A NEW OR IMPROVED INDICATOR OR APPARATUS TO CHECK THE CHARGES FOR PERSONS CARRIED BY PUBLIC CONVEYANCES OR ADMITTED TO PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas William Duffy, of Edinburgh, in the County of
Mid Lothian, North Britain, commonly styling himself Thomas Duffy, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED INDICATOR OR APPARATUS TO CHECK
THE CHARGES FOR PERSONS CARRIED BY PUBLIC CONVEYANCES OR ADMITTED
TO PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT."
Sealed the 15th September 1877, and dated the 20th July 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas William Duffy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th July 1877.
THOMAS WILLIAM DUFFY, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, commonly styling myself Thomas Duffy. "AN IMPROVED INDICATOR OR
APPARATUS TO CHECK THE CHARGES FOR PERSONS CARRIED BY PUBLIC CON-
VEYANCES OR ADMITTED TO PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT."
This Invention which relates to the indication of the amount of fares collected by
the conductors of tramway cars, omnibuses, and other public conveyances, or by the
attendant at the entrances to places of public resort, is designed to prevent the loss
arising from the dishonesty of these officials.
The apparatus which is placed at the door of the vehicle or entrance to a public place
consists of a perpendicular spindle, preferably having four arms radiating horizontally
from the top thereof, and constituting a turnstile. The lower end of a spindle is
enclosed in a box, and is provided with, preferably, four short arins or teeth. To
each side of the box is hinged a lever, to the upper sides of which are secured one
end of a flat spring, which spring tends to press curved pawls hinged to the afore-
said levers against the faces of ratchet wheels carried on spindles extending across
the box, and having bearings in the sides thereof. These spindles are placed one at
each end of the box, and, for greater convenience in the arrangement of the mechanism,
the ratchet wheel of the one is placed towards one side of the box, and that of the
other towards the opposite side, the levers and pawls being correspondingly
arranged.
Hinged to the levers, and depending therefrom in such a manner as to engage
with the short arms formed as aforesaid on the lower end of the turnstile spindle,

page_text: are catches which are free to swing in one direction, and are restrained in the other
by stops or checks, also attached to the levers. At the ends of the spindles opposite
to the ratchet wheels are keyed or otherwise fixed spur wheels which gear with
corresponding pinions attached to the ends of rollers placed immediately below,
which pinions gear with similar pinions, also attached to similar rollers which
are in contact with the rollers aforesaid, it being understood that one set or pair of
rollers is placed at each end of the box or frame. These rollers are preferably clothed
or covered with india-rubber, vulcanite, or other equivalent material, but on one
roller of each set, a space preferably at or near the middle, and extending wholly
round the roller, is not so covered, and is furnished with projections which may be
either plain or have letters or words engraved thereon in the form of printing types.
Coils of paper or other suitable material are placed above the rollers and are fed to
them through guides, one coil being fed to one set or pair of rollers to indicate the
entry of passengers, and the other to the opposite set or pair to indicate their exit.
The entry of a passenger causes the turnstile to make one quarter of a revolution,
and by means of the mechanism before described the indicating rollers for passengers
entering are caused to revolve, and an indentation or impression is received by the
paper, and the same effect is produced by each passenger entering, the rollers for
indicating the exit of passengers remaining stationary, these latter being actuated
on the exit of a passenger in the manner corresponding to that aforesaid, regarding
the rollers for indicating the entry, and which now remain stationary in their
turn.
In order to indicate the stations or places where a change of fare occurs, the papers
after passing between the rollers are guided through a frame where they become
perforated or otherwise pierced by a perforator actuated by the guard or conductor
at each station or place of change of fare, and on removal of the papers from the
receptacle formed for them, and comparison thereof, the sum should have been
collected by the guard or conductor is at once ascertained.
