Improvements in Prepayment Gas Meters...
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Prepayment Gas Meters...
We, WILLIAM COWAN and WILLIAM HENRY COWAN, of Buccleuch Street Works,
Edinburgh, North Britain, Gas Meter Manufacturers, etc., do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in prepayment gas meters more par-
ticularly to the coin actuating mechanism thereof, and forms modifications of,
or additions to, the inventions described in the Specifications of our former
Patents Nos. 13200 of July 9th, 1895; 18098 of August 15th, 1896; and 28828
of 16th December 1896.
Our present improvements have for their object to simplify the construction
and manufacture of the prepayment mechanism and also to enable the gas valve
to be closed more abruptly than hitherto, when the amount of gas paid for by
the insertion of a coin or coins has been almost consumed, whereby the whole
or nearly the whole of the gas can be supplied without any appreciable diminu-
tion of the light, prior to the complete closing of the valve..
In accordance with the first part of our invention, we dispense with the toothed
prepayment wheel as constructed, hitherto, and substitute therefor an internally
toothed band or ring mounted concentrically with the outer or actuating knob
or handle, and retained in position within a circular or other casing by a flange
and cover, or between two flanges, or in any other convenient way.
The coin carrier or pocket access to which is obtained by a slot in the side or
front of the operator as before, is mounted within the outer casing before referred
to in such a manner, that upon the insertion of a coin into the pocket or carrier
a portion of the coin projecting beyond the pocket immediately enters between
or engages with the teeth of the said band or ring, thereby enabling the band to
be rotated through the medium of the outer knob or handle to actuate the valve
mechanism and thus place at the disposal of the consumer a quantity of gas
equivalent to that paid for by the coin inserted.
In order to reset the internally toothed band and ensure the teeth being in a
position to receive the coin upon each and every occason that the mechanism is
operated, we employ a pawl as described in the Specification of our said prior
Patent No. 28828/96 but provide the periphery of the band itself with teeth into
which the pawl engages, the pawl being taken and kept out of gear during the
forward movement of the carrier by mounting and bearing against the outside
of the casing within which the internally toothed band rotates.
Also in accordance with our invention we may prolong or extend the internal
teeth of the band sideways beyond the edge of the band to a convenient distance,
and provide a pawl, at any suitable position upon the outer casing, arranged
to work therethrough and engage with the said teeth and so prevent the rotation
of the band in a backward direction.
We utilize the said internal teeth of the prepayment band or ring as a means
by which direct communication is effected with the screwed rod of the measuring

page_text: out mechanism of the meter, (such as is described in the Specification of our
Patent No. 21108 of the year 1894), by providing the extremity of the said
screwed rod with a pinion which gears with the internal teeth of the band or ring.
The operating handle may be constructed so as to have a "little play" on the
shaft (as described in Patent No. 18141, 1891). When so arranged the handle
carries with it a shield which closes the entrance to the slot before the coin pocket
can be moved out of the normal position.
In accordance with the second part of our invention we employ a double armed
or bell crank lever pivoted upon the side of the supplementary valve box or
casing or other convenient part of the meter. The said lever which has one arm
considerably longer than the other, is so situated that, upon the working back
of the horizontal internally screwed tube (as described in our said prior patents),
a pin or projection upon an extension carried by the said tube is caused to come
in contact with the shorter arm of the lever and so lowering the longer arm,
which engages with the crank of the valve shaft, closes the valve.
It will be seen, by reason of the inequality in the lengths of the arms of the
lever, that the valve can be closed with a shorter travel of the screwed tube than
when the projection engaged directly with the valve crank, thus enabling the
valve to be held full open for a longer period than hitherto.
"
In some cases it may be desirable to employ the lever to open the valve as
well as to close it. When this is desired, the end of the longer arm is fashioned
as a fork" which engages with the pin of the valve crank. When so arranged,
it is desirable that the pin or projection which operates the lever, should bear
slightly up against the under side of the lever whilst gas is being consumed till
it enters a notch or recess just as it begins to press on the lever's shorter arm.
The pressure of the pin then brings the lever into an angled position and so
closes the valve. The valve is again opened when a fresh purchase of gas brings
the pin out of the notch, and makes the lever resume the horizontal position.
during the continuance of which the valve will remain open.
The lever may be counterbalanced if desired.
WILLIAM COWAN.
W. HENRY COWAN.
We, WILLIAM COWAN and WILLIAM HENRY COWAN, of Buccleuch Street Works,
Edinburgh, North Britain, Gas Meter Manufacturers, etc., 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 prepayment coin freed gas meters
more particularly to the coin actuating mechanism thereof, and forms modifica-
tions of, or additions to the invention described in the Specifications of our
former Patents, Nos. 13200 of July 9th, 1895; 18098, of August 15th, 1896;
and 28828 of December 16th, 1896.
Our present improvements have for their object to simplify the construction
and manufacture of the prepayment mechanism and also to enable the gas valve
to be closed more abruptly than hitherto, when the amount of gas paid for by
the insertion of a coin or coins has been almost consumed, whereby the whole or
nearly the whole of the gas can be supplied without any appreciable diminution of
the light, prior to the complete closing of the valve.

