Year: 1886

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has relation to a novel improved system and apparatus for
indicating fares and detecting any irregularities in the receipt and disposition of
the same.
As a feature of my fare indicating and detecting system I employ, instead of the
usual ticket, slip or coupon, which is usually no more than a representation of the
fare paid, a device preferably a small ball or globe of rubber, gutta percha or other
suitable material of about the intrinsic value of a fare.
d
Such a device is a preventative of counterfeiting or stealing, for the reason that
the cost of manufacture is so great that nothing can be gained by obtaining them
from any but the proper source and for the further reason that their bulk precludes
the possibility of carrying. sufficient on the person to repay the surreptitious act of
stealing or otherwise unlawfully procuring the fare balls.
For use on railways, ferries and other places where the rate of fare varies
İ propose employing balls of different sizes and different values, thus adapting the
balls to the same uses for which the fare tickets or coupons are now employed.
The apparatus embodying my improvements is designed with special reference to
the employment of the balls and consists in the novel construction, combination
and arrangement of devices as hereinafter described, whereby provision is made
for 1st, allotting to each purchaser or payer of fare a single ball for each fare paid,
2nd, registering on a dial or other indicator the sale of such fare, 3rd, ensuring the
proper disposition or depositing of the balls in their receptacle, 4th, restoring the
balls to their original position so that the ticket agent may use the stock over and
over again, and 5th, in the provision of means supplementary to those already
referred to whereby any cheating, stealing, tampering with or collusion in regard
to fares is prevented or detected.
Essentially my invention comprises a fare receptacle corresponding in purpose
with the fare box ordinarily employed on elevated railways or the like, a tube
or tubes leading from the receptacle to the desk or office of the cashier and termi-
1

page_text: nating in a discharging apparatus by means of which the balls are discharged
in succession at the will of the cashier by operating a suitable valve, the discharge
of each such ball being accurately registered by means of a suitable device
connected to the discharging valve.
·
The tube or tubes above referred to are designed to contain the balls and to
provide for their security from appropriation by the employers in charge.
In connection with the aforesaid tubes I propose to employ and will presently
describe in detail, devices for causing the accumulated balls to be transferred from
the receptacle in which they are deposited by the passenger to the discharging
apparatus at the will of the gate keeper.
Referring now to the special construction of the apparatus A A' designates the
tubes designed respectively for the accomodation of two sizes of balls representing
different values or fares. These tubes are identical in their construction and have
the same appliances, hence a description of one tube will be sufficient.
Selecting the tube A for the purpose of description, said tube is of an inverted
U shape with legs a a¹ of different lengths. The leg a, which is the shorter, rises
from and is in direct communication with the discharging apparatus, while leg a¹
rises alongside of the receiving box. The section or length A uniting the two lega
is slightly inclined downwardly from its point of curvature and connection with
the leg a¹, in order that the balls when lifted from the leg a¹ into the part A", will
roll down towards and enter the leg a. The contents of the tube may at all times
be observed through a longitudinal slit b, cut in any convenient portion of the tube
and formed in the leg a, and the inclined portion A". A series of indicating
points b¹ b¹ suitably numbered, serve to indicate at a glance the contents of the
slotted portion of the tube, thereby avoiding the necessity of counting the balls.
The discharging box designated by letter C, consists of a suitable casing having
in its front portion an aperture c through which the balls are allowed to escape one
at a time within reach of the passengers. Between this aperture and the end of
the tube leg a, which latter communicates with the interior of the box, is located a
valve d consisting of a pivotal block having in its periphery, a recess d¹ adapted to
receive a single ball. When this recess is turned upward it coincides with the leg a
of the tube and admits therefrom a single ball only. When the valve is turned
forward, the ball is discharged through the aperture c, while the lower end of the
leg a is closed, preventing the escape of other balls, hence it will be seen but one
ball can be discharged at a time, and only by a direct movement of the valve.
The valve is connected by means of a crank or eccentric e on its shaft, and a
connecting rod e¹, with a permutating, registering or indicating apparatus, and
having its dial exposed through an opening in the side of the leg, by means of
which registering or indicating apparatus, a tally is made of each fare received and
ball discharged, and a check therefore had upon the cashiers operations. The valve
is actuated by the cashier through the medium of a valve rod f within convenient
reach of his hand, or connected to a treadle which may for convenience be operated
by his foot, so as to leave his hands free in making change or counting. The dis-
charging box and registering apparatus are so placed as to be inaccessible to the
cashier, while the discharge aperture is towards the front of his desk, within access
of the passenger, but out of reach of the cashier.
G designates the receptacle into which the balls are dropped by the passengers as
they pass through the gate. This receptacle corresponds in its general appearance
to the ticket box ordinarily employed on elevated railways and is formed with an
opening g, on top and with glass windows g¹ g¹ through which. the interior of the
box may be observed by the gate keeper.
Within the box G are placed two inclined racks H H¹ which slant from end to
end downwardly towards the point where the balls leave the receptacle and
laterally towards two similarly slanting shelves I I. The racks H H¹ are formed
with ribs h h between which are slots h¹h. The slots in the upper rack are
sufficiently large to permit the smaller sized balls to fall there through onto the
lower rack H¹ while the larger balls down upon the shelf I and from thence into

