Patent GB-610942-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in coin-controlled dispensing apparatus
IPC: G07F17/06
Filed: 1946-04-12
Abstract: 610,942. Coin-freed apparatus for inflating tyres. BARLTROP, A. C. April 12, 1946, No. 11315. [Class 27] In a coin-freed apparatus for inflating tyres, a compressed air delivery-control valve is adapted to be opened by a pneumatic actuator operated by air from the tyre; insertion of a coin renders operative a connection between the actuator and valve to allow the valve to be opened whilst removal of the tyre connector renders the connection again inoperative besides closing the valve. The delivery valve 12, Fig. 1, between a compressed air supply 10 and the tyre connector 20 is normally closed by a spring 50, and a pin 46, Fig. 3, on its actuating arm is adapted to be engaged by a hook 44 on a bar 42 pivoted at 40 to the piston rod 38 of a pneumatic cylinder 34. A counterweight 52 maintains the bar normally with the hook 44 raised clear of the pin 46 see Fig. 3, so that the pneumatic cylinder cannot open the valve 12. Tubing 32, 28, Fig. 1, connects the cylinder with the air delivery hose 18 so that air from the tyre passes to the cylinder as soon as the connector 20 on the hose is applied to the tyre. A pressure gauge 30 is connected in the line 32, 28 so that the tyre pressure can then be measured to ascertain if inflation is necessary. An inserted coin rotates a ratchet wheel 82 anti-clockwise from the position of Fig. 3 to that of Fig. 1 so that an abutment 90 on its releases a pivoted lever 54 which rocks under the action of a spring 58 and, through a rod 60, depresses the bar 42 so that its hook engages over the valve arm pin 46. On then applying the connector 20 to the tyre, air from the tyre enters the cylinder 34 and lowers the piston rod 38 and bar 42 to open the valve 12 so that air from the supply 10 passes to the tyre when a valve 24 between line 16 and the delivery hose 18 is opened. Upon removal of the connector 20 when inflation is complete, the' cylinder 34 vents to atmosphere and a spring 100 restores its piston and the bar 42 so that the valve 12 closes. The ratchet wheel 82 has, meanwhile, been returned to normal by a ratchet pawl 102 linked with the piston rod to step back the ratchet wheel on its outward stroke. The abutment 90 on the ratchet wheel has, therefore, rocked the lever 54 to release the bar 42 which consequently swings its hook 44 clear of the valve arm pin 46. A further coin must now be inserted to re-open the valve 12, but provision is made for prepaying several inflations initially. Coin action, weight and multiple-coin.- The apparatus takes pennies or sixpences. The ratchet wheel 82 is operated by sixpences; it is biassed to rotate anti-clockwise by a weight 84 but a pivoted detent 78 engages a tooth 80 on it to hold it in the normal position of Fig. 3 with a pin 104 abutting a resilient end stop 106. An inserted sixpence rolls down a shoot 68 and rocks a finger 70 linked to the detent 78 which momentarily releases the wheel allowing it to rotate until a second tooth 86 abuts the detent. The space between the teeth 80 and 86 is equal to that of six of the reverse teeth 88 by which the pawl 102 returns the wheel in steps at successive inflations, so that six tyres can be inflated on insertion of sixpence. A similar wheel (not shown) is arranged coaxially with the wheel 82 for operation by pennies. It has a series of teeth corresponding to the two teeth 80 and 86, so that several pennies can be inserted in immediate succession to prepay several inflations, and their spacing is equal to the reverse teeth 88. An inserted penny passes down a second shoot 64 and rocks a pivoted finger 130 which trips a holding detent 134 for the penny wheel. This detent 134 operates conjointly and escapementwise with a second detent 150, so that the penny wheel turns anti-clockwise a tooth at a time as sucescsive pennies are passed through. Abnormally high pressure tyres are charged double by the provision of a spring 136 in the cylinder which normally restricts movement of the piston. With such tyres the higher pressure compresses the spring and returns either ratchet wheel through two teeth per inflation instead of one.