Improvements in Prepayment or Coin-freed Gas Meters.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 8th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Prepayment or Coin-freed Gas Meters.
I, HENRY SIMMONDS, of Colne, in the County of Lancaster, Gas Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:—
This invention is designed to provide an improved construction or arrangement
of coin-freed apparatus for delivering a limited supply of gas through a gas meter
of otherwise ordinary construction on the prepayment or insertion therein of a
coin of the prescribed value.
It consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with a supply valve connected
to gearing which can be thrown into gear either with a knob or handle capable of
being rotated to open the valve or with the index mechanism of the meter to close
it the connection whereby it can be thrown into gear with the operating knob or
handle being provided by the insertion of the coin and also in the combination
therewith of mechanism for stopping or preventing the movement of meter when
the valve is in gear with the operating knob or handle.
The apparatus may be applied to any gas meter of ordinary construction either
what is known as a wet meter or a dry meter.
In a suitable valve chamber in the supply pipe of the meter I place a valve
attached to or operated by a spindle capable of being rotated in either direction.
The rotation of the spindle in one direction removes the valve from its seating and
the rotation in the opposite direction returns it again to its sent.
The valve may
be conical or of other shape mounted at the end of a radial lever. The spindle
which actuates the valve is rotated in either direction by a toothed wheel on
a second shaft this wheel being loose on the shaft and free to rotate in either
direction.
The second shaft is divided in two longitudinally and at one end it is connected
by a suitable train of wheels or bevel gearing with the index mechanism and at
the other end it is connected with a knob or handle by which it can be rotated.
The spindle which carries the knob or handle has also affixed to it a radial arm
or finger which moves across a projecting quadrant during one part of the revolution
which holds or presses it outwards and across or against the inner side of another
quadrant in a different plane during the other part of its revolution which holds or
presses it inwards.
Between the spindle of the knob or handle and one end of the second shaft is a
chamber or receptacle of cylindrical U or other shape to receive the coin into which
it is passed through a slot. Into this chamber the ends of the spindle and shaft
project and the position of the coin is edgewise between them.
On the second shaft at either side of the loose wheel is a clutch which on the
shaft being moved in either direction longitudinally engages with the loose wheel
and rotates it the motion of which is conveyed to the shaft operating the valve.
In normal condition the clutch in connection with the index mechanism is in gear
with the wheel when the coin is in position by pressing inwards the knob or handle
before rotating it the end of the second shaft is also pressed inwards and the other
clutch brought into gear with the loose wheel. A spring at the end of the shaft
forces it back into normal position. Bevel gearing may be used instead of the
clutches or instead of the spur gearing.
Connected to the end of the shaft or in any other suitable position is a connecting
rod connecting with a lever and bolt. When the second shaft is pushed inwards

page_text: by the action of the handle and coin the bolt is thrown up to engage with the
moving part of the meter and stop all motion thereof so that the passage of gas
through the meter is stopped during the time the coin is in the apparatus. This
prevents a supply of gas being obtained should an attempt be made to block the
supply valve open.
To the valve shaft a dial and indicating finger may be connected to show to what
extent the valve has been opened and how far it remains off being closed. To this
any additional counting mechanism may be applied.
In operation the coin is inserted in the slot and the knob or handle rotated and
pressed inwards the finger on the spindle passing behind the inner side of the second
quadrant or cam which holds it until half a revolution has been made. The inward
movement brings the outer clutch into gear with the loose wheel and throws the
other clutch out of gear and the rotating movement causes the clutch and wheel to
rotate and with them the shaft of the valve which is thereby opened and carried a
certain distance from its seat. When one half revolution has been made the finger
emerges from behind the quadraut and mounts on to the other projecting one draws
back the spindle and releases the coin allowing it to fall out of operation. The
second shalt is then moved back by the spring and brings into gear the clutch
which communicates with the index mechanism.
This clutch moves in the
opposite direction to the other and slowly returns the valve to its seat as the gas is
consumed.
Two or more coins up to twelve may be inserted one after the other and the
valve opened a further distance by each.
Dated this 17th day of August. 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
I, HENRY SIMMONDS, of Colne, in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
This invention is designed to provide an improved construction or arrangement
of coin-freed apparatus for delivering a limited supply of gas through a gas meter
of otherwise ordinary construction on the prepayment or insertion therein of a
coin of the prescribed value.
