IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERS FOR OMNIBUSES AND TRAMWAY WAGONS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan-Brown, of the Firm of Brandon and
Morgan-Brown, Engineers and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings,
London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
COUNTERS FOR OMNIBUSES AND TRAMWAY WAGONS." A communication
from abroad by Joseph Marzari, of 18, Via Saint Massimo, Turin, Italy, Doctor.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1877.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERS FOR OMNIBUSES AND TRAMWAY WAGONS." A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Marzari, of 18, Via Saint Massimo, Turin, Italy,
Doctor.
This Invention of improvements in counters for omnibuses and tramway wagons is
as follows: The arrangement and combination of the mechanical parts constituting
this Invention vary as a matter of necessity according to the capacity of the vehicles
and the nature of the service to which they are applied, particularly when such
vehicles comprise more than one class.
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying Drawing represent a counter destined
for a vehicle containing but one class of passengers. Figure 1 is an external ele-
vation of the same; Figure 2, a lateral elevation in section through A, B¹, Figure 1;
Figure 3, a partial lateral elevation in section through D¹, D, Figure 1; and
Figure 4, a front elevation shewing the other face. On the axis B, which is sup-
ported in the box of the counter, are fixed the handle A, Figure 2, and the disc C,
Figures 1 and 2, provided on its inner face with a raised rim c, c, on about two-
thirds of its periphery; on the same face there is fixed a stud r, which passes in a
slot made in the floating piece B", superposed on the face of the cylinder c¹, and
which is moved by the two appendices p₁, p3, by the tooth p and the cavity 8; the
spring which presses against the appendice p" tends to maintain the piece B¹¹ in
the position indicated in the Drawing.

page_text: The star wheel E is loose on the shaft F, and its width is double that of the
tooth p; one half of the same remains in contact with the periphery of the cylinder
C, but does not however come in contact with the tooth which drives the wheel
D, as hereafter specified.
The form of the wheels E and D is such that they will be only actuated when
one of the cavities n, n¹ of the disc C strike one or other of the points o, o¹ of the
teeth d. By turning the bandle A in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the
tooth p is arrested for an instant against the point o of one of the teeth d compos-
ing the wheel E, but on continuing to turn the handle in the same direction the
tooth passes behind the tooth p, and at the same time as the cavity n remains
uncovered the point o, and consequently the wheel E are caused to move by the
tooth p. If, on the contrary, the disc C is turned in the opposite direction the
point o cannot be rotated, because the cavity n¹ is closed by the piece B¹ and
because the cavity s of this same pięce will also be closed at the back by a part of
the periphery of the disc C comprised between the two cavities n, n¹.
On continuing the motion of the disc C the tooth p will strike the point o¹
without producing any action, because it disappears within the disc C, consequently
the wheel E will only be turned one tooth by rotating the disc E in the direction
of the arrow, and will remain stationary when the said cylinder is rotated in the
opposite direction. The contrary effect takes place with respect to the wheel D,
Figure 2, which is keyed on the spindle F, and driven only by the fixed tooth l; as
the two cavities n, n¹, remain constantly open for this wheel D, it will advance or
go back one step by turning the handle in either direction. This is necessary
because this wheel D is only called upon to indicate the number of passengers in
the vehicle by means of two arrows which advance and recede on the dials of the
faces of the box, whilst the purport of the wheels E is to give the number of
travellers which have made use of the vehicle during the day, and that by its
connection with the wheel e, e, fitted on the eccentric h, attached to the inner face
of the counter, which causes its gear alternately with the two studs f and I, fitted
in the wheel E.
As the eccentricity of the eccentric ½ is proportionate to the displacement of one
tooth of the wheel e, e, it follows that the latter will advance one tooth at each
revolution of the wheel E, and since this latter is provided with 20 teeth and e, e;
with 50, a control is thus obtained for 1000 persons having made use of the vehicle
in one day; the inspection of the two wheels is made by reading the two numbers
which are apparent in the two respective openings.
The cavity m of the wheel D is fitted up in order that the tooth will be stopped
or arrested thereby, with the purpose of preventing the conductor from causing the
arrows to pass beyond the zero without receeding them.
A very important arrangement which constitutes one of the features of the
Invention consists in the disc signal G, the object of which is to oblige the conductor
to bring back the arrows to zero at the end of each trip. Supposing, for instance,
that the disc signal G has to be raised on starting from the central station and
lowered on returning thereto, it is important that the conductor should not be able
to change the position of the signal at the stations on starting or returning without
bringing back the arrows to zero, and therefore the conductor is obliged to do this,
because the internal part L of the disc forming part with the external leg of the
disc cannot describe its circle, if it is interrupted by the edges q, q, of the wheel D,
which does occur exactly at the point where the arrows show zero.
