Improvements in Pre-payment Gas Meters.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 7th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pre-payment Gas Meters.
1, WILLIAM COWAN Buccleuch Street Works Edinburgh Gas Meter Manu-
facturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention which relates to improvements in pre-payment gas meters consists
of improvements in and modifications of as well as of additions to my two previous
inventions for which Letters Patent have been applied for the numbers and dates
of the applications being respectively 11537 of 23rd July 1890 and 3575 of
27th February 1891.
The present invention provides, first, improved means for giving the necessary
friction to the slip driving wheel of the pre-payment wheel & pointer shaft.
Secondly an improved form of pusher whereby the fraud known as "pumping." is
prevented and other advantages are secured. Thirdly an improved compound "stop"
arrangement whereby the saine stop answers the double purpose of bringing the
mechanism of the meter to a stand (and so shutting off the supply of gas) if the
pusher be not returned to its normal position and also when the quantity of gas paid
for has been supplied. Fourthly a new and improved prepayment wheel and pawl
arrangement which enables the teeth of the prepayment wheel mechanism to be
made as coarse as may be found necessary for secure working and so to lessen the
tendency to "miss" which is sometimes experienced when very finely cut teeth are
employed. These improvements are each and all equally applicable to both wet
and dry gas meters. The invention further provides a "stop" arrangement for wet
meters and for employing in connection therewith the double stuffing box-gas-tight
joint described in my application No. 3575 of 27th February 1891.
In carrying out my said invention in regard to my improved menus for giving
the necessary friction to the slip driving wheel of the prepayment wheel and
pointer shaft I proceed as follows. I form the said shaft with a ground tapered
plug or key over which the said driving wheel is placed the boss of the said driving
wheel being provided with a correspondingly tapered hole or barrel and the two
sufficiently bound together by means of a nut or nuts screwed on the said shaft.
Or I may form the ground plug or key on the outside of the said driving wheel's
boss and the tapered hole or barrel on the one end of the said shaft or on the boss
of the pawl actuated wheel or of the grooved valve lever operating wheel. Which-
ever plan be adopted the plug or key and the hole or barrel would be bound
together by means of a nut or nuts as above described thus providing an arrange-
ment which whilst allowing the index to drive the said pre-payment shaft and its
connections at the same time allows or leaves the said shaft free to be revolved
independently without actuating the said index and the plan is applicable to both
wet and dry gas meters.
In carrying out my said invention in connection with my improved form of
pusher whereby the fraud known as "pumping" is prevented and other advantages
are secured I proceed as follows. When applied to the class of meters described in
my application for Letters Patent No. 11537 of 1890 I provide or form the pushing
bar with an eccentric box or track which may be in line with or lie alongside the
said bar. Inside this box or track I mount an eccentric or cam shaped lever keyed
or otherwise secured to a cross shaft carried by guides or brackets and having its
front end projecting through the index case where it is provided with a suitable
knob or handle. And in order to operate the pawl bar in a backward direction
(that is to replace it in its normal position) I connect the said pawl bar to the
pushing bar by means of a chain or a one way actuating slip rod thus dispensing
with the use of springs as heretofore as well as the stationary rack the pawl and
the mercurial tumbler.

page_text: In carrying out my present invention in connection with the class of meters
referred to in my application for Letters Patent No. 3575 of 1891, that is in meters
where the pawl is mounted on the front end of the coin slot piece tubular extension
or rods of same as heretofore so that on the pusher being operated it carries the
coin the coin slot piece and the pawl with it I provide in this invention in lieu
of the pusher formerly described in the previous invention an eccentrically actuated
device preferably by providing alongside the said slot piece an eccentric box or
track capable of working longitudinally in one or more guides. Inside this box
or track mount an eccentric or cam shaped lever which is secured to a cross
shaft carried by guides or brackets and provided with a knob or handle at its
outer end as above. The said eccentric box or track has a projecting stud or
pusher formed on or attached to the side next to the slot piece which is provided
with a longitudinal slot or opening on its side so as to enable the said stud or pusher
to work in and so grip the coin. The coin slot may be formed in line with or at
right angles to the said slot piece as desired. The eccentric box or track may be
in line with the said slot piece if desired in which case the slot piece would be
provided with an end opening in lieu of the longitudinal slot and would have a
pulling back device so as to enable the pusher both to operate through the medium
of the coin and also to return the slot piece to its normal position.
