GB392530A - Improvements relating to coin-operated gas and similar meters - Google Patents

Abstract

392,530. Prepayment mechanism for meters. UNITED GAS INDUSTRIES, Ltd., 51, Lincoln's Inn Fields, SMITH, E. W., 186, Kennington Park Road, and CHARLES, A., Meter Works, Rowan Road, Streatham Vale, all in London. Oct. 12, 1931, No. 28338. [Class 27.] Coin action, with delivery proportionate to value of coin.-In prepayment meter mechanism for use with pennies and shillings, two coinholder actuated measuring-wheels a, bare provided, the wheel b being rotated, when a penny is inserted, and transmitting its movement with a reduced ratio through reduction gearing to differential quantity mechanism, while, on the insertion of a shilling, both wheels a, b are locked and rotated together, the rotation being transmitted through the reduction gear as a direct drive, i.e. with a 1 : 1 ratio. The spindle b<1> of the wheel b passes through the hollow spindle a<1> of the wheel a and has a pinion b<2> meshing with one wheel e<2> of a pair of wheels e<2>, e<3> which rotate together in a supporting plate e fixed to the spindle a<1>. The wheel e<3> meshes with a wheel f on an intermediate spindle f<1> which is aligned with the spindle b<1> and is recessed to support the rear end of that spindle. The spindle f<1> carries one sun-wheel h of the differential quantity mechanism, the other sun-wheel h<1> of which is driven by the meter through a worm and worm-wheel j<1>, j. The planet wheels h<5>, h<6> are carried by a disc h<4> mounted on a spindle h<3> which also carries a valve-operating member i. The member i may be operated from the spindle h<3> through a maltese cross device as described in Specification 387,678. When a penny is inserted, the wheel a is prevented from rotating by a plate spring g<3>, and the drive is transmitted through the wheels b<2>, e<2>, e<3>, f. After insertion of a shilling, the wheels a, b, and also the spindles a<1>, b<1> and wheels b<2>, e<2> are locked together so that the drive from the measuring wheels to the spindle f is direct. Indicators.-The spindle h<3> has a pinion k engaging a toothed quadrant k<1> by which a prepayment indicator k<2> is operated.