Temperature-compensating petroleum product dispensing unit

Claim 2

In apparatus for the transfer of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid through said outlet delivery means, the combination of: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing continuously the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there and continuously deriving an analogous electrical signal therefrom, signal transmitting means connected to said thermometric means for generating a thermal value electrical signal, corresponding to the sensed temperature, from said analogous electrical signal and for sending said thermal value electrical signal several times per second, upon command, metering means at said outlet delivery means for generating and sending, upon command, at least as often as said signal transmitting means, volume electrical signals corresponding to volume of liquid transferred through said outlet delivery means, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively commanding and receiving said volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered in each interval as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing the total volume from initiation of each delivery through the latest calculated interval, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computing means includes means for storing pricing information for said liquid and for computing the price of said computed summed volume of dispensed liquid, said apparatus additionally comprising price display means actuated by said computing means for displaying said computed price.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said metering means generates said volume electrical signals continuously.

Claim 5

In apparatus for the retail delivery and sale of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a liquid storage tank, a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid from said tank to and through said conduit, the combination: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, and continuously deriving an analogous electrical signal therefrom, signal transmitting means connected to said thermometric means for generating a thermal value electrical signal, corresponding to the sensed temperature, from said analogous electrical signal and sending said thermal value electrical signal several times per second, upon command, metering means at said outlet delivery means for generating and sending upon command, at least as often as said signal transmitting means, volume electrical signals corresponding to volume of liquid transferred the combination therewith of, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively commanding and receiving said volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing said increments into the total volume from initiation of delivery through the latest said interval, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature.

Claim 6

In apparatus for the retail delivery and sale of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a liquid storage tank, a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid from said tank to and through said conduit, the combination: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, and continuously deriving an analogous electrical signal therefrom, signal transmitting means connected to said thermometric means for generating a thermal value electrical signal, corresponding to the sensed temperature, from said analogous electrical signal and sending said thermal value electrical signal several times per second, upon command, metering means at said outlet delivery means for generating and sending upon command, at least as often as said signal transmitting means, volume electrical signals corresponding to volume of liquid transferred the combination therewith of, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively commanding and receiving said volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing said increments into the total volume from initiation of delivery through the latest said interval, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said computing means includes means for storing pricing information for said liquid and for computing the price of said computed summed volume of dispensed liquid, said apparatus additionally comprising price display means actuated by said computing means for displaying said computed price.

Claim 8

In apparatus for the retail delivery and sale of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a liquid storage tank, a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid from said tank to said conduit, the combination therewith of: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, signal transmitting means connected to said thermometric means for generating a thermal value electrical signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, and sending said thermal value electrical signal several times per second, upon command, a metering device having a rotating shaft and shaft encoder means for generating and sending upon command, at least as often as said signal transmitting means, positive angle electrical signals corresponding directly to the shaft-angle rotation of said shaft and therefore to the volume of liquid transferred through said metering device, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively commanding and receiving said positive angle volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing the total volume from initiation of delivery through the latest calculated interval, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature.

Claim 9

In apparatus for the retail delivery and sale of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a liquid storage tank, a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid from said tank to said conduit, the combination therewith of: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, signal transmitting means connected to said thermometric means for generating a thermal value electrical signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, and sending said thermal value electrical signal several times per second, upon command, a metering device having a rotating shaft and shaft encoder means for generating and sending upon command, at least as often as said signal transmitting means, positive angle electrical signals corresponding directly to the shaft-angle rotation of said shaft and therefore to the volume of liquid transferred through said metering device, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively commanding and receiving said positive angle volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing the total volume from initiation of delivery through the latest calculated interval, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said computing means includes means for storing pricing information for said liquid and for computing the price of said computed summed volume of dispensed liquid, said apparatus additionally comprising price display means actuated by said computing means for displaying said computed price.

Claim 11

In apparatus for delivery of liquid in terms of standard volume at a reference temperature, through a delivery conduit having a delivery locus, the combination of: switch means for providing a digital signal indicating the event of commencement of flow and the event of cessation of flow of said liquid through said conduit, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent to said delivery locus, and signaling means for providing a digital electrical temperature signal corresponding to the instantaneous temperature of said liquid at said sensor, a metering means for measuring the quantity of said liquid that has passed through said conduit since said event of commencement and for providing at least as often as said signaling means digital electrical liquid delivery signals corresponding to the amount of said liquid delivered from said delivery locus, said metering means comprising a shaft-angle encoder mechanically linked to said meter, digital computer means connected to said switch means, said metering means, and said temperature measurement means, for repetitively calculating from said liquid delivery signals and said temperature signal at frequent intervals between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of liquid delivered corrected to said reference temperature, said computer means including calibration means for relating the rotation of said shaft-angle encoder to actual flow of said liquid through said locus, said calibration means comprising a setswitch for setting the volume-to-revolution ratio of said flow to said encoder, and digital quantity display means connected to said computer for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered.

