GB354797A - Improvements relating to coin freed mechanism of gas and similar meters - Google Patents

Abstract

354,797. Prepayment mechanism for gas &c. meters. UNITED GAS INDUSTRIES, Ltd., 51, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, SIMPSON, S., Meresyke, Exmouth, SMITH, E. W., 186, Kennington Park Road, Kennington, London, and ROBINSON; S., Mill Lane, Old Swan, Liverpool. Feb. 12, 1930, No. 4787. [Class 27.] Coin action, thrust and multiple-coin.-In prepayment mechanism for gas &c. meters having means for adjusting the depth of the coin pocket for use with coins of more than one value, the said means, in effecting the adjustment, causes the movement into or out of operative position of a stop member for moving axially the spindle through which movement is imparted from the coin holder to the valve operating mechanism, to cause the required changes in the gear ratio. A coin is inserted through a slot cx, Fig. 1, in a pricechange plate c into a coin holder a on a disc b rotatable by a handle b<2>, and engages the casing d and a flange g<1> on an adjustable plate g to depress a slide e, so that a tooth e<2> thereon engages a measuring-out wheel f. The plate g is adjusted on the slide e to vary the depth of the coin pocket according to the size of coin to be used by means of a flange at its lower end engaging one or other of two transverse slots in the slide, the plate g being retained in adjusted position by a spring g<3>, Fig. 2, surrounding a pin e<3> which projects from the slide e through a slot in the plate g. A stop-plate h pivoted at h<1> on the coin holder has a tail h<2> engaging a notch in the side of the adjusting plate g so that, when the plate g is raised to adjust the mechanism to take shillings, the stop h is moved in front of a hole a<10> in a lug a<11> extending from the coin holder. In this position, the stop h engages and moves axially a spindle i, Fig. 1, which normally passes through the hole a<10>, to change the gear ratio of the drive between the meter and the quantity mechanism. The rod i is of non-circular cross section and passes through the wheel f and through a screw j which bears a collar l for actuating the valve. Rotation of the wheel f is transmitted to the screw j i which engages an internal thread in a rotatable but axially-immovable sleeve k. This sleeve is rotated to close the valve by a sleeve m having a pin m<1> passing through slots k<2> in the sleeve k and having a worm wheel g that is driven from the meter shaft n either directly by a worm o or by a worm s through reduction gearing r, p. When pennies are being used, the wheel g is kept in engagement with the worm o by a spring k<3> abutting against the pin m<1>, but, when the coinholder is adjusted to take shillings, the rod i is moved axially and its inner end i<1> engaging the pin m<1> moves the sleeve m inwards to bring the wheel q into gear with the worm s of the reduction gearing. Saw-tooth recesses d<7> in the coin-holder casing d prevent backward rotation of the wheel f after the insertion of a coin. When the maximum number of coins at one time have been inserted, the collar l moves a lever u<4> to obstruct the coin discharge slot so that the coin-holder' cannot be moved back to receive another coin until some gas has been consumed. Indicators.-An indicator v is carried by the lever u<4>. Price-change mechanism.-The price change disc c is retained in position by a ring t which is fastened as described in connection with Fig. 9 (not shown). Specification 292,705, [Class 27, Coin-freed apparatus &c.], is referred to.