Patent GB-369959-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to prepayment electricity meters
IPC: G07F15/00
Filed: 1930-09-25
Abstract: 369,959. Prepayment mechanism for electricity meters. FERRANTI, Ltd., Hollinwood, Lancashire, and FERRANTI, G. R. Z. DE, (Representative of Ferranti, S. Z. de), 177, Chiltern Court, Baker Street, London. Sept. 25, 1930, No. 28701. [Class 27.] In a prepayment electricity meter, a spring controlled plate 1, Fig. 4, reciprocated once for each coin inserted, actuates a driving pawl 8 by a pin 6 so as to rotate a wheel 9 through one tooth at each actuation, the wheel 9 being rigid with one sun wheel 10 A, Fig. 6, of an epicyclic quantity mechanism 10, 10 A, 12 A. The other sun wheel 12 A is driven from the meter and the planet wheels 10 are carried by discs 12 which are rotated 36‹ at each actuation. A wheel 13, Figs. 6, 7, is rotated one tooth for every 10 coins inserted by a pin 11 on the upper disc 12 operating in conjunction with a positioning disc 14, and is provided with a switch release pin 15. The switch comprises fixed contacts 19, 20, Figs. 2, 7, adapted to be bridged by a member 21 which is normally held disengaged by a spring 23. The member 21 is adapted to engage the contacts 19, 20, with considerable pressure by means of a toggle mechanism 24, 25, whilst a toggle mechanism 28, 29, pivoted to the first toggle at 61, enables the contact surfaces to be separated a small distance bv a small release force. The switch is closed on the return of the plate 1 by a pin 32 on a lever 30<A>, pivoted at 31, which is engaged by a spring 30 on the plate. This pin moves the lower end of the lever 28 into engagement with a notch 23 in a lever 33 A which retains the switch closed. The lever 28 is released to permit the switch to open when sufficient coins have been inserted (in the example shown 100) to bring the pin 15 into engagement with the lever 33 A. The quantity mechanism in plan falls substantially within the smallest square which contains the rotor 60, Fig. 1, of the meter. A spring 18, Fig. 2, on a spindle 17 geared to a spindle 16, Fig. 6, assists the meter mechanism to trip the switch. Coin action, mechanical - connection and multiple-coin.-A coin inserted in a shoot 48, Figs. 1, 4, is supported on pins 57 A, X, Fig. 2, in a shoot 49 rigid with a cam 52, and forms the clutch medium between the shoot 49 and a cylinder 51 connected to a handle 50. Each time a coin is inserted the cam 52 is rotated 180‹ so as to reciprocate the plate 1 by means of a pin 1<A>, the coin being discharged into a box 40 A. Ratchet mechanism 54, 55, prevents reverse rotation of the cam. The shoots 48, 49, may be adjusted by pins 56, 57<A>, so as to take coins of various denominations. Price-changing mechanism.-A wheel 40, Fig. 1, carried on an adjustable framework 36 and gearing with the pinion 12 A, Fig. 6, of the differential, meshes with a change-wheel 41. The change-wheel train is carried on a detachable framework 42 which has a wheel 45 gearing with a wheel on the meter index train. Registering.-Each time the plate 1, Fig. 4, is reciprocated, a pin 31 B, connected thereto and carried by a crank 31 A, rotates a spindle 31, Figs. 2, 4, so as to actuate a pawl 33 B engaging a ratchet wheel 34<A> of a registering mechanism. Money boxes.-The box 40 A, Fig. 1, is attached to the coin-operating chamber 2 by a lever 41 A, pivoted at 42 A, a cam surface at one end of said lever bearing against a projection 43 A attached to the box, the other end of the lever being secured by a padlock.