Patent GB-551591-A (GB)
Title: Coin-freed means for preventing unauthorised use of car parking space
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1941-12-09
Abstract: 551,591. Coin-freed apparatus for releasing parked vehicles. FLAGG, A. V. Dec. 9, 1941, No. 15880. [Class 27] Means for preventing unauthorised use of a car parking space comprises a member 1 which can be freely depressed to permit passage of a vehicle on to the space, the member being then raised by a spring to engage a part of the car and prevent it from being driven away until a coin-freed device has been operated to allow the member 1 to be depressed, as by a pedal, to free the car. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the arm 1 is fixed on a shaft 2 connected by a lost - motion device to a shaft 5 so controlled by a spring 7 that the arm 1 is normally raised at an angle of 45 degrees as shown. When a car is to be driven on to the parking space, which is defined by three rails or walls, the arm 1 may be depresses by foot pressure thereon and the car driven over it. The spring 7 raises the arm again at a rate dependent on a dash-pot 9 until it engages some part of the underside of the car so that the latter cannot be driven away again. To free the arm 1 a coin is inserted in a shoot 20 and forms a connection between a button 21 and a slide 19, so that when the button is pressed in the slide 19 is moved and an opening 24 therein registers with a vertically-movable bar 17 carried by a pedal 16 so that the latter can now be depressed. The pedal lever 13 is adapted to engage an arm 12 on the shaft 5 and rocks the latter and after taking up lost motion, the shaft 2 thus depressing the arm 1 leaving the car free to be driven away. The arm is raised again by the spring 7 controlled by the dashpot, which is preferably of the kind in which the first half of the return movement is slower than the second half. A signal shutter 30 with green and red sections visible through a window 29 warns the driver of the rate of return of the arm 1. An audible signal may also be provided. The driver can again depress the pedal if the arm rises too fast as the bar 17 has one or more notches 27 adapted to engage the edge of the slot and prevent the slide from moving back to lock the bar. In order to ensure that the pedal can be depressed, even if the slide 19 has been released, a pawl 26 engages a lug 23 on the slide and holds the latter in its inner position until the bar 17 has passed through .the slot 24 and raised the pawl. Modifications are described in which the arm 1 is connected, to the shaft 5 and control mechanism by cables. In the construction shown in Fig. 11, a timing control is provided whereby if the car is removed in the first hour it can be freed on insertion of sixpence (say) in a slot A, but if the hour is exceeded a shilling has to be inserted in a slot B. The slots A, B lead to coin shoots 20, 21<SP>1</SP>, and the slide 19 has two arms 19<SP>1</SP>, 19<SP>2</SP> operated respectively by buttons 21, 21<SP>1</SP>. A sliding plate 79 is provided..with one coin slot 80 and this is normally kept in alignment with slot A by a catch 82 controlled by a spring 81. When the arm 1 (not shown) is depressed a Bowden cable starts a stop clock 85. If the car is removed within an hour a coin can be inserted in slot A and the depression of button 21<SP>1</SP> actuates the slide 19 and allows the arm to be depressed to free the car. If the car is not removed within an hour the clock acts on a Bowden cable 84 and releases the catch 82 to that the spring 81 moves the plate 79 until slot 80 is opposite slot B so that a shilling has to be inserted to allow button 21 to be operated to actuate slide 19. When slide 19 is now actuated it operates a Bowden cable 86 and pulls back the plate 79 until the catch 82 engages again.