The scrutiny and comparison of the paper may take place as often as desired, and
according to the quantity on the coils or drums. Connected to the mechanism of
the perforator is a lever or chain, which when the perforator is worked, so acts by
means of intermediate links upon a pointer or finger placed inside a glass disc as to
cause the said finger to revolve, and the names of the various stations or places of
change of fare being painted or otherwise represented on the said disc, the position of
the finger in relation to the name constitutes a check on the omission of the guard or
conductor to work the perforator at the proper places.
Instead of the perforator for the purpose of indicating the places of change of fare
a drum or roller furnished on its periphery with types may be employed to print the
names of the said places on the papers, which drum, or roller is actuated by inter-
mediate gear from a supplementary wheel revolving on the rails or on the ground,
and is therefore independent of the guard or conductor.
If desired the printing drum and the perforator may be worked in combination
for the purpose of greater security. The perforator may also by similar means to
that employed to actuate the printing drum be made to act independently of the
guard or conductor.
The improved apparatus or turnstile, which as aforesaid, indirectly indicates the
sum which should be collected as obviously equally applicable to the entrances of
theatres, museums, and other places of public resort where it is desired to register
the number of visitors, or to place a check on the dishonesty of servants or officials.
A semi-circular casing or box covers the upper part of the turnstile in such a
manner as to leave one arm exposed when the stile is stationary.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas William Duffy in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
January 1878.
THOMAS WILLIAM DUFFY, of Edinburgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, North
Britain, commonly styling myself Thomas Duffy. "A NEW OR IMPROVED INDICATOR
OR APPARATUS TO CHECK THE CHARGES FOR PERSONS CARRIED BY PUBLIC CON-
VEYANCES OR ADMITTED TO PLACES OF PUBLIC RESORT."
My said Invention which relates to the indication of the amount of fares
collected by the conductors of tramway cars, omnibuses, and other public con-
veyances, or by the attendants at the entrances to places of public resort, and to
register the number of persons admitted to such conveyances or places, is designed
to prevent the loss arising from the dishonesty of these officials.
The apparatus which is placed at the door of the vehicle or entrance to a public
place consists of a perpendicular spindle, preferably having four arms radiating
horizontally from the top thereof, and constituting a turnstile. The lower end of
the spindle revolves within a frame (which is enclosed in a box), and is provided
with preferably four short arms or teeth. To cach side of the frame is hinged a
lever, to the upper sides of which levers are secured one end of a flat spring, which
spring tends to press curved pawls hinged to the aforesaid levers against the faces
of ratchet wheels carried on spindles extending across the frame, and having
bearings in the sides thereof. These spindles are placed one at each end of the
frame, and for greater convenience in the arrangement of the mechanism the ratchet
wheel of the one is placed towards one side of the frame, and that of the other
towards the opposite side, the levers and pawls being correspondingly arranged.
Hinged to the levers, and depending therefrom in such a manner as to engage
with the short arms formed as aforesaid on the lower end of the turnstile spindle,
are catches which are free to swing in one direction, and are restrained in the other
by stops or checks also attached to the levers. At the ends of the spindles opposite
to the ratchet wheels are keyed or otherwise fixed spur wheels, which gear with
corresponding pinions attached to the ends of rollers placed immediately below,
which pinions gear with similar pinions, also attached to similar rollers which are
in contact with the rollers aforesaid, it being understood that one set or pair of
rollers is placed at each end of the frame. These rollers are preferably clothed or
covered with india-rubber, vulcanite, or other equivalent material, but on one roller
of each set a space, preferably at or near the middle, and extending wholly round
the roller, is not so covered, and is furnished with projections which may be either
plain or have letters, figures, or words cut thereon, or otherwise projecting there-
from in the form of printing types (or this roller may be entirely uncovered).
Coils of paper or other suitable material are placed above the rollers and are fed to
them, if necessary, through guides, one coil being fed to one set or pair of rollers
to indicate the entry of passengers, and the other to the opposite set or pair to
indicate their exit. The entry of a passenger causes the turnstile to make one
quarter of a revolution, and by means of the mechanism before described the indi-
cating rollers for passengers entering are caused to revolve and an indentation or
impression is received by the paper, and the same effect is produced by each
passenger entering, the rollers for indicating the exit of passengers remaining.
stationary, these latter being actuated on the exit of a passenger in the manner
corresponding to that aforesaid regarding the rollers for indicating the entry, and
which now remain stationary in their turn. The machine becomes operative to
the above effect, provided the turnstile is pushed in one direction when passengers
enter, and in the reverse direction when they leave.
