GB542858A - Improvements relating to prepayment electricity and other like meters - Google Patents

Abstract

542,858. Prepayment mechanism for electricity, gas and like meters. CHAMBERLAIN & HOOKHAM, Ltd., JAMES, S., and DEACON, L. O. Nov. 23, 1940. No. 16838. [Class 27] Means for varing the rental charge or the quantity of commodity available for a given coin comprises an axiallyimmovable spindle a rotated by a motor b, a clock, or a coin carrier, a driven member d loosely mounted on the spindle and adapted to operate a switch, valve or like member, means p fixed to the spindle for disconnectibly driving the driven member d, a rotatably-adjustable stationary cam u for connecting and disconnecting the means p and the member d, and a spring m for returning the member d to an initial position after each disengagement. In the construction shown the spindle a is driven by a motor b through gearing c, and the member d is normally held in one position by a spring m, a stop n on the member d abutting an adjustable stop o. As the spindle a is rotated one side of a spring-loaded axially-movable detent s on a disc p fixed to the spindle engages a pin t on the member d and drives the member forward until the other side of the detent enters a notch y in the normally stationary cam u whereupon the detent disengages from the pin t and frees the member d so that the latter is returned to its zero position by the spring m. The angle through which the member d is rotated at each revolution of the spindle a thus depends on the angular portion of the cam u. This cam is secured to an adjustable dial or index v set by hand to any desired position, and is retained in position by a spring-loaded pawl w engaging a ratchet wheel x secured to the cam. The member d may, as shown, form a gear wheel meshing with a gear operating a switch (not shown); This gear is loose on a shaft f to which ratchet wheels g, h are fixed, a pawl being mounted on the frame k and engaging the wheel h to prevent backward rotation of the shaft. The other ratchet wheel is engaged by a pawl mounted on the gear e so that the wheel g and shaft f are driven in one direction by the gear e. In a modification the disc p is axially-slidable on the spind e a and has a fixed detent projecting from each face thereof, one adapted to engage the pin t on the member d and the other the recess y in the cam u.