Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for Use with Fluid Meters.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for Use with Fluid Meters.
We, EMIL HOLLANDERS, of 3 Queen's Building, Osborne Road, Southsea, in
the County of Southampton, Chronometer Maker, CHARLES JAMES LEATHER,
of North Grounds Villa, Portsmouth, also in the County of Southampton,
Contractor, and TпомAS TAYLOR, of 12 Mary Row, Southsea aforesaid, Foreman
Gas Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the coin-freed apparatus for
use with fluid meters described in the Provisional Specification accompanying our
Application for a Patent No. 17621 and dated 21st September 1895.
The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the kind described
in our aforesaid Provisional Specification (1) with means whereby the apparatus
can be rapidly altered so as to be adaptable for the reception of, and to be
operated by, different sized coins and the consequent delivery of a quantity of
fluid of equivalent value; (2) with means for causing the termination of the supply
of the determined quantity to be shut off gradually; (3) with means for preventing
fraudulent tampering with the mechanismn; (4) with means whereby the apparatus
can be fitted to either wet or dry meters and in the case of large meters in such a
way as to economise space; and (5) to improve and simplify the construction of some
of the parts. The present improvements, like those described in our aforesaid
Provisional Specification, aim at the adaptation of coin-freed apparatus to existing
fluid meters.
To adapt the apparatus to work with different sized coins and to deliver a quantity
of fluid of equivalent value to the coin to which the apparatus is adapted, we provide
different sized money shoots for the different sized coins and mount the wheels in
the clock-train on feathers or on sleeves on their shafts and provide different gear
wheels on the same shafts to gear with a wide pinion on the main shaft taking
motion from the registering mechanism of the meter. For example, the apparatus
is constructed to take the largest sized coin, say a penny, and the wheels in the
train are then adjusted so as to be allowed to run until fluid of the value of one
penny has been delivered.
To make the apparatus adaptable to deliver fluid of the value of say sixpence, the
coin shoot is reduced in size, or a smaller shoot is inserted therein, and the space at
the bottom in which the coin is held is correspondingly reduced. The gear wheels
are then slid on their respective shafts until the gear is one sixth of the former
gear, they are locked in this position, and the apparatus is then ready, on the
insertion of a sixpence, to deliver six times the quantity of fluid to that delivered in
exchange for a penny in the former gear.
To cause the gradual shut off of the fluid towards the end of the delivery, we
provide the radial arm, which is attached to the registering mechanism and which
is stopped by a catch operated by the coin-freed apparatus, with a spring to which
it is connected in such a way that the spring is gradually compressed by the catch
lying in the path of the radial arm, until the maximum is reached, say, when the
radial arm bas travelled through an arc of 90°. Or the aforesaid catch may form
a connecting link between the radial arm and the spindle of a suitable winged or
sliding valve to close it gradually through a given arc.
To prevent fraudulent tampering with the apparatus we fork the end of the bell
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page_text: crank lever, hetween which and the spring or counterbalanced nose of the rack the
coin forms a connecting link, and bevel or sharpen the part which lies between the
prongs of the fork so that it forms a cutting edge, which will cut a piece of string
or like material secured to a coin inserted in the apparatus.
To fit the coin freed apparatus to either wet or dry meters or to large meters,
and to improve and simplify the construction of some of the parts, we fit the
apparatus in the top of the meter, connecting the main shaft of the clock-train
direct to the shaft of the meter registering mechanism. In this case we make the
rack straight and let it fall down an inclined plane and limit its travel down such
plane under the action of gravity by pegs, pins or other adjustable means, so that
the apparatus can deliver 20, 21, 22 &c. feet of fluid for every penny according to
the current price of the fluid, or to other circumstances. The rack is raised by
suitable mechanism forming part of the clock train and, as described in our
aforesaid Provisional Specification, is either caught by the empty coin space or if
there be a coin in the coin space, is released thereby and falls down to the
adjustable stop allowing the apparatus to work, and so on continuously so long as
there are coins in the coin space.
Dated this 8th day of January 1896
F. W. GOLBY,
36 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Apparatus for Use with Fluid Meters.
We, EMIL HOLLANDERS, of 3 Queen's Buildings, Osborne Road, Southsea, in
the County of Southampton, Chronometer Maker, CHARLES JAMES LEATHER,
of North Grounds Villa, Portsmouth, also in the County of Southampton,
Contractor, and THOMAS TAYLOR, of 12 Mary Row, Southsea, aforesaid,
Foreman Gas Fitter, 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 certain improvements in the coin-freed apparatus for
use with fluid meters described in the Specification accompanying our Application
for a Patent No. 17621 and dated 21st September 1895.
