Improvements in Fare-indicators for Cabs and other Hackney- coaches
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fare-indicators for Cabs and other Hackney-
coaches,
I, ALOIS GRÜNER, of 4 Grosse Allee, Hamburg in the German Empire,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in what are known as taxameters or fare
indicators, that is to say, apparatus which can be applied to carriages of all kinds,
and be actuated from one of the hind wheels thereof, in order to indicate to the
traveller both the distance traversed and the amount of the fare to be paid, so that
the apparatus can be used both as a time and distance measure. The apparatus is
also constructed so that various rates of fares can be measured or indicated by the
same apparatus.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure is a side-view of the actuating mechanism.
Figure 2 is a side-view of same with the ratchet wheel removed.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the eccentric or cam movement.
Figure 4 is a plan of the actuating mechanism.
Figures 5 and 6 are side-views of the number-roller or counter actuating
mechanism. Figures 7 and 8 are back views of the same.
Figures 9 and 10 show spring mechanism for the counters.
Figure 11 is a back-view of the whole apparatus, and
Figure 12 is a view of the indicator dial plate.
The object of this invention is to indicato various fares by meaus of one and the
same apparatus, and to register and sum up the various fares earned, the distance
in miles travelled, and the number of journeys made, without the coachman being
able to make any alteration in the indications. The apparatus also checks the
money received for fares and protects in this way the carriage owner against
falsification by the coachman.
Figure 12 of the drawings shows how the various indications appear on the dial
plate of the apparatus. Inspection of the figure shows that the coachman has made,
since the apparatus was last set to zero, 12 journies, shown at E, amounting together
to 52 miles shown at C, and has received therefor £1-6-3, shown at D. At A it
is seen that the apparatus is set to No. I fare namely for a simple journey within a
certain district, which costs a standard fare of 6 pence, shown at B. If the journey
extends beyond the sixpenny fare the apparatus shows at B the total amount the
traveller has to pay at the end of the journey. When a fresh journey is to be
commenced the coachman sets the apparatus to show at A the character or
conditions of the journey to be made and the fresh traveller will take care to see
that this is done to ensure his not being made to pay over again for the journey
made by the previous traveller. Suppose the abovementioned No. I standard fare,
sixpence, is good for two miles, when that distance has been exceeded the amount
due in respect of such excess will be added at B so as to show the total amount the
traveller has to pay for his journey. Suppose now that the apparatus is set to
No. V fare corresponding to a higher rate per mile than No. I fare, as for a district
outside the town for example, the traveller has to pay the amount at that higher
rate as shown at B at the end of the journey. This apparatus prevents the carriage
Price 8d.1

page_text: proprietor being defrauded except by an understanding between the coachman and
the traveller; for the coachman can only set the apparatus for a fresh fare, but cannot
alter the number of journies, the distance, or the amount of money indicated.
The apparatus for indicating the number of journies made is shown in Figure 11.
By means of a cam A 2 on the indicator drum A', a slide carrying a pawl E' is
pushed down, when the said drum is rotated, so that the said pawl, engaging in the
teeth of the journey wheel E2, turns the same to the extent of one tooth.
The pawl E 3 prevents the journey wheel E 2 from being moved backwards. The
mechanism of the fare indicating apparatus is shown in Figures 11, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
At the outside of dial plate (Figure 12) are visible, through corresponding openings,
three movable rollers B1, B2, B3, provided with consecutive numbers. The
roller B shows the pence, the roller B2 the shillings, and the roller B 3 the pounds.
