Improvements in Apparatus for Registering, Ringing, and Indicating Fares in Cabs and like Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug.,, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
=
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Registering, Ringing, and Indicating
Fares in Cabs and like Vehicles.
We, THOMAS PICKUP of 51, Springfield. Road, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Grocer, and THOMAS RICHMOND of 79, St. James Street, Burnley
aforesaid, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists in a novel apparatus attached in any convenient part of
a cab or like vehicle, and so arranged that the cabby can present a suitable sign
representing to the person engaging the vehicle the exact amount of fare, to be
paid by him, and at the same time and by the same means registering or indicating
the several amounts of fares taken by the cabman during the day. The invention
also consists in novel means for ringing the fare as hereinafter described.
The apparatus may consist of a revolving tape, on which is painted or printed
the amounts of fare, say blank or zero, 1/- 1/6 2/- 2/6 3/- 3/6 4/- 4/6 5/- and so on..
That end of the tape which contains the highest fare is mounted on a roller, to
which is fixed a coil-spring preferably, enclosed within a drum, so that the tape
may be always wound up on the said roller except when otherwise detained. The
other end of the tape is attached to another roller, which is so arranged that the
cabman may, by turning a handle near him, cause the same to revolve winding
thereon any desired length of tape, and at the same time presenting to the view of
the person or persons inside the cab the amount of fare which they have to pay.
A snail may be fixed to the shaft of this roller, so that at every revolution in one
direction, it will cause a spring clapper. to strike a bell, whilst at the same time
every revolution will be recorded or indicated on a suitable recording instrument or
register in gear with a toothed wheel on the shaft of the said roller. Suitable
stop mechanism may be employed to prevent the tape overwinding.
Supposing the desired fare was 1/6, and every revolution of the handle of the
instrument was to record 6d., the driver would turn the handle round three times ;
the bell would ring the same number of times; and the tape would be wound upon
the roller against the action of the coil spring until the fare 1/6 was reached.
Any backward movement of the tape is prevented by a suitable stop; but when
the passenger leaves the vehicle and opens or closes the door, a clutch or the like
is thereby withdrawn from the said roller-so as to disconnect the roller from the
driving shaft and the coil spring reasserting itself brings the tape back to zero,
and in this position it remains until another passenger enters the cab, when the..
operation is repeated.
A suitable notice is placed in any prominent position on the inside or outside of
the vehicle, instructing passengers to pay no more than the fare indicated.
i
Instead of the tape being allowed to 'run back, by the attachment to the cab
door, it may be actuated by the step, or by clockwork after a given interval of time,
or by other meaus.
"
A modification of the instrument, may consist of the bell and the recording
instrument without the tape. If the fare were 2/- and every ring of the bell
represented 6d, the bell would be rung four times by the driver, which would' be
recorded on the recording instrument.
Another modification of our invention may consist off a suitable number, of "slide
bars to be operated by the driver, and each bearing a separate sign-plate or fare.
Over these slide-bars hoppers are arranged, each hopper containing different
coloured balls; and on the driver operating one of the slide bars to present a fare,
"

page_text: a coloured ball drops from its hopper above into a small hole or measure in the
slide-bar, and from thence falls into a chamber or receiver below. The slides
may be automatically worked back by the door or by other means as previously
described.
Dated this 1st dow of
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Registering, Ringing, and Indicating
Fares in Cabs and like Vehicles.
We, THOMAS PICKUP of 51, Springfield Road, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Grocer, and THOMAS RICHMOND of 79, St. James Street, Burnley
aforesaid, Patent Agent, 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:―
This invention consists in a novel apparatus attached in any convenient part
of a cab or like vehicle, and so arranged that the cabby can present a suitable
sign, representing to the person engaging the vehicle the exact amount of fare
to be paid by him, and at the same time and by the same means registering or
indicating the several amounts of fare taken by the cabman during the day.
The invention also consists in novel means for ringing, the fare as hereinafter
described.
The apparatus may consist of a revolving tape, on which is painted or printed
the amounts of fare, say blank or zero, 1/-, 1/6, 2/-, 2/6, 31-, 3/6, 4-, 4/6, 5-
and so on.
