GB2138193A - Token-operated apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The apparatus causes a meter, e.g. a gas meter, to allow a predetermined quantity of a commodity to be delivered. A key token (21) is inserted into a keyway, so that its tip engages a lever (9). Rotation of the key token then carries lever (9) around, together with pin (11), which urges a driving tooth (39) into engagement with a quantity wheel (30). Further rotation of the key token results in the tip snapping off at weakened section (40), and the key shank is then removed. Rotation of manual handle (20) now drives the quantity wheel through tooth (39) around a predetermined arc, the quantity wheel in turn driving a meter credit mechanism (not shown). Return of the handle to the initial position frees the key tip and this disengages the tooth (39) from the quantity wheel. Previous coin-operated mechanisms can be replaced by this token-operated apparatus avoiding problems associated with the collection of money. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Token-freed apparatus This invention relates to a token-freed apparatus for use in conjunction with a commodity meter, to provide a measured quantity of the commodity.

Commodity meters commonly have an input drive, rotation of which sets up a credit quantity recording on a credit index, which index reading runs back as the commodity is supplied until at zero credit the supply is shut off. The input drive may be accessible through a coin-freed device, the value of the coin being the value of the commodity credit obtained with it. There are serious disadvantages in the use of coin-freed devices due to the accumulating money, which has to be collected regularly. it has been suggested that the use of a token-freed device in place of a coin-freed device would avoid these disadvantages.

This invention has for an object to provide a practical token-freed device which is easily and cheaply made and which is secure againstfraudulent attempts to obtain credit.

The invention provides a token-freed device for use in conjunction with a commodity meter (e.g. a gas meter) which device is adapted to be placed in a primed position by a disposable key, in which primed position a drive connection between a handle and the meter is made.

The device may have lever means engageable by the key and rotatable thereby to make said drive connection, for instance by engaging a toothed quantity wheel. A latch member may hold said lever means in the primed position.

Preferably said lever means is located at the end of a keyway so as to be engaged by an end of the key and said latch member latches by engaging the end of the key. The end of the key can thus be broken off from the main part thereof by manual pressure.

The device may also have means for disengaging said latch member when the handle has been rotated through a predetermined angle in which the drive to the meter transmits a credit reading thereto.

Said keyway may be located so that the handle cannot be rotated while the shank of a key is in the keyway, so that the key end must be broken off and the shank removed before the handle can be rotated and drive to the meter made.

The invention also extends to the combination of a token-freed device as set out above with a key adapted to be used in the device, the key having an undercutforming a weak section allowing the end portion of the key to be easily broken off and the key removed, leaving the end portion in the device holding it in the primed position.

A specific embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side section through a token-freed devicefora meterwith a key in its initial position, Figure 2 is a rear view in the direction of arrow II of Figure 1, with some parts and detail omitted, Figure 3 is a scrap view of a key for use in the token-freed device of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is a front view in the direction of arrow IV of Figure 1, with the key omitted.

The token-freed device shown has the purpose of turning a toothed quantity wheel (30) by rotation of manual handle (20) through a predetermined angle, to obtain the supply of a predetermined quantity of gas or other commodity. The quantity wheel when turned operates mechanisms in a meter (not shown) to allow only the specified quantity of gas or other commodity to be supplied. The supply of the gas is then stopped until the quantity wheel (30) is again operated. Commonly, a coin of specified value has been used to free the quantity wheel so that it can be rotated by handle (20). As described in more detail hereinafter, the operation of the coin has been replaced by a cheaply made disposable key (21) seen best in Figures 1 and 3.

The device has a fixed front plate (25) in which is formed a keyhole opening (31). Slideable behind the surface of the plate is injector (26) secured to rotate with handle (20) and shaft (27) so that in some positions of the handle the keyhole is closed off by the injector.

To use a key (21), the handle is rotated into the initial position shown in Figure 4 in which the keyhole is open. A key is inserted into the keyhole and depressed fully home into a keyway to the position shown in Figure 1. In this movement the tip of the key contacts a shoulder (33) of a lever (5) pivoted at (7), and pushes the lever from the position shown in dotted lines to the position shown in full lines in Figure 1, against the resistance of a spring (24). This movement is limited by a lever (9) having a pair of projections (34, 35) which slide into corresponding openings in the end of the key so that the key is interlocked with the lever.

The key is then rotated manually through about 45" in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4 (anti-clockwise as viewed in Figure 2). As seen best in Figure 2, the rectangular tip of the key is thus rotated from the position shown in dotted lines at (21) to the position shown in dotted lines at (21'). In this position it is engaged by a nose (36) on a latch member (13) which is spring-urged to drop into a recess (37) on the key tip. This holds the key and the lever (9) in position.

One end of the lever (9) carries a pin (11) which slides in a cam slot (38) in a lever (12) pivoted at (10).

In the 45" movement of lever (9) the pin slides along the slot pivoting the lever (12) in a pattern determined by the slot. The lever (12) carries a depending tooth (39) at its end which is moved in the direction of arrow A to take up the position shown in dotted lines when the key reaches its engaged position at the end of 45" movement. As seen from Figure 1,this downward movement of tooth (39) causes it to engage in the toothed quantity wheel (30).

The key is then turned further a short distance.

Movement of the tip of the key is prevented by a stop (not shown), so the further turning movement sets up a twisting force on the shaft of the key. As seen in Figure 3, the shaft has an undercut portion (40) forming a weakened section which is easily sheared by this twisting force. When so broken, the tip portion remains in position held by the latch member, but the remainder of the shaft of the key is removed and discarded by the user. The device is now in a primed position readyforthe quantity wheel to be rotated.

