US497682A - Coin operated gas meter - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet A1. D. ORME. GOIN OPBRATEDv GAS METER.

Patented May 16, 1893.

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(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 2.

D. ORME. COIN OPBRATED GAS METER.

Patented May 16, 1893.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets--Sheet 3.

D. ORME. l v GOIN OPERATED GAS METER.

Pate'nted May 16, 1893;

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D. ORME. COIN OPERATBD GAS METER.

No. 497,682. 'Patented May? 16,l 189s.

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"1c-TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL ORME, oF oLDHAM, ENGLAND.

`COIN-OPERATED GAS-METER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 497,682, dated May 16, 1893.

Application filed December 10, 1891. Serial No. 414,629. (No model.)

1'0 @Z w/wm t may concern.: Y Be it known that I, DANIEL ORME, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, .residing at 95 Queens Road, Old.ham,in the county of Lancaster, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Prepayment Gas-Meters, for automatically supplying a predetermined quantity of gas in exchange for an inserted coin or coins or [o token or equivalents for value; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which .will enable others skilled in the art to which yit appertains to make and use the same.

My said invention relates to pre-payment gas meters through which a pre-determined quantity of gas is allowed tov pass to the consumer on the insertion into a slit or receptacle of a coin or coins or other equivalent tozo ken or tokens representing the value of the required quantity of gas.

The invention is applicable to either wet I will now proceed more particularly to de! scribe the same reference being had to the annexed live sheetsof illustrative drawings:

Figure l is a front view of a pre-payment wet meter constructedin accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is asimilar view with the front plate and dials removed to show the mechanism.` Fig. 3 is a side view of the meter at the right hand side of Figs. l and 2 the coin receiving frame or cylinder and pocket being removed to show more clearly the adjustable stop and ratchet arrangement. Fig. 4 is a similar view the coin box and coin receiving cylinderbeing shown in section. Fig. 5 is a view partly in section of the meterbfrom the back, showing clearly the connection of the coin receiving mechanism with the mechanism of the meter. Fig. 6 is a side View of the mechanism of the meter. Figa 7 is a separate view of the pawl carrier and notched stop disk. Fig. 8 shows a inode of automatically sealing a wet meter to prevent passage of gas after the drumhas been arrested.

revolving dialjz.

Referring in the first place to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 the mechanism is Vcontained within a suitable casing similar to thatshown inthe drawings and may be said to consist of two divisions, namely, the gearing and stop mechanism situated behind the dial A and operated -by the upshaft B and the coin receiving mechanism situated at the back and operated by the handle c.

I will describe the apparatus behind the dial first and then I shall describe the coin mechanism and show its effect in operating and controlling the said apparatus.

As already said the gearing behind the dial is operated from the up-shaft B or it might be from any 'other suitable working pai-tof the meter. The shaft B carries a worm a which gears with a worm wheel b which is fast on the spindle c of the pointer c'. The same spindle c carriesasecond toothed wheel d Fig. 6 and a pinion e. The wheel d gears with a toothed spur-wheelf. The axis upon which the spur wheelfis mounted consists of a central through spindle gcarrying at one end andfixed thereon the worm wheel hand escapement disk rand at the other end the finger g.V Upon the spindle g there is also mounted a sleeve j the said sleeve carrying secured thereto a toothed Wheel j and also an outer Upon a'prolongation of the sleeve j there is mounted looselythe aforesaid spur wheelfand the said spur wheelfcarries affixed to it a'toothed or recessed disk lo. The end of the prolongation of the sleeve j carries fixed thereon a pawl carrier Z and upon the said pawl carrierl is pivoted at Z a pawl m which is arranged to engage with the toothed disk 7c. Upon the pawl m I pivot a secondary smaller pawl n with inclined faces as shown (see Fig. 5) which is intended to drop into the notch in the escapement disk 1.' when the said notch and pawl come opposite to each other. It will be observed that owing to the presence of a prop or projection m from the pawlm which projection m engages with the pawl n the rising of the pawl n takes place at the same time with the larger pawl m and clears it from the toothed disk 7c by means of the inclined faces of said-,pawl engaging with the sides of the notch K. Similarly when the smaller pawl n drops into the f notch in the escapement disk i the larger pawl meter.

