Patent GB-277667-A (GB)
IPC: G07F15/06
Filed: 1927-09-14
Abstract: 277,667. Allgemeine Elektricitõts-Ges. Sept. 15, 1926, [Convention date]. Electricity, supplying by meter; mechanism for prepaying rent of meter. - In a prepayment meter provided with a fixed tariff mechanism, one part of the fixed tariff mechanism, which is automatically controlled by the coin receptacte, is connected to a device by which, when the coin receptacle is pulled out the supply of commodity is stopped independently of the position of the prepayment mechanism therefor, until the fixed charges that are due have been paid. As applied to a prepayment electricity meter, and in a mechanism of the kind described in Specification 148,805, there is an auxiliary switch 7, Fg. 1, controlled by the coin receptacle 15, in series with the main switch 6 which is controlled by epicyclic quantity mechanism 3, 4, 5 set forward by prepayment. When the coin receptacle is pulled out, a lever 8 is moved by a spring 9 about its pivot 10 and, by means of a pin 12, moves a lever 11 so that a pin 13 thereon leaves a deep groove 16 in a toothed wheel 14. This movement of the lever 11 opens the switch 7 by rotating a disc 20 carrying contacts 21. The switch 7 remains open, after the receptacle 15 is pushed back, until the fixed charges are paid, which causes the pin 13 to enter the groove 16 so that the lever 11 is returned to normal position in which the switch 7 is closed. In a modification, the switch 7 and disc 20 are omitted, and the switch lever 25, Fig. 3, that holds the switch 6 closed is controlled by the prepayment spindle 22 through a lever 23 which is also controlled by the coin receptacle. If the fixed charges are paid and the prepaid commodity has not been all consumed, a shoulder on the lever 23 prevents movement of the lever 25. When the commodity is consumed, a stop 24 on the spindle 22 depresses the lever 23 by engaging a pin 28 thereon, thereby opening the switch. The switch is also opened independently of the position of the spindle 22, when the coin receptacle is pulled out, by an arm 26 on the spindle 10 of the lever 8 depressing the lever 23 through a connection 27. In another modification, Fig. 5, the spindle 22 is connected to the epicyclic mechanism by a coupling which is disconnected by the lever 11, when the coin receptacle is pulled out. When, the fixed charges being due, the pin 13 of the lever 11 is raised from the groove 16 of wheel 14, it moves an arm 39 against the action of a spring 37. This arm is keyed on the spindle, 22 and turns this spindle to release, the switch lever 25 and open the switch 6, at the same time! a pin 38 on the arm 39 being moved away from a segment 32 is fixed to a toothed wheel 31. The wheel 31, which is loose on the spindle 22, is driven by a wheel 33 on the spindle that is rotated by the planet wheel 5. After the fixed charges are paid, the pin 13 releases the arm 39 and the pin 38 engages the segment 32 so that the spindle 22 is returned to its original position and the planet wheel cam again drive it through, the coupling 32, 38, 39. The wheel 31 drives a roller 40 which indicates the number of prepaid coins standing to the credit of the consumer.