Abstract:
A flow meter for use in monitoring unit and total quantities of a dispensed fluid, such as draft beer, includes a motion detection switch inside a housing and is coupled to a valve which controls the fluid flow. The switch provides an electrical indication during periods when the valve is open. A totalizer including microprocessor circuitry totalizes the amount of fluid passing through the valve based upon an adjustable, predetermined flow rate setting. An indicator is also coupled to the totalizing circuitry to provide an indication when a unit quantity has passed through the valve at the predetermined flow rate. The totalizer further totalizes the number of occurrences of the unit quantity or any other preselected quantity.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to systems which are designed to account for fluids being dispensed from a fluid container, and in particular is designed to monitor the amounts of beverages, such as draft beer, which are dispensed in varying quantities. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Numerous systems have been developed in the past for measuring and totalizing the amount of a fluid dispensed from a container of the fluid. Typically, such arrangements employ a mechanical element, such as a rotor, in the fluid flow path in order to measure the amount of fluid dispensed based upon the actual flow rate out of the container. Conventional gasoline pumps are an example of these types of prior art systems. Another example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,579 to Barnard. 
     Such arrangements have not proven satisfactory in dispensing beverages because of the bulkiness of the required structures and the inherent cost. Accordingly, electronic systems have been developed for the purpose of monitoring the dispensing of beverages. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,965,337, Young discloses a draft beer monitoring system in which the amount of beer dispensed is displayed as a function of dollars and cents. As disclosed by the patentee, the monitor may be switched between glass and pitcher rate monitors. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,167, Goodwin discloses a system similar to that disclosed in the aforementioned patent to Young, in that the output is measured in monetary quantities. 
     In U.S. Pat. No. 3,699,315, Upton discloses a monitor for fluid dispensers in which accountability is dependent upon the amount of price per unit volume. 
     The manner in which draft beer is customarily sold creates particularly unique problems for the monitoring and control of draft beer sales. For example, draft beer is usually sold in a standard quantity, such as an eight ounce glass. Frequently, however, a larger quantity of beer, such as a pitcher, is sold at a discount per ounce with respect to the per ounce price of beer by the glass. 
     Additionally, it is frequently necessary for cleaning personnel to dismantle the beer dispensing equipment for maintenance and cleaning purposes. Therefore, the accountability system must be able to maintain the count through such activity and distinguish between an authorized dismantling for cleaning purposes and an unauthorized tampering or intrusion of the accountability system. 
     It is also preferable that draft beer accountability systems be compact, since the space in areas where draft beer is dispensed is usually limited. It is especially important that the system be free of any connections to alternating current line voltage, because of the shock hazard potential. Further, while experienced personnel are familiar with the appropriate point to shut the tap off to fill a bear glass or pitcher, inexperienced operators frequently fill the glass unevenly, causing spillage. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention contemplates apparatus for measuring and totalizing an amount of a fluid dispensed through an outlet from a reservoir of the fluid, in which the outlet is of the type controlling the flow of the fluid from the reservoir by movement between open and closed positions. The apparatus includes position detecting means coupled at the outlet for detecting the movement between the open and closed positions and providing an electrical output responsive to that movement. A totalizer is included with the apparatus for receiving the output from the position detecting means and totalizing an amount of the fluid passing through the outlet based on a setting in the totalizer for a predetermined flow rate. Means are coupled externally of the totalizer for changing the setting therein to another predetermined flow rate. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus is provided with two basic subsystems which may be utilized independent of each other. One of the subsystems includes an indicator, such as a light coupled to the totalizer, the totalizer including first means for energizing the indicator for each occurrence of the flow of a preselected amount of the fluid passing through the outlet at a predetermined flow rate. 
     The second subsystem includes a count display, the totalizer further including second means for consecutively counting each occurrence of a specified amount of the fluid passing through the outlet at a predetermined flow rate during any uninterrupted opening of the outlet, and storing a total of all of the occurrences. Means are also included for coupling the count display to the totalizer such that a count representative of all of the occurrences can be displayed. 