m is at the same time permitted to engage with the toothed disk 71:. A spring o extending from an arm Z2 of the pawl carrierl presses on the back ot the pawl m and thus forces the two pawls into engagement when the notch in the escapement disk 1I comes opposite to the pawl n. The periphery of the toothed disk la is formed with as many notches or recesses as conveniently possible so as to provide that practically one of the notches in the disk 7s shall always be beneath and ready to receive the pawl m When the pawl 'n drops into the notch in the escapement disk fi. The toothed disk 7c and the escapement disk 1J thus provide a double locking arrangement and the reason whyI provide the toothed disk 7s in addition to the escapement disk e' is simply because there is so long a train of gearing between the 11p-shaft and the axis of the escapement disk 11 that to attempt to stop the action of the meter against so much multi-4 plying gearing would almost certainly entail breakage of some ot the intermediate wheels and pinions. It would in other words be like applying force to the shortest portion of a fulcrumed lever instead of to the longest end. I therefore provide the toothed disk 7a fixed to its companion spur wheelf which gears as has been said with a toothed Wheel alongside of the worm wheel which is driven from the up-shaft B. Thus when I arrest the motion of the disk r, and spur Wheelf they immediately hind the worm wheel operated from the lip-shaft and stop the meter Without any straining of intermediate parts.

The gearing which operates the pawl carrier and pawl and the pointers on the dial is as follows: The pinion e on the axis c gears with the wheel e. On the axis ot' the wheel e is a pinion e2 which gears with a wheel e3. On the axis of the wheel e3 is a pinion e4 gearing with the wheel j already referred to as a fixture on the sleeve j. The wheel j also drives a train of gearing p p p2 psp the axes of the wheels 192194 carrying the pointers q r which appear in Fig. l. The pointer or index c is chiefly for the purpose ot' testing the meter. The finger g' shows the consumer the amount of gas paid for and not yet consumed. The pointers q r show a continuous and cu mulative record ofthe gas passed through the It will be evident that as the finger g' is fixed on the axis g the turning of the axis g will move the finger g forward say in the direction of the arrow Fig. l and after- `and permit or eect rotation of the spindle g to such a degree as will allow the meter to pass a quantity of gas correspondlng to the snm paid. As clearly seen from the drawings the coin receiving cylinder s is contained within a casing t. The coin receiving cylin der s consists of a simple ring supported on a central spindle s which is supported in a sleeve bearing formed for it in the cover u. The spindle and cylinder are turned by the handle C. The cylinder s contains apocket s2 to receive the coins which are dropped into the said pocket through a slit t in the casing t. A spring c at the bottomof the` pocket gives the coin an elastic support. Two stops are provided to limit the play of the coin receiving cylinder s. One stop w projects from the adjustment disk n and prevents the coin receiving cylinder from moving farther to that side; another stop y projecting from the cover u prevents the cylinder from being moved round farther than is necessary to discharge the coin through anotherl slit t2 in the casing, into the coin receptacle a Figs. 1 and 2. Terminal stops y 'y2 are also provided one being on the casing t and the other on the disk The inner circumference of the casing t carries an internal ratchet rack 3 extending from the inlet slit L" to the outlet slit 252. As the coin is carried round by the cylinder s it is held with an elastic pressure by the spring c against the ratchet rack, the edge of the coin serving as a pawl which permits of the rotation of the coin cylinder in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 4) but pref` vents it from being moved back until after the coin cylinder has been moved round sufiiciently far to drop the coin through the delivery slot into the coin receptacle. rlhe adjustment disk is carried on a projection which is slid into a hollow spindle l which is supported in bearings in the casing and the spindle l is formed with a worm 2 which cngages with the worm wheel h already referred to as being fast on the spindle g. Consequently any movement of the Spindle l will correspondingly revolve the spindle g.

As I have already said in the former part of my specification a salient feature ot my invention is the capability ot' adjusting the mechanism so that with a coin or token ot' a fixed value the quantity ot' gas to, be deliv ered therefor can be regulated according to the local or current price of gas. To elect this adjustment I place a movable stop 3 on the face of the adjustment disk :n and in the path of the coin as it is carried round by the cylinders. In Fig. 5 the dotted circumference of the coin appears projecting from the side of the pocket and over againstl lthe stop 3 which it will strike when carried round. The adjustment disk has a number of holes 4, screw-threaded to receive a set screw 5 which passes through the movable stop 3. The range of adjustmentgiven by the holes 4 represents th'e range from the minimum to the maximum price of gas. It will be evident therefore that the stop 3 can be adjusted and fixed in any position corresponding to a certain current price of gas. It the price of IOS IIO

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` gas should increase or decrease the stop 3 can 'finger g.

