on Prepayment by Insertion of a Coin.
Year: 1887

page_text: .
on Prepayment by Insertion of a Coin.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD PRICE, of Bushey View, Hampton Wick, in the County of
Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR SUPPLYING A DEFINITE QUANTITY OF GAS ON
PREPAYMENT BY INSERTION OF A COIN" to be as follows:-
It has been found that the use of gas among the artizan classes and other small
householders is checked by the present arrangements of quarterly payments for
which their weekly wages and general habits in relation to money matters do not
offer facilities.
The collection of weekly gas bills by the servants of the Gas Companies would
be expensive, and might necessitate the charging a higher rate for such consumers.
Now my invention has for its object the removal of these hindrances to the spread
of the use of gas among our working population, and consists in certain arrangements
in and connected with the meter, by which the consumer will be enabled to purchase
a definite supply of gas on prepayment of a definite sum by dropping a coin of the
proper denomination into the meter.
According to my invention I provide the meter with fittings in addition to those
usually appertaining to a meter, by which, on a coin of a definite denomination being
dropped into a slot provided for the purpose, apparatus connected with the going and
recording mechanism of the méter is operated, or connection made so that the
consumer may obtain a definite supply of gas.
Supposing the price of gas to be three shillings and four pence per thousand cubic
feet, one shilling would purchase 300 cubic feet which would last a small household,
say about a week.
I so arrange the parts that if a second coin is dropped into the slot before the gas
paid for by the previously inserted coin is consumed, the second coin will not operate
the apparatus until the supply of gas already paid for is consumed.
A box, forming part of the meter case receives the coins after they have passed
the sale apparatus, and the key of said box would be kept by the Company's
Callanto
4

page_text: If bad money or improper coins are passed into the box, the Collector would on
going to collect the contents, say once a month, detect any irregularity, and as the
meter would be under the control of the householder the latter would be made
responsible for any such irregularities.
With the counting and indicating mechanism of the meter I connect by suitable
gearing, so that it may be driven at the required relative speed, a vertical shaft, to the
upper part of which is fixed a double circular table consisting essentially of two discs
connected together and fixed concentrically one a little above the other on the said
spindle, so as to leave sufficient space between them for the end of a lever hereafter
described to lie and move a short distance vertically for the purpose of inserting or
withdrawing a pin in or from a hole through the lower of said discs.
The gearing of this vertical shaft with the counting and indicating mechanism
is so arranged that one revolution of the table corresponds with the passage of one
unit quantity of gas.
The lower plate is pierced near its edge with a small hole, into which, on the
completion of each revolution of the table, a pin projecting vertically .downwards
from the before mentioned lever drops, unless prevented as herein after mentioned.
In the upper disc of the table is a notch so placed in relation to the hole in the lower
disc as to be brought by the revolution of the table over the lever very soon after the
hole in the lower disc has passed the pin.
The notch is of such size and shape as to allow the end of the lever to rise through
it to above the level of the upper disc.
The other end of the said lever is by suitable connections so attached to a valve,
which may be a slide, diaphragm, or other valve, controlling the flow of gas, that the
rising or falling of the lever opens or shuts the said valve. Another arm or part
connected with the said lever is arranged to receive the coin as it is dropped in at the
slot in payment for gas, in such manner that the coin falling on it will, by its weight,
depress the said arm or part and cause the lever to rise until its upper end rests
against the under side of the upper disc and the pin is thus lifted out of the hole in
the lower disc, at the same time the rising of the lever opens the valve and
allows the gas to pass, by which the meter is set in motion and the table caused:
to rotate.
Where the table has rotated a short distance the notch in the upper plate has
thereby been brought over the end of the lever, and the lever rises through the notch,
being lifted by the weight of the coin, until the latter slips off the part on which it
rested and falls into a receptacle below.
Being relieved of the weight of the coin the lever and its connections return by
their own weight, which is balanced for the purpose, to their normal position, so that
the upper end of the lever is between the two discs of the table, resting lightly on
the lower one, and ready to descend as soon as the hole in the lower disc shall again
pass under the pin.
Thus when a proper coin is dropped into the slot intended for its reception it falls on
to, and rests on, an arm or part which it depresses, raising the lever and lifting the
pin out of the hole in the lower disc thereby setting the apparatus free to move and
at the same time opening the valve admitting the gas, as the gas passes and the meter
revolves the notch in the upper disc arrives over the lever which immediately rises
through it allowing the part on which the coin is resting to sink and pass the coin
into the receptacle, the various parts then return to their previous position except that
the hole in the lower disc being no longer under the pin the latter rests on the
lower disc until one complete revolution has been made when the pin passes into
the hole allowing the lever to fall and close the gas valve and thus cut off the
supply of gas until a fresh coin is dropped in.
If however the coin is dropped in before the table has completed its revolution the lever
is lifted so as to press lighty against the upper disc, instead of the lower one, and when
the revolution is completed the hole passes under the pin without the latter descending
and as the table continues to turn, the notch in the upper disc comes over the lever
which thereupon rises and passes the coin down as before. It will thus be seen that

page_text: a coin may be placed in the slot at any time after the previous one has passed the
moving parts.
The usual recording dial and apparatus may remain unaltered according to my
invention and thus the actual quantity of gas consumed be registered independently
of the automatic cash receiving apparatus and can be compared with the amount in
coins actually passed into the meter, and the dial instead of recording the number of
cubic feet may be constructed to indicate the amount in pounds shillings and pence
of the gas.consumed, one hand on the dial being made to revolve synchronously with
the table each revolution thereof will indicate the passage of one unit quantity of
gas, say One shillings worth, and the consumer will thereby always be able to see
at a glance how nearly he has consumed the gas already paid for.
A change in the price of gas would of course render necessary a readjustment of
the relation between the coin to be inserted and the quantity of gas allowed to
pass. This, if the change were small and consisted of a reduction, might be arranged
by allowing the consumers a discount or rather a return of a per centage of the money
found in the receptacle, or if the price of gas were raised a surcharge would be made
each time the collector removed the cash from the meter, while if the change in price
were considerable or likely to be permanent a slight alteration in the gearing would
effect the required adjustment.
Dated the 10th day of November 1887.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant. *

