Improvements in Apparatus for Checking, Counting, or Registering, the Number of Persons Entering and Leaving Tramcars, Omnibuses, Theatres, or other Public Conveyances or Places.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1887
Complete Left, 14th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 14th July, 1888
Improvements in Apparatus for Checking, Counting, or Registering,
the Number of Persons Entering and Leaving Tramcars,
Omnibuses, Theatres, or other Public Conveyances or Places.
I, WILLIAM HENRY GITTINS, of Brunswick Street, Liverpool, in the County of.
Lancaster, Cartage Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as.
follows:-
This invention was partly described by me in the provisional specification
Number 134466, and is now re-described with various improvements and additions.
in the present specification to bear date prior to that on which the aforesaid provisional
specification would become void. It is designed chiefly for use on tram-cars witli the
object of counting or registering the number of persons entering and leaving the car
between any given points on the line of route and thereby checking the fares collected
by the conductor. It may be applied to omnibuses or other public conveyances, and
is also applicable for theatres and pay gates generally, more particularly where it is
desired to register the number of persons, who are admitted or who leave between
certain specified hours.
Its object is to provide a checking or registering apparatus which shall be actuated
or operated by each person who enters or leaves without being under the control of
the conductor or attendant, and which shall at the same time offer the minimum
amount of hindrance or resistance to the free passage of such person.
The invention will be described, as applied to a train-car from which the construction
of it will be understood for whatever purpose it may be desired, the size, shape and
details of course being modified to suit the particular situation.
In carrying out the invention a turnstile of a special construction or one or more'
doors will be placed at the entrance, as it will be found that in some places a turnstile
will be most convenient and suitable, while in others one or two doors will answer
best..
The turnstile I prefer to use is formed with three arms placed approximately at
right angles to each other. The inner ends of these aruns are pivoted on the top of
a suitable standard in such a manner that they may swing for some distance in a
horizontal plane. They may be made to rotate on a common axis or to separate axes"

page_text: a short distance apart. The side arms are attached to the centre one by means of a
flexible or non rigid connection, so that in whichever direction the centre one be
moved one of the side ones will be drawn after it, while the other one remains
stationary. By this means only one person at a time can pass through the turnstile.
A spring is attached to each side arm and draws the centre one back to its central
position when released. Suitable stops are provided to prevent the side arms being
drawn over too far, say through an angle of more than 90 degrees. If desired the
centre arm may have a screen attached thereto on its underside, to prevent anyone
creeping below the arm to avoid being registered. Tramcars etcetera, in which there
is a different scale of fares for "outside" and "inside" passengers are fitted with a
double turnstile, one for registering the "inside" and the other the "outside"
passengers. For economy of space, the arms of the two stiles are preferably mounted
on the same standard, and the registering apparatus enclosed within the standard.
The doors I prefer to use are of curved contour in cross section, the curve
corresponding to an arc of a circle struck from a central point, at which point each
door is pivoted, and about which each turns. Each door opens somewhat like an
ordinary sliding door, but instead of moving in a straight line, moves on a circular
path around the central pivot on which it revolves. Although this arrangement is
preferred, the invention is not limited merely to such, as where there is sufficient
room sliding doors moving along a straight path would answer the purpose. The
doors or their handles are so arranged that one opens from the outside and the other
from the inside, each actuating the registering apparatus independently of the other.
Each door may be furnished with a snap lock and self closing spring preventing the
entrance door being used for exit or vice versa. It would be quite possible to work
the double registering apparatus by means of one door opening in one direction from
the outside and in the opposite direction from the inside, but when doors are employed,
I prefer to use two, as they will be found easier to work. A spring, weight, or its
equivalent brings back each door to its original position after it has been opened.
The rotary movement of the doors may be transmitted to the registering apparatus in
any suitable manner, either directly or by means of links, levers or their equivalent,
provision being made whereby the actuating lever of the apparatus is returned to its
normal position at each closing of the door.
One part of the registering apparatus is worked by the movement of the actuating
lever above referred to, which lever in the case of the turnstile, is the central arm
itself. The movement of the said arm in one direction or the movement of the entrance
door causes the apparatus to check the number of persons who enter, and the move-
ment of the arm in the reverse direction or of the exit door causes it to check the
number of persons who leave.
