IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND REGISTERING THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF DOORS OR VALVES, PART OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO POSTAL LETTER BOXES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Birch Cull and Joseph
Beverley Fenby at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th
March 1880.
JAMES BIRCH CULL, of Sutton Coldfield, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer, and JOSEPH BEVERLEY FENBY, of Sutton Coldfield, aforesaid, Civil
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING AND REGISTERING
THE OPENING AND CLOSING OF DOORS OR VALVES, PART OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS
BEING APPLICABLE TO POSTAL LETTER BOXES."
Our Invention consists in attaching to the bolt of any door or valve suitable
mechanism for indicating and registering the number of times the said door or
valve is opened and closed, and the object of its application to postal letter boxes
is to shew persons about to post letters therein which collection of letters has
last been made from the said box. On the inner side of the door we place an
oscillating, reciprocating, or rotating plate called the register plate. On this
register plate is a series of marks, preferably of some bright colour. On the door
the usual table of times of collection is shewn, and opposite each such time of
collection is an aperture. The register plate moves behind all the said apertures,
and by a step by step movement brings the beforementioned marks to the said
apertures. The marks thus become visible and shew that the collections opposite
which they stand have been made. The step by step movement of the register
plate is effected by a pawl which is moved by the bolt of the door in the act of
fastening. Except when the door is closed the pawl is not in gear with the bolt, so
that shooting the bolt with the door open_shall not-move the register plate. Near
the. register plate is a series of pins corresponding to the number of collections
shewn on the table of times. A pawl on the register plate engages with a pin at
each step of the registering movement. When the last pin is reached, the next
unbolting of the door frees the pawl of the register plate from such pin, and a
spring throws the register plate back to its initial position. By adding or with-
drawing pins the registration can be made to suit varying numbers of collections.
We have described our Invention in connection with postal letter boxes, because
such an application of it affords a clear idea of its construction and working, and
an example of its public utility. It is also applicable to most cases where it is
desirable for any reason to indicate or register the opening and closing of doors

page_text: or valves, the details being varied to suit the precise object in view. For instance,
if the doors of any building be fitted with such mechanism, the rounds performed
by a watchman may be checked thereby. The opening and closing of lock gates of
canals and basins can be registered in the same way. And our Invention is also
applicable to the valves of water sluices. The table of times or numbers on the
door or valve, and the marks on the register plate must be modified to suit each
The series of pins before mentioned must also be made to suit the case in
case.
hand.