Receipt of Money from Persons Riding in Public Vehicles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Receipt of Money from Persons Riding in Public Vehicles.
JOHN MELTON BLACK Tabernacle St. Finsbury City of London, Gentleman,
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:-
The present Invention is designed for effecting certain improvements in that
description of ticket punch (employed by conductors on public vehicles) for which
patents have been previously granted viz. A.D. 1871. No. 124. A.D. 1874. No. 1667.
and A.D. 1886 No. 3000.
The Specifications of the above mentioned Patents describe an arrangement of
apparatus to be used by the conductors of public vehicles, for the purpose of
punching consecutively numbered tickets which as punched are delivered to
passengers in exchange for their fares. In such instruments there is a numbering
apparatus intentionally concealed at all times from the conductor which does with
each depression of the punch lever give the consecutive progression of the number
of tickets punched by the said lever punch and so acts as a secret check against
the conductor; but such instruments have no means of preventing the punch
instrument being tampered with, before it has been delivered to the conductor, or
after it has been re-delivered by the conductor, when the days work of ticket
punching is finished, into the hands of the person authorized to check the number
of tickets punched by the said instrument during the time it has been in the
possession of the conductor, and further the present construction of lock adapted
to such instruments enables the employees engaged in checking. the punch instru-
ments to tamper with the same so as to encourage collusion between them and the
conductors of the cars. The object of these improvements are:-
Firstly To provide a means which will enable the conductor to see and
compare the number on the concealed register of the instrument with the corre-
sponding number on his "way bill" before the same is finally closed and the
instrument handed to him.
Secondly-To provide a means in connection with the so called Bell Punch,
which will prevent any designed or accidental depression of the punch lever, after
it has been delivered up by the conductor which would count against the conductor
when the instrument is not in his possession.

page_text: :-
Thirdly To prevent collusion between the conductors of the cars and the
employees engaged to examine the instruments after their use by the conductor
and to so construct the combination lock and its holdfast that the means employed
for opening the box will be known only to one duly authorized person.
In order that the manner in which this portion of my improvements is performed
I will first refer to the description of lock which is now employed in connection
with such instruments. Such locks are known as combination locks i.e. locks com-
posed of a number of rings, independently revolving on one axis or round a notched
key, the periphery of each ring being provided with letters of the alphabet and as
a certain combination of letters when placed in a line will enable the bolt of the
lock to be withdrawn such combination should be known only to one authorized
person but according to the present construction of lock and bolt such secret com-
bination must be in the possession of all those employees whose business it is to
examine the instruments, this diffused knowledge places in the hands of the special
employees the opportunity of wilfully tampering with the instruments in a manner,
which will not only prevent them accurately registering, but cause them to register
in favor of or against the conductor. To prevent any doubt or inaccuracy arising
from this source I provide the circular head of the key with a number of letters or
designs the position of one of which relative to the remaining rings of the lock is
the key to the whole which with the combination letters on the other rings is
known only to the person employed to open the instruments.
When the lid is opened by the person opening the box, exposing the numbers on
the register the lock with its bolt is again fixed in position and the combination
by which it was so opened is intentionally disarranged, in this state the instru-
ments with their number dials exposed are handed to the employees for checking,
which being done the crystal face covering the numbering discs is closed and
locked by the spring catch of the combination lock hereinafter mentioned, the
number at which it will commence registering is shewn to the conductor which he
compares with the number on his "way bill;" but before placing the instrument in
his hands for use, the outer lid is closed over the crystal face and locked by means
of a spring holdfast, in this condition the instrument can again be opened only by
the person possessing the knowledge of the double combination letters. The
manner of performing this Invention will be understood by the following descrip-
tion and drawings, on which letters of reference are marked on corresponding parts
on all the Fios alike

page_text: Figs. 6 represent an elevation of the front plate rem ved from the box, and
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 10" represent detail views of the improved construction of
combination lock which is applicable to both instruments.