In the case of trips divided into several subdivisions as in the case of tramways
where travellers pay a number of times equal to the number of subdivisions, and where
it is necessary to have a special check which, at each trip, brings back the arrows to
zero and indicates afresh the number of passengers present, the parties employed for
checking as well as those sent to verify at the starting stations, may by the use of
the disc signal be suppressed, as any irregularity on the part of the conductor will
be detected at any part of the trip by the dise not being in its proper position. It
will moreover be to the interest of the conductor to bring the signal to the point where

page_text: the foot t of the spring stud N may be held by one of the studs on the cover. This
disc signal is also useful in the case of trips charged at different rates, since by
combining the guarantee of the signal with the observation of the controlling discs,
the number of persons having paid the highest fare can be easily ascertained.
Figure 5: represents an arrangement for counting the number of passengers
present in the largest-sized vehicles. On the pivot 1 of the handle is keyed a bevel
wheel 2 with one tooth 3 gearing in a star wheel 4 provided with ten teeth; a spur
wheel 5 and a wheel 6 with only one tooth are made fast with the star wheel 4;
the wheel 5 gears in a wheel 7 fitted loose on its axis 8, 9, whilst the wheel 6
drives the wheel 10, which latter is fast with the cylinder 12, which represents the
unities. Each cylinder is provided with a double set of cyphers, one set of which is
visible from the inside, and the other from the outside of the coach.
From what has been stated above it will be easily understood how the cylinder 11
is displaced at each complete revolution of the cylinder 12 on the axis 1 at the
end opposite to which the handle is attached. The system of control represented at
Figure 6 can be readily attached. On the axis 1 is fixed an eccentric 13, on which
the numbered wheel 14 turns, whilst the escapement 15, 16, is fixed to the box.
When the eccentric turns in the direction of the arrow the wheel 14, for instance,
gears in the tooth 15 by means of its tooth Number 18, which is displaced to the extent
of causing the anchor 15 to fall between the teeth 18 and 19. If the eccentric be
rotated in the opposite direction the anchor 15 which constantly accompanys the
wheel 14 would prevent this retrograde motion of the wheel, which would only
cause the anchor 16 to escape inside, in which case the wheel 14 although rotated
would not advance and would. return to the same point, that is, the number pre-
'viously indicated.
It is evident that if the escapement 16 was not withheld by the stud 17 the dis-
placement of one tooth would occur constantly, although in the same direction at
each turn of the eccentric in either direction.
In order to obtain a much higher number than could be indicated by a single
wheel it is necessary to superpose on the wheel 14 another wheel with one more
tooth than the first; the same eccentric 13 and the two anchors 15 and 16 will
suffice for the two wheels, with the only difference that one of the two teeth of the
anchor will have 2 points at a distance apart appropriate to the circumstance
that one of the wheels must have an even number of teeth, and the other an
uneven number. This system of control is but a carollary of the action above
described of the wheel e, e, in which fixed studs f, g, act the part of the moveable
anchors.
Figure 7 represents a mechanism to be specially applied to a counter with two
handles and two dials on which can be noted separately the number of persons
present in the 1st and 2nd classes. On the axis 1 of the handle is fixed the
eccentric 2 which drives the piece 3 guided by the stud 4 fixed on the box. The
wheel 6 is invariably supposed to be provided with a dial on which the number of
passengers present is read off; at each turn of the handle in either direction the
studs 5 and 7 fixed in the piece e abandon and re-enter in their turn the teeth of
the wheel 6, but the stud 5 on account of the eccentric describes an irregular curve,
whilst the stud 7 closely guided by the stud 4 describes a nearly straight line in
order that it may maintain the wheel in its place when the other stud has ceased to
displace it in one direction or the other.
It is advisable for any description of counter that the number of passengers con-
tained in a vehicle be visible to the public, hence the necessity of a wheel or dial
which advances or receedes, as the case may be. A second wheel which cannot turn
back is also necessary in order that with the assistance of a third it may constantly
give the number of passengers present.
Figure 8 represents the mechanism of the wheel which does not turn back, and
which totalises the price of the 1st and 2nd class.
The eccentrics G, H, are respectively keyed on the axles B, F. The box is pro-
vided internally on the side of the handles with the two parts I, I, on which is

page_text: mounted the plate I¹ with projecting studs a, b, and also c, on which the click d is
mounted.
.
