Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Fluid Meters.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Fluid Meters.
1
I, DAVID BRUCE PEEBLES, of Tay Works, Bonnington, Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
My said invention has for its object the providing of fluid meters with improved
coin-prepayment mechanism.
In apparatus made according to my invention for receiving pennies, but which
may be adapted for other coins, an inclined shoot or duct into which a penny is to
be inserted is centered beyond its inner end and is capable of being tilted so as to
increase its downward inclination. On being inserted the penny slides down to a
barrier; the shoot is then tilted either by means of its outer end or by means
of a finger lever connected to it, this action lifting the penny above the barrier
and causing it to slide down into a box. At the same time the tilting moves the
mouth or outer end of the shoot under a fixed covering part thereby preventing
the introduction of a wire or other fraudulent instrument whilst the inner end of
the shoot is not closed by the barrier. The under side of the shoot is made with
an opening of somewhat smaller size than a penny; and if a half penny or other
smaller coin is inserted it drops through the bottom of the shoot into a receptacle
provided for it.
The box into which the penny drops from the shoot is made deep enough to
hold a pile of twelve or other convenient number of pennies; and it is provided
with movable sides each swinging to a small extent from an axis at its upper part.
When the shoot is tilted a piece fixed to its side allows the outer movable side of
the box to move outwards so as to freely admit the penny into the box; and on
the shoot returning down, which it does by the action of a weight on it, its side
piece acting on a cam projection presses the side inwards. This action presses
the penny towards the other movable side of the box and makes it move that side.
The movable side last referred to is connected by links and levers to the inlet
valve of the meter which valve is opened by the described action of the penny.
The weights acting on the inlet valve and on the shoot are adjusted so that whilst
the weight of the shoot acting through one movable side of the box, through the
penny, and through the other movable side can open the valve, the valve will
close when the penny is absent. The inlet valve may be connected with the parts
acting on it by a rocking or sliding spindle working through a stuffing box, or
through a diaphragn or equivalent.
When the inlet valve is open the gas or other fluid works the meter in the
ordinary way and acts on the counter by the usual gearing. From the counter
gearing a spindle is driven which directly or through gearing turns a sprocket
wheel gearing with an endless chain distended between the sprocket wheel and a
guide pulley. The gearing may be changed to suit different prices of the gas cr
other fluid. The upper part of the endless chain passes under the box, across the
bottom of which there is a slot, and projecting catches on the chain, moving

page_text: through the slot engage each with the penny in the box or with the bottom one
of a pile of pennies; and each catch carries a penny out of the box through an
exit slot, and drops it off the end of the chain into a receptacle. As each penny
passes out of the box it moves in contact with a lateral cam guide which makes
it press the movable side of the box to a small extent so as by removing the .grip
to set the next penny free to drop. When the chain takes the only or last penny
out of the box, the movable side connected to the inlet valve becomes released and
the inlet valve closes.
When it is desired to be able to ascertain how many pennies are in the box at
any time, there is provided a vertical indicating wire which has on one part of it
a small arm which on the wire being raised and turned rests on the uppermost
penny. Another arm on the wire serves for raising and turning it and for in-
dicating the number of pennies on a scale; and the wire is placed so as when
raised to project up across the end of the shoot and to prevent the introduction of
further pennies until the wire is returned to its normal position. On the box
being filled a stop comes into action to prevent further admissions.
Dated this Seventeenth day of June 1898.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-prepayment Mechanism for Fluid Meters.
I, DAVID BRUCE PEEBLES, of Tay Works, Bonnington, Edinburgh, in the
County of Mid Lothian, North Britain, Gas 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, that is
to say:
My said invention has for its object the providing of fluid meters with improved
coin-prepayment mechanism.
