Improvements in Means for Indicating and Registering Fares, Number of Passengers, and the like, in Street Cars, or other Public Conveyances.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897.
Improvements in Means for Indicating and Registering Fares,
Number of Passengers, and the like, in Street Cars, or other Public
Conveyances.
I, JOHN FRANCIS OHMER, of No. 354 West 1st. Street, in the City of Dayton,
County of Montgomery, and State of Ohio, United States of America, Manufac-
turer, 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:―
My invention relates to an improved fare register for street cars, and other
public conveyances, and to means for keeping a classified registration of the num-
ber of and the different fares taken up by the conductor; to means for indicating
at various points, each specified fare as it is taken up, and to means for indicating
the number of passengers taken on in each trip. These three operations, to wit:-
the parate registration of each class of fares; the indication of said fares at
various points in the car, and the indication of the number of passengers at the
register, are all effected simultaneously by the movements of a single mechanical
element, that may be conveniently operated for the above purpose, from any point
of the car.
In the detailed description of my invention, reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1, is a front elevation of my improved fare register: the front of the
casing being removed to disclose the interior mechanism, and a portion of the
registering wheels, broken away.
Figure 2, is a vertical section.
Figures 3, and 4, are a plan view, and side elevation respectively, of the wheels
and adjunctive devices, for indicating the number of passengers conveyed in each
trip.
Figures 5, and 6, are a plan view, and a side elevation of the lever through
which, said wheels are moved.
Figure 7, is a detached front elevation of a portion of the registering wheels.
Figure 8, is an elevation of the front interior end of a car showing the relative
locations of the devices.
Figure 9, is a side elevation of a car showing the relative locations of the devices.
Figure 10, is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the register-operating
mechanism.
Figure 11, is a top plan view of Figure 10.
Figure 12, is an enlarged front end elevation of the inclosing case shown in
Figures 10 and 11, and upon which, the fares are indicated.
Figure 13, is a sectional view on the line a-a of Figure 10.
Figure 14, is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 10.
Figure 15, is an elevation of an oblong spur wheel. 1 designates the inclosing
case, which may be varied in matter of design. 2 is a transverse sight opening
extending across the lower face of said casing. This sight opening 2 is closed
by sliding plate that may be supported in ways and secured in any suitable
imanner to the case. 3 designates a sight opening in the upper face of the casing;
there are a series of these openings extending in a line across the upper face of the
casing. These sight openings are not closed. 6, 7, 8, the wheels upon which a

page_text: total classified record of the fares are kept. These wheels are loosely mounted on
a transverse shaft 4 in the lower part of the case in line with the sight opening 2,
and each of said wheels bears upon the smooth peripheral surface, numerals from
"0" to 9." The said wheels are clearly shown in Figures and 7. They are
loosely mounted on a shaft 4 in sets of three or more wheels; one being the primary
or unit wheel 6, the next adjacent, being the "tens wheel 7, and the next
adjacent, being the "hundreds" wheel 8. The "unit" wheel of each set or series
is in gear with a primary-actuating wheel 9 which has à ratchet wheel 10 fixed to
its side, and a single tooth 11 out of line or on one side of the teeth 9. The
"unit" register wheel 6 and this primary-actuating wheel 9 rotate together upon
each complete rotation of said wheels, the tooth 11 on said primary wheel will
move the next adjacent "tens" wheel 7 one tooth to transfer the numbers above
"9" from the unit wheel. A complete revolution of said " tens" wheel will
actuate a transfer wheel 12 on shaft which has one tooth to transfer motion to
the "hundreds" wheel 8 in a manner that is common, and well understood. It
will be borne in mind that these register wheels are arranged in separate sets, for
example, one set will keep a record of the "full fares" taken in, another set will
register the "half fares," and another set the transfers," etc., it being the main
object and purpose of the invention to provide means for keeping a separate and
correct registration of the various characters of tickets, fares, etc., that are taken
up for passage on a public conveyance.
