Patent GB-971014-A (GB)
Title: Taximeters
Inventor: HERITIER FRANCIS RAYMOND
IPC: G07B13/00
Filed: 1962-04-03
Abstract: 971, 014. Taximeters. GEECEN Ltd. March 21, 1963 [April 3, 1962; Jan. 11, 1963; Jan. 16, 1963; Jan.21, 1963; March 14, 1963 \ Nos. 12780/62, 1352/63, 1962/63, 2543/63 and 10138/63. Heading G4T. In a taximeter having a rotary member driven by mixed time and distance drives, the rotary member is connected to the fare indicator by means which automatically changes the rate of advance of the indicator relative to the rotary member after a predetermined amount of movement of the rotary member. An additional change in the gearing of the distance drive (Fig. 8 not shown). may also be made automatically. In one embodiment (Fig. 2) the mixed drive rotates a shaft 16 carrying a cam 15 which cooperates with an arm 12 pivoted at 13 so that it is lifted and lowered under the influence of a spring 22, A pawl 11 on the arm 12 indexes a ratchet wheel 10 each time the arm is lowered. One end of a rod 24 is biased to enter an aperture 25 under spring pressure and thus prevents the arm 12 from being lowered. A contact on the shaft 16 closes once per revolution to energize a solenoid (not shown) to withdraw the rod 24 so that the arm 12 is allowed to drop once per revolution of the cam 15. A lever 39 is thus reciprocated causing a ratchet wheel 44 to rotate against the action of a spring 43 under the assistance of a non return pawl 40. After the lever 12 has been reciprocated a predetermined number of times i.e. when a predetermined fare has been reached, a pin 45 on the wheel 44 closes a contact pair 30, causing the solenoid to be energized continuously, so that the rod 24 is permanently withdrawn so that lever 12 drops twice for each revolution of the cam 15 thus increasing the indexing rate of the wheel 10 thus doubling the tariff. Release bars 41, 42 are rotated when it is required to return the wheel 44 to its initial position.  In another embodiment (Fig. 4 not shown) an eccentric on the shaft 16 reciprocates a ratchet arm, which causes a cam to be indexed bringing alternate highs and lows on the cam to a position below a pin on the arm 12, thus alternately preventing and allowing the arm 12 to be lowered for each drop of the cam 15. For a high tariff charge the cam is stopped with a low below the pin so that the arm 12 drops for each drop of the cam 15. A continuous high on the cam allows an initial rotation with no charge being made. In a further modification (Fig. 7 not shown) a cam having a single low is used and this is oscillated from a high to a low and back again &c. as the shaft 16 rotates.  In the embodiment of Fig. 6 an eccentric 100 on the shaft 16 reciprocates a pawl 99 causing a cam 97 to be indexed until a pin 96 on an arm 76 comes above a slot 101 in the cam at the end of the initial payment period. A cam 75 (corresponding to the cam 15 in the first embodiment) then causes the arm 76 to reciprocate. A further arm 95 pivoted to the free end of the latter then closes with each drop of the arm 76, first a contact pair 90, 91 and then a contact pair 92, 93. Closing of the first pair causes a relay E to energize closing its contacts E1, E2 energizing a solenoid 52 to index the price wheel 10 and energizing a relay D to open a contact DS. Thus each time the arm 76 is reciprocated the price wheel is stepped and also a ratchet wheel 72 is stepped until a high 71 on a cam attached to the ratchet wheel 72 closes a contact pair 103, 104. From this time onwards each time the arm 76 is lowered contacts 90, 91 close to energize relay E and when it de-energizes, relay D de-energizes reclosing contact DS causing a pulse from a capacitor 115 to energize the relay E again. Thus the price wheel 10 is indexed twice for each reciprocation of the arm 76.