US3053414A - Pre-selector mechanism for liquid dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 11, 1962 E. D. RAPISARDA FREE-SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l a mm m W? Sept. 11, 1962 E. D. RAPISARDA PRE-SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 M A a 1 I o w 0 W w@ W m MH I n N3 f 3 g 0 M. p fim 3T 5 w.. I \Q QM\L N\Q\\ n v. W| rL s E J QEWQ Q Q 3 v w 3,053,414 PRE-SELECTOR MECHANISM FOR LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Edward D. Rapisarda, West Springfield, Mass, assignor to Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Company, West Springfield, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 8, 1960, Ser. No. 41,656 9 Claims. (Cl. 222-2t)) This invention relates to liquid dispensing apparatus and more particularly to mechanism for pre-setting such apparatus to control delivery so as to automatically dispense a predetermined amount of fluid such as gasoline or the like.

In purchasing gasoline at a service station a customer may ask the attendant either to fill the tank of his automobile or to dispense a specific amount in gallons or dollar value. When asked to fill the tank, the attendant can take full advantage of automatic shut-ofi nozzles now widely used on present day computer pump dispensers. The automatic shut-off nozzle is well known and enables an attendant to perform other servicing duties during the dispensing operation since delivery will be automatically cut-off when the receiving tank is full. However, when a customer orders a specific amount of gasoline, either by dollar value or indicates the number of gallons desired, the attendant must watch the dial of the pump computer and manually stop delivery when the required amount is shown on the register. This type of delivery, which is fairly common, prevents the attendant from performing other servicing duties for that particular customer or from servicing other customers while the dispensing operation is being completed.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide apparatus of a relatively simple construction for automatically and accurately controlling delivery of gasoline in pre-determined quantities when specific amounts are desired.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus of the above type which may be readily incorporated into presently available gasoline dispensing pump equipment and without re-design and extensive or costly alteration of the units or relocation of any of the usual components.

It is also an object of this invention to provide pre selector control apparatus of the above type for use in presently available commercial equipment which will also permit the usual and ordinary operation of the dispensing pump unit. In other words the dispensing pump unit may be selectively operated with or without the preset mechanism of the present invention.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a preselector unit for use in presently available dispensers which is operated in response to movement of the computer dial elements and which is independent of the computer.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide apparatus of the above type having a quantitative selectivity which may be varied without major constructional changes in the apparatus.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatical view of the major elements of a gasoline computer pump dispensing apparatus including the mechanism of the pre-selector apparatus embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a wiring diagram showing an electrical circuit for the pre-selector apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. '3 is an elevational view partly in section show- States Patent Q ing the mechanical features of the pre-selector apparatus as mounted on a dispensing pump unit;

FIG. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is a section taken on line 77 of FIG. 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the major elements of a gasoline dispensing unit as a computer pump are diagrammatically shown in FIG. 1. The unit includes a fluid pressurizing pump 8 driven by an electric motor 10, which is energized through lines 12 and a main switch 14 by a suitable power source. The discharge conduit 6 0r outlet of the pump 8 leads to a meter 18 which drives a conventional computer or register device 20, as a Veeder-Root computer, through a shaft 22 which rotates at a rate proportional to the rate of flow through the meter 18. From the meter the outlet conduit 16 may extend upwardly to a visigauge device 24 and then to a flexible dispensing hose and conventional nozzle at 26, the nozzle being preferably of the automatic shut-01f type.

In accordance with the present invention, there is shown with such standard dispensing pump apparatus an electromechanical mechanism for presetting the apparatus and cutting 01f delivery of gasoline when a specific preselected quantity has been dispensed. In outlet conduit 16 is a solenoid operated shut-off valve at 28 for controlling the main flow. Around valve 28 is a smaller by-pass conduit 30 of relatively small volumetric capacity for a trickle feed to nozzle 26 as will be described. A solenoid operated shut-off valve '32 controls flow in by-pass line 30. Solenoids 34 and 36 control the operation of valves 28 and 32 respectively. As will be described valve 28 of the main conduit will close before the end of a desired delivery and thereafter a trickle flow will continue through valve 32 until the exact pre-set amount of liquid has been delivered. Valve '32 will then close to shut-off all flow.