"
Referring to another feature of my invention, 18 designates fare indicators that
are lowered one at a time before a sight opening in the face of the casing. Each
of these indicators bears a specific fare corresponding with each specific fare classi-
fication of the fare register wheels, and each indicator is supported upon a vertical
slide 14. These slides 14 are supported upon transverse bars 15 and are normally
held upward away from the sight openings by cold springs 16. As shown in
Figure 1 only two of these indicators are shown, one of which is lowered to obser-
vation. 17 is a transverse bar in the rear of the slides 14 and connected to oscillat-
ing arms 18 that are pivoted at 19 to the sides of the casing. 20 are coil springs
that normally hold said bar 17 in the direction of the slides 14. Each of the said
slides 14 has upon its rear side a lug or projection 21 above which, the bar 17
is maintained by the springs 20 to hold each indicator in a lowered position to
exhibit the fare thereon, before one of the sight openings 3. I now refer to the
mechanism for indicating the number of passengers taken on in each trip, as fol-
lows: 22-22 designate two parallel shafts mounted in the upper portion of the
casing in a frame consisting of curved parts 23-23 which are connected by a
cross piece 24. Upon these shafts there are mounted primary and secondary
toothed wheels 25 and 26 and indicator dials 27 and 28; as these dials are rotated,
a figure on each is brought in line with a sight opening 29 for each wheel, in the
front of the casing. This mechanism is clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.
The primary wheel 25 has one tooth that, upon each complete rotation on said
wheel, moves the secondary wheel 26 one figure. 30 designates a ratchet disk
fixed to the shaft of wheel 25. 31 is an angular lever which has a fulcrum on said
shaft, and carries on its upper end a pawl 32 that engages with the ratchet disk 30. 4
33 is a second pawl suitably mounted to engage with said ratchet disk to prevent
any backward movement of said disk. This pawl carries a bell striker 34 which
strikes a bell 35 upon each movement of said pawl. The bell 35 is mounted on the
shaft of the wheel 26. The angular lever 31 has its lower end slotted in order to
provide a sliding connection with a transverse vertically reciprocating slide 36 5
that lies across the interior of the casing in the rear. This slide 36 has a longitu-
dinal ledge or right angled projection 37 and slotted guide extensions 38-39 and
38 which are suitably maintained in a sliding position. To the central one 39 of
said guides, the lower slotted end of the lever 31 is connected. Upon each down-
ward movment of the slide 36 the primary wheel 25 is moved one figure, through 5
the ratchet mechanism between the lever 31 and the shaft of said. primary wheel.
A simultaneous movement is imparted to the fare register wheels; the fare indi-

page_text: cators and these passenger-indicating wheels just described, through means now
to be described. 40 designates a series of vertically reciprocating bars which are
independently mounted in guides 41-41 that extend across the casing. Each of
these bars has pivotally mounted on its side a ratchet pawl 42 that engages with
the ratchet wheel 10 and actuates the primary wheel 6 of each set of the fare
register wheels. There is one of these bars 40 with each set or class of register
wheels and the pawl 42 thereon, actuates the primary wheel of said set or class
of register wheels. One of said bars 40 also operates in connection with a
specific fare indicator 13. For example, the bar that operates in conection with
the set of fare register wheels that registers the full fares, also operates in connec-
tion with the fare indicator which exhibits said full fares. Movement is imparted
to each fare indicator 13 by means of an arm 433 that projects from the upper end
of each of the bars 40 over a similar laterally projecting arm 44 on the upper end
of the indicator slides 14. The said bars 40 and indicator slide 14 are returned to
their upper or normal positions by coil springs 45 and 16. Also projecting from
each of said bars 40 is an engaging piece 47 that projects over the transverse
ledge 37 on the reciprocating slide 36. We have now seen, that each of the bars
40 is connected with a specific set of fare registering wheels; a specific fare
indicator, and the passenger-indicator wheels. It therefore follows that on each
movement of each of said bars, movement will at the same time be transmitted to
each of these systems. Such movement may be imparted in different ways. In
the drawings I have shown each of said bars 40 with a transverse slot 48 into which
a pin 49 projects. 50 designates a sheave for each bar 40 and from which pins 49
project. These sheaves are suitably mounted adjacent to said bars, and eacli one,
has connected to it a rope or cable 51 that passes out of the casing a suitable
distance to be engaged with operating mechanism now to be described. This
mechanism is illustrated on Sheet two, and consists of a casing 52, that may be
located on interior side or top of a car adjacent to the casing that incloses the
registering, mechanism. 53-54 and 55 designate bearings for the several parts.