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Meters for Supplying a Definite Quantity of Gas
on Prepayment by Insertion of a Coin.
"
J, WILLIAM EDWARD PRICE, of Bushey View, Hampton Wick, in the County of
Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR SUPPLYING A DEFINITE QUANTITY OF GAS ON
PREPAYMENT BY INSERTION OF A COIN" and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the accompanying sheets of drawings forming part of this my Specification
and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
It has been found that the use of gas among the artizan classes and other small
householders is checked by the present arrangements of quarterly payments for which
their weekly wages and general habits in relation to money matters do not offer
facilities.
The collection of weekly gas bills by the servants of the Gas Companies would be
expensive and might necessitate the charging a higher rate for such consumers.
Now my invention has for its object the removal of these hindrances to the spread
of the use of gas among our working population and consists in certain arrangements
in and connected with the meter, by which the consumer will be enabled to purchase a
definite supply of gas on prepayment of a definite sum by dropping a coin of the proper
denomination into the meter.
According to my invention I provide the meter with fittings in addition to those
usually appertaining to a meter, by which, on a coin of a definite denomination being
dropped into a slot provided for the purpose, apparatus connected with the going and
recording mechanism of the meter is operated, so that the consumer may obtain a
definite supply of gas.
Supposing the price of gas to be 3s. 4d. per 1000 cubic feet, one shilling would
purchase 300 cubic feet which would last a small household say about a week.
I so arrange the parts that if a second coin is dropped into the slot before the gas
paid for by the previously inserted coin is consumed, the second coin will not operate
the apparatus until the supply of gas already paid for is consumed.
A receptacle, preferably a drawer, forming part of the meter case receives the coins
after they have passed the sale apparatus, and the key of the said drawer would be
kept by the Company's collector.
If bad money or improper coins are passed into the drawer the collector would on
going to collect the contents, say once a month, detect any irregularity, and as the
meter would be under the control of the householder, the latter would be made
responsible for any such irregularities.
With the counting and indicating-mechanism of the meter I connect by suitable
gearing, so that it may be driven at the required relative speed, a vertical shaft, to

page_text: the upper part of which is fixed a double circular table consisting essentially of two
discs connected together and fixed concentrically one a little above the other on the
said spindle so as to leave sufficient space between them for the end of a rod, here-
after described, to lie and move a short distance vertically for the purpose of inserting
or withdrawing a pin in or from a hole through the lower of the said discs.
By a modification of my invention the disposition of the mechanism may be varied
and a horizontal shaft may be substituted for the vertical shaft the same disc with a
hole being employed but the function of the second disc is supplied by a cam forming
part of the said disc.
The gearing of this shaft with the counting and indicating mechanism is so arranged
that one revolution of the table corresponds with the passage of one unit quantity
of gas.
The lower disc in the modification with the vertical shaft is pierced near it's edge
with a small hole, into which, on the completion of each revolution of the table, a pin,
projecting vertically downwards from the before mentioned rod drops, unless prevented
as hereinafter mentioned.
In the upper disc of the table is a notch so placed in relation to the hole in the
lower disc as to be brought, by the revolution of the table, over the rod very soon.
after the hole in the lower disc has passed the pin.
The notch is of such size and shape as to allow the end of the rod to rise thro' it.
to above the level of the upper disc.
The other end of the said rod is by suitable connections so attached to a valve,
which may be a slide, diaphragm, or other valve, but which I prefer should be a
diaphragm valve as shown in the drawings, controlling the flow of gas, that the rising
or falling of the rod opens or shuts the said valve. Another arm or lever connected
with the said rod is arranged to receive the coin as it is dropped in at the slot in
payment for gas, in such manner that the coin falling on it will, by its weight, depress
the said arm or lever and cause the rod to rise until its upper end rests against the
under side of the upper disc and the pin is thus lifted out of the hole in the lower
disc, at the same time the rising of the rod opens the valve and allows the gas to pass,
by which the meter is set in motion and the table caused to rotate.
When the table has rotated a short distance, the notch in the upper plate has
thereby been brought over the end of the rod which then rises through the notch,
being lifted by the weight of the coin, until the latter slips off the part on which it
rested and falls into a receptacle below.
Being relieved of the weight of the coin the lever and its connections return by
their own weight, which is balanced for the purpose, to their normal position, so that
the upper end of the lever is between the two dises of the table, resting on the lower
one and ready to descend as soon as the hole in the lower disc shall again pass under
the pin.
When a horizontal shaft is employed I provide a slide which may be drawn out
after the manner of a drawer in which is a slot, into which, when the slide is drawn
out the coin is to be dropped. This is so arranged that when the slide is being pushed
back the coin comes in contact with an arm of a lever or tail piece and the force
employed in pushing the drawer home presses the coin against the arm thereby
moving it and the connected parts and thus opens the valve, the force employed to
close the drawer being thus substituted as the opening and releasing power for the
weight of the coin giving this modification of the apparatus the important advantage
of being thus operated with greater certainty and less liability to failure if any of the
parts do not work quite freely, than when the unassisted weight of the coin alone has
to do the work.
The usual recording-dial and apparatus may remain unaltered according to my
invention except that I prefer to place an additional dial above that usually employed,
the pointer of which makes a complete revolution during the passage of one unit quantity
of gas and thus the actual quantity of gas consumed may be registered independently
of the automatic cash receiving apparatus and can be compared with the amount in
coins actually-passed into the meter.