In apparatus made according to my invention for receiving pennies but which
may be adapted for other coins, I provide a weighted inclined shoot or duct into
which the pennies are inserted, which is made capable of being tilted upwards by
being centered beyond its inner end on a box attached to the meter case and
formed with outer and inner movable sides. The arrangement is such that on
the shoot being tilted, after the insertion of a penny, the outer movable side of the
box moves outwards permitting the penny to fall into the box between the
movable sides and on the shoot returning down, both sides of the box and the
penny are moved inwards the inner side acting on a lever and thereby opening
the inlet supply valve. A guard or covering part is provided so as to prevent
the introduction of a fraudulent instrument into the shoot when it is being tilted
upwards, and the under side of the shoot is formed so that if a smaller co.n thau
a penny is inserted it drops through the bottom of the shoot into a receptacle and
has no effect in working the apparatus. An endless chain. distended between a
guide pulley and a sprocket wheel driven from the counter gearing of the meter
is arranged to work below the box, and as the upper part of the chain passes
immediately under the box, a projecting catch or projecting catches formed on
the chain move through a slot in the box and engage, with the penny in the box,
or with the bottom one of a pile of pennies and each catch carries a penny out of
the box through an exit slot, and drops it off the end of the chain into a receptacle.
When the chain takes the only or last penny out of the box the inner movable
sid ennerte to the inlet valve becomes released and the inlet valve closes. An

page_text: indicator and scale are also provided for indicating the number of pennies in the
box.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to in describing my improvements.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, of the accompanying drawings are, respectively a side
elevation, a longitudinal vertical section, a plan, and a transverse vertical section
of my improved coin-prepayment mechanism. In these drawings, the same re-
ference letters and numerals are used to mark the same or like parts wherever
they are repeated.
In apparatus made according to my invention for receiving pennies, an inclined
shoot or duct, A, into which a penny is to be inserted is centered beyond its inner
end on pins, A 1, fixed in a box, B attached to the meter case, S by two screws,
S1, S2, allowing of easy removal of the box. The shoot, A, is capable of being
tilted so as to increase its downward inclination. On being inserted the penny, C,
slides down to a barrier, A 2, the shoot, A, is then tilted by the handle, A 1, this
action lifting the penny above the barrier and causing it to slide down into the
box, B. The tilted position of the shoot is partly shown in dotted lines in
Figures, 1, and 4. At the same time, the tilting moves the mouth or outer end of
the shoot, A, under a fixed covering part, D, thereby preventing the introduction
of a wire or other fraudulent instrument whilst the inner end of the shoot is not
closed by the barrier, A 2. The under side, A 3, of the shoot, A, is made with an
opening, A4, of somewhat smaller size than a penny, and if a halfpenny or other
smaller coin is inserted, it drops through the opening into a receptacle provided
for it, and has no effect in working the apparatus.
The box, B, into which the penny drops from the shoot, A, is made deep enough
to hold a pile of twelve or other convenient number of pennies; and it is provided
with movable sides, E, and G. each swinging to a small extent in bearings, E¹ G¹,
formed on the upper part of the box, B. When the shoot, A, is tilted a piece, A. 5,
fixed to its side is shifted, and allows the outer movable side, E, of the box to
move outwards, so as to freely admit the penny, coming from the shoot, A, into
the box, B; and on the shoot returning down by the action of a weighted
part, A 6, on it, its side piece, A 5, acting on a cam projection, formed by a
roller, E2, on the outer movable side. E, presses that side inwards. This action
presses the penny, C, towards the other movable side, G, of the box, B, and
makes it move that side. The side, G, in moving inwards acts on an antifriction
roller, H, on a lever, J, so as to turn the lever, J, a spindle, J 1, to which it is
fixed and another lever, J 2, also fixed to the spindle and thereby opens an inlet
valve, K. attached by a link, K1, to the lever, J2. The weights acting on the
inlet valve, K, and on the shoot, A, are adjusted so that whilst the weight of the
shoot, A. acting through the outer movable side, E. of the box, B, through the
penny, C. and through the inner movable side, G, can open the valve, the valve
will close when the penny is absent. Instead of connecting the inlet valve, K,
with the parts acting on it in the manner herein before described, it may be con-
nected with the parts by a sliding spindle working through a stuffing box, or
through a diaphragm or equivalent.
