Patent GB-704677-A (GB)
Title: Coin freed parking-time meters
IPC: G07F17/24
Filed: 1951-01-31
Abstract: 704,677. Coin freed parking meters. MENHALL, J. W. Jan. 31, 1951 [Oct. 5, 1950], No. 2426/51. Class 27 A coin-operated slide 18 is returned by springs 87, Fig. 1, secured to a post 43 which is carried by the slide and engages a slot 67 in a setting member 65 to oscillate the member about a bush 30. During its oscillation the setting member 65, which carries a spring-biased pawl 68, drives a ratchet wheel 63 and a winding lever 75 about the bush 30 in the opposite direction from that indicated by the arrow. The ratchet wheel 63 and the winding lever 75 are normally coupled together by engagement of a pawl 76 on the winding lever with a notch 78 on the ratcnet wheel and by engagement of the winding lever 75 and a stop 64 on the ratchet wheel 63 under the action of one (79) of the springs biasing the pawl 76. The winding lever 75 is fast with the bush 30 which forms part of a clock provided with the usual winding pawl and ratchet and serving to return the winding lever 75 and the ratchet wheel 63 at a controlled rate. Overwinding of the clock is prevented by engagement of a pin 92, which may alternatively be placed at 93 or 94, with a tail 91 of the pawl 76 to disconnect the ratchet wheel 63 from the winding lever 75. When a coin is inserted before the apparatus has returned to the "violation" position the setting member 65 drives the ratchet wheel 63 through the pawl 68 which is retracted in the "violation" position by a fixed stop 82 and by friction between a concave surface on the pawl 68 and a corresponding surface on the lever 75. The first coin insertion after the apparatus has returned to the "violation" position however causes the pawl 68 to engage the winding lever 75 and drive this: the impact between the winding lever and the pawl is sufficient to free the latter if it is stuck. The fine teeth shown on the ratchet wheel 63 correspond to three-minute intervals: they may however be replaced by teeth such as that shown at 89 in Fig. 1 corresponding to twelveminute intervals. The mechanism is preferably formed of stampings from stainless steel. Coin action; thrust, multiple coin with value received proportionate to value of coin. Nickels and cent-pieces inserted in a slot 53, Fig. 2, are pressed by a pusher 11, integral with a handle 10 pivoted at 9, against corresponding surfaces 20, 19 on the slide 18 and move the slide through a distance corresponding to their value before falling past the edge 54 of an adjustable support 55. Indicators. When the apparatus is in the "violation" condition a ball 38 sliding on a post 37 is raised to a position in which it is visible through a transparent dome 4, Fig. 1. The ball is raised by a bell crank 34, 36 turned about a pivot at 33 by a lever 29 free on the bush 30 when the latter lever is engaged by a pin 90 on the ratchet wheel 63 as this is returned by the clock. The ball is held in its "violation" position during movement of the coin-operated slide 18 by the bent end 28 of a lever 26, Fig. 2, free on the bush 30 and provided with a bent portion 40 for engagement by a camming surface 39 on the slide 18 and by the upper edge of the slide. Full stroke ratchet. A full stroke ratchet 14, Fig. 2, engaging notches 21 in the upper surface of the slide 18 is retracted about its pivot 15 at the end of the stroke of the coin-insertion handle 10 by engagement of an abutment 13 on the handle with a tail 25 on the ratchet. Exhibiting coins. Coin - discharging mechanism. After passing the edge 54, Fig. 2, of the support 55 an inserted coin falls between guides 44 and 45 to be supported by a shoulder 49 on an arm 41 carried by the coin-operated slide 18. In this position it is visible through a window 47. As the slide 18 moves when the next coin is inserted, the shoulder 49 permits the coin it supports to fall to a coin box.