The cables 51 enter an end of said casing 52 and pass over sheaves 56 that are
mounted in a segment of a circle on the bearing 53. 57 designates a series of
angular bars also arranged in a similar manner, and mounted to slice in slots in
bearings 54. The cables are connected to the straight ends of said angular bars.
58 is a long rod that extends through the entire car, as shown in Figure 7. This
rod is mounted to slide longitudinally, and to rotate, in a series of brackets 59
located at various points in the car, and is provided with operating handles 60
attached to it at various points on the interior of the car, and also on the platforms
of said car so that the said rod may be operated at any point on the car.
said rod 58 passes through the casing 52 and has projecting from it a rigid finger 61
that may be brought to a position to engage with the angular end of any one of
the said bars or slides 57 by rotating the said. rod 58 to bring said finger to the
desired position to engage with a particular bar 57. When rotated to a proper
position, the: rod 58 may then be moved longitudinally to draw the bar 57 so
engaged outwardly and thereby operate the mechanism of the register by drawing
upon the cables 51 one at a time.
The
Figure 11 shows one of the angular slides 57 drawn to the limit of its outward
movement. The rod 58 is returned to its inner normal position by a coil spring 62.
On the front end of the casing 52 is placed a fare indicating dial 63. The different
fares are arranged in a segment of a circle corresponding to the positions of the
angular slides 57 and the cables.
64 is a pointer or finger movable by the rod 58 to positions to indicate any of
the, fares. A movement of the rod 58 uniformly moves the finger,61 and the
pointer or pointers 64. That it is to say, movement of said rod 58 to bring the
pointer to a position to indicate a specific fare as shown in Figure 12 will also
bring the finger 61 to a position to be connected with an angular
slide 57 that actuates the mechanism of that specific class of fares.
The rod 58 in its rotary movement is controlled and prevented from

page_text: any accidental
movement or any movement beyond the desired point
as indicated on the dial 63 by the following devices; 64 designates
an oblong spur wheel which is rigidly mounted on said rod within the casing 52.
65 is an antifriction roller that drops between the teeth of said spur wheel and
checks the movement thereof as it drops between each two of said teeth. This
roller 65 is mounted on a lever 66 which is pivoted at 67 to piece 55. 67¹ is a
spring that draws said lever to effect a proper contact of the roller with said spur
wheel. To prevent any movement of the rod 58 longitudinally, until the proper
rotary movement has first been made, I provide a stop 68 rigidly attached to the
inner side of the bearing 55. See Figures 10, 11 and 14. The inner end of said
stop is reduced so that it may pass between the teeth of the spur wheel 64 when
said wheel is drawn outwardly by proper movements of the rod 58. If a longitu-
dinal movement of said rod is attempted, when any of the teeth are in line with the
stop 68 such movement will be prevented by the stop coming in contact with the
tooth in line therewith. In the foregoing, I have described one fare indicator
dial only; dials similar to the dial 63. Figure 12 may be placed at different
points of the car, for example, on the back and rear platform, and pointers 64
placed on the rod 58 adjacent to said dials. The same fare therefore may be
indicated at several points on the car by one operation. In Figure 13 the several
dotted figures show the range of movement of the operating handle or handles 60.
My invention has been described in the form of a stationary fare register, or a
register to be located at a fixed point. I desire to state that it may be converted
into a portable register, to be carried on the person of a conductor or other person
having charge of the vehicle or car. Such conversion may be accomplished by
lengthening the operating bars 40; projecting them through the bottom of the
casing, and providing them with finger pieces to be operated by the hand. In
this use of my invention, the mechanism illustrated on Sheet two, would necessarily
be dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a fare register, the combination with passenger indicator wheels, of a
vertically movable slide extending across the machine; a lever having its fulcrum
on the shaft of one of said wheels, and movable by the movement of said vertically
movable slide; ratchet mechanism actuated by said lever and adapted to move
said indicator wheels; a series of sliding bars having transverse slots, each of
said bars being adapted to impart movement to said vertically movable slide, and a
series of sheaves adapted to impart movement to said sliding bars, substantially as
described, and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a machine for registering and indicating fares in street railway cars, the
combination with indicator wheels to indicate the number of passengers on each
trip; a transverse vertically sliding bar having guide extensions; an angular
lever having one end loosely connected to one of said, guide extensions, and the
other end fulcrumed on the shaft of one of said indicator wheels; a pawl pivoted
to said lever and adapted to rotate one of said indicator wheels; a series of sliding
bars any one of which may actuate said transverse vertically sliding bar, and means
for actuating said series of sliding bars, singly, substantially as described, and for
the purposes set forth.
