Improvements in Coin Freed Meters for Gas and other Fluids.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Freed Meters for Gas and other Fluids.
I, STEPHEN SIMPSON, of 32, Powderham Crescent, Exeter, in the County of
Devon, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to coin-freed apparatus applicable to gas or like meters,
that is to say, apparatus whereby on the insertion of a coin a predetermined
quantity of gas or other fluid is allowed to pass through the meter, after which the
supply is stopped until the insertion of another coin.
The said invention comprises improvements whereby such apparatus may be
made simpler, more efficient, and less liable to fraudulent operation, than is the
case with the present methods of construction.
In one method of carrying my invention into effect when applying the same
to a dry gas meter, a driving pinion is mounted upon a shaft or spindle geared
to any convenient pinion or wheel of the ordinary index of the meter so as to
turn therewith. In line with the said driving pinion, but at right angles thereto,
is a measuring shaft carried in suitable bearings and capable of rotary and also
of longitudinal movement, and upon the said shaft is a long worm (which may have
a single or multiple thread) gearing with the driving pinion aforesaid, the worm
being of such length as to remain in gear with the pinion although the measuring
shaft is moved a considerable distance longitudinally. The measuring shaft is
connected by a lever or other suitable means with the valve controlling the supply,
in such manner that by a longitudinal movement of the shaft in one direction or
the other the said valve is opened or closed.
On the insertion of a coin the measuring shaft with its worm is rotated, (by
a coin operated device to be hereinafter described,) and the driving pinion being
held stationary, (owing to the supply being cut off), the said worm and shaft is
traversed forward by a screwlike action against the teeth of the pinion, which in
this case acts as a nut, and by this means the valve is opened and the gas passes
through the meter.
The meter being thus set in operation, and the driving pinion rotating, the
measuring shaft is moved in the opposite direction, (the worm in this case being
operated after the manner of a rack), so that as the gas paid for is consumed the
valve is gradually closed. Thus the quantity of gas supplied in exchange for
the coin is determined by the amount of longitudinal travel of the measuring
shaft.
The coin operated. device for rotating the measuring shaft consists of a toothed
or notched measuring disc or wheel connected to the said shaft by a feather or
other means so that the shaft may move endwise while the disc or wheel remains
stationary: a coin bolder or receiver revolubly mounted on said shaft and having
a radial slot adapted to receive the coin from the shoot; a spring pawl lever in
said slot which under the action of the coin is thrown into engagement with the
teeth or notches of the measuring disc or wheel; and a stationary cam-plate having
a cam-like ridge or flange projecting therefrom, the said flange or ridge extending

page_text: in a circular direction and having an inclined end. The said cam-plate is so
arranged with relation to the coinholder and to the coin shoot that when a coin
is inserted, falling from the shoot into the slot of the coinholder, and the coin-
holder is rotated by a suitable handle upon the outside of the meter casing the
said coin is carried round some distance until coming in contact with the inclined
end of the cam-like ridge or rim, it is moved edgewise in the slot, thereby forcing
the spring pawl lever into engagement with the measuring disc or wheel, which
is thus carried round, (rotating the measuring shaft and opening the valve as
previously described,) for an angular distance depending upon the extent of the
said rim or flange of the camplate, after which the coin falls from the slot in the
coinholder and passes into the usual coin-box or receptacle.
In some cases I prefer to make the angular extent of the ridge or rim upon the
camplate adjustable, so as to vary the quantity of gas supplied in exchange for
the coin, which is effected by forming the said plate in two parts each having
a ridge or rim of less angular extent and of half the usual thickness, one half
fitting within the other, so that by adjusting the two rims with relation to each
other any desired extent of rim may be obtained.
The measuring shaft is suitably connected to a pointer which indicates upon the
index dial, or upon a separate dial, the quantity of gas prepaid for.
I
In some cases instead of the coin-operated spring pawl herein before referred to
may cause the coin itself to engage with the teeth or notches of the measuring
disc or wheel, and when adopting this method the slot in the coin-holder is prefer-
ably arranged at an angle to the axis, so as to better adapt the coin to the said
teeth or notches.
It will be readily understood that any suitable arrangement may be provided
whereby, when a certain number of coins have been inserted, the coin slot or shoot
is closed automatically; or in some cases the worm upon the measuring shaft
may be of such length as to be screwed out of gear with the driving pinion after
a certain number of coins have been inserted.
Dated this 5th day of October 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Freed Meters for Gas and other Fluids,
I, STEPHEN SIMPSON, of 32, Powderham Crescent, Exeter, in the County of
Devon, 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:-
-
My invention relates to coin freed mechanism, applicable to gas or like meters
whereby on the insertion of a coin a determined quantity of gas or other fluid
is permitted to pass through the meter, after which the supply is cut off until the
insertion of another coin..
