Patent GB-396766-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to prepayment meters
IPC: G07F15/02
Filed: 1932-02-05
Abstract: 396,766. Prepayment mechanism for meters. PARKINSON & COWAN (GAS METERS), Ltd., WEIPPERT, E. D., and UNDERHILL, A. W., Bell Barn Road, Birmingham. Feb. 5,1932, No. 3460. [Class 27.] Coin action, thrust and multiplecoin.-In a prepayment meter adapted for actuation by coins of different denominations, the coins inserted through a slot 9 in a front plate 10, Figs. 1 and 4, into a coin pocket 8 depress a pivoted coin abutment 16, a slotted lever 17 secured to the pivot of the abutment actuating a lever or detent 7, which is pivoted to the pocket, and causing it to engage one or other of circular concentric racks y, 5 according as a shilling or a penny is inserted. The lever 17 has a slot 19 engaging a pin 18 on the detent 7. When a shilling is used, the pin 18 does not leave a vertical'portion of the slot 19, but if a penny is used, it rides along the slot to be actuated by the opposite end. The pocket 8 is carried by a disc 14 loose on a spindle 12 provided with an actuating handle 13, the spindle 12 carrying an arm 15 which engages and drives the disc. The parts are shown in Fig. 4 in position to receive a coin, the pocket 8 abutting against a stop 25 on a guard-plate 24 secured to the front plate 10, and being held by a spring catch 23 engaging a notch in the plate 24. When the handle 13 is turned, a nose 26 on the arm 15 first releases the catch and then the arm engages the part 14<1> of the disc to rotate it in a forward direction. After discharge of the coin through a slot 29 to a money box 30 the arm 15 returns the coin pocket by engaging a part 14<2> on the disc 14. Fraud preventing.-Insertion of a coin causes a pin 22, Fig. 3, on the abutment 16 to release a pawl 20 connected by a spring 21 to the abutment. This pawl engages in a notch 27 in the rear edge of the arm 15 and prevents return movement of the arm relatively to the disc 14, until the coin in the pocket is discharged. Gas, supplying by meter.-The gas valve is actuated by a hook-like extension projecting from one side of a planet-pinion carrier d secured to a spindle f, Fig. 1, this hooked extension opening the valve positively. The planet pinions i engage a crown wheel j and one side of a double crown wheel o, both freely mounted on the spindle. The other side of the wheel o is engaged by planet pinions p of a second epicyclic gear, the carrier q of which is free on the spindle f and has teeth r meshing with a pinion s which is formed on a sleeve w extending from the rack y. The pinion p also engage a loose crown wheel t formed with a pinion u which engages a worm wheel v on the spindle z of the rack 5, the spindle z passing through the sleeve w, When a shilling is used the drive is through the parts q, p, o, i, the parts t, j being held stationary. In the case of a penny, the drive is through the parts v, u, t, p, o. i, the parts q, j being stationary. The carrier d is rotated to close the valve by a meter driven worm n engaging a wheel k which is frictionally engaged by a spring l with the crown wheel j. The frictional engagement allows slipping to occur when the limit of prepayment is reached or after the valve is closed. Specifications 374,877, 376,773, 385,865, and 387,678 are referred to. Indicators.-The spindle f has a cam g to move a pointer h over a scale h<1> showing the amount of gas available to the consumer.