A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING AND LEAVING OMNIBUSES AND OTHER CONVEYANCES, PUBLIC AND OTHER BUILDINGS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harry John Fieldus, of Queen's Road, Brighton, in the
County of Sussex, Upholsterer and Cabinet Maker, for the Invention of "A
NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS
ENTERING AND LEAVING OMNIBUSES AND OTHER CONVEYANCES, PUBLIC AND
OTHER BUILDINGS"
Sealed the 25th May 1880, and dated the 27th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harry John Fieldus at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th November 1879.
HARRY JOHN FIELDUS, of Queen's Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Uphosterer and Cabinet Maker. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING AND LEAVING OMNIBUSES AND
OTHER CONVEYANCES, PUBLIC AND OTHER BUILDINGS."
My Invention relates to a new or improved apparatus for registering the number
of persons entering and leaving omnibuses, tramcars, steamboats, and other
conveyances, public and other buildings.
It consists, as shown by Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Drawing, of a
series of ratchet wheels A, A, of any desired size and number (corresponding with
the number of the various stopping places of a vehicle), arranged side by side, and
each carried and capable of revolving at the outer end of an arm or lever B, the
fulcrum of which forms a nut through which works a screwed shaft or spindle C
mounted in bearings or brackets D, and rotated by the clockwork E, as hereafter
described. The teeth of each ratchet wheel A, A', A2, A3, are number 1, 2, 3, 4,
and so on according to their number, as may be determined upon. On a second
screwed spindle F adjacent to the ratchet wheels A, A', are mounted the ratchets or
pawls H, H, which engage respectively with the ratchet wheels A, A'. The screwed
spindle F is carried between. the outer ends of two levers I, I, keyed to a plain
shaft or spindle J which passes freely through, the centres of the ratchet wheels A, A',
and on which is keyed a long lever K. The outer end of this lever works in a slot
formed in an upright bar L, the lower end of which buts on a spring M, and its
upper end is formed with a foot plate or step N, or communicates with the step of
the vehicle in such a manner that any person getting in or out of the vehicle

page_text: necessarily depresses the upright bar L. By the revolutions of the screwed shaft
or spindle C working through the nuts or fulcrums of the arms or levers B a
forward or end motion is coininunicated to the ratchet wheels A, A', whilst the
pawls H, H, preserve their same relative positions or have no end motion, and the
apparatus is so arranged that the distances between the various ratchet wheels A, A',
and the pawls H, H, are determined by the respective times or intervals between
the various stopping places of the vehicle, that is to say, the first wheel A of the
series is engaged with its pawl H until the arrival of the vehicle at the first stopping
place, when the pawl H leaves the wheel A and the second wheel A' engages with
its pawl H, and so on.
The action of my Invention may be thus described, presuming that the first
wheel A is engaged with its pawl H, and that the vehicle is about to start towards
its first stopping place. On a person getting into the vehicle the upright bar L is
depressed, and lowering the levers I, I, causes the spindle F carrying the pawls H, H',
to partially rotate, in doing which the pawl H. acts upon the first wheel A and
partially rotates it to the extent of one ratchet or tooth and so registers one
(passenger). A similar movement of this wheel A takes place by the depression of
the bar L on a second person getting into the vehicle, and so registers the number
of passengers entering or leaving the vehicle.
Meanwhile by the action of the clockwork E, which is in constant action, the
first wheel A is slowly moved end wise by the revolution of the screwed shaft or
spindle C until on the arrival of the vehicle at its first stage it is disengaged from
its pawl H, and the second wheel A' simultaneously engages with its pawl H',
ready for registering the number of passengers entering or leaving the vehicle
between the first and second stopping places. The vehicle having arrived at the
second stage of its journey the wheel A¹ is disengaged from its pawl H¹, and the
wheel A engages with its pawl H for the 3rd stopping place, and so on through
the whole series of wheels A, A1, A2, A³, and pawls H, H³, H‚ª H³, according to the
number of stopping places.
The clockwork E is regulated by an ordinary escapement action, and may be
combined with a time indicator or clock face if desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Harry John Fieldus in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
May 1880.
HARRY JOHN FIELDUS, of Queen's Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Upholsterer and Cabinet Maker. "A NEW OR IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR
REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING AND LEAVING OMNIBUSES AND
OTHER CONVEYANCES, PUBLIC AND OTHER BUILDINGS."
My said Invention relates to apparatus to be employed for registering the number
of persons entering and leaving omnibuses, tramcars, steamboats, and other
conveyances, public and other buildings.
In carrying out my said Invention as applied, for example, to a conveyance, I
employ a series of arms or levers corresponding in number with the stopping places
of the vehicle, which arms or levers are mounted side by side upon a revolving
screw shaft or spindle in such a manner as to be slowly traversed along the said
screw. The arms or levers are provided with ratchet wheels and pawls or with
equivalent contrivances and indicating or recording apparatus arranged in connection
with the steps of the vehicle, so that entrances or exits shall be duly registered
whilst the arms or levers as the different stages of the journey are arrived at are in
succession thrown into and out of action by automatic means. The motion of the
screw may be obtained by clock-work or it may be transmitted by means of
gearing from the wheels of the vehicle.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the
several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings, the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figure 1 (on Sheet 1) of the accompanying Drawings represents an elevation of
so much of an apparatus constructed according to my said Invention as is sufficient
to illustrate the general principles of the same; Figure 2 is a plan, and Figure 3 an
end view of the same, both corresponding to Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 (on Sheet 2) represent respectively an elevation and plan of the
apparatus in its more complete form and slightly modified in some of its details;
Figures 6 and 7 (Sheet 3) are elevations, and Figure 8 a sectional elevation of
portions of the apparatus, the views being taken at right angles to Figure 4.
Figures 9 and 10 (Sheet 1) represent respectively a elevation and plan, drawn
to a reduced scale, of a revolving tablet hereinafter referred to; Figure 11 (on
Sheet 3) is a sectional elevation, drawn to a reduced scale, illustrating in part the
mode of driving the screw shaft from the wheels of the vehicle; Figures 12 and 13
on Sheet 4 are respectively an elevation and plan, drawn to the full size, of a
portion of an apparatus operated in this manner from the wheels of the vehicle;
Figure 14 is a detail hereinafter referred to.
Figure 15 (Sheet 5) is an end elevation partly in section of a portion of a
vehicle illustrating certain accessories, and Figure 16 is a corresponding sectional
plan of the same; Figures 17 and 18 (Sheet 5) are details of the steps of
the vehicle, showing apparatus connected therewith, as hereinafter more fully
described.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 (Sheet 1) show the apparatus in its simplest form as
applied to the registration of the number of persons entering and leaving a
conveyance.
A is a screw shaft or spindle to which rotary motion is imparted either by
clock work or by means of gearing from the wheels of the vehicle. B, B1, B2, B³,
are a series of arms corresponding to the number of stopping places or stages in
the journey (four in the example assumed.) These arms are each provided at one

page_text: end with a boss a which forms a nut through which the screw shaft A passes, and
at their opposite end b they are threaded upon another shaft C; at this end also
they are connected to a series of ratchet wheels D, D¹, Dº, D³, which are mounted
upon the shaft C so as to be capable of rotation thereon, whilst at the same time
the said ratchet wheels are free to move longitudinally with the arms B, B¹, B², B³,
which receive a slow travelling motion by the revolution of the screw A. In con-
nection with the ratchet wheels D, D1, D2, D³, are arranged pawls E, E¹, E², E³,
which are mounted on a shaft F screw threaded for the convenience of adjusting
the position of the pawls E, E¹, E², E³; this shaft is carried by lever arms c fast
upon the shaft C, and upon the latter shaft is also secured a lover G, which is
arranged, as more fully hereinafter described, in connection with a foot plate H on
which the passengers are required to step, and thus actuate the pawl shaft F upon
entering the vehicle or upon alighting from the vehicle (as the case may be), one
separate apparatus with its corresponding foot plate being appropriated to each
purpose. In the present example the lever G passes through a slot in an upright
bar G', at the top of which is the foot plate H, the bar being pressed upwards by
a spring H'.
The apparatus operates in the following manner, videlicet:-
:-
Upon a person entering the vehicle and stepping upon the foot plate H a
partial rotary motion is imparted to the shaft C, whereby the shaft F is moved
through a certain angle round the shaft C, and the pawls E, E', E², E³, mounted
thereon consequently partake of such motion. One only of the pawls however is
for the time being operative, videlicet, the pawl which corresponds to the ratchet
wheel which is then in action. Let it be assumed that the ratchet wheel D is in
action with which corresponds the pawl E. When therefore the pawl shaft F is
moved in the manner hereinbefore described, the pawl E is caused to force the
ratchet wheel D round to the extent of the distance between the teeth, and thus
record 1 on the ratchet wheel, which is suitably graduated. On another person
entering a fresh impulse is given to the ratchet wheel and a record made thereof,
and so on in succession, as often as persons enter the vehicle. During this time
the ratchet wheel D is being slowly moved along the shaft C by reason of the
revolution of the screw imparting a traversing motion to the arm B, and by
the time that the first stopping place or stage of the journey is reached the
ratchet wheel D will have been brought out of the range of the pawl E the
pawls retaining the same relative positions, that is to say, having no end motion.
