US2231376A - Prepayment electricity meter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1l, 1941. A. zrzr-u N15R PREPAYMENT ELECTRICITY METER Filed Dec. 22, 1936 Patented Feb. 1l, 1941 UNEE smit

h E N T OFF E Arthur Zenkner, Zug, Switzerland, assigner to Landis & Gyr, A-G., a body corporate of Switzerland Application December 22, 1936, Serial No. 117,130 In Switzerland December 26, 1935 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel and improved coin controlled or prepayment electricity meter and more particularly to such a meter which is adapted to make a basicl or initial charge as a` part of the rate schedule for electric power.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawing, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawing:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing an illustrative and typical embodiment of the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 are schematic, fragmentary views of modied embodiments of the invention.

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view of the iixed charge setting mechanism.

The present invention, in certain of its aspects, is an improvement upon the prepayment meter disclosed in the patent to Onesime Borel, No. 1,962,923, granted June 12, 1934, but in other respects is of more general application. It has for its object the provision of a prepayment meter in which a portion of the deposited coin is appropriated to pay a predetermined and fixed initial charge, which charge is accumulated as a function of time. A further object is the provision of a prepayment meter in which a predetermined portion of the depositedy coins is appropriated to pay a basic rate as the coins are deposited until the full basic rate is satisfied and are then further appropriated in accordance with time as `other coins are deposited.

In accordance with the present embodiments of the invention, a main current controlling switch is closed by the deposit of a coin and is opened by consumption of power or by time. As the coins are deposited, they permit operation of the switch controlling and closing devices, and defer the opening of the switch in accordance with the number or value of the deposited coins. As the coins are deposited yand tend to close thel switch, a xed and predetermined portion of their value Ais appropriated to pay for a basic or initial time charge and this is deducted from theireiect on the switch controlling mechanism, while at the same time, the power consumed by the customer also serves to tend to open the switch.

More specifically, assuming that the customer is to be charged for power at the rate of 5 cents perk. w. h., in addition to basic charges of 50 centsat the beginning of each month and 1 cent a day: Upon the customer depositing 25 cents in the meter, 20 cents of this coin is credited to the basic charge and the customer may use l k. w. h. When the customer inserts the next coin, of it may be credited to the basic charge, and with the -third coin, only 10 cents would be credited to the basic rate, leaving the customer a total of 25 cents credit for power. Thus, the customer could use 5 k. W. h. 'Ihe insertion of a fourth coin would entitle the customer to a full 5 k. w. h. of power. Of course, other values, rates and proportions may be provided for by different gearing.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention as shown in Figure 1, the construction in many parts may be identical with that shown and described in the patent to Borel and as there shown, the metering means for measuring the consumption of electrical energy in `an induction watt-hour meter of conventional construction which comprises the usual meter disc l and driving magnets 2 to drive the disc proportionately to energy consumption.

The meter disc I drives a cut-out switch operator 3 of conventional construction through a diierential Il, 5, and 6. Gear 4 is journalled on shaft 8, which shaft xedly carries the support for planet gear 5, whereby movement of gear 5 produces rotation in shaft 8. Gear Si is xed to shaft 'l and is in mesh with planet gear 5. Shaft 'i is mounted independently of shaft 8 but in alignment therewith so that it may rotate with respect to it. Cut-out switch operator 3 is directly formed on shaft l. When the cut-out switch mechanism is returned to its original position by operation of the meter, the cut-out switch is opened in the usual manner, interrupting the supply of current, until such time as it is closed by insertion of coins in the prepayment mechanism later to be described. The cut-out switch operator 3 has its shaft l rotatably connected to the dierential shaft 8, and is moved thereby to open or close the switch.

The prepayment device, into which the customer :inserts one or more coins to close the switch and secure the delivery of an equivalent amount of energy, comprises a pair of slotted discs IIJ, II, mounted on shaft I2, disc II being fast to shaft I2, while the other disc IIJ is loosely mounted on the shaft by means of a sleeve I3 to which is connected an actuating handle similar to handle I4 of the Borel patent, referred to hereinbefore. The customer inserts coins in the slots I5, linking the two discs together, and then turns an actuating handle, causing the upper disc II and shaft I2 to rotate exactly one-quarter revolution and releasing the coin at the end of the handle stroke in the usual manner.

