Patent GB-959637-A (GB)
Title: Taximeter
IPC: G07B13/00
Filed: 1962-05-09
Abstract: 959,637. Taximeters. KIENZLE APPARATE G. m. b. H. May 9,1962 [Jan. 20, 1962], No. 17847/62. Heading G4T. A taximeter has a fare-indicating mechanism driven in dependence upon time and distance in a plurality of tariff stages under the action of an intermittently driven cam control shaft, the electrical drive of which is operated when a pre-set fare is reached The meter comprises a fare indicating drum formed from figure wheels 5-8. An arm 17 pivoted at 16 is reciprocated vertically so that a pawl 18 rotates a ratchet wheel 19 to rotate the figure wheel 5 through gears 22, 23. The reciprocation is controlled by a follower 15 which co-operates with a cam 14 on a shaft 9, driven independently by a time drive 10 and a distance drive 12 through ratchet rollers 11, 13. The distance drive comprises a power take off shaft 29 connected to the drive of the vehicle and an idler shaft 36 connected through gears 37, 38, 40 to the roller. 13. The shafts 29,36 can be connected in different ratios by idler gears 32, 33 mounted on curved arms 42,41 which are lifted one at a time by cams 43 on the control shaft 24. The control shaft is driven by an electric motor 28, switched on by means yet to be described and switched off in known manner after rotation through 90 degrees. In one embodiment (Figs. 1 and 3) the automatic tariff change functions as follows:- A pawl 45 pivoted to a portion 17<SP>1</SP> of the arm 17 is reciprocated vertically with the arm to intermittently rotate a ratchet wheel 46 against the action of a spring 48, a pawl 50 preventing non return of the ratchet wheel. A pin 46<SP>1</SP> on the wheel is moved step by step from a position abutting a fixed stop 49, adjustable according to the desired fare at which the tariff change should take place, to positions 46" &c. until it reaches position 46 to close electrical spring contacts 59, 60 which start a motor 28 to turn the shaft 24 through 90 degrees. The spring 48 returns the ratchet wheel through about half a tooth after each forward step this being sufficient to ensure that the contacts separate again. When the shaft 24 is rotated a cam 54 disengages the pawl 45 so that the wheel 46 is not rotated further and the cams 43 move the idler wheels 32,33 to change the tariff. When required a press button is operated to put the meter in a cash position, the button again sets motor 28 in operation and the shaft 24 is rotated until a cam 52 disengages the pawl 50 to allow the wheel 46 to return to its original position. If the button is pressed before the change in tariff has taken place, i.e. while the cams 52, 54 are in the position shown in Fig. 3, the cam 52 pivots a bell crank lever 55 against the action of a spring 62 as it rotates and thus closes a pair of contacts 60, 61 to restart the motor. If the tariff has changed the spring 60 is biased upwardly by the pin 46<SP>1</SP> so that the contacts 60, 61 do not meet. In a second embodiment the automatic tariff change is as follows :- The shaft 24 has a pair of contacts K 1 , K 2  which connect with printed circuit contacts S 1 , S 2 , S 3 . Each figure wheel 5-8 has an annular cam ring 72 mounted on it. The ring may be rotated relative to the wheel and retained in one of a plurality of positions by spring pressed balls which engage in recesses 71 on the inside of the cam ring. Associated with each cam ring is a follower roller 74 on a bell crank arm 75. When the roller 74 enters a depression 73 in the cam ring the arm 75 is pivoted to close one of a series of contacts U 1  - U 4 . In operation the cam rings are pre-set to a position corresponding to when the tariff should change. On actuation of a push button the motor 28 rotates the shaft to a position in which the contacts K 1  - S 1  are closed and in which the gearing is set for a first tariff charge. The meter runs until the figure wheels have rotated to positions in which all the contacts U 1  - U 4  are closed thus energizing a relay T to shift a pair of contacts t 1 , t 2  from the position shown in Fig. 6 to a position where they engage contacts S 2 , S 3  respectively. This energizes the motor 28 through contact S 1  and the shaft is rotated to separate contacts K 1  - S 1 , to close contacts K 1 - S 2  and K 2  - S 3  and also to change the tariff gearing. The relay T is maintained energized through the contact S 3  but the motor 28 is switched off. On further actuation of the push button to rotate the shaft 24 to the cash position contacts K 1  - S 2  separate. When moved to the "for hire" position all the contacts are separated. In a modification further depressions 73 are provided in the cam rings so that a second tariff change may take place.