overall system is fully described in the following description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, in order that the immediate environ-ment to which the invention particularly described and claimed herein is especially applicable may be fully understood.
Thus, the present invention provides, in combination in a dis-penser at a gasoline station for producing electrical signals representing the amount of ènergy fluid dispensed by the station, a first shaft operably connected to the dispenser for rotation thereby in an amount correlated with the amount of gasoline dispensed by the dispenser, and a second shaft having a stationary disposition. A disc is mounted for rotation on the first shaft and a plurality of apertures are equally spaced around the periphery of the d~sc to provide indication as to the rotation of the disc. Further provided are first means embracing the disc and supported rotationally free about the -first shaft ànd second means mounted on the second shaft for fixed disposition on the second shaft and operatively coupled to the first means in pivotable relationship to the first means. Photocell means are positioned relative to the apertures in the disc to produce signals indicative of the quantrum rot-ation of the apertures past the photocell means.

A, .: ' , ' . , .: ~ ' .:
: - , - 10696~7 ~ .,, In a preferred embodiment, brace means are mounted on the second shaft and means defining a forked frame are mounted at one end on the first shaft rotationally free of the firstshaft, the forked frame means being attached to the brace means at a position removed from the first shaft and the second stationary shaft, the rotary disc being supported on the first shaft between the fork legs of the frame means for rotation with the first shaft.
The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an isometric, somewhat simplified view of a system in which the present invention may be employed;
Figure 2 is a block diagram of the ma~or components of a system in which the present invention may be employed;
Figure 3 is a block diagram of electrical circuitry associated with each dispenser of the overall system;
Figure 4 is a block diagram of appsratus for receiving, storing, processing, displaying and transmitting data from the dispensers;
Flgure 5 is a perspective. view of apparatus according to one embodiment of thisinvention included at the dispensers at a self-service station for converting rotary motion of the counting mechanism at the dispensers into electrical signals for transmission to a central position .
at the station;
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5;
and is taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a circuit diagram of certain stages shown on a somewhat schematic basis in Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a circuit diagram of still other stages shown on a : somewhat schematic basis in Figure 3; and . -- 5 --:

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` Figure 9 is a circuit diagram of further stages shown on a some-what schematic basis in Figure 3.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED-EMBODIMENTS
For the sake of simplicity and ease of understanding, the pre-ferred embodiments of this invention will be described in terms of application of the invention to self-service gasoline stations, although it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention has applicability to dispensing and sale of other liquid products and also of gas and solid products. Hereinafter, the word "lnvention" will be used in the sense of the overall system as described and claimed in the aforementioned parent application rather tham solely in the context of the apparatus exemplified with reference to Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
The description will also refer to an arrangement involving a central office and plurality of local service stations to which data ls sent from a central office and from which data is received upon interrogation by the central office. However, such various combinations and sub-combinations of this invention are applicable to the individual service stations, wheré
; ~ no central office i8 involved, therefore the invention should not be con-sidered to be limited to service stations which communicate with the central office.
General Description In the preferred embodiment of the invention which will herein-after be described in detail, apparatus is provided at a local station for controlling one or more gasoline dispensers, for receiving, displaying and storing data on inventory , ' .
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:, 1 of gasoline in storage tanks, for transmitting this data 2 and other data inserted by the station operator to a 3 central office, and for transmitting data from the central 4 office to the service station. The term "gasoline dispenser~
~s used herein in prefercnce to the term "gasoline pump"
6 because of the fact that in most service stations submerged 7 pumps are used to pump gasoline to a plurality of dispensers, 8 and the dispensers themselves do not contain individual pumps.

The usual gasoline dispenser is provided with a 11 flow meter which drives a counter having two outputs, one 12 in gallons and the other in dollars. These outputs are 13 transmitted to separate registers, where they are displayed 14 as they are generated in a visual display, and are also added to a cumu~ative total display. In some cases such ~6 xegisters axe mechanicallv driven from the flow meter, 17 whereas in other cases a pulse generator, as for example a 18 magnet and a reed switch attached to the snaft of the flow ~19 meter, is used to generate signals for the counters. In either event, the counter and register apparatus includes ~1 two shaft outputs, one of which rotates at a speed propor-22 tional to the gallons register and the other of whic~
23 rotates at a speed proportional to the dollars register.

According to the present invention, the functions 26 described hereinbefore are accomplished ~y apparatus which 27 includes puls~ gcnerators driven by the proportional dis-28 penser register counter shafts, one pulse generator producing 29 pulses in proportion to the gallons dispensed and the other producing pulses in proportion to the numb~r of dollars , ., ,8 --~069617 l registered and displayed at thc dispcnscr. These pulses are 2 transmitted to countcrs. ~ console is provided which includes 3 a keyboard and various displays. The keyboard and displays 4 are connectcd through a central processor unit, which forms a part of a di~ital micro-computer, to ~arious memory storage 6 locations. The operater ~ay create a display of the number of 7 gallons and the dollar amount of a sale which is in process or 8 which has just concluded at any selected dispenser by merely g pressing the n~mbered keys of the keyboard corresponding to the number of the dispenser. The operator may also create a ll display of the preceding sale for that dispenser by pressing 12 a recall key. The operator may also reset the dispenser for 13 another sale. Upon reset, both the pulse counters are 14 returned to zero, and the previous sale is stored in a tempor- -ary memory for recall and display on the console. Upon reset, 16 the amount of the sale is also added to a cumulative total of 17 sales stored in two separate memory locations,one of which is 18 access~ble to the~station operator and the other of which is lg accessible only to the central office. Means are provided by which the total amount in the first of these memory locations 21 may be read and written in a third memory location, as for 22 example at the end of each shift, so that the home office can 23 in~errogate the station data system at any time during the 24 succeeding shift and determine the total of sales during the preceding shift.

2~ The station data system also has a data entry mode 28 in which the station operator can enter data into some of the 29 memory locations. For example, it may be desired by the central office that the station operator enter data reflecting _ 9 --. . . ~ . . . :

~0696~7 1 a compctitor's selling prices, weather information, mainten-2 ance difficulties, personnel problems, etc.

4 Means are provided for automatically entering data in sclectcd memory locations reflecting the amount of gasoline 6 is storage tanks at the station, such data being pro~ided, for 7 example, by apparatus such as that disclosed in the afoxesaid 8 co-pending application.

In the event of a power failure means is provided 11 fo~ automatically protecting memory. In addition, the 12 apparatus has an emergency shut-off function, whereby the 13 station operator can, in the event of fire or other emergency, 14 shut off all dispenser operations.

16 The central office is provided with a computer 17 which can interrogate the memories of the station computer, 18 through a conventional telephone line and ~ata coupler, and 19 obta~n a readout of data stored in any of the memory loca-, , 20 tions of the station computer. During such inferrogation a ~, 21 lamp is lighted on the station console to indicate that 22 transmitting is in progress. During the transmitting opera-, ~ tion the station operator cannot enter data or recall sales 24 information from temporary storage. HoWever, he can tempor-2~5 arily interrupt transmission to reset dispensers and recall 26 prevlous sales in oxder to receive payment. Thus even during 27 interrogation by the home office, some operation of station 28 dispensers is permitted.

