US3151809A - Indicating apparatus - Google Patents

Indicating apparatus Download PDF

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US3151809A
US3151809A US276921A US27692163A US3151809A US 3151809 A US3151809 A US 3151809A US 276921 A US276921 A US 276921A US 27692163 A US27692163 A US 27692163A US 3151809 A US3151809 A US 3151809A
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indicating
elements
zero
higher order
order
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William J Gerstenmaier
Thomas Larry Alan
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Symington Wayne Corp
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Symington Wayne Corp
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67DDISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B67D7/00Apparatus or devices for transferring liquids from bulk storage containers or reservoirs into vehicles or into portable containers, e.g. for retail sale purposes
    • B67D7/06Details or accessories
    • B67D7/08Arrangements of devices for controlling, indicating, metering or registering quantity or price of liquid transferred
    • B67D7/22Arrangements of indicators or registers
    • B67D7/26Arrangements of indicators or registers with resetting or zeroing means
    • B67D7/263Arrangements of indicators or registers with resetting or zeroing means using electrical or electro-mechanical means

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  • This invention relates to an electrical apparatus for providing an indication of a dispensed quantity and it more particularly relates to a remote form of such an apparatus f r gasoline service stations.
  • a remote indicating apparatus such as that disclosed in copending application S.N. 171,501, Patent No. 3,100,062, filed February 6, 1962, by Robert G. Spalding, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto, includes a receiver motor which operates as a function of a dispensed quantity.
  • a motorized drive is connected to each indicating element through slip clutches to reset the elements prior to a dispensing operation and to intermittently rotate the higher order elements during a dispensing operation.
  • the receiver motor is connected to the lowest order indicating element through a disengageable clutch which overrides the slip clutch. Thus the receiver motor rotates the lowest order indicating element as a function of the dispensed quantity.
  • a disengageable escapement engaged with a series of pins dis posed about the periphery of each higher order indicating element is intermittently rocked thereby permitting the motorized drive to rotate each higher order element one digit when its lower order element moves through a full cycle.
  • Each escapement includes a normally engaged holding arm, a normally disengaged arresting arm and an actuating solenoid which rocks the escapement to release a held pin and arrest the next pin in an intermediate position for engagement by the holding arm when it returns to its normal position. Transfer cams and switches on the lower order indicating elements energize the escapement solenoids.
  • a reset control disengages the receiver motor clutch and the escapements from the indicating elements to permit the motorized drive to rotate the indicating elements to their zeroized conditions against zero stops at the completion of a dispensing operation, and zero sensing means insure that the indicating elements are fully zeroized before the next dispensing operation is commenced.
  • the indicating apparatus accordingly requires a dependable control system to insure its functioning properly and it is important to make this control system simple for minimizing installation space, operation difficulties and maintenance problems.
  • an object of this invention is to provide a simple, dependable and compact control means for an electrical indicating apparatus of the type disclosed in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962.
  • the zero stops on the higher order indicating elements and the arresting arms on the escapements are located in a predetermined 9-plus or pre-zero indicating position.
  • the transfer cams and switches are also arranged at the same predetermined 9 plus position.
  • the zero detecting switch means for the lowest order indicating element is arranged at a true zero, but the zero detecting switch means for the higher order indicating elements are arranged at the aforementioned 9-plus position.
  • a reactivating control means connects the zero detecting switch means with the reset control for retracting the zero stops and for dropping the escapements back to their holding position after the indicating elements have been zeroized to allow the higher order elements to move to true zero and thereby be ready for the 3,151,809 Patented Oct. 6, 1964 next indicating operation.
  • a single switch means on the intermediate order element in the 9-plus position can be used for both zero detecting and transfer functions, while an inactivating means is used to prevent the escapements from transferring until the elements have been fully zeroized.
  • the zero detecting circuit can also be used for enabling the operation of the functions indicated, such as the opening of a solenoid-operated valve in a gasoline dispensing pump.
  • FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the internal mechanism of an indicating apparatus of this invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical system of the embodiment of this invention described in FIGS. 1-3.
  • FIG. 1 an indicating unit of a gasoline dispensing system.
  • the indicating unit includes a cost indicating section and a dispensed gallons indicating section.
  • Each section includes a set of at least three indicating elements or drums 48 which are inscribed with proper numerals to indicate the quantity of the gasoline dispensed.
  • the left side of each set corresponds to the lowest order, such as cents or tenths of gallons; and the right side corresponds to the highest order, such as dollars or tens of gallons.
  • Each indicating drum has a series of pins 136 disposed about its periphery corresponding to the indicated number digits.
  • Indicating elements 48 are driven cooperatively from two separate drive sources. As shown in FIG. 3, one driving source is receiver motor 52 of the DC Selsyn type which is connected in communication with signal generator 40 of the dispensing unit (not shown) by suitable wiring for operating in accordance with the quantity dispensed.
