US2199800A

US2199800A - Fluid dispensing device

Info

Publication number: US2199800A
Application number: US647595A
Authority: US
Inventors: Johnsen Bjornulf
Original assignee: L N S CORP
Current assignee: L N S Corp
Priority date: 1932-12-16
Filing date: 1932-12-16
Publication date: 1940-05-07
Anticipated expiration: 1957-05-07

Description

May 7, 1940- B. JoHNsEN FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTO May 7, 1940. B. JoHNsEN FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec'. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY Mill/Q f ATTORN- FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 7 1940 B. JoHNsEN 2.199.800

FLUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Deo. 16, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 m M ma E TF N Nw. R EN O VM u mw A v Patented May 7, 1940` UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID msrnNslNG DEVICE tion of Delaware Application December 16, 1932, Serial No. 647,595

9 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to fluid dispensing devices adapted to dispense gasoline and other liquid fuels at roadside service stations and the like, of the kind in which the movement of the indicator is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through the meter.

More particularly, the invention relates to fluid dispensing devices in which iiow establishing devices, such as a pump, are automatically actuated, as by a meter, whereby the delivery is continuous and the attendant, instead of operating a pump handle to serve the liquid, may stand at the vehicle tank where he can see exactly how much the tank will hold and serve it without l5 spilling.

One object of the present invention is the initiation of the operation of the flow establishing means automatically upon removal of the nozzle from its support. To this end, the source of power is controlled by the nozzle when on its support and thev operation of devices initiating the operation of the power devices is effected by the removal of the nozzle from the support.

Another object of the invention is the control of the initiation of the actuation of the ow establishing means and the prevention of its operation, in a subsequent transaction, until the indicating devices have been returned or are at initial or zero position.

The invention also seeks to control the operation of the flow establishing devices by means when tension is applied to devices connected with the hose while the means for establishing flow of liquid it latched against movement until either the nozzle is removed from its support or the indicator is returned to initial position or both. It is also an object of the invention to provide a liquid dispensing device of the character described Which is simple to manufacture and operate.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Figure l is a view showing, in side elevation, a fragmentary portion of a fluid dispensing device according to this invention and particularly the means whereby initiation of the operation of the 55 flow establishing means is prevented until the indicating devices have been returned to initial position, the nozzle being on its support;

Figure 2 is a view showing the indicating devices, looking from the right in Figure 1 but with the casing of the dispensing device removed; 5

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the nozzle support and the controlling devices therefor which are dependent upon the position of the indicating devices, the parts being in the position they assume when the indicating de- 10 vices are at initial position and the nozzle has been removed from its support, and taken in the plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but show- 16 ing the indicating devices in position to illustrate a completed sale and the support in the position it assumes when the nozzle has been returned thereto.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view, in section, zo showing the means for returning the indicating devices to initial position;

Figure 6 is a view of a modification of the invention in which the operation of the iiow establishing means is further controlled and only per- 25 mitted when tension is applied to the delivery hose, the nozzle support and associated parts being in the position assumed when the nozzle is on the support.

Figure 7 is' a view showing the switch mech- 30 anism of Figure 6 in the position it would assume if the nozzle were off its support;

Figure 8 is a view showing details of the switch actuating arm latched in off position; and

Figure 9 is a fragmentary transverse sectional 35 view taken in theplane indicated by the line 9-9 of Figure 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring first to Figure 1, a standard or housing 20, of any convenient-shape,- is adapted to 40 support and contain the devices for establishing the flow of fluid from a tank (not shown), say, beneath the ground and measuring it for delivery from a nozzle 2| on the end of a delivery hose 22 into, say, the fuel tank of a motor vehicle. 45

In the front of the housing and at a desirable elevation where it may be easily visible or, if desired, in both the front and back walls, the housing 20 is formed with an opening 23, preferably circular, covered by a transparent closure 24 and behind which is conveniently mounted a dial 25 graduated to indicate units of measure of the liquid delivered. Mounted on a shaft 26, Figure 2, extending, preferably, from side to side, are

hands

28 and 30, the larger hand 30 indicating the units of measure of liquid delivered by the dispensing device and the smaller `hand or fraction pointer 28 indicating fractions of the unit of measure delivered by the pump,

