Improvements in Automatic or Prepayment Vending Apparatus for Meters.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Automatic or Prepayment Vending Apparatus
for Meters.
I, CHARLES PETTER MAYER, residing at 44, Gilbert Avenue, New Haven, in
the State of Connecticut, United States of America, Inventor, 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 relates to automatic or prepayment vending apparatus for
meters more especially gas and electric vending apparatus, and has for its object
to produce a device of this character, which shall be simple and economical in
construction, durable and efficient in accomplishing the result aimed at, the
intention being to produce mechanisin substantially new in principle which
shall avoid the serious defects in construction and operation which are inherent
in the various coin operated or automatic vending machines now upon the
market.
With these ends in view, I have devised the simple and novel automatic vend-
ing apparatus which I will now describe, referring by reference characters to
the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification, in which
Fig 1 is a view showing the application of my novel apparatus to a gas meter,
the dial indicating that the user has paid for five hundred cubic feet of gas.
Fig 2 is a plan view, the top of the meter being removed to show the meter
valve mechanism, the position of the parts corresponding with Fig 1
Fig. 2, a detail view illustrating the mode in which the controlling valve 18
operated
Fig 3, a section on the line, in Fig 2, the coin receiver and controlling
mechanism being in elevation, and the connecting lever being at the normal
position, e, a position in which it is not held in engagement with the notched
disk on the controlling shaft by a coin, the coin receiver being at the receiving
position
Fig 4. a view of the coin receiver casing and the coin holder detached
Fig 5, a similar view, the circular angle plate being removed and the face
plate partly broken away
Fig 6, an enlarged detail sectional view on the line y, y in Fig 4, the cover
01 guard being raised
Fig 7, a section on the line z, z in Fig 9.
Fig 8, a section on the line s, s in Fig 9, the coin having been forced from
the coin receiver.
Fig 9, a view similar to the right hand portion of Fig. 3, but showing some
of the parts in a different position, one side plate of the coin receiver being
removed and the connecting lever held in engagement with the notched disk by
a coin, and acting to connect the controlling shaft with the operating shaft, the
parts being in the position they occupy an instant before the coin 18 forced from
the coin receiver
Fig 10, a section on the line w, w in Fig 9

page_text: Fig 1, a view of the controlling mechanism with the back plate and carrier
removed, and showing also the ordinary train of gearing of a gas meter, the
carrier sprocket wheel being at the starting position, .e, a position in which
the pointer indicates that no gas 18 due the consumer, and the passage of gas
through the meter 18 wholly cut off
Fig. 12, a section on the line, vin Fig 2, the valve and connecting mechanism
appearing in end elevation and Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view on the line,
in Fig. 11.
P. P
A denotes the casing of a gas meter, B the casing which encloses the com
receiver, C the coin receiver as a whole, D the coin holder, E the meter valve
mechanism as a whole, F the ordinary train of gearing of a gas meter and G the
ordinary gas supply pipe
It should be understood that my novel coin operated controlling mechanism
does not call for any special type of gas meter, but may be readily applied to any
of the various types of gas meters now in general use. The casing which encloses
the coin receiver may be igidly secured in any suitable manner to the end of
the meter just in front of the gas supply pipe G as indicated in Fig 2
The coun
holder is simply a receptacle to receive and hold the coins after they drop from
the coin receiver The coin holder may be hinged or otherwise attached to the
underside of casing B and may be retained in the locked position by a suitable
locking device H, in the present instance a hasp, staple and padlock, although
any other form of locking device may be substituted if preferred K denotes
mechanism within the meter casing which as a whole I term the controlling
mechanism, and L denotes a coin, for example a twenty-five cent piece.
1 denotes the controlling shaft which 18 jou nalled at approximately its mid-
length in a hub 2 carried by the rear wall of the casing B of the coin receiver.
This shaft extends within the meter casing A, and carries at its inner end a face
wheel 3, see Figs 2 and 3, which engages the controlling mechanism, as will
be more fully explained, and carries within casing B a ratchet 4, which is engaged
by spring controlled pawls 5, see Figs. 9 and 10, to prevent backward movement
of the controlling shaft In practice, this ratchet 18 made with a large number
of very fine teeth, so as to hold the controlling shaft at all times against the
slightest backward movement. 6 denotes a disk igidly secured to the outer end
of the controlling shaft, e, the end within casing B, which is provided on its
periphery with notches 7, the purpose of which will presently be explained, 8
denotes a barrel having a vertical or approximately vertical slot 12 through it,
and supported by arms 9, which are provided with notches 10 to icceive a cross
piece 11, rigidly secured on the inner peniphery of the casing B, see Figs 7
and 8. The barrel is rigidly secured to the arms and is retained in operative
position by the engagement of the notches with the cross piece, this construction,
however, permitting the arms, barrel and coin receiver to be withdrawn from
the casing when required, as will be more fully explained. 13 denotes the
operating shaft, which is Jounalled in face plate 14. This shaft carries just
within the face plate a plate 15, which 18 adapted to be connected to disk 6,
thereby connecting the operating shaft and the controlling shaft, in a manner
which I shall presently describe Barrel 8 18 provided in its ends with
recesses 16, which receive the ends of the controlling shaft and the operating
shaft It should be understood, however, that the barrel 18 stationary, and that