The eccentric G drives the piece L provided with two studs f, f, whilst the
eccentric M drives the piece M, on which is fixed the spring g, gl, gl, which serves
the triple purpose of pushing the arm M. against the stud a, the piece L against the
stud b, and the click d in the teeth of the wheel C. According to this arrangement
by turning the eccentric G in the direction of the arrow the piece L in consequence
of its spring bears constantly against the stud b, on which it acts as a lever, and by
means of studs f, f, turns the wheel c, which is only prevented by the click d when
the eccentric is turned in the contrary direction to that indicated by the arrow;
in this case the piece L having its studs ff. engaged in the teeth of the wheel will
detach itself above from the stud b, and cause the spring g. to give way; the same
effect takes place for the piece M.
As indicated in the Drawing three teeth of the wheel C are passed by the action
of the piece M at each rotation of the handle. By changing the position of the
studs a &b the number of teeth may be varied within certain limits. The point m
of the piece L would strike the piece M, M, if the conductor wished to turn
simultaneously the two handles; this motion is a carollary of the one described at
Fig. 7.
In case the fares could not be subdivided by unities a control may be adapted
for each class, as described at Figure 6%; or on the axis of the handles may be
placed two wheels which gear into one another and are driven by a ratchet fixed
to each dial, so that they turn with the dials, but only in one direction, and the
dimension of the wheels should be proportioned to the dials, so that the required
unites may be obtained.
The disk signal above referred to should be placed between the two dials' in
order to compel the conductor to bring them both back to zero at the end of each
trip.
In vehicles provided with seats above, if the company attaches much importance
to the control of the public, one of the two handles will assume the shape of a
pulley, and by means of an endless chain will transmit the motion to an eccentric
on which a dial turns in full view of the passengers above. The motion of the dial
is analogous to the one described for the check wheel e, e.
Lastly. The bell Q, Fig. 9, is placed within the two axles of the handles, on which
are fixed the springs n, o, provided with metallic hammers p, p¹, covered with
leather or other material at the parts q, q', in order to prevent the emission of sound.
When the number of passengers which have left the vehicle is substracted from the
dial the studs 7, 71, fixed to the base of the counter serve to retain the spring which
strikes the bell and produces the sound.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th August 1877.
"6
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN, of the Firm of Brandon and Morgan-Brown, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 38, Southampton Buildings, London, and 1, Rue Laffitte, Paris.
IMPROVEMENTS IN COUNTERS FOR OMNIBUSES AND TRAMWAY WAGONS." A com-
munication from abroad by Joseph Marzari, of 18, Via Saint Massimo, Turin, Italy,
Doctor.
This Invention of improvements in counters for omnibusses and tramway wagons
is as follows:-The arrangement and combination of the mechanical parts con-
stituting this Invention vary as a matter of necessity according to the capacity of
the vehicles and the nature of the service to which they are applied, particularly
when such vehicles comprise more than one class.

page_text: Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying Drawing represent a counter destined.
for a vehicle containing but one class of passengers; Figure 1 is an external eleva-
tion of the same; Figure 4, a lateral elevation in section through A', B', Figure 1;
Figure 3, a partial lateral elevation in section through D¹, D", Figure 1 ; and Figure 4,
a front elevation showing the other face. On the axis B, which is supported in the
box of the counter, are fixed the handle A, Figure 2, and the disc C, Figures 1
and 2, provided on its inner face with a raised rim c, c¹, on about two-thirds of its
periphery on the same face there is fixed a stud which passes in a slot made in
the floating piece B" superposed on the face of the cylinder C, and which is inoved
by the appendice p', pl, by the tooth p and the cavity S; the spring which presses
against the appendice p¹¹ tends to maintain the piece B" in the position indicated
in the Drawing.
The star wheel E is loose on the shaft F and its width is double that of the
tooth p; one half of the same remains in contact with the periphery of the cylinder C,
but does not however come in contact with the tooth which drives the wheel D,
as hereafter specified.
The form of the wheels E and D is such that they will only be actuated when
one of the cavities n, n¹, of the disc C strike one or other of the points o, o', of the
teeth d. By turning the handle A in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, the
tooth P is arrested for an instant against the point o of one of the teeth d com-
posing the wheel E, but on continuing to turn the handle in the same direction the
tooth passes behind the tooth p, and at the same time as the cavity n remains
uncovered the point o and consequently the wheel E are caused to move by the
tooth p. If on the contrary the dise C is turned in the opposite direction the
point o cannot be rotated because the cavity n¹ is closed by the piece B¹, and
because the cavity s of this same piece will also be closed at the back by a part of
the periphery of the disc C comprised between the two cavities n, n².
