IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INDICATING APPARATUS FOR SHEWING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED IN PUBLIC CONVEYANCES DURING IT TO D "3 PROVISIONAL
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir John Macneill, of 23, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INDICATING APPARATUS FOR
SHEWING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED IN PUBLIC CONVEYANCES
DURING IT TO
D "3
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir John Macneill
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 17th March 1868.
I, Sir JOHN MACNEILL, of 23, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF INDICATING APPARATUS FOR SHEWING
THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS CARRIED IN PUBLIC CONVEYANCES DURING EACH
JOURNEY, AND THE AMOUNT OF FARES PAID," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to register the number of passengers
by public conveyances as a check to the conductors or other officials
employed in collecting the fares, and also to shew the sums received

page_text: from passengers conveyed over the several divisions or sections of the
journey, whether such sections be equally divided or otherwise.
The means I employ for effecting this are as follows, that is to
say I cause the exit and entrance of each person to be marked on
a slip of paper by means of 4 markers tracing pencil or ink lines on
a slip of paper placed round a drum, two of such arms indicating the
passengers ascending the roof, and the other two those entering the
omnibus or other conveyance.
The mechanism I make use of for this purpose is contained in a
metal or other frame placed in a corner of the omnibus near the door,
and occupies a space of about 12 or 14 inches of the seat, so that it
reduces the inside capacity of the vehicle by the room of one passenger.
Attached to the bottom of the omnibus, near the hind end, is a plate
of metal about three inches square; to this is fastened or cast with it two
brackets or lugs, each furnished with a hole for admitting the journals
of an axis or rod carrying a bar of about two feet in length moving in a
vertical direction. The outer end of this bar projects from the bottom
of the omnibus a sufficient distance to bring it in contact with a piece
of thin flat flexible steel projecting from and secured to one of the
spokes of one of the hind wheels; the other end of this bar is connected
by a moveable joint to a vertical rod or stem passing through the
bottom of the omnibus, and projecting upwards sufficiently to give
motion to a ratchet wheel placed in the frame already referred to as
occupying a portion of the seat; the upper end of the vertical rod is
flat and provided with a longitudinal slot or opening in the centre to
enable it to catch on the ratchet wheel, so that when the horizontal bar
attached to the bottom of tho omnibus is elevated by the projecting
piece of metal (on the spoke of the hind wheel) which occurs once in
every revolution of that wheel, the inner end of the bar is depressed,
as is also the vertical rod in connection therewith, and catching on one
of the teeth of the ratchet draws it down one tooth at every complete
turn of the hind wheel of the vehicle. The ratchet wheel alluded to
is about 6 inches in diameter, or any more convenient dimensions, and
is carried on an axis of metal of about of an inch in diameter, the
journals of the said axis being from 5 to 6 inches in length revolve
in the side plates rising from the bottom or base of the frame containing
Mounted on the same axis that bears the ratchet
wheel is a spur wheel of about 2 inches in diameter, acting on a
the mechanism.

page_text: toothed wheel of much larger dimensions, and mounted or carried on
an axis of the same proportions as the first-mentioned one; this also
bears a spur wheel which communicates motion to another toothed
wheel mounted on an axis of similar dimensions to the two preceeding
ones; on this axis a wooden drum of about two inches broad on the
face and eight inches in diameter is mounted, and is loose thereon.
It is on this drum that the slips of paper are placed for receiving
the ink or pencil marks, or by holes punched denoting the number
of passengers conveyed. On each side of this drum a ratchet wheel is.
placed, one of which is fixed, and the other loose on the same axis as
the drum, the object of which is, that when the large toothed wheel
is revolving, the fixed ratched wheel carries the indicating wheel round
with it at the same velocity as the toothed wheel, but as soon as the
latter ceases to act, which occurs on a stoppage of the omnibus, the
opposite or loose wheel causes the wooden drum to revolve for a short
time, such motion being given to the ratchet wheel by means of an
ordinary mainspring of a clock or by a weight, as may be found most
convenient. The object of this maintaining motion is to enable the
marker to make a trace on the paper at short intervals when the
omnibus is standing still at a station on any part of the line of route
where it is stopped to admit either of the entrance or exit of passengers.
As soon as the omnibus resumes its journey this ratchet wheel ce
to act and the drum is then carried round as before. The different
velocities given by the toothed and spur wheels must be so calculated so
as to allow the indicating wheel to make a revolution in something
less than the way or distance, that is to say, if the length of the
journey is, say, 4 miles, the indicating wheel should make a revolution
of 4 miles and or, so as to leave a portion of unoccupied paper
at each end; the indications made with the pencil will be about
to an inch in length across the paper, which latter is removed from
the drum at the end of the journey and a fresh one supplied.
The manner of making these marks or indications is as follows:-
Above the drum are placed 4 horizontal flat bars, each of about one
foot in length, and from to half an inch broad, and of an inch
thick; these bars will carry at their extremities a marker or tracing
point. These bars are supported on pins or pivots mounted on a cross-
bar resting on the side plates already mentioned, and are capable of a
short horizontal motion communicated to them from the action of the

