Improvements in Prepayment Fluid Meters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Prepayment Fluid Meters.
I, HENRY GREEN, of Fishergate, Preston, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In a prepayment meter according to this invention there is a compound cock
which comprises two hollow plugs one adapted to be actuated by mechanism
worked by the fluid pressure, (I will hereinafter assume the fluid to be gas) and
the other adapted to be actuated by hand through appropriate mechanism when
coin is in or has been inserted into the proper part of the apparatus. The said
two hollow plugs are so arranged that in certain relative positions they close the
gas passage, and then, if a coin be inserted through the coin slot of the meter
and a handle provided for the purpose be actuated, the one hollow plug may bo
actuated to a given extent, whereupon the gas passage through the compound cock
will be opened and as gas flows the hollow plug that is in gear with the measur-
ing mechanism will be actuated by the gas pressure so as by the time the quantity
of gas paid for has been delivered to again close the gas passage through the com-
pound cock. Means are provided to prevent the hand-operated plug from making
a complete rotation in relation to the gas-operated plug and so overrunning the
latter aud preventing delivery of the full quantity of gas paid for.
Apparatus to operate on this principle may be constructed in various forms.
The compound cock may comprise a couple of hollow couical plugs of peculiar
construction arranged within a barrel, shell or body resembling that of an ordinary
cock. Furthermore, the mechanism in connection with the one plug for enabling
the samo to be moved to a certain distance by hand, after introduction of a coin,
may be of any suitable description. Various known constructions of sucli
mechanism may be adapted and combined with, compound plugs according to
my invention.
One arrangement of my compound gas meter cock is as follows: -The barrel
is conical with gas inlet at the sides and delivery at the bottom. Within this is
the outer hollow plug formed as a hollow truncated cone fitting the interior of
the barrel near the upper and lower portions but made of reduced external diameter
between those portions so as to form an annular gas chamber all round between
the exterior of the outer plug and the interior of the barrel. Through the wall
of the outer hollow plug there is an opening through which, when it is not closed
by the inner hollow plug, gas will flow from the annular chamber. The innor
hollow plug is of an external form adapted to fit within the outer our at the upper
and lower portions and also for a portion of the circumference connecting the
said upper and lower parts, which portion will hereinafter be called the closing
purt; the remainder of the inuer hollow plug is open or made of a reduced ex-
ternal diameter so as to form between it and the interior of the outer plug a

page_text: chamber extending almost entirely round the inner plug, through the walls of
the reduced part of the inner plug there being one or more openings through
which the gas can flow from the chamber between the inner and outer plugs.
The outer plug is actuated by hand through a worm and worm wheel, the latter
being fixed on the plug. The inner plug is actuated from the meter proper
through a worm gearing with a worm wheel fixed on the spindle of the plug.
The coin freeing and operating mechanism is as follows:-There is a pivoted
coin shoot and below it there is mounted on a short shaft, a coin holder, which,
in one position of the said parts has its open end upward and opposite to but
below the lower end of the shoot, so that a coin dropped into the shoot will enter
the coin holder. On the coin holder shaft there is an external arm or handle
by which it can be moved in a rotary sense. Assuming a coin to be in the holdor,
if its shaft be then turned, the coin holder will be caused, by acting on an arm
projecting from a rock shaft, to actuate a locking device so as to release the shaft
that is in gear with the outer valve, and, as the coin holder is further moved,
a part of the coin will come into contact with a stud or projection on a disc or
arm fixed to the said shaft, so as to turn that shaft during the remainder of the
forward movement of the coin holder, so that, during such further movement,
the outer plug will be turned through the worm on the shaft and worm wheel on
the plug. On the termination of the stroke, the coin holder will be upside down
and the coin will fall into a coin receptacle. By the operation just described
the opening through the wall of the outer plug will have been moved from opposite
the closing part of the inner plug so that gas will flow, assuming delivery
to be taking place, and, as the gas flows and so works the ineter, the latter will,
through the before mentioned worm gear, actuate the inner plug so as by the
time the quantity of gas paid for has been delivered to bring its closing part
again opposite to the opening of the outer plug, thus again closing the gas passage,
and so on. After the coin in the coin holder shall have, in the above described
operation, cleared the arm on the rock shaft of the locking mechanism, that
mechanism will have resumed a position in which it will be in readiness to
become engaged, during the rotation of the worm shaft of the outer plug, with a stud
or projection on the disc or an arm of the said shaft so as to lock that shaft at
the end of its partial rotation until, by the insertion of another coin and partial
rotation of the coin holder, the driving shaft of the outer plug is again released
in the manner already indicated. The arrangement above described is suitable
for what is known as a "penny-in-the-slot" mneter, but I may construct metera
according to my invention adapted to deliver a large quantity of gas for a coin
of greater value than a penny, as, for instance, a shilling: or I may combine in
one meter arrangements for delivering two different quantities of gas for two
different coins, as, for example, a pennyworth of gas in the case of a penny being
inserted into the one slot, or a shillingsworth or sixpennyworth of gas in case
of a shilling or a sixpenny piece (according to the arrangement of the apparatus)
being dropped into the other slot.
