GB568100A - Improvements in or relating to prepayment mechanism for electricity and other meters - Google Patents

Abstract

568,100. Prepayment mechanism for meters. ARON ELECTRICITY METER, Ltd., and RIORDAN, E. J. June 26, 1943, No. 10361. [Class 27] Price-change mechanism for electricity and other meters, of the kind having a first gear member comprising a plurality of concentric gear rings, any one of which can be engaged by a slidable second gear member, is characterised in that the first gear member comprises a pair of concentric gear ring members, each engageable by a separate second gear member, means such as a differential being provided to summate the movements of the two second gear members. In the construction shown, the first gear member 1 has two sets of concentric gear rings 2, 2a on its opposite faces and is driven by a pinion 25 from the meter element, the prepayment mechanism, or a constant speed motor. A second gear member 4 is adapted to engage any one of the gear rings 2 and is carried by a lever 6 slidable along a bar 8, the gear 4 being locked in any of its gear positions by the engagement of the lever end 11 in one of a series of notches 12 in a plate 13. Another second gear member 4a adapted to engage any one of the gear rings 2a is carried by a second lever engaging notches 12a in the plate 13. The gear 4 meshes with a long pinion 19 driving the planet pinion 21 of a differential, and the gear 4a meshes with a long pinion 19a driving a sun-wheel 23 of the differential through gearing 22. The other sun-wheel 24 drives the meter cut-out (not shown). Thus, the differential sums up the drives from the two sets of gear rings 2, 2a, and as the gear trains from the gears 4, 4a are of different ratios, one may represent charges in pence per unit and the other in eighths of a penny per unit, so that variations in price may be made from oneeighth of a penny by eighths up to several pence per unit. The lever 6 is kept in place in any selected notch 12 by a spring 14. The gear 4 is formed with a crown wheel 15 which engages a pinion 16 on the shaft 3 of the gear member 1 when the lever end 11 is in one end notch 121a. When the gear 4 is at the other end of its adjustment it engages a fixed plate 17 and is locked thereby ; in both end positions it is out of gear with the gear rings 2. An indication of the settings of the two gears 4, 4a may be provided opposite the slots 12, 12a.