US2326415A - Automatic liquid dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1943.

B. F. TITUS AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. B054 1'? 7777/6 9%. way

Aug. 10, 1943. B. F. TITUS AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Nov. 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 PUMP 1N1 'LA'TOR. 50:1 E 77703 Patented Aug. 10, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Buel F. Titus, San Francisco, Calif. Application November 23, 1940, Serial No. 366,805

4 Claims.

This invention relates to automatic liquid dispensin-g devices and has particular reference to devices of the character used in dispensing motor fuel in pump to vehicle tank transactions.

One of the principal objects of this invention is the provision of a dispenser which will be useful in dispensing a predetermined quantity of gasoline from a station pump to the supply tank of a motor vehicle as a wholly automatic operation and without the aid and attention of an operator, once the mechanism has been set in operation.

It is well known that in this day and age much thought and attention is being given to the services rendered by gas station operators. The modern motorist no longer purchase and receives a mere supply of gasoline. n the contrary he has been taught that in addition to the refilling of the tank of his car, he will receive gratuitously a check on his oil and water sup- .ply, have his tires checked, his windshield cleaned and countless other minor services rendered to insure the maximum operating efliciency of his vehicle.

These gratuitous services, while wholly incidental to the dispensing of motor fuel, are regarded as important. The rendering of these services, however, involves two factors to which much considerationhas been given. First, the delay it causes the motorist, and, secondly, the added costs to the seller of the fuel when more than one operator is assigned to a single vehicle in an eifort to speed up operations.

It has been found from observation and study that the measured dispensing of motor fuel consumesconsiclerable time; in fact, substantially if not fully the equivalent of the time spent in rendering the average number of incidental gratuitous services, some of which have been enumerated herein. Consequently, there exists a need for suitable automatic dispensing means to the end that the dispensing of gasoline may be economically speeded up, and that the dispensing attendant may be free to perform some of the incidental services during the time in which the tank is being filled with fuel.

The present invention oiiers a solution to the above-stated problem in the form of an apparatus comprising the combination of a metered pump with pre-set gallonage control means and an automatic cut-off dispensing nozzle. Additionally, the present invention includes a novel overhead support for the dispensing nozzle as a means of speeding up the above-mentioned car servicing operations.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as this specification proceeds.

In the drawings forming a part hereof:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying the principles of the invention, illustrat- 1 ing its use schematically,

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the automatic dispensing nozzle,

Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram, and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical view of a push button control means utilized with this invention.

The invention forming the subject-matter of this application employs a diaphragm as a means of actuating the automatic dispenser control provided herein to prevent overflowing or" the vehicle tank.

The device of this invention contemplates the use of closed electrical circuits as prerequisite to the dispensing of the liquids, and the breaking of the circuit to automatically cut oil the flow of liquids, which is the opposite of the conventional system wherein dependence is placed upon the closing of the circuit and the presence of electrical energy to stop the flow of liquids. It will be noted that in this device, should an electrical circuit be broken for any reason either through failure of a wire or connector, or through failure of electrical energy, that the flow of liquid will concurrently be stopped, and that the device cannot be started in operation unless all circuits are intact. I believe my idea to be the safer of the two and more in line with sound engineering practice.

Additionally, the device of this invention contemplates the enclosed mounting of the diaphragm-actuated switch between two diaphragms in the automatic cut-off means to prevent the switch from arcing in the presence of the explosive vapors incidental to a gasoline dispensing apparatus.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 there is included a. conventional pump housing l0 supporting an overhead arm H for pivotal movement. The arm N forms a housing and encases a liquid flow line 12, an air suction line l3 and a suitable cable ll of electrical conductors. At its outer or free end the arm ll terminates in a guide block I5 in which there is received for sliding vertical adjustment a telescoping post iii, the latter carrying at its lower end what may be generally designated as a control or filling head l'l. Any equivalent structure, such as a hollow post slotted to care for cable 21 and sheave 26 might be used to support head l7. An elbow joint 9 is provided in arm I l for greater flexibility in movement to the end that filling head Il may be used anywhere within the radius of arm II extended.