In carrying out my said invention regarding my improved compound stop
arrangement provide the said slot piece with a lower arm or tail piece which is
provided near its lower end with an auxiliary pivotted tail piece or arm both of
which work on a track suitably shaped provided on the top side of a pivotted
lever which has its one end weighted and its other end bent in such a manner as
to engage with the point of the ordinary tangent of the dry meter. The object
of the pivotted tail piece is to force down the weighted end of the pivotted lever
in the event of the weight being inadequate to take the stop out of the position in
which it obstructs the progress of the tangent or other part of the mechanism.
The tail piece yields in one direction that is as it goes inwards with the pusher but
it is rigid on the backward journey when it meets with a rib or wall on the upper
surface of the pivotted lever against which it presses and forces the lever down
and so removes the stop. The said pivotted lever is also provided with a bent
upright rod or bracket which has at its top end a one way yielding arm or projection
which may be jointed on or hinged thereto and against which a stop or projection
on the side or other part of the pawl actuated wheel works and so causes the bent
end of the pivotted lever to fall into the track of the taugent and thereby to shut
off the supply of gas thus forming a compound stop arrangement which answers
the double purpose of bringing the meter's mechanism to a stand if the pusher be
not returned to its normal position and also when the quantity of gas paid for has
been supplied. The tail piece (with its auxiliary pivotted tail piece) which depends
from the slot piece as well as the pivotted lever which it operates are applicable to
both wet and dry gas meters.
In carrying out my present invention as regards the stop for wet meters I form
the pivot of the pivotted lever as a cross-shaft which passes through the back of
the index case where it is provided with a gas-tight joint preferably such a joint
as is described in my application No. 3575 of 1891 with reference to the cross
shaft of the supplementary valves operating lever that is the double stuffing box
arrangement. The said cross shaft or extended pivot is carried through the double
stuffing box which pierces the index plate and being provided with suitable brackets
or guides has attached to it a lever with a bent tail piece or projecting part in lieu
of the bent end of the pivotted lever when the latter is applied to dry gas meters.
The said tail piece or projecting part is caused to pass through a hole or opening
in the upper part of the meter case and so to engage when necessary with a stop
or projection formed on or attached to the periphery of the measuring drum which
it stops in much the same way as the end of the pivotted lever stops the tangent
of the dry meter. The cross shaft the double stuffing box and the lever which

page_text: acts upon the drum are all enclosed or covered in by a gas-tight cover which thus
provides a chamber to contain them over the body of the meter case.
My said invention provides a square or other pusher in connection, with the
turnstile described in my application No. 3575 of 1891, the said pusher being
capable of passing through an opening provided in the turnstile case and the
revolving slot within it for the purpose of enabling a twisted or otherwise unsuitable
coin to be ejected from the turnstile.
In carrying out my said invention of a new and improved prepayment wheel
and pawl arrangement I form the said wheel as a double wheel that is to say I fix
two wheels side by side upon the same spindle and in such a manner that instead
of the teeth of the two wheels being in the same relative position to each other,
the teeth of the one wheel are in a position between the teeth of the other wheel.
1 employ two pawls which operate the wheels and by reason of the said position
of the teeth of the one wheel relatively with the teeth of the other wheel, I ain
enabled to use half of the number of teeth upon cach of the wheels than would be
the case if all the teeth were upon the one wheel and therefore by this arrangement
the teeth of the prepayment wheel mechanism can be formed as coarse as may be
found necessary for secure working and so to lessen the tendency to "miss" which
is sometimes experienced when very finely cut teeth are employed. The pivotted
arm or segment of the price changing arrangement which has the projecting plat-
form on it, is preferably mounted between the two wheels and on the same spindle,
loosely. In a similar manner I may employ three or more wheels and pawls,
arranged side by side, if desired to still further increase, the size or coarseness of the
teeth. In some cases I may employ one pawl only for two or more wheels.
