USRE13224E - Samuel c - Google Patents

Description

"s. 0. SHAPPNER. MEANS FOR RECORDING METER READINGS. v APPLIGATION FILED NO\\T.8, 1910. Reissuea Ama/4, 1911. y 18 224..V

STATES PATENT OFFICE. f SAMUEL c. sHAFFNEi-iior CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, Ass'GNon To CHARLES-M. rAr'rnnsoN,

onwrnrn PLAINS., NEW Yoan.

MEANS FOR RECORDING METEILREADINGS.-

lSpecification of Reissued Letters Patent. Reissue original Ne. @vacuumed December s, 190s, serieu Ne. 409,554. Application fer 'reissiififmea November 8 v1am. serial Ne.`5s1,397. l

To all whom it ma'yiconcem: I

Beit known that I, SAMUEL C. SHAFFNER, a. citizen of the United States, residing at .Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented'a certain new and useful Improvement in Means for Recording Meter-Readings, of which the following is a full, clear, concisey and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings, 4forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates 'to an improved means forv recording the readings of meters and it consists essentially of mechanism adapted to be placed in juxtaposition toa meter' and when operated, to make a record photographically of the condition of the meter. j

This invention isvespecially designed to make accurate and infallible photographs'of vthe indices of gas, water and electric meters,

but is not restricted to this'use.

In the past, much dissatisfaction has existed on the part of the users of meters' owned by various public service corporatlons, resulting from the neglect or carelessness ofthe meter readers, who frequently `have entirely omitted to read the meters and have depended upon averages of previous readings to furnish a basis for report. By my invention thesel objections are overcome and-the abuses to which previous systems of obtaining meter readings have been subject is prevented. A

In carrying out my invention, I -place in 'juxtaposition to the meter whose reading is desired a photographic apparatus designed to make a record on sensitized paper or ilm by means' of .electric light or other sources of illumination, and my invention further contemplates the entire operation of the photographic recording niecha-nismvby a single .movement of an operating lever or handle. In other words, the movement of the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 front of which and on either side of the dial detail View, showing-.the operating lever or handle and related parts. Fig. 4 is adetail view of the roller'used to receive the jlm or strip of sensitized paper after exposure. Fig. 5 isa detail view of part of the mechanism for operating the roller l shown in Fig. 4.

3 represents a part of a meter, on the opening are secured'lugs or eyes 33.

4 represents a casing in which the photographic apparatus is located. This casing has an opening 9 at one end and a partition l70 40, which divides said casingl into two com'l partments, the rear compartment being the larger. Therear walls 5 of the casing 4 are removable,to afford access to the sensitized roll and ordinarily are secured to the main portion of the casing 4 by hooks or catches 6. Carried on the casing 4, near'the front end thereof, are hooks 32, adapted to enter the-lugs or eyes 33 on the meter. The purpose of these' lugs or eyes and hooks cooperating therewith is to securely hold the casing 4 and meter` 3 in such a. relation that the photographic device in the casing 4 may properly perform its function. These hooks 32 and lugs or eyes 33 are not indispensable, for excellent meter readings can be obtained by simply holding the casing 4 lclose Q to theJ meter to be read, with the opening 9 in proximity to lthe dial opening of the meter and then manipulating the apparatus, as hereinafter described.'

Mounted in thecasing 4 near the frontv thereof are inclined screens 11, which extend back and toward 'each' other, but leaving a space between their adjacent' ends justI -behind the opening 9. On l,the fronttof each of these screensll an electric' light-10, or other source of light, is'secured.' 'f In .the

. space behind the screens-11 and infront of thepartitionlll), electricj batteries 12 are 100 secured, although these batteries might be carried by the operator, iii his pocket or on a belt, for example, with the wires running to the lamps 10.

5 Mounted. centrally of the partition`40 is the lens 7. This is preferably a compound lens, as shown in Fig. 1, consisting of two lenses mounted in the ends of a cylindrical tube 44, which tube is secured to the parti# lo tion 40.- Y

16 represents a movable sliuttei, adapted, inv a certain position, to cover the opening in the partition 40 in which the lens is se cured. As shown in Fig. 1, the shutter 1G 1.5 is adapted to be swung into the lens tube,

thus cutting off the light from the rear comv partment, but obviously the lens and shutter 'I could be arranged so that the shutter could be swung back and forth either in front of 20 the lens or behind it. y V

In the rear compartment ytwo'rollers 22 and 23 are mounted, the former being .the receiving roller and the latter the supply roller. tiensitized paper or 4film S is fed, as 25 hereinafter' described, from the roller 23 to the roller 22, passing over-the guide rollers 41, located near the rear corners of the casing 4. Partitions or screens 44, running from the lens opening in the partition 4() back to the rollers 41, are provided, to prel vent the light which passes through the lens' 7 from aii'ecting any part of the filiii or strip 8, except that part of it that is exposed between the guide rollers 41. The screens 42, may be covered with black felt or similar Xlightexcluding material, and in fact the entire casing 4, especially the rear compartment thereof, may be provided with a simi lar interior lining. In fact the casing 4, and

40 the parts carried thereby, constitute a camera obscura, provided with illuminating means. The shutter 16 is mounted on one end of a lever or handle l17, pivoted at 18 on the partition 40. One endo'f this lever passes out-.through a slot in the side of the casing 4,

vso that it may beA easily reached by the operator; A spring 19 normally holds ,said lever in its highest position, as shown in full lines on Fig. 3, and acts to return the parts to their original position after a photograph has been taken.