page_text: carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. I is an elevation.
Fig. II a plan and
Fig. III an end elevation of a portion of a gas meter showing our improve-
ments applied thereto, the covers being removed for the sake of clearness.
Fig. IV is a rear end elevation or back view of Fig. III.
Fig. V is an elevation and Fig. VI a side view, both partly in section, of a
modification of the construction and method of mounting the internally toothed
band.
Figs. VII and VIII are similar views of the internally toothed band mounted
as shewn in Figs. I to IV and having the coin ejecting cam as shewn in Figs. V
and VI.
Figs. IX and X are similar views of a still further modification of the internally
toothed band arrangement.
}
Figs. XI and XII are detail views of a modified form of resetting pawl and
Figs. XIII and XIV are similar views of a modification of same.
Referring to Figs. I to IV of the said drawings, we, in accordance with the
first part of our invention, dispense with the toothed prepayment wheel as con-
structed hitherto, and substitute therefor an internally toothed band or ring A
mounted concentrically with the outer or actuating shaft B, and retained in
position within a circular or other casing C by means of the recessed flange c
and cover c².
The coin carrier or pocket D, access to which is obtained by a slot d in the
side or front of the operator as formerly, is mounted within the outer casing C
in such a manner, that, upon the insertion of a coin into the pocket or carrier a
portion of the coin projecting beyond the pocket immediately enters between
or engages with the teeth a of the band or ring A, as shewn in Fig. IV, thereby
enabling the band to be rotated through the medium of the handle of the actuat-
ing shaft B to actuate the valve mechanism and thus place at the disposal of
the consumer a quantity of gas equivalent to that paid for by the coin or token
inserted.
In order to reset the internally toothed band A and ensure the teeth being
in a position to receive the coin upon each and every occasion that the mechanism
is operated, we employ a pawl È as described in the Specification of our said
prior Patent No. 28828/96 but provide the periphery of the band itself with
teeth e into which the pawl engages, the pawl, which works through an opening
in the casing, being taken and kept out of gear during the forward movement of
the carrier by its pin e¹ mounting and bearing against or upon the outside of
the casing.
Also in accordance with our invention we may prolong or extend the internal
teeth a sideways beyond the edge of the band to a convenient distance, such as
to a', as shewn more particularly in Fig. I, and provide a pawl F, at any suitable
position upon
the
outer casing, arranged to work therethrough and
engage with the said projected teeth and so prevent the rotation of the band in a
backward position.
We utilize the said internal teeth a of the prepayment band or ring A as a means
by which direct communication is effected with the screwed rod of the measuring
out mechanism of the meter, (such as is described in the Specification of our
Patent No. 21108 of the year 1894) by providing the extremity of the said screwed
rod with the pinion G which gears with the internal teeth of the said band or
ring. Or in some cases the external teeth e may be employed to gear with a
pinion el having teeth shaped to correspond therewith, as shewn in Fig. V of the
drawings.
The operating handle may be constructed so as to have a "little play" on the

page_text: shaft (as described in Patent No. 18141/91). When so arranged the handle carries
with a shield which closes the entrance to the slot before the coin pocket can
be moved out of the normal position.
1
Or we may employ a shutter, arranged as shewn in the drawings, consisting of
a shield H pivotted at to the inside of the casing C; the said shield having
a pin or projection J working into or engaging with a slot formed in a weighted
portion K pivotted at k to the casing C. This portion K is also provided with a
pin or projection K' which when the carrier is in its normal position enters, by
the weight of the portion K, a notch or recess L formed in a disc which moves
with the coin carrier, thus keeping the coin slot free. Immediately however
that the knob B is actuated and the disc 7 rotated, the pin rises out of
the notch or recess L and rides onl the periphery of the disc,
the movement thus given to the portion K being communicated to the shield H
thereby closing the coin slot. The portion K is also provided with a trigger M,
by which the shutter can be actuated by a rod m which advances through the
medium of the screwed rod or tube A* for actuating the valve or stop of the
meter as described in the Specifications of our prior Patents Nos. 21108 of 1894
and 28828 of 1896, when the full number of coins have been inserted, thus keep-
ing the slot closed until a quantity of gas at least equal to the amount supplied
for a single coin has been consumed when the rod m is receded and the slot again
opened. The face m¹ of the said trigger is angled or inclined as shewn more
particularly in Figs. II and III so that the rod m coming in contact therewith
displaces it and causes the portion K to rotate slightly upon its pivot k in the
same manner as when actuated by the notch and pin before referred to.
In accordance with the second part of our invention we employ a double armed
or bell crank lever pivotted upon the side of the supplementary valve box or
casing N or other convenient part of the meter.
The said lever, which has one arm N¹ considerably longer than the other, is so
situated that, upon the working back of the horizontal internally screwed tube A*,
a pin or projection n upon an extension carried by the said tube is caused to
come in contact with the shorter arm N2 of the lever and so lowering the arm N¹,
which engages with the crank of the valve shaft, closes the valve.
