Improvements in or appertaining to Coin Freed or Coin Actuated Mechanism, specially applicable to Gas Meters and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Coin Freed or Coin Actuated
Mechanism, specially applicable to Gas Meters and the like.
1, JOHN HAYNES of 1264 Duke Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to coin freed or coin actuated mechanisms intended mainly
for use in connection with gas meters, its objects being :-
1. The providing of facilities whereby a definite quantity of gas may be delivered
in return for a coin or coins without the use of valves.
2. The providing of means whereby the vendor of the gas may expeditiously
alter in situ the quantity of gas to be given per coin, when a change takes place
in the price of the gas.
In applying the invention to dry gas meters, it may be carried into effect as
follows:
I attach to any suitable part, moving in a constant direction with and driven by
the diaphragms or measuring chambers of the meter, an arm or other projection,
and in conjunction with such arm I employ a ratchet or friction pawl provided with
a stop wheel which in a certain position of the wheel is adapted to arrest the move-
ment of the said arm and prevent the working of the meter.
The said ratchet or friction pawl wheel, which is preferably of considerable
diameter, is connected by a friction device and a suitable train to the index gearing
of the meter, preferably to the first driving wheel thereof. The ratchet wheel
carries a central spindle which projects through the front of the meter preferably
directly over or in conjunction with the index thereof and is provided at its outer
end with a pointer. The dial in front of which this pointer moves is graduated
inversely in the usual manner for the purpose of showing the quantity of gas which
has to be consumed before the pointer arrives at zero
On the top or other convenient point of the meter, there is located a coin slot and
below this slot a inovable coin carrier is mounted, the said carrier being
provided with a slot adapted to receive a coin of the predetermined kind. In
the normal position of the carrier, the coin is supported in its slot by a fixed
abutment below the same. A movable pawl carrier mounted in proximity to the
ratchet wheel aforesaid and provided with one or more pawls to engage the same
is so arranged with respect to the coin carrier that, when the latter contains a
coin of the proper kind, any movement of the coin carrier will be communicated
to the pawl carrier, but when there is no coin in the coin carrier, the movement of
the latter will not affect the pawl carrier.
The coin carrier is connected by means of a link with a weighted lever, which
may be raised from the exterior of the meter by means of a thumb piece or other
equivalent device, the tendency of the weighted lever being always to return the
coin carrier to its normal position. The lever has a definite amount of movement,
but the connection between the link and the coin carrier is adjustable in such
manner that the stroke, capable of being imparted to the carrier by the movement
of the weighted lever, may be varied.
A convenient form of adjustable connection is as follows;-
The pin, connecting the link and coin carrier, works within a slot in the carrier,
and is provided with a cam or snail adapted to bear upon a fixed pin in the carrier
and so arranged that, when the link pin is rotated in its slot, the distance between
the face of the cam and the fixed pin is varied, and, consequently, the link, during
a varying portion of its stroke, does not operate the carrier. The link pin may
be provided with a pointer and dial so that the amount of stroke may be readily
adjusted.

page_text: When the mechanism is in its normal position and the ratchet wheel pointer is at
zero, the arm, moving with the meter mechanism aforesaid, is in contact with the
stop on the ratchet wheel, so that all movement of the meter is prevented. The
coin carrier is now located with its slot below the coin slot in the meter case, and
any movement imparted to it by the thumb piece aforesaid will not affect the.
pawl carrier and ratchet wheel. On the insertion of a coin of the proper kind
into the coin slot, it falls down into the carrier (being supported by the fixed
stop aforesaid) and forms a connection between it and the pawl carrier. The
weighted lever being now raised by means of the external thumb piece, the two
carriers are moved along to a given distance depending upon the adjustment of the
link pin aforesaid. This movement imparts an angular movement to the ratchet
wheel in a direction opposite to that in which it moves when driven by the index
gearing (such movement being permitted by the friction device aforesaid) the
amount of such angular movement being equal to the movement in the opposite
direction which will be imparted to the ratchet wheel through the index gearing
by the passage through the meter of the quantity of gas to be sold for the coin
inserted.