page_text: The pointer of the above named additional dial being made to revolve synchronously
with the table each revolution thereof will indicate the passage of one unit quantity of
gas, say one shillings worth, and the consumer will thereby always be able to see at a
glance how nearly he has consumed the gas already paid for and the ordinary dial
instead of indicating the number of cubic feet might, if desired, be constructed to
indicate the amount in pounds shillings and pence of the gas consumed.
A change in the price of gas would of course render necessary a readjustment of the
relation between the coin to be inserted and the quantity of gas allowed to pass. This,
if the change were small and consisted of a reduction, might be arranged by allowing
the consumers a discount, or rather a return of a per centage of the money found in the
receptacle; or if the price of gas were raised a surcharge would be made each time the
collector removed the cash from the meter, while if the change in price were considerable
or likely to be permanent a slight alteration in the gearing would effect the required
adjustment.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Fig. 1, is a plan and Fig. 2, a sectional
elevation of the parts additional to an ordinary meter, together with the ordinary
counting and recording wheels forming the apparatus when the shaft is placed
horizontally; Fig. 3, is an outside front elevation of the same. Fig. 4, is a full sized
representation of the horizontal shaft and attachments; Fig. 6, is the plan of a coin
receiving slide; Fig. 7, an elevation of the same with some of the adjacent parts and
showing a coin in the position it assumes immediately the slide is pushed home;
Fig. 8, is a side and an end view of the spindle and arms by which the mechanism is
operated; Fig. 9, is a bracket for supporting the same; Fig. 10, is a front view of the
dise or table; Fig. 11, is a side elevation; and Fig. 12, a front elevation partly in
section, of the counting mechanism of the meter and the parts connecting and gearing
it with the automatic sale apparatus; Figs. 13 and 14, are a plan and front elevation
showing the manner of adapting the same to a wet meter; Fig. 15 is a plan and
Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional elevations taken on the lines 1, 1, and 2, 2, respectively
of the arrangement when the shaft is placed vertically.
Fig. 15, is a plan and Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional elevations taken on the line 1, 1
and 2, 2, respectively, of the arrangement I adopt when I place the shaft vertically, and
which differs from that hereafter described and shown more particularly in Figs. 1
and 2, principally in the circumstance that whereas in the modification hereafter
described the automatic mechanism is operated by the force employed to push the coin
in, in this arrangement the weight only of the coin operates the mechanism and the
shaft carrying the table is therefore more conveniently placed in a vertical than in a
horizontal position but on account of its greater simplicity the said hereafter
described arrangement is less likely to get out of working order.
In Figs. 15, 16, 17, A is a horizontal shaft or spindle carrying the pointer e of the
upper dial, the wheel d and the bevil wheel x. The counting wheels of the
meter are connected to and driven by the ordinary moving parts in the usual manner,
these give motion to the wheel the spindle g, and the wheel by which it is
transmitted to the wheel d, and the shaft A put in motion, thereby, by means of the
bevil wheels, a driving the vertical shaft A' and the table B, B', each revolution of
which is made to correspond with the passage of one unit quantity of gas, say for
example 300 feet-say one shilling's worth; B, is the lower disc and B' the upper disc
of the table. b is a hole in the lower disc and is shown in Fig. 15, in order that its
position may be defined although it is in fact not seen in this view, being covered by
the upper disc B'; c' is a notch in the upper disc of sufficient size to allow the end of
the rod a to pass freely through as presently described, a is a rod or spindle the lower
end of which is connected to, and operates the valve C, and at the top of which is a short
horizontal arm which carries a short vertical pin p¹ the function of which is to support
the rod a and thereby keep the valve C open until the revolution of the table brings
the hole 6 under the pin, when the latter enters the hole and descends the length of the
pin, letting the rod a down and closing the valve until the rod a is again raised by
the insertion of a coin. E is a spindle passing through a stuffing box F, carrying at
one end the lever v, one end of which receives the coins as they are dropped into the

