Electrical repay
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
AD. Electrical repaymaster
FRANK VILLIERS-STEAD, 44, Gutter Lane, Cheapside, E.C. Electrician, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention, which can be applied to either wet or dry gas meters where
prepayment is desired, is unlike all mechanical inventions of a similar nature, being
eutirely automatic, requiring no plug to be pulled, no handle turned, or any
attendance of a gas co.'s official. The requisite coins of any selected value are
inserted into the slot provided for that purpose, when the meter is ready for work,
and until the last coin in the shute is used, acts automatically and supplies gas, and
when the last coin in the shute is used and deposited by the invention into the cash
drawer the gas lights are automatically lowered for a few minutes, as a warning
that there is no coin in the shute, then if no coin is inserted into the slot, the gas is
automatically shut off, and no gas can be obtained until a coin is inserted into
the slot.
My invention is as follows.-I use a grooved shute of any material, preferably
of perforated metal, the groove is made the size of the coin required to operate the
meter, the back of the shute is open so that coins of a smaller size than the one
fixed upon fall through and does not pass down the shute, larger coins cannot
of course enter the slot. The coin when inserted travels down the shute and falls
upon an electric contact holder causing it by the weight of the coin to fall a certain
distance making upon a spring by means of a cam an electric contact and breaking
that contact by the cam passing the contact spring when the cam and holder is
checked by a stop upon which the coin and holder rests, a current is therefore sent
from a battery through an electro magnet, which actuates an armature to which is
attached a moveable jointed rod carrying a double toothed ratchet, and connected
with the gas valve which it opens, being kept open by means of the toothed
ratchet. The coin remains upon the stop until a wheel connected with the usual
wheels of a gas meter revolves so that a paul fixed upon it catches an arm of the
coin stop and releases the coin, attached is fixed a pin, which as the coin is being
gradually released from the stop by the wheel, intervenes between the coin resting
on the stop and the next coin in the shute, preventing it falling until the first coin
is released, the coin stop when that takes place returns to its normal position,
withdraws the pin, and allows the next coin to fall upon the contact maker, this
contact maker and cam holder whilst the coin remains against the stop, presses
against a spring cutting out the battery, but when the coin is released, connection
between the battery and the electro magnets is made by the spring returning to its
normal position. I have also fixed upon the wheel before mentioned two platinised
points, one of which after the last coin is deposited in the cash drawer, and
connection made with the battery, is brought in contact with a spring in connection
with an electro magnet, causing an armature carrying a catch to slip one tooth of
the double toothed ratchet which is connected with the gas valve, and half closing
the valve, the wheel still revolving, brings the second point in contact with the
spring and sending a current through the electro magnet causes the armature to
slip the remaining tooth of the double ratchet, thus closing the valve and
extinguishing the gas.
29th October 1894.

page_text: I, FRANK VILLIERS-STEAD, of 44 Gutter Lane, Cheapside, London, E.C.
Electrician, 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 :-
This invention relates to gas meters where pre-payment is desired, and can be
applied to either wet or dry gas meters.
Unlike other mechanical inventions of a similar nature, my apparatus is entirely
automatic, requiring no plug to be pulled, no handle turned, and no attendance of
a gas company's official, except to collect the coin.
My apparatus at once operates by the insertion of a requisite coin or coins of
any selected value into a slot provided for the purpose, and until the last coin in
When the last
the shute is used continues to act automatically and supply gas.
coin in the shute is used and deposited by the apparatus of my invention into the
cash drawer, notice is given to the user by an automatic partial lowering of the
gas lights, that there is no further coin in the shute.
If no coin is inserted into the slot, the gas is automatically shut off, and no
futher gas can be obtained until a further requisite coin or coins are inserted into
the slot.
And in order that my invention may be the better understood I' now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereto annexed and to the letters and
figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a general elevation of my apparatus showing coin shutes mounted on
a board or plate and as applied to the usual operating and registering mechanism
of an ordinary dry gas meter.