It will be understood that the partial rotation of the ratchet wheel by the pawl
carrier removes the ratchet wheel stop from engagement with the arm, which as afore-
said is movable with the meter mechanism. The operation of the cein carrier by the
thumb picce removes the coin from contact with the fixed stop aforesaid and, on
the release of the thumb piece, the coin falls out of the carrier into a suitable
receptacle, and the two carriers are returned to their normal positions by the
weighted lever. Two or more coins may be inserted successively, the weighted
lever being operated for each coin and the ratchet wheel moved in a retrograde
manner, and to a definite amount at each such operation. The stop carried by the
ratchet wheel being now removed from engagement with the arm connected to the
meter mechanism, the meter is now free to operate, and acting through the index
gearing and through the friction device aforesaid, rotates the ratchet wheel until
the stop thereon is again.placed in such a position as to arrest the movement of the
arm aforesaid and meter inechanism.
The ratchet wheel pointer now indicates zero, and, the flow of gas being stopped,
another coin or coins must be inserted and the ratchet wheel again moved for each
coin to obtain a further supply.
In order to prevent the complete rotation of the ratchet wheel by too great
a number of coins being inserted successively, a lever actuated by a suitable
slot or cam groove in the ratchet wheel is so moved as to insert a projection
into the coin slot and effectually prevent the insertion of any further coins.
When the invention is to be applied to wet meters, the revolving arm aforesaid
or its equivalent is connected with a star wheel in the interior of the meter, and,
by means of a spindle working through a stuffing box, the said star wheel is actuated
by one or more projections upon or moving with the meter drum.
With the object of preventing fraud by fixing the thumb piece in an intermediate
position and thus obtaining a continuous supply of gas,
arrange a suitable device
whereby, whenever such a fraudulent attempt is made, the action of the meter is
stopped till the weighted lever is returned to its normal position.
It will be obvious that the invention may be applied to many kinds of meters or
sale apparatus other than gas meters-in which the material to be measured or
sold is passed through or from the apparatus from a supply in bulk. In each case, the
.revolving arm aforesaid, or its equivalent, moves synchronously with the measuring
mechanism which is connected with the index, and the latter is connected, as above
described, through a friction device, with the stop wheel for arresting said arm at
a predetermined point.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Coin Freed or Coin Actuated
Mechanism, specially applicable to Gas Meters and the like.
I, JOHN HAYNES of 126, Duke Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
he same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to coin freed or coin actuated mechanisms intended mainly
for use in connection with gas meters, its objects being
1. The providing of facilities whereby a definite quantity of gas may be delivered
In return for a coin or coins without the use of valves.
2. The providing of means whereby the vendor of the gas may expeditiously
alter in situ the quantity of gas to be given per coin, when a change takes place
in the price of the gas.
In applying the invention to dry gas meters, it is carried into effect as
follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the mechanism and a meter;
Figure 2 a side elevation partly in section ;
Figure 3 plan partly in section;
Figure 4 back view of a portion of the mechanism;
Figures 5 and 6 views of the upper portion of the mechanism;
Figure 7 plan of friction device;
Figure 8 device for preventing the complete rotation of the ratchet wheel;
Figure 9 enlarged section through friction device ;
Figures 10 to 16 details.
A, is a spindle driven by the diaphragms or measuring chambers of the meter
and carrying an arm or projection a moving in a constant direction with the said
diaphragms. B is a ratchet wheel provided with a stop pawl having teeth
(Figure 15) which engage with teeth on the arm a and prevent the rotation of the
latter and the working of the meter. It is so arranged that this shall take place
when the pointer C, Figure 1, is at zero. The ratchet wheel B which is connected
by a friction device (hereinafter described) and a suitable train, not shown, to the
index gearing of the meter, preferably to the first driving wheel thereof, carries a
central spindle B₁ which projects through the front of the meter and is provided
with a pointer C which moves in front of a dial D graduated inversely to the usual
manner for the purpose of showing the quantity of gas which has to be consumed
before the pointer arrives at zero as shown in Figure 1. E is the coin slot and
E' a movable coin carrier having a slot e, Figure 3, adapted to receive a coin of the
predetermined kind. In the normal position of the carrier E' the coin is supported
by a fixed abutment e¹, Figure 5, below the same. F is a movable carrier provided
with a pawl which engages with the teeth of the ratchet wheel B.
