Patent GB-190708809-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to Taximeters.
Inventor: DARRAS ALPHONSE JEAN-BAPTISTE
Filed: 1907-04-16
Granted: 1908-04-16
Abstract: 8809. Darras, A. J. B. E. May 29, 1906, [date applied for under Patents Act, 1901]. Fares, registering counting-apparatus. -Relates to taxameters having multiple tariffs, minimum - fare devices, means for intermittently moving the fare drums, means for registering extra payments, totalizers for the same, and means for returning the fare disks to zero when the flag, which may occupy four positions 'free,' 1st and 2nd tariffs,' and 'extra fares,' is raised. The apparatus is actuated from the part 1, Figs. 1 and 7, constructed with two series of projections in different planes, so that a pinion 2 having two series of teeth in corresponding planes is always driven in the same direction. The pinion 2 mounted on a shaft 3 drives worm-wheels 6, 9, the former connected to the main driving- shaft 8 through a ratchet clutch 7, and the latter through a wheel 11, mounted on a lever pivoted on the shaft carrying the wheel 9, and a ratchet clutch 12 as shown in Fig. 1. The wheel 11 is thrown into engagement by a cam on the flag shaft 34 when in the position 'tariff 2.' The apparatus is adapted to be driven by a clock 13 through a ratchet clutch 14, and a device may be provided for stopping the clock when necessary. A shaft 15, from which the fare drums are actuated, is driven from the shaft 8 through gearing on the two shafts and a pinion 107 carried on a lever 16 pivoted on the shaft 15. On the opposite end of the lever is mounted a sector 104, fig. 10, engaging with a wheel 105 and of such a diameter that the wheel 107 cannot fall into engagement until the sector has worked through its length. When the apparatus is zeroized, the lever 16 is raised by a cam 54 on the flag spindle, and a spring 109, Fig. 10, returns the sector to its original position, a pin 110 and an adjustable stop 111 serving to limit its movement. Intermittent rotation is imparted to a shaft 21 by a disk 17 mounted on the shaft 15 and constructed as shown in Fig. 6. The disk 17 is connected by a pin and slot and a spring 19 to a pinion 18 constructed with teeth in different planes and loosely mounted on the shaft 15. The movements of a pinion 20, Fig. 6, mounted on the shaft 21 are controlled by the parts 17, 18. The revolution of the disk 17 rotates the pinion 18 until-a part a strikes a tooth b and rotates the pinion until it meets a flange c of the disk 17. The spring 19 is extended until the part b<1> is released, when the pinion 20 is rotated quickly through one-sixth of a revolution and thus drives through a pinion 25 the fare drum 28. Extra charges are indicated on a drum 32 rotated by a loose pinion 35 by means of a recessed disk 33, Fig. 8, keyed on the flag shaft 34 and provided with projections a, b which, when the flag is reciprocated, rotate the pinion 35. The drums are zeroized when the flag is raised to the vertical position, a cam 46 and a spring-retracted arm 47 moving the shaft 27 longitudinally, and thus disengaging the pinions 26, 29, 35. A stop 43 on a sector 36 on the flag shaft withdraws a pawl 44 from a notch in the shaft 31, Fig. 2, and allows a spring 48, Fig. 1, to rotate the shaft. The motion is transferred to the drums by notched disks on the shaft engaging spring arms on the drums. The shaft 31 is prevented from making more than one revolution by a pawl 53 engaging a notched part on a wheel 42, Fig. 2. The drums are stopped when a wider tooth thereon engages with the transfer pinions. The spring 48 is wound up when the flag is put to engaged' by the sector 36 engaging a wheel 39 connected by a ratchet and pawl to a wheel 38, Fig. 2, driving the shaft 31. When the flag is raised to 'free,' the arm 16 is raised by a cam 54, Fig. 10, thus disengaging the shafts 8, 15. After the shaft 21 has been stopped by the looking of the pinion 20 by the parts 17, 18, the part 17 is returned to the operative position by a spring 24 through a wheel 23, loose on the shaft 21, Fig. 6<b>, and a pinion 22 on the shaft 15. In a modification, shown in Fig. 9, three tariffs may be employed. Three pinions 73, 74, 75, mounted on the main axis of the apparatus, drive a shaft 82 through a ratchet clutch 77 or through gears mounted on levers 78, 79 controlled by cams 80, 81, on a tariffregulating shaft. Totalizers are provided for the distance travelled, the different starting charges, the sums shown on the fare drums, and the extra payments. A series of movable or fixed mirrors is provided to allow the driver to view the figures on the passenger's disks. The Specification in the original form as published under the Act of 1901 comprises also means for driving the figure drums by internal pinions which are moved longitudinally to release the drums, zeroizing being effected by spring arms on the drum shafts and projections on the interior of the drums. Stops are provided on the pinion shaft, and the drums are mounted on ball bearings. In a second transfer mechanism, the fixed shaft carrying the drums is divided and to the portion within the units' drum is secured a pinion with two consecutive teeth omitted. On the hub of the tens' drum is mounted a pinion of equal size, and engaging with the two is a. wide pinion carried by the units' drum. Apparatus for showing supplementary payments consists of two drums, one showing tens and the other units and subdivisions, mounted loosely on a spindle controlled by a handle, the movement of which to the right or left actuates one or the other of the drums. The drums can only be operated for certain positions of the flag and tariff spindles when locking-levers are released. The drums are zeroized by coiled springs when retaining-pawls are removed by the rotation of the flag. A device for showing the initial fare consists of a spring-retracted shutter held in front of the drum until a stop thereon falls into a recess in a disk driven by the drum. A device for registering the starting charge, driving the figure drums, and returning them to zero consists of a toothed slide, provided with four sets of teeth and actuated by a pinion having half its teeth reduced to half the normal thickness. During the first part of the movement of the slide, in which the initial fare is being worked out, a three-toothed pinion driving the fare drums is locked until struck by a projection on the slide. The slide is then reciprocated through part of its length to actuate the figure drums, the return to zero being effected by a heart cam and a toothed sector acting on the slide, another part of which engages with the figure drums. The Specification also describes, but does not illustrate, means for controlling the three tariffs, means for rotating the figure drums, means for communicating an intermittent motion to them, and means for returning them to zero. This subjectmatter does not appear in the Complete Specification as accepted.