GB462610A - Improvements in prepayment meters for electricity, gas, and the like commodities - Google Patents

Abstract

462,610. Prepayment mechanism for meters. WRIGHT, N., and METROPOLITANVICKERS ELECTRICAL CO., Ltd. Sept. 30, 1935, No. 26991. [Class 27] In a prepayment meter the commodity side 51 of the quantity - differential C is driven through two adjustable transmitting mechanisms by a main shaft 27 geared to the shafts 2, 2a of the two mechanisms, the motions of which are summated or differentiated and the resultant movement transmitted to the differential. The shaft 27 is driven by an auxiliary motor comprising a spring 31 wound by a shaded pole motor 30, this motor being controlled by the meter through an escapement 35, 36. The shaft 2 carries an arm 7 on which is pivoted a pawl 10 put into driving engagement with a ratchet wheel 18 by a fixed stop 14 and disengaged by an adjustable stop 17 mounted on a locating disc 23 which is adjusted according to the fraction of rotation of the shaft 2 that is to be transmitted. The shaft 2a through a similar mechanism drives a ratchet wheel 18a, and the movements of the ratchet wheels 18, 18a are summated or differentiated by an epicyclic mechanism E, the resultant movement of the planet cage 41 being transmitted through gearing 45... 50 to the commodity sun-wheel 51 of the meter differential C. The locating disc 23 may be calibrated to adjust the price of commodity by steps of a penny per unit and the disc 23a by steps of one-eighth of a penny. The other sun-wheel 9 of the differential C is driven from the coin receiver through gearing 5. The planet cage 6 is secured to a shaft 52 provided with the usual devices for controlling a switch &c. A spring 54 surrounding the shaft 52 is provided to assist the spring 31 in driving the mechanism.