In order to prevent the pusher of the eccentric being operated too violently or
suddenly by the knob or handle, I may provide a brake for this purpose. The
said brake consists in the employment of two geared pinions preferably outside
the eccentric box the one pinion is keyed upon the cross shaft of the knob.or
handle and is geared with another or friction pinion carried upon an independent
shaft; the said pinion has its bearing upon a ground plug formed upon the shaft
and the barrel of the pinion is tightened up upon the said plug by a nut and
washer or their equivalent as required to regulate the amount of brake power.
In order to prevent the possibility of the coin dropping before the pusher has
given the full amount of movement and therefore the proper amount of gas for the
coin, I support the coin during a part of its journey after it gets off its permanent
rest by means of a toe piece or rest permanently fixed and moving along with the
eccentric box, the said toe piece following and supporting, the edge of the coin
underneath until the coin arrives at the proper place for its discharge.
Dated this 15th day of May 1891.
WILLIAM COWAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pre-payment Gas Meters.
I, WILLIAM COWAN, of Buccleuch Street Works, Edinburgh, Gas Meter
Manufacturer, 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 which relates to improvements in prepayment gas meters of the
coin-freed type, consists of improvements in and modifications of as well as of
additions to my previous invention for which Letters Patent have been granted,
and numbered 11537 of 23rd July, 1890, also my previous invention for which
Letters Patent have been applied for and numbered 3575 of 27th February
1891.
The present invention provides First, improved means for giving the necessary
friction to the slip driving wheel of the prepayment wheel and pointer shaft.

page_text: Secondly, an improved form of pusher, whereby the fraud known as "pumping,”
(that is by moving the handle slightly backwards and so gearing and ungearing the
pawl into the prepayment wheel, which by this operation would enable the consumer.
to obtain more gas than the value of the coin) is prevented and other advantages
are secured. Thirdly, an improved compound "stop" arrangement, whereby the
same stop answers the double purpose of bringing the mechanism of the meter to a
stand (and so shutting off the supply of gas,) if the pusher be not returned to its
normal position, and also when the quantity of gas paid for has been supplied.
Fourthly, a new and improved prepayment wheel and pawl arrangement which
enables the teeth of the prepayment wheel mechanism to be made as coarse as may
be found necessary for secure working and so lessen the tendency to "miss" which
might be experienced when very finely cut teeth are employed.
<s
These improvements are each and all applicable to both wet and dry gas meters.
This invention further provides a "stop" arrangement for wet meters, and for
employing in connection therewith the double stuffing box or gas-tight joint
described in my application No. 3575 of 27th February 1891.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood, and easily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the annexed
explanatory sheets of drawings throughout which the same reference figures denote
similar parts.
In carrying out my said invention in regard to my improved means for giving
the necessary friction to the slip driving wheel of the prepayment wheel and
pointer shaft as is shown in section in Figure 1, I form the said shaft with a
ground tapered plug h² or key, over which the said driving wheel J is placed, the
boss of said wheel being provided with a correspondingly tapered hole or barrel,
and the two sufficiently bound together by means of a nut or nuts, screwed on to
the said shaft h'. Or I may form the ground plug or key on the outside of said
driving wheel's boss and the tapered hole or barrel on the one end of the said shaft
or on the boss of the pawl actuated wheel or of the grooved valve lever operating
wheel. Whichever plan be adopted the plug, or key and the hole or barrel would
be bound together by means of a nut or nuts, thus providing an arrangement which
whilst allowing the index to drive the prepayment shaft and its connections,
at the same time allows or leaves the said shaft 'free to be revolved independently
without actuating the said index and which is applicable to both wet and dry gas
meters.
In carrying out my said invention in connection with my improved form of
pusher whereby the fraud known as "pumping" is prevented and other advantages
secured (when the foregoing is applied to the class of meters described in my
Patent No. 11537 of 1890,) I proceed as is shown in part elevations Figures 2
and 3, and part plans, Figures 4 and 5, that is I provide or form the pushing
bar S with an eccentric box or track S which may be in line with or lie alongside
the said bar S¹. Inside this box or track St I mount an eccentric or cam shaped
lever S, which is keyed or otherwise secured to a cross shaft carried by guides
or brackets, and having its front end projecting through the front of the index
case d where it is provided with a suitable knob or handles. And in order to
operate the pawl bar U in a backward direction (that is, to replace it in its normal
position) I connect the said pawl bar U to the pushing bar S₁ by means of a
chain or a one-way actuating slip rod, thus dispensing with the use of
springs as heretofore, as well as of the stationary rack, pawl, and. mercurial
tumbler.
