Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanism for Prepayment Gas Meters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Jan., 1897-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1837
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanism for Prepayment
Gas Meters.
I, JOHN TOURTEL, of 22 Long Lane, in the City of London, Managing
Director of The Tourtel Gas and Geueral Engineering Company, Limited, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in coin-freed mechanism for prepayment
gas meters whereby such mechanism is rendered more simple and effective, and it
more particularly relates to improvements in mechanism described by me in my
Patent No. 14122 of 1894.
In the aforesaid patent I described and illustrated a locked mechanism which
the insertion and presence of a coin permitted by being released by the coin being
caused to operate a lever catch normally locking the mechanism. I also described
a coin-receiving disc or discs provided with an operating handle, a non-return
ratchet wheel, a pawl engaging with the said ratchet wheel, and a notched disc in
the notch of which a spring engaged.
In my present invention I dispense with a separate non-return ratchet wheel by
making suitable indentations in the periphery of the coin-receiving disc, and
instead of using a separate lever catch and pawl I construct both in one piece.
I also dispense with the separate notched disc and substitute for it a projection on
the face of the coin-receiving disc. In order to reduce the size of the coin disc
I no longer support the coin above the axis of the disc, but I cut a slot right
through the disc with projections in the slot to support a coin of the required size
but so arranged as to allow a smaller coin to drop right through the disc to the coin
receptacle beneath it.
I do not limit myself to the use of this invention for operating the particular
additional mechanism described in my aforesaid patent as it may be equally well
applied to other mechanism for operating and controlling the supply valve of a
prepayment meter.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of April 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanism for Prepayment
Gas Meters.
I, JOHN TOURTEL of 67 Aldersgate Street, late of 22 Long Lane in the City
of London, Managing Director of The Tourtel Gas and General Engineering
Company, Limited, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in coin-freed mechanism for prepayment

page_text: amism is rendered more spic
more particularly relates to improvements in mechanism described by me in the
Specification of my Pateut Number 14122 of 1894.
In carrying out my invention I proceed as follows:-
With reference to the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 5 are elevations, and
Figures 6 to 10 details, showing the construction of the apparatus according to my
invention.
Similar letters are used throughout to designate similar parts in the various
figures.
Upon a plate A is fixed at A' As a bridge A' which forms with the plato A a
coin-shoot A. Beneath this coin-shoot is placed a slotted disc B of which the
spindle B' projects through a hole in the plate A. and the pivot B' is supported
by the bracket A' which bracket is secured to the bridge A' by means of a
screw A'.
Through the disc B there is a slot which is small at the bottom aud carried up
parallel to about the centre of the disc where it widens out, the object of this being
to allow a coin of the required size to be supported at B B' (as shown in dotted
lines in Figures 3 and 5) whilst a smaller coin finding no support, owing to its
smaller diameter, will drop right through the disc.
The disc B is provided with a Hange B into which are cut ratchet teeth some of
which teeth are removed for a certain distance at B, Figure 3, for the purpose
hereinaf.er described.
Upon the flanged side of the disc B two pius, b and 6', are provided, the pin 6'
engaging with the projection D' of a spring D, fixed to the plate A at A³, which
spring keeps the disc in the norinal position, as shown in Figure 3.
Pivotted to the bridge A' at C' is a lover C having a hook C, a pawl C³, and a
projection Cagainst which projection presses spring which spring keeps the
pawl engaged with the teeth of the disc, and the pawl C projects over the whole
width of the disc B as shown in Figure 2. A projection B is provided upon A' to
prevent the lever C from lifting too high.
Upon the outer end of the spindle B is fixed an operating handle A which may
be always turned through a small arc of a circle, the distance being limited by the
pin b engaging with the hooked eud C of the lever C which thus acts as a locking
catch to prevent the furthur rotation of the coin-disc. Upon releasing the handle
the spring D acting upou the pin will bring the coin-disc back into its normal
position, there being no teeth upon the coin disc at this point (as previously
described) to enable the pawl C to retain it.
If, however, a coin of the required size be introduced through the slot A into
the coin-disc the said coin will rest upon the projections within the slot of the
coin-disc at B B7 and will project above the periphery as shown in dotted lines in
Figures 3, and 5, and upon turning the handle A the coin will pass beneath the
bridge A at A and will strike against the pawl C of the lever C before the pin b
has reached the hook C thus lifting the lever C and allowing the piu b to pass
clear of the hook C'.
Meanwhile the spring D has become depressed by the piu b' during the rotation
of the disc, but as soon as the pin 6 has cleared the hook the pin 6 escapes from
engagement with the spring D upon the inner side of the projection D' of the said
spring which immediately flies up to its normal position.
Upon continuing the rotation of the coin-disc the coin passes clear of the pawl C
which now descends into engagement with the teeth of the coin-disc and prevents
the coin-dise from being turned backwards.
The coin will eventually drop from the coin-disc during its rotation and when
the revolution has been completed the apparatus will have resumed its normal
position and will be ready for the reception of another coin.
A measuring-out spindle E-arranged to operate in any convenient manner the
supply valve passes through the plate A and is provided at this end with a long
longitudinal slot.

page_text: The coin-disc spindle B' and the measuring-out spindle E are operatively
connected by means of the wheels M and M' which wheels are secured to the
washers N. N by means of the pins P. P. An internal projection Q upon the
washer N engages in the before-mentioned longitudinal slot in the measuring-out
spindle E thereby coupling the washer N', and with it the whoel M', to the said
spindle, whilst a pin Q upon the coin-disc spindle B' enters into a slot provided in
the washer N, thus securing the said washer, and with it the wheel M, to the
spindle B'.
In order to retain the wheels M and M' in thoir proper positious and, at the
same time, ronder these wheels easily removeable, two bosses Z' and Z' are provided
upon the plate A and a strap Z having suitable indentations to admit the spindles B'
and E, is secured to the said bosses by means of screws, in such a inaouer that the
strap can be turned upon the screw of the boss Z' as on a pivot, the end of the
strap which engages with the sorew of the boss Z' being slotted so as to allow of its
being lifted without removing the screw of the said boss.
The wheels M. M' can thus be easily removed, the object being to permit of
variations in the quantity of gas supplied for each coin by varying the number of
the teeth in the said wheels or in one of them.
In either case, however, both wheels must be changed because the distance
between the spindles B' and E being fixed the pitches of both wheels will vary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I. declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The apparatus for coin-freed prepayment gas meters constructed and operating
substantially as described with reference to the drawing.
2. In a prepayment gas meter the combination of the coin-disc B having a
pin b with the lever C having a hooked end C' and pawl C' arranged and operating.
substantially as described.
3. In a prepayment gas meter the combination of the coin disc B having teeth.
on the periphery and recess B with the lever C having a hooked end C and
pawl Carranged and operating substantially as described.
4. In a prepayment gas meter the combination of the coin-disc B having teeth.
on its periphery recess B pins 6 and 6' with the lover C and spring D arranged.
and operating substantially as described.
Dated this Twenty-second day of January 1897.