  • the other driving source is reset or zeroizing drive motor 56 which energizes the motorized drive 54 shown in FIG. 1.
  • Resetting motor 56 rotates sprocket 102 through sprocket chain 106 of motorized drive 54 as shown in FIG. 1.
  • a series of slip clutches 108, 110, 112 connect motorized drive 54 to each of the indicating drums 48 to intermittently move the higher order drums one digit when the lower order drums move through a full cycle and to reset the indicating drums prior to a dispensing operation.
  • Slip clutches 108, and 112 which are actuated by springs 116, 113, respectively, are mounted on aligned central shafts 50M and 506 upon which indicating drums 48 are also mounted.
  • Coupling 114 joins shafts 50M and 50G to form shaft 50.
  • Receiver motor 52 is disengageably connected to the lowest order indicating drums through disengageable clutch means including lever 97.
  • the disengageable clutches incorporating springs 96 are stronger than slip clutches 112 to permit receiver motor 52 to rotate the lowest order indicating drums as a function of the dispensed quantity.
  • a pair of disengageable escapement elements 128 are engaged with higher order indicating drums 48 as shown in FIG. 2 for allowing the motorized driving means 54 to intermittently move higher order indicating drums 48 to indicate successively higher digits when the lower order indicating drums respectively move through their full cycle of movement.
  • Disengageable escapements 128 include spring and lever 132 having holding arm 138 and arresting arm 134 which engages pins 136 on indicat- 6 ing drums 48. The escapements 128 are intermittently disengaged by actuation of solenoids 13a (A-2M, A3M, A-Z-G, A3G).
  • solenoid A-Z-G As described in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962, when reset solenoid A-Z-G is deenergized, holding arm 13:8 engages and holds one of pins 136 as shown in FIG. 2.
  • Energization of solenoid A-2G causes lever 132 to rock so that holding arm 13S moves out of contact with pin 136 and pin 136 is permitted to rotate.
  • arresting arm 134 is moved into the path of rotation of the pin to prevent released pin 136 from rotating a full digit and thereby to prevent the following pin 136 from rotating past holding arm 138.
  • Deenergization of solenoid A-Z-G rocks lever arm 132 to its initial position thus moving arresting arm 134 out of contact with released pin 136 to rotate the remainder of the digit and moving holding arm 138 into contact with following pin 136.
  • arresting arm 134 prevents intermediate order drum 48 from rotating a full digit upon energization of A-2-G so that following pin 136 may not move past holding arm 138, the energization must be accomplished before the lowest order drum is in an exact zero position to permit the intermediate order drum to advance the remainder of the digit when the lowest order drum is at zero.
  • the transfer means for energizing solenoid A-2G on the lowest order drum must be located in a 9-plus or pre-zero indicating position.
  • the escapements 128 are disengaged from the higher order indicating drums.
  • the higher order indicating drums are then reset to the 9 /2 position to utilize the same cam and switch means on the intermediate order drum for detecting its zeroized condition as well as for energizing the escapement solenoid on the highest order drum. It is not necessary to reset the higher order drums in the exact zero position because, when the escapements are again engaged and the higher order drums are released to rotate, each holding arm 138 prevents rotation of its higher order drum past the zero position.
  • the predetermined 9-plus position may be used as the zeroized position of the higher order drums.
  • the lowest order drum is reset at the exact zero position because that indicating drum has no escapement.
  • reset solenoid A1 disengages receiver motor 52 from the lowest order indicating drums by operation of control rod 106 connected to lever 97 mounted in yoke 98 on wall 88. Since control rod 100 is connected to control bar 154 through parallelogram linkage bar 157, reset solenoid A-l simultaneously disengages escapements 128 through rod 163, cam projection 161, pin 159, control bar 154, pill 152, rod 150, lever 148, rod 153, leaf springs 142, brackets 144 and frame rod 146 in a manner described in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962.
  • Reset solenoid A-l also actuates zero stop means ineluding shaft 158, resilient jointed levers and pins 162 on the indicating elements to interpose the stop means against the indicating elements in a manner described in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962, to stop the lowest order indicating drums in the exact or true zero condition and the higher order indicating drums in the 9 /2 position thereby permitting them to drop into place when the disengageable escapements are moved once more to engagement with them.
  • Detecting or zero sensing means are connected to the indicating drums for determining when all of them arrive at a zeroized condition, such as the zero and 9 /2 positions previously described.
  • These detecting means include switches S2-M, S-3-M, S-2G and 5-3-6 which are actuated by their respective cams.
  • switches S2-M and S-2-G on the intermediate indicating drums are conveniently used both for transferring or energizing the escapement solenoids from higher order indicating drums as well as for detecting means.
  • Switches S1-MR, S1GR and cams C1-MR, C-l-GR are associated with the lowest order indicating drums to indicate their zero conditions.
  • FIG. 3 The electrical components of the indicating apparatus and their mode of connection are shown in FIG. 3. These components are connected across main power lines 174 and 1'76 together with various control relays and components to provide a desired sequence of operation and interlocks to prevent undesirable modes of operation.