As however arms B1, B2, B3 receive also a traversing motion similarly to the
arm B, by the time that the ratchet wheel D is disengaged from its pawl E the
ratchet wheel D' will be brought within the range of the pawl E¹, and entrances
effected between the first and second stopping places or stages will be recorded by
the ratchet wheel D'; on the second stopping place or stage being arrived at the
ratchet wheel D¹ will be out of the range of its pawl E', and the ratchet wheel D³
will have been brought within the range of its pawl E, the latter ratchet wheel
and pawl will then continue in action until the third stopping place or stage is
arrived at, when the fourth ratchet wheel D³ and pawl E³ are brought into action,
this position of the parts being represented in the Drawing.
A similar apparatus with corresponding foot plate is appropriated for the
registration of exits in like manner.
It is obvious that the pawls may be made of a width and arranged in positions
suitable to the length of the different divisions of the journey.
It is found advantageous to provide on the end of the screw shaft A a feather d
extending right across the same, and arranged in relation to a similar bevelled
notch or slot e in the corresponding bracket or bearing f, in such a manner that by
the time a stopping place or stage is arrived at the feather d of the screw shaft A
will have been brought opposite the notch or slot e, into which it is forced by a
spring 1, thus effecting the instantaneous disengagement and engagement of the
respective ratchet wheels and pawls; the feather is afterwards gradually withdrawn

page_text: from the notch or slot e by the conjoint action of its bevelled surface and the
continued revolution of the screw.
The thread of the screw A may be made of any desired shape or pitch, and for
convenience the screw may be made in sections longitudinally."
Figures 4 and 5, Sheet 2, and Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet 3, shew the apparatus
slightly modified, and with the addition of accessories which increase its utility
and efficiency.
According to this modification the ratchet wheels and pawls are dispensed with,
and the arms B, B¹, (two only being shewn in this example) are connected by
levers K, K¹, and wires g, g¹, passing over pulleys h, h³, with dials L, L, which
may be placed in any convenient part of the vehicle. The levers K, K¹, which are
slotted at their point of connection with the arms B, B¹, so as to be capable of
axial motion independently of the said arms are arranged in relation to keys or
feathers i, i¹, in the shaft C, in such a manner that when the lever K is engaged
with the key or feather i, the motion received by the foot plate H is communi-
cated to the dial L, the lever K¹, key or feather i, and dial L' being then out of
action, whilst on arriving at the first stopping place or stage the lever K becomes
suddenly disengaged from its feather i, and the lever K¹ simultaneously engages
with the key or feather i¹, as shewn in the Drawing, and entrances are recorded
on the dial L'. Similarly when I employ more than two levers corresponding to
an equal number of stopping places or stages, one lever is brought into action as a
preceding lever is thrown out of action.
It will be understood that additional dials L, L', are employed to record exits,
the said dials corresponding to a separate apparatus appropriated to that purpose.
O is a lever fast on shaft C, and which is connected as before with the foot plate H.
For this purpose the lever is arranged to pass through a slot in the upright
spindle G₁, at the top of which is the foot plate H, whilst at the lower extremity of
the spindle is a helical spring H₁ which tends to force the foot plate H upwards.
On the depression therefore of the foot plate H motion is imparted to the shaft C,
and is thence transmitted to whichever lever may be engaged with its respective
key or feather, and the spring H¹ restores the foot plate to its original position as
soon as the pressure is removed. In order to ensure that the levers K, K', shall
always resume one exact position after being depressed, so that the feathers i¹, i,
on the shaft C may engage them at the desired moment, the striking shaft L³ is
provided, in contact with which the levers are normally maintained under the
action of the wires g, gl, and a spring or weight connected with the dials to which
the said wires are attached.
