U.S. patent number 3,878,377 [Application Number 05/396,486] was granted by the patent office on 1975-04-15 for fluid delivery control and registration system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Veeder Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Peter P. Brunone.
| United States Patent |
3,878,377 |
| Brunone |
April 15, 1975 |
FLUID DELIVERY CONTROL AND REGISTRATION SYSTEM
Abstract
A twelve pump fuel delivery control and registration system for
controlling self-service operation of each fuel pump and for
selectively registering the volume and cost amounts of each fuel
delivery for charging the self-service customers. The system is
also selectively operable for registering the total cost and volume
amounts of three available grades of fuel delivered by the 12
pumps.
|
Inventors: |
Brunone; Peter P. (Vernon,
CT) |
|
Assignee: |
Veeder Industries, Inc.
(Hartford, CT)
|
| Family
ID: |
23567371 |
| Appl.
No.: |
05/396,486 |
| Filed: |
September 12, 1973 |
| Current U.S.
Class: |
705/413; 377/13;
222/26; 377/21 |
| Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
13/025 (20130101); B67D 7/246 (20130101); B67D
7/228 (20130101); G06Q 50/06 (20130101) |
| Current International
Class: |
B67D
5/22 (20060101); B67D 5/24 (20060101); G07F
13/02 (20060101); G07F 13/00 (20060101); G06f
015/56 () |
| Field of
Search: |
;235/151.34,92FL
;222/23,25,26,28,36 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Gruber; Felix D.
Assistant Examiner: Smith; Jerry
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Prutzman, Hayes, Kalb &
Chilton
Claims
I claim:
1. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
for storing and registering the separate fluid deliveries at a
plurality of delivery stations and for selectively controlling each
delivery station for delivering fluid comprising pulse generating
means associated with each fluid delivery station for generating a
pulse for each predetermined incremental amount of fluid delivered
at the respective delivery station, electronic storage memory
circuit means having a plurality of separate electronic storage
memory sections for each delivery station for separately
accumulating and storing the amount of each of a corresponding
plurality of separate fluid deliveries at the respective delivery
station, storage control means for operating the storage memory
circuit means for separately accumulating and storing the amount of
each of said corresponding plurality of separate fluid deliveries
at each delivery station in the corresponding plurality of storage
memory sections and in accordance with the number of pulses
generated by the respective pulse generating means during the
respective fluid deliveries, first manually operable delivery
control means manually operable for selectively activating each
delivery station for making a single fluid delivery and separately
selectively manually operable for each delivery station for
selectively operating the storage control means for individually
conditioning each corresponding storage memory section for
accumulating and storing a subsequent delivery of fluid from the
respective delivery station, the first manually operable means
comprising interlock circuit means preventing activation of a
delivery station unless at least one of the corresponding memory
sections is conditioned for accumulating and storing a subsequent
delivery of fluid from the delivery station, register means for
individually registering the amount of each fluid delivery from
each delivery station stored in the corresponding storage memory
sections of the memory circuit means, and second manually operable
register control means for selectively operating the register means
with the storage memory circuit means for selectively individually
registering with the register means the amount of each delivery
stored in the storage memory circuit means.
2. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 1 wherein the storage memory circuit means
comprises a plurality of separate storage memory circuits each
having a said storage memory section for each delivery station
adapted to be operated by the storage control means for
accumulating and storing a single delivery at the respective
delivery station, and wherein the storage control means is
independently operable for each delivery station fluid delivery for
operating a selected storage memory circuit for accumulating and
storing the amount of the fluid delivery at the delivery
station.
3. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 2 wherein each storage memory circuit comprises
a memory with a plurality of memory sections for accumulating and
storing fluid delivery amounts at the plurality of delivery
stations respectively and adapted to be addressed for individually
addressing the memory sections, wherein the storage control means
comprises memory circuit select means for each delivery station for
generating a memory select signal for selecting the memory circuit
into which the amount of the delivery at the station is to be
accumulated and stored, and multiplexing means for sequentially
addressing the memory sections of the memory circuits in a
predetermined order and sequentially scanning the respective memory
circuit select means and pulse generating means in synchronism
therewith for accumulating and storing the amount of a fluid
delivery at each delivery station in a corresponding memory section
of a memory circuit selected by the select signal of the respective
memory select means.
4. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 1 wherein the first manually operable means
comprises manually operable clear means for selectively clearing
the amount of each fluid delivery stored in the storage memory
circuit means.
5. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 4 wherein the manually operable clear means
comprises clearing means for each delivery station adapted to be
selectively set for clearing the stored amount of a selected fluid
delivery at the delivery station at the commencement of a
succeeding delivery at the delivery station, and manually operable
clear select means for selectively setting the clearing means for
each station.
6. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 1 wherein the storage control means comprises
separate storage control means for each delivery station having
separate authorization circuit means for conditioning the
respective delivery station for delivering fluid and memory circuit
select means for individually selecting the respective plurality of
separate memory sections into which the amount of the succeeding
delivery at the station is to be accumulated and stored, wherein
the first manually operable means comprises memory clear means for
indivdually clearing the storage memory sections, and wherein each
memory circuit select means is operable for automatically selecting
a respective storage memory section cleared by the manual clear
means and for deactivating the respective authorization circuit
means for conditioning the respective delivery station for
delivering fluid if the clear means hasn't been operated to clear
any of the respective memory sections.
7. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
for storing and registering the fluid deliveries at a plurality of
delivery stations comprising pulse generating means associated with
each fluid delivery station for generating a cost pulse for each
predetermined incremental cost amount of fluid delivered at the
station, electronic storage memory circuit means having a plurality
of electronic accumulator sections for separately accumulating the
cost amounts of fluid delivered at the delivery stations,
respectively, presettable price volume computer means for computing
the volume amount of a selected fluid delivery stored in the
accumulating means in accordance with the stored cost amount of the
fluid delivery and a unit volume price for the corresponding fluid
delivery station pre-established by the setting of the volume
computer means, register means operable for registering the cost
and volume amounts of each fluid delivery, and manually operable
register control means for individlually selecting the electronic
accumulator sections for selecting a fluid delivery stored in the
accumulating means and for operating the register for registering
the cost amount of the fluid delivery stored in the selected
accumulator section of the accumulating means and for additionally
operating the volume computer means to compute the corresponding
volume amount of the selected fluid delivery in accordance with the
accumulated cost amount of the fluid delivery stored in the
selected accumulator section and the pre-established unit volume
price for the corresponding fluid delivery station and operate the
register to register the computed volume amount computed by the
volume computer means.
8. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 7 wherein the register means is operable for
alternatively registering the cost and volume amounts of a selected
fluid delivery and wherein the register control means is manually
operable for alternatively operating the register means to register
the cost amount of the selected fluid delivery stored in the
accumulating means and operating the volume computer means to
compute the corresponding volume amount of the selected fluid
delivery and operate the register to register the volume amount
computed by the volume computer means.
9. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 7 for a plurality of delivery stations adapted
to deliver a plurality of different fluid products having
respective preestablished unit volume prices, wherein the
presettable volume computer means comprises unit volume price input
means for each of the fluid products presettable for
preestablishing the unit volume price of the respective fluid
product, and price selection means for selectively activating the
price input means for computing the volume amount of each selected
fluid delivery in accordance with the unit volume price
preestablished for the respective product.
10. A multiple delivery station fluid delivery registration system
according to claim 9 wherein the registration system comprises
synchronizing means for repetitively generating a series of a
plurality of sequential timing pulses for the plurality of delivery
stations respectively and for generating respective product pulses
for the respective products respectively in synchronism therewith
and wherein the price selection means is operable by the timing
pulse for the selected delivery station and the respective product
pulse for selectively activating the respective price input
means.
11. A fluid delivery registration system for storing and
registering the amounts of the fluid deliveries at a plurality of
fluid delivery stations which are operable to deliver a plurality
of different fluid products with respective pre-established unit
volume prices, comprising pulse generating means associated with
each fluid delivery station for generating a pulse for each
predetermined incremental amount of fluid delivered at the station,
first electronic storage memory circuit means adapted to be pulsed
for separately accumulating and storing the amount of each fluid
delivery at each delivery station, second electronic totalizer
storage memory circuit means adapted to be pulsed for separately
accumulating and storing the total amount of each fluid product
delivered by all of the delivery stations, storage memory control
means comprising timing means for repetitively generating a series
of sequential station timing pulses and respective product timing
pulses in synchronism therewith and multiplexing means operable by
the station timing pulses for transmitting generated pulses from
each station pulse generating means to the first storage memory
circuit means for separately accumulating and storing the amounts
of the fluid deliveries at the delivery stations and simultaneously
operable by the respective product timing pulses for transmitting
the generated pulses from the pulse generating means to the
totalizer memory circuit means for separately accumulating and
storing the total amounts of each fluid product, register means for
registering the amount of each delivery stored in the first storage
memory circuit means and the toal amount of each fluid product
stored in the totalizer storage memory circuit means, and manually
operable register control means for selectively individually
registering with the register means the amount of each individual
fluid delivery stored in the first storage memory circuit means and
the total amount of each fluid product stored in the totalizer
memory circuit means.