When the inlet valve, K, is open the gas or other fluid works the meter in the
ordinary way. and acts on the counter by the usual gearing. From the counter
gearing (not shown) a spindle. L. is driven which through pinions. L 1. and M5,
turns a sprocket wheel, M, fixed to a spindle, M 1. mounted in bearings, M2,
formed on the framing, F, the sprocket wheel. M. gearing with an endless
chain, M3, distended between the sprocket wheel and a guide pulley, M4. The
outer end of the spindle, L, is carried on the shorter arm, L2. of a bell-crank
lever, L3, centered on a stud. L4, fixed to the framing. F. By this means the
relative positions of the spindles. L. and. M 1. can be altered, so that one or both.
of the niniens. L1, M5, may he changed, and the speed of the chain thereby
altered to suit different prices of the gas or other fluid. The longer arm, L5, of

page_text: the bell-crank lever, L3, is formed with a quadrant slot, L6, which works on a
fixed stud, L7, provided with a pinching or holding screw nut, L8, so that the
lever may be turned, and the shorter arm, L2, set and fixed in the position re-
quired to suit the change of gearing. The upper part of the endless chain, M 3,
passes under the box, B, across the bottom of which there is a slot, B 1, and pro-
jecting catches, N, on the chain, moving through the slot engage each with the
penny, C, in the box, or with the bottom one of a pile of pennies; and each
catch, N, carries a penny out of the box through an exit slot, B2, and drops it
into a receptacle or cash receiver (not shown). As each penny passes out of the
box, B, it moves in contact with a lateral cam guide, B3, which makes it press
the movable side, G, of the box to a small extent, so as by removing the grip to
set the next penny free to drop. When the chain, M3, by its catches, N, takes
the only or last penny out of the box, B, the inner movable side, G, acting on the
valve lever J, by reason of the penny being moved along the outer part, B4, of
the lateral cam guide, B3, becomes gradually released, and the inlet valve, K, is
thereby also closed gradually, thus giving warning to the user that the gas supply
is being diminished.
In order to show how many pennies are in the box at any time, there is provided
an upper lever, P, which is centered on the framing, F, and formed with a
depending arm, P1, the end of which rests on each penny after it has entered
the box, B. The upper lever, P, is connected by a link, P2, to a lower lever, Q,
centered on the outer pin, A 1, and formed with a pointer, Q 1, working over an
indicating scale, Q2. A projection, R, on the shoot, A, acts on the lever, P, to
raise the arm, P1, and admit the penny when the shoot is tilted. As the pennies
enter or leave the box, B, the depending arm, P1, which rests on the uppermost
one, and the lever, P, will accordingly assume a higher or lower position, and the
pointer, Q1, will be carried up or down over the scale, Q2, and thus indicate the
number of pennies in the box at any time. Instead of this arrangement of in-
dicating mechanism there may be provided a vertical indicating wire, which has
on one part of it a small arm, which, on the wire being raised and turned, rests on
the uppermost penny. Another arm on the wire serves for raising and turning
it, and for indicating the number of pennies on a scale, and the wire is placed
so as when raised to project up across the end of the shoot and to prevent the
introduction of further pennies until the wire is returned to its normal position.
On the box being filled a stop comes into action to prevent further admissions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In coin-prepayment mechanism for fluid meters the improved combination
of parts comprising an inclined inlet shoot for a particular size of coin, the shoot
being arranged to be tilted to move the inlet slot under cover and at the same
time lift the coin over an internal barrier into a box, a box to receive a coin or a
pile of successively introduced coins, fitted with outer and inner movable sides,
the inner side being connected to the fluid inlet valve and opening it when pressed
inwards, and the outer side being pressed inwards and through the coin pressing
the inner side inwards by the action of the shoot on descending after being tilted,
an endless chain moving by the action of the meter always in one direction and
provided with a catch or catches which engage with the coin or the bottom one
of a pile of coins in the box and move the coins successively out of the box, the
exit of the last coin allowing the inner side of the box to move outwards and the
fluid inlet valve to close, all substantially as herein before described.
2. In mechanism of the kind to which Claim, I, relates, the use of an endless
chain driven by the meter and fitted with a catch or catches which move the coins
out of the box, the same being arranged and combined with other parts substan-
tially as herein before described.
3. In mechanism of the kind to which Claim, 1, relates, the construction and

page_text: arrangement of the tilting coin-inlet shoot and parts immediately connected there-
with substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. In mechanism of the kind to which Claim, 1, relates the construction of the
coin box with its outer and inner movable sides and the connection of the movable
inner side with the fluid inlet valve, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this Fifteenth day of March 1899.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.