US2264479A - Time metering apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1941. J. L. MUNSON 2,264,479

TIME METERING APPARATUS Filed Junp 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. MUN SON 2,264,479

' TIME METERING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. faunas lends 1 /127501] ATTORNEY.

. 2, 1941. J. L. MUNSON TIME METERING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR.

mes i gn zfillunsan 3 EATTORNEY.

Dec. 2, 1941. J. L. MUNlSON 2,264,479

TIME METERING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 19:58 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

A ORNEY.

Patented D... 2, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE James Lewis Manson, Valley Stream, 1:. r. Application June 15, 1933, Serial No. 213,751

"Claims.

The present invention relates to coin controlled electrically operated time metering apparatus of thetypewhereintheinsertion ofacoinwillcause a motor or clock mechanism to operate for a selectively set period of time, and to actuate means to indicate the lapse of the set time period, such as parking meters or'the like.

Electrically operated, coin controlled parking meters having previously been known. However, in such parking meters of the prior art the inserted coinhasusuallybeen utilized asan integral part of the operating electric circuit, closing it when inserted into the apparatus and breaking it when dropped. The utilization of the coin as part of the operating circuit presented certain disadvantages, such as the imperfect or incomplete closure of the electric circuit by worn coins and the ready possibility of short circuits within the apparatus because of moisture on the coin.

The present invention is directed to the provision of apparatus of the character described wherein the coin is not included within the operating circuit and contemplates the provision of such apparatus in which the operating circuit is completed by a switch which is controlled by the weight of a coin upon combined coin intercepting and switch throwing means which extend into the coin chute,

The present invention contemplates the provision of such apparatm having combined coin intercepting and switch throwing means that is movably mounted, wherebythe operating circuit may be broken by moving the combined coin intercepting switch throwing means to disengage it from contact with the coin to discharge the same, and to simultaneously break the operating circuit.

It is also contemplated by the present invention to provide such apparatus wherein the switch throwing means is automatically withdrawn from contact with the coin and wherein such automatic withdrawing means comprises an electro-.

ranges the apparatus for a new operation and which may be adjusted to successively operate for any numberof successive periods, up to a set limit, by a concurrent insertion of a corresponding number of coins and are provided with means whereby the insertion of a coin in excess of the set number will act to discharge a previously inserted coin to thereby limit the maximum number of coins that may simultaneously be present in the apparatus.

The present invention contemplates still further the provision of apparatus of the character described which is associated with a signalling mechanism to indicate the commencement, duration and termination of a metered period and where such signalling means is electrically controlled and arranged in a circuit parallel to the operating circuit and thereby simultaneously controlled therewith by the same switch.

The present invention contemplates the provision of coin controlled electrical time metering apparatus which are compact, durable, and trouble and tamper proof and which are eflicient and highly desirable for their Purposes.

This invention also contemplates the provision, in association with such time metering apparatus, of externally arranged means, operable independently of the time metering mechanism for discharging a controlling coin before the end of its paid metered period, whereby the apparatus may be cleared of coins at any desired time and operation thus stopped at will. For the purpose of stopping the apparatus at will, particularly when the apparatus is used as a parking meter, the present invention contemplates the provision of an auxiliary coin dischargin'gcircuit having a switch that may be directly controlled by a vehicle itself and which is therefore preferably arranged in the pavement where it will receive the weight of the vehicle and is thereby actuated, so that the movement of a departing and arriving vehicle will serve to clear the apparatus of a coin incompletely utilized by the departing vehicle.

The principles and the general details of arrangement and conttruction of the apparatus of the present invention as well as its many ad-, vantages, will become clear from the accompanying drawings illustrating one practical embodiment thereof as incorporated in a parking meter,

and in which I Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of one embodiment of a parking meter of the present invention, with the cover of the meter casing removed to show structural details;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

- a signalling device, a coin thrown switch for closing the circuit, a time metering mechanism operable by the timing mechanism, a second switch operated by the metering mechanism and electro-magnetic means controlled by the second i switch which actuates the first switch to open it and to break the circuit at the end of the metered period.

