US2947403A - Parking meters - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 2, 1960 R. D. MURPHY ETAL 2,947,403

PARKING METERS Filed Feb. 12, 1957 3'Sheets-Sheet l r I INVENTORS '5' E fiaaerfi. l/ae x/r 901 MIA 501V BY www ATTORNEYS Aug. 2,-1960 R. D. MURPHY S 2,947,403

I PARKING METERS Filed Feb. 12, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet s ATTORNEYS l Unite j States Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., vania Janson, Manufacturing a corporation of Pennsyl- Filed Feb. 12, 1957, Ser. No. 639,771

6 C1. (C1. 194--2 li) This invention relates to coin operated parking meters and more particularly to improved reset mechanisms for parking meters operable to set and accumulate time when coins of three different values, for example, a penny, a nickel, a dime, or a nickel, a dime and a quarter are deposited in the meter.

While certain of the mechanisms of the present invention are of general application, the invention will be disclosed as applied to parking meters of the general type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,696,899.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide improved parking meters including novel reset mechanisms which permit broader utilization of the basic meter structure by the provision of mechanisms which may be installed, removed and adjusted easily and quickly to adapt the basic meter structure for operation by series of coins of different denominations.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide improved coin actuated parking meters which are positive in action, accurate and of rugged construction.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide improved mechanisms for setting and accumulating time in response to the insertion of at least two different series of three coins each.

It is also an important object of the present invention to provide improved meters of the type shown in Patent No. 2,696,899 which are more versatile and thus better able to meet the widely varying requirements presented by off-the-street parking as well as various types of on-thestreet parking.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the meter mechanism of the present invention shown in off position and removed from its usual weather-tight protective housing;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism of Figure 1 with parts removed for clarity of illustration;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of a portion of the reset mechanism removed from the remainder of the meter structure;

Figure 5 is an elevation of the stationary cam slide which forms a part of the reset mechanism of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 2; c

Figure 7 is a front elevation of a modified reset mechanism;

Figure 8 is an elevation of a modified cam slide used in themechanism of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a view of a ratchet plate incorporated in the assembly of Figure 7.

In general the parking meter shown in the drawings comprises a time indicator which is driven by a clock mechanism in a counterclockwise direction across a time scale. The indicator is moved in the opposite direction to indicate accumulated time by a movable pawl which seatent O ice lectively engages a ratchet carried by the indicator. When a coin is deposited in the meter the pawl is caused to travel over the periphery of the ratchet through strokes of predetermined length by a drive mechanism actuated by the clock mechanism through a complete cycle each time a coin is deposited in the meter. The parking meter shown in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,696,899 is of this general type and certain elements and assemblies of the meter of the patent are the same as those employed in the meter mechanism of the present invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, indicated generally at 20 is a sheet metal housing which encloses a conventional clock mechanism and upon which the time indicating, reset and coin handling mechanism is mounted. The output shaft 22 of the clock mechanism is rotated at a timed rate in a counterclockwise direction to drive the indicator hand 24 toward the zero point on the time scale 26. A drive disc 28 having a serrated periphery is threaded onto the outer end of the clock drive shaft 22 and held in place by a nut 3i). The disc 28 is separated from a disc 32 also having a serrated periphery by a spring washer 34-, the disc 32 being nonrotatably mounted on a bushing 36 which rotates freely over the shaft 22 and non-rotatably carries the indicator hand 24 and a ratchet plate 40 which is adjustably secured to the indicator hub by a screw 42. Also rotatably carried by the bushing 36 is a fixed cam slide 44.

Whenever the clock mechanism is released the shaft 22 rotates in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure l carrying the disc 28. The discs 28 and 32 are normally connected by a clutch mechanism indicated generally at 46 which includes a rubber faced wheel 48 of sufficient width to ride over the peripheries of both of the discs 28 and 32. The wheel 48 is carried by an arm 50 pivotally supported on a pin 52 rigid with the front coin cap plate 53 which is identical with the corresponding element shown in Patent No. 2,696,899. The opposite ends of a spring wire 54 are hooked around the rear side of the arm 50 and the rear side of an arm 56 which is also pivotally mounted on the pin 52. Counterclockwise movement of arm 50 with respect to arm 56 is limited by an abutment 58 on the latter. The arm 56 is normally urged in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure l by a mechanism to be described and is released during reset operation. Because of the spring wire 54 and the abutment 58, the arms 50 and 56 are free to move as a unit around their common pi-vot when released. Thus the clock shaft 22 is normally connected to the indicator 24, this drive connection being interrupted during reset operations to permit free movement of the indicator 24 in a clockwise direction across the time scale.