of
One arrangement adapted for delivering pennyworths and also shillingsworths
gas resembles that alrendly described but with the following addition. Thero
is a separate shoot for shillings and a separate coin holder for the same, and when
a shilling is dropped into that coin holder, and the holder, by a handle on its shaft,
is then partly rotated, the coin, acting on a lever arm, removes a stop out of
the path of a projection carried by a toothed wheel fixed on the coin holder shaft,
at the same time netuating the locking device already described as forming part of
the mechanism for delivering pennyworths of gas. The said toothed wheel drives
the actuating shaft of the one plug through suitable multiplying gear: but, in
order that the shilling holder may be partly rotated without actuating the plug.
the wheel is made without teeth for a part of its circumference. In order to
keep the locking device out of gear until the plug has been moved into a position
corresponding to the delivery of the shillingsworth of gas or thereabouts there
is on one side of the wheel on the coin shaft a rim or flange extending through

page_text: part of a circle and on this rim the locking device is supported until the rim
or flange has travelled from under the part of the locking device that rested upon
it whereupon the locking device falling into a gap or break in the rim or flange
again returns to its locking, position. A pawl pievents backward movement of
the shilling holder shaft.
Tho above arrangement may be modified by adapting the inner plug to be
operated by hand after the introduction of the coin and the outer plug to be
actuated by the mechanism worked by the gas pressure and the inlet may be in
the bottom of the barrel and the outlot at the side.
To prevent coins being inserted when the parts are not in position to enable u
coin to fulfil its office in the apparatus, the upper part of each coin shoot is
arranged below a slotted plate, which may be the cover of the apparatus, is pro-
vided with a plate or closing device, and is so mounted as to assume a position
in which the coin slot will be closed, or partly closed (whenever a partial forward
movement of the coin holder having been effected) it has not completed the move-
ment necessary to permit delivery of the gas already paid for and been returned
into the proper position for receiving a fresh coin. During the return movement
of the coiu holder the opening of the coin slot is effected. This may be done in
various ways. In the arrangement above described the coin shoot carries the
closing plate and is so mounted as, during the forward movement of the coin
holder, to assume a position in which the coin slot is closed by the plate, whilst
during the return movement the coin slot is opened; but the shoot may be fixed
and a separate closing device he provided in connection with the coin holder
shaft or some moving part of the apparatus so that the slot closing plate will be
operated independently of the shoot for opening and closing the coin slot. In
the arrangement adapted for delivering pennyworths and shillingsworths combined
provision is made whereby a coin of a smaller size if dropped into the wrong slot
will return to the party inserting it. To the hollow plugs or valves indicators
are geared adapted to show the quantity of gas paid for and unconsumed.