Solenoids 34 and 36 are energized and de-energized by a pair of electrical switches 38 and 40 respectively. The switches are housed in an explosion-proof switch box 41 and electrically connected to the solenoids through a junction box at 39. The switches are actuated by earns 43 and 45 and the mechanism for controlling the operation of earns 43 and 45 is indicated generally at 42.

Mechanism 42 may be pre-conditioned for a given delivery by an indicator dial 44. The indicator 44 is adapted for mounting on the outside of the dispensing pump casing and includes the dial which may be graduated in gallon or money increments and a pointer member 46 movable over the dial to select a given quantity of gasoline to be automatically dispensed by the apparatus.

In the example shown the dial is calibrated from O to 10 dollars in 50 cent increments. A flexible drive shaft or cable 47 connects the indicator pointer 46 to the control mechanism 42 so that rotation of the pointer to a selected value provides, in effect, an analogue input to the mechanism 42. The mechanism 42 is also responsive to inputs from the numeral wheels at 21 of the computer. As will be described below, the inputs from the indicator and the computer cause the mechanism 42 to operate the electrical switches 38 and 40 first to reduce the rate of gasoline delivery when registry of the pre-set amount is approached by the numeral Wheels of the computer (and the pointer is approaching the zero mark of the dial) and then to completely stop delivery precisely when the pre-selected amount is indicated by the computer (and the pointer is at zero on the dial 44).

An electrical circuit, such as is shown by FIG. 2, controls the operation of valves 28 and 32 in the main and trickle flow lines beyond the meter. The circuit includes the two control switches 38 and 40 and the two solenoid coils 34 and 36 previously mentioned. Switch 38 (FIG. 2) is a double throw switch, one terminal at 48 being in series with the coil 34 and the other terminal at 51 being in series with switch 40 and coil 36. The movable arm of switch 38 is urged into engagement with terminal 48 by suitable means such as the spring at 53. In this position of switch 38, solenoid 34 is energized and thus valve 28 is held open to allow flow through it. Cam 43 under control of the mechanism 42 is provided to shift the movable arm of switch 38 into engagement with terminal 51. This occurs when the dial pointer 46 approaches the zero mark near the end of delivery and valve 28 is thereby closed. Switch 40, which is normally urged into a closed position by suitable means such as the spring at 55, is opened by the cam 45 to close valve 32 and stop all delivery when the pointer comes to zero. It will be noted that although switch 40 is normally held closed, solenoid 36 will be energized (to open valve 32) only when the movable arm of switch 38 is engaged with the terminal 51 to complete a delivery through by-pass 30 by a trickle feed.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, the mechanism for actuating the cams 43 and 45, is supported by a U-shaped bracket 49 which is secured to the upper surface of the conventional computer top plate 50. In FIG. 3 the upper panel and frame elements of a conventional dispensing pump are shown in relation to this portion of the device with the flexible actuating shaft 47 leading to the pointer 46 and dial assembly 44 as mounted on the housing for convenient access by the operator. It will be noted that the amount of space required for the mechanism 42 is relatively small and that the mechanism is located wholly outside the area defined by the peripheries of the computer wheels. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the mechanism here shown may be adapted for incorporation with existing computer pump equipment with little or no change beyond that required for simply mounting the dial 44, the mechanism 42 and switch box 41, and for including the solenoid valve 28 and by-pass valve 32 in the discharge outlet line from the meter. The entire apparatus may in fact be added to existing dispensers in the field to gain the added advantages of a pre-setting mechanism without an excessive amount of servicing and conversion work.

As best shown by FIG. 4 a tubular shaft or sleeve 52 is rotatably supported in bearings 54 and 56 extending through upstanding portions of the bracket 49 and a shaft 58 is co-axially disposed and freely rotatable in the sleeve. At its ends shaft 58 extends outwardly of the sleeve. At one end the shaft is coupled to the flexible drive shaft 47 by means of a connector 60. At the other end it is drivingly coupled to the switch actuating cam 43 (see FIG. 3). (Sleeve 52 is connected to drive the cam 45 as will be later described.) Cam 43 is thus rotated by shaft 58 in response to the turning of the dial pointer 46.

