IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECKING COUNTING OR INDICATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN TRAM-CARS PUBLIC BUILDINGS PAY-GATES AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE IT IS DESIRABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO PASS A GIVEN POINT
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Willoughby Vining of Liverpool in the county
of Lancaster for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECKING COUNTING OR
INDICATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN TRAM-CARS PUBLIC BUILDINGS PAY-GATES
AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE IT IS DESIRABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE NUMBER
OF PEOPLE WHO PASS A GIVEN POINT
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Willoughby Vining
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th October 1883.
ROBERT WILLOUGHBY VINING of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECKING, COUNTING, OR INDICATING APPARATUS FOR USE
IN TRAM-CARS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PAY-GATES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE IT
IS DESIRABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO PASS A GIVEN POINT."
"
This invention is based upon the turnstile. The difficulty with ordinary
turnstiles is that they require much room, as not merely do the useful arms require
space to rotate, but the other arms behind the centre require equal space. Now,
by my turnstile I avoid the waste of this space behind the centre almost entirely,
and practically make two arms do instead of four.
My invention consists in making the arms adjustable in position in their
relation to the central axis besides the mere rotary movement, in such manner that
the arms shall fold up or pack into a smaller space when behind the centre, a cam
or its equivalent giving the direction and rigidity or I arrange the two arms
opposite each other in one piece, or to work together, and by means of a cam cause
the ends of that piece, as they come into useful position to project, and the ends at
the back of the central axis to be close to that centre.
The simplest plan of working this out is as follows: I form the wings each with
a hinged foot near the axis, and the two opposite wings in each case joined in one
and sliding through the slotted axis, so that either wing can stand up with its
eide close to the axis, while the opposite side stands out widely projecting.
A semicircular cam (preferably with a notch or catch in the centre) at the back
of the axis obliges the wings to take required position to form a useful turnstile. :
Guards are arranged in suitable positions to prevent any one getting past
except by partially rotating the turnstile. In tramway cars, piers, and the like,
the stile can be so low that the conductor or attendant when necessary can clamber
[Price Rd1

page_text: over it, but so high that no passenger could accomplish such a feat without
attracting serious notice.
As each wing passes a given point, or as each quarter of a revolution is made,
a pawl on any convenient position causes a wheel with numbers on its face or dial,
say from one to fifty, corresponding to the number of teeth upon it, to move one
tooth forward. A second wheel, say with twenty teeth, is geared to this. Each has
a stationary pointer and a dial rotating with it, upon which dial the aforesaid
numbers are placed. The pawl is of course out of reach of the attendant, but if
desirable there can be a door opening in the case above it, or a key-hole through
which a key in the possession of the employer can be inserted to lift the pawl, and
so place the indices at zero when required; this is however not necessary.
The turnstile can be locked with a handle or if necessary with a lock, so that
the conductor can lock it from turning while he is temporarily absent. Its base is
made to rotate and is formed with a square cam with rounded corners or a square
or St. Andrews cross with friction rollers at the corners. This rotates between
two plates pressed together by a spring or springs and formed with projections so
as to make it almost impossible for the apparatus to come to rest except when the
turnstile arm is exactly barring the passage.
On the spindle of the turnstile I place gearing-preferably spur, chain, and
ratchet gearing in a box which for every quarter revolution of the turnstile in a
forward direction shall turn a certain druin round one degree or division, and for
every quarter revolution of the turnstile in a backward direction shall similarly
turn another drum. The gearing should be arranged so that both these drums
shall turn in the same direction and thus one form of paper chart do for both.
These drums are mounted on screws and upon them are placed graduated sheets
of paper. Pencils mounted so that they can be brought to bear on the paper when
actuated as hereafter described, are fixed in position by each drum. These pencils
are so fixed on axis with spiral slots in their holders, in which a pin works, that by
the pressing in of a connecting rod by the conductor's key, the pencil shall be
pressed against the paper and at the saine time caused to rotate on its axis-the
pressure being preferably regulated by a spring with plenty of play to allow for
wear.
