US3612393A

US3612393A - Computing device

Info

Publication number: US3612393A
Application number: US868069A
Authority: US
Inventors: William F Jones
Original assignee: Veeder Industries Inc
Current assignee: Veeder Industries Inc
Priority date: 1969-10-21
Filing date: 1969-10-21
Publication date: 1971-10-12
Anticipated expiration: 1988-10-12
Also published as: DE2051721A1; GB1264458A; SE372752B

Abstract

A cost-computing device for a fuel-dispensing system having a rotary pulser disc with a plurality of light apertures arranged in four pulser circles, a plurality of output heads, each having a photoelectric pickup, angularly spaced about the axis of the pulser disc for being operated by the light apertures on the pulser disc, and a rotary selector disc associated with each output head having a plurality of light apertures arranged in four selector circles for selectively activating the pulser circles for operating the respective pickup. The selector discs are connected by intermittent gearing in the manner of a counter such that a rotary input to the lowest order selector disc can be rotated to set the disc counter and thereby set the variator to establish a corresponding multiple place unit volume price. In an alternative embodiment six banks of coaxial selector drums are mounted on a selector plate to be selectively rotated to a control position in operative association with a rotary pulser drum to selectively activate the light aperture circles in the pulser drum to operate the photoelectric pickups.

Description

United States Patent William F. Jones Wethersfield, Conn. 868,069

Oct. 21,1969

Oct. 12, 1971 Veeder Industries Inc. Hartford, Conn.

[72] Inventor [21 Appl. No. [22] Filed [45] Patented [73] Assignee [54] COMPUTING DEVICE 30 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 235/92 FL,

235/92 R, 235/92 V, 235/15l.34, 340/347 PR 31] i C1 0 1 272 [50] Field 01' Search 235/92 v,

92 FP, 92 UT, 151.34

Primary Examiner-Maynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Gnuse Att0rneyPrutzman, Hayes, Kalb & Chilton ABSTRACT: A cost-computing device for a fuel-dispensing system having a rotary pulser disc with a plurality of light apertures arranged in four pulser circles, a plurality of output heads, each having a photoelectric pickup, angularly spaced about the axis of the pulser disc for being operated by the light apertures on the pulser disc, and a rotary selector disc associated with each output head having a plurality of light apertures arranged in four selector circles for selectively activating the pulser circles for operating the respective pickup. The selector discs are connected by intermittent gearing in the manner of a counter such that a rotary input to the lowest order selector disc can be rotated to set the disc counter and thereby set the variator to establish a corresponding multiple place unit volume price. ln an alternative embodiment six banks of coaxial selector drums are mounted on a selector plate to be selectively rotated to a control position in operative association with a rotary pulser drum to selectively activate the light aperture circles in the pulser drum to operate the photoelectric pickups.

PRICE SETTING MECH.

PROPORTIONINC VALVE c TO NOZZLE PATENTEDUBH 2 I97l SHEEI 1 BF 3 6W PRICE SETTING MECH.

PRO PORTIONING VALVE I INVENTOR.

TO WILLIAM F. JONES NOZZLE BY 7/ w ATTORNEYS PATENTED 001321971 3.612 393 SHEET 30F 3 v. Ax

NQ mi NEH A @T \E 1 SQ g v at COMPUTING DEVICE- SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The present invention relates to computingdevices having notable utility in fuel-dispensing apparatus for computing the cost of the fuel dispensed in accordance with the volumetric amount of fuel dispensed and a unit volume price established by the setting of the computing device.

It is a principal aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved computing device for fluid-dispensing apparatus of the type adapted for generating pulses for computing the total cost of the fluid dispensed and for establishing a unit volume price bv establishing the number of pulses generated for each unit volume of fluid dispensed. For example, the present invention may provide for generating fluid pulses or electrical pulses for operating a suitable counter for computing the total cost of the fluid dispensed.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved variator of the pulse generator type.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide new and improved setting means for a variator of the pulse generator type.

