US2430583A - Timing device - Google Patents

Description

M. H. RHODES TIMING DEVICE Nov. 11;' '1947,

Original Filed Aug. 1. 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nof. 11, 1947.

M. H. RHODES TIMING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original FiledAug. l, 1940 FIG.

M. H. RHODES 430,583

Nv. 1l, 1947.

TIMING DEVICE Original Filed Aug. l, 1940 3 sheets-sheet s Flea.

Patented Nov. l1, 1947 are TIMING DEVICE Marcus H. Rhodes, Hartford,- Conn., assignor tol M. H. Rhodes, Inc., Hartford, Conn., av corporationof Delaware` Original application August 1, 1940, Serial No.y 349,119. Divided and, this application October 25, 1943, SerialNo. 507,639

Claims. 1i

This invention relates to timing devices, and with regard to certain moreA speciiic features, to coin-controlled` timing' devices forl indicating the passage of a purchased length of time, as for parking automobiles or the like.

This application isa division of my copending application Serial Number 349,119, led August l, 1940, which application issued as Patent No. 2,369,688, dated February 20, 1945. An application Serial No. 734,650 was iiled March 14, 1947, as a division of the present application.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a coin controlled timing device of, the class described which is adapted to indicate at' all times what portion of a purchased length of time has passed; the provision of a device ofthe character indicated which provides different periods of time upon` the deposit of coins of different values; the provision of a device of the class described which is so constructed as to require re-settingv ofthe indicating portion ofthe device to a starting or Zero point in order for the operator to obtain the full value of a coin; and the provision of' a device of the class described whichis substantially fool-prooi in operation, simple in construction, and which may be economically made. Other objects will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

Thel invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinationsY of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified inthe structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which are illustrated several of the possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device, embodying the present invention;

Fig, 2 is a section takenv along the line- 2 in Fig. 1, but on al1-enlarged scale;

Fig. 3 is a section, taken along; the line 31-.2-3Y

in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a1 section similary to; Fig. 3, but; showing a different position of the mechamsm;

Fig. 5 is aV section taken along the linev 5.1-5,

in Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 3, but show.-J

ing a still different position of the mechanism;

Fig. 7.' is a partial. section. similar to- Fig. 2,

but showing. an alternative embodiment of the in-l Fig. 9 is a section similar to Fig. 8, but showing themechanism in different position; and- Fig. l0 isa section similar toFig. 5l of the alternative embodiment.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

The device of the presenty invention is particularly adapted for use as a so-called4 parking meter which is` usually installed in connection withdesignatedparking` spacesfor auto-- mobiles along the curbs of city streets. The timing device itselfis usually mounted ona post on the curb in proximity tothe designated parking space. The` device is adapted to receive a coin from a person parking his automobile in the designated space, and has means thereon for indicating a duration or period of time corresponding to the lengthy of time a person` is entitled to park in the designated space in return for the-valuev of a coin presented.

One of the principal features of the present inventionv is that it indicates progressively ythe gradual expiration offthe purchased time'interval, as determined' by the value of a coinv initially deposited inthe device. This indication is readily visible at a distance, which greatly facilitates the enforcement of parking ordinances and assures receipt bythe governmental agency of the full parking fees t0 which it is entitled.

In addition, the present invention assures the governmental municipality'that it will receive full value for the time during which the meter registers legalV parking, and that any attempt to cheat the meter will result in the would-be cheater cheating himself, rather than the municipality. Another new and' valuable feature is provided the municipality and the user in that a user of this device may set the time fora lesser timethan the fulltime period'- prescribed by ordinance. This may increase the revenue to the municipality, and offers certainadvantages to the user. In attempting to set previous meters for short periods, confusion has resulted. The present device may be,` constructed to provide different periods of time upon thev deposit of coins of different values.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1` shows a device in which numeral I indicatesa rectangular casing which has a semi-circular top portion. The top part of the front of the casing I has a semi-circular opening 2- preferably holding a glass. Back ofr this is a scale 3 upon which are iigures to indicate the amount of legal parking time remaining. In front of this scaleand movable thereover by the clockwork mechanism isa semi,-

circular shield 4 which, upon initiating operation of the device, is rotated until it is substantially invisible. Initiation of the operation of the device is carried out by means of a handle 5 (see Fig. 2) which operates the setting mechanism uponthe insertion of a coin into the coin slot 6. Shield 4 is attached to a shaft I which is rotated by the clockwork mechanism.

