LIGHT-CONTROLLED FLUID DISPENSER

• US 3,662,924 A
• Filed: 02/26/1971
• Issued: 05/16/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gilbarco Incorporated (Vontier Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Billy J. Harris, Richard L. Nelson, Stanley C. Crandall
• Inventors: Crandall, Stanley C., Harris, Billy J., Nelson, Richard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tollberg, Stanley H.
• Application Number:
  US05/119,351
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 222/64,66 350/96R,96B 137/93 141/208,218,219,192,195
• US Class Current: 222/64
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/46 when liquid in container to be filled reaches a predetermined level
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/465 Electrical probes sensing the level of the liquid

Abstract

A fluid sensing device for controlling the dispensing of a liquid into a container in which a light beam is transmitted from a remote source to a predetermined location of fluid discharge and the light beam is reflected to a light responsive control circuit during fluid flow whereby upon light beam interruption or modification fluid flow may be terminated or re-initiated, manually or automatically.

Claims

1. A light-controlled fluid dispenser comprising;

a fluiddispensing means including a nozzle for discharging fluid from one end thereof, light-conducting means associated with said fluid-dispensing means and having at least a portion thereof located within said nozzle, a light supply associated with said light-conducting means, light-detecting means for receiving light from said light-conducting means, said light supply and said light-detecting means being positioned remote from said fluiddispensing means and means responsive to said light-detecting means to interrupt fluid flow in said fluid-dispensing means upon fluid impingement on said light-conducting means.

2. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, and means within said nozzle shielding said light-conducting means from fluid flow through said fluid-dispensing means until fluid rises in the direction opposite from fluid flow to a predetermined level to modify or interrupt light conduction in said light-conducting means.

3. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said light-conducting means including a first fiber optic element to receive light from said light supply, means having a refractive index responsive to fluid impingement for receiving light from said first fiber optic element, and a second fiber optic element to return light from said refractive index responsive means to said light-detecting means unless said refractive index responsive means is impinged or immersed in fluid to modify or interrupt the return of liGht in said second fiber optic element.

4. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said fluid-dispensing means nozzle having a fluid discharge end, said light-conducting means having a first fiber optic element having one end proximate said light supply and the other end proximate the discharge end of said nozzle, a light-conductive prism positioned adjacent said other end of said fiber optic element in said discharge end of said nozzle, said prism being sensitive to liquid impingement to alter the refractive index thereof, and a second fiber optic element extending from said prism to said light-detecting means to conduct light from said prism to said light-detecting means.

5. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said fluid-dispensing means including a gasoline pump for discharging gasoline from one end of said nozzle, a solenoid-operated fluid control valve actuable by said light-detecting responsive means to control fluid flow through said nozzle, said light-conducting means including a first fiber optic element extending from said light supply to a position proximate the discharge of fluid from said nozzle, a light-conductive prism shielded from fluid flow through said nozzle positioned to receive light from said first fiber optic element and sensitive to liquid impingement to alter the refractive index of said prism, and a second fiber optic element to receive light from said prism for transmission of light to said light-detecting means to actuate said light-detecting responsive means to control fluid flow in said fluid-dispensing means.

6. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, and means for re-initiating fluid flow after light modification or interruption for a predetermined momentary interval through said light-conducting means to said means responsive to said light-detecting means whereby upon a subsidence of a surge of fluid interrupting light conduction and light restoration to said light-detecting means fluid flow is re-initiated until light conductance is modified or interrupted for a sustained predetermined interval that is longer than said momentary interval.

7. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said fluid-dispensing nozzle having manually operable valve means for actuating fluid to flow in said fluid-dispensing means.

8. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said fluid dispensing nozzle means having a manually operable displaceable lever for initiating fluid flow, light-conducting means associated with said lever receiving light from said light supply and conducting light therefrom upon lever actuation, and light detecting responsive means controlling the initiation of fluid flow in said fluid dispensing means through said nozzle.

9. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 8, said light-conducting means associated with said lever having a first fiber optic element, a second fiber optic element, and light transmission means between said first and second elements whereby displacement of said lever actuates said light-detecting responsive means to initiate fluid flow in said fluid-dispensing means, said means responsive to said light-detecting means having means for re-initiating fluid flow upon cessation thereof from fluid impingement upon said light transmission means within a predetermined momentary interval unless light conductance is interrupted for a sustained predetermined interval longer than said momentary interval.

10. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1;

said fluid-dispensing means further including a solenoid actuated valve, said solenoid-actuated valve and said nozzle guiding fluid flow from a remote location into a receptacle, said light-conducting means having a first fiber optic element having one end proximate said light supply and the other end proximate the discharge end of said nozzle, a light conductive prism positioned adjacent said other end of said fiber optic element in said discharge end Of said nozzle sensitive to liquid impingement to alter the refractive index of said prism, a second optic element proximate said prism to said light-detecting means to conduct light from said prism to said light-detecting means whereby upon fluid impingement on said prism for a sustained interval said light-detecting means will de-activate said solenoid valve to terminate fluid flow, a manually-operable lever in said fluid-dispensing means displaceable between limits, a first fiber optic element associated with said lever receiving light from said light supply, a second fiber optic element in juxtaposition to said first fiber optic element, a light transmission means for transmitting light from said first fiber optic element to said second fiber optic element at a predetermined position of lever displacement, a light-detecting means for receiving light from said second fiber optic element to actuate said solenoid-actuated valve to initiate fluid flow to said nozzle, means for sustaining current flow in said light-detecting responsive means for a predetermined momentary interval upon fluid impingement on said prism in said nozzle unless light conductance is interrupted for a sustained predetermined interval longer than said momentary interval to terminate current flow and de-actuate said solenoid valve.

11. A light-controlled fluid dispenser as claimed in claim 1, said light-conducting means including a fiber optic, light-conducting member, means for passing light from said light supply therethrough to said fiber optic, light-conducting member, means for reflecting light through said fiber optic, light-conducting member, and means for deflecting said reflected light from said fiber optic light-conducting member to said light-detecting means.