these shafts are wholly independent of each other except when connected for
the purpose and in the manner which I shall presently describe 17 denotes a
circular angle plate to which the face plate is adjustably secured, and which is
itself detachably secured to the side wall of casing B in any suitable manner, as
by bayonet jointa 18, see Fig 3 and dotted lines in Fig. 1
As it 19 necessary that the face plate and the parts within
be readily removable when required, but at the same time absolutely essential
B should
casing
that they should be so constructed as to render it impossible for them to be
removed, or for any of the mechanism to be tampered with except by the proper

page_text: persons, I provide a T headed lug 19 on the angle plate which engages a recess 20
in the front wall of the coin holder, the body of the lug lying in the recess,
and the T head lying within the coin holder, whereby it is rendered impossible
to remove the angle piece until the coin holder has been opened and likewise
impossible to spring the wall of the coin holder as it is held in place by the
Thead of lug 19
In practice the parts are so constructed that the pin in one part of bayonet
slot 18 will only pass into the other part of the slot when lug 19 is out of align-
ment with recess 20, but when the lug 19 18 engaged in recess 20, the bayonet
joint will be locked and the parts must remain in this position until the coin
holder has been opened, thereby removing lug 19 from recess 20 and permitting
the pin to be moved in the bayonet slot, it being understood, of course, that the
coin holder cannot be opened by the user of the apparatus, but only by a person
representing the owner
When the coin holder is open, the angle plate may be turned, the pin of the
bayonet joint moving in the slot, and the face plate, angle plate, operating
shaft, barrel and com receiver, may all be removed from casing B, the arms
which support the barrel sliding on the cross piece on the inner side of the casing
The face plate 18 secured to the angle piece by means of clips 21 held in place
by screws 22 denotes a scale on the angle piece, which in connection with a
mark or pointer 23 on the face plate, indicates to the purchaser at all times the
number of feet of gas that will be furnished in return for a coin of the denomina-
tion by which the machine is operated In the present instance, let us suppose
that the coin is a quarter of a dollar, and that the amount of gas furnished
therefor 18 five hundred feet Mark or pointer 23 on the face plate is set at the
500 mark on the scale, and the face plate 18 locked to the angle piece in this
position. Should the price of gas be changed at any time so that more or less
gas was given for a quarter of a dollar, the parts would be removed from
casing B in the manner explained above, and after loosening the clip screws,
the face plate might be adjusted in either direction as required, to indicate the
new amount of gas to be furnished for a quarter of a dollar. After adjustment,
the face plate is locked in position by tightening the clip screws again, as will be
more fully explained.
The coin receiver, which as a whole I have designated by C, comprises two
side plates 24, the outer ends of which are rigidly secured to plate 15, leaving a
space between them. In the present instance, I have shown the side plates as
provided with flanges 25 which are riveted to the plate, see Fig 8 26 denotes a
coin slot in plate 15, which registers with space between the side plates, sO
that a coin passed through slot 26 will lie between said side plates 27 denotes
a slot in the face plate with which alot 26 is adapted to register, as will be more
fully explained The other ends of the side plates are held at the required
distance apart by a block 28, see Fig. 9 and are riveted to the ends of a metallio
strap 29, the central portion of which encloses the barrel, see Figs 3 and 9.
30 denotes a lever which I term the connecting lever, and which is pivoted
between the side plates as at 31. The rear or inner end of this lever is adapted
to be placed in engagement with the notches of disk 6 by a com, thereby con-
necting the controlling shaft with the operating shaft 32 denotes a cross pin
near the outer end of lever 30, the ends of which pass through alots 33 in the
side plates and are engaged by springa 34, the other ends of said springs being
rigidly secured to the side plates, in the present instance, to studs 35 The
normal action of springs 34 18 to hold the outer end of the lever inward. see
dotted lines Fig. 3, partially in the path of a com, passed into the coin receiver,
and to hold the inner end of said lever in a tilted or outward position as clearly
shown in Fig 3. that is to say, a position in which said lever is out of engage-
ment with notched disk 6 36 denotes a cover or guard hinged to the face plate,
and adapted, when in the closed position, to cover slot 27
This guard 18 pro-
vided with a rearwardly exterding lug 37, which is adapted to pass into cor-

page_text: responding openings 38 in the face plate and 39 in plate 15, when slots 26 and 27
are in line with each other, but at no other time It will be seen, therefore,
that the action of this lug is to prevent the lifting of the guard except when the
slots are in line with each other, as lug 37 will at other times engage the face
plate and prevent the guard from being raised, and to lock plate 15 to the face
plate while the guard is raised, so that until the guard is closed, the coin receiver
cannot be moved from the receiving position, and in fact, no portion of the
mechanism can be operated at all, thereby rendering any tampering with the
mechanism, for example. the removing of coins practically impossible Operating
shaft 13 is provided with a hand piece 40 for convenience in operation, and also
carries a cross piece or bridge 41, which extends across the face of casing B and
over the edge thereof, said cross piece, or bridge having its bearing on the face
and side of the angle plate, as clearly shown in Fig 3, in connection with Fig 1
The object of this cross piece is to brace and atiengthen the casing, and render
it practically impossible for any one to sping the face plate of the casing, or to
tamper in any way with either the coin receiving or the controlling mechanism.
