Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for the Supply or Delivery of Fluids in Exchange for Coins Inserted therein, and for similar purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1895-Accepted, 28th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for the Supply or
Delivery of Fluids in Exchange for Coins Inserted therein, and
for similar purposes.
I, WALTER STAPLES, of 13 Stanmer Street, Battersea Park Road, in the County
of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates chiefly to apparatus for the supply or delivery of fluids in
exchange for coins inserted therein and is designed to simplify and improve the
construction and increase the efficiency and reliability of such apparatus. My
improvements are, however, also applicable to apparatus for other like purposes.
The main object of my said invention is to provide an improved apparatus for
the supply of gas to consumers in predetermined quantities upon prepayment
therefor.
An important feature of my said invention is the employment of a sun-and-planet
motion as a part of the quantity mechanism, in such a manner that, whilst the said
mechanism is always geared with the delivery mechanism or meter-mechanism, the
required adjustment of the delivery mechanism or quantity mechanism and its return
to zero can take place without the necessity for employing frictional connections
between the two sets of mechanism, and the return of the quantity mechanism can,
therefore, be easily effected by the delivery mechanism or meter mechanism.
My said invention, moreover, comprises improved means for operating the
mechanism for opening the controlling valve of the meter, and adjusting the quantity
mechanism by means of an external kueb or handle when a suitable coin or coins
have been inserted into the apparatus.
My said invention also comprises improved means for readily varying the amount
of gas supplied per coin, as required, in accordance with variations in the current
price of gas; and also improved means for preventing the fraudulent withdrawal of
a coin after the said coin has been used for operating the quantity mechanism of the
meter.
My said invention further comprises other improvements hereinafter mentioned.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I connect the sun-gear of the sun-and-
planet motion, by means of suitable gearing, with the meter-mechanism, and I mounţ
the planet-gear on a pin or stud secured in a disc or carrier which is fixed on an
arbor arranged to be rotated step by step through the medium of the coins inserted
in the apparatus. The said planet-gear engages with the teeth of an internally
toothed wheel, which is mounted loosely on the said arbor, and which preferably
serves as the quantity wheel, so that, when the said arbor and disc or carrier are
turned about their axis, the planet-gear revolves or rolls freely around the sun-gear,
and turns the internally toothed wheel about its axis in the same direction as the
said arbor and disc or carrier, without affecting the meter-mechanism, and the
meter-mechanism can nevertheless turn back the said internally toothed wheel
through the medium of the said sun-and-planet motion, without turning the said
arbor and disc or carrier.
1 sometimes provide the shaft or arbor of the said disc or carrier with a ratchet-
wheel whereby step-by-step rotary motion may be imparted to the said arbor through
the medium of coins inserted successively into the apparatus.

page_text: The said internally toothed wheel is connected, by bevel-gearing or in any other
.convenient manner, with an arbor carrying an index or pointer arranged to indicate
upon a suitable dial the quantity of gas for which prepayment has been made, or, if
preferred, the total value of the coins inserted at any particular time.
The periphery of the said internally toothed wheel is preferably formed with a
slot or recess and arranged to operate in conjunction with an arm or lever or levers
to open and close the controlling valve. The sun-gear is mounted on one end of a
sleeve adapted to turn freely on the arbor of the aforesaid disc or carrier, the said
sleeve being provided, at its other end, with a worm-wheel driven by a worm
mounted on an auxiliary arbor, which is preferably connected by spur-wheels with
the worm-wheel shaft of the meter. Or, if desired, the said worm may be mounted
directly on the worm-wheel shaft of the meter.
gas.
I find it advantageous to secure the aforesaid ratchet-wheel on the arbor of the
aforesaid disc or carrier by means of a fly or wing-nut, so that the said ratchet-
wheel may be readily removed and replaced, at will, by a similar wheel with a
different number of teeth to adapt the apparatus for changes in the price of the
The said ratchet-wheel is operated directly by the coin, which, when dropped
through a suitable coin-chute, falls into a slot in a sliding carriage which is of such
dimensions that the said coin will project above the upper edge of the said carriage.
