US3254795A

US3254795A - Fuel dispenser

Info

Publication number: US3254795A
Application number: US374464A
Authority: US
Inventors: Ronald D Mackie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-06-11
Filing date: 1964-06-11
Publication date: 1966-06-07
Anticipated expiration: 1983-06-07

Description

R. D. MACKIE FUEL DISPENSER June 7, 1966 1 a m S R w W8 mm m s 9 IMO E l. m M MM MN S l VE T mm DH mN 2 5 mAw T CMC O H CM P. a, w 6% 0 a E uR D H1 S F M E 4 E E O R I R T NI h T A OU O N E Y0 LRT LOUKMEORREE 6 7 CTGOBR H '1 n 4 6 9 1 L. l e a m 1U m 6 n F F NEON 0R INCANDESCENT LAMP l I VOLTAGE I SOURCE I I I i VOLTAGE RETURN SWITCH NORMALLY OPEN l J INVENTOR:

(04/440 0. l/k'k/LT M ATTORNEY LAMP TYPICAL EACH SIDE OF PUMP=W|RED PARELLEL.

SWITCH CONTACT R. D. MACKIE FUEL DISPENSER June 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1964 VOLTAGE 2 2 m E 11%---- w a C P N A W m mmw ww km E MO 2 N MMFZ WWW 1. ME MWR flW FOS MO SOOWSN 9 0K 5 RN E EA 1% M H QR a r l m 0 K Mm m ww W a T W e N w B STORAGE TANK United States Patent 3,254,795 FUEL DISPENSER Ronald D. Mackie, Milton, Fla., assignor to Edward W. Lincoln, .lr., West Hartford, Conn., and William E. Mouzavires, Washington, D.C.

Filed June 11, 1964, Ser. No. 374,464 19 Claims. (Cl. 222-20) This invention relates to a novel and improved fuel dispenser of the type which will deliver fuel in accordance with a preselected monetary amount such as generally found at automobile service stations.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a novel fuel dispenser of the aforedescribed type which will provide improved performance over long periods of repeated use and yet consists of a relatively simple but new arrangement of parts that may be easily and economically obtained and assembled in the manufacture and maintenance thereof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide such a novel fuel dispenser which incorporates in a novel manner relatively simple electrical circuitry and switches that are safeguarded from ambient explosive fumes such as of the fuel that is dispensed. More specifically included herein is the provision of such a fuel dispenser which eliminates conventional mechanical motion transmitting couplers thereby permitting certain of its included electrical switch contacts to be hermetically sealed safe against causing an explosion.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved dispenser which will deliver fuel in accordance with a preset monetary amount that may be selected conveniently by means of push buttons.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a dispenser incorporating novel indicators for the preselected monetary amounts to be delivered and for signaling the termination of a fuel delivery.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scopeof the application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gasoline dispenser constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a dispensing system incorporating the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic view of one of the push button switches and its associated indicating lamp included in the system of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rotary compensator and its associated mounting shaft assembly which represent a modification of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a fuel dispensing system incorporating an embodiment of the dispenser of the present invention including a gasoline supply tank from which gasoline is pumped to a discharge nozzle 12 by means of any suitable electric pump 14. Pump 14 is typically operated when the discharge nozzle 12 is lifted from its receptacle 16 on 'the main housing of the dispenser (see FIG. 1) and shut off when the discharge nozzle 12 is returned thereto such as after a delivery. In the illustrated embodiment the dispenser will deliver fuel in any one monetary amount ranging from one cent to nine dollars (and 99).

Flow through discharge nozzle 12 is controlled by a shutoff valve which is normally closed such as by a spring (not shown) and manually operated to open position, Where it is held by a solenoid 22 of any suitable type l the energization and de-energization of which will be described subsequently. In the preferred embodiment, shutoff valve 20 and its associated solenoid 22 are housed in nozzle 12; the electric wiring 23 connecting the solenoid in the main circuit being carried in any suitable maner along the delivery hose 26.

