Improvements connected with Coin Freed Apparatus for the Sale of Gas in Fixed Quantities.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., *894
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Coin Freed Apparatus for the Sale
of Gas in Fixed Quantities.
We, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVER, and JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, trading as
Thomas Glover and Company of 214 to 222 St. John's Street, Clerkenwell,
London, Gas Meter Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide improved means for actuating
the valve or stop of a gas meter, and is applicable to coin freed apparatus
in which the gas valve or stop is opened by a rotative movement of a handle
after the insertion of a coin and closed by a rotative movement obtained
by the action of the meter mechanism during the passage of gas to the
consumer.
The invention consists in pivoting a pinion to a sliding bar which by the
intervention of any suitable mechanism actuates the gas valve, and arranging said
pinion in gear with two screw spindles one of which is capable of rotation by a
handle after the insertion of a coin, the other being rotated by the action of the
meter mechanism to which it is suitably connected.
The two beforementioned screws with the pinion and sliding bar between them
are so arranged, that when one screw is rotated say by a handle, it causes the
pinion to revolve and move over the other or meter mechanism screw to which it is
geared as over a rack thereby causing the bar to which the pinion is pivoted to
slide or move to open the gas valve.
During the supply of gas, the meter mechanism causes its screw to revolve and
the pinion to move over the other screw as upon a rack, thus moving the sliding
bar to close the valve. Both screws are right handed or left handed as the case
may be, and revolve in the same direction, but inasmuch as they are arranged upon
opposite sides of the pinion with which they gear, it follows that the sliding bar
moves in reverse directions.
By the use of two screws with a pinion in gear between them as described,
the sliding bar is always locked in any given position, so that it cannot be
moved other than by the rotation of the screws, the chances therefore of
influencing the action of the valve are reduced. Moreover by the use of
two screws, each of which alternately acts as a rack and a screw. to the geared
pinion, no increase or decrease of leverage occurs throughout its whole range
of action, the power required to operate the gear is therefore very small and
unvarying.
Dated this 24th day of November 1894

page_text: Improvements connected with Coin Freed Apparatus for the Sale
of Gas in Fixed Quantities.
We, RICHARD THOMAS GLOVE and JOHN GEORGE GLOVER, trading as
Thomas Glover and Company, of 214 to 222 St. John's 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
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved apparatus for use in
connection with wet or dry gas meters, its function being, first, to open a valve or
faucet of a meter to admit of a supply of gas to a consumer's pipes proportionate
to the amount of rotative movement imparted to a screw by an inspector or other
authorised person after the receipt from the consumer of an equivalent value, or
if our invention be used in connection with any system of coin freed mechanism,
the necessary rotative movement may be imparted to the said screw by the
consumer turning a handle after the insertion of a given coin. Second. To close
the beforementioned valve or faucet and stop the supply of gas after the amount
of gas prepaid has been supplied to the consumer by the rotation of a second
screw operated by the ordinary mechanism.
In order that our invention may be thoroughly understood we have appended the
accompanying 4 sheets of drawings in which
Figure 1 is a top plan of an ordinary dry gas meter with the cover removed to
clearly show the position and relation of our improved apparatus to the ordinary
meter mechanism.
Figure 2 a part sectional front elevation.
Figure 3 is a part sectional back elevation, and
Figure 4 is an exterior front elevation of part of the meter.
The
Referring more particularly to Figure 1 it will be seen that two screws A, B,
respectively are mounted between the frames C, C, and have reduced ends or
spindles D, I, that revolve in the bearings formed by said frames C. C.
end of one spindle D which is partly broken away to more clearly show the rack
behind it, projects through the meter casing E proper into a box F to which a
hinged door is secured by a hasp G engaging over a staple H and fastened by a
lock, or it may be by a seal or other suitable device in such a manner that said
door can only be opened by an inspector or other authorised person, unless it has
been fraudulently forced or the end of said spindle D may be in connection with any
system of com freed mechanism enclosed within the box F.
The end of the spindle I projecting from the screw B is fitted with a worm
wheel J, Figures 2 and 3, that gears with worm K fixed to a spindle L, one end of
which is supported by the usual registering mechanism frame M, the other end by
pillar or bracket N.
21
Each screw A, B, is in gear with a pinion P on opposite sides for imparting a
rectilinear motion to the bar Q to which said pinion is pivoted when either of the
>crews A, B, is rotated.
A rack R is cut upon or attached to one end of the sliding bar for gearing into a
pinion S that is secured to a spindle T rotating in supports U, U.
Upon the end of the spindle T is a small index finger V that moving over the
indices of a dial W shows to the consumer the amount of gas prepaid or remaining
unconsumed.
The valve X is preferably enclosed within the usual bellows valve chamber Y
aud is operated by means of a connecting link Z connected to the end of the