  • FIG. 3 shows the circuit of DC.
  • Selsyn signal generator 40 and receiver motor 52 which is energized through transformer 178 and full-wave rectifier 188.
  • the main portion of FIG. 3 shows how motorized reset drive motor 56 is connected between the power lines together with the contacts of various relays.
  • switches S1-MR, S-Z-M, S3M, S1GR, S-2G and S-3-G act as sensors in conjunction with their corresponding cams upon indicating drums 48 to determine the completion of the reset cycle. They are in position to open when the lowest order indicating drum 48 reaches zero and the higher order indicating drums 18 reach 9 /2 and they remain open in the zeroizing stop position shown in FIG. 3.
  • switches S2M and 8-2-6 on the intermediate indicating drums also act to energize the escapement solenoids when the respective lower order drums reach the 9% position.
  • This utilization of a 9 /2 position for both transfer and zeroizing detecting permits switches S2M and S2G to be used for two functions, namely both for transfer and for detecting that their drums have been fully zeroized.
  • Closure of contacts K-1 (185) and K-2 (187) at the upper left of FIG. 3 also energizes relays K-S through normally closed contact K-6 (282). Closure of contact K-5 (181) also energizes relay K-6. This opens normally closed contact K-6 (202) which previously energized relay K-S, but contact K-6 (184) maintains relay K-S still energized.
  • relay K-3 After relay K-3 is energized, it opens normally closed contact K-3 (190) in series with reset solenoid A-1 to de-energize it.
  • This reactivating control means thus retracts zero stop jointed levers 160 from engagement with drums 48 and allows escapements 128 to engage drums 48.
  • reset solenoid A-1 When reset solenoid A-1 is de-energized, the disengageable clutches between receiver motors 52 and the lowest order indicating drums 48 are re-engaged to permit the receiver motors to superintend their movement and, in conjunction with escapements 128 and transfer microswitches and cams, to superintend the movement of the higher order indicating drums.
  • Drive motor 56 can energize the movement of higher order indicating drums 48 when the proper transfer switches S1M, S-2-M, S-1-G and S2G are energized to energize respective escapement solenoids A-2-M,
  • drive motor 56 energizes the zeroizing operation when reset solenoid A-l disengages the disengageable clutch to release the effect of receiver motor 52 from lowest order indicating drum 48 thereby permitting the slip clutch 112 to also drive the lowest indicating drum as well as the higher order drums through their reset movement to arrestment upon jointed levers 160 in the zero stop position while escapements 128 are disengaged also by operation of reset solenoid A-l.
  • normally open contact K-5 (196) in series with drive motor 56 maintains power upon the motor for completing the reset or zeroizing cycle if the dispenser switch should be turned off before completion of the cycle.
  • normally open contact K-5 (181) and normally closed contact K-5 (186) prevent relay K-3, which controls solenoid valves V1 and VZ, from closing and actuating them until the zeroizing cycle is completed.
  • An indicating apparatus for remotely indicating a quantity comprising a set of rotatably mounted indicating elements corresponding to lower and higher order number digits of said quantity; each of said indicating elements having a series of pins corresponding to the indicated number digits; a disengageable escapement means on each of said higher order indicating elements for intermittently allowing said higher order indicating elements to rotate to indicate successive digits when said lower order indicating elements respectively are moved throughout their full cycle of movement; each of said disengageable escapement means comprising a holding arm normally engaged with one of said pins, a normally disengaged arresting arm, and a solenoid for rocking its escapement means to release a held pin and arrest the next pin in an intermediate position for engagement by the holding arm when it returns to its normal position; said arresting arm being located in a predetermined 9-plus indicating position when its higher order element is in its zeroized condition; transfer cam and switch means on each of said lower order elements to actuate a respective escapement means on each of said higher order elements; each of said
  • said set of indicating elements comprises at least three indicating elements including at least one intermediate order indicating element; said transfer cam and switch means and said zero sensing cam and switch means on each of said intermediate order indicating elements comprising a single cam and switch means located at said predetermined 9-plus indicating position of its respective intermediate order element; and de-activating means connected with said single cam and switch means to prevent said escapement means from transferring until said elements have been fully zeroized.
  • said de-activating means comprises relay means in series with said zero sensing cam and switch means; said zero sensing cam and switch means being open when said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions; said relay means being in series with said escapement solenoids to maintain said escapement solenoids deenergized until all of said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions.
  • relay means is in series with said zero sensing cam and switch means; said zero sensing cam and switch means being open when said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions; and a solenoid valve is in series with said relay means; said relay means preventing said solenoid valve from operating until all of said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions.
  • control means including a reset solenoid in series with said relay means; said relay means de-energizing said rel 5:, set solenoid when said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions to retract each of said zero stop means and -drop each of said esc'apement means back to its holding position.

