GB773842A - Improvements in or relating to a device for recording the parking time of a vehicle or other machine - Google Patents

Abstract

773,842. Time-alarm signals. L'HERMINE, J. D. Aug. 15, 1955 [Sept. 1, 1954; July 11, 1955], No. 23485/55. Class 118 (2). [Also in Group XVIII] A parking meter for vehicles comprises a clock-like device 1 which is received upon payment corresponding to authorized parking of a total duration equal to the time the device will run (in the embodiment shown, 50 hours). Whenever the vehicle is parked a control knob 25 is turned to move a stop member 12 from the " forbidden " position of Fig. 1 to the " Authorized " position of Fig. 2 and thereby start the clockwork running by withdrawing a lug from between the teeth of a gear-wheel (Figs. 3 and 4, not shown; see Group XVIII). The device is left in the vehicle so that it can be seen from the exterior, a disc 41 rotating to indicate that the device is in operation and the pointer 9 indicating the unexpired parking time paid for. At the end of a parking period knob 25 is turned back to stop the mechanism. When the integrated parking time reaches 50 hours, and the pointer 9 is therefore at zero on the scale, a locking device automatically releases the stopmember 12 from control by knob 25, thereby locking the meter in the " Forbidden " condition from which it can be reset only by partial dismantling by an authorized person. A delayed action mechanism is also incorporated to signal when a given maximum time for any one parking period, e.g. one hour, is exceeded. This comprises a spring-loaded lever restrained by the clockwork but released after the said period of running to project a signal arm 44 across the "Authorized" indication, as shown in Fig. 2. This mechanism is restored each time the knob 25 is operated and is not of an integrating nature. In a modification (Figs. 9 to 12, not shown) a fine may in effect be applied by increasing the speed of the clockwork drive whenever the signal arm 44 is brought into operation. This is done by engaging the pallets of the escapement anchor with an escape wheel having a lower number of teeth (see Group XVIII). This change may alternatively be used with external control means for selectively applying one of two normal parking fees. In a further modification (Figs. 13 to 18, not shown) a second pointer is provided which starts from zero and is driven anti-clockwise over the scale by gearing engaged whenever signal arm 44 is operative. Coincidence of the two pointers allows axial movement of the driving tube of the auxiliary pointer and this disengages the connection between knob 25 and stop-member 12 so that the meter is locked in the " Forbidden " condition.