12. A fluid delivery registration system according to claim 11
wherein the first electronic storage memory circuit means comprises
an individual electronic delivery memory section for each station
having a fixed plurality of memory digits of ascending order for
accumulating and storing the amount of an individual delivery at
the station, wherein the electronic totalizer storage memory
circuit means comprises an individual electronic totalizer memory
section for each product having a fixed plurality of totalizer
memory digits of ascending order for accumulating and storing a
totalizer amount of the product and having more digits than the
fixed plurality of digits of the individual memory sections, the
register means having a plurality of register digits at least equal
to the plurality of totalizer memory section digits, and wherein
the register control means comprises blanking means for
automatically blanking the highest order digits in excess of the
number of digits of the individual delivery memory sections when
the register means is operated for registering the amount of an
individual fluid delivery.
Description
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fluid delivery control and
registration system having notable utility for individually
controlling and registering the fuel deliveries at a plurality of
fuel pumps.
It is a primary aim of the present invention to provide a new and
improved fuel delivery control and registration system which
permits a single console operator to control the self-service
deliveries of fuel from each of a plurality of fuel pumps and for
selectively registering the cost and/or volume amounts of each fuel
delivery for charging the self-service customers for the fuel
deliveries.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and
improved fuel delivery control and registration system useful with
conventional fuel delivery pumps.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide an new and
improved fuel delivery registration system for electronically
accumulating and registering the cost and/or volume amounts of each
fuel delivery in accordance with the preestablished unit volume
price.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and
improved fuel delivery registration system which is operable for
registering the fuel deliveries from a large number of fuel
delivery pumps.
It is a further aim of the present invention to provide a new and
improved fuel pump delivery registration system for selectively
registering the cost and/or volume amounts of a plurality of prior
fluid deliveries from each fuel pump.
It is another aim of the present invention to provide a new and
improved fuel delivery control and registration system which
permits activation of each pump for a succeeding delivery prior to
recording the immediately preceding fuel delivery.
Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more
in detail hereinafter.
A better understanding of the invention will be obtained from the
following detailed description and the accompanying drawings of an
illustrative application of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the drawings:
FIG's. 1A through 1D inclusively are collectively a diagrammatic
view, partly broken away, of a fluid delivery control and
registration system incorporating an embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings in detail, a fluid delivery control
and registration system incorporating an embodiment of the present
invention is provided for controlling and registering the fluid
deliveries from twelve generally conventional fuel pumps 10. Only
one fuel pump (i.e., Pump 1) and only the corresponding pump
interlock circuit 12 and the corresponding pump interconnect
circuit 14 are shown in the drawing for convenience.
The fluid delivery control and registration system comprises a
plurality of manually operable controls and a display register 16
for selectively displaying the cost and volume of the fuel
deliveries from the twelve pumps and the total volume and total
cost of each of three grades of fuel, herein designated grades A, B
and c, delivered from the twelve pumps. The display register 16 and
the manually operable controls are preferably provided on a single
console and the console is preferably located to permit a console
operator to view a dispensing operation at each of the pumps as
well as to control and register each delivery. The system has
primary utility in providing for self-service delivery fuel and
such that each customer can handle his own fuel delivery after
appropriate authorization is given by the console operator and then
pay the console operator for the fuel delivery.