In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid is drawn from a tank, say, beneath the ground (not shown) by iiow establishing means, for instance, the pump 3|, driven, say, by the electric motor 32, from which pump 3| it is delivered by the pipe 34 to the meter 36. Obviously, means other than a motor driven pump may be resorted to to force the liquid from the tank through the meter to the hose, such as fluid pressure, or where -a gravity flow is possible, a valve operated, say,

by an electromagnet or other motor means may be availed of. 'I'he particular means for establishing the iiow of liquid forms no part of the invention and the -pump and motor are illustrative only and may be replaced by any other means, mechanical, uid pressure or otherwise. The meter 36, Figure 2, may be of any convenient kind and is provided with a meter shaft 38 which is rotated by the uid passing through the meter. Preferably gearing 40 is of such ratio that the fractional gallon shaft makes one complete rotation for each gallon, say, of liquid delivered. From the meter 36, the liquid is delivered, as by a pipe 42, to the hose 22 for delivery from the nozzle 2 I.

When not in use, the end of the hose 22, i. e., the nozzle, is carried on a nozzle support 44 pivotally mounted, say, at 46, on a frame member 48 secured at a convenient point on one of the upright columns 49 within the casing 20, the nozzle support 44 extending through a slot 50 in the housing.

The mechanism indicating the units of liquid delivery from the nozzle 2| is supported upon and above a transversely extending supporting means, shown as a platform 52 (Figure 2), carried upon the pillars 49, which platform 52 may also support the meter 36. The drive between the meter and the shaft 26 is effected by suitable reducing gearing, indicated generally at 40 and a vertical shaft 54, provided with a worm 56 which drives the arbor 58 on which the hands are mounted and which is connected to the shaft 26 whereby the hand on the other side may be moved in unison. The worm 56 meshes with a worm gear 51 so mounted on an overrunning clutch 59 on the arbor 58 that the arbor 58 may turn within the worm gear freely in one direction of rotation to permit the indicator hands to be returned to zero position, but is restrained from relative movement with respect to the worm gear in the opposite direction whereby, when the meter drives the shaft 54 the hands will be rotated to record the liquid passed'through the meter. For convenience, the end of the arbor 58 carries a knob 55 (Figure 5) to enable it to be manually rotated in returning the hands to zero.

The split gallon hand 28 is driven from the arbor 58 by gearing 53 to make one revolution for each unit of measure in a manner well known in the art.

Referring now to Figure 3, the nozzle support 44 is preferably iixed on a shaft 46 journalled in the bearings 41 on the frame 48, as has been explained. 'I'his shaft also has xed thereon a downwardly extending arm 80. A tension member, such as the coil spring 82, extends between the end of the arm 80 and a portion of the frame 48 so that the shaft 46 tends to turn in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3. The spring 82 is weak enough to permit the arm to assume the position shown in Figure 6 when the Weight of a nozzle is on the support 44.

Also fixed to the shaft 46 is a rearwardly extending arm 84, which may be integral with support 44, the end of which arm is connected by a link 86 with an arm 88 of a switch operating shaft 89, the switch (not shown) being so arranged that when the support 44 is in the lifted position shown in Figure 3, the switch is closed and when the support 44 is depressed, as in Figure l, as by weight of the nozzle, the switch is permitted to open. This switch is conveniently in the electrical circuit controlling the operation of the motor means 32.