The clock mechanism within housing 28 is provided with a second output shaft 60 which makes one full rotation and operates the resetting mechanism through a full cycle each time the clock work is released by the insertion of a coin into the meter. The coin drops from the coin receiving slot of the meter housing (not shown) into a guideway formed between the rear coin guide plate 62 and the front coin cap plate 53 and by a flanged member 64 and a guide block 66 both secured to the rear coin guide plate 62. The front coin cap plate :53 is suitably secured to the rear plate 62 by a plurality of screws not shown and the rear plate is in turn secured by similar means and spacers to the housing 20.

Rotation of shaft 60 is normally prevented by a suitable brake (not shown) which is controlled by a mechanism identical with that shown in Patent No. 2,696,899 including a trip shaft not shown which extends through the housing 20. A trip lever 68 non-rotatably secured at its upper end to the trip shaft carries a flanged arm 70 at its lower end, flange 72 of which is engaged by a coin passing downwardly through the mechanism. The coin p p 3 A pushes the flange 72 to the left as viewed in Figure 2 thus rocking the arm 68 to release the trip shaft and thereby release the shaft 60 for rotation in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2. When the meter is in the ofl position the flange 74 at the forward side of the arm 70 engages a corner 76 on the rear coin guide plate 62 to prevent accidental release of the reset mechanism. A stop pin 78 extends rearwardly from the lower end of the trip lever 68 and is normally positioned in a notch 80 in the edge of a release cam plate 82 pivotally mounted on a pin 84 suitably secured to the casing 20.

Non-rotatably secured to the drive shaft 60 is a sector plate 86 pivotally connected by a pin 88 to a link 90, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected by a pin 92 to the release cam plate 82. Thus rotation of the shaft 60 in a clockwise direction will oscillate the cam plate 82 about the axis of pin 84 first in a counterclockwise direction then in a clockwise direction. When the latter movement returns the cam plate 82 to its initial position the pin 78 will re-enter the notch 80 thus stopping the reset mechanism.

A pin 94 extends rearwardly from the plate 82 into a slot 96 in a time selector link 98 pivotally secured by a pin 100 to the flag cam plate 102 rigid with a bushing 103 rotatably mounted on the shaft 22 and separated from bushing 36 by a spring washer 105. Also carried by the pin 100 is an auxiliary time selector link 104 best shown in *Figure 6. A wire spring 106 normally urges the link 104 in a clockwise direction to urge the notch 108 in the end of the link onto the enlarged head portion of the pin 94. The link 104 is provided with a second downwardly curving hook portion 110 substantially opposite the inner end of the slot 96.

When the plate 82 is oscillated, the pin 94 will engage the hook 108 of the auxiliary link 104 and displace the latter to the left causing the flag cam plate 102 to rotate in a clockwise direction about the axis of shaft 22. A carnming edge 112 on the plate 102 will engage the flange 114 on the time scale 26 to elevate the latter into its normal operating position. When the pin 94 is in engagement with the notch 108 the plate 102 will be moved through a full stroke cycle when the mechanism is tripped. However, if the auxiliary link 104 is shifted upwardly so that the pin clears the notch 108, the pin 94 will slide along the slot 96 until it engages the hook portion 110 and rotation of the plate 102 will begin only after the pin 94 is so engaged. The parts are so proportioned that the length of the stroke imparted to the plate 102 when the pin 94 engages the notch 108 is exactly twice the length of the stroke produced by engagement of pin 94 with the hook 110.

