GB1058195A - Improvements relating to indicating devices - Google Patents

Abstract

1,058,195. Parking time indicators. VENNER Ltd. Feb. 28,1964 [March 14, 1963], No. 10216/63. Heading G4T. A parking or hiring time indicator includes a counter initially set at a predetermined value and a drive connectable through variable ratio gearing to the counter to drive the counter back towards zero at a selected rate, the rate being indicated externally of the device. As shown, a spring drive 6 rotates a gear train 1 under the control of an escapement 2. A gearwheel 23 of the clock train 1 drives a gear-wheel 24 in a gear train 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17, which, although shown in two-dimensional form, is actually arranged around the spindle of a setting knob 28b so that an idler gear 26, mounted eccentrically, can be set to complete the drive between a selected one of the gears 13 ... 17 and a gear 27 which drives through a worm-gear arrangement 11 the counter 12. A flag indicator is operated when the counter reaches zero. For use as a parking meter, the device is purchased with a predetermined amount registered on the counter and, when desiring to park, the driver of the vehicle on which the meter is carried sets the knob to a reading corresponding to the particular tariff in the parking zone, this set rate being indicated on a disc 28 which is visible from outside the vehicle, so that it can be checked by parking attendants &c. The balance wheel 8 of the clockwork is also visible to check that the device is working. A flag (34, Fig. 3, not shown) is spring-biased so that a follower (30) on its arm co-operates with the cam edge of the disc (28), and when the setting knob is set to the off position, the follower drops into a low (29) in the cam so that the flag (34) moves in front of the aperture (A) through which the balance wheel can be viewed. A pawl (36) is simultaneously moved to a position to arrest the balance wheel.