GB445607A - Improvements in or relating to prepayment mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

445,607. Prepayment mechanism for meters. BRITISH SANGAMO CO., Ltd., and BUTHERUS, F. R., Cambridge Arterial Road, Enfield, Middlesex. Oct. 6, 1934, No. 21884/35. Divided out of 445,546. [Class 27] In a prepayment meter mechanism, a signalling device is operated directly by the manual setting member to indicate to the operator when the setting movement, or a predetermined part thereof, has been completed. As applied to the prepayment mechanism described in Specification 445,546, in which a shaft 3 is moved axially to gauge an inserted coin, and rotated to set the quantity mechanism by an amount appropriate to the value of the coin, both of these movements being performed by rotation of a hand-operated shaft 1, the signalling device comprises a hammer 14 adapted to strike a gong 15. The hammer 14 is integral with a non-return pawl 12 for the shaft 1, the pawl 12 being pressed by a spring 16 against a ratchet wheel 11 secured to the shaft 1. When the movement of the shaft 1 has been completed, the pawl 12 enters a deep notch 11c in the ratchet wheel 11 causing the hammer 14 to strike the gong 15. Signals may be given at intermediate stages of the movement of the shaft 1, and the different signals may be distinguishable by having different numbers of strokes. Specification 346,282 also is referred to.