Patent GB-476995-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to prepayment mechanisms for gas and like meters
IPC: G07F15/00
Filed: 1936-06-16
Abstract: 476,995. Prepayment time - controlled mechanism for the delivery of gas &c. UNITED GAS INDUSTRIES, Ltd., SMITH, E. W., and CHARLES, A. June 16, 1936, No. 16762. [Class 27] A multi-coin prepayment mechanism for the delivery of gas, &c. on a time basis comprises a coin mechanism operable by coins of different values, at the option of the consumer, to impart a movement proportional to the value of the coin to an actuating member for the valve, switch, &c., and to tension a spring also proportionately to the coin value, the spring serving to return the actuating member to zero position. As applied to a mechanism for delivering gas and operable by two coins, e.g. pennies and shillings, the coin holder mechanism is constructed as described in Specification 400,636 in wheel b<1> or b<2>, Fig. 2, being rotated according to the coin inserted. The wheels b<1>, b2 rotate through an epicyclic reduction gear b<5>, b<6>, b<7>, h<1> a winding spindle h proportionately to the value of the coin used, thereby winding up a spring in a spring barrel h<2>. The spindle h through gearing h<3>, h<4> rotates one sun-wheel i<4> of an epicyclic quantity mechanism, the planet carrier i of which is connected to and rotates a pair of cam discs m, n serving as the actuating member for the valve l. As gas is consumed, the spring barrel h<2> rotates and through wheels h<5>, h<6> rotates the other sun-wheel i<5> to return the carrier i and discs m, n, to zero position, wherein the valve is closed. The disc m is fixed to the spindle of the carrier i, while the disc n is loose and is connected by a pin- and-slot n<2>, m<2>, Fig. 6, to the disc m. The discs are provided with slots m<1>, n<1> into which a pin l<2> on an arm l<1> mounted on the valve spindle drops to close the valve. When the valve is being opened, the pin l<2> travels up a sloping slide of the slot m<1> the disc n being rotated against the action of a spring n<3> until the pin rests on the periphery of disc m. When the valve is being closed, the pin l<2> drops from the disc m to the periphery of the disc n, thereby giving a warning that the valve is about to close. When the pin l<2> reaches the slot n<1> which has straight sides, it drops into the slot and a sharp closing of the valve is produced. The spring barrel h<2> rotates under the control of an escapement, the balance wheel j, Fig. 4, of which is stopped by a brake lever q actuated by a forked lever p, when the valve is closed. A pin l<4> on the valve lever actuates the lever p. An auxiliary valve c<1> is provided so that the supply may be used intermittently. When the valve c<1> is closed manually by the consumer, a pin c<3> on a valve arm c<2> actuates the lever p to stop the balance wheel. Indicators.-A toothed wheel i<6> on the spindle of the planet carrier i, Fig. 2, drives a toothed wheel d<1> the spindle of which has a pointer d for indicating the amount of commodity prepaid. The wheel i<6> also actuates an obturator k for closing the discharge slot of the coin holder when the maximum number of coins has been inserted. Zeroizing.-The planet carrier i may be returned to zero by zeroizing mechanism as described in Specification 445,260.