The mechanism for holding the setting to which the pointer 46 may be turned and for operatively actuating the main solenoid valve switch 38 by cam 43 will now be described. Switch 38 is operated through cam 43 in response to rotation of the computer center wheel at 62. As shown by FIGS. 3-5, such operating means includes a lever arm 64, rotatably mounted on bearing 56, and extending downwardly through an opening 66 in the top plate 50. A stud supported roller 68 at the lower end of the lever arm is disposed adjacent the periphery of wheel 62. Projections or pins 70 extend from the Wheel 62 sufficiently to engage the roller 68 intermittently at predetermined angular positions of the wheel. The number and location of the pins depends upon the increments capable of being pre-selected by the apparatus, such increments being the scalar quantities represented by the dial graduations. In the unit shown, since each graduation of the dial 44 indicates a value of 50 cents, two pins are provided at diametrically opposite points on the wheel 62. These pins are located to engage the roller 68 when the numerals 9 and 4" are indicated on the center wheel of the computer.

A second lever arm 72 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is also rotatably mounted on bearing 56 adjacent the depending lever 64. A pin 74 (FIG. 5) extending from a side face of the vertical lever is positioned to engage the lower edge of lever 72. A tension spring 76 is hooked to the outer ends of levers 64 and 72 and urges the pin 74 into engagement against lever 72. A spring 78 is also hooked to the outer end of lever 72 and to the top plate 50 as indicated at 79. Spring 78 draws lever 72 into a generally horizontal position. On lever 72 is a stud at 82 on which is pivoted a ratchet drive pawl 80. The nose of the pawl is urged into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel 86 by a spring 84 hooked to the other end of the pawl and to the lever 72.

Ratchet wheel 86 is fixed on shaft 58 by a set screw 88. This wheel is provided with a number of teeth related to the cost values (or the number of gallons) capable of being controlled by the pre-set mechanism. In the embodiment shown twenty teeth extend over an angle of 180 on the wheel and correspond to the Ten Dollar scale of the indicator 44 which also covers 180. Each tooth thus corresponds to 50 cents or one graduation of the indicator.

In FIG. 5 the ratchet is shown in a zero position, that is, the position it occupies when the dial pointer is set on 0. In this zero position of shaft 58, switch 38 is actuated by cam 43 and the connection made with the terminal 51 of the by-pass solenoid as explained in connection with FIG. 2. When the pointer 46 is rotated to a given value on the dial, the shaft 58 and ratchet are rotated through the same angle. As an example, if ten dollars were to be set on the dial the ratchet wheel would be rotated 180 from its FIG. 5 position. It may be noted that a back pawl 90 locks the ratchet in a selected angular position and that although 20 ratchet teeth correspond to the full ten dollar amount on the indicator, the teeth actually extend over an arc of 270". This additional toothed sector of 90 permits both the drive and back pawls 80 and 90 (set at about 90 spacing) to engage with teeth during a full ten dollar delivery, or 180 rotation of the ratchet. It also permits the remaining 90 sector of the wheel 86 which is left smooth or free of teeth to render the pawl inactive when the pointer is turned to a Manual setting for operation of the dispensing pump apparatus without using the pre-selector mechanism.

Back pawl 90 is pivotally mounted on a stud 92 extending from an upstanding plate 94 suitably fixed on bracket 49. One end of a spring 96 is hooked to the pawl 90 and its other end to a stud 98 extending from plate 94. The spring thus urges pawl 90 into engagement with the toothed ratchet 86, permits only unidirectional rotation, and also holds the ratchet and shaft 58 in a selected angular position.

It will thus be seen from the above that as the cost wheel 62 rotates in a registering direction, indicated by the arrow in FIG. 5, the projections 70 will strike the roller 68 and pivot lever arm 64 in a clockwise direction. Each time this occurs pin 74 on arm 64 will in turn pivot arm 72 in a clockwise direction. Drive pawl 80 carried on arm 72 at the same time rotates the ratchet wheel sufiiciently to carry one tooth past the nose of pawl 90 which will then engage the next succeeding tooth. Projections 70 thus progressively move the shaft from a preset condition toward the Zero position for actuating the main solenoid switch 38.