The parking meter illustrated may be arranged in a casing 26, which may be fixed on a standard 22 of a suitable height to maintain the meter in visible position at a distance and above the tops of vehicles.

The signalling means which may be arranged to signal the commencement, duration or termination ofa prepaid parking period," and may be of either a visible or audible nature, such as alight or belL'may also be arranged within or on a the casing. Preferably, the signalling device may be arranged to function for the duration of the metered period by connecting it in parallel with the timing mechanism, and may comprise one or more electriclights 24, arranged within the casing and visible from without through louver openings 26, provided therein.

The timing mechanism may be of any desired electrically operated or electrically controllable type, such as an electric clock or a motor and gear train or the like, which it is not thought necessary to show in detail, being indicated merely by the numeral 21 and its operative members by the pinion 28 arranged on the clock or motor shaft 30.

To close the parallel motor and signal circuits, I provide a switch 32 within the circuit, and a tiltably or rockably pivoted switch actuating member, such as a lever 34,'which is arranged to type may be provided, it is preferable to have switch 32 of the mercury type, such as that commercially known as Mercoid, in which the gap in the circuit is closed by means of a mercury globule arranged in a. sealed tube which globule is caused to contact a pair of terminals within the tube, by disposing or tilting the tube at the proper level. As these switches are well known on the market, it is not thought necessary to give a detailed illustration thereof. Preferab y, the mercury switch is mounted on lever arm 44 by means of the switch clamping member 4| formed integrally therewith, whereby the switch itself serves to counterbalance arm 38, when unweighted by a coin, to spontaneously dispose itself at a circuit breaking angle.

In order to move the lever arm 38 out of engagement with the coin to permit switch 32 to dispose itself in circuit breaking position, the lever 34 may be mounted, as by pivot 46, on a movable member such as the slotted link 43,

which is pivoted, by its lower end, as at 45, on the frame and is engaged by its slot 41, vertically arranged in its upper portion, upon a pin 49 fixed on the eccentrically weighted and pivoted armature 48 of an electromagnet 50. It will be clear that a movement of the armature 48, at the proper time, will move the upper end of the slotted link rearwardly away from the chute, thereby withdrawing arm 38 from the chute and from contact with the coin, to release the coin and spontaneously permit the 'Mercoid switch 32 to tilt to a position wherein the circuit therethrough is broken. a

To determine the time at the end of which switch 32 will be moved to open the motor circuit and thereby stop the timing motor and simultaneously stop the time indicating signalling means, I provide, in association with the motor and operably engageable thereby, a timing rack 52 having switch tripping means, such as the tripping pin 54, adjacent one of its ends and in position to throw, after the rack 52 has been gradually moved by the motor for the selected time interval, a second switch 56 which is arranged in the circuit of the electromagnet 56, to energize the electromagnet.

In order to conserve space, the timing rack may preferably be of circular outline with the pinion 28 engaging gear 12 which in turn engages teeth 58 arranged on the inner circumference thereof, whereby the rackoperating and rack supporting means may all be arranged centrally of the rack in compact, space saving relation. Such rack supporting means may preferably comprise a substantially radially extending arm 66, which may be rentrantly bent and offset to clear all other mechanisms arranged thereadjacent, by means of which the rack is pivotally and freely supported in gravitational position from the pivot pin or shaft 62.

It will be apparent that the throwing of the electromagnet circuit switch 56 will energize the switch supporting lever 34 out of contact with the coin, thereby discharging the coin and leaving "Mercoid switch 32 free to counterbalance lever 34 and to be thereby spontaneously disposed in circuit breaking position. This will stop the v arrangement for opening it, to have such switch of a spontaneously opening type. The most suitable type of switch for the purpose, therefore, is also a Mercoid switch which may be mounted on one end of a rocker arm 64, by the integrally formed clamp 66 in a manner to be normally disposed. in open circuit position. The