be adjusted to meet -the variations. coin or token is carried round by the coin cylinder s it encounters the stop 3 sooner or later according to the position of the stop and then carries round with it the disk or. This turns the spindle 1 and worm 2 and effects the rotation of the spindle g, escapement disk c' and finger g which plainlyv indicates on the revoluble dial L7'2 what quantity of gas stands to the credit of the consumer. It will be evident that the return of the coin cylinder s to its normal position, that is to say with'the coin pocket s2 opposite to the receiving slit t, must be effected without at the same time reversing the spindle 1 since this would merely return the various parts to the position from l whence they started. I thereforek form a ratchet connection between the disk a; and the spindle l so thatthe said spindle can be easily turned in the direction which will advance the parts but is locked and held while the coin receiving cylinder is being brought back to its starting point. To effect this I mount the disk a: loosely upon the end of the spindle 1 (see Figs. 3 and 5) a stump, or projection entering a hole bored v in the spindle 1. -1 Aratchet wheel 5 is fixed on the spindle 1 behind the disk .rand a pawl 6 pivoted to the disk zc engages with the ratchet wheel 5 in such -a manner that when the disk n: is rotated in the direction of thearrow Fig. 3 the pawl 6 takes round with it the saidratchet wheel thus revolving the spindle 1 and advancing the parts as alreadydescribed. On the return of the disk a: by the reversal of the coin cylinder the pawl 6 slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel while' at the same time the weighted pawl 7 which is pivoted at 7 to the casing t locks the ratchet wheel 5 and prevents it from being dragged back by the pawl 6. Thus the spin-v dle 1 is rotated in one direction only.

When the apparatus is at rest and the iin` ger 'g' stands at o on the revoluble dial L7'2 the escapement disk and the toothed disk Icare both held by the pawls m fa which have dropped into their respective notches as shown for example at Fig. 5. The coin receiving cylinder being in the position shown at Fig. 4, I

drop a suitable coin or token into the pocket S2A through the slit t. I then turnfthe coin cylinder s by means of the handle c the edge of the coin engaging with the internal rack t5 as it is carried round until the coin comes opposite to the delivery slit t2 through which it drops into the coin receptacle (z. By thus turning the coin cylinderthe shaft 1 is rotated thereby revolving the spindle g, escapement diskz' and By this movement the pawl 'n is lifted out by means of the reverse movement of the disk I of its notch in the escapement disk 11 so as to rest on the periphery of the disk vandthis displacement of the pawl n also lifts As the the pawl m clear ofthe toothed disk lo. The escapement diskt' is moved round a distance the'extent of which is regulated' by the position of the stop 3 on the disk a: which as has been said is adjusted to correspond `with the scribed gearing in such a manner that the wheel j and sleeve j are rotated the sleevej carrying round the pawl carrier Z and pawls vm n. The pawls are-thus carried slowly round until the pawl n overtakes andgdrops into the notch inthe stop disk t' the pawl m at the saine time dropping into one of the notches inthe l disk lc. This happens when .the quantity of gas paid for has been consumed and the apf paratus is thereby locked and helduntil again released by the insertion of money and the operation of the coin receiving cylinder is as hereinbefore described. The coin receptacle z for receiving the coins or tokens dropped out of the coin receiving cylinder consists of a `box secured by means which are most clearly shown at Fig. 5. An opening 9 on the front of the' box carries a screw 8 which engages with a nut 8 projecting downward from the 4.casing t. The head of the screw 8 is formed so as to engage with a similarlyv formed key whereby the screw can be turned.

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The screw 8 engages with a nut 8 forming i part of the casing. To secure the box or to disengage itv the key is inserted into the' Aopening and is caused to turn the screw 8'- and thus release or secure the box z. As an additional security I might introduce across the bore of the opening 9 a soft metal rivet 10 placed in position and stampedfor impressed at one or both ends witha private .mark or stamp of the company or collector.

This would form a safeguard against dishonest attempts to open the box and abstract the coins.y Any other suitable or sufficiently secure lock or fastening might be substituted for the contrivance described.

The foregoingigures.illustrate the application of my invention to a wet meter. It

will however be apparent that with some slight i1'1` modifications the invention can be used conjunction with a dry meter.

What I claim is- 1. in a coin-operated gas meter, thecombination of the shaft B, operated by the meter; shaft g, carrying a pointer g; a sleevej, carrying a movable dial jz; connections between IZO said shaft B and said sleevej; a ratchet wheel k, loosely mounted on said sleeve j; connec- `tions between said ratchet wheel la and said shaft B; coin-operated mechanism, operating in connectlon with said shaft g; an escapement disk t', on said shaft g; a pawl rm, se-` shaft g, carrying a pointer arm g a sleevej,`

mounted on said shaft g, and carrying a movable dial ji; a ratchet wheel 7a, loosely mount.- ed on said sleevej; connections between said shaft B, and said sleeve j, and between said shaft B, and said ratchet wheel It; an escapement disk i, on said shaft g; a pawl carrier Z, secured to said sleeve j; a pawl m, pivoted to said pawl carrier Z, and engaging with said ratchet wheel k; a pawl a, pivoted to said pawl m, and engaging with said escapement disk i, and arranged when elevated to engage with the stud m', on the pawl m, so that when the pawl n, is elevated the pawl fm, will be elevated with it; and coin-controlled mechanism, acting in connection with said shaftg, substantially as set forth.

