GB626884A - An improved prepayment mechanism for use in combination with gas meters - Google Patents

Abstract

626,884. Prepayment mechanism for meters. SANDERS, E., and RANSOM, J. Oct. 18, 1946, No. 31006. [Class 27] The quantity differential of a prepayment gas meter comprises two bevel sunwheels 14 and 27, driven respectively by the coin and meter mechanisms, and a bevel planet wheel 26 for operating the supply valve held resiliently in engagement with the sun-wheels. In the mechanism shown, the planet wheel 26 revolves on a stub spindle 28 mounted on a spindle 29 connected to a valve-controlling scroll cam 33, and a compression spring 31 maintains it in mesh with the sun-wheels. The sunwheel 27 is driven by the meter through two worm gears 44 and 41, whilst the sunwheel 14 is connected to a quantity wheel 5 adapted to be engaged and rotated by a striker 7 on a rotary coin pocket 6; a coin inserted into the pocket couples it to a driver 50 on a hand shaft and engages the striker with the quantity wheel. The scroll cam 33 opens and closes the gas valve 3 by engagement with a pin 45 on a spring- loaded bell-crank 46 carrying the valve. When the mechanism is run back beyond zero credit and into debit, the pin 45 runs clear of the inner end of the scroll until finally contact is made between it and an inturned end of the scroll. This arrests the scroll and any further drive from the meter is taken by the quantity wheel running forwardly against a restraining pawl. Coin action, multiple-coin.-A two-speed gear is interposed between the sun-wheel 14 and quantity-wheel 5 so that the mechanism can be set for operation by either of two coins. A lever 16 which can be pivoted into either of two positions carries two pairs of pinions 18, 19 and 21, 22. In one position (shown) pinions 18, 19 interconnect wheels 9 and 12 fast respectively with the quantity wheel and sunwheel whilst, in the other position, the alternative pinions 21, 22 interconnect wheels 10 and 13 alternative to the wheels 9 and 12. Indicators.-A rotary drum indicator 38 showing credit and debit is driven through gearing 34, 37 from the valve cam 33.