On continuing the motion of the disc C the tooth p will strike the point o
without producing any action, because it disappears within the disc C, consequently
the wheel E will only be turned one tooth by rotating the disc C in the direction
of the arrow, and will remain stationary when the said cylinder is rotated in the
opposite direction. The contrary effect takes place with respect to the wheel D,
Figure 2, which is keyed on the spindle F and driven only by the fixed tooth l; as
the two cavities n, n¹ remain constantly open for this wheel D it will advance or
go back one step by turning the handle in either direction; this is necessary
because this wheel D is only called upon to indicate the number of passengers in
the vehicle by means of two arrows which advance and recede on the dials of the
faces of the box, whilst the purport of the wheel E is to give the number of
travellers which have made use of the vehicle during the day and that by its con-
nection with the wheel e, e, fitted on the eccentric attached to the inner face of
the counter which causes it to gear alternately with the two studs ƒ and g fitted in
the wheel E.
As the eccentricity of the eccentric h is proportionate to the displacement of one
tooth of the wheel e, e, it follows that the latter will advance one tooth at each
revolution of the wheel E, and since this latter is provided with 20 teeth and e, e,
with 50 a control is thus obtained for 1000 persons having made use of the vehicle
in one day; the inspection of the two wheels is made by reading the two numbers
which are apparent in the two respective openings.
The cavity m of the wheel D is filled up in order that the tooth will be stopped
or arrested thereby with the purpose of preventing the conductor from causing the
arrows to pass beyond the zero without receding them.
A very important arrangement which constitutes one of the features of the
Invention consists in the disc signal G, the object of which is to oblige the con-
ductor to bring back the arrows to zero at the end of each trip. Supposing, for
instance, that the disc signal G has to be raised on starting from the central
station and lowered on returning thereto, it is important that the conductor
should not be able to change the position of the signal at the stations on starting

page_text: or returning without bringing back the arrows to zero, and therefore the conductor
is obliged to do this because the internal part L of the disc forming part with the
external leg of the disc cannot describe its circle if its interrupted by the edges
q, q, of the wheel D, which does not occur exactly at the point where the arrows
show zero.
In the case of trips divided into several sub-divisions, as in the case of tramways,
where travellers pay a number of times equal to the number of sub-divisions, and
where it is necessary to have a special check which at each trip brings back the
arrows to zero and indicates afresh the number of passengers present, the parties
employed for checking as well as those sent to verify at the starting stations may
by the use of the disc signal be suppressed, as any irregularity on the part of the
conductor will be detected at any part of the trip by the dise not being in its
proper position. It will, moreover, be to the interest of the conductor to bring the
signal to the point where the foot t of the spring stud N may be held by one of
the studs x on the cover. This disc signal is also useful in the case of trips charged
at different rates, since by combining the guarantee of the signal with the observa
tion of the controlling discs the number of persons having paid the highest fare can
be easily ascertained.
Figure 5 represents an arrangement for counting the number of passengers
present in the largest sized vehicles; on the pivot 1 of the handle is keyed a bevel
wheel 2 with one tooth 3 gearing in a star wheel 4 provided with ten teeth; a
spur wheel 5 and a wheel 6 with only one tooth are made fast with the star
wheel 4. The wheel 5 gears in a wheel 7 fitted loose on its axis 8, 9, whilst the
wheel 6 drives the wheel 10, which latter is fast with the cylinder 12, which repre-
sents the unities. Each cylinder is provided with a double set of cyphers, one set
of which is visible from the inside and the other from the outside of the coach.
From what has been stated above it will be easily understood how the cylinder 11
is displaced at each complete revolution of the cylinder 12 on the axis 1, at the
.end opposite to which the handle is attached; the system of control represented at
Figure 6 can be readily attached. On the axis 1 is fixed an eccentric 13 on which
the numbered wheel 14 turns whilst the escapement 15, 16, is fixed to the box.
When the eccentric turns in the direction of the arrow, the wheel 14, for instance,
gears in the tooth 15 by means of its tooth No. 18, which is displaced to the extent
of causing the anchor 15 to fall between the teeth 18 and 19. If the eccentric be
rotated in the opposite direction, the anchor 15 which constantly accompanies the
wheel 14 would prevent this retrograde motion of the wheel which would only
cause the anchor 16 to escape inside, in which case the wheel 14, although rotated,
would not advance and would return to the same point, that is the number pre-
viously indicated.
It is evident that if the escapement 16 was not withheld by the stud 17 the
displacement of one tooth would occur constantly, although in the same direction
at each turn of the eccentric in either direction.