.
In carrying out the foregoing with reference to the class of the meters described
in my application for Letters Patent No. 3575 of 1891 (that is in meters where
the pawl is mounted on the front end of the coin slot piece, tubular extension
or rods of same as heretofore, so that on the pusher being operated it carries the
coin, the coin slot piece and the pawl with it) I proceed as is shown in part
sectional plan Figure 6, part plan, Figure 7, elevation Figure 8, and part sectional
plan Figure 9, that is in lien of employing a pusher I provide an eccentrically

page_text: actuated device which is preferably formed by mounting alongside the said slot
piece R an eccentric box or track S' which works longitudinally in one or more
guides . Inside this box or track S' I mount an eccentric or cam shaped lever S³
which is secured to a cross shafts carried by guides or brackets and provided with
a knob or handle 10 at its outer end as already described. The said eccentric box
or track S has a projecting stud or pusher formed on or attached to the side
next to the slot piece R which is provided with a longitudinal slot or opening on
its side or extension so as to enable the said stud or pusher s to work in and so
grip the coin.
The said eccentric box or track S' inay also if desired be mounted
in line with the slot piece R as shown more particularly in Figure 7, in which case
the slot piece or extension R would be provided with an end opening in lieu of
the longitudinal slot, and would have a pulling back device such as the annular
flanges r, as heretofore, so as to enable the pusher both to operate through
the medium of a coin, and also to return the slot piece R to its normal position. If
desired the coin slot may also be mounted in line with as well as at right angles to
the slot piece R as shown in Figure 7.
In carrying out my said invention regarding my improved compound "stop
arrangement which is shown in elevation Figure 8 and plan Figure 9, I provide
the said slot piece R with a lower arm or tail piece R' which is provided near its
lower end with an auxiliary pivoted arm or tail piece Rs both of which have their
lower ends working on a tracksuitably shaped and provided on the top side of a
pivotted lever R', which has its one end weighted and its other bent in such a
inanner as to engage with the point of the ordinary tangent of the dry meter. The
object of the pivotted tail piece R' is to force down the weighted end of the
pivoted lever R in the event of the weight being inadequate to take the stop end
out of the position in which it obstructs the progress of the tangent or other part
of the meter's mechanism. The said tail piece R³ only yields in one direction, that
is when it is going inwards with the pusher, but it is rigid on the backward journey
when it meets with a rib or wall 8 on the upper surface of the pivoted lever R*,
against which it presses and forces the lever down and so removes the stop. The
said pirotted lever R is also provided with a bent upright rod or bracket which
has mounted at its top end a one-way yielding arm or projection 10 which may be
jointed on or hinged thereto and against which a stop or projection on the side
or other part of the pawl actuated wheel N works, and so causes the bent end 7 of ".
the pivotted lever R to fall into the track of the meter's tangent and thereby shut
off the supply of gas, thus forming a compound "stop" arrangement which answers
the double purpose of bringing the meter's mechanism to a stand if the pusher be
not returned to its normal position and also when the quantity of gas paid for has
been supplied. The foregoing arrangement is equally applicable for both wet and
dry gas meters.
But in carrying out the foregoing in regard to wet meters I form the pivot of
the pivoted lever R as shown in part sectional elevation Figure 10 as a cross
shaft which passes through the back of the index case d where it is provided
with a gas tight joint preferably my double stuffing box arrangement as described
in my application No. 3575 of 1891, and used in connection with the supplementary
valve's lever shaft. The said cross shaft, or extended pivot, has attached to it
a lever which is provided with a bent end tail piece or projection in lieu of
the bent end used when applied to dry meters; the said end is caused to pass
through a hole or opening in the upper part of the meter case, and so to engage
when necessary with a stop or projection formed on or attached to the periphery
of the meter's main measuring drum which it stops in much the same way as the
bent end of the pivoted lever stops the tangent of the dry meter. The part of the
cross shaft, double stuffing box arrangement and lever 13 outside the meter's
case are provided with a gas tight cover which thus encloses them or forms a
chamber for them over the body of the meter's case.
