Improvements in Coin Freed Gas Meters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Aug., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Freed Gas Meters.
1, GEORGE CARTER, Index Maker of 521 Liverpool Road, Islington London
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in coin freed gas meters relates to gas meters.
fitted with coin controlled mechanism, which, on the insertion of one or more
coins of predetermined size and value, such as a penny or pennies, allows the gas
measuring device to act so as to automatically deliver to the purchaser a quantity
of gas equal in value to the coin or coins so inserted, and has for its principal
object to arrange and construct such mechanism or apparatus, capable of being
applied to any ordinary wet or dry meter in such a manner that, on the insertion
of one or more proper coin or coins of the predetermined value, it shall automatically
set the measuring device free to act so as to deliver to the purchaser a quantity
of gas equal in value to the inserted coin or coins, and shall at all times indicate the
amount of gas, if any, to the credit of the purchaser, and which shall also be
capable of being readily adjusted to deliver any quantity of gas per unit coin to suit
any variation in price.
In one arrangement of coin freed gas meter constructed according to this
invention, and more especially applicable to a dry meter, a worm is mounted on the
unit index spindle or arbor and gears with a pinion mounted on the threaded part
of a sliding screwed rod, the said pinion being held in position laterally by suitable
cheeks or their equivalents, so that, as it is rotated it imparts a longitudinal or
axial motion to the said screwed rod.
Connected to and partaking of the longitudinal sliding motion of the before-
mentioned screwed rod is a sliding toothed rack gearing with a corresponding
toothed quadrant mounted on an arbor carrying an index pointer working over an
indicating dial so that, as the screwed rod is slidden longitudinally in either
direction the said index pointer is correspondingly rotated. One end of the sliding
screwed rod is bored out and forms a cleft sleeve in which the end of an inter--
mediate rod or spindle connecting it to a coin rack spindle, hereinafter described, is
inserted, so that the two rods may slide longitudinally relatively to one another, but
must rotate together, and are prevented from rotating in one direction by a suitable
ratchet and click arrangement.
The operating coin is inserted in a slot in a traversing carriage working
between suitable guides and whose base rests and slides upon a base plate of
similar configuration in such manner, that when the corresponding parts in the
said base and base plate coincide, the inserted coin in passing through the
coinciding slots locks the carriage and base-plate together, its motion being
arrested by a saw-toothed coin rack against which it is pressed by a suitable
spring and which allows the carriage and baseplate to be withdrawn, but prevents
their return to their initial positions until they have been withdrawn the full
length of traverse allowed, when the coin, passing the end of the said rack, falls
into a suitable receptacle, and permits the return of the carriage and base plate
to their initial positions for a fresh operation. On the underside of the base
plate is a toothed rack which gears with a pinion mounted on a spindle or arbor
coupled to the beforementioned intermediate spindle by means of a suitable ratchet
or other coupling in such manner, that, when the coin is properly inserted, and
the coin carriage withdrawn by hand, the said coin rack spindle or arbor is rotated,
and with it the intermediate and screwed spindles or rods, but in returning the
coin carriage to its initial position, only the coin rack spindle is rotated. It will
thus be seen that as each successive coin is inserted and the coin carriage operated,

page_text: the screwed spindle is rotated through a definite angle which carries it forward
through a corresponding space and with it the index rack which operates the
index pointer to indicate the quantity of gas to the credit of the purchaser.
The rotation of the unit index spindle or arbor under the action of the measuring
device on the passage of the gas, rotates the beforementioned worm pinion on the
screwed rod and gradually returns it and the index rack and pointer to their initial
positions unless further coins are inserted before the quantity paid for is exhausted.
The said screwed rod is normally prevented from rotating with the said worm
pinion by a counter weighted pawl lever engaging with a ratchet pinion mounted
on the coin rack spindle, the said pawl lever being displaced by the inserted coin,
which disengages the pawl and permits the coin slide to be withdrawn; the discharge
of the coin again permitting the pawl lever to resume its normal position of
engagement with the ratchet pinion. When the supply paid for is exhausted, and
the index pointer indicates zero, a cam or its equivalent is automatically operated
by the screwed rod or other convenient part to project an arm or other equivalent
obstacle into the path of some moving part of the mechanism and thereby effectually
cut off any further supply of gas until a further coin is inserted.
