Patent GB-186323-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to taximeters
IPC: G07B13/00
Filed: 1922-08-31
Abstract: 186,323. Brun, J. A. F. Sept. 19, 1921, [Convention date]. Taximeters.-In a taximeter arranged for mixed time and distance drive under several tariffs and provided with fare, distance and extras totalizers, as well as registers for the total time of waiting and number of hirings, the trip, fare, and extras numeral wheels and the spring barrel of the clock are mounted coaxially with the flag spindle, and the winding of the clock, registration of number of hirings and of extras, and zeroizing of the trip numeral wheels are effected by manipulation of the flag. The flag spindle 1, Fig. 4, passes through the casing and is secured by a nut 3 covered by a lead seal 4. The spring barrel 86 is arranged within the tariff-indicating drum 75, and the numeral wheels 48, 49 of the trip extras register and wheels 45, 46, 47 of the trip fare register are mounted on sleeves on the spindle between the tariff drum and cams 9, 10. The totalizers are arranged below and behind the trip registers. Transmitting-details; mixed time and distance drive; multiple-tariff. - Motion is transmitted from the vehicle wheels through flexible shaft 172, Fig. 4, to a worm 164 and worm-wheel 161. A bevelled pinion 160 on the wheel 161 engages loose pinions 156 adapted to drive a shaft 157 in one direction only through one of two ratchets 154. A wheel 153 fast on the shaft 157 drives through a clutch 152 a pinion 151 integral with a sliding sleeve 142 carrying a pinion 143. Loosely mounted on the sleeve 142 are two similar arrangements, one comprising a ratchet wheel 145, pinion 146, and washer 147, and the other a clutch member 150, pinion 149, and washer 148. The position of the sleeve 142 is controlled by a lever bearing on the cams 9, 10 on the flag spindle. The pinions 146, 149 are always in engagement with pinions 129, 128 respectively on a sleeve 12 carrying a ratchet wheel 126 adapted to engage a pawl 125 on a wheel 124 loose on a shaft 112 and gearing with a wheel 64 of the fare register. A pinion 132 rigid with a loose sleeve 133 carrying a ratchet 131 is in constant engagement with the pinion 143, and is moved axially by a pin 134 on a lever engaging the cams 9, 10. In the " disengaged " position of the flag the sleeve 142 is moved towards the right, Fig. 4, to free the pinion 151 from the clutch 152; at the same time the ratchet wheel 126 is disengaged from the wheel 124. In the first tariff position the ratchets 145, 126 are engaged and the drive is transmitted through the wheels 146, 129. In the second tariff position the sleeve 133 is moved to engaged the ratchet 130, and the drive is transmitted through the wheels 143, 132. In the third position, the sleeve 133 remains in position while the sleeve 142 is moved through half its range, the drive then being transmitted through the wheels 149, 128. The clock drive is transmitted from the wheel 90 of the spring barrel through escapement mechanism to a wheel 113 on a sliding sleeve 114 on the shaft 112. In one position of this sleeve a ratchet 116 thereon engages and drives the hub 118 of the wheel 124, while in the other position the ratchet is disengaged and the wheel 113 drives the register for the time of waiting. The escapement mechanism is mounted in a readily detachable frame. The tariff-indicating drum 75, Figs. 4 and 12, carries a ratchet wheel 82 engaging a pawl 83 on the spring barrel, and serves to wind the spring when the flag is turned in the normal direction of rotation. Overwinding is prevented by the release of the pawl 83 by a pawl 84 carrying a pin 85 engaging between the turns of the spring. The tariff-drum is provided with a cam 77, adapted to apply a brake spring 104 to the balance-wheel of the clock. Actuating details; quick or snap action of indicating-dials.-The wheel 64, Fig. 11, gearing with the wheel 124 driven from the road wheels or the clock is loosely mounted on a star-wheel 51 surrounding a sleeve 25 on the spindle 1, and is connected by a spring 61 to a disc 57 with interrupted internal teeth engaged by a pinion 41, Fig. 23, having alternately long and short teeth, carried by a sliding member 34 within the numeral wheel 47 of the trip fare register. As the wheel 64 is turned, a pin 62 thereon releases a holding pawl 52 from the wheel 51 and allows the disc 57 to advance a fraction of a revolution and thereby actuate the units counter through the pinion 41. The sliding members 34 of the set of numeral wheels are connected together by keys or by interlocking projections and recesses. The long teeth of the pinions 41 of the registers normally engage with smooth internal surfaces of the numeral drums, which have internal toothed transfer sectors engaging both long and short teeth of the pinions. The transfer sectors may have varying numbers of teeth between the different denominations, the numeral wheels being marked correspondingly, so as to diminish the possible number of simultaneous transfers. In a modification of the actuating means, the toothed wheel 64 carries a sector normally blocking the holding-pawl 52, and the pin 62 releases the pawl indirectly through a spring as soon as the blocking-sector passes the pawl. In a further modification, the star-wheel 51 is held rigid by an arm fixed to the framework, to prevent reverse motion of the disc 57 during zeroizing. Additional-charge registers.