Mechanism 42 also includes means for actuating the by-pass solenoid switch 40 in response to rotation of the lowest denominational wheel at 100 (FIGS. 3, 4, and 6). As shown, this switch actuating means comprises a bell crank 102 which is secured for rotation with the sleeve Q 52 by a set screw 103, the crank includes a depending arm portion 104 extending downwardly through openings at 106 in the bracket 49 and computer top plate 50. A generally horizontal arm portion 1118 of the crank has at its outer end a spring 110 hooked to it and to the computer top plate 51). The spring 110 holds crank 102 against the edge of the opening 166. Thus the sleeve 52 is releasably held in the angular position shown in FIG. 6. At the lower end of arm 104 is a roller 112 adjacent the periphery of cost wheel 100. This wheel carries at least one projection or pin 114 for engagement with roller 112. Pin 114 is located at a predetermined circumferential position on the wheel depending upon the last digit of the increments capable of being preselected by the apparatus. In the embodiment shown pin 114 is located to engage roller 112 when the is indicated by the wheel 1 96 as will be more fully explained below.

The driving connections from shaft 53 to the cam 43 for the main solenoid switch and the driving connections between the cam 45 for the trickle feed solenoid switch and sleeve 52 will now be described.

Shaft 53 is connected to cam 43 to oifset the cam from its zero position in accordance with the desired setting of the dial pointer and shaft 58 and to return the cam to actuate the switch as the indicator approaches zero during delivery. As shown by FIG. 3 a depending drive coupling 116 is fixed on the extreme end of shaft 58 and the lower end of the coupling is slotted at 118, to receive a coupling pin anchored at 121 in the lower end of a driven coupling 122. Coupling 122 is fixed on a shaft 124 journaled in a bushing 126 set in the wall of switch box 41. Cam 43 is fixed on the inner end of shaft 124 and is engageable to actuate switch button 128 of switch 38.

The trickle feed solenoid switch cam 45 is driven by the sleeve 52 to engage a button 129 to open switch 40 for each rotation of the wheel 100. Cam 45 is carried on the inner end of a shaft 130 journaled in a bushing 132 set in the wall of box 41. A driven coupling 134 is secured at the outer end of shaft 130 and carries a pin 136 extending from its upper end. Pin 136 is received in a slot 138 in the lower end of a coupling 140 fixed on the sleeve 52. Thus each time projection 114 of wheel 100 passe by pin 112 of crank 102, the sleeve is rocked back and forth to actuate the switch button 129 and open switch 40.

The slotted drive couplings 116 and 14h facilitate the connection of the cam shafts 124 and 130 to the shaft 58 and sleeve 52 respectively. With this type of coupling the connections need not be accurately aligned and switch box 41 as shown may be conveniently supported by a bracket 142 suspended from the frame plate 144 of the pump housing while the drive shafts are supported by the bracket 49 secured to the computer top plate 50.

Operation When it is desired to automatically control the delivery of a pre-selected quantity or value of gasoline, the indicator 46 is rotated clockwise, in the direction indicated in FIG. 1, until the pointer indicates the desired quantity in dollars worth. The flexible cable 47 and shaft 58 rotate to carry toothed wheel 86 into an offset position through an angle inversely proportional to the value indicated by the pointer 46. The shaft 58 is held in the selected angular position by the engagement of pawl 90 with the wheel. This, in effect, stores the input from the indicator. Switch actuator cam 43 is driven through the same angle as the wheel, since shaft 124 is coupled to shaft The pump operating lever (not shown) may then be actuated to close the main supply switch 14 (FIGS. 1 and 2) to energize the circuit comprising motor 10, and including the switch controlled solenoids 34 and 36.

Since the cam 43 has been offset from its switch operating position, the switch 38 completes the circuit to the main solenoid coil 34 and opens the circuit to the trickle solenoid 36. Valve 28 of the main flow line 26 is thus open. As gasoline is delivered, the register wheels are rotated in conventional fashion at a rate proportional to the rotation of the meter shaft 22.

It will be noted that as the cents wheel 100 rotates, pin 114 rocks bell crank 102 in a clockwise direction once for each revolution. This momentarily opens the circuit of solenoid 36 at the switch 40 but since there is no circuit connection through switch 38 to terminal 51 this has no efiect. The crank is, of course, spring held in a norm-ally closed switch position except when kicked by the pin 114.

Each time one of the pins 70 of the center or tens wheel 62 strikes the roller 68, lever arms 64 and 72 pivot against spring 78 and rock drive pawl to advance the ratchet wheel 86 an increment of one tooth (a fifty cent increment). Since the tens wheel 62, as shown, has two pins 70, pawl 80 will advance the ratchet two teeth per cost wheel revolution. Thus as the cents wheel rotates shaft 58 is turned step-by-step until it returns the cam 43 to the zero or shut-off position.

