Abstract: A household appliance operated by electromechanical controls has a control console that contains a light source to project light onto selected portions of a plastic control console faceplate to illuminate data such as appliance functions and control settings. Data on the control console plastic faceplate can be illuminated upon the occurrance of a predetermined event and in different colors. Control knobs carry a plastic disk that has illuminated data, a clear selection window, and a translucent portion which aligns with illuminated data on the plastic control console faceplate.

Abstract: A line leak test probe for use on a liquid conduit. A pressure transducer is mounted in mechanical contact with the liquid in the conduit and a temperature transducer is mounted in thermal contact with the liquid. The transducers provide signals to a microprocessor-based circuit which includes a timer. Software stored in the microprocessor analyzes the time rate of change of the pressure to determine if there is a leak. Normally a sequence of three tests are performed: a catastrophic test, a gross test, and a precision test. The catastrophic test exits to the gross test if the rate of change of the pressure is less than a first rate, and the gross test exits to the precision test if the rate of change is less than a second rate which is less than the first rate. The precision test normally cycles until the pressure drops below 4 psi, and then outputs a leak signal if the pressure drops to below 3 psi in 12 minutes or less.

Abstract: A method for operating a pump controller to pressurize a liquid product line for thermal stabilization during a leak test is accomplished as follows. A microprocessor controlled timer is installed in a petroleum service station product dispensing system that includes a pump relay, a pump, a dispenser, and a leak detection monitor. The timer activates pump relays to pressurize a liquid product line that runs from a tank to the dispenser at predetermined intervals to compensate for thermal contraction during product line leakage testing. Prior to activating pump relays, the timer has circuitry and program determines if product is currently being dispensed. If product is being dispensed, the timer waits until dispensing has halted then starts a timer to provide a delay before activating pump relays to pressurize the product line. Also prior to activating pump relays, the timer has circuitry and program determines if pump operation should be inhibited and if so halts before activating pump relays.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon leak detection system has a microprocessor based controller for receiving inputs from transducers and comparing the inputs against stored decision criteria to determine if hydrocarbons are leaking. The controller can receive and distinguish inputs from line pressure probes used for a product line tightness test, compare the line pressure probe inputs against stored decision criteria to determine status, and report the status.

Abstract: A microprocessor controlled timer is installed in a petroleum service station product dispensing system that includes a pump relay, a pump, a dispenser, and a leak detection monitor. The timer activates pump relays to pressurize a liquid product line that runs from a tank to the dispenser at predetermined intervals to compensate for thermal contraction during product line leakage testing. Prior to activating pump relays, the timer has circuitry to determines if product is currently being dispensed. If product is being dispensed, the timer waits until dispensing has halted before activating pump relays to pressurize the product line. Also prior to activating pump relays, the timer has circuitry to determine if pump operation should be inhibited and if so halts before activating pump relays. Optical isolation is used between the timer and pump relays and a dispenser switch.

Abstract: An appliance timer incremental drive is provided with an electronic circuit that generates a nonvarying camstack motor advancement pulse that cooperates with a cam-operated motor control switch. When the motor control switch is closed, a power circuit is completed with a camstack drive motor and the camstack rotates. When the motor control switch opens, the power circuit is also open, so the camstack is stationary. The camstack remains stationary, delayed, until the electronic circuit, which operates independently from the camstack, provides a nonvarying camstack advancement pulse to power the camstack drive motor to rotate the camstack.

Abstract: A universal controller is provided with a variable annunciation and display of information with a variety of pre-selected output graphics and indicia, programmability to control a variety of processes and machines in a variety of applications with a variety of pre-selected input graphics and indicia, manufacturability as a standard unit in large numbers, variable programming for its different applications, and containability in a small, easily operated unit.

Abstract: A household appliance, solenoid controlled, pilot actuated inlet water valve has a diaphragm insert with a bleed valve that substantially closes when a main valve is open to reduce water and contaminate flow through the bleed passage. The pilot valve outlet extension has openings to reduce vacuum drawn from the outlet into an actuation chamber thereby further reducing water flow through the bleed passage. The bleed passage is internally and externally configured to reduce contamination impairment. An anti-hammer rib or lip is placed on the pilot valve outlet extension upstream of a guide tip which provides less close-fitting surface that may be impaired by contaminates while still dampening valve closing to reduce valve noise and pipe hammer.

