GB377719A - Improvements in and relating to prepayment meter mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

377,719. Prepayment mechanism for meters. CONNOR, R., Tame Side Works, Dobcross, near Oldham, and MEASUREMENT, Ltd., Townsend House, Greycoat Place, London. Feb. 27, 1931, No. 6226. [Class 27.] Price-changing mechanism.-In prepayment meter mechanism of the kind having two trains of gearing interposed between the meter spindle and the epicyclic quantity mechanism and adapted to be brought into operation alternatively, the trains of gearing are supported in a carriage constantly urged, as by a spring, towards one of two positions but prevented from moving into that position by a detent device which is tripped by a cam after a predetermined rotation of the meter mechanism. As applied to the mechanism described in Specification 201,972, [Class 27, Coin-freed apparatus &c.], the two trains d, e and h, g are mounted on a carriage a, Figs. 1 and 3, rockable about a spindle b, which is driven from the meter and carries a driving wheel f in engagement with the wheels d, h of the respective trains. With the carriage in the position shown, the wheel e drives the epicyclic gear through a wheel g, the commodity being supplied at the dearer rate. The carriage is constantly urged by a spring to disengage the wheels e, g and engage the wheel j with a wheel k, in which position the commodity is supplied at the cheaper rate, the carriage being, however, held by a spring- dressed detent n engaging a pin u adjustably mounted by an arm v on the carriage. The detent n is carried by an arm m pivoted at o and having a pin p engaging a notched cam q, which is integral with a heart-shaped cam r, these cams being driven through a friction dutch by a wheel t of the main meter-driven train. After a predetermined consumption, the pin p enters the notch q<1> of the cam q to release the carriage and the cheaper rate is brought into force. The carriage is reset at the beginning of each quarter by means operated by emptying the coin-box. The coin-box 9 has a pivoted catch lever 7, the end 6 of which engages a pawl 4 on the end of a lever 2 pivoted at 3. The upper end of the lever 2 carries a pivoted arm 10 having a pin 12 to engage a pin 13 on the carriage a, when the lever is rocked in an anticlockwise direction by pulling out the coin-box. A cranked portion 14 at the top of the lever 2 thrusts a spring-controlled plunger 15 against the heart-shaped cam r and returns the cams to their initial position. The resetting may, however, be performed by hand. Indicators.-The shaft carrying the cams q, r has a pointer w working over a dial x to show the amount of commodity to be consumed before the change-over to the cheaper rate takes place.