Dated this 28th day of August 1896.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
I, HENRY GREEN, of Fishergate, Preston, in the County of Lancaster, .Civil
Engineer, 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:-
In a prepayment meter according to this invention there is a compound cock
which comprises two hollow plugs one adapted to be actuated by mechanisu
worked by the fluid pressure, (I will hereinafter assume the fluid to be gas) and
the other adapted to be actuated by hand through appropriate mechanism when
a coin is in or has been inserted into the proper part of the apparatus. The said
two hollow plugs are so arranged that in certain relative positions they close the
gas passage, and then, if a coin be inserted through the coin slot of the meter
and a handle provided for the purpose be actuated, the one hollow plug may be
actuated to a given extent, whereupon the gas passage through the compound cock
will be opened and as gas flows the hollow plug that is in gear with the measuring

page_text: mechanism will be actuated by the gas pressure so as by the time the quantity
of gas paid for has been delivered to again close the gas passage through the com-
pound cock. Means are provided to prevent the hand-operated plug from making
a complete rotation in relation to the gas-operated plug and so overrunning the
latter and preventing delivery of the full quantity of gas paid for.
Apparatus to operate on this principle may be constructed in various forms.
The compound cock may comprise a couple of hollow conical plugs of peculiar
construction arranged within a barrel, shell or body resembling that of an ordinary
cock. Furthermore, the mechanism in connection with the one plug for enabling
the same to be moved to a certain distance by hand, after introduction off a coin,
may be of any suitable description. Various known constructions of such
mechanism may be adapted and combined with compound' plugs according to
my invention.
Referring to the accompanying illustrative drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a prepayment gas meter according to this
invention;
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are respectively 3. plan, a side elevation and a rear elevation
of the compound gas cock and coin freeing and operating mechanism of the meter
shown in Fig. 1, drawn to a larger scale;
Fig. 5 is a section on the line ab Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 a section on the line c d Fig. 3; and
Fig. 7 a section of the compound cock on the line e f, Fig. 6.
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are detail views hereinafter more fully referred to.
I have not deemed it needful to illustrate the measuring apparatus in detail;
in the examples the measuring portions of the meter are supposed to be those
of a wet meter of ordinary kind; but it will be evident that apparatus according
to my invention may be combined with measuring mechanism of other construc-
tions so long as the arrangement be such that one plug of the compound cock
will be actuated by the fluid, and the other can be moved by hand as set forth.
My compound gas meter cock as shown moro particularly in Figs. 5 and 7 is
as follows:-The barrel 1 is conical with gas inlet 1 at the small end and
delivery at the side. Within this is the outer hollow plug 2 formed as a hollow
truncated cone fitting the interior of the barrel near its end portions but made
of reduced external diameter between those portions so as to form an annular
gas chamber 3 all round between the exterior of the outer plug and the interior
of the barrel. Through the wall of the outer hollow plug there is an opening 2*
through which, when it is not closed by the inner hollow plug 4, gas will flow.
The inner hollow plug is of an external form adapted to fit within the outer one
at its end portions and also for a portion of the circumference connecting the said
end parts, which portion will hereinafter be called the closing part 4; the re-
mainder of the inner hollow plug is open or made as shown of a reduced external
diameter so as to form between it and the interior of the outer plug 2 a chamber 5
extending almost entirely round the inner plug. Through the walls of the reduced
part of the inner plug there is or are one or more openings 4b through which the
gus oan flow into the chamber 5 between the inner and outer plugs. The outer
plug is actuated by haud through a worm 6 and worm wheel 7, the latter being
fixed on the plug. The inner plug is actuated from the meter proper through a
worm 8 gearing with a worn wheel 9 fixed on the spindle of the plug. 2b is a
pin
pin which prevents the plug 2 making a complete rotation relatively to the plug 4
by coming in contact with the closing part 4*.
The above mentioned Figs; illustrate clearly the above described arrangement
of compound gas cock and it will be seen from them that the chambers 3 and 5
might be formed by making an annular recess in the inner surface of the barrel
instead of the outer surface of the plug 2 and in the inner surface of the plug 2 instead
of in the outer surface of the plug 4; also that the closing part might be formed
on the outer plug instead of the inner, the openings 2 and 4 being correspond-
ingly formed (see Fig. 7).

