GB558488A - An improved coin-inlet mechanism for use on prepayment apparatus for commodities such as gas, electricity or the like - Google Patents

Abstract

558,488. Coin-freed meters. LANDIS & GYR SOC. ANON. Aug, 6, 1941, No. 9974. Convention date, Aug. 20, 1940. [Class 27] In a prepayment meter insertion of a coin allows stored mechanical energy to set the prepaid quantity of the commodity and to pass the coin through the apparatus and if the supply has been cut off a manual operation of means to restore the mechanical energy also reopens the supply. The coin-drum 24 carries two slides, 26 to be pushed in by a coin on insertion, and 27 to be positioned by engagement of its arm 38 with one or other of two recesses 28, 29 appropriate to the coin inserted so as to bring one or both rows of pins 32, 33 into position to engage a pinion 34 and set the quantity mechanism, the indication of the setting being given by a pointer and scale 36, 35. The slides are spring controlled and in normal rest position a pin 30 on the slide 26 engages a fixed stop 31 and prevents the drum from being rotated by the energy storing spring 6 stressed between a ratchet wheel 3 fast on a shaft 1 held by a pawl 4 and a bevel wheel 5 gearing with a bevel wheel 23 on the drum. Thus, on insertion of coin the drum makes a half turn bringing the left-hand end of the slot 8 in the wheel 5 against an arm 7 on the wheel 3 meanwhile setting the mechanism for prepaid delivery and dropping the coin from the drum into the receptacle 42, the movement being controlled by an inertia brake 39 and the friction of the coin against the casing surrounding the drum. If the previous supply had not been used up the switch 17 for delivery of current would still be closed and no further manipulation would be necessary. If however the switch 17 were open, the previous supply having been finished, the knob 2 must be turned to retension the spring 6 and to turn the eccentric 11 so as to free a spring- urged stop 10 from a fixed catch 13 and allow it to rotate a cam 9, loose on the shaft 1, to raise a slide 16 and hook it up on a pawl 20, and close contact 17. The pawl 20 is released by the quantity mechanism of the prepayment apparatus. The spring 12 is attached at one end to the shaft 1 and is retensioned on turning the knob. Specification 480,552 is referred to.