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~69617 1 In the following description a service station hav-2 ing 16 gasoline dispensers and four gasoline storage tanks 3 will be discussed. HoWever, it will be apparent that the 4 apparatus and system may be modified as neoessary for a larger or lesser number of dispensers and storage tanks.

7 Figure 1 of the drawing shows pictorially, and 8 somewhat schematically, a preferred embodiment of equipment 9 comprised in the apparatus of this invention. Thus, as shown in this drawing, a console 10 is connected to an lI electronic cabinet 12 and to a data coupler 14. The data 12 coupler, in the embodiment shown, is connected directly into 13 a telephone line 16. The electronic cabinet is provided with 14 power or a power supply unit 18 which con~erts and regulates po~er input from both 110 volt AC source 20 and an auxiliary 16 powe~ sup~ly which may comp~ise a rechargeable battery 22, 17 which provides power to protect the memory in the event of 18 a power failure~ An ordinary 8 volt wet cell may be used, 19 for example. Data is supplied to the electIonic cabinet from the dispensers, one o~ which is illustrated at 24, and from 21 the level sensors and transmitters, one of which is shown at 22 25.

24 The console 10 is provided with ~ conventional keyboard 26, having keys number from 0 to g, and keys labeled 26 "reset", "*", "emergency stop", "enter", "recall" and "clear".
27 A key operated swltch 28 has two positions, "pump control~ and 28 "data entry`'. A paneI light 30 is provided for indication of ; 29 the existence of transmission from the station to the central office, and a panel light 32 is provided for indication of '~ 32 .. ~o , " ~ _ ~OS,96~7 1 transmission of ncw data from the homc office to the station, 2 A "shift-change" push-button is provided at 33, and a "trans-3 mit-interrupt" push-button is provi~ed at 31.
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A plurality of "ready" and "in-use" panel lights 34 6 and 36, respectively, are provided, one for each gasoline dis-7 penser. The console also has provision forjdisplay of three 8 different numbers at 38, 40 ~nd 42. At location 38 two 9 numerals may be displayed, at location 40 three numerals may be displayed, and at location 42 five num~rals may be displayed.
11 The display may utilize conventional seven segment displays 12 (light ~mitting diodes such as Monsanto's M~N-10), nixie tubes 13 or any other suitable display device.
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The dlspenser 2~ has the conventional hose and 16 nozzle 44 and tne conventional manual switch 46 which must 17 be turned on before any gasoline can be dispensed. In 18 addition, the dispenser is provided with an encoder 48 to 19 provide pulses indicative of the number of ~ollars of the sale and an encoder S0 to provide pulses inaicative of the 21 gallons of gasoline dispensed.

23 In Figure 2 the major components o~ the apparatus 24 of this invention are shown in block diagra~. Thus 16 different dispensers are shown, numbered 24-1 through 24-16, 26 and four different level sensors and transmitters are shown, 2~ numbered 25-1 through 25-4~ The dispensers are provided with 28 fuel by one or more submerged pumps 52. The dispenser elec-29 tronic system S4 is connected to receive signals from the dispensers and also to feed signals to the dispens~rs. In ~1 .. ~ _ ~0696~7 addition, the dispenser electronic system provides signals to energize the submerged pumps so that gasoline may be pumped to the dispensers when required. As will later be explained, means are also provided for selectively operating the dis-pensers independently of the electronic system, so that a signal may be sent directly from any one of the dispensers to the submerged pump to cause it to operate.
The output of the level sensor transmitters is received and processed in the level sensor computer 56, one form of which is disclosed in the aforesaid co~pending United States patent.
Data from the dispenser electronic system 54 and from the level sensor computer are fed through an interface 58 which provides suitable connection to a digital micro-computer 60 and keyboard and display apparatus 62. The digital computer 60 communicates with a home office computer 64 (see Figure 2) through a communication interface modem 61 and a conventional data coupler 14, as by means of the tele-phone line 16 or by means of radio transmission or the like.
Dispenser Electronics Figure 3 shows schematically and in block diagram the electrical circuitry utilized in the operation and monitoring of a single dispenser 24, The same or similar circuitry is used with each of the other dispensers.
As previously noted, the dispenser 24 contains encoders , .
~ 48 and 50 which, in the preferred embodiment, ~z~
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~0696~7 1 comprise p~rforated discs 60, 67 mounted on output shafts 2 on the dispcnser countcr (not shown) ~or rotation so that 3 the perforations of each disc pass betw~en a light emitting 4 diode (LED) 68 and a photo transistor 69, each LED and photo transistor fol~ing a photocoupler which is used as an encoder 6 in the preferred form of this invention. Other types of ~ ~ncoders known in the art may be used, as for example, the 8 type which utilizes rotating magnets and a reed switch, but 9 the perforatcd disc type encodex just described is preferred for its accuracy. A variety of photocouplers are available 11 on the market which are suitable for use in this application.
12 One example of such a photocoupler is that manufactured and 13 sold hy Spectronics, Inc., as Part Nos. SD-1440-3 and SE-1450-3.

Pulsér drivers 70, 71 are connected to the photo-16 couplers, providing an output current ~o the LEDs and 17 receiving, amplifying and transmitting pulses from the photo 18 transistors. The outputs from the pulser drivers 70, 71 are 19 fed through the pulse shapers 72, 73, respectively, which are basically Schmitt triggers. The pulse s~,apers introduce 21 hysterisis into the signals in order to reiect electrical 22 noise, and to compensate for~unwanted mechanical jitter or 23 vibration of the disks 66 and 67. The output pulse trains 24 from the pulse shapers are sent through gates 74, 75, respec-tiv~ly, and then to the dollars counters 76 and the gallons 26 counters 77. These preferably comprise decade counters which 27 store the counts in 4-bit binary coded decimal ~BCD) form.

~; ~29 The dollars encoder 48 is prefera~ly designed to .~
emit a pulse for each 0.001 dollars valuc of fuel dispensed, ~3 , . ,~ _ , . ..................................................................... ' -~0696~7 1 and the gallons encoder 50 is preferably designed to emit 2 a pulse for each 0.01 gallon of fuel dispensed. In order 3 that the counters ma~ count up to $99.999 and up to 99.99 4 gallons, the dollars counters comprise five decade counters and thc gallons counters comprise four decade counters.
; 6 Data is transferred from these decade counters through a 7 gating circuit 98.

9 It will be noted that although the gallons counter provides four significant figures, only three are pro~ided 11 on the display. This is sufficient for sales purposes, since 12 customers are not interested in hundredths of a gallon and 13 the tenths digit is rounded up or down to t~he r.earest tenth.
14 However, the totals stored in memory are accurate to a hundredth of a gallon. Dollars are displayed to three decimal 16 places, so that the price c~arged can be'adjusted to the near-17 est cent.

