U.S. patent number 3,688,085 [Application Number 05/146,065] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-29 for system for controlling deliveries of liquid products and the like.
This patent grant is currently assigned to L'Electronique Appliquee. Invention is credited to Claude R. Tetar.
United States Patent |
3,688,085 |
Tetar |
August 29, 1972 |
SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING DELIVERIES OF LIQUID PRODUCTS AND THE
LIKE
Abstract
The system comprises as many delivery control circuits as are
delivery stations of products and, from each delivery station, the
corresponding delivery control circuit may be loaded with data
concerning the nature and quantity of the product to be delivered
and the special nature of the delivery operation proper. After such
settings of delivery control circuits, a pre-punched card is
introduced into a cardreader of step-by-step operation, each step
reading out a product nature code and a product quantity code. Each
step activates a logics organization which interrogates the
delivery control circuits for identification of the one loaded with
corresponding data and activation of the thus identified delivery
station.
Inventors: |
Tetar; Claude R. (Paris,
FR) |
Assignee: |
L'Electronique Appliquee
(Montrouge, FR)
|
Family
ID: |
22515719 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/146,065 |
Filed: |
May 24, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
235/381; 222/2;
141/192 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
7/025 (20130101); G06Q 20/342 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
G07F
7/00 (20060101); G07F 7/02 (20060101); G06k
007/00 (); B67d 005/10 (); B65d 005/373 () |
Field of
Search: |
;235/61.11R,61.11A,61.7B,61.6R,151.34 ;222/2 ;340/149,149A
;141/83,95,113,192,198 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Cook; Daryl W.
Claims
1. A card reader monitored system for controlling deliveries of
liquid products and the like at a plurality of delivery stations,
each step of the reader delivering a code which is significant of a
nature of a product and a code which is significant of a quantity
of this product, wherein each delivery control circuit, attached to
a corresponding delivery station of said plurality, includes means
for electrical representations of a nature and of a quantity of a
product and of particulars of a delivery operation proper,
comparator means of the said electrical representations of a nature
and of a quantity of a product to electrical representations of a
nature and a quantity of a product derived from said read-out codes
and means responsive to a positive response of said comparator
means for activation of the delivery control circuit and the
consequent activation of the delivery station to which it is
attached, said delivery station including means for controlling in
said delivery control circuit the settings of said electrical
representation means, and wherein interrogation means attached to
the card reader are activated at each step thereof for forming said
electrical representations of nature and quantity of a product from
said read-out codes and applying same to all the said comparator
means in said delivery control circuits and for activating said
comparator means in each one of the delivery control
2. Card reader monitored system according to claim 1, wherein each
one of the said delivery control circuits, including means for
receiving the signals from said interrogating means, includes means
for relaying the signal of activation of its comparator means
irrespective of the answer of such comparator means to another one
of the said delivery control circuits, which, from such a relaying
operation, are cascaded connected in an interrogation arrangement
starting from an output interrogation line from said interrogation
means and ending in a return line from the last delivery control
circuit of such a cascade to the step-by-step control
3. Card reader monitored system according to claim 2, wherein, the
moving carriage of said card reader being permamently sollicitated
for advance from a permanently rotating electrical motor, said
advance being stopped from application of electrical brake means to
the drive of said carriage, said interrogation means includes means
for activating said brake means
4. Card reader monitored system according to claim 3, wherein part
at least of the delivery stations present particulars of their
delivery operation adapted for a self-control of the delivered
quantity of a product and wherein said interrogation means further
includes means for deactivating said brake means from the
activation of said interrogation signal return
5. Card reader monitored system according to claim 4, wherein part
at least of the delivery stations present particulars of their
delivery operation adapted for a control of the delivered quantity
from a code comparison with the quantity code read out from the
card and wherein said interrogation means includes means for
inhibiting the deactivation of said brake means from the activation
of said interrogation signal return line and for substituting
thereto a signal significant of an identity between the code of
quantity read out from the card and a code permanently measuring
the actual quantity of the product delivered in a delivery
6. Card reader monitored system according to claim 3, wherein, the
card reader being of a type wherein the card is fixed and the
moving carriage drives the read-out heads, in two separate and
independantly moving parts each of which reads a separate zone of
the card, one of them displaying the codes of the natures of the
products to deliver, the other one displaying the codes of the
quantities of such products to deliver, each zone of each card
presents prior the data codes a special code distinct from any data
code and marking the beginning of the useful part of said zone and
wherein said carriage parts starting from respective rest positions
at each introduction of a card into the reader, said interrogation
means includes means for detecting the respective passages of these
parts over said marking codes, applying the brake means to the
respective drives of said parts and initiating an interrogation
operation of the delivery control circuits, the response of which
initiates the
7. Card reader monitored system according to claim 6, wherein said
interrogation means includes means for separately decoding the
decades of the digital registers of the read-out data from the card
for deriving thereof analog representations of said codes, means
for routing said analog representations to the delivery control
circuits for comparison thereat with the corresponding analog
electrical representations set in said circuits from the attached
delivery stations, and local comparator means for comparing the
decoded marking codes to preset electrical
8. Card reader monitored system according to claim 7, wherein in
one at least of the zones of the card at least one additional mark
position is present and means are included in said interrogation
means to route to said delivery control circuits complete or
partial representations of the read out codes from the said decade
decoders in accordance with the read-out of the said additional
mark position in the said zone of the
9. Card monitored system according to claim 4, wherein said
self-control of a delivery operation includes level sensor means at
the concerned delivery station connected to inputs of the attached
delivery control circuit for monitoring therein means responsive to
the sensed conditions from said
10. Card reader monitored system according to claim 5, wherein code
comparison controlled operation includes an encoder actuated from a
flowmeter at the concerned delivery station, the output of said
encoder being brought back to a comparator in said interrogation
means, and outputs of said encoder are connected to inputs of the
attached delivery control circuit for monitoring therein means
responsive to the passage to
11. Card reader monitored system according to claim 1, wherein each
one of the said delivery control circuit includes means responsive
to the application of a special electrical condition, i.e. ground,
at the attached delivery station for authorizing the activation of
said delivery control circuit upon selection thereof from the said
interrogation means.