That end of the tape, which contains the highest fare, is mounted on a roller,
to which is fixed a coil spring preferably enclosed within a drum, so that the tape
may be always wound up on the said roller except when otherwise detained. The
other end of the tape is attached to another roller, which is so arranged, that the
cabman may by turning a handle near him, cause the same to revolve, winding
thereon any desired length of tape, and at the same time presenting to the view
of the person or persons inside the cab the amount of fare which they have
to pay.
A snail may be fixed to the shaft of this roller, so that at every revolution in
one direction it will cause a spring clapper to strike a bell, whilst at the same time
every revolution will be recorded or indicated on a suitable recording instrument or
register in gear with a toothed wheel on the shaft of the said roller. Suitable stop
mechanism may be employed to prevent the tape overwinding.
Supposing the desired fare, was 1/6, and every revolution of the handle of the
instrument was to record sixpence, the driver would turn the handle round three
times, the bell would ring the same number of times, and the tape would be wound
upon the roller against the action of the coil spring until the fare 1/6 was reached.
Any backward movement of the tape is prevented by a suitable stop, but when
the passenger leaves the vehicle, and opens or closes the door a clutch or the like
is thereby withdrawn from the said roller, so as to disconnect the roller. from the
driving shaft and the coil spring reasserting itself brings the tape back to zero, and
in this position it remains until another passenger enters the cab when the operation
is repeated.
A suitable notice is placed in any prominent position on the inside or outside of
the vehicle instructing passengers to pay no more than the fare indicated.
Instead of the tape being allowed to run back by the attachment to the cab door,
it may be actuated by the step, or by clockwork after a given interval of time, or
by other means.
A modification of the instrument consists of the bell and the recording instrument

page_text: If
without the tape, the bell being rung a given number of times for each fare.
the fare were 2/-, and every ring of the bell represented sixpence, the bell would
be rung four times by the driver, which would be recorded on the recording
instrument.
Another modification of the invention may consist of a suitable number of
slide bars to be operated by the driver, and each bearing a separate signplate
or fare. Over these slide bars, hoppers are arranged, each hopper containing
different coloured balls, and on the driver operating one of the slide bars to present
fare a coloured ball drops from its hopper above into a small hole or measure in
the slide bar, and from thence falls into a chamber or receiver below. The slides
may be automatically worked back by the door or by other means as previously.
described.
In the accompanying drawings,
•
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is an external front view, and Fig. 2 an end view of our invention,
the latter shewing the aggregate recorder. constructed similarly to that of an
ordinary gas meter.
Fig. 3 is a view of our invention with the front cover or face plate removed, so
as to shew the working parts, the handle having been turned round twice to present
a shilling.
Fig. 4 is a sectional end view of Fig. 3.
Referring to Fig. 3, A is one end of the coil spring, which is enclosed within
the spring barrel B, whilst the other end of the said spring is fixed to the stationary
shaft C, in a similar manner to the spring of an ordinary clock.
The roller D in
conjunction with the spring barrel, to which it is fixed, is loosely mounted on the
stationary shaft, and to this roller is attached that end of the tape containing the
highest fare. The said roller is given a certain number of turns for the purpose
of winding up the spring within the barrel B, so as to self-wind the tape, when it
is partially or wholly unwound from the roller D, and then relieved in the manner
hereinafter described. The other end of the tape, after passing over guide rod E
is attached to the roller F loosely mounted on the shaft G, which protrudes through
the cab top or side, and carries the handle H.
When a passenger or passengers enter the vehicle the indicator stands at zero,
as seen in Fig. 1. Assuming the desired fare is a shilling and every revolution.
of the handle H indicates sixpence on the aggregate recorder N, then the driver
turns the handle H twice round until the fare one shilling is reached. At the same
time at each revolution the snail I causes the clapper J acted upon by spring K to
strike the bell L, whilst every revolution (through the medium of toothed wheel M
on shaft G) is recorded as sixpence on the aggregate recorder N.
