AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING OR CHECKING THE RETURNS OF FARES MADE BY THE CONDUCTORS OR OTHER OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF OMNIBUSES, TRAMWAY-CARS, OR OTHER VEHICLES USED IN COMMON BY THE PUBLIC, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE ENTITLED TO SUCH FARES, & SHEWING SUCH PERSONS WHAT THE TRUE RETURNS SHOULD BE
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Aden Beresford, of 70, St. George's Road, Pimlico,
in the County of Middlesex, Bachelor of Arts in the University of Cambridge,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING
OR CHECKING THE RETURNS OF FARES MADE BY THE CONDUCTORS OR OTHER
OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF OMNIBUSES, TRAMWAY-CARS, OR OTHER VEHICLES
USED IN COMMON BY THE PUBLIC, FOR THE BENEFIT OF THOSE ENTITLED
TO SUCH FARES, & SHEWING SUCH PERSONS WHAT THE TRUE RETURNS
SHOULD BE."
Sealed the 9th September 1879, and dated the 17th March 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Aden Beresford
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1879.
EDWARD ADEN BERESFORD, of 70, St. George's Road, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, Bachelor of Arts in the University of Cambridge. "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING OR CHECKING THE RETURNS OF FARES
MADE BY THE CONDUCTORS OR OTHER OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF OMNIBUSES,
TRAMWAY-CARS, OR OTHER VEHICLES USED IN COMMON BY THE PUBLIC, FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THOSE ENTITLED TO SUCH FARES, & SHEWING SUCH PERSONS WHAT
THE TRUE RETURNS SHOULD BE."
The machine consists of two small ratchet wheels placed in the same plane in a
flat box on two axles, one wheel registering the in-coming, the other the out-going
passengers; the ratchet wheels are toothed in opposite directions so as to be acted
on by the part of a "pendulum" extended above the "suspending pin;" the lower
end of the "pendulum" is acted on by the two "depressive steps or boards," upon
which every passenger who enters or leaves the vehicle has to tread. The wheels
have a few more teeth than there can be persons carried in the vehicle at one time.
The teeth have on them the Figures 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, & so on. A little hole is cut in
the side of the box, behind which one numeral only can appear at a time, each
rachet wheel has such corresponding hole or "window."
The "pendulum" is a bar of iron or other similar metal acting at its upper end
on the two above mentioned wheels through a slit in the bottom of the box. The

page_text: tr
register" (ie. the box with the wheels) & the suspending pin of the pendulum
are placed in a vertical line which runs between the two "depressive steps or boards
at or near the entrance of the vehicle (e.g., a jamb of the door), by which all who
enter or leave the vehicle have to pass. The lower end of the "pendulum" bas
two "arms" projecting horizontally in opposite directions, one close under one step
or board, the other under the other step or board. Each of these arms has at its
end a "spike" projecting upwards.
The steps or boards turn on hinges placed on one edge, the other edge of the step
being kept at a little height above its supports by springs. On the under side of
the steps or boards, almost opposite the two "spikes," are two "holes" so arranged
that when the steps turn on their own hinges, the "spikes" do not enter the
"holes," but when the "pendulum" swings on its suspending pin, the "
"spikes"
will enter the "holes." It must be understood
I. That the machine can only indicate correctly if the fares for each stage or part of
a stage of a journey that each passenger travels are of equal amount, or if the fare
for the first stage or part thereof that a passenger travels be of greater (or less)
amount, and for the rest of the stages or part of a stage of equal amount.
II. The machine requires
"
"
an overseer or the conductor to set the ratchet-
wheels so that O appears behind the windows at every station at which the fare is
raised.
It will be easily understood by looking at the accompanying Drawing, Fig. 1,
that if A, B, C, D, & E, represent passengers who enter the vehicle during the
course of the first stage; F, G, & II, those who enter during the course of the
second stage, & so on (the letter written higher in the column shewing the stage
during which the passenger got in; the lower letter the stage during which he got
out).
Then I. By summing together the numbers registered on the two wheels
respectively, we know that the sums ought to be equal (and will be equal if the
machine has been properly used) for the number of persons who get in and who get
out must evidently be the same.
II. By multiplying the total number of passengers thus found by the whole sum
that can be charged to any person who goes the whole journey which the vehicle
travels, subtracting from that sum the sum lost by passengers not entering during
an earlier stage (computed by multiplying the numbers registered on the incoming-
registering-wheel by the numbers in the left-hand column, written in the plan
lengthwise on the paper successively, and summing), and also subtracting the sum
lost by the passengers leaving at some stage before the last (computed by multi-
plying the numbers registered on the out-going-registering-wheel by the numbers
in the right-hand column, written lengthwise on the paper successively, & summing)
we get the whole sum which ought to be paid over for the whole journey. If an
overseer be employed
33.
(A.) The inside of the lid of the box or register to which the " overseer" has
access (and not the conductor), has a slate or printed form fastened to it, of which
Fig. II. is a sample. Upon this slate or printed form the "overseer
puts down
the registered numbers of those who have got in, & of those who have got out 4
during the preceding stage. These slates or forms are at the end of the day or
journey taken to the place where the conductor pays in the money received, &
are used to check his returns.
It should be added that the upper end of the pendulum must have a double-
armed bowed spring attached to its extremity in order to move the toothed wheels 5
on, & not to draw the toothed wheels back again; & that there must also be a
spring to bring back the pendulum, so that its upper end rests between the two
wheels immediately after the steps have been used.
(B.) If it be desirable to have no "overseer," the box might be made without
lock or other fastening, and the conductor could set the toothed wheels back so that 5
O appeared behind the "windows," the process of checking him would be as

