Patent GB-190824614-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Taximeters or Fare and the like Indicators.
Inventor: NORTH ROBERT BENSON
Filed: 1908-11-16
Granted: 1910-02-16
Abstract: 24,614. North, R. B., and Kirby, C. H. Nov. 16. Taxameters.-In a taxameter having a clutch common to both the clockwork and the vehicle drive and provided with an extra fare register, and totalizers for fares, extras, distance run, and number of hirings, part of the clutch is mounted on a longitudinally moving shaft which rotates on lowering the flag through an amount equivalent to the minimum fare charge, thereby setting the lostmotion device and advancing the fare-totalizer. When disengaged, the fare dials are at the minimum fare position and are covered by a shutter. Flag &c. mechanism. The lowering of the flag turns a disk carrying a pin which engages in a slot b of a cam c turning on a shaft a, Fig. 2. A pawl g on the cam rotates a ratchet-wheel h, which is loosely mounted on the shaft a, and has secured to it a wheel k driving wheels l, m, which are secured to a shaft n capable of longitudinal movement. The shaft is moved by a projection t engaging in a slot u, Fig. 8, when a spring-pressed arm q falls off the cam c on reaching an incline x. The reverse movement of the flag returns the shaft to its original position. Mixed drive. The vehicle drive is communicated to a sleeve 6 loose on the shaft n through a wormwheel 2 and ratchet gearing, and the clock drive through spur and ratchet gearing to a wheel 22 secured to the sleeve 6. Minimum fare. The lost-motion device for the minimum fare consists of a lug 26 formed on the wheel 22 to engage a pin 25 carried by a shell 24 urged to the right by a spring 32. Connected to the shaft n by a pin 23<a> is a clutch-piece 23 formed with ratchet teeth on each end to engage internal teeth on the sleeve 24 and internal teeth 28 carried by the counter-actuating wheel 27, which has teeth 29 adapted to engage with teeth 30 on the sleeve 24. On the rotation of the flag the pin 25 is first moved to the rear of the lug 26, and then the clutch 23 is brought into engagement with the teeth 28 and the sleeve 24 is moved into engagement with the teeth 29. The wheel 27 is thus driven by the sleeve 24 and the fare-totalizer 33 is driven from the wheel 27 through the teeth 28, the part 23, the shaft n, and the wheels m, l. An amount equivalent to the minimum fare is added to the totalizer on lowering the flag through the rotation of the wheel l. The wheel 27 drives fare-indicating disks in a manner similar to that described in Specifications Nos. 12,621 and 26,631, A.D. 1907. Shutter mechanism. The shutter covering the dials consists of a spring-controlled plate 70 pivoted at 71 and rocked by the downward movement of an arm 78, Fig. 1, carried by a shaft 100 which is rocked when the flag is raised. Additional charges. The extras-indicating dial 80 is actuated on depressing a button 97, Fig. 2. attached to a spring-retracted lever 90 carrying a pawl 92, the pin 93 of which drives two similar ratchet-wheels, one of them, 85, driving the extras totalizer 88. Resetting-mechanism. The dial 80 is zeroized by a spring when the locking-pawl 95 is removed from the ratchet-wheel. The resetting and locking devices are actuating on raising the flag to " free," when the cam c forces over a lever 99 carried on the shaft 100 and a stud 103 raises the pawl 95 and locks the lever 90. The rotation of the shaft 100 causes arms to engage with heart cams and zeroize the pence and shillings disks and, through an arm carried by the heart-cam levers, frees the ratchet-wheels on the pounds disk and allows a spring to zeroize it. A pawl on the arm 99 may operate a counter 110 to register the number of engagements. Finally, tha incline x acts upon the lever q to move the abaft n endways to open the clutch. The total distance run is shown on the counter 10. Specification No. 2591, A.D. 1908, is also referred to.