3. In a coin-controlled gas meter, the combination of a shaft B, operated by the meter; the shaft g, carrying the pointer g; the sleeve j, surrounding said shaft g, and carrying a movable dial jz; a gear wheelj, rigidly secured to said sleevej; the train of gears e, e e2, e9, e4, and a worm a, connecting said shaft B, with said gear j',- a gear wheel f, loosely` mounted on said sleeve y; gear wheels d and b, and worm a, connecting said gear wheel f, with said shaft B a train of gears p, p2, p3, and p4, operated by said gear wheel j', and carrying pointers q, and fr; a ratchet wheel k, secured to said gear f; an escapement disk 1l, secured to said shaft (5 a pawl carrier Z, secured to said sleeve j; a pawl m, pivoted to said pawl carrier, and engaging with said ratchet wheel lc; a pawl n, pivoted to said pawl m, and engaging with the escapement disk i; and coin-controlled mechanism, operated in connection with the shaft g, substantially as described.

4. In a coin controlled gas meter, the combination of the shaft B operated by the meter, shaft g, mechanism connecting the shafts B and g carrying the pointer arm g; a sleevej carrying a movable dial jg; mechanism connecting the shaft B and the dial jf and intermediate connections substantially as described, between said shaft B, and said sleeve j, and between said shaft B and said shaft g; a shaft l, connecting with said shaft g; a coin receiving cylinder s, connected with said shaft 1, and a handle C, for rotating said coin receiving cylinder, substantially as described.

carrying a movable dial jz; mechanism connecting the shaft B and the dialj2 and intermediate connections between said shaft B, and said sleeve j; connections between said shaft B, and said shaft g; a shaft I, carrying a worm 2, engaging with the gear 71., on the shaft g; a coin receiving cylinder s; and a clutch connection between said coin receiv ing cylinder, and said shaft 1, substantially as set forth.

6. In acoin controlled gas meter, the combination of the shaft B operated by the meter,

shaft-g, mechanism connecting the shafts B and g carrying the pointer arm g; a sleevej carrying a movable dial f2 and intermediate connections between said shaft B, and said sleevej; connections between said shaft B, and said shaft g; a shaft l carrying a worm 2, engaging with a gear h, on the shaft g; a coin receiving cylinder' s; an adjustment plate carried thereby, and connecting with the shaft 1; and an adjustment stop 55,011 said adjustment plate substantially as described.

7. In acoin controlled gas meter, the combination of the shaft B operated by the meter, shaft g, mechanism connecting the shafts B and g carrying a pointer arm g; a sleeve 7' carrying a movable dialj2; mechanism connecting the shaft B and the dialj2 and intermediate connections between said shaft B and said sleeve j; connections between said shaft B, and said shaft g; a shaft 1, carrying a worm 2, engaging with the gear wheel h, on the shaft g; a coin receiving cylinder s; an adjustment plate 00, carried by the coin receiving cylinder s, and connecting with the shaft l; an adjustable stop 3 carried by the adjustment plate m; and said plate provided with a series of holes 4,4, with which said stop 3, engages, for the purpose mentioned, substantially as described.

8. In a coin controlled gas meter, the combination of the shaft B operated by the meter, shaft g, mechanism connecting the shafts B and g carrying the pointer arm g; a sleevej carrying the movable dial .72; mechanism connecting the shaft B and the dial ,7'2 and intermediate connections between said shaft B, and said sleeve j; connections between said shaft B, and said shaft g; a shaft l, carrying a worm 2, engaging with the gear wheel h, on the shaft g; a coin receiving cylinder s; connecting with said shaft l; a coin receiving pocket s2, insaid cylinders; abearing spring o, within said pocket s2; the ratchet teeth on the interior of the coin receiving cylinder s, and with which the coin is adapted to engage, substantially as set forth.

9. In acoin controlled gas meter, the combination of the shaft B operated by the meter, shaft g, mechanism connecting the shafts B and g carrying the pointer arm g', a sleeve j carrying a movable dial jz, mechanism connecting the shaft B and the dialj and intermediate connections between said shaft B,

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and said sleeve j; connections between said' droppedfas the cylinder is revolved, substanshaft B, and said shaft g; a shaft 1, carrying' `rt'ially as set fort Iov a Worm 2, engaging with the gear wheel h, on This specification signed and witnessed the y the shaft g; a, coin receiving cylinder s, eon- 30th day ofOtober, 1891'.- 5 nectingwith said shaft 1; a coin receiving I A pocket 32m-said cylinder, adapted to receive Witnesses:

the coin; and a coin' receptacle z, beneath J. ENTWISLE,

said cylinder, and into lwhich the coin vis i R. W."IBB'ERSON.

DANIELv ORME.

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