Improvements in and connected with Coin Freed Electricity Meters.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Coin Freed Electricity Meters.
I, FREDERICK JOHN BEAUMONT, of 21, Albany Road, Stroud Green, Middlesex,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for object, certain improvements in and connected with
coin freed electricity meters.
For the purpose of this invention, I employ an electric current which after
passing through the meter passes through an electro magnet or solenoid and
attracts an armature or iron core, this attraction being controlled by a spring
or balanced arm and varies the compression of a number of blocks of carbon,
or moves a contact over different points and inserts different resistances accord-
ing to the number of lamps in circuit and applicable for coin freed meters.
The invention is to be used in conjunction with my coin freed appliances
described in my previous Patent No. 17523 dated 26th July 1897.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Frederick John Beaumont..
I, FREDERICK JOHN BEAUMONT, of 21, Albany Road, Stroud Green, Middlesex,
Electrical Engineer, 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 has for object, certain improvements in and connected with
coin freed electricity meters.
For the purpose of this invention, I employ an electric, current which after
passing through a meter passes through an electro magnet or solenoid and
attracts an armature or iron core, this attraction being controlled by a spring
or balanced arm and varies the compression of a number of blocks of carbon,
or moves a contact over different points and inserts different resistances accord-
ing to the number of lamps in circuit and applicable for coin freed meters.
My invention is shown on the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 plan of operative parts of a coin freed electrical meter.
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» book and slevation

page_text: Figure 3 diagram of the electrical appliances while the main current is in
circuit.
Figure 4 diagram of electrical appliances with carbon blocks in circuit such
as when the lights are dimming and the value of the inserted coin is being
spent.
A, is the casing of a meter of any known construction. B, is a notched
wheel in which each coin is lodged and utilised for moving the notched wheel
round when the handle is turned. D, is an operative spindle, and E a screw
thread on same. F, is a pinion in gear with the screw thread, said pinion E
being on a sliding bar G by which the controlling appliances are actuated.
H, is a second screw threaded spindle, the screw I of which is also geared into
by the pinion F, the spindle H being in connection by pinion J for return
operation by the meter mechanism.
K, is a rod jointed to sliding bar G and also with toothed quadrant rack L
which in turn is in gear with pinion P of a vibratory contact arm Q, this
having one of the main circuit wires R affixed, the supporting plate S having
the other main circuit wire T affixed. The vibratory contact arm Q is available
for moving over and in touch with the contact piece V and remain in contact
proportionately to the number of coins inserted into the meter casing, each coin
so inserted demanding a separate action on the handle C according to the
quantity of current to be delivered in exchange for the amount thus paid in
advance.
The action of the meter rotates the pinion and this causes the screw spindle I
to rotate also and this by being in gear with the pinion F by its rotation moves
back the bar G and bar K.
It will be understood that there is no motion of the screw E except by liand
when the handle C is turned.
During the working action of the meter, the arm Q is gradually slid back
upon the contact piece V and just as its end is leaving the piece V, an ear W
rides upon the contact piece X which is in connection by wire Z with carbon
block resistances a superposed and controlled by the balanced beam lever b.
The carbon blocks a are preferably of the spongy kind capable of certain amount
of compression to govern the degree of resistance to be inserted in the circuit.
The other end of the beam lever b has connected to it the iron core c of the sole-
noid d, the windings of which are connected respectively with the main circuit
wire T and of the supporting plate S as indicated.
The diagrams, Figures 3 and 4 indicate the respective positions of on and
off, the main circuit being closed at Figure 3 and the shunt circuit closed at
Figure 4 by the ear W of the sliding arm Q being in touch with the resistance
contact X.
As indicating a method by which my invention can be carried out I have
shown a beam lever, arrangement.
After the lights are extinguished the mechanical parts comprised by the
screws and pinions and rods are in the position shown in Figure 1 and on the
insertion of a coin or coins and the actuation of the handle C to its fullest
extent the mechanism is pulled over the arm Q occupying relatively the posi-
tion shown in diagram Figure 3 in which it will be seen that said arm or switch
is in electrical contact with the terminal and the current may uninterruptedly
flow to the main circuit and will continue to do so until by the rotation of the
worm I by the action of the electrical meter with which it is mechanically con-
nected has returned the arm Q to allow the switch to move gradually back to
its original position as the light is being used, this will continue till such time
as value has been given for money when the switch will be moved to the posi-
tion indicated by diagram Figure 4 where it will be seen that the said switch
is no longer in contact with the terminal but is in electrical connection with
the resistance terminal from which it follows that as the current must flow
through the resistance a reduction of the light will take place and give warn-

page_text: ing that if more light is required another coin or coins must be inserted, if
on the other hand no coins are inserted, the switch will move to its original
position in Figure 1 and the light will go out by reason of the circuit being
opened.
A fixed resistance would be objectionable for the purposes of this invention,
since the number of lamps in circuit is subject to a constant variation and if
the resistance is invariably the same, the dimming of the light, will vary, and
may even produce such a reduction in the current as to cause a practical ex-
tinguishment of the lamps.
It is desirable to avoid this and by the insertion of a variable resistance
which will be cut in according to the number of lamps that are in circuit, the
dimming effect will be substantially the same in all cases.
For example, if only one lamp should be burning, the solenoid coil would
only get half an ampere, while with twenty lamps in circuit it would get ten
amperes. The core being attracted proportionately would move the beam lever b
and cut in such a part of the whole series of resistances as corresponded with
the difference.
The carbon block resistances are shown in. Figure 2, and in Figure 4 I have
indicated conventionally a series of coils of wire of the usual kind, both forms
of variable resistance being well known.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is-
1. In electrical coin freed meters, the carbon blocks superposed and actuated
by beam lever from solenoid and capable of more or less compression of carbons
for regulating and controlling the amount of resistance, as set forth.
2. In electrical coin freed meters, the traversing arm Q, car W, contact
pieces V, X, superposed carbon blocks a, beam b, solenoid d as means or appli-
ances for regulating or controlling the resistance according to the number of
lamps in circuit as specified.
3. In an electric meter, the combination with a metering mechanism and
lamp circuit, of a controlling switch to cut off the supply, a solenoid having
its coil connected through said switch in the lamp circuit, a lever connected
to the solenoid core and having a contact, a series of resistances swept by said
contact, and a resistance contact in the path of the switch and connected to the
series of resistances, and a shunt circuit including one or more of the latter,
the resistance contact and the coil of the solenoid, substantially as described.
4. In an electric meter, the combination with a metering mechanism and lamp
circuit, of a pivotted switch arm connected in said circuit, means for moving
said arm by the action of the metering mechanism, a solenoid, a beam lever
connected at one end to the core of the solenoid, a series of resistances in the
path of a contact on the other end of said lever, a resistance contact in the path
of a lip on the switch arm, a shunt circuit including the resistance contact,
the series of resistances the contact on the end of the beam, lever and the sole-
noid coil, and means for moving said switch arín by the action of the metering
mechanism.
The day
01
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Frederick John Beaumont.