US1951942A

US1951942A - Measuring pump switch

Info

Publication number: US1951942A
Application number: US696363A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard T Meyer
Original assignee: Pure Oil Co
Current assignee: Pure Oil Co
Priority date: 1933-11-02
Filing date: 1933-11-02
Publication date: 1934-03-20
Anticipated expiration: 1951-03-20

Description

March 20, 1934. R MEYER 1,951,942

MEASURING PUMP SWITCH Filed Nov. 2, 1933 3 Sheets- Sheet 1 0/ L H fi -XT I ime/whet 1 53 RZC/Tdfd T/Msyer chm Ame/whee dh owcq March 20, 1934. R. T. MEYER MEASURING PUMP SWITCH Filed Nov. 2, 1933 3 Sheets- Sheet 2 March 20, R T. MEYER MEASURING PUMP SWITCH Filed Nov. 2, 1933 3 Sheets- Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES MEASURING PUMP SWITCH Richard '1. Meyer, Chicago, 111., assignor to The Pure Oil Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Ohio Application November 2, 1933, Serial No. 696,363

Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in switch operating mechanism, and has particular reference to the provision of novel means for governing, at will, the direction of rotation of a revers- 5 ible electrical motor.

In my prior application, Serial No. 624,787, filed July 26, 1932, of which the present application forms a continuation-in-part, I have disclosed improved motor fuel measuring and dispensing apparatus wherein a single reversible motor is employed with associated controls to selectively drive a pair of pump units. By means of these pump units, the motor fluid may be pumped from a storage tank or other receptacle into an elevated, transparent-walled measuring container when one of said pump units is in operation and, when the other of the units is operated, the fluid may be positively withdrawn from the container and advanced under pressure through an associated discharge conduit.

In the practical usage of this pumping apparatus, especially during busy periods, some dii culty has been encountered, apparently due to confusion, haste or carelessness on the part of the pump attendants, in properly operating the switch controls to obtain the desired operation of a selected unit, such confusion or improper operation having at times resulted in the simultaneous excitation of two or more motor circuits causing injury to the windings of the motor and associated conductors.

It is, therefore, one or" the outstanding objects of the present invention to provide an improved switch operating mechanism for pumping apparatus of the character set forth, wherein an interlocking lever system is employed which necessitates the closing and opening of but one circuit at a given operation and prevents the simultaneous closing of two or more of such circuits. It is also an object of the invention to simplify the actuation of the switch operating mechanism and to provide a sturdy, simple mechanism which may be subjected to hard usage and repeated operations without becoming out of order or requiring repair and adjustments.

For a further understanding of the invention, as to its construction, advantages and principles of operation, reference is to be had to the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a View substantially in vertical section of the improved pumping apparatus comprising the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse horizontal sectional view taken through the pump on the plane indicated by the line II-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line III-III of Fig. 9 and illustrating the clutch and flexible coupling for driving the upper pump unit;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken through the clutch on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a similar horizontal sectional view through the flexible drive coupling on the line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 2 and disclosing more particularly the adjustable mercury switches used in connection with the apparatus for controlling the operation of the pump motor;

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view on the plane indicated by the line VIIVII of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a detail horizontal sectional view on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 6

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation, and partly in vertical section, of the pump motor, the associated pumping units, and the drive mechanism between the motor and the pumping units;

Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional View on the line X-X of Fig. 9 taken through the upper pumpin unit which functions to effect a forced discharge of liquid from the measuring container through the discharge hose of the apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a similar view on the line XI-Xl of Fig. 9 through the lower pumping unit employed for elevating liquid from an underground storage tank to the visible measuring container.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates motor fuel measuring and dispensing apparatus which, in this instance, has been shown as comprising a base ring 1 from which arises a plurality of vertical rigidly connected supporting standards 2. The upper ends of the standards eiiect the support of a container base plate 3, upon which is mounted a cylindrical transparent walled container 4. The top of the container is provided with the customary bonnet 5 to which may be secured an advertising globe 6. The container 4 and the bonnet 5 are held in connection with the base plate 3 by means of vertical tie rods 7. A substantially cylindrical metallic casing 8 may be disposed between the ring 1 and the base plate 3 to enclose the pump mechanism of the apparatus.

