GB520974A - Improvements in prepayment meters - Google Patents

Abstract

520,974. Prepayment meters. MEASUREMENT, Ltd., CLIFFORD, C. F., and CROSSE, F. C. ZULA-. No. 5, 1938, No. 32129. [Class 27] In prepayment more particularly for the supply of electricity, means are provided for automatically changing the price of the commodity when the rate of consumption exceeds a predetermined minimum. A differential gear has a sun member b driven through gearing 1-19 by a synchronous electric or other constant speed motor a. The other sun member f is driven through gearing 20, 23 by a wheel e actuated by the meter. The planet carrier c is connected by gearing 36, 40 with the sun wheel j of a second differential, the remaining sun wheel g of which is driven from the wheel e by gearing 20-21, 24-29. If the rate of turning of the wheel e is less than necessary to balance wheels b and f the carrier c will turn freely under a pawl-and-ratchet connection 41, 42 introduced into 'the train 36, 40, but if it is greater the carrier c will turn in the opposite direction and will turn the sun wheel j to lower 'the rate at which the planet carrier h is turned by the metering mechanism from e, i.e., the rate at which the pre-payment mechanism is moved to cancel the pre-payment. The pairs of wheels 11, 12; 36, 37; and 26, 27 are change wheels located on the front of the meter for ready alteration of the basic rate of consumption before lowering of prices, of the deduction from the high rate price to give a new low rate price, and of 'the high rate units price respectively.