GB519628A - Improvements in and relating to prepayment mechanism for the supply of commodities - Google Patents

Abstract

519,628. Prepayment mechanisms for meters ; basic charges. UNITED GAS INDUSTRIES, Ltd., CHARLES, A., and CHRISTIAN, A. J. Sept. 16, 1938, No. 27079. [Class 27] Coin-freed time-controlled apparatus for making a basic or rental charge in connection with the supply of gas or other commodity is provided with a valve or equivalent element controlled by a member which is set forward by prepayment mechanism to establish the supply and is returned in the direction to reduce or interrupt the supply by an electric time-control mechanism operated by a battery. In the construction shown a gas meter a is provided at the inlet side with a valve casing b having a valve c fixed to a spindle d carrying an arm f acted upon by a spring g to close the valve. A stud or roller f<1> on the arm f engages a cam disc h having two paths for the roller, the inner path h<2> being such that when the roller travels thereon the valve is closed and cannot be opened. The cam disc h is fixed to the driven element i of a Geneva stop mechanism the driving member j of which is fixed to one of the sun wheels of a differential or epicyclic gear k, the other sun wheel being driven from a suitable coin mechanism l and the planet-carrier being driven by the time control mechanism m through a worm m<2>. The time control mechanism comprises an electrical clockwork operated by a battery as described in Specification 517,733. The prepayment mechanism may be as described in Specification 392,530, in which two co-axial quantity wheels, contained in the casing l and operated by different coins, are respectively connected to a planet carrier n and a sun wheel o of an epicyclic reduction gear, the other sun wheel q being fixed to one of the sun wheels the epicyclic gear k. Other forms of coin mechanism may be used such as those described in Specifications 387,678, 400,636, and 405,302. An indicator may be provided to show the amount of rental or basic charge that has been prepaid. When the valve is closed and the roller f<1> is travelling on the inner cam path the time control mechanism will continue to operate and the indicator will show the amount of basic charge which requires to be paid before the valve will again be opened to permit delivery of the commodity. Reference has been directed by the Comptroller to Specification 517,733.