page_text: meter, and the other end of which is fitted with a counterpoise u, so adjusted that the
woight of the proper coin when inserted will depress the lever, first so as to lift the pin
out of the hole b, and later on, when the notch c¹ passes over the end of the rod a
will depress the lever v still further, whereby the coin passes between the end of the
said lever and the meter case and thus drops into the drawer K beneath. The
spindle E has a short arm w, terminating in a fork, which embraces and is pinned
to the rod a, and by means of which the latter is lifted on the insertion of a coin; G is
the inlet pipe which is closed at about the level of the valve C by a diaphragm r, in the
same manner as is shown in Fig. 3, 83(indicated in Fig. 15 partly by dotted lines and in
Fig. 16 in section) is the duct through which the gas is led from the inlet pipe G
to the valve C, from whence it passes by a similar ducts back to the pipe G but
below the diaphragm r, and thus to the meter proper in the usual manner.
Thus when a proper coin is dropped into the slot intended for its reception it
falls on to and rests on the arm which it depresses, raising the rod a by the
forked arm w and lifting the pin p' out of the hole in the disc, and at the same
time opening the valve Cadmitting the gas. As the gas passes, the meter revolves,
the notch c in the upper disc arrives over the end of the rod a which immediately
rises through it, allowing the end of the lever von which the coin is resting to sink and allow
the coin to pass and fall into the drawer K. The various parts then being relieved of
the weight of the coin return to their previous position, except that the hole in the
disc being no longer under the pin the latter rests on the surface of the lower
disc until one complete revolution has been made when the pin passes into the hole b
allowing the rod a to fall and close the valve C and thus cut off the supply of gas
until a fresh coin is dropped in.
If however a coin is dropped in before the table has completed its revolution the
lever is lifted so as to press lightly against the upper disc instead of the lower one, and
when the revolution is completed the hole passes under the pin without the latter
descending, and as the table continues to turn, the notch c¹ in the upper disc comes
over the end of the rod a, which thereupon rises and allows the coin to pass down as
before. It will thus be seen that a coin may be placed in the slot at any time after
the previous one has passed the moving parts.
In Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 14 I have shown a modification of the mechanism in which
I construct the apparatus when carrying out my invention, and the differences due to
a change of position of the operating shaft will be apparent on comparing the last
named Figures with Figs. 15, 16, and 17 which exhibit a form of the apparatus where
the principal operating shaft is vertical instead of being horizontal and where the coin
operates directly by its weight.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 14, A is a horizontal shaft or spindle carrying
the pointer e of the upper dial. the wheel d, the table B and terminating in a stem
(shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4) on which a tubular spindle a connected with the
valve C is made to slide. The counting wheels of the meter are connected to and
driven by the ordinary moving parts in the usual manner, these give motion to the
wheel of the spindle g, see Figs. 11 and 12 and the wheel by which it is transmitted
to the wheel d and the shaft A put in motion, each revolution of which is made to
correspond with the passage of one unit quantity of gas, say for example 300 feet, say
one shillings worth. D is a slide which may be drawn out by the knob i for the
purpose of inserting a coin. k is a slot quite through the slide for the reception of the
coin and is a stud which fixes the distance to which the slide can be drawn out and
thus limits the size of the coin that can be inserted. Under the slide D), but separated
from it by a horizontal partition 1, in which is a slot 1', through which the coin passes,
first partly and afterwards entirely, is a drawer K into which the coins drop when they
have passed the apparatus-s and s¹ are two chambers formed in a corner of the
meter case,
one above the other, separated by a horizontal partitions communicating
with the pipe G, that marked s above and that marked s' below the diaphragm r, and
serving to conduct the gas from the pipe G to the valve Cand back again to the
pipe G.
When a coin z is inserted in the slot k, and the slide D pushed home, the coin is
'

page_text: carried against the arm or tail-piece m which it pushes backwards and is itself pressed
downwards by the obliquely cut ending of the slot shewn by a dotted line in Fig. 7,
until it assumes the position shown in the figure where it is returned by the pressure
of the tail-piece m holding it against the end of the slot in the partition until it is
released as bereinafter described.
When the tail-piece m is pushed back by the coin the arm n which moves with it
is brought downwards so as to engage with notch n' thereby preventing the slide being
drawn out as long as the coin remains in the position indicated.
The arms m and n, shewn more fully in Fig. 8, are attached to the spindle E which
passes through a stuffing box F and carries the arms o and p, the latter of which carries
at its end a pin-like projection p'.
The arm o terminates in a fork which holds the tubular spindle a by the collar a¹.
The disc forming the table B has a hole b through it into which the pin p' drops
when the gas which has been paid for is consumed.
The disc may be bevelled towards one side of the hole so that the pin may, at first,
sink gradually and thus by partially closing the valve give notice to the consumer that
the supply is nearly exhausted.
When the hole 6 passes in front of the pin the latter being pressed forward by
the coiled spring 7, passes through, allowing the lever p to advance by the length
of the pin, carrying with it the arm o thereby moving the spindle a longitudinally
and closing the valve C and shutting off the gas.
On an appropriate coin being inserted in the slot k in the slido D, and the slide
pushed hoine, the arms m and n are operated as before described, the pin p' drawn
back out of the hole b, and the corresponding movement of the arm o opening the
valve C and readmitting the gas.
The meter thus started, the passage of the gas as it is consumed causes the rotation
of the disc B, and the inclined surface of the projection or cam c soon comes in contact
with the pin and pushes back the same further than it was carried by the pressure of
the coin in the first instance thereby removing the arm m from contact with the coin 3,
As the disc
which then drops through the slot in the partition into the drawer.
revolves the cam passes from under the pin and the pin advances so as to be in contact
with the surface of the disc, the other arms moving similarly, the arm n is raised out
of the notch n', leaving the slide free to be drawn out, and the arm m in position to be
operated by the next inserted coin.
If now another coin is inserted, the arm p. is thereby moved back just far enough
to lift the pin off the surface of the disc, so that when the hole
passes in front of it
the pin remains held back by the coin, but when the cam c passes the pin it again
pushes it back and releases the coin as before.
The gas enters the meter by the inlet pipe G, which is closed by a diaphragm shown
in Fig. 3 by a dotted line and passes by an opening in the side of the tube into the
chamber s, and thence into and through the valve C, thence through the valve-box C¹
to the chamber s¹ and so into the pipe G, below the diaphragm as indicated by the
arrows and thence into, through and out of the meter proper in the usual manner.
H is the ordinary dial of the meter.
Fig. 13 is a plan, and Fig. 14, a front elevation showing the manner of adapting
the invention to a wet meter. G is the inlet pipe. the diaphragin closing the same,
the chamber leading to the valve; H the dial; D the slide for the insertion of the
coins; K the drawer for the same; C the valve: C¹ the valve-box; F the stuffing-
box, and B the table as in the description of the previous figures.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I am aware of
Brownhill's Specification No. 7012 of 1887 and 1 do not claim anything therein
described and claimed, but what I claim is
1st. Constructing gas-meters for supplying a definite quantity of gas in exchange
for a coin, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and set forth.
2nd. In gas-meters for the automatic supply of gas in exchange for coins the