rocker arm is tiltably pivoted on pin 68 adjacent the course of the timing rack 52 and in po- 9,264,479 sition to have its tripping arm ll engaged by the eration after it has been advanced by the motor to close switch I and thereby stop the motor, there is provided interengaging means between the motor pinion 2| and the rack 52 which are permanently in engagement with the pinion but are releasable irom engagement with the rack by the closing of the electromagnet circuit switch I. Such releasable interengaging means may comprise a rack engaging retractable gear wheel 12, which is actuated by the pinion 28 and is swingably mounted on the pinion shaft 30, in position to be swung in and out of engagement with the rack teeth I. while remaining at all times in meshed engagement with the pinion 28. For that purpose, the gear wheel I2 is mounted on a pin 14 rotatably supported intermediate the ends of parallel links II, the other ends of which are journalled on the pinion shaft Ill, one to each side oi the pinion 28; It will be apparent that the links 18 will maintain the gear wheel constantly in alignment and engagement with the pinion 2. to be rotated thereby whenever the timing motor circuit is closed.

It will also be apparent that whenever the gear wheel is meshed with the rack, the operation of the timing motor will actuate the gear wheel 12 and move the rack 52 until the pin 54 is raised to trip the rocker arm 64 to thereby close the electromagnet circuit and stop the motor. It follows that to reset the timing rack 52 to its original position it is only necessary to provide means for releasing the gear wheel 12 from engagement with the rack so that the latter will be free to drop back into its original place. I accomplish this by connecting the gear wheel, 12, by means of link 18 secured to the gear supporting pin 14, to the unweighted arm 80 of the eccentrically weighted armature 4!, so that, normally, while at rest or during timing operation, th gear wheel 12 will be pulled up against the timing ,rack 52 and into engagement with the rack teeth GI by the upward tilting of the unweighted end ll of the armature 48 by the weighted end thereof. It will be clear that the raising of the weighted end the armature will lower the gear wheel I2 out 0! engagement with the timing rack and the latter will drop back into its original place, such movement being accelerated by the pressure or the gear wheel 12 as it is downwardly impelled by the. arm 80.

In association with the timing rack 52, there is provided means whereby the metered time period may be selectively adjusted. While any arrangement tor selectively adjusting the distance between the switch tripping pin 54 and the point of first engagement of the rack by the gear-wheel screws It, the stop member 08 which projects outwardly from the rack to be engaged by a permanently fixed lug ll arranged on the casing. Since the rack is circular, the stop I and lug II will interengage for any position of the stop I! on the rack, to thereby limit, selectively, the

- portion oi. the rack that will have to be moved by the motor before th motor circuit will be inbe graduated for time the lug Ill faces the imperforate chute edge ierrupted. The rack may divisions, such as minutes, for a more ready determination oi the desired selective positional the stop tor the particular time period to be metered.

To start the time metering apparatus of the present invention, there is provided in the casing a coin slot ll coinciding with the mouth of the coin chute ll. There is also provided in front of the coin chute mouth a coin counter actuating rod in alignment with the chute mouth, the said slot being provided with a beveled upper edge ll extending normally below the line of the casing coin slot 00 so that no coin may be inserted therethrough without raising the rod 02 to thereby mov the coin counter to register the coin.

Where desired, I provide means whereby the timing device may be selectively arranged to operate for from one to more, such as three, time periods, consecutively, by the concurrent insertion of a corresponding number of coins, as the case may be. Such means may comprise any arrangement which will cause the movement of the electromagnet circuit switch ll by the insertion of any coin which will bring the number of coins present at one time within the chute in excess of the highest number oi successive metering periods for which the apparatus is set, and thereby cause the immediate discharge of the foremost or the operating coin within the chute. One

, such means illustrated comprises a lever 88 pivoted on the rocker arm 84, as at I, in counterbalancing position to the "Mercoid switch 56. The lever 98 is so pivoted as to be normally diagonally suspended, parallel to the one edge of the 'coin chute 40 and spaced therefrom. The lever 98 is also provided with a diagonal edge I" which normally rests on the lug I04 arranged on the counter rod 92 by which the lever 98 is displaced, upon each insertion of a coin, to have either its free end moved without disturbing the switch 56, or, it the free end is blocked, under certain conditions which will hereinafter be explained, to have its pivoted end moved to thereby tilt the rocker arm 84 and close the Mercoid switch and the electromagnet circuit.