Description
SHORT SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns improvements in or relating to the
control of delivery of liquid products or the like, i.e.
pulverulent or granular products, to such receptacles as truck
carried tanks from a number of delivery stations.
It more particularly concerns improvements of systems for
controlling such deliveries which operate under the monitoring of a
pre-punched card reader, each card defining a plurality of products
and a plurality of corresponding quantities of said products.
It has been conventional to so provide such systems with a complete
and unique control from the card reader, i.e. each card was due, in
such systems to have recorded all the necessary informations:--not
only natures and quantities of products, but also identifications
of the predetermined delivery stations, particular conditions of
deliveries at such stations, and so forth.
Such an organization proved inadequate for free servicing of
customers each of which the bearer of a pre-punched card solely
bearing the codes of varieties and corresponding quantities of
products capable to be delivered each at several stations of a
plant and each in one of a variety of delivery conditions which may
also be satisfied at several stations of a delivery plant. In such
a case, it has proved highly desirable that a customer be given the
free choice of the delivery stations available to him as well for
the natures of the products he wanted as for the delivery
conditions he also wanted for his service.
It is an object of the invention to provide for a system satisfying
such conditions.
According to the present invention, a delivery control circuit is
attached to each delivery station and means are provided at each
delivery station for introducing in the corresponding delivery
control circuit under the control of the customer data concerned
with the nature and quantity of the wanted product and the special
delivery condition wanted for the delivery. The card reader is
thereafter fed with a pre-punched card which solely carries the
codes of the product natures and quantities. Said card reader
operates in a step-by-step fashion as usual but, at each of its
steps, an interrogation logics is activated for interrogating the
delivery control circuits, determining which one carries the same
product nature and quantity than the ones read out from the card at
this reading step and concomitantly to the identification, ensuring
the activation of the corresponding delivery station.
The invention will be described with respect to a system specially
adapted for filling tanks carried by trucks or lorries with varied
kinds of fuels, though it is not restricted to such an application
for its practice.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a general arrangement of a system according to the
invention, adapted for deliveries of liquid products of varied
natures and under varied conditions to truck carried tanks;
FIGS. 2 and 3 together show a preferred embodiment of a card reader
and associated logics to be used in such a system, FIG. 3 specially
disclosing the circuits handling the signals from the reading heads
of said reader;
FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively show illustrative embodiments of
delivery control circuits, each adapted to a distinct condition of
delivery operation, to be used in a system according to the
invention;
FIG. 6 shows a partial modification of the system of FIG. 1, as
adapted for another condition of operation of delivery of a
product;
FIG. 7 shows a detail for a modification of the delivery control
circuit of FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 shows another partial modification of the system of FIG. 1,
as adapted for a further condition of delivery operation of a
product; and,
FIG. 9 shows the modification of the delivery control circuit of
FIG. 4 as adapted to the delivery condition of FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
With reference to FIG. 1, a pre-punched card 1 adapted for a system
according to the invention comprises two separate zones 2 and 3,
the beginnings of which are marked by special codes 4 and 5, zone 3
having for instance twice the length of zone 2. In zone 2 are
punched codes defining the natures of the products requested for
deliveries and in zone 3 are punched corresponding codes defining
the quantities requested for deliveries of such products. In zone
2, for instance, are further provided perforations 6 on a special
line, to be used for controlling a step by step read out of the
card. The card reader is adapted for a simultaneous read-out of the
two zones 2 and 3 from their respective beginning marks 4 and 5.
The number of columns for each code is not the same from zone 2 to
zone 3: a product code in zone 2 can for instance be read on one
column whereas a corresponding quantity code in zone 3 must be for
instance read on two columns. Consequently, in the described
system, the card reader 7 is provided for reading a fixed punched
card with two movable reading heads 8 and 10 which can be driven at
distinct speeds across the card. With the above assumption, head 10
will move twice the speed at which moves head 8. Each reading head
includes an appropriate number of photocells to read the
significant rows of the card and head 8 includes an additional
photocell to read the step-by-step controlling perforations or
marks 6. The reading heads are driven from separate endless screws,
9 for head 8, 11 for head 10, the control of which will be herein
below described.
The reading heads 8 and 10 deliver their signals to temporary
storing registers 12 and 13, each of a suitable content of bit
positions. The register 12 comprises as many bit positions as are
bits in a code read-out from zone 2, for instance four bit
positions receiving the outputs of the photocells a, b, c, d of the
head 8, see FIG. 3. Similarly the register 13 comprises as many bit
positions as are bits in a code read out from zone 3 of the card,
for instance eight bits receiving the outputs of the photocells f
to n in the head 10. An additional output is shown at o in FIG. 3
and its significancy will be later explained.
In head 8 there is a photocell for reading-out the perforations on
the row 6 and the output of said photocell is connected to a
circuit 20 which, responsive to each incoming pulse, issues two
signals: a first one is applied back at 23 on the card reader 7 for
inhibiting the motion thereof until a positive control signal
reactivates the card reader. This positive signal will arrive
through line 22, passing through a gate 48 when this latter is
unblocked. The other signal from 20 is applied on a line 21 which
is an interrogation line of the delivery control circuits 24 to 27
(actually, only four are shown though of course the system includes
an important number of delivery stations, consequently of delivery
control circuits associated to said stations.