Claim 12

In apparatus for delivery of liquid in terms of standard volume at a reference temperature, through a delivery conduit having a delivery locus, the combination of: switch means for providing a digital signal indicating the event of commencement of flow and the event of cessation of flow of said liquid through said conduit, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent to said delivery locus, and signaling means for providing a digital electrical temperature signal corresponding to the instantaneous temperature of said liquid at said sensor, a metering means for measuring the quantity of said liquid that has passed through said conduit since said event of commencement and for providing at least as often as said signaling means digital electrical liquid delivery signals corresponding to the amount of said liquid delivered from said delivery locus, said metering means comprising a shaft-angle encoder mechanically linked to said meter, digital computer means connected to said switch means, said metering means, and said temperature measurement means, for repetitively calculating from said liquid delivery signals and said temperature signal at frequent intervals between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of liquid delivered corrected to said reference temperature, said computer means including calibration means for relating the rotation of said shaft-angle encoder to actual flow of said liquid through said locus, said calibration means comprising a setswitch for setting the volume-to-revolution ratio of said flow to said encoder, and digital quantity display means connected to said computer for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said metering means sends its liquid delivery signals continuously.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said shaft-angle encoder is an optical encoder.

Claim 15

In apparatus for delivery of liquid, in terms of standard volume at a reference temperature, through a delivery conduit having delivery locus, the combination of: switch means for providing a signal indicating the event of commencement of flow and the event of cessation of flow of said liquid through said conduit, metering means for measuring the quantity of said liquid that has passed through said conduit since said event of commencement and for providing an electrical liquid delivery signal corresponding to the amount of said liquid delivered from said delivery locus, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent to said delivery locus, and signaling means for providing an electrical temperature signal corresponding to instantaneous temperature of said liquid at said sensor, flow signal translation means connected to said metering means for translating said electrical liquid delivery signal into digital flow signals, and sending them upon command, temperature signal translation means connected to said temperature measurement means for translating said electrical temperature signal into digital temperature signals and sending them upon command, digital processor and storage means connected to said switch means, said flow signal translation means, and said temperature signal translation means, for receiving by command and for repetitively calculating from said digital flow signals and said digital temperature signals at frequent intervals between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered, as corrected to said reference temperature, said digital processor and storage means being wired to calculate said accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered by (1) determining the incremental volume delivered during each said interval between calculations (2) multiplying said incremental volume by the sum of (a) one plus (b) the product of a temperature differential (being the temperature signal minus said reference temperature) and a first predetermined constant, plus (c) a second predetermining constant times the square of said temperature differential, to obtain an incremental calculation, and thence (3) summing said incremental calculations at each said interval during each said delivery of said liquid, and digital quantity display means connected to said processor and storage means for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered.

