Year: 1895

page_text: I, JOHN GUTHRIE SUTHERLAND, of 48 Cooks Road, Kennington Park,
London S. E., Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to gas meters constructed and operating upon the well
known "penny in the slot" system; and its object is to effect improvements in the
mechanism in connection therewith.
According to my invention the mechanism is fitted in a frame (hereinafter
called the "frame") which may be attached to any wet or dry gas meter without
breaking the seal; my improved mechanism being connected with the flag wire
or other moving part of the meter, the motions of which are utilise 1 in operating
the mechanism, in the delivery of the gas to the consumer.
The frame is fitted with a horizontal shaft, having a bearing at each end.
Mounted on a sleeve loose on this shaft, I fit a slotted segmental frame, one end
of which is fitted with a cradle to receive the coin. A radial arm attached to a
projecting portion of the sleeve on the shaft, marries a stud passing through the
slot, and having a uut, whereby the position of the arm, relatively to the slotted
segment, can be set, its position governing the amount of gas to be delivered to
the consumer for the coin or coins inserted in the case. A standard is fixed
inside the frame for supporting the shaft, having a segmental serrated edge,
upon which the edge of the coin rests, and is carried in the cradle upon the
diagonal faces of the serrated teeth in one direction, but cannot be moved
backward against the radial faces of the same teeth; thus preventing the operation
known as pumping.
Inside the frame and fast upon the shaft, a ratchet wheel and worm pinion
are fixed. Loose upon this shaft, but controlled by a friction brake, a segmental
arm carrying a pawl is fitted; the pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel,
and the arm is fitted with stops or pegs for moving and controlling its move-
ments. The cradle is formed so as to carry the coin against one of these stops,
and thereby operate the ratchet wheel and pinion; but, in the absence of a coin,
the cradle passes the stop without operating the mechanism.
Suitable stops are provided to act on the pawl and other parts of the mechanism
to prevent what is known as "racing."
A vertical spindle is fitted with a worm sleeve, capable of sliding up and down
and rotating upon the spindle.
The worm is also cut longitudinally so as to form teeth to act as a pinion.
Another worm is fitted to a spindle which is driven in one direction only by
a ratchet wheel and a pair of pawls or other suitable connection with the flag
wire or other moving part of the meter. A pinion in gear with a rack attached
to the worm sleeve operates indicating mechanism to show the amount of gas
prepaid for and indicate its consumption, or a pointer may be attached to the
slide fitted to the worm sleeve for a similar purpose.
In using the apparatus the handle is moved to a suitable position for the
reception of a coin in the cradle. The handle is then restored to its initial
position the coin moving the ratchet wheel a certain distance before falling out

page_text: of the cradle. The worm pinion, on one side of the sleeve, raises the sleeve and
operates the indicator. The apparatus is then ready for delivering gas.
When gas is passing through the meter, the worm on the spindle attached to
the driving gear, causes the sleeve to rotate upon its centre, and, the worm on the
sleeve being in gear with the worm pinion, the sleeve descends to the position of
zero. The ratchet wheel and worm pinion are held sufficiently fast by friction or
otherwise to enable the worm pinion to net as a nut to the worm sleeve.
Suitable means are provided for operating the valve from the worm sleeve
slide or other moving part of the mechanisin, the valve box and valve being fittel
outside the meter case, but enclosed in the prepayment mechanism case.
Dated 16th of October 1895.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.
1 Joux GUTHRIE SUTHERLAND of 48 Cooks Road Kenningt in l'Aik
Loudon S.E. Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to gas meters constructed and operating upon the well
known "penny in the slot" system, and its object is to effect improvements in the
mechanism in connection therewith.
According to my invention the mechanism is fitted in a frame (hereinafter
called the "frame") which may be attached to any wet or dry gas meter; my
improved mechanism being connected with the flag wire or other moving part of
the meter, the motions of which are utilised in operating the mechanism in the
delivery of the gas to the consumer.
