Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Gas Meters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Gas Meters.
I, DAVID BLACKIE, of 45 East Crosscauseway, Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas Meter Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of coin-
prepayment mechanism for gas meters in a manner to simplify the parts and render
them more reliable in action.
In carrying out my invention the mechanism is actuated partly by the insertion
of a penny in an inlet which, according to my invention, is formed in an outer disk
or plate carried on a spindle in a bracket fixed to the meter casing. An inner
disk on the same spindle has on its face a number of radial arms; and the
periphery of the two disks is encircled by a fixed ring having an opening from
which a shoot leads to a receptacle for the pennies. The space between the two
disks forms a kind of box divided into pockets by the radial arms which are so
shaped that each pocket can hold one penny. A spring catch on the inside of the
outer disk bears on the outer end of one of the radial arms on the inuer disk and
prevents the outer disk from being turned unless when the catch is depressed by
the insertion of a penny in the inlet, the inner disk being prevented from turning,
by a ratchet wheel and pawl, except when the meter is delivering gas as herein-
after described. The inlet is so shaped that, as stated, the insertion of a penny
depresses and releases the spring catch; the penny when pressed fully in resting
in one of the pockets formed for it by the radial arms. The outer disk can now be
turned by means of a handle until the spring catch encounters a second radial arm
forming part of a second pocket; and then the catch can be again released by the
insertion of a second penny, and so on for a complete revolution until all the
pockets are occupied by pennies if desired when the disk is prevented from being
turned further by encountering a stop. The outer disk is made with a dial and a
pointer on the spindle carrying the disk indicates the number of pennies in the
pockets. The first pocket is at the shoot and on the spring catch being released
and the outer disk turned as described the penny falls into the shoot and
encounters one end of a lever which opens the gas supply valve. The opening of
the valve is further insured by a pin so placed on the face of the outer disk that
on first turning that disk it encounters a trigger lever which also acts on the lever
actuating the gas supply valve. From the spindle actuating the ordinary
indicating dial mechanism spur wheel gearing turns a cam which acts on a stop
pin crossing the shoot and withdraws that pin at the proper time according to the
amount of gas allowed for each penny, permitting the penny to then fall down into
the receptacle provided for it. On the spindle carrying the cam there is an arm
which enters the shoot and insures the removal of each penny should it stick from
any cause. A second cam which is on a spindle carrying part of the spur wheel
gearing also acts on the lever actuating the gas supply valve to insure that valve
being kept open the proper length of time. Part of the spurwheel gearing is
carried on a bracket capable of adjustment to permit of the wheels being changed
in the event of the price of gas being altered at any time.
The meter having started to work, the two disks are turned forward by a pinion,
fixed on the spindle carrying the second cam and acting on a spurwheel fixed on

page_text: the back of the inner disk, this forward motion being transmitted to the outer
disk by the spring catch being in contact with one of the radial arms. The
pennies drop in their turn down the shoot after each has acted like the first as
herein before described, in keeping the gas supply valve open. An extra dial is
provided to show the number of feet of gas being consumed during the action of
each penny. When all the pennies have passed into the receptacle the two disks
will have been turned back to about the starting position. The valve is there-
upon closed by the action of a counterweight on the lever and to insure that the
valve is properly closed a pin on the face of the outer disk also encounters a lever
which acts on the gas supply valve lever the action of the mechanism being thereby
stopped.
An important feature of my improved mechanism is that no money falls into,
and can be removed from, the receptacle until the gas paid for has been all, or
nearly all, consumed, the advantage of this being that the amount of money in the
receptacle when collected will correspond with the gas consumed as indicated by
the dial.
Dated this Twentieth day of February 1896.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Gas Meters.
I, DAVID BLACKIE, of 45, East Crosscauseway, Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas-meter Manufacturer, 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, that is
to say-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of coin prepay-
ment mechanism for gas meters in a manner to simplify the parts and render them
more reliable in action.
