GB531840A - Improvements in or relating to circuit closing and releasing mechanism for prepayment electricity-meters - Google Patents

Abstract

531,840. Prepayment mechanism for meters. SODECO SOC. DES COMPTEURS DE GENEVE. Aug. 3, 1939, No. 22514. Convention date, Aug. 5, 1938. [Class 27] The supply switch of an electricity meter is closed by the rotation of hand-operated means upon the insertion of coins and is opened when all the coins have been used up, a differential gear being provided between the closing and opening means, said gear being adapted to open the switch independently of the position of the hand-control means. In the construction shown when a coin is inserted a crank 1 can be rotated by hand through 360 degrees and a release drum 24 is rotated through an angle corresponding to the value of the coin, this drum being then returned gradually by the meter mechanism (not shown). The crank 1 lifts and then releases an arm 4 controlled by a spring 6 and carrying a pawl 5 which engages and rotates a ratchet wheel 8 when the arm 4 has been released. The wheel 8 is fixed to a sun wheel 7 engaging a planet pinion 10<SP>1</SP> rotating on a spindle 10 fixed to a shaft 3 carrying the switch arm 11, 15. Thus, with the second sun wheel 16 held fast by multiplying gearing 17 ... 20 and one of two stop arms 22, 23 on a shaft 21, rotation of the wheel 8 rotates the shaft 3 and moves the switch blade 11 from the position shown in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, so that the switch contacts 12, 12<SP>1</SP> close. Rotation of the shaft 21 is now prevented by the arm 22 resting on the drum 24 until the latter is returned to zero position by the meter. The freeing of the arm 22 then allows the switch arm 15 to be moved to the " open " position by its spring 14, the sun wheel 7 being stationary and the sun wheel 16 rotating the shaft 21 through several revolutions. If a second coin is inserted before the first is used up the arm 4 is raised and stresses the spring 6 but cannot fall as the sun wheel 7 is held against rotation, the switch arm being against a stop 26 and the arm 22 being held by the drum 24 which is again set forward by the second coin. As soon as the coins are used up the drum 24 releases arm 22, the switch arm is moved to the " open " position, the shaft 21 makes several revolutions until arm 23 is stopped by switch arm 15, and the arm 4 falls until it is held by a stop 25. The arm 23 being held by the open switch arm 15, the arm 22 is kept clear of the drum 24 so that the latter is free to be turned.