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Description

1964 w. J. GERSTENMAIER ETAL 3,151,809
INDICATING APPARATUS Filed April -30. 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 n I u g I E Q g v a) 1 I A l "0 Q Q 3 I 1 g g INVENTOR5 William John Gerstenmuw Larry Alan Thnmas ATTORNEYJ w. J. GERSTENMAIER ETAL 3,151,809
Oct. 6, 1964 INDICATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April so, 196;
INVENTORS WilliamJohn Gerstenmuier Larry Alan Thomas I ATTORNEYS Oct. 6, 1964 w. J. GERSTENMAIER ETAL 3,151,809
INDICATING APPARATUS Filed April 30, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 gig INVENTORS Larry AlcmThomas ATTORNEYS Izmrd'rmm WmJGerstcnmaicr I United States Patent 3,151,809 INDECATING APPARATUS William J. Gerstenmaier, Salisbury, and Larry Alan Thomas, Pasadena, Md., assignors to Symington Wayne Corporation, Salisbury, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Apr. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 276,921 5 Claims. (Cl. 235-144) This invention relates to an electrical apparatus for providing an indication of a dispensed quantity and it more particularly relates to a remote form of such an apparatus f r gasoline service stations.
A remote indicating apparatus such as that disclosed in copending application S.N. 171,501, Patent No. 3,100,062, filed February 6, 1962, by Robert G. Spalding, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto, includes a receiver motor which operates as a function of a dispensed quantity. A motorized drive is connected to each indicating element through slip clutches to reset the elements prior to a dispensing operation and to intermittently rotate the higher order elements during a dispensing operation. The receiver motor is connected to the lowest order indicating element through a disengageable clutch which overrides the slip clutch. Thus the receiver motor rotates the lowest order indicating element as a function of the dispensed quantity. A disengageable escapement engaged with a series of pins dis posed about the periphery of each higher order indicating element is intermittently rocked thereby permitting the motorized drive to rotate each higher order element one digit when its lower order element moves through a full cycle. Each escapement includes a normally engaged holding arm, a normally disengaged arresting arm and an actuating solenoid which rocks the escapement to release a held pin and arrest the next pin in an intermediate position for engagement by the holding arm when it returns to its normal position. Transfer cams and switches on the lower order indicating elements energize the escapement solenoids. A reset control disengages the receiver motor clutch and the escapements from the indicating elements to permit the motorized drive to rotate the indicating elements to their zeroized conditions against zero stops at the completion of a dispensing operation, and zero sensing means insure that the indicating elements are fully zeroized before the next dispensing operation is commenced. The indicating apparatus accordingly requires a dependable control system to insure its functioning properly and it is important to make this control system simple for minimizing installation space, operation difficulties and maintenance problems.
Accordingly an object of this invention is to provide a simple, dependable and compact control means for an electrical indicating apparatus of the type disclosed in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962.
In accordance with this invention the zero stops on the higher order indicating elements and the arresting arms on the escapements are located in a predetermined 9-plus or pre-zero indicating position. The transfer cams and switches are also arranged at the same predetermined 9 plus position. The zero detecting switch means for the lowest order indicating element is arranged at a true zero, but the zero detecting switch means for the higher order indicating elements are arranged at the aforementioned 9-plus position. A reactivating control means connects the zero detecting switch means with the reset control for retracting the zero stops and for dropping the escapements back to their holding position after the indicating elements have been zeroized to allow the higher order elements to move to true zero and thereby be ready for the 3,151,809 Patented Oct. 6, 1964 next indicating operation. Since the same 9-plus posi-. tion on the intermediate order elementis used for both transfer and zero detecting, a single switch means on the intermediate order element in the 9-plus position can be used for both zero detecting and transfer functions, while an inactivating means is used to prevent the escapements from transferring until the elements have been fully zeroized. The zero detecting circuit can also be used for enabling the operation of the functions indicated, such as the opening of a solenoid-operated valve in a gasoline dispensing pump.
Novel features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from a reading of the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts and in which:
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the internal mechanism of an indicating apparatus of this invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1; and
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the electrical system of the embodiment of this invention described in FIGS. 1-3.
In FIG. 1 is shown an indicating unit of a gasoline dispensing system. The indicating unit includes a cost indicating section and a dispensed gallons indicating section. Each section includes a set of at least three indicating elements or drums 48 which are inscribed with proper numerals to indicate the quantity of the gasoline dispensed. The left side of each set corresponds to the lowest order, such as cents or tenths of gallons; and the right side corresponds to the highest order, such as dollars or tens of gallons. Each indicating drum has a series of pins 136 disposed about its periphery corresponding to the indicated number digits.
Indicating elements 48 are driven cooperatively from two separate drive sources. As shown in FIG. 3, one driving source is receiver motor 52 of the DC Selsyn type which is connected in communication with signal generator 40 of the dispensing unit (not shown) by suitable wiring for operating in accordance with the quantity dispensed. The other driving source is reset or zeroizing drive motor 56 which energizes the motorized drive 54 shown in FIG. 1.
