Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1890
Complete Specification. Left, 25th May, 1891-Accepted, 23rd July, 1891
.I, WILLIAM COWAN of Buccleuch Street, Works, Edinburgh, in the County of Mid-:
Lothian, Gas Apparatus Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention is applicable to both wet and dry gas meters, and has for its object
the provision of means, of a simple character, for securing that when a given quantity
of gas has passed through the meter the supply will be either shut off, or so reduced'
that an application to the gas authorities for a further supply will become necessary.
The invention also provides means whereby the intervention of the gas authorities,
for the above purpose, may be dispensed with, by enabling the consumer himself to
obtain a supply of gas, and, from time to time, such further supplies as be may require,
on his depositing in the money box of the meter one or more coins equal in value to
the supply of gas he thus pays for.
When the invention is applied to a wet gas meter, a supplementary valve is added
and is so placed, as regards the inlet of the meter, that all gas entering must pass '
through the supplementary valve before reaching the ordinary valve box. If, there-
fore, the supplementary valve be open, gas will pass into the ordinary valve box and
thence into the meter, but if the supplementary valve be closed, the ordinary valve
will receive no gas till the supplementary valve has been opened. Whether the
supplementary valve be closed, or open, depends on the index which controls a lever
that operates the valve by means of a worm, (or in some cases a cam), carried on, or
geared into, the projecting axis of one or other of the index wheels. The axis of the
lever, which is near the centre, works on a fulcrum and one end of the lever has the
supplementary valve cover fixed to it, whilst the other end is in contact with the
worm, (or cam) on the index wheel axis above referred to.
The lever is constructed in two parts which are connected together by a cross-
shait of suitable length and at right angles to the two arins. One of the arms of the
lever, and about half of the connecting cross-shaft, are within the supplementary
valve box, whilst the other arm, and the remainder of the cross shaft, are outside the
valve box, The cross shaft thus passes through an opening in the side of the
supplementary valve box and being free to move therein the opening is made gas-
tight in either of the two following ways. One mode is, to form on the cross shaft
aground plug," and to construct, or form, the wall of the valve box into a corre-
sponding "barrel," so that the ground plug and the barrel, will form a gastight joint,
capable of easy motion, after the manner of a gas tap but without any passage
through it. Another mode of making the opening in the valve box gastight is to

page_text: form on the outside wall of the valve box, round the opening, a "nipple" or "nozzle,"
and to form a corresponding nipple or nozzle on that part of the cross shaft which is
outside the valve box. Over these two nipples is drawn a small piece of india rubber
tube, or sleeve composed of suitable flexible material. The lever is therefore free to
move, because the flexible material between the two nozzles yields, or turns slightly
upon itself, whilst, at the same time, the joint is kept perfectly gas tight.
When the supplementary valve is open a projecting portion of that end of the lever
which is outside the valve box lies upon, or bears into, the groove of the worm, (or
the cam) which is operated by the index, but when the valve is closed the lever lies upon
the roller end of the worm,(or if a cam be employed falls into a hole or catch provided
for the purpose), which being of smaller diameter than the worm groove, allows the
_valve to close, and keeps it closed, till external interference has replaced the lever in
the groove of the worm, (or in the proper part of the cam), and, by doing so, opens
the valve. The worm is so constructed, that when a certain point in its revolution
has been reached the part of the lever that bears on it escapes from the groove, and
rests on the smaller diameter of the roller. The valve is thus closed by the mere
action of the index, but as no force is employed no obstruction is offered to the
progress of the index in the event of the valve being either intentionally or
accidentally leaky. The mechanism of the meter is subjected to no strain whatever.
To enable the end of the valve lever to be transferred from the roller, back into the
groove of the worm, that end of the lever is made capable of moving laterally from
the point where it joins the cross-shaft. The transfer of the lever from the roller to
the groove, is effected from the outside of the meter by means of another lever, one
end of which is accessible from the outside, on the removal of a sealed catch or cover,
whilst the other end is inside the index box and in the necessary position for operating
upon the valve lever when the latter has to be inoved off the roller, over the thread
of the worm, into the groove, and the valve thereby reopened.
