Improvements-in Coin Freed or Actuated Gas or similar Meters.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements-in Coin Freed or Actuated Gas or similar Meters.
We, CHARLES GRANTLEY BEECHEY, of 17, Juniper Street, Bank Hall, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and ALBERT TOMLINSON WRIGHT, of 17,
Water Street, Liverpool, aforesaid, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to that class of gas or similar meters, which by
inserting a coin into the coin carrier, and rotating it, a mechanism will be
actuated, which sets the meter, say by opening a valve, to supply a quantity of
gas of the value of the coin introduced, and when the gas, so paid for, has been
consumed, the movement of the meter in passing the gas will work certain
parts and shut off the gas, and stop the meter.
According to this invention, there is comprised in the mechanism, a wheel, or
device which is actuated only by the coin introduced, and moved forward by the
medium of the coin: and a wheel or device which is actuated by the meter in
passing gas, and which, according to one arrangement, is mounted on the same
axis as the coin actuated wheel; and in connection with these is a valve spindle,
which is moved, longitudinally, and also partially rotates, being moved longi-
tudinally in one direction by the rotation of the coin actuated wheel; whilst in
the other direction it is moved by a spring or weight, the latter motion being
to open the valve, and the former one to close it. This movement is effected by
a roller or other device on the shaft which works in connection with an inclined
plane or planes on the wheel or device actuated by the meter in passing gas.
This projection or part connected with the shaft, operates in connection with a
pin or projection or the like, on the coin actuated wheel, by which the meter
is stopped as soon as the valve closes; and in one construction an arm or device
is on or connected with the shaft, and extends through an opening in the meter
actuated wheel or disc, and over a ring or part of the coin actuated wheel, carrying
the pin or projection, and so that the pin or projection and the end of the arm
are in the same plane or path.
In action, when the coin actuated wheel is moved by the introduction of a coin
or movement thereof, the pin or projection moves away from the arm on the
valve spindle, and the valve spindle thereby being free, is partly revolved by its
weight, or spring; and hence by the wheel or part thereon working in connection
with the inclined plane it gives longitudinal movements to the spindle and opens
the valve. If the complete quantities of coins which the meter is intended to
receive in succession are so introduced, the actuating wheel at the right time
closes the slot.
When the meter begins to pass gas, by gas being consumed, the meter actuating
wheel revolves, and carries with it the arm connected with the shaft; and when
the gas paid for has been consumed, the arm will come in contact with the arm

page_text: or projection, and the inclined plane on the wheel acting on the spindle roller or
part acted upon, moves the shafts longitudinally, and stops the gas supply, and
locks the meter.
The register index or finger may be directly connected, and concentric with
the meter actuating wheel or device, and by the improvements or constructions
above described it will register or indicate instantly on the commencement of
consumption of gas and consequently all backlash, which is a serious defect in
one respect, is obviated, and the registration rendered co-incident with the con-
sumption of gas.
:
Improvements in Coin Freed or Actuated Gas or similar Meters.
We, CHARLES GRANTLEY BEECHEY, of 17, Juniper Street, Bank Hall, Liverpool,
in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, and ALBERT TOMLINSON WRIGHT, of 17,
Water Street, Liverpool, aforesaid, Solicitor, 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 has reference to that class of gas or similar meters, which by
inserting a coin into the coin carrier, and rotating it, a mechanism will be
actuated, which sets the meter, say by opening a valve, to supply a quantity of
gas of the value of the coin introduced, and when the gas, so paid for, has been
consumed, the movement of the meter in passing the gas will work back certain
parts and shut off the gas, and stop the meter.