Resetting motor 56 rotates sprocket 102 through sprocket chain 106 of motorized drive 54 as shown in FIG. 1. A series of slip clutches 108, 110, 112 connect motorized drive 54 to each of the indicating drums 48 to intermittently move the higher order drums one digit when the lower order drums move through a full cycle and to reset the indicating drums prior to a dispensing operation. Slip clutches 108, and 112, which are actuated by springs 116, 113, respectively, are mounted on aligned central shafts 50M and 506 upon which indicating drums 48 are also mounted. Coupling 114 joins shafts 50M and 50G to form shaft 50.
Receiver motor 52 is disengageably connected to the lowest order indicating drums through disengageable clutch means including lever 97. The disengageable clutches incorporating springs 96 are stronger than slip clutches 112 to permit receiver motor 52 to rotate the lowest order indicating drums as a function of the dispensed quantity.
A pair of disengageable escapement elements 128 are engaged with higher order indicating drums 48 as shown in FIG. 2 for allowing the motorized driving means 54 to intermittently move higher order indicating drums 48 to indicate successively higher digits when the lower order indicating drums respectively move through their full cycle of movement. Disengageable escapements 128 include spring and lever 132 having holding arm 138 and arresting arm 134 which engages pins 136 on indicat- 6 ing drums 48. The escapements 128 are intermittently disengaged by actuation of solenoids 13a (A-2M, A3M, A-Z-G, A3G).
As described in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962, when reset solenoid A-Z-G is deenergized, holding arm 13:8 engages and holds one of pins 136 as shown in FIG. 2. Energization of solenoid A-2G causes lever 132 to rock so that holding arm 13S moves out of contact with pin 136 and pin 136 is permitted to rotate. However, when holding arm 138 is rocked out of contact with pin 136, arresting arm 134 is moved into the path of rotation of the pin to prevent released pin 136 from rotating a full digit and thereby to prevent the following pin 136 from rotating past holding arm 138. Deenergization of solenoid A-Z-G rocks lever arm 132 to its initial position thus moving arresting arm 134 out of contact with released pin 136 to rotate the remainder of the digit and moving holding arm 138 into contact with following pin 136.
The energization of escapement solenoid A-Z-G is accomplished by actuation of cam and switch means C1G, S1-G on the lowest order indicating drum. Immediately before the completion of a cycle of the lowest order drum, such as its 9 /2 indicating position, cam and switch means C1G, S-1-G energizes A2G to permit the intermediate order drum to advance a half a digit. When the cycle is completed, A-Z-G is de-energized to permit the intermediate order drum to advance the remaining half of the digit. Correspondingly, solenoid A-S-G on the highest order drum is energized by cam and switch C2G, S-2-G on the intermediate order drum when the intermediate order drum is in a 9 /2 indicating position. Solenoids A2M, A3M and cam and switch means C-l-M, S1M and C-2M, S2M respectively on the money indicating drums operate in the same manner as the gallon indicating drums.
Since arresting arm 134 prevents intermediate order drum 48 from rotating a full digit upon energization of A-2-G so that following pin 136 may not move past holding arm 138, the energization must be accomplished before the lowest order drum is in an exact zero position to permit the intermediate order drum to advance the remainder of the digit when the lowest order drum is at zero. As a result of this feature of the escapement, the transfer means for energizing solenoid A-2G on the lowest order drum must be located in a 9-plus or pre-zero indicating position.
At the completion of the dispensing operation, the escapements 128 are disengaged from the higher order indicating drums. The higher order indicating drums are then reset to the 9 /2 position to utilize the same cam and switch means on the intermediate order drum for detecting its zeroized condition as well as for energizing the escapement solenoid on the highest order drum. It is not necessary to reset the higher order drums in the exact zero position because, when the escapements are again engaged and the higher order drums are released to rotate, each holding arm 138 prevents rotation of its higher order drum past the zero position. Thus the predetermined 9-plus position may be used as the zeroized position of the higher order drums. The lowest order drum is reset at the exact zero position because that indicating drum has no escapement.
When the dispensing operation is completed, reset solenoid A1 disengages receiver motor 52 from the lowest order indicating drums by operation of control rod 106 connected to lever 97 mounted in yoke 98 on wall 88. Since control rod 100 is connected to control bar 154 through parallelogram linkage bar 157, reset solenoid A-l simultaneously disengages escapements 128 through rod 163, cam projection 161, pin 159, control bar 154, pill 152, rod 150, lever 148, rod 153, leaf springs 142, brackets 144 and frame rod 146 in a manner described in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962.
Reset solenoid A-l also actuates zero stop means ineluding shaft 158, resilient jointed levers and pins 162 on the indicating elements to interpose the stop means against the indicating elements in a manner described in copending application S.N. 171,501, filed February 6, 1962, to stop the lowest order indicating drums in the exact or true zero condition and the higher order indicating drums in the 9 /2 position thereby permitting them to drop into place when the disengageable escapements are moved once more to engagement with them.
