Improvements in or relating to Pre-payment Gas-meters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb., 1.96
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pre-payment Gas-meters.
We ANDREW GUTHRIE SUTHERLAND of 93 Cooks Road Kennington Park
London S.E. Gas Engineer, JAMES GEORGE STIDDER of 13 Aquinas Street
Stamford Street London S.E. Engineer, and JAMES FREDERICK EVERETT, of
the same place, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be
as follows:
This invention relates to pre-payment gas-meters or meters worked upon the
well-known "penny in the slot" system by which a certain amount of gas can be
obtained for a specified payment; and our invention consists in improved mechanism
for regulating the amount of gas to be obtained for the coins, and for governing
the insertion and retention of the coins.
According to our invention we fit a revolving drum and ratchet wheel to a
spindle; the periphery of the drum being divided by suitable scale marks to
indicate the quantity of gas to be consumed on prepayment. The drum and
ratchet wheel rotate while gas is being consumed. In connection with the ratchet
wheel a spring pawl is carried at one end of a free arm, the other end of which is
loosely mounted on the spindle. Another arm is pivoted at one end to a movable
and adjustable centre. The radius of the arc through which this, arm vibrates is
greater than that of the ratchet wheel attached to the drum. The outer end of
this arm is suitably formed so as to throw the pawl out of gear with the ratchet
wheel by means of the greater arc described thereby assisted by a stud attached to
the free arm and passing through a slot in the arm, the whole being operated upon
by a lever by any suitable external means. The adjustable block, carrying the
pivot upon which the long arm works, is a travelling nut threaded upon a screw-
threaded spindle, so that, by turning the spindle the working radius of the long
arm is caused to approach towards or recede from the centre of the spindle and its
distance of travel before disengaging the pawl from the ratchet wheel is rendered
shorter or longer, as required. The screw-threaded spindle may be actuated by
bevel, worm, or other suitable gear, an opening in the outer case being provided
for gaining access thereto.
This opening is capable of being sealed, locked or otherwise secured against
interference by the consumer.
Under the slot we fit an appliance which receives the coin and passes it on to the
cradle, where it remains until, by the motion of the handle attached to the cover
plate, the coin is caused by suitable means to move the indicating drum or its
equivalent, showing, with the aid of the pointer, the amount of gas to be delivered
for the coin. The handle may afterwards be moved into position for the insertion
of more coins and recording further increments of gas to the credit of the consumer,
limited, however to one revolution of the indicating drum by means of a pin or
crank attached to the spindle or to the boss of the ratchet wheel. This limitation
of the number of coins is effected by the combination of the appliance for blocking
the slot and a rod or a slot ended rod working in connection with the pin or crank.
The blocking appliance is pivoted horizontally, and is so mounted that the.
connecting rod is capable of moving it across the underside of the slot when the
pin or crank has travelled round a complete circle or nearly so, starting from zero.

page_text: The lower, end of this appliance is formed with a feeler which, on a coin being
inserted in the slot, causes the slot to be blocked and thus prevent any more coins
being inserted until the mechanism has been operated upon.
Dated 11th Anril 1895
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
Improvements in or relating to Pre-payment Gas-meters.
We ANDREW GUTHRIE SUTHERLAND of 93 Cooks Road, Kennington Park
London S.E. Gas Engineer, JAMES GEORGE STIDDER of 13 Aquinas Street,
Stamford Street London S.E. Engineer, and JAMES FREDERICK EVERETT of
the same place, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said 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 pre-payment gas meters, or meters worked upon the
well-known "penny in the slet" system by which a certain amount of gas can be.
obtained for a specified payment; and our invention relates more particularly to
the mechanism patented in No. 8981 of 1894 granted to Andrew Guthrie
Sutherland and consists in improved mechanism for regulating the amount of gas
to be obtained for the coins, and for governing the insertion and retention of the
coins.
According to our invention we fit a revolving drum and ratchet wheel to a
spindle; the periphery of the drum being divided by suitable scale marks, to
indicate the quantity of gas to be consumed on pre-payment. The drum and
ratchet wheel rotate while gas is being consumed. In connection with the
ratchet wheel a spring pawl is carried at one end of a free arm, the other
end of which is loosely mounted on the spindle. Another arm is pivoted at one
end to a moveable and adjustable centre. The radius of the arc through which
this arm vibrates is greater than that of the ratchet wheel attached to the drum.
