IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors
6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING
,, to be as follows:-
TO CHECKING APPARATUS FOR CARRIAGES LET FOR HIRE
This invention has for its object an apparatus serving to control the distance run
of carriages for hire and the registration of the various situations into which they
may go during their service.
The apparatus is composed of an ordinary train of clockwork of which the
principal axis carries a little drum divided into sections of five minutes each by
Its
little points. This drum carries a flange on the part nearest the clock work.
other extremity rests free so that one can easily place there and take away the
band of paper destined for the registration: A second drum carries a single flange
on the side opposite to the preceding and is disposed at the extremity of the lever.
It is pressed by a spring and bears constantly upon the first drum with the
movement of which it participates by means of gearing or teeth. The extremity
of the lever slides upon a flat spring carrying an indentation into which penetrates
a gudgeon when it is desired to hold the two drums wide apart from each other to
place or take away the slip of paper. The cage which contains the clock work
carries a bracket sustaining a bent lever, of which the lower arm carries a rod in
communication with the movement of the bottom of the carriage, whilst the upper
arm engages with a pin placed at the extremity of a bar which a coiled spring
maintains constantly in position. The extremity of this bar is fixed to a metallic
piece one of the arms of which is pivoted and carries a muff or sleeve serving to
guide the pencil. The other arm can freely oscillate and carries another muff or
sleeve. This second arm is fixed upon an arbor to the extremity of which is
suspended a bar carrying a counterpoise destined to be put in movement by the
jolts and the vibrations of the carriage when in motion; a little stop regulates the
amplitude of the oscillations. The pencil holder is fixed to a bolt which carries a

page_text: piece which is capable of turning upon a pivot, and of which one extremity carries
a notch which engages behind a small plate when the pencil is drawn towards the
left. The other extremity of the bolt carries a heel against which abuts a cam fixed
to a semaphore when the driver wishes to bring back the pencil to the end of its
course. Upon the first drum is disposed a band of paper which unwinds from the
bobbin which is placed in a chamber and which is unwound by degrees from the
drum and falls into a second chamber.
The result of this arrangement is that when the carriage is unoccupied the pencil
occupies the extremne position on the right and traces upon the border of the band
of paper a thin uniform line, if the carriage be standing; whilst if the carriage is
in motion the movement of the counterpoise produces with the pencil a line much
larger and more irregular. If the carriage is retained or is about to be occupied
(which the driver intimates by placing vertically the semaphore which previously
occupied an oblique position) the rod which is in communication with the bottom
of the carriage being drawn toward the bottom, brings the pencil to the centre of
the band of paper, and the same dispositions that we have described are produced
at the centre of this band. If the carriage goes beyond the borough boundary the
coachman places his semaphore obliquely to the right, and the bolt draws the pencil
toward the border to the left and it produces still upon the band of paper the
indications that have been described. Besides this the band of paper being pressed
between the two rolls, one of which carries points, receives the imprints of these
last which always give exact indications of the successive periods of five minutes or
otherwise.
The band carries then seven indications as follows: The exact division into
periods of five or any other number of ininutes, a thick line to the right gives the
duration of the travel when empty, a thin line to right the duration of standing
empty, a thick line in the centre the duration of the journey when engaged, a thin
line in centre the duration of standing while engaged, a thick line to the left the
duration of travel when engaged beyond the borough boundary, a thin line to left
the duration of remaining stationary while engaged beyond this boundary.
In proximity to the coachman is placed a semaphore carrying a piece in the form
of a double cam, one arm of which serves to push the bolt carrying the pencil holder
and to raise up the notch which engages the small plate when the pencil ought to
.be pushed to right, and the other commands a toothed wheel, advancing it one tooth
each time the coachman puts the movement at "empty" when a run is terminated.
A toothed wheel carries the set of numbers 1 to 12 following the number of the
teeth, and in front of this dial is a fixed hand or pointer indicating always
the number of runs effected.
Under the band is a piece carrying a trace which ought always to correspond to
the teeth of the drum a little button serves to regulate the clock work and to
bring back the drum into its position if the clock should not run regularly.
A metallic dise may be fixed on the apparatus carrying a dial of sensitive or
other paper, upon which the different situations of the carriage can equally well be
indicated by a special system-to this effect the principal axis of the clock work or
another axis, if it be necessary, is furnished with a pointer carrying at its extremity
a little funnel-shaped cone of which the large end is placed at any required distance
from the sheet of paper. In the interior of this cone is a little ball of metal, black
lead, or other material capable of producing a mark upon the disc of paper.
ball moves freely in the cone, the inclined walls of which maintain the ball against
the disc. Another hand, arranged or not arranged to described arcs of circles of
different diameters, is fixed above the ball hand and carries a pencil able to trace
upon the disc of paper circumferential arcs.