At each delivery station, each one comprising for instance such
electro-valves as useful for the delivery operations, as for
instance shown at 29, 30 and 31, means are provided for introducing
data in the corresponding delivery control circuits 24 to 27. Said
circuits are cascaded connected between the input interrogation
line 21 and the output line 22. A signal activating line 21 is
first applied to check the condition of the delivery control
circuit 24, from which said signal is relayed to circuit 25, and so
forth up to line 22 which, when so activated will mark the end of
an interrogation operation of the delivery control circuits in the
system. During such an interrogation operation, the signal will
have determined which one of the delivery control circuits carries
the same product nature and quantity data as are present in the
registers 12 and 13 and applied through gates 19 and 16 to said
delivery control circuits. Identity will activate the said delivery
control circuit for controlling the initiation of delivery by the
corresponding delivery station from unlocking the supply
electrovalve thereof. With such an organization, the interrogation
and selection are simultaneous and consequently the overall
operation is made with a minimum delay: at each step of the card
reader from the initial positions 4 and 5 of the head carriages, a
delivery operation may be initiated and, apart from a special
condition of delivery, to be later explained, it can be considered
that delivery operations are simultaneous in such a system. The
initial positionings of the heads 8 and 10 are detected by
comparator circuits 19 and 14 comparing the respective contents of
the registers 12 and 13 to preset displays at terminals 18 and 15.
At the activation of the card readers, the carriages of the heads 8
and 10 are continuously driven up to positive answers from said
comparators which stop such a progression and thereafter, gates 19
and 14 will remain unblocked so that at each step of the reader,
the contents of the registers 12 and 13 will be actually applied to
inputs of the delivery control circuits for the above defined
interrogation-selection operation.
Each delivery control circuit is provided with a number of
selectable inputs to be selectively activated from the
corresponding delivery station by such actions of a customer as
mere establishment of connections between members available at the
station and/or the tank he wishes to be filled and inputs of data
and parameter display means inserted between the leads from the
delivery station and the said inputs of the delivery control
circuit proper. Such means are each shown in FIG. 1 as comprising a
sort of pluggable box, inputs of which may be selectively connected
to a ground bus line and/or an electric supply bus line AL, outputs
of which may be connected to inputs of the delivery control circuit
proper, and further inputs may be connected to such local display
members as existing at the delivery station, either fixed or
carried by the tank brought to this station by the customer. Said
data and parameter display means may comprise varied members for
defining natures of products, quantities of products, conditions of
delivery and, when needed, establishment of special securities such
for instance application of the ground to a tank to be filled with
a fuel product. FIG. 1 illustratively shows that to each feeding
pipe of a product at a delivery station is attached at 39 an
encoder displaying a representation of a specified nature of
product, and that each tank carries at 40 another encoder
displaying a representation of the capacity of product exhibited by
the tank. Such representations may be illustratively electrical
analog ones and, by establishing position repeating connections
with the pluggable box, such representations can be displayed on
such resistors as 36 and 37 in said box, such resistors being
controlable from such a position repeating connection.
Consequently, at each "call" from a delivery station, the
corresponding delivery control circuit will be set, i.e. preset
prior the reading of a card, to be prepared for interrogation as to
identify of the nature and quantity of a product with the
corresponding items read out from the card at one significant step
of the reader as herein above explained. At 38 is shown a switch in
the plug box which may be used as an encoding of some kind, the
function of which will be later identified.
Illustratively in FIG. 1, two conditions of delivery of a product
to a tank are shown, two other ones being disclosed in the partial
representations of FIGS. 6 and 8. Basically, a tank may be filled
from the bottom; the nature of this operative condition will be
said to be a "springlike" one; or it may be filled from the top;
the nature of this operative condition will be said to be a
"vaultlike" one. In the right bottom part of FIG. 1 is shown a tank
adapted to be filled in springlike condition with a control ensured
from product level sensors within the tank. Illustratively, three
level sensors are shown: a bottom one, 43, sensing if or not the
tank is evacuated; an upper one, 45, sensing if or not the tank is
completely filled; and another one, 44 slightly under the level of
the upper one, 44, which may be used, as it will be herein later
described, for a control of the speed of flow of the product within
the tank. According to an embodiment more fully disclosed in FIG. 4
the lower sensor may be used for autorizing the filling of the tank
when detecting an empty condition thereof. According to another
embodiment, which will be described in relation to FIG. 9, said
lower sensor may be used for controlling a reduced flow of the
product within the tank. In the left hand bottom of FIG. 1 on the
other hand, another delivery condition is shown for a tank, i.e. a
vaultlike condition controlled from an external flowmeter 32 having
incorporated therein an electrical counter delivering codes of the
progressively distributed quantity of the product to a code
comparator circuit 33 the other input of which receives the
quantity code from the register 13 of the card reader logics. A
flowmeter controlled delivery operation must stop the advance of
the card reader so that the delivery can be safely ensured. To this
purpose, each time the comparator 33 is activated, it delivers on a
line 46 a signal which then inhibits the gate 48: so doing, it
inhibits the action of the signal of return of interrogation from
22 on the advance control of the reader 7. When, on the other hand,
comparator 33 delivers a signal of identity of its incoming codes,
from line 35 it sends to the appropriate s delivery control circuit
s a disabling signal for stopping operation thereof. Though in FIG.