It will, of course, be understood that the mechanism indicated by K, which I
term as a whole the controlling mechanism and which will presently be described
in full is itself actuated by controlling shaft 1
The operation of connecting the controlling shaft with the operating shaft,
and of manipulating the controlling shaft, is as follows The operator, by means
of hand piece 40, turns the operating shaft until slots 27 and 26 in the face
plate and plate 15 respectively, are in line with each other In practice I pre-
ferably provide a pin or lug 42 on the inner side of the face plate, which
18 engaged by the flange 25 of one of the side plates and serves as a stop for the
coin receiver at the instant slots 27 and 26 are in line with each other. As
already stated, openings 38 and 39 will also be in line with each other, so that
guard 36 may be raised, lug 37 passing into said openings The operator passes
a coin, in the piesent instance a quarter of a dollar, through slots 27 and 26
and into space c in the coin receiver, the coin as it 18 passed into the coin receiver
acting to tilt the forward end of lever 30 and place the inner or rear end of said
lever in engagement with the notches in the periphery of disk 6, thereby con-
necting the controlling shaft with the operating shaft It should be noted that
this lifting of lever 30 16 against the power of springs 34, said springs acting to
hold the edge of the coin against barrel 8 The operator, by means of the hand
piece, may now turn the operating shaft, and with it the controlling shaft, it
being understood, of course, that these two shafts are now connected together
by means of lever 30 the coin receiver and the coin, the coin receiver being rigidly
secured to plate 15, which 18 itself igidly secured to the operating
shaft and the coin acting to retain the connecting lever carried by
the con receiver in engagement with disk 6, carried by the controlling
shaft The position of the parts, before the insertion of the coin, is clearly illus-
trated in Fig 3, and the position of the parts after the coin has been placed in
the coin receiver, and until it is expelled therefrom, 18 clearly shown in Fig 9.
As already stated, buriel 8 is provided with a vertical, or approximately vertical
alot 12 As soon as the coin receiver with the coin therein has reached the
position shown in Fig. 9, that is, a position in which the space c in the coin
recover registers with the slot 12 in the barrel, springs 34 will act to throw
lever 30 from the position shown in full lines in Fig 9, to the position shown
in dotted lines in said fig, and will instantly expel the coin from the coin receiver
and project it through slot 12 in the banel into the coin holder, Fig 8 showing
the position of the parts at the instant the coin is passing through slot 12 The
instant the coin begins to move downward toward the coin receiver, lever 30
will be disengaged from disk 6 on the controlling shaft, and the latter will thereby
become disconnected from the operating shaft, so that any additional movement
of the operating shaft in either direction will have no effect whatever on the
controlling shaft and the controlling mechanism The only way in which the

page_text: controlling shaft can be again actuated is by returning the coin receiver to the
receiving position, e., a position in which slots 26 and 27 are in alignment, and
inserting another coin in the manner already described, it being, as already,
stated, impossible to raise the guard from slot 27 until the coin receiver is in the
receiving position and it being impossible to move the coin receiver from this
position (the parts being locked therein by the engagement of lug 37 with
openings 36 and 39), until the guard is closed down over the slot. It should be
borne in mind that barrel 8 is always stationary and that each time a coin is
placed in the coin receiver and the latter is operated, the movement of the coin.
receiver will be from the starting position to the notion at which space in the
coin receiver registers with alot 12 and permits the coin to be expelled, and
furthermore that each movement of the controlling shaft must correspond exactly
with the movement of the coin receiver. It follows therefore that the adjustment
of the face plate, which determines the backward movement of the coin receiver,
1.e., the movement to the receiving position, is what determines the amount of
gas allowed for each coin For example, suppose that mark 23 upon the face
plate registered with numeral 375 in scale 22, it is obvious that the position of
com slots 27 and 26, and incidentally of lug 42, would have been shifted upward
from the position in Figs 7 and 8 (which correspond with Fig 4) nearer to the
expelling position (shown in Fig 8), thereby lessening the oscillation of the
coin receiver, and consequently the movement of the controlling shaft at each
actuation, and reducing to a proportionate extent the amount of gas allowed for
each coin
I will now describe the mechanism within the meter case, which I have
designated as a whole by K, and have termed the controlling mechanism. This
mechanism connects with and is actuated by face wheel 3 on the controlling shaft,
and opens the valve which determines the amount of gas that can pass from gas
supply pipe G into the meter 43 denotes the usual front or dial plate belonging
to meter train F, 44 the back plate of the meter train, which in this instance 18
elongated, and serves additionally as the front plate of the controlling mechanism,
and 45 is the back plate of the controlling mechanism. Plates 44 and 45 are held
in proper position relative to each other by studs 40, or in any manner suitable
to mechanism of this character, 47 and 48 denote sprocket chains which are
adapted to travel on sprocket wheels 49, mounted on studs 46 These chains
are in practice so constructed that the openings therein will just receive the teeth
of the sprocket wheels so that there will be no lost motion between sprocket
wheels and chains 50 denotes rollers between plates 44 and 45, which support
the sprocket chains and prevent sagging. 51 denotes a gear wheel journalled