Leading from an underground fluid storage tank (not shown) is a pipe line 9, which extends to the suction side of a lower pump unit 10 disclosed particularly in Fig. 11, and mounted in the lower part of the casing 8. By the operation of the pump unit 10, the liquid motor fuel may be withdrawn from the underground tank, ad-' vanced through the unit 10, and discharged from the latter under pressure through a vertically extending pipe 11 and delivered to the interior of the container 4 by way of the riser 12, which has its upper end provided with a distributing cap 13. Within the container, there may be arranged a vertical rod 14 carrying adjustable markers by means of which units of liquid measurement may be indicated, as is customary in apparatus of this kind. Also arranged in the container 4 is an overflow which prevents the liquid level in the container 4 from exceeding a predetermined point.

The base plate 3 is provided with a liquid outlet 16, which communicates with the inlet side of a discharge pump 17, which may be of the type indicated in Fig. 10, and the outlet of the pump 17 cooperates with a tubular fitting 18 with which is connected a flexible discharge conduit or hose 19. The outer end of the hose is equipped with the usual valve controlled nozzle 20, provided with a valve trigger 21 and a stationary hand guard 22.

Supported by the standards 2 is a motor bracket 23, upon which is mounted a reversible electric motor 24, shown particularly in Fig. 9. This single motor is employed for the purpose of driving both of the pump units for obvious reasons of structural simplicity and economy. The armature shaft 25 of the motor projects beyond both ends of the motor housing and, as shown in Fig. 3, the upper projecting end of the shaft 25 is connected with a simple type of ball clutch 26 which is operated to effect the rotation of a coupling head 27 when the shaft 25 revolves in the direction of the arrow disclosed in Fig. 4. Spaced from the coupling head 27 is a complemental coupling head 28 and a drive spider 29 unites the flexible rings 30 of said coupling heads in drive relationship. The lower end of the pump shaft 31 of the pumping unit 17 is connected with the head 28, as shown in Figs. 3 and 9. Precisely the same construction is employed for uniting the lower end of the motor shaft 25 with the pump shaft 32 of the pump unit 10 and therefore a detailed description thereof need not be given. The upper pumping unit 17 has its housing bolted or otherwise secured to the under surface of the base plate 3, while the lower pumping unit 10 is mounted on a bracket 33 carried in connection with the standards 2. It will be understood that the pumping unit 1i; may be of any desired form, and I do not restrict myself to the particular type illustrated, yet a preferred type of pump, as sho rm in Fig. 11, consists of a casing having an inlet 34 arranged in communication with the pipe line 9. This inlet communicates with a horizontal rotor chamber 35 in which is arranged a rotor 36 provided with radially disposed spring pressed vanes 3'7. The walls of the rotor chamber are disposed in eccentric relationship to the axis of the rotor 36 and therefore as the rotor revolves, fluid is drawn into the rotor chamber and positively expelled therefrom by the action of the spring pressed vanes 37 contacting with the peripheral wall of the chamber. The outlet 38 of the rotor chamber communicates with the vertically disposed pipe 11, by which the fluid discharged from the pumping unit 10 is elevated to the plane of the container 4. The inlet of the pumping unit 10 may be provided with the usual screen means 38 for removing objectionable solids from the motor fuel.

The pumping unit 1'7 is of a simple centrifugal type and includes a rotor 39, as shown in Fig. 10, provided with radial vanes 40 of the fixed type, which, when the rotor 39 is revolved in the direction of the arrow indicated in Fig. 10, functions to withdraw fluid from the container and advance the same under desired pressures through the hose 19 to the delivery nozzle 20.

