Improvements in and connected with Coin Freed Gas and other Fluid Meters.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Coin Freed Gas and other Fluid
Meters.
We, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVER, and JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, Engineers, of 214
to 222, St. John Street, Clerkenwell, London, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, to so construct and arrange the coin actuated
mechanism of, say, a coin freed gas meter that a consumer may obtain either a
pennyworth or a halfpennyworth of gas at will according to the value of the coin
inserted or any other two coins that may be desired.
In carrying our invention into practice, we arrange two notched discs of different
diameters but preferably having the same number of notches, the larger of the
notched discs is so disposed in relation to the coin slot as to be actuated by pennies
only, and the smaller as to be actuated by halfpennies only, the money pocket in
either cases being so constructed that a smaller coin will pass through without
enabling the consumer to actuate the supply valve.
The notched discs are set one in front of the other on the same valve actuating
mechanism spindle and are attached each to the other in any suitable manner,
so that if operated by either coin (halfpenny or a penny) they revolve together
but in order that a proportionate quantity of gas may be supplied to a consumer
according to the coin inserted the slot that receives the halfpenny can be set in
advance of the other to any desired degree, so that its ultimate movement with
a coin inserted is proportionately less, generally speaking it will be so set that
about half the movement can be given to the valve opening mechanism although
more or less movement may be obtained if desired, so that any proportional amount
of gas may be supplied compared to that for a penny.
To carry this invention into practice, we arrange that the halfpenny coin pocket
is adjustable upon the penny pocket of which it practically forms a part and we
employ two price changer plates of the kind described in the Specification of
our Letters Patent No. 25272 dated 29th December 1894, one in connection with
the penny pocket and the other in connection with the halfpenny pocket, one
being for regulating the position of the penny coin slot and the consequent amount
of movement of the mechanism after the insertion of a penny, and the other for
regulating the position of the halfpenny slot and the consequent movement of
the mechanism for a halfpenny, each plate as well as the halfpenny pocket being
numerically divided to ensure promptness and accuracy in setting.
Dad thin 7th day of Cantambor 1907
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Thomas Glover and John George Glover.

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Coin Freed Gas and other Fluid
Meters.
We, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVER, and JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, Engineers, of 214
to 222, St. John Street, Clerkenwell, London, 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 its object, to so construct and arrange the coin actuated
mechanism of, say, a coin freed gas meter, that a consumer may obtain either a
pennyworth or a halfpennyworth of gas at will according to the value of the coin
inserted or any other two coins that may be desired.
In carrying our invention into practice, we employ two notched dises of different
diameters but preferably having the same number of notches, the larger of the
notched discs is so disposed in relation to the coin slot as to be actuated by pennies,
only, and the smaller as to be actuated by halfpennies only, the money pocket in
either cases being so constructed that a smaller coin will pass through without
enabling the consumer to actuate the supply valve.
The notched discs are set one in front of the other on the same valve actuating
mechanism spindle and are attached each to the other in any suitable manner,
so that if operated by either coin (halfpenny or a penny) they revolve together
but in order that a proportionate quantity of gas may be supplied to a consumer
according to the coin inserted, the slot that receives the halfpenny can be set in
advance of the other to any desired degree, so that its ultimate movement with
a coin inserted is proportionately less, generally speaking, it will be so set that
about half the movement can be given to the valve opening mechanism, although
more or less movement may be obtained if desired, so that any proportional amount
of gas may be supplied compared to that for a penny.
To carry this into practice, we arrange that the halfpenny coin pocket
is adjustable upon the penny pocket of which it practically forms a part, and we
employ two price changer plates of the kind described in the Specification of
our Letters Patent No. 25272 dated 29th December 1894, one in connection with
the penny pocket, and the other in connection with the halfpenny pocket, one
being for regulating the position of the penny coin slot and the consequent amount
of movement of the mechanism after the insertion of a penny, and the other for
regulating the position of the halfpenny slot and the consequent movement of
the mechanism for a halfpenny, each plate as well as the halfpenny pocket being
numerically divided to ensure promptness and accuracy in setting.
Our invention and certain modifications thereof will be clearly understood by
reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a part sectional elevation of a gas meter and showing the two
ratchet or notched wheels A, B, on the meter mechanism spindle C, so that the
respective notches can receive the predetermined coins when inserted in the slot D
or E of a double pocket appliance F, G, shown in face view, Figure 2, and side
view at Figure 3, said appliance being adjustable one part to the other, and affix-
able by a set screw H. In the form shown, one i.e. the smaller pocket portion
quadrant shape of band or plate I with a double set of holes and with full
and half numerals as a guide for adjustment according to the desired quantity of
gas to be given for the respective coins preferably a penny and a halfpenny, either
of which alone can be used, and then the handle or knob J can be turned to bring
the coin pocket round to a fixed stop (not shown) for the release of the coin
which then falls into the bottom of the casing K as the till.
has a