19 As is well known in the art, the counters in 2Q ~asoline dispensers must be reset to zero following each 21 sale before additional gasoline can be dispensed. The 22 reset is accomplished by means of a manual switch adjacent 23 to the nozzle receptacle, as shown at 46 in Figure 1. The 24 operation of this switch closes a circuit in which a reset motor 78 (see Figure 3) is connected, so that the reset 26 motor runs to reset the counters to zero, The reset motor 27 shaft drives a cam which, when the dispenser counters have ¦ 28 -been reset to zero, engages a normally closed switch 79 in 29 the reset motor circuit, thereby opening the switch 90 that the reset motor stops~ Switch 79 is mechanically connected ,. ~

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1 to a normally open switch 82, so that when switch 79 is 2 opened, switch 82 is closed. Switches 79 and 82 are also 3 connected to a manual switch 46, so that switch 79 i5 4 closed and switch 82 is opened when switch 46 is opened.
6 According to the present invention, an additional 7 ~witch 80 is provided in the reset motor circuit. Switch 8 80 is a three-position switch which may be set at any of 9 "automatic", "off" and "manual". When set at "manual" the reset motor circuit is grounded and the dispenser may be 11 operated in the normal manner, without being reset from the 12 console. When set at "off" the dispenser may not be opera-13 ted at all, and when set at "automatic" the control system 14 of the present inventioA becomes effective.
16 When switch 82 is closed, in either the ~anual or 17 automatic mode an `'in use" signal is present in conductor 84.
18 A tap 83 off this conductor to ground through switch 80 con-19 tains a relay coil 85, which, when an "in use" signal is present, holds relay switches 87 closed, to provide 220 volt 21 AC to operate the su~merged pump. The tap 83 also contains 22 diode wired "OR" gates 89 and 91, which are connected to 23 corresponding taps 83 of other dispensers of the same grade 24 of gasoline, so that a single relay coil 85 and switch 87 may be used with a single pump for each grade of gasoline.

27 An isolator comprising a photocoupler 86, such as, 28 for example, Monsanto's No. MCT2E, provides electrical isola-29 tion between the power line voltage level in line 84 and the low logic voltage lcvel of the remainder of the circuit. The S
~6 _ . . ~ -1 output of the photocoupler isolator i~ sent to a delay net-2 w~rX 88 which produces an "in use" output signal coincident ~ 3 with the "in use" signal at its input, but which delays the cessation of the "in use" a short time (preferably approxi-mately 1.5 seconds) relative to the cessation of the "in use"
6 signal at the input of the delay network. This delay allows 7 continued transmission of any pulses generated after switch 8 46 is opened, as may occur if this switch is opened while the 9 nozzle is dispensing gas~line. The "in use" output from the delay network is sent to a lamp driver 90 which illuminates lI one of the lamps 36 one the console to inform the operator 12 that this particular dispenser is being used. -14 The "in use" indication i~ also sent to a triac gate 92. The output of the triac gate is an enabling signal 16 which is sent through a photocoupler isolator 94, such as, 17 for example, General Electric Company's No. ~llCl. to a triac 18 switch 96. The triac switch provides a connection to ground 19 for the reset motor circuit and relay coil 85 when the switch 80 is on "automatic".
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22 The "in use" signal to the pulser drivers 70 and 71, 23 serves as a control signal to enable the pulser drivers (through 24 an optical isolator that provides electrical isolation to meet intrinsic safety requirements for hazardous environments.) The 26 "in use" signal sets the "ready" flip-flop 100 to "not ready", 27 and the gate 102 which prevents a reset signal from setting the 28 "ready" flip-flop 100. The "in use" indication is also sent to 29 the gates 74 and 75 where it enables these gates and allo~s the pulses from the pul~ shapers 72 and 73 to be entered into the ,1~

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` 106~617 1 ~ecade counters 7G and 7~. The "in use" signal is generated 2 even when the switch 80 is on "manual", therefore i' the dis-3 penser is operated in the manual mode generated pulses will 4 be counted at the counters 76, 77.

6 Other components depicted in Figure 3 will now be ~ described although the function and operation of these compo-8 nents will not be described in detail until after a description 9 of the components shown in Figure 4. Thus gating circuitry 98 is pro~ided for reading out the stored BCD count of the counters 11 76 and 77. A ~ready~ flip-flop 100 receives as one of its 12 inputs the "in use" signal and as the other of its inputs a 13 signal from gate 102 which is enabled by a "power on" signal 14 from circuit 104, or by a "device select~' signal accompanied by a "reset" signal when there is no "in use" signal present.
16 After a power fail~rc, upon restoration of power the "power up"
17 circuit sends a pulse to all o~ the decade counters at 76, 77, 18 to cause all outputs on the counters to read zero. This is necessary, since whenever electrical power is first supplied to the integrated circuits utilized in the preferred embodi-21 ment, the output of the counters is unpredictable.

23 The oùtput from the ready 1ip-10p 100 is fed to a ~ 24 "ready" lamp driver 108 to cause illumination of the "ready"
; 25 lamp 34 on the console, and is also fed as an input to the 26 triac gate 92 The third input to the triac gate is the 27 "emergency stop" input, supplied through conduit 110.

~32 ".~,~ '1 10696~7 1 Station Electronics 2 Figure 4 depicts the service station electronic 3 system which is connected through the interface 58 to each 4 of the dispenser electronic systems, as depicted in Figure 3.

7 The heart of this system is a micro-computer 8 system, such as the MCS-4 produced by InteL Corp. of Santa 9 Clara, California and described in Intel's "User's Manual"
dated March, 1972. This set includes a central processor 11 unit 114, memory storage 116 and program control 118. The 12 central processor unit (CPU) communicates with the home 13 office through the communications interface comprising the 14 modulator-demodulator (modem) 61 and the data coupler 14.
The data coupler may, for example, comprise a type lOOlA
16 CBS, available on lease from thc ~ell Tclcphone Company, ; 17 and the modem may be a Tele-Dynamics ~odel 7113B.

19 . Instructions are provided through the CPU from 20 the ~eyboard 26, as shown in Figure 1, and data selected for -21 display by the keyboard is decoded from BCD to decimal by 22 the CPU and displayed, through the driver L22, at the various :
23 displays of the console 10.
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To transfer.the contents of a counter 76, 77 of 26 one of the dispensers or data from one of the tank lever 27 sensors 25 to the CPU, a data bus 124 is provided. Data 28 transmitted is multiplexed to transmit one digit at a time, 29 since speed of transmission is not important. The data bu~
con~ists of four parallel electrical signal conductors which : 32 ~ ~ .
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~0696~7 1 are connected in a parallel electrical manner, that is, each 2 Of the four conductors is electrically connected to each of 3 the 16 output gates of the 16 dispensers, and to each of the 4 four level sensor~. Thus the four signal conductors of the data bus transfcr in parallel, simultaneously, the four-bit 6 BCD output of either one of the coun'ers or one o the level ; 7 6ensors. A data bus driver 126 is provided for transfer of 8 such data into the CPU.

The counter or level sensor whos~ data is to be 11 transmitt~d is determined by a "device select" signal which ; 12 is created by pressing identifying keys on the keyboard.
13 The CPU, in response, feeds an identifying signal to the 14 device select decoder 128, which decodes the signal and pro-duces an output "device select" signàl to the dispenser 16 counter board or tank level s~nser selected. ~he CPU is 17 programmed to multiplex transmission of data, and therefore 18 sends a series o "digit select" signals t~ the digit select 19 decoder 132 which provides an output signal through one of four ~digit sel~ct" conductors 134. A control buffer 136 21 comprises a driver for signals transmitted from the keyboard 22 through the CPU, to provide an "emergency stop" signal through 23 conductor 110 and a "reset" signal through conductor 140.