Vertical adjustment of the post I6, and hence the filling head I1, is accomplished by the use of counterbalancing means including a sheave 25 in the swivel joint of arm II to pump housing I0, sheaves 8 in the elbow joint 9, and a sheave 26 in the guide block I5, over which a cable 21 extends for attachment at one end to post I6 adjacent its lower end and for connection at its other end to suitable counter-weights 28 within pump housing I0. It will thus be apparent that the filling head I! may be raised or lowered in adjusting the mechanism to different tank levels or raised completely out of the way irrespective of the permissible pivotal movement of arm Pump housing I0, one of the front plates of which is shown removed in Fig. 1, encloses a pump 30 in communication with a suitable source of supply, such as underground storage tanks (not shown) by a pipe 3|. The pump 30 is driven by an electric motor 32, and is adapted to discharge into the liquid flow line I2 through pipe 33 and a metering device generally designated by the numeral 34.

The metering device employed in this invention may be of any conventional type wherein there is utilized a fluid-actuated calculating means to give a visible reading of gallonage pumped and dispensed and the selling price thereof. Additionally, the metering device is combined with means for automatically shutting oif the flow of liquid including a push button control whereby the quantity of liquid to be dispensed can be pre-set. A preferred form of push button control will be described hereafter in connection with Fig. 4.

The filling head I1, it will be noted from Fig. 2, comprises a housing generally designated as 39, the lower portion of which is divided into the chambers 40 and 4|, and the upper projecting portion of which defines a chamber 42 from which extends a boss 43 for attachment of the head I! to post I6 by conventional means, such as screws or a threaded coupling.

The liquid flow line I2 extends into chamber 40 and is connected to a valve chamber 44 from whence the liquid flows through a short pipe 45 and into a flexible discharge nozzle 46.

The nozzle 46 is divided into a discharge passageway 41, in communication with pipe 45, and an air suction passage 48 having an orifice 49 slightly above the discharge orifice 38 of the passageway 41. The nozzle 46 is adapted to be inserted in the filling spout 36 of the vehicle tank 31 (see Fig. 1) and is provided with a resilient conical washer or gasket I0 at the connection of the nozzle 46 to filling head chamber 40. This passageway 55 formed as an integral part of the wall of chamber 42 provides the means of establishing communication between chamber 4| and air suction line I3.

A pair of spaced-apart flexible air pressure diaphragms 60 and 6| are medially disposed within chamber 4|, being fastened at their edges by means of bolts 62 to the two sides of a flange 63 extending inwardly from the inner surface of the housing wall 64 of chamber 4|. A portion of flange 63 is formed integrallywith the wall 65 of passageway 50. This disposition of the diaphragms serves to set oil from chamber 4| a lower compartment II, the former sealed against atmosphere and the latter open to atmosphere through the bottom plate 66 having apertures 61 therein and secured to the housing by screws 12 or other conventional means.

As will'be noted from Fig. 2 of the drawings,

the air pressure diaphragms are utilized to enclose entirely an electrical contactor I4 which might arc when breaking and cause an explosion of the gasoline vapors.

A starting switch I5 is enclosed within chamber 42. A sealing gasket I6 is provided around the push button shaft II of the starting switch I5, and gaskets I9 and are disposed about leads from chamber 42 to the diaphragm enclosed switch I4 and to a solenoid 8| controlling a valve 82 operable in valve chamber 44.

Returning now to the sequenc of operations: When a car drives into a station for the purchase of gasoline, the attendant adjusts the filling head height to permit insertion of the nozzle 46pinto the filling spout 36 of the gasoline tank 31, having due regard for differences in the year and make of the particular car. some of the older models will not permit full insertion of nozzle 46 and yet completely fill the tank, and in such cases it is only necessary to raise the filling head still higher in making the adjustment. He then pushes the proper combination of buttons I and 2 (see Fig. 1) to give the desired number of gallons in tens and unit gallons, respectively, or presses the Fill button 4 to fill the tank when the exact amount required is unknown. Obviously, an additional row of buttons, not shown, might be provided for tenths of gallons as many customers make even money purchases calling for fractional amounts of gasoline. The attendant then pushes the starting contactor I5, applying current to relay 93, which picks up closing its contacts I08, I09 and H0. Closing contact I08 energizes the valve opening solenoid 8| through voltage divider 94, opening valve 82 and allowing gasoline to flow through nozzle passageway 41.

The counterweighted supporting system causes the filling head I! tohold its position until it is purposely moved by the operator, and the flow of gasoline will shut off automatically at the desired quantity or when the tank is full, whichever condition occurs first. Hence, the operator is free to perform the incidental services referred to above while the filling is in progress.

