Improvements in or connected with Coin-freed Gas-meters and other analogous Coin-freed Apparatus.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1395
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Coin-freed Gas-meters and other
analogous Coin-freed Apparatus.
I, CHARLES GRANTLEY BEECHEY, of 24 Chapel Walks, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference, more particularly, to gas meters in which the act
of placing a coin or the like in it-assuming it to be locked-will free or allow the
meter to pass a given quantity of gas, and which, after such a volume of gas has
been passed through it, automatically becomes locked and no more gas can be
passed through it until another coin, or the like, or a number of same, are placed
in the apparatus. The invention has, however, also reference in part, or in
whole, to other meters than gas meters or apparatus where a coin or the like
placed in the apparatus, frees it, and allows it to act or be operated, or sets it in
action.
"
<<
The invention will be described, for convenience, as applied to what are generally
called "coin freed gas-meters or automatic meters," and to that kind of such
meters in which, if more than one coin is placed in it at one time, the coins actually
passing from the mechanism into the till or cash drawer, or receptacle, of the
apparatus, will only be passed as the quantity of gas paid for by each coin passed
through it has been consumed. It is, at the same time, to be stated that the
features of this invention about to be described may be applied in whole, or in part,
to the effecting of equivalent or analogous actions or operations in, or in connection
with, other meters than gas meters, and other apparatus actuated by coins intro-
duced into and freed by such coins, to allow such apparatus to act, in an analogous
manner.
In a gas-meter, then, under this invention, there is employed a tube or conduit
into which the coins, as pennies, are introduced, and by which they are conveyed
to the operating mechanism, and by which, when more than one coin is introduced,
said coins are held or stored; a mechanism below operated by the action of the
meter itself, and adapted to receive and remove from this conduit or tube, the
coins one by one, as the gas, for which they are the payment, is consumed, and
delivered to the till or other receptacle; and a stop or detent and releasing
mechanism.
One feature of this invention consists of an improvement, or improvements in or
connected with the coin receiving and holding conduit. According to this improve-
ment, the conduit is adapted to cause the successive coins which are introduced into
it and held in it one upon another, one after the other, to assume a cross position,
so that the planes in which the different alternate coins lic in the conduit cross or
intersect each other. By causing the coins to take up this position in relation to
each other, all liability to jambing by the edge of one getting behind that of
another, and like difficulties, are obviated. In one construction, the coins are
caused to take up this position, by employing at the mouth or upper part of the
conduit an alternating switch, actuated by the coins themselves, aud so arranged as
to direct the alternate coins, as introduced into the conduit, in one direction or in
another, so that they will take up the positions specified, they being guided and
held in these positions, after the direction or disposition is given them by the

page_text: switch, by suitable guides, as grooves, rails, or the like down which their edges
or sides slide. By this provision, also, coins cannot be taken out when once
introduced.
In some cases also in connection with this conduit, a weighted switch is provided
by which if other than the right size of coin is introduced, all smaller coins will be
thrown out through an aperture in the side, while the right size of coin will press
the switch to one side and pass down the conduit.
The mechanism operated by the meter at the lower end of the conduit, which
receives and moves the coins one by one from it, is so adapted and operated that as
soon as the coin enters it, the coins above, if any, are supported, while the coin in
the device cannot be removed or tampered with from the conduit. This device
receives a reciprocating motion, its action being, that, when a coin falls into it
from the conduit, by a lever or equivalent device, the mechanism is freed, and the
device by means of a spring, in which power is accumulated by the action of the
meter during the delivery of gas paid for by the last coin, gives to the device a
forward motion by which the coin is locked practically within the device, and
cannot be tampered with, while the parts held by detent or freeing mechanism is
freed and moved clear of the detent. By the further movement of this device, the
support which it gives to the coin is removed, and the coin falls away. Then on
the further movement, when the gas paid for by the coin is being consumed, the
device is moved to the position to receive another coin from the conduit.
Regarding the means for giving the initial movement of the coin actuating
mechanism, by the stored power, this, in one case, may consist of an epicyclic gear
introduced on the mechanism at a suitable part, and acting in connection with a
spring, which in some cases is also connected with a valve which controls the flow
of gas through the meter, such spring or spring and valve being actuated by the
shaft of the intermediary wheel of such gear. Another form consists in employing
a spring device connected with one of the wheels of the mechanism which has a
certain amount of free motion, and which is moved by the spring when the detent
device is in gear with the part it holds. In this case also, this device may be
used in connection with a valve controlling the flow of gas through the meter.
