Improvements in and applicable to Pre-payment Gas Meters
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Applications
TC 295')
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1894
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Pre-payment Gas Meters."
I DANIEL ORME of 95 Queens' Road, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Gas
Meter Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows.-
My invention has reference to pre-payment gas meters arranged to supply a deter-
mined quantity of gas to the consumer upon the insertion of a coin or coins, as is the
case for example in a former invention for which I have obtained Letters Patent
No 18490 of 1890.
In the said former invention the supply of gas was interrupted by arresting the
motion of the bellows or drum. In the present case I cause the supply of gas to be
shut off by the closing of a valve, which is acted upon by parts receiving motion
through suitable gearing from the drum or bellows.
I prefer to make the valve or its seating of soft metal such for example as lead the
seating or the valve as the case may be being made of hard metal or alloy the intention
being that the soft metal part shall be capable of accommodating itself in form to
the hard metal part whereby a more perfect or reliable closure of the valve can be
obtained.
The valve spindle carries a cam which is connected by worm and wheel or by suit-
able gearing with the setting apparatus of the money box so that the cam can be
turned forward to a determined extent.
The cam engages with a pin or part which follows the movement of the cam as the
gas passes through the meter until an inclined part of the cam is reached when
the cam is acted upon so as to slide the valve spindle in the direction to close
the valve.
The part which acts upon the cam receives motion from a revolving part of the
ineter so as to revolve around the axis of the valve spindle.
In one construction a spur wheel mounted on the same axis as the cam has a pro-
The spur
jecting arm from which a pin or finger extends into a groove in the cam.
wheel is driven by means of suitable gearing receiving motion from the drum or
bellows. The cam groove is inclined or deflected sideways at one end.
The spur wheel and pin travel gradually round until the pin reaches and enters
the inclined part of the groove when the closing movement of the valve will
commence.
The gradual closing of the valve due to the action of the inclined portion of the
groove gradually lowers the light and warns the consumer that his supply of gas is
about to be cut off.

page_text: The arrangement might be varied by causing the cam to rotate as the gas passed
through the meter the cam in such a case acting upon a part connected with the
money box apparatus. A grooved cain is used when the cam is intended to open the
valve when operated by the money box mechanism but a cam only adapted to close
the valve might be used in which case the valve might be opened by means of a
spring or weight or by the weight of the valve and spindle and connected parts when
vertically arranged. The cam is prevented by a stop from being revolved beyond a
determined extent by the insertion of successive coins.
To set the cam or part which is rotated in advance I propose to use a revoluble
coin cylinder as in my said former invention but I may vary the construction of the
adjustable or varying stops or parts upon which the coin operates when the coin
cylinder is revolved.
I may use one of a series of changeable plates or stops capable of attachment to the
disc. When using plates each plate would have a screw hole differing in position
from the screw holes of the other plates so that a movable stop centred on the axis of
the disc and connected with the disc by means of the screw hole would assume a
different position on each plate, the edge of the inserted coin striking earlier or later
against the stop and so moving the coin receiver spindle more or less according to the
varying price of gas.
When using changeable stops the stops would vary in shape so that the part acting
as the stop would be touched by the cam earlier or later according as one stop or
another would be in use. The plates or stops by preference would be adapted to be
readily fixed in position as for example by means of a single thumb screw the correct
position being further assured if necessary by means of a fixed pin or stud entering a
hole in the plate or stop piece or vice versa.
The changeable plates or stops might be stamped, numbered and recorded so as to
serve as checks upon the persons employed to make the change of plates or stops and
ensure that they had performed their duties.
The aforesaid system of interchangeable plates might be used in conjunction with
the hereinbefore described or any other arrangement of pre-payment meter to which
the plan is applicable.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.
5 John Dalton Street Manchester
Agents.
""
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in and applicable to Pre-payment Gas Meters."
I DANIEL ORME of 95 Queen's Road, Oldham, in the County of Lancaster, Gas
Meter Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement and accompanying drawings.
My invention has reference to pre-payment wet and dry gas meters arranged to
supply a pre-determined quantity of gas to the consumer upon the insertion of a
coin or coins, as is the case for example in a former invention for which I have
obtained Letters Patent No 18490 of 1890.
In the said former invention the supply of gas was interrupted by arresting the
motion of the bellows or drum. In the presen: case I cause the supply of gas to
be shut off by the closing of a valve, which is acted upon by parts receiving motion
through suitable gearing from the drum or bellows.
I prefer to make the valve or its seating of soft metal or material such for example
as lead, the seating or the valve as the case may be, being made of hard, metal or
material, the intention being that the part formed of soft material shall be capable