Another part of the apparatus derives its motion from the movement of the car
relative to the road or track on which it runs, said motion being transmitted as herein-
after described.
By using the checking apparatus in conjunction with the movement of the car, the
former may be set or adjusted to register all who enter or leave between any two given
points on the road or between any two of a series of points. By combining the
apparatus with a timepiece or clock, the number who enter or leave in any given
time or times may be registered. This is especially applicable in the case of a theatre
or other public building.
The number of passengers is registered by two methods, one of which checks the
other, though either may Le used (but not so advantageously) without the other. The
first method is by the use of balls or counters and the second by employing a travelling
band of paper which is punctured or otherwise marked whenever the apparatus is
actuated.
In the first method a number of balls or other suitable cheques or counters are
carried in a chamber fitted for the purpose. The chamber may be hopper shaped and
the balls thrown in indiscriminate order, or it may be made of a cylindrical or other
shape with parallel sides and the balls or counters placed one directly on top of
another, with a hole in the bottom through which one ball or counter passes at a time.

page_text: Below this hole is a movable slide with a space therein to receive one of the balls or
counters as it falls from the chamber. This slide may have a circular or rectilinear
motion and is preferably connected directly with the aforesaid actuating lever or
central turnstile arm, though it may be connected either directly or by means of levers
or their equivalents to other moving parts of the turnstile or doors. As the turnstile
is moved in either direction or either of the doors opened, the slide is moved to and
fro. When the said arm of the turnstile is put into its central or normal position, or
when either of the doors is closed the space in the slide receives and retains one of the
balls. The movement of the slide in either direction carries the ball or counter over
a hole through which it drops into a chamber or receptacle to receive it, one chamber
or series of chambers receiving the balls which indicate entrances, and another chamber
or series of chambers receiving those which indicate exits. When the turnstile is
returned to its central position or either of the doors closed, another ball passes from
the chamber into the slide, which ball is also passed forward when the slide is again
moved, consequent upon the movement of the turnstile or door and so on for each
movement. The registering of the reverse or exit movement of the turnstile or the
use of a second door is only necessary when fares of different amounts are charged
according to the distance travelled by the passengers.
Where the fares are all of the
same amount for persons passing through the same turnstile or door, the checking or
registering of tho passengers when entering only (or when leaving) will be found
sufficient.
When the route is divided into "stages" and the fares are computed by the distance
travelled, a reversible turnstile or a double door is necessary, and it is necessary also
that the movement of the car should be represented in the apparatus. To this end a
vertical or nearly vertical shaft projects upwards from the bottom of the car in
proximity to the chambers which receive the balls, being held in suitable bearings at
either end. This shaft, receiving its motion from the movement of the car, as will be
hereinafter described, is screwed for some distance at its upper end and fitted with a
nut, the travel of which on the shaft represents on a reduced scale the movement or
travel of the car.
The chambers or compartments into which the balls or counters drop, are so arranged
that each receives only the balls that fall during a specified portion or stage of the
journey of the car. To this end they are preferably arranged one above the other,
though if desired they may be placed side by side.
When the chambers are placed one above the other they are provided with hinged
or sliding bottoms, through which, when open, the balls can drop. The said bottoms
can be closed automatically by the travelling nut as it moves up the vertical shaft
aforesaid. The nut in its travel comes in contact successively with a catch or tappet
in connection with each movable bottom, and so closes it, the action of the latter being
assisted when necessary by a weight, spring, or its equivalent. For the purpose of
adjustment at the commencement of each journey, the travelling nut is preferably
made in halves which are held together when in action by any suitable device. The
vertical position of the receiving chambers themselves or, if desired, merely the
movable bottoms with their actuating devices-may also be adjusted so that the afore-
said nut may close them at the termination of a longer or a shorter stage as desired.
