GB431227A - Improvements in and relating to fixed charge devices for prepayment mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

431,227. Prepayment mechanism for meters. HOLDEN, F., and MEASUREMENT, Ltd., Terminal House, Lower Belgrave Street, London. April 28, 1934, No. 12913. [Class 27] Mechanism for prepaying basic charges ; price-changing mechanism.-In basic charge collecting mechanism for prepayment meters, a constant speed motor drives a plurality of variable motion-transmitting mechanisms covering different ranges of speed changes, the sum of whose motions is conveyed to the quantity differential, and separate devices are provided for each transmitting mechanism for controlling and indicating its debit rate. In the construction shown, two such mechanisms are employed for providing coarse and fine adjustment respectively of the tariff rate. A shaft a driven by the constant speed motor carries a pinion b driving pinions c, d loose on shafts n, o and carrying arms e, f provided with spring pawls i, j, which drive ratchet wheels k, m fast on the shafts n, o respectively. The proportion of each revolution for which the pawls engage their respective ratchet wheels is adjustable by co-operating fixed and adjustable sector masks 9, 3 and 10, 4, the adjustable sectors 3, 4 being carried respectively by notched indicator discs 5, 6 by which they are adjusted to the required debit rate. The movements of the shafts n and o are summated by an epicyclic differential comprising a planet carrier q driven from shaft n, a sun-wheel s driven from shaft o, and a driven sun-wheel t equal in diameter to the sun-wheel s but having slightly more teeth, which sun-wheel drives a shaft w gearing with the differential quantity mechanism. The gear ratio between shafts n and w is 12 times that between shafts o and w, so that the variable ratchet drive controlled by the disc 5 provides for adjustment of the basic charge in pence, and the disc 6 for adjustment in shillings. Specification 414,069 is referred to.