US3723826A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control apparatus for fuel pumps
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-09-30
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-09-30
Abstract
Abstract A unique arrangement of elements is integrated into discrete modules for automatically controlling the quantity of fuel dispensed from service station fuel pumps in response to a preselected value. The arrangement may include three principal assemblies consisting of two modules and a solenoid. A rotary switching arrangement may be housed within the first module to be directly mechanically driven by a cost-of-purchase totalizer of the service station fuel pump. The rotary switch includes arcuately arranged, fixed electrical contact buttons which are each electrically connected with one of a plurality of selector switches provided within the second module. A keyboard having a plurality of pushbuttons may be displayed on a face of a second module and each pushbutton is operable to close a corresponding one of the selector switches. The first and second modules may be electrically connected to form a normally opened series circuit, having a plurality of branch circuits. A solenoid may be integrated with the second module and connected in parallel with the circuit for resetting each pushbutton upon the dispensing of the desired dollar amount of fuel. A second solenoid may be connected in parallel with the circuit to be operable, upon actuation, to apply a mechanical pull to an existing fuel pump cutoff mechanism. The electrical circuit is adaptable for connection with a source of electrical power and is momentarily closed by the co-existing conditions of a closed selector switch and the engagement of the rotary switch with the fixed contact button electrically connected with that closed selector switch. The momentary closing of the circuit is operable to actuate both solenoids to cut off further fuel dispensing by the service station fuel pump and to reset the selector switch to an initial position for the next dispensing operation. In this manner of operation, the circuit is energized only for brief periods of time for actuating the solenoids. The arrangement of elements is such as to facilitate the installation of the present control system either in existing pumps or as original equipment.
Inventors
- 👤 E Kelly
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:51
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/08; B67D7/30; B67D7/305; B67D7/307; B67D7/308
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for actuating a pump cutoff mechanism independently of the operation of a pump and in response to an indication of a pre-selected value of dispensed fluent material displayed on a totalizer having a moving surface for indicating said value: a. A first module assembly including a resettable rotary switch means having a plurality of fixed contacts and including a wiper contact disposable in direct mechanical drive relationship with said moving surface of said totalizer; b. rA second module assembly including a plurality of normally open selector switches; c. Said first and said second module assemblies being electrically connected to form a normally open electrical circuit adapted for connection with a source of electrical power; and d. Electro-magnetic means connected in said electrical circuit and operable to actuate said pump cutoff mechanism in response to the closing of said circuit when said circuit is connected with a source of electrical power and said totalizer indicates a value corresponding with a value associated with a closed one of said selector switches.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
Apparatus for actuating a pump cutoff mechanism independently of the operation of a pump and in response to an indication of a pre-selected value of dispensed fluent material displayed on a totalizer having a moving surface for indicating said value: a. A first module assembly including a resettable rotary switch means having a plurality of fixed contacts and including a wiper contact disposable in direct mechanical drive relationship with said moving surface of said totalizer; b. rA second module assembly including a plurality of normally open selector switches; c. Said first and said second module assemblies being electrically connected to form a normally open electrical circuit adapted for connection with a source of electrical power; and d. Electro-magnetic means connected in said electrical circuit and operable to actuate said pump cutoff mechanism in response to the closing of said circuit when said circuit is connected with a source of electrical power and said totalizer indicates a value corresponding with a value associated with a closed one of said selector switches.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and said second assemblies are connected in series with said electro-mechanical means and with said circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said electro-mechanical means is further operable to actuate a selector switch reset mechanism for reopening said circuit in response to the closing thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first module assembly comprises an electrically conductive shaft journaled for rotation within an electrically insulated support means; a. torque transmission means being mounted on said shaft for rotation therewith; and b. said shaft being connected with the source of electrical power at a first end thereof and presenting said wiper contact at a second end thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said rotary switch means is disposed within a casing consisting of an electrically insulating material; a. said casing being formed with a chamber completely enclosing said rotary switch means; b. a spark suppressing fluid being retained in said chamber and completely surrounding all electrical contact engaging surfaces of said rotary switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
