Patent GB-570744-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to indicating or registering mechanisms and distributingmechanisms, particularly for use with liquid dispensing apparatus
IPC: B67D7/08
Filed: 1942-07-25
Abstract: 570,744. Liquid-dispensing apparatus. BUGG, K. C. July 25, 1942, No. 10440. Convention date, Sept. 4, 1941. [Class 106 (i)] Indicating mechanism includes a rotatable shaft carrying numeral wheels adapted to be driven thereby, and means for arresting said numeral wheels at predetermined positions at the energization of arresting means, and means effecting operation of controlling means for controlling said arresting means. The invention is described as applied to a petrol station. Any one of three pumps 72, 74, 76, Fig. 2, can be connected to a pair of registers 56, 60 or 58, 62 on one or other side of an island, to indicate the grade of fuel supplied, the current price, the amount dispensed and its computed price. These indications are retained until the registers on that side are required for another transaction. Registering mechanism. Price numeral wheels 140, 142, 144 and amount numeral wheels 146, 148, 150 are loosely mounted on motor-driven shaft 94, shown from the rear in Fig. 4. Daily price numeral wheels 152, 154, 156 are loosely mounted on motor-driven shaft 124. Associated with each wheel is a cam 158 fixed to the shaft and engaged by spring-pressed pawl 172, pivoted to the numeral wheel so as to give a frictional drive, Figs. 8, 9. Supported adjacent each numeral wheel are calibrating solenoids 194, according to the number of calibrations on the wheel and an interlock solenoid 196. When a solenoid 194 is energized, it urges forward a spring-pressed plunger 198, the tip of which engages a stop 202 on the numeral wheel. If a wheel has a large number of calibrations, the solenoids 194 may be arranged in two concentric circles (Fig. 5, not shown) for co-operation with two stops 202. The solenoids 194 of adjacent numeral wheels are out of alignment to obviate magnetic interference. Each wheel also has a number of apertures 200 corresponding to the calibrations, for normal engagement by the plunger of interlock solenoid 196, which, however, withdraws its plunger when energized. An indicator 118 for indicating the grade of fuel supplied is controlled by solenoids corresponding to the pumps. Lights 224, 228 indicate that fuel is being dispensed and that the register is operative ; lights 226, 230 flash at each step of the price and amount numeral wheels, respectively. The solenoids and lights are connected to terminal contact board 232-252, Fig. 4, and so to the distributer mechanism. Distributer mechanism. According to the amount of fuel passing through the meter, and its unit' price, the meter and a variable-speed mechanism drive the amount and price distributer gears mounted on three common reset shafts 290, 296, 302, Fig. 12. The units price distributer is described as being typical, and has a base 306, Fig. 18, contact face 308 and a rotating head 310. The base has pairs of pins 314 electrically connected through a terminal board with the calibrating solenoids 194 of the corresponding numeral wheel in each of a pair of registers. The base also has pins 328, 330, Fig. 21, and pins 340, 342 for the distributer solenoids 514, 516. Contact face member 308 has contact shoes 364, Fig. 20, disposed over pins 314. Overlying pins 328, 330 are contacts 366 in concentric circles for lighting lamp 226 at each step of the units price wheel. Contacts 370, 372 in concentric circles, overlie pins 340, 342. Inner contact rings 382, 384 overlie pins 352, 354. The distributer head 310 is mounted on shaft 290 and can be clutched to or freed from stop plate 404. Pawl 416, Fig. 19, permits clockwise rotation of the head, but engages a zero stop when the head is being reset. Pivotally mounted on the head are contact arms 434-440, electrically connected and adapted to contact respectively with contacts 366, 370 and 378, shoes 364 and ring 382. These arms are for the one pair of registers, and other set of arms exists for the other. The distributers of higher denomination are similar, but omit contacts 366, 370 and 372 and the associated pins on base 306. To reset the distributer mechanism to zero, handle 676, Fig. 12, is operated to lift shafts 290, 296, 302 by cam mechanisms 292, 298, 304. Spring mounting plates 704, Figs. 13, 18, carry spring- pressed bails 722, urging lugs 730 to engage stops 410 (not shown) on the distributer heads to return them to zero position. As the distributer heads rotate from zero position, stops 410 drive lugs 730 to rotate the mounting plates 704 and pins 698 follow helical slots 748 on the spring carriers until they have reached innermost position, when lugs 766 enter slots 678 (Fig. 17, not shown) in the base-plate and lugs 730 are out of the path of stops 410. At the operation of handle 676, plates 404, Fig. 18, rock release members 760 to move lugs 766 out of their slots and the distributer heads return to zero under spring action. Connections between distributers