Improvements in or connected with Prepayment Meters for Gas or other Fluid and Electricity
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
"Improvements in or connected with Prepayment Meters for Gas or
other Fluid and Electricity."
I, WESLEY WEBBER, of 6, Wall Street, New York, in the State of New York,
United States of America, Engineer, do liereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in prepayment or coin freed mechanism,
mainly for use in connection with gas meters for permitting a predetermined
quantity of gas to be delivered in exchange for one or more coins, the object of the
invention being to simplify the construction and increase the efficiency and
durability of such mechanism.
According to my invention I provide for opening a valve, arranged in the inlet
pipe supplying gas to the meter, by the direct power of the purchaser's hand on
the insertion of a coin into the apparatus, the said valve being closed through the
action of the meter mechanism when the quantity of gas corresponding to the
coin or coins inserted in the apparatus has passed through the meter.
In carrying out my invention I provide a rack in connection with the valve to
be opened, the said rack being operated through the medium of suitable mechanism
hereinafter described by the power of the purchaser's hand when a coin has been
inserted in the apparatus. I also provide in connection with the rack an escape-
ment device which is operated through the medium of a toothed wheel, hereinafter
referred to as the "unit wheel," by one of the flag arms or by another suitable
reciprocating or rotating part of the meter mechanism so as to control the return
of the rack to its normal position and thereby the closing of the valve.
In applying my invention to apparatus for opening and closing a ball valve in
the service pipe I connect the said valve with the rack either directly or through
the medium of a gas-tight diaphragm. The rack may be either straight or circular
and is operated by a pawl pivoted to a pivoted coin carrier into channels in which
the coin is dropped and retained by suitable supports the said carrier being
operated by the rotation of a handle outside the apparatus through the medium of
a cam mounted upon a spindle or pivot and which strikes against the coin in the
carrier and thereby rotates the same and causes the pawl to engage with the rack
so as to move it a distance equal to one tooth the said coin then passing from the
supports and dropping from the carrier into the till in the apparatus, a hook in
connection with the cam assisting in the discharge of the coin from the carrier
and in preventing the fraudulent retention or withdrawal of the said coin in the
carrier. The movement of the rack opens the ball valve and the said ball valve
is maintained open by the escapement device, comprising two pawls engaging with
teeth on the rack, until the coin's value in gas has been consumed.
The handle outside the apparatus for operating the coin is not directly connected
with the spindle on which the cam is mounted, but actuates it through the medium
of a crank on the said spindle and an eccentric projection on the handle, the

page_text: crank being provided with a spring so that when the handle has rotated the cam
so as to bring the rack pawl into its operative position the spring comes into action
and pulls the said crank through the rest of its revolution. By this means it is
impossible for the purchaser to hold the valve open. To prevent the rotation of
the cam in both directions I mount on the spindle a ratchet wheel the rotation
of which is controlled by a gravity pawl.
As above described the two pawls forming the escapement device are con-
trolled by a suitable reciprocating part of the meter mechanism through the
medium of a unit wheel. This unit wheel is caused to rotate once for the con-
sumption of each coin's valius of gas and is provided with a cam surface having a
projection or pin which operates the escapement pawls so that the rack can move
back either by its own weight or under the action of a spring through the distance
of one tooth for each revolution of the said unit wheel. The two pawls are
arranged so that one pawl is always in engagement with a tooth of the rack whilst
the other rests on the slope of the adjacent tooth. By this means the rack moves
back a distance equal to that of half a tooth at a time.
A cam in donnection with the crank for operating the coin-carrier actuates a
curtain or shutter which closes the coin slots during the rotation of the crank, the
said shutter having an arm which normally closes the coin chamber into which
the coins drop from the slots and opens it during the rotation of the crank. By
this means clogging of the apparatus is prevented. I also provide in connection
with the slot closing shutter an arm which is operated by a projection on the rack
so as to cause the shutter to close the slots when the apparatus has received its full
number of coins and to retain them closed until one coin's equivalent in gas has
been consumed.
If
During the last revolution of the unit wheel the projection on the rack rests on
the cam surface which gradually lowers the rack so as to close the valve.
desired one or more undulations may be formed on the cam surface so as to give
notice of the approaching extinction of the light.
The valve rod may lie directly attached to the rack in which case a stuffing-box
is provided at its entrance into the casing of the apparatus and the valve rises each
time a coin is inserted into the apparatus. Or the valve may be connected to the
rack by means of a diaphragm in the casing of the apparatus in which case the
movement of the valve is limited to that of the diaphragm and the valve rod is
connected to the rack by a spring connection so that the valve is raised only on
the insertion of the first coin.
In the case of a circular rack the ball valve is advantageously normally kept open
by a spring and is closed by the pin or projection on the unit wheel when the coins
in the apparatus have been exhausted.
In adapting my invention to mechanism for controlling a rotary plug valve I
advantageously employ a circular rack and in lieu of the pivoted coin carrier I
employ a rotary carrier into which the coin is dropped and from which it projects
so that when the said carrier is rotated by means of the external handle as herein-
before described the coin impinges against a lever to which is pivoted the rack
actuating pawl.
The plug of the valve is provided with a spindle the said spindle being provided
with an arm having a pendant the lower end of which rests upon a cam mounted
upon the spindle of the rack in such a manner that a catch on the said end of the
pendant is held by the cam surface out of contact with the pin or projection upon
the unit wheel until the last coin's value of gas has been consumed in which case
the said pin engages with the catch and pulls down the arm on the plug spindle
so as to rotate the plug and close the valve. The catch is released by the lever
operated by the coin carrier on the insertion of the first coin into the apparatus.
A second arm is mounted upon the plug spindle, the said arm being designed to
impinge against a stop and so prevent the plug from being rotated too far.
If by any means the coin should be retained in its carrier past the point at
which it should be discharged it would abut against the side of the casing or

page_text: against a projection thereof and lock the carrier so that the same coin cannot be
used more than once.
Between the coin chute and the coin carrier I arrange a sliding plate having a
slot corresponding with the slots in the chute and the carrier the said plate being
moved on the rotation of the handle by a cam on the coin carrier shaft or by any
other suitable means so that a second coin cannot be introduced into the coin
carrier until the said carrier has made a complete revolution and the three slots
are again in alignment. A projection on the said sliding plate normally enters a
notch on a disc in connection with the coin carrier so as to hold it from rotating.
I also provide a bar or the like adapted to be operated from the rack by suitable
means when the full number of coins is in the apparatus so as to close the slot
until one coin's equivalent in gas has been consumed.
As above described the unit wheel in my prepayment attachment is operated by
the flag arms, or by another reciprocating or rotating part of the meter mechanism.
The reciprocating motion niay he communicated by suitable intermediate gear to
a rod which pierces a diaphragm in the casing of the meter and one end of which
is provided with a pawl arranged so as to engage with the said unit wheel. Or
the reciprocating motion of the bellows of the meter can be communicated to a
rocking lever arranged either in the meter or in the atlachment, which lever
communicates its motion to a ratchet wheel by means of a pawl and thence to the
unit wheel by means of a crank and rod or by any other suitable means.
In some cases the reciprocating motion of the meter mechanism is not communi-
cated directly to the unit wheel but to a reducing rack which then actuates the
unit wheel.
If desired the reciprocating rod operating the unit wheel may be provided with
a shoulder adapted to engage with a suitable arm on the rack when the last coin's
equivalent of gas has been consumed so as to thereby lock the meter mechanism.
Suitable fingers or pointers are arranged in connection with the rack and with
the unit wheel the said pointers being designed to work over a dial so as to indicate
the number of coins in the apparatus to the credit of the purchaser and also the
progressive consumption of each coin's value of gas.
If it be desired to subject the gas company's collector to inspection or for any
other reason to introduce a coin counter and totalizer I arrange in the prepayment
box (if desired in a separately locked compartment) a train of counting wheels
one for units, one for its next multiple and so on, the units wheel taking its move-
ment from the rack by means of a ratcheted spur wheel or by any other suitable
means.
It will be obvious that my invention, although I have described it as applied
to gas meters, can be equally well employed with other fluid meters and also with
electricity meters in which latter case the mechanism is caused to operate a switch
for controlling the current.
It will also be obvious that I can instead of my pawl escapement employ any
other suitable form of escapement.
"Improvements in or connected with Prepayment Meters for Gas or
other Fluid and Electricity."
I, WESLEY WEBBER, of 6, Wall Street, New York, in the State of New York,
United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-

page_text: 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 to improvements in prepayment or coin freed mechanism,
mainly for use in connection with gas meters for permitting a predetermined
quantity of gas to be delivered in exchange for one or more coins, the object of
the invention being to simplify the construction and increase the efficiency and
durability of such mechanism.
According to my invention I provide for opening a valve, arranged in the inlet
pipe supplying gas to the meter, by the power of the purchaser's hand on the inser-
tion of a coin into the apparatus, the said valve being closed through the action of the
meter mechanism when the quantity of gas corresponding to the coin or coins
inserted in the apparatus has passed through the meter.
In carrying out my invention I provide a rack in connection with the valve to
be opened, the said rack being operated through the medium of suitable mechanism
hereinafter described by the power of the purchaser's hand when a coin has been
inserted in the apparatus. I also provide in connection with the rack an escape-
ment device which is operated through the medium of a toothed wheel, hereinafter
referred to as the "coin's-equivalent wheel," by a flag arm or by another suitable
reciprocating or rotating part of the meter mechanism so as to control the return
of the rack to its normal position and thereby the closing of the valve.
My present invention is in the nature of improvements upon the inventions
described in patent No. 19049 of August 8th, 1895 granted to me, and No. 8234
of April 18th, 1896 granted to Lewis Sayre Burchard as a communication from me.
In the accompanying drawings,-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my new coin-controlled apparatus applied to a
meter, a portion of the box being broken away:
Figure 2 is a similar view of the operative mechanism, the box and a portion of
the meter being shown in section and the dial removed: "
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, the box
and dial being shown in the section on the median line:
Figure 4 is a detail view illustrating the operation of the escapement trip on
the coin's-equivalent wheel:
Figure 5 is a similar view with the coin's equivalent wheel removed:
Figure 6 illustrates the operation of a coin in the coin-carrier and one form of
the mechanism for opening the valve, for setting forward the rack, and for holding
the valve open:
Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 illustrate this mechanism and a reciprocatory valve in
various successive positions:
Figure 11 illustrates in horizontal section and plan the valve-lift fitted in the
pipe coupling or valve chamber:
Figures 12 and 13 are respectively back and edge views of the coin's-equivalent
wheel, trip, and "dimming or valve-lowering cam:
Figure 14 illustrates one form of rack and one form of the valve-lifting plate
and pin:
Figure 15 is a rear view of the bridge to which are pivoted the coin-actuated
rack-moving lever and its pawl, the escapement pallet and the adjustable plate
which carries the worm:
Figure 16 is a plan view of the outer section of the meter-actuated reciprocating
rod:
Figures 17, 18 and 19 show in various successive positions a modification of
the valve-operating mechanism shown in figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10:
Figure 20 is a detail view of one form of the connection with a flag of the meter:
Figure 21 shows a modification of the same:
Figures 22 and 23 illustrate a registering device for impressing upon a tape or
strip of paper the number of coin's-equivalents in gas consumed:

page_text: invention applied to a rotatory plug or turn-cock valve:
Figure 25 is a sectional detail plan of the same:
Figure 26 is a sectional front elevation of the same:
Figure 27 is a detail view of the coin-operative lever as employed for opening
turn-cock valve:
Figures 28, 29 and 30 illustrate a modified form of coin-carrier and mechanism
connected therewith for insuring the proper insertion of the coin into the carrier,
figure 28 being a transverse elevation, figure 29 a sectional plan, and figure 30 a
sectional elevation looking-at-the-front end-of the-coin-carrier:
Figure 31 is an enlarged perspective detail view of the slotted coin-intercepting
plate of figures 28-30:""
Figure 32 is a detailed view showing the employment of successively and alter-
nately-acting pawls in lieu of an anchor escapement,-here shown in connection
with the turn-cock type of valve:
Figure 33 is a detailed front elevation of the straight rack and one form of its
connection with the valve-rod:
Figure 34 is a front elevation of the oscillating coin-carrier and its connections,
the coin's equivalent wheel, the straight rack and another form of its connection
with the valve-rod:
Figure 35 is an enlarged front elevation of the straight rack, coin's-equivalent
wheel, and a modified form of reducing wheel, and a lock for the meter:
Figures 36 and 37 are enlarged front and rear perspective views of the oscillating
coin-carrier used with the straight rack and with one form of the circular rack:
Figures 38, 39 and 39 are detail views of modified forms of the coin's equivalent
wheel and dimming cams, figure 39 being an edge view of the form shown in
elevation in figure 38:
Figure 40 is a detail front elevation of the apparatus as embodying a straight
rack, showing the straight scale and dial and their pointers, and the slot-closing
shutter, the slot being exposed:
Figure 41 is a similar view of the same, the slot being closed.
Figure 42 is a transverse detail view of the machine as embodying the straight
rack.
Figure 43 is a detailed sectional elevation shewing the oscillating coin-carrier
as applied to another form of circular rack.
Figure 44 is a reduced plan view of the meter attic shewing the box applied
thereto and shewing a modified form of connection for operating the reciprocating
rod which connects the meter mechanism with the coin-controlled mechanism.
Figure 45 is a detailed plan view shewing another form of the same connection;
and
Figure 46 is a sectional front elevation of the same shewing another form of the
same connection.
Referring to the form of apparatus illustrated in figures 1-23, 2 represents the
box or shell or casing provided with a coin slot 3 and adapted to be secured to the
meter casing 4 by the bracket 5 or by other suitable means.
To the back of the box are secured four posts or pillars, of which two, 6, 6, are
of equal length, and two 7, 7, are also of equal length but longer than the
pillars 6, 6. To the pillars 6, 6, is secured a bridge S, preferably of the form
shown in figures 6 and 15. A plate 9, preferably of the form shown in figures 2
and 4, is secured to the pillars 7, 7. The dial 10 is supported by the 'said plate 9
and the dial plate is provided with a central opening for the shaft 12, which shaft
is journalled at one end in the back plate 13 of the box and at the other end in
a sleeve 14 on the bridge 8. On the shaft 12 is secured a circular rack 15 and a
spring 16 is applied to this shaft as shown clearly in figure 2. Each tooth of the
rack represents one coin or one coin's equivalent in gas. 17 represents a lever
pivoted at 18 to the bridge 8. The end 19 of the lever 17 is projected so as to
intercept the edge of a coin 20 held in the coin-carrier 21 and be depressed thereby

page_text: as the said coin is rotated, as illustrated in figure 6. The opposite end of the said
lever 17 is extended to form a counter-weight sufficient to return the lever to its
normal position after the coin has depressed and passed it. To the lover 17 is
pivoted a pawl 22, the pivot of which is placed so that the nawl swings in the are
of a circle when the lever is depressed ly the edge of a coin and so that the pawl
with each depression of the lever will engage a tooth or notch of the rack 15 and
set the rack forward one tooth or notch, and with each elevation of the lever will
swing freely over a tooth of the rack and fall into the next notch and be ready to
engage the same at the next depression of the lever. Thus every coin inserted in
the coin-carrier serves to set the rack forward one tooth and to partially wind up
the spring 16.
23 (Figures 2, 3 and 11) represents a mod which passes through the back of the
box and enters the pipe-coupling or valve-chamber 24 through a stuffing-bux 25
where it is provided with an arm 26 arranged to lift the valve 27. To that portion
of the rod 23 which is within the box 2 is secured an arm 28 provided with a
forwardly-extending pin 29 which is acted upon by a part operated by the rock
so that when starting from the initial point or closed position the first setting
forward of the rack will open the valve. For this purpose I prefer to employ a
slotted dise or cam 30 fixed to and rotating with the shaft 12. In figure 17 the
disc 30 is shown in the position it assumes when the valve is closed. In figure 18
it is shown in the position it assumes after the first coin is deposited and after it
has opened the valve. In figure 19, the disc is shown in the position it assumes
after a second coin is inserted. With the insertion of each successive coin the slot
or clearance 31 is, advanced step by step with the rack 15, and with the consump
tion of each coin's worth of gas it is carried back step by step to its original
position, that shown in figure 17. When, in its backward movement, the slot
reaches the pin 29, the spring 32" on the valve 27 is allowed to close the valve.
Instead of the spring 32, I may use a weight for closing the valve, or I may
depend upon the edge of the slot acting in conjunction with the pin 29 for posi-
tively closing the valve under the impulse of the spring 16 on the shaft 12 to
which the disc 30 is affixed. The valve being opened and the slot 31 carried
beyond the pin 29, the periphery of the disc 30 serves to hold the valve open.
Instead of the disc 30, I may secure to the shaft 12 a plate 32, shown in
Figures 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, provided with a piu 33, which, on the insertion of
the first coin, impinges against the arm 28 and opens the valve. A double-toothed
lecking-pawl 34 serves in connection with the pin 33 and pin 29 to lock the valvo
in its open position and also to prevent the pin 3 from running backward past the
zero position and the spring 16 from running down past its point of initial tension.
The latter function is illustrated in figure 7, the former in figure 9. During the
consumption of the last enin's equivalent in gas, the pin 33 on its return move
ment will lift the locking pawl 34 from the position shown in figure 9 to that
shown in figure 8, releasing the pin 29 so that the valve may be closed by its
weight or its spring 32"
As here shown, the rack 15 is provided with fifteen effective teeth, adapting tho
machine to receive fifteen coins at one time and no more until the equivalent in
gas of one or more coins has been consumed. In order to prevent the insertion of
more than the proper number of coins the machine shall have been constructed to
receive, I form a recess 35 in the rack in the same vertical plane with the pawl 22
which will allow the lever 17 and pawl 22 to be operated without operating tho
rack 15. This recess takes the place of what would be the sixteenth tooth.
Each coin inserted is indicated on the dial 10 by means of a pointer 36 fixed on
the end of the shaft 12.
As each coin is inserted in the machine and the rack set forward, winding up
the spring 16 as above described, the rack is retained in its successive positions by
the anchor-escapement 37 pivoted to the bridge 8 and held in proper contact
with the rack by the spring 38.
The anchor escapement 37 is oscillated by the power of the meter by means

page_text: now to be described, which means at the same time serve to accurately register the
consumption of the gas on the dial 10 by the pointer 39.
40 shews an escapement-tripping wheel, one revolution of which represents the
consumption of one coin's equivalent in gas and one notch on the rack 15. It is
formed with a sleeve 41 which fits over the shaft 12, and extends to the front of
the dial 10 and forms the arbor for the pointer 39. The rear face of the wheel 40
is provided with a projection 42 for tripping the anchor 37, which latter is provided
with a complemental projection or pin 43. It is of advantage to secure practic-
ally an instantaneous tripping of the anchor so as to make it practically impossible
to insert a coin and operate the lever 17 while the secondary, pallot or end of. the-
anchor. is in engagement with the teeth of the rack. For this purpose, the pro-
jection 42 is pivoted and provided with a spring 44, which forcibly holds the
projection 42 against the limit pin 45. In the bridge 8 is fixed a stud 46 which
gathers the spring 44 so that when the projection 42 passes the stud 46, the
spring 44 flips the projection suddenly against and past the pin 43 on the anchor
escapement, thus effecting the desired suddenness of operation.
The wheel 40 is rotated by the worm 47 secured to a shaft 48 which is held in
bearings formed on the plate 49. This plate is pivoted at 50 to the bridge 8 and
its upper end is slotted as shown at 51 for the passage of a screw 52, so that by
loosening the said screw the plate 49, worm 47 and shaft 48 may be adjusted to or
from the wheel 40 so that wheels of various sizes may be conveniently interchanged.
To the lower end of the shaft 48 is secured a ratchet wheel 53 which is prevented
from rotation except in one direction by a paw! 54 pivoted to the adjustable
plate 49 and actuated either by its own weight or by the spring 66. The ratchet
wheel 53 is rotated by the meter mechanism acting through a reciprocating rod 56
which is connected to a flag 57 of the meter by an arm 58 so that each oscillation
of the flag on its vertical axis will turn the ratchet 53 one tooth, thereby imparting
to the counting-off and registering and valve-closing mechanism an impulse repre-
senting the volumes of gas passed through and measured by the meter in one full
operation of the meter. Thus, for example, if each revolution of the meter
mechanism delivers one-ninth of a cubic foot of gas, each tooth on the ratchet
wheel 53 will represent one-ninth of a cubic foot. If there be nine teeth on the
wheel 53 each revolution of the wheel 53 and of the worm 47, and therefore each
tooth on the wheel 40, will represent one cubic foot: if there are twenty-seven
teeth on the wheel 53, three cubic feet, and so on. The wheel 53, is made remov-
able and interchangeable with wheels having various numbers of teeth in order to
vary the unit of gas represented by each tooth on the wheel 40. The rod 56 may
be passed through a stuffing-box 50, as shown in figure 21, or it may be connected
to a flexible gas-tight diaphragm :60, as shown in figure 2, and is, by preference,
composed of two sections, the outer section 56 thereof being pivoted to the inner
section 56 in order to accommodate ratchet wheels 53 of varying diameters. The
section 56 is provided with a spring pawl or click 61 for engagement with the
ratchet wheel 53. The section 66 is preferably made flat or square and passes
through square hole in a guide 62 fastened to the back of the box. The said
section 56 has a recess or hole 63 formed in it (figure 16) to receive a locking
holt (figure 6) designed to prevent fraudulent use of the machine as herein-
after de cribed.
The rod 56 is provided with two shoulders or nuts 65 which may be adjustable
on the rod in order that the distance of reciprocation or stroke of the rod 56 can
he regulated so that the pawl 61 will move through a space greater than the width
of one tooth on the ratchet wheel 53 and less than that of two teeth. Instead of
employing the arm 58, I may connect the rod 56 directly but loosely to the regular
flag arm 66 of the meter as shown in figure 45; or I may connect the rod 56 to a
crank 67 (figure 46) on a ratchet wheel 68 secured to a shaft G9 journalled in
supports in the attic of the meter. In this construction, the ratchet wheel 68 takes
the place of the ratchet wheel 53 above described, and the section of the abd
inside the box may be arranged to directly or indirectly rotate the wheel 40. The

page_text: ratchet wheel 68 is prevented from backward movement by a pawh 70 and is inter-
mittently rotated by a pawl 71 pivoted on a reciprocating rod 72 held to slide in
bearings in the attic of the meter and itself reciprocated by an arm 58 on the
flag 57. Or I may reciprocate the rod 56 by a crank shaft 3 (figure 44) rotated
by the worm 74 on the king-post of the meter, the crank shaft 73 being provided
with a worm-wheel 75 for this purpose, the number of teeth on the worm-wheel 75
determining the amount of gas intended to correspond to or he represented by each
reciprocation of the rod 56.
The locking-bolt 64 is pivoted at its upper end to the heel of the pawl 76, which
latter is pivoted to the back plate of the box. The pawl 76 acts in conjunction
with ratchet teeth 77 and cam 78 at the rear end of the coin-carrier 21 to perform
two functions, viz, first that of preventing the coin-carrier from being turned back-
ward at the portion of its rotation where the edge of the coin operates the lever 17
(as shown in figure 6) and thereby preventing the operation of the said lever more
than once by one coin, and second, that of raising and lowering the locking-
bolt 64. It will be noticed from figure 6 that the bolt 64 is lowered into the hole
or recess 63 in the section 56 of the rod 56 whenever the coin-carrier 21 is in
position to present the edge of a coin to the end 19 of the lever 17, and it will be
noticed from figures 2 and 5 that the action of the cam 78 holds the bolt out of
said hole or recess at all other positions of the coin-carrier, thus leaving the rod 56
free to reciprocate and the meter free to move.
The coin-carrier 21 is journalled in the back plate of the box and in the plate 9
and to all intents and purposes is the same in construction and operation as the
coin-carrier described in the specification of patent No. 8234 of 1896 above
mentioned.
When the apparatus is applied to a meter of great capacity, I provide the rod 56
with a cushioning spring 79 (figure 21) to act between one of the nuts 65 and the
arm 58 on the flag 57. By means of this cushion, all danger of breaking the flag
of the meter or other part of the apparatus, which might be likely to occur at the
time the bolt 64 engages with the rod 56, 56", is removed and the absolute locking
of the meter (which occurs only in the event of a consumer's fraudulently holding
or fastening à coin in the coin-carrier in the position shown in figure 6) is con-
verted (in the same event) into an alternately or intermittently-acting retarding,
braking, or dimming device, rendering the lights practically unavailable to any
consumer who attempts the fraud described.
80 (see particularly figures 12 and 13) represents a "dimming" cam formed or
secured upon the back of the wheel 40 or upon the same arbor for gradually lower-
ing or closing the valve during the last portion of the consumption of a last coin's
equivalent in gas, or, in other words, during the last portion of the rotation of the
wheel 40 that corresponds to the last coin to the consumer's credit.
The periphery of this cam is arranged to intercept the front end of the pin 29,
as illustrated in figures 3 and 10, when by the last return step of the escapement
rack 15 the valve-arm 28 is allowed to drop by the slot 31 of figures 17-19 or by
the disengagement of the detaining pawl 34 of figures 6-10, thus effecting a
gradual lowering of the valve to its seat as the cam is rotated with the wheel 40,
and a gradual cutting off of the gas, and thus giving warning to the consumer of
the approaching extinction of the lights and of the necessity of inserting one or
more coins.
The registering device shown in figures 22 and 23 comprises an elastic wheel or
roller 81 pivoted to the back of the dial 10, a reel of tape 82 and an impression.
roller 83 secured to the arbor of the wheel 40 and provided with one or more pro-
jections for indenting the tape and thereby recording the number of revolutions
of the wheel 40 on the tape.
84 (figures 2 and 3) represents a nut-lock attached to the box and adapted to
engage the coupling nut 85, thus rendering it impossible to tamper with the valve
by removing the said nut while the box is secured in place.
In the form of construction of my apparatus illustrated in figures 24-32 I have

page_text: shown my invention applied to a rotary valve and these figures also illustrate
certain modifications. In this form, the valve plug 86 is fitted in the pipe
coupling 24 and is rigidly connected to the valve rod 23. To the arm 28 is
pivoted a pendant 87 provided with a pin 88. The pivot of the pendant 87 projects
rearwardly of the arm 28 an forms a stud 89 which is in the same vertical plane
with the end 90 of the lever 17 which, as above described, is provided with the
pawl 22 for setting forward the rack 15 and is arranged to be oscillated by the coin
in the coin-carrier 21. When a coin is inserted into the machine, the lever 17
is depressed, and its other end 90 impinging against the stud 89, lifts the arm 28
and pendant 87 and turns open the valve, while the pawl 22 advances the rack 15
one tooth as previously described. As soon as the coin passes the end 19 of the
lever 17 and drops out of the coin-carrier into the box, the lever 17 is returned by
its counterweight to the position shewn in figure 26, and the pendant 87 drops into
the position shown in figure 26. In this position the pin 88 would fall within the path
of rotation of the stud 91,which revolves with the wheel 40, were it not that the rear-
wardly extending portion of the pin 88 falls against the periphery of the cam 92
(figure 24) which is fixed to the rack 15 or its shaft 12 and revolves therewith, the said
periphery being at a greater radial distance from the shaft 12 than is the stud 91,
except at one point where it is depressed, the said depression being so placed that
when the rack is in the zero position-that corresponding to the closed position of
the valve the rear end of the pin 88 will fall into the depression of the cam and
its front end into the path of rotation of the stud 91 (figures 26 and 32). The
wheel 40 is rotated in the direction of the arrow (figure 26) by the power of the
meter acting through the rod 56, 56, wheel 53, and worm 49 as heretofore
described, and in the course of its rotation: the spring trip 42 (figure 26) oscillates
the anchor escapement 37 and allows the rack, under the influence of the spring 16
(figure 24), to be set back one tooth for each full rotation of the wheel 40.
Or,
instead of the anchor escapement 37 of figure 26, I may employ the two alternately
acting spring-pressed pawls or clicks 37" and 37b, (shown in figure 32) each pro-
vided with a forwardly-extending pin 37 and so arranged that the flanged trip 42
(figures 32 and 39") as rotated by the wheel 40, may disengage first one and then
the other and so release the rack 15 one tooth for each revolution of the wheel 40.
When the wheel 40 makes the revolution corresponding to the last coin to the
purchaser's credit and trips the escapement in either of the forms and methods
shown, and so returns the rack to its initial or zero position, the pin 88 is allowed
by the depression of the cam 92 to swing inwardly till it lies in the path of
rotation of the stud 91, (figure 26) and as the wheel 40 completes its last rotation
the stud 91 engages with the forward extension of the pin 88 and so draws the
pendant 87 and valve-stem-arm 28 downwards (figure 32) and gradually closes or
turns shut the valve 86, thereby gradually turning down the lights. To prolong
this turning-down or dimming of the lights, I may provide the gas-way through
the plug of the valve with diagonally opposite nicks or notches as shown in
figure 25. It should be noticed that this closing of the valve leaves the pin SS
under the stud 91 (figure 32) whence it must be disengaged in order to lift the
arm 28 and turn open the valve. This function is performed by the extension or
arm 90 fixed to the end 90 of the levo 17 (figure 27). When the lever 17 is
depressed, the outward and upward movement of the extension 90 pushes the
pin 88 out from under the projection 91, leaving the arm 28 free to be lifted and
the wheel 40 free to proceed with its rotation.
In this form of construction the locking bolt 64 is connected to a pivoted arm 64,
the free end of which is raised and lowered by a cam 78 on the rear end of the
coin-carrier 21, as shown in full and dotted lines in figure 26.
Figure 26 also shows a modified arrangement of the worm-shaft 48 in which the
ratchet wheel 53 is vertical and the pawl 61 a gravity pawl and wherein two inter-
mediate gears 94 and 95 afford reduction of speed, thus enabling the wheel 40 to
be of small diameter and to have each of its teeth represent a large quantity of gas.
As a variation from the barrel or cylindrical form of coin-carrier shown in the

page_text: preceding figures, the same may be made in the form if a recessed plato or flat
rotary coin-pocket as shown in figures 8, 29 and 30. In figures, 28, 30 and 31,
96 representa a slotted plate provided with a rod 97 hold to slide in bearings in the
box and impelled outwardly by the spring 98. A push-pin 99 projects at the side
of the box. The plate 96 is also provided with a finger 100 which engages with a
seginental stop 101 on the coin-carrier shaft when te slot 3 in the box, the slot
in the plate 96, and the slot in the coin-carrier are aligned as shown in figure 30,
and which holds the coin-carrier in that nsition against the pull of the spring 102.
A coin being introduced through the aligned slots into the coin-carrier, the
purchaser will press the push-pin 99 and disengage the finger 100 from the stop 101,
whereupon the spring 102 will rotate the coin-carrier as described in the specifica-
tion of patent No. 8234 of 1896. The segmenta formation of the stop 101 holds
the slot in the plate 96 out of alignment with the slot 3 except when the coin-
carrier is in the position shown in figure 30.
As indicated at the outset, the rack 15 is not necessarily circular in form but
may, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, be straight as
shown in figures 33, 34, and 35. In these figures the rack 15 is provided with
ratchet teeth at each of its edges and is arranged to lift the ball or other valve 27 in
the valve-chamber 24 and is formed with a central slot 103 which forms a way for
its longitudinal movement on the fixed guiding studs 104 (figure 35). 106 repre-
sents the coin-carrier pivoted on pins 106. The construction of the coin-carrier
is shown clearly in figures 36 and 37 and its position in figures 34 and 42. An
ann 107 projects from one face of the coin-carrier, in which arm is pivoted a lifting
pawl 108 (figure 34) held in yielding contact with the teeth of the rack 15 by a
spring 109. When a coin is inserted in the coin slot 3", it drops therefrom into
the channels 110 where it is temporarily retained by the two supports 112. 113
represents a shaft on which is secured a cam 114 and hook 115, which hook when
the shaft 113 is revolved by the inner crank 116, (figure 42), overlaps the upper
edge of the coin as shown in dotted lines in figure 34 and secures it in its opera-
tive position while the cam 114 pushes the coin and coiu-carrier as one and
oscillates the coin-carrier (as indicated in dotted lines in figure 34). This oscilla-
tion of the coin-carrier lifts the rack 15 one notch through the medium of the
pawl 108, (thereby opening the valve) and at the same time pushes the coin 20
off the supports 112 and discharges it from the coin-carrier (all as shown in
figure 34). The hook 115 also prevents fraudulent withdrawal of the coin. The
shaft 113 and crank 116 (figure 42) are revolved partly by the complemental
crank 117 and outer handle 118, and partly by the spring 102, as described in the
specification of patent No. 8234 of 1896. The rack 15 is thus lifted one notch for
each coin inserted and successively retained by one of the alternately-acting
spring-pressed pawls or clicks 37 and 37b. The rack 15 may be directly connected
to the valve by the rod 119 as shown in figures 33 and 35, in which case the rol
asses through a stuffing-box; or the valve may be connected by a rod 119" to a
Eexiblo diaphragm 120, the rod 119 being connected by a looped spring 121 to
the rack and the lower free end of the spring 121 being held in a loop 122 also
connected to the rod 119" (figures 34 and 42). After the rack has been lifted one
notch and the valve has been opened by the insertion of a coin, the loop 122 allows
the free end of the spring 121 to be compressed as the rack is further lifted by the
insertion of subsequent coins.
On the shaft 12 is placed the wheel 40 (figure 38) carrying the escapement
trip 42 (figure 39) which in its rotation successively and alternately trips the
spring-pressed pawls or clicks 37 and 37b, thereby lowering the rack 15 one tooth
for each revolution of the wheel 40. The wheel 40 is provided with a dimming
cam 80 so placed that at the last drop of the rack the stud 123 on the rack shall
rest upon the greater eccentricity of the cam and, as the wheel 40 and cam 80 are
together revolved for their last revolution, representing the consumption of the
last coin's worth of gas, be gradually lowered to the point of least eccentricity of
the cam, at which point the valve will reach its seat. The cam may be formed

page_text: near its point of least eccentricity with undulations 124 (figure 38) which by alter-
uately raising and lowering the rack and valve will preduce a flickering effect
upon the jets and serve to call attention to their approaching extinction. Back
lash of the wheel 40 is prevented by a pawl 125.
As shewn in figure 36 the rack 15 inay be provided with a locking finger 126
adapted to engage with a notch or detent 127 in the reciprocating rod 50° for lock-
ing the meter when the last coin's worth of gas has been consumed. If this is
employed, the valve may optionally be dispensed with, or both may be employed
for greater certainty.
In figure 35 a reducing wheel 128 is shown for counting off the reciprocations
of the rod 56, 56", when reciprocated by the flag-arm as shown in figures 45 and 2,
Each rotation of the reducing wheel 128 sets forward the wheel 40 one tooth by
means of the pawl 129 applied to the eccentric 130.
The rack 15 is connected to a pointer 131 (figures 40 and 41) which indicates on
a straight graduated scale 132 the number of coins standing at any one time to the
consumer's credit. The progressive consumption of each coin's worth of gas is
indicated by a pointer 39 on the circular dial.
A shutter 133 is pivoted at 134 on the inner front plate of the box and is
normally held back to reveal the inner coin slot 3 by a spring 135. When the
maximum number of coins that the machine is constructed to receive at any one
time has been inserted and the rack 16 lifted to its uppermost (as shown in dotted
lines in figure 34), the projection 123 on the rack impinges against the curved
arm 137 attached to the shutter and moves the shutter across the slot, so that no
more coins can be inserted till the equivalent in gas of at least one coin has been
consumed and the rack lowered at least one tooth.
In order to prevent the clogging of the coin-slot by the insertion of two or more
coins without operating the coin-carrier after each insertion, the shutter 133 is
formed with an arm 138 (figures 34 and 42) which normally closes the bottom of
the coin-slot 3, that is to say, the arm 138 closes the bottoni of the coin slot when
the front of it is revealed by the shutter 133 as shown in figure 40. With each
revolution of the crank-shaft 113, a cam 139 thereon (figure 40) impinges against
a lever 140 attached to the shutter 133, thereby moving the shutter across the slot
(figure 41) and removing the arm 138 from beneath the coin-slot 3 (figure 34)
thus allowing the coin 20 to drop from the slot 3" down into the channels 110 of
the coin-carrier.
The oscillating coin-carrier 106 and the mechanism just described for inserting
and dropping the coin may be employed in connection with a circular spring-
impelled rack as shown in figure 43 by attaching a pawl 141 to the pivoted
lever 142 on the coin-carrier so that each oscillation of the coin-carrier will set
forward the rack 15 one tooth and wind up the spring 16. The valve 27 is
normally held open by the spring 143 and the valve is closed by the rack on its
return movement by a pin 144 attached to the rack which engages with a stirrup
or hook 145 at the lower end of the valve rod 119". Any of the valves previously
shewn may optionally be employed in connection with this circular rack.
It will be obvious that my invention, although I have described it as applied to
gas meters, can be equally well emploved with other fluid meters and also with
electricity meters in which latter case the mechanism is caused to operate a switch
for controlling the current.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what. manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In prepayment mechanism for gas or other fluid and electricity meters, an
escapement rack, means operated by the insertion of a coin for winding up the rack
one tooth for each coin inserted, means operated by the meter mechanism for
letting the rack back one tooth for each coin's-equivalent in gas or the like passed
through the meter, a valve (or switch) fitted in the gas supply pipe or the like,

page_text: means operated by the meter mechanism for closing the valve (or operating there-
with) and means operated by the insertion of a coin for disconnecting the valve (or
switch) from the closing mechanism; substantially as described.
2. In prepayment mechanism for meters a valve fitted in the gas passage, a lug
or projection rotated by the power of the meter mechanism, and directly engaging
the valve gear for closing the valve, and a lever arranged to be operated by the
insertion of a coin for opening the said valve; substantially as described.
3. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a valve fitted in the gas passage, an
arm or lever connected to the stem of the valve, a valve-closing link or pendant
connected to the said arm, an escapement rack, a valve-closing stud or projection
operated by the power of the meter mechanism, and means operated by the inser-
tion of a coin for disconnecting the valve-closing link or pendant from the valve-
closing stud and for simultaneously winding up the escapement rack; substantially
as described.
4. In prepayment mechanism for meters, the combination with an escapenient
rack, a valve fitted in the gas passage, a coin-carrier, and a stud carried in a
circular path of rotation and arranged to engage with a link or pendant for closing
the valve, of a lever 17 having an arm 90 and provided with a pawl 22 for setting
back or winding up the escapement rack, the said arm and lever being arranged
to disconnect the valve from the said stud and to open the valve; substantially as
déscribed.
5. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a valve fitted in the gas passage and
provided with an arm and link or pendant, an escapement rack, a rotary stud
carried in a circular path of rotation for engaging with the said link or pendant
for closing the valve, means for disconnecting the said link or pendant from the
said stud, and an eccentric or cam for holding the said link or pendant out of the
path of said valve-closing stud till the consumption of the last coin's-equivalent
in gas is in progress; substantially as described.
6. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a valve fitted in the gais passage and
provided with an arm and link or pendant for closing the valve, in combination
with a projection or stud carried in a circular path of rotation for closing the
valve, and a flange adjacent to and rotating with the said stud for disconnecting it
from the valve closing link; substantially as described.
7. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a rotatory apertured valve-plug in a
seat, the plug being formed with passages, races, or slots on the diagonally opposite
edges of the aperture thereof; substantially as described.
8. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a rotatory coin-carrier formed with an
eccentric or cam, and a reciprocating power-transmitting rod operated by the
meter, in combination with a locking plate or bolt adapted to engage with the said
rod and lock the same at the time the coin-carrier is in position to open the
valve, and held out of engagement with the said rod at other positions of the coin-
carrier; substantially as described.
9. In prepayment mechanism for meters the combination with the meter of a
toothed wheel intermittently rotated by a pawl connected to a rod reciprocated by
an arm attached to the flag of the meter; substantially as described.
10. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a toothed reducing wheel rotated in
only one direction by the mechanism of the meter, a coin's equivalent wheel rotated
from the said reducing wheel, the said coin's equivalent wheel being provided with
means for releasing at each rotation an escapement rack one tooth or notch:
substantially as described.
11. In prepayment mechanism for meters, an escapement rack secured to a shaft
which reaches to the front of the dial plate, combined with a coin's-equivalent
wheel journalled on the said shaft and provided with a sleeve which also reaches
to the front of the dial plate, the said shaft and sleeve being each provided with a
pointer, means operated by the insertion of a coin for rotating the said escapement
rack in one direction, and means operated by the meter mechanism for rotating

page_text: the said coin's-equivalent wheel in the other direction and for setting back the said
escapement rack; substantially as described.
12. In prepayment mechanism for meters, an enclosing casing or box formed
with a coin-slot, a rotatory coin-carrier having a slot or recess formed therein
adapted to receive a coin from the said slot, a spring-pressed slotted plate inter-
posed between the said slot and the said coin-carrier, and a cam formed on or
arranged to rotate with the said coin-carrier and adapted to reciprocate the said
plate so as to alternately align and throw out of alignment the slot in the box, the
slot in the plate and the slot or recess in the coin-carrier; substantially as
described.
13. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a meter-controlling rack, a pair of
pawls operating on the same side of the said rack, a metric or coin's-equivalent
wheel operated by the meter, and means connected to the said metric wheel for
successively tripping the said pawls; substantially as described.
14. In prepayment mechanism for meters, the combination with a meter-con-
trolling rack and a coin's equivalent wheel operated by the meter, of two pawls on
the same side of the rack, one projecting beyond the other, and means operated
by the said coin's-equivalent wheel for successively tripping the said pawl;
substantially as described.
15. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a valve operating rack adapted to
move longitudinally, formed upon one side with valve-opening notches and upon
the other side with valve-closing notches, a valve-opening pawl, a pair of pawls
arranged to engage with the valve-closing notches, and a metric or coin's equiva-
lent wheel operated by the meter and provided with means for tripping the said
pair of pawls; substantially as described.
16. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a pivoted coin-carrier formed with
channels for temporarily holding a coin therein, a cam for pushing the said coin
and oscillating the said coin-carrier, and a hook arranged to overlap the edge of
the coin and to discharge it from the said coin-carrier; substantially as described.
17. In prepayment mechanism for meters a coin-carrier held on stationary
pivots and provided with channels for temporarily holding a coin therein, a pair of
supports for holding the coin in the said carrier, a cam for pushing the said coin
off the said supports and oscillating the coin-carrier, and a hook arranged to over-
lap the edge of the coin; substantially as described.
18. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a coin-carrier held on stationary
pivots and provided with a valve opening (or meter-releasing) pawl or lever and
formed with channels for temporarily holding a coin therein, a pair of supports
for holding the coin in the carrier, a cam for pushing the coin off the supports and
oscillating the coin-carrier, and a hook arranged to overlap the edge of the coin ;
substantially as described.
19. In prepayment mechanism for meters a shaft arranged to be rotated through
part of a revolution by a knob or crank or handle outside the box or casing, a
spring for completing the revolution and a hook arranged to span one edge of a
coin held in a coin-carrier; substantially as described.
20. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a main casing formed with a coin-
slot therein, and having therein a primary coin-rotating chamber open at its
bottom, a curtain or shutter adapted to be oscillated across the coin-slot and pro-
vided with an arm arranged to be oscillated across the bottom of the coin
chamber, in combination with a shaft adapted to be rotated by a crank or handle
outside the said casing and provided with à cam adapted to oscillate the curtain or
shutter; substantially as and for the purposes specified.
21. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a main casing or box formed with a
coin-slot therein, and having therein a primary coin-retaining chamber open at its
bottom, a curtain or shutter arranged to be oscillated across the coin-slot and pro-
vided with an arm arranged to be oscillated across the bottom of the coin-chamber,
the said shutter being also provided with another arm arranged to be acted upon
by a projection on a rack operated in one direction step by step on the insertion of

page_text: coins, and in the opposite direction step by step by the action of the meter;
substantially as described.
22. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a primary coin-chamber fed from a
coin-slot in the box or casing, and a pivoted curtain or shutter provided with an
arm or plate for closing the bottom of the said chamber, in combination with a
cam arranged to move the curtain or shutter across the coin-slot and withdraw its
said plate or arm from the bottom of the coin-chamber; substantially as described.
23. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a valve-rod formed with a slot at its
inner end, a spring connected at one end to the valve rod, its opposite end resting
free at the end of the said slot, in combination with a longitudinally-movable rack
formed or provided with an arm or projection for compressing the spring for
causing it to open the valve; substantially as described.
24. In prenament mechanism for meters, a unit or metric or coin's-equivalent
wheel and a valve-controlling rack formed or provided with a lateral arm or pro-
jection, in combination with a cam arranged to support the rack and permit it
and the valve to move gradually in the valve-closing direction for dimming the
light substantially as described.
25. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a cam rotated by the meter and pro-
vided with undulations on its periphery, in combination with a projection con-
nected with a valve-stem or valve-rod and arranged to rest upon the said cam;
substantially as described.
26. In prepayment mechanism for meters, a reciprocating rod deriving its
motion from a flag of the meter and reaching into and operating the meter-con-
trolling mechanism; substantially as described and illustrated.
27. The improved prepayment mechanisms for gas or other fluid and electricity
meters, hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of October 1897.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.
4, South Street, Finsbury, London. Agents for the Applicant.