Claim 16

In apparatus for delivery of liquid, in terms of standard volume at a reference temperature, through a delivery conduit having delivery locus, the combination of: switch means for providing a signal indicating the event of commencement of flow and the event of cessation of flow of said liquid through said conduit, metering means for measuring the quantity of said liquid that has passed through said conduit since said event of commencement and for providing an electrical liquid delivery signal corresponding to the amount of said liquid delivered from said delivery locus, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent to said delivery locus, and signaling means for providing an electrical temperature signal corresponding to instantaneous temperature of said liquid at said sensor, flow signal translation means connected to said metering means for translating said electrical liquid delivery signal into digital flow signals, and sending them upon command, temperature signal translation means connected to said temperature measurement means for translating said electrical temperature signal into digital temperature signals and sending them upon command, digital processor and storage means connected to said switch means, said flow signal translation means, and said temperature signal translation means, for receiving by command and for repetitively calculating from said digital flow signals and said digital temperature signals at frequent intervals between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered, as corrected to said reference temperature, said digital processor and storage means being wired to calculate said accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered by (1) determining the incremental volume delivered during each said interval between calculations (2) multiplying said incremental volume by the sum of (a) one plus (b) the product of a temperature differential (being the temperature signal minus said reference temperature) and a first predetermined constant, plus (c) a second predetermining constant times the square of said temperature differential, to obtain an incremental calculation, and thence (3) summing said incremental calculations at each said interval during each said delivery of said liquid, and digital quantity display means connected to said processor and storage means for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising a digital temperature display connected to said temperature measurement means for displaying said sensed instantaneous gasoline temperature as at the latest determination thereof.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said metering means sends its liquid delivery signal continuously.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said flow signal translation means is integral with said metering means, and said signal of said switch means is digital.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising digital cassette recorder means connected to said computer means for recording digitally for each delivery said corrected accumulated quantity of gasoline delivered.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said digital quantity display means includes an array of electromagnetic reflective discs.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said digital processor and storage means includes a unit price digital input and means for calculating accumulated price on the basis of quantity of liquid delivered corrected to said standard temperature, and further comprising digital price display means connected to said digital processor and storage means for displaying said accumulated price.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said digital quantity display means and said digital price display means include plural arrays of electromagnetic reflective discs.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 11 additionally comprising remote terminal means connected to said computer means for instructing said computer means and for obtainind digital information therefrom.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 19 wherein said remote terminal means includes means for selectively recalling data stored in said computer means, means for receiving said recalled data, and means for storing said recalled data.

Claim 26

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for storing said recalled data accumulates data received selectively from time to time from said computer means.

Claim 27

In apparatus for delivery of liquid, in terms of standard volume at a reference temperature, through a delivery conduit having delivery locus, the combination of: switch means for providing a signal indicating the event of commencement of flow and the event of cessation of flow of said liquid through said conduit. metering means for measuring the quantity of said liquid that has passed through said conduit since said event of commencement and for providing an electrical liquid delivery signal corresponding to the amount of said liquid delivered from said delivery locus, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent to said delivery locus, and signaling means for providing an electrical temperature signal corresponding to instantaneous temperature of said liquid at said sensor, flow signal translation means connected to said metering means for translating said electrical liquid delivery signal into digital flow signals, temperature signal translation means connected to said temperature measurement means for translating said electrical temperature signal into digital temperature signals, digital processor and storage means connected to said switch means, said flow signal translation means, and said temperature signal translation means, for repetitively calculating from said digital flow signals and said digital temperature signals at frequent intervals between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered, as corrected to said reference temperature, said digital processor and storage means being wired to calculate said accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered by (1) determining the incremental volume delivered during each said interval between calculations (2) multiplying said incremental volume by the sum of (a) one plus (b) the product of a temperature differential (being the temperature signal minus said reference temperature) and a first predetermined constant, plus (c) a second predetermining constant times the square of said temperature differential, to obtain an incremental calculation, and thence (3) summing said incremental calculations at each said interval during each said delivery of said liquid, and digital quantity display means connected to said processor and storage means for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered, said metering means comprising a shaftangle encoder mechanically linked to said metering means and said computer additionally comprises calibration means for relating the rotation of said encoder to actual flow, said calibration means comprising a setswitch for setting the volume-to-revolution ratio of said flow to said encoder.

Claim 28

In apparatus for delivery of liquid, in terms of standard volume at a reference temperature, through a delivery conduit having delivery locus, the combination of: switch means for providing a signal indicating the event of commencement of flow and the event of cessation of flow of said liquid through said conduit. metering means for measuring the quantity of said liquid that has passed through said conduit since said event of commencement and for providing an electrical liquid delivery signal corresponding to the amount of said liquid delivered from said delivery locus, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent to said delivery locus, and signaling means for providing an electrical temperature signal corresponding to instantaneous temperature of said liquid at said sensor, flow signal translation means connected to said metering means for translating said electrical liquid delivery signal into digital flow signals, temperature signal translation means connected to said temperature measurement means for translating said electrical temperature signal into digital temperature signals, digital processor and storage means connected to said switch means, said flow signal translation means, and said temperature signal translation means, for repetitively calculating from said digital flow signals and said digital temperature signals at frequent intervals between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered, as corrected to said reference temperature, said digital processor and storage means being wired to calculate said accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered by (1) determining the incremental volume delivered during each said interval between calculations (2) multiplying said incremental volume by the sum of (a) one plus (b) the product of a temperature differential (being the temperature signal minus said reference temperature) and a first predetermined constant, plus (c) a second predetermining constant times the square of said temperature differential, to obtain an incremental calculation, and thence (3) summing said incremental calculations at each said interval during each said delivery of said liquid, and digital quantity display means connected to said processor and storage means for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of said liquid delivered, said metering means comprising a shaftangle encoder mechanically linked to said metering means and said computer additionally comprises calibration means for relating the rotation of said encoder to actual flow, said calibration means comprising a setswitch for setting the volume-to-revolution ratio of said flow to said encoder.