The edge of the coin chute adjacent the lever is provided withone opening I opposite the position'that would be occupied by the edge of the second of two coins that may be concurrently present inthe chute, and another similar opening I08, opposite the position that would be occupied by the third of three coins that may be concurrently present in the chute. Theopenings are separated by an impertorate portion ii. of the chute edge.

Corresponding in position with the openings IN and i" and with the intervening imperiorate wallportion Ill, there are provided on the lever ll, three stations comprising openings H2,

ill and ill, respectively, on which 9. lug H8 may be selectively positioned bymeans 0! nut and bolt in, to set the apparatus to operate for either one, two or three successive periods by the insertion oi one, two or three coins respectively.

at one time, as will now be more fully explained.

To adjust the device to operate for but one period at a time, the lug ill is positioned portion Ill. the free end of the lever "will be immobilized by the chute edge,'and will compel the lever 98 to move only at the pivoted end thereof, which will move the rocker arm 64 to tilt the electromagnet circuit Mercoid. switch 56. If any previously inserted coin is present in the chute, it will be caused to drop out of the chute by the action of the electromagnet, which lifts the armature 48 and withdraws arm 88 from the coin chute, as explained above.

as at I28, on the armature 48. The length of the arm I26 and its intumed end I24 is such that when the armature is at rest, the intumed end is withdrawn from the chute, being supported on the lip of the aperture I22, and when the armature is drawn up by the electromagnet, the inturned end I 24 is drawn into the chute in position to block the descending coin until the apparatus is reset to commence a new operation and arm 38 drops back into coin intercepting position.

It will be apparent that the energizing of the electromagnet will be only momentary, and that as soon as the coin passes thev counter rod 82, the rod will drop back, into place, urged either by a spring, or a weight, or by the coin register mechanism (which are not thought necessary to be here shown). The return of the counter rod will tend to snap the coin into the chute and will result in lowering of its lug I.04, permitting the' lever 88 and rocker arm 64 to return by their own weight, and independently of the counter rod, to their original position, with the "Mercoid switch 56 tilted in circuit breaking position again, and the electromagnet circuit broken. This will drop the armature 48, withdrawing the reentrant arm end I24 from the chute to drop the newly inserted coin and reinse'rting the lever arm 38 to intercept such coin to be thereby tilted to close the Mercoid" switch 32 and to close the timing motor and signal circuits. g

The timing motor and signal circuits will continue to operate until the timing rack is moved the distance required to have its pin 54 strike against the rocker arm 64 causing it and switch 66 to tilt to close the electromagnet circuit, thereby breaking the motor circuit, discharging the coin, and returning the time rack to its original position. The apparatus is then ready to be again put into operation by the insertion of a new coin.

To set the apparatus for operation for two successive metered periods by the concurrent insertion of two coins, the lug H8 is moved to the endmost station II2 opposite the position that would be occupied by a second of two coins concurrently deposited. The operation of the device will then be as follows:

If a preceding metered period has not yet expired when it is desired to start the meter for two successive new periods and one incompletely utilized coin still remains in the chute, then the insertion of the first of the two new coins will have no immediate effect. It willnot dslcdge the old coin, because when the counter rod is lifted, the free end of the lever 98 rather than its pivoted end will move, since, at the particular station I I2 of the lug m, it is unobstructed and is readily will come to rest on the old coin. It will occupy a position opposite the opening I06 and will block the lug II8 from moving into the opening I06 upon insertion of the second of the new coins, and force, by the insertion of such second coin, the tilting of the Mercoid switch 5.6 to operate the electromagnet and drop the old coin, the first of the new coins taking its place and starting the first of the two new periods.

When the first of the two new periods terminates, the first coin will be automatically discharged, the second coin taking its place after being first momentarily halted by the intumed end I24 of arm I26, and tilting lever 32 to start, automatically, the second successive period.

To set the meter for three successive period operation by three concurrently inserted coins, the lug H8 is moved to the third station II4, opposite opening I08, which corresponds with the position that will be occupied by the last or third coin inserted.