The object of the invention is to render such mechanism simpler, more efficient,
and less liable to fraudulent operation than is the case in mechanism of this class
usually employed for the operation of gas or like meters.
My invention consists of the improvements hereafter described and with refer-
ence to the accompanying drawings in which: --
Figure 1 is a partial front exterior elevation of a dry gas meter provided with
a coin freed mechanism according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a partial sectional elevation through the coin freed mechanism,
while

page_text: Figure 3 is a complete plan partly in section showing the meter with its cover
removed.
Figures 4 and 5 are respective diametric sections corresponding to Figures 2
and 3 and showing more particularly the operating coin holder in section.
Figures 6 and 7 are front elevation and plan respectively of an adjustable cam
plate and Figures 7 and 7" are respectively elevations of each segment of the
cam plate cut by the line ay (Figure 6). Figures 8, 9 and 9 are respectively
cross sectional elevation and plans of alternative modifications of a coin operated
device designed according to my invention, while Figures 10 and 11 are corre-
sponding views of a further alternative modification.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied to a dry gas meter I provide
a driving wheel A mounted upon a shaft A geared in the train of the ordinary
index of the meter so as to be rotated to a determined small extent by the meter
in its operation, whilst coincident with such pinion A but at right angles thereto
I provide a measuring shaft B within suitable bearings b b which is capable both
of rotary and longitudinal movement. Upon the measuring shaft B is provided
a single or multiple threaded worm B which gears with the driving pinion A
the worm being of such length as to remain in gear with the pinion, although
the measuring shaft is moved a considerable distance longitudinally. The
measuring shaft B in its longitudinal movement in one direction or the other
is capable of operating the valve C¹, which is of the usual type, by such means
as a transverse lever C pivotted at c and secured to move with the shaft B by
means of a pin C2 lying within an annular recess in the shaft formed by the
shoulder B2 and flange B. The opposite extremity of the valve operating lever C
is secured to the upper extremity of the spindle of the valve C¹ and a spiral
spring is provided which acts upon the upper extremity of the spindle and
tends to maintain the lever C in close contact with the flange B3 thus ensuring
positive operation of the valve C¹; while the arrangement of the lever C in rela-
tion to the shaft B is such that the initial opening of the valve due to the introduc-
tion of and operation by a coin is a relatively large amount which suffices for the
unrestricted passage of the gas through the meter.
Upon the rotation of the measuring shaft B which is effected upon the introduc-
tion of a coin and by operation of the coin holder as hereinafter described, the
pinion A which is held stationary owing to the supply being previously cut off
acts as a nut upon the worm B and causes a corresponding longitudinal move-
ment of the shaft, thereby causing the valve C¹ to be lifted from its seat so pér-
mitting the passage of the gas through the meter. The meter being thus set in
operation effects the movement of the index and the movement of the pinion A
in the direction of the arrow is thereby produced, so that as the gas paid for is
consumed the measuring shaft B returns in the direction of the arrow 2, and
causes the corresponding return movement of the valve operating lever C and the
closure of the valve. Thus it will be seen that the quantity of the gas supplied
in exchange for a coin is determined by the amount of longitudinal movement
of the measuring shaft which results from its rotation upon the introduction of
a coin.
...Upon the opposite extremity of the measuring shaft B a toothed or notched
measuring disc or wheel D is provided. which may be connected to the said shaft
by a feather or other means permitting of the longitudinal motion of the shaft
and the stationary position of the disc or wheel D).
It is preferred however to mount the measuring disc or wheel D upon a sleeve D³,
such, sleeve receiving the extremity of the measuring shaft B within and together
with which it is capable of rotary movement by means of a key way B provided
upon the shaft B in which slides the end of a pin D2 provided upon the sleeve D³
so that the longitudinal movement of the shaft is at the same time freely per-
mitted. The sleeve D³ is provided and rotates within a bearing boss b integrally
provided upon a plate 62 secured upon the exterior of the meter casing, while upon
the extremity of the sleeve D3. a collar d.is provided and secured thereto by the

page_text: pin D. This collar serves the purpose of an abutment for a spiral spring D¹³,
which has for its purpose to maintain the measuring disc or wheel D in frictional
contact with the plate 62 so as to ensure that the movement of the measuring disc
or wheel shall only be permitted upon and during positive operation.