In accordance with 'this invention, it is proposed to prevent the operation of the iiow establishing means until the indicator has returned to initial position from a position recording the amount of liquid delivered in a previous transaction. In the illustrated embodiment, the motor circuit switch is latched in open circuit position and cam means movable with the indicator, at initial position, releases the latch. Mounted upon a transverse rod 90, Figures 2 and 3, is a supporting frame 9| in the end of which is journalled a rock shaft 92. This rock shaft 92 has fixed thereon, conveniently, a cam actuated bell crank formed by the

arms

93 and 94, the downwardly depending arm 93 of which is connected by a link 96 with the downwardly depending arm 98 of a

latching bell crank

98, 99, which bell crank is normally urged to rotate in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3, by a spring |00 extending between the end of the arm 99 and a fixed point on a frame 14, formed with a slot in which the nozzle support moves. I By means of the spring, the

bell crank

93, 94 tends to turn in a clockwise direction to the position, for instance, as shown in Figure 4, being always urged against a locking lug |04 on the nozzle support. 'I'he lower end of the arm 98 is formed with a locking recess or shoulder |02, vthat is, the end of the arm 98 is notched, as at |02 to receive and engage a squared lug |04 on the nozzle supporting arm 44 when the support is in depressed position. Thus when the support 44 is in its lowermost position, the spring |00 rocks the

bell crank

98, 99 so that the lug is engaged and support 44 held in its lowermost position. When, however, the nozzle is removed from its support and the

bell crank

93, 94 rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, the lug |04 is released, permitting the spring 82 to rock the shaft 46 in a counter-clockwise direction to effect the closing of the switch. The nozzle support is then elevated but the spring |00 continues to urge the latch against the lug for engagement when the support is again depressed. The arm 94 of the latch actuating

bell crank

93, 94 is adapted to be engaged by a roller, pin or the end |08 of an arm ||0 carried with the gallon hand 28 on the arbor 58 (Figure 2) and while it may be offset therefrom, it is generally in prolongation thereof on the opposite side of the arbor. Thus, let it be assumed that the parts are in the position illustrated in Figure 4, after a quantity of liquid has been delivered by the liquid dispensing device in a previous transaction and the nozzle has been returned to the support 44. If it is desired, in a new transaction, to commence the delivery of liquid, it is necessary to rotate the arm 28 back to zero which movement carries the arm ||0 to the dotted line position shown in Figure 3. In this position, the pin 08 on arm I |0 depresses the latch actuating arm 94 thereby moving the u link 96 to the right, as viewed in Figure 3, to release the support 44 and permit the spring 82 to elevate the same, thereby depressing the link 8B and closing the switch and initiating the operation of the now establishing means. When the transaction is completed and the nozzle is returned to its support, the support is depressed to the position shown in Figure 4, permitting the spring |00 to rock the

latching bell crank

98, 99 so that the notch |02 engages the lug |04 and holds the nozzle support in depressed position.

Situations arise when it is desirable to halt the flow of liquid when the nozzle is off its support. For instance, a fire-may break out in the vicinity of the pump while the attendant is standing by the side of a motor vehicle and delivering liquid into the fuel tank thereof. Or the motor vehicle may drive away while the nozzle is still in the opening of a fuel tank, thus placing a strain on the hose 22 which causes its rupture, spilling liquid upon the ground which may cause fire. So long as the pump operates, the fire will be continuously fed. Further, after his initial order has been filled, the purchaser may decide to take an additional quantity of fuel. As an added safety feature, therefore, which will permit control of the aforesaid factors, it is proposed that the flow establishing means be not permitted to operate except when -the attendant so wills, always, however, subject to the superior control exercised by the latching means dependent upon the return of the indicator to zero and the removal of the nozzle from its support. As the attendant will be required to place the nozzle in the inlet opening of a fuel tank and will stand beside the hose 22, the control of the ow establishing means may be effected by the movement of the hose.