The vertical shaft projects downwards through the car bottom, and may be provided
with a band wheel, a cord or chain connecting said wheel with a similar wheel in the
car axle. This mode, however, of transmitting the motion of the car is objectionable,
as when the brake is applied, especially when going down hill, the car is apt to skid or
slide for some distance without producing any revolution of the axle, thus rendering
accurate measurement of the car travel impossible. I therefore prefer to derive the
motion from an independent wheel placed below the end of the car and in constant
contact with the roadway or track. This wheel is fixed to one end of a cord shaft
supported by hangers attached to the car bottom, said shaft being preferably carried
in spring bearings in the hangers. To the other end of the shaft a worm is attached
which gears with a worm wheel on the lower end of the vertical shaft aforesaid. If
desired the cross-shaft may be in two lengths which can be united by any suitable

page_text: '
universal joint. With this method of transmitting the car motion the travelling nut
will register accurately the distance run. The aforesaid device is capable of indicating
the travel of other vehicles besides tramcars, etcetera.
The mode of action of this part of the apparatus is as follows:
At the commencement of the journey the bottoms of all the receiving chambers
but those in the lowest tier are open, and the travelling nut is adjusted in its lowest
position. All the balls which fall during the first stage pass through the upper
chambers into those on the lowest tier, "entrance" balls going into the "entrance"
chamber and "exit" balls into the "exit" chamber. The relative vertical position of
the chambers has previously been so adjusted that on the completion of the first stage
the travelling nut engages with the aforesaid catches or tappets in connection with the
movable bottoms of the chambers in the second tier and closes said bottoms, thus
preventing the entrance of any more balls into the lower chambers. Any balls falling
during the second stage are received in the chambers of the second tier until these
are in turn closed and this action is repeated to the end of the journey. The balls are
then taken out of the chambers by an official at the terminus, who alone has access to
the outer case of the apparatus, and connected by him, or if the chambers are tubes
of slightly larger diameter than the balls, the latter may be counted before being
removed, either by making the tubes of transparent material or by forming them
with a longitudinal slit through which the balls may be seen. Before starting the
next journey all the chambers but the lowest ones are placed open, the nut is opened
out, adjusted at the lower end of the screw and closed up again and the outer case
locked. A single chamber might be employed to receive the balls or counters, and at
the end of each stage a tally of peculiar design be released to indicate the number of
counters passed during each stage. Where the apparatus is stationary, as in a
building etcetera, clockwork may be employed to operate the movable divisions or
covers of the compartments either by means of a screw or other suitable device.
The method of checking the fares is as follows:
Suppose a fare of one penny is charged for each stage or portion of stage. In the
first stage say 17 people enter. For that stage 17 pence is due. Five people leave in
the first stage therefore 17-5 or 12 are carried on and owe for the second stage. In
the second stage 10 enter and 4 leave, therefore 12+ 10 or 22 pence are due for
the second stage and 22-4 or 18 are carried on and owe for the third stage, and so
on for any number of stages, these totals being added to obtain the total for the
journey.
To check the hall apparatus and also the checker himself, the aforesaid second
method of registering with a travelling paper band is employed. This part of the
apparatus is, preferably, locked up independently of the other portions and is only
opened at stated times, say the end of each day, by a responsible official who has
access to it. One way of constructing this part of the apparatus is as follows:
Around two reels a travelling paper band or ribbon passes being wound off one reel
and on to the other. Between the reels, below the paper band and in close proximity
thereto is an arm or stem carrying a needle point or other suitable punching, stamping
or marking device. The said arm or stem, passing through a bracket which guides it
in a vertical direction, is provided at its lower extremity with a shoe having its under-
side inclined. Below this shoe is a bar or rod provided on its upper face with a wedge
having an incline complementary to that of the shoe. Each time the turnstile is
pushed round or a door opened the wedge is forced under the shoe and causes the
stem with the marking device to rise and mark the paper band. When the door or
turnstile is released the bar and wedge are withdrawn and the stem drops clear of the
paper. The aforesaid bar or rod carries a rack at one end, into which gears a toothed
wheel, driven by a crown wheel on the same axis as the central arm of the turnstile
(or the actuating lever if a door be used). The receiving reel of the band is provided
with a pawl and ratchet wheel into which a ratchet works, which is carried by the
aforesaid bar, and actuates the band reel or the return stroke of the bar, so that at
each action of the turnstile or door, a fresh surface is presented to be marked. A
record punching or marking device, which produces a mark of a different design

page_text: from the previous one is mounted above the paper band and serves to indicate the
successive stages of the route. The said device is carried by a vertical rod working
in suitable supports. The lower end of this rod carries projections corresponding to
the various stages and with each projection one end of a small rocking lever engages.
