Improvements in Carriage Attachments or Dial Indicators, and Electric Light Fittings therefor.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriage Attachments or Dial Indicators, and
Electric Light Fittings therefor.
I, PETER JENSEN of 77 Chancery Lane London, Chartered Patent Agent
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, (a communication to me from abroad
by Arthur Middleton Blake Manager of The Forcite Company of No. 1 Broadway
New York, United States of America) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in dial attachments for carriages and
especially for closed carriages. In such carriages it is very difficult to make the
driver hear the directions given from within the carriage and the object of this
invention is to produce, a simple practical and convenient indicating dial mechanism
having dials at points where they may be readily seen by the occupants of the.
carriage, and by the driver, and having also simultaneously moving hands, so that
by moving the hand on the dial within the carriage to a certain point on the dial,
the hand on the outer dial will be also moved and the driver, by looking at the dial,
may ascertain just what is required of him.
A further object of my invention is to construct a signal mechanism which will
operate automatically to notify the driver when the indicating hands are moved,
and also to provide electric lamps for lighting the dials at night, and an automatic
switch mechanism to close the circuit through the lamps when the dial hands are
moved.
""
A dial is adapted to be used inside the carriage this dial having produced thereon
in radial lines, a series of directions which would be most often given to the driver,
""next street etc. and
such as
turn to the left" "drive home" "stop on right
it is obvious that these directions may be varied indefinitely according to.
circumstances. This dial is mounted on a shaft but it does not turn with the shaft,
and on the shaft and held to turn therewith is an indicating hand which moves over
the surface of the dial and which is preferably provided with a knob to enable it
to be easily moved, although the knob is not essential.
The shaft is mounted in a suitable support within the carriage, and if the
apparatus is applied to a brougham or the like it may be conveniently extended
forward beneath the seat and dasher. It is provided with a sprocket wheel to
which a chain is attached and connected with the driving sprocket wheel of the
outside dial. The outer dial is like the inside dial, and extending through it is a
shaft carrying a hand which moves over the dial face. This shaft has a sprocket
wheel to connect with a driving chain which also connects with the sprocket wheel
of the first named shaft and consequently when the hand is moved, the hand which
is secured to the second shaft will move over the outer dial and the two hands are
arranged so that they will both be opposite similar words on the dials and in this
way tdri.er may be easily made to know what is required of him.
When the mechanism is applied to a hansom cab the inside dial is preferably
arranged on one of the side ledges on the front portion of the hansom, and the
outer dial is arranged on the top and backside of the hansom where it may be
conveniently observed by the driver.
A sprocket chain connects the sprocket-wheel of the outer dial with the sprocket-
wheel of the inner dial and in this case it is necessary to pass the chain over guide
pullies in the upper portion of the hansom. From these two illustrations, it will be
understood that the two dials may be arranged upon any kind of a vehicle and in
any desired position, and suitable operative connections made between the indicating
hands without departing from the principle of the invention,

page_text: On the shaft of the outside dial is a toothed wheel which engages and tilts a dog
or escapement pawl pivoted in a suitable support and arranged to operate a
hammer. The teeth on the wheel should correspond with the number of lines of
directions on the dials, and every time the shaft is turned the distance of one tooth
or one line the dog will be tilted and the gong sounded thus attracting the attention
of the driver.
To enable the apparatus to be worked successfully at night as well as in the
daytime electric lamps, are arranged so as to light the dials, one being within the
carriage and the other without, and a battery of any suitable kind may be carried
in a convenient place within the carriage and connected up so as to light the lamps
by the movement of one of the dial hands or indicators. This may be done in
many ways, and a convenient way is as follows.
On the inner dial which is insulated on the shaft is a conducting ring having
contact points thereon, these points being radially opposite the lines of directions
on the dial and the points are adapted to contact with a point on the hand and when
these two contacts touch the circuit will be closed and the lamps lighted, also that
every time the hand is moved, the electric circuit will be closed and the lights will
shine upon the dials so that both the operator and the driver can plainly see the
signal.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the dial hands may be
simultaneously operated so as to indicate the directions to the driver, and that the
lamps will be lighted to enable the directions to be seen, but it will be understood
that the driving connection between the two hands may be changed and different
circuit closing mechanism employed without departing from the principle of
the invention. It will also be understood that for day use, the lamps will be
disconnected.
Dated this 24th day of January 1202
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Carriage Attachments or Dial Indicators, and
Electric Light Fittings therefor.