page_text: opening or closing of the door of the vehicle, or by aid of a barrier
or arm attached thereto, or by the effect produced by the depression of
the steps of the carriage in the following manner:-Two of the steps
may be made to depress by the weight of a passenger, such depression
being communicated to the indicating bars either by means of a bar
or lever, or by wires and cranks.
The arm or barrier herein-before mentioned through which passangers
must pass in their entrance or exit, acts as follows:-When the door is
shut it lies back in the corner or angle of the omnibus; when the door
is open it stands partially across the entrance at the height of about
three feet from the floor of the omnibus. When a passenger enters the
arm is pushed back out of the way either by the hand of the passenger
or by the conductor closing the door as he enters. On a passenger
leaving the omnibus this arm follows him as the door opens, thus
effectually preventing more than one passenger entering or leaving at
a time. For passengers ascending or descending the roof a similar
angular barrier is placed at the corner of the omnibus consisting of
an upright shaft or rod, to which two arms are attached at an angle
of 130 degrees, and about three feet above the roof. The sides and
end of the roof will have a hand rail or iron rod running round it at
the same height, so as to prevent any passengers from ascending or
descending from the roof without passing through the barrier; the
shaft or rod on which it is fixed will descend into the interior of the
omnibus close to the corner, and to it is attached a short arm, which
will turn a quarter round as the barrier above is turned by a passenger
going through it. This arm or barrier is attached by a rod, chain, or
line to the ends of two horizontal bars bearing the markers, and placed
above the drum, as already described; when the barrier is moved to
the right or left by the rod or chain attached to it, the other ends
of the horizontal bars describe the indicating lines in a contrary
direction. The same effect is produced by the action of the arm
attached to the door of the vehicle.
In some cases it may be more convenient to use two of the steps
for marking the entrance and exit of passengers ascending and
descending to and from the inside and outside of the omnibus instead
of the angular barrier. For this purpose the first and second, first
and third steps may be so constructed as to allow of their being
depressed in their frame or support to the extent of an inch or so

page_text: by the means already mentioned. This depression acts on the end of a
lever running under the carriage, and causes an upright rod connected
with the opposite end of the lever to move upwards in a vertical
direction to the extent of an inch; this lever and vertical rod is adapted
to each step, the effect being that on an upward motion of the vertical
rod it pushes on one side the registering or horizontal bars which mark
the entrance or exit on the drum on one or other side of the slip of
paper placed thereon.
In the event of there being no door to the omnibus two arms or
barriers placed at an angle of about 130 degrees are employed mounted
on a vertical rod secured in brackets, and communicating with the
indicating bars by means of chains, rods, or wires and cranks.
Should it be deemed advisable or advantageous the drum may be
actuated by means of ordinary clockwork. In this case the levers,
ratchet wheels, and pinions would be dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters
Patent, and of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said Sir
John Macneill in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th September
1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS ALL COME, I, Sir JOHN
MACNEILL, of No. 23, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Sir John Macneill, Her special licence
that I, the said Sir John Macneill, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Sir John Macneill, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time, and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF INDICATING APPARATUS FOR SHEWING THE NUMBER OF

page_text: PASSENGERS CARRIED IN PUBLIC CONVEYANCES DURING EACH JOURNEY, AND THE
AMOUNT OF FARES PAID," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Sir John Macneill, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause
the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office on or before the
Eighteenth day of September One thousand eight hundred and sixty-
eight.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Sir John Macneill, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :-
The object of this Invention is to register the number of passengers
by public conveyances as a check to the conductors or other officials
employed in collecting the fares, and also to show the sums received from
passengers conveyed over the several divisions or sections of the journey,
whether such sections be equally divided or otherwise.
The means I employ for effecting this are as follows, that is to say :-
I cause the exit and entrance of each person to be marked on a slip
of paper by means of four markers, tracing pencil, or ink lines on a slip
of paper placed round a drum, two of such arms indicating the pas-
sengers ascending the roof, and the other two those entering the omnibus
or other conveyance.
The machinery I make use of for this purpose is contained in a metal
or other frame placed in a corner of the omnibus, or in any more
convenient position, and occupies a space of about twelve or fourteen
inches of the seat, so that it reduces the inside capacity of the omnibus
by the room of one passenger.
Attached to the bottom of the omnibus
near the hind end is a plate of metal about three inches square; to this
is fastened or cast with it two brackets or lugs, each furnished with a
hole for admitting the journals of an axis or rod carrying a bar of about
two feet in length moving in a vertical direction. The other end of this
bar projects from the bottom of the omnibus a sufficient distance to
bring it in contact with a piece of thin flat flexible steel projecting from
and secured to one of the spokes of one of the hind wheels; the other
end of this bar is connected by a movable joint to a vertical rod or
stem passing through the bottom of the omnibus, and projecting upwards

