An Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for the Measurement of Electricity.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for the Measurement of
Electricity.
We, JACOB ATHERTON, of Mayfield, Huyton, near Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer, GEORGE KNIGHT, of 29, Middle Street,
Southsea, in the County of Hants, Manufacturer, and GEORGE ELLIS J.P. of
31, Granada Road, Southsea, in the County of Hants, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for supplying electric current
for lighting and other purposes for a given period on payment of a predetermined
coin, and it consists essentially of a reservoir or its equivalent adapted to contain
any suitable fluid or air or gas under pressure or otherwise, the escape of which is
capable of being controlled, of a receiver connected with the reservoir by a tube
or pipe to receive the fluid or gas escaping from the reservoir or its equivalent, of
an apparatus for restoring to the reservoir a definite quantity of the liquid or gas,
of a device for actuating the aforesaid apparatus consisting of an eccentric mounted
on an axle which is adapted to be rotated by a suitable handle or its equivalent,
of one or more taps or valves in the tube or pipe connecting the reservoir with
the receiver for controlling the escape of the liquid or gas, of a solenoid or the
like for controlling the last tap or valve in the tube or pipe connecting the reservoir
with the receiver, of a float or its equivalent in the reservoir adapted to operate a
switch connecting the apparatus with the source of the electricity supply, of a
lever or its equivalent adapted to be actuated by the coin introduced into the
apparatus the said lever being adapted to release the eccentric, or the axle which
carries it, to enable the apparatus to be operated to return the fluid or gas back
into the reservoir, of a switch in connection with the said axle adapted to operate
in such a manner that the current can only pass through the apparatus when the
eccentric actuating the apparatus for restoring the fluid or gas has been rotated
through a complete circle, and lastly of a supply switch placed in the circuit between
the last mentioned switch and the leads in connection with the lamp or other
purpose for which the current is required.
These parts are assembled and arranged together in any convenient manner
according to the specific use to which the apparatus is intended to be put.
To use the apparatus a coin is introduced which acting on the locking lever
releases it and allows the eccentric to be rotated which acting on the charging
apparatus forces the fluid or gas in the receiver back into the reservoir the quantity
of fluid or gas being such as will escape from the said reservoir in a predetermined
time according to the amount which the tap or valve in the outlet pipe is opened.
The fluid or gas having been forced back into the reservoir lifts the float or its
equivalent therein, which switches the current into the apparatus aud keeps the
said switch closed until all the fluid or gas has escaped when it releases it shutting
off the current.
The apparatus is now ready for the supply of electric current, to obtain which
the supply switch is operated to cause the current to pass through the solenoid or
its equivalent which opens the tap or valve in the outlet pipe of the reservoir
according to the amount of current passing through the apparatus. When it is

page_text: desired to shut off the current the supply switch is reversed, and provided that the
fluid or gas has not all escaped from the reservoir the current may be again turned
on by simply operating the switch, and so on until such time as the fluid or gas has
all escaped from the reservoir when by inserting another coiu into the apparatus
it may be forced back into the reservoir enabling the current to be again obtained.
The reservoir may be conveniently made of such a size that it will hold several
charges of the fluid or gas, thus allowing it to be charged at one time with any
given number of charges according to the number of times the charging apparatus
is operated.
As a modification sand, mercury, or any other suitable substance or material
capable of discharging itself through an aperture the size of which can be varied,
may be used instead of a fluid or gas, in which case the apparatus for restoring
the said material to the reservoir will require to be varied to suit the substance or
material used.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
An Improved Coin-freed Apparatus for the Measurement of
Electricity.
We, JACOB ATHERTON, of Mayfield, Huyton, near Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Electrical Engineer, GEORGE KNIGHT, of 29 Middle Street,
Southsea, in the County of Hants, Manufacturer, and GEORGE ELLIS, J.P., of
31 Granada Road, Southsea, in the County of Hants, 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 improvements in coin-freed apparatus for supplying
electric current for lighting and other purposes.
