Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for the Supply of Gas, Liquids, or Electricity.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for the Supply of Gas,
Liquids, or Electricity.
We, WILLIAM ALEXANDER, Civil Engineer, of 28, Rockybank Road,
Devonshire Park, Birkenhead and WILLIAM EDWARD THOMPSON, Mechanical
Engineer, of 18, Willmer Road, Birkenhead, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows
-
This invention relates to coin-freed mechanism especially adaptable for the
supply of gas, liquids or electricity and has for its object the improvement of
portions of the mechanism rendering them more simple and efficient.
In the coin-freed or prepayment mechanism we employ an escapement wheel
which is rotated through a certain angle on the insertion of each coin by means of
any suitable coin-feeding device such as, for example, that described in our Patent
No. 20,475 of 1894 and which by means of improved gearing to be described,
releases a stop which has cut off the supply by means of a stop cock, valve, switch
&c. as the case may be and through the same gearing by the action of the meter
after a certain quantity has been supplied or by the action of a time keeping device
after a certain time has elapsed returns the stop to its original position and again
cuts off the supply.
We employ in one arrangement of the said gearing a screw or worm rotating in
harmony with the escapement wheel and, parallel to it, a rod rotating in harmony with
the meter or time keeping device. Loosely mounted on this rod so that it can
slide lengthways but cannot turn independently of the rod is a second screw or
worm of a shorter length than the first and with the spiral formed in the opposite
direction. The distance between the two worms is such that the threads gear into
each other. If the longer worm is rotated it causes the shorter one to slide along
the rod and if the rod is rotated the shorter worm rotates with it and at the same
time is caused to slide along it. The stop is attached to the shorter worm so that
when it is moved in one direction on inserting coins it liberates the supply and
when moved to its original position by the action of the meter again stops the
supply. The stop instead of merely sliding with the shorter worm may be attached
to it so that when the rod is rotated the stop will both move along and rotate at the
same time describing a spiral path and therefore a longer one than if it merely
slid along with the worm and so be quicker in action when it comes near its normal
position and begins to cut off the supply.
A similar rotating stop may be used in combination with a screw and nut
when one is rotated with the escapement wheel and the other with the meter or
time keeping device.
In another form of the said gearing we employ a helix or spiral rotating on its
axis in harmony with the escapement wheel and the stop is arranged so as to be
capable of rotating and also sliding longitudinally upon the same axis. The stop
engages in the coils of the helix or spiral and also works in guides which may be
of any convenient form such as parallel rods or a tube with a longitudinal slot and
which guides rotate about the same axis in harmony with the meter or time keeping
device. Thus if the escapenient wheel be rotated the spiral rotating with it causes
the stop to slide longitudinally along the axis and away from the valve or cut off
which opens and liberates the supply. The meter or time keeping device now
rotates the said guides and they carry the stop round with them and the stop being

page_text: in gear also with the spiral is carried back to its original position, describing a
spiral path, and so cuts off the supply again.
If a change in the price of gas, electricity &c. takes place the corresponding
adjustment of the mechanism may be effected by changing a wheel in the gearing
between the escapement or between the meter or time keeping device and the stop
mechanism.
In any arrangement of the described gearing the effect of inserting a number of
coins successively is to cause the stop to be removed further from the normal
position and requires correspondingly prolonged action of the meter or time keeping
device to carry it back again and so a greater or less quantity of gas &c. will be
delivered in proportion to the number of coins inserted.
A dial may be arranged working in harmony with the stop and indicating its
position at any instant and therefore the amount of gas &c. still unconsumed.
It will be understood that any of the arrangements may be reversed and the
portions described as being driven from the escapement wheel may be driven from
the meter or time keeping device and vice versú.
For instance in the arrangement of the gearing containing the two worms which
gear into each other the longer worm may be caused to rotate in harmony with the
meter or time keeping device and the shorter worm to rotate in harmony with the
escapement wheel instead of as described and in the movement last described
the spiral may be adapted to rotate in harmony with the meter or time keeping
device and the guides to rotate in harmony with the escapement wheel.
Dated this 16th day of November 1894.
W. ALEXANDER.
W. E. THOMPSON.
Improvements in Co-reed Apparatus T
Liquids, or Electricity.