The mode of action is as follows: The drums with their papers on being fixed
in position with the pencils at the zero points, the indicating box is locked and the
car starts, every passenger getting in turns the stile and with it the positive
indicator drum one division forward-every person getting out turns the negative
indicator drum one division forward. At each point in the journey where fares
change, the conductor presses in the connecting rod to the pencils with his key-
the pencils revolve and form a dot an each drum, thus indicating the condition of
things when the car passed that point, as the number where the dot is placed
indicates the number of passengers that have entered and have got out up to that
point. When the drums have revolved a complete rotation, their screws have
elevated them so that a second row of divisions comes into play, so that if there
be twenty divisions to a circle and twenty turns to the screw-400 passengers
can be indicated on one paper. When a paper is nearly full the people at the
office unlock the box, take it. out, and set the pencils again at zero on a fresh
paper.
In order that the gearing may work at any height to which the drums may rise
on their screws, I prefer to 6x a spur-wheel to each drum gearing into a Huted
spindle, forming in fact a very long pinion
Although the apparatus bas only been described for tramcars, it is obvious that
it can be used for exhibitions, piers, and other places where a lower or higher fare
is. charged after a given hour; the pencil apparatus will be useful in other cases;
any ordinary counting and recording apparatus might be made to serve with the
turnstile.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Robert Willoughby Vining in the Patent Office on the 19th April
1884.
ROBERT WILLOUGHBY VINING, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CHECKING, COUNTING, OR INDICATING APPARATUS FOR USE IN
TRAMCARS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PAY GATES, AND OTHER STRUCTURES WHERE IT IS
DESIRABLE TO ASCERTAIN THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO PASS A GIVEN POINT"
The object of this invention is to provide improvements in checking, counting, or
indicating apparatus, for use in tram-cars, public buildings, pay gates, and other
structures where it is desirable to ascertain the number of people who pass a given
point, and is based upon the turnstile. The difficulty with ordinary turnstiles is
that they require much room, as not merely do the useful arms require space to
rotate, but the other arms behind the ceutre require equal space. Now by my
turnstile I avoid the waste of this space behind the centre almost entirely, and
practically make two arms do instead of four.
.
My invention consists in making the arms adjustable in position in their relation
to the central axis besides the mere rotary movement in such manner that the
arms shall fold up or pack into a sinaller space when behind the centre, a cam or
its equivalent giving the direction and rigidity, or I arrange the two arms opposite
each other in one piece, or to work together, and by means of a cam cause the
ends of that piece as they come into the useful position to project and the ends at
the back of the central axis to be close to that centre.
In the drawings I have shown the simplest plan of working this out.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a tramcar showing the application of
my invention
"Fig. 2 a part sectional elevation of turnstile and indicating apparátus.
Figs 3, 4 and 5 are respectively an enlarged front elevation, side elevation, and
sectional plan of indicating or counting apparatus with portions of the framework
removed for more clearly showing the same.
Fig. 6, a sectional plan on line x a, Fig. 3
Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a sectional elevation and plan of route or locality
indicator.
"
Fig. 9. a part sectional elevation of arm and steadying rollers or runners.
Fig. 10, an enlarged transverse section of arm and runner.
Fig. 11. a part elevation and part section of base cam.
Fig. 12. a plan of same.
Fig. 13 indicator diagram.
Figs. 14 and 15 a sectional elevation and front elevation of a modified form of
indicating and counting apparatus.
The arms A are made of the section shown at Fig 10, to which are attached
the rods B, each provided with a foot b and hinged near the axis, and the two
opposite ends of the rods B are joined together by the arm A which passes through
the slotted portion 6 of the axis b₁ as shown at Figs. 2 and 10, so that either of
the rods B can stand up with its side close to the axis, while the opposite one
stands out widely projecting. In some cases a semi-circular cam (provided with a
notch or catch in the centre) at the back of the axis obliges the rods B and arms A
to take the required position to form a useful turnstile. But I prefer to use the
arrangement shown in the drawings at Fig. 2. Within the box or casing C is
arranged the inclined cam plate c provided at its lowest point with the projecting
ridge o¹ which forms a well or recess for receiving oil for lubricating the feet b and

page_text: cam plate c.