page_text: In conjunction with the coin receiving appliance, we employ a ring plate L
which can be suspended from any one of the holes near the periphery on the
hook N of the casing as described in the Specification of the Patent previously
referred to, which plate marked with numerals, as indicated at Figure 4 has radial
lines coinciding with the holes and numeral markings of the quadrant plate I
and also of the circular plate M which is a cover plate to the quadrant I and
screw H and presents a flush face to the meter casing, the coin receiving
appliance D, E, F, G, H, I, behind alone moving when the knob J is operated.
The back of the ring plate L has a stop piece next its slot to limit the reverse
travel of the coin pockets and locate them for receiving purposes.
Supposing a quantity of 25 cubic feet of gas has to be supplied for a penny,
the plate L would be unshipped from the hook N and be re-hung from the rim
hole having the numeral 25 under it which would throw the penny slot D and
pocket F farther to the left of the vertical centre, the smaller plate M being
detached and shifted for its numeral 12 to coincide with the numeral 25 of the
plate L, and this would bring its slot pocket E about mid-distance between the
penny slot and the fixed stop for allowing a movement being given to hand
knob J for half the distance than would be necessary if a penny had been placed
in the penny slot, the discharge of the coin in either case being effected auto-
matically when the pocket containing the coin strikes against its fixed stop, thus
if 25 cubic feet of gas be allowed for each penny inserted, or 124 cubic feet of gas
for each halfpenny inserted, the hand knob J would in each case have to be
travelled a greater distance than if only 20 cubic feet or 10 cubic feet respectively
had to be allowed, consequently the gas valve would be moved to a greater distance
in proportion.
Then again suppose, such as in districts where gas is cheap and a company can
give 30 cubic feet of gas for a penny, the plate L would be hung from the hole
over the numeral 30, which would place the coin receiving slot D and pocket F
further downward to the left of the vertical centre, and the plate M would also
be shifted for its numeral 15 to coincide with the numeral 30 of plate L for the
reception of a halfpenny for 15 cubic feet of gas to be supplied in exchange
therefor.
The plate M being fixed in a corresponding manner, its numerals will show to
the consumer the quantity to be supplied is half that supplied for a penny. The
plate M has the advantage as a cover plate to protect the screw H from being
surreptitiously tampered with.
Instead of the half numeral markings for the halfpenny slot E or equivalent
appliance being adjustable on the lever F, as before explained, it with its pocket
may be secured to a circular plate M, as at Figures 5 and 6, by the screw pin H,
said plate M being bevel edged for fitting a corresponding inner edge of the ring
plate L to hold it in place and be fixed on the axle of the knob J by an extra face
or cover plate P shown detached at Figure 7, the edge of which is notched to
correspond radially to the holes in the ring plate L against which it can be
located by a couple of studs Q. Q, on the ring plate L engaging the notches
previous to the handle knob or turn button J being fixed by the screw pin R which
attaches the several parts of the apparatus ready to be hung from the hook N
when applied to a meter having any kind of regulating mechanism and especially
of the single screw and pinion, the double scroll or the double screw systems with
intermediate pinion in gear with both scrolls or screws as previously patented by
us on the 11th January 1894, No. 674, on the 26th April 1894, No. 8327, on the
24th November 1894, No. 22830, the present invention being supplementary to
our previous Patent dated 29th December 1894, No. 25272.
Figure 8 shows the face elevation of a gas meter with our ring plate L and extra
face or cover plate P and with the respective coin slots in position for a penny
and for a halfpenny respectively, one for registering 20 cubic feet of gas for the
larger coin, and the other registering 10 feet of gas for the smaller coin.
The plate L, can when hung from the hook N be fixed by the cross bar S, as at

page_text: Figure 8, the free end of said bar being locked and sealed by the gas company's
official to prevent the plates L, P, being removed without detection.
The small padlock T at the side is to allow of the inserted coins being removed
from the till.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is : —
1. The appliances shown on the several figures of the annexed drawings for
position and operation by or through which either of two coins of different values
can after insertion become locked as a medium for carrying round either of two
notched wheels and so move mechanism and therefrom open a gas valve to an
extent for the supply of gas to the value of the coin or coins so inserted, as herein-
before explained.
2. In a coin freed gas or fluid meter, two coin pockets E, F, one being adjust-
able on the other and affixable as to restrictive distances for pennies and for half-
pennies, or the like double and half value coins in combination with a ring plate,
such as L, levers such as F, G, circular plate such as M, and outside face plate
such as P, each plate having a coin slot but immovable when once adjusted and
fixed unless the price of gas changes and then to be capable of re-adjustment and
re-fixing to suit the fresh conditions, as herein before specified and as represented
on the annexed drawings.
The 7th day of June 1898.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Thomas Glover and John George Glover.