In applying the invention to dry gas meters a supplementary valve similar to that
which has been described, as being applicable to wet meters, is interposed between
the inlet and the ordinary dry meter valve chamber, and for the same purpose as
described in connection with the wet meter. The supplementary valve box, and its
appendages, may be placed in any convenient part of the unoccupied space outside of
the ordinary valve chamber in the upper part of the dry meter. The supplementary
valve box receives all the gas from the inlet and allows it to enter the ordinary valve
chamber of the meter only when the supplementary valve is open. The lever and
worm arrangement (or in certain cases the cam arrangement) and also the arrange-
ment of the index, are practically the same as employed for the wet meter, and the
Bane remark applies to the ground plug" and "barrel," and also to the
flexible tube or sleeve arrangements already described in connection with the wet
meter.
66
The form of supplementary valve that I prefer is the ordinary "drop" valve, but
other forms of valves might be employed.
The foregoing arrangements (both of wet and dry gas meters) provides for the
shutting off of the gas only when one certain quantity has been passed say for
example 1,000 feet. In this case the worin (or cam) may be conveniently carried by,
or geared directly to, the axis of the pointer which indicates 1,000 feet on the
ordinary index dial. One advantage of such an arrangement is, that it avoids the
necessity for making any other addition to the index than the worm or cain. But
there might, in certain cases, be dis-advantage in an arrangement admitting of only
one particular quantity of gas being dealt with, and no other, and to meet this diffi-
culty the following modification of the index arrangement becomes necessary when
varying quantities have to be provided for.
To enable varying quantities of gas to be furnished the index dial is provided with
a special prepayinent circle, the maximum registration of which may be any con-
venient quantity. This circle is divided into small quantities, say of one hundred
feet each. The pointer which indicates upon this circle is driven by the ordinary
index train, but the gearing is so arranged, that this prepayment pointer may be set

page_text: for any prepaid quantity of gas without in any way disturbing the index and its
registration. The pre-payment pointer shaft carries a grooved pulley, (or cam), which
has a hole in the groove into which hole the end of the lever, (bent upwards for the
purpose), passes, and so allows the valve to close when the pointer returns to the zero
position. The same shaft carries, likewise, the gearing wheel by which the index
drives it, but this gearing wheel is only kept tight on the shaft by means of a spring
fixed on the shaft which presses upon the wheel. This gives to the wheel sufficient
grip" to enable it to turn the shaft when the index moves, but it leaves the shaft
free to be itself turned, independently of the gearing wheel and the index, when the
pointer has to be set.
$6
The mode of setting the pointer is by means of spokes fixed to the circumference.
of the grooved pulley, or cain, and accessible to the fingers on the removal of a sealed
cover on the top of the index box.
These provisions for varying quantities which are above described in connection
with the wet meter are also applicable to the dry meter and the arrangements are
practically the same.
For the purpose of enabling a consumer to obtain a supply of gas through a wet
meter by depositing a coin, and without the assistance of a gas official, the following.
apparatus is used in connection with the index. On the shaft which carries the
pointer of the special dial there is mounted a wheel having a deep grove in its
periphery and another close behind it provided with teeth into which a ratchet or
pawi may fall. One end of the lever attached to the supplementary valve bears
against the bottom of the groove of the wheel before mentioned, and as long as it,
remains so the valve is kept open, but on the wheel attaining a certain position the
extreme end of the lever enters a hole in the bottom of the groove, when the valve.
will fall and shut off the supply of gas. Behind the wheel and at one or two inches
from it is the back of what I will call the coin box, and at the top of the index case
there is a slit to receive the coin. This slit communicates with a curved shoot that
leads the coin to fall between two movable bars, one placed vertically and the other
horizontally, the coin being supported on its edge by the curved foot of the horizontal
bar. This borizontal bar is curved, works through a guide, and is pivotted vertically
to another horizontal bar which I will designate the pushing bar. The pushing bar
also works through guides and at its outer extremity, which extends to and projects
beyond the outside of the case, is furnished, with a disc or knob. To the back of the
case or coin box one end of a curved spring is fastened, the other end pressing against
a stud fixed to the side of the pushing bar, so that upon pressing the disc or knob the
pushing bar is made to advance, but upon being released the spring causes the
pushing bar to resume its former position. To the front of the pushing bar a. pawl
is pivotted, one end being weighted while the other is capable of falling between the
teeth of a stationary borizontal rack, and has two projecting studs.
