Gilbarco Inc.

Reader Vision, Inc.

Fmb Communications, Inc.

G Frank Dye

F Martin Black

John S McSpadden

Roger W Furrow

Harold R Young

W Brooks Drew

George A Covarrubias

Steven H Brenia

An improved solenoid and reset pin for a modular display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front thereof having a frame for rotationally mounting a plurality of pixels. Each pixel includes first and second display faces joined along respective adjacent edges. A triggering mechanism has a plurality of solenoids adapted for selective actuation to rotate selected ones of the pixels for changing the pattern of the desired display indicia and a plurality reset pins to return the pixels to an original position. The reset pins and the plungers for the solenoids include a spring and a rod extending axially outward from said spring to provide radial flexibility.

Solenoid for scanned flip-disk sign improvements

A modular display apparatus for displaying indicia at a front thereof has an inner frame with horizontal support beams, the inner frame supporting a plurality of grid modules, at least one grid module being located above another. A plurality of pixels rotationally mounted to the grid modules each include first and second display faces joined along respective adjacent edges. The pixels have a center of gravity located on each pixel so as to interact with an external force applied to the pixel and provide a complete rotation, with a minimum of bounce, to display a desired display face. A triggering mechanism has a plurality of solenoids adapted for selective actuation to rotate selected ones of the pixels for changing the pattern of the desired display indicia controlled by an electronic signal transmitted from an electronics system. The electronics system causes the solenoids to fire in two steps, including a first step of applying full voltage to each solenoid for a fixed period of time and a second step of applying a significantly lower 'hold' voltage to the solenoid for the remaining time the solenoid is activated. A single cable drive system drives the triggering mechanism in bidirectional motion.

Scanned flip-disk sign improvements

A changeable sign display has a supporting frame for an array of pixel elements including planar supports for the pixel elements perpendicular to the axes of rotation. Leaf springs extend from the supports toward the axis of rotation. Wires pass through aligned holes in the supports and leaf springs to serve as axles for the pixel elements. Upper and lower mountings for the planar supports are adjustable to correct bowing of the planar supports to assure sufficient coplanarity of the pixel elements to permit their selective rotation. The pixel elements have first and second ramp elements which are different from one another and facets which are different. The pixel element facets are supported from a hub which has flat outer faces which contact the leaf springs to restrain the pixel element from rotation and a slot extending along its length to permit the hub to be positioned over an axle support. A carriage supports a movable activator bank located rearward of the pixel elements. Ganged reset arms reset all pixels to a common display and a solenoid bank has activatable solenoid rods to selectively contact ramp elements to set selected pixel elements to a selected display as the solenoid bank passes rearward of the pixel elements, and a drive apparatus moves the carriage to and fro behind the array.

Changeable sign

A positive displacement meter for measuring the volume of liquid dispensed over a given period of time includes at least one pair of pistons moving in counter opposition to one another within a pair of cylinders, an acoustical transducer located through a side wall of one of the cylinders, for transmitting and receiving acoustical pulses along a folded acoustical pathway, a first portion of which is transverse to the face of the piston, and a second portion of which is parallel to the axis of movement of the piston, via a wedge-shaped reflector mounted on the inside wall of the cylinder directly opposite from the acoustical transducer for so reflecting transmitted and reflected acoustical waves between the transducer and face of the piston under measurement, whereby changes in the position of the piston are detected over successive measuring periods for determining each full stroke thereof, representative of a given amount of fluid or liquid being dispensed from the meter, which volume portions are accumulated over a given dispensing period for determining the total volume of fluid dispensed.

Ultrasonic linear meter sensor for positive displacement meter

A cover for preventing the spillage of a liquid upon the removal of a filter cartridge from a filter adapter includes a collar member mounted over the filter adapter, and a housing member snap-fitted over the other end of the collar member, whereby the other end of the housing member is cut an angle for exposing a portion of a filter cartridge connected to the filter adapter, thereby permitting easy removal and installation of the filter cartridge with the spill prevention cover in place, the housing member also including along a bottom portion a drainage spout for draining away any liquid collected during removal of the filter cartridge.

Filter spill prevention cover

In a coaxial hose system for a fuel distribution system, a product delivery hose is centrally located within a vapor recovery hose, whereby the area between the product and vapor hoses provides a return path for vapors developed at a nozzle during refueling of a vehicle. A venturi pump is located in the product hose, and operable over a range of flow rate of the fuel through the product hose, for sucking fuel back into the product hose from an area of the vapor path where fuel may accumulate due to backflow from the nozzle, thereby substantially insuring a clear vapor path and more complete delivery of metered fuel.

Growing community of inventors

Greensboro, NC, United States of America

G Frank Dye