page_text: The coin freeing and operating mechanism is as follows:-There is a coin
shoot 10 pivoted at 10 beneath a slotted plate 11, and below it there is mounted
on a short shaft 12 a coin holder 12" which, in one position of the said parts,
namely that shown in Fig. 10, (which is a detail sectional view of the coin slot,
shoot and holder) has its open end upward and opposite to but below the lower end
of the shoot, so that a coin dropped into the shoot will enter the coin holder. On
the shaft 12 there is an external arm or handle 13 by which it can be moved in a
rotary sense. Assuming a coin to be in the holder, if its shaft be then turned,
the coin will be caused, by acting on an arm 14 projecting from a rock shaft 15
to actuate a locking device so as to release the shaft G of the worm 6 that is in
gear with the outer plug 2.
The locking device comprises a lever 16 which is linked to a lever-arm 17
projecting from the rock shaft 15 and is formed with a notch 16 adapted to be-
come engaged with one or other of a pair of rearwardly projecting studs 6b on a
disc fixed to the worn shaft 6*.
As the coin holder is further moved after the release of the shaft 6 a part of the
coin will come into contact with one of a pair of forwardly projecting studs 6d on
the disc 6° so as to turn the worm shaft during the remainder of the forward
movement of the coin holder. The coin is prevented from falling out of the holder
until the completion of the stroke by a guard plate 12. Thus, during such
further movement, the outer plug 2 will be turned through the worm 6 and wonn
wheel 7. On the termination of the stroke, the coin holder will be upside down
and the coin will fall into a coin receptacle. By the operation just described
the opening 2 through the wall of the outer plug will have been moved from
opposite the closing part 4 of the inner plug so that gas will flow in the direction
of the arrows Figs. 5 and 7, assuuning delivery to be taking place, and, as tho gas
flows and so works the meter, the latter will, thru the worm 8 and wort
wheel 9, actuate the inner plug so as, by the time the quantity of gas paid for
has been delivered, to bring its closing part 4 again opposite to the opening of
the outer plug, thus again closing the gas passage, and so on.
After the coin in the coin holder shall have, in the above described operation,
cieared the arm 14, the lever 16 will have resunied a position in which it will be
in readiness to become engaged, during the rotation of the worm shaft G³ and
disc 6 with the other stud 66 so as to lock the shaft 6", at the end of its partial
rotation, until, by the insertion of another coin and partial rotation of the coin
holder, the driving shaft of the outer plug is again released in the manner already
indicated. The movement of the handle 13 is limited by stop pins 13.
To prevent coins peing inserted when the parts are not in postion to enable
a coin to fulfil its office in the apparatus, the upper part of each coin shoot arranged
below the slotted plate 11, which may be the cover of the apparatus, is provided
with a plate or closing device 10b (see Fig. 10), and is so mounted us to assumo
a position in which the coin slot will be closed, or partly closed whenever, a partial
forward movement of the coiu holder having been effected, it has not completed
the movement necessary to permit delivery of the gas already paid for and bern
returned into the proper position for receiving a fresh coin. If it be attempted to
return the holder before the coin drops out, the arm 14 will prevent the coin holder
being brought into contact with the shoot 10. But during the return movement
of the coin holder, after the ejection of the coin the opening of the coin slot is effected.
This however may be done in various ways. The shoot may be fixed and a separate
closing device be provided in connection with the coin holder shaft or some moving
part of the apparatus so that the slot closing plate will be operated independently
of the shoot for opening and closing the coin slot.
The apparatus is so arranged that only a limited number of coins can be inserted
into it, one after the other, before consumption of gas occurs. When the
maximum number of coins have been inserted and the handle 13 operated a cor-
responding number of times, further rotation of the plug 2 relatively to the plug 4
is prevented by the pin 2b abutting against the part 4*. "If another coin were then

page_text: allowed to be inserted, an attempt to further rotate the outer plug might result
in the machine being strained or the pin 25 being sheared off. In order to prevent
this, the coin slot through the plate 11 may be blocked shortly before the pin 2b
comes into contact with the part 4 by means of a sliding bar 18 to which motion
is given at the required time in the following manner. To the outer end of the
inner plug 4 is fixed a tubular extension 19, shown separately in Fig. 9, that is
formed with a slot 19" which for a part of its length is at right angles to the axis
of the extension 19 but, towards its outer and is inclined. To a cross bar 2° at
the inuer end of the plug 2 is fixed a spindle 20 that extends centrally through
the hollow outer end of the inner plug 4 into the extension 19 and is there fitted
with a sleeve 21 that is attached to it by a pin and slot connection so that the
sleeve can move lengthwise upon but cannot turn about the spindle 20. Upon
the extension 19 is mounted a grooved collar 22 which is fixed to the sleeve 21
by a pin 22 that passes through the slot 19°. When the gas passage through
the compound cock is closed the pin 22" will pass through the straight portion
of the slot but as the outer plug 2 is rotated relatively to the inner plug the
sleeve 21 will be correspondingly rotated relatively to the slotted extension 19
and the pin 22 will thus be caused to travel towards the inclined part of the slot
and, if sufficient coins be inserted, without consumption of gas taking place, to
onable the outer plug to be turned almost a completo rotation relatively to the
inner plug, the pin 22" will travel along the inclined part of the slot and the
sleeve 21 and collar 22 moved lengthwise of the extension 19. This longitudinal
movement of the collar 22 is communicated by a lever 23.(see Fig. 6) to the bar 18
so that it is caused to assume the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3
and thus prevent the insertion of another coin until the consumption of gas causes
the rotation of the inner plug 4 relatively to the plug 2 when the collar 22 will be
moved back to its normal position and the bar 18 withdrawn. 20 is a stuffing
box to prevent leakage of gas around the spindle 20. 24 is an indicator disc (see
Figs. 1 and 5) fixed to the extension 19 that is rotated with the plug 4 and 25
is a pointer or index attached to the spindle 20 that rotates with the outer plug 2.
They are arranged opposite an opening in the face of the casing of the apparatus
and the disc is graduated and numbered so that their relative positions will show
the quantity or value of the gus paid for and unconsumed at a given time. To
enable the number of coins that have been inserted into the apparatus to he
ascertained at a glance, figures are so placed around the opening in the casing
that, up to a certain number, the position of the pointer 25 relatively to these
figures will indicate how many coins have been inserted. To indicate the number
of inserted coius in excess of the number indicated by the pointer 25 the said
pointer may be formed with an extensiou 25 that engages once in each revolution
with a star wheel 26 which communicates motion to additional indicating
discs 27, 27 which will, together with the pointer 25 and the figures on the front
of the casing record the total number of coins that have been inserted into the
apparatus.
28 is a ring loosely mounted on the outer end of the inner plug and which can
be caused by means of screws 28 passing through the framework of the apparatus
to bear with more or less pressure against the face off the wheel 9 (or other laterally
projecting portion of the plug 4) so as to maintain a tight joint between the plug 2
and the barrel 1 of the cock and also between the two plugs.
Fig. 11 is a front elevation;
Fig. 12 a plan; and
Fig. 13 a section on the line g h Fig. 12 of a modification of the coin freeing
and operating mechanism of a prepayment gas meter according to this invention.
Parts corresponding to those already mentioned are referred to in the description
of these and the following figures by corresponding numerals.
The construction shown in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1
to 10 inclusive but instead of employing worm gear for communicating motion

page_text: from the handle 13 to the outer plug 2 I employ spur gear and somewhat modify
the releasing mechanism.