The pivot upon
which the pawl is hung also supports a mercurial tumbler, which has the effect of
keeping the pawl free from the teeth of the rack until the proper time arrives for it
(the pawi) to fail.
The vertical bar before mentioned which I will now call the pawl bar, has at the
lower end of it a horizontal bar working through guides fixed to the back of the case.
The upper end has also a short horizontal bar fixed to it, and to this bar is pivotted a
heavy, pawl that falls between the teeth of the wheel mounted upon the arbor first
mentioned. Attached to the back of the case there is a spring that presses against
one end of the horizontal bar so as to cause the bar to resume its normal position
after being made to advance by the pushing bar through the intervention of the
coin.
Under some circumstances it may be found better to mount the toothed and
grooved wheels on their arbor loosely, or with a spring so as to convert the combined
wheels into slip-wheels, when they will allow of being pushed forward by the pawl a
predetermined number of notches, but will remain stationary until again pushed
forward by the pawl.
In order to meet the possibility of a change in the price of gas, au arın pivotted

page_text: upon the arbor carrying the wheels, and the end of this arm is fashioned into the
segment of a circle that rises slightly above the toothed wheel and supports the lower
edge of the pawl. The arm has pivotted to it a lever that is capable of adjustment by
a pointer and graduated scale mounted in an enclosure on the outside of the case
accessible to the gas official only and determines the extent to which the toothed
wheel shall revolve on actuating the pushing bar, and by so doing limit the flow
of gas to the quantity corresponding with the value of the coin inserted.
In some cases it may be found desirable to make the straight portion of the pushing
bar in two parts the one projecting outside the case working in collars or guides and
capable of operating upon the portion within by pushing the disc, but having no
effect upon the interior mechanism when drawing it.
In order to prevent the coin when once inserted being surreptitiously withdrawn,
the curved part of the pushing bar is furnished with a guard.
The action of the apparatus is as follows. Into the slit a coin is placed. The coin
falls down the shoot until it rests. between the horizontal and vertical bars. The disc
or knob is then pushed home when through the intervention of the coin motion will
be conveyed to the pawl bar which by the action of the pawl will cause the toothed
wheel to move forward a pre-determined number of teeth corresponding with the
quantity of gas of the value of the coin. As soon as the disc or knob is released from
pressure the coin will fall into the receptacle below and a supply will take place
until gas of the value of the coin has been consumed.
The coin operating part of the apparatus may be applied to dry meters as well as
wet. The only difference being that the case containing the mechanism will project
beyond the front of the ordinary meter, and the small testing circle of the index will be
removed to one side of the front of it.
"
Improvements in Pre-payment Gas Meters",
I, WILLIAM COWAN, of Buccleuch Street Works, Edinburgh, Gas Meter Manufacturer
etc, 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 improvements in pre-payment gas meters, and is applicable
to both wet and dry gas meters, and has for its object the provision of means, of a
simple character, for securing that when a given quantity of gas has passed through
the meter the supply will be either shut off or so reduced that an application to the
gas authorities for a further supply will become necessary. The invention also
provides means whereby the intervention of the gas authorities for the above purpose,
may be dispensed with by enabling the consumer himself to obtain a supply of gas,
and, from time to time such further supplies as he may require.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe a few modes of carrying the same into
practice, with reference to the annexed explanatory sheets of drawings, throughout
which the same reference letters denote similar parts.
When the invention is applied to a a wet gas meter, as shown in part sectional
elevation, part plan and part cross section Figures 1. 2. and 3, and in a detail
Figure 4, a supplementary valve A, is added, and is, so placed as regards the inlet B,

page_text: of the meter, that all gas entering must pass through this supplementary valve A,
before reaching the ordinary valve box C, of the ineter. If therefore the said supple-
mentary valve A be open gas will' pass into the ordinary valve box C, and thence into
the meter, but if the said supplementary valve A be closed the ordinary valve will
receive no gas till the said supplementary valve A has been opened. Whether the
said supplementary valve A, be closed, or open, depends on the index D, which
controls a lever E, that operates the valve A by means of a worn F, (or in some
cases a cam), carried on or geared into the projecting axis of one or other of the
index wheels. The axis of the said lever E, which is near the centre, works on a
fulcrum and one end e of said lever E which is made in two parts, e and el, connected
together by a cross shaft e, has the supplementary valve cover a, fixed to it, whilst
the other end e¹, is in contact with the worm F (or cam,) ou the index wheel axis above
referred to.