Solenoid 22 is energized for holding shutoff valve 20 in open position for permitting flow to nozzle 12 and deenergized to cause the closing of shutoff valve 20, by means of twenty-seven circuits each of which is controlled by one of twenty-seven control or selector switches generally designated 30 and one of three rotary wafer switches generally designated 40. Selector switches 30 are divided in three groups A, B, and C of nine switches 30. Group A corresponds to the lower monetary order, namely, one to nine cents; Group B, the next higher monetary order, namely, tens of cents or dimes; and Group C, the highest monetary order, namely, hundreds of cents or dollars. Each Group A, B, and C of selector switches 30 is connected in series to one of the three wafer switches 40 which are of conventional construction including a rotary contact 42 that is always connected in the main circuit and a rotary contact 44 adapted to close (when the associated selector switch 30 is closed) all but one of the nine associated circuits depending on the angular position of rotary contact 44; it being understood that the gap 46 of rotary contact 44, when registered with the nine circuits will open the same.

Selector switches 30 are of any suitable type which are normally open and adapted to be closed, preferably by a push button 48; there being twenty-seven different pushbuttons, one for each of the twenty-seven different deliverable monetary amounts ranging from one cent to nine dollars. Pushbuttons 48 are mounted in a control panel 50 preferably located in the end wall 2 of the dispenser housing 1 as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore pushbutpushbutton 48, will release or open all the switches 30 of their associated group whereby depression of any one pushbutton 48, will release or open all tre switches 30 of its associated group except of course the selector switch which is closed by the instant depression of the pushbutton.

Rotary wafer switches 40 are located in a hermetically sealed inner housing 3 disposed within the main housing 1 of the dispenser. A support shaft 60 suitably journalled for rotation in inner housing 3 receives and supports wafer switches 40 for rotational movement and is driven by means of a drive shaft 70 located externally of inner housing 3.

In accordance with the present invention drive shaft 70 is coupled to support shaft 60 to drive the same by means of a multipole electromagnetic coupler of any conventional construction whose

rotatable parts

82, 84 are suitably mounted for rotation on opposite sides of inner housing 3 as shown in FIG. 2. Drive shaft 70 is suitably connected to the output of a flow meter 74 such as a computer variator, which is driven in response to gasoline flow through the system. In the illustrated embodiment the connection between drive shaft 70 and flow meter 74 is calibrated so that drive shaft 70 and support shaft 60 driven thereby will rotate one full revolu tion for each cent of gasoline delivered.

Wafer switch support shaft 60 drives the lowest order wafer switch 40a in conventional stepping fashion such as by a two-tooth gear so that lowest order wafer switch 40a will advance one-tenth of a revolution for each revolution of shaft 60 and thus for each cent of gas delivered. Movement of higher order wafer switches 40b and 400 is obtained in similar stepping fashion by any conventional transfer mechanism whereby the-next to highest order wafer switch 40b will advance one-tenth of a revolution at the expiration of a full revolution of lowest order wafer switch 40a (after ten Cents of gasoline is delivered) and highest order wafer switch 40c will advance one-tenth of .a revolution at the termination of one full revolution of wafer switch 40b (after a dollar amount of gasoline is delivered).

. Wafer switches 40 may be zeroized in any suitable manner which in the preferred embodiment is accomplished by means of the closure flap 52 (see FIG. 1) covering control panel 50 on the end wall of main dispenser housing 1. Closure flap 52 is suitably connected to the wafer switches 40 so that upon lifting closure flap 52 the gaps 46 of each wafer switch 40 will be positioned between contacts 55 and 57 (see FIG. 2) before commencement of a pumping operation. An alternate method of zeroizing wafer switches 40 may be through means of a manual crank schematicallyillustrated at 59 in FIG. 2.

Referring to the schematic of FIG. 2, in order to indicate the amount of fuel delivered on pushbutton control panel 50 as well as to signal the expiration of a delivery, each selector switch 30 is connected to a lamp Q so as to energize the same when any one of the selector switches is closed (regardless of the position of rotary switches there being 29 lamps, one for each monetary amount In the preferred embodiment, a control switch 100' for I manual operation is provided whereby selector switches 30 and wafer switches 40 are rendered ineffective so that a manual delivery by the operator may be made in accordance with a desired amount of gallons. In this regard, any suitable meter 102 registering gallons delivered, may be provided in the system as shown in FIG. 2.