And in order that my 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.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus,
Fig. 2 is a top view of the same.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation on the line ab of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation on the same line showing the apparatus in a “pai”
position.
The outer case is omitted in each of the figures.
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the pawl driving mechanism.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are respectively plan, sectional elevation and detail views of the
valve box and valve with its connections.
10 is the frame. 11 is a horizontal shaft. 14 is a segmental frame, having a
segmental slot 15 through one portion thereof, and a crulle 16 to receive the coin
at one end. The sleeve 13 is carried through the frame to support the boss of
the handle 17. Both the segmental frame 14 and the handle 17 are fast on the
sleeve 13. 18 is a radial arm loose on the sleeve 13. This radial arm is used to
regulate the amount of gas to be delivered to the consumer for the coin or coins
inserted in the case, the amount being indicated by the number of strokes upon a
bell or wire (not shown in the drawings) the clapper of the bell being attached to
the pawl 29, and the motion of the pawl being produced by its contact with the
ratchet teeth upon the wheel 24. The position of the radial arm 18 in the slot 15
is regulated and fixed by means of the set screws 21, fitted with a capstan head

page_text: "
for that purpose. The radial arm 18 is also fitted with a crooked rod 22 to
engage with a stop 12 on the segmental extension of the arm 26 whereby the
latter is drawn back ready for the next payment. 23 is a standard fixed to the
frame having a segmental serrated edge, upon which the edge of the coin rests,
the coin being carried by the cradle upon an over the diagonal faces of the
serrated teeth in one direction, and being incapable of moving in a contrary
direction against the radial faces of the same teeth, thus preventing the operation
known as "
'pumping' 24 is a ratchet wheel and 25 is a worm pinion, both fast
upon the shaft 11. 26 is an arm pivoted loosely upon the shaft 11 and
carrying a pawl 27 attached to the segmental end of the same arm 26. This
arm is fitted with a brake 28 29 is a pawl pivoted to the frame. The pawls 27
and 29 engage the ratchet teeth of the wheel 24, the pawl 27 acting as a driver
and the pawl 29 acting as a check to prevent the wheel 24 moving in an opposite
direction to that effected by the pawl 27. 30 is a stop or peg attached to the
arm 26 for moving and controlling its movements.
The cradle is formed so ag
to carry the coin against the stop 30 and thereby cause the ratchet wheel 24
and pinion 25 to rotate a certain distance. In the absence of a coin the cradle
passes the stop without operating the mechanism.
A stationary vertical spindle 31 is fixed to the frame 10 (Figs. 3 and 4). Upon
this spindle the sleeve 32 is fitted, free to rotate and also to slide up and down
upon the spindle. A worm or screw thread is formed upon this sleeve, and the
screw thread is also cut longitudinally so as to form teeth and act as a pinion.
Another worm 33 is fitted to the shaft 34, this shaft being driven in one direction
only by the mechanism shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5. This mechanism consists of the
shaft 34 suitably mounted in bearings carrying the worm 33 at one end and the
ratchet wheel 35 at the other cud. The ratchet wheel is preferably operated by a
lover 36 attached to the flag wire 37 which imparts a reciprocating motion to a
pawl or a pawl lever 38 carrying two pawis 59. 33, the lover being suitably
mounted on the bracket 40. The pinion 25 is in gear with the worm sleeve 32,
the pinion 25 lifting the worm sleeve when the coin is inserted in the slot, and
the wheel 24 has been partially rotated. In this case the worm acts simply as
a rack in relation to the pinion 25.
The worm sleeve 32 may be lifted several times in succession in consequence
of the insertion of a corresponding number of coins. The number of coins thus
inserted is limited by the contact of the upper end of the worm sleeve with a
lever 41 pivoted at 42 (Fig. 4). The short arm of this lever carries a snug 43
which prevents the handle 17 and cradle 16 being moved to the position for
receiving more coins by the contact of the cradle with the sung 43.