'I'he same switch actuating arm 88, or, more correctly, the shaft 89 to which it is attached, may be utilized to control switch mechanism actuated by connections from the hose. As i1- lustrated in Figure 6, a frame member ||4 carried outwardly of a slot ||3 in the casing 20 and proximate the nozzle support may be formed with a channel ||6 within which a slide H8, of any convenient kind, reciprocates. This slide is connected, as by a link |20, preferably flexible, with an arm |22 fixed on a rock shaft |24 journalled inwardly of the housing, the shaft |24 also carrying an inwardly directed arm |26 to which a plunger |28 is adjustably fixed. 'I'his plunger may pass through the switch box 33 and be guided therein and, at its lower end, may be connected with a power storing device, conveniently, the weight |30. In this modification, the switch actuating shaft is indicated in dotted lines at |32 and an arm actuating the same is shown as fixed thereon at |34. The switch is adapted to be closed when the arm assumes the position indicated in Figure 7, when the link |28 is drawn upwardly by a pull on the hose and is opened when the arm occupies the position shown in Figure 6, when the hose is released and the link pulled downwardly by the weight. The end of the arm is adjustably connected with the plunger |28 and a spring |36, surrounding the plunger, is conveniently disposed in a wall |31 and bears against a sleeve forming one part of the connection between the arm |34 and the plunger |28. In this modification, the shaft 83 also has fixed thereon a downwardly depending arm |40 formed with a rabbetted or notched end |42 adapted to engage the squared lug |44 on the arm 34 when that arm is in its lowermost position.

Thus, when the nozzle is on its support thereby elevating the link 86 and rocking the bell crank 88, |40 in a -clockwise direction and the tension on the hose 22 is relieved so that the weight |30 has moved the switch closing arm |34 downwardly, the bell crank arm or switch latch |40 is enabled to turn to a position over the locking lug |44 to engage Vthe same and hold the switch arm |34 against moving to switch closing position. It is then impossible to close the switch by pulling on the hose 22, the removal of the nozzle from the support being also necessary to effect the release of the latch |40. Similarly, the switch cannot be closed merely by removing the nozzle from the hook it being also necessary to pull on the link |20 in order to elevate the switch actuating lever |34. And where the return of the indicator further controls the latch 98, it is also necessary to move the indicator back to zero.

'I'he operation of the liquid dispensing apparatus is apparent from the foregoing description. Briefly, the cycle of operations is as follows: Let it be assumed that the hand 28 is disposed in a position which indicates the number of units of fuel delivered in a previous transaction, the nozzle being on the hook. The parts will then be in the position indicated in Figure 6, in which the nozzle support 44 is depressed and locked by the latch 38. And the latch releasing arm ||0 is rotated away from the latch actuating arm 94. The attendant then rotates the knob 55 on the end of the arbor 58 and returns the

hands

28, 30 to initial position pointing to the zero on the dial. This rotates the arm |I0 in a clockwise direction, Ias viewed in Figure 4, to a vertical position, depressing the latch releasing arm 94 and releasing the latch 98. This permits the spring 82 to rock the nozzle support upwardly to the position shown in Figure 3, carrying the link 86 downwardly to close the switch. Where, however, as in Figure 6, a pull hose control is provided, this movement of the nozzle support 44 merely rocks the latch actuating arm 88 in a counter-clockwise direction and swings the switch`latch |40 to the position shown in Figure 7, releasing the arm |34 for movement. The weight |30, however, holds the switch closing arm |34 in the down position, shown in Figure 6. When tension is applied to the hose 22, the shaft |24 is rocked in a clockwise direction elevating the plunger |28 and moving the switch actuating arm |34 to the position shown in Figure 7, thereby closing the switch and energizing the motor means which causes the pump to operate. If then tension on the hose is released so that the weight |30 again causes the switch to open, a further delivery of uid may be readily eifected by again pulling on the hose since the nozzle support 44 remains in its elevated position and the switch latches 98 and |40 remain in disengaged position. When, however, the nozzle is returned to its support and the support moved down under the weight of the nozzle, the lug |04 is then in a position to be engaged by the notch on the latch 98. The hose, of course, at this time will have been released thereby enabling the weight |30 to pull down the arm |34 and the latch |40 will engage the lug |44 and the parts will be locked against movement and cannot be released until after the indicator is returned to zero.