The system comprises a timing circuit 18 for sequentially
generating individual and binary timing signals for properly
coordinating and/or sychronizing certain logic processing functions
of the system. The timing circuit 18 comprises a 1 MHZ clock 20
which steps a timing pulse ring counter 22 for sequentially
generating timing pulses TP-O through TP -8 in corresponding output
leads of the timing counter 22. The TP-8 timing pulse is similarly
employed to step a digit ring counter 24 for sequentially
generating digit pulses D-1 through D-6 in corresponding output
leads of the digit counter 24. And the D-6 pulse is used to step a
pump selector ring counter 26 for sequentially generating binary
pump address signals. A decoder 30 is operated by the binary
address signals for sequentially generating pump pulses P-1 through
P-12 in corresponding output leads of the decoder 30. The TP-8
timing pulse is also connected via a D-6 pulse controlled gate 31
for stepping a memory address counter 32--only five steps for each
six-digit pulse cycle of the digit counter 24--for sequentially
addressing the memory digits of memories 34 (which preferably have
64-digits but which use only 60-digits in the shown embodiment) of
an A memory circuit 36 and an identical B memory circuit 38. A
suitable reset circuit 40 is operated by the binary memory address
output of the memory address counter 32 to reset the counter 22,
24, 26 and 32 at the completion of each 60-digit cycle of the
memory address--and therefore at the completion of twelve full
digit cycles of the digit counter 24 and one full cycle of the
decoder 30--and to thereupon initiate a succeeding digit cycle and
synchronize the counters.
Thus, the timing circuit provides consecutive P-1 through P-12 pump
pulses and a synchronized binary output signal designating the
pump. During each pump pulse, six sequential digit pulses D-1
through D-6 are provided and for each digit pulse nine sequential
timing pulses TP-O through TP-8 are provided.
A pump selector 43 comprising a line of twelve pump push buttons 44
is provided for individually registering with the display register
16 the cost and/or volume of a fuel delivery from each pump for
individually determining the memory status for each pump and for
individually clearing the pump memories. Each selector button 44 is
connected to the corresponding P-1 through P-12 pump lead of the
decoder 30. The pump selector push buttons 44 are mechanically
interlocked so that only one push button may be depressed at a time
and such that a single P-1 through P-12 pulse is transmitted to a
pump selector output 45 in accordance with the push button 44 which
is depressed.
A presettable grade selector 50 is provided for generating
synchronized grade pulses in its three output leads representing
the grade of each pump. The grade selector 50 has twelve input
leads connected to the twelve P-1 through P-12 pump leads and a
suitable buffer diode 56 between each input lead and a terminal 57.
The terminals are adapted to be selectively connected to the grade
output terminals 58 for presetting the grade selector in accordance
with the grade delivered from each pump. Although pumps 1-5 are
shown connected to the grade A terminal, pumps 6-8 are connected to
the grade B terminal and pumps 9-12 are connected to grade C
terminal, the connections would be made as appropriate for each of
the 12 pumps.
A line of 12 pump authorization buttons 60 are provided for
authorizing fuel deliveries from the 12 pumps. An authorization
request button 62 is also provided at each pump for requesting
authorization of a fuel delivery. A request authorization signal
from the push button 62 sets a request authorization flip-flop 64.
The flip-flop 64 in combination with a suitable flasher 66 (used
for all 12 pumps) thereupon operate, via gates 68 and 70 to flash a
push button lamp (not shown) at the corresponding authorization
push button on and off, and thereby signal the console operator
that a fuel delivery is requested. The corresponding authorization
button 60 is connected, via an AND gate 72, to set an authorization
flip-flop 74 and thereby provide an authorization signal
transmitted via gate 76 to authorize the delivery of fuel from the
corresponding fuel pump 10. The authorization signal is also
applied to the gate 70 to hold the push button lamp on and thereby
indicate that a delivery has been authorized. The pump interlock
circuit 12 also employs a manual override switch 80 for maintaining
the corresponding pump active, for example for attendant made
deliveries. Also, an emergency push button 82 is connected to the
gate 76 for deenergizing the pump 10 at any time.
In a conventional manner, the pump 10 has an operating handle 90
mounted adjacent the usual fuel delivery nozzle receptacle so that
the handle 90 must be placed in its vertical of "off" position
before the delivery nozzle 91 can be returned to its receptacle at
the end of a fuel delivery and cannot be moved to its horizontal or
"on" position until after the nozzle 91 is removed from its storage
receptacle. Upon authorization, power is supplied to a suitable
electric reset 92 of the pump such that when the handle 90 is
placed in its "on" or horizontal position, the electric reset 92 is
energized to reset the volume and cost registers 93, 94 of the pump
computer 96. After the registers 93, 94 are reset to zero, power is
supplied to the fuel delivery pump motor 98 to condition the pump
10 for delivering fuel. A status signal is thereupon transmitted to
a gate 104 to generate a memory clear signal in the memory clear
lead 106 for clearing the corresponding pump memory section of the
appropriate memory circuit 36, 38. The gate 104 is also connected
to a pulse control gate 108 for transmitting cost pulses from a
pump pulse generator 110 via lead 112 to a pulse scanner 114 of a
scanning circuit 116. Accordingly, cost pulses are transmitted to
the scanner 114 only while the pump 10 is active for delivering
fuel and pulses cannot be transmitted to the scanner 114 while the
pump registers are being reset. The pulse generator 110 is suitably
connected, as by gearing 119, directly to the lowest order cost
wheel 121 of the cost register 94 to generate a pulse, preferably
initiated at the 1/2 cent point, for each 1-cent cost amount of
fuel delivered. The pulse generator 110 is also reset with the cost
register 94 so that the pulse timing remains accurate.
