Patent GB-1311239-A (GB)
Title: Fluid dispensing apparatus preselector system
IPC: G07F15/00
Filed: 1971-10-05
Abstract: 1311239 Coin-freed fluid dispensers VEEDER INDUSTRIES Inc 5 Oct 1971 [20 May 1971] 46271/71 Heading G4V A fluid dispenser comprises a bidirectional binary counter 110 that is indexed in a first direction from its initial state in accordance with the values of coins inserted in a coin accepting mechanism 66, pulse generator means 116 connected for indexing the counter in the opposite direction according to the value of fluid dispensed, and counter read out means for closing a valve to terminate fluid delivery when the counter again reaches its initial state. The counter is also returned to its initial state when fluid delivery is manually terminated before credit is exhausted. The read out means are arranged to hold the counter at this minimum count until further coins are inserted and also preferably to disconnect the coin accepting mechanism from the counter when this reaches a predetermined maximum count. The particular embodiment of fuel dispenser described may be operated in three modes, coin preset, manual preset (fuel delivered up to a manually selected quantity) or no preset, as determined by a mode selector 60. General arrangement.-A pump 10 delivers fuel via a meter 14 and two stage shut-off valve 16 to dispensing nozzle 18. The meter 14 is connected through a variator 28 for setting price per unit volume to volume and price indicators 22, 24. The nozzle 18 is mounted such that it cannot be withdrawn from the housing until an ON/OFF lever 32, which is connected to a switch 118, has been moved to the ON position. A reset lever 29 is provided for returning the indicators 22, 24 to zero, the reset lever and the ON/OFF lever 32 being interlocked such that the former can only be operated with the latter is in the off position. Coin operation.-Inserted coins pass through an acceptor 72 to an escrow bank 74, from which they may be returned at any time before commencement of delivery by operation of a return lever 76. The accepted coins operate switches causing pulse generators 120, 124, 125 and 126 to send pulses to the binary counter 110. The counter has two stages, the first 112, counting up to ten 5 cent increments and then transferring a pulse to the second stage 114. Pulses produced by 5, 10 and 25 cent coins are directed to the first stage 112 and the pulse produced by a 50 cent coin is passed directly to the second stage 114. When the pump control lever is turned to the ON position a coin collect lead 80 is energized to collect the coins held in escrow. On dispensation of fuel the pulse generator 116, which is driven by the lowest order wheel of the indicator 24, produces pulses at say ¢ cent intervals, these pulses being divided by circuit 172 to provide a suitable subtracting input to the counter 110. The counter read out section 180 operates firstly to slow down the fuel flow rate shortly before the completion of delivery of the selected amount and secondly to completely shut off the valve when the counter output reaches zero. When the pump control lever 32 is turned to the off position, or the coin return lever 76 operated, a pulse is produced by gate 200 and passed via gate 202 to the divider circuit 172 and counter 110 to clear and hold these in their zero states. With the control lever in the OFF position the valve 16 is also opened to relieve any pressure in the fuel line. On the insertion of any value of coin a pulse from gate 206 coupled with a signal from counter read out gate 186 indicating a zero count is effective to close gate 202 and allow the counter to be indexed according to the value of the coin. The control circuit may be arranged to permit loading of the counter after the start of dispensation, or as shown by the dotted connection in Fig. 2, the arrangement may be such that pulses produced by inserted coins are blocked by gates 122, 140. Manual operation.-With the mode selector in the "M" position the logic gates 122, 140 are closed disconnecting the coin acceptor from the counter, and with the pump control OFF a gate 210 is operated for loading the counter with the setting of a manual preselector 90. When the pump control lever is turned ON the manual preselector is disconnected from the counter and dispensation proceeds as with coin-freed operation. If the mode selector is in the "NP" position the counter is disconnected from the two stage valve by closing gates 182, 197 and the valve is held open during the delivery of any desired volume or value of fuel.