Clutch mechanism for time of day watthour meter registers

Claim 1

A meter dial register for indicating both continuous and periodic accumulated values of a measured quantity, said meter dial register comprising: a rotatable measuring element for rotating at a rate corresponding to the consumption of the measured quantity; first and second gear trains both continuously coupled to the rotations of said measuring element; a first dial pointer coupled in continuously driven relationship with said first gear train for indicating the continuous accumulated values of the measured quantity; a friction clutch driving part being coupled in continuously driven relationship with said second gear train and being freely rotatable at a restrained axial position about a predetermined axis of rotation; a friction clutch driven and brake part being rotatable about said predetermined axis of rotation and further being axially shiftable between an open position spaced from said friction clutch driving part and a closed position engaging said friction clutch driving part for effecting common rotation therewith; clutch operating means for shifting said friction clutch driven and brake part between said open and said closed positions and further for arresting said friction clutch driven and brake part when shifted by said operating means to said open position; a third gear train continuously coupled in driven relationship with said friction clutch driven and brake part; and a second dial pointer coupled in continuously driven relationship with said third gear train for indicating the periodically accumulated values of the measured quantity.