:
The said cross connecting shaft e² of the lever E, is made of suitable length and is
mounted at right angles the two arms e and el, so as to enable the arin e, and about
half of the said shaft, being mounted within the supplementary valve box al, and
within which it is free to move, whilst the other arm e', and the remainder of the
cross shaft e, are outside the said valve box a¹.
The part of the cross shaft which passes through an opening in the side of the
supplementary valve box a', is made gas tight, preferably by forming on the outside
and around the opening in the supplementary valve box a¹, a
"nipple" or
"nozzle" a, and by forming a corresponding "nipple" or "nozzle" e³, on that part
of the said cross shaft e, which is outside the valve box a¹. Over these two
nipples a, and e, is drawn a small tube or sleeve et, composed of india rubber or other
suitable flexible material and which is suitably secured to both the nipples in such a
manner as to allow of the free movement of the lever E, owing to the flexible
material sleeve et, between the two nipples a², and e, yielding or slightly turning
upon itself whilst, at the same time the joint thus made is kept perfectly
gas-tight.
When the said supplementary valve A is open a projecting portion of the
part e, of the said lever E, which is outside the valve box al, lies upon, or bears into,
the groove f, of the worm F, (or in some cases the cam) which is operated by the
index D, but when the said supplementary valve A is closed the part e, of the said
lever E, lies upon the roller end f¹, of the said worm F, as shown more particularly in
Figure 3, (or if a cam be employed falls into a hole or catch provided for the purpose,)
which being of smaller diameter than the worm groove f, allows the said valve A to
close, and keeps it closed, till external interference has replaced the end, of the
said lever E, in the groove f, of the worm F, (or on the proper part of the cam) and
by so doing opens the valve A. The said worm F, (shown in detail Figure 4) is so
constructed, that when a certain point in its revolution has been reached the part 65,
of the lever E, that bears on it escapes from the groove f, and rests on the smaller
diameter of the roller f¹, and it is also provided with a suitable guard piece f², so as to
prevent the part es, being placed beyond the worm F when being replaced in the
groove f, from the outside. The valve A is thus closed by the mere action of the
index D, but as no force is employed no obstruction is offered to the progress of
the index D in the event of the said valve A being either intentionally or
accidentally leaky. The mechanism of the meter being subjected to no strain
whatever.
To enable the end of the said lever E, to be transferred by outside interference
from the roller fl, back into the groove f, of the worin F, the part e¹ of the lever E,
is made capable of moving laterally from the point where it joins the cross shaft e².
The transfer of the said part e, of the lever E, from the roller f¹ to the groove f, is
effected from the outside of the meter by means of a suitably bent lever G, which is
pivotted at g, to a suitable standard gl, and having its one end gå, outside the meter
so that on the removal of a sealed catch G, Figure 1, or cover, is easily accessible to
the operator; the other end g³, of said lever G is inside the index box d, and is so
shaped and placed in position for operating upon the valve lever E as to take the
.

page_text: pinoff, the roller f1, over the thread of the worm F, into the groove f, when required
and thereby reopen the valve.
In applying the foregoing to dry gas meters, I employ a supplementary valve
similar to that which has been described, as being applicable to wet meters, the said
supplementary valve being interposed between the inlet and the ordinary dry meter
valve chamber, and for the same purpose as described in connection with the wet
meter.
The supplementary valve box, and its appendages, may be placed in any convenient
part of the unoccupied space outside of the ordinary valve chamber in the upper part
of the dry meter. The said supplementary valve box receives all the gas from the
inlet and allows it to enter the ordinary valve chamber of the ineter only when the
supplementary valve is open. The lever and worm arrangement (or in certain cases,
the cam arrangement) and also the arrangement of the index are practically the same
as already described with reference to a wet meter, and the same remark applies to
the flexible tube or sleeve gas-tight joint arrangement already described with reference
to a wet meter.