This mechanism, however, only comes into action when the conduit has been
empty of coin, and the meter has supplied the gas paid for by the last coin
introduced into it.
The action of the freeing device is that whe a coin is introduced into the
reciprocating device, or falls into it from above, a lever or the like is acted upon
by the coin, and removes the deteut which holds the mechanism actuated by the
meter. This mechanism in one case consists of a catch or pawl working in
connection with a recess or notch in a wheel.
Dated this 14th day of 1905
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
Improvements in or connected with Coin-freed Gas-meters and other
analogous Coin-freed Apparatus.
I, CHARLES GRANTLEY BEECHEY, of 24 Chapel Walks, Liverpool, in the
County of Lancaster, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this iuven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference, more particularly, to gas meters in which the act
of placing a coin or the like in it-assuming it to be locked-will free or allow the
mater to pass a given quantity of gas, and which, after such a volume of gas has

page_text: been passed through it, automatically becomes locked and no more gas can be
passed through it until another coin, or the like, or a number of same, is or are
placed in the apparatus. The invention has, however, also reference in part, or in
whole, to other meters than gas meters or apparatus where a coin or the like
placed in the apparatus, frees it, and allows it to set or be operated, or sets it in
action.
The invention will be described, for convenience, as applied to what are generally
called "coin freed gas-meters" or "automatic meters," and to that kind of such
meters in which, if more than one coin is placed in it at one time, the coins actually
passing from the mechanism into the till or cash drawer, or receptacle, of the
apparatus, will only be passed as the quantity of gas paid for by each coin passed
through it has been consumed. It is, at the same time, t be stated that the
features of this invention, about to be described may be appliel in whole, or in
part, to the effecting of equivalent or analogous actions or operations in, or in
connection with, other meters than gas meters, and other apparatus actuated by
coins introduced into and freed by such coins, to allow such apparatus to act, in an
analogous manner.
In a gas-meter, then, under this invention, there is employed a tube or conduit
into which the coins, as pennies, are introduced, and by which they are conveyed
to the operating mechanism, and by which, when more than one coin is introduced,
said coins are held or stored; a mechanism below operated by the action of the
meter itself, and adapted to receive and remove froin this conduit or tube, the
coins one by one, as the gas, for which they are the payment, is consumed, and
delivered to the till or other receptacle; and a stop or detent and releasing
mechanism.
One feature of this invention consists of an improvement, or improvements in
or connected with the coin receiving and holding conduit. According to this
improvement, the conduit is adapted to cause the successive coins which are
introduced into it, one after the other, to be held in it one upon another in a cross
position, so that the planes in which the different alternate coins lie in the conduit
cross or intersect each other. By causing the coins to take up this position in
relation to each other, all liability of jambing by the edge of one getting behind
that of another, and like difficulties, are obviated. In one construction, the coins
are caused to take up this position, by employing at the mouth or upper part of the
conduit an alternating switch, actuated by the coins themselves, and so arranged
as to direct the alternate coins, as introduced into a conduit, in one direction
or in another, so that they will take up the positions specified, they being
guided and held in these positions, after the direction or disposition is given them
by the switch, by suitable guides, as grooves, rails, or the like down which their
edges or sides slide. By this provision, also, coins cannot be taken easily out when
once introduced.
In some cases also in connection with this conduit, a switch is provided by which
if other than the right size of coin is introduced, all similar coins will be thrown
out through an aperture in the side, while the right size of coin will press the
switch to one side and pass down the conduit.
The mechanism operated by the meter at the lower end of the conduit, which
receives and moves the coins one by one from it, is so adapted and operated that as
soon as the coin enters it, the coins above, if any, are supported, while the coin in
the device cannot be removed or tampered with from the conduit. This device
receives a reciprocating motion, its action being, that, when a coin falls into it
from the conduit, by a lever or equivalent device, the mechanism is freed, and the
device by means of a spring, in which power is accumulated by the action of the
meter during the delivery of gas paid for by the last coin, gives to the device a
forward motion by which the coin is locked practically within the device, and
cannot be tampered with, while the parts held by detent or freeing mechanism is
freed and moved clear of the detent. By the further movement of this device, the
support which it gives to the coin is removed, and the coin falls away. Then

page_text: The action of the freeing device is that when a coin is introduced into the
reciprocating device, or falls into it from above, a lever or the like is acted upon by
the coin, and removes the detent which holds the mechanism actuated by the meter.
This mechanism in one case consists of a catch or pawl working in connection with
a recess or notch in a wheel.
This application of the invention will now be described with the aid of the
accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation shewing the face of the apparatus or mechanism;
Figure 2 is a side elevation in section;
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are cross section at A A, B B, and C C, respectively,
of Figure 2; while
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lower part of the mechanism.
