IMPROVEMENTS IN DIAL INDICATORS FOR CHECKING THE DRIVERS OF PUBLIC CARRIAGES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Haas, junior, Watch and Clock
Manufacturer, of No. 104, Boulevart Sébastopol, Paris, France,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DIAL INDICATORS FOR CHECKING
THE DRIVERS OF PUBLIC CARRIAGES."
:
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Benjamin Haas at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 27th June 1878, pursuant to the 9th Section
of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
HAAS, junior, Watch and Clock Manufacturer, of No. 104, Boulevart
Sébastopol, Paris, France, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
DIAL INDICATORS FOR CHECKING THE DRIVERS OF PUBLIC CARRIAGES," and have
petitioned Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators,
+

page_text: work producing these several movements is contained between two plates
in the ordinary manner supported by pillars. On the front one is a
false plate bearing the dials on which hands indicate, as described, one
the true time, another the distance or number of kilomètres traversed,
and another the sum to pay. Another hand is moved by the driver by
means of a special governor to one of the three indications written on
the plate bearing the dials, namely, disengaged, engaged, speed.
The same letters of reference indicate like parts shown in the different
Figures.
"Carriage Disengaged."-The above signal is in communication with
the axis a, Figure 2, which bears a crank a¹ articulated to the rack b, the
opposite end of which bears teeth engaging with six pins fixed outside a
small plate c, destined to receive two projecting parts, one on the
circumference, and the other on the flat, to arrest it in one of the three
positions adopted as the mode of occupation or hiring.
When the carriage is disengaged, which is the subject now under
discussion, the projecting part of the circumference of the plate c has
raised the lever & mounted on the axis e. This lever d dislodges by its
opposite end the lever f, the axis of which f¹ bears inside the frame a
catch f³, see Fig. 3, in communication with the ratchet wheel of the
kilometric hand. It is in this displacement that the lever f frees the
catch f³. This lever ƒ may be reinstated in its original position by a
spring g, Fig: 2, and at its extremity fit is furnished with a metal

page_text: piece below, which locks the wheels of the tablets where the fares to pay
are indicated. At another point f³, Fig. 2, this lever fraises a spring
catch h, which acts on the ratchet wheel i, fixed on the plate of the
centime tablet, and allows it to return to zero by aid of the barrel
spring. j. At another end f the lever has raised a spring catch k,
which in like manner as for the centimes locks the ratchet wheel & placed
under the plate of the frames, which returns to zero by the action of
the spring placed under the barrel j. At a point of the lever d, Fig. 2,
a pin presses the steel lever 1, the axis of which is 1, and which bears a
fork & sliding in a groove made on the barrel of the crown wheel m,
which gears with the wheel n governing the kilometric wheelwork.
This wheel m is driven back, and consequently liberated from that n in
such wise that the time wheelwork is cut off completely from the
kilometric, and works singly.
!
It has been said that on the plate c was a projecting piece on the
surface opposed to the pins. In the present position of "carriage
disengaged," it will be observed that this projecting piece has raised
the lever o, the axis of which o' is supported by a square, the
extremity o² bears a pin which traverses the plate and rests upon the
lever p, articulated at p (see the plan Fig. 5), which bears at its other
end a fork sliding on a steel roller mounted on the axis of the wheel q,
Figs. 3 and 5; this wheel being one of the principal organs of tho
kilometric wheelwork, a special description here follows:-Its object is
to lock or unlock the kilometric hand according to the mode of hiring
the vehicle. This wheel q represented in detail, Figs. 7 and 8, is loose 1
on its axis, it is furnished at its circumference with small catches I
which traverse its thickness, and act in the teeth of a crown ratchet J
which is fixed on the axis to draw it along when the wheel 9 governs
the ratchet, and to allow on the other hand of its sliding when governed
by the ratchet. This wheel J.bears above it a circular projection hollow
inside in the form of a hollow cone, and in which another circular
projection turned outside at the same angle enters and exercises a
pressure on the spring K, maintained between these two picces by the
action of another spring L formed of two small blades of arched steel,
which act on the wheel by the intermediary of a steel. grooved wheel
manoeuvred by the lever P, as already described. The result of this
combination is that the pressure exercised by these two spring blades L