The form of supplementary valve that I preferably employ in the carrying out of my
invention, is the ordinary "drop" valve, though if desired I may employ any other
suitable form of valve..
The whole of the foregoing arrangements (both for wet and dry gas meters) are such
that they provide for the shutting off of the gas only when a certain quantity has been
passed, say for example 1000 feet.
In this case the worm F, (or cam) may be conveniently carried by, or geared
directly to the axis of the pointer which indicates 1000 feet on the ordinary index
dial. One advantage of such an arrangement is, that it avoids the necessity for
making any other addition to the ordinary index than the worm or cam. But there
might, in certain cases, be disadvantage in such an arrangement which only admits
of one certain quantity of gas being dealt with, and no other quantity, and to meet this
difficulty the following modification of the index arrangement becomes necessary when
varying quantities have to be provided for..
To enable varying quantities of gas to be furnished the index dial H, shown in
elevation Figure 9, is provided with a special pre-payment circle h, the maximum
registration of which may be any convenient quantity, though in the example shown
it is 1000 feet. The circle is divided into small quantities, say one hundred feet
each. The pointer which indicates upon this circle is driven by the ordinary index
train D, Figures 5, 6 and 7, but the gearing of the said train is so arranged, that this
pre-payment pointer may be set for any pre-paid quantity of gas, without in any way
disturbing the index and its registration.
Referring to Figures 5, 6, and 7, which represent, in part sectional elevation, part
plan and part cross section, the arrangement, as constructed for a wet meter to deal
with varying quantities of gas, is provided, as described with reference to Figures 1,
2 and 3, with a supplementary valve A, valve box a, inlet B, ordinary valve box C,
index D, and lever E formed in two parts e and e', and provided with flexible gas tight
joint e, and bent up or projecting piece e.
The pre-payment pointer shaft, carries a grooved pulley G (or in some cases a
cam), which has a hole g, formed in the groove and into which the bent up or
projecting ende, of the lever E, passes, and so allows the valve A, to close when the
pointer returns to the zero position. The said shaft h', carries, likewise, the gearing
wheel J, by which the index D, drives it, but the said gearing wheel J, is only kept
tight on the shaft h¹, by means of the spring j, which is fixed on the said shaft h¹,
and which has sufficient spring in it to press against the said wheel J; and so give it
sufficient "grip" to enable it to turn or drive the shaft h¹, when the index D, moves,
but it also leaves the said shaft h', free to be itself turned, independently of the
gearing wheel J, and the index D, when the pointer has to be set.
i The mode of setting the said pointer is by means of spokes K, fixed to the circum-
ference of the grooved pulley G, (or cam) or to an auxiliary side rim or wheel K,
which are accessible to the fingers on the removal of a sealed cover L, shown in

page_text: elevation Figure 8, and plan Figure 8ª, provided on the top of the index box d. The
detent e, is removed froin the hole 9 of the grooved wheel G by the operator turning
the said spokes K, in the proper direction there being sufficient spring in the valve
le ver E to pe rmit of this."
The foregoing provisions for enabling the meter to fit or suit varying quantities of
gas as already described with reference to wet meters, are also applicable to dry meters,
in which the arrangements are practically the same.
My said invention also relates to means for allowing the consumer to obtain a
supply of gas through a wet meter, without the assistance of a gas official, by simply
depositing in the meter a coin or coins corresponding to the amount of gas required,
and consists in the employment of a price varying apparatus in connection with the
index.
In adapting the foregoing to a wet meter as illustrated in part sectional elevation
Figure 10 and plan Figure 11, and a part also in cross section Figure 12, taken on.
line 1, 2 of Figure 10 and in end elevation shown partly in section Figure 13 and in
detail views Figures 14, 15 and 16, I mount on the index wheel's special pointer
shaft h, a wheel M, having a deep grove m, in its periphery, and another wheel N,.
close behind the said wheel M; the said wheel N being provided with teeth n, into
which a ratchet or pawi P may engage. The end es, of the lever E, attached to the
supplementary valve A, bears against the bottom of the groove m, of the wheel M,
and so long as it remains so the said supplementary valve A, remains open, but on the
wheel M attaining a certain position, that is to say when the special dial pointer
reaches zero, the end es, of the said lever E, enters a hole m³, in the bottom of the
said groove m of the wheel M, and so allows the cover a to fall and so close the said.
valve A, thus cutting off the supply of gas to the ordinary valve box C, as herein before
described.