3. In a machine for registering and indicating fares in street railway cars, the
combination of a vertically movable sliding bar lying across the machine; a series
of sliding bars any one of which is adapted to actuate said vertically
movable sliding bar, the said sliding bars being each provided with a transverse
slot; a lever having one end loosely connected to an extension from said vertically
movable sliding bar; a pawl carrier on said lever; a series of indicator wheels to
indicate the number of passengers taken on in each trip, and a ratchet wheel

page_text: engaged by said pawl to move one of said indicator wheels, substantially as
described, and for the purposes set forth..
4.- In a fare register, the combination of a system of register wheels; a system
of indicators adapted to indicate the fares registered on said wheels; a transverse
vertically movable bar lying across the machine and having guide extensions; a
lever having one end loosely connected to one of said guide extensions; indicator
wheels adapted to indicate the number of passengers taken on in each trip;
ratchet mechanism interposed between said lever and wheels; and a series of
sliding bars; the downward movement of any one of which will simultaneously
operate said register wheels, a respective fare indicator, and the passenger indicator
wheels, substantially as described, and for the purposes set. forth.
5. In a fare register, the combination of a series of classified register wheels;
a system of fare indicators; a transverse oscillating bar for controlling the positions
of said fare indicators; a vertically movable sliding bar having guide extensions;
a slotted lever loosely connected to one of said guide extensions; indicator wheels
adapted to indicate the number of passengers taken on in each trip; and a series
of sliding bars, the downward movement of any one of which will cause a simul-
taneous registration of a specific class of fare; a visible indication of said fare, and
a. visible indication of the number of passengers, substantially as described, and
for the purposes specified.
6. In a fare register, the combination of indicator wheels adapted to indicate
the number of passengers; a vertically movable bar lying across the machine, and
provided with extensions to guide the movements thereof; a series of indepen-
dently movable sliding bars mounted below said wheels; a lever having its fulcrum
on the shaft of one of said indicator wheels and a loose. connection with the
vertically movable bar; ratchet devices actuated by said lever, to, advance the
indicator wheels, and means for operating said independently movable sliding
bars one at a time, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.
7.In a fare register, the combination of indicator wheels to denote the number
of passengers taken on in a trip; a vertically movable sliding bar lying across the
machine; a lever having a fulcrum on the shaft of one of said wheels and one
end slidingly connected with said vertically movable sliding bar; ratchet devices
actuated by said lever to impart movement to said indicator, wheels; a series of
vertically movable bars, a movement of any one of which will move said vertically
movable sliding bar; the said bars being each provided with a transverse slot; a
series of sheaves, each one of which has a pin adapted to project into the slot on
one of said bars, and means for actuating said sheaves one at a time, substantially
as described, and for the purposes set forth.
8. In a fare register, the combination of indicator wheels adapted to indicate
the number of passengers taken on in each trip; a continuous sliding bar extending
across the machine; a slotted lever mounted adjacent to one of said indicator
wheels, and loosely connected to said sliding bar; a series of vertical bars inde-
pendently movable to impart movement to said continuous sliding bar; and
ratchet devices operated by the slotted lever to move the indicator wheels,
substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.
9. A plurality of movable parts, in combination with a parallel rod adapted to
both a rotary and longitudinal movement, and means on said rod adapted to engage
with any one of said movable parts when said rod is rotated, and through which
the movable part so engaged is moved with the rod when the latter is moved
longitudinally, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.
10. A plurality of slides radially mounted, in combination with a sliding rod,
and a finger on said rod that may be moved in a position to engage with any one
of said slides to impart movement thereto, substantially as described, and for the
purposes set forth.
11. The combination with a plurality of ropes or cables; a series of angular
slides to which said ropes are attached, a rotary and sliding rod mounted parallel

page_text: with said slides, and means on said rod adapted to engage with any one of said
slides to impart movement thereto, substantially as described, and for the purposes
set forth.
i.