My said invention also provides means for the purpose of enabling twisted or
other, unsuitable coins being ejected from the turnstile as described in my
'

page_text: application No. 3575 of 1891, and consists as shown in Figure 13 of the drawings
of the provision of a square or other pusher Y which may be passed through an
opening in the outer case y' of the turnstile Y and through an opening in the
revolving sloty, as shown, and if desired the pusher may be suspended from the
turnstile by a chain, wire or cord.
'
In carrying out my said invention in regard to my new and improved prepayment
wheel and pawl arrangement as illustrated in Figures 11 and 12 of the drawings,
I form the said wheel as a double wheel that is I fix two wheels, N and N side by
side upon the same spindle.or shaft in such a manner that instead of the teeth of
said wheels being in the same relative position to each other, the teeth of the one
wheel are in a position between the teeth of the other wheel as shown. I also
employ two pawls P1 and P2 which operate said wheels and by reason of the
position of the one wheel's teeth with the other wheel's teeth I am enabled to form
the said teeth much coarser or to use only half the number of teeth upon each of
the wheels than would be the case if all the teeth were on one wheel, and therefore
by so doing the said teeth may be formed as coarse as found necessary for secure
working and so lessen the tendency to "miss" which might be experienced when
very finely cut teeth are employed. The pivoted arm or segment V' of the price
changing arrangement which has the platform on it, is preferably mounted loosely
on. the spindle between the said wheels, or it may be a fixed platform, as
described in ny application No. 3575 of 1891. In a similar manner I may employ
three or more wheels and. pawls arranged side by side if desired to still further
increase the size or coarseness of the teeth. And in some cases I may employ one
pawl only for two or more wheels.
In order to prevent the possibility of the coin dropping before the pusher has
given the full amount of movement and therefore the proper amount of gas for the
coin, I provide as is shown in Figure 9 a toc piece or rest which is permanently
fixed to and so moves with the eccentric box or track the said toe piece or rest 7.17
thus forming a movable rest which travels and supports the edge of the coin
underneath before it leaves the permanent rest and until the coin has arrived at
the proper place for its discharge, which is immediately effected by withdrawing
the pusher and so relaxing the pressure on the coin and at the same time with-
drawing the said toe piece
In order to ensure of the eccentrics S working always in the one direction I
provide them with a suitable ratchet and pawl arrangement as is shown in
Figures 8 and 9 of the drawings.
**
::
As a modification of my compound stop arrangement as applied to a wet
meter and shown in Figure 10 I may employ an arrangement as shown in
Figures 14 and 15 that is I form a water seal in lieu of the double stuffing box in
which case the pivoted lever R' is connected at its one end 18 to a depending
rod whose lower end 20 comes in contact with a projection on the shaft of
the main drum as shown when the pusher and its connections are not in their
normal positions as well as when the quantity of gas paid for has been consumed:
The said depending rod is contained in a water sealed tube and guided at its
lower end by means of a small bracket 23 as shown.
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 I
claim is.
1st. In pre-payment gas meters the improved means for giving the necessary
friction to the slip driving wheel of the prepayment wheel and pointer shaft, all
substantially as herein before described and shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
וי
2nd. In prepayment gas meters the improved pusher consisting of an eccentric
box or track and a cam shaped lever or eccentric and their connecting parts, all
substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and shown in Figures 2
to 9 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3rd. In prepayment gas meters the compound "stop" substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described and shown in the accompanying drawings
Figures 8 to 10 inclusive.
4th. In prepayment gas meters the improved prepayment wheel and pawl.
arrangement, all substantially as herein before described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings Figures 11 and 12 inclusive.
5th. In prepayment wet gas meters the arrangement of the "stop" as described
and shown in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.
6th. In prepayment gas meters the movable toe piece or coin rest, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein before described and shown in Figure 9 of
the accompanying drawings.
7th. In prepayment gas meter the combination with a turnstile Y of a pusher Y¹.
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in Figure 13.
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of December 1901
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.