GB454032A - Improvements relating to prepayment electricity and other like meters - Google Patents

Abstract

454,032. Prepayment mechanism for meters. CHAMBERLAIN & HOOKHAM, Ltd., and JAMES, S., 4, New Bartholomew Street, Birmingham. April 18, 1935, No. 11959. [Class 27] Price-changing mechanism.-In a prepayment meter, means whereby the rental charge, the quantity of commodity available for a given coin, or like charges controlled by the meter may be varied, comprises a driving spindle a, rotated through wheels d, c, b from a motor, clock, or coin carrier, the spindle a being axially slidable under control of a spring e and carrying a clutch disc or arm f which is provided with oppositely directed lateral projections g, m. The projection g co-operates with a stationary adjustable cam h and the projection m engages intermittently a projection n on a gear wheel o, loose on the spindle a, but controlled by a spring p which tends to keep another projection v on the wheel in contact with a fixed stop w. The wheel o engages and drives a wheel q loose on a driven spindle r from which motion is transmitted through a wheel u to the valve, switch, &c., control mechanism of the meter. The wheel g drives the spindle r by a oneway pawl and ratchet drive s, t, backward rotation of the spindle being prevented by a pawl and ratchet 2, 3. The spring e tends to slide the spindle a so that the projection g moves into an inclined notch i in the cam h. During rotation of the spindle a, the projection g moves out of the notch, pressing the spindle a backwards until the projection m comes into the path of the projection n so that the wheel o is rotated and drives the spindle r. When the projection g again comes opposite the notch i, the clutch is disengaged and the spring p returns the wheel o until the projection v again comes up against the fixed stop w, the pawl s during this return rotation moving idly over the ratchet wheel t. The cam h is adjustable by a key inserted in a boss j, backward rotation of the cam being prevented by a pawl l engaging a ratchet wheel k. By adjusting the cam, the fraction of a revolution of the disc f during which the projections m, n are in engagement may be varied.