In the form of the meter shown in Figure l which is set up for nickel, dime, quarter operation, the pin 94 engages the notch 108 whenever a nickel, dime or a quarter is deposited in the meter and the auxiliary link 104 is shifted to produce a short stroke of the plate 102 only when a penny is inserted into the mechanism which does not register time. In the modified form of the invention which is set up for operation by pennies, nickels and dimes, the insertion of a penny will produce a short stroke of the plate 102 and the nickels and dimes will each produce a full stroke as explained in detail hereinafter.

i The mechanism for selectively shifting the link 104 includes a lift lever 116 mountedfor pivotal movement on a pin 118 suitably mountedon the housing 20. The lift lever 116 is urged in a counterclockwise direction about pin 118 into engagement with a collar 122 surrounding the pin 84 by a wire spring 120. The upper end of the lever 116 is formed with a cam portion 124 which normally supports the hook portion 110 on the auxiliary lever 1114. The hook portion 110 normally rides over the cam portion 124 when the plate 82 is oscillated and the pin 94 remains in contact with the notch 108. However if the link 116 is shifted slightly in a clockwise direction it will lift the auxiliary lever 104 sufliciently to permit the pin 94 to clear the notch 108 and the pin 94 will then continue to move without imparting movement to the cam plate 102 until the pin contacts the hook portion The coin. handling mechanism of the meter of the present invention is essentially the same as that of Patent No. 2,696,899 and will be described herein only to the extent necessary to facilitate a clear understanding of the present invention. Briefly, the coin handling mechanism includes a lever arm 126 projecting forwardly through an arcuate slot in the release cam 82 from the outer end of a lever 128 mounted on the pin 84. A second arm 130 projects forwardly from the lift lever 116. Normally the lever 128 is supported by the pointed end of the link 90 and, as sector 86 rotates, the lever arm 126 is engaged by a cam on the link and rotated counterclockwise around the edge of a coin.

When a nickel is deposited in the meter it trips the release lever 68 and passes downwardly to a position where it is supported on the levers 126 and 130. The nickel is supported in this manner until the arm 126 is rotated to a non-supporting position when the coin then falls onto one arm of a release lever 132. When a penny is inserted into the meter it will, because of its smaller diameter, drop further down between the lever 126 and the lever 130 and come to rest upon the flange of a rocker arm 134 projecting forwardly from the small plate 136 carried by the plate 82. As the lever 126 is moved to the right by the link 90 the penny is wedged between the lever 126 and the lift lever arm 130 to thereby raise the link 116 and the auxiliary link 104 until the notch 108 in the'latter clears the pin 94 to thereby operate the plate 102 through a short stroke. In the subsequent movement of the mechanism the penny is released and falls downwardly onto the arm of the release mechanism 132.

A dime inserted into the mechanism will drop down onto the lever 134 but because of its smaller diameter will not be wedged by the lever 126 against the arm 130 of the lifting link 116. Accordingly the insertion of a dime into the mechanism .will produce a full stnoke of the plate 102. A quarter will be passed through the mechanism with the same action as a nickel insofar as the structure thus far described is concerned. 1

The motion of the cam plate 102 is transmitted to the indicator flag 24 to set time on the meter by the mechanism now to be described.

The cam plate 102 carries a pawl 140 pivotally mounted thereon by a screw 142. The pawl is provided with an outwardly turned arm 144 the outer end of which rides along the fixed cam slide 44 and the inner portion of which is adapted to selectively engage the teeth of the ratchet plate 40. The pawl is biased in a clockwise direction as viewed. in Figure l by a tension spring not shown mounted on the cam plate 102. The engagement of the pawl 140 and the ratchet teeth is controlled by the fixed cam slide 44 and by a movable cam slide 146 pivotally secured by a screw 148 to the fixed cam slide 44. The movable cam slide 146 is biased in a counterclockwise direction by a wire spring 150. Movement of the cam slide in this direction is limited by contact of an inture d flange 152 on the cam slide with the rear edge of the arm 144 on the pawl 140. In this position the end of an arm 154 on the cam slide 146 is disposed in the path of nickels and quarters inserted into the meter and out of the path of pennies and dimes inserted into the meter. As best shown in Figure 4 the ratchet plate 40 is provided with a first series of teeth 156 formed concentrically about the axis of the shaft 22 and a second series of teeth 158 formed concentrically about the axis ,of shaft 22 on a radius slightly larger than the radius on which the teeth 156 are formed. Each of the teeth 156 and the teeth 158 are of such size that the spacing between adjacent teeth is equal to one-half hour on the time scale. The

fixed cam slide includes relatively raised arcuate surfaces 160 and 162 connected by a relieved portion 164. The surfaces 160 and .162 are disposed outwardly of both sets of teeth 156 and 158 and the surface 164 is radially inward of both sets of teeth. A second relatively depressed portion 166 extends from the end of the relatively elevated portion 162 substantially to the end of the cam slide. The surface 166 is radially inward of the teeth 158 and radially outward of the teeth 156. l