The other ends of these levers are engaged at certain times by the travelling nut
which works the chambers of the ball apparatus. The said nut carries a tappet which,
as the end of each stage is reached tips up the rocking lever and depresses the vertical
rod causing the paper to be punctured or marked. A weight, spring, or its equivalent
brings the rod and marking device back to its original position as soon as it is released
from the rocking lever. Two separate bands may be used to indicate entrances and
exits, or one band and two sets of marking devices may be employed.
The fares are computed from these bands, after they have been removed, in the
same manner as they are calculated from the balls.
Instead of a travelling paper band a card or dial may be used which would be
punctured or marked in a similar manner to the band. A second or counting dial
imay also be used in connection with the mechanism to indicate to the passengers and
guard that the apparatus is working aright.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Checking, Counting, or Registering
the Number of Persons Entering and Leaving Tramcars, Omni-
buses, Theatres, or other Public Conveyances or Places.
I, WILLIAM HENRY GITTINS of Brunswick Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Cartage Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention was partly described by me in the provisional specification a
Number 134468, and is now re-described with various improvements and additions
in the present specification to bear date prior to that on which the aforesaid provisional
specification would becomo void. It is designed chiefly for use on trani-cars with
the object of counting or registering the number of persons entering and leaving
the car between any given points on the line of route and thereby checking the fares
collected by the conductor. It may be applied to omnibuses or other public convey-
ances and is also applicable for theatres and pay gates generally more particularly
where it is desired to register the number of persons, who are admitted or who
leave between certain specified hours.
Its object is to provide a checking or registering apparatus which shall be actuated
or operated by each person who enters or leaves without being under the control of
the conductor or attendant, and which shall at the same time offer the minimum
amount of hindrance or resistance to the free passage of such person.
The invention will be described by aid of the accompanying drawings as it is
applied to a tramcar, from which the construction of it will be understood for what-
ever purpose it may be desired, the size, shape and details of course being modified to
suit the particular situation.
Fig. 1, is a plan view of the end of a tram car showing two methods of applying
the invention.
Fig. 2, is a vertical section through x x Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, is a plan of a double apparatus as worked by turnstiles, and to be used with
balls or checks.
Fig. 4, vertical section of same, partly in elevation.
Fig. 5, side elevation, at right angles to Fig. 4, parts being broken away for
clearness.
Figs. 6 and 7, transverse sections through y, y and z, z (Fig. 4) respectively.
Fig. 8, plan of under side of plate G Fig. 4.
Figs. 9, and 10, are two side clevations of a modified form of the ball apparatus.
Fig. 11, plan of Fig. 9.

page_text: Figs. 12 and 13, two elevations of a second modification of the ball apparatus.
Figs. 14, and 14° details of nut I'.
Fig. 15 is an isometric view of an apparatus for checking by means of a travelling
band in conjunction with a turnstile arm.
Fig. 16, a plan (on a reduced scale) of a double apparatus such as shown in Fig. 15.
Fig. 17, a sectional elevation illustrating a mode of applying the band apparatus to
a tramcar.
In carrying out the invention, a turnstile of a special construction or one or more
doors will be placed at the entrance, as it will be found that in some places a turnstile
will be most convenient and suitable, while in others one or two doors will answer
best.