A cord 21 is fastened at one end to the lever 17 and asses over the guide pulley 2O mounted on t e bottom of the casing 4. The

receiving roller 22 is mounted in bearings in the top and bottom walls of the casin 4.

The roller 22 carries at the upper end o its Iaxle a.' ratchet wheel 25, which cooperates with a pawl 26, which is secured to the under sideV of the top of the casing 4 in such a manner as to prevent back rotation of the roller 22. On the lowerV end of the axle of the roller 22 is carried aratchet wheel 38,

adapted to coperate with a pawl 39 mounted on a drum 37. -The drum 37 is loosely mounted on the axle of the .roller 22. The result is that the drum 37 may be rotated freely in a direction opposite to the Winding of the film or paper strip on the roller 22, but when moved in the opposite direction, by means hereinafter described, will cause the rotation of the roller22.A One end of the coi-d 21 is secured to the drum 37 and another cord 27 is secured at one end to said drum, the other end being secured to one end l of a spring 2S, the other end of said spring being secured to the bottom of the casing 4. As a result of this construction, when the ler-:r 17 is depressed by the operator,.the spring 28 contracts and by means of the cord causes rotation of the drum 37 relatively to the roller 22 and takes up the slack in Vthe cord 21. flien the'lever 17 is released by the operator, after a suiiicient exposure, the spring 19, which is much-stronger than the spring 28, returns the lever 17 to its initial or upper position, and during this return movement, said lever 17 pulls the cord 21, rotating the roller 22. Thus the exposed portion oftheilm or paper .roll is automatically removed from the field covered by the lens 7 and a fresh portion of said paper roll is exposed. The roller 23 is prevented from overruniiingby means of a brake 24, carried on an arm 45 pivotally mounted on the bottoni ofthe casing 4. A spring 43 holds the brake 24 always in contact with the axle of the roller 23. By this construction and owing to the fact that the roller 22 is prevented from backward rotation, the strip 8 is always kept taut upon the uide rollers 41.

The depression o the lever 17 causes the the lamps 10 and contacts 35 and 36 by wires 13, 14 and 15, th'e wire 15 being connected to the contact 35 and the-wire 14 being connected to the contact 36,W11ich is as ring contact. When the lever 17 is depresse as shown in dotted lilies in'Fig. 3, it. strikes the spring contact 36, forcing it against the contact 35 and completing the circuit, as follows: batteries 12 and lamps 10 (connected by the Wire 13) wire 14, contact 36, contact 35 and Wire 15 back to. the battery. As long as the lever 17 is fully depressed, the lamps 10 are in circuit and lighted. W'lien the lever l17 is released, the spring 19 at once returns .it to its original position, breaking the circuit.

AS shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, I preferably provide on the front end of the casing guide Ways 31, adapted to receive a card 30 upon which an indication of time may be printed, as the day of the month, said guides 'and card being so located that the latter will appear in front of the opening 9, as shown in Fig. 2, but not in front of the dials. The meter is preferably provided with a'characi teristi'c 'or'designating number, shown at- 29,'

meter having dials and moving hands, it will beunderstood that my invent-ion is equally applicable to any'style of meter and that the means' I employ for making a record of the condition or reading of the meter is equally applicable to any means employed for inclicating this condition or reading.

lVhile Ihave shown my invention in the particular embodiment herein described, I do not, however, limit myself to this construction, but. claim .any equivalent modificaL tiontlat will readily suggest itself to those skilled 1in the art. v

What I claim isi: i

l.: Incombination with a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitiveto light, anlilluminating means, a casing associated withth'e meter for containing such lens, sensitive medium 4and illuminating means, co-

operating means carried by the 'meter and casing for locating the casing in place and a' member adapted Whenoperated to open the shutter andzop'erate such illuminating means.A

"2.- Incombination' with a meteiga lens and shutter therefor, a medium any illuminating means, a casing' associated `-\with the meter for'containing such lens, sensitive medium and illuminating means, cooperating means carried by t-he meter and casing for locating theF casing in place and a member adapted when operated to open the shutter, advance' such sensitive medium to a proper position for lthenext record.