According to this invention, there is comprised in the mechanism, a wheel, or
device which is actuated only by the coin introduced, and moved forward by the
medium of the coin: and a wheel or device which is actuated by the meter in
passing gas, and which, according to one arrangement, is mounted on the samé
axis as the coin actuated wheel; and in connection with these is a valve spindle
which is moved, longitudinally, and also partially rotates, being moved longi-
tudinally in one direction by the rotation of the com actuated wheel; whilst in
the other direction it is moved by a spring or weight, the latter motion being
to open the valve, and the former one to close it. This movement is effected by
a roller or other device on the shaft which works in connection with an inclined
plane or planes on the wheel or device actuated by the meter in passing gas;
and these parts operate in connection with a pin or projection, or the like, on
the coin actuated wheel, by which the meter is stopped as soon as the valve closes:
and in one construction an arm or device is connected with the shaft, and extends
through an opening in the meter actuated wheel or disc, and so that the pin or
projection, and the end of the arm are in the same plane or path.
In action, when the coin actuated wheel is moved by the introduction of a coin
or movement thereof, the pin or projection moves away from the arm connected
with the valve spindle, and the valve spindle thereby being free, is partly re-
volved by its weight, or spring and hence, by the wheel or part thereon working
in connection with the inclined plane it gives longitudinal movements to the
spindle and opens the valve. If the complete quantities of coins which the meter

page_text: is intended to receive in succession are so introduced, the actuating wheel at the
right time closes the slot.
When the meter begins to pass gas, by gas being consumed, the meter actuating
wheel revolves, and carries with it the arm connected with the shaft; and when
the gas paid for has been consumed, the arm will come in contact with the arm
or projection, and the inclined plane on the wheel acting on the spindle roller or
part acted upon, moves the shaft longitudinally, and stops the gas supply, and
locks the meter..
The register index or finger may be directly connected, and concentric with
the meter actuating wheel or device, and by the improvements or constructions
above described it will register or indicate instantly on the commencement of
consumption of gas; and consequently all backlash, which is a serious defect in
one respect, is obviated, and the registration rendered co-incident with the con-
sumption of gas.
The drawings hereto annexed illustrate the invention, the nature of which is
above described, applied to a gas meter. In these drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional
front elevation, Figure 2 is a side elevation, and Figure 3 is a plan of the
apparatus.
f
The mechanism illustrated can be placed anywhere that may be suitable in
connection with the meter it is used on; and which, necessarily, in different
applications will vary as to position and relative arrangement of parts.
Referring to the drawings, a is the carrier in the form of a small cylinder,
mounted by the spindle at either end in the frame plates b, and having a
slot a through it, into and through which the coins introduced in to the meter
pass, is a slot or opening through the entrance piece ¹, into which the coins
are placed when introducing them into the mechanism. is a bar, called the
displacer bar, for moving the coin--designated in the drawing-when turned
in its carrier. e is a lever or arm, the free end of which is disposed near the
carrier barrel, the other end being mounted on a fulcrum c¹. is a counter
balance weight on the arm fulcrum el, for bringing the arm e to its normal
position, namely, up against the carrier a, as shewn in the drawings: and is a
pawl one for actuating the ratchet wheel for setting the meter. This ratchet
wheel is designated f, and is mounted and revolves in the outer frame plate b, and
has attached to its outer end the dial J.
When a coin is 'introduced into the carrier a, it rests on the lower end of the
bar : and when the carrier is revolved the coin . is pressed by the bar d
through the carrier slot, and acts on the arm e, and moves the wheel f.
The mechansim affected by the action of these parts, and that operated by the
meter in passing gas, comprises a tooth wheel i. the spindle or axle of which is
mounted in the boss or hub f¹ of the wheel f: an arm j fixed on a spindle ¿¹,
carried on the wheel by brackets : a spindle connected, with the gas
valve; and an arm 7, also fixed on the spindle j³, and engaging with the spindle k,
by its end, which fits and works in a slot therein. The arm works through an
opening in the wheel i, as shewn, and acts in conjunction with a pin m carried
from the ratchet wheelf by a bracket m¹; and the shaft is carried at one end,
loosely in the hub of the wheel i, the other end being attached to a lever n which
operates the gas supply valve which is controlled by the mechanism. This valve
is designated o, and is shewn open in the drawing. The spindle of the wheel
is carried through the dial g, and at its outer end is furnished with a pointer 1,
which works in connection with the dial g.