The object of the present invention is to provide apparatus of the kind described
in our aforesaid specification (1) with means whereby the apparatus can be rapidly
altered so as to be adaptable for the reception of, and to be operated by, different
sized coins and the consequent delivery of a quantity of fluid of equivalent value;
(2) with means for causing the termination of the supply of the determined
quantity to be shut off gradually; (3) with means for preventing fraudulent
tampering with the mechanism; (4) with means whereby the apparatus can be
fitted to either wet or dry meters and in the case of large meters in such a way
as to economise space; and (5) to improve and simplify the construction of some
of the parts. The present improvements, like those described in our aforesaid
specification, aim at the adaptation of coin-freed apparatus to existing fluid
meters.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation, taken on the line y y of Fig. 3, of a gas meter
fitted with the coin-treed apparatus described in the specification and illustrated in
the drawings accompanying our aforementioned Patent Application No. 17621
of 1895, and having our present improvements adapted thereto;
Fig. 2 is a fragment of a rear elevation of same with a part section taken on
the line of Fig. 1;

page_text: of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a plan of Fig. 1 with the top of the meter removed;
Figs. 5 to 7 are details of the coin shoot;
Figs. 8 to 11 are details of various forms of the gas shut off valve, and
Figs. 12 to 14 show a modification of our invention.
The same letters of reference where they occur are used to denote the same or
corresponding parts in all the figures.
To carry out the first part of our present invention we mount a wide pinion D
on the main shaft C which latter takes its motion from the registering shaft d of
the meter hy means of the worm gearing d d 2 shown in Fig. 4. With this
pinion D gears a toothed wheel E to the face of which is rigidly secured a smaller
toothed wheel E. This compound toothed wheel E E is fast to a sleeve e sliding
longitudiually on the axle ei which latter is provided with two tches e 2 e 3
(see Fig. 2). To the face of this compound wheel E Epivotted a catch E2
which can be made to engage with oue or other of the notches e 2 or e 3 and the
compound wheel thus locked in the position which it has been brought ou the
axle e. The separate wheels E and Fot this compound wheel respectively gear
with the toothed wheels F and (see Figs. 1 and 2) both of which are fast on
the shaft G which latter carries the single toothed lantern pinion H or equivalent
device for causing the rack J to advance one tooth for every revolution of the
shaft G. In the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the motion of the main shaft is
transmitted through the wheels D, E, E and F' to the shaft G. To change the
gear, the catch E 2 is removed from the forward notch e 2 on the axle e and the
sleeve c is then slid back on the axle e until the catch E 2 is in position to engage
the rear notch e3 it is then locked therein. The wheel E is now still in gear with
the wide pinion D but the wheel E' is out of gear with the wheel F, and the
wheel E is in gear with the wheel F, consequently the motion will he transmitted
from the main shaft C to the shaft G through the wheels D, E, and F. In Fig. 2
the first position is shown in full lines and the second position in dotted lines.
Other gear wheels may be added for the purpose of making additional changes in
the gear if required and they may be fitted on sleeves or on feathers on their
respective shafts and be operated and locked in any suitable manner.
The gear wheels and the changes thereof are adapted to correspond with the
changes which may be effected in the coin shoot for the purpose of adapting it, in
the manner now to be explained, for receiving and causing the mechanism to be
properly operated by coins of different sizes.
The coin shoot N is provided with a removable top section N 2 (one of which
is shown separately in Fig. 5) which is secured by means of a flangen 2, pegs n
and linch pins n 4 to the flange n on the upper end of the coin shoot. The top
section N 2 has a coin slit n6 of a size to admit the requisite coin, and the top
sections are all so made as to be interchangeably fitted to the flange n of the coin
shoot N as shown in Fig. 1. In the bottom of the coin shoot is a perforated
disc N 4 which is removably secured, so that when desired the disc may be removed
and another substituted having a different sized perforation or central aperture N',
which said aperture corresponds in size with the coin slit n 6 in the top removable
section N 2. Fig. 6 shows a detached elevation of one of these removable discs N 4
adapted for a large sized coin, say a penny. In Fig. 3 the apertured dise N 4 is
adapted for a smaller coin, say a sixpence, and Fig. 7 is a section through a b of
Fig. 3. The way N 3 in the body of the shoot shown in Fig. 3, through which
the coin falls to the apertured disc N 4, is made of a size to take the largest coin,
and all the perforated discs N 4 for smaller coins are furnished with side blocks n 5
(see Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7) on the rear, which said blocks are curved on their edges
towards the centre of the perforated disc so as to partially block up and contract
the way N 3 leading from the coin shoot to the apertured disc N 4 thus forming a
seat whereon the coin is held on its periphery by the arm M 2 of the bell crank
lever M.