page_text: shelf I¹.
To prevent the small balls from rolling on the ribs of the upper rack I provide
the device which consists of a transverse bar from which depend the fingers q q¹
of different lengths. The fingers 9 terminate above the spaces between the ribs a
sufficient distance to allow the larger balls to pass thereunder, while the shorter
finger q' terminate close to the ribs and hence act as guards or fenders which will
arrest the passage of the smaller balls and compel them to drop down on to the
lower racks.
.
J. designates a drawer which is arranged below the racks H H¹ its purpose being
to receive any article, other than the balls before referred to, which may be thrown
into the receptacle, and which may be drawn out at any time for the removal of
its contents without interfering with or delaying the depositing of the balls in their
respective tubes. kk designates rods placed across the receptacle and along the
edges of the shelves I, I¹ their purpose being to prevent the balls from rolling off
sidewise from the shelves.
Upon the shelves k' k¹ and forming a part of the same, are placed strips k³ ³
connected at one end to handles k¹¹ which project out through the sides of the
receptacle G, alongside of the tubes A¹ A and within easy reach of the gate keeper.
By means of the handles k¹ k¹ these strips may be reciprocated and the balls caused
to fall into line and pass along the shelves to their respective tubes, thereby
avoiding any jamming of the balls or obstruction accumulation of the same upon
the shelves I I¹.
The leg a¹ of the tube is provided with a piston L, having a lateral arm 1, which
projects through a slot ¹ in said leg and has connected to it, a handle l by means
of which the piston is raised and lowered for the purpose hereinafter described.
At M, is a sleeve or joint opening into the tube leg a¹ and formed with an
aperture m which constitutes the inlet for the balls from the receptacle G. Within
the sleeve M is a tubular valve N, having an opening m³, which when the valve is
in one position, coincides with the inlet m, and allows the balls to enter the tube,
while when the valve is turned to another position the wall of the latter closes said
opening. Through. a slot o in the sleeve M a stem o', which is connected to the
valve projects outwards, and has a thumb piece by which the valve may be
manipulated.
Above the valve M, and within the leg a¹ is arranged a gravity valve p, which
normally lies crosswise of the tube, resting at its free end on a shelf or stock p',
and preventing the balls above it from falling down while allowing those below to
pass by freely.
In carrying my invention into practical use, say for instance, on elevated railway
stations, each cashier is (in the morning) allotted a given number of balls, say two
hundred which must be duly accounted for in the evening to the proper officer or
collector.
These balls are placed in the tube, by first dropping them in the receptacle.
Between the valve M and the bottom of the tube leg a¹ there is space for, say
50 balls, and when this leg is filled, the piston L is lifted causing the 50 balls to
rise into the upper section of the leg a¹. When the piston is again raised with a
supply or load of balls, those in the upper part of the leg are displaced and caused
to be rolled over through the tube A, into the short leg a¹ when they are at the
disposal of the cashier. Accordingly, it will be seen, a given number of balls
answers for all purposes of daily sale and operation, as they may be transferred
from one leg of the tube to the other according as required, thus keeping the
cashier at all times supplied with sufficient balls for the use of the passengers.
The register indicates every fare received, hence the cashier cannot steal fares,
but must account for every one indicated by the register. Should a passenger fail
to deposit his fare ball, an inspection of the tube will at any time indicate the loss
and enable the Company to take proper precautions against the improper use of
the ball, which the act may suggest.
÷

page_text: If it should happen that a counterfeit ball is deposited, the fact can be detected
the same day by the contents of the tube and means immediately employed to
detect any further or wholesale use of counterfeit balls.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :—
1st. In a fare recording apparatus the combination with a ball of a suitable
receptacle for the same, a delivering apparatus arranged to deliver the balls singly,
and a tube connecting said receptacle and delivering apparatus, substantially as
described.
2nd. In a fare registering device the combination with a delivering apparatus
and a tube or tubes leading. thereto, of a receptacle connected to said tube or tubes
and provided with slotted racks adapted and arranged so that balls of different
sizes will be automatically separated and delivered to different tubes, substantially
as described.
3rd. In a fare recording apparatus the combination with a series of balls and a
tube for the reception of the same, of a delivering and recording apparatus con-
sisting of a pocket or valve adapted to discharge but one ball at a time, means
substantially as described for operating the same, and a registering device operated
by the movement of said pocket substantially as set forth.
4th. In a fare recording apparatus comprising a U shaped tube or tubes for the
reception of balls, a delivery box or other device connected therewith, and a
receptacle for the deposition of the balls, of a piston by the movement of which
said balls are transferred from one section or leg of the tube to the other substan-
tially as described.
5th. In a fare recording apparatus comprising a U shaped tube or tubes for the
reception of balls, having a piston in one end by the movement of which the balls
are shifted, the combination with said tube of a valve for closing and opening the
inlet from the receiving box, and a valve to prevent the return of shifter balls
substantially as described.
6th. In a fare recording apparatus adapted for the use, as checks or tickets, of
balls or globes, a slotted tube or tubes having a scale on its surface to indicate the
number of balls or globes in the tube substantially as described.
7th. In a system for recording and indicating fares, a fare check or equivalent
device of about or greater than the intrinsic value of the fare charged.
Dated this 16th day of Feb 1985
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.