and registers. The distributers and numeral wheels are connected in like manner as shown in Fig. 27 applied to the units money wheel, registering in half cents. When switch 886 is closed, interlock solenoid 196 energizes and withdraws its locking plunger to allow the numeral wheel 140 to turn. Current is also supplied to ring 382, arms 440, 438, 436, Fig. 19, shows 364, pins 314 and so to the calibrating solenoids 194 in turn as the distributer rotates, finally to arrest the numeral wheel 140 in computed position. As member 438 passes from one shoe to another, members 370, 378, electrically connected to contact 336 ensure a circuit through member 436 to energize solenoid 514 of the corresponding amount distributer to move that distributer face slightly so that the price and amount distributers move together, a corresponding circuit also existing in the reverse direction. A similar connection exists between a distributer and the distributer of higher denomination. Circuit for plurality of dispensing stations. Fig. 30c is diagrammatic and shows the circuit for connecting one pump to one or other of two registers, the other registers and pumps being omitted from the drawing. Double switch 1134 connects distributer 1150 to the registers on one or other side and type switch 1170 or 1224, according to the registers connected connects the distributer to the appropriate solenoids, e.g. 1178, of the type indicating means, according to the fuel dispensed by the pumps. If one of the other pumps is in operation, one or other of interlock solenoids 1278, 1280 is energized to limit the operation of switch 1134 to one or other side, while if both pumps are being used, both solenoids energize and switch 1134 is inoperative. Operation of switch 1134 energizes the register motions 126, and cam 1534 or 1536 rocks lever 1546 to close switch 1562 to energize the pump motor 1570. Current is also supplied to price switch 1226. On release of switch 1134, the pump stops, but the last sale is shown on the register until a selector switch is again moved to connect with these registers to energize the interlock solenoids 196 and clear the registers. Modifications.-Registering mechanisms. As before, the numeral wheels are frictionally mounted on motor-driven shafts, but calibrating solenoids 2058 (Fig. 25, not shown) are provided only for the daily price wheels, the fractions - amount and units money wheels. These solenoids are serially energized to project their plungers into a position to be energized by stop mechanism 2076, Fig. 36, carried counter - clockwise by the numeral wheel. Spring-pressed pawl 2084 is rocked clockwise on contact with a projected plunger 2064 which then meets the fixed stop 2078, rebound being prevented by pawl 2084 latching behind the plunger. When the plunger is retracted, the stop mechanism is freed to pass to the next projected plunger. Calibration transfer. The higher denomination wheels each carry a fixed plate member 2128 and a spring-urged, relatively-movable plate member 2130, Figs. 42, 45, both members having spaced notches 2140 corresponding to calibrations, and a deep zero notch 2142 (not shown). A fixed support carries indexing solenoid 2164 which can move carriage 2152 to the right in Fig. 42 against spring action, the movement being restricted by engagement with plunger 2146 except when solenoid 2144 is energized. Pivoted to carriage 2152 is pawl 2170, spring-pressed against plate-members 2128, 2130. In a dispensing operation, after the distributer head (provided only for the lowest denomination, as explained below) has moved from zero position, solenoids 2164 and 2144 are de-energized and carriage 2152 assumes its left-most position, and pawl 2170, while still engaging plate member 2128, leaves the notch of plate member 2130 which then advances to an extent limited by its spring connection with plate member 2128. When the distributer head again reached zero, solenoid 2164 energizes and carriage 2152 moves to the right until halted by plunger 2146, so that pawl 2170 is rocked counter-clockwise by contact with the edge of member 2130, as seen in Fig. 45, to release member 2128, whereupon the pawl rides on the lower side of the plate members to enter the next notches 2140, the numeral wheel having advanced one step. As the distributer head rotates further, solenoid 2164 again de-energizes and the process is repeated. When higher numeral wheel 2032 or 2038 completes a revolution, transfer switch 2182, Fig. 42, closes to actuate the higher denomination wheel in similar manner. The daily price wheels and type indicating means are operated as in the first embodiment. Distributer mechanism. A fuel meter drives the amount distributer gear 2244 and also drives through a variable speed mechanism, the money distributer gear 2252, Fig. 49. Each of these gears has a clutch connection with a reset shaft 2282 capable of vertical but not rotative movement. Pivoted to each setback. head 2298, Fig. 66, is a spring-pressed wind-up pawl 2306, which has a lug, 2318 adapted to be operated by lug 2322, Figs. 49