page_text: The method of effecting the change so as to adapt the apparatus to work with
different sized coins and to deliver a quantity of fluid of equivalent value to which
the apparatus is adapted by the change, will now be understood. For example,
the apparatus is constructed to take the largest sized coin, say a penny, then a top
removable section N 2 having a coin slit to take this sized coin is secured on to the
flange n on the top of the coin shoot. A disc N 4 having an aperture N' just large
enough to allow a penny to pass therethrough is secured in the bottom of the coin
ahoot; the gear wheels are put back to and locked in the dotted position shown in
Fig. 2; the mechanism is then boxed in and is ready on the insertion of pennies
to deliver fluid, the motion of the shaft C being transmitted through the gear D, E
and F. To make the apparatus adaptable to deliver fluid of the value of say
sixpence, the top removable section N 2 is replaced by another having a slit of the
size of a sixpence; the apertured disc N is replaced by one having an aperture N
just large enough to allow of a sixpence being pushed therethrough, and, as shown
in Figures 3 and 7, having side blocks n5 which contract the way N 3 of the
shoot and form a seat holding the coin centrally behind the aperture N'. The
gear is then changed into the position shown by the full lines in Figure 2, and
the motion of C is then transmitted through the reducing gear D, E, E and F.
The gear being now one-sixth is ready, on the insertion of a sixpence, to deliver
six times the quantity of fluid to that delivered in exchange for a penny in the
former gear.
If desired we may reduce the diameter of the way N 3 throughout its
length in any suitable manner, but in practice we find the side blocks on the rear of
the apertured discs to be sufficient for the purpose.
To carry out the second part of this our present invention we connect a spring
to the shut off valve in such a way that the shut off is effected against the power
thereof. On referring to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the rod O2, which at the
proper time for opening or shutting off the supply of gas is partially rotated by
the coin-freed mechanism in the manner described in our aforementioned
specification, is provided with a rigid arm O 3 on which slides a sleeve O 4 having
a nose projection or catch O 5. When the rod O2 is brought into the shut off
position, this catch O 5 lies in the path of the radial arm R which is fast on the
registering shaft d and which at its next rotation abuts against the catch 05 and
slides the sleeve O 4, to which said catch is connected, along the arm O 3 until
such a position is reached that a rear projection 06 on said sleeve 04 abuts
against the arm 07 of the valve spindle O8, whereupon the said arm 07 partakes
of the movement of the radial arm R and the valve is gradually shut off against
the pressure of the spring O 9 one end of which is secured to the arm 07 and the
other end to a fixed part of the meter. It will be understood that the power of
the spring will determine the length of time during which the shut off is effected;
also that the spring may be arranged so as to be compressed by the shut off instead
of extended as in the example shown. When, at the proper time, the rod O2 is
brought to the valve open position, the catch 05 is removed from the path of the
radial arm R which is then free to rotate, and the rear projection 06 is simul-
taneously removed from the path of the valve spindle arin 07 whereupon the
spring operates and the valve opens, and the meter goes on supplying gas until the
supply is again shut off.
In Figs. 4, 8 and 9 we have shown a special form of hit and miss valve by which
the bulk of the gas is cut off rapidly the remainder of the stroke being effected
gradually. In the admission a reverse rotation of the valve spindle is effected,
consequently the valve is gradually opened at the commencement and the bulk is
admitted at the end of the stroke. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of this valve and
the valve casing and Fig. 9 is a plan of the same with the upper part removed.
08 is the valve spindle which by means of the cog gearing 0 10 0 12 operates the
spindle 13 to which the upper rotating disc O 14 is fast, the lower disc being fixed
and forming the seating of the valve. Both discs are provided with ports, but the
admission leading edges O 15 of the upper disc ports are tangentially inclined to
the axis of the valve as shown in Figs. 4 and 9, the arrow in Fig. 9 indicating the

page_text: direction of rotation of the upper disc during the cut off. By this construction the
completion of the cut off and the opening of the admission are each gradually
effected by the inclined edges O 15.
Fig. 10 shows a section of the throttle valve counterweighted at 16. With
this valve, as with that above described with reference to Figs. 4, 8 and 9, the
aliding sleeve O 4 forms a connecting link between the radial arm and the valve
to close it gradually. In place of, or in addition to, the counterweight this valve
may be connected to a spring such as is shown at O9 in Fig. 4. Fig. 11 shows an
ordinary plug cock valve which is operated as before by means of the sliding
sleeve connecting link and is closed against the power of the spring 09. We do
not however restrict ourselves to the use of the three forms of valves shown, as.
modified forms of valves to act in the same manner may be used without departing
from this part of our invention.
