US3774227A

US3774227A - Multiple-key lock mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3774227A
Application number: US00145193A
Authority: US
Inventors: B Smilgys
Original assignee: Veeder Industries Inc
Current assignee: Veeder Industries Inc
Priority date: 1971-05-20
Filing date: 1971-05-20
Publication date: 1973-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-20
Also published as: FR2139100B1; JPS4849499A; GB1367198A; FR2139100A1; DE2224667A1

Abstract

A fuel delivery pump with an accounting system having a multiple-key lock usable by each of a plurality of keys assignable to authorized operators for unlocking the pump for delivering fuel and a printer for printing the amount of each fuel delivery along with the identification of the key employed for unlocking the pump.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Smilgys Nov. 20, 1973 [54] MULTIPLE-KEY LOCK MECHANISM 797,598 8/1905 Ohmer 346/52 1,206,507 11/1916 Bradley 346/54 X [75] Inventor- Brun Smllgys, Hartford Conn- 2,977,045 3/1961 Pandozy 346/54 x [73] Assignee: Veeder Industries Inc., Hartford, 3302311 1967 346/53 ComL 3,385,086 5/1968 Patrlqum 346/54 X 3,529,455 9/1970 Hartzell 346/54 X [22] Filed: May 20, 1971 [21] Appl. No; 145,193 Primary ExaminerJoseph W. Hartary Att0rneyPrutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton [52] US. Cl 346/54, 70/433, 231243403, [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl, ..G01d B67d/5/24 A fuel i y p p wi h an un ing system hav- [58] Field of Search; ..346/43, 52, 53, 54; g a p y lock usable y each of a plurality of 70/433, 434 keys assignable to authorized operators for unlocking the pump for delivering fuel and a printer for printing [56] References Cit d the amount of each fuel delivery along with the identi- UNITED STATES PATENTS fication of the key employed for unlocking the pump. 3,569,981 3/1971 Hampton et a1. 346/53 4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED V 3.774.227

FIG]

INVENTOR BRUNO S. SMILGYS ATTORNEYS MULTIPLE-KEY LOCK MECHANISM BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to a multiplekey lock mechanism operable by each of a plurality of keys, one at a time, for unlocking associated apparatus and having an identification register for identifying the key used for unlocking the apparatus.

It is a primary aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple-key lock mechanism for fluid delivery apparatus operable by each of a plurality of keys assignable to authorized operators for unlocking the fluid delivery apparatus for delivering fluid and operablefor registering the usage of the fluid delivery apparatus by each of the authorized operators.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved fluid delivery apparatus accounting system having a multiple-key lock mechanism for selectively locking and unlocking the fluid delivery apparatus for delivering fluid and operable to provide a printout of the amount of each fluid delivery along with the identification of the key employed for unlocking the apparatus for delivering fluid.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple-key lock mechanism of the type having a key identification register.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved multiple-key lock mechanism hav- 7 ing a cylinder type lock and a key identification register operable to register the identification of the key used to operate the lock.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawing of an illustrative application of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevation view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a fuel dispensing pump employing a multiple-key lock accounting system incorporating an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan view ofa multiplekey lock mechanism of the accounting system;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear end view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the multiple-key lock mechanism; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevation view, partly in section, of an interlock mechanism of the accounting system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures, a multiple-key lock accounting system 6 incorporating an embodiment of the present invention is shown employed in a fuel dispensing pump 8 for accounting for the amount of fuel delivered to each of a plurality of authorized parties.,ln a conventional manner the fuel pump 8 incorporates a delivery pump 10 driven by a motor 12 for supplying fuel via a meter 14 and a shutoff valve 16 to a fuel dispensing nozzle 18. The fuel pump 8 is also shown incorporating a resettable register 20 having a visual volume counter 22 and a visual .cost counter 24 for providing visual registra-' tions of the volume and cost amounts of fuel delivered. The output shaft 26 of the meter 14 is rotated in proportion to the volume of fuel dispensed and drives the volume counter 22 and cost counter 24 of the register 20. A variator 28 connected between the meter 14 and cost counter 24 is employed in a known manner for adjustably selecting the price per unit volume of fluid dispensed. The register 20 may for example be of the type shown and described in H. N. Bliss US. Pat. No. 2,932,448 dated Apr. I2, 1960 and entitled Resetting Mechanism for Counters" and have a suitable reset mechanism operable prior to the commencement of each fluid delivery for resetting the volume and

cost counters

22, 24 to zero.

