GB471473A - Coin-freed mechanism for gas and similar meters - Google Patents

Abstract

471,473. Prepayment mechanism for meters. WILSON GAS METERS, Ltd., G., and ORMEROD, G. A. March 20, 1937. No. 8245. [Class 27] Prepayment meter mechanism for selective operation by coins of two different values, e.g. a shilling and a penny, includes a planetary gearing comprising an externallytoothed sun wheel 14, Fig. 1, an internally-toothed annulus 13 connected to one of the coin wheels 12 and, intermeshing with these, a planet pinion 15 supported on a carrier 16 which is the driven member of the planetary gearing and is connected to the quantity mechanism. The sun wheel 14 is connected through additional gearing to the other coin wheel 11, which is the penny wheel. The additional gearing comprises a stationary internally-toothed annulus 17, an externally-toothed sun wheel 19 fast with the penny wheel 11, and a planet gear 20 intermeshing the wheel 19 and annulus 17, this planet gear being supported by a carrier 21 which is secured to the sun wheel 14 by screws 22. The wheels 11, 12 are held against reverse rotation by ratchet-and-pawl devices and the annulus 17 is provided with an arm 18 which may be secured to the casing of the coin pocket mechanism. The carrier 16, when the wheel 12 is actuated, is given a movement twelve times as great as when a penny is used and the wheel 11 actuated. In a modification, the arm 18 is replaced by a sixpenny coin wheel held against reverse rotation by a pawl. When a sixpence is inserted, the annulus 17 is rotated and the planet gear 20 caused to roll round the sun wheel 19, thus driving the sun wheel 14 with appropriate gear reduction. Specification 448,868 is referred to.