Detecting or zero sensing means are connected to the indicating drums for determining when all of them arrive at a zeroized condition, such as the zero and 9 /2 positions previously described. These detecting means include switches S2-M, S-3-M, S-2G and 5-3-6 which are actuated by their respective cams. Thus switches S2-M and S-2-G on the intermediate indicating drums are conveniently used both for transferring or energizing the escapement solenoids from higher order indicating drums as well as for detecting means. Switches S1-MR, S1GR and cams C1-MR, C-l-GR are associated with the lowest order indicating drums to indicate their zero conditions.
The electrical components of the indicating apparatus and their mode of connection are shown in FIG. 3. These components are connected across main power lines 174 and 1'76 together with various control relays and components to provide a desired sequence of operation and interlocks to prevent undesirable modes of operation.
The right-hand end of FIG. 3 shows the circuit of DC. Selsyn signal generator 40 and receiver motor 52 which is energized through transformer 178 and full-wave rectifier 188. The main portion of FIG. 3 shows how motorized reset drive motor 56 is connected between the power lines together with the contacts of various relays.
In the center of FIG. 3 are shown escapement-releasing solenoids A2-l\ l, A3M, A-Z-G, A3-G in series with normally open contact K-d (198) and a switching arrangement including microswitches S-1MR, S-1-M, S2M, S3-M and their respective gallon microswitches G to their right. As previously described, switches S1-MR, S-Z-M, S3M, S1GR, S-2G and S-3-G act as sensors in conjunction with their corresponding cams upon indicating drums 48 to determine the completion of the reset cycle. They are in position to open when the lowest order indicating drum 48 reaches zero and the higher order indicating drums 18 reach 9 /2 and they remain open in the zeroizing stop position shown in FIG. 3. At the completion of the reset cycle when the higher order indicating drums drop the remaining distance from 9 /2 to zero into engagement with respective escapements 128, contacts S2M, S-3-M, S2-G, and S3G close. However, switches S-1-MR and S-1-GR remain open at zero because these elements do not drop any distance when the zero stops provided by resilient levers 161) disengage.
Of the former group switches S2M and 8-2-6 on the intermediate indicating drums also act to energize the escapement solenoids when the respective lower order drums reach the 9% position. This utilization of a 9 /2 position for both transfer and zeroizing detecting permits switches S2M and S2G to be used for two functions, namely both for transfer and for detecting that their drums have been fully zeroized.
The functions of the various relays and interlock connections are facilitated by describing them in conjunction with their various control functions. The following description refers to the delivery of a regular grade of gasoline and delivery of premium, which is identical utilizing corresponding components.
When regular dispenser switch 182 is closed, relays K1 and K-l-A are energized to start drive motor 56 running.
Closure of contacts K-1 (185) and K-2 (187) at the upper left of FIG. 3 also energizes relays K-S through normally closed contact K-6 (282). Closure of contact K-5 (181) also energizes relay K-6. This opens normally closed contact K-6 (202) which previously energized relay K-S, but contact K-6 (184) maintains relay K-S still energized.
If any of drums 48 do not achieve the zeroizing positions formerly described, power will be transmitted through one of the zeroizing microswitches to maintain relay K-S energized. If relay K-5 is maintained energized, normally closed contact K5 (186) in series with relays K-S is maintained open which in turn prevents relay K-3 from closing contact K-3 (188) in series with solenoid valves V1 and V-2 thereby preventing any gasoline from being dispensed. The dispenser is therefore not allowed to operate unless all of the indicating drums 48 are fully reset to their zeroized position.
After relay K-3 is energized, it opens normally closed contact K-3 (190) in series with reset solenoid A-1 to de-energize it. This reactivating control means thus retracts zero stop jointed levers 160 from engagement with drums 48 and allows escapements 128 to engage drums 48. When reset solenoid A-1 is de-energized, the disengageable clutches between receiver motors 52 and the lowest order indicating drums 48 are re-engaged to permit the receiver motors to superintend their movement and, in conjunction with escapements 128 and transfer microswitches and cams, to superintend the movement of the higher order indicating drums. The metering indications to signal generators 40 and electrically from signal generators 40 to receive motors 52 for cost and quantity accordingly moves indicating drums 48 through the proper rotational movement to accurately indicate the number of gallons and the cost to a purchaser.
Drive motor 56 can energize the movement of higher order indicating drums 48 when the proper transfer switches S1M, S-2-M, S-1-G and S2G are energized to energize respective escapement solenoids A-2-M,
A-3-M, A-2-G and A-3-G for rocking escapements 128 to allow in conjunction with pins 136 the higher order indicating drums 48 to move to indicate the next highest digit. In addition drive motor 56 energizes the zeroizing operation when reset solenoid A-l disengages the disengageable clutch to release the effect of receiver motor 52 from lowest order indicating drum 48 thereby permitting the slip clutch 112 to also drive the lowest indicating drum as well as the higher order drums through their reset movement to arrestment upon jointed levers 160 in the zero stop position while escapements 128 are disengaged also by operation of reset solenoid A-l.
