Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating or Recording Distance, Time, and Fare for Cabs or other Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Oct., 1891-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating or Recording Distance,
Time, and Fare for Cabs or other Vehicles.
We JAMES RIDGE, of 30 Stanford Road, Brighton, Chemist, and JOSEPH
FULLER, Hare and Hounds Hotel, 75 London Road, Brighton, Hotel Proprietor,
HORACE EDWIN HUPTON of Prestonville Arms, Hamilton Road, Brighton,
Electrician, all in the County of Sussex, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows
Our invention relates to apparatus for cabs or other vehicles for indicating or
recording the distance travelled, the time occupied, and the amount of the fare to
be paid, thus providing a check against frand on the part of the driver of the cab.
The apparatus is comprised of two machines, one fixed on the spring of the hind
wheel, and the other is fixed inside the cab which is operated on by pneumatic
pressure through a pipe which passes under the cab.
The machine which is fixed on the spring of the hind wheel is constructed with
two glass dials, one recording miles and fractions of miles, and the other recording
the time occupied by each journey; immediately behind these are metal dials, the
time dial being graduated in the same manner as the glass dial, but the distance dial
has three hands, one denoting the miles travelled as on the glass dial, a second
hand shows the quarters of miles, and a third registers the revolutions of the cab
wheel.
To the bottom of the machine, and on its inner side, there is a tube which
encloses a spiral spring and rod, this rod being made so that it rests on the axle of
the wheel; and on the outer side of the machine, there is a vibrating pendulum
which is actuated by a pin fixed to the nave of the wheel, the purposes of which
will be hereinafter described.
The distance indicator is composed of a suitable arrangement of pinions and
wheels, the number and size of which are necessarily governed by the diameter of
the cab wheel, and the mechanism of the time indicator is the usual clock
movement.
The machine which is fixed inside the cab is of similar construction, and records
the miles and fractions of miles that have been travelled, the amount of fare to be
paid, and the number of journeys taken during the day.
For the purpose of connecting the two machines, we employ an.elastic bag which
is so fitted by springs and levers to the vibrating pendulum, that every revolution
of the cab wheel compresses the air enclosed in the bag, thus forcing the air
through a tube which passes under the cab, into a similar bag which is fixed at the
bottom of the machine inside the cab, causing the latter bag to expand, and to
push a small lever thus indicating the same revolution of the cab wheel.
It will be understood that the clock movement in the machine on the hind wheel
is always in motion, but the glass dials do not register either distance or time until
the cab is occupied.
To attain the object of our invention the glass dials above referred to require to
be coated with any suitable pigment, and when a person or persons enter the cab,
the spring of the cab giving way forces the rod and spring up in the tube, and
this coming in contact with a lever, the hands on the metal dials are forced against
the glass dials, and when the cab is in motion a small line is erased by the pro-
jection on the hands, thus indicating the distance on one dial, and the time occupied
by the journey on the other.
The driver has control over the dial inside the cab, and it is his duty on a person
entering the cab to pull the lever, whereby the indicator is set at zero, at the same

page_text: time it registers the journey on the smaller dial, by this means the number of
journeys indicated on the inside dial should agree with the number recorded on the
dial fixed on the hind wheel and which is beyond the control of the driver.
Dated this 19th day of February 1891.
THOMAS H. MELLOR,
110, St. James's Street, Brighton, Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Indicating or Recording Distance,
Time, and Fare for Cabs or other Vehicles.
We JAMES RIDGE, of 30 Stanford Road, Brighton, Chemist, and JOSEPH
FULLER, Hare and Hounds Hotel, 75 London Road, Brighton, Hotel Proprietor
and HORACE EDWIN HUPTON, of Prestonville Arms, Hamilton Road, Brighton,
Electrician all in the County of Sussex, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates to apparatus for cabs or other vehicles for indicating or
recording the distance travelled, the time occupied, and the amount of fare to
be paid, thus providing a check against fraud on the part of the driver of the
vehicle.
The apparatus is comprised of two indicators, one fixed on one of the springs of
the vehicle, preferably one of the hind-wheel springs in the case of a four wheeled
vehicle, for the use of the proprietor, and the other fixed inside the vehicle for the
reference of the passengers and driver.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the indicator for. the reference of the vehicle
proprietor.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same with the dial removed.
Fig. 3 is a view of the casing partly broken away and showing the internal
mechanism partly in side elevation and partly in section.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the indicator for the reference of the passengers
and driver.