page_text: arrangement and use of the disc or table B having a hole band projection or cam c,
with the levers m, n, o, p and the valve C, constructed substantially as described and
shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 14.
3rd. In gas meters for the automatic sale of gas the arrangement and use of the
double table B, B¹, with the rod a, the pin p¹, the valve C and the lever v, constructed
substantially as described and shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17.
4th. In meters for the automatic sale of gas the arrangement and use of the slide D
the notch n¹ and the arms m and n substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described.
Dth dore of Santamban 1988
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: on Prepayment by Insertion of a Coin.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD PRICE, of Bushey View, Hampton Wick, in the County of.
Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR SUPPLYING A DEFINITE QUANTITY OF GAS ON
PREPAYMENT BY INSERTION OF A COIN to be as follows:-
"
It has been found that the use of gas among the artizan classes and other small
householders is checked by the present arrangements of quarterly payments for
which their weekly wages and general habits in relation to money matters do not
offer facilities.
The collection of weekly gas bills by the servants of the Gas Companies would
be expensive, and might necessitate the charging a higher rate for such consumers.
Now my invention has for its object the removal of these hindrances to the spread
of the use of gas among our working population, and consists in certain arrangements
in and connected with the meter, by which the consumer will be enabled to purchase
a definite supply of gas on prepayment of a definite sum by dropping a coin of the
proper denomination into the meter.
According to my invention I provide the meter with fittings in addition to those
usually appertaining to a meter, by which, on a coin of a definite denomination being
dropped into a slot provided for the purpose, apparatus connected with the going and
recording mechanism of the meter is operated, or connection made so that the
consumer may obtain a definite supply of gas.
Supposing the price of gas to be three shillings and four pence per thousand cubic
feet, one shilling would purchase 300 cubic feet which would last a small household,
say about a week.
I so arrange the parts that if a second coin is dropped into the slot before the gas
paid for by the previously inserted coin is consumed, the second coin will not operate
the apparatus until the supply of gas already paid for is consumed.
A box, forming part of the meter case receives the coins after they have passed
the sale apparatus, and the key of said box would be kept by the Company's
Collector.
.

page_text: If bad money or improper coins are passed into the box, the Collector would on
going to collect the contents, say once a month, detect any irregularity, and as the
meter would be under the control of the householder the latter would be made
responsible for any such irregularities.
With the counting and indicating mechanism of the meter I connect by suitable
gearing, so that it may be driven at the required relative speed, a vertical shaft, to the
upper part of which is fixed a double circular table consisting essentially of two discs
connected together and fixed concentrically one a little above the other on the said
spindle, so as to leave sufficient space between them for the end of a lever hereafter
described to lie and move a short distance vertically for the purpose of inserting or
withdrawing a pin in or from a hole through the lower of said discs.
The gearing of this vertical shaft with. the counting and indicating mechanism
is so arranged that one revolution of the table corresponds with the passage of one
unit quantity of gas.
The lower plate is pierced near its edge with a small hole, into which, on the
completion of each revolution of the table, a pin projecting vertically downwards
from the before mentioned lever drops, unless prevented as herein after mentioned.
In the upper disc of the table is a notch so placed in relation to the hole in the lower
disc as to be brought by the revolution of the table over the lever very soon after the
hole in the lower disc has passed the pin.
The notch is of such size and shape as to allow the end of the lever to rise through
it to above the level of the upper disc.
The other end of the said lever is by suitable connections so attached to a valve,
which may be a slide, diaphragm, or other valve, controlling the flow of gas, that the
rising or falling of the lever opens or shuts the said valve. Another arm or part
connected with the said lever is arranged to receive the coin as it is dropped in at the
slot in payment for gas, in such manner that the coin falling on it will, by its weight,
depress the said arm or part and cause the lever to rise until its upper end rests
against the under side of the upper disc and the pin is thus lifted out of the hole in
the lower disc, at the same time the rising of the lever opens the valve and
allows the gas to pass, by which the meter is set in motion and the table caused
to rotate.
Where the table has rotated a short distance the notch in the upper plate has
thereby been brought over the end of the lever, and the lever rises through the notch,
being lifted by the weight of the coin, until the latter slips off the part on which it
rested and falls into a receptacle below.
Being relieved of the weight of the coin the lever and its connections return by
their own weight, which is balanced for the purpose, to their normal position, so that
the upper end of the lever is between the two discs of the table, resting lightly on
the lower one, and ready to descend as soon as the hole in the lower disc shall again
pass under the pin.
Thus when a proper coin is dropped into the slot intended for its reception it falls on
to, and rests on, an arm or part which it depresses, raising the lever and lifting the
pin out of the hole in the lower disc thereby setting the apparatus free to move and
at the same time opening the valve admitting the gas, as the gas passes and the meter
revolves the notch in the upper disc arrives over the lever which immediately rises
through it allowing the part on which the coin is resting to sink and pass the coin
into the receptacle, the various parts then return to their previous position except that
the hole in the lower disc being no longer under the pin the latter rests on the
lower disc until one complete revolution has been made when the pin passes into
the hole allowing the lever to fall and close the gas valve and thus cut off the
supply of gas until a fresh coin is dropped in.
If however the coin is dropped in before the table has completed its revolution the lever
is lifted so as to press lightly against the upper disc, instead of the lower one, and when
the revolution is completed the hole passes under the pin without the latter descending
and as the table continues to turn, the notch in the upper disc comes over the lever
which thereupon rises and passes the coin down as before. It will thus be seen that