In a data system for 16 gasoline dispensexs and 26 four gasoline storage tanks, a memory havLng, for example, 27 160 memory locations wlll provide adequate capacity. Each 28 location should be capable of storing eight BCD digits of 29 4 bits each, i.e. 32 bits. Memory locations may, for example, be ~sed as follow~:
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~0696~7 1 0 Spare - 2 1-16 accumulated dollars for each of 16 dlspensers 17-3~ accumulated gallons ~ox each of 16 dispensers 33-36 gasoline levels in each of four ~torage tanks 37 spare 38-74 data read from locations 1-37 at 8 end of shift 9 75-106 spare 107-110 gasoline levels in each of four storage tanks lI
111 spare 112-127 accumulated dollars for each of 16 13 dispensers 14 128-143 temporary storage, dollars, for recall 144-159~ temporary storage, gallons, for recall 17 OPeration 18 The system of this invention has two modes of 19 operation, i.e. "pump control" and "data entry", as deter-mined by the switch 28 on the console. ~ lock switch ~s 21 pre~erred to prevent entry of data by unauthorized persons.
22 In the data entry mode program control provides that the 23 station operator may enter data at any of memory locations 24 0 to 99 by pressing keys corresponding to the selected memory location, and thenfollowing this by pressing key~
26 corresponding to the data to be entered. The "enter" key 27 is then pressed to enter the data. Prefera~ly only two 28 digits are provided for addressing memory locations, so 29 that the operator is limited to addressing locations 0 to 99. Data in BCD form containing up to eight digits may be , ~.
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10696~7 1 entered in the memory locations. In this mode of operation 2 the program control prevents any resetting of the dispensers 3 and prevents any read-out of data from the dispenser counters 4 or the level sensors, but the dispensers and dispenser coun-ters are not inhibited ~rom operation.

7 In the data entry mode, various of the spare memory - 8 locations listed above may be designated for entry of parti-9 cular sp~cified data. For example, memory location 0 may be used for the station telephone number or other identification, 11 and memory location 75 may be used to show the selling price 12 of a particular competitor.

14 As the keys are pressed, first the memory location identification will appear at display 38 on the console, and 16 then the other data entere~, which is at this point held in 1~ temporary memory in the CPU, will appear at displays 40 and 18 42. The operato~ may thus check his entry to be sure that 19 it is accurate and then press the "enter" key to enter the data in permanent memory. If the display indicates that the 21 entry is wrong, it may be removed by prcssing the "clear" t, 22 key. Data already in a memory may be displayed by addressing 23 the appropriate memory location and pressing the "recall" key.

When the system is first installed, it is desirable 26 that the accumulated dollars and accumulated gallons stored 27 i~ memory locations 1 to 32 be identical to the accumulated .
28 totals shown on the dispenser totalizer registers. This d~ta 29 i9 entered in memory for each dispenser with the switch 28 turned to the data entry mode. Thus for dispenser 10 the .A3l .

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. ... . .
, ~0696~7 1 numbcr "10" is first designated by m~ans of the keyboard so 2 that the number 10 appears at display 38. Keys correspond-3 ing to the number of dollars shown on the dispenser register 4 are then pressed, this total number being displayed at dis-plays 40 and ~2. When the numbers are checXed, the "enter"
6 key is depressed to enter these in memory.

8 ~emory location 26 is then addressed and keys 9 corresponding to the number of gallons accumulated on the dispenser register are depressed and this amount is entered~
11 When all dispensers are initialized, key switch 28 may then 12 be turned to "pump control" and the system is ready for 13 operation. The program control prevents the entry of any 14 data from the keyboard in the "pump control" mode.

16 Initially, each dispenser must bc reset to prepare 17 the dispenser for operation. The initial power up causes the 18 delay circuit 88 to emit an "in use~' signal for a short period, 19 thereby turning the l'ready~ flip-flop 100 to "not ready".
Thus it is necessary to reset each dispenser by depressing keys 21 on the console corresponding to the numbers of each of the ~ -22 dispensers, in each case followed by pressing the "reset" key.
23 The "power up" circuit will initialize the counters to all 24 zeros and the data stored in memory locations 1-32 will not be disturbed by resetting the dispensers. ~n the pump control 2~ mode the pressing of keys corresponding to a particular pump 27 number provides, through the CPU and the ~'device select"
28 decoder 128, a ~'device select~ signal which is supplied to the output gates 98 of the selected dispenser and to the gating circuit 102 which turns on the "ready" flip-flop 100.
~31 ~2 ~ .
~2, .

.....

1 The "ready" flip-flop 100 is se~ to "not readyl' by 2 an "in use" signal, and is reset to "ready" by a signal from 3 the gating circuit 102~ ~his gating circuit, as previously 4 noted, is enabled by the presence of a "reset" and "device select" signal with no "in use" signal, or by a "power up"
6 signal. This switches the ready flip-flop to a "readyl' state 7 so that an output is provided to the "ready" lamp through the 8 lamp driver 10~. In addition, a "ready" signal is provided 9 to the triac gate 92~ which allows a dispenser to be used.

11 The initiation of an "in use" signal; which occurs 12 when switch 82 is closed after the reset motor cycle initiated by closing manual switch 46, changes the state of the ready 14 flip-flop 100 to the "not ready" state. In addition, the "in use" lamp is energized, and the gates 74, 75 leading to the 16 decade countcrs 76, 77 are enabled so that ~ulses from the 17 pulsè g~n ato~s 48, 50 may be counted. The "in ~se" signal 18 also has an input to the triac gate 9~. This gate is enabled 19 if there is either an "in use" or a "ready" signal, together with no "emergency stop" signal. The "in use" signal continues 21 to activate the triac gate 92, the photocoupler isolator 94, 22 and the triac switch 96. When switch 82 is closed, relay coil 23 85 is activated so that switches 87 are closed to supply 2~ current to the submergcd pump motor.
26 When the dispenser operation ceases and the customer 27 turns of~ the manual switch 46, the "in use" si~nal disappears, 28 after a short delay, by virtue o switch 82 being opened, and 29 the triac gate 92 is no longer enabled~ ~hus once the dispen-sing has been completed for one sale, the triac switch 96 will ' ~1 . '.
~ 32 .. . . . . . . . .

~069G~7 1 opcn and will rcmain open until a "rcsct" command is rccciv~d 2 from the CP~. The triac switch remains op~n because the 3 "readyl~ flip-flop is not reset to "ready" until the "reset"
4 command is received. The mere closing of manual switch 46 will not provide an "in use" signal because the triac switch 6 is open and therefore the reset motor circuit is not closed 7 to ground. Thus, once the triac switch opens, there must be 8 a "reset" command generated by the CPU to reset the ready 9 flip-~lop and thercby enable the triac ~ate, which then closes the triac switch before the dispenser can again dispense fuel.
ll The "reset" command is initiated by a key on the keyboard, 12 but it is not sent to the llreadyll flip-flop by the CPU until 13 the contents of the decade counters 76, 77 have all been trans- ' 14 ferred by means of the data bus 124 to the CPU. When this transfer has occurred, the CPU issues the "reset" command to 16 the gating circuit 102 and thus to the "ready~' flip-flop, 17 thereby providing an enabling signal to the triac gate and 18 closing the triac switch, and to the counters 76, 77 to reset l9 them to zero. Thus the "reset" command both resets the coun-texs and returns the dispensers to the ready state.

22 To reduce electrical power and data processing 23 requirements, the operat'ional format of the CPU selected 24 for use in the preferred embodiment of the present inven-2S tion reads out the contents of a single decade counter of 26 counters 76, 77 at a time and from only o~e dispenser at 27 a time.

29 The reàdout and reset of the co~nters 76, 77 upon . -pressing the "reset" kcy on the keyboard i~ provided through ,~;51 ~ ' `` ` 1069617 l program control. Thus the cPu selccts a particular device 2 address code in response to the pressing of keys on the 3 keyboard identifying the device which is being reset. For 4 the preferred embodiment disclosed, a total of sixteen dis~
pensers and four underground fuel storage tank sensors can 6 be monitored. The addresses of these inputs are stored in 7 binary form, so a five bit binary address format which can 8 handle up to thirty-two separate addresses is used to address 9 these twenty inputs. A device select deco~er 128 comprising a 5-to-20 decoder selects one of the sixteen dispensers or 11 one of the four tank level sensors for reading into the CPU.
12 ~his signal enables the four output gates g8 of the particu-13 lar selected device, which allo~ the four bit parallel BCD
14 data from a particular counter enabled to be read. But in the preferred em~odiment, in order to transfer out the four 16 bi~ par~llel 3CD data, a "di~it select" signal must be 17 present also. ~The digits are selected in sequence by the 18 program control. Thus, for selecting which of the nine l9 decade counters in counters 76, 77 is to be read out, a 4-to-lO digit select decoder 132 is used. The output of 21 each decade counter is a four bit BCD word which represents 22 one of the nine decimal digits contained ~n the nine counters 23 The four bit output is read simultaneously in parallel from 24 the selected counter. Likewise, a four bit parallel output is available from each tank level sensor~

:
- 27 It should be noted that although ~oth a "device ~ -28- select" and a "digit select" must be sent to a dispenser 29 counter board in order to transfer data to the data bus for transmittal to the CPU, neither signal is required to operate ~ l r ~

., ~"5, ~ . ~

1 thc dispenser or for the counters to receiv~ and count 2 ~ncoder pulse 4 While a sale is in progress, or after the sale is completed but before reset, the amount of the sale can be 6 displayed ~y depressing the keys identif~ing the particular 7 dispenser. The program control thus causes "device select"
and "digit select" signals to be supplied to the output 9 gate~ 98 for reading of the contents of the counters 76, 77, but no data is transferred to memory. Upon reset the program 11 control causes the totals in the counters to be added to the 12 contents in memory of memory locations 1 to 32 for the par-13 ticulax dispenser. At the same tlme the dollar amount in 14 the counter 76 is added to the amount in the appropriate memory storage'of addresses 112 to 127~ In addition the 16 amounts in the counters are temporarily sto~ed in the ap,iro-17 priate ones of memory locations 128 to 159.

19 ~hen by pressing keys corresponding to the dis-penser number and the "recall'l key, the amount of the 21 previous sale can be displayed.

23 Upon completion of the next sale and an additional 24 reset, the amounts in the temporary storage are replaced by the amounts of the new sale.

27 An "emergency stop" command is received by the 28 control buffer 136 whenever the operator depresses the 29 "em,ergency stop" key on the keyboard. ~Yhenever this occurs the triac gate is inhibited, thereby causing the triac switch `A
~2 ~069617 1 to open. The "emergency stop" command is sent to all 2 dispenser counter boards sim~ltaneously.

4 Electrical power is supplied to the relay coil 85 through OR gate 89 from any dispenser of the same grade.
6 Thus the relay coil 85 activates the switches 87 and the 7 submerged pump whenever any dispenser o~ the same grade is 8 operated. OR gate 91 is used to allow each reset motor to 9 be controlled independently, but not disable the relay coil 85 is another dispenser of the same grade is in operation.
11 If an "emergency stop" command is issued by the CPU, all 12 triac switches are opcned to disable all submerged pumps. `~

14 The submerged pump motor is also cut off if none of the dispensers is in use. As explained above, after the 16 dispensing operation is completed for each sale, neither the 17 "ready" nor the "in use" signal is present at the input of 18 the triac gate to enable it and therefore the triac switch 19 fox that dispenser opens. Hence, if none of the dispensers for or.e grade of gasoline is in use, then all triac switches 21 for those dispensers are open and the submerged pump motor 22 for that grade of gasoline is turned off~

2~ ~pon completion of a sale at a dispenser, the station operator may determine the amount of the sale in 2G order to receive payment by merely pressing keys corres-27 ponding to the dispenser number~ For exa~ple, to display 28 the amount of the sale just completed at ~ispenser 24-10, 29 the operator addresses "10"~ Under program control, this produces a display of the dispenser number (10) and the ~32 ~0696~7 .

1 totals of both of thc co~nters 76 and 77 for dispenser 24-10 3 If a n~w customer wishes to use the dispenser 4 ~efore payment has been rec~ived for the last sale, the dispenser and its counters may be reset to zero by press-6 ing keys addressing the particular dispenser, and then the ~ reset key. This causes the totals in the counters 76 and 8 77 for dispenser 24-10 of the above example, to be stored 9 in temporary memory locations 137 and 153, respectively, following the scheme of memory locations shown on page 21, 11 and also causes thcse totals to be added to the accumulated 12 totals in memory loc~tions 10 and 26, respectively. The 13 dollars count from counter 76 for dispenser 24-10 is also 14 added to the accumulated total in memory location 121 as described earlier. The previous sale can then be recalled 16 ~rom temporary storage by pressin~ the dispenser number and 17 the "recall" key, and the gallons and dollars of the pre-18 vious sale is thereby displayed.
lg ' ' . .:
In a prefexred embodiment of the invention, program 21 control causes the displays 38, 40 and 42 to blink if keys 22 are pressed in the wrong order to t~o keys are pressed at the ;-23 same time. The display may be cleared at any time by merely 24 pressing the "clear" key.

26 The operator may determine the amount of fuel in 27 any of the storage tanks by switching to the data entry made 2a and then pressing keys addressing the memory locations of 29 these storage tanks (e.g. one of locations 33-36) and press-ing the "recall" ~ey. This will cause th~ display of the ~, . . .
.~ .
~..~.. .-...

~069617 amount of fuel in the selected storage tanks.
In a preferred embodiments of the invention, the respective signals from the level sensors are interpreted and indicator lights on the console panel are energized to display low inventory and water in tank warnings. The level sensor is disclosed in full detail in the aforesaid United States patent.
As previously noted, the operator may enter data in any of memory locations 0-99, and data is temporarily stored in locations 128 to 159 for recall. However, memory locations 110-127 are accessible only to the central office.
Thus, to provide a check on the data in memory locations 1-16 and 33-36, to determine whether any erroneous data has been entered, redundant memory locations 112-127 and 107-110 are provided.
At the end of a shift, or at other times as desired, the data stored in memory locations 1-37 may be read and written in memory locations 38-74. This is accomplished through program control by pressing pushbutton 33 on the con-sole. This data is therefore preserved for reading at anytime during the succeeding shift.
As previously noted, communication with the home office computer is performed in a conventional manner through a data-coupler and, for example, a telephone line. The home office computer is programmed to telephone the station and, i .
after identifying signals, transmit a "transmitting" signal . '' .
' '- ' _ ~ _ i :; ' ' ... . .