     As noted previously, the present invention has a specific application in the monitoring of draft beer. For this application, there is provided a housing adapted to be mounted on the tap of a draft beer dispenser, the housing including the position detecting means and a portion of the totalizer circuitry. That portion of the apparatus within the housing is further provided with tamper detection means for detecting unauthorized entry into the housing, or alternatively, unauthorized tampering with the housing. A manager&#39;s control unit is also provided, this control unit also including a portion of the totalizing circuitry and means for selecting between the two subsystems; and further includes means for calibrating the totalizer to establish the predetermined flow rate, the preselected amount of beer for operation of the first subsystem, and the specified amount for operation of the second subsystem. 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the totalizing means comprises a programmed microprocessor unit (MPU) in the control unit, with associated circuitry. The tap unit housing has an unprogrammed MPU therein which is controlled by a random access memory (RAM). The specific functions are loaded in RAM by interconnection with the MPU in the control unit. 
    
    
     THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of the system of the present invention, as specifically adapted for use in the monitoring of draft beer, with a portion cut away. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective front view of the portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a cross section of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, taken along the lines 3--3. 
     FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the circuitry contained in the apparatus of FIGS. 2 and 3. 
     FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the electronic circuitry contained in a portion of the apparatus of FIG. 1 as shown in interrelation with the circuit of FIG. 4. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A. The Tap Unit 
     Reference is initially made to FIG. 1, which illustrates an overall view of the system of the present invention as adapted for use with a draft beer dispenser. 
     The system, referred to generally as 10, is adapted for use with a draft beer dispenser including a stand 12 connected between a tap 14 and a keg (not shown). Conventional draft beer taps have a shaft 16 which is threaded at the top to receive a handle 18 and which typically includes an advertising message thereon. The tap 14 is adapted to be used to fill a glass or pitcher, for example, the eight ounce Sham Pilsner glass 20 shown in FIG. 1. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The system 10 includes a tap unit 22 comprising a housing 24 having a shaft 26, the shaft having a lower female threaded hole and an upper male threaded portion, so as to mate with the shaft 16 and the handle 18 as shown in FIG. 1. The housing 24 further includes a cover 28 and a light emitting diode 30 extending through a hole in the cover. 
     Reference is now specifically made to FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate details of the internal construction of the tap unit 22. The tap unit 22 is provided with a printed circuit board 32, having conductive strips thereon in a conventional manner to interconnect the various electronic components attached to the board. The circuit includes a random access memory (RAM) 34 attached to the back side of the printed circuit board (FIG. 3) and a microprocessor unit 36 attached to the front side of the printed circuit board 32. A crystal 37 and a mercury switch 38 are likewise coupled to the front of the printed circuit board 32. A normally closed tamper switch 40 is also provided, the tamper switch being maintained in a closed position by a housing arm 41, the switch being opened upon removal of the cover 28. The tap unit 22 further includes a switch panel mounted on the front side of the printed circuit board and having two switches, 42, 44. One of the switches 42 is an on/off switch, and the second switch 44 is referred to as a &#34;clean&#34; switch in FIG. 4. 
     The conductive strip on the printed circuit board 32 are designed to describe circuit paths for interconnecting the various components as shown in the block diagram of FIG. 4. 
     The tap unit 22 further includes a connector 46 mounted at the base of the housing 24 and adapted to be interconnected with a manager&#39;s control unit 56 via an electronic cable 58. 
     As shown in FIG. 3, the tap unit 22 further includes a pair of pins 48, 50 extending through the base of the housing 24 immediately adjacent the point of interconnection with the shaft 16 of the tap 14. A conductive washer 52 surrounds the shaft 16 and interconnects the two pins, forming a normally closed conductive path for a tamper switch as part of the tap unit 22. 
     The tap unit 22 further includes a direct current battery 54 positioned within the housing 24. 
     Reference is now made to FIG. 4, where there is shown a block diagram of the electronic circuit contained in the tap unit 22, and in which all of the elements previously described above with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are referred to by like reference numerals. The circuit of FIG. 4 includes various inputs and outputs to the circuit of the manager&#39;s control unit 56 via the electronic cable 58, and which is depicted as a dotted line between FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     B. The Manager&#39;s Control Unit 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 5. The system 10 further includes a manager&#39;s control unit 56 having an electronic cable 58 removably coupled to the connector 46 of the tap unit 22. The cable 58 includes plural circuit lines which are described in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     The manager3 s control unit 56 includes a count display 60, a control switch 62, a &#34;tamper-clean&#34; light 64, and &#34;power cycle&#34; light 66, all mounted on the face of the control unit. The control unit 56 further includes a four position key switch 68, the four positions being nominally identified as OFF, READ, RESET and PROGRAM. 