page_text: follows:-Behind the 2 toothed wheels above described would be placed on the
same two axles, wheels similarly numbered, & having the same number of notches
or pegs acted on by two springs, one fastened to the under side of each toothed
wheel in such a way that when the toothed wheels move forward so as to shew
1, 2, 3, 4, & so on successively behind the windows, these wheels will move
forward so as to shew 1, 2, 3, 4, & so on, successively opposite a pointer on the
inside of the box; but when the toothed wheels are moved back so as to shew O
behind the "windows" again, these would not move back; thus, on these wheels
would be recorded the whole number of passengers who had occupied the vehicle in
the course of the journey. These wheels are not accessible to the conductor, being
covered by the toothed wheels which would be locked on by a bar and pad lock
through the top of the axles or other fastening, leaving no room between the edges
of the toothed wheels & the inside of the box to tamber with the wheels; the
official at the end of the journey would have the means of opening this lock or
fastening.

page_text: i
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edward Aden Beresford in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th September 1879.
EDWARD ADEN BERESFORD, of 70, St. George's Road, Pimlico, in the County of
Middlesex, Bachelor of Arts in the University of Cambridge. "AN IMPROVED
MACHINE OR APPARATUS FOR REGISTERING OR CHECKING THE RETURNS OF FARES
MADE BY THE CONDUCTORS OR OTHER OFFICIALS IN CHARGE OF OMNIBUSES,
TRAMWAY CARS, OR OTHER VEHICLES USED IN COMMON BY THE PUBLIC, FOR THE
BENEFIT OF THOSE ENTITLED TO SUCH FARES, AND SHEWING SUCH PERSONS
WHAT THE TRUE RETURNS SHOULD BE."
This Invention has for its object an improved machine or apparatus for registering
or checking the returns of fares made by the conductors or other officials in charge
of omnibuses, tramway cars, or other vehicles used in common by the public for
the benefit of those entitled to such fares, and shewing such persons what the true
returns should be.
For this purpose I apply to the vehicle a pendulous lever which I connect with
appliances in connection with moveable or hinged steps, such appliances being so
contrived that whenever a person ascends or descends the steps to enter or to leave
the vehicle, motion is imparted to the pendulous lever. But this motion takes
place in different directions according as the lower tread of the steps is first
depressed, and then the upper as in ascending to enter the vehicle; or on the
contrary, as in descending to leave the vehicle, the depression of the upper tread
takes place prior to that of the lower.
The pendulous lever actuates recording wheels or instruments which keep
separate registers of the movements in either direction, or in other words, of the
number of persons entering and leaving the vehicle.
The mechanism is illustrated by the annexed Drawing.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation; a is the lower, and 6 the upper of two fixed
steps corresponding to those ordinarily fitted to omnibuses and like vehicles. To
each of these there is hinged a moveable step, these latter are on the Drawing
marked c and d respectively and the hinges e. The moveable steps are, when no
weight is upon them, supported in raised positions in which they are represented in
the Drawings by springs f, f. Upon the steps a and b, the incline blocks marked
respectively g and h are fixed, and the moveable steps carry upon their under sides
bolts which are capable of sliding in guides in directions to and from the hinges e, e.
These bolts have incline blocks marked respectively i and k formed upon them, and
they are provided with springs 1, which in the case of the bolt on the lower step
tends to draw it outwards or away from the hinge at e, whilst in the case of the
bolt upon the upper step its spring tends to draw it inwards or towards the
hinge e by which this step is connected with the fixed step b. The lower bolt
carrying the incline i is connected by the link m with the pendulous lever n, which
has its fulcrum at n¹, and the bolt upon the upper step carrying the incline k is
similarly connected with the pendulous lever by a link o. These links are slotted
in the joints which connect them with the lever n, as the Drawing indicates.
The lever n at its upper end carries two springs p, and p', which serve respec- s
tively to propel the ratchet wheels q and r. When the steps are free and the lever
n in the position indicated in the Drawing, the springs p and p¹ stand clear of the
teeth of the ratchet wheels, but the movement of the lever to either side brings one
of these driving springs into position to engage with the teeth of the corresponding
ratchet wheel, and then the further movement of the pendulous lever n in the same
direction to the end of the swing permitted to it, propels the ratchet wheel the
distance of one tooth.
On a person entering the vehicle, when the foot is placed on the lower moveable
step c, the step descends until the inclined block i reaches the bottom of the notch

page_text: formed to receive it in the block g. The bolt being thus caused to slide in its
guides, the link m moves the pendulous lever n in such manner that its upper end
goes to the right a sufficient distance to cause the driving spring p to approach the
teeth of the ratchet wheel q, but without imparting motion to the wheel. This
movement of the lever n however causes the bolt on which is the incline block k to
be drawn by the link o into such a position that when the foot is placed on the
upper moveable step d. the block k passes down the incline on the outer end of the
block h fixed upon the step b, thereby causing the bolt to traverse in its guides &
distance sufficient to produce a further movement of the pendulous lever n in the
same direction as the first, sufficient to move the ratchet wheel q the space of a
tooth, and so the entry of the person into the vehicle is registered. The slot in the
link m permits of the further movement referred to above of the lever n, notwith-
standing that the lower moveable step c remains depressed.
Similarly, a person leaving the vehicle, treading first upon the upper moveable
step d, the incline block on the sliding bolt enters the notch in the block h on
the step b, thereby causing a partial movement of the lever n, sufficient to place
the incline block i on the sliding bolt of the lower step c in such a position that on
this step being in turn depressed, the block i slides down the incline on the inner
end of the block g, and so completes the movement of the lever n, causing it by
means of the spring pl to propel the ratchet wheel r forward the space of a tooth.
The wheels q and r also serve as dials; they are figured on the face, and pointers
are provided at 8 and s'. The figures on the wheel q as they come to the pointer
indicate the number of entrances into the vehicle since the wheel was last set to .
zero. Similarly, the figures on the wheel r as they come to the pointer indicate
the number of exits since this wheel was set to zero. If desired, counting wheels
may be provided in connection with each of the wheels q and r, as indicated in
Figure 2, to keep a continuous register of the entrances and exits, notwithstanding
the movement of the wheels q and r to zero as often as may be convenient.
The recording part of the apparatus is contained in a locked box, and when the
machine is in use its indications are noted at the end of each stage of the journey.
The moveable steps are each provided on three sides with a flange or lip projecting
downwards, and enclosing the mechanism between the moveable and the fixed
step.
The pendulous lever n, in place of operating ratchet wheels, may be caused to
give motion to markers, and bring them into contact with a paper drum or drums
revolving continuously by connection with the wheels of the vehicle.
In either case I obtain by means of my mechanism a record of the number of
entries and exits at each stage of the journey.
The fares should be so arranged that a sum is charged for each stage or section
into which the entire journey is divided; nevertheless, if desired, a further sum may
be charged for the first stage travelled by any passenger. Then from the indica-
tions of the machine, the calculation at the end of the journey of the amount which
should have been received in fares is easy.
The total of the entries during an entire journey being known, this number
multiplied by the highest possible fare, would be the sum of the fares if every
passenger had made the entire journey; but from this there has to be deducted
the amount, so to speak, lost by passengers entering, not at the first stage, but at
some subsequent stage of the journey; and also there has to be deducted the amount,
so to speak, lost by passengers having left the vehicle before the final stage of the
journey. Both of these sums are readily deducted from the record. The residue is
the sum for which the conductor of the vehicle shall account..
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The combination with the steps by which passengers enter and leave a
vehicle of apparatus which records automatically the number of entrances and exits,
the recording parts being moved from the steps, and in one manner when the

page_text: pressure is first on the lower and then on the upper step as in ascending, and in
another manner when the pressure is first on the upper step, and then on the
lower, as in descending.
Second. The machine or apparatus substantially as herein described for indicating
fares and checking the returns made by persons in charge of omnibuses and other
public vehicles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Aden Beresford, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight bundred and seventy nine.
EDWARD ADEN BERESFORD. (L.S.)