Patent GB-457790-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to prepayment mechanism for gas meters
IPC: G07F15/06
Filed: 1935-06-05
Abstract: 457,790. Prepayment mechanism for meters. COE, A., 6, Central Street, Halifax, Yorkshire. June 5, 1935, Nos. 16331 and 32606. [Class 27] Mechanism for prepaying basic charges; pricechanging mechanism.-In a prepayment meter adapted to collect payment for basic charges as well as for the commodity consumed, the ratechange disc is initially set to give a reduced delivery, and is subsequently released so that it can be adjusted by the consumer to a second position to give the full delivery after a predetermined number of coins have been inserted. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9, the ratechange disc 1 is provided with two stops 4, 12 determining respectively the initial and final rates of charge, these stops being removable to alternative slots 14 bv an official to allow of adjustment of the two rates of charge. Initially, the stop 4 engages a fixed abutment 5, and the disc 1 is locked by engagement of a catch 3, carried on a plunger 45, with the slotted periphery of the disc, the plunger 45 being normally inoperable owing to the masking action of a pivoted plate 44. Each time a coin is inserted and the setting handle 8 rotated, the quantity wheel (not shown), through gearing 25, worm gearing 27, a clutch 42, and worm gearing 30, steps forward a sleeve carrying an arm 38, which arm ultimately engages and turns the plate 44 to bring an aperture 46 therein opposite the plunger 45. The consumer then depresses the plunger 45 to disengage the catch 3 from the rate-change disc 1 which he then rotates to bring the second stop 12 against the fixed stop 5, so that an increased delivery is obtained for subsequent coins inserted. Further operation of the arm 38 is now prevented owing to the engagement of a rearwardly projecting pin 57 on the stop 12 depressing a pivoted hammer 58 which displaces a lever 59 to disengage the clutch 42. The initial position of the arm 38 is determined by a stop arm 33 adjustable by rotation of a graduated disc 34 which is set by an official according to the required extent of reduced delivery ; the arm 38 is brought back to its initial position by a spring drum 40, but can be moved forward during adjustment of the disc 34 by operation of a thumb-wheel 41. In a modified construction, release of the catch 3 is performed automatically when the full delivery is due. Referring to Fig. 17, which shows the principal modifications of this construction, the catch 3 is formed on a sliding plate 103 having a pin 102 working in a camslot in the plate 44 of the first construction, so that the catch 3 is withdrawn from locking engagement with the rate-change disc as the arm 38 engages the plate 44, when the full delivery is due. The invention is applicable to the prepayment mechanism described in Specification 143,679, [Class 27]. Coin-slit closing-devices.-A rotary coin-slit closing disc 18, movable relatively to the disc 1 by an amount limited by a pin-and-slot connection 19, 20, closes the insertion slit 6 when the full delivery is due, in order to compel the consumer to adjust the rate-change disc 1. In Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9, this disc 18 is operatively connected through gearing 52, 50, 49 with a toothed quadrant 48 on the masking plate 44, so that it is displaced to cover the coin-slot when the plate 44 is displaced by the arm 38. The gear 52 is displaced rearwardly on its shaft to disengage the disc 18 when the plunger 45 is depressed prior to rotating the rate-change disc 1 (and with it the disc 18), and is returned into mesh with the disc 18 when the plunger 45 is returned into locking position ; the disc 18 being finally rotated back relatively to the rate-change disc 1 to uncover the coinslit 6 as the masking plate 44 returns to its initial position under the action of a spring 56 when released by the plunger 45 and arm 38. In Fig. 17, the coin-slit closing disc is operated by a tooth 112 on a bell-crank 111 connected through a lever 109 with the pin 102 on the rate-change disc locking plate 103. Money boxes or receivers.-In the construction of Figs. 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9, the company's official is prevented from removing the cash receptacle until he has reset the rate-change disc 1 to its original position. The hammer 58, in its depressed position due to the adjustment of the rate-change disc by the consumer, operates a catch 60 to prevent full movement of the lock shaft 65 of the cash receptacle 61. The resetting of the disc 1 by the official releases the hammer 58 and catch 60 to free the lock shaft 65. In Fig. 17, however, the cashreceptacle lock shaft 65 carries a cam plate 64 operating on a vertically slidable bearing plate 108 for the catch 3, so that the catch is withdrawn from locking engagement with the disc 1 as the cash receptacle is unlocked. The catch 3 is held in this position by a pivoted gravity latch 120 until the latter is displaced by the stop 4 when the official has reset the rate-change disc 1. Coin action, multiple-coin.-If the mechanism is constructed to operate optionally with two different coins, suitable gearing may be provided to advance the gear 25 an amount proportionate to the value of the coin in each case, or the gearing between the quantity wheel and quantity mechanism may be arranged for this purpose.