-The tariff drum 75 carries a pin 72 engaging under spring action a pin 71 on a disc 65, Figs. 9 and 16. This disc carries a pawl 66 oscillating in a diamotral plane, and a pawl 68 is adapted to cross the path of the pawl 66. When the flag is brought to the " extras '' position, the edge of the pawl 66 meets a short tooth of a pinion 41 and slides behind it. The flag is then moved in the opposite direction between the " extras " and the " waiting " positions, until the pin 72 meets and moves the lever 68 to allow the pinion 41 to turn and register a unit charge. Resetting-mechanism, arrangement of. - The cam 9 on the flag spindle carries a pin 22, Fig. 17, connected by a spring 23 to a member 24 integral with an arm on the sleeve 25 surrounding the spindle 1. The members 24, 25 have a limited movement relative to a disc 27, a strong spring 29, Fig. 21, tending to hold the parts in the position shown. An arm 19 normally engages a recess in the disc 27 and blocks the members 24, but is disengaged by a cam lug 14 on a cam 13 integral with the cam 9 when the flag is moved to the " zeroizing " position. The release of the disc then causes the sleeve 25 to turn until projections 37, Fig. 23, on the sliding members 34 enter an elongated notch in the sleeve and withdraw the pinions 41 from engagement with the numeral wheels. The slides 34 rotate with the disc 27 and pawls 38 thereon pick up pins 44 on the numeral wheels and return them to the zero position, overthrow being prevented by pawls 39. A reverse movement of the flag to the " disengaged " position restores the parts for normal actuation. The cam 13 on the flag spindle engages a pin 31 on an arm 30 carrying shutters 32 for screening the reading apertures during the zeroizing operation. The movement of the numeral wheels to zero is braked by stops 50, Fig. 23, engaging under a spring 33. In a modification, the cam 14 is replaced by a pivoted arm, and the stroke of the flag is reduced. With fare and distance totalizers. - The distance totalizer 182, Fig. 6, is driven from the pinion 153 through a train of wheels 175, 178, a clutch 179, shaft 180, and pinion 181, while the trip distance counter 183 is driven through wheels 176 from the wheel 151. The fare totalizer is actuated from the disc 57, Figs. 11 and 14 which is provided with lugs 59 and recesses m co-operating with pinions 196, 197 connected by a spring 198. The " extras " totalizer is similarly actuated from the disc 65. Flag and setting-spindle mechanism.-The flag is held in each of its set positions by means of a detent (not shown) engaging a notched disc 6, Fig. 4, on the end of the spindle, and a full-stroke during zeroizing is ensured by means of a ratchet 11 on the spindle engaged by a pawl 12. Registering time of waiting and use of vehicle. -When the flag is in the " waiting " position the clock driven wheel 113, Fig. 4, drives a wheel 111 gearing with a totalizer 187, Figs. 6 and 12. The number of hirings is registered on a counter actuated from the tariff drum by pinions engaging lugs and recesses in a similar way to that of the fare totalizer. Mounting details.-The instrument is attached to a flanged member 167, Fig. 4, bearing on a soft washer 168 on a support 169, and secured by a nut 170. The worm 164 and worm wheel 160 may be exchanged to suit different sized road wheels without interfering with other parts of the instrument. Minimum-fare, devices for registering and adjusting.-The wheel 64, Fig. 11, is provided with a pin 63 adapted to engage a pin 58 on the disc 57 after a minimum fare has been worked off. The pin 63 may be adjusted to vary the interval of non-engagement. The Specification as open to inspection under Sect. 91 (3), (a) comprises the following :- In a modification, Fig. 35 (Cancelled), a pin 123 on the driven wheel 124, Fig. 4, may be driven by a pin on a hub 118 rigid with parts of the driving ratchets 117, 125, the hub and wheel 125 being connected by a spring 122. A similar arrangement may be provided between the vehicle-driven wheels on the shaft 157, Fig. 4. In a further modification, Fig. 33 (Cancelled), a nut 120 on a screw on the hub of the wheel 124 is moved by a spring 122 towards a disc 118 on the hub of the parts 117, 125 when the flag is in the " free " position. When the hub is driven it turns the nut by a pin 119 until a pin 121 on the nut engages a pin 123 on the wheel 124. The lengths and angular positions of the pins may be varied to alter the period before registration begins. This subject-matter does not appear in the Specification as accepted.