Again, as in the two coin adjustment, the last inserted coin, because the next to the last coin will block opening I08, will cause clearance of any incompletely used coins of a prior series. The three coins will then serve to start three successive metered periods in the same manner as explained above, each coin, as it strikes lever arm 38 starting a metered period, and each coin, as the period ends, causing rocker arm 64 to be tiltedto operate switch 56, whereby it will be discharged to have its place automatically taken by the next succeeding coin.

It will be apparent that when the meter is set for either one, two, or three periods, the insertion of a superfluous coin will have the effect of discharging the coin first inserted, so that at no time can there be more coins in the meter than the number of successive periods for which the meter is set. It will at the same time be apparent that the insertion of any less than the maximum number of coins will not interfere with the operation of the meter, but will operate the meter for the corresponding lesser number of successive periods.

It is well understood that operators of parked vehicles, frequently drive away before the termination of the period for which they prepaid. It is desirable, therefore, in order to prevent a succeeding vehicle operator from obtaining the benefit of the incompleted previously prepaid period, to provide means, in association with parking meters, whereby such meters may have the actuating coins of one period discharged before they are reset for a new period by the insertion of new coins by a new customer. It is also highly desirable that such coin discharging means be automatic.

One such auxiliary automatic coin discharging means which operates by external influence and independently of the spontaneous timing member actuated coin discharging mechanism heretofore described, is illustratedin Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings. It includes a spontaneously opening switch, such as the Mercoid switch I32, arranged, preferably, within the standard 22, and preferably externally of the casing 20, as within the base of the standard. The switch I32 is arranged in an auxiliary electromagnet (50) circuit, so that whenever the switch I32 is closed the electromagnet is'energized to discharge a coin and stop the apparatus, as heretofore explained. The switch It! ismounted on a lever Ill which is balanced to maintain the switch normally open. In order to counterbalance the lever I to arrange the switch I82 in circuit closing position, lever moving means are provided which are. preferably, directly actuable by a vehicle, as by its weight applied by the wheel thereof.

In the embodiment illustrated, the lever is actuated by a Bourdon tube I" connected to a flexible-liquid containing chamber I which is embedded in the pavement and has a flexible surface flush with the pavement suriace and is arranged in close proximity to the curb, so as to be necessarily traversed by the wheel of a parked vehicle, and adjacent the meter standard.

It will at once be apparent that at least one wheel of each departing and arriving vehicle will traverse at least once over the chamber Ill causing switch I32 to close at least twice during each change of vehicles and so discharge at least two unused or incompletely used-coins that may be present within the chute at each change of vehicles.

It will be understood that the vehicle will have to be parked in position to have the pavement switch intermediate its wheels so that none of the vehicle weight will actuate the switch in during the parking period to make the metering mechanism inoperative. It will be obvious that the above requirement will necessarily bring about exact and accurate disposition of the vehicle in the parking space with consequent economical use of the parking space.

While a specific embodiment of the present in.-

vention has been thus shown and described, it

ment normally arranged in a position of rest, a

member adapted to be moved into operative engagement with said element and move it from its normal position of rest, said member adapted to be actuated for a selected interval of time. means set in operation by a coin for actuating the said member, magnetic means for moving the said member and means on the timing element adapted to energize, after movement of the element for the selected time interval, the said magnetic means whereby the said member is moved so as to be disengaged from the timing element, said timing element adapted to returnto its normal position of rest upon disengagement of said member.

2. Coin controlled apparatus for indicating a selected time interval comprising a movable timing member, a motor for operating the said timing member, .a member normallyoperably connecting the timing element to the motor, motor actuating means adapted to be operably en e by a coin, meansior simultaneously disengaging the said member from said motor and disengaging the motor actuating means'zfrom said coin. and means on the timing member adapted to actuate the said disengaging means, upon the movement of the timing element for a set distance, whereby the said member is disengaged from the timing element, said element being adapted to returntoitsorisinalpositionuponsuchdisengagement and the said motor actuating means is disengaged from said coin whereby the coin is released and discharged from the apparatus and the motor is stopped.

3. In a coin controlled apparatus forindicating a'selected time interval, a motor connected in an electric circuit,'a switch in the said electric circuit adapted to be thrown by the weight of a coin, means for opening the said switch including an electromagnet arranged in a second electric circuit having a second switch and means advanceable by the said motor for throwing the said second switch at a set time after starting of the said motor.