The relay contacts I08, I09, and H0 are closed by energizing relay solenoid 93, whose controlling circuit is through push button contactors I I I,

I I2, pressure diaphragm contactor I4, and through one of its own contacts I8 (Figs. 3 and 4). A conventionalized circuit has been shown, and it is to be understood that the circuit embodied in Fig. 4 is but one of the ten multiple circuits embodied in each of the separate metering indicators; as the fractional gallonage indicator, the units gallons indicator and the tens of gallons indicator. These operate in multiple so that the pumping continues until each of the cam wheels II4 has turned to allow It will be obvious that notch M5 to engage roller 3 and open the particular contactor 2 which is in series with the contactor III of the particular button pushed for gallonage.

Conventional means are employed to release the button locking mechanism shown in Fig. 4. As this release after delivery of the proper gallon'age is accomplished by means well known in the art, it will not be set forth in detail here.

It is desirable to reduce the full line voltage before applying it to relay coil and other solenoid circuits becaus high voltage may cause excessive arcing at their controlling contactors. Therefore, a voltage divider 94 (Fig. 3) is used to lower the voltage to relay coil 93 and to valve solenoid 8|. This object may be accomplished by various other accepted means, such as, for example, by using one or more separate batteries.

When the starting contactor I5 is closed, current is applied directly through gallonag selec tion push button contactors I I and the metering device contactors H2 to the relay solenoid 93. The relay picks up and closes its contacts I08, I09 and I I0. is released, it will be noted that the current for relay solenoid 93 continues to flow through the push button and metering device contactors III and N2, the normally closed pressure diaphragm contact I4, and through the relay contact I08, which acts as a stick contact and prohibits the relay from picking itself up again once it has dropped away. This is necessary to insure stoppage of fuel delivery at the desired tank level, as contact I4 opens but momentarily when diaphragm 60 flutters under change of pressure in chamber 4| when the liquid rises enough to close the orifice 49.

Relay contacts |I (shown in multiple) apply current to electric motor 32, which drives liquid pump 30 and air suction fan 5. Relay contact I09 closes the circuit which applies current to valve solenoid 8| (Figs. 2 and 3) to retract a plunger 95 fixed to valve 82, and to hold it open against the closing action of a resilient spring 96. This permits pump 30 to force gasoline through line I2, valve body 44, pipe 45, and nozzle passage 41 into the gasoline tank 31. At the same time, air is exhausted from the gasoline tank by an air suction fan run by motor 32 and acting through the suction line I3, chamber 4| passage 50, and nozzle suction passage 48. As the exhaustion of air from the gasoline tank will be slightly in excess in volume to the volume of gasoline pumped in, explosive vapors will be removed from the gasoline tank and its vicinity. A stack, not shown, carries the vapors away from suction fan 5 to a safe exhaust position. This removal of explosive vapors from a location where men often smoke and light matches, is a factor of safety that should not be overlooked.

The mechanism for preventing an overflow in delivery is combined with that for delivering a full tank when the exact quantity required is unknown. In each case, the valve 82 is closed, cutting off the gasoline flow at the nozzle, and the pumps are stopped, through the action of the diaphragm 60 and the switch I4 enclosed therein.

When the Fill button 4 is pressed, valve 82 is opened and the motor 32 energized through a contactor I20 by-passing the gallonage selection button contactors III and H2. Gasoline is then pumped into the tank until the level rises enough to cover the orifice 49 of nozzle air duct 48. This will cut oif air withdrawal through duct 48, and will cause a sudden exhaustion of air from cham- Now, when the startin contactor I5 her 4|, with the result that diaphragm 60 will be drawn upward, and switch 14 opened. This will immediately cut off the current through solenoid 8|, allowing spring 96 to close valve 82, and preventing further gas delivery. As said above, the baffie 53 is located in passage 50 to stop any liquid gasoline that might be drawn up from the tank 31 before the diaphragm enclosed switch I4 has had time to act. A very slight air pressure differential in chamber 4| is sufficient to actuate diaphragm 60.

When the required gallonage has been miscalculated, the rising of the tank level to close air duct aperture 49 acts in the same fashion to prevent overflow.