The present invention resides primarily in the provision of an improved switch controlling means for governing the operation of the motor 24. Supported within the casing 8 by the standards 2 is a cross member in the form of a channel 41. Pivotally secured as at 42 to this channel is an operating lever 43 mounted for limited pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane. The outer end of the lever 43 projects through an arcuate slot provided in the casing 8 and terminates in an upstanding lug 44 which, as shown in Fig. 1, receives the guard 22 of the nozzle 20 when the latter is not in active use. On each side of the hand guard, when positioned as shown in Fig. 1, there is arranged a stationary stop member 45 so disposed that rocking movement of the lever 43 is prevented when the hose nozzle is inactively positioned as indicated. A padlock, not shown, may be passed through registering openings formed in the outer end of the lever 43 and the hand guard 22 to prevent removal of the nozzle from connection with the lever when the pumping apparatus is not in use, and also to prevent any unauthorized operation of the lever 43. However, by lifting the nozzle from its position of support on the outer end of said lever, the latter may be oscillated to one side or the other of its normal or neutral position to control the energizing of the motor 24.

The inner end of the lever 43 is bifurcated for engagement with. a cross pin 46 carried by a sliding rod 47. This rod, as shown in Fig. 8, is connected with a yoke 48 arranged in a switch casing 49 which is stationarily supported in the casing by being mounted in connection with the vertical overflow pipe 50 which extends from the pipe 15 to the underground storage tank. The yoke 48 has its side portions provided with elongated slots 51 adapted for the reception of pins 52 which project horizontally and inwardly from

levers

53 and 53a which are pivotally mounted as at 54 for limited oscillation in vertical planes. The upper ends of the

levers

53 and 53a carry mercury bulb switches 55 with which are connected conductors 56 constituting portions of the electrical circuits. employed in exciting the windings of the motor coils. When the lever 43 is normally positioned, the switches 55 are relatively located as shown in Fig. 6 with the mercury disposed in each thereof removed from engagement with circuit completing terminals. However, upon oscillating the lever 43 to one side or the other of its neutral position, a push or pull movement will be imparted to the rod 47 so that one or the other of the

levers

53 and 53a will be rocked about their pivotal mounting to adjust the switch bulb carried thereby to a position of circuit closure.

For instance, if it is desired to energize the motor 24 to effect the operation of the pump unit 10, the lever 43 is oscillated to impart a push movement to the rod 47. This causes the lever 53 to rock about its pivotal support 54 until the lever 53 assumes a position in which the switch bulb carried thereby will close the motor circuit which it controls. A weight 57 is connected with the pivotal mounting of the lever 53 to retain the latter in its position of circuit closure, the weight 57 being arranged on an arm disposed exteriorly of the casing 49, as set forth in Fig. 7. Due to the provision of the elongated slot in the yoke 48, the latter may return to its normal position following actuating movement thereof to close the motor circuit governed by the lever 53, without effecting the position of circuit closure of the lever 53. This causes the motor 24 to operate in one direction so that the pump unit 10 will fill the container 4 to a desired level with the liquid. If allowed to overflow, the liquid passes downwardly through the

pipes

15 and 50 and enters a casing 58 in which is contained a cup 59. This cup is suspended by means of a rod 60 and a link 61 from the crank arm 62 carried by the lever 53, so that when a pr determined amount of liquid collects in the cup 59, the weight 57, associated with the lever 53, is overbalanced, and the lever 53 is oscillate.L automatically to a position opening the motor circult and thereby deenergizing the motor as and arresting the operation of the pumping unit 19.

Likewise, to govern the selective control of the pumping unit 17 by the single motor 24, the lever 43 may be actuated to impart a pulling movement to the rod 47. Such a pulling movement, due to the elongated slot in the yoke 48, will not affect the operative position o the associated lever 53, but results in the rocking of the lever 53a, about its fulcrum so that the mercury switch carried thereby will be positioned to close the motor circuit so that the motor 2i may be 0perated to effect the functioning of the pumping unit 17. Carried by the pin 52 which is connected with the lower end of the lever 53a is a rod 63, which is slidably mounted in connection with a bearing guide 64 provided on one side of the yoke 48. A coil spring 65 surrounds said rod and is disposed between the guide 6-1 and the pin 52. The operation of the lever 53a is man ually executed in both directions in the opening and closing of the motor circuit governed thereby. However, the spring 65 while serving to move the lever 53a to a position opening the motor circuit also provides compensation for retaining the lever 53a stationary against its fixed stop when the yoke -18 is operated to move the lever 53 to a position of circuit closure.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention provides a visible type of motor fuel dispensing and measuring pump wherein a single reversible electric motor may be used for operating a pair of pump units, and wherein novel and improved interlocking control mechanism is provided for eifecting the selective operation of the pumping units by controlling the direction or" the rotation of the motor. By the operation of the lever t3, the switch mechanism may be set to effect the filling of the container 4 with the fluid to be dispensed and then by reason of the overflow cup 59, the operation of the motor and associated pump unit may be automatically discontinued when the container is filled with liquid. When a motor vehicle is serviced, it is merely necessary to remove the nozzle 20 from its normal position and rock the lever 43 in a direction so that the motor 24 will be operated to effect the operation of the upper pump unit 1'7. Following the completion of this operation, the nozzle may be restored to its normal suspended or hung position on the side of the casing 8. However, before this can be done, it is necessary that the lever 43 be rocked to a neutral position discontinuing the operation of the motor so that the desired association between the hand guard of the nozzle and the lug on the outer end of the lever 43 may be reestablished. This prevents unintentional sustained operation of the motor following the servicing of a motor vehicle with fluid. The mechanism is sturdy, simple and con venient to operate and is not likely to become out of order by reason of the failure of the pump attendant to properly regulate its operation.

What is claimed is:

1. In controlling mechanism for a reversible electric motor, a pair of tiltable mercury bulb switches governing independent circuits for energizing said motor to efiect its rotation in different directions, a pivoted support for each of said switches, and manually operated means movable in opposed directions from a central position for selectively rocking said supports to move said switches to positions of motor circuit opening and closure, the movement or" said means in one direction from a central position serving to operate one of said switches without aifecting the circuit controlling positions or" the other switch.

2. In controlling mechanism for a reversible electric motor, a pair of tiltable mercury bulb switches governing independent circuits for energizing said motor to efifect its rotation in difierent directions, a pivoted support for each of said switches, and manually operated means movable in opposed directions from a central position for selectively rocking said supports to move said switches to positions or" motor circuit opening and closure, the movement of said means in one direction from a central position serving to operate one of said switches without affecting the circuit controlling positions of the other switch, both of said switches being disposed in positions of circuit opening when the operating means are normally or centrally positioned.

in circuit controlling mechanism for a re versible electric motor, pair of pivoted supports mounted for limited turning movement about a substantially common axis, mercury bulb switches carried by said supports for effecting the opening and closing oi relatively independent circuits used in energizing said motor to govern the direction of rotation of its armature shaft, and a slidable actuating member for controlling the operating positions of said supports, said member being provided with longitudinal slot for the reception of offset projections formed on the ends of said supports opposed to said bulb switches.

4. In circuit controlling mechanism for a reversible electric motor, a pair of pivoted supports mounted for limited turning movement about a substantially common axis, fluid-conductor bulb switches carried by said supports for controlling the opening and closing of relatively independent circuits used in energizing said motor to govern the direction of rotation of its armature shaft, a slidable operating member for changing the operating positions of said supports, said member being provided with a longitudinal slot for the reception of offset projections formed in connection with the ends of said supports opposite to the ends thereof carrying the bulb switches, the said projections occupying difierent ends of said slot when said switches assume positions of circuit openin 5. In circuit controlling mechanism, a pair of pivoted supports mounted for limited turning movement about a substantially common axis, a fluid-conductor bulb switch carried by the upper end of each of said supports, said switches governing the opening and closing of associated independent circuits, a manually operated slldable actuating member having an elongated slot formed therein, oii'set projections carried by the lower ends of said supports and receivable within said slot, spring means serving to retain the projection of one of said supports normally in engagement with one end of said slot, and gravityresponsive means cooperative with the other of said supports for normally retaining the projection thereof in engagement with the other end of said slot.

RICHARD T. MEYER.