Figure 2 is a back view in similar elevation of the mechanism at the back of the
plate or board.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
Figure 4 is a detached modified arrangement of the valve closing gear, by
which the gas admission valve is closed consecutively, first partially and then
completely.
To the cap or cover of a meter I apply a grooved shute A of any material,
preferably of metal, with a slot or perforations therein, so that the coin therein,
can be accessible for movement should it stick or jam.
The groove is made of the size of a definite coin, such as a penny, which is
required to operate the meter. Larger coins cannot be inserted, and smaller coins
are thrown out of the shute and meter, without operating the apparatus;
either by allowing such smaller coins to escape by suitable orifices from the
main shute into a waste shute, or by utilizing the descending momentum and
lighter weight of a small coin to cause it to pass and jump over the place
and mechanism which is operated by the larger and heavier required coin, as
hereafter more particularly described.
The required coin, when inserted into the slot a at the mouth of the shute A,
falls into the head 6 of a coin-holder B, held up delicately in balance by the
weight. The detent C pivoted to play at right angles to the shute is held up by
the arm c of the coin holder B when the latter is in its normal position to receive a
coin. When the holder B is depressed and already coutains a coin the detent C is
weighted so as to fall with its lower joint into the shute and thus arrest any
further coins until the holder B once more rises, and is ready to receive a
further coiu.

page_text: The coins of required size, such as a penny, are arrested in the head 6 of the
coin holder B by a projection c¹ within the shute. Any smaller coins may
however pass under such projection c¹ and by their momentum; pass over the coin
holder B, without depressing it, and issue from the end A' of the shute, being thus
thrown outside the meter, without operating the apparatus.
So soon as the required coin rests in the head b of the coin holder B, the head b
falls with the weight of the coin, the finger & making a momentary contact with
the spring D thus closing the circuit through the battery G and electro magnet F,
and then leaves such contact; whilst immediately after such first contact the
lever B of the coin holder draws also the spring E away from its contact at e and
thus permanently breaks the other circuit through the other electro-magnet Q,
until the coin holder has resumed its normal highest position ready for the
next coin.
The momentary completion of a circuit through the electro-magnet F attracts
the pivoted armature H which is connected by the rod K to the admission gas
valve L and opens it, admitting gas to the valve chamber L' and thence to the
consumer in the usual way.
The apparatus with the coin still held suspended in the dropped contact holder B,
which comes home and rests on the lip a¹ of the lower fixed chute A', now remains
in this position with the gas valve open, the coin being prevented from escaping
by the detent m until the coin is released by the withdrawl of the said detent,
as follows:-The said detent m is fixed to the axis of a weighted lever M, resting
at its weighted end upon a pin m'. The tail of this pivoted lever M is operated
by a piece n upon a wheel N geared, according to the amount of gas that it is
desired to pass for the value of the coin used, to one of the axles P of the usual
registering or counting gear of the meter. The balance lever M is thus lifted in
due course removing the detent m out of the way of the coin in the dropped
holder b. The coin thus is discharged through the lower shute A into a cash
drawer or other receptacle and the coin holder B returns empty to its normal
higher position for another coin.
Upon the return thus of the coin holder B to its normal position the circuit
through the electro magnet Q is remade at e, but is still broken until the arm R
(which is part of the reciprocating mechanism of the meter and carries an
insulated metal contact r) makes contact with the spring S. The circuit from
the battery G is then completed through the electro-magnet Q attracting the
pivoted armature H to the opposite side, and thus closing the admission gas
valve L, should there be no further coin in the shute to at once depress the coin
holder B.
As a further precautionary detent of any succeeding coin until the holder b is
ready to receive it. I may apply an arm p to the axle of M, which traversing a
bent spring T, carrying a pin detent t at its extremity, causes the said pin detent
to enter the chute and obstruct the passage of a succeeding coin until the balance
arm M has fallen back into its normal position as shown, allowing the spring
detent T to lift, and the next coin to travel into the bolder b, so soon as the
detent m has come to its proper position to check the coin from immediate issue
down the shute A' out of the fallen holder b.