Figures 7 and 8 shew in side and front elevations a modification of the
invention.
Referring to the drawings, a designates generally the tube into which the coins
are introduced, and this tube is provided with a means or mechanism, and is so
constructed and adapted to operate, that the successive coins which are introduced
into it take such a position in relation to each other, that the planes in which
they lie intersect each other, whereby the adjacent coins in the tube cross each
other, and rest one upon the other, and therefore can never jamb or stick, but are
always resting fairly one with their edges one upon the other, and are perfectly free.
The means shewn by which the successive coius are caused to take these relative
positions in the tube a is a switch , that shewn being hinged at just inside the
conduit a at the upper part, whilst the tube itself at this part is provided with two
central webs a', which guide and hold the coins in their vertical diameter; and
the tube itself being of considerable width, the coins are enabled to be moved
about this vertical diameter. A slight spring 62 is connected to the point of the
switch band exerts a pressure which tends to retain it in the position to which it is
moved by the action of each coin inserted. Below this switch a rail a² at either
side of the tube is provided, forming a channel a3 at either side of such rail, and the
groove at one side into which the coin falls will be the opposite one to that which
receives the other edge at the other side. The action is, that when a coin is
introduced into the slot a', at the upper end of a, it passes into the switch portion
of the tube, and in falling down between the ribs a', one edge comes in contact with
the upper half of the switch and the coin is thus turned about its vertical diameter,
and takes a position across the angles of the tube. The weight of the coin in
passing down presses the tail of the switch away from that side of the conduit
across which it stands, and leaving the switch part of the tube in this transverse
position, enters the grooves a³ below at the opposite angle of the tube, and being
thus held, passes in this manner throughout the rest of the apparatus. The switch b
having thus been reversed by the action of this coin, the next coin that is introduced
into the conduit will have its edge pressed to the opposite side thereof, and thereby
the reverse transverse position will be given it to that of the preceding one, and its
edges will therefore pass into the other two of the grooves a³, and, if the former coin
be still in the tube, will rest upon its edge, but in a position or plane intersecting
that of such coin below.
The means by which the coins are removed from the tube a, and discharged
into the coin drawer (not shewn) is operated from a suitable part of the meter
(Z denotes the body of the meter) in the action of passing gas, and it is disposed
at the lower part of the tube a, and consists of a reciprocating double sliding trap,
having an upper door d and a lower door d'. This trap is moved by the connecting
rode to and fro laterally across the tube a, the doors d and d' in the construction
shewn forming upper and lower horizontal plates on a vertically guided plate d²,
the door d being disposed on the plate dat one side, while the door d' is at the
opposite side; so that in operation, when the door d stands across, and forms a

page_text: sliding bottom to the tube a, the door d¹ stands in a position away from the.
lower end of the tube a, and vice versa. Thus, in action, (assuming there be a
number of coins in the tube a one upon another) when the slide bar e moved by
the meter withdraws the trap, so as to bring the door d out of the tube a in the
position shewn in Figure 6, a coin would fall from the tube onto the lower door d',.
but the upper ones would still be carried by this lower penny, and then, as the
meter works on and moves back the trap, the top door d will slide in between the
two coins, and support that or those above, while the lower door d' when this is done,.
would be moved back so far, as to allow the coin in the part of the tube between d
and d', to fall out into the coin receptacle or drawer, and this action will continue-
as long as one coin is in the meter.
The mechanism for operating the trap shewn in Figure 6 and for locking same,.
when the gas for which coins have been introduced has all been consumed, is as
follows: The connecting rod e, by which the trap is moved to and fro, is operated
from the shaft f which ordinarily actuates the counter mechanism of the meter,
and this through the worm 1 thereon, and a worm wheel 1ª (shewn in dotted lines).
gearing with it, and a train of wheels 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, operates a disc h
on the axis of the toothed wheel 8, which disc, through a connecting rod h³, and the
bell crank lever i, oscillates the rod e to and fro at each revolution. This
constitutes the whole mechanism for giving motion to the trap.