page_text: of accommodating itself to the part of hard material whereby a more perfect or
reliable closure of the valve can be obtained.
To set the cam or part which is rotated in advance, I propose to use a revolvable
coin cylinder as in my said former invention, but I may vary the construction of the
adjustable varying stops or parts upon which the coin operates when the coin cylinder
is revolved.
may use one of a series of changeable plates or stops capable of attachment to
the disc. When using plates, each plate would have a screw hole differing in
position from the screw holes of the other plates so that a movable stop centred
on the axis of the disc and connected with the disc by means of the screw hole,
would assume a different position on each plate, the edge of the inserted coin
striking earlier or later against the stop and so imoving the spindle which actuates
the cam or cam disc more or less according to the varying price of gas.
The changeable plates or stops might be stamped, numbered and recorded so as to
serve as checks upon the persons employed to make the change of plates or stops
and ensure that they had performed their duties.
For the purpose of rendering my invention clearly understood I have attached
to my present Complete Specification a sheet of explanatory drawings which I will
now describe upon the lines of my foregoing Provisional Specification.
Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section of a practicable arrangement for
carrying into effect that part of my invention which relates to the closing of the
valve which shuts off the supply of gas, when the quantity paid for has been
consumed. In the drawing the valve is marked a and when closed it rests upon the
valve seating a' and thus stops the gas from passing through the meter.
The valve a is mounted loosely on the end of a spindle 6 and this spindle is
capable of being slid to and fro by means of a cam & also carried by the spindle.
The cam d is formed with a cam groove as clearly shown in the drawing, and
the said cam groove is adapted to confine an antifriction bowl or pine which is
carried by a projection f from the spur wheel g. The spur wheel g is part of
the ordinary and existing mechanism of my pre-payment meter, and is connected
to the usual train of gearing from the bellows or other measuring parts of the
meter, so as to rotate and move the index finger h which revolves in front of the
dial i. The portion of the mechanism marked A is the money box mechanism
but this need not be described as it is practically identical with the coin receiving
or money box mechanism described and illustrated in the Specification of my former
Patent No 18490 of 1890, to which I refer the reader. It will be seen that as
in the aforesaid former patent, the spindle b is geared to the central spindle k of
the coin receiver A by a worm and worm wheel so that when the coin receiver
is operated by the handle n, upon the insertion of a coin, the spindle b is rotated
to a certain extent, and as the worm wheel is a fixture on the sleeve ¹ of the
cam d, the cam is turned in the direction of the arrow.
When the cam is so turned as to be in advance of the bowl e as shown in the
drawing for example, the valve a is away from its seat, allowing gas to pass into
the meter from the supply pipe o, through the pipe p which conducts the gas
to the measuring mechanism. The passage of the gas through the meter drives
the gearing which operates the spur wheel, the said spur wheel carrying round
with it the bowl c. So long as the howl e is in that part of the cam groove
which is parallel to the face of the wheel g the position of the spindle b is not
altered and the valve a remains open. But when the bowl e comes up with and
enters the inclined part of the groove which appears in Fig. 1, the cam and the
spindle bare slid longitudinally and the valve a is shut down upon its seat a¹ thus
stopping the supply of gas. The gradual closing of the valve lowers the light and
warns the consumer that his supply is about to be cut off, so that he may if he
chooses, purchase a continued supply by inserting another coin and operating the
coin receiving mechanism so as to advance the cam again. It will be seen that by
the use of a cam of the indicated nature, I obtain a positive to and fro movement of
the valve which never varies. I might however use a spring in conjunction with an

page_text: inclined or cam face to open and close the valve a but in all cases I would use the
spring to open the valve and never to close it. This use of the spring to open but
not to close the valve is for the purpose of avoiding certain disadvantages which will
be hereinafter made apparent. If preferred the valve a may be placed at the outlet
from the meter instead of at the inlet as set forth.
A
Fig. 2 illustrates the combination of the valve closing cam-face with the valve
opening spring. The inclined or cam face d projects from the head of a sleeve q which
is sccured to the sliding spindle 6 carrying the valve a as in the former example.
bowl e is carried by the spur wheel g and is arranged opposite to the said inclined or
cam face d. The sleeve q has formed on it the worm wheel land this gears with the
worm on the money box spindle, so that the sleeve with its inclined or cam face,
is advanced by the operation of the coin receiving mechanism in the same manner in
which the cam d (Fig. 1.) is advanced. When the bowl on the spur wheel g over-
takes the incline d, the sleeve and shaft are slid against the pressure of the con-
tained spring r so as to close the valve a. When the sleeve with its cam face is
again advanced, the spring slides back the sleeve and shaft so as to open the
valve.
I prefer to make the valve a or its seating a¹ of soft metal, such as lead, or a soft
alloy, or of any other soft material suitable for the purpose. My reason for this is
that generally when the seat or the valve is of such soft metal or material, the one
accommodates itself to the other, and inequalities or grit or dirt deposited on the
seating or valve face do not prevent gas tight contact between valve and seating.
The inequality is levelled up by the softness of the metal or substance of the valve or
seating, and hard grit or deposit is sunk into the soft metal or substance so that in
The reason
any case fluid tight contact between the valve and the seat is ensured.
of my preference for a cam closing and spring opening arrangement for the valve, as
described with reference to Fig. 2 is more apparent when a valve or seating of soft.
substance is used. When the cam is used to close the valve, the gas is cut off and the
mechanism stopped as soon as the valve and seat are in close contact, and no further
injurious pressure upon the valve or seating takes place. But when a spring is used,
the pressure is always constant and maximum, whether required or not.
subjects the valve and seating to unnecessary strain and destructive wear therefore
consider the use of a spring to close the soft metal valve is disadvantageous, whereas
there is nothing against its use as a means for opening the valve.
This
I do not however restrict myself to using a cam closing and spring opening
arrangement in those cases only where a valve or seating of soft material is
used.
Even where a valve and seating of hard metal or material is used I find that
the use of the said cam closing and spring opening arrangement is advantageous.
The reason is this. Suppose that both valve and seating are of hard material,
if a spring is used to close the valve, the spring can attain only a certain force
of pressure and if any grit or dirt should come between the valve and face
the spring is not sufficiently powerful to crush the obstruction and close the
valve.
But if the closing is effected by the cam, then the power of the cam is so great
that it can crush the interposing grit and close the valve, the closing motion of
the valve continuing so long as the gas continues to pass the valve and thus
actuate the mechanism which operates the valve.
The described arrangements for operating the valve might be varied by causing
the cam to rotate as the gas passes through the meter, the cam in such a case
acting upon a part connected with the coin receiving mechanism.
In all cases the cam or part operated from the coin receiving mechanism, is
prevented by a stop from being revolved beyond a determined extent, by the in-
sertion of successive coins.
The remaining part of my invention refers to improved means for altering the
stop on the disc of the coin receiving mechanism, so as to vary the quantity of
gas delivered for a given coin, say a penny, in accordance with the varying local or