1, line 35 is shown distributed to all the delivery control
circuits, it must be understood that said line is only distributed
to selected ones of said circuits which are adapted for a delivery
control including a flowmeter such as 32.
Establishment of special securities such as application of the
ground to the tanks will be described with respect to the examples
of FIGS. 4, 5 and 9, it being understood that non-establishment of
such securities will inhibit the operation of the corresponding
control circuit and consequently of the delivery operation
controlled from said circuit.
Obviously the above described conditions for delivery of liquid
products may be directly used for deliveries of other products,
either granular or pulverulent or even viscous, to such receptacles
as tanks or batches.
In the above assumption, the encoder 40 exhibited the actual
capacity of the tank. Of course, a partial filling may be only
wanted in certain cases. This may be obtained by providing
adjustable said encoder 40 or, of desired, by substituting to said
encoder 40, in the display control on the corresponding delivery
control circuit, another encoder equally available for this
purpose, and equally connectable to a repeater circuit for a
corresponding adjustment of the resistor 36. In such a case, and
for a springlike operation, the sensors 43 to 45 may be inhibited
by means also available to the customer, with the possible
exception of sensor 45 the activation of which may then be used as
an alarm sensor if the request of quantity proves wrong.
It may be noted that a system according to the invention may easily
be adapted, when required, to deliveries of varied items instead of
products such as liquid ones. The items or articles may be carried
to the delivery stations to be supplied to receptacles wherein
either sensors may be used for automatically checking their
introduction (photoelectric barrier sensors for instance from which
are actuated item counting means and/or filling condition
controlling means).
Referring now to FIG. 2, the carriages of the heads 8 and 10 may be
driven along their respective endless screw shafts 9 and 11 through
gear trains controlled by a motor 50. The shaft 11 will, as said,
be driven at twice the speed of the shaft 9. The drive is effective
when electrically controlled clutches 51 and 52 are activated. The
rotation of shaft 9 may be stopped from activation of an
electrically controlled brake 53 and similarly the rotation of
shaft 11 may be stopped from activation of an electrically
controlled brake 54. The travelling lengthes of the heads 8 and 10
are defined by respective pairs of mechanically controlled
electrical contacts: eight moves between stroke end contacts 57 and
58, 10 moves between stroke end contacts 55 and 56.Contacts 55 and
57 mark the end positions of a forward stroke, contacts 56 and 58
mark the end positions of a backward or return stroke. The relative
lengths of the strokes are not actually shown on the drawing as, as
previously said, one length must be twice the other one. The motor
50 can be rotated both ways according to the position of an
inverter contact of a relay 63, made responsive to the end
positions of the forward and backward strokes of the head 10.
Another relay 62 is similarly responsive to the end positions of
the forward and backward strokes of the head 8. Relay 59 controls
the stopping of the card reader when the two head carriages have
reached their backward stroke end positions. Said relay then cuts,
through a rest contact of 63, the electrical supply at B6 to the
terminal L through which said 12 volt supply is applied to the
photocell amplifiers and to the relays they control in the read-out
temporary storing registers as may be seen on FIG. 3 from identical
references applied to input terminals thereof.
During the activity periods of the card reader, said relay 59 is
maintained at work by the electric charge available across a
condenser 60 through a rest contact of a relay 62 and the contact
56 to the ground. This ground will be cancelled at the end of the
backward stroke of the head 10 so that the circuit 59 is cut off.
Relay 62 has been activated at the end of the forward stroke of the
head 8 but the lower inverter contact of 62 applied to the 12 volt
supply from B6 through the rest contact of 59 to the coil of 59
through a series resistor 61, said inverter simultaneously
connecting in the circuit the condenser 60 for recharging it and
the time constant of the circuit 60-61 avoided any undue control of
59.
At the ends of the forward strokes of the head carriages, both
relays 62 and 63 are activated and, at a work contact of 63, the
connection X to the circuits of FIG. 3 is cut. In said circuits,
relays 81 and 79 and relays 82 and 80 they control are
de-activated. The lower inverter contact of 63 controls the
reversal of the direction of rotation of the motor 50 and, through
work contacts of 62 and 63, the clutches 52 and 51 are fed with a
24 volt supply. The head carriages are driven backward to the
contacts 58 and 56, the actuations of which cut off the supply of
62 and 63, whereby the clutches are cut too. The direction of
rotation of the motor 50 is reversed but nothing occurs before a
new card is introduced in the card reader for controlling a new
forward stroke of the two head carriages. Contacts 57 and 55 were
blocked until the return of the carriages resulting in the
actuation of the contacts 58 and 56. The introduction of the new
card resets relay 59 and, through L, re-activates the circuits of
the registers of the heads 8 land 10 of FIG. 3, on which has been
reapplied the voltage of the connection X from the return to rest
of the relay 63. The clutch 52 is fed from the terminal marked Q
and the head 10 is driven. When the code marking the reading start
position of zone 3 is reached, the comparator circuit 14 of FIG. 3
issues a coincidence signal as the fixed voltage across the
resistor 15 is applied on one of the inputs of said comparator in
opposition to the decoder voltage across the resistance 77, the
other input of the comparator circuit 14 being grounded. Said
coincidence signal sets to work a relay 79 which, through the
connection N1 which is fed from M1 since a relay 67 of FIG. 2 is at
rest (said relay, a part of the step-by-step control equipment to
be herein below described), controls the application of the brake
54 to the shaft 11. The carriage of the head 10 has thus been
brought to its position wherefrom significant date codes will be
read out from the card.