The said carriage moves in suitable guides and is arranged to be operated by an
external handle or knob, or by means of a screw worked by an external handle, so
as to bring the upper end of the coin into engagement with the aforesaid ratchet-
wheel and thereby turn the same through a suitable angle. When the coin has
moved the said ratchet-wheel through the required angle, it falls through a slot or
opening formed in a plate below the sliding carriage into a suitable coin-receptacle.
When released, the said sliding carriage is brought back to its normal position
beneath the coin-slot by means of a spiral or other suitable spring.
According to another modification of my invention, I provide a roughened wheel
on the arbor of the aforesaid disc or carrier, instead of the ratchet-wheel above
mentioned. The coin resting in the sliding carriage acts upon a spring arm carrying
a pad and presses the said pad against the periphery of the said roughened wheel
and thereby turns the said arbor through the desired angle, the said pad releasing
the said wheel and springing back when the coin falls from the sliding carriage.
The amount of gas supplied per coin may, in this case, be varied by varying the
point at which the said coin falls through the slotted plate beneath the sliding
carriage and thus causing the pad to act for a longer or shorter time on the periphery
of the roughened wheel as above mentioned. Or, if desired, other suitable meaus
may be employed for this purpose.
To prevent the fraudulent withdrawal of a coin after it has been used to actuate
the quantity mechanism of the meter, I sometimes provide a flap pivotally mounted
above the sliding carriage and adapted to engage with a coin placed therein and
thus prevent the return movement thereof until the coin has dropped therefrom.
The said flap is so mounted that it will permit the forward motion past it of a coin
in the said carriage, but will prevent the passage of the said coin back to the normal
position of the said carriage below the coin-slot.
It is obvious that my improved apparatus may be somewhat further modified
without departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance, other
suitable means may be provided for adjusting or setting my improved quantity
mechanism. I prefer to employ a drop-valve for controlling the flow of the gas
through the meter. Other suitable valves can, however, be used for this purpose.
Moreover other suitable gearing may be employed for connecting the meter-
mechanism with the sun-gear of the sun-and-planet motion.
By using a screw for moving the coin to operate the apparatus, I obviate the
liability to fraudulent use of the apparatus by very rapid movement of the wheels.
My improvements are applicable to other coin-operated or coin-freed apparatus
in which a rotary movement will be imparted to the sun-gear during the delivery
of the goods or articles.

page_text: The apparatus may be adapted for operation by means of pennies, shillings, half-
crowns or other suitable coins.
Dated the 17th day of October 1894.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for the Supply or
Delivery of Fluids in Exchange for Coins Inserted therein, and
for similar purposes.
1, WALTER STAPLES, of 13 Stanmer Street, Battersea Park Road, in the
County of London, 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 :-
My invention relates chiefly to apparatus for the supply or delivery of fluids in
exchange for coins inserted therein, and is designed to simplify and improve the
construction and increase the efficiency and reliability of such apparatus. My
improvements are, however, also applicable to coin-operated or coin-freed apparatus
for other like purposes.
The main object of my said invention is to provide an improved apparatus for
the supply of gas to consumers in predetermined quantities upon prepayment
therefor.
My said invention comprises improved mechanism in which I employ a sun-and-
planet motion in the manner hereinafter described, so that, whilst the quantity-
mechanism is always geared with the delivery-mechanism or meter-mechanism, the
required adjustment of the quantity-mechanism and its return to zero can take place
without the necessity for employing frictional connections between the two sets
of mechanism, and the return of the quantity-mechanism by the delivery-mechanism
or meter-mechanism, will therefore be effected more easily than heretofore.
My said invention, moreover, comprises improved means for operating the
mechanism for opening the controlling valve of the meter and adjusting the
quantity-mechanism, by means of an external knob or handle when a suitable coin
or coins have been inserted into the apparatus.