page_text: on the wheel q is produced on the two conical parts, and causes them to
adhere one to the other, rendering the movement of the ratchet solid
with that of the wheel q, and reciprocally; but if by the intermediary of
the grooved wheel on the base of which the two spring blades act the
latter is raised, the pressure which united the two conical parts no
longer existing, they are repelled by the spring K and become entirely
independent of one another, as well as of the movement of each wheel
which bears them. This will explain the effect produced by the
projecting part of the small plate c, Fig. 2, and the intermediary of the
levers o and p. At a point o³ of the lever o, Fig. 2, is a hole in which a
lever r is engaged, the centre movement of which at r¹ allows the end rí
to lower the hooked end of the flexible lever 1, to separate the latter
from the bent end of the lever s.
From what precedes it will be understood that the kilometric wheel,
work, and that of the charges to pay being fixed, and the carriage sta-
tionary, it is only the time works that act; this latter, Figs. 3 and 5,
consists simply of a barrel spring t, and four wheels or pinions with circular
escapement, and of which one wheel t¹ establishes the communication
with the kilometric wheelwork, by gearing with the crown wheel m³,
Fig. 2, borne on the same shaft as the wheel m. A button u, Figs. 4
and 5, placed behind the plate in communication with the minute wheel,
work serves to set the hands at. the hour.
"Carriage engaged." The carriage being engaged, the signal "dis-
engaged".is displaced, and by this movement the axis.a, Fig. 2, which
conducted the rack. b. by the crank a¹, the small plate c'makes à move-
ment of a third of a circle, the lever d, no longer being raised by the:
salient part of the circumference, leaves the levers fand free; by this
movement the ŵliecl ṁ gears with the wheel n of the kilometric wheel-
work, and the works of the charges to pay is ready to act, and tho
charges appear successively in the tablets. On the other hand the lever
being no longer on the horizontal salient part, frees, by means of the
internal lever p, Fig. 5, the wheel q, which becomes solid with the
kilometric wheelwork, and is thus actuated by it. The small lever >
also frees the bent end of the flexible steel lever 1, to lock it with the,
bent end of the lever s.
"Action of the Mechanism, the Carriage being in Motion." By means
of a transmission of motion arriving from one of the carriage wheels,""

page_text: and which will hereafter be explained, a lever arm v, Fig. 4, which
oscillates on an axis v¹, which it governs, produces a backward and
forward movement at each turn of the wheel; on this axis is fixed,
inside the frame, a plate x, Fig. 3, which bears a circular catch, which
in oscillating engages with a ratchet wheel a¹ and causes it to advance
one tooth at each revolution of the carriage wheel, this ratchet wheel
is maintained in position by a spring catch x², a pinion mounted on
the axis of this ratchet ¹ sets in motion the wheel q, by aid of two
pinions and intermediary wheels; this wheel q, by the action of the
lever o, solid with all its pieces, gears with and commands a wheel y¹
mounted on the axis y of the kilometric hand; this wheel y, as well as
that y³, is keyed to the axis y; this second wheel has 32 teeth, which.
represents as many kilomètres as are indicated on the dial. This axis y
becomes free when the lever p releases the wheel q, and by aid of the
spring contained in the barrel z, Fig. 2, the kilometric hand returns to its
point of departure guided by the detent 2¹. The ratchet wheel y³, Fig. 3,
advancing either by the wheel of the carriage or by the clock movement
raises the catch f³ at each kilomètre traversed, and consequently
imparts a backward and forward movement to the lever f, since this
catch fis articulated to the axis f¹ of the lever f; this movement
however is limited, so that the points f* and f* do not raise the spring
catches h and k, but by aid of the part f", which encounters the pin
f fixed on the steel lever A, Fig. 3, bearing two pallets, which form an
escapement to allow of the successive passage of the three pins fixed
on the wheel B of the wheelwork of the charges to pay; a third of a
turn only of this wheel occurs at each movement of the detent. On the
axis of this wheel B a plate C is mounted on a square outside the pallet
plate; this plate C itself bears three pins, which at each third of a turn
of the wheel advances the ratchet wheel i one tooth; this wheel is fixed
on the socket bearing the centime dial D, and communicates with the
charges to pay, marked on the dials.
The dial D bears below three or more small spring catches whose
object is to lock one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel fixed under the
dial frame. This mechanism is subordinate in number and disposition
to the tariff of the administration. It has been mentioned that the
movable pieces return to their primitive positions by aid of the lever f,
which fixes the ratchet wheels and allows the dials to return to zero.

page_text: The return course of the centime dial, as well as the kilometric hand,
is limited by a Maltese cross detent r¹ and r³.
It has been observed that in the case of the "carriage engaged" the
crown wheel m by gearing with the wheel n resumed the communication
3 of the hour movement with that of the kilometric movement, on the
other hand the wheel q being equally the motor of the kilometric hand
by means of the carriage wheel two motive powers occur which might
oppose each other, considering that the time wheelwork always works
uniformly at the rate of 8 kilomètres the hour, whilst the carriage wheel
may vary the kilometric wheelwork by reason of a variable speed, and
without any maximum or minimum limit; nevertheless it is necessary
at all times the hour works should take the conduct of the kilometric
works; with this view, on the axis of the ratchet wheel x¹ is fixed (on a
square outside the pallet plate below the dial) a star snail E, Fig. 2,
divided into four; the teeth of this star are destined to raise an inclined
plane at the end of the lever 8, the axis of which is at 81; this lever bears
at its opposite extremity an articulated hook, which passes progressively
on the hook of the flexible lever i, but when this lever falls suddenly
by the effect of the spring F in the bottom of the tooth of the star E the
hook of the lever a encounters that of the lever 1, imparts to it a
receding motion, and by means of the fork & locks the wheel of the
crown m, and by this action frees the kilometric wheelwork when it is
conducted by the wheel q. This movement occurs frequently in locking.
the kilometric works, and in like manner it is always ready to be
conducted by the clock movement.
As soon as the carriage stops the crown wheel m being no longer
periodically locked becomes sole master of the kilometric wheelwork
by the transmission it receives from the clock movement.
"Slow or Quick Movement."-This indicator shows exactly the speed
of the carriage whether it is very slow or very quick. If the hirer
desires to go a long distance, in telling the driver to go slowly the
speed will then only represent three or four kilomètres the hour, and
the fare will be in proportion and to the prejudice of the hirer. In this
case the driver lowers the signal completely, and then manœuvres the
axis a, Fig. 2, which by the rack 6 turns the small plate c another third
of a turn so as to cause the lever o to act by means of the projection

page_text: placed on the disc c. This lever makes the same movement as in the
case where the carriage was disengaged, that is to say, it locks the
wheel q on freeing the kilometric works of the impulsion of the carriage,
and is master only of the hour works by means of the crown wheel m.
The lever d is in the same position as when the carriage is engaged,
that is to say, it allows by aid of the lever ƒ (as already described) of
the working of the kilomteric hand the works of the charges to pay, and
the dials indicating them in suchwise that whether the carriage moves at
a certain pace or is stationary the charges to pay will only be at the rate
of 8 kilomètres the hour.
"
Marking."-In checking the work accomplished by the carriage
during the day a card divided into 24 hours is placed behind the indicator.
On this card is marked by means of points (to be described hereafter) the
different circumstances under which the carriage has been engaged.
One of these cards, shown by Figure 6, gives exactly the amount of work
done in a day. 6 divisions will be observed on this card on which the
points mark. The marks shown on the circle nearest the centre show
each time the carriage is hired, and consequently the number of passen-
gers that have occupied it during the day. The marks in the second
circle show each time that the carriage has become disengaged. The
third, seen only at × show when the indicator has been set at slow
speed. The first point shows the commencement of a journey, and the
second the end of it. The marks on the fourth circle are much finer,
and indicate when the carriage is in motion. Each of these points marks
a distance of 500 mètres. The fifth circle shows the kilomètres traversed
and the fares paid to the driver. The sixth circle is divided into fifths
to facilitate reckoning. This card shows that the carriage left the depôt
at 6 o'c. in the morning & returned at 12 o'c. at midnight, there
have been 12 travellers, 101 kilomètres have been paid for, and 76 kilo-
mètres traversed from 9 in the morning to 10 in the evening, a slow
journey of half an hour; therefore supposing that the tariff is 75 centimes
the kilomètre and 25 centimes the others, the receipts would be 30 franos
25 centimes. The mechanism for producing these different marks will
be seen on reference to Fig. 4.
The card is supported by a plate G fixed on a socket G¹, mounted on
the barrel t, Fig. 5, forming part with it, and consequently makes with
it a turn in 24 hours. In fixing the card another plato H, shown by the