~o696~7 1 to thc station computer. By program control, a "X~"
2 light 30 is illuminated on the console, and the CPU, 3 keyboard, and related station equipment is inhibited 4 from op~ration. However, the dispensers and their counters may continue to operate. The station operator may interrupt transmission for a limited time e.g. 15 7 seconds, if desircd for the purpose of displaying a sale, 8 resetting a dispenser or recalling a previous sale. This 9 is accomplished by pressing the transmission interrupt push-button 31 on the console. Through program control, lI the home office computer is instructed to stop transmit-12 ting. Transmission automatically resumes at the end of 13 the transmission interrupt period.

1~ .
In the ~vent of any emergency, e.y. fire, gasoline 16 spilla~, severe windstorm, etc., the station opcrater has 17 the capability of completely shutting down all dispensers 18 and pumps, without disturbing memories, by pressing the 19 Emergency Stop key. Under program control, this causes the CPU to s~nd a pulse to the triac gate 92, disabling the gate 21 so that no signal is sent to the triac switch 96, and the 22 switch is thus opened.

24 The home office computer may also enter data in th~ memory of the statlon computer. When doing so, the home 26 offîce computer transmits a signal to illuminate the "new 27 data" light 32 on the console. After transmission, such 28 data may be viewed by the station operator by pressing keys 29 to address the appropriate memories, and pressing the "recall"
~ey. The "new data" light may be turned off by pressing the 31 ~ey marked "*".

, ' ~0 3~ -~0696~7 1 Thc proyram control involves only conventional 2 operations, familiar to computer programmers; thcrefore it 3 is not necessary to set forth the program herein. The 4 i~vention does not lie in the program, but in the control and data system itself, particularly as applied to self-6 service gasoline stations, and various chain operations, 7 some of which may use only the manual data input and tele-8 phone communications.

9 - . . ,:~:
Details of Co~onents and Sta~es Prcviouslv Descr~bed lI Somewnat Sc~lema~ically 12 Figures 5 and 6 illustrate apparatus for`convert~
13 ing mechnical indications provided by the encoders 48 and 50 14 in Figure 1 to electrical signals digitally representing such mechanical indlcations. For e~ample, as the encoder 48 i5 16 rotated ~o indicate the moneta~y ~aluc (price) of the prc~uct 1~ dispensed by the dispenser 24 and its mechanical camputer, 18 the apparatus shown in Figures S and 6 is operated to produce 19 electrical pulse signals. The pulses are countcd which repre-sents the value of fluid dispensed. Simil~r apparatus to that 21 shown in Figurcs 5 and 6 may be provided t~ produce electrical 22 pulse signals which represents the volume (gallons) of such -23 pxoduct dispensed as indicated by the encoder 50, As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the rotary disc 66 26 (also sh~n in Figure 3) is mounted on th~ ~'dollars" rotary 27 shaft ~9 of the dispenser mechanical computer by means of 28 set screws 67 for rotation with the shaft, and is provided 29 with e~ually spaced apertur~s 202 around its periphery. A
forked frame 204 ~mbraces thc rotary disc 66 at the hub on ~1 . ~ _ 1 both sidcs, and su~)ort~ a xcplaccablc slottcd block 206 at 2 th~ pcriphery of th~ disc 66. ~ frame anchoring brace 208 3 is fixed to a stationary pin 210 of the dispenser mechanical 4 computer,at one end and is attached at the other end as at 209 to the forked ~rame 204 in pivotal relationship to the 6 ~rame.

:
8 The light-eMitting diode 68 (als~ shown in Figure 3) 9 is disposcd in a mounting holc in one side of the replaceable block 206, as shown in cross-section in Figure 6, and the 11 transistor 69 (also shown in Figure 3) is similarly disposed 12 in the opposite side of the block 206 to face the diode across ~ ;

13 th~ slot. The block 206 is indexed and af~ixed to the frame 14 so as to position the diode and transistor at the radial posi-tion of the apcrtu~es 202 in the disc 66. In this way an 16 ~lect~ical signal is Droduced b,v the transistor 69 as each 17 aperture 202 moves between the diode 68 and the transistor 69.

18 This signal is introduced through leads to the gates 74 and 75 19 and to the counters 76 and 77. These digital signals represent progressive increments in the price of the product dispensed 21 by thc dispenser.

23 , The light-emitting diode 68 and the transistor 69 24 are schematically shown in Figure 7 as "68a" and "69a" for th~ encoder 48 (Figure 1) to distinguish them from corres-26 ponding elements shown in Figure 3 for the "gallons" encoder 27 50. The diode 68a and the transistor 69a are shown in Figure .. . .
2~ 7 as being enclosed within a box 216 in broken lines, this , .
29 box corresponding to the block 206 shown in Figures 5 and 6 and descrihcd abovc. Similarly, a diodc 68b and a transistor ~ .

1 69b are associatcd with each other in a relationship corres-2 ponding to the dioae 68a and the transistor 69a to produce 3 signals corresponding to increments in the volume (gallons) of the fluid dispensed in an individual dispenser.

6 Thc diodes 68a and 68b are adapted to receive voltage from a full-wave rec~ifier formed in part by a pair 8 o~ diodes 222 and 22~ and the secondary wLn~ing of a 9 shielded transformer 226. The primary winding of the trans-former 226 is connected to receive an alternating voltage 11 such as 115 volts from a commercial source The transformer 12 226 is constructed (or shielded) to make c~rtain that short 13 circuits can never be produced ~e~een the primary and 1~ secondary windings of the transformer, thereby preventing undesirable voltagcs from being introduccd to the elements 16 &~a, 6~b, ~9a and G9b. Thus the transformer is one pxotec-17 tive element in this intrinsically safe (rom vapor ignition), 18 low ~nergy circuit.

The anodes of the diodes 222 and 224 are connected 21 to the end terminals of the secondary windLng of the trans-22 former 226 and the cathodes are connected to a resistance 228 23 and capacitances 230 included in the full-wave rectifier.
24 Second terminals of the resîstance 228 and the capacitances ' 25 230 are connected to the center tap of thc secondary winding i 26 of the transformer. Connections are mad~ from the cathodes 27 of the diodes 222 and 224 to first terminals of resistances 28 232, 234, 236 and 23~, second tcrminals of which are respect-. .
~9 fully connected to first tcrminals of the diode 6~a, the diode 68b, the transistor 69a and the transistor 69b. Second 1 terminals of the transistors 69a and 69b are respcctively 2 connccted to output leads through resistances 240 and 242.
3 All resistances 232, 234, 2~5, 238, 240 and 242 are pro-4 tectivc elements and are included in the circuit to limit the elcctrical energy entering hazardous area 223 of the 6 dispenscr to intrinsically safe levels (non-ignition of 7 flammable vapors), g Second terminals of the diodes 68a and 68b are 10 ' connected to the collector of a transistor 244, the emitter 11 of which is grounded and the base of which is connected to 12 one terminal of the transistor 2a6, ~ second terminal of 13 the transistor 2~6 is connected through a resistance 248 to 14 the cathodes of the diodes 222 and 224. The transistor 246 is associ~ted,with a li~ht-emitting diode 248, one terminal 16 o which is grounded and the other terminal of which is 17 connected through a resistance 250 to receive a positive 18 voltage of relativcly low magnitude such as approximately +5V.