     The bottom half of the manager&#39;s control unit 56 includes plural storage batteries 70 which are used to charge the battery 54 in the tap unit 22. The manager&#39;s control unit 56 further includes an electronic circuit which is contained within the enclosure shown in FIG. 1, and which is illustrated as a block diagram in FIG. 5. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, the electronic circuit in the manager&#39;s control unit 56 includes the elements discussed above with reference to FIG. 1, and which are referred to by like reference numerals. Additionally, the electronic circuit in the manager&#39;s control unit 56 includes a microprocessor unit 72 programmed as set forth in the attached appendix. The electronic circuit within the manager&#39;s control unit 56 further includes a random access memory (RAM) 74, a read only memory (ROM) 76, a battery charging circuit 78, a conventional input-output device 80, and a synchronization control circuit 82 for operating the input-output device 80, all of the above described elements being connected to and controlled by the microprocessor circuit 72 as shown in FIG. 5. 
     C. System Operation 
     Operation of the system 10 will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5. 
     Initially, the microprocessor 72 contained in the manager&#39;s control unit 56 is programmed in accordance with the program outlined in the attached appendix. This program is conventional neumonic language which is specifically adapted for use with a microprocessor circuit manufactured by RCA Corporation and identified as the RCA CDP1802D. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the program set forth in the attached appendix may be converted for use with microprocessor circuits manufactured by others. As shown in the appendix, the program includes eleven sections, which are referred to by reference letters A through K, and in which a functional description of each section is set forth. 
     The microprocessor 36 contained in the tap unit 22 has no programming therein, the functions of that microprocessor being controlled by the random access memory 34 in accordance with the instructions loaded into that RAM from the microprocessor 72 through the circuit lines 58 coupled between those two respective electronic circuits. The totalized readings stored in the microprocessor 36 in the tap unit 22 during operation of the tap 14 are read out of the tap unit 22 into the manager&#39;s control unit 56. 
     When the tap unit 22 is initially installed on to the shaft 16 of the tap 14, the cover 28 is removed and the off/on switch 42 is placed in the &#34;on&#34; position. Likewise, the &#34;clean&#34; switch 44 is placed in the operate position. This clean switch is placed within the tap unit 22 to allow cleaning personnel to operate that switch in order to indicate that a cleaning operation has taken place. This function will be described in greater detail below with respect to the operations of the manager&#39;s control unit 56. When the tap unit 22 is screwed on to the shaft 16, the washer 52 is placed over the shaft in order to make conductive contact between the pins 48, 50. As shown in FIG. 4, the conductive path between the pins 48, 50 formed by the washer 52 permits a normally closed condition between the first tamper switch 40 and ground. 
     When the tap unit 22 has been properly positioned on the shaft 16 and the cover 28 has been returned to the proper position with the housing arm 41 engaging the first tamper switch 40 and with the LED 30 extending through the cover, the electronic cable 58 is coupled to the connector 46 in a manner shown in FIG. 1. Thereafter, the control program is loaded into the RAM 34 via the electronic cable 58 from the manager&#39;s unit 56 as hereinafter described. 
     Initially, the manager operating the control unit 56 makes a selection between two subroutines contained in the program loaded into the microprocessor 72, and which is set forth in the attached appendix. These programs are nominally referred to as &#34;program No. 1&#34; (P-1) and which is shown as Section J of the program in the appendix; and &#34;program No. 2&#34; (P-2) which is shown as Section K in the attached appendix. This selection is made by operating a P-1/P-2 switch 84 inputted through the microprocessor 72 in the manager&#39;s unit 56 (Note FIG. 5). The manager then operates the key switch 68 to the PROGRAM position. A 16 oz. beaker is placed underneath the tap 14 and the tap is operated in an uninterrupted manner to fill the beaker. The tap is then shut by rotating the handle 18 backwards in a conventional manner. This action causes the mercury position switch 38 to indicate the closing of the valve 14 to the microprocessor circuit 36. At the same time, the information is relayed to the microprocessor circuit 72 contained in the manager&#39;s control unit 56. As noted above, it is preferred that the known volume constitute a 16 oz. beaker, although it will be understood that the system may be calibrated to any container volume by changing the programming of the MPU 72 via the ROM 76. 
