Fluid inventory control system

Claim 1

In a fluid inventory control system of the type having a. a fluid-dispensing station with means for discharging amounts of fluid from said station, each said means for discharging including an electrically controlled valve operable to open a fluid discharge path through said means for discharging, b. a fluid station including fluid conduit means for connecting means of fluid supply to said means for discharging fluid from said fluid-dispensing station, said fluid supply station also including means for pumping fluid through said fluid conduit means, electrical control means for said means for pumping and electrical metering means for measuring the amount of fluid flowing through said conduit means, and c. a quantitative control and fluid meter station including electric counters and controls for counting and indicating measured volumes of fluid, and direct current power supply means for said control system, the improvement comprising, i. a plug receptacle at said fluid meter station, said receptacle having at least three contacts, said plug receptacle being electrically connected to the electrical components and controls included as part of said meter station, said receptacle being keyed to receive a keyed plug, ii. a second plug receptacle at said supply station, said second plug receptacle being electrically connected to the electrical components and to third plug receptacles included as a part of said supply station, said second receptacle being keyed to receive a keyed plug, and including the same number of contacts as said plug receptacle at said fluid meter station, iii. at least one modular cable segment, said segment having at least the same number of wires as the number of contacts at said supply station receptacle, said cable segment including a keyed plug attached at each end, said plugs connectable with said supply station second plug receptacle and said fluid meter station plug receptacle to provide a complete control circuit between said control station and said supply station, and iv. a plug receptacle for said electrically controlled valves of said dispensing station and at least another one modular cable segment having keyed plugs at each end, said another one cable segment connecting said plug receptacle of said dispensing station with said third plug receptacle of said supply station.