US1757921A - Coin-controlled device - Google Patents

Description

May 6, 1930- T. s. POOLE v 1,757,921

GOIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 6, 1930. r. s. POOLE COIN CONTROLLED DEVICE Filed Aug. l1. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 non Patented May 6, 1930 Unirse stares PATENT orrics THOMAS S. POOLE, OF STATEN ISLAND, NEIN YORK, ASSIGNOR TO POOLE & DUFF, INC., F NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY COIN-CONTROLLED DEVICE Application led August 11, 1928.

My invention relates to coin controlled vending devices for pumps particularly pumps for supplying gasolene for motor vehicles. An object of the invention is to provide a coin controlled vending device which can be utilized to permit the delivery of motor fuel at times when for any reason the attendant is not present to operate the pump. In its preferred form the device is so constructed that it can be readily attached to any gasolene pump now in service and connected to the parts of the pump without requiring any alteration in the construction of the pump; and

i when it is once mounted in proper position the gasolene pump cannot deliver any of the fuel until a coin of the proper denomination is inserted. The coin trips certain parts and permits the proper connections to come into play so that all the buyer has to do is to turn a crank to get the quantity of fuel which he pays for.

A further object of the invention is to provide a coin controlled vending device for Z5 gasolene pumps and the like which is simple in design comprising relatively few parts and certain in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invent-ion will be made clear in the following description taken with the drawings, which show one preferred embodiment of the invention. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only and I may make changes which do not depart from the principle of the invention or exceed the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. l is a horizontal sectional view showing a part of the cas-ing of a conventional gasolene pump of the type used at public filling stations with a coin controlled vending device attached;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, with the parts in a different position; and

Figs. 5 and 6 show details.`

The same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

My invention though particularly adapted 50 for gasolene pumps is of course capable of Serial No. 298,943.

being used on pumps and other devices. In the particular description of the invention herein I employ the numeral l to indicate part of the casing of a gasolene pump of a well-known type provided with an operating shaft 2 having a collar 3 with clutch projections 4. The end of the shaft 2 projects to the outside of the casing l, and the collar is on the exterior of the casing so that to operate the pump the attendant merely attaches a crank to the projecting end of the shaft 2, and by meansof this crank rotates the shaft. The crank of course has suitable clutch projections which engage the projection 4 and cause the shaft 2 to turn. It is, however, sometimes desirable, especially in places where the owner of the filling station may be temporarily absent, or at very late hours when a motorist may require gasolene after the owner of the station has gone to bed for the night, to allow the purchaser of the gasolene to help himself; and the coin controlled vending device of my invention is adapted to be attached to an ordinary gasolene pump to enable the customer to get a supply of gasolene when under the abovenamed conditions or for any other reason no one is on hand to serve him. To this end the device comprises a casing 5 in which is mounted a rotatable shaft 6 designed to be connected with the shaft 2 when a coin is deposited. The shaft 6 protrudes from the casing 5 and carries a collar 3, with clutch projections 4 similar to the collar and projections already described fixed upon it. This shaft is geared to the shaft 2, but the gearing is normally disconnected until a coin is dropped into the device; whereupon certain parts are released to put the shaft and the shaft 2 into operative relation. The purchaser then can take a crank and slip it on the end of the shaft 6 and turn this shaft until the correct quantity of gasolene has been delivered. Then the device automatically becomes inoperative and no more gasolene can be had unless another coin is deposited in the device to enable the operation to be repeated.

For this purpose l mount on the shaft 6 inside the casing 5, a gear wheel 7 connected by a sprocket-chain 8 to a gear 9, which has a I1.00

