Improvements in Checking and Recording the Distances Travelled by Passengers in Tram Cars and the like, and in Apparatus Applicable therefor.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 8th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th Mar., 1887.
Improvements in Checking and Recording the Distances Travelled
by Passengers in Tram Cars and the like, and in Apparatus
Applicable therefor.
I, HENRY WOOLFE of 19 Barrington Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention has for its object an automatic apparatus which shall denote on a dial
cach quarter of a mile or other distance travelled, ringing a bell at the completion of
each such distance, and which also shall at each such completion change the type of a
punching, marking, or printing mechanism, by which the tickets can be punched,
marked, or printed with a figure or figures to correspond to the particular stage run.
A vertical or other spindle is connected with the axle by gearing, and again by other
gearing with the main axle of the indicator, so as to show on the dial the correct
distance run. A crown wheel on the main axle has a series of teeth corresponding to
the divisions of the dial, and a pawl acted upon by these teeth as they revolve actuates
the bell. Loose on the axle is a second or type wheel, having type on its circum-
ference, this is connected to the crown wheel by a spring connecting a pin on each
wheel in such manner as to have a tendency to make this type wheel revolve with the
crown wheel. One or more cams on the main tram are so arranged to gear into
projections on the type wheel that the latter can only at intervals corresponding to the
intervals on the dial, spring forward, remaining stationary at other times. By this
means the type wheel while revolving with the crown wheel, does so intermittently,
always travelling a distance equal to a division of the dial, or a type, at one time. By
this means, each type in succession is opposite the marking apparatus till the moment
of change when the next type instantly falls into its place.
A lever carrying an inking pad and a flat spout or bed for tickets is placed below
the type wheel. The inking pad is spring-pivoted on this lever, and has a cam or
tappet attached to it, so that when the lever rises, the pad rises too, and presses against
the type, inking the same. The lever still rising, the cam of the pad comes against a
stationary obstacle, causing the mechanism to draw aside the pad. The lever still

page_text: rising presses the ticket on the bed or spout against the inked type, marking the same.
The mode of action is as follows-a passenger entering the conveyance, the conductor
marks a ticket with the apparatus, and hands it to the passenger. On the latter
leaving, the conductor again marks the ticket, and the difference between the two
impressions is the distance travelled, thus-the passenger enters at 24, leaves 4: the
difference 2 (miles) is the distance travelled, and the fare at a penny a mile 2d.
These tickets at each trip are handed in to the office, and thus act as a check on the
guard. It will be obvious that other intermittent motions than that described can be
used to work the type wheel, for instance the ordinary pawl intermittent motion, so
often used in counting apparatus. It will also be understood that while I connect my
gearing by means of a worm with the crown wheel on the main shaft, other forms of
gearing, though more complicated would act nearly as well. While claiming therefore
my special arrangements as new, I do not bind myself to them. The mechanism can
be made so as to travel continuously with the carriage, or so that one having a key
can set it back to zero at cach journey. It is preferable to arrange it by means of a
pawl and ratchet, so that it can only run in one direction, but so that it can at once be
lifted off, and placed on a spindle at the other end of the car, in those cases where the
front and rear of the carriage are changed for each other on the return journey.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Checking and Recording the Distances Travelled
by Passengers in Tramcars and the like, and in Apparatus
Applicable therefor.
I, HENRY WOOLFE, of 19 Barrington Road, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, 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 has for its object an automatic apparatus which shall denote on a dial
each quarter of a mile or other distance travelled, ringing a bell at the completion of
each such distance, and which also shall at each such completion change the type of a
punching, marking, or printing mechanism, by which the tickets can be punched,
marked, or printed with a figure or figures to correspond to the particular stage run.
The invention may be best described by reference to the accompanying drawings in
which―
Figure 1 is an elevation of one end of a tramcar with the checking and recording
apparatus attached.
Figure 2 is an elevation of apparatus with front plate removed.
Figure 3 vertical section through centre of apparatus and at right angles to
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Figure 4 sectional plan taken on line x x
Figures 5 and 6 details of mechanism for actuating type wheel, being elevation and
plan respectively.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 other details, hereinafter described.