     Thereafter, the microprocessor 72 utilizes Sections G, H and I of the program in order to prepare an ounce calibration for loading into the RAM 34. This calibration serves as a setting in the tap unit 22 representative of a predetermined flow rate of draft beer through the tap 14. This flow rate is determined by calculation of a unit volume for a specific time period, the time period being determined by the crystal 37 coupled to the microprocessor 36 in the tap unit 22. This ounce per unit of time flow rate setting in the tap unit 22 will be maintained until such time as the tap unit 22 is reprogrammed to another flow rate setting, in the manner described above. 
     The position switch 38 is a conventional mercury switch which provides an electrical indication of movement between two positions, and is utilized in this application to detect movement of the tap 14 between the open and closed positions. 
     Immediately following the ounce PROGRAM cycle outlined above, a further calibration related to the P-1/P-2 selection is made. Selection of Program No. 1 causes the microprocessor 72 to instruct the RAM 34 to control the microprocessor 36 such that the microprocessor 36 tallies a count for each occurrence of a specified amount of draft beer passing through the tap 14 during any uninterrupted opening of the tap, and to store a total of the counts for each occurrence. This program No. 1 is useful for determining the number of pitchers of draft beer which have been drawn through the tap. 14. 
     The calibration for program P-1 may be initiated by depressing the CONTROL switch 62 and drawing an amount of beer approximately equal to a pitcher of beer. 
     Alternatively, if manager has set the switch 84 in the P-2 position, thus calling up the program set forth as Section K, P-2, then this section of the program causes the MPU 72 to instruct the RAM 34 to control the microprocessor 36 to operate the LED 30 for each occurrence of a preselected amount of draft beer passing through the tap at the predetermined flow rate referred to above. This preselected amount may be determined by depressing the CONTROL switch 62 and drawing the desired amount, for example, eight ounces. 
     After making the ounce programming and selecting between P-1 and P-2 as set forth above, the key switch 68 is then operated to the RESET position and the CONTROL switch 62 is depressed. This loads both of the programs for the ounce calibration and either P-1 or P-2 into the RAM 34 of the tap unit 22 and clears the previous ounce and P-1 or P-2 reading. The key switch 68 is operated to the READ position and the cable 58 is then removed from the tap unit 22, allowing the tap unit to remain free standing with the tap 14. It will be understood that the manager&#39;s control unit 56 may be used with a plurality of the tap units 22, and may be required for only a brief period of time during the normal operating cycle in a retail establishment which serves draft beer from numerous taps. 
     At such time as it is desired to determine the readings collected by the tap unit 22 to recalibrate, or both, the manager&#39;s unit 56 is reconnected to the tap unit 22 by coupling of the cable 58 to the connector 46 and operating the system as described next. 
     With the key switch 68 in the READ position, the manager pushes the control switch 62 on the face of the manager&#39;s control unit 56. This control switch operates the microprocessor 72 to permit coupling with the microprocessor 36 in the tap unit 22. At this point, the microprocessor 36 feeds the totalized readings into the microprocessor 72 which are in turn displayed on the liquid crystal display 60 on the face of the manager&#39;s unit 56, as controlled by Section C of the program set forth in the attached appendix. At the same time, the batteries 70 contained in the manager&#39;s control unit 56 begin an automatic battery charging cycle, which is nominally one minute long, to recharge the battery 54 contained in the tap unit 22. Operation of this battery charging cycle is indicated by the power cycle light 66 on the face of the manager&#39;s control unit 56. 
     For the first 30 seconds following depression of the CONTROL switch 62, the first reading on the display 60 sets forth the total number of ounces which have passed through the tap 14 at the predetermined flow rate as previously set into the RAM 34 in the manner described above. After this first 30 second interval, a second reading sets forth the number of P-1 or P-2 occurrences which have been totalized by the microprocessor 36 since the previous reading. 
     If either of the tamper switches 48, 50 or 40 contained in the tap unit 22 have been opened during the interval between readings, the tamper light 64 operates continuously during the interconnection between the manager&#39;s unit 56 and the tap unit 22. However, in the event that the &#34;clean&#34; switch 44 has been operated by cleaning personnel in the interim, the tamper light 64 will flash intermittently. This function is controlled by section E of the program contained in the microprocessor 72. As a result, the manager is able to determine if the tap unit has been tampered with since the last reading, and if such tampering was a result of a cleaning operation by authorized personnel. 
     Thereafter, the manager may operate the key switch 68 to the PROGRAM position, and recalibrate the tap unit 22 for a new predetermined flow rate setting, and a selection between either P-1 or P-2, all as has been described above. ##SPC1## ##SPC2##