The back of the device is provided with a viewing glass I8, arranged opposite the place where the coin is held during legal operation of the device, and also with an appropriate lock such as a screw lock II.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the device has an appropriate coin receptacle I2 for permanent retention of coins. The receptacle I2 is preferably removable from the device so the collector can merely replace it with an empty box and take the coin containing receptacle to a central collecting point. If the receptacle I2 is of the type which automatically locks upon removal from the device, accurate records of receipts from a specific device may be kept, and fraudulent returns by the collector are made dicult. A temporary coin receiver I3 is connected to receptacle I2 and opposite receiver I3 is located a viewing glass I which may preferably be constructed as a magnifying glass.

Fig. 3 shows the device ready for the reception of a coin. Numeral I4 indicates a circular wall or cylinder which is preferably formed integrally with a plate I5, as by die casting, and acts to prevent insertion of a coin except at the intended place. 'I'he cylinder I4 is not a complete cylinder, it being provided with a relatively wide opening I6. rI'he plate I5 is rotatably mounted upon a shaft II, upon which is also mounted the handle 5. The opposite end of shaft I'I carries cam I8 which cooperates with member I9, mounted on plate I5 by pin 6i), to cause rotation of the plate I5 and cylinder I4 in one direction, but not in the other. Spring 20 mounted on plate I5 retains member I9 in position for cooperation with cam I8. Movably mounted on plate I5 are arms 2| and 22 by means of rivet 23.` Spring 24, attached to plate I5 yby means of rivet 25 and to arm 2l at opening 26, positions arm 2l in the proper relationship to the remainder of the device. Similarly, arm 22 is positioned by spring 21 attached to plate I5 with rivet 28 and to arm 22 by opening 29. Spring 24 is stronger than spring 21 and they are adjusted so that in the Fig. 3 position spring 21 is elongated. Projection 30 on arm 2| which projects through opening 3I in plate I5, .controls and limits the movement of arm 2I in cooperation with wedge 32 located between plate I5 and the back of` the device. Located below plate I5 is coin holder 33 adapted to temporarily suspend the coin opposite viewing window I0 prior to deposit thereof in coin boX I2. The coin is held by bar 314 which projects thereunder.Y Projecting portion 35 of holder 33 cooperates with hook 36 on arm 22 to drop the coin when the device is operated to re-set it. Positioned adjacent the member 33 is V-shaped element 31, mounted on pin 38. Element 3'! cooperates with cams 39, located on the screw lock II, to release the coin from holder 33.

In front of the setting mechanism is located a triangular shaped dog 48. It is mounted on the shaft 'I -Which carries the clockwork mechanism indicated generally at 4I. The dog 45 winds the clockwork mechanism upon initiation of operation of the device by the plate I5 and members assembled therewith. Lug 42 (see Fig. 2) on arm 2l is positioned to contact dog 40 under certain conditions of operation, and carry out the wind-v ing operation.

The operation of the device is as follows:

When the plate I5 assembly is in the positionk shown in Fig. 3 with the opening I6 opposite the coin chute 6, it is ready to receive a coin 43 which is inserted through the coin slot 5 and drops into the semi-circular segment 49 of arm 2l, as indicated. A movable coin-retaining member 5I prevents removal of the coin after insertion. If the handle 5 is now rotated, carrying with it plate I5 and assembly, projecting portion 30 attached to arm 2I contacts wedge 32 tensioning spring 24 and moving arm 2| toward the center of the assembly. This permits the coin '43 to assume by gravity the position shown in Fig. 4, Where it is held between the minor semi-circular segment 44 of arm 2l, and the interior Wall 45 of the case I. This retains the tension in spring 24,.while at the same time the tension in spring 21 has been released because the pin 45, attached to arm 2I, which imposed Vthe tension upon spring 2l through arm 22 as shown in Fig. 3, by the movement of arm 2l, has been moved away from the projecting portion 51 of arm 22. With the coin in position as shown in Fig. 4, lug 42 on arm 2l is brought into position to contact dog Lil), as shown in Fig. 4. Releasing the tension in spring 2l has dropped arm 22 to the position likewise shown in Fig. 4, where it contacts projecting portion 35 of holder 33 by means of hook 35. Further rotation of the handle 5 and the plate I5 assembly trips the coin holder 33 to drop the coin held temporarily before window I3 into the coin box I2, and likewise begins winding the timing mechanism. Continuing rotation of the handle 5 until the arm Y. 22 has passed holder 33, allows holder 33 to fall back into position by gravity, -but continues winding the clockwork mechanism. This winding continues until the opening I5 is brought opposite the coin slot 43, which connects with the V`temporary coin receiver I3. When the ycoin 43 reaches this position, it is discharged into the temporary coin holder, releasing the tension on spring 24, so that the device is again in the condition shown in Fig. 3. In this position rotation of the handle 5 without a coin will not operate either the winding mechanism through dog 4I) or the coin-releasing mechanism of holder 33, since lug 42 cn arm 2l clears dog 40, and hook 35 on arm 22 clears projecting portion 35 on holder 33.