Claim 29

The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said encoder is of the optical type.

Claim 30

In apparatus for sale of gasoline in terms of standard gallons at a reference temperature said apparatus having a gasoline storage reservoir, a delivery conduit, and means creating a pressure differential for moving gasoline from said reservoir through said conduit to a delivery locus, the combination therewith of: metering means having a shaft that is rotated by the flow of said gasoline in said conduit, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent said delivery locus, said means for providing, upon command, several times per second a digital electrical temperature signal corresponding to instantaneous gasoline temperature at said sensor, a switch for providing a digital signal indicating the time of commencement and the time of cessation of flow of gasoline in said conduit, analog-to-digital generation means for providing, upon command, at least as frequently as said temperature measurement means, digital electrical flow signals corresponding to the positive angle of rotation of said shaft and therefore to the amount of flow of said gasoline in said conduit, a digital computer connected to command and receive signals from said metering means, said temperature measurement means, and said switch, for repetitively calculating from said flow signals and said temperature signal, at intervals of several times per second, between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of gasoline delivered corrected to said reference temperature, and digital quantity display means connected to said computer for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of gasoline delivered.

Claim 31

In apparatus for sale of gasoline in terms of standard gallons at a reference temperature said apparatus having a gasoline storage reservoir, a delivery conduit, and means creating a pressure differential for moving gasoline from said reservoir through said conduit to a delivery locus, the combination therewith of: metering means having a shaft that is rotated by the flow of said gasoline in said conduit, temperature measurement means including a sensor in said delivery conduit at a point adjacent said delivery locus, said means for providing, upon command, several times per second a digital electrical temperature signal corresponding to instantaneous gasoline temperature at said sensor, a switch for providing a digital signal indicating the time of commencement and the time of cessation of flow of gasoline in said conduit, analog-to-digital generation means for providing, upon command, at least as frequently as said temperature measurement means, digital electrical flow signals corresponding to the positive angle of rotation of said shaft and therefore to the amount of flow of said gasoline in said conduit, a digital computer connected to command and receive signals from said metering means, said temperature measurement means, and said switch, for repetitively calculating from said flow signals and said temperature signal, at intervals of several times per second, between said commencement and cessation of flow the accumulated quantity of gasoline delivered corrected to said reference temperature, and digital quantity display means connected to said computer for displaying said corrected accumulated quantity of gasoline delivered.

Claim 32

The apparatus of claim 24 including altering means for changing the units of measurement from gallons to standard international (S.I.) units.

Claim 33

The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said altering means comprises a plurality of thumb-operated wheel switches.

Claim 34

In apparatus for the retail delivery and sale of gasoline in terms of standard gallons at 60° F., said apparatus having a gasoline storage tank, a delivery hose with a nozzle, and pump means for moving gasoline from said tank to said nozzle, the combination therewith of: thermometric means in said nozzle for sensing continuously the instantaneous temperature of the gasoline passing through said nozzle during delivery, signal transmitting means actuated by said thermometric means for generating and sending, upon command, several times each second during delivery a thermal value electrical signal therefrom, metering means for generating, and sending, upon command, at least as often as said signal transmitting means, electric gallonage signals for the gasoline passing through said nozzle, rapid electronic computing means storing price information, for commanding said signal transmitting means and said metering means, for receiving said gallonage signals and said thermal value signals, for computing therefrom at frequent repetitive intervals updated for each said thermal value signal, the total gallonage delivered up through them corrected to standard gallons at 60° F., and for computing concurrently the price for the gallonage delivered, and display means actuated by said computing means for displaying the computed dispensed gallons in terms of standard gallons at 60° F. and the money price thereof.

