Improved Method of and Means for Indicating or Recording the Number of Rotations, or Partial Rotations, Imparted to Coin Actuated Mechanism.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of and Means for Indicating or Recording the
Number of Rotations, or Partial Rotations, Imparted to Coin
Actuated Mechanism.
We, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVER and JOIN GEORGE GLOVER, of the Firm Thomas
Glover and Company Limited, 214 to 222 St. John Street, Clerkenwell, London,
Gas Meter Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has for its object to indicate or register the continuous and con-
secutive forward rotation or motion of the coin actuated mechanism and as herein-
after described is particularly applicable to coin freed Gas Meters, although it
may be used in connection with any coin freed apparatus.
Hitherto such indicators or registering devices have been operated by the forward
motion of a reciprocating part of the mechanism actuated by the Consumer after
the insertion of a coin, and the indicator returned to its normal or zero position
under the action of the Meter mechanism and therefore did not permanently
indicate or record the number of consecutive motions imparted or the total amount
of gas prepaid.
Or other devices have been used in which the coin itself in its passage to the till
has been caused to operate a recording or other index but in this case although
numerically giving the total number of coins inserted and therefore the number
of motions imparted by a consumer, it did not show or give any positive indication
that the coin operated mechanism had been proportionately actuated to supply
the given amount of gas prepaid by the Consumer.
It is therefore with a view of remedying the above described deficiencies that
we so operate the registering apparatus by means of any suitable mechanism
directly from a part of the coin actuated mechanism that has a continuous forward
rotation in one direction and entirely independent of and uncontrolled by the
Meter mechanism as to permanently indicate on a suitable system of dials the
proportionate movement imparted to the coin actuated mechanism and consequently
the amount of gas prepaid for each consecutive insertion of a coin as well as the
sum total for a given period whether consumed or unconsumed.
Moreover, by the use of this system of registering a comparison for error can
be made between the mechanically operated index and the ordinary index operated
by the Meter mechanism.
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page_text: Improved Method of and Means for Indicating or Recording the
Number of Rotations, or Partial Rotations, Imparted to Coin
Actuated Mechanism.
We, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVER and JOHN GEORGE GLOVER of the Firm Thomas
Glover and Company Limited, 214 to 222 St. John Street, Clerkenwell, London,
Gas Meter Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement;-
This invention has for its object to indicate or register the continuous and con-
secutive forward rotation or motion of the coin actuated mechanism, and as herein-
after described is particularly applicable to Coin Freed Gas Meters, although it
may be used in connection with any coin freed apparatus.
Hitherto such indicators or registering devices have been operated by the forward
motion of a reciprocating part of the mechanism actuated by the Consumer after
the insertion of a coin, and the indicator returned to its normal or zero position
under the action of the Meter mechanism and therefore did not permanently
indicate or record the number of consecutive motions imparted or the total amount
of gas prepaid.
Or other devices have been used in which the coin itself in its passage to the Till
has been caused to operate a recording or other index but in this case although
numerically giving the total number of coins inserted and therefore the number
of motions imparted by a consumer, it did not show or give any positive indication
that the coin operated mechanism had been proportionately actuated to supply
the given amount of gas prepaid by the Consumer.
It is therefore with a view of remedying the above described deficiencies that
we so operate the registering apparatus by means of any suitable mechanism
directly from a part of the coin actuated mechanism that has a continuous forward
rotation in one direction and entirely independent of and uncontrolled by the
Meter mechanism as to permanently indicate on a suitable system of dials the
proportionate movement imparted to the coin actuated mechanism and consequently
the amount of gas prepaid for each consecutive insertion of a coin as well as the
sum total for a given period whether consumed or unconsumed.
Our invention will be clearly understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 plan of a Gas Meter with the cover removed and exposing the valve
operating mechanism and the co-operated mechanism or appliances with dial for
recording the number of coins inserted also a dial for indicating the quantity of
gas paid for thereby or sum total of the coins received and consequently the
quantity of unconsumed gas.
Figure 2 is a face view of the dials arranged for the several purposes.
To carry our invention into practice, we have adopted the two parallel screws
arrangement as described in our previous Patent Specification No. 22830 of 1894,
on the axle A of which we fix a level wheel B in gear with a pinion Con an
unit dial spindle 1), the gear of which as shown is in connection with other dials
of the series E for recording the quantity of gas paid for and also the sum total
of the coins received by the apparatus, the series of gear F being the usual index
indicator of a Gas Meter and operated by the Meter mechanism G in a well known
manner. His a pinion in gear with a rack I of the valve opening draw rod J
The spindle K of said pinion H has the finger of the dial L affixed, said dial being
covered by a glass disc to be always visible to a Consumer while the other dials E, F
are covered by a flap shutter M shown open in Figure 2.