As soon as the winding of the clockwork mechanism, by means of dog 53, ceases, as by the operator releasing handle 5 or by the dropping of coin 43 into the temporary `coin receiver I3, the clockwork begins to drive the shield 4 over scale 3. The winding mechanism and the clockwork are adjusted so that sufficient winding is given by the rotation of dog 4B, as described above, to operatethe shield 4 over the scale 3 for the full time or any portion of time purchased.

If it is attempted to rotate the plate assembly I5 only part way, thereby only partially winding the clockwork mechanism with the intention of allowing the device to operate for a time, then to return and again partially wind the device or to complete the winding operation, thus obtaining an additional period of time for the money deposited, no such operation is permitted by the instant device, although it is permissible to release the handle for a `comparatively short period 0f time, and then continue the winding operation, is accomplished. by the. shape otthe arm 2|:, and associated mechanisms,

This construction also provides.: theY user: with a new means to set the time for a shorter period than the fulltime where said' user isV 'desirous of staying a very short period. Users have been known to become confused.' in attempting to operate other devices; fror shorter time periods..

It will. be seeny that this. new method not only intercepts the wouldY be cheater but eliminates confusionto some of the users and it provides greater revenue to the municipality than previous meters that had to beset to-full time before an illegal Warning flag would clear;

Assuming now that winding of the device is discontinued after the clockwork is partially' wound, and not resumed after a comparatively short delayed period of time, the-clockwork mechanism willl operate' during this period, driving the shieldt and the plate I5 assembly by means of lug 42 in theV opposite direction. This delayed time period isI an improvement over similar previous devices where instantaneous action resulted inthe user being cheated and confused by such instances as the hand" slipping off and losing the coin often before any time was secured; Coin d3 is in frictional engagement with interi-or wall it andl this friction holds the coin stationary while. the clockwork moves arm 2l. After a comparatively short period of time the coin will pass from the portion t@ of arm 2l into the portion. d'9'. Portion l9is. much deeper than` portion 44' and. serves to accommodate the coin without imposing ten.- sion upon spring 215'. Releasingv this. tension oi' spring 2.1i removes lug ft2 from contact with dog d0, so. that a subsequent. attempt. to complete. theV operation ofY winding. is. defeated, since lug 42. does. not contact dog to, and turning handle 5; only results in` the coin. being rotated. into a position to b e. discharged into. the chute t8, and thence into. temporary receiver t3. From this itis clear that the attempt. to cheat the meter has resulted only in the perpetrator cheating liimscl-r", since he obtains only the portion of the time which` has been woundA on; the meter before he discontinuedv winding.

It is permissible to discontinue winding. for a comparatively short time, however, since it may be resumedI at any time before operation! of-the. clockwork mechanism has released lug.y 152i from dog d. through the tension in spring 2li.