In the unit shown the pins 70 on the tens wheel are so located that the cam 43 will be returned to its switch actuating position when the total registered by the computer cost wheels is ten cents less than the pre-selected amount of gasoline to be dispensed. Either the 9 or 4 will then be registered against the index marks of the computer dial face window. Assuming the amount of gasoline pre-selected is an even dollar amount, cam 43 will actuate switch 38 as the 9 is indexed by wheel 62. Switch 38 will be operated to cause the movable contact to shift and connect terminal 51 (FIG. 2) into the circuit. Solenoid 34 will be de-energized and the main valve 28 will close. Also when the 9 is being indexed on the tens wheel, a 0 reading will be indicated by the cents wheel and pin 114 will be engaged with roller 112 to open switch 41 However, there is a time lag in closing valve 28 so that flow is maintained through the meter sufficient to carry the cents wheel 10! past the zero reading and thus to allow switch 40 to close immediately. In this condition a circuit is established to energize solenoid 36 and hold trickle valve 32 open. Reduced flow through the by-pass line 3 will continue until the cents wheel 100 completes the next full revolution and again indexes to 0. At this moment the pin 114 will pivot bell crank 102 and cam 45 to open switch 40 and completely shut off all flow.

The tens wheel 62 will thus have been carried from 9 to 0 and the dollar wheel 145 will be indexed to the desired dollar figure initially selected on dial 44. The movable pointer or indicator 45 will now also be returned to 0 dial position by shaft 47.

Resetting of the computer is accomplished in conven .tional fashion, the register wheels being rotated to 0 in a direction opposite to the computing direction which is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 5. Referring to FIG. 5, it will be seen that rotation to reset wheel 62 will have no effect on the pre-selector mechanism, since the lever 64 can be rocked in a counterclockwise direction independently of lever 72. Consequently the pins 70' will merely swing the lever 64 out of the way as the wheel 62 is returned to 0. Spring 76 will return the lever 64 to its FIG. 5 position. 7

When a pre-selected delivery has been completed, both switch 38 and switch 40 are engaged so that only motor 10 is energized. The motor is de-energized by opening switch 14 in conventional manner as by movement of a pump operating lever (not shown).

If a regular delivery, not using the preselector is desired, the indicator pointer '46 may be rotated to Manual on the dial 44. The ratchet 86 (FIG. 5) is thus rotated to bring the toothless portion opposite drive pawl 80. Rotation of the register wheels will then have no effect on the apparatus since pawl 80 will merely slide back and forth on the toothless portion of the ratchet. Setting the pointer on Manual position also offsets the the switch actuating cam 43 from its switch actuating position, shown in FIG. 2. Solenoid 34 is thus in circuit with the electrical power supply and will be energized when the switch 14 is closed. Closure of switch 14 opens main valve 28 and valve 32 remains closed, since the solenoid 36 is not energized.

While in the example disclosed dial 44 is graduated in multiples of 50 cents, it may be found suitable to provide a selector dial graduated in even dollar increments. The tens wheel would then be provided with a single pin 70 only which would advance the ratchet one tooth for each rotation of the wheel when the numeral 9" is indicated on the wheel. It may also be desirable to provide register wheels with a number of circumferentially spaced holes threaded to receive any number of actuating pins depending on the increments to be preselected. In this way any number of pins could be added to the wheels as desired or shifted to various locations for use with various types of dial graduations. It should also be realized that while the money wheels of the computer have been used to illustrate the invention, the gallon wheels are equally suitable for the purpose. In the event gallon wheels are used, the wheel graduated in tenths of gallons, could be provided with a projection or pin to actuate switch 45 when 10 is indicated on the wheel. The center wheel being graduated in gallons, could be provided with ten pins on its periphery so that the apparatus would be able to control delivery of any amount of gasoline in multiples of one gallon.

. Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is:

1. In fluid dispensing apparatus having a delivery conduit, valve means for controlling the flow in said conduit and a meter-driven computer including numeral wheels for registering the quantity of fluid delivered by said apparatus; pre-selector apparatus for automatically terminating the delivery of fluid in predetermined amounts comprising a dial graduated in predetermined increments and a relatively movable selector, a rotatable shaft, means driven by said shaft for actuating said valve means at a predetermined angular position of said shaft, means responsive to said selector for positioning said shaft in angularly offset relation to said predetermined position proportional to values set on said selector, driving means for returning said shaft to said predetermined position, and means carried by at least one of the register wheels for intermittently actuating said driving means at predetermined angular positions of said wheel, said angular positions being related to at least one numeral of the latter wheel which corresponds to the graduations of the selector dial.

2. In fluid dispensing apparatus having a delivery conduit, valve means for controlling the flow in said oonduit and a meter-driven computer including numeral wheels for registering the quantity of fluid delivered by said apparatus; pre-selector apparatus for automatically terminating the delivery of fluid in predetermined amounts comprising a dial graduated in predetermined increments and a relatively movable selector, a rotatable shaft supported adjacent said computer, means driven by said shaft for actuating said valve means at a predetermined angular position of said shaft, means responsive to said selector for positioning said shaft in angularly offset relation to said predetermined position proportional to pre-selected values indicated on said dial, driving means for returning said shaft in step-by-step increments to said predetermined position, and means carried by the numeral wheels of said register for intermittently actuating said driving means at predetermined angular positions of said wheels, said angular positions being related to numerals of said wheels corresponding to the graduations of the selector dial.

3. In fluid dispensing apparatus having main and trickle flow conduits, solenoid controlled valves in said conduits and a meter-driven computer including wheels for registering a quantity of fluid delivered by said apparatus; preselector apparatus for automatically shutting off the flow of fluid when a predetermined amount has been delivered comprising a dial graduated in predetermined increments and a relatively movable selector, an electrical circuit including switches for controlling the operation of each of said valves, a rotatable shaft supported adjacent said computer, means driven by said shaft for actuating one of said switches at a predetermined angular position of said shaft to close the valve in said main conduit, means responsive to said selector for positioning said shaft in angularly offset relation to its switch actuating position proportional to values set on said selector, driving means for returning said shaft to said switch actuating position, means extending from the periphery of the center one of said register wheels for intermittently actuating said driving means at predetermined angular positions of said wheel, said angular positions occurring when the center wheel registers one numeral less than the corresponding numeral set on said dial, means for operating the second of said switches to close the valve in the trickle flow conduit, means carried by the lowest order wheel of said register for actuating the latter switch operating means at a predetermined angular position of the latter wheel at which the latter wheel registers the last numeral of the pre-selected valve whereby the computed wheels register exactly said pre-selected value.

4. In fluid dispensing apparatus having main and trickle flow conduits, solenoid controlled valves in said conduits and a meter-driven computer including wheels for registering the quantity of fluid delivered by said apparatus; pre-seiector apparatus for automatically shutting off the flow of fluid when a predetermined amount has been delivered comprising a dial bearing numerical graduations and a relatively movable selector, an electrical circuit including first and second solenoid coils for operating said valves, a first switch energizing said first solenoid and operable for energizing said second solenoid, and a second switch operable to energize and de-energize said second solenoid, a rotatable shaft disposed adjacent said computer, means driven by said shaft for operating said first switch at a predetermined angular position of said shaft, means responsive to said movable selector for positioning said shaft in angularly offset relation to its predetermined position proportional to the values set on said dial, means for driving said shaft to its switch operating position, means carried by the center one of said register wheels for intermittently actuating said driving means at predetermined angular positions of said wheel when rotating in registering direction, the predetermined angular positions of said wheel being related to the registration by said wheel of a numeral one less than the corresponding numeral of the preselected value, means for operating said second switch and means carried by the lowest order wheel of said register for actuating said second switch operating means to de-energize the second solenoid when the latter wheel registers the last numeral of said preselected value.