Intermittent oscillatory motion is imparted to a lever 23, pivotted at 23", by means
of a sliding bolt 22 (Figure 3) operated by a cam or any other suitable means
connected with the hind-wheel of the carriage once for each revolution of the said
hind-wheel. The said lever transmits its oscillatory motion to the lever arm 25
provided with a friction roller 24. The eccentrically-shaped piece or cam i
connected with this lever arm 25 (see Figures 1 and 11) is thereby caused to
oscillate also. At the outside of the clockwork plate 27 is an arm 28, pivotted
at 29, which is so acted on by a spring 30 that it always has a tendency to move
upwards. Its movement upwards is limited, however, by a stop pin 31 fixed on the
clockwork plate 27. At its free end the arm 28 carries a pawl k which engages
with the teeth of the ratchet wheel l. The arm 28 is also provided with a pin 34,
which goes through a slot 35 to the inside of the clockwork plate. This pin 34
bears against the outer surface of the cam piece i, and is pressed downwards when
the latter is turned to the right, whilst when the cam piece is turned to the left the
spring 30 presses the pin 34, and arm 28, upwards so far as is allowed by the
stop pin 31. At each upward movement of the arm 28 the pawl k turns the ratchet
wheel one tooth. The ratchet wheel is mounted on the axis 38 so that it can
be easily placed thereon or removed therefrom as may be required, being held in
place by means of a spring 37. The rotation of this axis 38 is transmitted to the
axis a by means of a spur pinion 39 which gears with the spur wheel c.
axis a is shown clearly in Figure 4. The wheel c, which, as already explained, is
connected with the axis 38 by means of the pinion 39, is loose on the axis a, as is
also the spur wheel b, (Figure 4), which latter is connected with and driven by an
ordinary clockwork train. Between these two wheels c and b is arranged a sleeve 43
fixed on the axis a, which sleeve carries at its ends the ratchet wheels 44 and 45. The
latter are fixed to the sleeve, and are placed close by the side of the loose wheels c
and b. These loose wheels have pivotted to them pawls 46 and 47, gearing with
the ratchet wheels 44 and 45 the teeth of both of which wheels face in the same
direction. When now the wheel c is rotated, the ratchet wheel 44, sleeve 43, and
the axis a are turned in the same direction by the pawl 46 taking into the ratchet
wheel 44. As the loose wheel b, driven by an ordinary clock-work train, runs
slower than the wheel e, its motion has no effect on the axis a, but when the carriage
is standing still, and there is consequently no transmission of motion through the
wheel c, the wheel 6 driven by the clockwork causes the pawl 47 to turn the ratchet
wheel 45 and with it the axis a uniformly.
This
On the axis a is fixed a star wheel d, the teeth of which come in contact, as the
wheel revolves, with the end of the arm e¹ of a three-armed lever e e¹ e 2 pivotted
at 3. The arm e 2 of this three-armed lever is arranged to operate the fare
indicating rollers B' B2 B3 for each fare, and the arme of the said three-armed
lever to operate the total fares indicating apparatus D' D2 D3 in the manner to
be hereinafter described.
It will now be understood that when the carriage is in motion each revolution of
the bind wheel causes a downward movement of the lever 28, and the spring 30 an
upward movement thereof, whereby the pawl k is caused to move the ratchet
wheel one tooth for each revolution of the hind wheel of the carriage. This

page_text: movement of the wheel turns the wheels cand axis a and consequently the star
wheel d. As each tooth of the star wheel d passes the end of the arin e¹ it depresses
the latter, and thereby operates the other arms e and e 2 of the three-armed lever
so that they respectively operate the total fares indicating apparatus D1 D2 D3,
and the fare indicating rollers B1 B2 B3 for each fare, and when a tooth of the
star wheel d bas cleared the end of the arm e¹ the three-armed lever is drawn back
by the spring e4 (Figure 1). It will be seen that a certain number of revolutions
of the hind wheel of the carriage have to be made in order to cause one tooth of
the star-wheel d to move the three-armed lever and to operate the fare-indicating
apparatuses, and it is obvious that that number of revolutions of the hind wheel
must correspond to the distance to be traversed for each unit of money added at B
and D.