page_text: a coin may be placed in the slot at any time after the previous one has passed the
moving parts.
The usual recording dial and apparatus may remain unaltered according to my
invention and thus the actual quantity of gas consumed be registered independently
of the automatic cash receiving apparatus and can be compared with the amount in
coins actually passed into the meter, and the dial instead of recording the number of
cubic feet may be constructed to indicate the amount in pounds shillings and pence
of the gas consumed, one hand on the dial being made to revolve synchronously with
the table each revolution thereof will indicate the passage of one unit quantity of
gas, say One shillings worth, and the consumer will thereby always be able to see
at a glance how nearly he has consumed the gas already paid for.
A change in the price of gas would of course render necessary a readjustment of
the relation between the coin to be inserted and the quantity of gas allowed to
pass. This, if the change were small and consisted of a reduction, might be arranged
by allowing the consumers a discount or rather a return of a per centage of the money
found in the receptacle, or if the price of gas were raised a surcharge would be made
each time the collector removed the cash from the meter, while if the change in price
were considerable or likely to be permanent a slight alteration in the gearing would
effect the required adjustment.
'
Dated the 10th day of November 1887.
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: on Prepayment by Insertion of a Coin.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD PRICE, of Bushey View, Hampton Wick, in the County of
Middlesex, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN METERS FOR SUPPLYING A DEFINITE QUANTITY OF GAS ON
PREPAYMENT BY INSERTION OF A COIN " and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference
being had to the accompanying sheets of drawings forming part of this my Specification
and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
It has been found that the use of gas among the artizan classes and other small
householders is checked by the present arrangements of quarterly payments for which
their weekly wages and general habits in relation to money matters do not offer
facilities.
The collection of weekly gas bills by the servants of the Gas Companies would be
expensive and might necessitate the charging a higher rate for such consumers.
Now my invention has for its object the removal of these hindrances to the spread
of the use of gas among our working population and consists in certain arrangements
in and connected with the meter, by which the consumer will be enabled to purchase a
definite supply of gas on prepayment of a definite sum by dropping a coin of the proper
denomination into the meter.
According to my invention I provide the meter with fittings in addition to those
usually appertaining to a meter, by which, on a coin of a definite denomination being
dropped into a slot provided for the purpose, apparatus connected with the going and
recording mechanism of the meter is operated, so that the consumer may obtain a
definite supply of gas.
Supposing the price of gas to be 3s. 4d. per 1000 cubic feet, one shilling would
purchase 300 cubic feet which would last a small household say about a week.
I so arrange the parts that if a second coin is dropped into the slot before the gas
paid for by the previously inserted coin is consumed, the second coin will not operate
the apparatus until the supply of gas already paid for is consumed.
A receptacle, preferably a drawer, forming part of the meter case receives the coins
after they have passed the sale apparatus, and the key of the said drawer would be
kept by the Company's collector."
If bad money or improper coins are passed into the drawer the collector would on
going to collect the contents, say once a month, detect any irregularity, and as the
meter would be under the control of the householder, the latter would be made
responsible for any such irregularities.
With the counting and indicating-mechanism of the meter I connect by suitable
gearing, so that it may be driven at the required relative speed, a vertical shaft, to

page_text: the upper part of which is fixed a double circular table consisting essentially of two
discs connected together and fixed concentrically one a little above the other on the
said spindle so as to leave sufficient space between them for the end of a rod, here-
after described, to lie and move a short distance vertically for the purpose of inserting
or withdrawing a pin in or from a hole through the lower of the said discs.
By a modification of my invention the disposition of the mechanism may be varied
and a horizontal shaft may be substituted for the vertical shaft the same disc with a
hole being employed but the function of the second disc is supplied by a cam forming.
part of the said disc.
The gearing of this shaft with the counting and indicating mechanism is so arranged
that one revolution of the table corresponds with the passage of one unit quantity
of gas.
The lower disc in the modification with the vertical shaft is pierced near it's edge
with a small hole, into which, on the completion of each revolution of the table, a pin,
projecting vertically downwards from the before mentioned rod drops, unless prevented
as hereinafter mentioned.
In the upper disc of the table is a notch so placed in relation to the hole in the
lower disc as to be brought, by the revolution of the table, over the rod very soon
after the bole in the lower disc has passed the pin.
The notch is of such size and shape as to allow the end of the rod to rise thro' it
to above the level of the upper disc.
The other end of the said rod is by suitable connections so attached to a valve,
which may be a slide, diaphragm, or other valve, but which I prefer should be a
diaphragm valve as shown in the drawings, controlling the flow of gas, that the rising
or falling of the rod opens or shuts the said valve. Another arm or lever connected
with the said rod is arranged to receive the coin as it is dropped in at the slot in
payment for gas, in such manner that the coin falling on it will, by its weight, depress
the said arm or lever and cause the rod to rise until its upper end rests against the
under side of the upper disc and the pin is thus lifted out of the hole in the lower
disc, at the same time the rising of the rod opens the valve and allows the gas to pass,
by which the meter is set in motion and the table caused to rotate.
When the table has rotated a short distance, the notch in the upper plate has
thereby been brought over the end of the rod which then rises through the notch,
being lifted by the weight of the coin, until the latter slips off the part on which it
rested and falls into a receptacle below.
Being relieved of the weight of the coin the lever and its connections return. by
their own weight, which is balanced for the purpose, to their normal position, so that
the upper end of the lever is between the two discs of the table, resting on the lower
one and ready to descend as soon as the hole in the lower disc shall again pass under
the pin.
When a horizontal shaft is employed. I provide a slide which may be drawn out
after the manner of a drawer in which is a slot, into which, when the slide is drawn
out the coin is to be dropped. This is so arranged that when the slide is being pushed
back the coin comes in contact with an arm of a lever or tail piece and the force
employed in pushing the drawer home presses the coin against the arm thereby
moving it and the connected parts and thus opens the valve, the force employed to
close the drawer being thus substituted as the opening and releasing power for the
weight of the coin giving this modification of the apparatus the important advantage
of being thus operated with greater certainty and less liability to failure if any of the
parts do not work quite freely, than when the unassisted weight of the coin alone has
to do the work.
The usual recording-dial and apparatus may remain unaltered according to my
invention except that I prefer to place an additional dial above that usually employed,
the pointer of which makes a complete revolution during the passage of one unit quantity
of gas and thus the actual quantity of gas consumed may be registered independently
of the automatic cash receiving apparatus and can be compared with the amount in
coins actually passed into the meter.