page_text: sufficiently to give motion to a ratchet wheel placed in the frame
already referred to as occupying a portion of the seat; the upper end of
the vertical rod is flat and provided with a longitudinal slot or opening
in the centre to enable it to catch on the ratchet wheel, so that when the
horizontal bar attached to the bottom of the omnibus is elevated by the
projecting piece of metal on the spoke of the hind wheel, which occurs
once in every revolution of that wheel, the inner end of the bar is
depressed, as is also the vertical rod in connection therewith, and
catching on one of the teeth of the ratchet draws it down one tooth at
every complete turn of the hind wheel of the vehicle. The ratchet
wheel alluded to is about six inches in diameter or any more convenient
dimensions, and is carried on an axis of metal about one quarter of an
inch in diameter, the journals of the said axis being from five to six
inches in length revolve in the side plates rising from the bottom of the
frame containing the mechanism. Mounted on the same axis that bears
the ratchet wheel is a spur wheel of about two inches in diameter,
acting on a toothed wheel of much larger dimensions, and mounted or
carried on an axis of the same proportions as the first-mentioned one,
this also bears a spur wheel which communicates motion to another
toothed wheel mounted on an axis of similar dimensions to the two
preceeding ones; on this axis a wooden drum of about two inches broad
on the face and eight inches in diameter is mounted and is loose thereon.
It is on this drum that the slips of paper are placed for receiving the
ink or pencil marks, or by holes punched denoting the number of pas-
sengers conveyed. On each side of this drum a ratchet wheel is placed,
one of which is fixed, and the other loose on the same axis as the drum,
the object of which is, that when the large toothed wheel is revolving,
the fixed ratchet wheel carries the indicating wheel round with it at the
same velocity as the toothed wheel, but as soon as the latter ceases to
act, which occurs on a stoppage of the omnibus, the opposite or loose
wheel causes the wooden drum to revolve for a short time, such motion
being given to the ratchet wheel by means of an ordinary mainspring
of a clock or by a weight, as may be found most convenient. The
object of this maintaining motion is to enable the marker to make a
trace on the paper at short intervals when the omnibus is standing
still at a station on any part of the line of route where it is stopped to
admit either of the entrance or exit of passengers, or for other purposes.
As soon as the omnibus resumes its journey this ratchet wheel ceases
to act, and the drum is then carried round as before. The different

page_text: velocities given by the toothed and spur wheels must be so calculated
as to allow the indicating wheel to make a revolution in something less
than the way or distance, that is to say, if the length of the journey is,
say, four miles, the indicating wheel should make a revolution of four
miles and one-eighth or one-quarter, so as to leave a portion of
unoccupied paper at each end; the indications made with the pencil
will be about about one-quarter to one-half an inch in length more or
less across the paper, which is removed from the drum at the end of the
journey and a fresh one supplied. The manner of making these marks
or indications is as follows:-Above the drum are placed four horizontal
flat bars, each of about one foot in length, and from one quarter to one
half an inch broad, and one-eighth of an inch thick; these bars will each
carry at their extremities a marker or tracing point. These bars are sup-
ported on pivots mounted on a cross bar resting on the side plates,
already mentioned, and are capable of a short horizontal motion commu-
nicated to them from the action of the opening or closing of the
door of the vehicle, or by aid of a barrier or arm attached thereto, or by
the effect produced by the depression of the steps of the carriage in the
following manner:-Two of the steps may be made to depress by the
weight of a passenger, such depression being communicated to the
indicating bars either by means of a bar or lever, or by wires and cranks.
The arm or barrier, herein-before mentioned, through which the pas-
sengers must pass in their entrance or exit, acts as follows:-When the
door is shut it lies back in the corner or angle of the omnibus; when
the door is open it stands partially across the entrance at the height of
about three feet above the floor of the omnibus; when a passenger
enters the arm is pushed back out of the way, either by the hand of the
passenger or by the conductor closing the door as he enters.
On a
passenger leaving the omnibus this arm follows him as the door opens,
thus effectually preventing more than one passenger entering or leaving
at a time.
The marks or indications which are produced by the action of the
barrier or by the depression of the steps actuating the indicator, will
take place to the right or left side of the slip of paper; those pointing
to one side will represent the direction of the arm of the turnstile as
they turn to admit or let out a passenger; but should they be turned
without a passenger getting in or out the pencil lines will be straight,
even, and slightly curved; but if a passenger passes through the arms