The rods B are hinged to the axis b¹ by means of the carrier b³, and
the length of arms A is such that all the feet 6 of the rods B sball during their
rotation rest upon the cam plate c, and by this means each end of the arm A is
projected into the useful position shown, whilst at the same time the other end is
brought close to the axis b¹. In order to steady as well as to reduce the friction
on the arms A as they reciprocate through the slotted portion 63 of the axis b¹, I
provide the adjustable pins or rods 6 armed with the runners 6%. These pins 6*
are carried by the projections 66 formed on the slotted portion 63, and the runner 6º
passes between the sides of the arm A, as shown at Fig 10. Below the cam
plate c and keyed to the axis 6' is a square cam with rounded corners or a Saint
Andrew's Cross D with friction rollers & at each corner. This rotates between two
flat springs d', or when preferred two flat plates pressed together by means of a
spring or springs may be employed and formed with projections so as to make it
almost impossible for the apparatus to come to rest, except when the turnstile is
exactly barring the passage.
As each arm A passes a given point, or as each quarter of a revolution is made,
motion is conveyed through the finger or tappet wheel E to the indicating or
counting apparatus. This finger or wheel E is placed on the top of the axis 6¹
within the casing F that contains the bell G and indicating mechanism. Within
the casing F are mounted two drums H and I, the drum H being employed for
registering the number of passengers entering the car, whilst the drum I is employed
for recording the number of persons leaving the car. A registering or indicating
diagram similar to that shown at Fig. 13 is inserted between the outer and inner
casings h, h¹, i, i¹ of each drum, and the outer casings h and i are perforated to
correspond with the divisions or squares containing the figures on the registering
or indicating diagram, as shown at h³ and Figs 3 and 4. Screws h³ are
provided on the supporting shafts h which engage in nuts formed in the centre of
each drum H and I, these screws h³ are of the same pitch and angle as the divisions
of the registering or indicating diagram, so that as the drums H and I are traversed
up the screws h³ the figures on the registering diagram shall always be regularly
brought round opposite the checking pencils, punches, or piercers h³ mounted on
the bar h. The rotary motion is imparted to the drums H and I from finger or
tappet wheel E through double ended pawls h' and mounted respectively on the
cranked levers h³ and i, on the opposite ends of which are fixed so as to work
freely a second set of pawls he and 2 of the same depth as the drums H and I, so
as to readily work in the ratchet wheels 10 and is at any height to which the
drums may rise on the screws h. The drums are fixed to the ratchet wheels so as
to work together. It will be readily seen that the double ended pawls h7 and 2³
are arranged to work in opposite directions, so that when the finger or tappit
wheel E engages with pawl h7, thus rotating drum H, the other pawl is at the same
time permits the wheel E to pass it without affecting the position of drum I, or
vice versa The pawls h³ and are kept to their work by means of the flat
springs hand and the lever it is prolonged as shewn at 28 so that it can more
readily be returned to its normal position by means of the spiral spring i. Lever h
is returned to the position shown in drawings by means of spiral spring 10. Stop
pawls hand are also employed for retaining the drums in position during the
return movement of the pawls he and i³. One end of each pawl h7 and i³ is made
to work against a stop pin provided respectively on the levers hand . The
finger wheel E also operates the bell hammer g, the lever g¹ of this hammer g is
provided with a hinged portion g', which is in contact with the wheel E and which
permits of the bell only being struck by the hammer as a passenger enters the car;
when the turnstile is worked in the opposite direction, the hinged portion is so
arranged that it gives way sufficiently to allow the wheel E to pass it without
operating the lever g¹, and is returned to its position shewn by means of spring g³.
Lever is provided so that the number of passengers who have travelled by car
can be registered at any given distance and can be operated either by the conductor
or by a person specially appointed for the purpose, who is provided with a suitable

page_text: key for removing the small casing J, which allows access being had to the end of
lever h; this lever is retained in position by, and slides on the studs j; these studs
pass through slot holes provided in the bar h. The bar he works against a
spring, so that when the drums H and I are rotating, the pencils are kept clear
of the drums. On the bar ho are attached two brackets h³ containing holders for
receiving the pencil punch or piercer and in some cases I prefer to have the pencils
so fixed on an axis with spiral slots in their holders in which a pin works, that by
the pressing in of the bar he the pencil shall be pressed against the paper registering
diagram, and at the same time caused to rotate on its axis. In the drawings I have
not shewn these spiral grooves, as I do not consider it necessary in all cases to
employ them.