The action of these parts is this:-Assuming the indicator on the dial to be at
zero, and no gas has been paid for by the introduction of a coin, the arm will
he at one end of its stroke, and pressed up against the metal at the left hand
end of the slot ; and in this position the arm 7 will be at the inner end of its
stroke, and have moved the shaft & towards the wheel i, so closing the gas valve o.
In this position, obviously, no gas can pass. Then when a coin is introduced,

page_text: and the ratchet wheel is moved in the manner above referred to, the movement
of this wheel will take the pin m away from the left hand arm of the arm j; the
result of which is that the spring of, or the pressure of gas, will act upon the
valve o, pulling the shaft & longitudinally, and moving the arm 7 (by the metal
at the end of its slot), and so, through the spindle ¹, moving the arm j; that is,
this arm will follow the pin m as it moves away from it. When the valve has
been completely opened, the arm will not move further. However, if the
spring o could not remove the tappet, the pin m itself would come in contact with
the right hand arm of the arm, and move it into the position stated, and open the
gas valve.
By this movement of the wheel f, the dial g, which is connected with it. will
be moved and so the dial or indicating means will indicate the amount of gas
paid for. If further coins are introduced at this time, the wheel f is revolved,
and the pin m will revolve with it, until the latter has made a complete revolu-
tion; viz., the wheel of has received movements equivalent to the pitches of its
24 teeth. When the pin m has nearly completed this revolution, it acts upon
the back of the arm j, and moves it still further; and so through the arm 7 dis-
places the shaft longitudinally, further. But, in so doing, a flange on the
shaft comes up against the jaw of the bell crank lever r, and moves this lever
over, and the opposite end 2 of this bell crank lever being entered through the
piece c¹, moves it across the slot c and closes the slot, so that no more coins can
he introduced into the apparatus. This bell crank lever r being normally kept
in position by a spring t, which is carried from the frame b, by the bracket t¹, it
will be seen that when the tappet leaves the pin m (which it does when the meter
supplies gas), this spring will, through the lever r, press the shaft back into
the normal position: that is, the position when the slot is open, as shewn in the
drawing.
In the action of passing gas, for which prepayment has been made, the wheel i
is moved by a tooth wheels, and suitable gearing, driven by the meter, say from
the counting mechanism thereof; and it is moved in the same direction as the
ratchet wheelf. And, as the arm j and arm 7. and their spindle jare carried
by this wheel, they move with it bodily; and, therefore, follow the pin m which
had been moved away from j in the prior action of the coin operating mechanism:
and this will revolve also the part of the shaft with which the arm is engaged,
a suitable loose joint being provided at 2 to allow of this. As gas is thus con-
sumed, the instant the wheel i begins to move, the indicator p which is connected
with it, will move over the dial in the opposite direction to that in which the
dial is numbered towards zero. Then when practically all the gas paid for has
been consumed. the left hand arm of the arm will come in contact with the
pin m (which will then be stationary) and so this tappet will be moved about its
hinge and it will be held, and as the wheel i revolves further, it will cause the
shaft through the arm 7. to be moved inwards and close the gas valve. Assuming
that the meter still passed gas, the mechanism would not be broken, as the wheel
would carry the arm on and force the wheel f round.
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:-
:-
1. In a prepayment or coin freed or actuated meter, an arm or device carried
by a wheel or part driven by the meter in passing gas, and connected with the
gas controlling valve or stopping device, in combination with a projecting part
or equivalent device on or connected with the coin actuated wheel or part; sub-
stantially as set forth.
2. In a prepayment or coin freed or actuated meter, the combination of the
coin actuated wheel f, having a pin m¹ mounted thereon; the meter driven
wheel i carrying the hinged arm, with inclined part adapted to operate in con-

page_text: nection with pin m; and the valve actuating shaft k, having horizontal movement
and operated by an arm coupled with the arm f; substantially as herein set
forth.
3. The setting and stopping mechanism of prepayment or coin freed or actuated
meters, having parts constructed and arranged particularly as shewn in and set
forth with reference to the drawings.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.