page_text: outside circle and full size, furnished with 6 internal grooves, which
facilitate the marking, is adapted to the socket G', and presses the card
by means of a spring button mounted bayonet fashion.
Supposing the carriage engaged the driver manoeuvres his signal by
means of the axis a as already described. The axis 1 makes a third of
a turn with the plate 2 fixed at the extremity of this axis. On this
plate is a notch 3, in which the end of a lever 4 having a point at its
other end penetrates by this movement. The effect of the movement of
this lever should occur in the half passage of this part of a revolution
so as to allow time for the pointing of and the withdrawl of the point
from the card.
The carriage being disengaged the pointing or marking is effected
by the lever 5 in precisely the same manner. The lever 5¹ by the same
means marks the movement of the carriage, but it is the only one that
marks at the starting and returning of the signal to show how long the
slow movement has lasted.
For marking the distance traversed and represented by the small
marks in the fourth circle (see Fig. 6) a lever arm 6, whose axis is at 7,
and whose end 8 traverses the plate, and is raised by the teeth of a star
wheel 9, Fig. 3, mounted on the axis of the wheel 10, which governs the
star wheel, and dependent to the kilometric wheelwork, only turns
when the carriage moves, as has been already explained. By means of
the inclination of the teeth of this star wheel the lever 6 is raised pro-
gressively by its extremity 8, and falls back sharply in the bottom of the
tooth by the pressure of the spring 11. By this movement the lever 6
in falling by its end 12, armed with a presser foot, moves from the bottom
to the top a point 13 by means of a small articulated lever 14, and conse
quently marks a, point on the card.. As soon as its action is accomplished
the point immediately returns to its place by aid of a small spiral
spring.
By the combination of the number of kilometric wheels the star
wheel 9 only moves the lever every 500 mètres.
The points for marking the kilomètres due or payed for, represented
in the fifth circle, as shown Fig. 6, are only marked during the occupation
of the carriage, shown by the signals "engaged," "disengaged," "speed."

page_text: For effecting this marking a lever 15 articulated at 16, whose end 17
traverses the plate, is raised by the teeth of the star wheel 18, Fig. 3,
fixed on the axis of a wheel B dependent of the wheelwork of the fares
to pay. At the other end 19 of the lever is a fork guiding a small lever
destined to raise a point 20, which marks on the card; the whole is 5
returned to its place by a spring 21. This marking is effected at the end
of every kilomètre when the wheelwork of the prices to pay are set in
motion, as already described.
In the sixth circle are marks above the kilomètres dividing them into
fifths to facilitate reckoning, the marks are produced by means of the 1
point 22 moved by the lever 23, identical with those 14 and 19. This
lever itself is set in motion by a small inclined plane placed under the
5 toothed star wheel 24, maintained by a spring jumper, and it is moved
by a small spring arm 25 fixed at the end of the lever 15. This lever
makes a backward and forward movement at each kilomètre, and 1
advances the star wheel one tooth. This wheel having 5 teeth makes
one turn for every 5 kilomètres, and at each turn moves the lever, which
produces the marking.
Transmission. The road traversed is measured by the number of
turns of one of the hind wheels of the carriage. To secure this number 2
of turns on the nave of the wheel a grooved eccentric, egg-shaped, is
attached, so that at each turn of the wheel the movement is well
transmitted to a crank, which actuates a piston in a cylinder for
conducting, by means of a pipe, a certain quantity of air so as to
command a piston, whose shaft is articulated, to a lever, which at 2
each turn of the wheel manoeuvres this lever communicating with the
indicator.
The pipe receiving the air is flexible, and of leather, india-rubber, or
other substance for admitting of all the requisite movements of the
carriage, and sufficiently solid to last a long time. Finally, the first 3
cylinder is sufficiently large that notwithstanding the escapes which may
occur in the joints of the pipes there is still sufficient air to thoroughly
work the piston, which transmits motion to the indicator.
The egg-shaped eccentric groove requires special mention, as it produces
a regular and constant result at all times, and even when the carriage 3
goes very slowly. Moreover, this groove may be closed by a disc to

page_text: keep out dirt and dust, and the joint may also be arranged to preserve
the grease or oil used for reducing the friction.
Having thus described my Invention, what I claim and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is, the apparatus as herein described and
llustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Haas, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
B. HAAS, JUN'. (L.S.)
E. T. HÉBRÉ.