In order to indicate the stations or places where a change of fare occurs, the
papers, after passing between the rollers are guided through a frane, where they
are perforated or otherwise pierced or marked by a perforator actuated by the
guard or conductor at each station or place of change of fare, and on removal of the

page_text: papers from the receptacle formed for them and comparison thereof the sum which
should have been collected by the guard or conductor is at once ascertained.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
Figure 1 on the hereunto appended Sheet of Drawings represents a side elevation
of my new or improved indicator or apparatus as more especially adapted for
public vehicles or conveyances; Figure 2 is a longitudinal section; Figure 3, an
end view; and Figure 4, a plan.
Upon the drums A, A', are coiled strips or bands of paper or other equivalent
inaterial a, a¹. The drum A, with the strip or band a, being for the indication of
the entrance of a passenger, and the drum A' and paper a¹ for the exit. The paper
bands a, a, are led from the drums A, A1, to the separate sets of indicating rollers
B, C, and B', C', in the manner shown. Upon the faces or peripheries of the
imprinting rollers B, B', are a series of projections b, b', placed at regular intervals
on the circumferences, one or inore of which projections may bear letters or devices,
as seen more particularly at Figure 3, where the letters and figures on the paper
band a serve to indicate the number of the vehicle or the number and position of
the indicator, and also to register the entrance of a passenger. To the sides D of
the machine are hinged levers E, E¹, which are so acted upon by the flat springs d, d',
attached to the sides of the frame D as to tend to maintain the positions shown on
the Drawings. To these levers are pivotted the pawls f, f¹, engaging with the
ratchet wheels g, g¹, whereof one of each is placed at one side of the machine.
Keyed or otherwise fastened on the spindles of the aforesaid ratchet wheels g, g',
are the pinions h, ', gearing with the pinions i, i, fitted on the spindles of the
imprinting rollers B, B'. The pawls f, f, are held in contact with the teeth of the
ratchet wheels g, g¹, by the pressure of the springs G, G¹, as shown. Hinged to
the levers E, E¹, are catches e, e¹, which are held in the positions shown on the
Drawings by means of the springs j, j', that is to say, forced by the said springs
against the stops e², es, in the levers E, E¹. The lower ends of the catches e, e¹, are
made to project sufficiently far inwards as to engage with the radial projections or
arms of the spindle N (extending vertically through the machine), when the
said spindle N is rotated, as seen more particularly in the plan, Figure 4.
convenient point, towards the top of the said spindle N, are attached arms or bars
similar to those of an ordinary turnstile, but are not shown on the Drawings. At
the bottom of the spindle N a square block M is formed or fitted, and is impinged
upon by the flat springs m, m, as shown. In contact with the imprinting rollers
B, B¹, are the aforesaid rollers C, C', preferably covered with india-rubber jackets
c, c¹, Figure 2.
At any
The machine being placed in the doorway or entrance of the vehicle, each
passenger on entering rotates the turnstile, and one of the radial projections n of
the spindle N is brought into contact with the catch e, the lever E is moved from
its normal position, and the pawl facting on the ratchet wheel g causes the latter
to rotate to the extent of one tooth. Motion is thus communicated by the pinions
h, i, to the imprinting roller B, which carries the paper band a with it, and an
indentation is produced on the paper by the pressure of one of the projections b.
The same effect is produced by the entry of each passenger, and the paper, strip,
or band passes downwards on to the guide o, in the manner shown, to a box or
receptacle designed therefor. On the exit of a passenger from the vehicle a corre-
sponding effect in the reverse direction is produced with the rollers B¹, C¹, each
projection of the roller B¹ marking the exit of a passenger.
