Improvements in and relating to Prepayment Sale and Delivery Mechanism.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Prepayment Sale and Delivery
Mechanism.
We, JAMES FEATHAM SAWER and JAMES LYON PURVES trading together in
partnership as Sawer and Purves at Garratt Street Works Oldham Road
Manchester in the County of Lancaster as Meter Manufacturers do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improvement in the prepayment sale and delivery
mechanism described and illustrated in the Specification of the invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to us and John Hope Purves and numbered and
dated 2626 of the year 1891. The object of our present invention is to improve
the coin receiving and actuating mechanisin so as to simplify its construction and
render it more certain in its action and more effectually prevent any fraudulent
employment of the mechanism. The improved mechanism may be combined with
the delivery mechanism described in the Letters Patent herein before named or
with any other form to which it can be applied.
In carrying our said invention into effect we construct a cylindrical coin receiver
so mounted upon its axis that it can be freely revolved by a handle or similar
device. The coin receiver is so arranged that it has a radial pocket or radial
pockets for the reception of the coin which is introduced in the ordinary manner
through a slot in the casing containing the mechanism. If two pockets are used
they are diametrically opposite each other so that each half revolution of the coin
receiver brings it into position for the reception of the coin. The walls of the
pockets have portions removed or cut away for the purpose of allowing the coin
receiver to pass over and clear pins hereinafter mentioned. Behind the receiver but in
close proximity to it and co-axial with it is a disc fixed upon a spindle borne by
the frames of the delivery mechanism. The disc is formed with an internal flange
and an annular groove is formed either by cutting away the flange or by attaching
to it a ring or washer of suitable size. In the web of the disc at a suitable and
equal distance from the centre two pins diametrically opposite each other are
fixed. Two holes are formed in the web at a short distance from the pins the
Within the herein before
holes being also diametrically opposite each other.
mentioned groove two tumblers hung on pivots fixed near the periphery of the disc
can move. At the free end of each tumbler a small catch is formed which can fall
into a notch cut in an annular ring cast on one of the frames sustaining the
Between
mechanism and projecting into the space within the flange of the disc.
the free and attached ends of the tumbler a pin is fixed or formed which projects
through the hole formed in the web of the disc. The engagement of the catch
and notch locks the disc in position and prevents it rotating except as hereinafter
named. When the pocket in the coin disc is in a position to receive a coin it is
unconnected with the disc and can be freely rotated. When a coin is introduced
it falls into the pocket and a portion of it passes between one of the fixed pins
and the pin in one of the tumblers. If the coin receiver be now rotated in the
direction necessary to operate the delivery mechanism the pressure of the coin
caused by such rotation upon the tumbler pin lifts the latter and releases the disc
allowing it to rotate. When the coin receiver and disc have been rotated a half
revolution the second tumbler locks the disc and the coin falls into a receptacle
provided for the purpose. On the release of the coin the receiver can again be
freely rotated without producing any effect upon the disc. We may use only one
pocket in the coin receiver and may arrange that the receiver shall only be able

page_text: to make half a revolution. We also provide a ratchet and pawl or other
equivalent locking device to prevent any backward movement of the disc.
In order to communicate the rotating movement of the disc to the delivery
portion of the mechanism as for instance that described in the Specification of the
Letters Patent 2626 of 1891 we use a train of wheels the first of which is fixed on
one end of the spindle on the other end of which the disc is fixed and the last on
the screw operating the said delivery mechanism. Between the two wheels named
other wheels gearing with them are placed and are so mounted that one of them
can be employed as a change wheel whereby the effect of the rotation of the coin
receiver and disc upon the delivery mechanisin can be varied at will.
Dated this 6th day of January 1894.
JAMES FEATHAM SAWER.
JAMES LYON PURVES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Prepayment Sale and Delivery
Mechanism.
We, JAMES FEATHAM SAWER and JAMES LYON PURVES trading together in
partnership as Sawer and Purves at Garratt Street Works Oldham Road
Manchester in the County of Lancaster as 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 ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improvement in the prepayment sale and delivery
mechanism described and illustrated in the Specification of the invention for which
Letters Patent were granted to us and John Hope Purves and numbered and
dated 2626 of the year 1891. The object of our present invention is to improve
the coin receiving and actuating mechanism so as to simplify its construction and
render it more certain in its action and to more effectually prevent any fraudulent
employment of the mechanism. The improved mechanism may be combined with
the delivery mechanism described in the Letters Patent hereinbefore named or
with any other form to which it can be applied.
In order that our said invention may be better understood and the more readily
carried into effect we have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings wherein
Fig. 1 is a side view of our improved coin receiving mechanism as seen with part
of the framing containing it removed; Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same;
Fig. 3 is an internal view of the coin receiver;
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing the parts as they are when the
maximum limit of the capacity of the delivery mechanism is reached ;
Fig. 5 is an end view of the driving disc or head;
Fig. 6 is a partially sectional view of the said driving disc;
Fig. 7 is an end view of the delivery mechanism showing the method of
operating the same by means of change wheels; and
Fig. 8 is a side elevation partly in section of the coin receiving and delivery
mechanism.
.
In carrying our said invention into effect we construct a cylindrical coin
receiver A mounted upon the axis A' borne by the framing of the apparatus
and having fixed upon it at the outer end of the axis a handle A' by which
it can be rotated from without the casing. The coin receiver A is formed
with a radial pocket B for the reception and retention of the coin which is
introduced through a slit in the framing in the ordinary way. The pocket B
in the coin receiver A is of sufficient size to receive the coin C and retain it
in such a position that it projects beyond the inner face of the receiver.
order to limit the movement of the coin receiver A a projection A³ is formed
on it which engages with two stops A' A' formed on the framing when the
In

