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

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1896
Complete Specification Loft 7th An
1907 Accented
22nd Mov
4907
PROVISIONAL DI ECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Gas Meters.
I, DAVID BRUCE PEEBLES, of Tay Works, Bonnington, Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of coin-prepayment
mechanism of gas meters, to simplify such mechanism, and by diminishing or
preventing play between the parts to secure a closer agreement between the quantities
of gas actually passing through the meter and the action of or dependent on the
prepayment coins.
In my improved mechanism a spindle has rotation imparted to it corresponding to
one or more inserted coins by means of mechanism such as is described in iny Patent
Specification No. 24,231 of 1894 or by means of any other suitable known mechanism
adapted for the purpose. The spindle is without longitudinal movement but has on it
a tube capable of moving along and made to turn with it by a pin and slot or in an
equivalent manner. The tube has a screw or worm thread formed on it, and it gears
with a wormwheel capable of turning about a fixed axis. Gearing with the same
wormwheel or with another worm wheel fixed on the same spindle or in any
convenient way geared thereto there is a worm arranged to be turned by the action
of the meter when gas passes through it. This worm which may be termed the
meter worm may be applied to the worm wheel with its axis in any position in the
plane thereof, which allows of its being connected in the most convenient and direct
manner to the meter mechanism.
When the coin spindle is turned the tubular worm on it screws itself along because
of the wormwheel being stationary; and this worm is made to move an indicating
pointer and also to open and close the gas inlet valve. When the meter passes gas
the meter worin turns the worm wheel which acting on the coin worm as on a rack
moves it back towards its starting point. The coin worm may be arranged to act on a
valve which does not completely close the gas inlet, but diminishes the supply as a
warning to the users of the gas that the quantity of gas paid for is nearly consumed.
If however the consumption of gas continues without a fresh payment a lever acted on
by the coin worm ultimately moves a stop which prevents further action of the meter
and stops the passage of gas.
Where a comparatively long traverse of the coin worm is desired it may be
arranged to engage in succession with two or more worm wheels, these being in gear
with as many meter worms on one spindle or being otherwise suitably geared
together.
In another modification of the improved mechanism the coin spindle and meter
spindle are parallel and both have longitudinally movable externally screwed tubes
which gear with a wormwheel placed between them and turnable about a stationary
centre. The tubular screws are connected by a light frame so as to move longitudinally
together. When one spindle is turned it causes the tubular screws and frame to move
in one direction and the turning of the other spindle causes the opposite movement.
With this arrangement a comparatively small longitudinal movement corresponds to
a large number of turns of either spindle.
Dated this Di Lit
1000
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Gas Meters.
I. DAVID BRUCE PEEBLES, of Tay Works, Bonnington, Edinburgh, in the County
of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas 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, that is to say :-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of coin-prepayment
mechanism of gas meters, to simplify such mechanism, and by diminishing or
preventing play between the parts to secure a closer agreement between the quantities
of gas actually passing through the meter and the action of or dependent on the
prepayment coins.
Improved mechanism as made according to three modifications is shown on an
accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings, Figures, 1, 2, and 3, thereof being
respectively a plan, a front elevation, and an end elevation of as much of one
modification as is necessary to explain it. Figures, 4, and 5, are plans respectively of
as much of a second and a third modification as is necessary to explain them. In
these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the saine or
like parts wherever they are repeated.
In my improved mechanism a spindle, A, has rotation imparted to it corresponding
to one or more inserted coins by means of mechanism such as is described in my
Patent Specification No. 24,231 of 1894 or by means of any other suitable known
mechanism adapted for the purpose. According to the modification shown in
Figures, 1, 2, and 3, the spindle, A, is without longitudinal movement being held in a
frame, A 1, fixed to the body of the meter; and it has on it a tube, B, capable of
moving along it, and made to turn with it by a feather, B 1, and groove or in
an equivalent manner. The tube, B, has a screw or worm thread formed on it, and it
gears with a worm-wheel, C, capable of turning about a fixed axis, C 1, in the
frame, A. Gearing with the same worm wheel, C, (or it might be with another
worm wheel fixed on the same spindle or in any convenient way geared thereto)
there is a worm, D, arranged to be turned by the action of the meter when gas passes
through it. This worm, D, which may be termed the meter worm is on a shaft, D 1,
which has on it a wormwheel, D 2, gearing with a worm, E1, on a shaft, E, which
has on it a worm wheel, E 2, driven by the usual worm, G, turned by the vibrating
arms, G 1, of the meter mechanism. The meter worm, D, may be applied to the
worm wheel, C, with its axis in any position in the plane thereof, which allows
of it being connected in the most convenient and direct manner to the meter
mechanism.