The turnstile I prefer to use as shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, and 11, is formed
with three arms A, A', placed approximately at right angles to each other. The inner
ends of these arms are pivoted on the top of a suitable standard B in such a manner
that they may swing for some distance in a horizontal plane. They may be made to
rotate on a common axis as in figs. 9 to 11 or to separate axes a short distance apart
as in figs. 1, 3, 4, and 5. The side arms A¹ are attached to the centre one A by
means of a flexible or non-rigid connection a so that in which ever direction the
centre one be moved one of the side ones will be drawn after it, (see figure 3) while
the other one remains stationary. By this means only one person at a time can
pass through the turnstile. A spring a¹ is attached to each side arm and draws
the centre one back to its central position when released. Suitable stops a² are
provided to prevent the side arms A¹ being drawn over too far, say through an angle
of more than 90 degrees. If desired the centre arm may have a screen attached
thereto on its underside, to prevent anyone creeping below the arm to avoid being
registered. Tramcars etcetera, in which there is a different scale of fares for "outside"
and "inside" passengers are fitted with a double turnstile, one for registering the
"inside" and the other the "outside" passengers. For economy of space, the arms
of the two stiles are preferably mounted on the same standard B and the registering
apparatus enclosed within the standard.
The doors I prefer to use as seen in figure 1 are of curved contour in cross section,
the curve corresponding to an are of a circle struck from a central point c, at which
point each door is pivoted, and about which each turns. Each door opens somewhat
like an ordinary sliding door, but instead of moving in a straight line moves on a
circular path around the central pivot on which it revolves. Although this arrange-
ment is preferred, the invention is not limited merely to such, as where there is
sufficient room sliding doors moving along a straight path would answer the purpose.
The doors or their handles c' are so arranged that one door c opens from the outside
and the other C¹ from the inside, each actuating the registering apparatus indepen-
dently of the other.
Each door may be furnished with a snap lock and self closing spring preventing the
entrance door being used for exit or vice versa. It would be quite possible to work
the double registering apparatus by means of one door opening in one direction from
the outside and in the opposite direction from the inside, but when doors are
employed, I prefer to use two, as they will be found easier to work. A weight c²
or a spring, or its equivalent brings back each door to its original position after
it has been opened. The rotary movement of the doors may be transmitted to
the registering apparatus in any suitable manner, either directly or by means of
links, levers or their equivalent, provision being made whereby the actuating
lever of the apparatus is returned to its normal position at each closing of the door.
This, I preferably accomplish as follows:—The actuating lever A² is connected by
means of a link D to an A shaped lever D¹ capable of rotating upon one of the door
pivots c, preferably the top one. As either door is moved in the direction of the
arrows a pin d thereon pushes over the lever D₁ and so causes the actuating arm A³
to move to the right or left, according to which door is opened. As the door swings
back, a stop thereon catches a projection d on the underside of the lever and

page_text: returns it to its normal position. The box B' containing the apparatus is preferably
placed on the car seat and the actuating lever is connected with the apparatus by
a vertical rod or tube A³.
One part of the registering apparatus is worked by the movement of the actuating
lever above referred to, which lever in the case of the turnstile, is the central arm A
itself. The movement of the said arm in one direction or the movement of the
entrance door causes the apparatus to check the number of persons who enter, and the
movement of the arm in the reverse direction or of the exit door causes it to check
the number of persons who leave.
Another part of the apparatus derives its motion from the movement of the car
relative to the road or track on which it runs, said motion being transmitted as
hereinafter described.
By using the checking apparatus in conjunction with the movement of the car,
the former may be set or adjusted to register all who enter or leave between any two
given points on the road or between any two of a series of points. By combining the
apparatus with a timepiece or clock, the number who enter or leave in any given time
or times may be registered. This is especially applicable in the case of a theatre
or other public building.
.
The number of passengers is registered by two methods, one of which checks the
other, though either may be used (but not so advantageously) without the other.
The first method is by the use of balls or counters (figures 1 to 14) and the second by
employing a travelling band of paper (figures 15 to 17) which is punctured or
otherwise marked whenever the apparatus is actuated.
In the first method a number of balls E figures 4 and 9 or other suitable checks or
counters are carried in a chamber fitted for the purpose. The chamber may be
hopper shaped and the balls thrown in in indiscriminate order, or it may be made of
a cylindrical or other shape with parallel sides as in the form of a tube F and the balls
or counters placed one directly on top of another, with a hole f in the bottom through
which one ball or counter passes at a time. Below this hole is a movable slide G with
a space g therein to receive one of the balls or counters as it falls from the chamber.