Referring' now to Fig. 5, av member 5.5.- isr mounted on shaft lf tofbel rotary with the clock:- work mechanism: Thismember has a. projecting portion 5;!- Whiclr cooperates with a lf-shaped. member 52' rotatably mound-:d on; a pin iti tcm operate coin. holder- 3-3; through projection e5.. The projection 5t is positioned so that upon expiration of the purchased, parking time, this projection contacts V-shapedfmember 52, .andmoves the temporary coin helder 33 to drop the coin into the coin box. l2; rIihe coin therefore drops into temporary coin receiver i3 upon initiation operation of the device, andV is dropped therefrom intor coin box. l2 as soon as the purchased time has been exhausted. The presence ot they coin, therefore, which is visible through window l0, acts as a signal to the patrolling oflicer and to the public that the device is. measuring purchased time, rather than overtime.

Practically assoon as. the parkeircommences tol turn the cran-k and. before lug lifcontactgs dog it to set anyl time, the previous parkers coin is automatically dropped into the coin box if it has not. already dropped upon occurrence. of one of they events previously described.. IThis dropping of the previous. coin setsV up: an indication tothepatrolling, oflicer,y to the parken. and to. the public. One coin does not. contact another in.- the winding mechanism, so. that there is no possibili-ty oftwo coinstelescoping. rPhe presence of the window t5'- on the back of the device operatesas a signal to' the patrolling ofcer through the` presence or l absence of a coin showing therethrough,

The present device also effectively preventscheating by the parker through an incompletewinding of the apparatus. Releasing the handleA for a short time, inthe interest of convenience,

1 does notvv result in a loss of the coin, but allowingl theI device to-operate-ina partly wound condition for a matter of two minutes, approximately, will result in aloss of the remaining time, and an ina-bility by the parker to finish the operation which heA began.

Referring now to Figures '7, 8, 9 and l0, an alterna-tive form of the invention is shown. This embodiment is particularly useful where the meter. is to operate with coins of different values, to provide a corresponding purchased time interval. A coin receiver 6'2 is shown, which may be of the type illustrated, or may be. of the same form as thecoin-receiving member 2l shown in the previous embodiment. In the present instance, pin. E53 cooperates with the coin and the rim t5; of the case to hold coin receiver 62 in position. A spring 6d mounted on pin 65, andpassing through an opening (it in coin receiver 62, functions similarlytoy the spring 24 in the previous embodil-ments The coinu receiver t2 has a projecting lug t2, as before, adapted to operate the mechanism, andE at the same time, to set the device. Dog dlicooperates with lug t2 in the same manner described? previously'. However, there is an additional dog 61- which is rotatably mounted on shaft 7, and cooperates with a U-shaped mem.- ber 58g which likewise is mounted upon shaft 1. Dog 6T has a projection 69 adapted to engage.

K Uf-sha-pedV member 68, and a second projecting engage the portion 'It of dog 6i.

portion 1.0 which cooperates with lug l2 in a manner to be described'.

The operation of this alternative form of the device will be described in terms of its use with Vpennies and nickels.

Coin receiver 62, together with its integrally formed l'ug 42S, is adjusted so that when a penny isinserted it occupies the position shown in solid lines i'n Fig. 9. The lug 42 is thereby positioned sof that it will olea-r the end of dog Al, but will Then as handle 5 rotates the plate t5 and assembly thereon with a penny iin position as shown in Figure 9, the rotation will continue without result until the dog 6l; has been rotated sufficiently far to contact L-J-shaped membery 68 by means of projecting portion 69a Dogl 67' then operates upon the U.- shaped assembly Se to rotate the shaft TI Winding the clockwork mechanism, and setting the timeindicating means to the proper position. In the embodiment shown, dog 61 and U-shapedmember Sf are formed in such a way that this rotation by means ofr a penny will operate to set a time ofy about twelve minutesv upon the meter beforel thel opening I5 in cylinder It comes opposite' the coinchute. d3, and drops the coin thereinto; vThe approximate point at which lug t2; and dog# 61 begin to operate the winding and setting operation just described, is indicated at the dotted section 'H' in Fig. 9L

If, instead of a penny, a nickel is inserted,

the coin receiver 62 will occupy the dotted-line position shown in Fig. 9. The lug d2 will then be positioned so that as the rotation of the handle 5 is carried out, lug d2 contacts dog 40 to set the mechanism in the manner described in connection with the previous embodiments of the invention. Dog 61 being movably mounted on the shaft, moves with dog lli! and has no effect upon the mechanism. Dog 4i) is positioned so that the entire sixty-minute interval (see Fig. 1) will be set, rather than the approximately twelveminute interval set by dog 6l when a penny is employed.