A coin holder E may be mounted upon the extremity of the measuring shaft B
so as to be capable of free rotation but it is preferred to mount the coin holder
within the boss or sleeve D³ of the measuring disc or wheel D with its opposite
extremity B in a bearing upon a cover plate J which is secured upon the sup-
porting plate 62 fixed to the exterior of the meter casing by means of bolts or
distance pieces 63, respectively rivetted or secured to the supporting plate 62, the
cover plate being secured to their opposite extremities by such means as the
headed screws illustrated. A small milled headed wheel B is provided upon the
projecting extremity B5 for operating the coin holder E. The coin holder E is
formed with a radial slot E¹ adapted to receive a coin F from the shoot G, and
within such slot a spring pawl lever H is provided which pivots upon a pin H³
that may be introduced and applied in position from the periphery of the coin
holder as illustrated in Figure 4. The spring pawl lever H has a foot H2 which
determines its normal position maintained by means of the spring H, and is
thrown into engagement with the teeth or notches D¹ of the wheel I upon the
further rotation of the coin holder after the introduction of a coin as hereinafter
described.
The cover plate J as illustrated in Figures 2, 6, and 7 is provided with a circular
cam like ridge or flange J1 J1, projecting upon its interior face, such flange has
an inclined end J2 and is so arranged in relation to the coin holder as to trans-
versely project into the slot E¹ the faces of the slot being recessed at E³ that this
may be permitted so that when the coin is inserted through the shoot G falling
into the slot E¹ of the coin holder and on the coin holder being rotated by the
handle or wheel 17 the coin is carried to a small extent and comes into contact
with the inclined end J2 of the cam like ridge or rim J, and by the further rotary
movement of the coin holder the coin is moved edgewise in the slot by reason of
the projection therein of the stationary ridge or flange JJ, thereby forcing the
spring pawl lever H into engagement with the teeth of the measuring disc or
wheel I which is thus carried round effecting the rotation of the measuring shaft
and thereby opening the valve as before described. The amount of effective
angular movement of the coin holder E is determined by the extent of the rim
or flange J, J, of the cover or cam plate J; for the coin upon reaching the
extremity of the rim or flange J1, J1, is released from pressure against the spring
pawl lever H, and thereby on the further rotation of the coin holder ceases to
engage and cause the rotation of the measuring shaft so that the coin being then
free falls into the coin box or receptacle G³, provided beneath as illustrated.
A stop or guard G³ Figure 3 is provided upon the plate 62 in a position coinci-
lent with the coin shoot G so that when the slot E is in coincidence with the
shoot the pawl H shall be precluded from engagement with the measuring wheel D
so that the wheel is thereby protected from being tampered with. The stop or
guard G³ further serves the purpose of determining the backward position of the
coin holder E by contact with a projection E", provided thereupon, while a fixed
stop pin G (Figures 4 and 5) is provided upon the plate 62 to terminate the forward
position of the coin holder by contact with the aforesaid projection El.
A pawi D is provided for preventing the backward motion of the measuring
wheel. A guard G₁ is provided which surrounds the periphery of the coin
holder E and precludes the possibility of the fall of the coin from the coin holder
until it is released by the spring pawl lever H when it falls into the coin recep-
tacle G5 through the opening G³.
The coin holder and the mechanism arranged upon the exterior of the outer
casing is enveloped in a casing G6 upon the upper surface of which the shoot G
is provided while a coin receptacle G5 is arranged beneath.
It is preferred in some cases, however, to provide for the adjustment of the

page_text: extent of effective angular movement of the coin holder by providing the rim
or flange J¹, J, adjustable upon the cam or cover plate J thereby permitting
the gas supplied in exchange for a coin to be varied in quantity. This is effected
as illustrated in the drawings by by providing the cover or cam plate J of two
parts the part being provided with a ridge or flange J and the extremity j
while the other part jl is provided with a flange J", about the other J, and this
terminates with the inclined part J2 so that by movement of the part in
relation to the part the angular distance between the extremity and the
inclined part Js may be varied as required. Holes J³ may be provided in the
plate into which a screw J may be caused to engage for the fixture of the part j'
any determined position in relation to the other.
in
It is preferred in some cases to dispense with the coin operated spring pawl H
and the coin itself is caused to engage with the teeth or notches of the measuring
wheel D by means such as is illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings. In such cases the slot E of the coin holder is preferably arranged
at an angle to its axis so as to better adapt the coin for engagement with the
measuring disc or wheel D. A guard G³ is provided for the prevention of the
surreptitious operation of the measuring disc or wheel by the introduction of
wire or other means; and is preferably inclined so as to maintain a constant
distance from the inclined extremity J2 of the ridge or flange J1 J", so that
thereby the coin is positively held in its path and cannot fall into engagement
with the measuring wheel except upon reaching the summit of the incline Ja of
the ridge or flange. A spring may however be provided having the same effect
of preventing the fall of the coin into engagement with the measuring wheel
except by the rim or flange of the cam plate. The guard G3 as illustrated in
Figure 94
may be rigidly connected to the movable portion j¹ of the cam or cover
plate J by which means the guard and the inclined part J2 occupy the same
relative position upon the adjustment of the part j¹ and this arrangement might
be applied to the other modifications herein described.
Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a further modification of my invention in which
instead of the measuring disc or wheel D being operated by a spring pawl lever
or by the coin itself a sliding pawl H is provided for the purpose, and is mounted
within the coin holder and under the action of a spring H tending to maintain
the pawl H from engagement with the measuring disc or wheel D.
After the insertion of the maximum number of coins capable of being prepaid
simultaneously the slot E' of the coin holder E is prevented from coming opposite
to the coin shoot G by means of the pin L, the opposite end of which is secured
to the extremity of a trip lever L' and is forced out by means of the flange B³ on
contact with the extremity of the trip lever L¹, the pin L projecting into the path
of the pin E provided laterally upon the coin holder E. The pin L is normally
kept from projecting into the path of this pin E" by feet L³ which rest upon the
shaft and which do not permit of the movement of the opposite extremity of the
trip lever until the flange 133 makes contact when the groove B7 allows the tilting
of the trip lever L'. The measuring shaft B is suitably connected to a pointer K
which indicates at K2 upon the index dial K¹ the quantity of gas prepaid for. The
pointer K is mounted on the guide rod K+ sliding in bearings K³, the plate K³
engaging with the groove B8 of the measuring shaft B so as to move therewith.
In some cases instead of closing the coin slot or shoot after the introduction
of the determined number of coins the worm upon the measuring shaft may be
of such a length as to be screwed out of gear with the driving pinion, so that
urther insertion of coins will not damage the mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
nvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is:-
1. In coin freed mechanism applicable to gas and like meters means for effecting
he operation of the measuring shaft consisting in combination with

page_text: provided with a slot and a pawl within such slot of a cain plate which on the
rotation of the coin holder causes the coin to press against the pawl and the pawl to
engage with the measuring wheel provided upon the measuring shaft, the whole
operating as described.
$
"
12. In coin freed mechanism applicable to gas and like meters means for effecting
the operation of the measuring shaft consisting in combination with a coin
holder provided with a slot of a cam plate which on the rotation of the coin-holder
causes the coin to engage with the measuring wheel provided upon the measuring
shaft, the whole operating as described.
3. In means for effecting the operation of the measuring, shaft of coin freed
mechanism such as specified in the preceding, claims a cam plate adjustable for
variation of the extent of cam surface so as to vary the extent of forward rotary
movement of the measuring shaft and the quantity of gas in exchange for the
inserted coin, as described.
1.4. In coin freed mechanism applicable to gas and like meters means for posi-
tively effecting the operation of the valve from the measuring shaft, consisting of
a pivotted lever transversely disposed to the shaft and secured to move therewith
by theans such as a pin within an annular recess on the shaft and a flange against
which a spring may cause the lever to press so that the longitudinal movement
of the measuring shaft may be communicated to, the pivotted lever so as to
effectively operate the valve and open to a greater proportional extent, as described.
5. In coin freed mechanism applicable to gas and like meters means for pre-
venting further movement of the measuring shaft after a determined number of
coins have been inserted. consisting of a stop or its equivalent provided upon the
coin holder and a trip lever whose base lies normally upon the measuring shaft
and whose upper extremity is secured to a pin which is caused to. project into
the path of the stop and precludes the coincidence of the slot of the coin holder
with the coin shoot or prevents the forward movement of the coin holder upon
contact of the trip lever with a flange such as B3, the whole operating as described.
6. In means for effecting the operation of the measuring shaft of coin freed
mechanism such as specified in the preceding Claims 1 and 2 a cam plate adjust-
able for variation of the extent of cam surface substantially as described and illus
trated with reference to Figures 2, 6, and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In means for effecting the operation of the measuring shaft of coin. freed
mechanism such as specified in the preceding Claim 2 a guard such as G3 having
an inclined edge substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore, described.
8. In means for effecting the operation of the measuring shaft of coin freed
mechanism such as specified in the preceding Claims 1 and 2 a combined plate
and guard for the purpose and substantially as described.
9. In coin freed mechanism applicable to gas and like meters means for effecting
the operation of the measuring shaft as herein before described with reference
respectively to Figures 2 and 3, 8, 9 and 9, and 10 and 11 of the accompanying
drawings.
10. Coin freed mechanism applicable to gas and like meters arranged and
operating for the purpose and as herein before described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of July 1898.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London; W:C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.