When the coin spindle, A, is turned, the tubular worm, B, on it screws itself along by
its action on the worinwheel, C, which cannot revolve on account of the meter worm, D,
and the tubular worm, B, is made to move an indicating pointer, I, on a frame, H, through
which the spindle, A, passes the tubular worm being held between projecting parts, H1,
of the frame which also extend downwards and by bearing on the frame, A 1,
prevent the frame, H, from being turned with the tubular worm. The frame, H, has
also formed on it rack teeth, J, which gear with a pinion, J1, loose on the axis, C1,
this pinion being in a pioce with a disk, K, which by a notch, K 1, in and a projec-
tion, K 2, on its rim acts on a pin, K 3, on a lever, K4, on a spindle, K 5, which by
lever, K 6, on it opens and closes the gas inlet valve, K 7. When the meter passes
meter worm, D, turns the worm wheel, C, which acting on the coin worm, B,
moves it back towards its starting point. The coin worm, B, is arranged
, K 7, which may be such as to not completely close the gas inlet,
e supply as a warning to the users of the gas that the quantity of gas
&consumed
If hameron the consumention it was cautious without o

page_text: fresh payment a lever L, loose on the spindle, E, has one end acted on by the sliding
frame, H, so as to bring its other end into the way of the tangent, M, of the meter
mechanism, and by preventing further action of the meter stops the passage of the gas.
The lever, L, is moved into the path of the tangent, M, against the action of a helical
spring, N, this spring on the withdrawal of the frame, H, taking the lever, L, clear of
the tangent.
Where a comparatively long traverse of the coin worm, B, is desired it may be
arranged as in the modification shown in Figure, 4, to engage in succession with two
or more wormwheels, C, these being in gear with as many meter worms, D, on one
spindle, D 1, or being otherwise suitably gearel together.
In the modification of the improved mechanism shown in Figure, 5, the coin
spindle, A, and meter spindle, 1 1. are parallel and both have longitudinally movable
externally screwed tubes, B, which gear with a worm wheel, C, placed between them and
turnable about a fixed axis, C1. The tubular screws, B, are connected by a light
frame, H, so as to move longitudinally together. When one spindle, A, is turned it
causes the tubular screws, B, to move in one direction and the turning of the other
spindle, D1, causes the opposite movement. With this arrangement a comparatively
small longitudinal movement corresponds to a large number of turns of either
spindle.
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. Improved coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter comprising a spindle, to
which rotation is imparted corresponding to one or more inserted coins, this spindle
having on it and turning with it a sliding tubular part externally screwed to gear
with a worm wheel which turns about a fixed axis and gears with a worin driven by
the action of the meter, the tubular part being further arranged to operate an
indicating pointer and the gas inlet valve through intermediate parts substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the modification shown in Figures, 1, 2,
and 3, of the accompanying drawings.
2. Improved coin-prepayment mechanism for a gás meter, comprising a spindle to
which rotation is imparted corresponding to one or more inserted coins, this spindle
having on it and turning with it a sliding tubular part externally screwed to goar
with two or more worm wheels which turn about fixed axes and gear with as many
worms on a spindle driven by the action of the meter, the tubular part being further
arranged to operate through intermediate parts an indicating pointer and the gas
inlet valve substantially as herein before described with reference to the modification
shown in Figure, 4, of the accompanying drawings.
3. Improved coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter comprising a spindle to
which rotation is imparted corresponding to one or more inserted coins, and a spindle
driven by the action of the meter, both spindles being parallel aud having on them
and turning with them sliding tubular parts, externally screwed to gear with a worm-
wheel between them and turning about a fixed axis, the tubular parts being bound by
a frame so as to slide together, and arranged to operate through intermediate parts an
indicating pointer and the gas inlet valve, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to the modification shown in Figure, 5, of the accompanying
drawings.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.