CONTROL APPARATUS FOR FUEL PUMPS

A unique arrangement of elements is integrated into discrete modules for automatically controlling the quantity of fuel dispensed from service station fuel pumps in response to a pre-selected value. The arrangement may include three principal assemblies consisting of two modules and a solenoid. A rotary switching arrangement may be housed within the first module to be directly mechanically driven by a cost-of-purchase totalizer of the service station fuel pump. The rotary switch includes arcuately arranged, fixed electrical contact buttons which are each electrically connected with one of a plurality of selector switches provided within the second module. A keyboard having a plurality of pushbuttons may be displayed on a face of a second module and each pushbutton is operable to close a corresponding one of the selector switches. The first and second modules may be electrically connected to form a normally opened series circuit, having a plurality of branch circuits. A solenoid may be integrated with the second module and connected in parallel with the circuit for resetting each pushbutton upon the dispensing of the desired dollar amount of fuel. A second solenoid may be connected in parallel with the circuit to be operable, upon actuation, to apply a mechanical pull to an existing fuel pump cutoff mechanism. The electrical circuit is adaptable for connection with a source of electrical power and is momentarily closed by the co-existing conditions of a closed selector switch and the engagement of the rotary switch with the fixed contact button electrically connected with that closed selector switch. The momentary closing of the circuit is operable to actuate both solenoids to cut off further fuel dispensing by the service station fuel pump and to reset the selector switch to an initial position for the next dispensing operation. In this manner of operation, the circuit is energized only for brief periods of time for actuating the solenoids. The arrangement of elements is such as to facilitate the installation of the present control system either in existing pumps or as original equipment.