Improvements in the Means or Apparatus for Checking the Length of Time Cabs and other Vehicles are on Hire.
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in the Means or Apparatus for Checking the
Length of Time Cabs and other Vehicles are on Hire.
I, WILLIAM HUTCHINSON of 118 Camp Road, Leeds in the County of York
Boot and Shoe Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention is to enable proprietors of cabs or other vehicles, and
other persons, to check the length of time a vehicle has been engaged.
For this purpose I employ an ordinary clock or timepiece, which when such
vehicle is engaged, the occupier or hirer of the vehicle by setting down on the seat
brings the timepiece in gear with an indicator, such indicator being thus set in
motion registers the time such vehicle bas been on hire.
The seat of the vehicle when pressed down by being sat upon is held in that
position by a catch which cannot be removed except by the driver or others in
authority in possession of the key.
The dial and clock or timepiece are enclosed in a case so that they cannot be
tampered with by the driver.
Should the occupant or occupants of the vehicle get out, but at the same time
wish to continue the hire, the driver is not expected to interfere with the seat or
stop the operation of the indicator; if he does so the hirer will be informed thereof
by the ringing of a bell caused by the second movement of the seat.
When the vehicle is not on hire the clock is not in gear with the indicator,
consequently there is no movement imparted to such indicator.

page_text: i
Improvements in the Means or Apparatus for Checking the
Length of Time Cabs and other Vehicles are on Hire.
217
I, WILLIAM HUTCHINSON of 118 Camp Road Leeds in the County of York,
Boot and Shoe Merchant, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to enable proprietors of cabs or other vehicles to
check the length of time a vehicle has been engaged.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
J
Fig. 1 is a front elevation shewing my apparatus with two dial plates. Fig. 2a
front elevation of my apparatus with one dial plate, both applied to vehicle.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of vehicle with apparatus applied thereto.
When I employ two dial plates as shewn at A and B Fig. 1 I arrange the
apparatus as follows:-
A is an ordinary timepiece which gives the correct time of day and in connection
therewith I provide a shaft C, one end of which is carried in a bearing, provided
in a short shaft D, on this short shaft D is provided a clutch piece or boss E which
is fixed thereon, and on the other shaft,C is provided a sliding clutch piece F, this
sliding clutch piece F when engaged with the clutch piece E causes the shaft O to
I revolve and give movement to the hand G in front of the dial plate B which is
caused to travel the same speed as the small hand H on the dial plate A.
Although it may be arranged that by sitting on the seat, the hand G on the
second dial B may be caused to operate, I prefer that a platform I hinged at the
centre J and covering the bottom of the vehicle should be one of the means
employed for bringing into operation the registering apparatus.
Any person getting into the vehicle and treading on the platform. I would
depress the same, and by such depression through the medium of the chains K
and levers L would engage the clutches, thus bringing into operation the hand G
on the dial plate B at the same time lowering or pulling down the flag M which
is also connected by a rod N to one of the levers L.
By pulling down the flag M it is clearly shewn that the vehicle is engaged.
The movement of the hand G cannot be stopped by any after movement of the
platform Ibut only by raising the flag M to the disengaged position.
Should the occupant or occupants of the vehicle get out, but at the same time
wish to continue the hire, the driver is not expected to stop the operation of the
indicator, should he do so this can be detected by the hirer.
The small pointer o on the dial plate B is employed and geared so as to register
the time the vehicle has been engaged for several days.
When one dial plate P is employed as shewn at Fig. 2 I employ a similar
arrangement for bringing the registering apparatus into operation as that shewn
at Fig. 1, with reference to platform I, chains K and flag M, but arrest or set in

page_text: motion the small pointers Q by similar arrangements to those employed in a stop
watch. The required movement for this being imparted through lever R to which
the flag rod N and chains K are attached.
The apparatus is preferably applied at the back part of vehicle as shown at
Fig. 3 and suitable guide pulleys S can be arranged for conducting the chains K
from the platform I to my apparatus.
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
The general arrangement of a timepiece in combination with and for imparting
motion to a registering apparatus, for denoting the time vehicles are engaged or
on hire, and means employed for bringing such registering apparatus into operation,
substantially as herein set forth.