GB938843A - Parking meter and time release mechanism therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

938,843. Parking meters. CAL-KAY PRODUCTS Inc. Dec. 15, 1961, No. 45047/61. Class 27. A parking meter has a pointer 50 returned from time-indicating position by a pawl and ratchet 46, 48 under the control of an escapement 12 and in order to cancel any time remaining on the meter when a car leaves the parking space an air tube fitted in the parking space is compressed by a car wheel and an impulse is given to a piston 72 in a cylinder 74 so that a lever 62 is moved to disengage the pawl 46, thus allowing rapid return of the pointer to timeexpired position. An inserted coin falls on to tabs 263, 264, 266 and pivots a lever 158 to rotate a shaft 156 and withdraw a stop 152 from a spring clutch 146 to allow rotation of a shaft 126 by a spring motor 106. A cam plate 253 on the shaft is rotated clockwise and a link 258 moves a bell crank 166 counterclockwise so that a spring-loaded lever 267 pushes the coin into the arms of a lever 252 which has also been rotated by the cam plate. A link 191 from the bell crank rotates a quadrant plate 84 and a pawl 86 on the plate engages a toothed segment 88 carrying the pointer 50 and rotates the latter to time-indicating position. Further rotation of the bell crank 166 moves a cam surface 199 to disengage the pawl 86 from the segment 88 and the cam plate 253 and bell crank move through one complete revolution to return their associated parts to original position and re-engage the stop 152 with the spring clutch 146. A cam surface 203 on the quadrant plate 84 engages a lip 207 on a time-indicating scale 54 and raises it into position to be supported by a tab 209 on the pointer. A violation flag 52 attached to the scale is moved to inoperative position and a stop 26 is removed from the balance wheel of the escapement 12, which controls the drive of a main shaft 14 by the spring motor 106 through a two-speed gear 192. The pawl 46 on the pointer automatically engages with the ratchet wheel 48 and pointer is driven back under timed control by the main shaft. When the purchased time has expired, the tab 209 rides off the lip on the scale 54 and the latter falls, thus bringing the violation flag 52 into operative position. If a car leaves the parking space with time still indicated on the meter, the impulse from the air tube lifts the lever 62 and its enlarged circular portion 78 will disengage the pawl 46 and allow a spring 36 to return the pointer. In event of failure of the air tube to operate, for any reason such as snow or ice, the pointer will still return under timed control.