It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved variator providing reliable operation and having a compact and economical construction.

It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved variator for fluid-dispensing apparatus which may be readily set to establish the unit volume price and which provides for posting the established unit volume price.

It is a still further aim of the present invention to provide a new and improved computing device for multiple-product fluid-dispensing apparatus.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of illustrative applications of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a generally schematic view, partly broken away and partly in section, of a multiple-product fuel-dispensing system employing an embodiment of the computing device of the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a transverse section view, partly in section, showing a pulser disc of the computing device;

FIGS. 28 and 2C are transverse section views, partly in section, showing selector discs of the computing device;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section view, partly broken away and partly in section, of the pulser disc and an output head of the computing device; and

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section view, partly broken away and partly in section, showing another embodiment of the computing device of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like numerals represent like parts, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-3, a fuel-dispensing system incorporating an embodiment of a computing device of the present invention is shown comprising a pair of motor-driven pumps 12 for delivering separate fuel grades to a dispensing nozzle (not shown) via a proportioning valve 14 and a pair of meters 16 adapted for metering the individual fuel grades. The meter outputs are combined by a differential 20 to drive suitable blend gearing 24 in accordance with the total amount of fluid dispensed. The outputs of the blend gearing 24 and one of the meters 16 are compared by a subtraction differential 26 to control the proportioning valve 14 and thereby establish the proportion of each fuel grade in accordance with the setting of the blend gearing 24.

The computing device comprises a variator 30 and a cost register 32 operable by the variator to register the cost of the fuel delivered in accordance with the unit volume price established by the variator setting. The cost register is preferably resettable for being reset to zero prior to the commencement of each fuel delivery in a conventional manner.

The variator 30 comprises a unitary rotor or pulser disc 34 driven by the meters 16 through the differential 20 and suitable gearing 35 and a plurality of elongated radially extending output heads 36, 37, 38 angularly spaced about the axis of rotation of the disc 34. An output head is provided for each of the three lowest places of the four-place unit volume price range of the variator and is set in accordance with the desired unit volume price. For example, if a three-place unit volume price of 32.9 (e.g. 32.9 cents per gallon) is to be established, the tenths or lowest place head 36 would be set at 9," the units or middle place head 37 would be set at 2, and the tens or highest place head 38 would be set at 3.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a bank of four radially aligned lamps 39-42 are mounted in each output head 36-38 on one side of the pulser disc 34, and 15 light-transmitting apertures or pulse actuators 43 are provided on the disc 34 in four concentric pulse actuator circles 44-47 in alignment with the lamps 39-42 respectively. Three rotary pulse selector discs or masks 50-52 are mounted for rotation about the axes in line with the three banks of radially aligned lamps to extend in overlapping relationship with the pulser disc 34 and the respective bank of lamps. Fifteen light-transmitting apertures or pulse selectors 54 are arranged on the tenths" and units"

selector discs

50, 51 in four concentric selector circles 56-59 tangent to the pulse actuator circles 44-47 respectively. The tens selector disc 52, however, has 32 light-transmitting apertures or pulse selectors 54 arranged on its four concentric selector circles 56-59.

The pulse actuator circles 44-47 on the pulsing disc 34 have 1, 2, 4 and 8 pulse actuators 43 respectively to provide assigned values for the pulse actuator circles of l, 2, 4 and 8 respectively. The pulse actuators 43 are positioned with equiangular spacing of 24 and the output heads 36-38 are angularly spaced so that only one pulse actuator 43 appears in line with a lamp at any one time. For example, the output heads 36-38 would have an angular spacing of such that one of the pulse actuators 43 would appear in line with one of the lamps each 8 of rotation of the disc 34. Alternatively the pulse actuators 43 could be angularly spaced within a sector (for example a 75 sector) of the disc 34 and the output heads 36-38 angularly spaced to provide for operating the heads in sequence with the pulse actuator sector.

