Improvements in Coin Feed Mechanism for Gas Meters.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1896-Accepted, 3rd Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin Feed Mechanism for Gas Meters.
We HARRY GAMWELL and CHARLES GAMWELL both of 15 Fraser Street,
Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Experimental Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object is to provide for gas meters coin feed appliances having the advantages
of ready application to meters as now being made, simplicity of construction, security
against fraud and prevention of the use of wrong coins. Coin feed mechanism under
our invention consists of a valve controlling the passage of gas into the meter, a
lever for opening the valve actuated by the prescribed coin, and a push piece
operated from a moving part of the meter such as the index spindle for removing
the coin and releasing the lever when the required quantity of gas has been passed.
The controlling valve under our invention is preferably a lift valve with a mercury
seal. The end of the lever or push piece or both is or are carved or shaped so
that the lever is slowly released and the valve gradually closed. The push piece
and box containing the coins are so designed that only a single coin is pushed from
the box at one time. Springs are used to allow the passage of bent coins from the
box. To prevent the mechanism from being choked a swivel piece stops more than
a determined number of coins from being inserted into the box. Swing catches
prevent coins other than the prescribed size from being inserted into the box. The
quantity of gas passed may be varied by the use of change wheels or other well
known speed varying contrivances connecting the push piece with the moving part
of the meter.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1895.
We HARRY GAMWELL and CHARLES GAMWELL, both of 15 Fraser Street,
Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Experimental Engineers, 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 :-
The object is to provide for gas meters coin feed appliances having the advantages
of ready application to meters as now being made, simplicity of construction, security
against fraud, and prevention of the use of wrong coins. Coin feed mechanism
under our invention consists of a valve controlling the passage of gas into the
meter, a lever for opening the valve actuated by the prescribed coin, and a push
piece operated from a moving part of the meter such as the index spindle for
removing the coin and releasing the lever when the required quantity of gas has
been passed. The controlling valve under our invention is pre erably a lift valve
with a mercury seal. The end of the lever or push piece or both is or are curved
or shaped so that the lever is slowly released and the valve gradually closed. The
push piece and box containing the coins are so designed that only a single coin is
ง.

page_text: than the prescribed size from being inserted into
the box. The quantity of gas passed may be varied by the use of change wheels
or other well known speed varying contrivances connecting the push piece with the
moving part of the meter.
gas meter.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 a plan of coin feed mechanism for gas
meters constructed according to our invention and shown as applied to an ordinary
a is a lift valve with liquid seal for controlling the passage of gas into
the meter, any other suitable valve may be used. b. is a lever for actuating the
said valve. The end 6' of the lever b is situated under and extends into the box c.
so as to be capable of being depressed by the weight of a coin d. inserted into the
said box through a slot e.
When the end 6 of the lever is thus depressed the
valve a is opened and gas can pass into the meter. f. is a push piece having
reciprocating motion imparted thereto by the crank pin g. and pinion and wheel
gear h. from any convenient moving part of the meter such as the index spindle.
The push piece pushes away the coin d. from above the end of the lever through
an opening i. in the box c and allows such coin to drop into a receptacle placed at
any convenient part of the meter. When the coin is being pushed away the
end 6 of the lever b. is held down by the push piece until such push piece has
returned to nearly its normal position when the end 6 is released and is free to be
raised by the weight of the valve a or by a spring as desired. The end 61 of the
lever is formed with a curve or wedge bearing against the push piece ƒ so that
such end is slowly raised and the valve a gradually closed, or a fly or other
suitable device may be used to prevent the valve being suddenly closed. Any
other form of push piece may be used for removing the coin as found convenient.
kare springs the ends of which pass into the box c and have notches therein as
shown in Fig. 3, only large enough to allow one coin to pass at once. If such coin
should happen to be bent, the springs k give way either laterally or vertically and
allow it to pass while preventing the passage of other coins at the same time. One
spring only may be used if desired. l is a stop piece preferably on a pivot m to
prevent the parts being jammed by too many coins being inserted. When sufficient
coins have been inserted to fill the box c to the underside of the stop piece / as
shown by the dotted line, any further coin inserted is prevented from completely
entering by coming against the said stop piece. n are catches pivoted at o.
projections on one side of each catch. When a coin of the proper size is inserted
into the slot e, the sides of the coin press against the projections p and raise the
catches a so as to allow free passage to such coin as shown in Fig. 4 where the
catch n is shown partly raised in full lines and fully raised in dotted lines. If a
coin of less dimensions is inserted the edges of such coin do not press the
projectious por only one of such projections is pressed consequently the catches
arc not raised or only one of them is raised and the passage of the coin is prevented
as shown in Fig. 5 where the sides of the undersized coin do not press against the
projections p, the catch is not raised, and the coin is retained by the angle n' of the
catch. The spur wheel is carried on an armr secured by a screw and winged
The arm is movable in a slot t so as to allow of wheels of different
sizes being used according to the quantity of gas which it is desired to pass for
each coin pushed from the box c. Any equivalent mechanism may be used for
giving motion to the push piece f.
nut s.
p are
It must be understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise construction
described as many modifications may be made under our invention without departing
froin the nature thereof.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
First. The combination of a valve a. for controlling the passage of gas, a lever b.
operated by the weight of a coin and a push piece f. for removing such coin
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Second. The combination with the lever b. operated as above described of a
curve or wedge or equivalent mechanism substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Third. The combination of a lever b. push piece f. box c. and spring or springs k.
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. In coin feed meters the combination with a pile of coins of the stop
piece . substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. In combination with a slot e. pivotted catches n. substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1896.
W. B. JOHNSON,
Agent.