The shaft 12 of the coin holder 123 (shown in dotted lines Fig. 13) is in this
casc arranged in line with the shaft 6 of a mutilated pinion 6 having
in the example two pairs of teeth arranged diametrically opposite
and adapted to engage with the toothed wheel 7. The disc or plate 6°
is formed with notches 6 and the lever 16 is formed with a detent or tooth 16b that
engages in oue or other of the notches and prevents rotation of the shaft 6" until
it is raised by a coin in the coin holder (which in order to operate the said shaft
is turned in the direction indicated by the arrow Fig. 13) coining in contact with
the arm 14 on the rock shaft 15. The lever 16 has conuected to it a pawl 16*
which normally engages with the wheel 7 and prevents the plug 2 turning
with the inner plug, when the latter is driven by the meter. This pawl 16* after
being raised comes into engagement again with the wheel 7 as soon as the plate 6°
has breu rotated by means of a coin acting against one of the studs G sufficiently
to bring its circular portion from benentli the deteut 16b, by which time the teeth
of the pinion 6 will be out of gear with the wheel 7. On the plate 6° being further
rotated the detent 16b will enter the other noteh 6 and prevent further rotation until
another coin is inserted. A pawl 29 pirvents hackward movement of the wheel 7.
The arrangements above described are suitable for what is known as a "penny-
in-the-slot" meter, but I may construct meters according to my invention adapted
to deliver a larger quantity of gas for a coin of greater value than a penny, as,
for instance, a shilling; or I may combine in one meter arrangements for deliver-
ing two different quantities of gas for two different coins, as, for example, a
pennyworth of gas in the case of a penny being inserted into the one slot, or a
shillingsworth of gas in the case of a shilling being dropped into the other slot.
Fig. 14 is a side elevation; and Fig. 15 a section on the line ij Fig. 14 of coin
freeing and operating mechanism of a prepayment gas meter adapted to be
operated by a shilling according to this invention. The mutilated pinion 6 is
in this case formed with a number of consecutive teeth, the pinion G, disc-plate, 6º,
a coin holder 12, handle 13 aud a cam 30 hereinafter referred to are fixed on a
single shaft and the handle 13 and coin holder 12" are adapted to make a
complete revolution after the insertion of each coin.
The coin, in this example, acts merely to release the pinion 6 which is driven
directly from the handle 13 through the shaft on which both are fixed. The
cam 30 during the completion of each revolution comes in contact with the shoot 10
and brings it into line with the coin holder and coin slot at the moment the
handlo 13 reaches its initial position, and then, after the insertion of the coin
moves and for a time retains the shoot 10 out of line with the coin slot: after the
cam 30 has moved from beneath the lower end of the shoot 10, the latter swings
back to the position indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 15, in which the plate 10
closes the coin slot.
Fig. 16 is a front elevation,
Fig. 17 a sectional plan; and
Figs. 18 and 19 sections on the lines and m n (Fig. 17) respectively of an
arrangement of apparatus adapted for delivering two different quantities of gas
for two different coins, for example a pennyworth and also a shillingsworth of
gas. This arrangement resemblen that already described with inference to
Figs. 11, 12 and 13 but with the following addition. There is a separate shoot 31
for shillings and a separate coin holder 32 for the samo, and when a shilling is
dropped into that coin holder, and the holder, by a handle 33 on its shaft 32"
is then partly rotated, the coin acting on a lever arm, 34, removes a detent, tooth
or stop 35 out of a path of a projection 37 from a plate 38 carried by the shaft 32*
on which is fixed a toothed wheel 39, at the same time actunting the locking
device 16* forming part of the mechanism for delivering pennyworths of gas.

page_text: The arm 34 is fixed to a rock shaft 34" carrying a lover arm 34b that is connected
by a link 34 to the free end of the lever 36.
In order that the raising of either the lever 16 or the lever 36 by a coin shall
raise the locking pawl 16 out of engagement with the teeth of the wheel 7 and
80 leaves it free to be rotated through the corresponding handle, the pawl 16
is connected by a sleeve to a lever arm 40 carrying a cross bar 41 that when the
apparatus is not being operated through a coin rests upon both the levers 10
and 36; thus if either lever is raised the lever arm 40 will also be raised theroby mov-
ing the pawl 16 so as to release the wheel T.
