IMPROVE- MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS IN PUBLIC VEHICLES AND THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED BY EACH
Year: 1884

page_text: I GEORGE PRŎLSS, Merchant, of 18 Falken Strasse in the City of Dresden,
Saxony, Germany do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING THE NUMBER OF PASSENGERS IN PUBLIC
VEHICLES AND THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED BY EACH "-and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statomont:―
My Invention relates to improvements in control apparatus for public vehicles:
and can be employed to great advantage in cabs, omnibusses, tramway cars and:
other vehicles to control the distanco travelled and the number of passengers.
My said Invention can be employed by owners of public vehicles for continuously.
registering the distance and number of passengers carried and by the passenger for
registering his own fare.
In order to carry out. my said Invention I combine two apparatus one of which
is arranged in the vehicle for registering the number of passengers whereas the.
other is arranged outside the vehicle, is in connection with the first apparatus,
measures the distance travelled over and transmits this said measurement and the
number of passengers to an indicating device, the enclosed part of which serves as
control for the owner of the vehicle and continuously registers the number of
passengers and the distance travelled over whereas an open indicating device
shows the length of each journey and serves the passenger as basis for calculating
the fare,
The first apparatus which is arranged beneath the seat or seats of the vehicle
and serves to register the number of passengers by transmitting its movement to
the second apparatus is called the controller and is shown in Figures 1 to 9.
The second apparatus which is termed the counter is shown in the Figures 10
to 17.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the mechanism placed under the back seat or
seats and is operated by being moved up and down.
Figure 2 is a sectional top view of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the mechanism with covering plate and lever device.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are like representations of the mechanisin placed beneath the
:

page_text: Figure 7 is a section through the connected seats wncrcny represen
or back seat, B the front seat.
Figure 8 is the side view of a seat with flat spring ƒ¹.
Figure 9 is a horizontal section.
The mechanism is arranged under the seats of the vehicles and is operated by
the raising and depressing of the same.
A number of rollers c c¹ c³ are arranged in a frame a beneath the back or rear
seat or scats of the vehicle of which the rollers c are fixed or stationary whilst the
others c¹ caro arranged to move vertically with a special fraino in which they
have their bearings.
"
When the scat is without load the loose rollers c¹ c² stand above the fixed
rollers c so that a cords running through or between the rollers is drawn into a
straight line..
When the seats are loaded they press on the frame 6' and with the same on the
rollers so that the latter are pressed down into a lower position than the
rollers c.
The cord or ropes which is at one end attached to the frame a and at its
opposite end attached under tension to the counting mechanism is hereby depressed
and brought under greater tension by means of which the coupling is put into
gear-and-the-control apparatus coupled to the counting or registering apparatus.
The device operates as follows-The-seats-of the vehicle are held up by means
of the spring or springs f and are either attached to the frame work-on-one side
by means of one or more hinges so that they are held in inclined position-by-the
power of the spring or springs which press on the frames 61 6* or are guided in a
vertical direction, whereby the frame of the seat glides on four rollers 7 and is
held up by the flat-spring-f (Fig. 8 and 9).
If a person now sits down on one of the seats-the-corresponding frame b¹ b* and
rollers c¹ care depressed and also the cord or rope-8 so that the same is put under-
greater-tension and the seat mechanism coupled to the registering-apparatus.
As however all the rollers caro arranged-in.a frame under the buck scat the
action of the front seats is transmitted to the corresponding rollers-c-of-tho-back_
seat by means of suitable levers.
A sliding frame 6 with a spindle e' protruding on both sides glides in the fixed
frame a' of the front seat. The spring presses against this spindle e¹ so as to
press the frame upwards. A lever h is connected with the spindle by means of a
suitable guide slot. If the seat is now depressed by the weight of the person
taking his or her place in the vehicle the frame 6 will after overcoming the power
of the spring or springs descend and communicate a rotary motion to the lever h
which is guided in suitablo slots, by means of the axis which said motion is
transmitted by the spindle g to a corresponding lever h' under the back seat which
in like manner depresses the corresponding rollers c³ in the frame b by means of
the protruding axis and thus puts the cord or ropes under greater tension.
