A NEW OR IMPROVED REGISTERING ATTACHMENT OR APPARATUS FOR SKATES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER ARTICLES THE USE OF WHICH IT IS REQUIRED TO INDICATE OR RECORD.
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Alfred Barlow and Henry
Thomas Davis at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th April
1876.
WALTER ALFRED BARLOW, of 53, Tollington Road, Holloway, in the County of
Middlesex, Draughtsman, and HENRY THOMAS DAVIS, of Brindley Street, Lewisham
High Road, in the County of Kent, Engineer. "A NEW OR IMPROVED REGISTERING
ATTACHMENT OR APPARATUS FOR SKATES, APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER ARTICLES
THE USE OF WHICH IT IS REQUIRED TO INDICATE OR RECORD.
This Invention has for object the construction and application of apparatus to
be affixed to roller and other skates, or any other machine or article, the use of
which is required to be indicated or recorded, and it consists in a piston or plunger,
whether tubular or solid, which upon being depressed or actuated will operate the
registering mechanism.
Beneath and below the stock of the skate is affixed a metal plate, herein-after
called the register plate, above which plate a circular hole is cut or perforated through
the stock of the skate, in which hole is fixed a metal rim or sleeve having studs or
pins fixed on the inside at equal distance, and in this rim is inserted a short length
of tube, the top of which is capped or "covered in," and this acts as a plunger.
This plunger tube has straight slots in which the pins or studs on the inside of
the rim or sleeve fixed in the hole in the stock) work, & on the outer lower edge
of this plunger tube is a flange which allows the said plunger tube to rise only the
required distance above the stock. On the inside of the plunger tube are two spiral
grooves or slots into which take studs or pins on a second tube. On the lower end of
the latter or second tube is fixed a circular plate having a pivot in the centre, which
pivot revolves in a boss or step on the register plate, and on the circular plate is
pivoted a spring catch working horizontally, which spring catch gears with a toothed
wheel pivoted & capable of revolving on the register plate, and on the underside
of which are figures from one upwards, said figures corresponding to the number of
teeth, and which figures will be displayed or shewn through an aperture in the
register plate. Inside the second tube is placed a spiral or volute spring which acts
upon the plunger tube to keep hold or return it to the required distance above the
foot surface of the skate stock, which will be its normal condition.
When therefore the skate is hired and the foot applied thereto the plunger tube
will be forced down on the spring and the spiral slots therein will revolve; the
second tube and plate carrying the spring catch and so move the toothed wheel
one tooth or number forward, and so on. If it is desired to register a greater
Price 2dl

page_text: number than is represented on the first toothed wheel a second and third toothed
wheel, each controlled by by a spring, will be introduced in the series, so that the
revolution of each causes one or more wheel or wheels to move a cog or tooth for-
ward, as will be well understood, and the beads of the pivots of the register wheels
are squared so that they may be set at zero by a key.
The registering parts upon the under side of the skate are enclosed in a metal
case or box provided with a lid which can be locked so that the register can be
inspected and the wheels set by an authorised person. For preventing the apparatus
being accidentally actuated when out of use or being repaired a pin will be passed
through a hole in the plunger when at its normal position..
In the case of using a solid plunger an incline or bevil may be made to gear with
a spring bolt, to which latter a horizontal movement or thrust would be communicated
to actuate, the registering wheels, or the incline may be set so as to actuate one arm
of a bell crank lever for that purpose; but the first described arrangement of apparatus
is preferred, and it will be understood that the plunger always works in connection
with a spring to keep hold or return it to position for further use.
The plunger may be fixed horizontally so as to be actuated by the straps or by a
metal piece thereon when fastening the skate, or by a hinged pin fastened to the
strap and working through a hole in the apparatus, but this application is less certain
than that before described.
This apparatus is applicable to to weighing chairs (in which case it would be
placed under the seat), to apparatus for making high jumps for theatrical and other
purposes, in which the hire or payments depend upon or are according to the
number of jumps performed, in which case it would be applied to the "head" of-
the apparatus to which the power is applied to give the impetus or would be
actuated thereby.
When the apparatus is applied to the hinged seats of water-closets on hire at
lavatories a spring bolt must be used in connection with a wire from the door so
that when the seat is depressed the spring bolt will engage with a stop in connection
with and retain the plunger until the door of the closet shall be opened, whereupon
the bolt would be "drawn" and the plunger ready to register the use of the place
by the next person.