At its upper end, shaft I2 carries a gear I6 fixed thereto and also a gear I1 rotatable relative to the shaft and gear IS and spaced from gear I6 by means of a hub on gear I6. The gear I1 is also provided with a hub on the face of the gear which is adjacent the upper end of shaft I2. Surrounding the hub of gear I1 and positioned between the face of the gear and a supporting member on shaft I2 is a compression spring I8 which acts to force the underface of gear I1Y into frictional engagement with the hub of gear I6.

The prepayment device is coupled to the cutout switch by means of a differential gearing which transmits the actuation of the prepayment device to the cut-out switch at two predetermined and different ratios. As embodied, the gears I6 and I1 mesh with gears I9 and 20, respectively, gear I9 being fixed to shaft 2I, while gear 20 is fixed to a sleeve 22 loose on said shaft. Sleeve 22 has fastened to its other end a differential gear 23, which meshes with a revoluble pinion 24 mounted on an arm fixed to shaft 2I, and meshing with the other differential gear 25 fast to a sleeve 26. Sleeve 25 is loose onl shaft 2I and at its upper end is connected by rods 23' to a bevel gear 21 which is pressed upwardly by means of the spring 21', which drives differential gear 6 through gears 28 and 29 spring 21' serving to hold the gears 21 and y28 lightly in mesh.

At the beginning of each monthly or other metering period, the actuation of handle I4 causes a quarter revolution of discs I0, II, and gears I6, I1 for each coin deposited, and differential gear 23 and pinion 24 are moved thereby in unison to drive the differential gear 25, thereby accumulating on the cut-out switch mechanism 3 a reserve equivalent to-one-half the value of the coin deposited. Due to the gear ratio employed, only one-half of the coil value is transferred so long as the gear 4i) hereinafter referred to is free to move, but when the gear 40 is not free to move, the full value of the coin will be transferred to the cut-out switch operator 3 by suitably moving the gearing operating the same.

For increasing the ratio of the drive between the prepayment device and the -cut-out switch, -so that the customer will receive energy value for his money after the predetermined fixed charge has been paid, means are provided for holding one of the differential gears against rotation. Where the gears I6 and I1 are of the same size this doubles the rate of accumulation of surplus in the cut-out switch. As embodied, a pair of discs 30, 3I cooperate with a pivoted detent 33 loosely mounted on shaft 12, which prevents further rotation of the discs when they have been returned to zero. Shaft 32 carries a tctalizing register, which is returned to zero when the fixed predetermined charge has been fully paid, and comprises a pair o-f register wheels 34, 35 connected together by the usual transfer mechanism 36. The units wheel 35 and disc 30 are fixed to shaft 32, while the tens wheel 34 and disc 3l are fast to a sleeve 31 loosely mounted on the shaft.

This ratio changing mechanism is driven from sleeve 22, by means of gear which drives sleeve 4I through gears 42, 43 and 44, and sleeve 4I is loosely journalled on a longitudinally slidable sleeve `clutch 45, held against rotation on shaft 15', and pressed into clutching engagement with sleeve 4I by spring 46. At the end of sleeve is a friction cup 41 which may be pressed inwardly to release the friction coupling between sleeves 4I, 45, and permits the service man to set the xed charge register 34, 35 at the beginning of each period. The resetting of the iixed charge mechanism is conveniently accomplished by the insertion of a blunt pencil through a hole in the meter casing, pressing inwardly on the friction cup 41 and turning it until the register shows the proper predetermined fixed charge.

Other totalizing registers are provided for accumulating the totals of the energy metered, the coins deposited and appropriated in paymen-t of the fixed charges, the coins appropriated in payment of energy, and the total of unappropriated coins.

The register for the total energy consumed comprises a totalizing register of conventional construction which is driven directly from the meter through pinion 5I.

The register for the total coins appropriated in payment of the fixed charges comprises the totalizing register 52 which is driven through a gear train comprising gears 53, 54, 55 from gear 44, and is actuated by any rotation of gea-r I1.

The register for the total coins appropriated by metered energy and accumulated against energy to be metered comprises the totalizing register 56 which is driven directly from gear 28, through pinion 51.