My said invention also comprises improved meaus for readily varying the amount
of gas supplied per coin, as required, in accordance with variations in the current
price of gas; and also improved means for preventing the fraudulent withdrawal
of a coin after the said coin has been used for operating the quantity-mechanism of
the meter.
My said invention further comprises other improvements hereinafter mentioned.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice :-
Figure 1 is a plan, partly in horizontal section,
Figure 2 a side elevation, partly in section on the line x-x, Figure 1,
Figure 3 a vertical section on the line -, Figure 1, and
Figure 4 a vertical section on the line ×³—x³, Figure 1, illustrating my improved
apparatus as applied to a gas-meter.
Figure 5 is a partial section on the line, Figure 1, illustrating details of
construction.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 4, illustrating another modification of my
invention.
Figure 7 is a plan, partly in horizontal section,
Figure 8 a side elevation, partly in section on the line y-y, Figure 7,

page_text: Figure 9 an end elevation, partly in section on the line y¹-y, Figure 7, and
Figure 10 a section on the line y-y, Figure 7, illustrating a further modification
of my said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A, A¹ indicate the meter-case which is provided with a supplementary casing A,
my improved mechanism being arranged partly in the upper portion A. of the said
meter-case and partly in the supplementary casing A³.
My improved mechanisin is connected positively with the meter-mechanism by
means of gear-wheels a, b, the wheel being fixed on an arbor 6' mounted in
suitable bearings and provided with a worm c geared with a worm-wheel c¹ on the
arbor D. This arbor is in connection, as hereinafter described, with the indicator E
and with the notched disc or quantity-wheel g, which is toothed internally for the
purpose hereinafter explained. On the arbor D is formed or fixed a sun-wheel or
sun-gear d, which is in engagement with a planet-gear e mounted on a pin or stud el
which is secured in a disc or carrier formed or fixed on an arbor G. This arbor
is arranged to be rotated step by step through the medium of the coins inserted in
the apparatus, as hereinafter described; it is in axial alignment with the arbor D
but is not directly connected therewith. The planet-gear e is also in engagement
with the teeth of the internally toothed quantity-wheel g. The quantity-wheel g
is mounted loosely on the arbor G by means of a sleeve h, so that, when the
arbor G and the disc or carrier fare turned about their axis, the planet-gear e
revolves or rolls around the sun-gear d, and, being thereby rotated about its axis,
turns the internally toothed wheel g in the same direction as the said arbor and
disc or carrier but at a slightly greater velocity, without rotating the sun-gear and
consequently without affecting the meter-mechanism; the meter-mechanism can
nevertheless turn back the said internally toothed quantity-wheel through the
medium of the arbor D and the sun-and-planet motion, without turning the arbor Gr
and disc or carrier f, but the said quantity-wheel will be turned in the reverse
direction to the arbor D and at a much less velocity.
If desired, the sun-gear may be mounted on one end of a sleeve adapted to
turn freely on an extension of the arbor G, the said sleeve having fixed on its
other end the worm-wheel c'; and the worin e may be mounted directly on the
worm-wheel shaft of the meter instead of being connected therewith by gearing as
shown.
The quantity-wheel y is connected, by bevel gear-wheels h', with the arbor E
of the index or pointer E, which indicates upon a suitably graduated dial the
quantity of gas for which prepayment has been made, or, if preferred, the total
value of the coins inserted at any particular time, to effect such prepayment.
The periphery of the wheel y is formed with a notch 7 and is arranged to
operate in conjunction with an arm or lever j to open and close the controlling
valve F, substantially as described in the Specification of former Letters Patent
granted to me, and dated 6th October 1893, No. 18749, the arm or lever j, in the
arrangement shown, resting directly upon the periphery of the notched wheel 9.
The
To provide for imparting step-by-step rotary motion to the arbor G through the
medium of coins inserted successively into the apparatus, I secure upon au
extension G¹ of the said arbor G, a gear-wheel in such a manner that it can be
readily removed and replaced. This wheel is geared with another toothed
wheel similarly mounted on an arbor m provided with a ratchet-wheel n.
gear-wheels are secured on the arbors G', m by means of fly or wing-
nuts G³, m² so that they may he readily removed and replaced at will by similar
pairs of wheels having different numbers of teeth, to adapt the apparatus for
changes in the price of the gas.
