GB470759A - Improvements in or relating to time-controlled dispensing devices particularly for the supply of gas - Google Patents

Abstract

470,759. Coin - freed apparatus for delivering electricity, gas, &c. AIR LOG CO., Ltd., and MAYERS, H. C. Feb. 17, 1936, Nos. 4841 and 22987. [Class 27] Time - controlled apparatus.-A coinfreed apparatus for the supply of gas or electricity on a time basis comprises a clockwork motor the spring 18, Fig. 1, of which is wound, after insertion of a coin, by the rotation of twin handles 37. During the winding, one member 24 of an epicyclic gear is rotated through gearing 25, 26 from the winding spindle 15, a second member 22 being actuated by the running down of the clockwork, the going-barrel 19 of which is geared thereto by wheels 20, 21. The planetwheel 27 of the epicyclic gear is carried by a shaft 23 which drives through gearing 28, 29 a cam disc 30 co-operating with a pin 31 on an arm 32, Fig. 8, fixed to the shaft 72 of the supply valve 71, 74, Fig. 7. The cam 30 has a notch 76 towards which the pin 31 is pressed by a leaf spring 75, when the disc 30 is returned by the clockwork motor towards its gas shutting-off position. The spring 75 is insufficient to move the pin 31 to the bottom of the notch 76, this being done by the continued rotation of the disc. To allow a large number of coins to be used at a time, a second cam disc 77 driven by gearing 78, 79 from the shaft 23 and provided with a notch 83, controls an arm 80 pivoted at 81. The disc 77 makes one revolution for several revolutions of the disc 30 and causes the arm 80 to push the pin 31 away from the periphery of the disc 30, so that this pin cannot enter the notch 76 until both cams have been returned to their zero position. The spring motor drives the gear member 22 under the control of an escapement mechanism having a balance wheel. A manually-operated tap 69, Fig. 7, is provided to allow the user to stop the gas supply at will. The spindle connecting the handle and the tap 69 is fitted with a cam which is utilized for starting and stopping the clockwork motor. The mechanism for this purpose is arranged as described in Specification 422,849. Means are also provided in this starting and stopping mechanism for allowing the proprietor to cause the clockwork motor to run down and zeroize the mechanism without the tap 69 being turned on. In a modification, the clockwork motor runs down under the control of the gas flow instead of an escapement, so that the duration of the supply depends partly on time and partly on the rate at which the gas is being consumed. Coin-action, thrust; price-change mechanism.- A coin inserted through a slot in an adjustable plate 59 into a coin holder 39 moves a finger 35 into engagement with a ratchet wheel 16 on the winding shaft 15, a pawl 17 preventing backward rotation of the ratchet wheel. The plate 59 is angularly adjustable in position according to the amount the clockwork motor is to be wound for each coin.