At the completion of a delivery when the handle 90 is returned to
its vertical or "off" position, or when the pump is deactivated by
the emergency push button 82, a pulse is generated by a single shot
120 to reset the flip-flops 64 and 74 and thereby deactive the pump
and turn off the pump authorization button lamp. The pulse
generated by the single shot 120 also operates to set a first
control flip-flop 122 and, if the flip-flop 122 is already set, to
set, via gate 124, a second control flip-flop 126. The flip-flop
122 is connected via a lead 123 to apply a memory select signal to
a corresponding pump input of a memory select scanner 125. The
flip-flop 122 is also connected via a gate 130 to a lamp A scanner
132 to light (as here-inafter described) a lamp (not shown)
associated with a memory A button 133 to indicate that the A memory
section for the corresponding pump is in use. Similarly, the
flip-flop 126 is connected to a lamp B scanner 134 to light (as
hereinafter described) a lamp (not shown) associated with a memory
B button 135 and thereby indicate that the B memory section for
corresponding pump is in use. The flip-flops 122, 126 are also
connected (a) via a gate 140 to the gate 72 to prevent a succeeding
authorization when both available memory sections are in use and
(b) via a gate 141 and lead 142 to selectively energize a lamp (not
shown) associated with the corresponding pump selector button 44
when either or both of the memory sections are in use.
The A and B memory sections for each pump may be individually
cleared (upon the commencement of the succeeding delivery with the
memory clear signal transmitted via lead 106) by simultaneously
depressing the appropriate memory button 133, 135 and a clear
button 143. As a result, a gate 144 is timely pulsed by the pump
selector output pulse to transmit a clear pulse via a corresponding
memory gate 145, 146 to the A and B memory clear decoders 149, 150
respectively.
The scanners 132, 134 and the decoders 149 and 150 are operated by
the binary pump address signals such that (a) the pump lamp signals
from each pump are transmitted to operate the lamps when the
corresponding pump selector button is depressed and (b) the clear
pulses are transmitted to clear the memory sections for a pump when
the corresponding pump selector button is depressed. More
particularly, when a pump selector button is depressed, the memory
A clear signal is transmitted to the corresponding pump interlock
circuit 12 to set a memory A clear flip-flop 160 and the memory B
clear signal is transmitted to reset the second control flip-flop
126. The flip-flop 160 is connected to gate 130 to turn off the
memory A push button lamp. The first control flip-flop 122 is not,
however, reset if the pump is then active and a gate 164 is
connected for transmitting a reset signal for resetting the first
control flip-flop 122 when the pump is deactivated and for also
resetting the flip-flop 160. The delayed reset of the first control
flip-flop 122 is provided for preventing switching memory circuits
by switching the memory select signal in the lead 123 during the
delivery of fuel.
The output leads from the A and B lamp scanners 132, 134 are
connected to gates 170 which are pulsed by the pump selector output
pulse. Thus, for example, when the pump 1 selector button 44 is
depressed and a memory A lamp signal is transmitted to the scanner
132 from pump 1, a flip-flop 172 is set to energize the lamp (not
shown) associated with the memory A push button 133. When the lamp
signal is terminated upon the setting of the flip-flop 160, the
pump selector output pulse is transmitted via a gate 174 to reset
the flip-flop 172 and deenergize the memory A push button lamp. An
identical system is provided for energizing and deenergizing the
memory B push button lamp via the scanner 134.
The cost pulses from the active pumps are transmitted to the pulse
scanner 114 by the corresponding cost pulse leads 112. Similarly,
the memory clear signal for each pump is transmitted to a memory
clear scanner 107 via a corresponding pump lead 106 and the memory
select signals are transmitted via respective memory select leads
123 to a memory select scanner 125.