In order to meet the requirements of the varying price of gas a device
is provided comprising a circular disc mounted on or concentric with the coin
rack spindle and having formed in it a curved slot of the involute type in which a
stud for securing the coin rack works, so that, on rotating the said disc, the position
of the rack varies, and the traverse of the coin carriage is thereby regulated, a
projecting arm on the said rack acting as a stop to limit the traverse of the coin
carriage. A graduated drum or limb attached to the said disc serves to indicate
the quantity of gas per unit coin in any position of the said disc.
Dated this 29th day of November 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Freed Gas Meters.
I GEORGE CARTER, Index Maker, of 521 Liverpool Road, Islington, London,
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 for improvements in coin freed gas meters relates to gas meters
fitted with coin controlled mechanism which, on the insertion of one or more coins
of predetermined size and value, such as a penny or pennies, allows the gas
measuring device to act so as to automatically deliver to the purchaser a quantity
of gas equal in value to the coin or coins so inserted, and has for its principal object
to arrange and construct such mechanism or apparatus, capable of being applied to
any ordinary wet or dry meter, in such a manner that ou the insertion of one or
more proper coins of the predetermined value it shall automatically set the
measuring device free to act so as to deliver to the purchaser a quantity of gas
equal in value to the inserted coin or coins and shall at all times indicate the
amount of gas, if any, to the credit of the purchaser, and which shall also be
capable of being readily adjusted to deliver any quantity of gas per unit coin to
suit any variation in price.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation on a plane 2-2 Figure 2 of a coin freed
gas meter constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 represents a sectional plan on a plane 1-1, Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a sectional back clevation of the measuring and indicating
mechanism and
Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation of the same.

page_text: Figure 5 represents a sectional elevation on the plane 7—7 of a ratchet and
detent for preventing back motion of the coin rack spindle.
Figure 6 represents a horizontal section on the plane 3-3, Figure 7, of the coin
and price regulating mechanisms.
Figure 7 is a vertical section of the same on the plane 4-4, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of the same on the plane 5-5, Figure 6, and
Figure 9 is a vertical section of the same on the plane 6-6, Figure 6, looking
from the back side as indicated by the arrowhead.
In the arrangement of coin freed gas meter shown, as applied to a dry meter, a
worm a (Figs. 2-4) is mounted on the unit index spindle or arbor b and gears with
a screw threaded pinion c mounted on the threaded part of a sliding screwed rod d,
the said pinion being held in position laterally by suitable cheeks e so that as it is
rotated it imparts a longitudinal or axial motion to the said screwed rod.
C
Connected to and partaking of the longitudinal sliding motion of the before-
mentioned screwed rod is a sliding toothed rack gearing with a corresponding
toothed quadrant g (Fig. 3) mounted on an arbor h carrying an index pointer i
working over an indicating dial / so that as the screwed rod is slidden longitudinally
in either direction the said index pointer is correspondingly rotated. One end of
the sliding screw rod d has a flange m provided with a slot n in which a crank pin o
connected to an intermediate rod or spindle p engages so as to connect the rod d to
a coin rack sleeve q, hereinafter described, so that the two rods d, p may_slide
longitudinally relatively to one another, but must rotate together, and are
prevented from rotating in one direction by a suitable ratchet and click or
detent s.
