Patent GB-977748-A (GB)
Title: Parking meter
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1962-05-28
Abstract: 977, 748. Parking meters. CAL-KAY PRODUCTS Inc. May 28, 1962 [June 7, 1961], No. 20492/62. Heading G4V. A parking meter comprises a coin entry mechanism having positions receiving and blocking coin entry respectively, a timer for measuring an automobile parking period, means functioning in conjunction with the entry of a coin to the mechanism to initiate operation of the timer and displace the mechanism to the coin blocking position, and means responsive to an automobile leaving the parking space associated with the meter for cancelling unused time of the period and contemporaneously displacing the mechanism to the coin receiving position. The timer consists of a clockwork mechanism having a spring which is secured to a shaft 32, Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7 and tensioned by rotation of a handle 66 on a shaft 64. When a coin has been inserted in a slot and received in aligned slots in a coin carrier 63, the carrier engaging one of several slots 62 on a disc 68 secured to the shaft 32. The rotation of shaft 32 rocks a plate 27 from aposition in which apin 83 engages a projection 84 on a lever 82, to a position in which a second pin 86 engages the projection. Where the projection is engaged by the pins, the lever is moved about a pivot 76 to cause a part 73 to move a shutter 71 to a position permitting insertion of a coin through one or other of slots 61. The provision of the second pin 86 permits the slots to remain unblocked for a few minutes so that a further coin can be inserted, if desired, and further time to be purchased. The clockwork mechanism has a normal balance wheel 37, and escapement 36 controlling the unwinding of main spring which slowly rotates shaft 32 to cause the pin 86 to be moved from the projection 84 so that the lever 82 is urged by a spring 78 to a position in which the part 73 has moved the shutter to a position blocking the coin slots. At the expiry of the time purchased, the pin 83 re-engages the projection 84 to cause the shutter to open the coin slots and a circular track 94 rotated by shaft 32 moves to a position enabling a pin 97, Fig. 13, on a lever to enter an opening 96, the lever moving to raise a "time expired" flag 88. If the handle 66 is then rotated a "violation" flag 89 is raised as a result of the coin carrier being lifted from a pin 98. The shaft 32 also carries a cam 93 co-operating with a time hand 91. If, before the expiry of the time purchased, the automobile is driven away from the parking space, the wheels compress a tube 54, Fig. 1, in the roadway to cause a pulse of air to pass through a pipe 53 and act on a diaphragm 48, the movement of which axially moves a shaft 34 carrying a gear 56 in the train between the main spring and escapement from engagement with a gear 42 so that the spring is rapidly unwound to cancel any unexpired time. In an alternative embodiment, the blocking of the coin slots is effected by a rotary shutter 71a, Fig. 24, which is only movable from its blocking position when the automobile leaves the parking space. The shutter is connected by a link 104 to a plate 108 which is vertically movable on and pivotable about a pin 109. When a coin is inserted in the meter and the coin carrier rotated, a pin 98a is permitted to lift and rotates an actuator 118 to cause a detent 119 to move the plate 108 downwardly so that the link 104 rotates the shutter to block the coin slots. Rotation of shaft 32a causes the disc 68a to rotate and a ratchet wheel 133 is frictionally driven to urge a lever 123 to move to the left so as to rotate an actuator 126, to which it is connected by a pin 129, and raise a detent 128 to a position above the plate 108 which is urged by a spring 149 into engagement with the hubs of the actuators 116,126. When the coin carrier is returned to its rest position, the detent 119 rises so as not to be operative on the plate 108. During the initial minutes of the time cycle, the wheel 133 is rotated anti-clockwise and lever 123 moves to its right and rotates actuator 126 clockwise so that detent 129 moves the plate 108 downwardly causing link 104 to rotate shutter 71a and block the coin slots. The slots can only be unblocked by the automobile crossing the tube 54, Fig. 1, to send a pulse of air to a pneumatic motor 146, the piston of which then moves to cause plate 108 to disengage detent 129 and return the shutter to its open position; the pulse of air also acts as in the first embodiment to cancel any unexpired time.