page_text: market price of gas, all as clearly set forth in the Specification of my said prior
Patent No 18490 of 1890.
If the reader will refer to this former specification, he will see that in Fig 3
Sheet 2 of the drawings, I alter the position of the stop (which is there marked 3)
by shifting the screw 3ª from one of the holes 4 to another.
In my present arrangement I dispense with the said ring of holes 4 and use
interchangeable plates 8 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings). Upon the disc x
(which corresponds to the disc in the said former specification) there are two
steadying pins tt and a screwed hole to receive a screw w. The plates s are all
made to template and each plate is bored to receive the steadying pins t t and the
screw w. The plates are also bored to slip on the centre stud y of the disc. Thus
every plate of the series occupies exactly the same relative position on the disc x.
The only difference between the several plates lies in the position of a screwed hole z
whereby the position of the stop 3 is governed.
It will be remembered that as fully set forth in my said former specification, the
stop 3 is in the path of the projecting edge of the coin as it is carried round by
the coin cylinder. The further the stop 3 is set away from the coin, the less
distance will the coin move it, the less will the cam d be advanced and the less gas
be delivered in exchange for the coin. On the contrary the nearer the stop is set to
the coin the more gas will be delivered. Therefore each of the series of plates s
has its screw hole in a position which will set the stop 3 closer to or further from
the coin, than is the case with any of the other plates.
Thus by providing the requisite series of plates, the stop can be set to deliver,
for a fixed coin, a suitable proportion of gas calculated according to the local or
inarket price of gas. In Fig. 3 the plate on the dise is marked as delivering 25 feet
of
gas for a penny.
In the plate shown at Fig. 5 the screw hole is set so as to deliver only 23 feet
for a penny; and similarly the delivered quantity of gas for a penny or other coin
or token may be varied by simply changing the plate.
As a modification of this system, I might instead of using the plates s, provide
a number of stops 3 the stops varying in shape but being always secured at a fixed
point to the disc. For example the part marked 4 is the face on the stop 3 which
the edge of the coin comes against. It will be clear that by making a series of
stops with faces 4 projecting more or less, the requisite varying delivery could be
obtained.
The changeable plates or stops might be stamped, numbered and recorded so as to
serve as checks upon the persons employed to change the plates or stops and to
ensure that they had performed their duties.
The aforesaid system of interchangeable plates and stops might be used in
conjunction with the herein before described or any other arrangement of pre-
payment meter to which the plan is applicable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what mann er the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1) In a coin-freed or pre-payment gas meter of the indicated nature, closing and
opening the valve which governs the supply of gas by means of a positively-ueting
two-way cam or-its-equivalent which which acts directly on the valve spindle and
both closes and opens the valve, in the manner and substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown.
2.) Forming-the-valve-which-governs the-supply-of-gas-to--n--coin--freed--or--pre-
payment-gas-meter-of-the-indicated-nature-of-the-valve seating-of-the--said--valve;
of-soft-metal-or-substance-for-the-purposes-and-substantially-as described.
23) In a pre-payment or coin-freed gas meter of the indicated nature, closing
the gas supply valve by means of a cam or inclined face or its equivalent and
opening the valve by means of a spring substantially as described and shown.

page_text: 34) In a pre-payment or coin-freed gas meter of the indicated nature and having
the supply valve or its seating made of soft metal or substance, closing the said
valve by means of a cam or inclined face or its equivalent and opening the valve by
means of a spring substantially as described and shown.
4) The employment of inter changeable plates or stops forvarying the quantity of
gas delivered in exchange for a fixed coin or token substantially as described and as
illustrated.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.
5 John Dalton Street, Manchester.
Agents.