12. The combination with a plurality of ropes or cables, of a series of angular
slides mounted in a part of a circle and to which said ropes are attached, a 'rod
movable rotatably and longitudinally, and an engaging piece on said rod adapted
to engage with any one of said 'slides to impart movement thereto, substantially
as described, and for the purposes set forth.
13. The combination with a plurality of ropes or cables, of a series of angular
slides mounted in a part of a circle, and to which said ropes are attached, a rod
movable both rotatably and longitudinally, an engaging piece on said rope adapted
to interlock with any one of said slides, and means for controlling the movements of
said rod, substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.
14. The combination with a plurality of ropes or cables, of a series of slides,
arranged in a part of a circle, and to which said ropes are attached, a rod movable
both rotatably and longitudinally, an engaging piece on said rod adapted to engage
any one of said slides to impart a sliding movement thereto, one or more pointers
on said rod, and one or more dials to indicate the desired axial movement of
"said rod.
15. The combination with a plurality of ropes or cables, of a series of slides
mounted in a part of a circle, and to which said ropes are attached, a rod movable
both rotatably and longitudinally, a finger projecting, from said rod and adapted
to be brought into a position to engage with any one of said slides by turning said
rod, a spur gear rigid on said rod, and an anti-friction roller adapted to engage.
with said spur gear to arrest the movement of said, rod, substantially as described,
and for the purposes set forth.
16. The combination with a plurality of ropes or cables, of a series of slides
having shoulders or stops thereon, and mounted in a segment of a circle, a
rotary and sliding rod mounted in the centre of said circle and a parallel with said
slides, an engaging piece on said rod adapted to be brought into a position to
engage with any one of said slides to impart an outward sliding movement thereto,
and means for returning said slides and rod to their inner or normal positions,
substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.
17. The combination of a plurality of slides mounted in a segment of a circle,
a rod movable both rotatably and horizontally, and mounted in the centre of said
circle a finger on said rod adapted to be brought into a position to engage with any
one of said slides upon a sliding movement being imparted to said rod, a spur gear,
and a roller to arrest the rotary movement of said rod, pointers on said rod, and
one or more indicating dials with which said pointers co-operate, substantially as
described, and for the purposes set forth.
18. The combination of a series of slides mounted in a part of a circle, a rotary
and sliding rod mounted in the centre of said circle, a finger projecting from said
rod adapted to engage with any one of said slides, a spur gear, and a roller to
arrest the rotary movement of said rod, and a detent adapted to engage with said
spur gear to arrest the sliding movement thereof, unless a proper rotary movement
has been first given said rod, substantially as described, and for the purposes
set forth.
19. The combination with a plurality of ropes or cables passing over a corre-
sponding number of pulleys arranged in a part of a circle, of a series, of: slides
mounted in a part of a circle, and to which said ropes are attached, a rod movable
rotatably and horizontally, and mounted in the centre of said circle, a finger pro-
jecting from said rod adapted to be moved into position to engage, with any one of
said slides; one or more pointers fixed to said rod in line with said finger, and one
or more dials bearing indications to, which said pointers point, and means for
re-setting said slides and rod to their normal positions, substantially as described,
and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: 20.--The combination with a fare register of the type described, of a plurality
of slides mounted in a segment of a circle adjacent to said fare register, and to
which are connected, the ropes or cables that lead from the interior mechanism of
the fare register, a rod movable axially, rotatably and horizontally, and mounted
parallel with said slides, a finger projecting from said rod and adapted to be moved
into a position to engage with any one of said slides, one or more pointers fixed to
said rod, one or more dials bearing indications to which said pointers point, and
means for controlling the axial and horizontal movement of said rod, substantially
as described and for the purposes set forth.
21. The combination with a series of ropes or cables, of a corresponding number
of engaging parts to which said ropes or cables are connected; a rod adapted to
be rotated, and moved longitudinally; a projection on said rod adapted to be
brought into a position to engage with any one of said engaging parts when the
rol is rotated, and through which the said ropes or cables may be singly actuated
by each longitudinal movement of said rod, substantially as described, and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 11th day of May 1897
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to the Applicant.