This slide may have a circular motion as shown or it may have a rectilinear motion
and it is preferably connected directly with the aforesaid actuating lever A³ or central
turnstile arm A. so as to turn upon the central pivot a³ thereof though it may be
connected either directly or by means of levers or their equivalents to other
moving parts of the turnstile or doors. As the turnstile is moved in either direction
or either of the doors opened the slide is moved to and fro. When the said arm
of the turnstile is put into its central or normal position, or when either of the doors
is closed the space g³ in the slide receives and retains one of the balls E. The
movement of the slide in either direction carries the ball or counter over a hole g¹ in
the plate or block G' through which it drops into a chamber or receptacle H or H¹
to receive it, one chamber or series of chambers H.receiving the balls which indicate
entrances, and another chamber or series of chambers H¹ receiving those which
indicate exits. When the turnstile is returned to its central position or either of the
doors closed, another ball passes from the supply chamber F into the slide, which ball
is also passed forward when the slide is again moved consequent upon the movement
of the turnstile or door and so on for each movement. The registering of the reverse
or exit movement of the turnstile or the use of a second door is only necessary when
fares of different amounts are charged according to the distance travelled by the
passengers. Where the fares are all of the same amount for persons passing through
the same turnstile or door, the checking or registering of the passengers when entering
only (or when leaving) will be found sufficient.
When the route is divided into "stages" and the fares are computed by the distance.
travelled, a reversible turnstile or a double door is necessary, and it is necessary also
that the movement of the car should be represented in the apparatus. To this end. a
vertical or nearly vertical shaft I figs.. 3 to 7, 10 and 17 projects upwards from the.
bottom of the car in proximity to the chambers H H which receive the balls, being

page_text: held in suitable bearings i at either end. This shaft, receiving its motion from the
movement of the car, as will be hereinafter described, is screwed for some distance at its
upper end and fitted with a nut I' the travel of which on the shaft represents on a
reduced scale the movement or travel of the car.
The chambers or compartments H H into which the balls or counters drop, are so
arranged that each receives only the balls that fall during a specified portion or stage
of the journey of the car. To this end they are preferably arranged one above the
other (figs. 5 and 9) though if desired they may be placed side by side.
When the chambers are placed one above the other, they are provided with hinged
bottoms or sliding bottoms ¹, through which, when open, the balls can drop. The
said bottoms can be closed automatically by the travelling nut I' as it moves up the
vertical shaft aforesaid. The nut in its travel comes in contact successively with a
catch or tappet 2 in connection with each movable bottom, and so closes it, the action
of the tappet being assisted when necessary by a weight h³ or by a spring, or its
equivalent. For the purpose of adjustment at the commencement of each journey,
the travelling nut is preferably made in halves which are held together when in action
by any suitable device such as shown in figs. 14 and 14ª. This nut is taken off the
spindle at the end of each journey or at other stated times, being passed through the
hinged doors b which fit round the top of the spindle. It is then placed upon
the lower end of the spindle before recommencing the journey. In figs. 4 and 5 the
nut is held together by the sides 61 of the screw chamber. It is inserted through
the door 6, the flaps 65 being lifted up for the purpose, but afterwards held in their
hanging position by the clips 64 on the said door, (see fig. 7). The vertical position
of the receiving chambers themselves-or, if desired merely the movable bottoms
with their actuating devices (as in figs. 12 and 13)-may also be adjusted so that the
aforesaid nut may close them at the termination of a longer or shorter stage as
desired.
The vertical shaft I projects downwards through the car bottom J, and may be
provided with a band wheel I', a cord or chain connecting said wheel with a similar
wheel in the car axle. This mode, however, of transmitting the motion of the car
is objectionable, as when the brake is applied, especially when going down hill, the
car is apt to skid or slide for some distance without producing any rotation of the axle, i
thus rendering accurate measurement of the car travel impossible. I therefore prefer
to derive the motion from an independent wheel I' figs. 4 and 5 placed below the end
of the car and in constant contact with the roadway or track. This wheel is fixed to
one end of a cross shaft I supported by hangers I attached to the car bottom, said
shaft being preferably carried in spring bearings i¹ in the hangers. To the other end
of the shaft a worm I is attached which gears with a worm wheel I' on the lower end
of the vertical shaft I aforesaid. If desired the cross shaft may be in two lengths
which can be united by any suitable universal joint such as . With this method of
transmitting the car motion the travelling nut will register accurately the distance run.