Behind the said wheel N, and at one or two inches from it is the back of the index
case d, at the back of which I form the coin box Q, which extends down to the one'
side of the meter where it is provided with a suitable coin receptacle Q', which may
be provided with any suitable sealing device.
Or as a modification of the said coin box and receptacle, I may form the same
inside the front of the meter preferably in the top right hand corner Q2 Figure 10, and
form part of the meter front so as to act as a hinged door which may be locked or
otherwise sealed. At the top of the index case d, there is provided a slit or opening
through which the top end of a curved shoot R, extends, the shoot R communicates
with, or leads the coin to drop between two moveable bars, one of which is placed
vertically and the other horizontally, and owing to the construction of said bars the
coin is retained until an external disc or knob has been operated.
The said horizontal bar S, is curved and works through a guide &, in the bracket s¹,
and is pivotted at its one end to another horizontal bar St, which I will designate the
pushing bar. The said pushing bar S¹, also works in guides, provided in the said
bracket, and its outer extremity extends to and projects beyond the outside of the
ind ex case where it is provided with a suitable disc or knob. Or I may so construct
the said pushing bar S₁, as shown in Figures 10, 11, 15 and 16, in two parts S¹, and 82,
and provide a suitable guide, on the outside of the index case d, for the said :
part 8, which in this case has the disc or knob, secured at its outer end, the
advantage of said arrangement being, that when the said disc or knob, is pushed'
in it operates the internal part S₁, in a forward direction but has no effect on it when
being withdrawn.
To the back of the index case d, and within the same, one end of a curved spring 55
is fastened, the other end pressing against a stud 87, fixed to the side of the said
pushing bar S', so that on pressing the disc or knob s, the pushing bar S¹ is caused
to advance, but upon releasing the disc or knob, the spring 8 causes the said
pushing bar S! to resume its normal position. To the front side of the said pushing :
bar S¹, I pivot a pawl T, one end of which is weighted, while the other end is provided
with a 'point t, so as to fall into and engage with the teeth of a stationary rack T

page_text: which has two projecting studs or pins t₁, t¹, formed on or attached to its side, there
being also two projecting studs or pins t2, 2, provided on the side of the said pawl T.
Upon the same pivot as the said pawl T is mounted, I also mount a mercurial
tumbler T2 which has a projecting tail piece t³, which, on the pushing bar SI being
pushed home comes against the left hand pin t¹ on rack and so causes the tumbler to
be thrown on the pawl's left hand pin t, and remain there until the bar resumes its
normal position when the tumbler is thrown on to the other pin 2 by the tail piece t³
coming against the right hand pin t¹. If the pushing bar should not be pushed home
the pawl would engage with the rack and so be held in that position.
The vertical bar before mentioned, and which I will designate as the pawl bar U,
has at its lower end a horizontal bar U¹, which works in guides formed in the
bracket u, attached to the back of the index case d. The upper end of said pawl
bar U, has also a short horizontal bar U2, fixed to it, and to the said bar U³, is
pivotted, a heavy pawl P, that falls between and engages with the teeth of the
wheel N, herein before mentioned.
".
The said pawl bar U is also provided with a spring u¹, which is attached at its one
end to the back of the index case d, while its other end presses against the end of the
lower horizontal bar U, and so causes the said pawl and bars to resume their normal
position after having been advanced by the pushing bar through the intervention of a
coin A A, as shown more particularly in plan in Figures 15 and 16, the former of
which shows the coin in position just before the external disc or knob is actuated and
the latter shows the coin about to drop into the money box, that is to say just when
the disc or knob has been pushed home after which the two bars, that is to say the
pushing bar and the pawl bar, are brought back to their normal positions by means of
their springs. And in order to prevent the coin from being surreptitiously withdrawn
after the mechanism has been operated, or during such operation, I provide the said
curved part S of the pushing bar with a suitable guard S2, which is preferably
mounted in such a manner that during the pushing in and drawing out of the bar S¹,
it. the said guard passes underneath the shoot R, and so prevents the coin being
withdrawn.