In Figs. 1, 2, and 3 a is the framing b the punch lever, c the case containing the
bell, and d the case containing the counting discs, all being old and well known
parts of the Bell Punch. The punch lever b when being depressed causes the
quadrant rack b¹ to catch in the teeth of the tumbler lever e which through the
medium of the spring finger el prevents the lever b returning until its full depression
has been accomplished at which time the central large tooth on the quadrant b¹
knocks over the tumbler e in which position it is again kept by the spring finger e¹
until the lever b assumes its highest position, ready for another depression; this
arrangement of parts for preventing the return of the lever to its normal position,
before it has completed its throw, is also a part of the Bell Punch well known, but
is here described in order to illustrate more clearly the improvement in connection
therewith, which forms the second part of these present improvemnets, which
consists in forming a cup or hollow in the framing a immediately under the punch
lever into which a ball can be placed for the purpose hereinafter described.
The case d containing the numbering discs is also covered in with a crystal
plate fand an outer metal cap g. The crystal case ƒ and metal cap g are hinged
on to the same pin, and are so arranged that the crystal case f can be closed down
and locked by the person in authority, and the outer case left open, so that the
numbers on the registering dial can be noted by the conductor, before the outer
case covering the numbers is closed to. Before entering upon the manner in
which the above mentioned parts are operated, I would remark that the same
parts with slight alteration are similarly applicable to the Bell Punch shewn at
Figs. 4, 5 and 6, and where a difference of construction or arrangement occurs for
obtaining like results; the same are fully described hereinafter.
According to the arrangement of Bell Punch shewn at Fig. 1. the manner of
proceeding is as follows;
When the instrument is prepared for handing to the conductor, the outer lid or
cover g is placed in a semi-closed position as seen at Fig. 3 so as to cover and
prevent any damage to the crystal cover f and numbering mechanism during the
time the cover remains un-locked.
The said cover g in this semi-closed position is prevented from becoming finally
closed and locked by reason of its projecting lip gl resting on the top of the spring
catch pin which position it is maintained by the catch p¹ being caught by the
yielding bolt q. The cover g when so caught can be easily forced open to allow
the conductor to note the number at which the counting discs stand, after which,
and before giving him possession of the instrument, the catch p upon which the
lip of the lid g has been resting whilst in its semi-opened condition is forced back
into a slot of the lip, which allows the said lid or cover g to close and the instru-
ment to be locked, in which state it remains until it is again returned in at the
office by the conductor, but in order to prevent any disturbance of the parts by an
accidental or other depression of the punch lever b when the instrument is given
up, the conductor first places in the cup of the framing before mentioned, the
ball h which is connected to the instrument by a pin through the medium of the
swivelling spring finger r he then depresses the lever b until it comes into contact
with the ball which prevents its being fully depressed thereby causing it to
become locked in that position in manner as before described, until it arrives in the
hands of the person, authorized to open the instrument, at which time the punch
lever is released by the tumbler e being pushed over its centre.
The spring 8 counteracts any tendency the tumbler e might have by reason of
undue vibration to release the handle b from its locked position.
In order to exhibit to the conductor the figures in the instrument shewn at
Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the metal slide g is left down so as to expose the figures of the
numbering discs contained in the box d but so soon as the conductor has taken
note of the same, the slide. g is pushed up so as to cover the figures in which

page_text: position it is automatically locked by the spring finger g¹inside the box, in this
position it remains until the instrument is handed in by the conductor at the end
of the journey before doing this the conductor first removes the instrument from
the slides connecting it with the box containing the roll of consecutively numbered
tickets and then pushes the stud n up the slot in the back plate (vide Fig. 5.) the
action of which forces the point of the lever i into contact with and under the
catch of the rack rod 6' which not only prevents the further descent of such lever
but locks it in manner similar to the punch lever described in connection with
Fig. 1. in this state the instrument whether that shewn in Fig 1 or that shewn in
Fig. 4 is placed in the hands of the person authorized to open it. When the box
is open the tumbler e is forced over its centre in Fig. 1. which frees the punch
lever b and allows the ball h to be removed.
The manner of doing this in Fig. 4 is accomplished by inserting a pin in a hole
of the swivel stud n¹ and partially turning such stud which causes it to force the
bent finger o against the tumbler e which throws it over as described and so allows
the lever in Fig. 4 to be thrown back by the spring into its normal position as
shewn in dots free of the rack lever b¹.
When the instrument is first handed in and opened as hereinafter described by
the person in authority the combination by which the lock was opened is not
disturbed until the key is again inserted.
The manner of opening the box is as follows:-The four rings as ordinarily
employed as seen at Fig. 7 are arranged in position to allow the bolt w to enter,
but before this can be effectually done a recess u (vide Fig. 9) in the flange k¹ of
the bolt head k has to be so placed (indicated by a secret letter on the periphery of
the bolt head) that it will allow the projection v (vide Fig. 8) of the outer bush
to pass through so as to allow the bolt w to be fully inserted.
The secret letter which will allow the projection v to pass having been determined
the fixed key v' on the inner screw bush x vide Figs. 10 and 100 (which are
opposite views of the inner screw bush x) is slid into one of the 26 channels of
the outer bush 7 (vide Fig. 8), the said channels form key-ways in the outer bush
and correspond in number with the alphabetical letters printed on the periphery of
the cap k. The position in which the key vl is placed for entering one of the said
channels corresponds with the secret letter which allows the projection v to pass
through the recess u.
The inner and outer bushes x and are then screwed home on the screw of
the boss y.
In this state the cap k with the bolt w is fully inserted and the flange ¹ is free
to be turned in the annular space behind the projecting tooth v. The position of
the rings of the combination lock at this time are then disturbed, and the bolt w
becomes fixed.
In this position when the lids or covers of the box Fig. 1 are closed the box will
be locked, but if the box is left open the catches t on the caps or covers of the
Bell Punch shewn at Figs. 1 and 3 are caused to yield, and snap over the key, and
so become locked and cannot be again opened until the key is withdrawn; but in
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, the catch for the key is connected to the inner side of the box
by a spring finger m vide Fig. 5 and is bevelled so that when the key is inserted
as previously described the lid as it is slid into its position to close the box
causes the yielding holdfast m to snap over the key and so becomes locked and
cannot be again opened until the person in authority withdraws the key from the
combination lock.
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 :-
1st. The novel adaptation to such Bell Punches of the crystal face and metal
coverings g for closing in the numbers of the registering dials or discs, to be used

page_text: in the manner, and for the purpose, substantially as described herein and shewn in
the drawings annexed.
2nd. In a Bell Punch designed for checking the receipt of money from persons
riding in public vehicles, such as those described in the Specifications of the Patents
herein recited No. 124 A.D. 1871. and No. 1667 A.D. 1874. the novel adaptation
thereto of the ball and socket marked h in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings or other
equivalent for locking or preventing the action of the punch lever in the manner
and for the purpose as herein substantially described and set forth.
3rd. In a Bell Punch designed for checking the receipt of money from persons
riding in public vehicles such as that described in the Specification of the herein
recited Patent No. 3000 A.D. 1886 the novel adaptation and use of the lever i for
locking or preventing the action of the punch lever in the manner and for the
purpose as herein substantially described.
4th. In a Bell Punch designed for checking the receipt of money from persons
riding in public vehicles the application thereto of a spring snap or holdfast which
will allow the combination lock to be prepared and placed in position for locking
whilst the box is open and causing it to be effectually locked when the lids or
covers are closed or forced into their closed position in the manner substantially as
described herein and set forth in the drawings annexed.
5th. The novel adaptation to the combination lock employed for locking the
description of Bell Punch herein referred to of a bolt with a revolving cap which
will not allow the said bolt to be fully inserted for locking the box, until such cap
has been turned into a position which will allow it to pass over a concealed toothed
disc in the manner as herein substantially described, set forth and illustrated in
the drawings annexed.
THOMAS WRIGLEY,
36, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent to Applicant.