The register for the total unappropriated coins comprises a register 58 which is driven rom the differential shaft 8 through gears 59, 60 in accordance with orbital movement of the differential pinion 5, and is driven forwardly as coins are deposited, and reversely as they are appropriated by rotation of the meter disc.

As the differential pinion 5 is moved forwardly by the insertion of a coin, the switch is moved to closed position and its control mechanism is then moved beyond open position, while as the meter disc rotates, the pinion 5 is reversely moved so as to appropriate the value of the coin and finally cause the switch to be opened.

By varying the ratio of gears I6, I1, I9 and 20, the precentage of the coins deposited which is appropriated for prepayment of the fixed charge may be varied as desired and by choosing a suitable ratio prepayment of the fixed charge in full may be required before any current isf supplied through the meter. With the gear ratio as shown, one-half the value of the deposited coinsis appropriated until the fixed charge has been paid; but if a higher gear ratio is chosen for the gears I1, 20, so that gears 20 and 40 are driven faster than gear I9 and planet 24, then a smaller percentage of the coin value will be used to pay the fixed charge as gears 40 and 42 and the mechanism. driven thereby will be driven to its fully paid position sooner.-

Mean-s are provided in accordance with the present invention for accumulating a time charge which is subsequently paid for by a fixed proportion of the deposited coins. As embodied, there is provided a timing device, such as the rotor 'I8 of a synchronous clock, which drives the gear 7| through shaft T2', this gear meshing with sun gear 'i3 of the differential 14, while the sun gear i5 is relatively non-rotatable with reference to the face of clutch 45. Sun gear 15 is mounted on a shaft 75 slidably but nonrotatably mounted Within the sleeve 45 to which the friction cup 41 is attached at the opposite end. Rotation of the cup 41 will thus be transmitted to the sun gear 15. Planetary gear 18 of the differential 'I4 is fast to the shaft 32 to which are secured the drum; 35 and the cam disc 39, as Well as the units drum of the totalizing register 52. Rotor 'l0 turns slowly and advances the cam discs 38 and 3| slowly at a predetermined rate, thereby accumulating a time :charge which must be paid for by deposited coins. Planet gear 13 is thus advanced by a time factor and is returned to a position where the spring urged pawl 33 engages in the notches of both earn discs 39 and 3| by the insertion and partial appropriation of deposited coins.

In the operation of the described embodiment, the insertion of a coin into the slots I5 permits the disc to be rotated by rotation of the disc I9, and this causes rotation of the gears l5 and i7 and thereby rotation of the gears i9 and 28. Gear 28 rotates gears 48, 42, 48, 44 and l5, causing a reverse rotation of sun gear 'I3 tending to return the drums 34 and 35 to zero. When a sufficient number of coins has been deposited, the pawl 33 locks the discs 38 and 3| against further backward rotation and thereby holds the gears '13, 'l5 and 'I8 against ``movement, so that any further value of the coins is credited entirely to lthe current controlling switch. Rotation of gear 48 rotates sun gear 23 and planet gear 24 is simultaneously rotated by gear I9 through shaft 2| and the movement of sun gear 23 and planet gear 24 rotates sun gear 25. Gear 25 is fast to gear 21 to drive the sun gear 6 of the switch: controlling mechanism through gears 28 and 29.

Thus the switch controlling mechanism, of known construction, is set to close the switch and then advance it so that a corresponding amount of power may be delivered to the customer.

As the power i-s measured by the meter sun gear 4 is rotated to reversely move the switch controlling mechanism and tend to open the switch which is directly actuated by the planet gear 5,

The time charge is subtracted from the value of the deposited coins by means of the differential 'i4 which has its sun gear 'I3 moved to advance the drums 34 and 35, as well as discs 3U and 3|, by the rotor 10, and this advance sets the mechanism` so that it will later appropriate a portion of the deposited coins to pay for the time charge, at the same time crediting the remainder of the deposited coin value to the current controlling switch. Vihen all of the fixed charges have been paid, the differential sun gear 23 is locked against rotation and the full value of the deposited coins is credited to the switch controlling mechanism.