The way in which we carry out our invention is as follows:-
We provide a reservoir which may contain any suitable fluid, or air or gas,
under pressure or otherwise, the escape of which is capable of being controlled,
and in this reservoir is a float which as long as a certain quantity of the fluid
remains in the reservoir operates a switch to make electrical contact, such contact
being automatically broken when the fluid has fallen below a certain level. Below
this reservoir, or in any suitable position, is a flexible or collapsable vessel, which
we will call a receiver, into which the fluid escaping from the reservoir flows by
means of a tube or pipe connecting the said reservoir with the receiver. In
connection with the receiver we arrange apparatus for restoring to the reservoir a
definite quantity of the fluid, such apparatus consisting of an eccentric mounted
on an axle and capable of being rotated by means of a suitable handle. The said
eccentric is normally held locked, by means of a lever engaging either with the
eccentric itself or its axle, and can only be released to enable it to be rotated by
the insertion of a coin. The operation of this eccentric by means of its handle
compresses the receiver and forces the fluid back into the reservoir. In the outlet
or escape pipe connecting the reservoir with the receiver are two taps one of which
is connected to a solenoid, the action of which automatically regulates the rate of
discharge of the fluid from the reservoir according to the amount of current
passing through the apparatus. The second tap is connected to the cut-off switch.

page_text: In order that our invention may be better understood and more reauny carried
into effect we will describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the box or case containing the apparatus comprising
our invention with the front removed, showing the apparatus in its normal condition,
that is to say, the reservoir empty, the float in its lowest position, and the eccentric
locked.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the box or case with the front removed showing our
invention during operation, the eccentric having been released by the insertion of
a coin and the handle operated, thereby forcing the fluid from the "receiver" into
the reservoir and raising the float.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation on line A-B Fig. 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of the contact operating device attached to the
float in the reservoir.
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a plan of the cut-off switch connected to the upper or second tap
(shown dotted on the drawing, Fig. 1.) in the outlet pipe connecting the reservoir
with the receiver.
Figure 7 is an enlarged front view showing the contacts at the end of the
eccentric spindle.
Figure 8 is a side view of Figure 7.
The same numbers refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawings.
1 is the box or case containing the parts comprising our invention, 2 is the
reservoir in which is the float 3, 4 is the inlet pipe of the reservoir through which
the water or other fluid is forced from the flexible vessel or receiver 5, 6 is the
outlet pipe of the reservoir through which the water flows back again into the
receiver, 7 is an upright rod attached to the float 3 and carrying the contact
operating device 8 which is pivoted at 9, 10 10 are the ends of the contact springs
of which 10 is operated by 8 when the float rises. 11 and 12 are guides for the
rod 7, 13 is the tap connected by rods 14 and 15 (rod 15 being adjustable) and
cross bar 16 to the core of the solenoid 19. The cross bar 16 is pivoted at 17,
20 is the second tap in the outlet pipe 6 which is connected by rods 21, 21ª to the
switch handle 22 (which is shown on the drawing dotted, as it is outside the case I
and in Figure 1 the front of the case is removed), which operates the cut-off
switch or contact 23, 23 (Figure 6), by means of the projection 24 acting on the
bevelled block 25 of insulating material on 23. 26 is the eccentric, and 27 a
hinged flap or shutter which compresses the flexible vessel or receiver 5 as herein-
after described. 28 is the ratchet wheel on the spindle 29 of the eccentric and
30 the pawl engaging in the teeth of said wheel, preventing a backward movement
of the eccentric and ensuring that the handle 29" (shown in Figure 3) can be
moved only in one direction. 31 is the lever pivoted at 32, the end of said lever
engaging with a projection 33 on the spindle or axle 29 of the eccentric. 34 is
the end of the said lever which is acted upon by the coin, 35 is the coin shoot
and 36 the slot in the side of the box for the insertion of the coin. 37 is a spring
ensuring the return of the lever 31 to its normal position. 38 (Fignres 2 and 7) is
the contact spring of the switch or contact device on end of spindle 29 connecting
the terminal 39 with the front end 40 of the pin 41 (Fig. 8.) and 42 is the spring
connecting the terminal 43 with the back end 44 of the pin 41. 45 is an insulating
disc keyed to the spindle 29, through which pin 41 projects.