Figs. 5 and 6 are sections taken respectively on the line 5, 5, and 6, 6, of Fig. 7,
which is a view with the case shown in longitudinal section and the internal
mechanism in side elevation.
Fig. 8 is a view looking from the back of Fig. 4 with the back plate removed.
Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a four wheeled vehicle showing the manner of
applying our invention thereto.
Fig. 10 is a part rear elevation of the same, and
Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of a detached portion of the apparatus.
The indicator shewn in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 is for the reference of the vehicle
proprietor and consists of a clock work mechanism which is of ordinary construction
and is contained within the case A shewn in Fig. 3, the hour arbor of this clock
carries the hand A' which indicates on the scale of divisions B' on dial B the time
of day and by means of the projection A records the time that the vehicle is
occupied as hereinafter described.
In the base C of this instrument is provided a spindle Cupon the outwardly
projecting end of which is fitted the arm C2, the lower end of which as shewn
clearly in Figs. 9 and 10 is provided with a yoke or loop C³ within which operates
an eccentric I) secured to the hub E of one of the vehicle wheels E5 so that at
each revolution of said wheel the arm C2 will make a complete stroke. Inside the
base C and on the spindle C is secured an arm E, to the free end of which at E' is
pivotted a link E, the upper end of which is pivotted at E³ to a lever F. On this

page_text: lever is provided a button F' which is adapted to press against the under side of
the bellows G from which a pipe G¹ leads out of the instrument and is 'connected
by a flexible or equivalent pipe G with the instrument at the inside of the
vehicle.
The lever F which is pivotted at F' has pivotted to its free end a pawl F
which engages with a ratchet wheel H on the arbor H of which is provided a
toothed pinion H2 which through the several wheels and pinions H3 H* H* H* H*
H H rotates the spindle I which carries the hand J which indicates on the scale
of divisions B the distance in miles travelled by the vehicle. The arbor H, upon
which the wheel Hand pinion H are secured, carries the hand H" which indicates
on the small dial B³ the distance travelled in quarter miles, and the arbor H
carries the hand B which indicates on the dial B the number of revolutions of the
vehicle wheel E³.
In Fig. 2 F indicates a spring for holding the pawl F2 in proper position for
engaging the ratchet wheel H, and F indicates a spring for preventing the ratchet
wheel H from moving in the wrong direction. As shown in Fig. 3 this apparatus
is provided with a bell-crank-lever K. K¹ pivotted at K², and the approximately
vertical arm K of which is adapted through a disc K³ (represented in dotted lines
in Fig. 3) to push forward the arbors upon which are mounted the hands A' and J,
the latter of which like the former carries a point A². The lid or cover L, which
may be hinged to the case L' and which covers in the dial B, is adapted to receive
a paper dial L which will have indicated upon it the scales B' B and will be, so
far as regards said scales, an exact representation of the dial shown in Fig. 1.
the back of the paper dial L' is placed a disc L³ of carbon paper, the face of the
paper dial L² being placed against the carbon paper L³, and both L³ and L³ arc
held in the lid L by means of a sufficiently tight-fitting ring Lt.
At
The arm K of bell crank-lever K K is adapted to be operated by a rod M
which, as shown clearly in Fig. 11, through the influence of a spring M¹ and tube M
is operated from the axle bar N. The rod M, spring M' and tube M, are preferably
enclosed in the telescoping tubes M2 M³ and the lower end of the tubes M³ M* are
fitted to the axle bar N preferably by means of a cup-and-ball joint M' so as to
allow for sufficient play.
The indicator shown in Figs. 4 to 8 consists of a time piece, the minute hand O
and hour hand O' of which are arranged on separate arbors 02 03 respectively, and
the mechanism for operating these hands is in general of ordinary construction and
The minute and hour
is partly contained within the case 0 Figs. 7 and 8.
arbors 003 are connected together by a usual train of gearing O, arranged in
this example outside of the case O' and behind the dial 0. Co-axial with the
arbor O is arranged a hand P which indicates the fare to be paid by the occupant
of the vehicle, and which receives its motion as hereinafter described. Q is a
bellows connected by the before mentioned pipe G with the bellows G, and which,
at each compression of the bellows G is inflated and raises the arın Q which is
pivotted at Q, this arm at its free end has pivotted to it a pawl Q³ held always in
proper operative position by a spring Qʻ and which is adapted at each inflation of
the bellows Q to move the ratchet wheel R round to the extent of one tooth. On
the arbor R of ratchet wheel R is provided a pinion R² which through the wheels
and pinions R R R R R R R2 operates at a proper proportionate speed, the
tubular arbor P' on which is fixed the before mentioned hand P. The arbor R
of wheel and pinion R R* carries at its front end a hand R" Fig. 7, which indicates
on a small dial S the distance travelled up to a mile.