In order to indicate to the consumer the number of feet of gas prepaid for
and to be delivered I fix a pinter 44 to the sliding carriage 45 of the worm
sleeve 32, a suitable scale being fixed to the case. If a circular scale is desired
mount a spindle carrying a pinion at one end gearing with the worm sleeve,
or a rack attached thereto, and a hand or indicator at the other end as will be
readily understood.
The valve box 46 and valve 47 are fitted outside the meter case but enclosed
in the prepayment mechanism case, as shown in Figs. 2, 6 and 7. The valve
is preferably of the flap-valve type as shown in Fig. 8, the lid or disc 48 of
the valve being formed slightly concave to receive a pad of wool saturated with
a lubricant, the pad being held in place by skin or leather stretched over the
same, and fastened to the disc. The valve is preferably operated from the
sliding worm-sleeve carriage by means of two Gingers 49, 50 which act on a lever
or tappet 51 secured to one end of a spindle 52. This spindle passes through
a stuffing box 53 fixed in the valve box 46, and carries another lever 54,
which is connected to the valve 47 by a connecting rod 55. It will thus be
seen that when the worn-sleeve is down the valve is shut, but on an upward
motion being imparted to the worm sleeve the fingers move the lever 54
whereby the valve 47 is opened and retained open (by friction) until the return

page_text: of the worm sleave, when the finger 50 again moves the lever down thereby
shutting the valve. This arrangement of valve box outside the meter case enables
a periodical or occasional examination of the valve to be made without breaking
the official seal affixed at the testing station, a matter of importance and effecting
a great saving of time. Hitherto when an examination of prepayment gas meter
valves was required, it became necessary to break the official seal, and before being
used again, they had to be re-submitted to the testing officer for sealing, a necessity
which will be obviated by my improved arrangement of the valve box.
In using the apparatus, the handle 17 is moved to the position shown by dotted
lines in Fig. 3. The coin being inserted, the handle is then moved to the position
shown in Fig. 4. This movement causes the coin to move the ratchet wheel a
certain distance before falling out of the cradle. The worm pinion 25 raises the
sleeve 32 and operates the indicator. The apparatus is then ready for delivering
When gas is passing through the meter, the worm 33 causes the sleeve 32 to
rotate upon its centre, and, the worm on the sleeve 32 being in gear with the worn
pinion 25, the sleeve descends towards the position of zero, The ratchet wheel
and worm pinion are held sufficiently fast by friction or otherwise to enable the
worm pinion 25 to act as a nut to the worm sleeve 32.
gas.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
1. The improved prepayment gas meter substantially as herein described.
2. In prepayment gas fneters, the application and use of a worm sleeve 32 the
worm thread being also cut longitudinally to form a pinion, operating in a intuner
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In prepayment gas meters, the combination with the worm sleeve 32 of a
worm pinion 25, fast in the shaft 11, carrying a ratchet wheel 24, the latter being
operated by a pawl acted upon by a cradle by means of a coin; the worm sleeve
being returned to its initial position by a worm 33 ratchet wheel 35 and pawla 39,
driven from the flag wire 37, together operating substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In prepayment gas meters, the application and use of a radial arm 18, capable
of adjustment relatively to a slot in the segmental frame 14 carrying the coin in
the cradle 14 for the purpose of regulating the amount of gas to be delivered on
prepayment operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the drawings.
5. In prepayment gas meters of the description aforesaid, the combination
therewith of a lever 41 and snug 43 for preventing the insertion of an excessive
number of coins, operating substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the drawings.
6. In prepayment gas meters the application and use of a pair of pawls operated
by the lever 36 on the flag wire 37 or other moving part of the meter mechanism,
the pawls acting upon a ratchet wheel 35, whereby the return motion is conveyed
to the prepayment mechanism, operating substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the drawings.
7. In prepayment dry gas meters, litting the valve box exterior to the meter
case whereby a periodical or occasional examination of the valve can be made
without breaking the official seal substantially as hereinbefore described.
11A. A
GEO.
DOWNING,
8 Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.