page_text: sliding bar and the crank a fixed to the end of the vertical spindle projecting
from the stuffing box c of the chamber Y.
The action as follows:-
Assuming for example that the invention is not used in connection with a coin
freed mechanism but that a consumer wishing to obtain a supply of gas has paid
some authorised person for the delivery of a given quantity of gas, the said person
then unlocks or opens the box F and by means of a key or handle turns the
spindle D and screw A which by gearing into the pinion P causes it to turn upon
its pivot and move over the teeth of the other screw Bas upon a rack and thereby
cause the bar Q to slide or move longitudinally in its bearings a distance
proportionate to the number of times the screw is rotated by the official who will
continue such rotations until the index finger V has moved to the numeral
representing the quantity of gas in cubic feet for which he has been paid.
The longitudinal movement before mentioned of the bar Q by the intermediation
of the link Z and spindle b to which the valve X is connected, removes said valve
from the orifice or seating d and allows the gas to enter the consumer's pipes from
the outlet e.
When being consumed. the gas enters the meter by the inlet and operates the
bellows and usual radial link gear g, g, h, h, and worm in the well known manner
but it also rotates the screw B by means of the worm K gearing into the wheel J
fixed to the end of the spindle 1. This rotation of the screw B consequent upon
the passage of gas through the meter turns the pinion P upon its pivot in the
reverse direction and which moving over the teeth of the first screw A as upon a
rack causes the bar to return and move the index finger V to zero, and the
valve X to close and stop the supply.
By pivotting the pinion P to the sliding bar Q and arranging said pinion P in
gear between two screws A, B, it will be noticed that the bar Q and consequently
the valve and index finger and gear is absolutely locked in any given position and
can only be moved by the rotation of either one screw or the other to open or
close the valve as the case may be, therefore the mechanism cannot be altered
or varied by persons with fraudulent intent by subjecting the meter to shock of
any kind.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. In an apparatus for use in connection with gas meters, the combination of
two screw threaded rods arranged parallel to each other, the sliding bar located
between said screws, a pinion pivotally carried by said bar, a gas supply valve, and
mechanism connected with said valve and said sliding bar, whereby the said valve
is opened and closed.
2. The combination with a gas supply valve for a gas meter, of two axially
rotatable screw threaded shafts or rods, arranged parallel to each other, a pinion
interposed between and in engagement with the threaded portions of the two shafts
and adapted to rotate and travel longitudinally of one of the shafts or rods, and
-uitable mechanism connecting the pinion with the gas supply valve, substantially
s and for the purposes described.
3. In an apparatus for use in connection with gas meters, the combination with
two parallel screws or screw rods, of a sliding bar arranged between the same, a
pinion wheel pivoted to said har and in gear with said screws or screw rods, one of
said screws or screw rods being adapted to be rotated by the consumer or other
authorised person,
and the other being connected to and adapted to be rotated by
the meter mechanism, substantially as described.
4. In an apparatus for use with prepayment meters, the combination with two
screws, a sliding bar arranged between said screws, a pinion wheel pivoted to said
bar and in gear with said screws, a link connected to one end of said sliding bar, a
valve connected to said link, a rack at the other end of said sliding bar, a spindle

page_text: geared with said rack, and an indicator carried by said spindle, substantially as
described.
The 7th day of June 1895.
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Richard Thomas Glover and John George Glover.