Patent GB-724592-A (GB)
Title: Automatic parking meter
Inventor: HAMILTON ROBERT WADE
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1953-04-23
Abstract: 724,592. Parking meters. MAGEE-HALE PARK-O-METER CO. April 23, 1953, No. 11240/53. Class 27. An automatic parking meter has a pointer 85 returned along a time scale 22 by clockwork and setting means operable by one or more variable-sized coins of different denominations to set the indicator for any desired time interval, the interval being accumulative as successive coins are inserted. The meter is driven by a main spring 7 contained in a housing 6 and geared to a main drive shaft 14 on which is a coin-rotator plate 27 and also to a timer or clockwork mechanism 15. On insertion of a coin 52 into a coin slot 42, a spring- loaded lever 44 is moved away from one of several pins 40 on the inner face of the rotator plate 27 and allows the plate to be rotated by the spring 7 at a speed determined by a timing device 31, 31a, the pin carrying the coin with it in engagement with a surface 36 of a cam plate 34 fitted on a stationary coin pan behind the rotator plate. The coin contacts a projection 53 and, according to the diameter of the coin, moves a presetting lever 54 to a pre-determined position in which a pawl projection 57 can engage the appropriate notch 58 on a bellcrank lever 60. Before the coin disengages from the projection 53, one of several pins 51 fitted on the outer face of the rotator plate between the pins 40 engages a surface 64 on the lever 60 so that the selector notch 58 is brought into engagement with the pawl projection 57. On further movement of the coin, along a surface 37 of the cam plate 34, it contacts a pin 72 on a re-set lever 73 and moves the lever so that a cam sector 81 linked to it at 80 and having a slot 106 disposed round an indicator shaft 82 is drawn downwards, thus allowing a pawl 100 on a member 90 rotatable on the shaft 82 to engage the teeth of an indicator gear segment 84. At the same time, the lever 73 contacts a pin 109 and disengages a gear 87 on an idler lever 83 from a clock-driven gear 89, so that the segment can be rotated clockwise by a spring 111, the pivoted member 90 moving with the segment. The clockwise movement of the segment is limited by the engagement of one of a number of index members 95-98 adjustably fitted on the shaft 82 with a stop 71 on the presetting lever 54. The angular position of each indexing member corresponds to the diameter of the coin inserted, and the outer ends of each member are at different radii so that the appropriate index member contacts the stop 71 in the position in which it has been set by the pawl projection 57 engaging a notch 58. A stop member 99, similar to the index members, corresponds to the zero position of the indicator. As the coin moves off the surface 37, it falls down a surface 38 on the cam plate and, after subsequent partial rotations of the coin rotator, is discharged down a chute 142 into a coin bin. In falling, the coin releases the lever 73, the sector cam 81 releases the pawl 100, allowing the pivoted member 90 to return to its initial position and the gear 87 on the idler lever 83 re-engages with the clock-drive gear 89, so that the indicator segment 84, which carries the pointer 85, is returned to zero position at a timed rate. The pins 40 are mounted on arcuate segments which close off the coin slot while the coin is operating the levers 54 and 73 but, when the coin slot is freed, a further coin of any size may immediately or subsequently be inserted and, as the pawl 100 will engage with the segment 84 in whatever position it is in, the additional time will be added to that already bought or left on the meter. A counterbalanced "expired flag" lever 121, mounted on the shaft 82, is lowered on movement of the lever 73 by a bell-crank lever 123 operating in a lost-motion slot in a pivoted link 127 connected to the flag lever. The flag is held in the lowered position by a stop 132 on a spring-loaded lever 129 engaging under a lug 137 on the flag lever until a projection 135 on the segment 84 engages an arm 131 on the lever 129 on the return of the segment to the zero position and moves the stop 132 away from the lug 137. Exhibiting coins. The coins 52, while held in the coin rotator plate 27, are exhibited through windows 41. Adjustment of meter. A washer 93 carrying an adjusting screw 94 is fitted between each of the index members 95-98 to provide for their angular adjustment on the shaft 82. The time interval can be doubled by fitting the timing mechanism in position 15a, Fig. 5, instead of position 15. For adjustment to suit other ranges of coin, the cam plate 34 and notched lever 60 may be replaced by other suitably calibrated members.