96 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second module assembly comprises a first elongated conductor formed with resilient contact fingers extending transversely therefrom; a. fixed button contact members being supported in switching relationship with said contact fingers; b. pushbutton means operable to resiliently urge one of said contact fingers into engagement with one of said second fixed button contact members; and c. the engagement of one of said fingers with one of said electrical button contact members being operable to electrically close a circuit from said rotary switch means to the source of electrical power.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said wiper contact resiliently urges against said support means to spring bias said first end of said shaft into a journal means supporting said first end of said shaft.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
128 words
In an apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said pushbutton means comprises discrete camming means operable to urge against any of said resilient fingers of said first conductor member in response to the depression of said camming means into a supporting keyboard; a. said discrete camming means being formed with detent means; b. latching means being pivotally urged into said detent means formed on said camming means to hold said camming means forcibly against any of said resilient fingers of said first conductor to latch one of said selector switches in a closed condition; c. said latching means being removable from within said detent means of said camming means by said electro-magnetic means; and d. said camming means being spring biased into a resilient finger contact non-engaging position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
135 words
In an apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said camming means is formed with a downwardly extending surface; a. said latching means comprising an elongated flat bar extending transversely of the normal movement of said camming means; b. said bar being pivotable about a longitudinal axis; c. said bar being spring biased into engagement within said detent means upon the depression of said camming means into said keyboard; d. said electro-magnetic means comprising a sOlenoid having a plunger connected with said upper surface of said latching bar and operable to pivot said upper surface about said longitudinal axis to a position out of engagement with said detent means; and e. whereupon said spring bias means is operable to urge said camming means out of engagement with said resilient finger means to open said selector switch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
114 words
A module assembly of integrated elements for use in a control system for dispensing fuel from any existing automobile service station fuel pump wherein said control system operates in response to an indication of a predetermined desired value of dispensed fuel displayed on a cost-of-fuel totalizer comprising: a. a casing b. a plurality of selector switches mounted within said casing c. said elements of said module assembly cooperating with said control system to form a normally open electrical circuit connected with a source of electrical power; and d. electro-magnetic means operatively connected with said circuit for automatically opening a closed one of said selector switches in response to the closing of said electrical circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
114 words
A module assembly of integrated elements for use in a control system for dispensing fuel from any existing automobile service station fuel pump wherein said control system operates in response to an indication of a predetermined desired value of dispensed fuel displayed on a cost-of-fuel totalizer comprising: a. a casing b. a plurality of selector switches mounted within said casing c. said elements of said module assembly cooperating with said control system to form a normally open electrical circuit connected with a source of electrical power; and d. electro-magnetic means operatively connected with said circuit for automatically opening a closed one of said selector switches in response to the closing of said electrical circuit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An assembly according to claim 10, with the addition of pushbutton means for manually closing one of said plurality of selector switches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
An assembly according to claim 11 with the addition of latching means for locking one of said selector switches in a closed condition upon the manual depression of said pushbutton means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
41 words
An assembly according to claim 12 wherein said pushbutton means is spring biased away from operative engagement with any of said selector switches; and said electro-magnetic means is operable to release said latching means upon the closing of said electrical circuit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
35 words
An assembly according to claim 13 with the addition of manual selector switch reset means comprising pushbutton means operable to release said latching means in response to the depression of said last mentioned pushbutton means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
113 words
An assembly according to claim 13 wherein said casing is of an elongated rhomboidal shape and support said selector switches in a generally straight line arrangement: said pushbutton means comprising a plurality of discrete camming members; one of said camming members being slidably supported within said casing adjacent one of each said selector switches; detent means formed in each of said camming members; and said latching means including an elongated bar pivotable about a longitudinal axis thereof and aligned with respect to said straight line arrangement of selector switches to engage within said detent means of any one of said camming members upon the movement thereof into engagement with an associated selector switch.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |