Patent GB-483647-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in prepayment meters
IPC: G07F15/02
Filed: 1936-10-19
Abstract: 483,647. Prepayment mechanism for meters. TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET L. M. ERICSSON. Oct. 19, 1936, No. 28374. Convention date, Oct. 25, 1935. [Class 27] A prepayment meter is provided with means whereby the switch or other commodity controlling device, when tripped, can be re-set to obtain a further limited supply without insertion of a coin, such further supply being part of that due on the previous prepayment or supplied on loan to be paid for by the whole or a part of the value of the next coin inserted. As shown in Fig. 1, operation of the setting handle after insertion of a coin rotates a gear 1 driving a pinion 2 an arm 22 on which steps up the coin side 4 of an epicyclic quantity mechanism. The shaft 43 of the pinion 2, through coupling elements 22 and 24, simultaneously rotates intermeshing gears 19 and 25 so that a roller 29 depresses the supply switch contacts 32 into closed position. The switch is held closed against the action of a spring 27 by the semicircular end 10 of the planet-carrier shaft of the quantity mechanism engaging a hook 46 on a lever 16 secured to a shaft 17, an arm 45 of the lever being engaged by a tappet 28 on the shaft 42 of the pinion 19. The arrangement is such that the arm 45 holds the tappet 28 and the roller 29 against the action of the spring 27, and the semicircular shaft end 10 holds the hook 46 and lever 16 against the thrust of the tappet. When the amount prepaid is exhausted, the shaft end 10 frees the hook 46 so that the spring 27 raises the roller to open the switch, the lever 16 being restored to its initial position by a spring 47 as the tappet 28 passes the arm 45. In order, now, to obtain further electricity without coin insertion, an additional knob 33 is rotated and this knob, through a coupling 35, rotates the pinions 25 and 19 to reset the switch. Owing to the one-way connection 22, 23 however, the quantity mechanism is not set forward as when a coin is inserted, so that the shaft 10 is not in a position to lock the lever 16, this being effected by an additional locking element in the form of a slotted lug 13 on the end of a shaft connected through gearing 11 and 12 with the shaft 10. The lever 16 is shifted axially during rotation of the knob 33 by the action of a cam 20 carried by the pinion 19 on a cam plate 18 on the shaft 17 of the lever, so as to cause a second hook 36 on the lever to bear against the side of the lug 13 which now holds the switch closed until the additional amount of electricity allowed has been consumed and the slot in the lug 13 registers with the hook 36. During this consumption, the shaft 10 is rotated back beyond the releasing position, and is therefore rotated forward to a position short of the normal position when the next prepayment is made whereby payment is obtained for the additional electricity supplied. Modifications are described in which both releasing elements 10 and 13 are provided axially displaced on the same shaft. In Fig. 8 the shaft 61 of the coin mechanism rotates a shaft 65, connected with the quantity mechanism, through 180‹ for each coin inserted, the drive being transmitted through one of a pair of pins 63 and 64 on a disc 62 at the end of the shaft 61 and a pin 67 on the shaft 65. To obtain a further supply without inserting a coin, an additional setting shaft 71 is rotated to drive a loose gear 68 on the shaft 61, a pin 69 on this gear 68 carrying round the pin 67 and shaft 65 through 180‹, rotation being limited by the pin 64. The next time a coin is inserted, the pin 63 moves idly round through 180‹ until it meets the pin 67 ; it being necessary to insert a second coin to obtain a further supply, the first coin paying for that obtained on loan by operation of the shaft 71. In Fig. 10, the same handle is used for setting the mechanism with and without insertion of a coin. An inserted coin is received by a rotary coin pocket 83 on the shaft of the handle and serves to disengage a pivoted catch 89 out of engagement with a locking disc 85 turning with the pocket. When prepayment is exhausted, a striking arm 28 of the switch mechanism displaces a pivoted shutter 95 over the coin slot 81, the shutter 95 also displacing the catch 89 out of locking position. The coin pocket 83 can now be rotated to an extent limited by engagement of the locking edge on the disc 85 with the lower edge of the shutter, without insertion of a coin. When the further supply so obtained is exhausted, the coin pocket, and with it the quantity mechanism, must be turned back so that a cam edge on the locking disc shall operate a lever 90 to displace the shutter 95 to uncover the coin slot. The first coin then inserted is expended in restoring the quantity mechanism to zero position and pays for the supply previously obtained on loan.