The scanning circuit 116 provides for sequentially transmitting the
cost pulses and control signals received from the pump interlock
circuits 12 for proper operation of the A and B memory circuits 36,
38. Also, the cost pulses are transmitted via the scanning circuit
116 for operating a totalizer circuit 190 using an eighteen-digit
memory 192 (i.e., six-digits for each of the three available fuel
grades A, B and C) for accumulating the total cost (in dollars in
the shown embodiment) of each fuel grade delivered by all of the
pumps 10 connected for delivering that grade.
The scanning circuit 116 employs a 12-digit memory 200 (preferably
having 16-digits but using only 12-digits in the present
embodiment) which is addressed in synchronism with the scanners
114, 107, and 125 by the binary pump address signals for
transmitting and storing each cost pulse and each memory clear
signal received from each pump interlock circuit 12 via the pulse
scanner 114 and memory clear scanner 107. More particularly during
each pump pulse interval any generated cost pulse from the
corresponding pump is transmitted through the scanner 114, and then
via a gate 202 during the succeeding TP-2 timing pulse of the D-1
digit pulse to temporarily set a flip-flop 204. The flip-flop 204
thereupon transmits a cost pulse signal via a gate 205 and either
an A memory gate 206 or a B memory gate 207 as an input pulse to
the respective memory circuit 36 or 38. The cost pulse signal is
also written into the corresponding memory digit by the immediately
following TP-6 timing pulse, and the flip-flop 204 is then reset by
the immediately following timing pulse TP-7. The pulse duration of
each cost pulse transmitted to the scanner 114 is substantially
longer than a complete scanner cycle such that each cost pulse is
operative to set the flip-flop 204 several times during several
successive cycles of the scanner 114. However, an output cost pulse
signal is transmitted to the appropriate memory circuit 36 or 38
(at timing pulse TP-4 of digit pulse D-1) only once because the
stored cost pulse signal in the corresponding memory digit is
thereafter operative to make the control gate 205 non-conductive.
After the cost pulse signal applied to the scanner 114 terminates,
the corresponding memory digit is cleared by the TP-6 write pulse
to permit a succeeding cost pulse to be transmitted through the
control gate 205. A memory clear signal transmitted to the clear
scanner is similarly analyzed and transmitted via identically
numbered circuitry to set a flip-flop 210 which transmits an output
memory clear signal via either an A memory gate 212 or a B memory
gate 214 to the appropriate memory circuit 36 or 38. The output
memory clear signal is applied to the appropriate memory circuit
during the interval between the TP-4 timing pulse of the D-1 digit
pulse and the TP-7 timing pulse of D-6 digit pulse for fully
resetting the five corresponding pump digits of the memory circuit
whereupon the flip-flop 210 is reset via a gate 218.
The memory select signal from each pump interlock circuit 12 is
transmitted during the corresponding pump pulse via the memory
select scanner 125 for timely operating the A memory gates 206, 212
or the B memory gates 207, 214. Thus, with the first control
flip-flop 122 of the pump interlock circuit 12 in a cleared or
reset condition, the A memory gates 206, 212 will be effective to
transmit the clear signal to the A memory circuit 36 (for clearing
the corresponding five-digit pump memory section of the memory 34)
and then transmit succeeding cost pulses to the A memory circuit 36
for accumulating the cost amount of the succeeding fuel delivery.
If the first control flip-flop 122 is in its set conditionn, the
clear signal and succeeding cost pulses are transmitted to the B
memory circuit 38 for similarly clearing the corresponding pump
memory section and accumulating the cost amount of the succeeding
fuel delivery in the B memory circuit 38.
A bank of gates 217-219 are also timely operated by corresponding
grade pulses to transmit the cost pulse signals from the gate 205
to cost division circuits 232-234 for the three available grades.
Each division circuit 232-234 transmits an output pulse for each
one hundred input pulses (and accordingly are in effect one dollar
pulses) via a gate 236 to the totalizer circuit 190.