Assuming now that the carriage is stationary, and that the time it is waiting has
to be paid for at a certain rate; the lover 28 and pawl k are no longer operated,
but the clockwork, contained behind the plate 27 for example, continues to turn
the wheel b, and this by means of the pawl 47, turns the axis a uniformly, and with
it the star wheel d, the teeth of which operate the three-armed lever and consequently.
the fare indicating apparatuses at B and D as before described so as to add:
thereto the units of money corresponding to the units of time that the carriage is
stationary.
The above description relates only to the operation of the apparatus when.
indicating the lowest rate of fare, whether for distance or time. In order to adapt:
the apparatus to indicate fares at higher rates, as for example outside of a certain
radius, or at night, I cause the axis a to rotate at an accelerated speed corresponding:
to the increased rate of fare, without changing in any way the action of the pawl k,
On the axis A* of the.
by means of mechanism shown in Figures 1, 2 and 11.
index roller A¹ is fixed a short cylinder or fare-roller h, the side of which is formed.
into steps of various heights and stands opposite the upper end of a hammer-shaped:
two-armed lever g pivotted at the point 50, and the lower arm of which rests on
the cam piece i, and is pressed against the latter by means of a spring 51. It will.
be seen that when the cam piece i is turned to the right the lever g is allowed to.
be turned to the left by its spring 51, and when the cam picce i is turned in the.
reverse direction the lever g is returned to its former position. At each oscillation.
of the lever g towards the left it strikes with its upper end against the step of the
cylinder h which for the time being stands opposite to it. The distance the lever g
moves to the left is thus dependent upon the position of the cylinder h, and..
consequently on the position of the indicator drum A¹. If the highest step of the:
cylinder h stands opposite the lever g the movement of the latter is exceedingly.
small, whilst if a lower step stands opposite to it, its movement is proportionally
greater. A movable pawlf is pivotted at 52 on the lever g and is pressed down-
wards by a spring 54. The pawl f carries at its outer end a triangular pin 55.1
This pin projects through an opening 56 in the clockwork plate 27, and the.
movement of this pin is very nearly the same as that of the lever,g at the point 52.
Opposite the opening 56 are presented the teeth of the star-wheel d which, as
before explained, fixed on the axis a (see Figures 1, 2 and 11). When a tooth
of this star wheel comes opposite the opening 56 the pin 55, as it moves to the.
right, rides over and falls behind the said tooth and takes it at its next movement.
to the left so far with it as is allowed by the step of the cylinder which has been:
brought into position, for the time being, opposite the lever g which carries the:
pin 55. For the highest step (fare No. 1) the pin 55 has no action on the star.
wheel d because the lever g has little or no movement; for the next lower step.
(fare No. II), the teeth of the star wheel d are pushed forward somewhat by the:
pin 55; for the third step, (fare No. 1II), still further, and so on, so that the rotation
of the axis a is accelerated in proportion as the lever g is allowed to move a
greater distance to the left; and as this distance is in proportion to the rate of fare.
the acceleration of the rotation of the axis a and star-wheel d causes a corre-
sponding acceleration in the fare indicating apparatuses at B and D.. The

page_text: transmission of the movement of the star wheel d to the number rollers is effected
in the following manner :-
The upper arm e 2 of the three-armed lever e e e 2, when the latter is moved by
the star wheel d, strikes at each of its movements against the arm of the
actuating levert (Figures 5 and 6) and causes it to move forward, by means of its
pawls, the actuating ratchet wheel u by one tooth, each stroke of the levert thus
moving the fare indicating roller B1 forward by one number and this continues so
long as the lever e e¹ e 2 is operated either by the hind wheel of the carriage or by
the clockwork, it being understood that when the fare indicating roller B 1 shows U,
the second fare indicating roller B 2 is moved forward from 0 to 1 thus showing
1 shilling. After each further revolution of B1, B2 is moved forward one
number until B 2 has turned once and shows 0, when B 3 is moved from 0 to 1, and
consequently shows £1. This is however a counting or indicating apparatus of
well known construction and does not form part of the present invention, which
latter relates more especially to the devices for causing the apparatus to indicate
various fares and their totals, by hastening or retarding, arbitrarily, the movement
forward of the indicating apparatus according to the amount of the fare at the
rate for which the apparatus is set.
It will now be understood that according as the part of the fare-roller h upon
which the farc-lever g strikes is higher or lower, the stroke that the latter makes
backward will be correspondingly shorter or longer. Therefore when the said
lever strikes upon the lowest step of the fare-roller, its stroke backwards is at
its maximum, and the pawlf on the fare lever g imparts the greatest forward
accelerating movement to the tooth of the star-wheel d after the latter has been
turned so far that the pawlf can catch behind the corresponding tooth thereof
so that the release of the three-armed lever e e¹ e 2 will be effected in the shortest
time; but if the fare-lever g strikes upon the highest step of the fare-roller, the
release of, the three-armed lever e e e 2 will take place as much later as the back-
ward stroke of the fare-lever g is shorter, and consequently the fare-indicating
roller B is turned forward correspondingly later. By these means it is possible to
intercalate as many different rates of fare as there are different elevations or
steps on the fare-roller by simply turning the latter into and holding it in the
proper position.
The indication of the total of the amounts paid is effected by the adding gear
at D, Figures 11 and 12, in the following manner: _ The lower arme of the three-
armed lever e e¹ e 2 moves the pivotted arm D 4 at each of the movements of the
said lever. The arm D4 has pivotted at its upper end a pawl D5 which is
constantly pressed towards the teeth of the ratchet wheel D 1 by a spring. This
pawl turns, by its pin D 6, the wheel D1 by one tooth at each movement of the
three-armed lever e. This movement of the wheel D1 is transmitted by any well
kuown means to the toothed wheels D 2 and D 3 in such manner that the wheel D 2
is moved forward one tooth when D 1 has been turned 12 teeth, and D 3 one tooth
when D2 has been moved forward 20 teeth, whereby the exact total of the fares
paid is shown automatically at D in Figure 12.
.
P..
This apparatus has a great advantage over those heretofore in use in that the
ratchet-wheel 1, (the number of teeth on which must bear a certain proportion to
the length of the circumference of the carriage-wheel driving the apparatus) is
moved forward only one tooth for each revolution of the driving carriage-wheel,
and that the apparatus can be used with any size of carriage-wheel by simply
changing the ratchet wheel (which is only placed loosely on its axis, but is secured
thereon by the spring 37) for another one suited to the size of the carriage-wheel,
and this can be done in a very short space of time.
In Figures 5, 6 and 11 h shows the disc or plate on which is formed or to which
is connected the stepped fare-roller h. This disc or plate and the fare-roller A
are mounted on the axis A* of the indicator drum A¹ and turn along with the
latter when it is operated by the coachman from outside the casing by a suitably
arranged handle. The disc.h has a notch 2 formed in it so placed that when a

page_text: 5
"
"
part of the indicator drum A¹ which is left blank, or has written on it the word
Free
66
or Disengaged," stands opposite the opening A, Figure 12, one end of the
lever 33 is pressed by a spring * into the said notch as shown in Figure 6, the
other end of the said lever 3 acting on a pin on the wheel u so as to return
the fare-indicating roller B' to zero, in a manner well understood in connection
When the indicator
with apparatus of this kind, when the said roller is released.
drum A has been turned from the "free" or disengaged position to show
fare No. I for example, corresponding to the position shown in Figures 12 and 5,
the one end h 3 of the lever will be raised out of the notch h 2 and will bear against
the circular periphery of the disc h' and the other end 3* will be moved into a
position that will allow the wheel u to be rotated to actuate the fare indicating
roller B. The lever h3h3* will maintain the position shown in Figure 5 what-
ever position the indicator drum A' is placed in to indicate a fare, until the notch / 2
is again brought into the position shown in Figure 6 when the oue end 3 of the
lever again enters the notch and its other end 3* again returns the fare
indicating roller B' to zero. The lever h3h3* is mounted on a rocking axis / 4
are secured levers 5 and 6 which return the fare indicating
rollers B2 and B 3 respectively to zero when the lover h3 falls into the
on which
notch / 2.
"
When a minimum standard fare such as 6 pence for example is to be exhibited
at B, Figure 12, the roller B¹ may be arranged to show 5 at B when the lever / 3
is in the notch h 2 as in Figure 6, and the indicator drum A' shows "disengaged
for example at A, the cam or tappet 7 on the disc moves the lever h8 fixed on
the rocking axis h9 carrying a tappet 10 and thereby moves the levert and
pawls backwards ready to move the wheel u a tooth at the next forward stroke.
Then when the indicator drum A' is turned to show any one of the conditious
under which the hiring is to be made, the cam or tappet 7 releases the lever h 8
allowing the levert to the pressed forward by its spring end to move the fare
indicating roller B' forward one step, that is to say from 5 to 6, which is the
minimum fare, and to which any excess due either to distance or time, is to he
added as above described.
The cam or tappet 7 and lever 8 effect the release of all the fare-indicating
rollers B B 2 and B3 to enable them to be returned to their respective zeros by
the levers 35 h6 when lever h3 falls into notch 2 as above explained by the
following means; the tappet 10 acts upon the tail end of the lever t, and other
similar tappets 11 h 12 act respectively on the similar tail ends of levers t2 t 3,
drawing back the pawls 8, but these pawls carry pins which press against the
Now there is a
retaining pawls u 2 and draw them out of gear with the wheels u.
danger that when the lever h8 is released by the tappet 7, and the levers t 2
and 3 are allowed to move forward again, the pawls may move the fare
indicating rollers B2 B3 one tooth forward before they ought to be moved at all.
To obviate this I fix a spring p, see Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10, opposite each of the
actuating pawls s of the number rollers B2 and B3 and I so sbape each of the said
pawls that as it is drawn back by the action of the lever h 8 its lower edge rides
up on the fixed pin s' and brings the pin r on the said pawl above the aforesaid
spring p, as shown in Figure 7, so that when the pawls is moved forward, after
being released, the said pin r slides over the upper surface g (Figures 9 and 10) of
the spring p, thereby preventing the pawl from acting on the wheel u, and as soon
as the piuhas passed over the surface q it allows the pawl to fall into proximity
to the ratchet wheel g, as shown in Figure 8, in readiness to operate the same at
the proper time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
clain is:-
First. In fare-indicators for cabs and other hackney-coaches, the improvement
which consists of a two-armed hammer-like fare-lever operated by au eccentric or

page_text: cam, the movements of such fare-lever being limited in one direction by a fare-
roller provided with step-like elevations, the said fare-lever operating, by means of
a pawl pivotted to it, on a star-wheel in such manner as to move the same forward
earlier or later (and independently of the rotation of the ratchet-wheel which
moves the said star-wheel forward uniformly) a distance dependent upon the height.
of the step of the fare-roller upon which the fare-lever strikes whereby a three-
..armed lever and the fare indicating apparatuses are operated earlier or later and
whereby as many different fares can be indicated as there are steps on the fare-
roller, substantially as herein before described, and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In fare-indicators for cabs and other hackney-coaches, the improvement which
..consists of a spring p, over the surface of which a pin in the actuating pawl of the
second and third fare indicating rollers is caused to slide so as to prevent the pawl
from acting on the ratchet of the fare indicating roller during its backward move-
ment after being released, and then to let the pawl fall into proximity to the said
ratchet wheel substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the
-drawings, and for the purpose specified.
Doted this 26th day of Santamber 1895
A. GRUNER,
Per W. H. Beck,
115 Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.