In order to meet the possibility of a change in the price of gas, I provide a price
varying arrangement, which consists of an arm VI, pivotted upon the arbor h¹ of the
special dial's pointer, and provided or formed at its top end with a segment of a
circle, that rises slightly above the toothed wheel N, and so supports the lower edge
of the heavy pawl P, which is preferably formed with a sharp point or knife edge p.
The said pivotted arm V₁, has pivotted to it the one end of a lever or. rod V2, which
is capable of adjustment from an enclosure on the outside of the index case d, or it
may be from the inside of said case d, accessible to the gas official only, by means of
which the extent to which the toothed wheel N shall revolve, on actuating the
external disc or knob after the insertion of a coin, is determined, and by so doing
limit the flow of gas to the quantity corresponding with the value of the coin
inserted.
The means whereby the adjustment of the price varying arrangement is effected,
may be as shown, that is to say I form a rack v, near the end of the lever or rod V2,
preferably between the said lever or rod's guides v², the siid rack v¹, is geared into a
wheel 3, carried on the front end of a cross shaft vt, which passes through the back
of the index case d, and is provided with a pointer V³, as shown more particularly in
Figure 14, which is a view looking at the back of the index cased, the said pointer V³,
is capable of being set to any number on a graduated scale v³, and clamped by means
of a screw, the said pointer and graduated scale being enclosed within the
enclosure V, provided at the back of the index case d, and which may be sealed or
otherwise secured so as to be accessible to the gas official only.
Though, if desired, the said pointer and graduated scale may be contained within
the index case , in which case the cross shaft would be carried by a suitable
bracket.
The action of the said apparatus is such, that on a coin being placed in the slit,

page_text: it falls down the shoot until it rests between the horizontal and vertical bars, the
former of which is provided with an inclined foot or rest 86, as more particularly
shown in Figures 12, 15, and 16, which has the effect of retaining the coin in that
position until it is gripped between the two said bars by means of pushing in the
external disc or knob, which on being pushed home operates or gives motion to the
pawl bar, through the intervention of the coin, and which by the action of the pawl
will cause the toothed wheel to move forward a predetermined number of teeth
corresponding with the quantity of gas of the value of the coin, there being
sufficient spring in the valve lever E, as to permit of the detent being released
As soon
from the hole m¹ of the grooved wheel M by the action of the said pawl P.
as the disc or knob is released from pressure, that is to say when it has been pushed
home, the coin falls into the coin box or receptacle below and a supply will take
place until gas of the value of the coin has been consumed when the supplementary
valve will be automatically closed.
The coin operating part of my said invention as already described may be applied
to dry gas meters as well as wet, as is illustrated in elevation, Figure 17, plan,
Figure 18, and a part in cross section Figure 19, on line 3. 4. of Figure 17, part end
elevation Figure 20, and detail views Figures 21, 22, and 23, of the accompanying
drawings, which also illustrate modifications of price varying arrangement, push disc
or knob, money shoot, curved push bar and index in which the only difference is that
the testing circle h², Figure 22, is removed to one side of the front of the said index
plate H, and suitable gearing interposed between its shaft and that of the leader
wheel which in all cases derives its motion by worm or other gearing from the
main cylinder shaft of the meter, in the case of wet meters, and in the case of dry
meters from the driving shaft.
The said modification of the price varying arrangement consists in forming the
pivotted arm V¹ before mentioned as a segment of a circle V5, which if desired may
be mounted on an auxiliary pivot u carried by a tail piece of the bracket u³, and I
form a part of its circumference as a spur or toothed wheel ³, into which a spur or
toothed pinion gears, the said pinion »7, being mounted on the one end of the
pointer's cross shaft v³, as already described, this arrangement may also if desired be
inside the index case d, in lieu of at the back of it as shown in Figure 21.
The said modification of the push disc or knob, consists of forining the part 2, of
the pushing bar S¹, as a spiral turning rod which works in a circular sleeve 68, having
a spiral slot 8, in which the pin 10, of the bar works, the bar being provided at its
outer end with a crank or other handle s, in lieu of the disc or knob 84, hereinbefore
described.
