Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
205 words
A counter for measuring apparatus such as a water meter or the like comprising: a first number wheel for a low decade; a drive shaft for driving said first number wheel; an additional number wheel for values of a lowest decade; clutch-coupling means for clutch coupling said additional number wheel to said drive shaft; a first alignment star corresponding to said first number wheel and an additional alignment star corresponding to said additional number wheel; and, a cam mechanism for aligning said number wheels including: a rotatable cam shaft having a first cam disc and an additional cam disc mounted thereon; a first pawl mounted so as to be actuable by said first cam for engaging said first alignment star to align said first number wheel when said cam shaft is rotated; and, an additional pawl mounted so as to be actuable by said additional cam for engaging said additional alignment star to align said additional number wheel when said cam shaft is rotated; said cams being mounted on said cam shaft so as to first cause said additional pawl to engage said additional alignment star, and then, to cause said first pawl to engage said first alignment star when said cam shaft is rotated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
205 words
A counter for measuring apparatus such as a water meter or the like comprising: a first number wheel for a low decade; a drive shaft for driving said first number wheel; an additional number wheel for values of a lowest decade; clutch-coupling means for clutch coupling said additional number wheel to said drive shaft; a first alignment star corresponding to said first number wheel and an additional alignment star corresponding to said additional number wheel; and, a cam mechanism for aligning said number wheels including: a rotatable cam shaft having a first cam disc and an additional cam disc mounted thereon; a first pawl mounted so as to be actuable by said first cam for engaging said first alignment star to align said first number wheel when said cam shaft is rotated; and, an additional pawl mounted so as to be actuable by said additional cam for engaging said additional alignment star to align said additional number wheel when said cam shaft is rotated; said cams being mounted on said cam shaft so as to first cause said additional pawl to engage said additional alignment star, and then, to cause said first pawl to engage said first alignment star when said cam shaft is rotated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The counter of claim 1 comprising: further number wheels for respective higher decades, said further number wheels being mounted so as to be rotatable by the action of said drive shaft.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
The counter of claim 2, said clutch-coupling means comprising: a rotatable clutch including a first clutch part and an additional clutch part; first gear means for gear connecting said first clutch part to said drive shaft; and, additional gear means for connecting said additional number wheel to said additional clutch part.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The counter of claim 3, said first gear means including gear means for gear connecting said first clutch part directly to said first number wheel whereby said additional number wheel is connected to said first number wheel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The counter of claim 3, said first clutch part and said additional clutch part being configured to conjointly define a predetermined amount of radial play, said clutch including a spring connecting said clutch parts for holding said parts to preclude the same from moving relative to each other by the amount of said play when said clutch is rotated in the drive direction and for allowing said number wheels to be placed in their original position after said alignment.