A photoelectric pickup 70, which is preferably a single photoelectric cell as shown in FIG. 3, is provided in each output head in alignment with the corresponding bank of lamps 39-42 on the opposite side of the pulser disc 34 and the corresponding selector disc. Each photoelectric pickup is therefore positioned to be actuated by each pulse actuator 43 on the pulser disc 34 to generate a train of spaced electrical pulses. The number of such pulses for each revolution of the pulser disc 34 may vary from 0 through 15 depending upon which, if any, of the pulse actuator circles 44-47 are activated by the presence of a selector aperture 54 in line with the corresponding lamp 39-42. Thus, where all four of the pulse actuator circles 44-47 are activated for operating a particular photoelectric pickup 70 (bv the presence of a selector aperture 54 in line with each lamp 39-42) the pickup will generate 15 electrical pulses for each revolution of the pulser disc 34.

The pulse selectors 54 are arranged on the selector discs 50-52 to provide ten equiangularly spaced selector stations on the

discs

50, 51 successively representing Othrough 9 respectively as shown in FIG. 2B and to provide 16 equiangularly spaced selector stations on the disc 52 successively representing 0 through 15 respectively as shown in FIG. 2C. Since the available single-revolution pulse range is 0 through IS, the selector disc 52 for the highest place output head 38 is provided with a range of 0 through 15 to provide for setting the unit volume price in a price range of 000.0 to [59.9. Thus, in essence the pulse selectors 54 on the aperture circles 56-59 in the discs 50-52 have values of l, 2, 4 and 8 respectively and the pulse selectors 54 are arranged on the selector circles to give the value assigned to each selector station. The number of pulses generated by each pickup 70 for each revolution of the disc 34 therefore depends upon the angular setting of the corresponding selector disc and corresponds to the total value of the pulse selectors 54 at the pickup station.

The discs 50-52 are shown positioned with their

selector stations

9, 2" and 3 cooperating with the output heads 36-38 respectively. Assuch the disc 50 has two selector apertures 54 aligned with the lamps 39, 42 for activating the pulse actuator circles 44, 47 to operate the respective photoelectric pickup 70 to generate nine pulses for each revolution of the pulser disc 34. The

discs

51 and 52 similarly provide for activating the pulse actuator circles to operate the respective pickups to generate two and three pulses respectively for each revolution of the pulser disc 34.

In operation the tenths, units and tens" output heads 36-38 respectively are set by the selector discs 50-52 in accordance with the desired unit volume price (prior to the commencement of the fuel delivery) and three separate pulse trains with noncoincident electrical pulses are generated in the pickup output leads 80-82 during the delivery of fuel. In the described embodiment, the gearing 35 preferably provides for rotating the pulser disc 34 one hundred revolutions for each unit volume (for which the fuel is priced) of fuel delivered (although for example the pulser disc 34 may be driven to rotate l revolutions for each unit volume of fuel dispensed where a lower degree of accuracy is desired, or driven to rotate 50 revolutions for each unit volume of fuel dispensed where twice as many light apertures are provided in each pulse actuator circle on the pulser disc 34) such that with a unit volume price setting of 32.9 cents per gallon, pulse trains of 900 pulses, 200 pulses and 300 pulses would be generated by the three output heads 36-38 respectively for each gallon of fuel dispensed.

The output leads 80-82 are connected to the register 32 for indexing the register to record the total cost of fuel delivered in accordance with the unit volume fuel price established by the variator setting. For this purpose, the register 32 is provided with a suitable counter 84 which in the shown embodiment has six decades 85-90 (of increasing order from right to left as viewed in FIG. 1) suitably connected for generating transfers from adjacent lower to higher order decades. The output leads 80-82 are connected by parallel entry to the three lowest order decades 85-87 respectively and therefore in accordance with the relative values or weights of the corresponding places of the established multiple place price. Schmidtt triggers 94 and one-shot multivibrators 96 are preferably provided in the input circuits to the decades 85-87 to form suitable electrical pulses for avoiding miscounting or overcounting in the operation of the counter 84.