The ratchet-wheel n is operated directly by the coin, which, when dropped
through the coin-chute p, falls into a slot in a sliding carriage H which is of such
dimensions that the said coin will project above the upper edge thereof as indicated
in Figures 2 and 4. The said carriage moves in suitable guides and is arranged to
be pushed inward by means of an external handle or knob H', or by means of a

page_text: Screw worked by an external handle, so as to bring the upper edge of the coin into
engagement with the ratchet-wheel n and thereby turn the same through a suitable
angle.
When the coin has moved the said ratchet-wheel through the required angle, it
passes the end of a plate A below the sliding carriage H, and drops into a suitable
coin-receptacle. When released, the said sliding carriage is brought back to its
normal position beneath the coin-slot by hand, or if desired a spiral or other
suitable spring may be provided for effecting its return movement.
To prevent the drawing back of the coin after it has commenced to act upon the
ratchet-wheel n, I make the sliding carriage H with a channel H' through its lower
edge, and I provide a fixed inclined projection A' on the upper surface of the
plate A; in the forward movement of the carriage, the coin rides over this
projection As, which, in the event of an attempt to draw back the carriage, will
engage with the lower edge of the coin and prevent backward movement of the
carriage to its normal position beneath the coin-slot p.
A stop-lever J is pivoted at J' and is provided with a downwardly-extending
arm against which the sliding carriage H will press as it reaches the end of its
travel; the stop-lever J will thus be forced between the teeth of the ratchet-
wheel n as shown in Figure 4, thereby preventing further motion of the ratchet-
wheel and also limiting the travel of the sliding carriage H.
The operation of my improved mechanism above described is as follows, that is
to say: To adjust the quantity-mechanism, a coin is inserted into the coin-slot p
and falls into the sliding carriage H. The carriage H is then pushed in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4, so as to cause the coin, projecting
from the upper part of the said carriage, to act on the ratchet-wheel n and turn it
through the required angle, any further motion of the said carriage and of the
ratchet-wheel being prevented by the stop-lever J. The motion thus imparted to
the ratchet-wheel n is transmitted through the gear-wheels ', I and arbor G', G to
the carrier f, and causes the planet-wheel e to roll or revolve around the sun-
wheel d, which is held stationary by the worm clocking the worm-wheel c¹; the
planet-wheel as above described turns the quantity-wheel g about its axis in the
direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3, thus opening the valve F through
the medium of the lever j, the index E being simultaneously adjusted through the
bevel-wheels h¹, h³.
While the prepaid gas is being used, the meter-mechanism imparts rotation to
the sun-wheel d through the gear-wheels a, b, arbor 6', worm c, worm-wheel e¹ and
arbor D, the carrier fremaining stationary; this motion of the sun-wheel d causes
the planet-wheel e to rotate about its axis e and turn the quantity-wheel y back to
its normal position in which the end of the lever j lies in the notch g', the
indicator E being simultaneously brought back to zero.
To prevent the fraudulent withdrawal of a coin after it has been used to actuate
the quantity-mechanism, I sometimes provide a flap pivotally mounted above the
sliding carriage and adapted to engage with a coin placed therein and thus prevent
the return movement thereof until the coin has dropped therefrom. The said flap
is so mounted that it will permit the forward motion past it of a coin in the said
carriage, but, by engaging with the coin, will prevent the movement of the said
carriage back to the normal position below the coin-slot.