It will thus be seen that a liquid dispensing device has been provided in which the flow of liquid is prevented until the indicating devices have been returned to initial position. At the same time, but in the same transaction, the iiow establishing means may be started and stopped at will as by tension applied to the hose just so long as the nozzle is not returned to its support.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art in the disposition and configuration of the component elements going to make up the invention as a whole as well as in the selection land/or combinations of certain of the features independently of others or the substitution therefor of other means accomplishing the same results, and no limitation is intended by the phraseology of the foregoing description or illustrations in the accompanying drawings, except as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movement of which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through the meter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movable nozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch, operative connections between the nozzle support and the switch actuating means movable between operative and inoperative positions, means to latch said operative connections in inoperative position, means to return the indicating means to initial position, means movable synchronously with the indicating means and means actuated thereby to move the latch to releasing position.

2. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movement of which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through the meter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movable nozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch, operative connections between the nozzle support and the switch actuating means movable between operative and inoperative positions, means to latch said operative connections in inoperative position, means to return the indicating means to initial position, means movable synchronously with the indicating means, power storing means to move the latch to engaging position, and means actuated thereby vto move the latch to releasing position.

3. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movement of which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through the meter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movable nozzle support, the combination o1' means to actuate the switch, operative connections between the nozzle support and the switch means movable between operative and inoperative positions, power storing means to move the switch actuating means to switch closing position, means to latch said operative connections in inoperative position, means to return the indicating means to initial position, means movable synchronously with the indicating means and means actuated thereby to move the latch to releasing position.

4. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indieating means the movement of which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through the meter, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movable nozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch, means to actuate the switch, operative connections between the nozzle support and the switch actuating means movable between operative and inoperative positions, power storing means to move the switch actuating means to switch closing position, means to latch said operative connections in inoperative position, means to return the indicating means to initial position, means movable synchronously with the indicating means, power storing means to move the latch to engaging position and means actuated thereby to move the latch to releasing position.

5. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, a rotating shaft therefor, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a pivoted nozzle support, a switch actuating lever, a link connecting the lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate the nozzle support to close the switch, a latch for the support, power storing means normally urging the latch into latching engagement with the support, a lever, operative connections between the latch and the lever whereby movement of the lever in one direction releases the latch and cam means carried by the shaft to engage and move the lever.

6. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, a rotating shaft therefor, iiow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a pivoted nozzle support, a. switch actuating lever, a link connecting the lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate the nozzle support to close the switch, a lug carried by the support, a bell crank one-arm of which is formed with a recess to engage the lug, power storing means operatively connected with the other arm of the -bell crank to urge the recess into engagement with the lug, a lever, operative connections between the latch and the lever whereby movement of the lever in one direction releases the latch and cam means carried by the shaft to engage and move the lever.

7. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, a rotating shaft therefor, flow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a pivoted nozzle support, a switch actuating lever, a link connecting the lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate the nozzle support to close the switch, a latch for the support, power storingmeansnormally urging the latch into latching engagement with the support, a bell crank, a link between one arm of the bell crank and the said latch and cam means carried by the shaft to engage and move the bell crank.

8. In liquid dispensing apparatus, in combination, indicating means, a rotating shaft therefor, ow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a pivoted nozzle support, a switch actuating lever, a link connecting the lever and the nozzle support, power storing means to elevate the nozzle support to close the switch, a lug carried by the support, a bell crank one arm of which is formed with a recess to engage the lug, power storing means operatively connected with the other arm of the bell crank to urge the recess into engagement with the lug, a bell crank, a link between one arm of the bell crank and the said recessed arm and cam means carried by the shaft to engage and move the second bell crank.

9. In liquid dispensing apparatus having indicating means the movement of which is proportional to the amount of liquid passed through the meter, iiow establishing means, electrical power means therefor, an electrical circuit comprising the power means and a switch, a movable nozzle support, the combination of means to actuate the switch, latching means therefor, operative connections between the nozzle support and the switch latching means movable between operative and inoperative positions, means to latch said operative connections in inoperative position, means to return the indicating means to initial position, means movable synchronously with the indicating means, means actuated thereby to move the latch to releasing position, a delivery hose, a pivoted arm, power storing means to move the arm in one direction, operative connections between the arm and the hose to move the arm in the other direction upon displacement of the hose and operative connections between the arm and the switch actuating means.

BJORNULF JOHNSEN.