- The operation of the gasoline dispenser of the invention will be apparent from the above description taken in conjunction with the following explanation: Assuming that a five dollar delivery has just been terminated and the five-dollar selector switch 300 is still depressed and now it is desired to make a two-dollar-and-twenty-twocents delivery, the operator lifts closure flap 52 covering control panel to open position which thus zeroizes all the wafer switches 40 and then depresses the three selector switches 30a, 30b, 300 corresponding to two dollars and twenty-two cents. This completes three circuits through solenoid 22 to thereby energize the same for holding shut-off valve 20 open upon subsequent actuation of valve 20 to open position. Depression of the selector switch 300 corresponding to the desired two dollars also releases and opens the switch 300 corresponding to five dollars which was closed from the previous delivery.

Returning to the sequence of operation, since nozzle 12 is still mounted on its receptacle 16 pumping does not take place at this point. Delivery of the fuel commences however when the operator lifts nozzle 12 from its receptacle 16 thereby energizing pump 14 and manually opens nozzle valve 20 commencing rotation of drive shaft 70, support shaft and stepping rotation of lowest order wafer switch 46a. As described above, valve 20 is.

maintained in open position against the biasing force of its return spring (see page 3, line 9) by solenoid 22 which is energized. As delivery proceeds, higher order wafer switches 40b, 400 will be stepped through the transfer mechanism and when the dollars wafer switch 40c reaches the two dollar position (determined by gap 46 shown in FIG. 2) the circuit through two dollar select-or switch 400 will be opened. Thereafter, the dimes wafer switch 40b will then reach its termination mode to open its associated circuit and thereafter the cents wafer switch 40a will reach its termination mode to similarly open its associated circuit.

The cents wafer switch 40a having reached its termination mode, the circuit through solenoid 22 will be opened thereby de-energizing solenoid 22 and causing closing of 4 shutoff valve 20 whereby dispensing will cease. At this point all the indicator lights M) will go off except those associated with the two-dollar and-twenty-twocent selector switches thereby indicating the preset monetary amount that has been delivered as well as signaling the expiration of the delivery. The operator then returns nozzle 12 to its receptacle and closes flap 52 covering control panel 50.

Referring to FIG. 4, a modification of the wafer switch drive shaft assembly is shown wherein drive shaft 70 is divided into two relative

adjustable portions

72, 73 by an adjustable sleeve which receives and is keyed at one end to support shaft portion 72 and adjustably receives in its other end shaft portion 73. Drive shaft portion 73 is fixed in sleeve 120 by means of a set screw 125, however the relative angular position between drive shaft portion 73 and sleeve 12% and thus shaft portion '72 may be adjusted by loosening set screw and relatively rotating drive shaft portion 73 and sleeve 120 into the desired position. This adjustment becomes useful in cases where the closing of shutoff valve 20 is not quick enough to stop the flow of gasoline precisely at the preset monetary amount. This may be remedied by relatively adjusting the drive shaftportion '73 and sleeve 120 so that wafer switch 4001 will reach its termination mode slightly before the actual preset amount of gasoline has been pumped so that when the shutoff valve 20 closes the exact amount of gasoline will have been delivered. In order to facilitate this adjustment, set screw 125 may be extended to a position externally of the main casing in any suitable manner.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modifications and adaptations, of the structure above described will become readily apparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims. See figures for any additional clarification.

' What is claimed is:

1. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a fuel source, an outlet for discharging fuel, a pump for delivering fuel from said source to said outlet, a shutoff valve normally closed to prevent flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energiz-able for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and deenergizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid including a first selector switch corresponding to the amount of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch having contact means diconnectible from said circuit means to open said circuit means when the selected amount of fuel is delivered thereby causing deenergization of said solenoid and closing of said shutoff valve, a rotatable shaft driveably connected to said rotary switch to rotate the same into circuit opening position, drive means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet and an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said flow responsive drive means to said shaft to thereby drive said shaft and in turn s-aid rotary switch into circuit opening position.

2. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a fuel source, an outlet for discharging fuel, a pump for delivering fuel from said source to said outlet, a shut-off valve normally closed to prevent flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energizable for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and de-energizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid including a first selector switch corresponding to the amount of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch adapted to open said circuit means when the selected amount of fuel is delivered thereby causing deenergization of said solenoid and closing of said shut-off valve, a rotatable shaft driveably connected to said rotary switch to rotate the same into circuit opening position, drive means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet, an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said flow-responsive drive means to said shaft to thereby drive said shaft and in turn said rotary switch into circuit opening position, and a hermetically-sealed housing receiving said shaft and said rotary switch, said flow-responsive drive means being located externally of said housing and said electromagnetic coupler being mounted to said housing whereby motion is transmitted to said shaft through said housing.

3. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a fuel source, an outlet for discharging fuel, a pump for delivering fuel from said source to said outlet, a shut-off valve normally closed to prevent flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energizable for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and deenergizab-le to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, a plurality of circuits each controlling energization and deenergization of said solenoid, each circuit including a normally open selector switch corresponding to the amount of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch having a number of diiferent angular positions corresponding to the number of selector switches and adapted to open said circuits respectively to de-energize said solenoid upon rotation into an angular position corresponding to said selector switches respectively, a rotatable shaft driveably connected to said rotary switch to rotate the same between angular positions thereof, drive means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet, and an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said drive means and said shaft to drive said shaft and in turn said rotary switch between said angular positions thereof and a hermetically-sealed housing receiving said shaft and said rotary switch, said flow-responsive drive means being located externally of said housing and said electromagnetic coupler being mounted to said housing whereby motion is transmitted to said shaft through said housing.

4. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a discharge outlet, means for pumping fuel to said outlet, a shut-off valve cont-rolling fuel flow to said outlet, and means for closing said valve upon the delivery of a preselected amount of fuel including a rotary wafer switch, a rotatable shaft for driving said wafer switch,

drive means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet, and an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said drive means and said shaft and a sealed housing receiving and sealing said shaft and said rotary switch, said drive means being located externally of said housing and said electromagnetic coupler being mounted to said housing whereby motion is transmitted to said shaft through said housing.

5. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a discharge outlet, means for pumping fuelto said outlet, a shut-off valve controlling fuel to said outlet and means for closing said valve upon the delivery of a preselected amount of fuel including a rotary wafer switch, .a rotatable support shaft for driving said wafer switch, means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet including a drive shaft, an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said drive shaft to said support shaft, and means dividing said drive shaft into two sections and permitting relative angular adjustment between said two sections and a sealed housing receiving and sealing said support shaft and said rotary switch, said flow-responsive drive means being located externally of said housing and said electromagnetic coupler being mounted to said housing whereby motion is transmitted from said drive shaft to said support shaft through said housing.

6. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a dispensing outlet, means for pumping fuel to said outlet, 21 shut-off valve controlling fuel flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energiz'able for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and deenergizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, means for energizing and deenergizing said solenoid including a circuit means including a first group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a lower monetary unit of the gasoline to be delivered said first circuit means including, a rotary switch connectible' with said switches for energizing said circuit means and the solenoid for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and subsequently dis-connectible from said selector switches for de-energizing said circuit means and the solenoid when the pre-selected amount of gasoline is delivered, a second group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a higher order monetary unit of the gasoline to be delivered said second circuit means including, a second rotary switch connectible with said second group of selector switches for energizing said second circuit means and solenoid for holding said valve open to permit fiow through said outlet and dis-connectible from said second group of selector switches with said second group of selector switches for subsequently de-energizing said second circuit means and the solenoid to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, a rotatable support shaft receiving said rotary switches for rotatable movement and being driveably connected to the rotary switch associated with said first group of switches, transfer means for driving the rotary switch associated with said second group of selector switches in response to pre-determined angular movement of the other rotary switch, means responsive to fuel fiow to said outlet including a drive shaft, and an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said drive shaft and said support shaft to drive the latter.

7. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a dispensing outlet, means for pumping fuel to said outlet, a shut ofif valve controlling fuel flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energiz-able for holding said valve open to permit flow through said outlet and de-energizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid including a first group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a lower monetary unit of the gasoline to be delivered, a first rotary switch connectible with said selector switches for energizing the solenoid and subsequent-1y disconnectible from said selector switches for de-energizing the solenoid when the preselected amount of gasoline is delivered, a second group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a higher order monetary unit of the gasoline to be delivered, a second rotary switch connecti'ble and disconnectible with said second group of selector switches for respectively energizing and subsequently de-energizing the solenoid, a rotatable support shaft receiving said rotary switches for rotatable movement and being driveably connected to the rotary switch associated with said first group of switches, transfer means for driving said second rotary switch in response to predetermined angular movement of said first rotary switch, means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet including a drive shaft, an electromagnetic coupler drivably connecting said drive shaft and said support shaft to drive the latter, and indicator lamps associated with each of said selector switches respectively and being energizable upon closing of the associated selector switch, said lamps also being energizable and de-energizable in response to predetermined angular positions of said rotary switches.

8. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a dispensing outlet, means for pumping fuel to said outlet, a shut-off valve controlling fuel flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energizable for holding said valve open to permit flow through said outlet and de-energizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid including a first group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a lower monetary unit of gasoline to be delivered, a first rotary switch connectible with said selector switches for energizing the solenoid and subsequently disconnectible from said selector switches for de-energizing the solenoid when a preselected amount of gasoline is delivered, a second group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a higher order monetary unit of gasoline to be delivered, a second rotary switch connectible and disconnectible with said second group of selector switches for respectively energizing and subsequently de-energizing said solenoid, a rotatable support sha-fit receving said rotary switches for rotatable movement and being driveably connected to said first rotary switch, transfer means for driving said second rotary switch in response to predetermined angular movement of said first rotary switch, means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet including a drive shaft, an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said drive shaft and said support shaft to drive the latter, and a hermetically-sealed housing, said rotary switches being located in said housing, and said electromagnetic coupler being mounted to the opposite sides of said housing.

9. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a dispensing outlet, means for pumping fuel to said outlet, a shut-off valve controlling fuel flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energizable for holding said valve open to permit flow through said outlet and de-energizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid including a first group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a lower monetary unit of the gasoline to be delivered, a first rotary switch connectible with said selector switches for energizing the solenoid and subsequently disconnectible from said selector switches for de-energizing the solenoid when the preselected amount of gasoline is delivered, a second group of selector switches adapted to be individually closed in accordance with a higher order monetary unit of gasoline to be delivered, a second rotary switch connectible and disconnectible with said second group of selector switches for respectively energizing and subsequently de-energizing said solenoid, a rotatable support shaft receiving said rotary switches for rotatable movement and being driveably connected to said first rotary switch, transfer means for driving said second rotary switch in response to predetermined angular movement of said first rotary switch, means responsive to fuel fiow to said outlet including a drive shaft, an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said drive shaft and said support shaft to drive the latter, indicator lamps associated with each of said selector switches respectively and being energizable upon closing of the associated selector switch, said lamps also being energizable and deenergizable in response to predetermined angular positions of said rotary switches, and a plurality of push buttons for closing said selector switches, said push buttons having indicia corresponding to the monetary units selectible by the associated selector switches, said lamps being positioned to eliminate said indicia.

10. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a fuel source, an outlet for discharging fuel, a pump for delivering fuel from said source to said outlet, a shut-off valve normally closed to prevent flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energizable for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and de-energizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid including a first selector switch corresponding to the amount of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch adapted to open said circuit when the selected amount of fuel is delivered thereby causing dc-energization of said solenoid and closing of said shut-off valve, a rotatable shaft driveably connected to said rotary switch to rotate the same into circuit opening position, drive means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet and an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said flow responsive drive means to said shaft to thereby drive said shaft and in turn said rotary switch into circuit opening position, and an indicator lamp energizable when said selector switch is closed.

11. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a fuel source, an outlet for discharging fuel, a pump for delivering fuel from said source to said outlet, a shut-off valve normally closed to prevent flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energizable for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and deenergizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off How to said outlet, a plurality of circuits each controlling energization and de-energization of said solenoid, each circuit including a normally open selector switch corresponding to the amount of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch having a number of different angular positions corresponding to the number of selector switches and adapted to open said circuits respectively to de-energize said solenoid upon rotation into an angular position corresponding to said selector switches respectively, a rotatable shaft driveably connected to said rotary switch to rotate the same between angular positions thereof,

drive means responsive to fuel flow to said outlet, and

an electromagnetic coupler driveably connecting said drive means and said shaft to drive said shaft and in turn said rotary switch between said angular positions thereof, each circuit further including an indicator lamp energizable upon closing of the selector switch of its associated circuit, said lamp being additionally energizable by said rotary switch regardless of the position of the associated selector switch and being de-energizable by said rotary switch when said rotary switch is in a pre-determined angular position and when said associated selector switch is open.

12. In a fuel dispensing system the combination comprising a fuel source, an outlet for discharging fuel, a pump for delivering fuel from said source to said outlet, a shut-0E valve normally closed to prevent flow to said outlet, means including a solenoid energizable for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet and deenergizable to cause closing of said valve to shut off flow to said outlet, circuit means for energizing and de-energizing said solenoid including a first selector switch corresponding to the amount of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch having means connectible to said circuit means for energizing said circuit means and in turn' said solenoid for holding said valve open to permit flow to said outlet, said rotary switch further having means disconnectible from said circuit means to de-energize said circuit means when the selected amount of fuel is delivered thereby causing de-energization of said solenoid and closing of said shut-off valve, a rotatable shaft driveably connected to said rotary switch to rotate the same into circuit opening position, and drive means for rotating said shaft in response to the flow of fuel to said outlet.

13. In a system including a pump means for dispensing fuel or the like the combination comprising; a discharge outlet connected to said pump means to receive fuel therefrom, a shut-off valve having open and closed positions for controlling fiow to said discharge outlet, electrical circuit means controlling movement of said shut-off valve between said positions thereof, said circuit means including a number of selector switches corresponding to a number of pre-selectable amounts of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch means connected to said number of selector switches, said rotary switch means having a number of circuit opening angular positions corresponding tosaid number of selector switches for opening said circuit means to close said valve upon the delivery of a pre-selected fuel amount, and means for rotating said rotary switch into said angular positions thereof in response to fuel flow to said outlet.

14. The combination as defined in claim 13 wherein said circuit means includes at least two groups of selector switches respectively corresponding to higher and lower monetary orders of fuel to be delivered and two rotary switch means associated with said groups respectively.

15. In a system including a pump means for dispensing fuel or the like the combination comprising; a discharge outlet connected to said pump means to receive fuel therefrom, a shut-off valve having open and closed positions for controlling flow to said discharge outlet, circuit means controlling movement of said shut-off valve between said positions thereof, said circuit means including a number of selector switches corresponding to a number of pre-selectable amounts of fuel to be delivered and a rotary switch means connected to said number of selector switches, said rotary switch means having a number of circuit opening angular positions corresponding to said number of selector switches for opening said circuit means to close said valve upon the delivery of a pre-selected fuel amount, means for rotating said rotary switch into said angular positions thereof in response to fuel flow to said outlet, said circuit means including a number of indicator means associated with said selector switches said indicator means being energizable upon closing of the associated selector switch and de-energizable when said circuit means is opened by said rotary switch means upon the delivery of the pre-selected fuel amount, and another circuit means connecting said indicator means to said selector switches to be energizable upon closing of the associated selector switch regardless of the position of the rotary switch means.