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sleeve 10 to be slipped upon the outer end of the shaft 2. This sleeve has recesses 11 to receive the clutch projections 4. The gear 7 is loose upon the shaft 6 and the shaft 6 can turn without rotating the gear 7 g but next to the gear 7 is a. ratchet wheel 12 mounted on the shaft 6 and keyed thereto; as indicated at 13. This ratchet carries a hub 14, also encircling the shaft 6 and extending toward the casing of the pump 1, the hub terminating in a collar 15 which has a sloping or conical shoulder 16. One face of the ratchet 12 carries projections 17 adapted to enter recesses 18 in the gear 7, and thus the gear 7 and the ratchet 12 can b e connected to move together, so that upon the r-otation of the shaft 6 which turns the ratchet 12, the gear 7 will be revolved and through the chain 8 motion will be imparted to the gear 9 and shaft 2. Normally the ratchet 12 will be withdrawn from the gear 7 by a bell-crank lever 19 engaging the collar 15, but the shaft 6 between the hub 14 and the back of the casing 5 is encircled by a compression spring which tends to push the ratchet- 12 against the gear 7. This bellcrank lever 19 is mounted on a pivot pin 21 in a pair of lugs 22 at the rear of the casing 5, and one arm thereof engages the upper arm of a trip-lever 23 mounted on a pivot-pin 24 in a lug 25, adjacent one end of the lugs 22, the pin 24 engaging the latter together with the lug 25. The end of the other arm of the bell-crank lever 19 has a bent-over end 26 which engages the conical side of the collar 15. The lower end of the trip-lever 22 is held by a catch 27 pivoted at 28 inside the casing 5, on lugs 29, and having at one end a spring 30 joined to the casing to pull the latch into position to abut the lower extremity of the trip-lever 23, as indicated in Fig. 3. So long as the lower part of the trip-lever 2.3 is in vertical position it tends to move the bell crank lever 19 to the right keeping the end 26 in engagement with the collar 15, and holding the spring 20 in check so that the ratchet 12 is n-ot moved toward the gear 7. If, however, the adjacent end of the catch 27 is depressed the trip-lever 23 is released and the spring 2O can then move the ratchet to the left forcing the collar 15 past the downturned end 26 of the lever 19; this end then lifting so` that the collar can pass. The ratchet is thus forced against the gear wheel 7 and if the studs 17 and openings 18 are in alignment the gear 7and ratchet 12 are then connected.

The latch 27 has a projection 31 adjacent the lower end of'a coin-receiving chute 32; the opposite end of this coin-receiving chute. projects to` the outside of the casing so that a coin can be inserted. This chute or coin guide inclines in a downward direction so that the coin will roll into it and drop upon the projection 3l to depressV the latch 37. The coinisind'icated at 33 in Fig/.A4, and when the weight of the coin moves downward the latch 27, the spring 2O forces the hub 14 and ratchet 12 towards the gear 7; the collar 15 lifting the bell-crank lever 19 and forcing the upper end of the trip-lever 23 against the rear of the casing. `With a crank on the outer end of the shaft 6 the shaft can now be turned to rotate the ratchet 12, gear 7 and pinion 9, to actuate the main pump shaft 2.

To cause the correct quantity of gasolein` to be delivered for the price charged and no more, the device must be stopped when the shaft 6 has been rotated through a certain angle. I therefore mount on the rear of the ratchet 12 a projection 34 which turns with this ratchet and comes into proximity with a member 35 mounted in the casing 5. This member has a lateral projection 36 at .its outer end provided with a cam edge 37, as indicated in Fig. 5. TWhen the ratchet 12 turns to carry the projection 34 over into engagement with the edge 37, the effect is to pull back the ratchet 12 and again compress the spring 20. lVhen this happens, the collar 15 slips past the end 2G of the bell-crank 19 and trip-lever 23 again swings to vertical position, as indicated in Fig. 3. To insure that the trip-lever 23 will so return, the upper end thereof may be bent outward and be over-weighted. Or a spring may be placed between this upper end and the rear of the casing 5.

The member 35 iS adjustably mounted in a slot 38 at the rear of the casing` 5 and has a guide projection 39 which projects into this slot; a screw 40 with a washer proj ecting from the rear of the casing` through the slot to engage a threaded opening in the member 35 so that the member can be thus secured in any desired position. By making this member 35 adjustable, the quantity of gasolene which is given in exchange for a coin can be fixed according to the market price prevailing at any particular place or time. lf the price rises so that less gasolene can be sold for a quarter, for instance, the member 35 adjusted so as to be nearer to the starting point of the projection 34. On the other hand, if the price of gasolene falls so that more gasolene should be sold for the same money the member 35 is adjusted in the opposite direction so as to inereasethe distance between it and the projection 34.