The movable cam slide 146 is provided with a projecting corner 168, which, when the meter is at rest, projects outwardly beyond the surface 160 of fixed cam slide 44 and covers a portion of the relieved section 164. Immediately beyond the corner 168 the movable cam slide is provided with a notch formed between camming surfaces 170 and 172. Finally the movable cam slide is provided with an arcuate surface 174, which, when the mechanism is at rest, projects slightly outwardly of the underlying surface 166 on the fixed cam slide 44.

As stated above the meter of Figure 1 is adapted to set time, and to accumulate time upon the insertion of a nickel, dime or a quarter into the meter. The time scale 26 is calibrated for 12 hour operation and the appropriate clock work mechanism is provided to move the indicator across the time scale at the proper rate. In this type of meter, which is used primarily for off-the-street or lot parking, a nickel registers one hour, a dime registers two hours and a quarter registers five hours. Provision is also made for passing a penny through the mechanism without setting time.

i If a penny is deposited in the meter, it will, in the manner previously explained, trip the mechanism and actuate the cam 102 through a short stroke. In this stroke the pawl 140 will be moved only to the first arcuate portion 160 of the fixed slide 44. Since this surface is at a greater distance from the axis of shaft 22 than the teeth 156 and 158 the pawl will not pick up the ratchet 40 and no time will be set on the mechanism.

When a nickel is deposited in the machine the cam plate 102 will be oscillated through a full stroke as previously explained. When the nickel is retained on the lower support member 134 it will also contact the end of the projecting arm 154 on the movable cam slide 146 during the initial portion of the movement of the cam plate 102. Accordingly, the pawl will be held out of contact with the ratchet plate until it passes the shoulder 168 on the mov- .ab'le cam slide 146. The pawl will then engage one of the teeth 156 or 158 and advance the indicator flag 24 an amount corresponding to a setting of one hour on the time scale 26 before the pawl is disengaged from the teeth when it leaves the end of the depressed surface 164. Before the pawl reaches the end of the surface 162 the coin is permitted to drop to a point where it is no longer in engagement with the projecting arm 154 of the cam slide 146. The slide then swings slightly counterclockwise about the pin 148 to dispose its surface 174 in the path of the pawl to prevent engagement of the pawl and the teeth 158.

'When a dime is inserted into the mechanism it will trip the release mechanism and actuate the cam plate 102 through a full stroke. However, because of its relatively smaller size the dime does not contact the end of the projecting arm 154 on the slide cam 146. Accordingly the latter member swings in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot as soon as it is released by the rear edge of the pawl arm 144. The shoulder 168 thus moves out of the path of the pawl which passes directly from the surface 160 to the surface 164. As the pawl moves opposite the surface 164 in engagement with the teeth 156 or 158 it advances the ratchet and the indicator flag 24 adistance equal to two hours on the time scale. Further engagement of the pawl with the ratchet plate is prevented by the surface 162 on the fixed slide cam and the surface 174 on the movable slide cam.

A quarter deposited in the machine will trip the release mechanism and move the cam plate 102 through a full stroke. Because of its relatively larger size, the quarter will engage the end of the projecting arm 154 on the movable slide cam 146 throughout the advance stroke of the cam plate. Thus the pawl will engage the teeth opposite surface 164 in essentially the same manner as the nickel and advance the indicator one hour. Thereafter the pawl will be disengaged from the teeth 156 by the surface 162 in the fixed slide cam 44. As soon as the pawl reaches the end of the surface 162 it will engage one of the teeth 158 since the movable cam slide is biased in a clockwise direction by the coin. As the pawl passes opposite the recess 166 it moves the ratchet and the time indicator 24 a distance equal to four hours along the time scale thus setting a total of five hours on the meter.