A positive voltage of relatively low magnitude is ; 21 introduced through the resistance 250 to the diode 248 when 22 an "in use" signal is produced. This causes the transistor 23 246 to become conductive so that a positive voltage is intro-24 duced to the base of the transistor 244. This positive voltaye causes the transistor 244 to becc~e conductive so , 26 , that a ground potential is effectively introduced to the ' 27 diodes 68a and 68b, and causes the diodes to cmit light.
', 28 As flow of product thru the dispenser causes successive 29 apertures 202 in the disc 66 to move be~een the diode 68a '~ 30 and the transistor 69a, the photo-sensitive transistor,69a ~ ..
., . : , . .,.; , ~ .

~.OG9617 1 detects the rcsulting intermittent light bcam~. The trans-2 istor 69a in turn bccomes intermittently conductive and 3 passes the signals for the dollars count through the resistor 4 240. In like manner and simultaneously, the transistor 6gb passes signals through the resistor 242 when the diode 68b 6 becomes conductive and with rotation of disc 67 to indicate 7 increments in the volume (gallons) of the fluid dispensed 8 for the individual dispenser. The circuitry shown in Figure 9 7 may be considered to correspond to the diodes 68, the trans~stors 69 and the pulser drivers 70 and 71 in Figure 3.

12 The signals passing through the resistor 240 are ~
, . ..
13 introduced in ~igure 3 to a pulse shaper 72 ~Jhich is shown 14 in some detail in Figure 9. The resistor 240 in Figure 7 is also indica~cd,in Figure 9 to show that the electrical 16 si~nals representing increments in the dollar amount of the 17 product dispensed by an individual dispenser is introduced 18 to the base of a transistor 250 and to first terminals of a 19 parallel nctwork formed by a resistor 252 and a capacitor 254, the other terminals of which are grounded. The trans-21 istor 250 is included in a differential amplifier with a 22 transistor 256. The emitters of the transistors 250 and 256 , 23 have a common connection with one terminal of a resistor 258, i 24 the second terminal o$ which is ~rounded. The base of the transistor 256 is connected to one terminal of a resistor 260, 26 the second terminal of the resistor being grounded.

28 The collectors of the transistors 250 and 256 ~9 respectively reeive positive voltage through resistors 262 and 264 from a source providing a positive voltage of low ' '~4 . :
, 31 ~ -~5 ~0696~7 1 magnitude, such as approximately +5V. Signals on the 2 c~llcctor of the transistor 256 are also introduccd 3 through a coupling capacitor 266 to the base of a trans-4 istor 268. A positive potential of relatively low magnitude is also introduced to the base of the transistor 6 268 through a resistor 270. The emitter of the transistor 7 268 is grounded and the collector of the transistor 268 8 has positive potential applied to it through a resistor 272.
9 The signals on the collector of the transistor 268 are intro-duced to one terminal of "NAND" network 274 having another lI terminal connected to a line 276 to receive the "in use"
12 signals.

l~ The transistor 256 is normally conductive and the transistor 250;is normally nonconducti.ve. ~Jhen the transis-16 tor 69a in Figure 7 becomes conductive to indicate an 17 increment in the dol.lar amount of the product dispensed by 18 the individual dispenser, it causes a positive signal to be 19 introduced through the resistor 240 to the base of the 2.0 transistor 250 in Figure 9. This causes the transistor 250 21 to become conductive. The resultant decrcase in the potential :.
22 on the collector of the transistor 250 is introduced to the 23 base of the transistor 256 to make the transistor 256 noncon-24 ductive. By way of illustration, the transistor 250 becomes conductive and the transistor 256 hecomes nonconductive when 26 a signal having an amplitude of at least approximately 3.4 27 voit~ is introduced to the base of the transistor 250.

29 The resistor 262 has a considerably greater value A 30 than the resistor 264. Because of this, the voltage produced , .. , ~ . .

1 on thc emitter of the transistor 250 during the conductivity 2 of this transistor is closer to ground potential than the 3 voltage produced on the emitter of the transistor 256 while it is conducting. As a result, the transistor 250 remains conductive even when the voltage introduced to the base of the transistor alls considerably below a potential of approximately 3.4 volts. This prevents spurious signals ~ passing through the resistor 240 to the base of the transis-9 tor 250 from triggering the transistor 250 to a state of nonconductivity. By way of illustration, the transistor 250 11 becomes triggered to a state of nonconductivity only when 12 the voltage introduced to the base of the transistor falls 13 below a value of approximately 0.9 volts.

By preventing the transistor 250 from being 16 triggered to a state of nonconductivity until the voltage 17 on the base of the transistor has fallen to a level con-18 siderably lower than that required to trigger the transistor 19 to a state of conductivity, the transistor 250 is made ins~nsitive to spurious signals such as noise signals. In 21 this way, the transistor 250 responds only to large signals 22 representing increments in the dollar amount of the product 23 dispensed by the individual dispenser. The effective hyster-24 esis also prevents undesirable extra signals from being generated ~rom mcchanical vibrations and slight reverse-26 motions of the disk whess otherwise in a static condition 27 near one of the signal threshhold levels.

29 Every time that the transistor 250 is triggered to a state of conductivity asld is then triggered to a state ~`
~ 31 , ~1 1 of nonconductivity, the transistor 256 becomes alternately 2 nonconductive and conductive. ~hen the transistor 256 3 becomes conductive, a relatively low potential is introduced 4 from the collcctor of the transistor 256 to the base of the transistor 268. This causes the transistor 268 to become 6 nonconductive so that a rclatively high potential is intro-7 duced to thc "N~D" network 27~. The "NAND" network 274 8 then passes this signal provided that a positive voltage is 9 produced on the line 276 to indicatc that thc dispenser is in use.
lI
12 Therefore, when the in-use condition exists, each 13 successive cycle of triggering the transistor 250 in sequence 14 to a state of conductivity and then a state o~ nonconductivity produccs one inc~emcntal count in thc dollar amount o the 16 product dispensed by the individuai dispenser. Similar cir-17 cuitry to that shown in ~igure 9 is provided and is opcrative 18 to produce signals rom transistor 68b throush resistor 242 19 rcpresenting incre~ents in the volume tgallons) of product dispensed for the individual dispenser. Typicallv, the incre-21 ment for the amount of fluid dispens2d i~ 0.01 gallon and the 22 monetary increment is 0.001 dollar.

