IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING & THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED IN PUBLIC OR OTHER CON- VEYANCES AND PLACES, AND FOR THE PREVENTION OF FRAUD UPON PROPRIETORS OF PUBLIC CONVEYANCES
Year: 1852

page_text: Scaled the 2nd March 1853, and dated the 1st October 1852.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Griffiths at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 1st October 1852.
I, ROBERT GRIFFITHS, of Great Ormond Street, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING THE NUMBER OF
PERSONS ENTERING & THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED IN PUBLIC OR OTHER CON-
VEYANCES AND PLACES, AND FOR THE PREVENTION OF FRAUD UPON PROPRIETORS
OF PUBLIC CONVEYANCES," to be as follows:-
My improvements consist in arranging an apparatus containing
tickets in such a manner in connection with the wheel of the vehicle

page_text: that it is slowly moved in proportion to the distance travelled, so as to
indicate that distance, and at the same time to present a different class
of ticket at each different distance, so that if, on the passenger entering
the vehicle, he takes from the receptacle a ticket of the nature pre-
sented at the time (on which may be a number or figure corresponding
to the distance indicated at the same time), he can, on descending from
the vehicle, by comparing his ticket with the indicator, ascertain the
distance he has travelled; and by returning the ticket to the receptacle
then presented this distance is recorded as a cheque on the conductor.
Or the distance travelled by passengers in a vehicle may be indicated
by slides or pointers, one of which corresponds to each seat in the
vehicle, such pointer being thrown into gear or started at the time the
-corresponding passenger enters the vehicle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Robert Griffiths in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 1st April 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
ROBERT GRIFFITHS, of Great Ormond Street, in the County of Midź
dlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the First day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-two, in the sixteenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Robert Griffiths. Her special licence, that I, the said
Robert Griffiths, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Robert Griffiths, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United King-
dom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of
Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING

page_text: THE NUMBER OF PERSONS ENTERING AND THE DISTANCE TRAVELLED IN PUBLIC
OR OTHER CONVEYANCES AND PLACES, AND FOR THE PREVENTION OF FRAUD
UPON PROPRIETORS OF PUBLIC CONVEYANCES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Robert Griffiths, by an instrument, in writing
under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after
the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Griffiths, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof (that is to say):
"
My improvement consists in arranging an apparatus containing
tickets in such a manner in connection with the wheel of the vehicle
that it is slowly moved in proportion to the distance travelled, so as to
indicate that distance, and at the same time to present a different class
of ticket at each different distance, so that if, on the passenger entering
the vehicle, he takes from the receptacle a ticket of the nature pre-
sented at the time (on which may be a number, or figure corresponding
to the distance indicated at the same time), he can, on descending from
the vehicle, by comparing his ticket with the indicator, ascertain the
distance he has travelled; and by returning the ticket to the receptacle
then presented this distance is recorded as a cheque on the conductor.
The distance travelled by passengers in a vehicle may be indicated by
slides or pointers, one of which corresponds to each seat in the vehicle,
such pointer being thrown into gear or started at the time the corre-
sponding passenger enters the vehicle.
The first part of my Invention consists in an indicator fixed to the
vehicle, and having a connexion with its wheels in such a manner that
when the vehicle travels the indicator moves proportionably, and carries
round with it a series of packets containing tickets, by which the
number of passengers who have travelled, and the distance which each
one has ridden, can be ascertained, as will be shewn in the following
description of the Drawings.
1

page_text: Sheet A, Figure 1, is a front elevation, and Figure 2, a side elevation.
Sheet B, Figure 3, a front section, and Figure 4, a side section of the
indicator.
A rod, which is not shewn, having a reciprocating motion given to
to it
by the wheel of the vehicle at every revolution, is to be attached to A,
a pin, which it will work backwards and forwards. This pin is attached
to B, the slide, on which is carried catch C, driving rachet wheel D,
which is fixed on spindle E, on which is also fixed a pinion F, which
drives wheel G, fixed on spindle H, which carries the arrow or pointer I;
-on the face of the indicator. On the wheel G, are also J, J, J, two
studs, which as 'they revolve with the wheel, and come in contact with
lever and catch K, which is drawn back when stud J, comes in contact
until it gets released; by that time the catch K, has been drawn back
to another tooth on the ratchet wheel I, and will at the same time
release the catch P, when it will be drawn forward by the india-rubber
spring O, until another series of pockets in the case Q, comes opposite
the opening left in the outer case, for the purpose of taking out and
putting back the tickets as the passenger enters or leaves the vehicle.
R, the slide and opening for taking out of the tickets; S, opening for
putting back the tickets."
The machine or indicator is put into operation on the following
plan: The proprietor puts into the case containing the pockets tickets
marked, say, 0 mile, mile, (1 mile,) 1 mile, (2 miles,) 2½ miles,
(3 miles,) or any other distance it is arranged for, and then locks up
the case. When the vehicle starts the conductor gives to each passenger
a ticket taken out of the indicator, which will be marked corresponding
to the place the passenger enters, so that on leaving the vehicle he gives
up to the conductor his ticket, and on referring to the indicator he will
see what distance he has travelled since he entered, and pays accord-
ingly; the conductor then puts the ticket into the opening S, so that
the proprietor on opening the indicator will see what tickets have
changed places, and the distance each passenger has travelled.
The second part of my Invention consists of another indicator.
Sheet C, Figure 1, is a front elevation, and Figure 2, a side eleva-
tion of another description of indicator, so constructed that, notwith-

page_text: standing it is worked by the conductor, and not by the vehicle, it is a
cheque upon the number of passengers who have travelled and also on
the distances which each one has rode. A, represents the face of the
indicator, having engraved on it the various points at which air
increased amount of fare commences (say of every half mile). B, is a
plate of glass covering C, the centre revolving plate, which is engraved';
D, the pointer, engraved on plate C; E, an arrangement of cells or
pockets, similar to those described before in. Sheet A, and B, containing
tickets, having upon them the different points corresponding to those
engraved on the plate C; F, lever by which the conductor moves for-
ward the indicator at the different points mentioned on the.dial plate;
G; a bell, which is struck each time the. indicator is moved. This
indicator is put into operation, similarly to the former mentioned;
by the proprietor first placing the tickets in the pockets to correspond
with the marks on the face of the dial; it is then fixed on the vehicle in
a convenient place for the conductor, so that he can take out the tickets
and put them back again when the passenger leaves, as in the former
indicator, and also moves forward the indicator when the vehicle comes
opposite the different points as marked on the dial.
The third part of my Invention consists of another description of
apparatus, having a series of slides equal to the number of passengers
the vehicle is intended to carry; each of these slides is numbered or
lettered, and having a series of tickets marked with corresponding
letters or figures, so that the conductor gives to each passenger a ticket
on entering the vehicle, and at the same time puts into gear the slide
with the corresponding number, which then travels when the vehicle is
in motion, so that the passenger is able to see by referring to the indi-
cator, on leaving the vehicle, the distance he has travelled from the
time he entered.
Sheet D, Figure 1, is a front view, and Figure 2, a section of this
indicator; and Figure 3, Sheet E, end view and section, and Figure 4,
cross section of the same. a, a, a, a, are slides, having on the backs
teeth to work into the wheel, which is worked by the worm and wheel
I, and 9: which receives its motion from the wheel of the vehicle in a
similar way to indicator Sheet A, and B, by a rod which is attached to

page_text: the lever d, and is communicated through the catch e, to the ratchet
wheelf, on which is fixed the spindle and worm c; and works the wheel.
b, into which the racks or slides gear when pressed by the levers h, as;
shewn, in the Drawings..
My prevention of fraud upon proprietors of public conveyances con-
sists in having tickets so arranged that on one side of them is an
engraving or other marks, difficult of being forged; and in places where
the fare is less than if going a further distance, the passenger is to pay.
the full fare, and when he arrives at the end of his journey he receives
back the amount paid over his fare on presenting the half ticket. Or,
if issued by excursion trains, the passenger deposits the amount of the
fare paid ordinarily, or any other the proprietor fixes, and when he
returns and presents his ticket he gets back-such amount as he has,
paid over.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
in which it is performed, I would have it understood I do not confine
myself to the precise method herein described, so long as the general
principles be retained; but what I claim is,-
First, the use of indicators in combination with tickets, as herein
described; and,
Secondly, I claini drawback passenger tickets for the prevention of
fraud, as herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Griffiths, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
Witness,
S. CARPMAEL.
ROBT GRIFFITHS. (t.s.)