Any backward movement of the handle H is prevented owing to the tip of the
snail I acting as a stop-piece, and coming in contact with the clapper J, if such
return movement be attempted. When, however, the passenger leaves the vehicle,
in opening the door the fare is automatically and independent of the driver brought
back to zero by means of the cord O, which is connected to the door. By this
door connection, the clutch Q (through the medium of the lever P acted upon by
spring R) slides on the key O' on the shaft G and is withdrawn from the roller. F
to disconnect it from the driving shaft, and the coil spring A being relieved
reasserts itself, rewinding the tape on the roller D. It will readily be seen that
during this automatic movement, the register or recorder N is unaffected, as the
shaft G remains stationary. It is only when the driver turns the handle that the
registration is affected.
An elastic attachment is made between the cord and each door of the cab, so
that the automatic connection need not be limited to the movement of the clutch Q
on the shaft G. Moreover, the door connections run between the underdrawing
or covering and the top of the cab, so that they cannot be tampered with; or, in
cases where there is no covering at the top of the cab they may be made to run in
tubing:
They preferably consist of steel rods connected to a piece of indiarubber or

page_text: other elastic or spring. medium, which is then attached to the cord O. These
door connections are particularly adapted to four wheelers; whereas, in hansom
cabs it is more desirable to have the automatic connections made with the steps,
which may be made to spring down by the weight of the passenger, or the seat may
be made to yield, or the floor of the vehicle may be provided with a false bottom
for the same purpose.
The handle H is provided with spring V, which comes against a suitable stop at
the top of the cab, so as to check the driver in turning round the handle, and the
knob has to be pulled upwards for the next revolution. This will cause the handle
always to be arrested in the same position, and will permit of the fare being properly
presented at the sight opening seen in Fig. 1 to the view of the passenger, whilst
at the same time it will enable the driver to keep a count of the number of turns
he has made.
Fig. 5 represents an arrangement of clock mechanism in conjunction with the
indicator for automatically withdrawing after a given interval of time the tape,
which may for the time being have been wound upon the roller F, in order to bring
the desired fare in position at the sight opening of the indicator. S is a clock
spring enclosed within the drum T, and is wound up each day, or when most
convenient.
This drum revolves at a slow uniform speed by means of a system or train
of wheels and pinions, the last wheel U of the train having four small arms W
with vanes on each end, whereby the resistance of the air comes into play, and the
necessary drag upon the wheel work is supplied.
When the driver turns the handle to present a fare, he causes the roller F to
revolve and with it the worm X, thereby withdrawing the toothed quadrant Y
from the projection Z fixed to the drum T. This drum now revolves slowly for
a given interval of time, until the projection Z raises the lever P, and with-
draws the clutch Q from the roller F, so as to disconnect it from the driving
shaft. The tape thus relieved runs back to zero in the manner previously
described. With its return, however, the toothed quadrant Y again comes into
position, catches the next projection, and checks the career of the clock train,
until relieved by the driver turning the handle for the next fare.
.
From the foregoing description of our invention, and the modifications which.
have been described, it will be evident that various means and arrangements of
mechanism may be devised for carrying out our invention. A weight may be used
in substitution of the spring A. The traversing tape and rollers may be dispensed!
with, and in lieu thereof a disc may be employed, having marked on its face the
amounts of fare and worked in conjunction with an aggregate indication as already
described. To the disc may be connected a ratchet-wheel, which is operated a
tooth at a time for each fare by a catch deriving its movement from the driver
turning a handle or operating a lever. On the withdrawal of the catch from the
ratchet wheel on the opening of the cab door, or other means, the disc returns to
zero by a spring or weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A cab fare indicator or recorder, arranged so that the driver can present a
fare to the view of the passenger, and at the same time and by the same means
record on an aggregate recorder the several amounts of fare received by himi
during the day substantially as described and illustrated.
2. A cab fare indicator or recorder, arranged so that the cabman can present to
the view of the passenger the, amount of fare, which is recorded on an aggregate
recorder, whilst the fare presented at the sight opening is automatically brought
back to zero on the passenger leaving the vehicle without affecting the aggregate
recorder, substantially as described.
3. In a, cab-fare indicator or recorder, the means for automatically withdrawing

page_text: the fare, after a given interval of time, and without affecting the aggregate
recorder, substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 5.
4. A cab-fare indicator and aggregate recorder, and combination of the parts,
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
5. The spring or weight A in combination with the clutch Q, cord O, and
traversing tape for automatically withdrawing the fare presented, substantially as
described.
Da thin on 1000
THOS. RICHMOND,
Agent.