The said toothed wheel 39 makes a complete rotation after the insertion of a
shilling and has such a number of teeth that it will drive the wheel 7 and con-
nected plug 2 through a portion of a rotation twelve times as great as that
through which the plug 2 is driven by the pinion 6 at each operation, the pinion 6
turning only half a revolution after the insertion of each coin. In order that the
shilling holder may be partly rotated without actuating the plug and that the
wheel 7 may be left free to be turned by the pinion G the wheel 39 is made without
teeth for a part of its circumference. The gaps in the pinion 6 also allow the
wheel 7 to be rotated by the wheel 39. In order to keep the locking device out
of gear until the plug 2 has been moved into a position corresponding to the
delivery of the shillings worth of gas or thereabouts the disc plate 38 on the coiu
shaft 32" has its rim extending through part of a circle only and on this rim
the detent 35 is supported until the circular portion of the rim has travelled from
under it, by which time the wheels 39 and 7 will be out of gear whereupon the
tooth 35 falling into a notch, gap or break 38° in the rim returns to its locking
position and allows the locking pawl 16 to do the same. The notch 38 is 80
formed that it limits by engagement with the tooth 35 the extent to which the
shilling holder shaft can be moved. The coin holder 12 is formed with a curved
lower part 12 that has an open end working against the casing of the apparatus.
When the holder and shoot are in line this open end is opposite a slot 42 in the
front of the casing through which a coin of a smaller size than a penny, if dropped
into the penny slot, will return to the party inserting it.
The above arrangements may be modified by adapting the inner plug to be
operated by hand after the introduction of the coin and the outer plug to
be actuated by the mechanism worked by the gas pressure and the inlet may be
at the side of the barrel and the outlet at the small end; also the prepayment
mechanism may be arranged to control the inlet to the measuring portions of
the apparatus as in the examples illustrated, or to control the outlet from the
same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the naturo of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
I claim is:-
1. In a propayment meter, a compound cock comprising two hollow plugs,
one adapted to be actuated by mechanism worked by the fluid pressure, the other
to be actuated by hand through appropriate mechanism, the arrangement being
Buch that in certain relative positions of the said plugs the gas passage is closed,
and that by introducing a proper coin through the coin slot of the meter and
actuating by hand a handle or device provided for the purpose, the one hollow
plug may through the coin and actuating mechanism or through the latter only
(after the coin has released the necessary parts) be actuated and the passage
through the compound cock so opened, and, as fluid flows, the hollow plug in gear
with the measuring mechanism will through it be actuated by the fluid pressure
so as when the quantity paid for shall have been delivered the passage through the
compound cock will have become closed.
2. A prepayment meter wherein a compound cock omprising two hollow
plugs as referred to in the proceding claim, mechanisin for operating one of the
said plugs by hand through a coin or otherwise after the release of the necessary

page_text: mechanism by a coin, fluid measuring mechanism in driving connection with the
other plug, and means for preventing the hand operated plug from making a
complete rotation in relation to the fluid operated plug and so overrunning the
latter and preventing the delivery of the full quantity of fluid paid for, are com-
bined and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. My compound meter fluid cock constructed, arranged and operating as hercin-
before described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7 (or modified
according to Fig. 7) of the accompanying drawings for the purpose specified.
4. My improved prepayment fluid meter apparatus constructed arranged and
operating as shown in and described with reference to Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive,
or modified according to Figs. 11 to 13, inclusive, or according to Figs. 14 and 15,
of the accompanying drawings.
6. A prepayment fluid meter in which there are combined a compound cock
such as referred to in Claim 1, and comprising two hollow plugs, actuating
mechanism in connection, with one of these plugs adapted to be worked by pres-
sure of fluid flowing through the apparatus, and coin-controlled mechanism so
constructed and arranged in conuection with the other plug that the combined
apparatus is adapted for delivering different quantities of fluid in exchange for
different coins, as for example, a pennyworth of gas in exchango for a penny
inserted into one slot, or a shillingsworth of gas in exchange for a shilling inserted
into another slot, substantially as described with referonco, to the example
illustrated in Figs. 16 to 19, inclusive, of the accompanying drawings.
0011
1005
ليوم
་
day of 1907.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.