The relay 79 is provided with a holding circuit at one of its work
contacts. When coming to work, it controls to work a relay 80
which, at one of its work contacts, applies the 12 volt supply to
the reading register 12 through the connection L, consequently
aurotizing the positioning of the head 8 when its carriage, driven
by the clutch 51 fed through a cork contact of a relay 66 (of the
above mentioned step-by-step control equipment) at half the speed
of the drive of the head 10, reaches the position where on the card
there exists the code marking the beginning of data significant
codes in zone 2 of the card. The comparator circuit 17, which
compares the voltage across the decoder resistor 76 applied to one
of its inputs through a rest contact of 82 and the fixed voltage
across the resistor 18 fed from X, issues a coincidence signal.
Said signal actuates the relay 81 which is provided with a holding
circuit at one of its work contacts. Said relay 81 controls the
application of the brake 53 to the shaft 9, said brake being fed
from N2 supplied through M2 and a rest contact of the
above-mentioned relay 67. Both brakes being applied to the shafts 9
and 11, the card reader is stopped in a condition from which, at
any further step-by-step move, significant data will be read from
the zones 2 and 3 of the card.
It may be noted that the motor 50 permanently rotates as being fed
from a phase PH1 of the mains, its direction of rotation being
controlled from an inverter contact of 63 supplied from the other
phase PH2 of the mains for instance.
Once the head carriages so positioned, the output B9 of the
circuits of FIG. 3 is, through a work contact of 82, connected to
the decoder output of the register 12 through a resistor 76. An
analog representation of the product nature codes will consequently
be directed to all the inputs B9 of all the delivery control
circuits existing in the system, such as the ones detailed in FIGS.
4, 5 and 9. The register 13 as said comprises two decades, the head
10 simultaneously reading two columns of the card in zone 3. A
series resistor 78 separates the two decoders of said decades, as
being indexed to the ground in any condition of the relay 80 as
obvious. The output of the first decade is, through 80, applied to
the rest contact of the relay 83. The output of the second decade
of the register 13 is applied to the rest contact of said relay 83.
According to the condition of 83, it will be the content of the
first decade or the content of both decades which will be compared
to the quantity value set in the delivery control circuits. The
condition will be selected according to the output of the photocell
m reading out a mark on a special row, the output signal of which
is amplified at 72 and applied to relay 84. In one of its
conditions, said relay connects the ground to the terminal B11 and
in its other condition, it short-circuits the terminals B11 and
B13. Said terminals are connected to identical reference terminals
in the delivery control circuits.
As soon as the heads 8 and 10 are respectively positioned on the
columns 4 and 5 of the punched card as just explained, the
step-by-step control equipment is activated as the terminal H in
FIG. 2 is electrically supplied from the terminal H of FIG. 3. This
equipment includes the two relays 66 and 67. The normal condition
of 67 is the rest condition which holds the brakes activated
through rest contacts connected to M1 and M2, which terminals are
connected to N1 and N2 through the circuits of FIG. 3. When 66 is
in its work condition, it ensures the electrical supply of the
brakes 53 and 54 through contacts connected to live connections P
and V. The end of the coil of 66 is connected to the output of an
amplifier 61 the input of which is connected to a photocell 60
which detects the perforations 6 in the zone 2 of the card. Each
time said photocell is illuminated, the relay 66 is actuated to
work as long as the upper contact of relay 67 is closed. Each
actuation of the relay 66 ensures the discharge of a condenser 64
through the interrogation line 21 to the delivery control circuits.
Said condenser is charged during the intervals of rest of the relay
66 through a resistor 65 connected to the live terminal P. The
interrogation is relayed through the delivery control circuits
which are factually in cascade connection for such a relaying
operation: interrogation input B7, interrogation output B9, see the
circuits of FIGS. 4, 5 and 9. A return signal from the last one of
said delivery control circuits appears at 22 and actuates the relay
67 to work, consequently cutting off the energization of the brakes
53 and 54 and cutting off the energization of the relay 66 which
was held by a holding circuit at the upper work contact thereof.
The head carriages of the card reader advance by one-step and the
brakes are re-activated as soon as a further control perforation
appears before the photocell 60 and/or the upper contact of 67
re-applies the H supply to the relay 66 after the end of the
activation of the return line 22.
The initiation of the step-by-step advance is automatically
obtained as soon as the heads are positioned on their starting
positions from an activation of 66 which will send in line 21 an
interrogation signal. Though this signal will unaffect the delivery
control circuits, it will produce a return signal on line 22, hence
a one-step advance of the head carriages from the above explained
mechanism. When a further perforation of line 6 reaches its
position of illumination of the photocell 60, the contact of 67
supplied from H is already are rest but the contacts of 67
controlling the application of the brakes are suitably delayed not
to stop the advance prior illumination of 60. 66 is again actuated,
the brakes are consequently applied and a new interrogation signal
a positive answer from one of the delivery control circuits since
the card reader has introduced data concerning the nature and the
quantity of a product into the registers 12 and 13. When the line
22 is activated, the same operation is repeated except for a
delivery according to the scheme shown at the right-hand bottom of
FIG. 1.
When the answering delivery control circuit is one denoting a
delivery operation having recourse to the flowmeter and associated
electrical counter, no further step of the card reader can be made
prior the end of the delivery operation, as the quantity code must
remain unaffected within the register 13 for comparison to the
variable code from the flowmeter 32. The relay 66 must be
maintained at work though the relay 67 is actuated by the return
signal at 22. Illustratively, in FIG. 2, a control input 46 is
shown which will be activated each time such a delivery condition
is detected for simulating by the output of 61 a condition of
illumination of the photocell 60 and applying to the other end of
the coil of the relay 66 a voltage equivalent to that which was
previously applied to it from the upper contact of 67. Assuming a
response of the activated delivery control circuit faster than the
delay of application of the return signal on line 22, the signal of
activation of 46 may be derived from the comparator circuit 33, as
shown in FIG. 1, i.e. a signal detecting a variation of the
difference between the code applied to 33 from 32 and the code
applied to 33 from 34 and existing up to the issuance at 35 of a
signal denoting the identity between these two codes. If such an
assumption cannot be made, the signal of activation of 46 will,
illustratively, be derived from the output signal from the
activated delivery control circuit to the control of the
corresponding electro-valve 30, which signal is obviously
maintained up to the end of the delivery operation.
