Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Gas or other Fluid on Prepayment.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 8th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Gas or other Fluid on
Prepayment.
We JOHN HAWKYARD of Shaws Lane Upper Mill Saddleworth in the County
of York Foreman, and JOSEPH BRADDOCK of 72 Windsor Road Oldham in the
County of Lancaster Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
This invention relates principally to improvements upon the automatic apparatus
for which Letters Patent No. 12584 were granted to us bearing date August 12th
1890 and No. 14655 dated September 17th 1890 the objects of the present improve-
ments being first to indicate the exact number of coins which have been placed in
the receiver independently of the quantity of gas supplied; secondly to afford a
ready means for altering the exact amount of gas supplied for a certain payment
so as to regulate it in accordance with the fixed price of gas for the time being,
and thirdly to render the closing of the stop valve more certain.
In the first place we fix on the outer end of the arbor of the "stop wheel"
(mentioned in the Specification of our Patent No. 14655) a small index working
in front of a dial marked from 1 to 12 which will show the number of pence which
have been placed in the receiver. On the other end of the arbor is a small pinion
driving a spur wheel having twelve times as many teeth, and on the arbor of this
wheel is an index working in front of a second dial also marked from 1 to 12 so
that as the first indicates the pence corresponding with a portion of a revolution,'
the second indicates the number of shillings corresponding with each full revolution
of the first.
For the purpose of setting the apparatus so as to deliver a greater or less
quantity of gas for each coin paid into the receiver, so as to coincide with the fixed
price of gas for the time being, we arrange the mechanism as follows:-
Instead of forming or fixing a worm at the upper part of the ordinary vertical
shaft of the meter for the purpose of actuating the first motion wheel of the
apparatus (as mentioned in the Specification of our Patent No. 1258400), we mount
the said worm loosely upon such vertical shaft and we cast or secure to the lower
side thereof a ratchet wheel, and beneath the latter we fix on the vertical shaft an
arm carrying a pawl which, when thrown into gear with the teeth of the said
ratchet wheel, connects the worm with the vertical shaft and causes it to drive the
delivery apparatus, but when thrown out of gear it releases the worm, and the
vertical shaft will then revolve without acting on the apparatus.
The pawl is put into gear once in each revolution of the vertical shaft by. means
of a fixed incline attached to the back plate of the meter, and it remains in gear
until it is lifted again by an adjustable incline (hereafter described) so that the
action of the apparatus, instead of being continuous as heretofore, is intermittent
and only continues for a certain portion of each revolution of the vertical shaft, and
it will be obvious that by adjusting the position, of the last named incline, the
duration of the action of the machine can be lengthened or shortened, and thus the
amount of gas delivered for a certain payment can be regulated.
For this purpose we connect the second named incline to a rim projecting from
a worm-wheel placed loosely on the vertical shaft below the pawl arm, and this
worm-wheel can be turned by means of a worm so as to set the second incline either.
nearer to or further from the first or fixed incline and thus shorten or lengthen the
time during which the pawl remains in gear. The end of this worm is fitted so
that it can be turned only by a key in possession of the proper person, and the
keyhole may be closed by means of a seal, or otherwise, so as to prevent fraud.

page_text: The rim is graduated and is marked with various prices corresponding with the
usual fluctuations in the price of gas per thousand feet, and if the price of gas
increases the incline is set forward so as to lengthen the time of action of the
ratchet, and so to shut off the gas quicker, and deliver a proportionately less amount
of gas for the price paid, and vice versa.
In order to ensure the perfect closing of the stop valve when the amount of gas
paid
for has been consumed, instead of having the valve on a horizontal spindle as
heretofore, we fix it on a vertical spindle whereby it is more certain to maintain a
central position with regard to its seat and therefore to close with greater accuracy,
and we actuate it from the horizontal sliding spindle by means of a bell crank
lever, or otherwise, and to further ensure the closing of the said valve we prefer to
have two valves one above the other working separately on independent seats and
80 arranged that if one should fail to close perfectly the other can advance and
remedy the defect by closing on its seat, so that there are two chances instead of
one of making the closure perfect.
These improvements are applicable to both dry and wet gas meters.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applican
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Supplying Gas or other Fluid on
Prepayment.
We JOHN HAWKYARD of Shaws Lane Upper Mill Saddleworth in the County
of York Foreman, and JOSEPH BRADDOCK of 72 Windsor Road Oldham in the
County of Lancaster, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates principally to improvements upon the automatic apparatus
for which Letters Patent No. 12584 were granted to us bearing date August 12th
1890 and No. 14655 dated September 17th 1890 the objects of the present improve-
ments being first to indicate the exact number of coins which have been placed in
the receiver independently of the quantity of gas supplied; secondly to afford a
ready means for altering the exact amount of gas supplied for a certain payment so
as to regulate it in accordance with the fixed price of gas for the time being, and
thirdly to render the closing of the stop valve more certain.
The nature of the said invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed or carried into practical effect will be readily understood on reference
to the two sheets of drawings hereunto annexed and the following explanation
thereof.
Fig. 1 on Sheet 1 of the drawings is a front elevation of our improved apparatus
and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same shown partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a detached view of part of the apparatus hereinafter referred to and
Fig. 4 Sheet 2 is a vertical section of the valve apparatus.
In the first place we fix on the outer end of the arbor a* driven by the " "stop
wheel"
9 (mentioned in the Specification of our Patent No. 146550) a small index
or pointer a working in front of a dial 6 marked from 1 to 12 which will show the
number of pence which have been placed in the receiver. On the other end of the
arbor is a small pinion e driving a spur wheel d having twelve times as many teeth,
and on the arbor of this wheel is an index or pointer e working in front of a second
dial falso marked from 1 to 12 so that as the first indicates the pence corresponding
with a portion of a revolution, the second indicates the number of shillings
corresponding with each full revolution of the first.
For the purpose of setting the apparatus so as to deliver a greater or less

page_text: quantity of gas for each coin paid into the receiver, so as to coincide with the fixed
price of gas for the time being, we arrange the mechanism as follows:-
Instead of forming or fixing a worm at the upper part of the ordinary vertical
shaft of the meter for the purpose of actuating the first motion wheel of the
apparatus (as mentioned in the Specification of our Patent No. 12584) we mount
the said worm g loosely upon such vertical shaft hand we fit the same with a
spring g which acts as a brake and we cast or secure to the lower side thereof a
ratchet wheel i, and beneath the latter we fix on the vertical shaft an arm k
carrying a pawl which, when thrown into gear with the teeth of the said ratchet
wheel connects the worm g with the vertical shaft and causes it to drive the
delivery apparatus, but when thrown out of gear it releases the worm, and the
vertical shaft h will then revolve without acting on the apparatus. The pawl is
provided with a spring * which acts as a friction brake, and prevents it from being
accidentally thrown into or out of gear.
The ratchet wheel is provided with a crown ratchet wheel i* into the teeth of
which a holding ratchet or dog j takes to hold the same in position when the pawl /
is out of gear.
The pawl is put into gear once in each revolution of the vertical shaft by means
of a fixed incline or a spring m attached to the back plate of the meter, and it
remains in gear until it is lifted again by an adjustable incline or projection n
(hereafter described) so that the action of the apparatus, instead of being con-
tinuous as heretofore, is intermittent and only continues for a certain portion of
each revolution of the vertical shaft h and it will be obvious that by adjusting the
position of the last named incline or projection n the duration of the action of the
machine can be lengthened or shortened, and thus the amount of gas delivered for
a certain payment can be regulated.
P
For this purpose we connect the incline or projection to a rim o projecting
from a worm-wheel p placed loosely on the vertical shaft below the pawl arm k
and this worm-wheel p can be turned by means of a worm 7 so as to set the
incline n either nearer to or further from the fixed incline or spring m and thus
shorten or lengthen the time during which the pawl remains in gear. The end of
this worm is notched or otherwise fitted so that it can be turned only by a key in
possession of the proper person, and the keyhole may be closed by means of a seal,
or, otherwise, so as to prevent fraud.
The rim o is graduated and is marked with various prices corresponding with the
usual fluctuations in the price of gas per thousand feet, and if the price of gas
increases, the incline n is set forward so as to lengthen the time of action of the
ratchet, and so to shut off the gas quicker, and deliver a proportionately less amount
of gas for the price paid, and vice versa.
In order to ensure the perfect closing of the stop valve a when the amount of
gas paid for has been consumed instead of having the valve on a horizontal spindle
as heretofore, we fix it on a vertical spindle whereby it is more certain to maintain
a central position with regard to its seat and therefore to close with greater
accuracy and we actuate it from the horizontal sliding spindle t by means of a bell
crank levers or otherwise, and to further ensure the closing of the said valve we
prefer to have two valves x and xx one above the other working separately on
independent seats the upper one * being raised by the lower one so that if one
(say) should fail to close perfectly the other (a) can remedy the defect by
closing on its seat, as will be seen by the detached view Fig. 4, so that there are
two chances instead of one of inaking the closure perfect.
These improvements are applicable to both dry and wet gas meters.
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 :-
First The combination of apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the drawings annexed for indicating the number of coins placed

page_text: in the receiver, and for altering the exact amount of gas supplied for a certain
payment and to render the closing of the stop valve more certain.
Secondly-We claim the combination with the stop wheel q of gas supplying
apparatus of the construction hereinbefore referred to of an index or indices
revolving in combination with a dial or dials so arranged as to indicate visibly the
cost in shillings and pence of the gas which has been paid for substantially as
herein before described and illustrated.
Thirdly We claim in combination with an apparatus for supplying gas on
prepayment of the apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
for altering the exact amount of gas supplied for a certain payment. And
Fourthly We claim in combination with an apparatus for supplying gas
on prepayment the use of a stop valve composed of two discs working on two
seatings in the same axial line, one being capable of a slight movement indepen-
dently of the other so as to ensure the perfect closing of the stop valve, substantially
as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1893.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for the Applicants.