Improvements in Cash Boxes for Tram Conductors and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Boxes for Tram Conductors and the like.
I, FREDERICK SPENCER, of Mile Cross, Halifax, in the County of York, Tram-
way Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in cash boxes used by tram and bus
conductors for collecting fares from passengers the object of the invention being
to construct a box which automatically registers the number of coins placed in
the box and also effectually prevents any of the coins being serruptiously with-
drawn from the box, and yet at the same time half the number of the coins
placed in the box are available and can be used by the conductor for supplying
change required by any of the passengers. Half the amount of the fares placed
in the box being withdrawn by the conductor, if necessary, the box holds relatively'
a greater number of coins and can be used on more journeys than heretofore.
According to this invention 1 employ a metal fare box the top of which is
semi-circular and provided with a slot through which the pennies or other coins
representing the fares are inserted. Inside the box and underneath the circular
top is a semi-circular guard piece mounted on a cross shaft or stud one end of
which protrudes outside the box and is provided with a thumb piece adjacent
to the handle of the box. In the guard piece are two slots each having its own
shoot or guide leading to different compartments of the box, one compartment
being locked before the conductor receives his box, and the other can be opened
by the conductor so that its contents are available for the purposes of supplying
Change." The conductor when collecting fares presses the thumb piece and
brings one of the slots in the guard piece underneath the slot in the box and a
coin being placed therein by the passenger passes so far through the two slots
that it cannot be withdrawn and the slots are blocked but the coin is prevented
falling into the box entirely, by reason of its resting on a stud or bar. The con-
ductor by pressing on the thumb piece moves the guard until the coin is clear
of the bar whereon the coin falls into its compartment and the other slot in the
guard is moved underneath the slot in the box and a coin being placed therein
the action is as described only that when the coin is. allowed to fall into the box.
it goes into another compartment. Connected with the semi-circular guard is
an indicator and dial operated each time the thumb piece is moved in one direction
so that the dial shews and registers the number of coins placed in one, the locked,"
compartment, but owing to the indicator only registering every alternate coin
placed in the box the conductor will account for a like number to that indicated
and which have been available for liis use.
"
Unted this 3rd das of July 1800
BRIERLEY & HOWARD,
Penny Bank Chambers, Halifax,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: •
Improvements in Cash Boxes for. Tram Conductors and the like.
1, FREDERICK SPENCER, of Mile Cross, Halifax, in the County of York, Tramı-
way Manager, 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 relates, to improvements in fare or cash boxes used by tram
and bus conductors for collecting fares from the passengers the object of the
invention being to construct a box which automatically registers the number
of coins placed in the box and also effectually prevents any of the coins being
serruptiously withdrawn from the box, and yet at the same time half (or other
proportion) of the coins placed in the box are available and can be used-by the
conductor for supplying change required by any of the passengers: Haif the
amount of the fares (or other proportion) placed in the box being withdrawn by
the conductor (if necessary) the box holds relatively a greater number of coins
and can be used on more journey's than heretofore.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention the following is a
complete description of same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a back elevation of the improved fare or cash box, a portion of the
outer casing of the box being broken away in order to shew the interior..
Fig. 2 is a sectional back view of a modification of l'ig. 1.
According to this invention I employ a metal fare box 1 the top 2 of which
is semi-circular and provided with a slot 3 through which the pennies or
other coins representing the fares are inserted. Inside the box 1 and underneath
the circular top 2 is a semi-circular guard piece 4 carried on the arm 4' mounted
on a cross shait or stud 5 one end of which protrudes, outside the box, 1 and, is
provided with a double acting thumb piece adjacent to the handle 7 of the
box 1. In the guard piece 4 are two slots 8, 8 each having its own shoot or.
guide 9 tor the purpose of leading the coins to different compartments 10-11
of the box I, one compartment 11 being locked before the conductor receives his
box, and the other one 10 can be opened by the conductor so that its contents
are available for the purpose of supplying change. The conductor when collect-
ing fares presses the thumb piece on one side and brings one of the slots 8 in
the guard piece 4 underneath the slot 3 in the box 1 and a coin being placed
therein by the passenger passes through the slot 3 down the guide 9, and after
a slight further movement of the guard 4, passes so far through the slot or guide
9 that the coin slips over the step 12 of the bar or stop piece 12 and cannot be
withdrawn, and the slots and 8 are blocked, but the coin is prevented falling
into the box entirely, by reason of its resting on the bar or stop piece 12. The
conductor by pressing on the thumb piece moves the guard 4 until the coin is
clear of the bar or stop piece 12 whereon the coin falls into its compartment and
the other slot 8 in the guard 4 is moved underneath the slot 3 in the box 1, and
a coin being placed therein the action is as described only that the thumb piece 6
and guard 4 are moved in a reverse direction, and when the coin is allowed to
fall into the box it goes into another compartment. On the armn 4* of the semi-
circular guard 4 is a catch or pawl 14 engaging with a ratchet 15 which operates
a train of gear wheels 16, and an indicator on a dial is operated each-time the
thumb piece 6 is moved in one direction so that the dial shews and registers the
number of coins placed in, cne, the locked compartment. 11 of the box 1, but
owing to the indicator only registering every alternate coin placed in the box,
"
י

page_text: the conductor will account for a like number to that, indicated and which have
been available for his use.
The guard piece 4 is normally maintained in the position to which it is last
moved by means of the spiral spring 19 one end of which is fixed to the arm 4*
and the other end is loosely held by the rod 20 and is free to slide thereon from
one side to the other of the centre 5, and when the thumb piece 6 throws the
guard piece 4 over the spring follows and holds the guard piece 4 until again
moved by the conductor.
In Fig. 2a device is shewn whereby the proportion of coins passing into the
unlocked compartment is increased and one coin only in every five placed in the
fare box passes into the locked compartment and this renders still more money
available for change," at the same time maintaining a ⚫ check on the total
amount paid into the box.
"
The drum or cylinder 16 is substituted for the guard piece 4 and stop piece 12
such drum being mounted on the stud or shaft 5 on which or on a separate stud.
is loosely mounted a single action thumb piece 6 or a thumb piece on one side.
only, and each time this thumb piece 6 is depressed the catch or pawl 14 on its
opposite end engaging with the ratchet wheel 15 moves the latter one tooth and
brings one of the cells 17 of the drum 16 under the slot 3 in the fare box 1. The
coins which pass into the cells 17 fall out during the revolution of the drum into
the unlocked compartment 10 of the fare box whilst the fifth coin placed in
the box passes through the shoot 18 in the drum or cylinder 16 directly into the
locked compartment 11.
"
The indicator used in connection with the fare box may be any of the well
known Indicators" and is operated by a train of gear wheels, ratchet, and catch
or pawl from the shaft 5 or thumb piece 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) A fare box having two compartments one locked and the other unlocked
combined with a device for depositing a predetermined proportion of fares in
each compartment substantially as and for the purpose herein described.
(2) The improved fare box us and for the purpose herein described and sub-
stantially as illustrated by Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
(3) The improved fare box as and for the purpose. herein described and sub-
stantially as illustrated by Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of April 1900.