AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING REGULATOR OR DIAL APPLICABLE TO ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF PUBLIC CONVEYANCES
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Ernest Avy, of No. 82, Boulevard
Sébastopol, Paris, in the Empire of France, Gentleman, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING REGULATOR OR DIAL APPLICABLE
TO ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF PUBLIC CONVEYANCES
»
Sealed the 8th May 1866, and dated the 9th November 1865.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Ernest Avy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th November 1865.
I, JOSEPH ERNEST AVY, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in the
Empire of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING REGULATOR OR DIAL APPLICABLE TO
ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF PUBLIC CONVEYANCES;" to be as follows :-
It has long been considered most desirable that some system should be
introduced of checking the drivers of hackney carriages, but up to the
present time one which, without being complex or expensive in construc-
tion, will correctly register the number of passengers in the course of the day,
and the duration of each hiring, has not been brought before the public;
this want it is the object of the present Invention to supply. The means

page_text: I employ for this purpose are as follows:-A slight chain is made to pass
beneath the carriage, whose ends are respectively secured, one at the back of
the carriage, and the other to a crank shaft concealed and working in bearings
beneath the coachman's box; this chain is acted upon by two metal rods
which pass through the bottom of the carriage and are in connection with
the seats, which are slightly raised on springs, it follows that on a passenger
seating himself the seat sinks, depressing the rod, and so tenses the chain,
which dragging on the crank shaft above mentioned causes it to complete
about half a revolution; connected with this crank at each extremity is an
indicator or dial piece bearing the word "hired" on one side of the
carriage, in addition to this is a small barrel-spring clock, which instead of
having hands is furnished with a thin cardboard or paper dial divided
into twelve hours; when the carriage is unoccupied this card dial is pierced
and held in its position by a small pin or stop-piece which is governed by
the indicator. Directly a seat is taken the chain is tensed, the crank
drawn down, the effect of which is to raise the indicator and bring into
view the word hired, this movement of the indicator draws back the
stop-piece or small pin above mentioned, and the card dial being thus free
commences to turn round, fulfilling the duty of the hour hand of a clock,
the time being marked by the first puncture to the second puncture, the
latter being made by the driver turning back, by means of a key or other
contrivance, the crank shaft to its old position on the passenger abandoning
his seat, by which the indicator moving back, the word "hired" is
concealed and the small pin or stop-piece is pressed through the card,
thus defining the length of time the carriage has been hired by a second
puncture. This paper dial is renewed each morning when the carriage
leaves the stables; it has been above mentioned as being divided into
twelve divisions, each representing an hour, but there may be more
divisions if it be necessary.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 30
filed by the said Joseph Ernest Avy in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
ERNEST AVY, of No. 82, Boulevard Sébastopol, Paris, in the Empire of 35
France, Gentleman, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Joseph Ernest Avy, Her special licence
that I, the said Joseph Ernest Avy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph Ernest Avy, 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 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands,
and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED SELF-ACTING REGULATOR OR
DIAL APPLICABLE TO ALL DESCRIPTIONS OF PUBLIC CONVEYANCES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Joseph Ernest Avy, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, 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 Joseph Ernest Avy, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying Drawings, that is to say:-
It has long been considered most desirable that some system should be
introduced of checking the drivers of hackney carriages, but up to the
present time one which, without being complex or expensive in construc-
tion, will correctly register the number of passengers in the course of the
day, and the duration of each hiring, has not been brought before the
public. This want it is the object of the present Invention to supply. The
means I employ for this purpose are as follows:-A slight chain is made
to pass beneath the carriage, and the ends are respectively secured, one
at the back of the carriage, and the other to a crank shaft concealed and
working in bearings beneath the coachman's box; this chain is acted upon
by two metal rods which pass through the bottom of the carriage and are
in connection with the seats, which are slightly raised on springs, it follows
that on a passenger seating himself the seat sinks, depressing the rods, and
so tenses the chain, which dragging on the crank shaft above mentioned

page_text: causes it to complete about half a revolution; connected with this crank
at each extremity is an indicator or dial piece bearing the word "hired"
on one side of the carriage, in addition to this is a small barrel-spring clock,
which instead of having hands is furnished with a thin cardboard or paper
dial divided into twelve hours; when the carriage is unoccupied this card
dial is pierced and held in its position by a small pin or stop-piece which
is governed by the indicator. Directly a seat is taken the chain is tensed,
the crank drawn down, the effect of which is to raise the indicator and bring
into view the word "hired," this movement of the indicator draws back
the stop-piece or small pin above mentioned, and the card dial being thus
free commences to turn round, fulfilling the duty of the hour hand of the
clock, the time being marked by the first puncture to the second puncture,
the latter being made by the driver turning back, by means of a key or
other contrivance, the crank shaft to its old position on the passenger
abandoning his seat, by which the indicator moving back the word
hired is concealed and the small pin or stop-piece is pressed through
the card, thus defining the length of time the carriage has been hired by a
second puncture. This paper dial is renewed each morning when the
carriage leaves the stables; it has been above mentioned as divided into
twelve hours or divisions, but there may be more divisions if it be
necessary.
The above description will be readily understood reference being made
to the accompanying Drawings, the same letters indicating the same
parts in the several Figures.
'
Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of a carriage fitted with my apparatus;
A is an unoccupied seat raised by the springs D, D; B represents an
occupied seat; C, C, is the framework thereof; E, E, the under woodwork;
F, a connecting piece of leather; G, G, are iron connecting rods fixed
to the framework of the seats, by which the chain H is acted on each
time the seat is reoccupied; H is the chain, constructed of links and
connecting pieces so adapted as to follow the outline of the carriage,
when tightened by the rods it acts on the horizontal shaft, Fig, 2, causing
the crank J to make the one-third of a revolution; I is the automatic
controller or indicator, which is represented in section, Fig. 2; in Fig.
J is the
1 it is represented as placed beneath the seat of the driver,
crank on the shaft K, which is horizontal in position, crossing the
box of the driver's seat, and has adjusted to each extremity an indi
cating iron dial L showing whether the cab is hired or not, the one an

page_text: the side of the clock N passes between two stop-pieces which serve
to fix the hand M, which slides in two supports acted on by the indi-
cator L, When occupied the hand pierces the dial P and stops the
clock; on the contrary, when a seat is taken the shaft K turns, and the
inferior and inner side of the indicator sliding between the stops of
the hand, it drives back the stops, and the point being withdrawn the
clock is free to work. N is an ordinary clockwork contained in a
metal box furnished only with mechanism for the hour hand. In place
of the hands is a circular dial plate O, which takes the place of the
hour hand; should it be deemed desirable the minutes might also be
shown by having two dials placed one over the other, as is generally
done. O is the copper frame for the dial; P is a movable daily dial,
paper or thin card, fixed to the dial frame by the spring Q, which turns
freely on the arbour of the clock; R is the dial glass enclosing the various
parts; S is the ratchet fixed on the shaft K; T are the anchor pieces
catching on the ratchets and so stopping the indicator, which is only freed
by the coachman turning back the anchor pieces with a key for that
purpose when the carriage is empty. Fig. 3 represents the face of the
indicator on the clock side, and also shows the word "hired," which appear
through a slit or opening for that purpose in the side of the seat; the
word is painted on the indicator L, and is removed when hired, as is
shown, Fig. 4, which represents the interior of the face of the controller.
Fig. 5 is the copper frame for the dial, the spring Q being also shown.
Fig. 6 is the movable card or paper dial, delicate in consistence, to
permit its being pierced as above described; although twelve hours only
are marked it is quite possible to add more,
The following description and Drawings refer to various modifications
in the above system, and which might be considered preferable. Fig. 7,
A, the dial, the hour and minute hands of which are moved by the
clock of the indicator; B is the iron chain for putting in motion the barrier
D; C is the pulley over which passes the chain; D is the iron barrier
on a hinge and acted on by the chain. Fig. 8 is an iron barrier consisting
of two cross pieces D, D, which act as barriers to each door, they are
connected with a rod of iron parallel to the seat, and are strengthened
by a cross piece in their centre; these barriers are raised to or lowered
from the doors by tightening or loosening the chain above mentioned.
Fig. 9 shows the clock side of the indicator; E is the triple eccentric
fixed to the upper and inner surface of the indicator, in the movement

page_text: of the indicating dial whether forwards or backwards the effect is to bring
near or far apart the dial of the hand M above mentioned. Fig. 10, F are
ratchet wheels, the teeth of which are turned in opposite directions the one
to the other. Fig. 11 represents the ratchet wheels and anchor piece seen in
front, and designated by the letters S, T, in Figs. 2 and 4, and F, Fig. 10.
In this arrangement all the parts lettered A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, Figs. 1,
2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are suppressed. The chain H serves another purpose,
but is still connected with the horizontal shaft K; the clock N is also
modified in its action, being allowed to work continuously without inter-
ruption.
The following is the mode of working :-On leaving stables to commence
the day's work the clock is wound up, the barrier D is raised horizontally
across the two doors; on being hired, the driver lowers the barrier by
raising the left anchor piece and moving the knob of the indicating dial
from left to right, and the chain B is unrolled on the horizontal shaft
K. The chain thus loosened allows the barrier D to fall by its own
weight to the sides of the seat of the carriage, as shown in Fig. 7. In
moving the horizontal shaft from left to right the indicating dials of
both sides make the same movement, the triple eccentric sliding between
the two stop-pieces of the hand causes this to perforate the dial, and then
at once withdraws it; in the first system the clock was thus stopped, in the
'present the hand or pin is withdrawn and the clock allowed to proceed at
once; a lead or other marker might in this case be substituted for the
hand or pin hitherto mentioned. On the carriage being discharged the
driver is naturally desirous of marking off the cessation of the hiring, and
this he does by raising the right anchor piece and turning the indicating
dial from right to left; by this movement the chain is drawn up by the
horizontal shaft and the bar D replaced before the doors, at the same
time the indicating dial causes the hand to make another perforation or
mark as already explained; thus it will be seen that the paper dial will
indicate between the first two punctures or marks the time of hiring
between the second and third an unhired interval, and between the third
and fourth a hired interval, and so on. The clock will serve to indicate
the hour to both passenger and driver, and so prevent disputes.
Having thus described my Invention, I wish it to be understood that
what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the arrangement
above described and shown in the accompanying Drawings, reserving to
myself the right of modifying the various details, as this may be done

page_text: without affecting the principle of the Invention, for instance, in place of
the barriers before the inside of the doors small bolts might be substituted,
and this without any material alterations in the several parts.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Ernest Avy, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of April, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
JOSEPH ERNEST AVY. (L.S.)
Witness,
E. HEBRÉ,
82, Boulevart Sébastopol,
Paris.