GB562093A - Improvements relating to prepayment meter mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

562,093. Prepayment mechanism for meters. CHELTENHAM METERS, Ltd., and PORTER, J. Sept. 8, 1942, No. 12644. [Class 27] The control valve or switch of a meter is operated by a shaft d having a pin f adapted to engage notches k formed in the peripheries of two cams or discs g, h, so that when the notches coincide the pin enters the recesses and the valve &c. closes to cut off the supply. The spindles i, j of the discs are geared together by gear-wheels o having different numbers of teeth (e.g. one may have 20 teeth and the other 21), these gear-wheels being driven from the meter through a pinion p and an idler q.. The disc g is fixed on its spindle i, but the disc h is connected to its spindle j through a pawl n and ratchet m, so that it can be rotated thereon by means of a lever t also loose on the spindle and carrying pawls u, v engaging a ratchet-wheel s on the disc. When a coin is inserted in a slot 3 it falls down a shoot and rests, as shown at 6, against the end of the lever t and a fixed stop 5. A finger lever y is now depressed and rocks a lever w on the same shaft x, this lever forcing the coin down and thereby rocking the lever t so that the disc h is rotated through a certain angle and forces the pin f out of its notch thereby opening the meter valve. As gas is used, the meter drives the gear-wheels o, and the discs g, h rotate, but at different speeds, and the valve does not close until the notches coincide again after a number of revolutions of the discs depending on the ratio of the gears o. If two or more coins are inserted a corresponding additional quantity of gas will be available. When coins of different denominations are to be used, a corresponding number of coinadmission slots and finger levers are employed, the latter being adapted to impart movement to the disc corresponding to the value of the coin. In a modification, Figs. 4 to 7 (not shown), the discs or cams g, h are coaxial and the cam h drives an indicator showing the quantity of gas available and indicating when the maximum number of coins has been inserted.