The pawl
carrier F is so arranged with respect to the coin carrier E' that, when the latter
contains a coin of the proper kind; any movement of the latter will be communicated
to the pawl carrier F by means of a midfeather F1, Figure 3, but when there is no
coin in the carrier E' the latter will simply slide on each side of the midfeather F¹
and will not affect the pawl carrier.
The coin carrier E' is connected by means of a link G with a weighted lever G'
which may be raised from the exterior of the meter by means of a thumb piece g
or other equivalent device, the tendency of the weighted lever being always to
return the coin carrier to its normal position. The lever G' has a definite amount
of movement, but the connection between the link G and the coin carrier E' is
adjustable in such manner that the stroke, capable of being imparted to the carrier
by the movement of the weighted lever G¹ may be varied.

page_text: The form of adjustable connection is as follows-
The pin H, Figure 14, connecting the link G and coin carrier E works within a
slot in the carrier and is provided with a cam or snail H' adapted to bear upon
a fixed pin in the carrier and so arranged that, when the link pin II is rotated
in its sloth, the distance between the face of the cam H and the fixed pin ¹ is
varied, and, consequently, the link G during a varying portion of its stroke, does
not operate the carriers. The link pin is provided with a pointer I Figure 1,
which moves round a dial i attached to the link G, so that the amount of stroke
may be readily adjusted.
When the mechanism is in its normal position and the ratchet wheel pointer C
is at zero, the arm a moving with the meter mechanism aforesaid, is in contact with
the stop pawl on the ratchet wheel B so that all movement of the meter is
prevented. The coin carrier E' is now located with its slot e below the coin slot E
in the meter case A', and any movement imparted to it by the thumb piece g will
not affect the pawl carrier F and ratchet wheel B. On the insertion of a coin of
the proper kind into the coin slot e, it falls down into the carrier El (being supported
by the fixed stop e', Figure 5) and forms a connection between it and the pawl
carrier F. The weighted lever G' being now raised by means of the external
thumb piece, the two carriers are moved along to a given distance depending
upon the adjustment of the link pin H. This movement imparts an angular move-
ment to the ratchet wheel B in a direction opposite to that in which it moves when
driven by the index gearing, the amount of such angular movement being equal to
the movement in the opposite direction which will be imparted to the ratchet
wheel B through the index gearing by the passage through the meter of the
quantity of gas to be sold for the coin inserted.
The friction device which permits the rotation of the ratchet wheel B in a
direction opposite to that in which it moves when driven by the index gearing is as
follows-
The ratchet wheel B and sleeve B (Figures 7 and 9) run loosely on the
spindle J, and the sleeve B¹ carries the pointer C (not shown) at its outer end j.
Jis a sleeve and disc carrying the pinion, the said disc being held against the
ratchet wheel B by means of the arm J2. "The amount of friction is regulated by
nut and screw K. The parts shown in black represent leather to increase the
friction When the ratchet wheel B is actuated by the pawl, Figures 5 and 6,
it overcomes the friction and turns the pointer C but not the pinion but the
latter on being rotated in the opposite direction by means of the index gearing
causes the ratchet wheel B to be rotated in the same direction by reason of the
friction.
It will be understood that the partial rotation of the ratchet wheel B by the
pawl carrier F removes the stop pawl from engagement with the arm a, Figure 16,
which as aforesaid is movable with the meter mechanism. The operation of the
coin carrier by the thumb piece removes the coin from contact with the fixed stop e',
and, on the release of the thumbpiece g, the coin falls out of the carrier (Figure 6)
into a receptacle L, Figure 1, and the two carriers are returned to their normal
positions by the weighted lever G. Two or more coins may be inserted
successively, the weighted lever being operated for each coin and the ratchet
wheel moved in a retrograde manner, and to a definite amount at each such
operation. The stop pawl carried by the ratchet wheel being now removed from
engagement with the arın connected to the meter mechanism, the meter is now free
to operate, and, acting through the index gearing and through the friction device
aforesaid, rotates the ratchet wheel until the stop thereon is again placed in such
a position as to arrest the movement of the arm aforesaid and meter mechanism.
The ratchet wheel pointer C now indicates zero, and the flow of gas being
stopped, another coin or coins must be inserted and the ratchet wheel again moved
for each coin to obtain a further supply.
