Improvements in Distance Indicators for Cabs and other Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 30th May. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Distance Indicators for Cabs and other Vehicles.
1, CHARLES COXOLLY of 9 Shakespeare Street, Ardwick, Manchester, Designer
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This improved apparatus consists of a pair of dials-one for indicating by a
pointer the gross distance travelled over a given period say a full day and is called
the employers register-the other dial has two faces one inside and the other
outside the vehicle and is the passenger's register having its index-finger capable of
being put back to zero at the commencement of each separate fare or journey. The
index fingers of the dials are revolved by a single train of spur wheel work which
is so geared to the wheel of the vehicle as to be capable of being put into gear
therewith the seat of the vehicle being connected by means of a connecting rod
with the spindle of one of the wheels of the machine-as soon as the passenger
takes his seat.
It will now be apparent that by having the gear wheels of the counting mechanism
proportionate to the circumference of the wheel of the vehicle that the distance
travelled will be constantly indicated upon the dials.
Dated this 30th day of July 1890.
JOHN G. WILSON,
Patent Office, 55, Market Street, Manchester, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Distance Indicators for Cabs and other Vehicles.
1, CHARLES CONOLLY of 9 Shakespear Street, Ardwick, Manchester, Designer
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 -
This improved apparatus consists of a pair of dials-one for indicating by a
pointer the gross distance travelled over a given period say a full day and is called
the employers register the other dial which may have two faces one inside and the
other outside the vehicle and is the passenger register having its index finger
capable of being put back to zero at the commencement of each separate fare or
journey.
And in order that this my said invention may be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a set of drawings and will now
proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and letters
of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a back view of a cab with my improved indicating apparatus shewn
applied thereto.
Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side sectional views respectively of my improved
indicating apparatus shewn on an enlarged scale and
Fig. 4 is an outside view and Fig. 5 a sectional plan.
In accordance with my invention a is the casing composed of wood, metal or any
other suitable material for enclosing the mechanism which operates my improved
indicating apparatus. and bare the two dials hereinbefore mentioned with
pointers or fingers c, c the former which is called the proprietors dial" being
divided up into suitable divisions or degrees to represent the gross distance in miles
D...ol

page_text: σε
or portions of a mile that may be travelleds in one, full day, whilst the other which
is called the passengers dial is similarly divided up to represent the distance in
miles or portions of a mile travelled for.cach.separate fare or journey.
On the inner face of the boss, or nave portion of the wheel d of the vehicle I
affix a spur wheel e gearing with a smaller wheel mounted on the parallel shaft g.
This parallel shaft is. supported by the brackets affixed to the axle and
communicates its motion: by means of the, flexible shaft or its equivalent ; to the
driving pinion of my improved indicating mechanism.
The mechanism for operating the index fingers of the dials consists of a crown
wheel, a train of spur wheels m, n and o and spur pinions p and q all mounted
on suitable spindles supported in the sides of the casing a the size of such wheels
and pinion being proportionate to the wheel of the vehicle.
The crown wheel, engages with the pinion, driven by the flexible shaft j and
is formed in one with the pinion p gearing.with, the spur wheel mon the intermediate
spindle m¹.
?'
Supported in a bracket and capable of oscillating, to and fro is a rod s one end
of which is left, free as illustrated, whilst the other end is, forked and connected to a
sliding boss ton the spindle u to which the index finger,e of the passengers dial is
affixed.
Between the spur wheel n and the side of the casing, a a spiral spring,v.is arranged
which encircles the spindle u and tends to always keep the spur wheel n out of gear
with the pinion.g.
Against the free end of this rod, the lever arm w abuts which. is supported in
the bracket and connected by the link y.and extension piece z.to.the seat 1. of the
vehicle.
By now having the seat pivoted or hinged and by employing a spring to always
press the same upwards the lever wis.heldup. but immediately a passenger takes
his. or her, seat. the lever is pulled down, and becomes, locked. by passing over its
centre of suspension and the free end of the rod s pushed forward; the upper end
of the rod throwing the spur wheel n and pinion q' into gear with the spur wheel o
and pinion 4.
·
In this manner the wheels,n,and.o are set in motion, the fingers of the respective
dials. operated and the distance travelled per day, and per fare or journey
indicated.
As soon however as the passenger shall leave the seat the same will simultaneously
rise and push the lever w upwards and so cause the rods under the action of the
spiral spring to throw the wheels o and n and pinions q and q¹ out of
assume their normal and inoperative.condition.
gear and
And in order to render the indicating mechanism applicable for, the two-seats. of
the cab or other similar two seated vehicle. I employ another. spur, wheel 2: and
dial and another-actuating rod 3 with.a.similar lever, arm 4 as that herein before
described and which act in precisely the same way..but in the opposite direction and
only in conjunction therewith a rod 5 being employed which extends across and
rests upon the top.of.the.lever.w.so that as the far seat Gris occupied the same.pulls
down both levers w.and 4 to operate.the mechanism.
This duplicate form.of.apparatus.is.connected to the opposite seat: by.a.system.of
levers 7, and 8 (see Fig. 2).
To facilitate,the,turning.. back. of the. index finger c. of the passengers.dial; 6 to
zero I employ a small button headed screw 9 on the end of the spindle 10 provided
with a pinion 14 engaging, with the.spur.wheelin.
Instead of the flexible shaft ja pair of bevil wheels.might be used as illustrated
in Fig. 6 in which case a spiral. spring.12 would be employed around the vertical
spindle. 13 to allow of the vibration.of.the vehicle; the bevilwheel 14 being.free to
slide up and down but kept, in gear..by.the.spring. 12:
In order to prevent the mechanism. being. tampered with or turned back by any
means I. employ a ratchet wheel 15 on the intermediate. spindle ml. and a set of
pawls 17 on the side.of: the wheel m as illustrated.

page_text: This improved indicating apparatus although only shewn applied to the back may
be applied to any other convenient part of the vehicle.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The improved construction and arrangement of parts constituting my
improved distance indicator for cabs and other similar vehicles mounted and
operating substantially as herein before described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
2nd. In my improved distance indicator the combination of two or more dials
with suitable pointers for indicating the gross distance travelled per day and the
distance travelled per fare or journey, with a train of spur wheels and pinions, a
crown wheel and lever actuating mechanism all mounted and operating substantially
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 20th day of Anvil 1801
JOHN G. WILSON,
Agent for the Applicant.