GB926984A - Improvements in or relating to electricity meters and the like - Google Patents

Abstract

926,984. Prepayment mechanisms. LANDIS & GYR Ltd. Oct. 26, 1960 [Nov. 11, 1959], No.38263/59. Class 27. In a consumption meter and prepayment mechanism therefor wherein one side of the differential of the prepayment mechanism is debited in accordance with the measured consumption by electromagnetic means 30 operable in response to electrical impulses from the meter representing measured consumption and the other side is displaced in accordance with the inserted credit, one of a train of gears included in the meter is provided with means to generate one electrical impulse per complete revolution for the purpose of rotating the debit element of the differential by a fixed amount. The electromagnetic means 30 is a relay with windings 32 and having attached to the armature 34 a pallet 36 urged by a spring 40 into engagement with an escapement wheel mounted for rotation with a gear-wheel 42 geared to a shaft 44 which passes to the debit element of the differential and is biased by a spring for rotation in the debiting direction. The impulses are supplied from an impulse generator 4 having contacts 6, 8 closed by a freely-rotatable cam 14 having a single step 16 biased by a weight 18 to hang at bottom deadcentre on a shaft 12 of the consumption meter; the shaft 12 is preferably that of the 0.1 KWh per division pointer. A shoulder 22 on the weight 18 is engaged by a stop 20 on the shaft 12 which serves to drive the step 16 up to and over top dead-centre when it drops down and closes the contacts 6, 8. The relay 30 may be provided with a separate impulse counter.