Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896

page_text: movement the inclined plane is disengaged, and the rods provided with a fixed
collar or shoulder w are actuated by a spring s in such a manner as to return the
entire mechanism into its normal position.
The plate t on which the numbers are provided, is provided with rollers adapted
to roll on bars, so as to allow of a slight motion of the plate t. The latter
is enclosed in a casing which is provided with an aperture.
The aperture
is of such a size as to allow of only one number being visible at one and the
same time.
The numbers are fixed on any suitable transparent material and are mounted on
the plates which are provided with suitable apertures so that they receive the
rays of light from the lamp or lamps lighting the interior of the vehicle passing
through the illuminating passages K, and are effectively illuminated thereby so as
to be also visible at night.
In order to prevent the indicating apparatus from being misused by the
passengers on the side where there is no conductor, the said apparatus can be
locked on that side by means of any suitable device.
Wher, for example, the conductor wishes to indicate that there are six vacant
seats in the vehicle, he turns the hand lever a until the pointer b points to the
number 6 marked on the scale c. This rotary movement acts as before described
to move the toothed rack d, and with it the lever like piece g, in such a manner that
the latter presses with its inclined surface upon the inclined plane i, and thus rotates
the levers and about their fulcrums or pivots m and n, causing them to move
outwards. By this means the rods g and r, and the plates t, fixed thereto are
moved inwards until the number 6 appears in the aperture. This inward move-
ment has of course the effect of compressing the springs which are mounted on
the collars or shoulders e, we, whence the said springs have a tendency to restore
the mechanism to its original or normal position.
The arrangement of apparatus on the other side of the vehicle is similar to that
already described. The ends of the rods 7 and coming from both ends of the
vehicle, unite at the point z, and are connected by suitable means with the rods,
which connects the front and the rear plates.
The shifting or changing of the unmbers may, obviously be effected in any other
manner than that illustrated in the accompanying drawing without departing from
the nature of the invention.
Having now 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 :-
(1.) The combination of parts herein before described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawing forming my approved apparatus for indicating vacant seats
in vehicles.
(2.) An apparatus for indicating vacant seats in public vehicles and conveyances,
consisting essentially of a number of plates which are marked with numbers and
are adapted to be actuated inside a casing by any suitable mechanism, and which
are so arranged as to be visible at a considerable distance to the travelling public
both by day and by night, as set forth.
(3.) An apparatus for indicating vacant seats in public vehicles, as specified in
the preceding claim, mounting the numbers or numerals on transparent plates so
arranged that they are illuminated by the lamps used to light the interior of the
vehicle, as set forth.
(4.) A construction of the operating mechanism of the apparatus for indicating
vacant seats in public vehicles as specified in Claim 2, consisting essentially of a
lever a which is provided with a pointer 6 moving over a scale, and which serves
to actuate the toothed rack d, in combination with a lever-like piece g, which is
formed on one side as a toothed segment, and on the other side with an inclined
plane f, the said piece 9 serving to actuate by nieans of the inclined planes and i

page_text: the levers and which are connected to each other, and consequently also serve
to actuate in the required manner the plates t t through the medium of the rods q
and r, as set forth.
Dated this 31st day of January 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.