An example of gas meter, as made with my improvements, is shown on four
accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings,
Figure, 1, on Sheet, 1, thereof, being a front elevation of the gas meter, and
Figure, 2, a partial front elevation of the same with some parts removed for the
sake of clearness.
Figure, 3, on Sheet, 2, is a sectional back elevation, and Figure, 4, is a sectional
side elevation of the gas meter, with some parts removed for clearness and
convenience.
Figure, 5, on Sheet, 3, is a sectional side elevation of details.
Figure, 6, is a sectional front elevation of part of the gas meter, similar to
Figure, 2, but with some parts shown in that figure removed for clearness and
convenience.
Figure, 7, is an elevation of a detail.
Figures, 8, and 9, are elevations, as at right angles to each other, of a detail,
Figures, 10, and 11, being similar views of another detail.
Figures, 12, and 13, on Sheet, 4, are respectively a sectional elevation and a
plan of details, Figure, 14, being a plan of a detail also.
In these drawings the same reference letters and numerals are used to mark the
same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
The mechanism is carried on the upper part of the meter, and is enclosed by a
casing formed by upper extensions, A, of the meter sides (the front one of which is
hinged) and by a hood, A 1, and guard, A 2, as shown in Figure, 1, of the drawings.

page_text: The mechanism is actuated partly by the insertion of a penny, B, in an inlet, B 1,
which is formed in an outer disk or plate, B 2, carried on a horizontal spindle, B 3,
in a bracket, B4, fixed to the meter casing. An inner disk, C, (Figures, 3, and 4,)
on the same spindle, B 3, has on its face a number of radial arms, C1; Figure, 6,
and the lower halves of the peripheries of the two disks, B 2, and C, are encircled
by a ring, C2, fixed to the bracket, B4, and having an opening, C3, made in it
from which a shoot, D, leads to a receptacle, D1, (Figure, 1) for the pennies.
The space between the two disks, B 2, and C, forms a kind of box divided into
pockets, E, by the radial arms, C1, which are so shaped that each pocket can hold
one penny. A spring catch, G, on the inside of the outer disk, B 2, (shown in
Figure, 7) bears (when the disk is in its working position) tangentially on the
outer end of one of the radial arms, C 1, on the inner disk, C, and prevents the
outer disk from being turned in the direction of the arrow shown in Figure, 2,
unless when the catch is depressed by the insertion of a penny in the inlet, B 1,
the inner disk being prevented from turning by the gearing and by a ratchet
wheel, H, and pawl, H 1, except when the meter is delivering gas as hereinafter
described. The pawl, H 1, is centered on a horizontal part, H 2, of the bracket, B4,
and the ratchet wheel, H, is fast on a transverse horizontal spindle, J, which has
on it a pinion, J 1; gearing with a spur-wheel, J 2, on the spindle, B 3, and fixed by
screws, J 3, to the inner disk, C. The outer disk, B 2, is at the radially innermost
part of the inlet, B 1, made with an inclined projection, B 5, which compels the
penny being inserted to release the spring catch, G, which is then free to pass the
radial arm, C1, against which it previously pressed tangentially. The penny
when pressed fully into the inlet, B 1, rests in the pocket, E, formed for its
reception opposite the inlet. The outer disk, B2, can now be turned in the
direction of the arrow in Figure, 2, by means of a handle, B 6, until the spring
catch, G, encounters a second radial arm, C 1, and the disk is prevented from
being turned in the opposite direction, except with the inner disk, by a pawl, F,
attached to it acting in conjunction with a ratchet wheel, F 1, formed centrally on
the inner side of the inner disk. The inlet, B1, is then opposite the second
pocket, E, and the catch, G, can be again released by the insertion of a second
peuny, and so on for a complete revolution of the disk, B 2, until all the pockets
are occupied by pennies if desired, the disk being prevented from being turned
more than one revolution at one time by a pin, K, on it encountering a stop, K 1,
on the shoot, D, which is fixed to the bracket, B4, by screws, D 2. The outer