The aforesaid device is capable of indicating the travel of other vehicles besides tram-
cars, etcetera. The hanger 1* nearest the wheel 13 is preferably so made that it may
be lifted up, in order to raise the wheel off the road or track when the car is being
turned round, (see dotted lines in fig. 5). The hanger, in either its upper or lower
position, is held by a pin which is inserted into a hole or in the hanger and a
hole in the bracket I thereof. There are other ways the equivalent of this in which
the wheel I may be lifted off the road or track. 6 6 figs. 3 to 6 are doors by which
the chambers H and H¹ may be got at. These may be locked or otherwise secured.
The underside of the plate G₁ is, as in figs. 4, 5 and 8, provided with a deflecting
plate G which guides the balls E into their proper chambers.
The mode of action of this part of the apparatus is as follows:-
At the commencement of the journey the bottoms h h¹ of all the receiving
chambers but those in the lowest tier are open, and the travelling nut I' is adjusted
in its lowest position. All the balls which fall during the first stage pass through the
upper chambers into those on the lowest tier, "entrance" balls going into the

page_text: "
"
entrance chamber and exit balls into the exit chamber. The relative vertical
position of the chambers has previously been so adjusted that on the completion of
the first stage the travelling nut engages with the aforesaid catches or tappets 12 in
connection with the movable bottoms of the chambers in the second tier and closes
said bottoms, thus preventing the entrance of any more balls into the lowest chambers.
Any balls falling during the second stage are received in the chambers of the second
tier until these are in turn closed and this action is repeated to the end of the
journey. The balls are then taken out of the chambers by an official at the terminus,
who alone has access to the outer case of the apparatus, and counted by him, or if
the chambers are tubes of slightly larger diameter than the balls as in figs. 9 to 13, the
latter may be counted before being removed, either by making the tubes of transparent
material, or by forming them with a longitudinal slit h through which the balls
may be seen.
Before starting the next journey all the chambers, but the lowest ones are placed
open, the nut I' is opened out, adjusted at the lower end of the screw and closed up
again and the outer case locked. A single chamber, like the ones just described,
might be employed to receive the balls or counters, and the mechanism operated by
the travelling nut I¹ might be so modified that at the end of each stage a ball or
counter, of a different design from the balls or counters in the receiving chamber,
might be released from a separate receptacle and be inserted or allowed to fall into
the said chamber. The presence of these distinctive counters or balls at intervals
among the others in the chamber, would indicate the number of balls or counters
passed into the chamber during each stage. Where the apparatus is stationary as
in a building etcetera, clockwork may be employed to operate the movable bottoms,
divisions or covers of the compartments, either by means of a screw or other suitable
device.
In the apparatus shown in figs. 9 and 10, the balls or counters are removed from
the chambers H or H' by screwing off the caps at the lower end thereof. In
figs. 12 and 13 the tube shaped chamber H or H is shown divided into a series of
equal lengths H2 and the sliding bottom / with its actuating mechanism is carried on
a plate which is adjustable vertically upon the standard B, being clamped in
position thereon by the T headed bolts h'. By this means the apparatus may be
adjusted (within the limits of the lengths H2) to stages of any distance.
To check the ball apparatus and also the checker himself, the aforesaid second
method of registering with a travelling paper band is employed. This part of the
apparatus which is shown in figs. 15 to 17 is preferably locked up independently of
the other portions in a case such as k fig. 16 and is only opened at stated times, say
the end of each day, by a responsible official who has access to it.
One way of
constructing this part of the apparatus is as follows:-
Around two reels K¹ K² a travelling paper band or ribbon K passes being wound off
one reel and on to the other. Between the reels behind the papor band and in close
proximity thereto is an arm or stem L carrying a needle point or other suitable
punching, stamping, or marking device. The said arm or stem may be guided by a
suitable bracket attached to the central standard B' of the turnstile arm A, or it may
pass through a slot in the said standard and be provided at each end with a needle
point, one point for puncturing an "exit" band and the other for puncturing an
* entrance band.