1, PETER JENSEN of 77 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communication to me from abroad
by Arthur Middleton Blake, Manager of The Forcite Company of No. 1 Broadway,
New York, United States of America) and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in dial attachments for carriages and
especially for closed carriages. In such carriages it is very difficult to make the
driver hear the directions given from within the carriage, and the object of this
invention is to produce a simple, practical, and convenient indicating dial mechanism
having dials at points where they may be readily seen by the occupants of the
carriage, and by the driver and having simultaneously moving hands so that by
moving the hand or a central knob on the dial within the carriage to a certain point
or signal of direction on the said dial the corresponding signal of direction will
appear or be pointed to on the outer dial and the driver by looking at it may
ascertain just what is required of him.
A further object of this invention is to construct an audible signal mechanism
which shall operate automatically to notify to the driver when the indication
direction is being given by the occupant inside the carriage. Another object is to
provide electric lamps for lighting dials at night if desired and an automatic switch
mechanism to close the circuit through the lamps when the dial hand or knob in
the carriage is moved.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings are mustrated
invention into effect.
SUIL DI moues Of Calif
Figure 1 is a part sectional side view of a carriage provided with the improve-
ments, Figure 2 a similar view of a hansom cab provided with the improvements
and Figure 3 a cross section on the line 3-3 in Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a detail front view of the inside dial, and Figure 5 an edge view of
same.
Figure 6 is a rear view of the outside dial and Figure 7 an edge view of
same.
Figure 8 is a sectional side view of a driver's seat and adjoining parts with a
modified arrangement of the parts for transmitting motion from the inside to the
outside dial.
Figure 9 is a sectional detail view of the inside dial parts. Figure 10 is a similar
view of outside dial parts in a modified arrangement, and Figures 11 and 12 shew
details of same.
Figure 13 shews another form of outside dial.
Figure 14 is a diagram view shewing the lamp circuit and the switch mechanism
for closing the circuit.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 the dial 10 is adapted to be used inside the carriage
this dial having produced thercon in radial lines a series of directions which would
be most often given to the driver such as "turn right," "slower,' stop right,"
"shortest way,"
""safer way," "straight on,"
," "turn back," "enquire," "stop left,"
66
" แ
faster," "turn left," "home," or especially for hansom cabs, only some of them ;
but obviously these directions may be varied indefinitely according to circumstances..
This dial 10 is mounted on a spindle 11 but it does not turn with the spindle. On
the spindle 11 is fixed an indicating hand 12 which moves over the surface of the
dial and which is preferably provided with a knob 13 to enable it to be easily
moved, but this knob, which however is not essential may also be fixed in the centre
or fulcrum part of the hand 12.
The
The spindle 11 is mounted in a suitable support within the carriage and if the
apparatus is applied to a brougham or the like, as in Figure 1, it may be
conveniently extended forward beneath the seat and splash-board as shewn. It is
provided with a sprocket wheel 14 to which a chain is attached the links of which
mesh with its projections and with those on the driving sprocket wheel of the out-
side dial, so that there is no slip even though the chain be not quite taut.
outer dial 10 is similar to the inside dial and extending through it is a spindle 15
carrying a hand 16 which moves over the dial face. On the spindle 15 is fixed a
sprocket wheel 17, and the chain 18 connects it with the sprocket wheel 14 of the
spindle 11. Consequently when the hand 12 is moved, the hand 16 which is
secured to the spindle 15 will move over the outer dial 10%, and the two hands are.
so arranged that they will both be opposite similar words on the dials, and in this
way the driver may be easily made to know what is required of him.
When the mechanism is applied to a hansom cab, see Figures 2 and 3, the inside
dial 10 is preferably arranged on one of the side ledges 20 on the front portion of
the cab, and the outer dial 10 is arranged on the top near the back of the cab
where it may be conveniently observed by the driver. A sprocket chain 21
connects the sprocket wheel 17 of the outer dial 10* with the sprocket wheel 18° of
the inner dial 10 and in this case it is necessary to pass the chain over guide
pullies 22 in the upper portion of the cab.
From these two examples or illustrations it will be understood that the two dials
may be arranged upon any kind of vehicle and in any desired position and suitable
operative connections made between the indicating hands without departing from
the principle of the invention.
On the spindle 15 of the outside dial is a tooth wheel 23 which engages and
tilts a dog or escapement pawi 24 pivotted in a suitable support 24° and arranged
to operate a hammer. The teeth on the wheel 23 should correspond with the
number of lines of directions on the dials, and every time the spindle is turned the

page_text: distance of one tooth or one line, the dog 24 will be tilted and the gong sounded
attracting the attention of the driver.