During each movement of the cam plate 102 the inner surface of notch on the cam plate 102 moves away from the inturned end of arm 56 thus permitting the latter to rotate clockwise about its pivot 52 to permit the clutch roller 48 to move away from the discs 28 and 30 thus permitting the time indicator 24 to move in a clockwise direction without corresponding movement of the disc 28 and the shaft 22.

The action of the resetting mechanism upon the insertion of a coin of any denomination when time is already set on the mechanism is essentially the same as that previously described. The mechanism is so arranged that the time indicator will not be moved passed the twelve hour mark regardless of the time set on the meter prior to the deposit of an additional coin. For example, if a nickel or a dime is deposited in the meter when eleven and a half hours is already set on the meter, the end of the series of teeth 156 will be disposed at a point near the end of recess 164 so that even after the pawl enters into the recess 164 it will not operate the ratchet plate 40 until it reaches a point near the end of the recess 164.

If a quarter is inserted in the meter when any period greater than seven hours, for example ten hours, has beenset on the meter, the pawl will enter the surface 166 at a point opposite the last of the teeth 156, which, as indicated above, are radially inward of the surface 166. Accordingly, the pawl will not engage the ratchet until it reaches the first of the teeth 158 which are so positioned that in the further movement of the pawl the time indicator will be advanced exactly to the twelve hour mark on the time scale.

To adapt the meter for operation as a conventional two hour meter it is necessary only to change the time scale, to set the clock work mechanism appropriately to cause the time indicator to traverse the scale in two hours rather than twelve hours and to substitute the ratchet plate and fixed and movable slide cams shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 for those described above.

As in the previously described embodiment, the insertion of a penny will operate the cam plate 102 through a short stroke and the insertion of a nickel or dime will operate the mechanism through a full stroke which is twice that of the short stroke. The modified ratchet plate shown separately in Figure 9 is generally of arcuate form and is provided on its periphery with a series of equally spaced teeth 182 separated from a second series of similar teeth 184 by a blank tooth 186. The teeth 182 and 184 are concentric about the axis of shaft 22 and the teeth 184 are formed on a slightly larger radius than the teeth 182. The circumferential spacing of the teeth 182 and 184 is equivalent to twelve minutes on the time scale. A single tooth 187 formed on the indicator projects above the blank tooth 186 for a purpose to appear. The fixed cam slide 188 shown separately in Figure 8 is provided with arcuate surfaces 190 and 192 separated by a recess 194. The surfaces 190 and 192 are formed concentrically about the axis of shaft 22 and the surface 190 is formed on a slightly shorter radius than the surface 192. The modified movable slide cam 196 is formed with a relatively short arcuate surface 198, a second arcuate surface 200 of relatively reduced height, a further relativelyraised arcuate surface 202 and an elongated arcuate surface 204. The movable cam slide is pivotally attached to the fixed cam slide by a screw 206 and is biased in a counterclockwise direction about the screw 206 by a wire spring 208. The projecting coin contacting arm 210 of the movable cam slide 196 is provided with a laterally extending arm 212 terminating in an inturned flange 214 positioned in the path of a pin 216 mounted on the release cam 82.

When a penny is inserted into the machine the release mechanism is tripped andthe cam plate 102 is oscillated through a short stroke in the manner explained above. The pawl is held out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet 180 by the surfaces 190 and 198 until it reaches a point opposite the surface 194 at which time it contacts the teeth of the ratchet 180. In its further movement it advances the indicator hand across the time scale an amount corresponding to the twelve minutes. The pawl is then disengaged from the ratchet teeth by the movable cam slide 196 which is advanced by the pin 2116 which contacts the flangeZM.

A nickel inserted into the mechanism as explained above will cause the cam plate 102 to travel through a full stroke. During the initial advancing movement of the cam 102 the movable slide cam 196 is held in its fully advanced position by contact of the nickel with the projecting end of the lever 210 thus holding the pawl out of engagement with the ratchet teeth until the elevated sec tion 202 on the movable slide cam is passed by the pawl at which time the pawl engages the rear side of the indicator if no time has previously been set on the meter advancing the time indicator hand a distance equal to one hour on the time scale. If less than one hour has been set on the meter, the pawl will contact one of the teeth 184. If an hour or more has been set the pawl will contact the tooth 187.

