Patent GB-482359-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in prepayment mechanism
IPC: G07F15/02
Filed: 1936-06-23
Abstract: 482,359. Coin -- freed apparatus. GIERSING, O. M., SORENSEN, H. J., and SORENSEN, K. R. June 23,1936, No. 17460. Void. Convention date, Jan. 27. [Class 27] Coin action, mechanical - connection, with delivery proportionate to value of coin.-Comprises a prepayment mechanism operable at will by coins of different value and applicable to meters, savings clocks, and time-controlled apparatus. As applied to a prepayment gas meter for optional use with three coins, a coin is inserted through a common slot 71, and comes to rest on a fixed plate 69 between a pair of fingers 66 and 67. The finger 66 is part of a horizontally slidable plate 41, operable by a pivoted setting handle 81. The finger 67 extends from a second slidable plate 56 having two notches of different depth in its upper edge, and one in its lower edge (see Fig. 5) engageable by spring-actuated pawls 50 and 52 pivoted to the first plate 41. During initial movement of the handle 81, the plate 41 alone moves until the coin is gripped between the fingers 66 and 67 at which instant one of the pawls 50 or 52 is situated over one of the notches in the plate 56 depending upon the diameter of the coin. With continued movement of the handle 81, the notched plate 56 moves with the plate 41 owing to the coupling action of the coin between the fingers 66 and 67, the pawls 50 and 52 travelling towards one another as they pass down cam edges on a fixed front plate (not shown), and one of them entering a notch in the plate 56. This latter pawl (50 or 52) is consequently in a position to engage one of three stepped edges 95, 96, or 97 in a slidable rack plate 30, and to displace it to the right during the final part of the movement. These edges 95, 96 and 97 (see Fig. 9) are situated in different horizontal positions on the rack plate 30 which is consequently displaced to the right by an amount determined by the step engaged by a pawl, which is again determined by the notch 57, 58 or 59, the pawl enters, and consequently by the diameter of the coin inserted. The displacement of the rack plate 30 is transmitted to the quantity mechanism, during its return movement under the action of a spring, by means of pinions 26 and 27 secured to a shaft 25 journalled in a frame 23 mounted for slight rotation on the shaft 15 of the quantity mechanism. During the latter part of the forward displacement (to the right) of the plate 41, the frame 23 is tilted by a pin and cam-slot connection 73, 72 between these parts, bringing the pinion 27 into engagement with a fixed rack 35 to prevent accidental rotation. The return of the rack plate 30, and also of the notch plate 56, is effected by a pin 84 on the plate 41 during the latter part of its return movement, at which time the frame 23 is moved back again, so that the pinion 27 engages rack teeth 33 on the plate 30 by which it is rotated. The quantity mechanism comprises a worm 17 slidable on, but rotatable with a meter driven shaft 15, and meshes with the pinion 26 which displaces it axially during prepayment, the rotation of the shaft 15 causing a slow axial return movement as gas is consumed. A groove in the worm engages a sliding carriage 87 provided with a pin 90 by which the gas supply valve is controlled. If an incorrect coin is inserted, neither pawl 50 nor 52 is brought opposite a notch in plate 56 during the initial mutual displacement of the plates 41 and 56, so that the rack plate 30 is not engaged and displaced.