disk, B 2, is made with a dial, K 2; and a pointer, K 3, on the spindle, B3, which
is stationary, indicates the number of pennies in the pockets. The pocket, E, in
which the first penny is put is opposite the shoot, D, and on the spring catch, G,
being released and the outer disk, B 2, turned as described, the penny falls into
the shoot and encounters one end of a lever, L, which operates the gas-supply
valve, L1. The lever, L, which is shown in plan in Figure, 14, is fast on a
spindle, L 2, which has on it an arm, L 3, connected by a small link, L 4, to the
gas-supply valve, L1. The opening of the valve, L 1, is insured by the pin, K,
fixed on the face of the outer disk, B 2, as on the first turning movement of the
disk, the pin encounters the upper end of a trigger lever, L 6, centered on a pin, L 7,
on a projecting arm, L 8, forming part of the shoot piece or casting, D, and
acting on a pin, L 9, on the gas-supply valve lever, L. The trigger lever, L 6, is
kept in a suitable position for being struck by the pin, K, by the action of a
counterbalance weight, M, on it. The first-motion spindle, N, of the meter
actuating the ordinary indicating dial mechanism (which is not shown, the part of
the bracket, N 1, carrying it being broken away for convenience) has on it pinion
teeth which through spurwheels, N 2, on a second spindle, N 3, and a spur-
wheel, N4, on a radial arm, N5, drive a spurwheel, N 6, on the horizontal
spindle, J, which by the pinion, J 1, on it drives the disk spurwheel, J 2. The
spurwheel, J 2, gears with a pinion, J 4, centered on the horizontal part, H 2, of
the bracket, B4, and the pinion, J 4, gears with a pinion, J 5, fast on a spindle, J 6,
this spindle having on it a disk, J 7, with a notch, J8, in its periphery. The

page_text: disk, J 7, acts on or is in contact with a pin, P, which extends across the shoot, D,
and forms a stop for the penny, this pin projecting through the shoot casting at
one side and being fixed in one end of a weighted lever, P1, centered on the shoot
casting. The action of the pin, P, and the lever, P 1, is that when the gas allowed
for one penny has been all or nearly all consumed the pin is raised into the
notch, J 8, by the weighted lever and so out of the way of the penny which
thereupon escapes from the shoot, D, and falls into the receptacle, D1, provided
for it. On the spindle, J 6, there is an arm, P 2, which works within the shoot, D,
this arm being provided to insure the removal of each penny should it stick from
any cause.
On the spindle, J, shown separately in Figures, 8, and 9, there is a cam, Q,
which acts on the lever, L, working the gas-supply valve, L 1, and keeps the valve
open the proper length of time. The arm, N 5, carrying the change wheel, N 4,
is centered on the spindle, N 3, at one end and is fixed at the other end by a
clamping screw, N 7, to the frame, N 1, the clamping screw being adjustable along
a slot in the frame for the purpose of using wheels of different sizes to suit alterations
taking place in the price of gas.
The meter having started to work, the two disks, B 2, and C, are turned in
a direction opposite to the arrow in Figure, 2, by the pinion, J 1, fixed on the
spindle, J, and acting on the disk spur wheel, J 2, this motion being transmitted to
the outer disk, B 2, by the spring catch, G, being in contact with one of the radial
arms, C 1. The pennies drop (each in its turn) down the shoot, D, after each has
acted like the first as hereinbefore described in keeping the gas supply valve open.
An extra dial, R, fixed to the frame, N 1, by a clamping screw, N 8, and a
pointer, R 1, on the spindle, J, (both shown in Figures, 1, and 4) are provided to
show the number of feet of gas being consumed during the action of each penny.
When all the pennies have passed into the receptacle, D 1, the two disks, B2,
and C, will have been turned to about the starting position. The valve, L 1, is
thereupon closed by the action of a counterweight, M 1, on the lever, L, and to
insure that the valve is properly closed a pin, S, on the face of the outer disk, B2,
encounters a lever, S 1, centered on the shoot casting, D, and acting on the gas-supply
valve lever, the action of the mechanism being thereby stopped.
