Abstract: A gasoline pump includes a cyclone air separator by which air is removed from the gasoline being pumped. The air is vented to the atmosphere through a vent chamber. The cyclone separator includes a scavenging tube for capturing the air bubbles and is coupled to an orifice between the separator and the vent chamber. The scavenging tube and orifice have diameters selected to capture substantially all of the air bubbles and a float valve couples the vent chamber to the pump inlet to return entrained gasoline to the pump. A damped output control valve regulates the internal pump pressure so the cone of air bubbles formed in the cyclone separator remains relatively constant and is efficiently captured by the scavenger tube.

Abstract: A dispensing system for controlling and displaying information regarding self-service operation of each of a plurality of fuel dispensers in a gasoline station includes, in one embodiment, an operator console having a CRT display displaying the status of each of the dispensers as well as current and previous sales data and a data entry keyboard for entry of sales and other data together with switch means for arming dispensers for self-service operation and for actuating the system for displaying selective dispenser information. The CRT and data entry keyboard are coupled to a central control unit which includes a programmed memory central processing unit for handling data between the central control unit and each of a plurality of dispensers as well as dispenser communications interface circuits.