IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OF FARES BY CONDUCTORS OF TRAMWAY-CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OF MONIES RECEIVED BY OTHER PERSONS."
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Thomas Davis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th March 1879.
HENRY THOMAS DAVIS, of No. 7, Listowel Street, North Brixton, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer. IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OF
FARES BY CONDUCTORS OF TRAMWAY-CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OF MONIES RECEIVED
BY OTHER PERSONS."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for checking and registering the
receipts of monies such as fares, the object being to provide an apparatus whereby
the passenger or payee may be apprised of the correct registering of the amount
paid by the ringing of a bell, and also the display of a figure, and in some instances
and if desired the simultaneous delivery of a ticket at the same time that an
indicator mechanism or register is actuated, the mechanism being specially designed
and constructed to reduce the weight and size thereof and to ensure the correct
working, easy fitting, and reduce the number of parts to a minimum.
The apparatus consists of a metal case divided into two compartments. On the
face of the case on the upper part is a circular opening covered with a plate of glass,
the back of the apparatus being hinged and locked up. Beneath the front plate is
another plate having a circular opening corresponding with that of the front plate,
in which is inserted a semitransparent disc of glass. On each side of this plate,
which is afterwards described as the screen plate, is placed near the lower edge a
spindle working through a circular hole in the plate, the other end of such spindle
passing through a circular hole in a bracket affixed to the inside of the rim of the
case. Around the spindle and lying flat on the face of the screen plate is a circular
brass plate, on which is affixed a spring ratchet catch so arranged that upon the.
circular brass plate being partly revolved the said catch acts upon a toothed wheel
which revolves on the screen plate above it. This toothed wheel has figures from
1 to 0 on the lower face near the edge, which said figures are shown through a
circular opening in the underside of the screen plate, the tooth wheel being con-
trolled by a spring ratchet, so that one tooth or figure only can be moved by the
action of the catch on the plate.
This wheel is so arranged that upon making one revolution it acts upon a second
wheel also having figures from one upwards on the lower face, and seen through
an aperture at the back of the screen plate, and if desired to register a higher
number a third toothed wheel, figured as described, is placed above the second to
Prine 71

page_text: be acted upon by each revolution of the second wheel, and such figures to be seen
through an aperture, and all such registering wheels are controlled by a spring
ratchet. By reversing the face of the registering wheels the figures may be shewn
through circular openings in the front plate, and the spindles upon which such
wheels revolve can in any case be made square headed so as to be set at zero by a
key. When it is required to register more than one fare similar arrangements may
be used.
Above the plate and affixed to the spindle is a handle which passes through a
slot in the rim, or is actuated by a knob through a slot in the front plate. On that
part of the spindle which is between the lower face of the screen plate and the
bracket is a spiral spring, which keeps back the handle in the slot. On the brass
plate affixed to the spindle is a short length or link of metal, one end of which is
attached to the arm of a large figure, such figure representing the amount of the
money or fare received, and so arranged that upon the handle being pulled back to
actuate the registering wheel the large representive figure is thrown or brought
over the face of the semitransparent disc, and consequently is seen through the
glass on the front plate. On the lower side of the screen plate a spring ratchet is
placed, having a double action, with a stop on plate, and is acted upon by an arm
passing from the spindle beneath the spring, or by a pin attached to the circular
plate passing through a slot in the screen plate. Above this double ratchet is a
bell, and upon the ratchet is a spring hammer, which strikes the bell upon the
spindle being turned by the action of the handle or lever so arranged that the
registering of the fare takes place before the striking of the bell, and the spring
ratchet of the tooth wheel acts before the ratchet of the spring hammer returns to
its normal position. When it is desired to indicate more than one sound of the bell
it is done by using the arm passing through the spindle acting as above described,
and also by the pin attached to the plate passing through a slot acting upon a
second ratchet, to which a second spring hammer is attached. On the face of the
front plate beneath the plate glass opening is a circular opening, beneath which is
a semitransparent plate, with a tooth wheel at the back, which tooth wheel is in
conjunction with the tooth wheel already described. This semitransparent plate
has figures upon the face near the edge from one upwards, so arranged that they
show through the circular opening. In one compartment of the case a small lamp
is placed, the light of which is thrown through a glass in the partition which
divides the compartment and illuminates the semitransparent disc, and also the
semitransparent figured plate. The rim of the apparatus is perforated so as to
admit of air to the lamp, and the face of the apparatus is also perforated so as to
allow of the sound of the bell being heard. In the inside of the apparatus between
the screen plate and the back the end of the spindle is so fitted that it acts upon a
slide which works in a plate fitted to the rim. This slide is provided with sharp
points or teeth, or serrated roughing on its face. Between the face of the slide and
the partition is a spiral spring, which presses tickets or passes towards the slide.
Beneath the slide is a narrow slot, lipped on one side so as to admit of one ticket or
pass only going through at one time, whilst above the slide is a stop, so that upon
the said slide returning to its normal position the ticket cannot be raised up.
The apparatus may be constructed of such size as to be portable, and so as to be
carried on a strap by the collector or conductor, or may be attached to any conve-
nient part of the vehicle or building, and in this case the handles may be actuated
by pulls and connecting wires.