GB286628A - Automatic prepayment meter for electricity, gas, water, and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

286,628. Allgemeine Elektricitõts- Ges., (Assignees of Lulofs W., and Hanson, A. F. E.). March 5, 1927, [Convention date]. Counters affording several rates of actuation.-A prepayment meter for electricity, gas, water, &c. which registers at a lower rate after a certain quantity has been consumed in a predetermined period is so arranged that, if less than this quantitv has been consumed in the predetermined period, the unused units at the higher rate are added to the fellowing period, the mechanism being zeroized after a certain number of periods. The meter is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in the position in which the kilowatt-hours charged at the higher rate are not yet exhausted. The meter drives the recording train through a gear train 1 - - 4, of which the wheel 3 is always in engagement with the wheel 5, which drives a gear-wheel 7 through an intermediate wheel 6. On the spindle of the wheel 7 is a worm 8 driving a worm-wheel 9. The toothed wheels 2, 3, 5 are mounted on a lever 10, one arm of which is pressed against a disc 12 by a spring 11. The disc 12 is provided with a pin 13 which enters a slot in the worm-wheel so as to be turned thereby and tension the spring 14. The indication of the kilowatt-hours charged at the higher rate is effected by the year-wheel 15, which is rigidly connected to the disc 19 and mounted on the same shaft as the worm-wheel 9 and disc 12. The disc 19 is provided, as is the worm-wheel 9, with a slot 20, Fig. 2, into which the pin 13 fits. The year-wheel 15 has on its periphery twelve teeth, of different lengths corresponding to the months of the year, and is turned through the space of one tooth by the Supply Company's inspector at the end of each month by turning a lever 17 until it contacts with a stop 18. The lever 17 may be moved by pulling out the coin receptacle. When the worm-wheel 9 has been driven by the meter to such an extent that the pin 13 is opposite the slot 20 in the disc 19, the disc 12 is moved upwards by the lever 10 and spring 11, pushing the pin 13 into the slot 20. At the same time the wheel 5 is disengaged from the wheel 6 and engaged with the wheel 1<1>, and the wheel 2 is disengaged from the wheel 1. The counting gear is then driven through the train 1<1>, 5, 3, 4 and registers at a lower rate. At the end of a year a cam on the disc 19 moves a projection 23 on the movable bearing 24 for the worm 8, thereby disengaging the worm. from the worm-wheel 9 and permitting the disc 12 and worm-wheel 9 to be returned to the starting position by the spring 14. The monthly movement of the lever 17 may alternatively be effected by a clock or a Ferraris or synchronous motor, a spring being gradually tensioned for a month and then released by a switch device setting forward the lever 17. A visual or acoustic signal may be given to indicate when registration at the lower rate starts.