page_text: coin receiver is rotated. The rotary movement of the receiver is therefore
limited permitting the pocket B to be brought into register to receive and
discharge the coin.
Adjoining the coin receiver A but placed behind it is a disc D fixed upon a
spindle D mounted in the framing of the delivery mechanism as shown more
particularly in Fig. 8. The disc D has a peripheral flange D¹ to which is affixed
by screws or the like an annular plate D2 thus forming a chamber within the disc..
An annular ring E is formed on the frame of the delivery mechanism and projects
into the chamber in the disc D. A notch E¹ is cut in the said flange E. In the
web D of the disc D two pins are fixed diametrically opposite each other as
shown at D D and two holes are also cut in the web at D D7 also diametrically
opposite each other. On the pins D D and within the before mentioned chamber
two tumbler detents F F are pivoted. One arm of each detent is formed at the
end with a catch F2 which can engage with the notch E' in the ring E. By means
of springs F³ the detents are pressed in a direction to engage with the ring E.
The other arm of each of the detents F F' is formed or provided with a pin F
projecting through the openings D D7 in the disc D the holes De D' being of
such a size that the pins F have sufficient play to permit of the disengagement
of the detents and the notch. Pins G are fixed in the web of the disc D opposite
the pins F the spaces between each confronting pair of pins being sufficient to
allow the coin C to fall freely between them. The projecting part of the coin
when it is in the coin receiver lies between one pair of pins F G and so long as
there is no coiu present the coin receiver A can be rotated freely from without the
walls of the pocket B being cut away to enable them to pass over the pins.
When a coin C is in the pocket as shown in Fig. 2 and the coin receiver A. is
rotated the projecting part of the coin is pressed against the pin F' as in Fig. 5
and lifts the detent F out of contact with the notch E¹. The disc D is carried
round with the coin receiver until it has made a half revolution when the second
detent Fengages with the notch E' and prevents any further movement of the
disc. The pocket B is then opposite the chute H through which the coin falls into
a sealed receptacle. The coin receiver is then returned so as to cause the pocket B
to again register with the slit in the framing for the introduction of another coin.
It will be understood that two pockets B may be formed in the coin receiver A
and that a continuous movement may be given to A in one direction so as to bring
the pockets in register with the slit.
In order to prevent the disc D from being rotated in the backward direction
after the receiver A has been rotated and the delivery mechanism operated we can
form a ratchet on the edge of the disc D with which a pawl can engage but we
prefer to use the equivalent device shown in detail in Fig. 6. This consists of a
bracket J fixed alongside the periphery of the disc and having a tangentially
extended surface supporting.a roller J bearing against the periphery of the disc.
When the disc is rotated in a forward direction the roller is kept at the upper
wide part of the bracket and permits the disc to move freely but when the
disc is rotated in a backward direction the roller is wedged between the periphery
of the disc and the supporting surface of the bracket and the rotation of the disc
is prevented.
In applying our invention to the delivery mechanism shown in Fig. 8 it is
necessary to prevent the insertion of additional coins after the maximum limit
of the delivery mechanism is reached We employ a counterbalanced detent K Fig. 3
oscillated by the forward movement of the carriage L³ so as to be thrust into the
This holds the coin receiver in
path of the projection A³ on the coin receiver A.
the position as shown in Fig. 4 and closes the slit in the framing thus locking the
receiver until the retraction of the parts allows the detent K to assume its normal
position. The machine cannot be operated without the insertion of a coin nor can
the coin be inserted and subsequently withdrawn.
The rotary movement of the disc D is communicated to the delivery mechanism
as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The disc D is fixed on the spindle D' which has fixed

page_text: on its other end a pinion L gearing with a carrier pinion L' by which it drives
the wheel L on the operating screw of the delivery mechanism. The pinion Lt
is carried by a swinging arm L which can be adjusted so as to permit of a
smaller or larger pinion being substituted for L the rotation of the spindle D₁
In this way by
thus producing a greater or lesser rotation of the screw P.
the provision of wheels of suitable size varying quantities of gas can be delivered
in exchange for any specified coin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In prepayment sale and delivery mechanism the combination of a revoluble
coin receiver and a normally locked disc operatively connected with the delivery
mechanism and capable of being rotated in one direction only by the coin receiver
by means of an interposed coin all arranged and constructed for the purpose and
in the manner substantially as described and illustrated.
2. The employment in prepayment sale and delivery mechanism of a disc
combined with and locked by detent catches each of which is released by the
pressure of a coin contained in a revoluble coin receiver all arranged and
constructed in the manner substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 5th day of October 1894.
JAMES FEATHAM SAWER.
JAMES LYON PURVES.