On the inside of the shoot casting, D, there is centered a lever, T, (shown
separately in Figures, 10, and 11) counterweighted at one end and having, prior to
the starting of the meter, another end acting as a stop for the crank or tangent, T 1,
on the usual worm spindle, T 2. When the outer disk, B2, is turned after the
insertion of the first penny the pin, S, on it acts on a catch lever, T 3, centered on
the projecting piece, L 8, of the shoot casting, this lever acting on an arm, T 4, of
the lever, T, and withdrawing it clear of the crank, T1, it being afterwards kept
clear by the penny fallen into the shoot, D, which while resting on the valve
lever, L, also rests on a projecting pin, T 5, on the lever, T. On the lever, T, there
is a pin, V, which is acted upon by a cam, V 1, on the spindle, J, in a manner to
keep the lever clear of the crank, T 1, when the penny has ceased to act on the
lever; and when the lever, T, is not acted upon by the penny in the shoot, D, or
by the cam, V, on the spindle, J, it is moved by the weight on it to bring its
projecting end into the path of the crank and thereby stop the meter working.
It is obvious that the lever, T, will stop any action of the mechanism due to leakage
at the supply valve as there will be no penny in such a case to act on the lever.
An important feature of my improved mechanism is that no money falls into and
can be removed from the receptacle, D1 (access to which is got by a door, W)
until the gas paid for has been all or nearly all consumed the advantage of this
being that the amount of money in the receptacle when collected will correspond
with the gas consumed as indicated by the dial.
The improved mechanism is hereinbefore described as arranged for pence; it is
however obvious that the parts receiving and acted on by the pence may be adapted
for any other coins. The coin-prepayment mechanism may be applied to dry or
wet meters.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The construction, arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
improved coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter, an outer disk carried on a
spindle and formed with an inlet for coins, in combination with an inner disk on the
same spindle having on its face a number of radial arms, forming, with the outer
disk, pockets into which coins may be inserted through the said inlet, the lower
halves of both disks being encircled by a fixed ring having an opening leading to a
shoot, and the outer disk (which is held to the inner disk by a spring catch
releasable only by the insertion of a coin in the inlet) being movable on its axis in
one direction to bring the inlet opposite the various radial pockets while the inner
disk is stationary, and the two disks being capable of being turned thereafter
together in a direction opposite to the prior movement of the outer disk by gearing
from the first-motion spindle of the meter substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described.
3. In coin-prepayment mechanisin for a gas meter, a shoot for guiding the coins
to a receptacle, arranged in connection with the meter, each coin being held in the
shoot, until all or nearly all the gas, of which it is the price has been consumed, by
a pin or equivalent on one end of a counter-weighted lever which is operated by a
cam disk driven through intermediate parts from the first-motion spindle of the
meter, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
4. In coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter, providing in the shoot for
guiding the coins to a receptacle, an arm on a spindle driven through intermediate
parts from the first-motion spindle of the meter for the purpose of insuring the
removal of the coins from the shoot substantially as hereinbefore described.
5. In coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter, combining the subject matter
of Claim, 2, with a cam (Q) on a spindle driven by gearing from the first-motion
shaft of the meter, and arranged to act on the lever of the gas-supply valve,
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described.
6. In coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter, a shoot for guiding the coins
to a receptacle, each coin while in the shoot being arranged to act on a lever and
5 thereby open the gas-supply valve, substantially as herein before described.
7. In coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter, combining with the subject
matter of Claim, 2, a counterweighted lever (L 6) moved by a pin (K) on the face
of the outer disk to act on the gas-supply valve lever and open the valve
substantially as herein before described.
0 8. In coin-prepayment mechanism for a gas meter combining with the subjeet
matter of Claim, 2, a lever (S1) acted on by a pin (S) on the face of the outer disk
to act on the gas-supply valve lever and close the valve substantially as
hereinbefore described.
1 1 November 1896.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.