page_text: The pointer of the above named additional dial being made to revolve synchronously
with the table each revolution thereof will indicate the passage of one unit quantity of
gas, say one shillings worth, and the consumer will thereby always be able to see at a
glance how nearly he has consumed the gas already paid for and the ordinary dial
instead of indicating the number of cubic feet might, if desired, be constructed to
indicate the amount in pounds shillings and pence of the gas consumed.
A change in the price of gas would of course render necessary a readjustment of the
relation between the coin to be inserted and the quantity of gas allowed to pass. This,
if the change were small and consisted of a reduction, might be arranged by allowing
the consumers a discount, or rather a return of a per centage of the money found in the
receptacle; or if the price of gas were raised a surcharge would be made each time the
collector removed the cash from the meter, while if the change in price were considerable
or likely to be permanent a slight alteration in the gearing would effect the required
adjustment.
In the accompanying sheets of drawings, Fig. 1, is a plan and Fig. 2, a sectional
elevation of the parts additional to an ordinary meter, together with the ordinary
counting and recording wheels forming the apparatus when the shaft is placed
horizontally; Fig. 3, is an outside front elevation of the same. Fig. 4, is a full sized
representation of the horizontal shaft and attachments; Fig. 6, is a plan of the coin
receiving slide; Fig. 7, an elevation of the same with some of the adjacent parts and
showing a coin in the position it assumes immediately the slide is pushed home;
Fig. 8, is a side and an end view of the spindle and arins by which the mechanism is
operated Fig. 9, is a bracket for supporting the same; Fig. 10, is a front view of the
disc or table; Fig. 11, is a side elevation; and Fig. 12, a front elevation partly in
section, of the counting mechanism of the meter and the parts connecting and gearing
it with the automatic sale apparatus; Figs. 13 and 14, are a plan and front elevation
showing the manner of adapting the same to a wet meter; Fig. 15 is a plan and
Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional elevations taken on the lines 1, 1, and 2, 2, respectively
of the arrangement when the shaft is placed vertically.
Fig. 15, is a plan and Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional elevations taken on the line 1, 1
and 2, 2, respectively, of the arrangement I adopt when I place the shaft vertically, and
which differs from that hereafter described and shown more particularly in Figs. 1
and 2, principally in the circumstance that whereas in the modification hereafter
described the automatic mechanism is operated by the force employed to push the coin
in, in this arrangement the weight only of the coin operates the mechanism and the
shaft carrying the table is therefore more conveniently placed in a vertical than in a
horizontal position but on account of its greater simplicity the said hereafter
described arrangement is less likely to get out of working order.
In Figs. 15, 16, 17, A is a horizontal shaft or spindle carrying the pointer e of the
upper dial, the wheel d and the bevil wheel x. The counting wheels of the
meter are connected to and driven by the ordinary moving parts in the usual manner,
these give motion to the wheel of the spindle g, and the wheel h by which it is
transmitted to the wheel d, and the shaft A put in motion, thereby, by means of the
bevil wheels x, x¹ driving the vertical shaft Â¹ and the table B, B', each revolution of
which is made to correspond with the passage of one unit quantity of gas, say for
example 300 feet-say one shilling's worth; B, is the lower dise and B¹ the upper disc
of the table. b is a hole in the lower disc and is shown in Fig. 15, in order that its
position may be defined although it is in fact not seen in this view, being covered by
the upper disc B₁; c is a notch in the upper disc of sufficient size to allow the end of
the rod a to pass freely through as presently described, a is a rod or spindle the lower
end of which is connected to, and operates the valve C, and at the top of which is a short
horizontal arm which carries a short vertical pin p¹ the function of which is to support
the rod a and thereby keep the valve C open until the revolution of the table brings
the hole b under the pin, when the latter enters the hole and descends the length of the
pin, letting the rod a down and closing the valve until the rod a is again raised by
the insertion of a coin. E is a spindle passing through a stuffing box F, carrying at
one end the lever v, one end of which receives the coins as they are dropped into the

page_text: meter, and the other end of which is fitted with a counterpoise u, so adjusted that the
weight of the proper coin when inserted will depress the lever, first so as to lift the pin
out of the hole b, and later on, when the notch c¹ passes over the end of the rod a
will depress the lever v still further, whereby the coin passes between the end of the
said lever and the meter case and thus drops into the drawer K beneath. The
spindle E has a short arm w, terminating in a fork, which embraces and is pinned
to the rod a, and by means of which the latter is lifted on the insertion of a coin; G is
the inlet pipe which is closed at about the level of the valve C by a diaphragm r, in the
same manner as is shown in Fig. 3, s³ (indicated in Fig. 15 partly by dotted lines and in
Fig. 16 in section) is the duct through which the gas is led from the inlet pipe G
to the valve C, from whence it passes by a similar ducts back to the pipe G but
below the diaphragm r, and thus to the meter proper in the usual manner.
Thus when a proper coin is dropped into the slot intended for its reception it
falls on to and rests on the arm which it depresses, raising the rod a by the
forked arm w and lifting the pin p' out of the hole in the disc, and at the same
time opening the valve C admitting the gas. As the gas passes, the meter revolves,
the notch c in the upper disc arrives over the end of the rod a which immediately
rises through it, allowing the end of the lever von which the coin is resting to sink and allow
the coin to pass and fall into the drawer K. The various parts then being relieved of
the weight of the coin return to their previous position, except that the hole in the
disc being no longer under the pin the latter rests on the surface of the lower
disc until one complete revolution has been made when the pin passes into the hole b
allowing the rod a to fall and close the valve C and thus cut off the supply of gas
until a fresh coin is dropped in.
If however a coin is dropped in before the table has completed its revolution the
lever is lifted so as to press lightly against the upper disc instead of the lower one, and
when the revolution is completed the hole passes under the pin without the latter
descending, and as the table continues to turn, the notch c¹ in the upper disc comes
over the end of the rod a, which thereupon rises and allows the coin to pass down as
before. It will thus be seen that a coin may be placed in the slot at any time after
the previous one has passed the moving parts.
In Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 14 I have shown a modification of the mechanism in which
I construct the apparatus when carrying out my invention, and the differences due to
a change of position of the operating shaft will be apparent on comparing the last
named Figures with Figs. 15, 16, and 17 which exhibit a form of the apparatus where
the principal operating shaft is vertical instead of being horizontal and where the coin
operates directly by its weight.
Referring now to Figs. to 4 and 6 to 14, A is a horizontal shaft or spindle carrying
the pointer e of the upper dial, the wheel d, the table B and terminating in a stem
(shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 4) on which a tubular spindle a connected with the
valve C is made to slide. The counting wheels of the meter are connected to and
driven by the ordinary moving parts in the usual manner, these give motion to the
wheel of the spindle g, see Figs. 11 and 12 and the wheel h by which it is transmitted
to the wheel d and the shaft A put in motion, each revolution of which is made to
correspond with the passage of one unit quantity of gas, say for example 300 feet, say
one shillings worth. D is a slide which may be drawn out by the knob i for the
purpose of inserting a coin. k is a slot quite through the slide for the reception of the
coin and is a stud which fixes the distance to which the slide can be drawn out and
thus limits the size of the coin that can be inserted. Under the slide D, but separated
from it by a horizontal partition l, in which is a slot 1, through which the coin passes,
first partly and afterwards entirely, is a drawer K into which the coins drop when they
have passed the apparatus-s and s¹ are two chambers formed in a corner of the
meter case, one above the other, separated by a horizontal partition s² communicating
with the pipe G, that marked s above and that marked s' below the diaphragm r, and
serving to conduct the gas from the pipe G to the valve C and back again to the
pipe G.
زا

