Mechanical fuel pump computer conversion mechanism
AssigneeVeeder Industries Inc.
InventorRonald M. Garland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A conversion mechanism for selective conversion of a conventional mechanical fuel pump computer to selectively extend the unit volume price range of the computer while maintaining the rotational speed of the right hand cost counter wheels of the computer within acceptable limits. The conversion mechanism comprises a cost drive ratio selector mechanism and one or more sets of substitute single transfer and double transfer right hand cost counter wheels and provides for selectively and successively shifting the decimal point of the unit volume price range and cost counter readout and for establishing a cost counter drive ratio for each of the substitute right hand cost counter wheels.
Claims21
In a mechanical computer for a fuel dispenser having a price variator with an input volume shaft to be rotated in accordance with the volume amount of fuel dispensed and settable for establishing the unit volume price of fuel, a volume counter rotary drive train rotated by the input volume shaft, at least one rotary volume counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by the volume counter drive train for registering the volume amount of fuel dispensed, a cost counter rotary drive train rotated in accordance with the rotation of the input volume shaft and the unit volume price setting of the price variator, and at least one rotary cost counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by the cost counter drive train for registering the cost amount of fuel dispensed, the improvement wherein the cost counter drive train comprises a cost drive ratio selector mechanism for selectively providing a plurality of different alternative cost counter drive ratios which include two drive ratios which differ by a factor of ten to provide for selectively shifting the decimal point in the unit volume price setting of the price variator and in the cost registration of the cost counter.
In a mechanical computer for a fuel dispenser operable for setting the unit volume price and registering the volume and cost amounts of fuel dispensed and having a price variator with an input volume shaft to be rotated in accordance with the volume amount of fuel dispensed and settable for establishing the unit volume price of fuel within a predetermined multiple place unit volume price range, and a rotary cost output rotated in accordance with the rotation of the input volume shaft and the unit volume price setting of the price variator;
- and a register with a volume counter rotary drive train rotated by said volume shaft of the price variator module, at least one rotary volume counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by the volume counter drive train for registering the volume amount of fuel dispensed, a cost counter rotary drive train rotated by said rotary cost output of the price variator and having a first rotary cost shaft with an axis parallel to the axis of said volume shaft, and at least one rotary cost counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by said first rotary cost shaft for registering the cost amount of fuel dispensed, the improvement wherein the cost counter drive train comprises a cost drive ratio selector mechanism for selectively providing a plurality of different alternative cost counter drive ratios between said rotary cost output of the price variator and said first rotary cost shaft, the cost drive ratio selector mechanism comprising a pivotal selector lever pivotal about an axis generally parallel to the axis of said first rotary cost shaft, first and second coaxial gear means rotatably mounted on and secured to said first rotary cost shaft respectively, and third and fourth gear means mounted on the pivotal selector lever to be selectively pivoted into intermeshing engagement with said first and second gear means to provide two of said different alternative cost counter drive ratios.
A conversion mechanism for a mechanical computer for a fuel dispenser settable for establishing the unit volume price of fuel and operable for registering the volume and cost amounts of fuel dispensed and having a volume counter rotary drive train to be rotated in accordance with the volume of fuel dispensed, at least one rotary volume counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by the volume counter drive train for registering the volume amount of fuel dispensed, a cost counter rotary drive train with a first rotary cost shaft rotated in accordance with the volume amount of fuel dispensed and the unit volume price setting of the computer, and at least one rotary cost counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by said first rotary cost shaft for registering the cost amount of fuel dispensed, the conversion mechanism comprising a cost drive ratio selector mechanism in the cost counter drive train for selectively providing a plurality of different alternative cost counter drive ratios to said first rotary cost shaft which include two drive ratios which differ by a factor of ten to provide for selectively shifting the decimal point in the unit volume price setting of the computer and in the cost registration of the cost counter.
A conversion mechanism for a mechanical computer for a fuel dispenser settable for establishing the unit volume price of fuel and operable for registering the volume and cost amounts of fuel dispensed and having a volume counter rotary drive train to be rotated in accordance with the volume amount of fuel dispensed, at least one rotary volume counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by the volume counter drive train for registering the volume amount of fuel dispensed, a cost counter rotary drive train, with a first rotary cost shaft, rotated in accordance with the volume amount of fuel dispensed and the unit volume price setting of the computer, and at least one rotary cost counter, with a plurality of coaxial number wheels of increasing order of significance, rotated by said first rotary cost shaft for registering the cost amount of fuel dispensed, the conversion mechanism comprising a cost drive ratio selector mechanism in the cost counter drive train for selectively providing a plurality of at least three different alternative cost counter drive ratios and including a decimal point selector mechanism upstream of said first rotary cost shaft for individually selecting two relative drive ratios which differ by a factor of ten.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.