Claim 35

In apparatus for the retail delivery and sale of gasoline in terms of standard gallons at 60° F., said apparatus having a gasoline storage tank, a delivery hose with a nozzle, and pump means for moving gasoline from said tank to said nozzle, the combination therewith of: thermometric means in said nozzle for sensing continuously the instantaneous temperature of the gasoline passing through said nozzle during delivery, signal transmitting means actuated by said thermometric means for generating and sending, upon command, several times each second during delivery a thermal value electrical signal therefrom, metering means for generating, and sending, upon command, at least as often as said signal transmitting means, electric gallonage signals for the gasoline passing through said nozzle, rapid electronic computing means storing price information, for commanding said signal transmitting means and said metering means, for receiving said gallonage signals and said thermal value signals, for computing therefrom at frequent repetitive intervals updated for each said thermal value signal, the total gallonage delivered up through them corrected to standard gallons at 60° F., and for computing concurrently the price for the gallonage delivered, and display means actuated by said computing means for displaying the computed dispensed gallons in terms of standard gallons at 60° F. and the money price thereof.

Claim 36

The apparatus of claim 27 including means for altering the units of volume and of price.

Claim 39

The method of claim 29 having the additional step of displaying the money price thereof in terms of said standard units at said standard reference temperature.

Claim 42

The method of claim 31 having the additional step of displaying the money price thereof in terms of standard units at said standard reference temperature.

Claim 45

The method of claim 33 including also the step of displaying the money price thereof in terms of standard gallons at 60° F.

Claim 48

The method of claim 35 comprising the additional step of sequentially recording all said accumulations.

Claim 49

The method of claim 36 comprising the additional step of transmitting said accumulations to a remote location upon receipt of an accumulation playback control signal from said remote location.

Claim 50

The method of claim 37 including the step of summing all said transmitted accumulations received from time to time at said remote location.

Claim 51

In an apparatus for the retail sale of gasoline in terms of a defined unit of liquid volume, said apparatus having a gasoline storage tank, a delivery hose with a nozzle and means creating a pressure differential for moving gasoline from said tank to said hose, the combination therewith of: a metering device having a rotating shaft and means for generating and sending, upon command, an electric liquid volume signal as a direct function of the positive angular displacement of said shaft, rapid electronic computing means for commanding and receiving said electric liquid volume signal and for computing therefrom, as the product of the sum of the defined units of liquid volume, multiplied by their unit price, the selling price, and display means, actuated by said computing means, for displaying the total defined units of liquid volume delivered and for displaying the money price thereof.

Claim 52

In an apparatus for the retail sale of gasoline in terms of a defined unit of liquid volume, said apparatus having a gasoline storage tank, a delivery hose with a nozzle and means creating a pressure differential for moving gasoline from said tank to said hose, the combination therewith of: a metering device having a rotating shaft and means for generating and sending, upon command, an electric liquid volume signal as a direct function of the positive angular displacement of said shaft, rapid electronic computing means for commanding and receiving said electric liquid volume signal and for computing therefrom, as the product of the sum of the defined units of liquid volume, multiplied by their unit price, the selling price, and display means, actuated by said computing means, for displaying the total defined units of liquid volume delivered and for displaying the money price thereof.

Claim 53

The combination of claim 39 having means for adjusting said volume and price to correct for variations of temperature from a standard temperature.

Claim 54

In apparatus for the transfer of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid through said outlet delivery means, the combination of: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing continuously the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, signal transmitting means at said thermometric means for generating several times per second a thermal value electrical signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, metering means at said outlet delivery means for generating at least as often as said signal transmitting means volume electrical signals corresponding to volume of liquid transferred through said outlet delivery means, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively receiving said volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered in each interval as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing the total volume from initiation of each delivery through the latest calculated interval, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature, said metering means comprising a rotating shaft to which flow measuring means is attached and shaft-angle encoding means mechanically connected to said shaft for generating said signal, said metering means comprising a shaft-angle encoder mechanically linked to said meter, said computer means including calibration means for relating the rotation of said shaft-angle encoder to actual flow of said liquid through said locus, said calibration means comprising a setswitch for setting the volume-to-revolution ratio of said flow to said encoder.

Claim 55

In apparatus for the transfer of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid through said outlet delivery means, the combination of: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing continuously the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, signal transmitting means at said thermometric means for generating several times per second a thermal value electrical signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, metering means at said outlet delivery means for generating at least as often as said signal transmitting means volume electrical signals corresponding to volume of liquid transferred through said outlet delivery means, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively receiving said volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered in each interval as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing the total volume from initiation of each delivery through the latest calculated interval, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature, said metering means comprising a rotating shaft to which flow measuring means is attached and shaft-angle encoding means mechanically connected to said shaft for generating said signal, said metering means comprising a shaft-angle encoder mechanically linked to said meter, said computer means including calibration means for relating the rotation of said shaft-angle encoder to actual flow of said liquid through said locus, said calibration means comprising a setswitch for setting the volume-to-revolution ratio of said flow to said encoder.