The cost pulse signals for each pump are transmitted to the
selected memory circuit for accumulation of the cost amount of fuel
delivered from the pump. The memories 34 are addressed in
synchronism with the corresponding cost pulse trains such that the
corresponding five-digit memory section of the selected memory 34
will accumulate the cost (up to a maximum of $999.99) of the fuel
delivered. More particularly, the cost pulses are supplied to a
gate 250 of the selected memory circuit 36, 38 to add a count of
one to a BCD counter 252 which has been preset (with timing pulse
TP-2 of digit pulse D-1) with the existing digit count of the first
digit of the accumulated cost. The count of the counter 252 (i.e.,
the prior digit count plus one) is then written into the first
digit by timing pulse TP-7. Any carry signal from the digit count
is added to the succeeding digit. The carry signal from the BCD
counter 252 initially sets a flip-flop 253 which then transmits the
carry signal via a gate 254 to a second flip-flop 256 at the TP-2
timing pulse of the following timing pulse cycle whereupon the
first flip-flop 253 is reset. The carry signal is then transmitted
from the flip-flop 256 via a gate 258 and the gate 250 to the
counter 252 at timing pulse TP-6. The count in the counter 252 is
then stored in the memory digit. Thus, each five-digit pump memory
section of the memory 34 accumulates the total cost of fuel
delivered by the corresponding pump to two decimal places. The
five-digit memory section for a given pump is selectively cleared
by the clear signal transmitted via the gate 212 or 214, as
previously explained, upon the commencement of each fuel
delivery.
The totalizer circuit 190 comprises an 18-digit memory 192 for
storing the total cost amount in dollars of each available fuel
grade delivered by the delivery system. The one dollar cost pulses
transmitted via the gate 236 to the totalizer circuit 190 are
handled-in exactly the same manner as the 1-cent cost pulses are
handled in the A and B memory circuits 36, 38--to accumulate the
total cost delivered of the three grades of fuel and in the
respective six-digit memory sections of the memory 192. The memory
192 is addressed by a memory address circuit 270 which is initially
set, during each pump pulse, by the respective grade pulse and is
then sequentially stepped by the succeeding TP-8 timing pulses.
The totalizer circuit memory 192 may be manually reset, for
example, at the end of the day or at the end of each 8 hour shift
after the volume and cost totals are suitably recorded as
described, for which purpose a suitable manual reset button 280 is
connected to the memory 192 for clearing the memory 192. The reset
button 280 is also connected for simultaneously clearing the
division circuits 232-234.
The accumulated cost amount of each fuel delivery from each pump
can be selectively registered on the display register 16 merely by
depressing the corresponding pump selector button 44 and depressing
the appropriate memory select button 133, 135 for that delivery.
(As the cost amounts of two separate fuel deliveries can be stored
in the separate memory circuits 36, 38, the desired delivery cost
data can be displayed by depressing the memory select button 133,
135 for the appropriate memory circuit.) The memory select buttons
133, 135 are connected, via control gates 296, 298 respectively, to
a bank of A memory data control gates 300 and a bank of B memory
data control gates 302 for selectively connecting the BCD memory
outputs via a cost data bus 306 and a cost/volume selector 308 to
BCD digit storage registers 310 of the display register 16. The BCD
digit registers 310 are sequentially loaded via gates 314 by the
digit pulses D-1 through D-6 of the selected pump pulse. Decoder
driver circuits 320 provide for operating digit display registers
322 in accordance with the BCD outputs of the digit storage
registers 310 such that the accumulated cost for the selected pump
delivery is displayed by the display registers 322. The display
registers may, for example be 7-bar, FIG. 8 type display tubes
manufactured by Radio Corporation Of America under the trademark
NUMITRON.
A decimal point driver 326 is provided for energizing the decimal
point 328 of the second order digit display 322 such that the
register 16 will properly display the cost amount of the delivery
to two decimal places. Also, as the cost is only accumulated to
five places in the memories 34, the sixth or highest order digit
display 322 is held deenergized or blanked by a signal from an
inverter 330 applied to the sixth place decoder driver 320. The
fifth or next highest order digit display decoder driver 320 may
also be similarly connected as shown in dotted lines where a four
place cost display (i.e., providing a maximum cost display of
$99.99) is sufficient.
The volume amount of the selected fuel delivery (which corresponds
to the selected cost amount) may be selectively registered with the
register 16 by additionally depressing and holding depressed a
volume select button 340. The volume select button 340 is connected
for setting the cost/volume selector 308 for receiving BCD volume
data via a volume data bus 344 from a volume computer 350 and is
connected via a timing gate 352 to transmit a pump pulse
corresponding to the depressed pump selector button 44 to clear and
load the volume computer 350. The clear and load pulse so generated
is transmitted via a control gate 354 to (a) clear six BCD decade
counters 360 of a volume counting section 362, (b) clear a
simulated cost computer 364 and (c) reset three price control
flip-flops 365-367 of the cost computer 364. At the same time, the
selected BCD cost data transmitted via the cost data bus 306 is
sequentially loaded into the first five place BCD cost registers
370 by means of the digit pulses D1 through D5 applied to the
registers via the control gates 372. The highest order register 370
is maintained disconnected from the cost data bus 306 by a bank 374
of control gates when computing the volume amount of an individual
delivery and, therefore, when a six place storage register is not
required. Thus, in effect, the highest place register 370 is then
set at binary zero.