We, WILLIAM ALEXANDER and WILLIAM EDWARD THOMPSON of 28 Rocky-
bank Road, Devonshire Park, Birkenhead in the County of Chester, 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 coin freed mechanism specially adapted for use in
connection with gas, fluid and other meters, and has for its object simpler and
more efficient mechanism than has hitherto been employed. In this coin freed
or prepayment mechanism, we employ preferably an escapement wheel which is
rotated through a certain angle on the insertion of each coin, by means of any
suitable coin feeding device, such as, for example, that described in our former
Patent No. 20,475, and which, by means of improved gearing to be hereinafter
described, operates a cock, valve, switch or the like so as to release the supply
mechanism, and also by the action of the meter after a certain quantity has been
supplied, or by the action of a time keeping device after a certain time has elapsed,
operates to shut off the supply.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a back elevation of one form of gearing constructed according to our
invention;
Figure 2, a front elevation;
Figure 3, a cross section through x-x, Figure 1;
Figure 4, a cross section through y-y, Figure 2; and
Figure 5, a longitudinal section of the portion of the mechanism constituting
this invention:

page_text: Figures 6 and 7 show two modified forms of gearing.
Referring first to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive :-
A, is the escapement wheel having teeth on its face, gearing with a bevel wheel B
mounted loosely on the spindle C. D is a tube or cylinder also mounted loosely
on the spindle C and carrying a toothed wheel D' which gears with the ordinary
index gearing of the meter. E is a helix or spiral fixed at one end E¹, Figure 5,.
to the aforementioned bevel wheel B and is operated thereby on the insertion of a
coin. F is a stop mounted on the spindle Ċ so as to be free to rotate but having
no longitudinal movement thereon, which stop passes through a slot Fl in the
cylinder D. Thus if the escapement wheel A be rotated by the insertion of a
coin it will cause by means of the bevel gearing B the helix or spiral E to rotate
also and the stop F which engages in the coils of the helix will be moved away
from the catch G which operates a valve, cock or the like, thereby liberating the
supply mechanism. The stop or projection F is guided and prevented from
rotating during this movement by engaging the slot E' in the cylinder D, which latter
as before stated is geared to the meter mechanism, but it will be obvious that other
guiding devices may be employed such as for instance parallel bars. When the
stop or projection F has travelled a distance proportional to the number of coins
inserted, the cylinder D is then rotated by the meter mechanism in a direction
similar to that in which the spiral or helix was rotated, thereby causing the
projection F to travel along a spiral path back again to its original position,
thereby shutting off the supply. In Figures 1 and 3 of the drawing a catch G is
shown which the projection or stop F in its backward spiral movement engages
with and raises it so as to close the valve H. As the projection or stop leaves the
catch on the movement of the coin mechanism, a projection I comes in contact
with an arm J of the said catch, thus forcing the latter down and opening the
valve.
The modification shown in Figure 6 consists of a screw or worm K rotating in
harmony with the escapement wheel or coin mechanism and L a second screw or worm
shorter in length than the first, loosely mounted on a spindle M preferably square,
so that the worm can move longitudinally along the spindle but cannot turn round
on the same. This spindle works in harmony with the meter mechanism and the
short worm L gears with the longer worm or screw K. If the latter be rotated by
the insertion of a coin it causes the short worm to slide along its spindle M and if the
spindle be rotated the shorter worm rotates with it and also slides along it. The
stop or projection F being attached to the short worm moves in a straight line
away from the catch G when a coin is inserted, thus liberating the supply mechanism
and when moved back again by the action of the meter it travels along a spiral
path and therefore a longer one than if it merely slid along with the worm and
consequently its action when it arrives at its original position and begins to cut off
the supply will be much quicker. Figure 7 illustrates a similar rotating stop F in
combination with a screw N and nut 0, the latter gearing with a pinion P driven
by the meter mechanism, the screw N being rotated by the coin mechanism.
If a change in the price of gas, electricity, etcetera, takes place, the corresponding
adjustment of the mechanism may be effected by changing a wheel in the gearing
between the scape wheel and between the meter or time keeping device and the
stop mechanism. In the drawing such a wheel Q is shown carried in a movable
bracket or bearing R, which bracket moves in a slot S and is secured in any
desired position by a set screw T.