It consists essentially in constructing the apparatus with a supply valve connected
to gearing which can be thrown into gear either with a knob or handle capable of
being rotated to open the valve or with the index mechanism of the meter to close
the valve the connection whereby it can be thrown into gear with the operating
knob or handle being provided by the insertion of the coin and also in the com-
bination therewith of mechanism for stopping or preventing the movement of the
meter when the valve is in gear with the operating knob or handle.
The apparatus may be applied to any gas meter of ordinary construction either
what is known as a wet meter or a dry meter.
The invention. will be fully described with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which sufficient of a gas meter is shown to illustrate it.
Fig. 1. Front elevation of meter showing, the invention fixed to the side thereof.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal section on line x-x, Fig, 5.
Fig. 3. End. elevation.
Fig. 4. Transverse section on line y-y, Fig. 5.
DL

page_text: Fig. o. Elevation from Dack.
Figs. 7 to 15. Enlarged details of the cut off valve.
The invention may be applied to any ordinary form or construction of gas meter
the mechanism being attached to the side of the meter in any convenient position
so as to connect with the registering mechanism thereof.
To the inlet or supply pipe A by which the gas is admitted to the meter-or if
preferred to the delivery pipe-I connect a valve B fitted in a suitable valve
chamber C the valve B being attached to and operated by a spindle D capable of
being rotated in either direction. The valve B may be of any suitable shape or
construction such that it can be opened by the rotation of the spindle D in one
direction and closed by the rotation of the spindle in the opposite direction.
The form of valve that I prefer to use is a plug valve such as shown in Figs. 7
to 15 cut away to such an extent that it remains open during the greater part of
the revolution of the spindle D and the spindle D is operated in either direction by
the toothed wheel & fixed thereon gearing with the driving wheel E on the driving
shaft or spindle F.
The driving wheel E is loose on the driving shaft F and is provided at each side
with clutch teeth and on the shaft at either side of the driving wheel are placed
two clutch wheels e e¹ which are made fast to the shaft so that the direction of
rotation of the driving wheel E and of the wheel d and valve B are consequent
upon which of the clutches e or el are in gear with the wheel E.
The second or driving shaft F is divided in its length into two parts one of the
clutches e el being affixed to one part and the other to the other part. One end or
part of the shaft is connected by a train of wheels or other gearing and a shaft G
with the index mechanism H of the meter and the other part or end F¹ is connected
by means of the coin receptacle L with a knob or handle J outside the apparatus
by which it can be rotated.
The knob or handle J is carried by a spindle j and to this spindle there is also
affixed a radial arm or finger K.
On the outside of the casing is fixed a quadrant guide k and two stops k' and k" for
the radial arm.
The radial arm rerts against the top stop k and when the knob is
to be moved or rotated it is removed from the stop and pressed inwards and as it
rotates it is held in this position by the arm K pressing against the inner side of
the quadrant guide k. When it completes half of a revolution the finger emerges
from beneath the quadrant guide and comes against the stop k" the coin being
released. If desired instead of this arrangement the knob may make a complete
or nearly complete revolution and the finger pass under the quadrant guide for the
first part of the revolution and over a second quadrant for the remainder of the
revolution in order to draw the knob out again for the purpose of releasing the coin
and disconnecting the clutch e' and driving wheel E.
Between the spindle j which carries the knob or handle J and the other end F1
of the driving shaft is pivoted a chamber or receptacle L of cylindrical U or other
shape to receive the coin into which it is passed through a slot l. Into this chamber
the ends of the spindle j and shaft F project and the position of the coin is
edgewise between them. The ends of the spindle j and shaft F' are made square
(or otherwise) so that as the knob J is rotated the receptacle L and with it
shaft are also rotated.
The clutches e e¹ at either side of the loose driving wheel E are attached respec-
tively to the parts F F of the driving shaft and on the shaft comprising the
parts F F¹ being moved in either direction longitudinally one of the clutches e or el
engages with the loose wheel E and rotates it the motion of which is conveyed to
the spindle D operating the valve B. In normal position the clutch e in connection
with the shaft G and index mechanis n H is in gear with the wheel E. After the
coin P is inserted in position by pressing inwards the knob or handle J before
rotating it the end of the driving shaft is also pressed inwards the clutch e
thrown out of gear and the clutch e' brought into gear with the loose wheel E.