In order to prevent the complete rotation of the ratchet wheel by too great a
number of coins being inserted successively, a lever M, Figure 8, actuated by a

page_text: slot or cam groove m in the ratchet wheel B is so moved as to insert a projection N
into the coin slot and effectually prevent the insertion of any further coins.
With the object of preventing fraud by fixing the thumbpiece in an inter-
mediate position and thus obtaining a continuous supply of gas, I pivot a lever ()
(Figures 3, 10 and 11) to the casing of the meter at O' having one end resting
under the weighted lever G¹ (Figure 2) and the other formed to engage a stud P
attached to a lever p which receives its motion from the spindle A. (the arm a
being also carried by the same spindle). Now when the meter is working, the
weighted lever G holds the lever O from engaging the stud P, but, when the
lever G is raised as shown in Figure 10, the lever O engages the stud P and stops
the action of the meter till the weighted lever is returned to its normal position.
The mode of action is as follows-
Having placed the cam H in such a position, relatively to the stop h¹, that a
given amount of gas will be allowed to pass through the meter for a certain coin,
the latter is dropped through the slot. E into the carrier E'. The thumbpiece o
is now turned and, by means of link G, the carriers E and F are moved along
taking the coin with them until the pointer C, actuated by pawl f and ratchet
wheel B, arrives at the number on the dial which indicates the amount of
gas the
user is to receive for a given coin. The thumbpiece is now released, the coin falls
out of the carrier into the receptacle L, Figure 1, and the above parts resume
their normal position. The ratchet wheel B, having been rotated, has raised the
stop pawl from engagement with the arm a. The meter being now free to
operate acts through the index gearing and friction device and rotates the ratchet
wheel B and with it the pointer C until the latter arrives at zero, at the same
time the stop pawl b is again placed in such a position as to arrest the movement
of the revolving arm a and stop the passage of gas through the meter.
When the invention is to be applied to wet meters, the revolving arm aforesaid
or its equivalent is connected with a star wheel Q in the interior of the meter,
and, by means of a spindle working through a stuffing box, the said star wheel is
actuated by one or more projections upon or moving with the meter drum Q' as
shown in dotted lines in Figure 4.
It will be obvious that the invention may be applied to many kinds of meters
or sale apparatus-other than gas meters in which the material to be measured
or sold is passed through or from the apparatus from a supply in bulk. In each
case, the revolving arm aforesaid, or its equivalent, moves synchronously with the
measuring mechanism which is connected with the index, and the latter is connected,
as above described, through a friction device, with the stop wheel for arresting said
arm at a predetermined point.
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. The improvements in or appertaining to coin freed or coin actuated mechanism
for the purposes specified, consisting in providing a coin carrier E¹ which, on the
insertion of a coin or coins, can forin a connection with a feeding or winding up
device F, so that, when the operating parts (9 GG) are moved, the coin carrier
and feeding device travel together whereby a stop bengaging a rotatable arm a of
the meter mechanism, is liberated and a quantity of gas allowed to pass through
the meter equivalent to the amount of feed or winding up substantially as herein-
before described.
2. The employment in connection with a coin freed or coin actuated mechanism
for the purposes specified, of the adjustable connection device, consisting more
particularly of a dial plate i in one with the operating part G and having a pin H
provided with a snail, capable of adjustment, passing through it and through the
coin carrier, the latter being provided with a fixed pin ¹ or its equivalent,, such
parts being arranged and working together substantially as and for the purposes
described.

page_text: 3. In connection with a coin freed mechanism such as described and shown, a
device for preventing the complete rotation of the ratchet wheel B, consisting of
an arm M in combination with a groove or cam having an enlargement whereby
before the ratchet wheel has made one revolution, part of the arm in question will
(through its other end traversing the enlargement) have been thrown across the
coin slot E, thus preventing the insertion of any more coin and the further rotation
of the ratchet wheel, all substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. The arrangement for stopping the action of the meter in case the weighted
lever has been interfered with, consisting in the employment of a lever or levers
moving with the rotatable arm a and provided with a projection P adapted to
engage one end of a lever O, the other end of which lever is actuated by the
weighted lever G all arranged and working together substantially as described.
5. The general arrangement and construction of parts taken as a whole and
forming my improved coin freed or coin actuated mechanism specially applicable to
gas meters and the like substantially as herein described.
Dated this 6th day of May 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.