Patent GB-513736-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in prepayment mechanism for meters
IPC: G07F15/08
Filed: 1938-04-19
Abstract: 513,736. Prepayment mechanism for meters. ENGLISH ELECTRIC CO., Ltd., TILSTONE, G., and DONELLY, J. F. April 19, 1938, Nos. 11683 and 30026. [Class 27] - In prepayment meter mechanism receiving more than one size of coin and registering a credit appropriate to the coin inserted, a differential gear having one element free to rotate idly is provided in the drive between the operating knob and the crediting mechanism and a movable stop device is also provided to arrest said free element after a lost motion dependent on the coin inserted. In a mechanism taking pennies and shillings, the coin is inserted in an oscillatory insulated coin pocket 1 and a spindle 3 is rotated by a knob; the spindle is provided with a non-return ratchet disc 4 which also actuates coin discharging mechanism. As described in Specification 510,978 a cam 7 on the spindle 3 actuates a rack 'engaging a pinion 22 to rotate the coin pocket as described in Specification 498,306; the pocket carrying with it a plunger 18 having a shoe 18a located in coin receiving aperture 1a of the pocket. The plunger 18 is pressed downwardly by a spring 42 and has a pin 19 with roller 20 engaging a cam 21 which permits the plunger 18 to move down as the pocket is rotated until the shoe 18a engages the coin to caliper its diameter. The spindle 3 drives the sun wheel 12 of a differential gear 9 .... 13 through a notched disc 14 and spring-pressed arm 15a which act as described in Specification 498,306 to allow further movement of the spindle 3 after completion of the crediting movement without affecting the sun wheel 12. The carrier 9 for the planet wheels 10, 11 is loose on the spindle 3 and rotates idly until it,is arrested by a stop whereupon the other sun-wheel 13, is rotated and drives the crediting mechanism through gearing 40 and ratchet wheel 17. The plunger 18 has a sleeve 24 with two grooves 24a, 24b, a stop lever 25 being held by a spring with its tail 25a contacting with the sleeve. When a shilling is inserted, the plunger'moves so far that the tail 25a can enter groove 24b. This positions the lever 25 so that a part 25b acts as a stop for the carrier 9 which is thus arrested after completion of the initial movement of the knob. When a penny is inserted, the tail 25a enters groove 24a and the carrier rotates idly until it is arrested by a fixed stop 23. If no coin or a wrong coin is inserted, the tail 25a contacts with the plain portion of the sleeve 24 and the nose 25c of the lever 25 forms a stop for a pawl 26 to prevent rotation of the spindle 3. During the initial rotation of the knob until coin gauging is completed, a cam 28 on the spindle 3 engages the end 25c and holds the tail 25a of the lever 25 clear of the sleeve. The actuating knob is frictionally mounted on the spindle 3 so that it will slip under excessive torque. In a modification the plunger 18 is moved down by a lever actuated by a cam slot in the disc 4. Specification 451,423 also is referred to. Coindischarging mechanism. - The further movement of the spindle 3 after the sun-wheel 12 is arrested, causes a pin 29 on disc 4, Fig. 4, to engage a lever 33 so that an arm thereof moves a shutter 30 to discharge the coin. If a wrong coin is inserted, it may be discharged by backward movement of the actuating knob as described in Specification 510,978. Alternatively a spring-biassed push-button 32, Fig. 4, can be pressed to rock the lever 33 and operate the shutter 30. A cam shaped edge 32a on the button also actuates a latching lever 34 to cause one end 34b thereof to move into the path of a edge 4a on the ratchet wheel 4 and,prevent any further movement of this wheel in the crediting direction.