IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGIS- TERING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ENTERING OMNIBUSES AND OTHER CARRIAGES, WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO REGISTERING. THE NUMBER OF PERSONS PASSING THROUGH BARRIERS OF THEATRES, FERRY GATES, WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER PLACES
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Edwards and Samuel Iniff
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on
the 26th February 1866.
I, THOMAS EDWARDS, the younger, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, and SAMUEL INIFF, of the same Place, Builder, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGIS-
TERING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS ENTERING OMNIBUSES AND OTHER CARRIAGES,
WHICH APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO REGISTERING. THE NUMBER OF PERSONS
PASSING THROUGH BARRIERS OF THEATRES, FERRY GATES, WORKSHOPS, AND OTHER
PLACES," to be as follows (that is to say):--
This Invention has for its object a simple and inexpensive arrangement of
apparatus for registering the number of persons entering omnibuses or other
like vehicles, passing the barriers of theatres, ferry gates, and other places,
where it is desired to ascertain and register the number of persons using such
vehicles, and passing into and out of such places.
In applying this Invention to, say, an omnibus, one of the steps is jointed
at the edge nearest to the vehicle by a rule or any other convenient joint, so
that it may deflect on its outer edge, say, about a quarter of an inch, when
pressed down by the weight of the person stepping upon it. On one side of
the inner edge of this step or platform is secured a rigid arm of metal parallel
to the edge of the step or platform, but enclosed within a casing on one side
of the step. Near the front on the under side of the deflecting step or plat-

page_text: form is secured a small lateral arm, which projects within the casing, and is
provided with a small vertical pillar to which the horizontal arm parallel with
the step or platform is jointed for insuring the stability to the horizontal lever.
The outer end of the horizontal lever carries a vertical rod, to the head of
which is jointed a second vertical rod working through a guide eye or eyes,
and on the top of which is placed a small inverted loose metal cup which acts
against a small gong or bell secured to the inside of the casing, and on one
side of this upper vetical rod (a little distance below the loose metal cup) is
jointed a small horizontal beam, which works on a transverse axle, baving its
bearings within a frame containing a train of indice wheels resembling those
of an ordinary gas meter, and which train of wheels are provided with pointers
travelling over suitably graduated dials in front of the frame and in rear of
an opening in the side of the case, which may le glazed and fitted with a
door which may be locked to prevent improper access to the apparatus. The
short horizontal beam jointed to the vertical reciprocating rod has at the outer
end jointed thereto a pendant pawl, which is slightly weighted at the back
and takes into pawl teeth formed on a ratchet wheel on the first motion shaft
on the train of indice wheels. The platform or step is kept up when not
weighted by the person passing over it by a buffer or other convenient spring
placed beneath it, or by means of a draw spring attached to the side lever on
the side of the step or platform, and the reverse end of which is connected to
a stud piece in the upper portion of the interior of the case which encloses the
apparatus.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-On the passenger placing bis
foot upon the step or platform the outer edge is slightly deflected, carrying
with it the side lever drawing down the vertical rod on its outer end, thus
elevating the outer end of the lever carrying the loose weighted pawl,
which works into the ratchet wheel on the first motion shaft of the
train of indice wheels, when it falls into the recess of the next ratchet
tooth. On the step or platform being relieved from downward pressure it
returns to its normal horizontal condition, carrying with it the side lever
elevating the vertical rod, which causes the loose cap on the head thereof to
strike the bell or gong, depresses the outer end of the lever, and causes the
ratchet wheel to revolve to the extent of one tooth, which communicates
its motion to the train of indice wheels and advances the pointer on the
graduated dial to the extent of one division, and thus so on to any required
number. In some cases it is preferred to place an india-rubber or other soft
mat on the step or platform, by which arrangement the passenger will scarcely
feel the deflection of the step or platform, and it is preferred to make side

page_text: openings in the case to allow the sound of the bell to escape, which openings
may be covered with perforated plates of metal or wire
gauze.
When this Invention is applied to public wheeled carriages it will be
observed that the tell-tale will be acted upon by the passenger entering and
leaving the vehicle, in which case the apparatas will register double, or the
dials may be so graduated as to require the double action on the footboard
to advance the pointer one division.