The driving shaft F is moved back again into normal position by the spring lever M

page_text: which bears against the end and is actuated by the spring m.
The lever M is
fixed to the shaft N which is rotated part of a revolution at each movement of the
lever.
At the other end of the shaft N is another lever or connecting rod n connected
to a rod or bolt O. When the driving shaft F is pushed backwards or inwards by
the action of the handle J and coin P the bolt O is thrown up to engage with the
arm o or other moving part of the meter and stop all motion thereof so that
the passage of gas through the meter is stopped during the time the coin is in the
apparatus. This prevents a supply of gas being obtained should an attempt be
made to block the supply valve open. To the valve spindle Da dial R and
indicating finger & may be connected to show to what extent the valve B has been
opened and how far it remains off being closed. To this any additional counting
or recording mechanism may be applied. The edge wheel S can be changed to one
of greater or less diameter to alter the speed of the mechanism and the rate at
which the valve is closed according to the amount of gas for which one coin pays.
In operation the coin P is inserted in the slot and dropped down into the
chamber L ard the knob or handle J rotated and pressed inwards the finger K on
the spindle passing behind the inner side of the quadrant or cam k which holds it
until half a revolution has been made. The inward movement brings the outer
clutch e' into gear with the loose wheel E and throws the other clutch e out of gear
and at the same time the bolt O is thrown up to stop the working of the meter and
the rotating movement causes the clutch el and wheel E to rotate and with them
the spindle D of the valve B which is thereby opened for a certain distance.
When one half revolution has been made the finger K emerges from behind the
quadrant this draws back the spindle j and releases the coin allowing it to fall out
of operation. The driving shaft F is then moved back by the spring and brings
into gear with the wheel E the clutch e which communicates with the index
mechanism H and at the same time the bolt O is drawn down allowing the meter
to work. This clutch moves in the opposite direction to the other and slowly closes
or returns the valve to its seat as the gas is consuined.
Two or more coins up to ten or twelve may be inserted one after the other and
the vaive opened a further distance by each.
Bevel wheels may be substituted if found more convenient for the clutches or for
the pinions that are shown.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Apparatus for providing a supply of gas on the insertion of a coin constructed
with a supply or shut off valve capable of being opened and closed by the rotary
movement of a spindle connected to gearing which can be thrown into or out of
gear either with the registering mechanism of the meter to close it or with an
operating knob or handle on a sliding spindle to open it the connection between
the operating knob or handle being established by the insertion of a coin
between the ends of the operating spindle and the driving shaft substantially as
described.
2. Apparatus for providing a supply of gas on the insertion of a coin constructed
with a supply or cut off valve capable of being opened and closed by the rotary
movement of a spindle connected to the inlet pipe (or outlet pipe) of the meter a
driving wheel loose on the driving shaft by which the valve is operated in either
direction a driving shaft preferably divided into two parts in its length carrying
clutches (or other wheels) on either side of the driving wheel by which it is rotated
in either direction a coin receptacle placed between the end of the driving shaft
and the end of a sliding spindle carrying an operating knob or handle by which on
the insertion of a coin communication is established between the operating knob
and the driving wheel a train of wheels or other mechanism for connecting the
driving wheel and valve with the counting mechanism of the meter and a lever and

page_text: bolt connected to the working parts of the meter for stopping or preventing the
movement of the meter when the valve is open substantially as described.
3. In coin-freed apparatus for gas meters the combination with a supply or cut
off valve connected to the inlet (or outlet pipe) of the meter of a driving or
actuating shaft capable of moving longitudinally provided with a loose driving
wheel and a clutch on either side divided into two lengths a sliding spindle carrying
an operating knob with a coin receptacle embracing the ends of the driving shaft
and operating spindle and rotating with the latter so that on the insertion of a coin
communication can be established between the operating handle and the driving
wheel substantially as described.
4. In a coin-freed apparatus the mechanism for opening and closing the valve
consisting of a rotary driving shaft with a longitudinal sliding movement which
carries the driving gear a rotating coin receptacle actuated by a sliding spindle into
which the ends of the driving shaft and spindle project with a space between the
two for the reception of the coin to establish a connection between them a handle
for rotating the spindle and a quadrant or its equivalent to force the spindle
inwards when rotated to press the coin inwards against the end of the driving shaft
substantially as described.
5. The combination with a gas meter of coin-freed apparatus constructed
substantially as herein described and shown.
Mauch 1905
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.