In any arrangement of gearing herein described the effect of inserting a number
of coins successively is to cause the stop F to be removed further from its normal
or shut off position and to require a correspondingly prolonged action of the meter
or time keeping device to move it back again and so a greater or less quantity of
the article paid for will be delivered in proportion to the number of coins inserted.
A pointer moving on a dial not shown may be attached to the arm U which works
in harmony with the stop F on spindle and indicates its position at any instant
and therefore the amount of gas, etcetera, still unconsumed. Moving with the
f

page_text: arm U and spindle C is a bolt V which, when a predetermined number of coins has
been inserted, enters the coin slot W and prevents the insertion of any more coins
until under the action of the meter the bolt is withdrawn.
It will be understood that any of the arrangements hereindescribed may be
reversed and the portions described as being driven by the coin mechanism may be
driven by the meter mechanism or time keeping device or vice versa, but we prefer
the arrangement shown on the drawings and herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
nvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The improvements in coin freed apparatus for the supply of gas, liquids or
electricity, consisting of a screw, spiral or helix rotated by the coin mechanism and
a slotted cylinder or other concentric rotatable device operated by the meter
mechanism, in combination with a nat, stop or projection engaging in the threads
or coils of the spiral or screw and locking with the concentric rotatable device,
whereby when the latter is rotated the uut, stop or projection is moved along the
axis of the screw, spiral or helix a given distance in one direction, and when the
concentric rotatable device is rotated such nut, stop or projection is moved back
again along the spiral path substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination with gearing such as described with reference to Figures 6
and 7 of the accompanying drawings of a stop or projection having a longitudinal
movement in one direction when actuated by the coin freeing mechanisin and a
spiral movement in the opposite direction when actuated by the meter mechanism,
whereby accurate measurement combined with quick setting by means of the coin
is obtained.
Dated this 16th day of August 1805
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1394
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
Improvements in Ġas and Liquid Meters.
We WILLIAM ALEXANDER, Civil Engineer, of 28 Rockybank Road, Devon-
shire Park, Birkenhead and WILLIAM EDWARD THOMPSON, Mechanical Engineer,
of 18 Willmer Road, Birkenhead do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to gas and liquid meters and has for its object the improve-
ment of portions of their mechanism whereby they are rendered more simple and
efficient.
In that class.of meters known as wet meters we use an improved form of float for
actuating the valve which cuts off the supply when the water line is lowered to a
certain extent. The float is divided into two portions which are connected to each
other near the bottom, either rigidly or by means of jointed links; or it may be
formed in one piece with a slot extending downward from the top forming it into
two branches the connection between the two branches or portions being below the
water level. A diaphragm is arranged in the meter so as to dip into the water
between the two portions of the float, so that the water on one side of it is acted on
by gas at the sanie pressure as at the inlet to the meter and on the other side by
gas at the same pressure as at the outlet from the meter or after passing through the
measuring drum or chambers. The valve rod or wire may be attached rigidly to a
portion of the float or connections or jointed to the connecting links, and the two
portions of the float or the lengths of the connecting links are so proportioned that
if the gas pressure fluctuates and the water on one side of the diaphragm is lowered
and that on the other side raised, the total displacement of the float when the two
portions are rigidly connected remains the same and the float as a whole will remain
at the same absolute level, and the valve, therefore, be unaffected by the difference
in water level, and if the two portions are connected by jointed links and the water
levels alter as described the one portion of the float will rise and the other fall with
the water, the link assuming a correspondingly different slope or angle, yet one point
in the links will always remain at the same level and at this point the valve rod is
attached giving the same result as before. The float as a whole will act in exactly
the same manner as an ordinary float with a general rising or falling of the water
level throughout the whole meter but at the same time will remain steady notwith-
standing any oscillation of the water levels under fluctuating pressures. If desired
the portions of the float or connections may be so proportioned as to cause a slight
rise or fall of the valve through a fluctuation of pressures.
To prevent any meter from being worked in a backward direction we employ an
improved pawl having two arms engaging in or working between the teeth of a
toothed wheel which may have any number of teeth, or the teeth may be in the
form of projections from a rotating portion of the meter. When the meter is
working in a forward direction a tooth or projection in passing one arm of the
pawl presses it aside and so places the other arm in a space between the teeth or
projections and this arm is, in turn, pressed aside on a tooth passing it, thus causing
the pawl to reciprocate; but if the teeth or projections are turned in a backward
direction the arms of the pawl being undercut on the sides which meet the wheel
cannot be pressed aside but stop the wheel or projection and so also the action of

page_text: the meter. This arrangement dispenses with the use of springs or counterbalance
weights.