In my provisional specification the stem L was described as
being worked by mechanism from the turnstile arm A or pivoted door. I still work
it from the said arm or door but I have abandoned the original mechanism as being
too complicated and in place thereof I use a more simple but equivalent device as
follows: To the disc G of the turnstile arm (or of the actuating lever if a door be
used) and concentric with the pivot a³ thereof I attach a pinion wheel L' which gears
into the toothed edge of the stem L so as to move the latter in either direction accord-
ing as the arm A or door is moving to the right or left. The receiving reel K³ of
the band is provided with a ratchet wheel K³ into which a pawl works. The pawl
is carried by the aforesaid stem I and actuates the band reel at each forward stroke

page_text: of the stem, but before the needle point reaches the paper band so that at each action
of the turnstile or door, a fresh surface is presented to be marked. When the turn-
stile or door is released the needle point is withdrawn and the pawl slides over the
ratchet wheel without actuating it. A record punching or marking device M, which
produces a mark of a different design from the previous one or in a different relative
position therefrom is flexibly mounted in front of the paper band and serves to indicate
the successive stages of the route. The said device is carried by a vertical arm M¹
attached to a spring M2. The arm M¹ is actuated by means of a cord or chain m
which is attached to the upper end of a vertical rod N. This rod carries projections n
corresponding to the various stages and with each projection one end of a small
rocking lever N¹ engages. The other ends of these levers are engaged at certain
times by the travelling nut I' which works the chambers of the ball apparatus. The
said nut, as the end of each stage is reached, tips up the rocking lever N₁ and depresses
the vertical rod N causing the paper to be punctured or marked. The springs n2 M²
or their equivalent bring the rod and marking device back to their original position
as soon as the former is released from the rocking lever, N¹. Two separate bands may
be used to indicate entrances and exits or the apparatus may be modified so that one
band and two sets of marking devices may be employed. O fig. 15 is a brake for
keeping the band taut and P a spring for locking the turnstile arm in its central
position.
The fares are computed from these bands, after they have been removed, in the
same manner as they are calculated from the balls.
Instead of a travelling paper band a card or dial may be used which would be
punctured or marked in a similar manner to the band. A second or counting dial
may also be used in connection with the mechanism to indicate to the passengers and
guard that the apparatus is working aright.
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:
1st. A passenger checking apparatus, consisting of a supply chamber or hopper
containing a number of balls or counters, and provided at the bottom with an exit
hole, a slide situated below said exit hole having a space therein for the reception of
one such ball or counter and actuated by a turnstile arm or equivalent mechanism; a
fixed plate or its equivalent closing the lower end of said space but provided with a
hole or holes through which the said ball or counter may pass each time the slide is
actuated by the entrance or exit of a person, and a separate receiving chamber or
series of chambers located below each hole in the said fixed plate, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
2nd. In combination with the fixed plate G¹ or its equivalent of a checking
apparatus such as herein described, a series of superposed receiving chambers such
as H, H' located below each hole in said plate or its equivalent and each provided
with a movable bottom or cover, and a travelling nut such as I representing the
distance travelled or time elapsed and adapted to close the said bottoms or covers at
the completion of each stage or period by means of a catch or tappet attached thereto,
whereby the balls or counters representing the exits or entrances in each stage or
period are kept distinct from those of every other stage or period, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
3rd. A passenger checking apparatus consisting of a travelling paper band wound
as described upon two reels, a guided arm such as L carrying a needle point and
actuated by the entrance or exit of a person so as to puncture the band and a pawl
niounted upon the guided arm and adapted to engage a ratchet on the band receiving
reel each time the said arm is reciprocated, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
4th. In combination with the checking apparatus herein set forth in claim 3 the
puncturing or marking device M actuated at the completion of each stage or period

page_text: by means of a travelling nut partaking of the movement of the vehicle or time
mechanism, whereby the said stages or periods of time are punctured or marked upon
the same band which registers the "exits" or entrances," substantially as and for
the purposes described.
"
5th. The combination of the checking apparatus herein set forth in claims 1 and 2
with that herein set forth in claims 2 and 3, whereby a double check is obtained and
the chances of fraud greatly diminished.