The gear-wheel 7 is prevented from sliding on the shaft 6 by providing it with a hub 4l having a groove 42 engaged by a part 43 mounted on a bearing 44 for the shaft 6 in the casing 5; a screw holding the piece 43 in place. The inner end of the shaft 6 has another bearing 46 and its end may have a groove 47 in the bearing 46 to be engaged by a suitable retaining device 48 to prevent longitudinal movement of the shaft 6. The rear endk of the casing which carries the member 35 1 0 be employed, such as locks or other appliances.

The casing 5 may have a cover 53 on its outer end secured in any suitable manner and this cover may have an opening 54 with a closure Both the cover and the closure i may be held in place by suitable retaining or locking devices and the closure 55 gives access to the interior of the casing when necessary. The opening 54 may be made large enough to enable the sleeve 10 to be taken olf the end of the shaft 2 and to give access to the end of the crank to operate this shaft independently of the vending attachment, by causing the crank to engage the clutch projections 4. To prevent movement of the ratchet 12 in the reverse direction, it is engaged by a pawl 56 on the inside of the casing. i

Preferably the projections or knobs 17 on the ratchet 12 may have their corners at the end rounded so that they engage easily withy the apertures 18 in the gear wheel 7. These apertures too may be made large enough to insure connection between the ratchet 12 and gear 7 whenever the spring 2O isrveleased to push the ratchet 12 towards the gear 7. Further, the piece 43, with its down-turned end 57 projecting into the Uroove 42, may fit this groove tightly enough to prevent any stray movement of the gear 7 in case the shaft 6 should be turned when the ratchet 12 is retracted. The gear 7 is mounted loosely enough on the shaft 6 so that there is no friction between this gear and the shaft, and the shaft and the closure53 of the casing may have indicating marks so before the coin is put in the chute 32 the buyer can turn the shaft to move the ratchet 12 into position to bring the projections 17 into alignment with the openings 18 before the lever 23 is released by the latch 27. Then the ratchet and wheel will be immediately connected and the gear 7 will cause the shaft 2 to rotate as soon as the buyer begins to turn the crank on the shaft 6.

The spring for inter-position between the bottom of the casing 5 and the lever 23 is indicated at 59.

In practice the crank will usually be left hanging upon the outer end of the shaft 6 and it will of course swing downward. As a result, the projections 17 will be out of line with the apertures 18 and the first movement of the crank after a coin is dropped in the slot will not deliver any gasolene. But as soon as the ratchet 12 has been turned to bring the projections 17 into line with the recesses 18, movement will be communicated to the gear 7 because then the ratchet 12 can be moved toward the gear 7 by the spring 20, the lever 27 having already been depressed by the coin. If during the first movement of the shaft 6, before the lever 19 has released the collar 15, the hook 34 should come into proximity with the pull-outcam 35, the hook 34 and the part 35 will of course have no effect because the shaft and the hook will be too far back toward the rear of the casing 5 to enable the hook and the part 35 to come into operative engagement. The gear 7 will be in the right position because after the preceding actuation of the pump the piston thereof will drop to be in position to commence another working stroke and this movement of the piston will so turn the shaft 2 and gears 9 and 7 as to Vput the gear 7 with its recesses 18 into the right position to be engaged by the ratchet 12 and turned thereby to give the full measured quantity of fuel when a coin has been dropped into the chute 32.

I claim:

1. A vending device comprising a part to cause the delivery of a quantity of the commodity to be vended, a rotatable shaft, gearing between said shaft and said part, and coin controlled mechanism for enabling the shaft to be connected to said gearing to move said part and means for adjusting the extent of said movement.

2. A vending device for attachment to a pump having an operating shaft projecting therefrom, said device comprising a casing to be mounted over the end of said shaft, a second shaft in the casing, gearing between said shafts, and coin controlled parts in said casing for connecting the second named shaft to said gearing to enable the shaft of the pump to be rotated and to vary the extent of said rotation. v

3. A coin controlled vending device to b attached to a pump comprising a casing to be mounted on said pump, a shaft carried by said casing, a gear loose on said shaft and connected to operate the pump, a ratchet keyed to said shaft but mounted to slide along same, a spring to impel the ratchet into engagement with the gear, a lever to hold the ratchet in retracted position, and a latch to be depressed by a coin to cause the release of said lever and enable the spring to impel the ratchet towards said gear so that rotation of said shaft is communicated to said gear through said ratchet.