The action of our invention is as follows:-
On the insertion of a coin into the apparatus at 36 it drops down the shoot 35
striking the end 34 of the lever 31 depressing that end and raising the opposite

page_text: end free of the projection 33 on the axle 29 of the eccentric, thus releasing it and
allowing it to be rotated by means of its handle 29. On now revolving the
eccentric by means of its handle 29 (which handle projects outside the case
containing the parts comprising our invention) it presses against the hinged flap
or shutter 27 which compresses the receiver 5 and forces the fluid or gas contained
therein up into the reservoir 2 lifting the float 3 and closing the switch or
contact 10 10 by means of the tilting contact operator 8 coming in contact with
the insulating block 46. This switch or contact is kept closed until all the fluid or
gas has escaped from the reservoir 2 back into the receiver 5, when the float 3,
having fallen to its lowest position (as in Fig. 1.), releases the switch and cuts off
the current.
In the normal condition of the apparatus although the current is laid on to it
from the source of electricity through the wire 59 (Figs. 1 and 2), (60 being the
return wire), yet owing to the float being at the bottom of the reservoir 2 (as in
Figure 1) contact is broken at 10 10 and if it were possible to force the liquid
into the reservoir 2 without revolving the eccentric 26 by means of handle 29 so
that the float 3 were raised to make contact between 10 10, then the current would
be flowing, but inasmuch as to force the liquid from the receiver 5 up into the
reservoir 2 the handle, spindle and eccentric have to be rotated, provision is made
so that as soon as the handle 29ª is moved electrical contact is broken down at the
end of the spindle 29 by the connecting pin 41 (Figures 2, 7 and 8.) through the
revolving of disc 45 to which it is connected, being moved out of contact with
springs 38 and 42, thereby breaking down the circuit there. When the handle 29
and the spindle 29 have been moved one complete revolution the pin 41 is again
interposed between the two springs 38 and 42 (Fig. 8), thus completing the circuit
there, and the float 3 in the reservoir 2 now being forced up by the liquid entering
said reservoir the contact operacor 8 pressing the insulating piece 48 makes contact
between the ends of the springs 10 10.
Assuming that the above describei netion has taken place, that is to say the
coin inserted into the apparatus, the handle 29 and the eccentric 26 revolved
through a complete revolution thereby forcing the liquid from the receiver à up
into reservoir 2, raising the float 3 and making contact between eads of springs 10 10,
the current flows as follows (referring to Figure 2):-
From wire 59 and its connecting terminal along wire 47 to the terminal 45 of
the solenoid 19 through the coils of the solenoid, out at terminal 49, along wire 50
to spring 23 (Figs. 1, 2, & 6), through pin and plate 238 (Fig. 6) along wire 51 to
terminal 39, through spring 38 and pin 41 in disc 45 keyed to spindle 29 of
eccentric 26, through spring 42, terminal 43, wire 52, through block 53 and fixed
spring 10 to the end of spring 10, along spring 10 to biock 54 along strip 55
(Fig. 3) to terminal 56, along wire 57 to terminal 58 and along return wire 60
back to the source of supply. The electric lamp or other apparatus for which
the electricity is required can be connected to or inserted at any part of the
external circuit above describet.
The current now Howing through the apparatus as above described, the core of
the solenoid 19, which projects beyond the lower end of the solenoid is moved
upwards the connecting rod 15 connected to the cross har 16 is thrust downwards,
rod 14 is moved downwards and the tap 13 moved more into the vertical position
allowing the water or other fluid to escape from the reservoir 2 down into the
receiver 5. According to the strength of the current required so the core of
the solenoid will be moved more or less; if moved more the downright rod 15
will be thrust further downwards and the tap 13 moved to increase the aperture in
the pipe allowing the liquid to flow from the reservoir to the receiver quicker.