In Figure 1 it will be noticed that the spindle 11 is partly visible under the
driver's seat.
If it is desired to avoid this, the arrangement shewn in Figure 8 may
be adopted where the spindle 11" is geared to the spindle 11, this latter being thus
raised up out of sight. The same object may however be attained by using a
suitably guided flexible spindle such as is used in dental machinery.
Figure 9 is a sectional detail view of another form of inside dial 10 with central
knob 1 which may be formed with a slightly taper square shank, and removable
from a corresponding end recess in the spindle 11. On the latter is fixed a dial
hand 12 which by means of the knob 1 can be turned to any desired indication on
the fixed dial 10. The rim of the glass disc 4 is around the edge overlapped by
the ring 2 which is hinged to the base plate 5.
Figure 10 is a sectional detail view of a modified outside dial arrangement. In
this case the hand 12 and fixed dial 10* are superseded by a dial 12 fixed on the
spindle 15 and rotatable therewith. This dial has marked on it all the desired
signal indications, but only the one signalled will at any time be visible to the
driver that is to say only when it appears opposite a hole in the covering disc 16.
This disc may suitably be made of glass without a hole through but frosted or by
paint or otherwise rendered opaque everywhere except in the one place where the
signal indicator is to show through as illustrated by Figures 11 and 12 and by
Figure 13 which shews a polygonal arrangement of the signal indications. The
outside dial case may suitably be provided with two screw studs for affixing it to
the centre part of the splash-board by means of two nuts. The Figure 10 also
illustrates another means of transmission of motion from one dial to the other, viz.,
by bevel wheels 8 and 8 the latter being on a spindle 9 which for convenience of
fixing in cabs or other carriages may be made telescopic for ready length adjust-
ment within certain limits, one spindle 9 fitting in the tubular telescopic prolongation
spindle 11 which is formed with a longitudinal slot in which fits a screw peg 11
screwed into the spindle 11 forming a "carrier." The transmission from this
spindle to the inside dial 11 is effected by tooth wheel gearing or by sprocket
wheels and chain. The bevel wheels 8 and 15 serve to communicate motion to
the escapement gear and bell or the latter may be operated from the upper end of
the spindle 9.
To enable the apparatus to be worked successfully or conveniently by night as
well as by day electric lamps 27 are arranged so as to light the dials one being
within the carriage and the other without, and a battery of any suitable kind may
be carried in a convenient place within the carriage and be connected up so as to
light the lamps by the movement of one of the dial hands or indicators. This may
conveniently be done as follows and as illustrated by Figure 14.
On the inner dial 10 which is insulated on the shaft 11, see Figure 14, is a con-
ducting ring 28 having contact points 29 thereon; these points being radially
opposite the lines of directions on the dial, and the points are adapted to contact
with a point 30 on the hand 12 and when these two contacts 29 and 30 touch,
the circuit will be closed and the lamps lighted. A represents the battery from
which leads a wire a to the shaft 11. A wire a leads from the dial 10 through the
lamps 27 and back to the battery, so that when the hand 12 is moved and the
contacts 29 and 30 brought together, the circuit is closed. The circuit is from
the battery through the wire a the shaft 11 the band 12, contacts 30 and 29, the
ring 28, the dial 10, the wire a' and lamps 27 back to the battery. It will be
seen that every time the hand is moved the electric circuit will be closed and the
light will shine upon the dials so that both the operator and the driver can plainly
see the signal.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the dial hands are simultaneously operated
so as to indicate the directions to the driver while drawing his attention audibly
thereto and that the lamps will be lighted to enable the directions to be seen, but it
will be understood that the driving connection between the two dials may be changed

page_text: and different circuit closing mechanism employed without departing from the
principle of the invention. It will also be understood that for day use the lamps
will be disconnected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim, as the invention communicated to me, is :-
1. The application and use in a vehicle of dials inside and outside of same, each
marked with directions for the driver, indicating hands to move over the faces (or
the equivalent means described) connections between the dial spindles for the
purpose of moving them in unison, a gong at the outside dial, a hammer with double
escapement and a tooth-wheel on the outside dial spindle engaging therewith for
directing the driver's attention to the signal given substantially as described.
2. The application and use, in a vehicle, of dials inside and outside of same, each
marked with directions for the driver, indicating hands to move over the faces (or
the equivalent means described), connections between the dial spindles for moving
them in unison, electric lamps to light the dials, and mechanism for closing the
circuit through the lamps by the movement of one of the dial spindles substantially
as described.
Dated this Tranty fourth day of October 1803
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.