4. A vending device to be mounted upon a pump comprising a casing, a shaft, a gear loosely mounted on said shaft and connected to operate said pump, a ratchet keyed to rotate with the shaft but mounted to slide on the same, said ratchet having a hub with a collar, a bell-crank lever in the casing holding the ratchet in retracted position, a spring tending to impel the ratchet towards the gear, a lever engaging the first lever, a latch for holding the second named lever, said latch having a projection, and a coin chute in line with said projection for permitting a coin to drop upon the latch to release the second named lever and enable the rst named lever to permit the ratchet to be impelled by the spring into engagement with the gear.

5. A vending device for a pump comprising a casing to be mounted upon the pump, a shaft in the casing, a ratchet keyed to the shaft but mounted to slide on same, a gear loose in the shaft to be engaged by the ratchet and turned thereby, the gear being connected to operate the pump, a projection carried by said ratchet, and a fixed member having a cam edge to be engaged by said projection when the ratchet has rotated through a predetermined err-tent to withdraw the ratchet from said gear.

6. A vending device for a pump comprising a casing to be mounted upon the pump, a shaft in the casing, a ratchet keyed to the shaft but mounted to slide on same, a gear loose in the shaft to be engaged by the ratchet and turned thereby, the gear being connected to operate the pump, a projection carried by said ratchet, and a fixed member having a cam edge to be engaged by said projection when the ratchet has rotated through a predetermined extent to withdraw the ratchet from said gear, said casing having a slot and said member being adjustably mounted in said slot to vary the length of the are through which the ratchet can rotate said gear before disengagement therefrom.

7. A coin controlled vending device to be mounted on a pump having an operating shaft comprising a casing to cover the end of said shaft, a second shaft in the casing, a gear loosely mounted on said latter shaft said gear having a groovcd hub, a piece fixed in said casing to engage said grooved hub and prevent sliding movement of said gear, a ratchet keyed to rotate with the second shaft and slidable thereon, the ratchet and gear having matching projections and recesses to enable the gear to be rotated by the ratchet, the ratchet having a hub with a collar thereon, a spring on the shaft to engage the hub and impel the ratchet towards the gear, a bellcrank lever to engage the collar and keep the ratchet in retracted position, a latch, and a coin chute adjacent the latch so that a coin may move the latch and cause release of the bell-crank lever to permit the spring to move the ratchet towards the said gear and connect said gear to be turned with said second shaft.

8. A vending machine for attachment to a pump for the purpose set forth, comprising a gear for connection with the operating part of the pump, an operating shaft, a ratchet arranfred to be operated thereby and adapted to be moved into engagement with the gear whereby to operate the gear when said shaft is operated, spring means normally urging the ratchet into engagement with the gear, an actuable device holding the ratchet out of engagement with the gear and against the urge of the spring means, and control mechanism operated by a coin controlling the actuation of the actuable device.

9. A vending machine for attachment to a pump for the purpose set forth, comprising a gear for connection with the operating part of the pump, an operating shaft, a ratchet arranged to be operated thereby and adapted to be moved into engagement with the gear whereby to operate said gear when said shaft is operated, spring means normally urging the ratchet into engagement with the gear, an actuable device restraining the ratchet from engaging the gear, control mechanism preventing the actuation of said actuable device, said mechanism being releasable by a coin and adapted, when released, to free the actuable device for operation and permit the spring means to be called into action to move the ratchet into engagement with the gear.

l0. A vending machine for attachment to a pump for the purpose set forth, comprising a gear for connection with the operating part of the pump, an operating shaft, a ratchet arranged to be operated thereby and adapted to be moved into engagement with the gear whereby to operate the gear when said shaft is operated, spring means normally urging the ratchet into engagement with the gear, a spring urged actuable device restraining the ratchet from engaging the gear, control mechanism preventing actuation of said actua-ble device, said mechanism being releasable by a coin and adapted, when released, to free the actuable device so as to permit the ratchet to be moved into engagement with the gear, and means engageable with the ratchet during the rotation thereof by the shaft to force the ratchet out of engagement with the gear and permit reengagement of the actuable device with the ratchet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

THMAS S. POOLE.

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