Dated this 16th dum of Namba 1001
W. ALEXANDER.
W. E. THOMPSON.
Improvements in Gas and Liquid Meters.
We, WILLIAM ALEXANDER of 28, Rockybank Road, Devonshire Park, Birken-
head in the County of Chester, Civil Engineer and WILLIAM EDWARD THOMPSON,
of 18 Willmer Road, Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Mechanical Engineer
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 that class of gas meter known as wet meters and consists
in an improved arrangement of float and parts appertaining thereto for actuating
the valve, which cuts off the supply when the water line is lowered to a given
extent.
Our invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawing Fig. 1,
being a sectional view of a meter showing those parts thereof which are necessary
for the understanding of our invention.
In these A is the measuring chamber, B the chamber into which the gas enters,
CD are two portions of a float, in this instance rigidly attached by a link piece E.
This link piece can however instead of being rigidly connected with the two floats
be connected by hinges and the floats guided vertically in any required manner.
F is the valve spindle. Ga diaphragm dipping below the surface of the water and
serving to separate the entering gas in chamber B from that in the measuring
chamber A. It will be noticed that the diaphragm passes down between the two
floats C & D. H valve on valve spindle F. I guide for valve spindle below the
level of the water. The valve spindle F may be attached rigidly to a portion of
the float or jointed to the connecting link if the latter be hinged to the two portions
of the float. In the latter case the two portions of the float or the length of the
connecting link and the position of attachment to the valve spindle in that connecting
link are so proportioned or arranged that no matter how the gas pressure fluctuates
and the water on one side of the diaphragm is lowered and that on the other side
raised the point of attachment of the spindle to the link shall remain at approxi-
mately one uniform height with a given quantity of water in the meter, although
the heights of the two portions of the float shall vary widely according to the
pressure of the gas, the centre of specific gravity of the entire float however
remaining approximately at rest. By this means when a difference of pressure
occurs the water on one side of the diaphragm falls and with it falls also that portion
of the float on that side of the diaphragm. The water on the other side however
rises and with it that portion of the float of said side of the diaphragm. There is
one point however in the link which in such case will remain stationary as regards
vertical movement, and this is the point to which the valve rod is attached. The
float will thus act in exactly the same manner as an ordinary float would act with a
general rising or falling of the water level throughout the whole meter, but at the
same time the valve rod will remain steady notwithstanding any oscillation of the
water level under fluctuating pressures. If desired the parts of the float or connection
may be so proportioned as to cause a slight rise or fall of the valve through a fluctua-
tion of pressure. It is obvious that although this invention applies mainly to wet
gas meters it will also apply to the measurement of a liquid where the measuring
liquid in the meter is absolutely insoluble in the measured liquid such as in the case

page_text: of some kinds of oil and water. In such case the oil could be measured just as gas
is measured in this meter.
To prevent any meter being worked in a backward direction we employ an
improved pawl J, shown in Figure 2, having two arms K K¹ engaging or working
between the teeth L of a wheel M which may have any number of teeth, or the
latter may be in the form of projections from a rotary portion of the meter. When
the meter is working in a forward direction a tooth or projection in passing one arm
of the pawl presses it to one side and so brings the other arm in the space between
two teeth or projections and this arm is in turn pressed aside on a tooth passing it,
thus causing the pawl to reciprocate, but if the teeth or projections are turned in a
backward direction, the arms of the pawl being undercut on the side which meets
the wheel cannot be pressed aside, consequently it stops the rotation of the wheel or
other rotating portion of the meter and also the action of the meter. This device
dispenses with the use of springs or counterbalance weights.
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. A float divided into two parts and joined at its lower part by a linking
device in combination with a diaphragm passing down below the level of the water
and between the two parts of the float for the purposes described.
2. The combination of a diaphragm dipping down into the water or other
measuring fluid and two floats C and D on opposite sides of this diaphragm
linked together by a link E below the level of the water and secured preferably
by means of link E to the supply valve spindle for the purposes described.
3. The improved pawl substantially as and for the purposes described with
reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 16th day of August 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.