A preferred form of switch for use in the metering device is shown in Fig. 4. Here a push button 99, corresponding to buttons I and 2 of Fig. 1, is shown extending through a standard front panel I00 and inner panel IOI, and urged into a normal forward position by a spring I02. When button 99 is pushed inwardly to determine the quantity of gasoline to be delivered, a notch I04 on push button shaft I05 engages a pin I05 on a locking bar I01 urged downwardly by a spring I03. This engages push button shaft I05 with a contactor II closing the circuit (see Fig. 3- also) through that contactor and through the proper one of contactors II 2 controlled by the engagement of a roller |l3 with a rotary cam 4 having a notch 5.

A plurality of cam rollers ||3, each with its associated contactor H2, is disposed about each cam II 4. Each roller I I3 is urged in turn into the notch 5 as cam I|4 rotates, by its associated spring IIG, opening the associated contactor 2. When the particular contactor ||2 energized through the contactor I I by operation of the appropriate push button 99 is opened, the circuit is broken, This in turn de-energizes the solenoid 8| and permits closure of valve 82.

Conventional means, not shown, unlock the push buttons 99 to restore them to their initial position under the urging of springs |02. It will be obvious that the cams II 4 may be formed integrally with, or attached to, the registering dials 6 of the metering unit.

It will thus be seen that I have invented a new form of gasoline dispensing device, useful equally with any inflammable liquid, by means of which any desired number of gallons and fractions thereof may be delivered to a customer or his tank filled without requiring the continuous attention of the service station attendant. This releases him for other services to the car owner, and reduces materially the time which the car owner must spend in waiting for service. It uses the closed circuit principle of operation, so that any electrical failure will stop further delivery of gasoline, and automatically prevents any overflow. This is done with great safety by enclosing all electrical contactors to prevent explosions, and by removing explosive vapors from the vicinity of the gasoline tank.

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for dispensing measured quantities of inflammable liquid, including electrically operated pumping means and control means for stopping delivery at a predetermined point before overflow of any receptacle, comprising a switch, a flexible diaphragm chamber sealed about said switch and operatively connected thereto, and electrical circuits connected to said switch arranged to stop said pumping means and to stop immediately delivery of said liquid when said electrical circuits fail and whenever a negative air pressure is created about said diaphragm chamber.

2. The combination with a device for dispens ing inflammable liquid of a control head having liquid, suction, and electric lines connected thereto, said head comprising a vertically adjustable body supported by said device, a nozzle depending from said body, a valve chamber disposed between said liquid line and said nozzle, a valve disposed slidably within said valve chamber, resilient means for maintaining said valve normally closed and a solenoid arranged to open said valve when energized; an air passage associated with an opening adjacent the lower end of said nozzle, a resilient gasket disposed about said nozzle and air passage and shaped to close tightly the inlet to a container to be filled with said liquid; an air chamber formed in said body and communicating with said suction line and said nozzle air passage, a baiile formed adjacent said nozzle air passage, a closed flexible diaphragm chambered within said air chamber, air passages formed in said chamber communicating with one side of said closed diaphragm, a switch mounted within said closed diaphragm, said switch being normally closed and arranged to open at a predetermined negative pressure on said diaphragm; and a relay-controlled switch mounted on said body and arranged to initiate delivery of said liquid and to cut off an electric power failure.

8. A device for dispensing measured quantities of inflammable liquid including electrically operated pumping means and control means for stopping delivery at a predetermined point before overflow of any receptacle, comprising a switch, a flexible diaphragm sealed about said switch and operatively connected thereto, a vapor conduit encasing the diaphragm chamber, and electrical circuits connected to said switch arranged to stop said pumping means and to stop immediately delivery of said liquid whenever a, negative air pressure is created in the conduit encasing said diaphragm chamber.

4. A device for dispensing measured quantities of inflammable liquid including electrically operated pumping means and control means for stopping delivery at a predetermined point before overflow of any receptacle, comprising a dispensing nozzle communicable with the pumping means, a switch, a flexible diaphragm sealed about said switch and operatively connected thereto, a vapor conduit associated with said dispensing nozzle and encasing the diaphragm chamber, and electrical circuits connected to said switch arranged to stop said pumping means and to stop immediately delivery of said liquid whenever a negative air pressure is created in the conduit encasing said diaphragm chamber.

BUEL F. TITUs.

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