DE2601835A1 - FUEL DISPENSING POINT - Google Patents

Description

Petitioner
1 31 «1 * 3 at * N. MenzelstraQe 4Q / DU l

Koppens Automatic Fabrieken B.V. A 35 ο7β - me

Industrieweg 5 19 oil. 1976

Bladel / Holland

Fuel dispenser

The invention relates to a fuel dispenser with Operating switches, a pump, a volume counter and a device for measuring and displaying the amount, the final price and / or the price per liter of the delivered fuel. In known taps are to the Mechanical volume counter that measures the amount of liquid Roller counters connected via multi-stage gear transmission. These transmission gears have take up a relatively large amount of space, and their maintenance and repairs are difficult and require a considerable amount of time. In addition, there are great difficulties when such a roller counter should be changed later, for example the digits are to be enlarged for easier readability or that Counter must be supplemented by one or more decades, as is the case with an increase in the price per liter three-digit values may be necessary.

There are also known display devices for gas pumps in which the digits of the counters are illuminated. These counters are often difficult to read, depending on the location of the fuel pump and the illumination of their surroundings.

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The invention is based on the object of designing the display device in such a way that the to be displayed Values set securely via a control device having only a small volume and the display values can be easily read.

This object is achieved in a fuel dispensing point of the type described above in that the display device a display field with digits each consisting of seven electromechanically controlled elements and that the volume counter is connected to the display device via a logic circuit.

The representation of digits with seven elements each is known per se. Here are the seven elements individually and optionally illuminated depending on the digit to be displayed. As already explained, such luminous digits can lead to significant reading difficulties. In contrast, the electro-mechanical according to the invention controlled elements have significant advantages. The digits are easier to read and the individual elements are for purpose Repairs can be changed quickly and easily. The display panel can be built in one or more decades can be added without difficulty and effort. The control via an electronic logic circuit requires only a small footprint. In addition, the energy consumption is lower because the digits are not illuminated need to be, with the electro-mechanical control designed so that the use of magnets with high remanence, the energy consumption is particularly low is held. The elements of the digits can be designed to reflect light, so that even with bright

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perfect readability is guaranteed in the illuminated environment.

To the power consumption for the necessary excitation current To keep the electromechanical control as low as possible, the logic circuit is designed so that the electromagnets of the digit elements only receive control signals if by comparing the previous ones a changeover command to change the set digit is triggered with the new display to be output. the Electromagnets are only actuated if the display set from the previous dispensing process is also activated does not match the new ad to be specified.

Further features of the invention emerge from the claims and the following description in connection with the Drawings. Show it

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of the electronic Control with a schematic representation of the associated tapping point,

Figure 2 shows a fourteen-digit display panel, one of which is comprised of seven elements Digit is shown,

Fig. 3 is a perspective partial view of the

Display panel with two electromagnets and the associated, one single element each forming valves,

4 shows the circuit diagram for the electromagnets of the electro-mechanical control,

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Fig. 5

and FIG. 6 each shows a timing diagram to explain FIG

Mode of operation of the Pig counting-decoding circuit. J,

Pig. 7 is a block diagram of a counting and decoding circuit arrangement for generating clock pulses within the electronic control,

8 shows a part of the electronic control in a block diagram.

In Fig. 1 switches 1, 2 and J5 are shown for operating a fuel dispensing point which is set up for several different fuels, for example for super and normal gasoline and for diesel fuel. The desired fuel is selected by closing one of the switches. The switches are assigned to a selector and a pump control unit k , via which one of the pumps 5 * β or 7 is put into operation and an associated pulse generator 8, 9 or Io is switched on. The pulse generators are each mounted on the axis of a volume counter, which measures the amount of liquid while it is being withdrawn. The pulse generators deliver 100 pulses per revolution of the pump via two separate lines, with one liter of fuel being pumped per revolution. From the control unit 4, the two series of pulses are fed to a pulse tester 11, in which they are checked for errors. The pulse checker is a comparator circuit in which the pulse series are compared with one another. The comparator 11 has two outputs which are connected to counters 12 and 1J5