page_text: When a coin z is inserted in the slot k, and the slide D pushed home, the coin is
carried against the arm or tail-piece m which it pushes backwards and is itself pressed
downwards by the obliquely cut ending of the slot shewn by a dotted line in Fig. 7,
until it assumes the position shown in the figure where it is returned by the pressure
of the tail-piece m holding it against the end of the slot in the partition until it is
released as hereinafter described.
When the tail-piece m is pushed back by the coin the arm n which moves with it
is brought downwards so as to engage with notch n' thereby preventing the slide being
drawn out as long as the coin remains in the position indicated.
The arms m and n, shewn more fully in Fig. 8, are attached to the spindle E which
passes through a stuffing box F and carries the arms o and p, the latter of which carries
at its end a pin-like projection p¹.
The arm o terminates in a fork which holds the tubular spindle a by the collar a¹.
The disc forming the table B has a hole b through it into which the pin p¹ drops
when the gas which has been paid for is consumed.
The disc may be bevelled towards one side of the hole so that the pin may, at first,
sink gradually and thus by partially closing the valve give notice to the consumer that
the supply is nearly exhausted.
When the hole 6 passes in front of the pin the latter being pressed forward by
the coiled spring 9, passes through, allowing the lever p to advance by the length
of the pin, carrying with it the arm o thereby moving the spindle a longitudinally
and closing the valve C and shutting off the gas.
On an appropriate coin being inserted in the slot k in the slide D, and the slide
pushed home, the arms m and n are operated as before described, the pin p¹ drawn
back out of the hole b, and the corresponding movement of the arm o opening the
valve and readmitting the gas.
The meter thus started, the passage of the gas as it is consumed causes the rotation
of the disc B, and the inclined surface of the projection or cam c soon comes in contact
with the pin and pushes back the same further than it was carried by the pressure of
the coin in the first instance thereby removing the arm m from contact with the coin <,
which then drops through the slot in the partition into the drawer. As the disc
revolves the cam passes from under the pin and the pin advances so as to be in contact
with the surface of the disc, the other arms moving similarly, the arm n is raised out
of the notch n', leaving the slide free to be drawn out, and the arm m in position to be
operated by the next inserted coin.
If now another coin is inserted, the arm p, is thereby moved back just far enough
to lift the pin off the surface of the disc, so that when the hole 6 passes in front of it
the pin remains held back by the coin, but when the cam c passes the pin it again
pushes it back and releases the coin as before.
The gas enters the meter by the inlet pipe G, which is closed by a diaphragm shown
in Fig. 3 by a dotted liner, and passes by an opening in the side of the tube into the
chamber and thence into and through the valve C, thence through the valve-box C¹
to the chambers and so into the pipe G, below the diaphragm ras indicated by the
arrows and thence into, through and out of the meter proper in the usual manner.
H is the ordinary dial of the meter.
Fig. 13 is a plan, and Fig. 14, a front elevation showing the manner of adapting
the invention to a wet meter. G is the inlet pipe. r the diaphragm closing the same,
s the chamber leading to the valve; H the dial; D the slide for the insertion of the
coins; K the drawer for the same; C the valve; C¹ the valve-box; F the stuffing-
box, and B the table as in the description of the previous figures.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed I claim
1st. Constructing gas-meters for supplying a definite quantity of gas in exchange
for a coin, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and set forth.
2nd. In gas-meters for the automatic supply of gas in exchange for coins the

page_text: arrangement and use of the disc or table B having a hole b and projection or cam c,
with the levers m, n, o, p and the valve C, constructed substantially as described and
shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 to 14.
3rd. In gas meters for the automatic sale of, gas the arrangement and use of the
double table B, B1, with the rod a, the pin p¹, the valve C and the lever v, constructed
substantially as described and shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17.
4th. In meters for the automatic sale of gas the arrangement and use of the slide D
the notch n' and the arms m and n substantially as and for the purpose herein before
described.
1000
NEWNHAM BROWNE,
Agent for the Applicant.