With the key shaft removed, the handle (20) can be rotated clockwise as viewed in Figure 4. This rotates injector (26) so blocking the keyhole. After an arc of about 45" has been covered, the injector (26) engages a pawl (14) (Figures 2 and 4) which is mounted on a base structure in which the other members of the device are mounted (apart from stationary front plate (25) ). Further rotation of handle (20) then rotates the device bodily, in which movement tooth (39) drives the quantity wheel (20) through a predetermined arc of movement related to the amount of gas or other commodity to be supplied. The rotation is ended when a lever (3) hits a stop (41). Lever (3) is pivoted at (2) and has a shoulder (42) which engages a depending leg (43) of latch member (13).Stop (41) causes lever (3) to rotate clockwise as seen in Figure 2, thus pushing leg (43) and rotating latch member (13) in an anti-clockwise direction and releasing the nose (36) from its latching engagement with the separated tip of the key, and freeing lever (9).

Spring (18) then pulls lever (9) back to its original position shown in full lines in Figure 2, returning the key tip to its first position aligned with the keyhole, and disengaging tooth (39) from the quantity wheel.

With the key so aligned, lever (5) is able to return to its initial position shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 under the influence of spring (24). Shoulder (33) causes the key tip to move with the lever (5), releasing the projections (34,35) which lock the key tip to the lever (9). The key tip, being smaller than the whole key, falls through an opening shown generally in Figure 1 at (45) into a collecting box (not shown) positioned below the device.

As lever (5) returns to its original position, a projection (46) thereon returns into the path of injector (26) as seen best in Figure 4. When the handle is turned back anti-clockwise into its original position it picks up on projection (46) and carries the whole device back to its starting position ready for a new key to be inserted and another quantity of gas or other commodity obtained.

A number of keys may be used in succession to obtain a multiple of the predetermined quantity, the total quantity being stored on a prepayment reading index of limited capacity. When that capacity is full, means (not shown) prevents the return of the projection (46) into the path of the injector (26), so that the device cannot be returned to its starting position and further keys inserted until a sufficient quantity of the commodity has been used up.

The key, a detail of which is shown in Figure 3, is moulded in a plastics material. It may, for instance, be formed in an unusual colour, using an unusual and easily identifiable colouring material, so that the key tips left in the collector can be readily identified as correct items, not forgeries. The tips may be impressed with a seal, or other identification means, for instance a radio-active or fluorescing insert, which can be automatically checked when the collector is emptied.

It is envisaged that in use the keys will be purchased for a sum equal to the cost of the gas or other commodity obtained by use of a key, for instance 1 each. This means that the money is more easily collected, there is no cash box full of money attached to the meter, and the meter reader does not have to collect money from the meter, only the key tips of no intrinsic value. The key is an easily and cheaply made item, so the cost of production is low, while the levers operated by the key are also of simple construction not involving highly accurate locksmiths' technology.

For the user, the sequence of operations is (a) push the key into the keyhole, (b) turn the key clockwise until the tip breaks, (c) remove key shaft, (d) turn handle clockwise until stopped, (e) return handle to starting position. The function of the key is only to prime the device and then to break off, so that a weak structure which is cheaply made is quite adequate. The actual drive through the quantity wheel to the meter mechanisms is through handle (20), pawl (14) to the body of the device, lever (12) and tooth (39), only the broken-off tip of the key having any part in the action.

Claims (17)

1. A token-operated device for use in conjunction with a commodity meter, which device is adapted to be placed in a primed position by the manipulation of a token, in which primed position a drive connection between a handle and a meter driving means of the device is completed.

2. Atoken-operated device as claimed in claim 1, comprising lever means adapted to be engaged by said token and rotatable thereby to complete said drive connection.

3. A token-operated device as claimed in claim 2, comprising also a latch member located to engage said token to lock the device in said primed position.

4. A token-operated device as claimed in claim 3, providing an elongated opening for entry of said token, said lever means and latch member being located adjacent the inner end of the opening.

5. Atoken-operated device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said handle is manually rotatable to drive said meter driving means, but is prevented from such rotation when a token is located in the outer end of the said opening.

6. Atoken-operated device as claimed in claim 5, arranged to be bodily rotated by rotation of said handle, in a stationary framework which supports means for disengaging said latch memberwhenthe handle has rotated through a predetermined angle in which a predetermined drive is imparted to the meter driving means.

7. Atoken-operated device as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6, comprising also a stop member limiting the rotational movement available to a token engaging said lever means, said limitation allowing sufficient rotation for said completion of the drive connection.

8. Atoken-operated device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said lever means when rotated co-operates with a cam means to cause a tooth carried by said cam means to engage in a toothed quantity wheel which comprises said meter driving means, whereby to complete said drive connection.

9. A token-operated device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 8, wherein said lever means has projection means located to engage in the end of a token, whereby rotation of said token may rotate the lever means.

10. Atoken-operated device substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to Figures 1,2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

11. The combination of a token-operated device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, with a token in the shape of a key adapted to be used in the device, the key having an undercut forming a weak section allowing the tip of the key to be easily broken off and the key shank removed leaving an end portiion in the device holding it in the primed position.

12. The combination claimed in claim 11,wherein said device has an opening of a size to allow the broken off key tip to drop through when the device is returned to an unprimed position.

13. The combination claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein said key tip carried identificatibn means.

14. The combination claimed in claim 13, wherein aid identification means is a seal, or a radio-active orfluorescing insert.

15. The combination claimed in any of claims 11 to 14, wherein said key is moulded in a plastics material.

16. The combination claimed in any of claims 11 to 15, wherein said key is shaped to co-operate with said device.

17. The combination of a token-operated device and a token key substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.