In the described example with the variator set at a unit volume price of 32.9, the tenths output head 36 will index the lowest order decade 85 nine hundred steps for each unit volume of fuel dispensed; the units output head 37 will index the decade 86 two hundred steps for each unit volume of fuel dispensed; and the tens output head 38 will index the decade 87 three hundred steps for each unit volume of fuel dispensed. As a transfer step is generated to index each higher order decade for each steps of the adjacent lower order decade, after a gallon of fuel is delivered,

decade counter sections

89, 88 and 87 would he stepped to their 3, 2" and 9" positions (i.e., the unit volume price established by the variator setting) and the counter 84 would continuously provide a count of the totalcost of fuel delivered in accordance with the established unit volume price.

The counter 84 could be a suitable electromagnetic counter having counter wheels for displaying the cost amount of the fuel delivered. Alternatively the counter 84 could be an electronic counter in which case suitable indicators 97 and decoder-driver circuits 98 may be provided to produce a visual readout of the three highest counter sections 88-90 for registering the total cost of fuel delivered. Also, if desired a suitable indicator 100 and corresponding decoder-driver circuit 102 could be provided as shown in broken lines in FIG. 1 for producing a suitable 10th cent indication.

Three price posting wheels 110-112 are mounted in alignment for posting the unit volume price established by the variator setting. The wheels 110-112 are connected to the selector discs 50-52 respectively such that they rotate directly with the discs and are automatically positioned with the discs to register the established unit volume price setting when the selector discs 50-52 are angularly set. In this regard, the price wheels 110, 111 are 10 position wheels (i.e., bearing indicia 0-9 respectively) for indicating the 10 operative positions of the

discs

50, 51 whereas the price wheel 112 is a l6-position wheel (i.e., bearing indicia 0-15 respectively) for indicating the 16 operative positions of the disc 52. Thus, the price-posting wheels are adapted to post the price through the entire available price range of 000.0 through 159.9 which may be established by the variator.

The selector discs 50-52 may be individually set as desired or may as shown in FIG. 1 be interconnected by

transfer pinions

120, 121 in the manner of a counter such that the lowest order disc 50 may be rotated in either direction to establish the unit volume price. More particularly each of the

discs

50, 51 have a combined locking ring and transfer segment 124 engageable with the

pinions

120, 121, respectively and the

discs

51, 52 have gears 126 engageable with the

pinions

120, 121 such that the disc 51 is indexed one step or 36 for each revolution or 10 steps of the disc 50, and the disc 52 is indexed one step or 22.5 for each revolution or 10 steps of the disc 51.

A suitable programmable price-setting mechanism 130 may also be provided as shown in FIG. 1 for rotating the disc 50 to set the variator. More particularly the price-setting mechanism 130 would be programmed to establish a price for each of the available fuel products (five in the shown embodiment) and the setting mechanism 130 would be operated by a product selector knob 132 to select the appropriate preset price when the knob is rotated to operate the blend gearing 24 to select the corresponding fuel product.

Referring to FIG. 4, another embodiment of a computing device of the present invention comprises a pulser drum adapted to be driven like the pulser disc 34 of the embodiment of FIGS. I-3, and six banks 152 of coaxial selector drums 154-156 mounted on a selector plate 160. The drum banks 152 are equiangularly spaced around the pulser drum 150, the selector plate is rotatably mounted about the axis of the pulse drum 150 to provide for selectively positioning each selector drum bank 152 at a control station 154 where its drums 154-156 are adapted to cooperate with the pulser drum 150 and a pickup assembly 161 to generate three separate pulse trains of noncoincident pulses in the manner of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. The selector drums 154-156 are also adapted to be viewed through windows 164-166 respectively in the computer housing such that the wheels 154-156 may be provided with indicia to post the price setting established by the bank of wheels at the control station.