This
The result of this disposition is that when the carriage is stationary the ball rolls
freely and without shaking upon the disc of paper and leaves thereon no trace, but
as soon as the carriage travels the jolts and the vibrations that it produces cause the
ball to dance in the cone and the resulting shocks cause a very apparent trace to be
left upon the disc of paper,

page_text: As regards the motor mechanism it is very simple. Upon the bottom of the
carriage is arranged a double bottom constructed of two pieces each of which is
fixed by means of hinges to the longitudinal sides of the carriage. These two
pieces or volets are joined at the centre and carry a covering piece of sheet-iron.
They are held supported by one or more springs. The back seat is fixed immovably
to the bottom and participates in its movement. A system of levers placed under
the bottom communicates with the rod in communication with the bottom which is
put in movement each time that the carriage is occupied.
The bracket seat (front seat) carries also a foot which when the bracket seat is
lowered into place rests upon the movement of the bottom and presses it down.
It results from this arrangement that each time that a passenger enters the
carriage, no matter what the place he occupies the bottom is lowered under his
weight and puts in movement the indicator pencil. The saine phenomenon is
produced when the driver places the crank vertically and the carriage is retained.
All the movements save that which corresponds to the courses beyond the
borough boundary are inade automatically.

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON of the Agency for Foreign Patent Solicitors
6, Lord Street, Liverpool in the county of Lancaster, Civil Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPERTAINING
TO CHECKING APPARATUS FOR CARRIAGES LET FOR HIRE," and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention has for its object an apparatus serving to control the distance run
of carriages for hire, and the registration of the various situations into which they
may go during their service.
The apparatus is composed of an ordinary train of clock work A, of which the
principal axis carries a little drum B divided into sections of five minutes each by
little points. This drum carries a flange on the part nearest the clockwork. Its
other extremity rests free so that one can easily place there and take away the band
of paper destined for the registration. A second drum carries a single flange on the
side opposite to the preceding and is disposed at the extremity of the lever D. It
is pressed by the spring E and bears constantly upon the drum B with the
movement of which it participates by means of gearing or teeth. The extremity
of the lever D slides upon a flat spring carrying an indentation F into which
penetrates the gudgeon G when it is desired to hold the two drums wide apart from
each other to place or take away the slip of paper. The cage which contains the
clock work carries a bracket H sustaining a bent lever h of which the lower arm
carries the rod I in communication with the movement of the bottom of the
carriage, whilst the upper arm engages with a pin placed at the extremity of
the bar J, which a coiled spring maintains constantly in the position shown in
the drawing. The extremity of this bar is fixed to a metallic piece of which one
of the arms K, pivotted in L carries a muff or sleeve M serving to guide the
pencil N.
The other arin K' can freely oscillate and carries another muff or
sleeve M¹. This second arm is fixed upon an arbor O to the extremity of which is
suspended a bar P carrying a counterpoise Q destined to be put in movement by
the jolts and the vibrations of the carriage when in motion, a little stop regulates
the amplitude of the oscillations. The pencil holder is fixed to a bolt R which
carries a piece S which is capable of turning upon the pivot s, and of which one
extremity carries the no ch T which engages behind the small plate u when the
pencil is drawn towards the left. The other extremity of the bolt R carries
a beel V against which abuts the cam V' fixed to the semaphore X when the driver
wishes to bring back the pencil to the end of its course. Upon the first drum B is
disposed a band of paper which unwinds from the bobbin Y which is placed in the
chamber Z and which is unwound by degrees from the drum B and falls into the
chamber Z'.
The result of this arrangement is that when the carriage is unoccupied the
pencil N occupies the extreme position on the right, and traces upon the border of
the band of paper a thin uniform line if the carriage be standing; whilst if the
carriage is in motion the movement of the counterpoise Q produces with the pencil
a line much larger and more irregular. If the carriage be detained or be about to
be oc upied which the driver intimates by placing the semaphore vertically which
previously occupied an oblique position, the rod I being drawn toward the bottom
brings the pencil to the centre of the band of paper and the same indications that

page_text: have been described are produced at the centre of this band. If the carriage go
beyond the borough boundary the coachman places his semaphore obliquely to the
right and the bolt draws the pencil toward the border to the left and it still
produces upon the band of paper the indications that have been described. Besides
this the band of paper being pressed between the two rolls, one of which carries
points receives the imprints of these last which always give exact indications of the
successive periods of five minutes or otherwise.