The following events take place at the completion of delivery when dispenser switch 182 is turned off. The normally open contact K-5 (196) in series with drive motor 56 maintains power upon the motor for completing the reset or zeroizing cycle if the dispenser switch should be turned off before completion of the cycle. As previously mentioned, normally open contact K-5 (181) and normally closed contact K-5 (186) prevent relay K-3, which controls solenoid valves V1 and VZ, from closing and actuating them until the zeroizing cycle is completed.
Normally open contact K-4 (198) in series with the transfer solenoids maintains the solenoids de-energized until the end of the reset cycle which is detected by the energization of relay K-3 to close contact K-3 (200) in series with relay K-4. If relay K-4 did not remain energized, contact K-4 (198) opens to maintain the transfer solenoids de-energized until the reset operation is completed. This inactivating means prevents a transfer movement of the highest order drum 48 at the end of the reset or zeroizing cycle which might otherwise be accomplished.
What is claimed is:
1. An indicating apparatus for remotely indicating a quantity comprising a set of rotatably mounted indicating elements corresponding to lower and higher order number digits of said quantity; each of said indicating elements having a series of pins corresponding to the indicated number digits; a disengageable escapement means on each of said higher order indicating elements for intermittently allowing said higher order indicating elements to rotate to indicate successive digits when said lower order indicating elements respectively are moved throughout their full cycle of movement; each of said disengageable escapement means comprising a holding arm normally engaged with one of said pins, a normally disengaged arresting arm, and a solenoid for rocking its escapement means to release a held pin and arrest the next pin in an intermediate position for engagement by the holding arm when it returns to its normal position; said arresting arm being located in a predetermined 9-plus indicating position when its higher order element is in its zeroized condition; transfer cam and switch means on each of said lower order elements to actuate a respective escapement means on each of said higher order elements; each of said transfer cam and switch means being located at said predetermined 9-plus indicating position on each of said lower order indicating elements; zero stop means on each of said indicating elements to stop its respective indicating element at its zeroized condition; said zero stop means on said lowest order indicating element being located at the zero indicating position of said lowest order element; said zero stop means on each of said higher order elements being located at said predetermined 9-plus indicating position on each of said higher order elements; reset control means connected to each of said disengageable escapement means and to each of said zero stop means for disengaging said escapement means from said indicating elements and for interposing said zero stop means against said indicating elements to reset all of said indicating elements to zeroized conditions; zero sensing cam and switch means on each of said indicating elements to detect when each of said elements is in a zeroized condition; said zero sensing cam and switch means on said lowest order indicating element being located at the zero indicating position of said lowest order element; said zero sensing cam and switch means on each of said higher order elements being located at said predetermined 9-plus indicating position on each of said higher order elements; and reactuating control means connecting each of said zero sensing cam and switch means to said reset control means for retracting each of said zero stop means and for dropping each of said escapement means back to its holding position after said indicating elements have been fully zeroized to allow each of said higher order indicating elements to move to the true zero indicating position and to ready said indicating elements for the next indicating operation.
2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said set of indicating elements comprises at least three indicating elements including at least one intermediate order indicating element; said transfer cam and switch means and said zero sensing cam and switch means on each of said intermediate order indicating elements comprising a single cam and switch means located at said predetermined 9-plus indicating position of its respective intermediate order element; and de-activating means connected with said single cam and switch means to prevent said escapement means from transferring until said elements have been fully zeroized.
3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said de-activating means comprises relay means in series with said zero sensing cam and switch means; said zero sensing cam and switch means being open when said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions; said relay means being in series with said escapement solenoids to maintain said escapement solenoids deenergized until all of said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions.
4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein relay means is in series with said zero sensing cam and switch means; said zero sensing cam and switch means being open when said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions; and a solenoid valve is in series with said relay means; said relay means preventing said solenoid valve from operating until all of said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions.
5. An apparatus as set forth in claim '1 wherein said control means including a reset solenoid in series with said relay means; said relay means de-energizing said rel 5:, set solenoid when said indicating elements are in zeroized conditions to retract each of said zero stop means and -drop each of said esc'apement means back to its holding position.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,544,610 Nelson Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 151,809 October 6, 1964 William Jo Gerstenmaier et a1.
It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below Column 5, line 28, for "receive" read receiver Signedand sealed this 9th'day of March 1965.
Attestz ERNEST w. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,151,809 October 6, 1964 William Jo Gerstenmaier et a1.
It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.
Column 5, line 28, for "receive" read receiver Signed'and sealed this 9th'day of March 1965.