In order to obtain a much higher number than could be indicated by a single
wheel, it is necessary to superpose on the wheel 14 another wheel with one more
tooth than the first; the same eccentric 13 and the two anchors 15 and 16 will
suffice for the two wheels, with the only difference that one of the two teeth of the
anchor will have two points at a distance apart appropriate to the circumstance
that one of the wheels must have an even number of teeth and the other an uneven
number. This system of control is but a carollary of the action above described of
the wheel e, e, in which fixed studs f, g, act the part of the moveable anchors.
Figure 7 represents a mechanism to be specially applied to a counter with two
handles and two dials, on which can be noted separately the number of persons
present in the first and second classes. On the axis 1 of the handle is fixed the
eccentric 2 which drives the piece 3 guided by the stud 4 fixed on the box; the
wheel 6 is invariably supposed to be provided with the dial on which the number
of passengers present is read off. At each turn of the handle in either direction, the
studs 5 and 7 fixed in the piece e abandon and re-enter in their turn the teeth of

page_text: the wheel 6, but the stud 5, on account of the eccentric, describes an irregular curve.
whilst the stud 7 closely guided by the stud 4 describes a nearly straight line in
order that it may maintain the wheel in its place when the other stud has ceased
to displace it in one direction or the other.
It is advisable for any description of counter that the number of passengers con-
tained in a vehicle be visible to the public, hence the necessity of a wheel or dial
which advances or recedes, as the case may be; a second wheel which cannot turn
back is also necessary, in order that, with the assistance of a third, it may contantly
give the number of passengers present.
Figure 8 represents the mechanism of the wheel which does not turn back and
which totalises the prices of the first and second class.
The eccentrics G, H, are respectively keyed on the axles B, F. The box is pro-
vided internally on the side of the handles with the two parts I, I, on which is
mounted the plate I with projecting studs a, b, and also c, on which the click dis
mounted. The eccentric G drives the piece L provided with two studs f, f, whilst
the eccentric H drives the piece M on which is fixed the spring g, g', g₁, which
serves the triple purpose of pushing the arm M against the stud a, the piece L
against the stud b, and the click d in the teeth of the wheel C. According to this
arrangement, by turning the eccentric G in the direction of the arrow, the piece L,
in consequence of its spring, bears constantly against the stud b, on which it acts
as a lever, and by means of studs f, f, turns the wheel C which is only prevevented by
the click d when the eccentric is turned in the contrary direction to that indicated
by the arrow; in this case the piece L baving its studs f, f, engaged in the teeth of
the wheel will detach itself above from the stud b and cause the spring g to give
way. The same effect takes place for the piece M.
As indicated in the Drawing, three teeth of the wheel C are passed by the action
of the piece L, and two teeth by the action of the piece M at each rotation of the
handle. By changing the position of the studs a and b, the number of teeth may
be varied within certain limits. The point m of the piece L would strike the
piece M, M, if the conductor wished to turn simultaneously the two handles; this
motion is a carollary of the one described at Figure 7.
In case the fares could not be subdivided by unities a control may be adapted for
each class, as described at Figure 6, or on the axes of the handles may be placed
two wheels which gear into one another and are driven by a ratchet fixed to each
dial so that they turn with the dials but only in one direction, and the dimension
of the wheels should be proportioned to the dials, so that the required unities may
be obtained.
The disc signal above referred to should be placed between the two dials in order
to compel the conductor to bring them both back to zero at the end of each trip.
In vehicles provided with seats above, if the company attaches much importance
to the control of the public, one of the two handles will assume the shape of a pulley
and by means of an endless chain will transmit the motion to an eccentric on which
a dial turns in full view of the passengers above. The motion of the dial is analo-
gous to the one described for the check wheel e, e.
Lastly, the bell Q, Figure 9, is placed within the two axles of the handles on
which are fixed the springs n, o, provided with metallic hammers p, p¹, covered
with leather or other material at the parts q, q', in order to prevent the emission of
sound when the number of passengers which have left the vehicle is substracted
from the dial; the studs r, ¹, fixed to the box of the counter serve to retain the
spring which strikes the bell and produces the sound.
Having thus explained the nature of the said Invention, as well as the best
means I am acquainted with for carrying the same into practical operation, I
claim,―
Firstly. The counter composed of the part above described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing, whereby all fraud on the part of the conductors of omni-
busses or tramway cars is prevented, and whereby also the general expenses are
diminished by reducing the numbers of the inspectors or controllers.

page_text: Secondly. The application of the disc signal, as above described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The application of the controlling gear e, e, and of its equivalents to be
employed as substitutes for the same, as the case may be.
And, Fourthly. The general combination of the different parts composing the
counter, its simplicity and solidity enabling it to be manufactured at a very
reduced price.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Morgan-Brown, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN. (L.S.)