Such a limitation of the speed of operation of the system may be at
least partially avoided, i.e. for the first delivery having
recourse to a counter 32 at least, from a transfer of the content
of the register 13 to a specialized store. 34 in FIG. 3 is a
special decoder circuit of the content of the register 13 for
application to the comparator 33 which, on its other input receives
the code from the flowmeter 32. When 34 is made with a storing
capacity and provided its inputs may be inhibited by the signal 46
(the application of which to 61 and 66 will in this case be
cancelled), a further step may normally occur for a next delivery
provided said delivery does not concern the same recourse to a
counter such as 32.
In any condition, once a delivery involving the recourse to such a
flowmeter as 32 comes to an end, the output A4 (35) of the
comparator circuit 33 being activated, the signal is cancelled on
46 and the operation then comes back to the normal step-by-step
control: de-activation of 66 followed by a re-activation for
application of an interrogation signal on line 21, and so forth.
The said re-activation will be due to the normal delay or response
of the amplifier 61 when 46 is cancelled which delay is sufficient
for avoiding the holding of 66 from the illumination of the
photocell 60. If necessary a time constant circuit may be inserted
between the line 46 and the control input of the amplifier 61.
Examples of delivery control circuits will now be described with
references to FIGS. 4 and 5. The circuits shown in FIG. 4 is
adapted for a springlike delivery controlled from sensors as
indicated in the right-bottom part of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 shows a
circuit adapted to a vaultlike delivery controlled from a
flowmeter, as shown in the left-bottom part of said FIG. 1.
Any delivery control circuit of the system is provided with a
manual control comprising a start control push-button M, an
emergency stop push-button AU and a signalling visual member VO.
Further signallings R, A, V, C, P and G may be provided for a
visual control of the customer of the operation of the circuit
after the delivery operation is started. The starting condition
consists of applying appropriate voltages to B5 and B6 such as 24
and 12 volts respectively. The emergency stopping operation
consists of supressing the ground from the equipment.
When a customer wishes to occupy a delivery control circuit by
connecting a feed pipe provided with an electro-valve controllable
from said circuit to the inlet pipe of his tank, fifteen
connections are made between the inputs from A1 to A15 of the
delivery control circuit and corresponding members located at the
delivery plant, i.e. the pipe, the trunk and the tank:-
In the concerned case of fuel deliveries, the ground must be
connected to the truck, and consequently the tank. This is obtained
in the delivery control circuit by connecting the ground to an
input A1 of an amplifier AT (such connection may be automatically
made when the customer connects the ground to his truck and tank).
Application of the ground to the said amplifier AT will actuate a
relay 101 to work. This relay will then authorize the operation of
the control circuit as, at one of tis work contact, it will apply
the 12 volts to the manual control push-button M so that, when said
push-button will later be operated, said 12 volt supply will be
applied to B6.
Further functions may be fulfilled by said relay 101 as it will
later on appear.
The input terminals A2 to A9 are provided for the control of the
delivery operation proper. Their purpose and connections will be
herein below detailed.
The terminals A10 to A13 are provided for the comparator circuits
CP and CC, respectively adapted for the comparisons of the set
values of the nature and quantity of the product and the
corresponding values read from the punched card.
The comparators operate responsive to an interrogation resulting
from an application on B7 of the pulse from line 21 of FIG. 2,
directly for the first delivery control circuit, from the next
preceding control circuit for any other one. Said pulse on B7
controls to work both the relays 110 and 111. From work contacts of
110, the analog "read-out" components are applied to corresponding
inputs of the comparators CP and CC.
Simultaneously, from relay 111, the condition of the relay 84 of
FIG. 3 is applied to CC for defining therein the encoding
condition. Said condition is determined, at the setting operation,
from the connection to the ground of the one or the other of the
two terminals A15 and A14, the other terminal remaining
unconnected. The relay 111 at work translates to B12 the condition
of the terminal A15: when said terminal is grounded, the relay 83
is activated in the registers of the card reader and transfers to
B10, for comparison by CC, the analog voltage significant of the
code contained in the register 13 as a whole; when said terminal is
unconnected, the relay 83 is not actuated and it is only the
content of the first decade of the register 13 which is used for
the comparison made in CC. The condition of A14 always is the
reverse of that of A15: when actuated, the relay 111 transfers such
a condition through B11 to the work contact of the relay 84. When
said relay remained in its rest condition, no other action is
produced except the connection to the ground on the comparator CC
through B13; when said relay has been actuated, the condition
transfered through B13 is that of the encoding terminal A14: with
the ground on CC, the relay 83 is a rest; terminal A14 unconnected,
the relay 83 is at work.
The comparators CC and CP respectively control the relays 109 and
108. A work contact of 108 has its moving armature to the ground
and a work contact of 109 has its moving armature to the useful
voltage for actuation of a relay 107. When the both comparators CC
and CP issue coincidence signal, said relay 107 is actuated, which
marks the selection of the delivery control circuit as its own date
coincide with the data read out from the punched card, so that the
delivery control circuit must be activated. When only a coincidence
is detected, the relay 107 is not activated.