The outer end of this arm is suitably formed so as to throw the pawl out of gear
with the ratchet wheel by means of the greater arc described thereby, assisted by
a stud attached to the free arm, and passing through a slot in the arm, the whole
being operated upon by a lever and by any suitable external means. The
adjustable block, carrying the pivot upon which the long arm works, is a
travelling uut threaded upon a screw-threaded spindle, so that, by turning the
spindle the working radius of the long arm is caused to approach towards or recede
from the centre of the spindle, and its distance of travel before disengaging the
pawl from the ratchet-wheel is rendered shorter or longer, as required. The
screw threaded spindle may be actuated by bevel, worm, or other suitable gear,
an opening in the outer case being provided for gaining access thereto. This
opening is capable of being sealed, locked, or otherwise secured against interference
by the consumer.
Under the slot we fit an appliance which receives the coin and passes it on to
the cradle, where it remains until, by the motion of the handle attached to, or
connected with, the cover plate the coin is caused, by suitable means, to move the
indicating drum or its equivalent, showing, with the aid of the pointer, the amount
of gas to be delivered for the coin. The handle may afterwards be moved into
position for the insertion of more coins, and recording further increments of gas to
the credit of the consumer, limited, however, to one revolution of the indicating
drum, by means of a pin or crank attached to the spindle, or to the boss of the
ratchet wheel. This limitation of the number of coins is effected by the

page_text: combination of the appliance for blocking the slot and a rod or a slot ended rod
working in connection with the pin or crank.
The blocking appliance is pivoted horizontally and is so mounted that the
connecting rod is capable of moving it across the underside of the slot when the
pin or crank has travelled round a complete circle, or nearly so, starting from zero.
The lower end of this appliance is formed with a feeler which, on a coin being
inserted in the slot, causes the slot to be blocked and thus prevent any more coins
being inserted until the mechanism has been operated upon.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which
similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figs. 1 and 2 are plan views Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view and Fig. 4 is a side
elevation of the operating mechanism.
Figs. 5 and 6. illustrate a method of forming and working the cover plate which
operates the coin mechanism.
Figs. 7. 8. 9 and 10 are detail views, illustrating the method of blocking the coin
slot or channel.
Fig. 11. is a modification of the trigger.
Figs. 12 and 13 are modifications of the coin operating mechanism.
Referring to Figs. 1. 2. 3 and 4; 10 is the revolving drum carrying the ratchet
wheel 13 as described in No. 8981 of 1894 and herein before referred to.
18 is a
spring pawl, pivoted at 74 to the radial arm 17, loosely mounted on the spindle 11.
20 is a bent arm pivoted to the travelling screw-nut 16. The outer end of the
arm 20 is slotted at 71 to receive the pin and roller 17 attached to the arm 17.
The outer end 72 of the arm 20 is segmental. A pin 75 is fitted to the pawl 18.
In the position of the levers shown in Fig. 1 the pin 75 is shown in contact with the
arc 72, whereby the spring pawl 18 is held out of gear with the ratchet wheel 13.
In Fig. 2 the pawl 18 is shown in gear with the ratchet wheel 13, which is driven
backward by the pawl a certain predetermined distance, depending upon the
position of the travelling nut 16 relatively to the centre of the spindle 11, as shown
in outline in Fig. 3, wherein the position and length of the cutting of the arc of the
ratchet wheel 13 by the arc 72 is shown in two positions the mechanism being
operated by the lever 30 loose on a shaft 28 connected with external means for
actuating, as hereinafter described.
Fig. 5 is a plau view, and Fig. 6 is a plan, partly in section illustrating a form
and method of operating the cover plate 27. The cover plate 27ª is pivoted to the
case plate 25 at 28. 109 is a lever pivoted to the plate 25. The spindle 94 passes
through the plate 25, and carries, on the underside of the plate 25, a lever 95 fitted
with a pin 96. The cover plate 27* carries a forked lever 97 in which the pin 96
works.
•
In the position shewn in Fig. 5 the slot 24 is uncovered, to receive the coin ; and
in Fig. 6 the method of covering the slot is shown by dotted lines.