An alternative form of temporary coin holder is likewise illustrated. Member 'i2 is centrally located in the space 48 and springingly operates to retain a coin therein until a subsequent coin is discharged into the space 48 to force the previous coin out and into the permanent coinreceiving box l2. A window I0 is likewise provided for the purpose indicated previously.

In View of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:Y

1. A coin-controlled timing device comprising a rotatably mounted coin-carrier, a coin receiver having a coin receiving space mounted on said carrier, actuating means for rotating the carrier in one direction only, means for admitting a coin to said space at one predetermined angular position of the carrier, means forreleasing the coin from the space at a second predetermined angular position of the carrier, a clockworks, connecting means adapted when the carrier is between said angular positions and a coin is in said space to form a reversible driving connection between the carrier and theclockworks, said carrier being rotatable in a reverse direction solely by said clockworks, and means for releasing the coin from said space when the carrier is driven in a reverse direction by the clockworks after an incompleted winding operation.

2. A coin-controlled timingdevice comprising a rotatably mounted coin-carrier, a stationary bearing surface adjacent the periphery of said carrier, a coin receiver having a coin receiving space mounted on said. carrier, means biasing the receiver toward the bearing surface, a clockworks, means forming a reversible driving connection between said carrier and the clockworks when the receiver is spaced from the bearing surface by a coin positioned in said space, actuating means for rotating the carrier in one direction only to wind the clockworks, said carrier being rotatable in a reverse direction solely by said clockworks, means for positioning a coin in said space at -one predetermined angular position of the carrier, and means for releasing a coin from said space at a second predetermined angular position of the carrier, said coin receiving space having anexit for releasing the coin intermediate said positions of the carrier upon reverse rotation of the carrier by unwinding of the clockcoin receiving spaces in side by side relationship with means to permit transfer of a coin therebetween, means for rotating the carrier in one direction, means for positioning a coin in the rst of said spaces at a predetermined angular position of the carrier, a clockworks, connecting means adapted only when a coin is in said rst space to form a reversible driving connection between the carrier and the clockworks, said means being adapted to transfer the coin from the said iirst space to a second space rendering the driving connection inoperable when the carrier is rotated in a reverse direction by the clockworks, and means for releasing a coin from either of said spaces after rotation of the carrier through a predetermined angle.

4. A coin-controlled timing device comprising a rotatably mounted coin-carrier, a stationary bearing surface adjacent the periphery of said carrier, a coin receiver mounted on the carrier and biased toward said bea-ring surface having a plurality of coin receiving spaces, said spaces being arranged in side by side relationship whereby a coin seated in the rst of said spaces will frictionally engage said bearing surface and remain seated in the first space during rotation of the carrier in one direction and will move to and seat in the second of said spaces upon rotation of the carrier in a reverse direction, actuating means for rotating the carrier in said one direction, a clockworks, connecting means adapted only when a coin is positioned in said first space to form a reversible driving connection between the carrier and the clockworks, means for positioning a deposited coin in said first space at a rst predetermined angular position of the carrier, and means for releasing the coin from said spaces at a second predetermined angular position of the carrier.

5. A coin-controlled timing device comprising l a rotatably mounted coin-carrier, a stationary bearing surface adjacent the periphery of said carrier, a coin receiver mounted on the coin carrier and biased toward said bearing surface having a plurality of coin receiving spaces, said spaces being arranged in side by side relationship and of different depth whereby the receiver may be spaced at varying distances from the bearing surface by a coin positioned in said spaces, said coin being moved to the space of greater depth by friction with the bearing surface upon rotation of the'carrier in one direction, actuating means for rotating the carrier in the reverse direction, -means for positioning a coin in the space of least depth at one predetermined angular position of the carrier, a clockworks, means forming a reversible driving connection between the clockworks and the carrier when the receiver is spaced by a coin in the space of least depth, and means for releasing the coin from said spaces after rotation of the carrier through a predetermined angle.

MARCUS H. RHODES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,799,056 Miller et al Mar. 31, 1931 2,304,012 Neff Dec. l, 1942 2,281,514 Rhodes Apr. 28, 1942 2,289,838 Herschede et al July 14, 1942

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