M. shews a spring barrel which may be used for imparting motion to the screw
shaft A by means of gearing N, the spring being controlled by an ordinary escape-
ment or other motion O as desired. When it is required to wind back the screw
shaft A this operation may be performed by means of an ordinary key at m, the
escapement or other controlling movement O being provided with a special arrange-
ment for allowing it to be reversed without injury. This arrangement consists in
mounting the pinion n forming part of the train of gearing N loose upon its
shaft n', on which shaft is secured a spur, wheel p for actuating the escapement O,
and in transmitting motion to such shaft by means of a pawl q attached to the
wheel p², and engaging with a ratchet wheel in one with the pinion n. In order
to prevent all liability of the screw shaft A being over wound a bracket m' is
provided on the boss or nut a of the arm B which forces the key from the end m
of the shaft when the arms B, B¹, have been screwed back.
In order to prevent all liability of the spring in the spring barrel M being over-
wound the following or an equivalent arrangement may be adopted :-On the
shaft n of the spring barrel is secured a wheel having a tooth or feather, and on a
stud in the side of the barrel M is loosely mounted another wheel having notches
with which the tooth of the fast wheel engages, thus carrying the loose wheel with
it in its motion as the spring is wound up. At the required point the loose wheel is
left unprovided with a notch, and as the other wheel is turned the tooth is brought

page_text: in contact with the solid portion of the loose wheel and the winding motion is
arrested.
I also combine with the apparatus a gong Q, which is caused to sound at each
stage of the journey so as to furnish an audible signal to notify that a stopping
place is arrived at; this gong is operated from pivots o carried by the nuts a
through the intervention of levers p, p, adjustably mounted upon a shaft q, and of
wires or cords, the arrangement being such that when the feather d on the end
of the screw shaft A flies into the notch e the lever (p or p¹) which for the time
being is in action instantaneously rebounds under the tension of a spring 8, causing
the hammer t to sound the gong.
"
The levers p, p, may also be connected by a wire or cord u with a detent v,
which engages with a notch w in a revolving tablet R (Figures 9 and 10, Sheet 1)
during the passage from one stage to another of a journey, but is released as each
stopping place or stage is arrived at, thereby allowing the tablet to revolve by the
action of a spring in the barrel S until the notch w is again brought opposite to
the detent v, when the motion of the tablet is again suspended. This tablet is
arranged to shew the fares to be paid for each division of the journey, and by the
motion of the tablet when a stage is arrived at the correct fare is displayed for the
succeeding division of the journey. The tablet is wound back simultaneously with
the levers B, B1, by means of pullies T, T¹, and a cord by the act of turning the
screw shaft A in a direction the reverse of that of its normal motion, as herein-
before explained.
In the example illustrated the tablet when in action is unwound from a roller /
and wound on to a roller Z, but it is obvious that it may be otherwise arranged,
and that other mechanical contrivances than those herein before described may be
used for operating and controlling the tablet, such for example as multiplying gear,
to obtain an increased motion of the tablet for a given motion of the spring.
Figure 11 (Sheet 3), and Figures 12, 13, and 14 (Sheet 4), illustrate the mode
of operating the screw shaft from the wheels of the vehicle.
For this purpose toothed gearing or friction gearing U may be used to transmit
motion to the screw shaft A from a shaft W having secured thereon a ratchet
wheel X. This ratchet wheel may be operated by a pawl and eccentric y
(Figure 11), or similar appliance from the wheel Z or other moving part of the
vehicle. It is desirable to provide means to cause the motion of the screw A to be
reversed in the case of the vehicle going backwards. For this purpose an additional
ratchet wheel X³, having its teeth cut so as to lead in an opposite direction to the teeth
of the ratchet wheel X, and an additional pawl x' may be used, as shewn in Figures
12 and 13, the pawl x' being connected to the eccentric Y, and being raised out of
action when the vehicle is going forwards and being in action, while the pawl x is
raised out of action when the vehicle is going backwards. In order to throw one
pawl out of action and to bring the other pawl into action as required, I may
employ the arrangement illustrated in Figure 14 (Figure 4). According to this
arrangement the eccentric Y is mounted loose upon a disc y attached to the nave
of the wheel Z, and is caused to turn with the wheel by means of an angular or
bell crank lever z, z¹. Cam grooves y¹, y², are provided in the eccentric Y by means
of which the lever z, z, is turned upon its centre, so as to cause the opposite arm
(or 2, as the case may be) to that which has been in action to engage with the
eccentric when the motion of the wheel is reversed. The motion of the levers 2¹, 2¹,
may thence be transmitted to the pawls x, x¹, so as to engage and disengage the
required pawl by rods or other suitable mechanical connections.