The mechanism for stopping the supply of gas, when the amount paid for has
been consumed, consists of a tappet which is actuated to free the meter by the
coins as they pass into the trap portion of the tube a, while the weight of the
parts connected with it (or a spring) move it in the opposite direction when no
coin is in such portion, and effect a locking action between the parts operated by
it, and the disc h; and so stop the mechanism within the meter, and also the valve.
by which the flow of gas through the meter is controlled. The means by which
both these effects are produced consists in connecting the meter gas valve spindle j
to and working it through the tappet j, the arms and k¹, oar l, and arm m, which
is mounted on the same spindle, n, as is the tappet j; and by locking the disc h by a
pin on the bar, which, when the notch at in the disc comes opposite this pin
in the discs rotation, and no coin is in the tube a or trap, falls into said gap by
gravity (or by a spring), and further rotation of the disc is stopped. In this.
latter action, the bar is lifted (its engagement with m being such as to allow of
it being raised and lowered), and the meter valve spindle is thereby pressed in.
and the valve closed. By these means, both the gas supply and the acting
mechanism of the meter are stopped. In some cases, a frictional clutch may be
introduced between the wheel 2, and the shaft f, or at another part, by which,
while the disc would be operated by the meter when free, when locked by the
pin l, the shaft f would not be positively held if an escape of gas past the gas
valve took place.
When the machine is empty the trap will be in the position shewn in Figures 1
and 6, and therefore the coin introduced will fall down the conduit and strike the
tappet or pawl j, the action of which is that it, and the arm m, will be moved
outwards, and therefore the rod will also be moved outwards, and withdraw the
pin, from the disc ; whereupon the mechanism of the meter is unlocked or
freed, and at the same time the rod and arm are free to fall, and by their own
weight, (or by a spring) do fall and so open the valve which controls the passage
of gas; then when a complete revolution is partly made, the coin falls from the
trap, and the tappet and arm m will be moved back by the weight of the rod 7,
or by a spring. During the rotation of the disc h, the end of the pin rests on
its face, and as soon as the gap arrives opposite the pin , the pin drops into
the gap, and the lever m and tappet move into the normal position as in
Figure 2; and the lower end of the bar being free in the hole in the end of the
arin m, the disc h will rotate a certain amount, and lift the bar, and so move the
arm k until it closes the gas valve; when this is done the disc / is held.
The tube a by the slot is adapted to take only coins of a given size, or value, .

page_text: and it is provided with a switch at the upper part by which coins of smaller sizes
are discharged from the tube. One side of the slot a is provided with an opening a
of slightly less width than the slot itself, and the switch consists of rings p carried
in a bar p below. The action of this switch device is, that when the proper size
and value of coin is introduced, the lower edge of it acting upon the rings p
presses them back, and so the coin passes them, and falls down the tube, but when
a smaller coin is introduced, this coin will not be held at its edges, and therefore
the rings p cause it to pass away from the slot in an outward direction, and so
shunt the coin out of the tube through the opening a³. As a means of closing the
tube a when full of coins, the mouth or slot a' is closed by a plate o, which is
inclined, as shewn, and supported on the hinged rocking lever o¹, the opposite
end o² of which is acted upon by the coins in the tube when full up to the lower
edge of the bars a'. If, when the tube is full to this point, a coin be pressed into
the slot at, the plate o cannot be pressed back, as the tail o2 of the device is
stopped from being moved inwards by the presence of the uppermost coin in the
tube. When, however, coins are removed from the tube, then, by pressing a coin
into the slot, the edge acting upon the inclined plate o presses it back and allows
the coin to fall into the tube. By this means no coins will be held or rest in the
switch portion of the tube, which is desirable. To prevent wires or such like
being passed down the tube a to tamper with the meter, the upper end or plate o
and lower part o² of the lever o are carried right across the tube and so bar the
entrance to any such device, and obviate cheating and wrongful use of the meter.
The crosswise positions of the successive coins in the tube is shewn in Figure 5.
The mechanism shewn would of course all be inclosed in a suitable casing
formed on or attached to the meter body, the slot at being open.
With regard to the train of wheels, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. upon the spindle there
are two toothed wheels 3" and 3b, 3b always being in gear with the wheel 4 and of
a fixed size, whilst the wheel 3ª is changeable, and according to the size of the
wheel, the position of the spindle q will change, a slot r in the supporting plate a
being provided to allow of change of position of the axis. The purpose of this
wheel changing arrangement is that as the price of gas per unit varies the amount
of movement of the controlling mechanism which governs the frequency of action
of the trap, which receives and discharges the coins, must be changed. This simple
device effects this end.
