Improvements in and relating to Stopping place and Route Indicators for Omnibuses and Tramcars.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Stopping place and Route
Indicators for Omnibuses and Tramcars.
I, ALFRED GORDON, of Glanserth, Rhayader, Radnor, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved direction indicator for omnibuses and
tramcars, and also a name board in connection with the same for indicating the
names of places along the route at which stoppages are made.
According to my invention I provide two rollers fitted in any suitable position
to the inside or outside of the carriage at a certain distance apart.
Around the said rollers, which are placed one above the other, is tightly
stretched an endless band or sheet of canvas or other suitable material having the
names of the principal places along the route marked thereon. I prefer to fit
these rollers to the top and bottom of the central window of the omnibus, or car,
either inside or outside and provide each or either of them with a rod extending
to the doorway so that the conductor may operate them by means of a handle
on the end.
The names of the places are marked in consecutive order and at equal distances
apart upon the band so that as the rollers are turned one revolution or a certain
fraction of the same, when leaving a station the name of the latter would be
turned or removed out of sight. Instead of fitting the device to the window it
may be fixed to the back of the vehicle above the conductors head about level
with the top rail or in other suitable position. I may also provide a lamp in the
space between the rollers to indicate the names at night-time or a light may be
reflected from inside the vehicle on to the said band.
In order to assist travellers I may fix name boards to lamp-posts or other
erections along the line of route, such boards being of different colours according
to the colours of the vehicles with the nanies of the places marked thereon at
which the various vehicles stop.
Improvements'in and relating to Stopping-place and Route
Indicators for Omnibuses and Tram Cars.
I, ALFRED GORDON, of Glanserth, Rhayader, Radnor, Gentlemen, do hereby
eclare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
.
ר

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to a direction indicator and also a name board or boards
in connection with omnibuses and tram-cars for indicating the names of places
along the route at which stoppages are made.
The indicator consists of two rollers fitted, at a suitable distance apart, to the
inside or outside of the central window of an omnibus or tram-car and preferably
on each side of the same. The rollers are placed one above the other and around
them is tightly stretched an endless band or sheet of canvas or other flexible
material upon the outer surface of which are printed or marked the names of the
principal places along the route at which stoppages are made.
Each or either of the said rollers is fitted with a rod or axis extending back
to the doorway of the vehicle so that the rollers may be turned by the conductor
by means of a hand-wheel on the end of the said rods.
Instead of fitting the device to the windows it may be fixed to the back of the
vehicle so as to protrude above, or on each side of the conductors head, or it may
be fixed in any other suitable position on the vehicle.
The space between the rollers may be arranged to receive a small lamp for
indicating the names on the bands at night-time, or a light placed in the interior
of the vehicle, may reflect the names on the bands at each side.
To assist travellers in choosing the right vehicle I propose to fix name-boards
to lamp-posts or other erections along the route, these boards being of different
colours according to the colours of the vehicles, and marked with the names
of the places at which the corresponding vehicles stop.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a
portion of a vehicle fitted with my improved indicator, and Fig. 2 is a cross-
section of the same. Fig. 3 is a section of a portion of one end of a vehicle.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are side views of the indicating band showing different positions
of the same. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the name boards fixed to a lamp
or other post, and Fig. 8 is a view at right angles thereto.
a is the frame of the tram-car or other vehicle, and a¹ the end thereof. b, b¹ are
the rollers carried at the top and bottom of the central window by the brackets c, c².
d, d, are the rods or axes carrying the rollers and passing back through the
end of the vehicle where they are fitted with hand-wheels d³ for operating the
said rollers. e is the endless canvas or other band upon which the names of
the places at which the vehicles stops are marked in consecutive order at equal
distance apart. This distance may equal the circumference of the rollers so that
upon each revolution of the latter the name of the place or station last left would
be turned out of sight. Figs. 4, 5 and 6 illustrate the manner of indicating the
direction in which the vehicle is proceeding and the place of the next stoppage.
Fig. 4 shows the band as it would appear on starting a journey, for instance
from Islington to Victoria Station, the whole of the names of the places being
indicated to the passengers.
Fig. 5 indicates that the vehicle has arrived at Fleet Street and shows the
stations still to stop at thus indicating the direction in which it is proceeding,
whilst Fig. 6 indicates that the vehicle has started from Victoria, showing the
stations still to stop at, and this also indicating the direction in which the vehicle is
going.
Fig. 7 and 8 show the name-boards fixed to lamp or other posts at the various
stations along the route for assisting travellers in choosing the right vehicle for
the places they wish to go to.
Any suitable number of boards such as f, f¹, and fª are employed each one of
which is of a different colour according to the colour of the vehicles,
The names of the places on the different routes are marked on the outside or
front faces of these boards thus enabling travellers to easily distinguish which
vehicle they require. The boards are fixed by brackets f³ to the lamp-posts g, or
to other suitable structures as required.

page_text: 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) The improved direction and station indicator for vehicles comprising an
endless band upon which are marked the names of the stations at which stoppages
are made, and which passes over two rollers provided with rods and handles for
turning the same so as to cause the name of the station last stopped at to be
removed out of sight of the passengers and the name, or names of the next
stopping station or stations to be brought into or remain in view, the said
indicator being fixed to the inside or outside of the central window on each
side of the vehicle, or in any other suitable position either inside or outside the
vehicle substantially as described and shown.
(2) The improved means for indicating the names of places at which tram-cars
or omnibuses stop comprising boards of different colours, corresponding to the
colours of the vehicles, and having marked thereon the name of the stopping
stations of such vehicles, the said boards being fixed to lamp-post or other
erections along the lines of route of the different vehicles, substantially as
described.
T
LT1000
J. B. FLEURET,
Agent for the Applicant.
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.