The fuel nozzle 18 is shown provided in a conventional manner with a storage receptacle 30 for storing the nozzle between fuel deliveries. A manual control handle or lever 32 is shown mounted adjacent the storage receptacle 30 such that the control handle 32 has to be manually rotated, clockwise as seen from the right in FIG. 1, to its OFF or vertical position to permit the nozzle to be replaced in its storage receptacle and such that the nozzle has to be removed from its storage receptacle to permit the control handle 32 to be pivoted, approximately 90 in the opposite direction, to its ON or horizontal position. The control handle 32 is connected via a control shaft 34 to the register 20 and such that when the control lever 32 is pivoted to its ON position the fuel pump 8 is activated for delivering fuel by energizing the motor 12 and opening the valve 16. When the control handle 32 is pivoted to its OFF or vertical position the motor 12 is de-energized and the valve 16 is closed to deactivate the fuel pump 8 for delivering fuel.

The multiple-key lock accounting system 6 is provided for accounting for each fuel delivery to each of a number of accountable parties. The system 6 comprises a printer 52 and a multiple-key lock 54 (forming a part of a multiple-key lock mechanism 56) which provides for selectively locking and unlocking the pump 8 for delivering fuel. The multiple-key lock mechanism 56 incorporates a key identification register 57 (with a plurality of print wheels 58-64 of ascending order) providing a key identification section of the printer 52. The printer 52 also incorporates a fuel delivery section 66 provided by a printing counter 68 (having a plurality of printing counter wheels 70-73 of ascending order) for printing the amount of fuel delivered. In the shown embodiment the printing counter 68 is connected to be driven with the volume counter 22 to continuously accumulate the volume amount of fuel delivered. Alternatively the printing counter 68 could be connected to accumulate the cost amount of fuel delivered (or an additional printing counter (not shown) could be provided for that purpose). The printing counter 68 is preferably resettable and automatically reset (with the volume counter 22) just prior to the commencement of each fuel delivery and just prior to conditioning the fuel pump 8 for delivering fuel. If the printing counter 68 were nonresettable, the amount of any specific delivery could, of course, be obtained by determining the difference between the accumulated counts before and after the delivery.

The printer 52 has a suitable printing mechanism 76 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1) which is operable to provide a printout of the registration of the fuel delivery print wheels 70-73 and the key identification print wheels 58-64 along a readout line or station 78. The printing mechanism 76 is suitably connected to the pump control shaft 34 to provide a printout before and- /or after the completion of each fuel delivery when the control handle 32 is pivoted to its ON and/or OFF position. For example, if the printing counter 68 is reset between deliveries, it is sufficient to provide a single printout after the completion of each delivery (and before the printing counter 68 is reset). Alternatively if the printing counter 68 is nonresettable it may be desirable to provide a printout both before and after each delivery (for. determining the amount of each delivery as for example where a ticket is issued to the pump operator showing the printouts) orjust before orjust after each delivery (where for example the printouts are retained for in-house purposes). Thus, for example, successive printouts may be made on a continuous strip of paper which is retained within the pump 8 and subsequently removed for recording the amount of each fuel delivery to each of the authorized users.

The multiple-key lock 54 is a cylinder lock having in a conventional manner a lock housing 79, a cylindrical plug 80 rotatably mounted in the lock housing (for rotation in opposite directions between a first normal or locked position and a second unlocked position) and having a suitable slot 81 for receiving an operative key 74, and a security section 82 with tumbler pins (not shown) for locking the plug 80 in its normal or locked position shown in FIG. 3. The lock 54 (which may be substantially like the lock disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,385,086 of 6.1. Partriquin dated May 28, 1968 and entitled Key Operated Switch Mechanism) also comprises a plurality of independently operable print wheel operators 84 for the print wheels 58-64 respectively and selectively operable by the inserted key in accordance with the design of the key. The lock 54 is selectively operable by each of a number of keys for selectively rotating the print wheel operators 84 with the lock plug 80 as the plug is rotated from its normal or locked position to its unlocked position. As more fully described in the aforementioned US. Pat. No.