24 Figure 8 illustrates in some detail the construction of the photocoupler 86, the delay circuit 88, the triac gate 26 92, the photocoupler isolator 94 and the ~riac switch 96 in 27 Figure 3. In Figure 8, the "in use" signal is introduced to 28 the photocoupler 86 also shown in Figure 3. The resultant 29 signal produccd by the transistor in the photocoupler is amplified in stages ~hich include transistors 280, 282, 284 31 and 286. ~dclay indicatcd in bloc~ for~ at 88 in Figurc 3 32 i5 providcd at tllc output oi the stage including the 3~

,3 9 - , .~
,. , ..... ~

1 transistor 282 by including a resistor 288 and a capacitor 2 290 in se~i~s and connccting the common terminal hetween 3 the resistor 288 and the capacitor 290 to the collector of 4 the transistox 282 and the base of the transistor 284. As ~ previo~sly described, thi~ delay in dropping the "in-use"
6 condition, and the associated pulse counting capability is 7 desirable to make certain that a user does not obtain a 8 small amount of free (uncounted) product (in the order of 9 2 or 3 cents worth) after he turns off the pump in the dispenser. However, the delay provided by the resistor 288 11 and the capacitor 290 is sufficiently short so as to prevent 12 the dispenser user ~rom turning off the dispenser to reset 13 the dials to zero, and the restarting to dispense product 1~ again before the in-use condition is lost.
16 The outpu~ signal on the collector o the trans-17 istor 286 is introduced to a cathode of a diode 292 which is 18 included in an "AND" network with a diode 294~ The cathode 19 of the diode 294 is connected to receive the ~'~eady~' (compliment of ready) signal from the "readyl' flip-flop 100 21 in Figure 3. The "AND" network formed by thc diodes 292 22 and 294 produces a low voltage when ~ither an "in use" signal 23 is not introduced to the diode 292 or a "ready" signal is not 2~ introduced to the diode 294. At such times as an "in use"
signal and a "readyl' signal are simultane~usly being produced, 26 a high voltage is obtain~d from the anodes of the diodes.

28 The voltage on the anodes of the diodes 2g2 and 29 294 is introduced to the base of a txansistor 296 which is inclu`ded in an "NOR" network with a transistor 298. The ~ .
.'; ..
. ;~E' ' ~0696~7 1 emitters of the transistors 296 ~nd 298 are grounded and 2 the base of the transistor 298 is connected to receive the 3 "emergency stop" ~ignal. The collectors of the diodes 296 4 and 298 ~re conn~cted to the light-emitting diode in the photocoupler isolator 94 also illustrated in Figure 3.

7 The "AND" network formed by the diodes 292 and 8 294 and the "NOR" network formed by the transistors 296 9 and 298 correspond to the triac gate 92 in Figure 3. As 10 previously dcscribed, a low voltage is produced on the 1~ anodes of the diodes 2S2 and 294 when either an "in u~se"
12 signal or a "ready" signal is produced. This low voltage 2 13 is introduced to the base of the transistor 296 to turn 14 off the transistor. The transistor 298 is also turned ; 15 off when an "emergçncy stop" signal is not being intro-i 16 duced tO the base of the transistor 298. Under these 17 conditions, a high voltage is produced on the collectors 18 o the transistors 296 and 298 to make the diode in the 19 photocoupler isolator 94 conductive. This in turn causes 20 a silicon-controlled rectifier 94a in the isolator 94 to 21 become conductive.

23 When a voltage is produced-in the silicon-24 controlled rectifier 94a, it causes a positive voltage 25 to be produced in a diode bridge 300. This positive 26 voltage in turn causes a switch formed by a back-to-back 27~ ~relationship of two silicon-controlled rectifiers to 8 become conductive. Th~s switch is designated as the ; 29~ triac switch 96 in Figure 3. When the switch 302 becomes 30 conductive, it causes the ground path to be completed to , . ~f ~ ' .
,, ~ _ 1.. ,,,, ., , , , , , . ._ ~ . :

1o696~

1 the reset motor and the relay coil ~hich activates the sub-2 merged pump motor for supplying the product from the stored 3 tanks. Power is not applied to the reset motor until switch 4 46 is activated to turn the dispenser on to dispense product.

6 The novel functions provided by the apparatus and 7 method o~ this invention allow complete control of dispensers 8 at a self-service station, with storing of data in such a way 9 that accuracy can be checked by a home office, and the account-10 ing function performed with automated data. Prior to or dur- -~1 ing a transaction, the sales data from the previous sale on 12 each dispenser can be recalled and displayed. Reset of a 13 dispenscr is inhibited while the dispenser is in use. Add-14 itional data can be entered manually by the station opcrator, electronically~by the home office. Automatically acquired 16 digital data received from tank inventory gauges can be 17 received, displayed, stored in memory with continual updating, 18 and transmitted by telephone. As will be appaxent to those 19 skilled in the art, many other advantageous results are rea--ZO lized from the apparatus and method of this invention.

22 The preferred embodiments of the apparatus of this 23 invention have been described as utili~ing conventional inte-24 grated and micro-computer circuits, and oth~r apparatus 2~ suitable for use therewith, as well kno~n i~ the art. However, 26 those skilled in the art will appreciate th~t different micro-27 computer programs, logic systems, other types of circuits and ~28 different apparatus may be substituted without departing from :j A 29 the scope of the invention. The invention is not limited, therefore, to the specific embodiments shown and described, . ! , 31 but only as dcfined by the appendcd claims.

i . ,4., . ~ _

Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. In combination in a dispenser at a gasoline station for producing electrical signals representing the amount of energy fluid dispensed by the dispenser, a first shaft operably connected to the dispenser for rotation thereby in an amount correlated with the amount of fluid dispensed, a second station-ary shaft displaced from the first shaft, brace means mounted at one end on the second stationary shaft, means defining a forked frame mounted at one end on the first shaft rotationally free of the first shaft, the forked frame means being attached to the brace means at a position removed from the first shaft and the second stationary shaft, a rotary disc supported on the first shaft between the fork legs of the frame means for rotation with the first shaft, the rotary disc having a plurality of uniformly spaced apertures provided in an annular path of orbit near its periphery, and photocell means supported for scanning the apertures in the disc as the disc rotates to pro-vide a plurality of electrical signals each representing a pre-determined increment in the amount of energy fluid dispensed by the dispenser.

2. The combination set forth in Claim 1 wherein the forked frame means supports a pair of spaced apart blocks em-bracing the path of said aperture orbit and the photocell means include a light source disposed on one of the blocks and a light detector disposed on the other one of the blocks to provide said plurality of electrical signals.

3. The combination set forth in Claim 2 wherein the brace means are pivotable relative to the forked frame means to facilitate the mounting of the brace means on the second stationary shaft.

4. In combination in a dispenser at a gasoline station for producing electrical signals representing the amount of energy fluid dispensed by the station, a first shaft operably connected to the dispenser for rotation thereby in an amount correlated with the amount of gasoline dispensed by the dis-penser, a second shaft having a stationary dispostion, a disc mounted for rotation on said first shaft and having a plurality of apertures equally spaced around the periphery of the disc to provide indication as to the rotation of the disc, first means embracing the disc and supported rotationally free about the first shaft, second means mounted on the second shaft for fixed disposition on the second shaft and operatively coupled to the first means in pivotable relationship to the first means, and photocell means positioned relative to the apertures in the disc to produce signals indicative of the quantum rotation of the apertures past the photocell means.

5. The combination set forth in Claim 4 wherein the first means include a pair of blocks disposed on opposite sides of the disc and the photocell means include a light source supported by one of the blocks and a detector supported by the other of the blocks and positioned relative to the light source to receive light passing through the apertues from the light source as the apertures rotate past the light source.

6. The combination set forth in Claim 5 wherein the light detector converts the pulses of light passing from the light source through the apertures to electrical signals and there is included a remotely located signal accumulator and transmitting means for transmitting the generated signals of said light detector to said accumulator for the accumulation of data represented by the signals.