In connection with the indicating or registering apparatus, I have found it
advisable in some cases to provide what I call a locality indicator which is
illustrated at Figs 7 and 8. A disc or diaphragm K is provided on which is placed
the names of the principal places or stations in the route, or where the fares
change, and where the conductor or inspector is required to pencil or perforate the
registering diagram. At the same time the bar he is pressed inwards, motion is
conveyed therefrom to the disc K by means of the pawl k (carried on the vertical
bar k) engaging with the ratchet wheel k³, said pawl being kept in contact with the
wheel by means of spring k³. By pressing the bar he inwards causes the disc K to
rotate one division, and thereby exhibit the next stage of the journey. Pawl k is
employed for retaining the disc in position during the backward movement of the
bar ho
The indicating or registering apparatus herein before described is specially
applicable to tramcars where a double check is required of passengers entering
and leaving the car, but when it is desirable not to have this double check
as for instance in public buildings, pay-gates, and other structures where
the persons pass in through one turnstile and out through another, then I
prefer to use the indicator shown at Figs 14 and 15. In this arrangement
I mount on the top of the finger or tappet wheel E (mounted on the top of the
axis 6) a chain wheel e, which conveys motion to a second chain wheel e¹, which
revolves loosely on the shaft L, underneath this chain wheel e¹ and attached to a
ratchet wheel or when preferred the boss of the wheel e¹ can be prolonged, and
have ratchet teeth formed in it; this latter course I usually adopt. The chain
wheel e¹ and ratchet rest upon a plate or disc which is keyed or otherwise
secured to the shaft L. On this plate is a pawl which engages into the ratchet
teeth formed in the boss l, and by this means motion is conveyed from the wheel e
attached to the finger wheel E through chain e³ to wheel el, thence by pawl l
through disc to shaft L, on which is keyed a small pinion which engages into
a larger toothed wheel 15. On the boss of the toothed wheel is mounted so as to
revolve freely and independently of the toothed wheel 7 a ratchet wheel 1ª in which
works a pawl attached to the plate of and revolving with the wheel . This
pawl only engages at a given point of the revolution of the wheel 1, with the
ratchet wheel, that is, when the wheel is about completing its revolution the
pawl comes in contact with the fixed stop which forces the pawl into one of
the teeth of the ratchet wheel and carries it round one tooth, as soon as the paw][
is clear of the fixed stop it is released therefrom by means of the spring P.
Pawl 1 is employed for retaining the ratchet wheel in any given position during
the rotation of the wheel 15. On the boss of the wheel 1, and fixed thereto so as
to revolve with it, is mounted a pointer, finger or dial hand 1 for indicating the
number of persons passing through the turnstile. To prevent the mechanism being
tampered with, I enclose it in a casing M provided with a glass front N on which
the figures 0 to 49 are engraved, and the central portion of the glass disc is
darkened with the exception of the part marked n which is employed for exhibiting
the higher numbers marked on the face of the ratchet wheel 16. It will be readily
understood that the ratchet wheel only rotates one tooth for every fifty persons

page_text: passing through the turnstile, the intermediate numbers being read off by means
of pointer on the glass dial N.
The mode of action of the double checking apparatus is as follows:-
The drums H and I with their registering diagrams or papers on being fixed in
position with the pencils or punches h at the zero points, the indicating box is
locked, and the car starts, every passenger getting in turns the stile and with it
the positive indicator drum H one division forward, every person getting out turns
the negative indicator drum one division forward. The bell G is only sounded
every time a person enters the car. At each stage of the journey where the fare
changes (or where it is thought desirable to register the number of passengers
who have or are travelling by the car) the conductor or inspector presses in the
bar h and the pencils form a dot on each drum; and if the locality indicator
(as shown at Figs 7 and 8) be employed at the same time moves round the disc K
one division, so as to exhibit the next stage of the journey. By this means the
condition of things when the car passes any given point, as the number where the
dot is placed indicates the number of passengers that have entered, and have got
out up to that point. When the drums have revolved a complete rotation their
screws he have elevated them so that a second row of divisions comes into play, so
that if there be fifty two divisions to the circle and thirteen turns to the screws h*,
six hundred and seventy six passengers can be indicated on one paper. When the
paper is nearly full, the people at the office unlock the box, take it out, and set
the pencils again at zero on a fresh paper. The single registering apparatus is
operated as follows: Instead of employing the pencils and placing them at zero,
the pointer is placed at zero, and as each passenger passes through the turnstile
(which rotates a quarter of a revolution) motion is conveyed to the pointer ¹¹,
through the chain and wheels herein described, which causes it to move the
distance of one figure, and when the fiftieth person is passing through the stile,
the pawl is brought in contact with the fixed stop 18 and causes the ratchet
wheel to rotate the distance of one tooth, when the pawl is released therefrom
and the pointer continues its revolution as each passenger enters until the pawl
again comes in contact with the fixed stop.