I find it convenient to set apart a step for the conductor, and so arrange it that
the entrance or exit of passengers is debarred unless the conductor be upon the
place appointed for him. This arrangement is illustrated in Figures 15 and 10
(Sheet 5). 1 is the conductor's step, which is made depressible, and connected by a
rod and bell crank 2 or similar appliance with a locking bolt 3, by which the
door 4 of the vehicle is automatically locked under the action of a spring 5
when the conductor is not in his place.

page_text: It is also found convenient in the case of vehicles having two steps to appropriate
one of the steps, say, for example, the bottom step, to the recording of entrances,
and the other (or top) step to the recording of exits, and to cause the depression of
the one step to lock the other. This arrangement will be understood by reference
to Figures 16, 17, and 18 (Sheet 5), the former of which Figures represents the
devices for locking the top step, whilst the latter Figure shews the devices used
for locking the bottom step.
In these Figures 6 is the bottom step, and 7 is the top step, each of which is in
one with or connected to the foot plate H of a recording apparatus constructed in
the manner hereinbefore described, and the position of which are indicated at 8, 8.
Either of these steps in the normal condition of the parts is free to be depressed
and to actuate the pawls or the levers of the recording apparatus, but when one is
being depressed, say, for example, the bottom step 6, by the entrance of a passenger
the other (videlicet the top step 7) is locked, and vice versa.
Referring to Figure 17, the bottom step 6 when depressed (as shown by dotted
lines) is caused to act through an intervention of a lover 9 so as to interpose a
bolt 10 between the top step 7 and a fixed projection 11, the bolt being withdrawn,
assisted by the action of a spring 12, on the pressure being removed. Similarly in
the case of a depression of the top step 7 by a passenger leaving (see Figure 18),
the bottom step 6 is locked by the interposition between it and a fixed projection 13
of a bolt 14, the latter being operated through the intervention of levers and rods 15,
whilst a spring 16 is employed for the purpose of assisting to restore the parts to
their normal position.
In order to ensure that the step which has been locked by the passenger passing
over the other step shall remain locked until the passenger has trodden upon such
locked step, and shall then be unlocked, the springs 12, 16, are made of only
sufficient power to move the levers 9, 15, when the locking bolts 10, 14, have been
released, and the release of such locking bolts is affected by means of a catch 17, of
which engages with a pin on the bolts 10, 14, when the locked step is depressed by
the passenger to the extent permitted by the locking bolt, and when the locked
step is raised again by means of the springs H¹ on the pressure being removed the
bolts 10, 14, are liberated by the action of the catch 17, the springs 12, 16, then
restoring the parts to their normal position.
It will also be found advantageous to provide means for locking the steps so as
to prevent the apparatus recording, and means for offering an obstruction which
will prevent passengers from entering or leaving when the conductor is not in his
place, and also means for locking the steps when the door is locked.
The Invention is also applicable for recording the number of persons entering or
leaving a building, so as to provide a check upon the receipts of the collector in
cases where the price of admission varies with the time or stage of a performance,
for example, the apparatus being in this case actuated by clockwork.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in in part
recited Letters Patent is,-
First. In apparatus for registering the number of persons entering and leaving
omnibuses and other conveyances, public and other buildings, the employment for
actuating the registering apparatus of traversing or travelling nuts operated by a
revolving screw or screws, and corresponding in number to the stopping places or
stages of a journey or periods of time, the said nuts being arranged in such a
manner that one nut is always operative upon the registering apparatus, and that
a different nut is automatically brought into operation on the arrival at a stopping
place or stage or the completion of a period of time, whilst the nut which has
previously been in operation becomes inoperative upon the registering apparatus,
substantially as herein before described.

page_text: Second. The combination with the traversing or travelling nuts and their
appurtenances, as herein set forth, of a foot plate or step so arranged and combined
with the other parts of the apparatus that the act of a person entering or leaving
a conveyance or building shall have the effect of operating registering apparatus
corresponding to the nut which for the time being is in action, substantially as
bereinbefore described.
Third. The combination with the nuts, arms, or levers upon the shaft A
corresponding to the several stopping places or stages of a journey or periods of
time of pawls and ratchet wheels or equivalent devices connected with such nuts,
arms, or levers, and forming or communicating with registering apparatus, and of
a foot plate or step to be acted upon by the passengers, the whole arranged so as
to operate substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described,
and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Harry John Fieldus, have to this my Speci-
fication set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of May, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.