4. Coin controlled apparatus for indicating a selected time interval comprising a motor arranged in an electric circuit, a movably arranged coin controlled switch for the said circuit, an electromagnet having a pivotally arranged armature arranged in a second electric circuit, said electromagnet circuit being normally open, the said armature engaging the said coin actuated switch and arranged to open the same when the electromagnet circuit is closed, a movably arranged timing member adapted toclose the said electromagnet circuit upon being moved a predetermineddistance and means operable by the motor and arranged on the said armature to operably engage the said timing member when the electromagnet circuit is open to move the same and to disengage the 'timing member when the electromagnet circuit is closed to permit it to return to its first position.

5. In association with a vehicle parking time metering apparatus having a motor, means actuated by a coin for starting the said motor, means for discharging the actuating coin, and means operable by the said motor for operating the said coin discharging means upon the lapse of a set time interval to thereby stop the motor and weight operated means adapted to be operated by a parking vehicle arranged externally of the time metering apparatus in the path of a parking vehicle for operating the said coin discharging means independently of the motor including an element for energizing the coindischarging means and a member operatively connected with said element arranged in the path of a parking vehicle and adapted to be engaged and operated thereby to actuate said element, whereby the said coin may be discharged before the lapse of the set time interval by the weight of a parking vehicle.

6. In association with a vehicle parking time metering apparatus having a motor, means actuated by a coin for starting the said motor, means for discharging the actuating coin, and means operable by the said motor for operating the said coin discharging means upon the lapse of a set time interval to thereby stop the motor and means for actuating said coin discharging means and operatively connected therewith arranged in the pavement adjacent the said metering apparatus in the path of a parking vehicle and adapted to be operatively engaged by said parking vehicle whereby the said coin discharging means may be operated by a parking vehicle to discharge a coin before the lapse of the set time interval.

7. Coin controlled apparatus adapted to be actuated by concurrently inserted coins for successively indicating selected time intervals comprising a timing member, a motor for actuating the timing member arranged in an electric circuit, a switch in the said electric circuit, a coin chute adapted to receive a plurality of coins arranged in superposed position, switch operating means extending into the coin chute and adapted to intercept and engage a coin and to be disposed and maintained by its weight into switch operating position, means set in operation by the timing member adapted to engage the said switch operating means to disengage it from an actuating coin and thereby to open the said switch, and means, operable simultaneously with the said engaging means, for intercepting the coin directly above the actuating coin while the pivotally arranged adjacent the said shaft, by

the said arm, a pinion on the said shaft, a gear wheel pivotally mounted on the said shaft and arranged to be permanently in engagement with the said pinion, means for normally maintaining said gear wheel in meshed engagement with said rack teeth, whereby the said timing rack is moved by the said source of power, means for engaging the power source interrupting means on the said rack at a selected distance'irom its. initial point of engagement by the said gear wheel,

10. The device of claim 9 and'includin g means on said timing rack to actuate said normally open, trippable switch.

11. In a device of the character described, in combination, a timing element, means for actuating said timing element, means for operatively connecting the timing element to said actuating means, said connecting means being in permanent engagement with the said actuating means, said connecting means adapted to be moved into and out of operative association with the said timing element, a member for initiating the operationoi. said actuating means, mechanism operatively associated with said member and with said connecting means, said mechanism arranged to move said connecting means into and out 0! operative association with said timing element, said member arranged in position to be actuated to initiate the operation of said actuating means when the said connecting means is moved into operative association with said timing element and adapted to be arranged in non-actuable position when the said connecting means is moved out of operative association with the timing element, and means, actuated by said timing element, for operating said mechanism to move said connecting means out 01! operative association with said timing element, said-mechanism being adapted to move said connecting means into operative association with the timing element after said mechanism operating means has been actuated by the timing element.

12. In a coin controlled parking meter, an armature, a link pivotally fixed at one end, said,

link having a slot adjacent the other end, a pin on said armature arranged within said slot, a

whereby the said interrupting means will be engaged by the rack after the lapse of a selected time oi power source operation and means operable by the said power source interrupting means to disengage the said gear wheel from the said rack, whereby the said rack will move about its pivot to its initial position.