It will be seen, by reason of the inequality in the lengths of the arms of the
lever, that the valve can be closed with a shorter travel of the screwed tube than
when the projection engaged directly with the valve crank, thus enabling the
valve to be held full open for a longer period than hitherto.
In some cases it may be desirable, to employ the lever to open the valve as
well as close it. When this is desired, the end of the longer arm N¹ is fashioned
as a "fork," as shewn, which engages with the pin of the valve crank. When
so arranged it is desirable that the pin or projection n which operates the lever,
should bear slightly up against the underside of the lever whilst the gas is
being consumed till it enters a notch or recess n just as it begins to press on the
lever's shorter arm N2.
The pressure of the pin n then brings the lever into an angled position and so
closes the valve. The valve is again opened upon a fresh purchase of gas by the
pin working out of the notch, thus causing the lever to resume the horizontal
position during the continuance of which the valve will remain open.
The said lever may be counterbalanced if desired.
As a modification we may construct the internally toothed band with a cir-
cumferential groove P, as shewn in Figs. V and VI, to receive a suitable number
of pins p, in this instance three, secured to the arms p¹. These arms are formed
in one with, or securely attached to, the actuating shaft, the whole arrangement
being such, that the rotation of the actuating shaft does not affect or rotate the
internally toothed band except when a coin is present in the pocket,
the pins, when no coin is present, merely sliding loosely round in
the said groove P. With this form of band or' ring we may employ
a coin ejecting cam, in shape similar to that shewn in Fig. IV, the construction

page_text: and operation of which was described in the Specification of our said prior
Patent No. 28828 of 1896, carried by an 'arm Q which is pivotted in a hollow
portion of the actuating shaft, the said arm being extended to q¹ so as to form
a pointer provided with a screwed aperture or eye" to enable it to be fixed
or bound by the screw pin at the desired part of the scale.
66
This form of coin ejecting cam may be employed with a band constructed and
mounted in a similar manner to that first described, if found convenient, as
shewn in Figs. VII and VIII.
In these figures, the frame, carrying the band or ring is composed of three
rigid arms R to which the indicating scale may be attached by any convenient
means.
Also as a still further modification we may arrange the internally toothed band
as shewn in Figs. IX and X that is to say, we may attach the said band by the
pillars r, to the disc or wheel R¹ formed as part of or attached to the screwed
rod of the measuring out mechanism of the meter either direct as shewn, or with
the intervention of gearing. The ejecting cam is arranged in this instance in a
similar manner to that shewn in and described with regard to Figs. V to VIII.
The coin pocket or carrier is mounted upon a sleeve R2 which rides upon the
shaft and is provided with a spur pinion 2 with which engages a second spur
pinion keyed upon the actuating shaft, the said actuating shaft being carried
by the bracket as shewn.
The disc or wheel R¹ is provided with teeth as shewn to allow of the employ-
ment of a suitable pawl to reset and also to prevent recession of the wheel or
band.
Also in lieu of employing a resetting pawl actuated as first described we may
employ a pawl S as shewn in Figs. XI and XII having a slot s in the tail piece
thereof arranged to slide over a stationary pin S₁ secured to the band casing,
the said pawl also having a pin sa which works in a slots formed in the said
casing. Upon the rotation of the band, therefore, the tooth of the band with
which the pawl is in contact, forces it forward and by reason of the angle of the
slot causes it to be disengaged with the teeth of the band until the coin carrier
is being rotated backwards to its normal position when the lever T carried by
the coin pocket comes against the pin s² and causes the pawl to again engage
with the teeth of the band.
Or when a complete revolution is performed on each occasion that the carrier
is actuated, that is to say when not arranged to return backwards to its normal
position, the pawl may be of a shape as shewn in Figs. XIII and XIV and pivotted
at U, the said pawl being actuated by a projection u carried by the coin pocket
coming in contact with a pin V formed on or secured to the pawl.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In prepayment coin freed gas meters the employment of an internally,
toothed band or ring mounted concentrically or otherwise in relation to an actuat-
ing shaft operated by a knob or handle and moving in a circular or other casing
so arranged that when a coin or token is inserted in the pocket, or carrier, the
said coin or token engages with the teeth of the said band or ring so as to com-
municate its motion thereto and thereby actuate the measuring out mechanism:
of the meter.
2. In prepayment coin freed gas meters having a circularly moving coin
carrier or carriage, the employment of an internally toothed band or ring mounted
concentrically, or otherwise, in relation to the actuating shaft and moving in a
circular or other casing, so arranged that the coin or token inserted in the pocket
can engage therewith to rotate the said band which communicates its motion
direct or by means of gearing to the rod of the measuring out mechanism, sub-
stantially as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. In prepayment coin freed gas meters having a circularly moving coin
carrier or carriage, providing the periphery of the internally toothed band with
ratchet teeth and the carrier or pocket with a pawl all arranged substantially
in the manner and as for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of August 1898.
JOHNSONS,
Applicants' Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.