The operating coin is inserted in a slot t (Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8) in a traversing
carriage v working between suitable guides and whose base rests and slides upon a
base plate w, of similar configuration, in such manner that when the corresponding
parts in the said base and base plate coincide the inserted coin, in passing through
the coinciding slots t, a, locks the carriage and base plate together, its motion being
arrested by a saw toothed coin rack y against which it presses, and which allows the
carriage and base plate to be withdrawn, but prevents their return to their initial
positions until they have been withdrawn the full length of traverse allowed when
the coin, passing the end of the said rack, falls into a suitable receptacle and
permits the return of the carriage and base plate to their initial positions for a fresh
operation. The return of the coin carriage is also further prevented, until its full
traverse has been accomplished, by a hinged toothed lever z which engages with the
inserted coin on the withdrawal of the coin carriage. The carriage and base plate
are connected together by screws a a (Fig. 2) in the base plate which, when no coin
is inserted, slide freely in the slots ab in the carriage and permit it to be traversed
without operating the base plate w. On the underside of the base plate is a toothed
rack a c which gears with a pinion ad mounted on a sleeve or arbor q coupled to the
before-mentioned intermediate spindle p by means of a ratchet coupling comprising
a ratchet wheel ae mounted on the spindle p and a pawl af pivoted to the disc
plate ag mounted on the sleeve g, the said pawl being pressed into engagement with
the ratchet disc ae by means of a spring ah so that, when the coin is properly
inserted and the coin carriage withdrawn by hand, the said coin rack sleeve is
rotated and with it the intermediate and screwed spindles or rods, but in returning
the coin carriage to its initial position only the coin rack sleeve is rotated.
५.
It will thus be seen that as each successive coin is inserted, and the coin carriage
operated, the screwed spindle d is rotated through a definite angle which carries it
forward axially through a corresponding space and with it the index rack f (Fig. 3)
which operates the index pointer i to indicate the quantity of gas to the credit of
the purchaser.
The rotation of the unit index spindle or arbor b (Fig. 2) under the action of the
measuring device on the passage of the gas rotates the beforementioned worm
pinion on the screwed rod d and gradually returns it and the index rack f and
pointer to their initial positions unless further coins are inserted before the

page_text: quantity paid for is exhausted. The said screwed rod d and worm pinion care
normally prevented from rotating by a counterweighted pawl lever ai (Figs. 1, 6, 7)
engaging with a ratchet pinion al mounted on the spindle p, the said pawl lever
being displaced by the inserted coin which disengages the pawl and permits the
coin slide to be withdrawn, the discharge of the coin again permitting the pawl
lever to resume its normal position of engagement with the ratchet pinion al.
When the supply paid for is exhausted the index pointer indicates zero, and the
screwed rod d is at the extremity of its traverse as shown in the drawings, so that
the projecting end plate a m Fig. 4 is withdrawn from underneath a weighted cam
lever an (Fig. 2) pivoted to the pin ao which permits it to fall forwards into the
path of the rotating arm or tangent ap of the measuring device spindle and
prevent its further rotation, and so cut off any further supply of gas until a further
coin is inserted.
ar and
In order to meet the requirements of the varying price of gas a device is
provided comprising a circular disc aq (Figs. 6-9) mounted in the plate
concentric with the rack sleeve q, and having formed in it a curved slot a s
of the involute type in which a stud at for securing the coin rack y works, so that
on rotating the said disc the position of the rack varies and the traverse of the coin
carriage is thereby regulated, a projecting arm av on the said rack acting as a stop
to limit the traverse of the coin carriage. A graduated drum or limb a w serves to
indicate the quantity of gas per unit coin in any position of the said disc. The
drum is retained in any position by a tooth ax which is held in engagement with a
corresponding tooth in the drum by the spring lever ay which can be operated from
below. The index drum is observed through a glass eyepiece a z.