The said modification of the money shoot is simply forming the said shoot straight
in lieu of bent as herein before described so as to enable the coins to drop into the
box or receptacle Q which in this case is formed in front of the meter.
The said modification of the push bar S, is merely in the shape, more especially
in the inclined foot or rest s°, shown more particularly in Figure 23, which shows
the position of parts just when the pushing bar S₁, has been pushed home, and
owing to the said shape of the foot or rest 86, coins of a smaller size, than those
intended to be used, have no effect on the mechanism of the meter, but simply drop
into the coin receptacle or box.
Under some circumstances it may be found advantageous to mount the grooved
and pawl actuated toothed wheels on their arbor loosely, or with a spring, so as to
convert the combined wheels into slip wheels, when they will allow of being pushed
forward by the pawl a pre-determined number of notches but will remain stationary
until again pushed forward by the pawl.
The foregoing pre-payment coin actuated gas meters, are such, that on the
consumer putting in a coin in the slit and actuating the external push disc, knob or.
handle, gas will be allowed to pass through the meter to the value of the coin
inserted, or if more than one coin be inserted, gas will pass through to the value
of same.

page_text: Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said invenl-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts
constituting my improvements in pre-payment gas meters, whether wet or dry,
all substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described, and shown in
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In pre-payment wet or dry gas meters, the employment and combination with
the index D, of a worm F, which automatically actuates the supplementary valve A,
substantially as herein before described and shown in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the
accompanying drawings.
3rd. In pre-payment wet or dry gas meters, the employment and arrangement of a
bent lever G, which on being unsealed from the outside, allows the valve operating
lever E to be returned to the groove of the worm and so opens the valve A,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
4th. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts
constituting my improvements in pre-payment gas meters, whether wet or dry, all
substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and shown in
Figures, 5, 6, 7, 8, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
5th. In pre-payment wet or diy gas meters, the arrangement and combination with
the index D, of the spoked wheel K, in combination with a grooved wheel, substantially
as, and for the purposes, herein before described and shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, of
the accompanying drawings.
6th. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the various parts
constituting my improvements in pre-payment gas meters, whether wet or dry, all
substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and shown in Figures 10
to 16 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
7th. The general arrangement and combination with a pre-payment wet or dry gas
meter, of the various parts, constituting my coin actuating mechanism, that is to say
the two bars, S and U, and their connections, all substantially as, and for the purposes
herein before described and shown in Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 16 of the
accompanying drawings.
8th. In pre-payment coin actuated wet or dry gas meters, the employment of a
pointer, graduated scale, or the equivalent of the same, and adjusting mechanism,
whereby, by the setting of the pointer variations in the price of gas, or quantity of
gas to be delivered for each coin inserted, may be provided for, substantially as
herein before described.
9th. In pre-payment coin actuated wet or dry gas meters, the arrangement and
combination therewith, of the price or quantity varying apparatus, all substantially
as, and for the purposes, herein before described, and shown in Figures 10 to 14
inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
10th. The general arrangement construction and combination of the various parts
constituting my improvements in wet or dry gas meters, substantially as, and for the
purposes, hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 17 to 23 inclusive, of the
accompanying drawings.
11th The general arrangement and combination with a pre-payment wet or dry
gas meter, of the various parts constituting the modification of the coin actuating
mechanism, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and shown
in Figures 17, 18, 19, 20 and 23 of the accompanying drawings.
12th. In pre-payment coin actuated wet or dry gas meters, the arrangement and
combination therewith of the modification of the price varying apparatus, all
substantially as, and for the purposes herein before described and shown in Figures 17
to 22 inclusive, of the accompanying drawings.
13th. In pre-payment coin actuated wet or dry gas meters, the combination of the
pawl T, rack T, mercurial tumbler T2, and their connections, all substantially as, and

page_text: for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in Figures 10, 11, 12, 17, 18
and 19, of the accompanying drawings.
11 In-pre-payment-com-actuated-wet-or-dry--gus-meters, the-employment-of
the-pre-payment-circle-or-dial and pointer,-for-indicating the quantity of gas paid
for-by-the-coins inserted, substantially as described with reference more-particularly
to-Figure-22-of-the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day or
JOHNSONS
Applicants Agents, 115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.
JOHNSONS
Applicants Agents, 115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.