The selector drum 154-156 of each bank have axially spaced pulse selector circles -173 like the pulse selector circles 56-59 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. Also, the pulser drum 150 has three banks 178 of four pulse actuator circles 180-183 like the four pulse actuator circles 44-47 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3 such that the bank 152 of selector drums at the control station 154 is adapted to selectively activate the three banks 178 of pulse actuator circles 180-183 on the pulser drum to operate the photoelectric pickups 70 of the pickup assembly 161 to generate three separate electrical pulse trains of noncoincident pulses. More particularly the three separate photoelectric cells 70 of the pickup assembly 161 are aligned with the three banks 178 of pulse actuator circles and a bank of four lamps 39-42 is mounted within each drum such that the drum bank at the control station 154 is effective to selectively activate the pulse actuator circles of the pulser drum 150 to operate the photoelectric cells 70 and thereby generate three pulse trains of noncoincident pulses in the output leads 80-82. The selector drums 154-156 of each selector drum bank are adapted to be individually angularly set by knobs 194-196 respectively such that each drum bank is adapted to be presetto establish a unit volume price within the available price range of 000.0 to 159.9 and to be selectively positionedat the control station as by the product selector knob 132 shown in FIG. 1 when the corresponding product is selected by the knob.

Aswill be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the present invention.

Iclaim:

1. In a computing device for a fluid-dispensing system having a counter operable for counting the monetary amount of fluid dispensed and settable variator means for operating the counter in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and multiple-place unit volume pricing established by the setting of the variator means, the improvement wherein the variator means comprises a pulser rotor adapted to be rotated in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed, a plurality of pickups of ascending order for different places respectively of the multiple-place pricing mounted for cooperation with the rotor, the rotor having a plurality of pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse actuatorcircles and to operate the pickups for generating separate pulse trainsof noncoincident pulses respectively for operating the counter, each pickup having a respective transmission lead for transmitting its respective pulse train of noncoincident pulses for operating the counter, and setting means comprising a bank of rotary selectors of ascending order for the pickups of ascending order respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse selector circles operative for activating pulse actuator circles respectively and to provide a plurality of operative selector angular positions for activating different ones and groups of the pulse actuator circles for operating the respective pickup for establishing the number of pulses generated thereby for each revolution of the rotor.

2. A computing device according to claim 1 wherein the pulse actuators and pulse selectors are light transmitters and wherein the pickups are photoelectric pickups.

3. A computing device according to claim 2 wherein the pulse selectors are light apertures.

4. A computing-device according to claim 1 wherein each rotary selector has a plurality of successive operative angular positions for establishing pulse trains for each revolution of the rotor with successively increasing numbers of pulses.

5. A computing device according to claim 1 wherein the pulse actuators and pulse selectors are apertures.

6. A computing device according to claim 5 wherein the pulser rotor is a disc and the rotary selectors are discs angularly spaced about the axis of the rotor disc and in overlapping relationship therewith.

7. A computing device according to claim 5 wherein the rotor is a drum and the rotary selectors are drums. v

8. A computing device according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of said banks of rotary selectors and selector means for individually selecting the rotary selector banks for activating the pulse actuator circles for operating the pickups.

9. A computing device according to claim 1 wherein the rotor is a drum, wherein the bank of rotary selectors is a bank of coaxial drums of ascending order, and wherein the rotor drum has a separate bank of coaxial pulse actuator circles for each selector drum order.

10. A computing device according to claim 9 comprising a plurality of banks of rotary selector drums and selector means for individually setting the selector drum banks for activating the pulse actuator circles for operating the pickups.

11. A computing device according to claim 10 wherein the pulse actuators and pulse selectors are apertures.

12. A computing device according to claim 10 wherein the banks of selector drums are mounted on a rotatable support, wherein the selector means comprises means for rotating the support to selectively position each bank of selector drums in operative association with the pulser drum for selectively activating the pulse actuator circles for operating the pickups;

13. A computing device according to claim 12 wherein the selector drums bear indicia arranged to provide a visual display of the unit volume price corresponding to their angular position.

14. A computing device according to claim 1 comprising price-posting wheels connected to be rotated with the rotary selectors for posting the unit volume price corresponding to the angular positions of the rotary selectors.

15. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place: multiplier comprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuator sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating witheach pulsegenerating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of noncoincident pulses, each pulsegenerating means having a respective transmission lead for transmitting its respective pulse train of noncoincident pulses, multiplier setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulsegenerating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulsegenerating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, the pulse selectors of each rotary selector being arranged to provide a plurality'of operative selector angular positions for operating different ones and groups of the pulse actuator sets cooperating therewith respectively, and counting means connected to the transmission leads to be operated by the output pulsetrains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for counting the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors.

16. A computing device according to claim 15 wherein the pulse actuators and pulse selectors are light transmitters and wherein the plurality of pulse-generating means comprise photoelectric pickup means.

17. A computing device according to claim 15 wherein the pulse selectors are arranged on each rotary selector such that the rotary selector may be rotated to successive angular positions for establishing corresponding pulse trains, for a predetermined rotation of the rotary input, with successively increasing numbers of pulses.

18. A computing device according to claim 15 wherein the pulse-actuating device comprises a drum having Said pulse actuator sets and the rotary selectors are rotary drums having .said pulse selector sets.

19. A computing device according to claim 15 wherein all of the plurality of pulse actuator sets are coaxial and wherein the rotary selectors of the rotary selector bank are coaxial.

20. A computing device according to claim 15 wherein the multiplier-setting means comprises a plurality of said banks of rotary selectors and selecting means for individually selecting the rotary selector banks for establishing the multiple-place multiplier.

21. A pulse-generating device operable for generating a number of pulses equal to the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiplier comprising a rotary input, a pulse rotor connected to be rotated by the rotary input and having a plurality of pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles coaxial with the rotor to form a plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively, pickup means mounted for cooperation with the pulse actuator sets of the rotor, the pickup means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of noncoincident output pulses as the rotor is rotated by the rotary input, the pickup means having a transmission lead for transmitting its pulse train of noncoincident pulses and a rotary selector for the pickup means having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the pulse actuator sets respectively, each pulse selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set for operating the pickup means when rotated to an operative angular position, the pulse selectors being arranged to provide a plurality of operative selector angular positions for activating different ones and groups of the pulse actuator sets such that the number of pulses generated by the pickup means for each revolution of the pulse rotor is established by the angular setting of the rotary selector.

22. A pulse-generating device according to claim 21 wherein the pulse actuators and pulse selectors are light apertures, wherein the pulse selectors are adapted to be rotated to an operative position in alignment with the respective pulse actuator set for permitting light to pass through the respective pulse actuators and wherein the pickup means comprises photoelectric pickup means.

23. A pulse-generating device according to claim 22 wherein the pulse rotor is a disc and wherein the rotary selector is a disc mounted in overlappingrelationship with the rotor disc.

24. A pulse-generating device according to claim 22 wherein the pulse rotor is a drum and the rotary selector is a drum.

25. In a computing device for a fluid-dispensing system having a counter operable for counting the monetary amount of fluid dispensed and settable variator means for operating the counter in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and multiple-place unit volume pricing established by the setting of the variator means, the improvement wherein the variator means comprises a pulser rotor adapted to be rotated in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed, a plurality of pickups of ascending order for different places respectively of the multiple-place pricing mounted for cooperation with the rotor, the rotor having a plurality of pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse actuator circles and to operate the pickups for generating separate pulse trains of noncoincident pulses for operating the counter, setting means comprising a bank of rotary selectors of ascending order for the pickups 'of ascending order respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse selector circles operative for activating pulse actuator circles respectively for operating the respective pickup for establishing the number of pulses generated thereby for each revolution of the rotor, and transfer gearing interconnecting the rotary selectors of adjacent lower and higher order, the pulse actuators being arranged on the rotor and the pulse selectors being arranged on the rotary selectors such that the lowest order rotary selector may be rotated to angularly set all of the rotary selectors.

26. A computing device according to claim 25 wherein the lowest order rotary selector may be rotated in one angular direction to successive angular positions to provide for establishing unit volume prices which successively increase by a fixed increment.

27. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place multiplier comprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuator sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating with each pulsegenerating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of pulses, multiplier-setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulse-generating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulse-generating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, and counting means connected to be operated by the output pulse trains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for counting the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors, the multiplier-setting means comprising transfer gearing interconnecting the rotary selectors such that one of the rotary selectors may be rotated to angularly set all of the rotary selectors.

28. A computing device according to claim 27 wherein the pulse actuators are arranged in pulse actuator sets and the pulse selectors are arranged on the rotary selectors such that said one rotary selector may be rotated in one angular direction to successive angular positions to provide for establishing multiple-place multipliers which successively increase by a fixed increment.

29. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place multiplier comprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating with each pulsegenerating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of pulses, multiplier-setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulse-generating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulse-generating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, and counting means connected to be operated by the output pulse trains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for counting the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors, the pulse-actuating device comprising rotary disc means having said pulse actuator sets and the rotary selectors comprising rotary discs having said pulse selector sets and mounted in overlapping relationship with the rotary disc means such that each pulse selector is adaptcd to be rotated to an operative angular position in overlying association with the respective pulse actuator set.

30. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place multipliercomprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality or rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuator sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating with each pulsegenerating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of pulses, multiplier-setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulse-generating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulse-generating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, and counting means connected to be operated by the output pulse trains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for counting the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors; the multiplier-setting means comprising a rotatable support, a plurality of said banks of rotary selectors, each having a plurality of coaxial rotary selectors, mounted on the rotatable support angularly spaced about the axis thereof, and selecting means for individually selecting the rotary selector banks for establishing the multiple-place multiplier and comprising means for rotating the rotatable support to selectively position each rotary selector bank in operative association with the pulse-actuating device.

Claims

1. In a computing device for a fluid-dispensing system having a counter operable for counting the monetary amount of fluid dispensed and settable variator means for operating the counter in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and multipleplace unit volume pricing established by the setting of the variator means, the improvement wherein the variator means comprises a pulser rotor adapted to be rotated in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed, a plurality of pickups of ascending order for different places respectively of the multiple-place pricing mounted for cooperation with the rotor, the rotor having a plurality of pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse actuator circles and to operate the pickups for generating separate pulse trains of noncoincident pulses respectively for operating the counter, each pickup having a respective transmission lead for transmitting its respective pulse train of noncoincident pulses for operating the counter, and setting means comprising a bank of rotary selectors of ascending order for the pickups of ascending order respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse selector circles operative for activating pulse actuator circles respectively and to provide a plurality of operative selector angular positions for activating different ones and groups of the pulse actuator circles for operating the respective pickup for establishing the number of pulses generated thereby for each revolution of the rotor.

4. A computing device according to claim 1 wherein each rotary selector has a plurality of successive operative angular positions for establishing pulse trains for each revolution of the rotor with successively increasing numbers of pulses.

7. A computing device according to claim 5 wherein the rotor is a drum and the rotary selectors are drums.

12. A computing device according to claim 10 wherein the banks of selector drums are mounted on a rotatable support, wherein the selector means comprises means for rotating the support to selectively position each bank of selector drums in operative association with the pulser drum for selectively activating the pulse actuator circles for operating the pickups.

15. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place multiplier comprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuator sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating with each pulse-generating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of noncoincident pulses, each pulse-generating means having a respective transmission lead for transmitting its respective pulse train of noncoincident pulses, multiplier setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulse-generating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulse-generating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, the pulse selectors of each rotary selector being arranged to provide a plurality of operative selector angular positions for operating different ones and groups of the pulse actuator sets cooperating therewith respectively, and counting means connected to the transmission leads to be operated by the output pulse trains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for counting the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors.

18. A computing device according to claim 15 wherein the pulse-actuating device comprises a drum having said pulse actuator sets and the rotary selectors are rotary drums having said pulse selector sets.