It will be seen that when the lever E is actuated to record the entry of a passenger
the lever E' remains stationary, the catch e¹ being free to move on its pivot without
affecting the said lever, and a corresponding result occurs with the lever E when
the lever E' is actuated to record the exit of a passenger, the catches e, e', being free

page_text: to move in one direction only. The pressure exerted by the springs m, m, on the
square block M is such that, after the entry or exit of a passenger, the spindle N
readily assumes the position from which it has been moved by such entry or
exit.
The indentations imprinted on the paper strip or band a thus register the number
of entrances, while those on the strip or band a register the number of exits.
Spiral springs 1,1, are fitted to the journals of the drums A, A', to exert a strain on
the paper bands a, a', to prevent these latter from doubling or "buckling," and also
to keep the drums in position.
In order to indicate the various stations where change of fare may occur, a
perforating apparatus is attached below the imprinting rollers, as shown, and more
particularly seen in Figure 5, which represents a plan of the under side of the
perforating apparatus detached from the machine. It consists in an arrangement of
perforating needles, ratchet wheels, pawls, and imprinting wheels, whereby the said
stations are distinctly indicated. Upon the spindles or axles of the ratchet wheels
P, P, are secured the imprinting wheels R, R, and to the bars p, p, in which the
spindles are supported, are fitted the perforating needles 8, 8.
The bars P, P, grasp
the guide rods t, t, which are tied together at each end by the cross bars S, S¹. An
eye or loop o' is attached to one or both of the cross bars S, S', and to this loop o' a
spiral or other spring is attached, the tendency of which is to maintain the needles
8, 8, in the position shown on the Drawing. The pawls Q, Q, and stops Q1, Q¹, engage
with the ratchet wheels P, P, in the manner shown. At the ends of the teeth r of
the imprinting wheels R, R, are devices or letters representing the stations at which
the changes of fare occur, and in the same horizontal plane with the said teeth are
fixed the india-rubber cushions T, T, fitted in the stationary cross bars q, q, between
which and the imprinting wheels R, R, the paper strips or bands a, a, are passed after
leaving the imprinting rollers B, B¹. On arriving at a station or point where a
change of fare occurs the conductor of the vehicle exerts a pressure on one of the
cross bars S, S', and so forces the ratchet wheels P, P, imprinting wheels R, R, and
perforating needles 8, 8, forward, and causes the latter to penetrate the paper bands
a, a', and one tooth of each of the imprinting wheels R, R, to press against the paper
bands impinging on the india-rubber cushions T, T, whereby the particular letter or
device representing the station is produced on the papers. The perforation and
impression are seen at Figure 3, where the perforation and the letter A represent
the particular station, being understood that each tooth of the imprinting wheels
R, R, represents a different station or place of change of fare.
When the perforating apparatus is actuated the pawls Q, Q, are disengaged from
the particular teeth with which they were engaged prior to such action, they being
pivotted to the cross bars q, q, which, as aforesaid, are stationary. The ratchet
wheels P, P, are thus caused to revolve, and the same effect is produced on the
imprinting wheels, so that for each action of the perforator a revolution of the
ratchet wheels P, P, and the imprinting wheels R, R, to the extent of one tooth takes
place. Stops Q, Q¹, being fitted to ensure steadiness in arresting the revolution of
the ratchet wheels P, P. The eye or loop o¹ communicates with the pawl V of a
dial of the form represented at Figure 6, in front view, and at Figure 7 in horizontal
section. This dial is, preferably, fixed in such a position in the vehicle as to be
visible to the passengers, and its face is marked with as many figures, letters, or
devices as there are stations or changes of fare on the route traversed by the vehicle
or conveyance to which the apparatus is attached, and they are, preferably, made to
correspond with the figures, letters, or devices formed on the teeth of the imprinting
wheels R, R, of the perforating apparatus.
The said perforating apparatus is connected by a coiled or other spring (not shown
in the Drawings) to the box in which the indicator is preferably enclosed, and the
tendency of the said spring is to maintain the perforating apparatus in the position
shown at Figure 5, that is to say, with the needles 8 drawn back from the paper
strips or bands a, a¹.