page_text: of the turnstile going either in or out of the omnibus they will have an
indent or spur which proves that a passenger has passed through. By
drawing a line right across the paper at the points marking the length of
each section of the way the numbers getting in and out and over-
lapping will be at once seen, as well as the delay of the omnibus in
minutes at any particular part of the journey. The indent or spur pro-
duced by passengers entering or leaving the omnibus is effected by
making part of the floor close to the door capable of depression as a
passenger treads thereon, by having at one end a hinge and at the
other a spring, so that on a person standing on it it will be depressed
an inch or so, which has the effect of pulling down a rod to the same
extent, the upper end of which has a small projection on it extending
along its side about one-half an inch more or less, so that when pressed
down it comes in contact with the outer end of the registering bar
causing it to move forward one-eighth of an inch, and thus makes the
spur at right angles to the traced line which shows that a passenger has
entered or left. A slot or aperture is made in the bar through which the
pin on which it turns rises horizontally, the bar being reinstated by a
spring. For passengers ascending or descending the roof a similar
angular barrier is placed at the corner of the omnibus consisting of an
upright shaft or rod, to which two arms are attached at an angle of one
hundred and thirty degrees, and about three feet above the roof. The
sides and ends of the roof will have a hand rail or iron rod running
round it at the same height, so as to prevent any passengers ascending or
descending from the roof without passing through the barrier; the shaft
or rod on which it is fixed will descend into the interior of the omnibus
close to the corner, and to it is attached a short arm, which will turn a
quarter round as the barrier above is turned by a passenger going
through it. This arm or barrier is attached by a rod, chain, or line to the
ends of two of the horizontal bars bearing the markers, and placed
above the drum, as already described; when the barrier is moved to the
right or left by the rod or chain attached to it, the other ends of the
horizontal bars describe the indicating lines in a contrary direction.
The same effect is produced by the action of the arm attached to the door
of the vehicle.
In some cases it may be more convenient to use two of the steps
for marking the entrance and exit of passengers ascending and descending

page_text: the first and second, first and third steps may be so constructed as to
allow of their being depressed in their frame or support to the extent of
an inch or so by the means already mentioned. This depression acts on
the end of a lever running under the carriage, and causes an upright rod
connected with the opposite end of the lever to move upwards in a vertical
direction to the extent of an inch; this lever and vertical rod is adapted
to each step, the effect being that on an upward motion of the vertical
rod it pushes on one side the registering or horizontal bars which mark
the entrance or exit on the drum on one or other side of the slip of paper
placed thereon.
In the event of there being no door to the omnibus two arms or
barriers placed at an angle of about one hundred and thirty degrees are
employed mounted on vertical rods secured in brackets, and com-
municating with the indicating bars by means of chains, rods, or wires
and cranks.
As it is intended to do away with the seats on each side of the driver
so that no passenger can mount by the fore wheels, the space thus lost
would be compensated for by increasing the length of the seats on the
roof about nine inches beyond the front and hinder part of the roof; all
the outside passengers would thus be obliged to ascend to the roof by a set
of steps placed on the back end of the omnibus on the opposite side to that
occupied by the conductor. Those steps which are made to depress by
the weight of the passenger would be placed in a metal case or box
attached to the omnibus of about half an inch in depth, the steps
themselves forming as it were the lid of the box, only that it would rise
about half an inch above the sides of the box; round the step would be
a ledge of about three-quarters of an inch in width, so that when the
step was in its normal state resting at about half an inch above the edge
of the box no opening or aperture would be left, which would be a great
preventive to any undue attempt to tamper with the indicator, as no
support could be placed under the step so as to prevent its depression;
but this would not prevent the contrary action, that of its rising, which
might be effected by a clamp securing it in that depressed state after a
passenger left it, so that no indication would take place.
To prevent this mode of tampering with the indicator I propose to
place an alarm bell within the omnibus, which would commence to
ring and continue so to do as long as the step was thus improperly
depressed, and would also denote the entrance or exit of passengers.

page_text: The same system I adopt for actuating the indicator, herein-before
described, may be similarly employed for giving motion to an apparatus
known as Bathias' counter of quantities for registering distance run by
vehicles.
Having thus described my Invention, and the mode of carrying out
the same, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is, the
indicator and mode of actuating the same precisely in the manner and
for the purposes as herein-before set forth, reserving to myself the right
of varying the form and dimensions of the several parts mentioned
which may readily be done without departing from the principle of action
thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir John Macneill, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
Witness,
A. C. HENDERSON,
31, Charing Cross.
JOHN MACNEILL. (L.S.)