For two front seats it is of course only necessary to duplicate the frame h,
levers h h¹, guide rod g and roller c in the frame b².
The back seats operate direct by means of the extended frames 61 and the
rollers c¹.
In this case the frame b¹ and the rollers c are held up by a spring f acting on
the axle of the roller-When the inclined arrangement of seat is employed the
Beat and also the rollers but when the seats are arranged to slide horizontally the
same are held up by the springs f¹ (Fig. 8 and 9).
The deflection of the cord or rope amounts to 2,5 centimetre for each seat
occupied so that the distance between the ends of the cord are neared a
corresponding distance. For all four seats the deflection or shortening of the
distance between the attaching point of the cord 8 will consequently amount to
10 centimetres which said motion is transmitted to the counting mechanism.
:

page_text: Figure 10 is an elevation of the counting or registering mechanism with
enclosed roller and gearing in connection with the indicator mechanism for the
passengers use.
Figure 11 is a cross section of the apparatus.
Figures 12 and 13 represent the rear surface of the deal plate with the attached
parts in two different positions. Figure 14 is a top view of the clock work.
Figure 15 and 16 show the details of the releasing device for the lover h in
top view.
Figure 17 and 18 are details of the wheel escapement R7 in top and side view.
Figure 19 represents the details of the releasing device for the hands z¹ z' in
section.
Figure 20 represents the key for the hollow shafts W.
The main wheel R receives its motion from the axle of the vehicle by means of
a strap, chain or other equivalent and communicates the movement of its spindlo
to the square axle W₁ on which the toothed shaft or elongated pinion w¹ is so
arranged that the same can be made to slide which said toothed hollow shaft or
clongated pinion is surrounded by a slide G¹ which glides on the rod N and the
two guide rods n n.
Through the depression of the cords the slide or carriage G³, to which the said
cords is attached at x, is moved to the left whilst the spiral spring wound
around the rod N has the tendency to press the same to the right.
The actuating mechanism for each indicator according to the number of seats in
the vehicle are arranged side by side in the case to the said actuating mechanisms.
Like parts of the various systems are provided with like references. The toothed
shaft w gears continuously with the first toothed wheel R¹ oven when the vehiclo
is not occupied.
As soon as a person enters the vehicle and occupies a seat the cord is so depressed
as to bring the ends 21, centimetro nearer to each other thus drawing the slide G¹
and the shaft w¹ so far to the left that the same comes into gear with the second
toothed wheel R', and when two persons occupy seats until the same comes into
gear with the third wheel R¹ and so on. If a person leaves the vehicle the
corresponding rollers under the seat aro raised and the cord a released in consequence
of which the spring F forces the slide G 2 centimeter to the right, that is so
far as is necessary to put the cord 8 under tension.
8
If all the passengers vacate the vehicle the slide G¹ is forced so far to the right
that the cords is brought into a straight horizontal position and the pinion shaft
only gears into the first wheel R¹.
Each of the wheels R' is keyed to a spindle w provided with a worm or endless
screw S¹ and arranged parallel to the shaft w but in order that they may not
move independently during the time in which the toothing of the wheel w¹ does
not gear with the same the following device is employed-As will be seen from
Fig. 10 and 11 each wheel R¹ is provided with an annular row of borings which
correspond in number to the number of teeth in the wheels.
So long as the wheel w is not in gear with the wheel R¹ in question a pointod
pen or peg is pressed into one of these borings by means of the spring i and the
wheel prevented rotating.
If the spur wheel R¹ is set in motion by the elongated pinion or toothed hollow
shaft wit overcomes the power of the spring-if tho said shaft w' is shifted out
of gear with the said wheel R¹, the spring at once forces the point into one of the
borings and prevents all further motion of the said whool.
The jirking motion of the wheels R' is transmitted by means of the worms or
endless screws S' to the wheels P¹ with which a second wheel ¹ sits on the same
spindle.
The spindle w has its bearings at the one end in the rear wall to the case
(Fig. 11) and at the other end in the hollow shaft to which is fixed in the tappet
wheel R and can rotate freely in the front wall of the casing.

page_text: The tappet wheel R³ is in connection with the wheel by means of the arm M
whereby the said tappet wheel R³ makes the same number of revolutions as the
spindle w³.
The tappet wheel R³ is fixed to the same spindle w° with the hand indicator or
pointer so that the latter registers the distance travelled over on the dial
attached to the front wall of the casing-As soon as the hand or pointer has
made one full revolution and has again reached zero the tappet wheel R³ will
operate on the wheel R³ on the spindle w move the same one tooth and with it
also the hand or pointer 2³.
Each unit of this dial will therefore represent one full revolution of the hand
or pointer ¹. All independent motion of the wheel R³ when the same is not in
Gear with the wheel R³ is prevented by a stop z which is pressed into one of the
interstices between the teeth by the spring fas shown in Fig. 1.
If it is desired to place the hands or pointers at zero on commencing the
journey the key (Fig. 20) must be inserted in the hollow shaft w which carries
the pointer and pressure exerted on the same in the direction of the spindle w³.
The shaft w is hereby moved in its bearing in the front wall of the case and
compresses the spring f³ on the spindle w³ so that the tappet wheel R2 is placed
out of gear with the wheel R³ and the arm M out of gear with the wheel l
(Fig. 6) whereupon the pointer-s-can be set to zero.
In order to place the pointer zat-zero-turn the same with-the-finger_the_samo
as the hand or pointer of a clock, this pressure being sufficient-to-overcome_the_
power offs.
All the other dials and the mechanisms connected with the same are arranged in
like manner as aforedescribed.
These dials are all covered during the journey so that the owner of the vehicle
alone has access to the same but a dial with the hands or pointers -is-arranged
so as to be visible, the movement of which perfectly correspond with the movement
of the pointers z¹³
•
The spindle w³ carries besides the wheels R' and a-chain-pulley_K! which is
so connected to the chain pulley K³ on the spindle w³ that the spindles w³ and w³¨
are rotated with like velocity.
The movement of the spindle w³ is transferred to the hollow spindle w³ by means
of a suitable claw coupling K.
The hand or pointer 23 is attached to this spindle and it is evident that the said
pointer will make exactly the like movement as the pointer *¹.
The hollow spindle we also carries a tappet z which by every revolution of the
spindle transports the wheel R one tooth forwards which said wheel is firmly
connected to the wheel R³ the movement of which latter is transmitted to the
wheel R6 which sits with the pointer on one and the same spindle w².
The gearing is so arranged that the pointer 2 advances one unit on the dial as
soon as the pointer has completed a full revolution.
If the pointers 23 2 are to be placed at zero on completing a journey the key
Fig. 20 must be employed, it is however not necessary to press on the saine but to
simply turn the key in the direction taken by the pointers.
The coupling K is hereby put out of gear, as the spindle we can slide in the
direction of its axis, and is held in its customary position by the spring f³.
By turning the hollow spindle in the like direction to the pointers the left han:]
alf of the coupling K is brought out of goar and is pressed away from tho
stationary half, consequently the spindle w is also moved to the left and the
spring compressed until the adjustment is completed when the spring f again
expands and returns the parts to their former position. It must be hereby
remarked that the wheel R is prevented from. turning independently (Fig. 17-18).
As it however could occur that the vehicle passes over a greater, distance than is
provided for by the entire revolution of the pointer e a special device is introduced

page_text: so that in case this should occur a new number or figure will appear at the
inspection window or observing glass which is effected in the following manner.
As shown in Fig. 11 to 16 the coupling K¹ carries a tappet D which is capable
of moving a lever p arranged on the spindle w which is thereby given an angular
motion so as to move the lever H which is in connection with the said spindle to
the one side which said lever H is generally held against a stop A by means of the
spring and the spindle w and lever p held in normal position. If the spindle w
is moved by the lever through the action of the tappet D the power of the spring
is overcome, the lever H moves from its stop A and communicates a lateral motion
to the slide g which runs in the guide ways F' F. To this slido q is attached a
spring f which presses a pawl into the toothing of the ratchet wheel R7 so that
if the slide q, spring f and pawl ³ receive a lateral movement the wheel R' will
be caused to rotate Now as this wheel lies immediately in front of the observation
glass and is on its periphery provided with suitable numbers the said numbers are
visible on looking through the said glass.
As soon however as the tappet D has passed the lever p the spring f
comes into action and returns the levers p and H, slido and pawl to their
original position, but not the wheel R' which is deprived of all independent
rotation by a point pin or stop's' being pressed into tho borings of the wheel R'
(Fig. 17 and 18).
Fig. 12 represents the normal position of the parts whereas Figure 13 shows the
parts after they have been moved to the greatest admissible extent.
The tappet D acts only then in the manner described on the lever p so as to
bring a fresh number before the glass L, when the pointer z has made a completo
revolution for which purpose the lover p is provided with a hinge joint o and is
generally held up by a spring fas shown in Fig. 16 whilst the spring f7 has the
tendency to press the lover p down. This is however only then possiblo when
the pointed stop on the spring f8 (Fig. 14) catches in a recess in the wheel Rª
which rotates at like speed with the pointer 2*.
This recess or cavity in the wheel R is so arranged that the stop s³ drops in as
soon as the pointer reaches zero in which case the spring f is extended and the
tappet in a position to bring a fresh number before the observation glass L.
It is evident that my said Invention can be subjected to minor modifications
without in any way departing from the tenor of my said Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The construction arrangement and employment of the control apparatus by
means of which the number of persons entering the vehicle is registered and the
counting mechanism placed in and out of gear consisting of a series of fixed and
moveable rollers c c c which are arranged in a common casing a whereby the
moveable rollers are carried in sliding frames b¹, bª through the motion of which a
depression of the connecting cord a and the coupling of the counting mechanism
is attained for itself and in connection with the modification whereby the entire
apparatus is arranged under the back seat and the action of the front seats is
transferred to the corresponding rollers placed under the said rear or back seats
by means of the levers h h¹ moving in suitable guide ways and the guide rods g
substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and shown in Fig. 1 to 9
of the accompanying Drawings.
2. In combination with the control apparatus claimed in the foregoing claim 1
the horizontal or inclined elevated arrangement of the seats (Fig. 7 and 8) by
means of the springs for f' through the depression of which said springs the position
of the rollers c c c to each other is altered and thereby the distance between the
two ends of the cords is shortened substantially as described in the foregoing
Specification and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
3.-The registration of the distance the vehicle travels whether occupied or
unoccupied by means of the continuous gearing of the elongated pinion or toothod

page_text: shaft w¹ with the first wheel R¹ of the series of like wheels employed substantially
as described in the foregoing Specification and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
4. The method of releasing the gear of the hands or pointers by pressing
the hollow shaft w° inwards so as to place the wheels R R³ and the arm M and
wheel r¹ out of gear substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and
shown in Fig. 19 of the accompanying Drawings.
5. The method of freeing the pointers or hands 2³ 2 by means of the claw
coupling K¹ the left half of which is moveable whereas the right half is fixed
substantially as described in the foregoing Specification and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
6. The method of registering the maximum distance travelled over in case the
same should exceed the ordinary limits, by means of the wheel R' which is
provided with figures visible through the observation glass L and which said
wheel R' is moved one unit as soon as the pointer completes a full revolution by
incans of the mechanism composed of the coupling K₁, tappet D, levers H, P,
slide 9 pawl, and the springs ƒ ƒ³, ƒ ƒ ƒ³ substantially as described in the
foregoing Specification and shown in the accompanying Drawings.