To carry out the third part of this our present invention, we fork the end of the
arm M 2 of the bell crank lever arrangement M, between which said arm M 2 and
the nose of the rack J, the coin forms a connecting link. The part m' which lies.
between the prongs m 2 of this fork we bevel off or sharpen as shown in Figs. L
and 3, so that it forms a cutting edge which will cut a piece of string or like-
material secured to a coin inserted in the shoot N as the said coin is being pushed
out through the aperture N'.
To carry out the fourth and fifth parts of this our present invention, we adopt
the modified form of construction shown in Figs. 12 to 14. Fig. 13 is a section on
the line of Fig. 12, and Fig. 14 is a detail view of the gearing. In this
modification the coin-freed apparatus is fitted in the top of the meter, the dial
indicating shaft C of the meter being utilized as the first motion shaft of the clock
train. On this shaft C we fit a sleeve C¹ fast on which are secured two cog:
wheels D1 D2 which, by sliding the sleeve C¹ along its shaft C, can be made
respectively to gear with the cog wheel F or F2 both of which are fast to the-
shaft G; or the wheels D' D2 may be fast on C and the wheels E, E' secured to
a sleeve G on the shaft G, which latter carries the single-toothed lantern pinion H
or equivalent device for raising the rack J one tooth for every rotation of the
shaft G (see Figs. 12 and 14). In this case we make the rack straight with a.
vertical web and a flat base and let it fall down an incliued track or way j haring
a box form with a central longitudinal slit j3 through which the vertical web of
the rack passes; and friction rollers j2 are placed in suitable positions, in the
track or way, on which said rollers the flat base of the rack rides, as shown in
Fig. 13. The travel of the rack down the inclined track or way is limited by a
peg, pin or the like which is adjusted in any one of the holes j4, which are spaced
the same as the pitch of the rack teeth, according to the quantity of fluid which it
is desired to deliver in exchange for a given coin which will be dependent upon the
current price of the fluid at the time when the adjustment is made. These
adjustable pegs, pius or the like take place of the snail or nautilus cam described in
our aforementioned specification and are adjusted by removing the lock up side of
the case. Other suitable adjustable means for limiting the travel of the rack down
the inclined track or way may be adopted if desired. Instead of fitting this.
straight rack in the top of the meter as shown in Figs. 12 to 14, we may fit it to
the side of the meter in place of the counterweighted and pivotted rack described
in our previous specification. The rest of the mechanism of this modified form of
our invention is constructed and arranged in the same manner as in the form
described in our aforementioned previous specification the various parts performing
their allotted functions as therein fully indicated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In coin-freed apparatus for use with fluid meters of the kind wherein the
inserted cuiu forms a connecting link between clock train delivery mechanism

page_text: operated from the meter registering or indicating mechanism and fluid supply
controlling mechanism, providing the clock train with change gear wheels and
providing the coin shoot with a movable top section and bottom apertured disc so
that these two parts and the gear wheels can be changed and the apparatus thus
adapted to receive and to work with coins of different sizes and to deliver equivalent
quantities of fluid, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3, 5 to 7
and 12 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.
2. In coin-freed apparatus for use with fluid meters of the kind wherein the
supply of fluid is cut off by the interposition of a catch in the path of the radial
arm on the meter registering shaft, means for causing the termination of the supply
to be gradually cut-off consisting of a spring attached to the catch or to the valve
spindle in such a way that the valve is closed against the power of said spring by
the interposed catch acted upon by the radial arm substantially in the manner
herein before described.
3. In coin-freed apparatus for use with fluid meters the hit and miss valve
having inclined leading edges for causing the termination of the supply to be
gradually cut off substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 4,
8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In coin-freed apparatus for use with fluid meters of the kind wherein the
inserted coin is held in an apertured disc at the bottom of the coin shoot by one
arm of a bell crank operating the fluid supply controlling apparatus, dividing the
end of said bell crank arm into two branches and bevelling or sharpening the part
between them substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and
illustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
5. Coin-freed apparatus for use with fluid meters of the kind indicated in the
Specification of our Patent Application No. 17621 of 1895, furnished with a
straight rack falling down an inclined plane the fall being adjusted by a peg, or
pin fitted into any one of a series of holes spaced to correspond with the pitch of
the teeth of the rack or by equivalent adjustable means, substantially as described
with special reference to Figs. 12 to 14 of the accompanying drawings.
6. Our improved coin-freed apparatus for use with fluid meters substantially as
herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the
purposes stated.
F. W. GOLBY,
36 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicants.