GB371390A - Improvements in or relating to coin-freed mechanisms, more particularly for use with gas meters - Google Patents

Abstract

371,390. Prepayment mechanism for gas meters &c. GROVES, W. W., 30, Southampton Buildings, London.-(Pintsch Akt.-Ges., J.; 71, Andreasstrasse, Berlin.) Jan. 19, 1931, No. 1725. [Class 27.] Coin action, mechanical-connection ; coinslit closing- devices ; fraud preventing.-In a coin-freed mechanism, particularly for gas meters, having an epicyclic gear driven by the coin and meter mechanisms respectively to open and close the valve, a coin 31, Fig. 4, inserted through a slit 35 to a slotted shaft 5 drives a ratchet wheel 13 loose on the shaft 4 of the epicyclic quantity mechanism, which includes planet wheels 10, 11 mounted in a radius arm 8 carried by the shaft. A spring- controlled lever 26 pivoted at 28 normally holds the coin wheel 13, and is raised momentarily by the coin being forced past a projection 30, which prevents the coin from being withdrawn. The lever 26 has an abutment or lug 34 which guides the coin during insertion and closes the coin slit while the wheel 13 is being actuated. A projection 32 on the arm 8 moves the lever 26, when the maximum number of coin has been inserted, and causes the lug 34 to close the coin slit until some of the gas prepaid has been consumed. A yoke 36 allows only a coin of the proper size to pass. Gas, supplying by meter; indicators.-The planet wheels 10, 11, Fig. 6, mesh with sun wheels 14, 16 carried respectively by a meterdriven wheel 12 and a sleeve 16a connected to the coin wheel 13 by a friction clutch 7. The wheels 14, 16 are loose on the shaft 4 which is provided with a cam disc 18 for actuating a valve-operating arm 19, and a pointer moving over a dial to indicate the number of coins standing to the credit of the consumer. This pointer can move past zero to the negative side of the dial scale, in the case of a leaky valve, until a stop 20 on the disc 18 meets a fixed abutment 21. Thereafter the clutch 7 slips and prevents damage. The amount of escaped gas indicated on the negative side of the dial must be paid for by the insertion of coins before the coins become effective to open again the valve.