The coin is inserted through a slot ba placed in the upper plate bb in such a
position that when the coin carriage is pressed home properly, into its initial
position, the slots ba and stand opposite each other. The coin on leaving the
coin carriage falls into a till be which is secured by a swivel lever bd fulcrumed on
the stud 6g and which engages with a hook be and is finally fastened by means of a
padlock through the holes bh in the lugs b f.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with the index spindle of a gas meter having a worm secured
on it, of a longitudinally sliding screw rod d, the toothed wheel gearing into the
said worm and engaging with the said screw rod, a toothed rack sliding with the
said screw rod, a toothed quadrant gearing into the said rack, a stationary index
dial, and a pointer operatively connected with the said quadrant, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with the index spindle of a gas meter, the longitudinally-
sliding screw rod d provided with a stop plate normally preventing its movement in
one direction, and the worm a and toothed pinion c operatively connecting the said
index spindle and screw rod; of means for revolving the screw rod whereby it and
its stop are moved back longitudinally to permit the said index spindle to revolve
and to return the said parts to their normal position substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with the index spindle of a gas meter, the longitudinally-
sliding screw rod d provided with the flange m and a stop plate normally preventing
its movement in one direction, and the worm a and toothed pinion c operatively
connecting the said index spindle and screw rod; of the revoluble actuating rod
provided with a crank pin o engaging the flange m and means for preventing the
rod P from being revolved in more than one direction substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. The combination with the revoluble actuating rod p provided with the crank
pino and the ratchet wheels and ae of the pivoted pawl s engaging with the
ratchet wheel r, the sleeve a journaled on the rod p and provided with the toothed
pinion ad the disc ag and the pawl af pivoted to the disc ag and engaging with

page_text: the ratchet wheel ae; and the sliding base plate w provided with a toothed rack
gearing into the pinion ad substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination with the revoluble sleeve q provided with the toothed
pinion a d, of the sliding base plate w provided with a toothed rack gearing into
the pinion a d, and a coin slot ; and the operating carriage v provided with a coin
slott adapted to be placed over the slot whereby the said carriage and plate are
locked together by a coin inserted in the said slots, when coincident, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination, with the revoluble sleeve provided with the toothed
pinion ad of the sliding base plate w provided with a toothed rack gearing into the
pinion ad and a coin slot ; the operating carriage provided with the coin slott,
the revoluble actuating rod p passing through the sleeve q; the ratchet wheel ae,
the disc ag and the pawl af, operatively connecting the sleeve and rod p; the
ratchet wheel al secured on the rod p, and the counterweighted pawl lever ai
engaging the ratchet wheel al and adapted to be released from it by a coin
inserted in the slots t and x, when coincident, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
q
7. The combination with the sliding base plate w provided with a toothed
actuating rack for the purpose set forth, and a coin slot c; of the operating
carriage provided with a coin slot t; and the saw toothed rack y arranged below
the base plate and adapted to support a coin inserted in the said slots, when
coincident, until the said parts have been moved forward sufficient to carry the coin
beyond the front tooth of the said rack substantially as set forth.
8. The combination, with the sliding base plate w provided with a toothed
actuating rack for the purpose set forth, and a coin slot ; of the operating
carriage provided with the coin slot t, the rack y for supporting the coin when
inserted in the slots and t, and the pivoted rack lever z adapted to engage the
upper edge of the coin and prevent the base plate from being moved backward
until the coin is dropped, substantially as set forth.
9. The combination, with the sliding base plate provided with the coin slot,
and the operating carriage v provided with the coin slot t; of the longitudinally-
adjustable saw-toothed rack y, adapted to support a coin in the said slots, when
coincident, and permitting the said coin to drop and unlock the said parts at any
prearranged point in the forward movement of the base plate, substantially as
set forth.
10. The combination, with the sliding base plate provided with the coin slot x,
and the operating carriage v provided with the coin slot t; of the saw-toothed
rack y adapted to support a coin in the said slots, when coincident; a revoluble
disc
aq provided with a curved slot, and a stud at projecting from the rack y and
engaging the said curved slot, whereby the position of the said rack is adjusted
longitudinally by turning the said disc, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
11. The combination, with the index spindle of a gas meter, the longitudinally-
sliding rod d, and intermediate driving mechanism operatively connecting the said
parts of the end stop plate am limiting the movement of the said rod d in one
direction, and the pivoted cam lever an normally supported by the said stop plate
and permitted to fall into the path of an arm on the spindle of the measuring
device, to prevent its further rotation, when the movement of the rod d is arrested
by the said stop plate, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of August 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.