In some instances I provide for adapting the apparatus for varying prices of gas
by the changing of only a single ratchet-wheel. I have shown in Figure 6 oue
arrangement of this kind, in which the changeable ratchet-wheel q is turned
through the medium of a coin supported in the sliding carriage H, and acting upon
a lever P pivoted at P¹ and carrying a spring pawl N which is adapted to engage
with the teeth of the said ratchet-wheel. By substituting for the said ratchet-
wheel 9, which is held in place on the arbor G by a fly or wing nut g', a ratchet-
wheel having a larger or a smaller number of teeth, the degree of adjustment of
the quantity-mechanism by means of each coin can be varied to suit fluctuations in
the price of the gas. I find it advantageous to provide the lever P with an

page_text: adjustable inclined piece P' for the coin to act upon, so that, in case of great
changes in the price of the gas, the angle through which the said lever will be
moved by the coin before the latter drops from the plate A, can be increased, or
diminished as may be required.
According to a further modification of my invention shown in Figures 7 to 10,
I provide for operating the lever P by means of a rotary cylindrical coin-
pocket R constructed substantially as described in the Specifications of the
following former Letters Patent granted to me, viz.:-No. 14372 dated 9th
August 1892, and No. 18749 dated 6th October 1893. In this case the ratchet-
wheel is fixed on an arbor G³ connected by gear-wheels 12, with the arbor G;
and the arm or lever P is fitted so as to slide freely in a guide or stirrup & which
is pivotally mounted on a piece s¹ adapted to be secured by means of a nut s³, in
any desired position in a slot A' in the frame of the mechanism. The lever P is
formed with a slot P³ into which projects a pin P secured to the said frame.
When a coin is inserted into the coin-pocket R through the slot and the said
pocket is turned about its axis, the said coin acts upon the inclined end P³ of the
lever P, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, and rocks the said lever about its pivot s',
thereby raising the pawl N and turning the ratchet-wheel through an angle
corresponding to one tooth thereof. By removing the ratchet-wheel q and
substituting therefor one with more or less teeth, the apparatus can be adapted
for a higher or a lower price of gas. By adjusting the position of the pivot-piece s²
in the slot A, I can, when necessary, vary the stroke of the pawl N to suit the
pitch of the teeth of the ratchet-wheel.
It is obvious that my improved apparatus may be somewhat further modified
without departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance other
suitable means may be provided for adjusting or setting my improved quantity-
mechanism through the medium of a coin. I have shown a drop-valve for
controlling the flow of the gas through the meter. Other suitable valves can,
however, be used for this purpose. Morcover other suitable gearing may be
employed for connecting the meter-mechanism with the sun-gear of the sun-and-
planet motion.
My improvements are applicable to other coin-operated or coin-freed apparatus
in which similar conditions exist i.e. in which a rotary movement will be imparted
to the sun-gear during the delivery of the particular goods or articles sold by such
apparatus.
The apparatus may be adapted for operation by means of pennies, shillings,
half-crowns or other suitable coins.
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 :-
First. An apparatus for the purposes above specified, in which the adjustment
of an internally toothed quantity-wheel is effected through the medium of a coin
by the rotation of a disc or carrier bearing a planet-wheel geared with the said
internally toothed quantity-wheel and with a sun-wheel, and the return of the said
internally-toothed quantity wheel is effected by the rotation of the said sun-wheel,
substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
Second. The combination, with the arbor actuated by the meter-mechanism, of
the sun-wheel fixed on the said arbor, the internally toothed quantity-wheel, the
disc or carrier fixed on the arbor to be turned through the medium of a coin, and
the planet-wheel mounted on the said disc or carrier and geared with the said
sun-wheel and with the quantity-wheel, substantially as, and for the purposes, set
forth.
Third. The internally toothed quantity-wheel connected with the two arbors
respectively by means of the planet-wheel, the disc or carrier and the sun-wheel,
and with the index or pointer by means of bevel gearing, substantially as, and for
the purposes, above specified.

page_text: Fourth. The herein described improvements whereby I provide for varying the
degree of adjustment of the quantity-mechanism by each coin according to
variations in the price of gas, by the changing of a single ratchet-wheel.
Fifth. A fluid-meter provided with my improved apparatus constructed sub-
stantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifications
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and operating as and for the purposes
specified.
ديد
2012
Tune 1905
W. STAPLES.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.