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and are connected to computers 14 and 15, respectively. These calculators are controlled via a command register 16 which, depending on the closed position of switches 1 to j5, is controlled by the control unit 4 receives a command that is dependent on the selected fuel and the associated price per liter, and corresponding commands Gives commands to the computers. The command register 16 can be arranged in a control center and used to control several meters of a gas station. The calculators are each one Counter 17 or 18 for recording four decades and a counter 19 or 2o connected downstream, which is to be paid Indicating final amount. The counters 12 and 13 are used for recording the amount of fluid eaten. The counters 12 and 15, the counters 19 and 2o indicating the final amount and the command register 16 are each connected to a time-division multiplex circuit 21 and 22 connected, the outputs of which are connected to the two inputs of a comparator, so that the different pending at the multiplex circuits 21 and 22 Signals are compared simultaneously. In the time division multiplex circuits 21 and 22, the respective received three signals converted into binary code signals, the output signals of the circuit 22 being inverted compared to the output signals of the circuit 21. These code signals are fed to memories 24 or j5o. In the memory 24 is a complete per memory cycle Information stored. A comparator 25 connected to this memory determines whether the next in the information entered into the memory matches the previous, stored information. Results in the Checking that the later information has been changed, a control pulse is triggered by the comparator 25, which is fed to a display control unit 29, which the excitation currents for an electro-mechanically controlled

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Display device 33 triggers. This display device is set up to convert the reverse code into a 7-element decoder 31 and a time division multiplex circuit 32 to reproduce converted information. The information displayed by the display device 33 is compared in a comparator 28 with the information previously entered * after this previous information has been transmitted in binary code to a 7-element decoder 26 and a time division multiplex circuit 27. If the comparator 28 detects an error, it gives to the display control unit 29, a clear signal, so that the Playback in the display device 33 is deleted. The storage cycle is determined by an oscillator 34, which sends the timing control signal to a 16-stage divider 35 feeds. This divider serves as a clock and controls the memories 24 and 3o as well as the time division multiplex circuits 27 and 32; in addition, the clock generator 35 controls a voltage monitoring device 36 and the display control unit via a second, with the output of the clock 35 connected 16-stage divider 37 are the counters 12 and 13, the computers 14 and 15 and the counters 19 and 2o and the command register 16 and the display device are controlled at a low clock frequency. For control the zero position at the beginning of a dispensing process receives a zero position test device 38, which is also from the low clock frequency of the clock 37 is controlled, the Umkehrcodeinf ο rmat ion from the time division multiplex circuit 22 and, if an error is detected, sends an error signal to the control unit 4, which then controls the pump stops.

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As can be seen from the working method described, is the logic circuit shown in Fig. 1 is a digital computer, the several monitoring and error display functions Has. A first control is made in the impulse tester 11 carried out and a second check in the comparator 23. All output signals of the the two counters 19 and 2o determine the final amount, the two counters 12 and determine the amount of liquid IJ and the command register 16 checked. A third check result in the comparators 25 and 28, which together give a Error signal of the display control unit 29 can trigger. A fourth control results from the zero test device 38, in which the amount of liquid in liters and the price indicated for the display device be checked for zero position shortly after a reset signal has been emitted. If from the first, the second and / or the fourth test device detects an error, this device supplies an error or blocking signal to the control unit 4 to switch off the pump that has been put into operation. If in the comparator 28, which is the third test station represents, an inequality is detected which is caused by changing one or more of the elements in the display device occurs, the faulty display is deleted; the element in question disappears. However, if the If the erasure signal emitted proves to be incorrect, the display control unit 29 sends a blocking pulse to the control unit 4 given to switch off the commissioned pump.

Since it is generally difficult to cause a system failure in a relatively intricate electrical circuit localize, the electronic control according to the invention is designed with two parallel branches. This will also

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ensures the required safety and reliability of the control system. In addition, the described Checking and comparing circuits also provide sufficient accuracy in the correspondence between the the amount of fuel supplied and the values displayed.