When, on an interrogation, the relay 110 is actuated, a charging
voltage is applied to a condenser 201 through a resistor 203. When
said relay de-activates at the end of the interrogation signal, the
same work contact, returning to its rest position, carries on the
interrogation by supplying for the next delivery control circuit in
such a cascade by discharging the condenser 201 to the connection
issuing from the terminal B8 to the input terminal B7 of said next
circuit. The last delivery control circuit of the cascade has its
terminal B8 connection to the return interrogation line 22.
Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, which shows a delivery
control circuit adapted for a springlike condition of delivery
controlled from level sensors, The sensor 43 is connected to the
terminals A8 and A9 which are input terminals for a circuit D1. D1
is an amplifier the output of which controls a positive
servo-circuit AS1 the output of which controls a relay 106. The
sensor 44 is similarly connected to the terminals A5 and A6, inputs
of an amplifier circuit D2 which, through a positive servo-circuit
AS2 controls a relay 104. The sensor 45 is connected across the
terminals A3 and A4 of an amplifier D3 which, through a positive
servo-circuit, controls the relay 102. The terminal A2 receives the
ground for application to D3. A7 similarly receives the ground for
application to the amplifiers D1 and D2.
A relay 103 is connected between a work contact of the relay 102
and a rest contact of the relay 104. When 102 and 104 are at rest,
a condenser 202 is charged to the 24 volt battery.
The initial conditions of the amplifiers D2 and D3 are tested by a
circuit 100 in which a condenser is discharged when the relay 101
is actuated to work, so that the discharge pulse from said
condenser through 100 checks the operative conditions of D2 and D3
in order that the relays 102 and 104 cannot be actuated when said
amplifiers and/or the sensors to which they are connected prove
defective.
A relay 112 receives the 24 volt supply and the other end of its
coil is connected to a work contact of the relay 107.
The relative interconnections of the contact of the above described
relays will now be explained with relation to the operations
thereof. Assuming the customer made the connections to the
terminals A1 to A15, he presses the push-button M and the
signalling lamp V0 is lighted for informing him that the circuit is
ready to operate. The circuit of VO passes through a rest contact
of the relay 102. From M, the 24 volt supply available at B5 is
applied to the amplifiers At, D3, D2 and D1 and to the moving
armatures of the lower contacts of the relays 108 and 109. When the
ground is actually applied to A1, the amplifier AT controls the
actuation of the relay 101 to work. Through a work contact of 101
the voltage applied at B16 is connected to the contact M and
consequently, the output terminal B6 is fed for controlling the
overall activation of the system. Through another work contact, the
B16 voltage, 12 volts for instance, is applied on the amplifiers
D3, D2, D1, and simultaneously the condenser controlled by said
relay is discharged into the test circuit 100 for the amplifiers D2
and D3. A further work contact of 101 applies the voltage at B5 to
another output B15 for use in other circuits of the system.
The 24 volt supply is also applied to the resistor 20 cooperating
with the relay 110, without any immediate action though, as said,
it will later serves for charging the condenser 201 for relaying
the interrogation signal through this delivery control circuit. The
same supply is applied to the servo-circuits AS1, AS2 and AS3, the
comparators CP and CC, the moving armature of the lower contact of
108 and the two moving armatures of the inverter contacts of the
relay 109.
When the tank is duly evacuated, the amplifier D1 actuates to work
the relay 106 through AS1. This relay operates a signalling lamp V
for informing the customer that the tank is actually evacuated. At
its other work contact, the relay 106 closes a circuit from the
lower inverter armature of 107 to the middle work contact of the
relay 104 which has been actuated from D2 so that, from said
armature, the circuit is carried on to the moving armature of the
upper inverter contact of 103. When 104 is actuated, the condenser
202 discharges through the coil of 103 which is consequently
activated. From the moving contact of the upper inverter contact of
103, the circuit is further carried on through the upper inverter
contact of 102, which is in its work condition, up to the ground at
the closed (rest) contact of the emergency stop push-button.
In such a condition, the actuation circuit is prepared fro the
relay 112 and, at the first detected coincidence by an
interrogation between the values set on CP and CC and the values
read out from the punched card, the relay 107 then coming to its
work condition as previously explained, the relay 112 will be
actuated to its work condition. The electrical voltage of B14 is
applied through the lower work contact of 112 to the lower work
contact of 102 which feeds the output B18 of the electro-valve
control for delivery of the product to the tank. Simultaneously,
B14 is connected through the inverter contact of 104 to the
terminal B17 also affected to such an opening control of said
electro-valve of the delivery station. Consequently, said
electro-valve will be controlled for delivery at the maximum speed
or flow of the product. A visual signalling G is operated for
informing the customer that such delivery is processed; on the
other hand, VO will be deenergized.
When the sensor 43 is reached by the product, it controls the
de-activation of the relay 106 but the relay 112 is held through
its upper inverter connected to the middle inverter contact of 104
and the inverter contacts which are the upper ones of 103 and 012
to the ground.
When the sensor 44 is reached by the product, relay 104 is
de-activated, which cuts the supply of the terminal B17 and thus
reduces the speed of the flow of the product within the tank by
half-closing the electro-valve. The relay 112 finds a holding
circuit at the rest contact of the middle inverter contacv of the
relay 104, one of its own work contacts and the upper inverters of
the relays 103 and 102.
When in turn the sensor 45 is reached by the product, the relay 102
comes at rest and consequently the relay 112, the electro-valve is
closed from suppression of the electrical control supply at
B18.