Figure 3 illustrates a modified embodiment of the invention in which the meter drives a gear 89 fixed to sun wheel 8| of the differential 82,

the rotor 'i9 drives gear 83, which is freely mounted to rotate on its supporting shaft 84. Gear 84 is fixed to said supporting shaft, as is also a collar 83. Spring 86' surrounds said shaft and is compressed between gears 83 and 84, forcing gear 83,' against collar 83', thus frictionally connecting gear 83 through the supporting shaft 84' to gear 84 and cause the gears to rotate together while the deposited coins serve to rotate a gear 85. Fixed to gear 84 is a stop pin 83 which may be set either by the fixed charge knob 4'! or by the timing rotor 7|), and this stop pin is adapted to limit the movement of the army 81 fixed to the shaft 88. Shaft 88 carries gear 89 which meshes with gear 9U fastened to the sun gear 9|, while gear 99 also meshes with gear 92 which is frictionally coupled to the coin controlled gear by the same type of clutch as connects gears 83 and 84. Gear 85 meshes with the gear 93 fixed to the shaft 94 supporting the planet gear 96 travelling between sun gears 9| and 9T and sun gear 9i is fast to gear 98 meshing with the gear 99 which is fast to sun gear |09 of the differential 82. Planet gear |D| meshes with the sun gears 8| and |09, and is mounted on the switch controlling shaft |03.

In the operation of this embodiment, the switch controlling shaft |83 is moved in one direction by the meter driven gear 8| so as tocpen the switch, While it is moved in the other direction by gear |08, and gear |19 may be advanced by the -coin controlled gear or 93. As the first coins are deposited, gears 99 and 93 are both rotated until stop arm 81 contacts with the stop pin 86, after which pinion 96 is revolved with gear 98 held stationary so as to rotate gear |98 and revolve planetary gear |0|. With the passage of time, stop pin 86 is further advanced by time, so that the next coin will be partially appropriated as it is deposited to pay for the time charge, the remainder of the coin being credited to the switch mechanism.

In Figure 2 there is shown a further modified embodiment of the invention in which the switch controlling shaft |03 is directly operated by planetary gear |9| meshing with the meter driven sun gear 9| and the time and coin controlled sun gear |80. The timing rotor 19 drives sun gear 'f3 in the direction shown by the solid arrow, causing planetary gear i8 to move at half speed in the same direction so as to move the stop arm 81 in the same direction, while sun gear 'l5 is reversely moved by the coin controlled handle |4 through gears H9, Handle I4 also moves gears ||2, ||3 to turn sun gears 4 and H5 in opposite directions until arm H8 engages stop arm 81, after which kplanetary gear revolves to rotate gear |89, thereby revolving gear Thus the deposited coin is first simultaneously credited to the fixed charge device and the switch controlling means, until arms ||6 and 87 are in engagement, indicating full payment of the fixed charge, and thereafter the full value of the coin is credited to the switch controlling means until a further time charge has been accumulated, after which this charge is again paid by the deposit of another coin.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a prepayment device, the combination of a power meter, a timing device, a coin controlled device, a switch controlling device to limit the supply of power, mechanism including a difeiential gear train connecting said power meter to said switch controlling device, a second differential operated by said coin controlled device, a third differential operated by said timing device, means connecting said third differential to said second differential whereby operation of the latter affects the drive of said third diierential, means interconnecting said second diierential with said first differential whereby operation of said first differential by said meter is affected by said second differential, and a stop limiting the movement of the time controlled device by the coin controlled device.

2. In a prepayment device, the combination of a power meter, a timing device, a coin controlled device, a switch controlling device to limit the supply of power and adapted to be moved in opposite directions, means connecting the power meter to the switch controlling device for moving the latter in one direction to limit the supply of power, means connecting the timing device to said switch controlling device for also moving the latter in said same direction and means connecting the coin controlled device to said switch controlling device for moving the latter in another direction to obtain a supply of power, a stop positioned by the timing means, a member connected with the meter and said coin control device and movable against said stop thereby and serving to reduce the movement of the switch controlling device.

3. In a prepayment device, the combination of a power meter, a timing device, adjustable stop means including a variable element, a coin controlled device,` a switch controlling device to limit the supply of power, a differential connected with said meter and said switch controlling device, a second differential connected to said first differential and said coin controlled device, one of the gears in the second differential being controlled in its movement by said adjacent stop, a third differential connected to said timing device and said coin control device, and means connecting said third differential with said variable element of said stop.

ARTHUR ZENKNER.

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