The pawl V of the dial engages with the ratchet wheel v in the manner shown,

page_text: and upon the spindle of the ratchet wheel v is keyed or otherwise secured a pinion
w gearing with a spur a secured on the centre pin of the dial carrying the finger or
index W. A stop X engages with the ratchet wheel v to ensure steadiness of action.
By this arrangement of mechanism it will be seen that when pressure is applied to
the cross bar S of the perforating apparatus as aforesaid, the pawl moves around
the ratchet wheel to the extent of one tooth, and the index or finger W of the dial
moves around the face thereof to the extent of one division to the particular figure,
letter, or device, corresponding to the figure, letter, or device, on the teeth of the
imprinting wheels R, R, and also as aforesaid to the station or place of change of
fare, and the latter is thus indicated on the strips or bands a, a, both thereby and
by the perforations of the needles, as seen more particularly at Figure 3, while the
subsidiary advantage is secured that the position of the finger or index W of the
dial also indicates to the passengers or inspector that the conductor or attendant has
not omitted to actuate the perforating apparatus.
The strips or bands of paper a, a, are guided to the perforating apparatus by the
guides x, x, and thereafter as aforesaid by the guide o to a box or other receptacle
designed therefor. On removal therefrom, which removal may take place at such
intervals as may be desired, the number of persons who have entered the vehicle as
also of those who have passed out, together with the position of entry and exit on
the route are noted, and on being compared with the various charges or fares
the sum of money collected by the conductor or attendant is readily ascertained
by simple calculation, for which tables may or may not be framed to assist in
comparison.
The indicator is preferably enclosed in a box or frame to be locked, and so placed
at the entrance to the vehicle, conveyance, or other entrance, that the arms at the
top of the spindle N are conveniently situated so as to compel each arm to be
actuated by cach person entering or leaving. To prevent passengers entering or
leaving without the permission of the attendant a lock or other holdfast device
may be fitted to the indicator to enable the conductor or attendant to prevent its
working.
The action of the perforating apparatus and dial, as herein-before described, may
be made independent of the conductor or attendant by means of an antifriction
roller or wheel attached to the under side of the vehicle or conveyance, and in contact
with the surface of the ground, and so acting on an arrangement of intermediate
gear that on the arrival at each station or place of change of fare the perforating
apparatus and the index of the dial are actuated, as aforesaid, without necessitating
the conductor's or attendant's aid.
When used at the entrances or places of exit of halls, museums, or other places
of public resort, where one fixed charge is made, the perforating apparatus and dial
may be detached from the indicator and thereby become inoperative, so that the
indicator will merely register the number of persons entering or leaving.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Invention,
and the system, mode, or manner in or under which the same is or may be used or
practically carried into effect, I desire it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the particular form of perforating apparatus shown on the Drawings, nor to the
mere details of mechanism shown as attached to the indicating apparatus, but that
what I consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The arrangement and construction of the apparatus for the indication of
the entry and exit of passengers or persons by means of the imprinting rollers,
actuated by the levers through the media of the toothed wheels, ratchets, and pawls,
whereby an impression is produced on the paper strips or bands alternately for each
entry and exit respectively, and registration effected.
Second. The arrangement and construction of the perforating apparatus and
imprinting wheels, ratchets, and pawls thereto attached, and actuated either by a
conductor or assistant, or independently to indicate on the paper strips or bands the
places of change of fare on a particular route traversed by a vehicle having

page_text: the apparatus attached, with or without perforating needles or other analogous
device.
Third. The dial or face divided to correspond with the aforesaid imprinting
wheels, and actuated in conjunction therewith, as herein-before described, to indicate
publicly the said places of change of fare.
Fourth. The combination of the various parts of the mechanism in the manner
specified for the purpose of checking the charges for persons carried by public
conveyances or admitted to places of public resort, substantially as herein-before
described and shown on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas William Duffy, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of January, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-eight.
THOS. W. DUFFY. (L.S.)