page_text: The operation is as follows:-On the insertion of a coin, say, into what we
term a price changer, as described in our previous Patent Specification No. 25272
of 1894, the spindle A is turned the requisite part of a revolution, the distance
of travel being determined by price changer before mentioned. The spindle A
in its rotatory movement carries the bevel wheel B round a corresponding distance
and through its connection with the pinion C is also rotated with the finger of the
unit dial E and so on to the other dials of that series to record the sum total of
the number of coins received by the apparatus.
The spindle A has a screw barrel N on it and this by being in gear with a
horizontal pinion P causes said pinion P to rotate and in doing so it travels along
the screw threads of the other barrel Q without imparting a motion thereto.
The turning of the spindle A however and its screw barrel N by giving motion
to the horizontal pinion P causes the valve rod J to travel and to open the gas
valve more and more and while the coins are being inserted in succession and
are carried round in the price changer for delivery by coming into contact against
a fixed stop. The travel of the valve operating rod J by its rack I and the pinion H
in gear causes the finger of the dial L to move round and thus indicate to an
observer the number of coins he has inserted. The dial L shows a limit of ten
but by the number of teeth in the rack I or the number of teeth in the pinion H
any greater or less number of inserted coins of the same value can be arranged for,
the numerals on the dial L being prepared accordingly.
Now suppose a Consumer has inserted nine successive coins of the same value
into the apparatus, his visible dial L would show it, so when the gas is turned on
at the Meter for consumption and the gas valve open the gas would flow through
the Meter, and in doing so would operate the mechanism G, and this by the
worm R would rotate the spindle S and also the barrel Q, the barrel N remaining
stationary. The barrel Q by its screw thread now causes the horizontal pinion P
to rotate in the reverse direction and in doing so to travel along the stationary
barrel N, and draw back its rod J the rack 1 of which reverses the direction of
rotation to gradually act for closing the gas valve. The pinion H also has a reverse
rotation and consequently takes the finger of the dial L towards the numeral eight,
thereby showing consumption to the value of one of the coins previously inserted,
thus as each coin's value of gas is consumed, an observer can by looking at the
dial L ascertain how much more gas there is unconsumed and so determine
whether, or no he should insert any fresh coin and to what extent in relation to
the capacity of the coin actuating mechanism but the consumption can go on
until the gas representing the full value of the inserted coins can be used up and
the finger of the dial L goes back to zero, the gas valve being then closed and
await the insertion of fresh coin and the operation of the spindle A to reopen
the gas valve.
The dials of the series E indicate the sum total of the coins received during
a given period, say, Monthly or Quarterly and on a visit of an Inspector, who
alone has the privilege of inspecting said dial, would enter in his Cash Book the
record there shown, as and representing the sum total of the coins so received
by the Meter during such a period, the date of the visit being also entered. He
would then return all the fingers of the dial series E to zero, either by moving
each finger separately which could be done if fitted on their respective spindles for
the purpose, or by the application of a ratchet and paul in connection with the
spindle D when all the fingers of that series could be put back to zero by the move-
ment of one finger only.
By this system of registering, a comparison for error can be made between the
mechanically operated index and the ordinary index operated by the Meter
mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
Wha boraïnhofare described method of and means for indicating and recording
1

page_text: the number of rotations or partial rotations imparted to coin actuated
mechanism of Coin Freed Gas Meters and other coin freed apparatus, substantially
as represented on the annexed sheet of drawings.
2. In coin freed apparatus having a rotation or partial rotation of the coin
receiver appliances and moving in one direction only after insertion of coin, the
employment of gear such as C on the first motion or its equivalent spindle with
a dial indicating apparatus for recording the quantity of gas paid for and the sum
total of coins received during any period, said apparatus being entirely independent
of and uncontrolled by the Meter or like mechanism, as set forth and substantially
as shown.
3. In combination with a coin freed Gas Meter apparatus, a single dial and two
sets of dials, one to register the number of coins inserted as prepayment coins
and also to visibly exhibit the equivalent of unconsumed gas, one to register the
quantity of gas paid for and also sum total of coins received by the apparatus,
and one to register the total quantity of gas consumed, all as specified and shown. 1
The 10th
D
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1939
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Thomas Glover and John George Glover.