The band then carries seven indications as follows. The exact division into
periods of five or any other number of minutes, a thick line to the right gives the
duration of the travel when empty, a thin line to right the duration of standing
empty, a thick line in the centre the duration of the journey when engaged, a thin
line in centre the duration of standing while engaged, a thick line to the left the
duration of travel when engaged beyond the Borough Boundary, a thin line to left
the duration of remaining stationary while engaged beyond this boundary.
In proximity to the coachman is placed a seinaphore carrying a piece in the form
of a double cam of which the one V1 serves to push the bolt R and raise up the
notch T when the pencil ought to be pushed to right, and the other (2) commands
a toothed wheel advancing it one tooth each time the coachman puts the movement
at empty" when a run is terminated, the toothed wheel (3) carries the set of
numbers 1 to 20 following the number of the teeth, and in front of this dial is a
fixed hand or pointer indicating always the number of runs effected.
Under the band B is a piece 4 carrying a trace which ought always to correspond
to the teeth of the druin; a little button 5 serves to regulate the clockwork, and to
bring back the drum into its position, if the clock should not run regularly.
A metallic disc may be fixed on the apparatus carrying a dial of sensitive or
other paper upon which the different situations of the carriage can equally well be
indicated by a special system, to this effect the principal axis of the clock work, or
another axis if it be necessary is furnished with a pointer 6, carrying at its
extremity a little funnel shaped cone of which the large end is placed at any
required distance froin the sheet of paper. In the interior of this cone is a little
ball 8 of metal, black lead, or other material capable of producing a mark upon the
dise of paper. This ball moves freely in the cone, the inclined walls of which
maintain the ball against the disc. Another hand arranged or not arranged to
describe ares of circles of different diameters is fixed above the ball hand, and
carries a pencil able to trace upon the disc of paper circumferential arcs.
The result of this arrangement is that when the carriage is stationary the ball
rolls freely, and without shaking upon the disc of paper, and leaves thereon no
trace, but as soon as the carriage travels, the jolts and the vibrations that it
produces cause the ball to dance in the cone, and the resulting shocks cause a very
apparent trace to be left upon the disc of paper.
As regards the motor mechanism it is very simple. Upon the bottom of the
carriage is arranged a double bottom constructed of two pieces 10 and 11, each of
which is fixed by means of hinges to the longitudinal sides of the carriage. These
two pieces or volets are joined at the centre and carry a covering piece of sheet
iron 12. They are held supported by one or more springs 13. The back seat is fixed
immoveably to the bottom and participates in its movement. A system of levers 16
placed under the bottom communicate with the rod I which is put in movement
each time that the carriage is occupied.
The bracket seat (front seat) carries als a foot which when the bracket seat is
lowered into place rests upon the movement of the bottom and presses it down.
It results from this arrangement that each time that a passenger enters the
carriage, no matter what the place he occupies, the bottom is lowered under his
weight and puts in movement the indicator pencil. The same phenomenon is
produced when the driver places the crank vertically, and the carriage is detained.
All the movements save that which corresponds to the courses beyond the
borough boundary, are made automatically.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st The controlling or checking apparatus composed of drums B C carrying a
band of paper upon which the pencil N arranged as has been described, traces divers
indications; the arrangement of the pencil and of the counterpoise Q of the bolt R,
of the piece G, and of the actuating bar J, in combination with the mechanism of
the bottom of the car and the mechanism 1, 2, 3 serving to indicate the number of
the courses run.
2nd The use of the cone 7 in which a ball 8 (metallic or otherwise) moves
freely, the said cove being fixed to the extremity or to any other point of a hand,
so as to produce indications corresponding to the journeying or stoppage of a
carriage.
3rd The motive mechanism consisting of a hinged double bottom cut longi-
tudinally in a line following the axes of the carriage forming two wings or volets
10 or 11 as a flooring, maintained in position above the lower bottom by one
or more springs 13, in combination with the back seat, bracket seat and a system of
levers in communication with the checking apparatus.
4th The entire apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described and represented
in the drawings annexed hereto.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord St., Liverpool,
Agent for the Applicant.