Claim 56

In apparatus for the transfer of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid through said outlet delivery means, the combination of: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing continuously the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, signal transmitting means at said thermometric means for generating several times per second a thermal value electrical signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, metering means at said outlet delivery means for generating at least as often as said signal transmitting means volume electrical signals corresponding to volume of liquid transferred through said outlet delivery means, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively receiving said volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered in each interval as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing the total volume from initiation of each delivery through the latest calculated interval, means for causing said computing means to calculate said accumulated quantity of gasoline delivered by (1) incrementally calculating delivered volume, (2) multiplying a said incremental flow signal times the sum of (a) one plus (b) the product of a temperature differential (being the temperature signal minus said reference temperature) and a predetermined constant, plus (c) the product of a second constant times the square of said temperature differential, and thence (3) accumulating the incremental calculations for the duration of each said delivery of gasoline, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature.

Claim 57

In apparatus for the transfer of liquid in terms of standard volume at a standard temperature, having a delivery conduit with an outlet delivery means, and means for moving the liquid through said outlet delivery means, the combination of: thermometric means in said outlet delivery means for sensing continuously the instantaneous temperature of the liquid there, signal transmitting means at said thermometric means for generating several times per second a thermal value electrical signal corresponding to the sensed temperature, metering means at said outlet delivery means for generating at least as often as said signal transmitting means volume electrical signals corresponding to volume of liquid transferred through said outlet delivery means, rapid electronic computing means for repetitively receiving said volume signals and said thermal value signal, for incrementally calculating therefrom at intervals of several times per second during a delivery of liquid the volume delivered in each interval as corrected to said standard temperature, and for summing the total volume from initiation of each delivery through the latest calculated interval, means for causing said computing means to calculate said accumulated quantity of gasoline delivered by (1) incrementally calculating delivered volume, (2) multiplying a said incremental flow signal times the sum of (a) one plus (b) the product of a temperature differential (being the temperature signal minus said reference temperature) and a predetermined constant, plus (c) the product of a second constant times the square of said temperature differential, and thence (3) accumulating the incremental calculations for the duration of each said delivery of gasoline, and volume display means actuated by said computing means for continuously displaying the computed summed volume of dispensed liquid in terms of standard measure at said standard temperature.

Claim 58

In apparatus for the retail sale of gasoline in terms of standard gallons at 60° F., said apparatus having a gasoline storage tank, a delivery hose with a nozzle, and means creating a pressure differential for moving gasoline from said tank to said hose, the combination therewith of: a metering device having a rotating shaft and shaft-angle encoder means for generating and sending, upon command, an electric gallonage signal as a direct function of the positive angular displacement of said shaft, thermometric means for sensing the instantaneous temperature of the gasoline in said nozzle, signal transmitting means actuated by said thermometric means for generating and sending, upon command, a thermal value electrical signal therefrom, rapid electronic computing means for commanding said metering device and said signal transmitting means, for receiving said gallonage signal and said thermal value signal, and for computing therefrom at least as often as four times per second the gallonage corrected to standard gallons at 60° F., and display means actuated by said computing means for displaying the computed dispensed gallons in terms of standard gallons at 60° F., and for displaying the money price thereof in terms of standard gallons at 60° F.

Claim 59

In apparatus for the retail sale of gasoline in terms of standard gallons at 60° F., said apparatus having a gasoline storage tank, a delivery hose with a nozzle, and means creating a pressure differential for moving gasoline from said tank to said hose, the combination therewith of: a metering device having a rotating shaft and shaft-angle encoder means for generating and sending, upon command, an electric gallonage signal as a direct function of the positive angular displacement of said shaft, thermometric means for sensing the instantaneous temperature of the gasoline in said nozzle, signal transmitting means actuated by said thermometric means for generating and sending, upon command, a thermal value electrical signal therefrom, rapid electronic computing means for commanding said metering device and said signal transmitting means, for receiving said gallonage signal and said thermal value signal, and for computing therefrom at least as often as four times per second the gallonage corrected to standard gallons at 60° F., and display means actuated by said computing means for displaying the computed dispensed gallons in terms of standard gallons at 60° F., and for displaying the money price thereof in terms of standard gallons at 60° F.