Regarding the modification shewn in Figures 7 and 8, the reciprocating coin trap,
in this case consists of a plate d' which is disposed under one side of the tube a
and mounted on a pin pivot d³ to the tube. Its reciprocation is effected by the
disc h, in the same manner as the trap set forth with reference to Figures 1 to 6,
through the connecting rod 2, the lower end of which is connected to the trap
plate d through an arm d. The action of this modification is as follows:-
In the normal or stationary position, the plate d' is horizontal, in which position
it will hold a coin either in the one groove of the tube a, at this side, or in the
other groove. When, however, the disc h (moved as above described by the
passage of gas through the meter) is revolved, the plate d' through the rod h² is
tipped to one side, and when moved to near the extreme position and incline; as for
instance, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6, the coin which has been supported
by the plate or the part of it at that side which has been moved away, will be
removed from under the coin, and so allow it to fall. In the case of there being
another coin above, the edge of which will be in the groove at the other side of
the tube, this coin will fall down and will be caught by the part of the plate d'
which will be directly under the groove at that side of the tube. When, however,
the trap d is moved in the opposite direction, by the other half revolution of the
disc h, the plate d' will be withdrawn from under this coin in the same way as from
under the other coin just described. By this construction, even coins bend very
considerably do not interfere with or render less certain its continuous and correct
action.
As regards the application of this invention to other coin freed or automatic

page_text: apparatu, as meters or measuring apparatus, or other analogous cases where a
plurality of coins can, or may with the assistance of this invention, be placed in
the apparatus one after another, the improvements herein described connected
with the means by which these successive coins are held in the relative positions as
specified, can be used with great advantage; and also the combination with this
improvement of the means of discharging or removing the coins one by one, and
of stopping the flow of fluid after the amount which has been paid for by the coins
introduced, can be used with such other types or kinds of apparatus. And further,
with respect to the particular forms or constructions of means by which the different
modes of operation and of behaviour and manipulation are automatically performed,
these are not restricted, under this invention, to those more particularly set forth
with reference to and shewn in the drawings, as they may be modified or varied as
to form or type, and equivalents thereof used, without departing from the essential
or controlling characteristics of the improvements and the purposes of their use
and application; and what is claimed in respect of this invention, both including
and irrespective of the particular apparatus and mechanism described herein with
reference to and shewn in the drawings, is pointed out, specified, or referred to
in the following claiming clauses :-
1. The herein described improvement in coin-freed or like apparatus, consisting
of a tube or conduit or the like constructed or adapted to hold the successive
coins in a crosswise position therein; for the purposes specified.
2. The herein described improvement in coin-freed or like apparatus, namely,
a tube or conduit into which the coins or the like are introduced, having
means by which the successive coins or the like are caused to take a crosswise
position in relation to each other in said tube or conduit; for the purposes
set forth.
3. In a coin freed or actuated fluid meter or like apparatus in which coins
are introduced into a tube, the improvement consisting of a tube or conduit
down which the coins introduced pass, having a switch at its upper part adapted
to cause the successive coins to take a crosswise position in relation to each
other therein; substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. In a coin freed or actuated fluid meter or like apparatus, a tube or conduit
into which coins are introduced, adapted to hold the successive coins in a crosswise
position in relation to each other; and a moving trap device working in connection
with the lower end of each tube or conduit, and actuated by a part of the said
meter or other apparatus moved by the fluid passing through it; substantially as
set forth.
5. In a coin freed or actuated meter, a tube into which the coins are introduced,
adapted to cause the successive coins to take a transverse position in relation to
each other; a moving trap at the lower part of said conduit by which the coins
are removed from the tube one by one, operating to and fro, and actuated by the
movement of the meter in passing the material for which payment is made by said
coins; and a mechanism actuated by the coins in the conduit, and by a detent
device actuated by said meter, whereby the movement of material through the
meter is stopped; substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In a coin-freed or actuated fluid meter or like apparatus; a tube down which
the coins introduced pass; a trap device at the lower end of same actuated by a
part of the said meter or other apparatus moved by the fluid passing through it,
aud by which said coins are removed from the tube one by one; and mechanism
actuated by the coins in the tube or conduit and by a device introduced between
said trap device and its actuating part, by which the flow of fluid through the
meter or apparatus is not stopped until the complete quantity paid for has been
supplied; substantially as set forth.
7. In a coin freed meter or like apparatus, the combination of vertical coin tube
adapted to receive a plurality of coins, and the switch described by which coins
smaller than those which it is designed to be used in connection with the apparatus
are thrown out of the tube; substantially as described.

page_text: 8. The tube a having a switch b, and grooves or chaunels a³ at either side; as
set forth with reference to the drawings.
9. The trap coin removing devices set forth with reference to and shewn in the
drawings and operating as and for the purposes specified.
10. The coin freed or actuated meter mechanism having parts arranged,
constructed and adapted to operate as set forth with reference to and as shewn in
the drawings.
Dated this 14th day of December 1895.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.