The signalling lamps P and C has been lighted for displaying the
identities of the natures and quantities of the product in the
delivery control circuit and on the card. A remained light as long
as the delivery has been pursued and B displayed the condition of
reduced speed of delivery of the product.
Referring now to the example of FIG. 5, a delivery control circuit
adapted for a vaultlike delivery condition controlled by a
flowmeter 32. All the data comparison part of the circuit is the
same as in FIG. 4 and the same relays are shown in FIG. 5 as in
FIG. 4 The part of the circuit related to A1 and the application of
the ground for autorizing the operation of the circuit is also the
same as in FIG. 4 However the controls of the relays 102 to 106 are
no longer responsive to conditions of level sensors but to other
conditions, mainly the outputs of 32 and 33. The terminal A2, when
the relay 112 is at work responsive to a positive comparison of the
values of nature and quantity of product set on the circuit and
read out from the card, is connected to the supply voltage for the
actuation of the electrical encoder circuits of the flowmeter
32.
The terminal A3 receives a signal which is only cut off when the
delivery operation is ended, it is connected to an output of 33, as
well as A4 which, as soon as 102 is at work, closes the electrical
encoder circuits of the flowmeter 32. circuit on A5 for actuation
of the relay 103 and its holding on the work position from
application of the ground on A4. Said ground is deconnected, as
also is the suppressed the signal at A3 once the comparator 33 in
the condition where the set and read values of the product quantity
are made identical.
The relay 104 is maintained to work condition from a signal applied
on A6 until the output of 33 reaches a predetermined value,
neighboring zero, which produces a slowing of the delivery by
suppression of the electrical supply on B17.
A7 may be used, as shown, for a ground terminal of the system. The
relay 106 is actuated to work at the beginning of the operation for
simulation of an evacuated condition of the springlike condition of
operation. At said activation, A9 receives the ground for instance
for a check by an external equipment (unshown) of the condition of
the circuits.
Once such modifications detailed, the operation is carried on as
for the circuit of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 shows a partial modification of the system wherein a tank 41
is filled in a springlike condition but does not contain any
sensors. On the other hand, the feeder pipe comprises between the
electro-valve 30 and a coupler 130 to the tank a flowmeter 32
including an electrical encoder as in the system of FIG. 1. The
connections to the logics circuitry is obvious and, obviously too,
the delivery will be controlled from a delivery control circuit
according to FIG. 5.
When, in a system according to the invention wherein a tank must be
filled according to the sensor controlled arrangement which has
been herein above described, the delivery is authorized only when
the sensor 43 detects an evacuated condition of the tank, it may be
wishable to eliminate the action of the said sensor when, for
instance and as previously evoked, a delivery must be made for a
complementary filing of a non-evacuated tank. FIG. 7 shows
implementation of the described circuits in A8-A9 of the delivery
control circuit includes a relay 142, fed from 43 through an
amplifier 143 and it is only when said relay is actuated to its
work condition that, normally, the terminals A8 and A9 are supplied
with the electrical supply +the When the sensor 43 is under the
level of the product in the tank, the relay 142 is de-activated and
the circuit of +HT to the terminals A8-A9 is cut. The customer may
however simulates a condition of activity of the sensor by closing
a manually operable contact across the contact proper of the relay
142. Said manually operable contact is shown at 140 and, for
instance and for security purposes it may be operated only through
a "lock" the key of which is shown at 141.
With reference to FIG. 8, a further tank delivery arrangement is
shown wherein the delivery is made in a springlike condition by
means of a delivery pipe section articulated at 145 which is
introduced from the vault within the tank and carries the three
sensors 43, 44 and 45. The delivery operation can be controlled
from a delivery control circuit according to FIG. 4 the only
difference residing in the fact the sensors are mechanically linked
to the pipe, not to the tank.
In such an arrangement, however, it may be wished not to further
use the sensor 43 as a sensor of the evacuated condition of the
tank but, on the other hand, as a sensor up to the level of which
the product must be delivered at a reduced speed within the tank.
FIG. 9 shows the modification of the delivery circuit of FIG. 4
when such a modification of use of the sensor 43 is required. In
FIG. 9 the complate circuit of FIG. 4 is preserved with the
exception of the relay controlled from the sensor 43, connected to
the terminals A9-A8, which is converted into a single rest contact
relay 406 the moving coil of which is still controlled from the
servo-circuit AS1 through the amplifier D1. The moving armature of
said rest contact is connected to the B17 terminal of the
electrical supply of energization of the delivery electro-valve. As
long as the sensor 43 is above the level of the product within the
tank, the relay 406 is in its work condition and the supply of B17
from B14 through the lower inverter work contact of 112 and the
lower work contact of 104 is cut off at the contact of 406. When
the relay 112 is activated, on the other hand, the terminal B18 of
the electro-valve is fed with the electrical supply at B14 through
the same lower inverter work contact of 112 and the lower contact
of 102. The delivery will consequently be inittated with a reduced
speed until the product within the tank reaches the level of the
sensor 43 and the relay 406 comes back to rest, the terminal B17 is
fed and the delivery occurs at full opening of the
electro-valve.
When the level of the product in the tank reaches the level of the
sensor 44, the relay 104 returns to its rest condition. The circuit
of B17 is cut off at its lower contact and the delivery of the
product is carried on with a reduced speed as only the terminal B18
is supplied with the electrical energizing voltage, and the
electro-valve is half-shut. The relay 112 is maintained in its work
condition by a holding circuit through its upper work contact and
the upper work contacts of 103 and 102.
When the product reaches within the tank the level of the sensor
45, the relay 102 is reset to its rest condition and the electrical
supply of B18 is cut off.
* * * * *