Patent GB-860714-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to parking meters
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1957-02-13
Abstract: 860,714. Coin-freed parking meters. MAGEE-HALE PARK-O-METER CO. Feb. 13, 1957 [Feb. 16, 1956], No. 4944/57. Class 27 A parking meter, similar to the meter described in Specification 724,592, has a pointer 79 returned along a time scale 23 by clockwork and the means for setting the pointer comprises a re-set lever 60 movable into different angular positions according to the diameter of a coin and controlling the engagement of a detent lever 86 with teeth on an index ring 102 to set the pointer according to the value of the coin. The meter is driven by a main spring 6, Fig. 15, geared to a main drive shaft 17 and to a timer or clockwork mechanism 19 which can be connected through an idler gear 81 on a swinging lever 77 to the pointer so as to return it from its set position at a timed rate. On insertion of a coin, a spring-loaded lever 47 is moved away from one of several pins 43 on a coin rotator plate 30 on the main shaft 17 and the plate is freed to be rotated by the spring 6 at a rate determined by a timing device 34, 35, the pin carrying the coin with it in engagement with a surface 38 of a stationary cam plate 36. The coins, while held in the rotator plate 30, are exhibited behind windows 44. A one-cent coin contacts an offset portion 120 of a bell-crank lever 58 pivoted on the re-set lever 60, which is itself connected to a plate 65 pivoted on the main shaft 17, and the lever 58 and 60 are moved upwards. A pin 123 on the lever 58 moves along a cam plate 127 fitted over part of an aperture 124 to a point 126 and the lever 60 is moved so that a pin 96 on the detent lever 86 engages in the first recess 137 of a series of cam recesses 63, so bringing the nose 91 of the detent into position for engagement with the first tooth 103 of the index ring 102. At the same time, a leg 72 connected to the plate 65 has moved down an arcuate cam plate 114, thus releasing a pawl 107 on an arm 106 of a spider 100 adjustably connected to the index ring, and the idler gear 81 has been disconnected from teeth 80 on a segment 78 carrying the pointer 79. The pointer is then free to be rotated in a clockwise direction by a spring 139 and, through the pawl 107, the index ring 102 is rotated until the tooth 103 meets the detent nose 91, and the pointer is set against a short period of time on the scale 23. Continued rotation of the plate 30 moves the coin out of contact with the lever 58 and the re-set lever 60 returns to its rest position, thus re-engaging the idler gear 81 so that the pointer is returned under control of the clockwork 19 and moving up the cam plate 114 so that the pawl 107 is disengaged to allow the index ring to be spring-returned to initial position. Insertion of another coin will move the re-set lever from its rest position to add another period of time to the pointer indication. Operation by a one-cent coin can be eliminated by adjusting the cam plate 127 clear of the aperture 124 and the movement of pin 123 along the right-hand edge of the aperture does not then allow sufficient movement of the pin 96 for an indexing movement to take place. To vary the time period set for a particular coin, the index ring may be adjusted relative to the spider 100 after loosening a locking screw 111. When a five-cent coin is inserted, it contacts the pivot pin 59 of the lever 58 and the re-set lever 60 is rotated a greater distance until released by the coin moving into a recess 40 on the cam plate 38. The pin 96 on the detent lever 86 moves over the recesses 63 into the recess 149 and sets the nose 91 for contact with the first large tooth 104 on the index ring 102, thus setting the pointer for a one-hour period. When a ten-cent coin is inserted, it contacts the off-set portion 120 of the lever 58 and the pin 123 is moved on to the surface 143 of the aperture 124. At this position of the pin, a projection 144 on the other end of the lever 58 has moved into the path of one of several pins 53 on the rotator plate and the plate continues to move the lever 58 and lever 60 even after the recess 40 on the cam plate has disengaged the coin from the lever 58. This greater movement causes the pin 96 to move over the recesses 63 until it comes to rest in the recess 145 and the detent 91 has thus passed over the teeth in the index ring until it meets the last tooth 105 and the pointer is set for the full two-hour period. Where it is desired that the two-hour period should be set by a twenty-five cent coin, the indexing ring 102 is adjusted clockwise relative to the spider 100 so that it will set a lesser period for lower value coins and the function of the last tooth 105 is taken over by a tooth 112 on the spider or on a separate plate. The inserted twenty-five cent coin contacts both the pivot pins 59 and 152 and the movement of the re-set lever 60 moves the pin 96 over the recesses 63 until it is positioned on an inclined surface 153, thereby moving the tooth 112 into engagement with the detent 91. Return of the re-set lever is permitted when the coin moves on to the inclined surface 41 of the cam plate 36. When it is desired that a time period of one or two hours should be set for a higher-value coin, such as ten cents, and for two lesservalue coins, such as five-cents, totalling the same value as the higher value coin, but without setting a substantial period for the first lesservalue coin, a cut-out 146, Fig. 18, is provided on the cam 114 adjacent the pawl 107 and the index ring has a tooth 104 positioned close to the detent 91. The cut-out 146 allows the pawl 107 to be engaged with the teeth 80 for the pointer 79 but the first five-cent coin will only cause a slight movement of the index ring until the tooth 104 engages the detent 91. The pivot pin 87 of the detent lever 86 is disposed in a slot 92 and the lever is depressed slightly by the tooth 104 so that, after its return movement, the detent 91 will be positioned slightly beyond the tooth 104. Insertion of a second five-cent coin can then bring the other tooth 105 into engagement with the detent 91 to set the full required period.