5. In fluid dispensing apparatus having main and trickle flow conduits, solenoid controlled valves in said conduits and a meter-driven computer including wheels for registering the quantity of fluid delivered by said apparatus; pre-selector apparatus for automatically shutting oif the flow of fluid when a predetermined amount has been delivered comprising a dial graduated in predetermined increments and a relatively movable selector, an electrical circuit including switches for controlling the operation of each of said solenoid controlled valves, a rotatable shaft supported adjacent said computer, means driven by said shaft for actuating one of said switches at a predetermined angular position of said shaft to close the valve in said main conduit, a ratchet releasably holding said shaft in selected angular positions, a lever arm pivotable relative to said shaft and disposed adjacent the periphery of the center one of said register wheels, a drive pawl engaged with said ratchet and responsive to unidirectional movement of said lever arm tor returning said shaft to its predetermined position, projections extending from the periphery of said center wheel and engageable with said lever arm for intermittently actuating said drive pawl at predetermined angular positions of said wheel, said angular positions occurring when said wheel registers a numerical one digit less than the corresponding numeral set on said dial, a sleeve rotatably disposed coaxially of said shafit, means for operating the second of said switches to close the valve in the trickle flow conduit in response to the rotation of said sleeve, a lever carried by said sleeve and rotatable therewith and having a portion disposed adjacent the periphery of the lowest order wheel, and a projection carried by the lowest order wheel of said register for intermittently pivoting the lever arm carried by said sleeve at predetermined angular positions of the latter wheel, said predetermined angular positions occurring when said wheel registers the last numeral of the preselected value.

6. Pre-selector apparatus as set forth in claim in which said selector includes a position for rendering said apparatus inoperative, said ratchet having a toothless portion disposed for engagement with the driving pawl when said selector is positioned to render said apparatus inoperative.

7. In combination with a fluid dispensing apparatus having a delivery conduit, valve means rfor controlling the flow in said conduit and a meter driven computer including numeral wheels tor registering the quantity of fluid delivered by said apparatus; pre-selector apparatus for automatically terminating the delivery of fluid in predetermined amounts comprising an indicator having graduations for selecting amounts of fluid to be delivered, means for receiving inputs from said indicator proportional to the amount set on said indicator, drive means responsive to rotation of said computer wheels in a registering direction for nullitying said inputs in step by-step increments corresponding to the maduations of said indicator, and means for actuating said valve means when said wheels indicate the preselected quantity, said drive means being disposed wholly outwardly of the area defined by the peripheries of the computer wheels enabling said preselector apparatus to be operatively mounted in association with dispensing units without rearrangement of computer elements.

8. In gasoline dispensing apparatus having a discharge line with a meter and meter driven computer having sets of numeral wheels for registering the cost and quantity of gasoline dispensed through said line, the combination with one of said sets of numeral wheels of preset-table mechanism for automatically stopping flow through said discharge line upon delivery of a predetermined quantity of gasoline, said presettable mechanism comprising a solenoid controlled main valve in said discharge line, a trickle feed, by-pass conduit around said main valve, a solenoid controlled valve in said by-pass conduit; an explosion-proof switch unit comprising a switch for controlling each of said solenoids, drive shafts extending from the switch unit and actuator members carried by said shafts for operation of each switch; a mechanical control unit responsive to rotation of said one set of numeral wheels for driving the switch actuator shafts, said control unit being mounted adjacent said wheels, projections disposed on the periphery of two of said numeral wheels for actuating said control unit, said control unit having a driving member, an arm carried by said driving member and disposed to be pivoted by the projection of the numeral wheel of lower denomination, said driving member being coupled with the switch actuator shaft controlling the by-pass solenoid, and drive means coupled with the other switch actuator shaft for controlling the rnain valve solenoid and including a ratchet, and a ratchet drive mechanism, including an arm lying in the path of rotation of the projection of the other wheel, movement of the latter arm by the said wheel projection acting through the ratchet to rotate the main solenoid switch actuator towards a switch ope-rating condition, and an indicator couple-d to said ratchet for angularly positioning the main solenoid switch actuator from said switch operating condition, and an electric circuit in which the actuation of the by-pass switch, responsive to rotation of said lower denomination wheel, is ineffective to operate said by-pass solenoid valve until the main switch reaches its switch operating condition.

9. The structure as in claim 8 in which said control unit includes a support mountable on said computer, said switch unit being adapted [for mounting on the casing of said dispensing apparatus, alignment compensating coupling for drivingly connecting the driving members of said control unit to the switch actuating shafits of said switch unit, the connection of said indicator to said ratchet being a flexible shaft enabling selective placement of said indicator in the wall of said casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,915,493 Hotchkiss June 27, 1933 2,228,820 Griflith et al. Jan. 14, 1941 2,760,680 Fraser Aug. 28, 1956 2,797,025 Carriol June 25, 1957

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