(SEAL) Attestz vii ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

Claims (1)

1. AN INDICATING APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY INDICATING A QUANTITY COMPRISING A SET OF ROTATABLY MOUNTED INDICATING ELEMENTS CORRESPONDING TO LOWER AND HIGHER ORDER NUMBER DIGITS OF SAID QUANTITY; EACH OF SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS HAVING A SERIES OF PINS CORRESPONDING TO THE INDICATED NUMBER DIGITS; A DISENGAGEABLE ESCAPEMENT MEANS ON EACH OF SAID HIGHER ORDER INDICATING ELEMENTS FOR INTERMITTENTLY ALLOWING SAID HIGHER ORDER INDICATING ELEMENTS TO ROTATE TO INDICATE SUCCESSIVE DIGITS WHEN SAID LOWER ORDER INDICATING ELEMENTS RESPECTIVELY ARE MOVED THROUGHOUT THEIR FULL CYCLE OF MOVEMENT; EACH OF SAID DISENGAGEABLE ESCAPEMENT MEANS COMPRISING A HOLDING ARM NORMALLY ENGAGED WITH ONE OF SAID PINS, A NORMALLY DISENGAGED ARRESTING ARM AND A SOLENOID FOR ROCKING ITS ESCAPEMENT MEANS TO RELEASE A HELD PIN AND ARREST THE NEXT PIN IN AN INTERMEDIATE POSITION FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE HOLDING ARM WHEN IT RETURNS TO ITS NORMAL POSITION; SAID ARRESTING ARM BEING LOCATED IN A PREDETERMINED 9-PLUS INDICATING POSITION WHEN ITS HIGHER ORDER ELEMENT IS IN ITS ZEROIZED CONDITION; TRANSFER CAM AND SWITCH MEANS ON EACH OF SAID LOWR ORDER ELEMENTS TO ACTUATE A RESPECTIVE ESCAPEMENT MEANS ON EACH OF SAID HIGHER ORDER ELEMENTS; EACH OF SAID TRANSFER CAM AND SWITCH MEANS BEING LOCATED AT SAID PREDETERMINED 9-PLUS INDICATING POSITION ON EACH OF SAID LOWER ORDER INDICATING ELEMENTS; ZERO STOP MEANS ON EACH OF SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS TO STOP ITS RESPECTIVE INDICATING ELEMENT AT ITS ZEROIZED CONDITION; SAID ZERO STOP MEANS ON SAID LOWEST ORDER INDICATING ELEMENT BEING LOCATED AT THE ZERO INDICATING POSITION OF SAID LOWEST ORDER ELEMENT; SAID ZERO STOP MEANS ON EACH OF SAID HIGHER ORDER ELEMENTS BEING LOCATED AT SAID PREDETERMINED 9-PLUS INDICATING POSITION ON EACH OF SAID HIGHER ORDER ELEMENTS; RESET CONTROL MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH OF SAID DISENGAGEABLE ESCAPEMENT MEANS AND TO EACH OF SAID ZERO STOP MEANS FOR DISENGAGING SAID ESCAPEMENT MEANS FROM SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS AND FOR INTERPOSING SAID ZERO STOP MEANS AGAINST SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS TO RESET ALL OF SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS TO ZEROIZED CONDITIONS; ZERO SENSING CAM AND SWITCH MEANS ON EACH OF SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS TO DETECT WHEN EACH OF SAID ELEMENTS IN A ZEROIZED CONDITION; SAID ZERO SENSING CAM AND SWITCH MEANS ON SAID LOWEST ORDER INDICATING ELEMENT BEING LOCATED AT THE ZERO INDICATING POSITION OF SAID LOWEST ORDER ELEMENT; SAID ZERO SENSING CAM AND SWITCH MEANS ON EACH OF SAID HIGHER ORDER ELEMENTS BEING LOCATED AT SAID PREDETERMINED 9-PLUS INDICATING POSITION ON EACH OF SAID HIGHER ORDER ELEMENTS; AND REACTUATING CONTROL MEANS CONNECTING EACH OF SAID ZERO SENSING CAM AND SWITCH MEANS TO SAID RESET CONTROL MEANS FOR RETRACTING EACH OF SAID ZERO STOP MEANS AND FOR DROPPING EACH OF SAID ESCAPEMENT MEANS BACK TO ITS HOLDING POSITION AFTER SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN FULLY ZEROIZED TO ALLOW EACH OF SAID HIGHER ORDER INDICATING ELEMENTS TO MOVE TO THE TRUE ZERO INDICATING POSITION AND TO READY SAID INDICATING ELEMENTS FOR THE NEXT INDICATING OPERATION.
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Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4213037A (en) * 1978-10-19 1980-07-15 Veeder Industries Inc. Electrical counting mechanism

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2544610A (en) * 1947-08-14 1951-03-06 Production Instr Company Numerical counter

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2544610A (en) * 1947-08-14 1951-03-06 Production Instr Company Numerical counter

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4213037A (en) * 1978-10-19 1980-07-15 Veeder Industries Inc. Electrical counting mechanism

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