Guards O Fig. 1 are arranged in suitable positions to prevent anyone getting
past, except by the partial rotation of the turnstile. In tramway cars, piers,
and the like, the stile can be so low (when preferred) that the attendant when
necessary can clamber over it, but so high that no passenger could accomplish such
a feat without attracting serious notice.
Although the apparatus has only been described and shown for tramcars it is
obvious that it can be used for exhibitions, piers, and other places where a lower or
higher fare is charged after a given hour. The pencil apparatus will be useful
in other cases, and also any ordinary counting and recording apparatus might be
made to work with the turnstile.
Having now described my invention and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I claim as new under the Letters Patents ;—
The manufacture and use of the Apparatus for checking, counting, and indicating
for use in tramcars, public buildings, pay gates, and other structures where it is
desirable to ascertain the number of people who pass a given point, constructed
and arranged substantially as herein described. Also the following parts taken
separately each substantially as and for the purposes described :-
1st. The turnstile formed of a central revolving axis, guided circular arc,
arms A reciprocating through the central axis and carried in rotating supporting
standards B which are caused to hang or project outward when in front of the
axis, and stand up vertically when at the rear of the axis by means of a guiding
cam.
2nd. The special guiding cam herein described quite out of the way of
passengers' dresses, fingers, etcetera, and formed of a sloping plate with oil

page_text: receptacle at the lowest part over which plate the short bell crank arms of
standards B travel.
3rd. The arrangement for preventing a turnstile from stopping except at the
four right positions, consisting of plate D and four rollers working against
springs d' and curved faces.
4th. The paper carrying drum H or L mounted on screws and having a ratchet
wheel actuated by a very broad ratchet extending the whole length of the screw
or travel of the ratchet wheel thereon, by which means a marker can have a very
long spiral track on the recording drum instead of finishing in one revolution as is
usually the case.
5tb. The combination with turnstiles of two recording drums worked by ratchets
from the turnstile axis pointing in opposite direction, by which means both
ingress and egress are recorded, the one on one drum and the other on the other.
6th. In combination with a recording apparatus recording the number of
revolutions of a turnstile, a marking apparatus (h³, j, j etcetera) placed so that a
person without opening the mechanism but by simply pressing a knob can mark
the record so as to divide the record of entries prior to that moment from entries
subsequent to that moment.
7th. The combination of a recording apparatus and a bell, both worked from a
four winged wheel on the turnstile axis, by which means whenever an entry is
made a bell sounds.
8th. The combination with an apparatus for recording the number of persons
entering, of a dial with the names of the stages or amounts of fare required at
those stages, and a marking apparatus that as it marks the record shall at the same
time change the indication of the dial.
9th The combination of a dial with low numbers marked on its face and a
rotating pointer actuated by means of chains and gearing or their mechanical
equivalent from the four winged wheel on the turnstile axis, whereby, on the entry
of a passenger, the pointer is caused to rotate the distance of one figure.
10th. The combination of recording dial and rotating pointer with a revolving
disc having ratchet teeth formed on its edge, and high numbers marked on its face,
and caused to partially rotate the distance of one ratchet tooth at the completion
of every revolution of the rotating pointer.
In Witness whereof I the said Robert Willoughby Vining have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eighteenth day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand
Leight hundred and eighty four
Witness
WP THOMPSON
Patent Agent
Liverpool & London
R. W. VINING. (L.S.)