on a stud 46, which meshes with face wheel 3 on the controlling shaft, and 52
denotes a similar gear wheel which meshes with gear wheel 51 and also with a
gear wheel 53, which is rigidly secured to one of the sprocket wheels carrying
sprocket chain 47
In
the present instance, I have shown the carrier as adapted to reciprocate in a
slot 55 in said plate 56 denotes a sprocket wheel mounted on a stud 57, extend-
ing inward from the carrier This sprocket wheel lies between sprocket chains 47
and 48 and engages both chains, as is clearly shown in Figs 11 and 13. 58
denotes a stud extending outward from the carrier, to which the controlling
lever 59 1s pivoted, see Fig. 2
54 is a carrier which is adapted to move upon plate 45
The only element in meter train F which needs to be specially referred to is
shaft 60, which carries the thousand wheel 61 This shaft extends through
plates 43, 44 and 45, and in addition to the thousand wheel, carries one of the
sprocket wheels 49, which carry sprocket chain 48 62 denotes a pointer, which
extends upward from the carrier and forward over the meter train, the outer
end thereof extending downward over the front plate 43 of the meter, see Fig 1,
where it indicates at all times the amount of gas to which the consumer is
entitled, as will be more fully explained
In Figs 1 and 12 I have illustrated portions of the meter valve mechanism,

page_text: said mechanism as a whole being indicated by E. Instead of the gas passing
through gas supply pipe G to the meter valve mechanism E in the usual manner,
I.provide a chamber 64 within the meter, which for convenience in description,
1 will term the receiving chamber The gas enters chamber 64 at opening 65
and passes from said chamber at opening 66 In the present instance, I have
shown opening 66 as leading into the supply pipe, from whence the gas passey
into valve chamber 67 of the meter at opening 68 This portion of the con-
struction is not of the essence of my invention, as, so far as my invention is
concerned, the special mode in which the gas passes from receiving chamber 04
to the valve chamber of the meter, is wholly immaterial The essential feature
being that gas enters the receiving chamber freely from the supply pipe, and
that the passage of gas from the receiving chamber to the meter at opening G
1-controlled by a valve 69 within the receiving chamber, which is itself operated
by controlling lever 59 Valve 69 is shown as adapted to slide in ways 70. 71
denotes the valve rod, one end of which is pivoted to the valve itself and the
othei to a crank 72 in a shaft 73, one end of which is shown as jouinalled in a
block '74, the outer end passing upward through a stuffing box 75, and carrying
at its upper end a sleeve 76, through which controlling lever 59 passes freely
will 'thus be seen that the forward and backward movements of carrier 54 will
cause controlling lever 59 to reciprocate in sleeve 76, and will oscillate said sleeve
and with it shaft 73, to which it is rigidly secured The oscillation of the crank
in shaft 73 reciprocates the valve rod, and thus opens or closes valve 69 as may
be The greater the movement of the carrier as when two or more quarter
dollars are placed in the coin receiver and the controlling mechanism actuated
as described, the farther the valve will be opened, each movement of the valve
toward the open position permitting the passage of an additional five hundred feet
of gas, as will be more fully explained.
It
Having explained above the operation of connecting the controlling shaft with
the operating shaft, and of operating the controlling shaft by means of the operat-
ing shaft, I will now describe the operation of the controlling mechanism which,
as a whole, I have designated by K, and which is operated by the controlling shaft.
As stated above, we will suppose that a quarter of a dollar is the coin by which
the mechanism is operated and that five hundred feet 18 the quantity of gus
furnished for each quarter of a dollar Let us suppose furthermore that before
the controlling shaft was manipulated as described above, sprocket wheel 56
upon the carrier stood at the position shown in Fig 11 and pointer 62 at zeto
on scale 63 on the front plate of the meter. When the operator, after placing a
coin in the coin receiver, thereby tilting the connecting lever and connecting the
controlling shaft with the operating shaft, turns the controlling shaft by means
of hand piece 40, the action upon the controlling mechanism through face
wheel 3 and gear wheels 51, 52 and 53 is as follows
As one of the sprocket wheels 49, which carries chain 47, is rigidly secured to
gear wheel 53, it follows that said sprocket wheel will receive rotary motion, and
will move sprocket chain 47 in the direction of the arrow in Fig 11° As sprocket
chain 48 remains stationary, it follows that sprocket wheel 56 upon the carrier,
see Fig 3 in connection with Fig 11, will be rotated, and will travel from the
position shown in Fig 11 to the position in Figs. 2 and 3, and will move the
carrier a corresponding distance This movement of the carrier places pointer 62
in position to indicate on scale 63 the amount of gas due to the user, in the present
instance five hundred feet as indicated in Fig 1
Having inserted a coin in the com receiver, and manipulated the controlling
mechanism in the manner, described, the user may repeat the operation within
the capacity of the apparatus, and for each quarter of a dollar that he puts in
the coin holder, will be allowed an additional five hundred feet of gas, which
will be indicated by pointer 62 on the scale. With the scale illustrated in Fig 1,
the controlling mechanism may be manipulated four times, which will allow to
the user two thousand feet of gas The capacity of the apparatus, however, and

page_text: the coin by which it is to be operated, are matters wholly within the province
of the manufacturer and will be determined by the requirements of the trade
It should be understood that it is not necessary to wait until all of the gas to
which the user 18 entitled has been consumed before putting in another coin and
again manipulating the apparatus, and furthermore that the ordinary register-
ing mechanism of the meter operates in the usual manner simultaneously with
the operation of my novel vending apparatus, so that the user may ascertain at
any time how fast gas is being consumed, and to how much he is still entitled
For example, suppose that the user has placed four quarter dollars in the coin
holder and has manipulated the controlling mechanism four times, pointer 62 will
now indicate on the dial that the user is entitled to two thousand feet of gas, and
will move backward toward the starting point as the gas is consumed, the ordinary
registering mechanism of the meter operating as usual, and registering the con-
sumption of gas as it takes place As already stated, the only connection be-
tween the meter train and the controlling mechanism is by means of shaft 60,
which carries the thousand wheel, and also cames one of the sprocket wheels
which carries sprocket chain 48 It must of course be understood that the meter
train 18 actuated in the usual manner by the meter valve mechanism which I
have indicated by E, the pointers upon the shafts of the meter train acting in
the usual way to register the number of feet of gas passing through the meter,
as determined by the operation of the meter valve mechanism. It will be obvious,
therefore, that as the gas to which the user is entitled passes through the meter,
the meter valve mechanism and the meter train will register it and by means of
shaft 60 of the thousand wheel, will act upon the controlling mechanism in a
manner which I will now describe
When gas to which the user is entitled 18 being consumed, the operation of
the controlling mechanism is just the reverse of what takes place when the con-
trolling shaft is operated by the hand piece after placing a coin in the coin
receiver In the first instance, sprocket chain 48 remains stationary and sprocket
chain 47 is operated by the controlling mechanism, which moves carrier sprocket
wheel 56 and with it, of course, the carrier and pointer 62 in the direction of
the arrows in Figs. 3 and 11. When gas 18 being consumed, however, just the
reverse takes place Sprocket chain 47 remains stationary, and sprocket chain 48
is moved in the direction of the arrows in Figs. 3 and 11, and the carrier is moved
toward the left as seen in these views, that is to say, from any position to which
it has been moved by manipulation of the controlling mechanism, for example
the position in Fig. 3, toward the position in which the carrier sprocket wheel
is shown in Fig 11, so that when the entire amount of gas to which the user is
entitled has been consumed, not only will the amount have been registered in
the usual manner by the meter valve mechanism in connection with the meter
train, but pointer 62 will have moved back to zero on scale 63. Sprocket
chains 47 and 48 move alternately, never simultaneously, sprocket chain 47 act-
ing to move the carrier and pointer toward the 11ght as seen in Fig 3 when the
controlling mechaniam 18 operated, sprocket chain 48 remaining stationary, and
sprocket chain 48 acting to return the carrier and pointer to the starting position,
while gas 18 passing through the meter, sprocket chain 47 meanwhile remaining
stationary
The supply and cut-off of the gas which 18 sold and delivered to the user upon
each payment of a coin and manipulation of the controlling mechanism 18 effected
by movement of valve 69 in the receiving chamber toward or from its fully opened
position, said valve being partly opened, in the manner described, each time a
coin 18 placed in the coin receiver and the controlling mechanism is operated,
and being moved backward toward the closed position, as gas is consumed, by
the meter valve mechanism through the controlling mechanism
In the present
instance, I have shown the controlling mechanism as connected to the shaft
of the thousand wheel, that 18 to say, the shaft which makes one

page_text: revolution while one thousand feet of
gas 18 passing through the
meter. Valve 69 18 BO adjusted with relation to the meter valve
mechanism that each time the controlling mechanism is operated, the valve
will be opened just the distance which it will move backward (so as to wholly
close opening 66) while the meter valve mechanism and meter train are measur-
ing and registering the passage of the amount of gas furnished for the coin or
coins placed in the coin receiver, in the present instance five hundred feet for
each coin
It makes no difference whether the gas sold and delivered to the
user is consumed slowly or rapidly as the closing of valve 69 is controlled solely
by the meter valve mechanism, so that until the pre-determined amount of gas,
in the present instance five hundred feet, has passed through the meter and been
measured and registered by the meter valve mechanism and meter train, valve 69
will still permit the passage of gas through the receiving chamber into the
valve chamber of the meter The instant, however, that the meter valve
mechanism and meter train have measured and registered the passage of five
hundred feet of gas, valve 69 will have moved backward far enough to wholly close
opening 66, and thus cut off the passage of gas from the receiving chamber into
the valve chamber of the meter The principle is just the same if the controlling
mechanism 18 actuated a second or third time to fuinish a second or third five
hundred feet of gas to the user Valve 69 will in each instance be opened just
far enough so that it will not be closed, until the meter valve mechanism and
the meter train shall have measured and registered the passage of the amount
of gas to which the user is entitled The instant this has taken place, however,
valve 69 will cut off the passage of gas through the receiving chamber into the
valve chamber of the meter, so that no more gas can pass through the meter
until the controlling mechanism shall have been operated to move the carrier
and open valve 69, which can only take place when a coin shall have been placed
in the coin receiver and the controlling shaft placed in connection with the
operating shaft by means of the connecting lever and the coin in the coin receiver.
It is an especially important feature of my invention that there is no lost motion
in connection with the measuring and delivering of gas to the consumer under
any circumstances This is owing to the fact that the pressure of the sprocket
wheels upon the sprocket chains, and vice versa, is always at one point of contact
For example, while the controlling mechanism is being operated by the hand
piece, after a coin has been placed in the coin receiver, and sprocket chain 47
is moving the carrier, sprocket chain 48 remaining stationary, the pressure of
sprocket chain 47 will be upon the left side of the upper teeth of carrier sprocket
wheel 56, as seen in Fig 11, and the right side of the lower teeth of the carrier
sprocket wheel will press against sprocket chain 48 When gas is being con-
sumed the movement is reversed, but the pressure is applied at precisely the same
points Sprocket chain 48 will move and will press against the right side of
the lower teeth of carrier sprocket wheel 56, and the left side of the upper teeth
of said earner sprocket wheel will press against sprocket chain 47 which remains
stationary There is no instant at which there is any letting up or relieving
of the contact of the parts and consequently no lost motion to cause irregularity
in the measuring of gas to the consumer The amount of gas sold and delivered
to the consumer for a coin or coins being a fixed amount for each coin, of which
amount the use 18 informed by mark 23 in connection with scale 22 on the
face plate, the accuracy with which such amount of gas 18 measured being
guaranteed to him by the meter valve mechanism and meter train Another
important feature of my invention is that full provision is made for changes in
the price of gas, which would, of course, require that a greater or less quantity
of gas be allowed to the consumer for each coin placed in the coin receiver,
followed by an actuation of the controlling shaft. For example a statute in one
state requires that the price of gas be reduced five cents per thousand feet each
year for five years This would require an adjustment every year at the time
the change in price took effect, increasing the amount of gas allowed for each

page_text: coin
If
This adjustment could be made at any time without regard to the position
of the controlling and meter valve mechanism. The operator would simply
remove the angle plate, face plate 14 and the parts within casing B, in the
manner described, then loosen clips 21 and turn face plate 14 until mark or
pointer 23 registered with the numeral in scale 22 indicating the number of fect
of gas which the gas company would allow to the consumer for each coin
more gas was to be allowed mark or pointer 23 would be moved downward from
the position shown in Fig. 4, which would, as has been fully explained, increase
the movement of the coin receiver and consequently of the controlling shaft at
each actuation and would open valve 69 to a greater distance so that more gas
could pass through before it was closed again through the operation of the meter
valve mechanism and the meter train If less gas was to be allowed, mark o
pointer 23 would be moved upward from the position shown in Fig 4, which
would proportionately lessen the movement of the coin receive and consequently
of the controlling shaft, so that valve 59 would be opened a less distance and less
gas could pass through before it was closed again through the operation of the
meter valve mechanism and the meter train I have found in practice that
cwing to the accuracy of movement of the parts, and the fact that there is no
lost motion under any cucumstances, I am able, by adjustment of the face plate,
to regulate the amount of gas allowed to the user for each coin within a fraction
of a cubic foot.
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 1s:-
1 In a device of the character described, the combination with a controlling
shaft carrying a notched disk and an operating shaft carrying a coin receiver,
of a single connecting lever cared by the com receiver and adapted to be tilted
by the insertion of a com, one end of said lever being formed to directly engage
the notched disk thereby connecting the shafts
2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a controlling
shaft carrying a notched disk, an operating shaft and a fixed barrel in which
the inner ends of said shafts are journalled and which is provided with a vertical
slot, of a coin receiver carried by the operating shaft and oscillating upon the
barrel, a connecting lever carried by the coin receiver which is tilted by the
insertion of a com and caused to engage the notched disk, and a spring acting
on the connecting lever to normally retain said lever out of engagement with
the notched disk and after a coin has been inserted to expel the coin through the
slot in the barrel when the coin 1eceiver registers with said slot
3 In a device of the character described, the combination with the notched
disk and the coin receiver, of a single connecting lever pivoted in the coin 1eceiver
one end of said lever being extended to directly engage the notched disk and a
spring normally acting to hold the said end of the connecting level out of engage-
iment with the notched disk
4 In a device of the character described, the combination with the notched
disk and the barrel having a slot, of the coin receiver, a single connecting lever
pivoted therein and adapted to have one end placed directly in engagement with
the disk by a coin, and a spring acting to hold the coin pressed against the barrel
and when the con receiver 18 in alignment with the slot to expel the coin through
the slot
5 The stationary or fixed barrel 8 having recesses 16 and slot 12, in com-
bination with a coin receiver movable about said barrel and adapted to discharge
a coin through said slot, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified
In a device of the character described, the combination with a case and a
barrel having a slot 12, of arms 9 rigidly secured thereto and means for detachably
securing said arms in the case
7 In a device of the character described, the combination with casing B

page_text: having a cross piece 11 rigidly secured to its inner periphery, of a barrel 8 having
arma rigidly secured thereto, said arms being provided with notches 10 which
receive the cross piece thereby holding the barrel in position and permitting its
convenient removal
8. In a device of the character described, the combination with casing B and
a cucular angle plate 17 detachably secured thereto and provided with a Theaded
lug 19, of coin holder D having a recess 20 adapted to receive the lug with the
head thereof extending each side of the recess 20 and inside the holder D and
means to attaching the coin holder to casing B so that the angle plate cannot
be removed until the coin holder is opened
9. In a device of the character described, the combination with casing Band
the cucular angle plate detachably secured thereto, of the face plate iotatably
adjustable relatively to the angle plate, substantially as shown, for the purpose
set forth
10 In a device of the character described, the combination with the circular
angle plate having a scale 22, of the face plate rotatably adjustable relatively to
the angle plate and provided with a mark adapted to register with the scale,
substantially as described, for the purpose set forth
11 In a device of the character described, the combination with the angle plate
and the face plate detachably secured thereto, of the operating shaft journalled
in the face plate and carrying a bridge 41 which bears on the angle plate
12 In a device of the character described, the combination with the face plate
having a radial coin slot and an operating shaft jounalled in said plate and
can yung a plate 15 having a radial coin slot, of a stationary or fixed barrel having
a coin passage, a coin receive secured to plate 15 and having a space c register-
ing with the coin slot in plate 15, and means for stopping the rotation of the
controlling shaft and the coin receiver when the coin slots are in alignment
13 In a device of the character described the combination with the controlling
shaft and the barrel, of a coin receiver comprising plates 24, secured to the
operating shaft and turning on the barrel, said plates having slots 33, connecting
level 30 pivoted between said plates and having a cross pin engaging the slots,
and a spring hearing upon the cross pin
14 In a device of the character described, the combination with the face plate,
an operating shaft journalled therein and carrying a plate 15, said plates having
adial coin slots, and the central barrel having a vertical slot, of the coin receiver
secured to plate 15 and having a space c registering with the coin slot in said
plate, mechanism for stopping the rotation of the coin receiver when the coin
slots are in alignment and a spring actuated lever acting to expel the com through
the slot in the barrel when the coin receiver is placed in alignment therewith.
15 In a device of the character described, the combination with the caruer
and a sprocket wheel 56 thereon, of two sprocket chains which are engaged by
sand sprocket wheel, the controlling shaft and mechanism intermediate the con-
trolling shaft and one of the sprocket chains whereby said sprocket chain 18
actuated to move the carrier in one direction, the other sprocket chain remaining
stationary
16 In a device of the character described, the combination with the carier
and a sprocket wheel 56 thereon of sprocket chains 47 and 48, both of which
are engaged by sprocket wheel 56, sprocket wheels 49 on which said chains are
mounted, the controlling shaft and mechanisin intermediate the controlling shaft
and one of the sprocket wheels 49 by which sprocket chain 47 is actuated and
the camer is moved in one direction, sprocket chain 48 1emaining stationary
17 In a device of the character described, the combination with the cairier
and a sprocket wheel 56 thereon of two sprocket chains which are engaged by
said sprocket wheel, sprocket wheels 49 on which said chains are mounted, the
controlling shaft having a face wheel and gear wheels intermediate said face
wheel and one of the sprocket wheels 49 so that when the controlling shaft is

page_text: actuated, the carrier will be moved in one direction by one of the sprocket chains,
the other sprocket chain remaining stationary
18 In a gas vending machine, the carrier 54 having sprocket wheel 66 mounted
thereon, and the valve controlling lever 59 pivotally connected with the carrier
substantially as shown, for the purpose set forth
19 In a device of the character described, the combination with sprocket
chains 47 and 48 and the carrier mounted to reciprocate between said chains
and having a sprocket wheel engaging both of said chains, of mechanism for
actuating said chains alternately whereby the carrier 18 moved in opposite
directions
20 In a device of the character described, the combination with sprocket
chains 47 and 48, sprocket wheels 49 on which said chains are mounted, and the
carrier mounted to reciprocate between said chains and having a sprocket wheel 56
engaging both of said chains, of a meter tiain F having a shaft 60 carrying one
of the sprocket wheels 49 whereby one of said chains will be actuated by the
meter train and will move the carrier in one direction
21 In a device of the character described, the combination with sprocket
chains 47 and 48, sprocket wheels 49 on which said chains are mounted and a
carrier having a sprocket wheel 56 engaging both of said chains, of the con-
trolling shaft and mechanism intermediate said controlling shaft and one of the
sprocket wheels 49 by which one of the sprocket chains 18 actuated and the carrier
is moved in one direction, and meter train F having shaft 60 carrying one of
the sprocket wheels 49 on which the other chain is mounted, whereby the other
chain is actuated through the meter train and the carrier is moved in the opposite
duection
22 In a device of the character described, the combination with the carrier
having a sprocket wheel 56, and sprocket chains 47 and 48 engaging both of said
sprocket wheels, of the controlling shaft and mechanism intermediate the con-
trolling shaft and chain 47 whereby said chain 18 actuated to move the carrier
in one direction, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified
23 In a device of the character described, the combination with the carrier
having sprocket wheel 56 and sprocket chains 47 and 48 engaged by said
sprocket wheel, of a meter train F having a shaft 60 and mechanism intermediate
said shaft and sprocket chain 48 whereby said chain is actuated to move the
carmer in one direction.
24. In a device of the character described, the combination with sprocket
chains 47 and 48 and the canier having a sprocket wheel 56 engaging both of
said sprocket chains and having a pointer extending therefrom, of mechanism
for actuating said chains alternately, whereby the carrier may be moved in oppo-
site duections.
25 In a device of the character described, the combination with the receiving
chamber and valve 69 which controls the passage of gas therefrom, of meter valve
mechanism, a meter train, a controlling shaft, carrier 54 having a sprocket
wheel 56, sprocket chains 47 and 48, both of which are engaged by said sprocket
wheel, mechanism intermediate said chains and the controlling shaft and the
meter train respectively for actuating said chains alternately, and mechanism
intermediate the cainer and valve 69 whereby said valve is opened and closed
26 In a device of the character described, the combination with the carrier,
controlling lever 59 and valve 69, of shaft 73 having a crank 72 and carrying at
its upper end a sleeve through which the controlling lever passes freely and a
valve rod 71, the ends of which are pivoted respectively to the valve and to the
crank, movement of the carrier and the controlling lever acting to oscillate the
sleeve, shaft and crank thereby opening or closing the valve
27 In a device of the character described, the combination with meter valve
mechanism, a meter train and valve 69, of the sprocket chains, the carrier having
a sprocket wheel engaging said chains and mechanism intermediate the carrier
and the valve whereby the meter train will move the valve in one direction.