9. In a device of the character described, a timing mechanism comprising an electric motor,

lever pivoted to said link at a distance from said fixed pivot and a switch secured to said lever, said leverbeing adapted to be engaged by a coin to operate said switch, and means for actuating said armature whereby said lever is disengaged from said coin.

a timing rack and means for operatively connecting the motor and the timing rack, said connecting means being arranged in permanent operative connection with the electric motor and said connecting means being adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the said timing rack, a tractive' electromagnet including a movable armatur operatively connected to saidconnecting means, said armature being in normal position when the connecting means is in engagement with the timing rack, a switch operatively connected to the said armature and arranged in the circuit of the said motor, said .switch arranged in position to be actuatedto close the motor circuit when the said connecting means is in engagement with the timing rack and arranged in non-actuable and open position when the said connecting means is moved out of engagement with the timing rack, and a normally open, trippable switch arranged in the circuit of said electromagnet, said switch, when tripped, adapted to close said electromagnet circuit to thereby move said armature from normal position whereby the said connecting means is moved out of engagement with the timing rack, said armature adapted to return to normal position whereby the said connecting means is moved into engagement with the timing rack after the tripping of said normally open switch.

- 13. In a coin controlled parking meter, an armature, a link pivotally fixed at one end, said link, at its other end, slidably connected to said armature, a lever pivoted to said link at a distance from said fixed pivot and a switch secured to said lever, said lever being adapted to be engaged by a coin to operate said switch, and means for actuating said armature whereby said lever is disengaged from said coin.

14. In a device of the character described, a timing mechanism comprising an electric motor. a shaft arranged on said motor, a pinion on said motor shaft. a curvilinear rack, a gear Journaled on a pin, in permanent engagement with said pinion, a link joumaled at one end to said motor shaft and at the other end to the gear pin, and

' a tractlve electromagnet including a pivoted armature and a connecting element iournaled at one end to said armature and at its other end to said gear pin.

15. In apparatus for indicating a selected tlm interval, a driving member, a timing element arranged in fixed relation to said driving member and arranged to be moved from a normal position of rest to a second position, a second member in permanent engagement with the driving member operatively connecting the driving member to said timing element to move said timing member, a link journaled at one of its ends to the driving member and at the other end to the said second member, and means for moving the said second member about the driving member into and out of engagement with the timing element, said timing member adapted to retum to normal position when the second mentioned member is moved out of engagement with the timing member.

' 16. In apparatus for indicating a selected time interval, a driving member, a timing element arranged in fixed relation to said driving member, a second member in permanent engagement with the driving member operatively connecting the driving member to said timing element, a link journaled at one of its ends to the driving member and at the other end to the said second member, a magnet, an armature pivoted between its ends and a second link journaled at one of its ends to the said second member and at its other end to said armature.

17. In a device of the character described, in

combination, a timing element, means for actuating said timing element, means for operatively connecting the timing element to said actuating means, said connecting means being in pennanent engagement with the said actuating means, said connecting means adapted to be moved into and out of operative association with the said timing element, a member for initiating the operation of said actuating means, mechanism operatively associated with said member and with said connecting means, said mechanism arranged to move said connecting means into and out of operative association with said element, said member arranged in position to be actuated to initiate the operation of said actuating means when the said connecting means is moved into operative association with said timing element and adapted to be arranged in non-actuable position whenthe said connecting means is moved out of operative association with the timing element, and-means for operating said mechanism to move said connecting means out of operative association with the said timing element, said means for operating said mechanism being actuated by a member adiustably'associated with the said timing element, said mechanism being adapted to move said connecting means into operative association with the timing element after said mechanism operating means has been actuated by the timing element.

18. In a coin-controlled apparatus having a slot for the insertion of a coin, a motor connected in an electric circuit, a switch in the said electric circuit adapted to be thrown by the weight of a coin inserted in the apparatus, means for opening the said switch including an electromagnet arranged in a second electric circuit having a second switch and means actuated by the insertion in the apparatus of a second coin for throwing the second switch.

JAMES LEWIS MUNSON.

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