3,385,086 the operators 84 are normally locked to the housing 79 by outer tumbler pins 88 but may be selectively locked to the plug 80 by inner tumbler pins or actuators 89 when a key is inserted (and dependent upon the design of the key) whereupon such operators 84 are rotated when the plug 80 is rotated with the key.

Referring to FIG. 4 a suitable interlock member 90 is fixed to the inner end of the plug 80, and a cooperating interlock member 92 is fixed to the pump control shaft 34 for interlocking the operation of the lock and control handle 32. More particularly the control handle 32 is free to be pivoted to its ON or horizontal position only after the lock plug 80 has been rotated (approximately 45) from its normal or locked position to its unlocked position. Also, the lock plug 80 is free to be rotated back to its locked position only after the control handle 32 has been returned to its OFF or vertical position. Accordingly the control handle 32 cannot be pivoted to its ON position to condition the pump for delivering fuel until an operative key is used for rotating the plug 80 to its unlocked position, and the plug 80 cannot be rotated to relock the pump until after the control handle 32 is returned to its vertical or OFF position. Also the lock 54 is preferably designed such that an operative key cannot be removed from or inserted into the keyway with the lock plug in other than its locked position.

Each print wheel operator 84 is interlocked with a corresponding print wheel 58-64 to position the print wheel in each of two operative positions of the print wheel. A leaf spring detent arm 96 is also provided for each print wheel 58-64 for accurately positioning the print wheel in each of its two operative po'sitions. Thus, with the wheel operator 84 in its normal or locked position the corresponding print wheel 58-64 is held in a first or normal position and when the wheel operator 84 is rotated with the plug 80 (when the plug is rotated to condition the pump for delivering fuel) the corresponding print wheel 58-64 is rotated to a second extended position.

The print wheels 58-64 preferably have numerical printing indicia or type of the numbers 1 through 7 respectively and with only a single type element on each print wheel positioned to provide a printout at the printout or readout station 78 when the print wheel is in its extended position. Thus with the lock 54 in its locked condition all of the print wheels have blank areas at the printout station 78 and with a seven wheel key identification printer the following separate numerical printouts or key identifications are available l-7,12-17, 23-27, 34-37, 45-47, 56, 57, 67,123-127, 134-137, -147, 156, 157, 167, 234-237, 245-247, 256, 257, 267, 345-347, 356, 357, 367, 456, 457, 467, 567, 1234-1237, 1245-1247, 1256, 1257, 1267, 1345-1347, 1356, 1357, 1367, 1456, 1457, 1467, 1567, 2345-2347, 2356, 2357, 2367, 2456, 2457, 2467, 2567, 3456, 3457, 3467, 3567, 4567, 12345-12347, 12356, 12357, 12367, 12456, 12457, 12467, 12567, 13456, 13457, 13467, 13567, 14567, 23456, 23457, 23467, 23567, 24567, 34567, 123456, 1234567, 123467, 123567, 124567, 134567, 234567, 1234567 a total of 127 key identifications having between one and seven digits inclusive. Thus, it can be seen that 127 different key identification numbers can be provided with a seven print wheel mechanism although the identification numbers do not follow a constant pattern and the spacing between the numerals of the multiple digit identification number is uneven.

Each print wheel 58-64 may, if desired, also have a 0" printing type to provide a 0" printout when the print wheel is in its first or normal position, in which event all of the identification numbers would be seven place numbers beginning with the number 1,000,000 and the digit spacing would remain constant. Also, other symbols such as the letters of the alphabet could be used and different symbols could be used with different pumps to provide for distinguishing the records between two or more pumps.

The multiple-key lock 54 may if desired be of the type wherein the cylindrical plug 80 is rotatable in either direction from its first normal or locked position dependent upon the design of the key used. With such a lock the number of available key identifications would be doubled (to 254 with seven print wheels) by providing (a) each print wheel with different type elements rotatable to the readout station 78 when the plug 80 is rotated in opposite directions respectively from its normal or locked position (and such that entirely different key identifications are provided by rotating the plug in each direction), (b) two sets of keys, each set being operable for rotating the plug in one direction only, (c) provision for rotating each print wheel in both directions and detenting the wheel in both extended positions, and (d) modification of the interlock member 90 for unlocking the control handle 32 by rotation of the lock plug 80 in either direction from its locked position.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

1 claim:

1. In an apparatus usable by a plurality of operators and comprising a printing mechanism operable for providing a printout of the usage of the apparatus and a mechanical multiple-key lock mechanism having a housing, a plug, with a keyway for receiving an operative key, rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation between a first looked angular position and a second unlocked angular position for unlocking the apparatus for use, and a plurality of operative keys assignable to different operators respectively and usable in the keyway, one at a time, for rotating the plug for unlocking the apparatus for use, the improvement wherein the printing mechanism comprises a plurality of two position print elements mounted for being independently shifted substantially the same amount back and forth between first and second operative limit positions thereof, each print element bearing printing indicia operable to provide a printout at a printout station with the print element in at least one of its said operative limit positions and the plurality of print elements having printing indicia operable to provide different collective printouts at the printout station with different combinations of the printing elements in their first and second positions, and wherein the mechanical multiplekey lock mechanism comprises a plurality of mechanical print element actuators for the plurality of print elements respectively rotatably mounted on the plug for selective rotation by the plug as the plug is rotated between its first and second positions, and locking means for each actuator for locking the actuator in a first position thereof and adapted to be selectively operated by a key upon insertion of the key into the keyway in accordance with the design of the key for unlocking the actuator in its first position and for locking the actuator to the plug for being rotated thereby, each actuator being mechanically interlocked with its respective print element to maintain the print element in its first position with the actuator in its first locked position and to positively shift the print element to its second position as the actuator is rotated by the plug such that the inserted key provides for selectively positively shifting the print elements from their first to their second positions as the plug is rotated with the key from its first position to its second position for unlocking the apparatus for use and for thereby establishing a collective printout at the printout station identifying the key used for unlocking the apparatus for use, the plurality of operative keys being designed to provide upon individual insertion of the keys into the keyway for operating different combinations of the actuator locking means respectively for establishing different key identifications, and the printing mechanism being operable for printing the collective printout of the print elements at the printout station along with the usage printout for providing an operator identification of the use of the apparatus.

2. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the print elements bear different numerical printing indicia for respectively providing different numerical printouts at said printout station in said one positions thereof.

3. In an apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said printout element bears numerical printout indicia for providing a numerical printout at the printout station in only its said one position.

4. In an apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each printout element bears printout indicia for providing a printout at the printout station in only its said one position.

Claims

1. In an apparatus usable by a plurality of operators and comprising a printing mechanism operable for providing a printout of the usage of the apparatus and a mechanical multiple-key lock mechanism having a housing, a plug, with a keyway for receiving an operative key, rotatably mounted in the housing for rotation between a first locked angular position and a second unlocked angular position for unlocking the apparatus for use, and a plurality of operative keys assignable to different operators respectively and usable in the keyway, one at a time, for rotating the plug for unlocking the apparatus for use, the improvement wherein the printing mechanism compRises a plurality of two position print elements mounted for being independently shifted substantially the same amount back and forth between first and second operative limit positions thereof, each print element bearing printing indicia operable to provide a printout at a printout station with the print element in at least one of its said operative limit positions and the plurality of print elements having printing indicia operable to provide different collective printouts at the printout station with different combinations of the printing elements in their first and second positions, and wherein the mechanical multiple-key lock mechanism comprises a plurality of mechanical print element actuators for the plurality of print elements respectively rotatably mounted on the plug for selective rotation by the plug as the plug is rotated between its first and second positions, and locking means for each actuator for locking the actuator in a first position thereof and adapted to be selectively operated by a key upon insertion of the key into the keyway in accordance with the design of the key for unlocking the actuator in its first position and for locking the actuator to the plug for being rotated thereby, each actuator being mechanically interlocked with its respective print element to maintain the print element in its first position with the actuator in its first locked position and to positively shift the print element to its second position as the actuator is rotated by the plug such that the inserted key provides for selectively positively shifting the print elements from their first to their second positions as the plug is rotated with the key from its first position to its second position for unlocking the apparatus for use and for thereby establishing a collective printout at the printout station identifying the key used for unlocking the apparatus for use, the plurality of operative keys being designed to provide upon individual insertion of the keys into the keyway for operating different combinations of the actuator locking means respectively for establishing different key identifications, and the printing mechanism being operable for printing the collective printout of the print elements at the printout station along with the usage printout for providing an operator identification of the use of the apparatus.