page_text: 28. In a device of the character described, the combination with the controlling
shaft and valve 69, of the sprocket chains, the carrier having a sprocket wheel
engaging said chains, mechanism intermediate the controlling shaft and the chains
whereby one of said chains is operated, and mechanism intermediate the carrier
and the valve whereby the lattei is moved in one direction by movement of the
connolling shaft
29. In a device of the character described, the combination with valve 69
sprocket chains 47 and 48, the cauler having a sprocket wheel engaging both of
sand chains and connecting mechanism intermediate the carrier and the valve,
of a controlling shaft and mechanism intermediate the controlling shaft and
sprocket chain 47 whereby valve 69 is opened, and meter valve mechanism a meter
train and mechanism intermediate the meter train and sprocket chain 48 whereby
the valve is closed
30 In a device of the character described, the combination with valve 69, the
sprocket chains, the carrier having a sprocket wheel engaging both of said chains
and connecting mechanism intermediate the carrier and the valve, of the con-
trolling shaft, mechanism intermediate the controlling shaft and one of the chains
whereby the valve is opened, the operating shaft, a coin receiver carried thereby,
coin operated mechanism for connecting the coin receiver with the controlling
shaft and means for varying the receiving position of the coin receiver so that
the movement of the coin receiver and the controlling shaft may be increased or
decreased thereby increasing or decreasing the movement of the valve in opening,
and determining the amount of gas that can pass said valve
31. In a device of the character described, the combination with valve 69, the
carrier having a sprocket wheel 56, and mechanism intermediate the carrier and
the valve whereby the latter is opened and closed, of sprocket chains 47 and 48
engaged by said sprocket wheel, a controlling shaft acting upon one of said chains
to open the valve, and meter valve mechanism and moter train acting upon the
other chain to close the valve
32 In a device of the character descubed, the combination with valve 69 the
cane having sprocket wheel 56, and mechanism intermediate the carrier and
the valve whereby the latter is opened and closed, of sprocket chains 47 and 48
engaged by said sprocket wheel, a controlling shaft acting upon oue of said chains
to open the valve and means for regulating the movement of the controlling shaft
so that the valve will be opened more or less to permit the passage of a greater
or less quantity of gas
33 In a device of the character described, the combination with valve 69, the
sprocket chains, the carrier and connecting mechanism intermediate the camer
and the valve, of the controlling shaft by which one of the said chains 18 actuated
to open the valve
34 In a device of the character described, the combination with valve 69, the
sprocket chains, the carrier and connecting mechanism intermediate the camer
and the valve, of meter valve mechanism and a meter train whereby one of said
chains is actuated to close the valve
36 In a device of the character described, the combination with valve 69, the
sprocket chains, the carrier and connecting mechanism intermediate the carrier
and the valve, of a controlling shaft whereby one of said chains is actuated to
open said valve and meter valve mechanism and a meter train whereby the other
chain is actuated to close the valve
36 In a device of the character descubed, the combination with valve 69,
the sprocket chains, the caller and connecting mechanism intermediate the carrier
and the valve, of a controlling shaft by which one of said chains is actuated to
open the valve. a coin receiver, com operated means for connecting the coin
receiver and the controlling shaft, and means for registering the movement of the
coin receiver and consequently of the valve
37 In a device of the character described, the combination with the carrier
and the sprocket chains, of the controlling shaft by which one of said chains is

page_text: actuated to move the carrier in one direction, the coin receiver, coin operated
means for connecting the com receiver and the controlling shaft, a face plate
having a com slot and a lug which is engaged by the coin receiver when the
coin receiver and the slot are in alignment, and means for adjusting the face
plate whereby the movement of the coin receiver and the controlling shaft 18
determined.
38 In a device of the character described, the combination with the carrier
and the sprocket chains, of a controlling shaft by which one of said chains is
actuated to move the carrier in one direction, a coin receiver, a connecting lever
which 18 tilted by the insertion of a coin to connect the coin 10ceiver and the
controlling shaft, a fixed bariel about which the con receiver oscillates and which
18 provided with a vertical slot through which the coin 18 expelled when the con
receiver and the slot are in alignment, a face plate having a coin slot and a lug
which is engaged by the coin receiver when the coin receiver and coin slot
are in alignment, and means for adjusting the face plate and thereby regulating
the receiving position of the com receiver and consequently determining the
movement of the coin receiver and the controlling shaft
39 In a device of the character described, the combination with a controlling
shaft, a com receiver and a spring actuated lever which is tilted by the insertion
of a coin, of a barrel having a slot through which the coin is expelled, an adjust-
able face plate having a com slot and a lug which stops the movement of the
com receiver when in alignment with the slot, substantially as shown, for the
purpose set forth
40. In a device of the character described, the combination with casing B, the
circular angle plate and the face plate detachably seemed thereto and provided
with a com slot of the controlling shaft, the coin receiver, the connecting lever
and the barrel, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified
41 In a device of the character described, the combination with casing B,
the angle plate provided with a scale, and the face plate detachably secured to tho
angle plate and having a coin slot and a mark coresponding with the scale, of the
controlling shaft, the coin receiver, the connecting lever, a fixed barrel having a
slot 12 through which coins are discharged from the coin receiver and means for
varying the receiving position of the coin receiver
42. In a device of the character described, the combination with the controlling
shaft, the coin receiver, the connecting lever and the barrel, of the face plate
having a coin slot and mark 23 on its outer side and a lug 42 on its inner side
which is engaged by the coin receiver, the angle plate having a scale with which
the mark is adapted to register, and means for adjustably securing the face plate
to the angle plate so that the position of lug 42 may be changed to increase or
decrease the movement of the coin receiver
Both th
Inn 1000