GB755982A - Improvements in or relating to prepayment mechanisms - Google Patents

Abstract

755,982. Prepayment meters. COMPAGNIE POUR LA FABRICATION DES COMPTEURS ET MATERIEL D'USINES A GAZ. Feb. 1, 1954 [Feb. 4, 1953], No. 2954/54. Class 27 Prepayment mechanisms for a gas, liquid or electricity meter comprises a rotary plate 6 carrying one or more locking levers 8a, 8b and one or more co-operating levers 9a, 9b. Each lever 9a, 9b is pivoted on a stud 10 and, when a control knob shaft 21 is rotated in the absence of a coin, a dog 23 engages the arm 16 of lever 9b and rotates it about the stud 10 so that the arm 16 presses against the arm 11 of lever 8b and ensures that a catch 13 on the end of the latter lever is held in engagement with a stop 14. If, however, a coin 24 has been inserted through a slot 5, a lug 19 engages the coin to provide an alternative pivot point for lever 9b so that the middle part 25 of the lever, which is slotted at 20, slides on the stud 10 and engages the other arm 12 of lever 8b thus pivoting it to disengage the catch 13. The plate 6 can then be rotated until the catch 13 on the second lever 8b engages the stop 14 and the coin is discharged. Springs 17 interconnect the levers 8b, 9a and 8a, 9b. A pinion 8 on the shaft 21 is geared to one sunwheel of a differential gear having another sunwheel geared to the control member of a valve or switch and having planet wheels geared to the measuring-out shaft.