The insertion of a dime into the mechanism also operates the cam 102 through a full stroke. Due to its relaitvely small size a dime is at all times out of contact with the projecting arm 210 of the movable slide cam 196 which as soon as it is released from engagement by the rear side of the pawl rotates in a counterclockwise direction about the axis of the screw 206.

If time has been set on the meter, for example one hour, the pawl engages the teeth 182 :as soon as it is opposite the recess surface 194- and advances the time indicator a distance equal to twelve minutes. It is then lifted out of engagement with the teeth 182 by the movable cam slide which is advanced by the pin 216 and moves freely Without carrying the indicator until it engages the first of the teeth 184. The drive engagement between the pawl and the teeth 184 is not interrupted until the pawl is lifted from the teeth by the cam surface 220 at the end of the fixed cam 188. At this time the indicator will have been advanced to the two hour position on the scale.

If a dime is inserted when no time has been set on the meter the pawl will engage the tooth 187 at a point opposite the surface 194. This engagement will continue until interrupted by the surface 220. Regardless of the time previously set on the meter the insertion of a dime will move the time indicator to the two hour position on the time scale.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured, by United States Letters Patent is: '1 ll In a parking meter having an indicator hand driven in one direction over a time scale by a clock mechanism; means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction to set time on said scale in response to the insertion of coins of difierent diameter in said meter comprising, a peripherally toothed ratchet plate movable with saidindicator, a pawl carried by a plate around at least a portion of the toothed periphery of said ratchet plate when a coin is inserted into the meter, a relatively fixed cam slide having surfaces opposite certain portions of said ratchet plate and interposed in the path of said pawl and operative to control the engagement of said pawl said ratchet, a second relatively movable cam slide having cam surfaces adapted to be interposed in the path of said pawl or removed from the path of said pawl depending upon the position of said second cam slide to thereby also control the engagement of said pawl and said ratchet, and means on said second cam slide projecting into the path of coins of predetermined diameter as said coins pass through said meter for controlling the position of said second cam slide.

2. In a parking meter having an indicator hand driven in one direction over a time scale by a clock mechanism: means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction to set time on said scale in response to the insertion of pennies, nickels or dimes comprising, a peripherally toothed ratchet plate drivingly connected to said indicator, a pawl selectively engageable with the teeth of said ratchet plate, means responsive to the insertion of a penny into said meter for moving said pawl in a short stroke over a predetermined portion of the periphery of said ratchet,

,means responsive to the insertion of'a nickel or dime .on said ratchet, and a relatively movable cam slide movable. between blocking and non-blocking positions interposed in the path of said pawl also for controlling the point of engagement and release of said pawl and said ratchet, and means responsive to the insertion of a nickel in the meter for moving said element to blocking position whereby the indicator is moved by said penny a distance proportional to said short stroke, is moved by a dime adistance proportional to said long stroke, and is moved by a nickel a distance proportional to the unblocked portion of said long stroke.

3. In a parking meter having an indicator hand driven in one direction over a time scale by a clock mechanism: means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction torset time on said meter in response to the insertion of nickels, dimes or quarters in the said meter and for receiving pennies without setting time, comprising, a peripherally toothed ratchet plate drivingly connected to said indicator, a pawl selectively engageable with said teeth of said ratchet plate, means responsive to the insertion of a penny into said meter for moving said pawl in a short stroke over a predetermined portion of the periphery of said ratchet plate, means responsive to the insertion of a nickel, a dimeor a quarter for moving said pawl through a long stroke over a greater portion of the periphery of said ratchet plate, cam means including fixed and movable cam elements interposed in the path of said pawl for controlling the engagement of said pawl and said ratchet, said cam means being effective to prevent engagement of said pawl with said ratchet during the entire length of said short stroke, whereby said indicator is not moved by insertion of a penny in the meter, means responsive to the insertion of a nickel into said meter for shifting said movable cam element to a position to prevent engagement of said pawl with said ratchet over a predetermined portion of said long stroke;

means operable upon insertion of a dime into said meter for shifting said movable cam element to a second position to prevent engagement of said pawl and said ratchet over a shorter predetermined portion of said long stroke, and means responsive to insertion of a quarter into said mechanism for shifting said movable cam element to a third position for permitting engagement of said pawl and said ratchet over the full length of said long stroke.