If the current required is less the tap 13 will be moved so that the aperture is
smaller and the flow of liquid is slower from the reservoir to the receiver. It
consequently follows that the prepayment gives a specified quantity of electricity
and is not gauged by time, unless the quantity of current required from an apparatus
is always the same, then the prepayment gives an average time for current flowing.

page_text: When the water has all flowed from the reservoir 2 to the receiver 5, so that the
float is at the bottom of the reservoir and disconnection has taken place at
springs 10 10, the flow of electricity through the apparatus ceases. In the event
of the full amount of electricity prepaid for not being required to be used on the
occasion on which prepayment has been made, the remaining quantity can be used
at a later necasion by switching off the current and at the same time closing the
tap 20 thereby preventing the further flow of water from the reservoir to the
receiver. The action of this portion of our invention is as follows:-
By moving the handle 22 from the dotted position (Fig. 1) towards the left the-
projecting piece 24 (Fig. 6) operated by the handle 22 is moved to free the-
spring 23 breaking the connection between spring 23 and spring 23, thereby-
breaking down the circuit. This action of moving the handle 22 moves to the
left the connecting rods 21 and 21 and operates the tap 20 to completely close.
the aperture and prevent the flow of the liquid from the reservoir 2 down the
pipe 6 to the receiver 5 at the same time cutting off the current from the lamp or-
other apparatus for which it is required. In this position contact is already at the
points i and 10" and the float 3 is kept in the position at which it is at the time
the handle 22 is moved to the left. When the remaining portion of the current
prepaid for is required to be used the handle 22 is moved to its normal position
(dotted lines Fig. 1) rods 21 and 21 and tap 20 are moved back into their normal
position and the flow of the liquid is allowed to continue down pipe 6 into the
receiver 5 until the float reaches its lowest position in said reservoir and breaks.
contact at 10 10%.
The reservoir may be made of such a size that it will hold several charges of
the fluid or gas, thus allowing it to be charged at one time with any quantity
according to the number of times the charging apparatus is operated.
Although we have described the receiver as being flexible yet it might be in the
form of à cylinder with a piston operating therein to force the fluid back into
the reservoir. Again the two vessels instead of being separate as described and
shown in the drawings might be connected as a gasometer the upper vessel carrying.
the contact maker 8, the tap and connection to the solenoid being similar to that
described with reference to the drawings, being below the lower vessel. The-
revolving of the handle 29* would fill the vessels raising the upper one and making
electrical contact. The escape of the air would be regulated by the quantity of
current passing through the solenoid as herein before described with reference to..
the drawings annexed. In cases where a large continuous current is used the
solenoid may be mounted in shunts to the main current so that only an ascertained
fraction of the current passes through it.
We are aware that certain portions of the apparatus, separately, have heen used!
before and therefore lay no claim to the parts separately, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a coin-freed meter, the combination of coin-freed mechanism with.
a solenoid through which the current or a definite fraction thereof passes and
which regulates the total quantity of electricity supplied to the lamp or other
apparatus, by controlling the escape of a confined quantity of liquid or gas, so as
to give a predetermined quantity of electricity for a predetermined payment.
2. The combination in a coin-freed electric meter, of a coin-freed lever 31,.
a spindle, eccentric and handle released by 31, a reservoir 2 and receiver 5,.
a solenoid 19 operating tap 13, and the requisite terminals and wires all operating;
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a coin-freed electric méter the combination of two connected vessels
(a reservoir and receiver) of a cut-off switch for closing the connection between.
the vessels, preventing the flow of liquid from one to the other and breaking down
the electric circuit at the same time, enabling the unused quantity of-current-for-

page_text: which prepayment had been made to be used, by reversing said switch to normal
position, without further prepayment, substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings."
Dated this 29th day of December 1896.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicants.