Improvements in Fare-indicating Apparatus for Cabs and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fare-indicating Apparatus for Cabs and other
Vehicles.
I, FRIEDRICH WELHELM GUSTAV BRUIN, of No. 1, Schaper Strasse, Berlin, in
the Empire of Germany, Director, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in fare-indicating apparatus for cabs
and other public vehicles; and the object of such improvements is to enable
the driver to state by feeling, hearing, or seeing or by all three or by two of
them, whether the apparatus is in or out of function or working according to a
more or less elevated tariff or the like.
As with the iare-indicators for cabs or the like the dial with the fare-indica-
tions must be turned towards the interior of the vehicle to show the passenger
what fare is due, the driver can not easily, check whether he placed the apparatus
in a condition corresponding with the given circumstances, the indications being
turned away from him.
To avoid such inconvenience I arrange suitable projections on the handle
serving to put the apparatus in proper condition. If such handle is formed with
several arms, I give each such arm a different number of projections for instance
when provided with four arms, I put one projection on the first arm, two pro-
jections on the second, three projections on the third, and four projections on
the fourth arm. Instead of projections, notches can be used or different forms
for such projections or notches may be used in order to enable the driver to
ascertain by feeling which arm is in a certain position and thereby to know, in
which way the apparatus will work.
With such palpable signal an audible signal may be connected for instance
by placing upon the adjusting shaft a disk provided with projections (or suitable
notches) the number of which corresponds with the number of projections on the
adjusting handle. When by a spring the one arm of a lever is pressed against
such projections (or notches) a corresponding number of strokes will be produced
by the other arm on a bell. Any other device may be used suitable for producing
sounds.
Such palpable or audible signals will facilitate the control by the driver of
the fare-indicating apparatus even at night or in the darkness. But he may be
able to see, for which function the apparatus is installed, by providing a suitable
opening on that side of the apparatus turned towards the driver, and arranging
behind such opening a disk, which is set in motion by means of the adjusting
handle, and the indications of which become visible one by one according to the
function of the apparatus at the moment.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fare-indicating Apparatus for Cabs and other
Vehicles.
I, FRIEDRICH WILHELM GUSTAV BRUHN, of No. 1, Schaper-strasse, Berlin, in
the Empire of Germany, Director, 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; —
This invention relates to improvements in fare-indicating apparatus for cabs
and other public vehicles; and the object of such improvements is to enable
the driver to state by feeling, hearing, or seeing, or by all three or by two of
them, whether the apparatus is in or out of function or working according to a
more or less elevated tariff or the like.
As with the fare-indicators for cabs or the like the dial with the fare-indica-
tions must be turned towards the interior of the vehicle to show the passenger
what fare is due, the driver can not easily, check whether he placed the apparatus
in a condition corresponding with the given circumstances, the indications being
turned away from him.
The arrangements, by which such inconvenience may be avoided are shown on
the accompanying drawing, in which similar letters of reference denote similar
parts throughout the several views, and in which
Figure 1 shows a rear view of the apparatus as seen by the driver.
Figure 2 shows the same view, partly in section with the handle and the cover
plate removed, .and.
Figure 3 shows a plan view of Figure 1 partly in section.
According to one part of my invention on the handle b serving to put the
apparatus in the proper condition are arranged suitable projections a.
If such handle is formed with several arms, as indicated in the drawing, I put
one projection on the first arm, two projections on the second, three projections on
the third, and four projections on the fourth arm. Instead of projections, notches
can be used; or different forms or projections or notches may be used, in order to
enable the driver to ascertain by feeling which arm is in a certain position and
thereby to know, in which way the apparatus will work.
With such feeling signal an audible signal may be connected, for instance by
placing upon the adjusting shaft c a disc e (Figures 2 and 3) provided with pro-
jections el (or suitable notches), the number of which corresponds with the
number of projections on the adjusting handle. When by a spring i the one
arm d of a lever dd is pressed against such projections (or notches) e¹ a corre-
sponding number of strokes will be produced by the other arm d¹ on a bell g.
Or instead of this arrangement any other suitable sound producing device may
be used.
Such feeling or audible signals will facilitate the control by the driver of the
fare-indicating apparatus even at night or in the darkness. In order that he may be
able to see the apparatus is provided with a suitable opening h on that side of the
apparatus turned towards the driver, and arranging behind such opening a
disc f, which is set in motion by means of the adjusting handle b, the indications
of such disc become visible one by one according to the function of the apparatus
at the moment.
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

page_text: ments on the operating handle of projections or notches or their equivalents
by means of which the driver can ascertain by feeling what position the mechan-
isms of the apparatus are occupying at times, substantially as herein before set
forth.
2. In a fare-indicating apparatus for cabs and other vehicles the arrange-
ment on the shaft of the operating handle of projections or notches or their
equivalents, or of a disc or the like provided with two projections or notches or
their equivalents, in combination with a knocker or clapper and a bell or other
alarm signal by means of which the driver can ascertain by hearing what position
the mechanisms of the apparatus are occupying at times, substantially as herein
before set forth.
3. In a fare-indicating apparatus for cabs and other vehicles the arrange-
ment on the shaft of the operating handle of a disc or the like provided with
figures visible to the driver through an opening in the cover plate, by means of
which the driver can ascertain what position the mechanisms of the apparatus are
Occupying at times substantially as herein before set forth.
4. In a fare-indicating apparatus for cabs and other vehicles the combination of
two or all three of the devices as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 substantially as
herein set forth.
1 1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.