t
On each of the arbors O³ P¹ and Ro is arranged a preferably heart shaped
cam T each of which is adapted to be operated upon by a point or equivalent Ti so
as to turn the said cams through arbors and the hands on the said arbors back to
their zero position, each of the points T' for this purpose sliding over the surface
of its appropriate cam T until it enters the notch T. The points T' for operating
cams T on arbors P¹ and R¹º are provided on the arms T3 which are secured on a
spindle T and the point or knife-edge T¹ for operating the cam of arbor O³ is

page_text: formed on the arm T' pivotted, at T and operated from the shaft T by short
arms TV coupled together by a link. Ta as shown in Fig. 6.. At its back end the
shaft T has secured on it an arm U the free endi of which, is perforated for the
attachment thereto of a cord U₁ which works over a pulley U2 and passes to
the exterior of the indicator and as sliewn in Fig. 9 is guided by one or more
suitably grooved pulleys Us and terminates at a. part where it may be conveniently
pulled by the driver, as for instance the back of the seat'as shown in Fig: 9.
Upon the shaft T are also secured the arms U and U, the former of which has
pivotted to its free end a pawl U which is held up by a spring U against the
ratchet wheel. U which it works; the latter arm Uª carries a pawl. U which is
adapted to engage with the lower end of the hammer arm U for sounding the
gong U secured to the upper part of the indicator outside of the case. U³ is a.
spring which bears against the wheel U8 to prevent it turning in the wrong.
direction. The wheel U is secured on the arbor Von the front end of which is
secured the hand V1 which indicates on the small dial V the number of "hirings
of the vehicle.
The indicator Y shewn in Figs. 1. 2. and 3 is secured to one of the springs of the
vehicle above the axle bar as shewn in Figs. 9 and 10, the arm or pendulum C2 C3
passing down to the eccentric D at one side of the vehicle spring and the rod M.
passing to the axle bar N at the other side of the spring as shown in Figs. 10
and 11. The indicator Z shown in Figs. 4 to 8 is secured inside the vehicle at the
back of the driver as shown in Fig. 9 and is connected with the other indicator Y
by the tubes G1 G2 which pass beneath the body of the vehicle.
The operation of the before described apparatus is as follows.
When a person enters the vehicle his weight causes the body of said vehicle to
depress and carries with it the indicator Y Figs. 1. 2. and 3 so that the arm K of
lever KK is raised from the position shown in Fig. 3 by means of the rod M. This
action forces the points A2 of hands A' and J into contact with the back of the
paper dial L so that upon the further rotation of said hands they will cause marks
to be made upon the face of said paper dial by said face being in contact' with the
carbon paper L³.
The driver then pulls the cord U₁ and causes the hands O. O', P and R all to
return to their zero positions, the hand O being thus carried back by means of the
gearing which connects it with the arbor of the hand O'. The driver then releases
the cord U and both of the indicators Y and Z are then ready for registering.
At each revolution of the vehicle wheel E³ the hand B will be moved one of the
spaces of the dial B and the hand H on its dial B³ to an extent corresponding to
the fraction of a mile travelled over by the wheel during said rotation, the hand R
on small dial S of indicator Z inside the vehicle is also simultaneously moved on to
the same extent as the hand. H" on outside indicator Y. This latter motion of the
hand R is imparted by means of the before described pneumatic device and
arm Q, pawl Q, ratchet wheel R and the before described train of gearing con-
necting said ratchet wheel with the arbor of hand R".
The fare hand P of indicator Z inside, the vehicle is also moved round to a pro-
portionate extent by means of the gearing which connects its arbor with that of
the hand R. As soon as one mile has been travelled the hands H" and R" will
have completed one revolution and the hand J will have moved over one of the
spaces of its dial B³, the hand P of inside indicator Z also being moved on to a
proportionate extent. When the occupant has completed his journey he will see,
by observing the position occupied by the hand P and the figures to which it then
points; the amount which he has to pay. When the occupant leaves the vehicle
the body of said vehicle, released of his weight, rises and the lever K K being
relieved of the pressure of the rod M. the hands A¹ and J are pressed back by a
spring W Fig. 3, so that the points A' thereof are out of contact with the paper
dial L². As soon as the vehicle is again occupied the points A² are again. pressed.
into contact with the paper dial L, and when the driver next pulls the cord U¹ the
hand through the arms U. U, pawl U, wheel U8 and arbor V will be moved

page_text: round to the extent, of one of the spaces of the dial and at the same time the
gong U will be sounded by means of the pawl U carried on arm Us tripping the
lower end of the hammer arm U"; the pawl U slips past the lower end of hammer
arm U when the cord U¹ is released.