23. A pulse-generating device according to claim 22 wherein the pulse rotor is a disc and wherein the rotary selector is a disc mounted in overlapping relationship with the rotor disc.

25. In a computing device for a fluid-dispensing system having a counter operable for counting the monetary amount of fluid dispensed and settable variator means for operating the counter in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed and multiple-place unit volume pricing established by the setting of the variator means, the improvement wherein the variator means comprises a pulser rotor adapted to be rotated in accordance with the volume of fluid dispensed, a plurality of pickups of ascending order for different places respectively of the multiple-place pricing mounted for cooperation with the rotor, the rotor having a plurality of pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse actuator circles and to operate the pickups for generating separate pulse trains of noncoincident pulses for operating the counter, setting means comprising a bank of rotary selectors of ascending order for the pickups of ascending order respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of coaxial pulse selector circles operative for activating pulse actuator circles respectively for operating the respective pickup for establishing the number of pulses generated thereby for each revolution of the rotor, and transfer gearing interconnecting the rotary selectors of adjacent lower and higher order, the pulse actuators being arranged on the rotor and the pulse selectors being arranged on the rotary selectors such that the lowest order rotary selector may be rotated to angularly set all of the rotary selectors.

27. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place multiplier comprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis oF rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuator sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating with each pulse-generating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of pulses, multiplier-setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulse-generating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulse-generating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, and counting means connected to be operated by the output pulse trains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for counting the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors, the multiplier-setting means comprising transfer gearing interconnecting the rotary selectors such that one of the rotary selectors may be rotated to angularly set all of the rotary selectors.

29. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place multiplier comprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuators sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating with each pulse-generating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of pulses, multiplier-setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulse-generating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulse-generating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, and counting means connected to be operated by the output pulse trains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for countiNg the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors, the pulse-actuating device comprising rotary disc means having said pulse actuator sets and the rotary selectors comprising rotary discs having said pulse selector sets and mounted in overlapping relationship with the rotary disc means such that each pulse selector is adapted to be rotated to an operative angular position in overlying association with the respective pulse actuator set.

30. A computing device for computing the product of an amount proportional to a rotational input and a multiple-place multiplier comprising a pulse-actuating device having a rotary input and a plurality or rotatable pulse actuators arranged in a plurality of pulse actuator circles, each coaxial with its axis of rotation, to form a plurality of rotatable pulse actuator sets respectively, a plurality of pulse-generating means for different places of the multiple-place multiplier each mounted for cooperation with a plurality of the pulse actuator sets, the plurality of pulse actuator sets cooperating with each pulse-generating means being coaxial and the pulse-generating means being adapted to be operated by each pulse actuator of each pulse actuator set cooperating therewith to generate a corresponding train of pulses, multiplier-setting means comprising a bank of angularly settable rotary selectors for the plurality of pulse-generating means respectively, each rotary selector having a plurality of pulse selectors arranged in a plurality of pulse selector circles coaxial with the axis of the rotary selector to form a plurality of coaxial pulse selector sets for the plurality of coaxial pulse actuator sets respectively cooperating with the respective pulse-generating means, each pulse selector of each rotary selector being operative for activating the respective pulse actuator set with respect to the corresponding pulse-generating means when rotated to an operative angular position by the rotary selector such that the number of pulses in the pulse train of each pulse-generating means is controlled by the angular setting of the respective rotary selector, and counting means connected to be operated by the output pulse trains of the plurality of pulse-generating means for counting the product of an amount proportional to the rotation of the rotary input and a multiple-place multiplier established by the angular settings of the rotary selectors; the multiplier-setting means comprising a rotatable support, a plurality of said banks of rotary selectors, each having a plurality of coaxial rotary selectors, mounted on the rotatable support angularly spaced about the axis thereof, and selecting means for individually selecting the rotary selector banks for establishing the multiple-place multiplier and comprising means for rotating the rotatable support to selectively position each rotary selector bank in operative association with the pulse-actuating device.