GB431051A - Improvements in or relating to prepayment mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

431,051. Prepayment mechanism for meters. HOLDEN, F., and MEASUREMENT, Ltd., Terminal House, Lower Belgrave Street, London. Nov. 30, 1933, No. 33584. [Class 27] In fixed charge prepayment mechanism for meters, a synchronous motor or Ferraris motor drives at constant speed a wheel a, Fig. 2, rigid with a sleeve b carrying an arm c and pawl d. The pawl d drives a ratchet wheel e on a spindle f the movement being conveyed to the debit side of the " coin and meter " differential. A fixed sector h, Figs. 2 and 4, is mounted coaxially with the ratchet wheel e, being secured to one of a pair of frame plates r carrying the spindle f by pillars g, and a movable sector j is mounted on a sleeve k surrounding the spindle and having a wheel m meshing with a wheel n which is operated by a pointer p on a spindle o. By moving the pointer a gap is provided between the sectors, which are of slightly larger diameter than the ratchet wheel e. The pawl d is of sufficient width to span the distance separating the wheel e from the fixed sector h, so that the two sectors prevent the pawl from engaging the ratchet wheel e except when the pawl is opposite the gap between the sectors. The size of the gap is adjusted by the pointer p, and the amount of rotation imparted to the shaft f is correspondingly varied to vary the amount of fixed charge. Specification 414,069 is referred to.