The clear and load signal also operates a suitable delay circuit
378 which, after the volume computer 350 is cleared and the
registers 370 are loaded, generates a control signal for making the
gate 354 non-conductive and for making a gate 382 conductive for
supplying clock pulses (which function as simulated volume pulses)
via a second control gate 384 to the simulated cost computer 364.
The cost computer may, for example be like that disclosed in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,696,236 of Crawford M. Kus entitled "Computing Device"
and dated Oct. 3,1972. As more fully described in the U.S. Pat. No.
3,696,236, a bank 390 of three BCD price switches 392 is provided
for each of the three available grades of fuel. Each switch bank
390 is preset in accordance with the preestablished unit volume
price for the corresponding grade. The switch banks 390 are
selectively activated by the application of the clear and load
timing pulse and grade timing pulses to the control gates 395-397
which then transmits a pulse for setting one of the flip-flops
365-367 in accordance with the preset fuel grade for the depressed
selector button 44 for activating the corresponding price switch
bank 390.
The simulated volume pulses passing through the control gate 384
are supplied to the lowest order BCD decade counter 360 of the
volume counting section 362 to accumulate a volume count in the
volume counting section 362. At the same time, the simulated volume
pulses are supplied to the cost computer 364 to accumulate a cost
count in a six place BCD cost accumulator 400 of the computer 364.
A suitable comparator circuit 402 is connected to the BCD readout
leads of the cost registers 370 and to the BCD readout leads of the
cost accumulator decades 404 such that when the accumulated cost in
the accumulator 400 equals the preset cost in the registers 370,
the comparator operates the control gate 384 to terminate the
supply of simulated volume pulses to the cost computer 364 and
volume accumulator 362. Accordingly, the volume amount accumulated
in the volume accumulator 362 exactly corresponds to the cost
amount of the selected fuel delivery stored in memory in accordance
with the preestablished unit volume price of the fuel grade. The
accumulated volume amount is continuously transmitted via banks 410
of digit pulse controlled gates 412 and the cost/volume selector
308 to the display register 16 for displaying the computed volume
of the selected fuel delivery.
A totalizer display button 420 and individual fuel grade buttons
421-423 are provided for selectively registering, with the display
register 16, the total accumulated cost of each grade of fuel
delivered. When the totalizer display button 420 is depressed, the
gates 296, 298 are thereupon operated to disconnect the memory
select buttons 133, 135 from the corresponding banks 300, 302 of
data control gates. Also, the blanking circuit to the display
register 16 is deenergized and the decimal point driver 326 is
operated to deenergize the second place decimal point 328. (A first
place decimal point could be connected as shown in broken lines to
be energized to register the total cost amount of the first decimal
place, in which event, the division circuits 232-234 would be
divide by ten circuits rather than divide by one hundred circuits
as shown.) The individual grade buttons 421-423 are suitably
mechanically interlocked so that only one button can be depressed
at a time. The depressed button supplies a grade timing pulse via a
control gate 425 to a bank 427 of BCD data control gates to
sequentially supply the digital totalizer cost data for the
selected grade via selector 308 to the display register 16 where it
is then displayed (up to a maximum of $999,999).
The total volume amount corresponding to the selected cost amount
stored in the memory can be selectively registered with the display
register 16 by additionally depressing and holding depressed the
volume select button 340. Thereupon, the totalizer cost data for
the selected grade is transmitted to the volume computer 350 which
then computes the corresponding volume amount in accordance with
the transmitted total cost amount and the unit volume price of the
selected grade of fuel. In this latter regard, the appropriate
price control flip-flop 365-367 is set via the corresponding gate
395-397 by the grade timing pulse transmitted thereto from the
depressed grade push button 421-423. The totalizer volume computed
in the volume computer 350 is transmitted to the display register
16 for registration with the six register digits 322 (up to a
minimum of 999,999 gallons).
As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various
modifications, adaptations and variations of the foregoing specific
disclosure can be made without departing from the teachings of the
present invention.
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