GB325853A - Improvements in and relating to prepayment devices for quantity meters - Google Patents

Abstract

325,853. Small, F. G. Nov. 30, 1928. Coin action, multiple-coin.-A prepayment device for use with quantity meters of the kind comprising coinfreed mechanism serving to open a valve and meter driven mechanism to close said valve, is arranged so that motion is transmitted from the driving shaft D, Fig. 1, of the counting and registering device B through gearing detachably mounted on the casing of the prepayment device A, said gearing comprising alternative trains which can be selected, by moving a pivotally mounted gear-carrying arm, to control the rate of closing the valve according to the denomination of coin inserted, without detaching the gearing. The prepayment device A and the counting and registering device B are arranged outside the meter casing C, a detachable, gas-tight cover being secured to the meter C to, enclose them, with the coin slot of device A accessible. The valve closing mechanism is driven by the shaft 12, Fig. 2, which is driven from a gear 6 on a shaft L coupled to a shaft H in gear with the shaft D, through a. train of wheels 8 - - 11, which in turn are driven, according to the position of an arm 16 which carries them, either by a wheel 7 or a wheel 17. The arm 16 is held in appropriate position, according to the denomination of coin employed, by a spring 22 which retains a stud 21 thereon in one of a pair of slots in a locking arm 19 pivoted on a bolt 20 between two plates 4, which are bolted to the side of the prepayment device A and which support the train of wheels. The appropriate one of a pair of scales 23, 25 mounted at right angles to one another on a bracket pivoted at 26, is brought, when the arm 16 is moved, against a pointer actuated thrcugh suitable mechanism from the valve closing and opening mechanism to indicate the unconsumed quantity for which payment has been made. Specification 308,557 is referred to.