16. In a system for dispensing fuel or the like, the combination comprising; a discharge outlet, means for pumping fuel to said outlet from a fuel source, a valve means movable between open and closed position for controlling fiow to said discharge outlet, and means for controlling movement of said valve means to control flow to said outlet, said last means including an electrical circuit energizable to hold said valve means open for permitting flow to said outlet and a rotary switch means having a rotatable member movable between various angular positions corresponding to various amounts of fuel to be delivered, said rotary member having means for disconnecting said rotary member from said circuit to cause said circuit to be de-energized to close said valve means to shut off fuel flow to said outlet upon the delivery of a preselected amount of fuel and means for driving said rotatable member in response to charge outlet.

17. For use in a liquid dispensing system including a discharge outlet and a shut-01f valve controlling fuel flow to said outlet; electrical circuit means for closing said valve to shut off flow to said outlet upon delivery. of a preselected amount of liquid, said circuit means including a rotary switch, a rotatable shaft for driving said rotary switch, a housing receiving and sealing said rotary switch and said shaft, drive means located externally of said housing, and an electromagnetic coupler mounted on said housing and driveably connecting said drive means and said shaft for transmitting motion to said shaft and said rotary switch through said housing.

1.8. For use in a liquid dispensing system including a discharge outlet and valve means controlling flow to said outlet; means for controlling movement of said valve means including an electrical circuit energizable to hold said valve means open to permit flow to said outlet and de-energizable to cause closing of said valve means to shut off flow to said outlet, said circuit including a rotary switch means having an electrical contact member rotatable into various angular positions corresponding to various amounts of fuel to be delivered, said rotatable contact member having means for de-energizing said circuit when a preselected amount of liquid is delivered to cause closing of said valve means to terminate flow to said outlet.

19. The structure defined in claim 18 wherein said last mentioned means is a gap.

fuel flow to said dis- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,775,293 9/1930 Pfening et al. 22220 2,585,821 2/1952 Mueller 2222O X 2,677,813 5/1954 Sharp 287126 X 3,079,045 2/1963 Kimball et a1 22220 3,085,407 4/1963 Tomlinson 6430 LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

CHARLES R. CARTER, Examiner.

Claims

1. IN A FUEL DISPENSING SYSTEM THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A FUEL SOURCE, AN OUTLET FOR DISCHARGING FUEL, A PUMP FOR DELIVERY FUEL FROM SAID SOURCE TO SAID OUTLET, A SHUTOFF VALVE NORMALLY CLOSED TO PREVENT FLOW TO SAID OUTLET, MEANS INCLUDING A SOLENOID ENERGIZABLE FOR HOLDING SAID VALVE OPEN TO PE RMIT FLOW OF SAID OUTLET AND DEENERGIZABLE TO CAUSE CLOSING OF VALVE TO SHUT OFF FLOW TO SAID OUTLET, CIRCUIT MEANS FOR ENERGIZING AND DE-ENERGIZING SAID SOLENOID INCLUDING A FIRST SELECTOR SWITCH CORRESPONDING TO THE AMOUNT OF FUEL TO BE DELIVERED AND A ROTARY SWITCH HAVING CONTACT MEANS DISCONNECTIBLE FROM SAID CIRCUIT MEANS TO OPEN SAID CIRCUIT MEANS WHEN THE SELECTED AMOUNT OF FUEL IS DELIVERED THEREBY CAUSING DEENERGIZATION OF SAID SOLENOID AND CLOSING OF SAID SHUTOFF VALVE, A ROTATABLE SHAFT DRIVEABLY CONNECTED TO SAID ROTARY SWITCH TO ROTATE THE SAME INTO CIRCUIT OPENING POSITION, DRIVE MEANS RESPONSIVE TO FUEL FLOW TO SAID OUTLET AND AN ELECTROMAGNETIC COUPLER DRIVEABLY CONNECTING SAID FLOW RESPONSIVE DRIVE MEANS TO SAID SHAFT TO THEREBY DRIVE SAID SHAFT AND IN TURN SAID ROTARY SWITCH INTO CIRCUIT OPENING POSITION.