4. In a parking meter having a clock mechanism provided with an output shaft, a time scale and an indicator movable over said time scale in one direction to indicate accumulated time; means for drivingly connecting said shaft and said indicator to move said indicator in the opposite direction comprising, a first drive member rotatably mounted on said shaft and continuously drivingly connected to said indicator, a second drive member rigid with said shaft and mounted in side by side relation with said first drive member, said first and, second drive members having serrated peripheries, a deformable roller, an arm mounted on said meter for pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the shaft axis and carrying said roller, a second arm pivotally mounted on said meter for movement about the pivotal axis of said first arm, resilient means connecting said arms and urging said first arm toward said second arm to urge said roller into engagement with the peripheries of each of said drive members, means for normally holding said second arm in a predetermined rotated position whereby said roller is resiliently held against the peripheries of said first and second drive members, and means responsive to the insertion of a coin into said meter to render said lastmentioned means ineffective to thereby permit said roller to move away from the drive members and release the drive connection therebetween to permit said indicator to be moved in said one direction.

'5. In a parking meter having an indicator hand driven in one direction over a time scale by a clock mechanism: means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction to set time on said scale in response to the insertion of pennies, nickels or dimes comprising, a peripherally toothed ratchet plate drivingly connected to said indicator, a pawl selectively engageable with the teeth of said ratchet plate, a coin chute through which said pennies, nickels and dimes pass after being inserted in said meter, means actuated by passage of a penny through said chute for moving said pawl in a short stroke over a predetermined portion of the periphery of said ratchet, means responsive to the passage of a nickel or dime through said chute for moving said pawl through a long stroke over a greater predetermined portion of the periphery of said ratchet, cam means including a cam element mounted for pivotal movement between blocking and noneblocking positions interposed in the path of said pawl for controlling the engagement and release of said pawl and said ratchet plate, a projection on the cam element extending into the path of nickels as they pass through said chute and out of the path of dimes as they pass through said chute whereby said cam element is moved to blocking position by a nickel passing through said chute and the indicator is moved by said penny a distance proportional to said short stroke, is moved by a dime a distance proportional to said long stroke, and is moved by a nickel a distance proportional to the unblocked portion of said long stroke.

6. In a parking meter having an indicator hand driven in one direction over a time scale by a clock mechanism: means for moving said indicator in the opposite direction to set time on said meter in response to the insertion of nickels, dimes or quarters in the said meter and for receiving pennies without setting time, comprising, a peripherally toothed ratchet plate drivingly connected to said indicator, a pawl selectively engageable with said teeth of said ratchet plate, means responsive to the insertion of a penny into said meter for moving said pawl in a short stroke over a predetermined portion of the periphery of said ratchet plate, means responsive to the insertion of a nickel, dime or quarter for moving said pawl through a long stroke over a greater portion of the periphery of said ratchet plate, means including a fixed cam element interposed in the path said pawl for controlling the engagement of said pawl and said ratchet plate, a movable cam element pivotally mounted on said fixed cam element and swingable into the path of said pawl for further controlling the engagement of said pawl and said ratchet plate, said fixed cam element being effective to prevent the engagement of said pawl With said ratchet plate during the entire length of said short stroke whereby said indicator is not moved by insertion of the penny into the meter, an extension on said movable cam element projecting into the path of nickels and quarters passing through said chute and clearing the path of dimes passing through said chute whereby a nickel in said chute shifts said movable cam element to a position to prevent engagement of said pawl with said ratchet plate over a predetermined portion of said long stroke, a dime in said chute permits said movable cam element to shit-t to a second position to prevent engagement of said pawl and said ratchet plate over a shorter predetermined portion of said long stroke, and engagement of said extension by a quarter in said chute shifts said movable cam element to .a third position for permitting engagement of said pawl and said ratchet plate over the full length of said long stroke.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,265,115 Roberts May 7, 1918 2,551,914 Trier May 8, 1951 2,593,191 Rockola Apr. 15, 1952 2,599,881 Woodrufi June 10, 1952 2,680,506 Woodrufi June 8, 1954 2,696,899 Trier Dec. 14, 1954

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