GB498530A - Improvements relating to prepayment mechanisms for gas and other meters - Google Patents

Abstract

498,530. Prepayment mechanism for meters. GLOVER & CO., Ltd., G., and STAPLES, C. W. July 23, 1937, No. 20410. [Class 27] A prepayment mechanism for gas and other meters, operable optionally by coins of two different denominations, comprises two coin wheels a, b actuated respectively by, for example, pennies and shillings, and being connected to the normal epicyclic gear o, p, 4 constituting the quantity-mechanism through an additional epicyclic gear h, i, x, the axis of which is at right-angles to the axis of the normal epicyclic gear, and separate non-reversible worm and worm-wheels e, f and v, w being included in the gear trains between the wheels a, b and the additional epicyclic gear. The penny wheel a is on the shaft d carrying the worm and the shilling wheel drives the shaft t of the worm v through gear-wheels r, s. The planet-wheel i drives a shaft k having a crownwheel m meshing with a pinion n rigid with one sun-wheel o of the normal epicyclic gear. The other sun-wheel p is driven by the meter through a worm and worm-wheel 2, z. The planet-wheel 4 rotates a shaft 6 connected through a Geneva mechanism 7, 8 to a cam disc 9 for controlling the gas valve. A pair of connected levers 12, 13 associated with the Geneva mechanism closes the discharge slot 11 of the coin chamber c when the maximum number of coins has been inserted. The shaft 6 drives an indicator 10 showing the amount standing to the consumer's credit. Specification 489,399 is referred to.