Figs. 7 to 10 illustrate a method of fitting the coin slot with a trigger and guard
to secure the functions connected with the mechanism for receiving the coin being
duly carried out. Fig. 7 is a frout elevation with the frout plate removed.
Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation on the line ef of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a similar sectional
elevation showing the coin in position. Fig. 10 is a detail of the mechanism for
opening and closing the slot. Fig. 11. illustrates another form of trigger for
receiving the coin. 27 is a handle or knob, capable of being turned on its own.
vertical centre 100 is a trigger pivoted at 101. When the coin 105 is inserted as
shown in Fig. 9 it presses back the lower end of the trigger 100 and causes
the upper end 102 of the trigger to close the slot against the further entrance of
coins. When the handle 27 has been turned so as to carry away the coin in the
cradle 26 and drop the same, the cradle and trigger are returned to the position
shown in Fig. 8. The upper end of the trigger is formed with an extension 99,
having a bent wire lever 104 attached thereto. 103.is. a wire or crank attached to
the top end of the spindle 11, and so placed, relatively to the drum, that, when the

page_text: drum has nearly made a complete revolution, the wire 103 comes in contact with
the lever 104, and, acting upon the trigger 100 causes the slot to be closed against
further prepayment, until a portion of the gas has been consumed.
29 is a fixed rack which sustains the coin until it is swept off the rack by the
action of the cradle 26; the serrations preventing the coin being surreptitiously
returned to the slot. 98 is a coiled spring which releases the coin by slightly
moving the cradle after the handle 27 has received its full throw.
Fig. 11 illustrates another form of trigger, upon which the coin 105 rests when
inserted in the slot, thus rendering the use of the rack 29 unnecessary. The weight
of the coin resting upon the lower curved limb of the trigger, causes the upper
end 102 to bar the passage for the coins. On the cradle 26 receiving its full throw
the coin is released from the trigger by the action of the spring 98 as above
described; the shoulder 107 preventing the return of the coin after operating the
mechanism.
Fig. 12 is a plan, and Fig. 13 a vertical section on the line a-h of Fig. 12
showing an arrangement of the coin operating portion of the mechanism being a
modification of that described and shown in the Specifications of Letters Patent
No. 8981 of 1894.
30 is the lever pivoted at 28, the slotted end of which lever operates the spring
pawl arm 17. 110 is a curved link pivoted at 111 to the cradle 26, and, at 112, to
another link 113, the latter link being pivoted to the frame at 114. The lever 30
carries the bar 29 for supporting the coin and a projection 30 for receiving
the thrust of the penny, as the cradle is moved.
30 is another projection in connection with the same lever, for receiving the
thrust of a half-penny, as the cradle is moved. It will thus be seen that the bar 29,
on which the coin rests, is in this case integral with the lever 30, instead of being
secured to the frame as previously described. 112 is a projection on the lever 30
whereby the lever 30 is returned to its normal position, when the cradle is returned,
the knuckle 112 being caused to operate the lever from the cradle 26 by means of
the links 110 and 113.
After performing its function, the penny drops out of the cradle into the
receptacle provided to receive it; the cradle frame being hung upon the same
centre as the lever 30, the coin operates the mechanism throughout its travel
as herein before described.
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. The improved prepayment gas meter mechanism, substantially as specified.
2. In prepayment gas meters, the application and use of an arm and a ratchet
wheel pivoted at different points, so constructed and arranged that the distance
between the cutting points of the arcs described by the arm and the ratchet wheel
governs the amount of gas to be delivered on prepayment substantially as
described.
3. In prepayment gas meters, the combination with the revolving drum 10 and
ratchet wheel 13, of a spring pawl 18 pivoted to a radial arm 17; a bent arm 20
pivoted to a travelling screw-out 16, the arm 20 having a segmental end 72 for
throwing the pawl out of gear with the ratchet wheel, 13, all severally operating
substantially as and for the purposes bereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings.
4. In prepayment gas meters, the method of forming and working the cover plate
for operating the coin mechanism, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.
5. In prepayment gas meters, the method of, and means for, blocking the money
slot on a nearly complete revolution of the drum having been made operating
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of
the drawings.

page_text: 6. The combination, with the drum operating mechanism herein described of the
coin mechanism operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings.
1000
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.