It is believed that the residue of gas, left in the meter and pipes after the closure
of the valve L will suffice to give due warning by a gradual diminution of the
light that no further coins are in the shute, before the gas is totally cut off, but
alternatively, I show in Figure 4, a modified arrangement of the valve closing
circuit and means adapted to close the valve first partially and thereafter
completely.
The electro-magnets F opens the valve by the armature H and rod K as
hereinabove described, the closure of the valve being effected by a spring U
when unrestrained by a pivoted detent V, acting as an armature to the closing
electro-magnets Q Q.

page_text: The valve closing circuit is completed by two successive contact points upon an
insulated disc X fixed on an axle P of the meter registering or counting gear,
touching a spring Y. The first closure of the circuit lifting the armature detent V
allows the valve spindle K to only partially close the valve; the end of the
armature detent V within the slot of the bar K coming against the teeth of the
slot vv, above and below, as it is lifted, and again allowed to drop by the breaking
of the circuit. Upon the second closure of the circuit, the travel of K is completed
and the gas valve thus completely_closed.
In order that the gas valve L may operate under the action of the electro-
magnets with the least friction and yet be gas-tight in its spindle; I fit the said
spindle so as to slide freely in a long neck or bearing in the partition through
which it passes, and I attach a loosely expanding and contracting india rubber
tube to the spindle of the valve and to the said neck so that it may make
the said neck gas tight without interference with the freedom of movement of the
valve.
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 :-
:―
1st. A pre-payment gas meter in which the insertion of a specified coin operates
a balanced coin holder, adapted to close a circuit through an electro-magnet
opening an admission gas valve to meter.
2nd. A pre-payment gas meter in which an inserted coin, after operation
of means to open gas valve is released from coin holder, by operation of a
tappet wheel, geared into registering or counting mechanism, substantially as
described.
3rd. A pre-payment gas.meter in which, on release of passed coin and completion
of equivalent supply of gas, the supply valve is adapted to close, by an electro-
magnet, energized through a circuit completed by next contact of any moving part
of the known gas meter mechanism, substantially as described.
4th. In a pre-payment gas meter, a valve opening apparatus, consisting of, in
combination; a balanced contact-making holder, operated by specified coin; a
contact finger thereon, making instantaneous contact on a spring;
an electro-
magnet, through which a circuit is closed by said contact; and a pivoted armature
thereto, opening admission gas valve, by completion of circuit through said
electro-magnet; substantially as described.
5th. In a pre-payment gas meter, a valve closing apparatus, consisting of, in
combination; a secondary electro-maguet with circuit from battery; a pivoted
armature thereto, closing gas valve; a contact in said circuit, permanently held
open by pivoted coin-holder so long as said holder is depressed; and a further
contact therein upon a reciprocating portion of known meter mechanism, effectively
closed on spring contact by the movement of said meter mechanism, after return
of unloaded coin-holder to highest position, substantially as described.
6th. In a pre-payment gas meter, a modified form of valve closing apparatus,
consisting of, in combination; a pivoted armature, connected to gas valve, rcoiling
from an opening electro-magnet by spring pressure; a spring recoil pivoted
armature to secondary electro-magnet, controlling closing recoil of main valve
armature lever, by a step to step detent thereon; and a circuit through said
secondary electro magnet closed twice consecutively by insulated disc upon
axle of registering or counting gear, substantially as described in relation to
Figure 4.
7th. In a pre-payment gas meter; in combination a shute with external coin
entry slot; a detent or detents therein to check supplementary coins before
reaching pivoted coin-holder; a projection in said chute to check specified coin
from passing pivoted coin holder; a waste shute for coins smaller than specified
coin; a detached required coin delivery shute connected to entry shute by pivoted

page_text: coin holder; a detent therein, to prevent premature escape of coin from coin
holder; and means for operating said detent, consisting of lever operated by
tongue on wheel, geared to registering or counting mechanism, substantially as
described.
Dated this 30th day of August 1895.
FELL & WILDING,
1 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.