445,546. Prepayment mechanism for meters. BRITISH SANGAMO CO., Ltd., and BUTHERUS, F. R., Cambridge Arterial Road, Enfield, Middlesex. Oct. 6, 1934, No. 28687. [Class 27] Coin action, with stationary coin forming abutment, and with delivery proportionate to value of coin.-In a prepayment mechanism, e.g. for an electricity supply meter, the movement of a manually operated member in a single direction effects, by means of a cam movement, the gauging of the diameter of a coin received within a stationary coin-pocket and the setting of an operating element for the quantity mechanism, and also by means of additional driving means the movement, of said operating element to set forward the quantity mechanism by an amount corresponding to the coin. As shown, an inserted coin is received into a coin pocket 26, having a yielding side and coin-discharging mechanism as described in Specification 445,606, and between one end thereof and the head 25 of an axially movable gauging rod 23. A main operating shaft 1 is connected with the shaft 23 by gears 6, 29 and 27, and is provided with a cam 4 operating a pivoted arm 11 yieldingly connected with a second pivoted arm 17 bearing against a plate 20 secured to the shaft 23. Upon rotation of the shaft 1, cam 4 operates through the arms 11 and 17 to move the shaft 23 axially, against the action of a return spring 24, until arrested by engagement of the head 25 with the edge of the coin. If the coin is of a preselected size, a second plate 21 secured to the shaft 23 and having part of its periphery cut away, registers with one of a number of slots in a fixed plate 34, so that continued rotational movement, under the driving action of the gears 6, 29, 27 is permitted. During such movement, a multiple gear unit 22, having different numbers of teeth at different axially spaced parts, drives a gear 35 connected with the quantity mechanism which is constructed as described tn Specification 346,282. The numbers of teeth on the unit 22 are such as to set forward the quantity mechanism by an amount appropriate to the coin inserted. After the initial coin gauging movement of the operating shaft 1, teeth of a ratchet wheel 3 engage a pawl 8 to prevent reversal of rotation. Modified constructions are referred to in which the operating shaft has a helical, or an axial movement and in which the gear 35 is rotated by a ratchet pawl controlled by a mask set according to the diameter of the coin. A gong 10 is sounded by a striker 9 as described in Specification 445,607 to indicate to the operator when the setting action is complete. Switch - closing mechanism.-A lever 45 operating the supply switch is loosely pivoted on a shaft 43 and connected through a spring 50 to one arm of a bell-crank lever 46 secured to the shaft 43. During the above described setting action, a pin 5 on the shaft 1 raises a pivoted arm 37 to which is pivoted at 40 a depending member 39. The resulting upward movement of the member 39 causes a bevelled part 39d thereon to engage a rearward projection 46c on the bell-crank 46 which is rotated so that the spring 50 connecting it with the switch lever 45 is strained ; the switch lever is temporarily prevented from moving by engagement of a lateral projection 49<a> at its lower end with the lower end of the member 39, and during the continued rotation of the shaft 1, the pin 5 engages an off-set part 39<a> of the member 39 to disengage the switch lever 45 which is moved rapidly into the closed position by the tensioned spring 50. The bell-crank lever 46 is retained in set position until prepayment is exhausted by an arm 47 secured to the shaft 43 and associated with the quantity mechanism in the manner described in Specification 414,070, but the parts 37 and 39 return to their normal positions at the completion of operation of the shaft 1. Specification 430,757 and 437,125 also are referred to.