The before described series of operations is repeated each time the vehicle is
hired and at the end of the day the hand VI of the inside indicator Z will show the
number of times the vehicle has been hired, and the paper dial L² will be marked
in such a manner that the vehicle proprietor may at a glance see how long the
vehicle has been occupied and what distance has been travelled when so occupied ;
that is to say, supposing as an exaggerated example the vehicle has been occupied for
twelve consecutive hours, and has been continuously travelling throughout that
time, the marks made by means of the points A2 and carbon paper L³ will be
unbroken in the form of two concentric circles indicating that no less than sixty
miles have been travelled during the twelve hours. Supposing as another example
that the day's work has been made up of a number of short journeys, the marks on
the paper dial will then be disjointed, those of the inner circle indicating the length
of time the vehicle has been occupied at each hiring and those of the outer circle
indicating the distance which has been travelled during each said hiring.
The lid may be locked to the case L2 and the key retained by the vehicle pro-
prietor so that it may not be tampered with by any unauthorized person.
The before described apparatus although for convenience shown applied to a four
wheeled vehicle may with suitable modifications be applied to other vehicles.
It will be understood that various modifications may be made in the details of
construction of the before described apparatus without departing from the spirit of
the invention, for example, instead of working the inside indicator Z from the out-
side indicator Y by pneumatic means the necessary result may be obtained by
employing electricity or a spiral spring. Further, instead of using the paper dial L²
for obtaining a permanent record of the hirings of the vehicle a dial may be coated
with a suitable pigment which will be removed by the points A2, and instead of
forming the bellows G of indiarubber, leather or like flexible material as is illustrated
in the accompanying drawings said bellows may be formed of metal which may be
corrugated or otherwise constructed so as to provide the necessary elasticity.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In apparatus for indicating or recording distance, time and fare for cabs and
other vehicles the arrangement of mechanism by which the weight of a person
entering the vehicle causes one or more indicating hands to be pressed against a
recording dial substantially as described.
2. In apparatus such as described the combination with a cam or eccentric D
secured to one of the vehicle wheels and a spindle Cand arm or pendulum such
as CC of an arm E link E' bellows such as G in one indicating device and
tubes GG for connecting said bellows to a distant bellows Q for operating the
distance indicating hands of a second device substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. In apparatus such as described the combination with a rocking spindle such
as Carm E and link such as E² of a pivotted arm such as F pawl F ratchet
wheel H gearing such as H2 H3 H4 H³ H* H* H* H° and distance indicating bands
such as B and H" substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
4. In apparatus such as described the combination in the same device of mechanism
for indicating the time a vehicle is occupied the distance travelled during such
occupancy the fare to be paid and the number of times the vehicle has been hired
and mechanism for returning all but the last of these to their zero positions sub-
stantially as described.
5. In apparatus such as described the combination with a spindle T' arm U and

page_text: cord U of arms Us U secured to spindle T pawls U U hammer arm U
gong U12
ratchet wheel U8 arbor V hand Vand dial V for the purpose of registering the
number of hirings of the vehicle and audibly announcing each such registering
operation substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. In apparatus such as described the combination with the arbor of an indicating
hand of a cam such as T mounted thereon and a movable point or knife edge such
as Tadapted to bear against the cam for the purpose of returning it to its zero
position substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
7. In apparatus such as described the combination with time distance and fare
indicating mechanism in the same device of cams such as T one secured on each of
the hand arbors points or knife edges T¹ spindle T arms such as T3 T and T' and
link T for the purpose of returning the hands to their zero positions substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
8. In apparatus such as described a dial having on it four different sets of
divisions such as B1 B2 B3 and 13 one (B) for indicating the time of day another (B2)
the distance say in miles travelled by the vehicle another (133) the fractions of say a
mile travelled and another (B) the number of revolutions of one of the vehicle
wheels substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
9. In apparatus such as described the combination with mechanism by which the
weight of a person entering the vehicle causes one or more indicating hands to move
in the direction of the axis of rotation of a stationary paper dial such as L³ marked
with scale divisions and adapted to be pressed against by said hands substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete time
fare and distance indicating apparatus substantially as described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of October 1891.
THOMAS H. MELLOR,
110, St. James's Street, Brighton, Agent for the Applicants.