In Fig. 2, a display panel is shown, which is for Suitable for use at the pump of a gas station. The display field has fourteen individual fields that are used for display each serve a digit, which is represented by 7 individual elements, as in the first individual field at the top left indicated schematically.

3 shows a section from the electro-mechanically controlled display device. The display panel consists of a preferably black housing 40 and colored, preferably reflective elements, of which two elements 41 and 42 are shown. Seven such elements each form a number an armature provided with a permanent magnet 45, which can fluctuate about an axis kj> . A black plate 44 is arranged between the two flaps 41 and 42. The armatures are arranged above magnetic core coils 46, the magnetic core of which has a high remanence Coil cores 47 are fastened on a housing plate 48.

The coils 46 each contain an excitation winding and an extinguishing winding. The polarity of the coil core will determined by the direction of short current pulses applied to the coils. The remanence magnetic field

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of the coil core acts on the field of the armature permanent magnet 45 so that the armature about the axis 4j> is pivoted. Depending on the polarity set by the pulse, the flap attached to the armature - which forms an element of the digit to be represented - either swiveled into the housing, as the illustrated position of the flap 42 shows, or pivoted into the window formed by the housing and the plate 44 so that the element is visible, as for the Flap 41 shown. Even if the flaps are through external Forces, e.g. mechanical shocks, should be adjusted, they occur as a result of the remanence of the coil magnetic cores immediately back to their predetermined position.

Fig. 4 shows the circuit diagram of the electromagnetic Steering. The coils each contain an excitation winding 49. » 5o or 51 and opposite to these windings wound extinguishing windings 52, 55 and 54, respectively. The extinguishing windings all coils belonging to the seven elements of a digit are connected in series so that the Flaps of a digit are swiveled back into the housing at the same time and thus become invisible. The excitation windings these coils are connected in parallel in order to move the flaps individually into the visible to form the number to be displayed To be able to pivot position.

FIG. 7 shows, in a block diagram, the circuit arrangement for generating the clock pulses which are required for controlling the circuit arrangement according to FIG. The circuit arrangement according to FIG. 7 contains an oscillator 55 * whose output is connected to a 4-bit Ιβ counter 56. The outputs of the counter are connected to a decoder 57 which has Ιβ outputs S ₁ , S ₂ , ... S ₁₀ -. The exit S., g

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of the decoder 57 is connected to a 4-bit 3.6 counter 58, the outputs of which are connected to a decoder 59, the 16 outputs D ₁ , D ₂ , »- ^ iq h & t. 5 and 6 show the timing diagrams for decoders 57 and 59, respectively. In each period T ₁ to T 1 ^ the associated output S ₁ , S ₂ , ... S ₁ ^ of the decoder 57 is occupied. The outputs D ₁ to D ₁ ^ of the decoder 59 are assigned in the same "time sequence T ₁ 'to T ₁ ^ ^1. The periods T ₁ and T ₁ ' are present at the same time, as are the correspondingly designated periods T ₂ to T ₁ ^ and T ₂ 'to T ₁ ^'. The periods T ₁ to T ₁ can be used, for example, to display the quantity measured in liters in five decades, the periods Tg to T ₁ to display the final price in five decades and the periods T ₁₁ to T ₁ J, for setting the price per liter. The periods T ₁ C and T ₁ ^ are not used. The output _{signals D 1} , • * ' ^D 16 of ^the decoder 59 can be used as follows: From the period T ₁ - ¹ to the period T ,, ¹ , the excitation coils of the elements or flaps "are controlled in accordance with the supplied signal; During the period T ₁ 'it is checked whether the relevant element should be changed, and during the period T ₂ ' to T ^ * a clear signal is given. In the period T ₁₂ '"to T ₁ -,' a clear signal can be given, which is triggered by the detection of a fault in a coil. The period T ₁₂ , - to T ₁ C- 'results in a pause, and during the period T-tg ¹ is switched to the next decade of the display field.

Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of a circuit arrangement according to the invention, which is used for converting the BCD code offered information for the decades of the liter display, the display of the final amount and the liter price in one

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7-element code is used. This circuit arrangement has a memory 60 with any access. At the input of the memory, the information of the decades of the display device is fed one after the other in BCD code. The input signal of the memory 6o is thus supplied via four parallel lines for the 4 bits of the BCD code. The output of the memory '60 is also provided over four parallel lines for the 4 bits of the BCD code. A comparator 63 is also provided, which compares the 4 bits of a decade of the previous state with the 4 bits of the same decade, which represent the digit to be reproduced, at this specific point in time. If the comparator 63 determines that the two values are the same, a control signal is fed to a control circuit 65, whereby the control circuit 65 is enabled. A code converter S1 , which converts a BCD code into a 7-element code, is also connected to the output of the memory 60. The converter 61 has seven outputs at which the seven characters of the converted code are present and which are connected to a time division multiplex circuit 64 which feeds the code information intended for a decade to the control circuit 65 via seven lines. From there this information is passed over seven lines to the 7 elements (electromagnets) of the display unit to be controlled (digit of a decade) of a display device 66 The information to be stored with instruction addresses is entered into the memory 60 via the lines D, to D, |, of the decoder 59 and the display device 66 is also activated

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Input lines connected via its output line the excitation pulses for the 7 elements of the decade to be controlled successively to a comparator 62 feeds. The values flowing through the excitation windings of the seven display elements are also sent to this comparator Pulses fed one after the other over a common line. If the comparison shows that the two input signals of the comparator 62 are the same, the comparator transfers its output line sends an enable pulse to the control circuit 65, so that the information corresponding Number appears in the display field of the display device 66 at the predetermined point.

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Claims (6)

Patent attorney
S tu ttg a rt N. Menzelstrasse 40 Koppens Automatic Fabrieken B.V. A 35 076 - me Industrieweg 5 j \ 19.0I.I976 Bladel / Holland Claims Fuel dispensing point with control switches, a pump, a volume counter and a device for Measure and display the amount, the final price and / or the price per liter of the fuel dispensed, thereby characterized in that the display device (33) a display field with digits each consisting of 7 electro-mechanically controlled elements (41, 42) and that the volume counter is connected to the display device (33) via a logic circuit is. 2. Fuel dispensing point according to claim 1, characterized in that the logic circuit is a digital computer with two parallel branches that each have the same type of calculating and counting units (12, 14, I7, 19, 21 and 13, 15, 18, 2o, 22), memory (24 and 30) and decoder (26 and 31) and those for monitoring and error display common comparators (11, 23 and 25) are assigned, of which signals when errors occur to block the fuel withdrawal. 3 · 'Fuel dispensing point according to claim 1 or 2, characterized characterized in that the pulses supplied by the volume counter are sent via two separate lines to one at the input the pulse checker lying in the logic circuit (11) 609830/0689 -14- supplied v / ground, represent the recorded impulses compares and generates a signal in the event of inequality, which is evaluated to stop the pump (5j6j7). 4. Fuel dispensing point according to one of claims 1 to J5 * characterized in that the logic circuit with two separate counters (12 and 15, 19 and 2o) for the price and quantity values corresponding to the fuel withdrawal as well as with two computers (14 and 15) is provided to indicate the price per liter, and that to check the correspondence of the respective A comparator (23) is provided for similar values which is controlled simultaneously with the three different values at each of its two inputs and emits an error signal if the two input signals are not identical. 5. Fuel dispensing point according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that to check the signals actuating the elements of the display panel on Comparator (28) is provided to which the control pulses applied to the display device and the excitation current pulses of the controlled elements are supplied, and when the compared signals are equal Unlocked display control unit (29) which is connected upstream of the display device (33). 6. Fuel dispensing point according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the adjustment of the Elements of each digit serving information in at least one memory (24; 30) until they arrive the following, each determined for the same decade 609830/0689 -15- Information to be stored and that for comparison a comparator (25) is provided for the two successive pieces of information determined for the same decade is connected to a display control unit (29) is such that the electromagnets (46, 47) of the numerals (4l; 42) only control signals received when a reversal command to change by comparing the successive information the set digit is triggered. 609830/0689