In combination with a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive tolight, an illuminating means, -a casing associated with the meter for containing suchl lens,`=sen- A sitive'-mediumand illuminating means, co-

operating means carried by the meter and cas1ng=for `locating the shut-ter and operate such illuminating' means I and adapted when returned to its normal pof 4. In combination With sition to advance such sensitive medium to a proper position for the next record. 1

a meter', a lens and shutter therefor, azmedium sensitive to light,

an illuminating means,

means, coperati'ng means carried by the sensitive to light,

operate `such'illuminating means and casing in place and avlever adapted when depressed to openthe a casing associated with the) meter for protecting such sensitive a meter, a lens and mediunr from light except as admittedA through such lens, such casing adapted` to support ,suchlens and such illuminating means, coperating means. carried by the meter and casing for locating the casing in place and a member adapted When operated to open the shutter, operate such illuminafing means and advance such sensitive medium to a proper position 'for the next record. y

6. In combination With a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a 4medium sensitive to light, an illuminating means, a casing associated Wit-h the meter for protecting such sensitive medium from lightgexcept as admitted through such lens, such casing adapted to support such illuminating means, cooperating means carried by the meter and casing for locating the casing in place and a 7lever adapted When depressed to open the shutter and operate such illuminating means and adapted when returned to its normal position to advance such sensitive medium to a proper., position for the next record.

7. 4As a means for recording the condition of a meter, a casing associated with 'such meter, a lens and shutter carried by such casing, sensitive film vvithin such casing and protected thereby from the action of light except that entering through the lens, an`

illuminating means supported by such cas- :ing cooperating means carried by the meter Y andcasing yfor locating the casing in place( and a lever adapted when depressed toopen the shutter. and operate such illuminating means and adapted When returned' toits normal position toadvanceI such film to a proper position fox-the next ord.

9. In combination Wit and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light, an electric lamp-and a source of electric energy for lighting such lamp," a casing associated Withl the. meter for containing ieter, a lens such lens, sensitive medium and lamp, co-

operating means carried by the meterv and casino' for locating the casmg m place and a member adapted when operated to open the shutter and close a circuit from such source of electric energy through such lamp. 1.0. In'combination with aA meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light, an electric lamp and a source of electric energy Jfor lighting such lamp, a casing associated with the meter for containing such lens, sensitive medium and lamp, cooperating means carried by the meter and casing for. locating the casing in place and a member adapted when operated to open the shutter, close a circuit from such source of electric energy through such lamp and advance such sensitive medium to a proper position for the next record. y

' 11. In combination with a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light., an electric lampv and a -source of electric energy for lighting suchY lamp, a casing associated with the meter for containing such lens, sensitive medium and lamp, coperating means carried by the meter and casing for locating the'casing in place and a lever adapted when depressed to openA the shutter and close a circuit from such source mal position to open such circuit and adsition for the next record.

e ed to support such lens and'such lamp, co-V 12. In combination with a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive .to light, an electric lamp and a source of electric energy forlighting. such lamp, a casing associated with the meter vfor protecting such 'sensitive medium from light except as adf mitted through such lens, such casmg adapt'- operating means carried b the meter and casing for locatin the casing vin place and a member adapte when`operated to. open the shutter and close-a circuit from such source ofelectric energy through such lamp.

Y 13.1In combination with a meter,.a lens f and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to,

light, an electric lamp and a source of electric energy for lighting such lamp, a casing associated with the meter forv protecting such sensitive medium from light except as admitted through such lens, such casing adapted to support such lens and such-lamp,

coperating means carried by the meter and casing for locating the casing in place and a .member adapted".when operated to open .the shut-ter and close a circuit from such source of electric energy through such lamp and advance such sensitive medium to a.

proper position for the next-record.

1 4. In combination with a meter, a lens .'lamp, coperating means carried by of electric energy through suoliv lamp and adapted when returned to its n0r\ casing, sensitive film 'tion of a. meter,

, means carried and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light, an electric lampv and a source of electric energy orlighting such lamp, a. casing associated with the meter for protecting such sensitive medium from light except as admitted through such lens, such casing adapted to support such lens'and such lamp, c0 voperating means carried by' the meter and v casing for locating the casing in place and a lever adaptedwhen depressed toopen the yshutter and close a circuit from such source' of electric energy through such lamp and adapted when returned to its normal position to open such circuit and advance such sensitive medium toa proper position 'for the next record.