Abstract: A line leak test probe for use in a liquid storage and dispensing system which includes a pump. A pressure transducer provides a pressure signal to a microprocessor-based test circuit. Various conditions descriptive of the pressure versus time curve while the pump is running, such as the pressure will rise above 20 psi when the pump is turned on, drop when the liquid is dispensed, and rise again when the dispenser is turned off, are stored within a software program in the microprocessor memory. The microprocessor calculates an average pressure to average out noise and artifacts in the pressure, and waits for the pressure to drop 2 psi below the average pressure after the pump has been turned off before performing leak tests in order to give the noise and artifacts time to die down.

Abstract: A pressure transducer, a microprocessor, and associated electronics are enclosed in a probe housing which may be attached to a liquid product line with the pressure transducer responsive to the pressure of the liquid in the liquid product line to provide an electrical signal representative of the pressure. The probe microprocessor contains a software program to detect leakage from a pressurized liquid product line in which the liquid is subject to a pressure increase caused by thermal contraction. The probe also has the capability to directly operate a product pump with a signal connection between the probe and the pump.

Abstract: A dryness sensing printed circuit board carried inside a cam-operated timer housing is accomplished by bonding a printed circuit board inside a timer housing cover plate. Electrical connections between the printed circuit board and timer components are provided by conductive pads on the printed circuit board that contact an electrical connecting means attached to timer components when the timer housing coverplate is installed on the timer housing.

Abstract: A pedal operated switch assembly has a plunger that operates blade switches and is mounted on a brake pedal in a manner providing self-adjustment. The pedal operated switch assembly has a pivoting lever with a portion that contacts the brake pedal and a portion that contacts a plunger creating a mechanical advantage for actuating the plunger. The mechanical advantage of the pivoting lever reduces the amount of brake pedal travel necessary operate the pedal operated switch assembly.

Abstract: A household appliance, solenoid controlled, pilot actuated inlet water valve has a diaphragm insert with a bleed valve that substantially closes when a main valve is open to reduce water and contaminate flow through the bleed passage. The pilot valve outlet extension has openings to reduce vacuum drawn from the outlet into an actuation chamber thereby further reducing water flow through the bleed passage. The bleed passage is internally and externally configured to reduce contamination impairment. An anti-hammer rib or lip is placed on the pilot valve outlet extension upstream of a guide tip which provides less close-fitting surface that may be impaired by contaminates while still dampening valve closing to reduce valve noise and pipe hammer.

Abstract: A fluid status detection system includes a plurality of probes connected to a controller capable of being operated in a plurality of different operation modes. The controller includes a display and ten key switches adjacent the display. Software divides the screen into ten key label areas, each adjacent one of the key switches. Other programming assigns different labels to each key in different operation modes. One key will advance the system and display to a different menu depending on the mode. Another key will provide different help messages depending on the mode. When help is requested, the current display is saved and then restored when the help message is exited. The system beeps if an inappropriate key is pushed in any mode.

Abstract: A self-adjusting multicircuit brake switch is accomplished by employing a switch housing with an integral mounting means that is carried on a brake pedal actuation pin. The brake master cylinder push rod is also carried on the brake pedal actuation pin and directly actuates a plunger on the brake switch eliminating the need for adjustment. Multicircuit capability is provided by a plurality of blade switches that are actuated by the plunger with integral activation arms. The plunger's integral activation arms can be configured to: make or break electrical contacts when the plunger is depressed, mechanically break electrical contacts, sequence blade switch operation, and be micro-adjusted during production to compensate for component tolerance variations. Additionally, blade switches can be configured to provide contact wiping action.

Abstract: A timing mechanism has cams operating switches which control the functions of an appliance and another cam operating another switch supplying short pulses to a separate function such as a warning buzzer. A PTC thermistor is in series with the switch supplying the short pulses which when applied to the buzzer electrical circuit provides a short controlled "on" time to the buzzer even though power is applied to the complete switching system for an extended period of time by the timing mechanism.