15. As ameans for recording the condition of a meter, a casing associated With such meter, a lens and shutter carried by such casing, protectedthereby from the action of light except that entering through the lens, an

electric lamp supported by such casing, a

sensitive iilm Within such casing and' source of electricl energy for lighting such 4 `the meter and casing for locating the casing in place `and a member adapted Whenoperated to open the Shutter and close acircuit from -such source of electric energy through such lamp. p

16. As a means for recording the condition of a meter,'a casing associated with such meter, a lens and shutter carried by such Within such casing and protected thereby from the action of light except that entering through electric lamp supported b such casing, 'a source of electric energy or lighting such lamp, coperating means carried by place and a lever adapted when depressed to open the shutterand close a circuit from such source of electric energy through such lamp and adapted mal position to o en such circuit 'and advance vsuch sensitive medium to a proper position for'thenext record. 0 17. As a means `forrecording the condiand close a circuit from such attery through lsuch lamp,

18."As a, means for recording .the condition Vof'a, meter, a casing associated with the lens, an'

the meter and casing for locating the? casing in when returned to its nora casing assoclated `with a lens and shutter carried by l sensitive film within such cas,

such meter, a lens and shutter carried byl such casing and protected thereby from the such casing, sensitive film within such cas# ing and protected thereby troni the action of light except that entering through the lens, an electric lamp Supported by such casing, a battery carried by such casing and adapted to light such lamp, coperating means carried by the meter and casing for locating the casing in place and ak lever adapted when depressed to open the shutter and close a circuit from such battery through such lamp and Aadapted when returned to its normal position to open such circuit and ad-v vance such film to a proper position for the next record.

19. In combination With a meter,l a lens` and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light, an illuminating means, a casing for containing such lens, sensitive medium and illuminating means, a member adapted When loperated to open the shutter and operate such illuminating means, and means associated with the meter and casing for alining the lens relatively to the meter indications.

20. In combination With a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light, an illuminating means, a casing for "containing such lens, sensitive medium and illuminating means, a member adapted when operated to open the shutter, operate such illuminating means and advance such sensitive medium to a proper position for the 'next record, and means associated Withthe meter and casing for alining the lens relatively to the meter indications.

2l. In combination with a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light, an illuminating means, a easing for containing such lens, sensitive medium and illuminating means, a .lever adapted when depressed to open the shutter and operate such illuminating means and adapted When returned to its normal position to advance such sensitive medium to a proper position for the next record, and means associated with the meter and casing for alining the lens relative to the meter indications.

22. In combination with a meter, a lens and shutter therefor, a medium sensitive to light, an illuminating means, a easing for protecting suoli sensitive medium from light exceptas admitted through such lenssuch casin adapted to support such'lens and such lilluminating means, ,a member adapted when operated to open the shutter` and op- -erate such illuminatingmeans, and means carried by such casing, sensitive lm Within action of'light except that entering through the lens, an illuminating means supported by suchcasing, a member adapted When op- `crated to open the shutter and operate such illuminating means, and means associated with the meter and casing for alining the lens relatively to the meter indications.

As a' means for 'recording the condition of a meter, a casing adapted to c0p` 'the lens, an illuminating means supported by such casing, a leve; adaptedj'vhendepressed to open the shutter and operate such illuniinating means and adapted When returned to its normal position toV advance such film to a proper position for the next record, and means associated with the meter and casing for alining the lens relatively to the meter indications.

,25. As a means for 'recording the condition of a meter, a casing adapted to coperate with such meter, a lens and shutter carried by such casing, sensitive film Within such casing and protected thereby from the action of light except that entering through the lens, an electric lamp supported by such casing, a battery carried by such casing and adapted to light such lamp, a member adapted when operatedito open the shutter and close a circuit from such battery through such lamp, and means associated with the meter and casing for alining the lens relatively to the 'meter indications.

26. As a means for recording the condition of Aa meter, a casing adapted to coperate with such meter, a lens Aand shutter carried by such casing, sensitive iilm within such casiii and protected thereby from the action of light except that entering through the lens, an electric lamp supported by such casing, a battery carried by suoli casing and adapted to light'such lamp, a lever adapted when depressed to open the shutter and close a circuit from such battery through such lamp and adapted when returned to its normal position to open such circuit and advance such lin to a proper position for the next record, and means associated with the meter and casing for alining the lens relatively to the iiieterindications.

27. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a meter and a casing adapted to be placed in proximity thereto, said casing containing photographic and illuminating devices and a single leverfor actuating said devices, substantially as described,

28. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a meter and a casing and illuminating eonie-ining photographic provided means, said meter and casing bein Cf with coperatino' means for holding them in alinement and with devices Wliereby the date of the reading of the meter and tlie 'number thereof appear on thel photograph,

when made,- substantiallfv as described.

29. An apparatus o the character described,` comprising a meterprovided withA a dial and a distinguishing number or niark,

4and a casing adapted to be placed in proxiinity to Said meter, photographic and illuminating means in said casing and operating devices for said means, said casing being provided with an opening in the end to be placed next to the meter and a date-bearing device insaid opening, substantially as described.

VVitn'esses:

`H. M. CURTIS,-

1?. H. TRUMAN.

SAMUEL e., SHAFFNER. 7

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