The apparatus is contained in a suitable framework or box A which is placed in any
convenient position on the car. Through the bottom of the box A projects a short
vertical spindle B, having a socket end b, which engages with a vertical or other
spindle C, by means of which motion is conveyed from the car axle C₁, or from the
car wheel through the gearing C³, C³, to the mechanism within the box. Above the
spindle B and concentric with it is a second vertical spindle D, whose lower end (for
reasons hereinafter stated) is connected to B by a ratchet and pawl device 1. The
spindle D carries a worm D₁, which gears with a worm wheel E carried by the main
axle E of the indicator, the said axle being provided at its outer end with a dial
finger e. By making the gears E¹, D¹, C3 and C of a suitable ratio the finger e will
indicate on the dial plate F the correct distance run.
-
On the top of the box A is mounted a bell G which is caused to ring at the
completion of every length (say every quarter of a mile) corresponding with the
divisions on the dial plate F. The bell hammer G¹ may be actuated by a pawl which,
as the main axle E revolves, is acted upon by a crown-wheel carried by said shaft and
having a series of teeth corresponding to the divisions on the dial-plate, but I prefer
to work it as follows: The bell hammer G' is attached to one arm of a forked lover G,

page_text: which works on a pivot g fixed in one of the side frames A, and which when pushed
beyond its normal position and then released is brought back forcibly by the coiled
spring g'. The other arm of G2 is provided at its extremity with a shoe g² (against
which the cam pieces alternately work, the said cam pieces being carried on the
underside of the spur wheel H, a plan view of which is shown in Figure 7. The outer
faces of the cam pieces are placed eccentrically to the axis of rotation of H, so that
as H revolves, the shoe g², and consequently the bell hammer G', is alternately pushed
forward and released. The spur wheel H is carried by a vertical shaft H', supported
in suitable bearings and gears with a pinion wheel D² on shaft D, from which it is
actuated.
Loose on the main axle E is a type wheel I having type i on its circumference, said
type, whether letters or numerals being of any suitable material (preferably india-
rubber), and arranged consecutively to correspond with the divisions on the dial. The
type wheel I is connected with the worm wheel E-or with the crown-wheel if such
be used for actuating the bell hammer-by a coiled spring E2, which is connected to
a pin ein each wheel in such a manner as will tend to make the type wheel revolve
with the main axle E whenever it is free to do so. Whenever the movement of the
type wheel is arrested, the axle E continuing to revolve partially coils the spring E²,
until such time as the type-wheel is released and enabled to follow the motion of E.
By an arrangement shortly to be described, the type wheel is only permitted to spring
forward at intervals corresponding to the intervals on the dial, that is to the space
between each type. By this means, that particular type which indicates the distance
run, as shown on the dial, is brought at the proper time opposite to the marking
apparatus (hereinafter to be described), and is held in that position till the moment of
change, when the next type instantly takes its place. I prefer to obtain this regular
intermittent motion as follows, though it will be obvious that other regular inter-
mittent motions than that about to be described can be used to work the type wheel,
for instance the ordinary pawl intermittent motion, so often used in counting apparatus
might be used.
The inner face of the type wheel 1 is provided with a smaller concentric ring I on
whose edge is a series of projections into which gear one or more cams H², H³,
carried by the spindle H¹. The number of these projections is either the same as, or
some factor of the number of divisions on the dial, according to the number of cams
on the spindle H¹. In the apparatus shown in the drawings, as there are two
cams H2, H3, the ring I carries half the number of projections, that there are divisions
on the dial, or type on the wheel, each projection being engaged in turn by each of
the cams H2 H3 From Figure 6 which is a plan view of these cams, it will be seen
that each of them has a segmental opening h2, h3, the opening in one cam being
diametrically opposite the opening in the other.
On reference to Figure 5 it will be seen that as the spindle H¹ revolves, and the
opening his brought opposite one of the projections the type wheel I is impelled
forward by the spring E², being at once arrested, however, by the projection coming
in contact with the cam H³. In this position I is held until the opening h³ comes
opposite the above mentioned projection, when it is again impelled forward, and again
brought to rest by the following projection striking cam H. The cam pieces h and
the cams H2, H3 are placed in such a relative position on the spindle H¹ as will allow
of the bell lever G2 and the type wheel I being released at the same moment.
At the back of the apparatus is a second dial plate F³, which can be seen from the
interior of the car, and over this works a pointer finger e¹. In order that the two
pointers e and ex may work in the same direction (say from left to right) as seen from
a position in front of either dial, I employ mitre gearing to reverse the direction of
rotation of e¹. A small mitre wheel e is attached to the back of the worm wheel E'.
This gears into a similar wheel e, working loosely on a stud e which is carried by a
bracket affixed to frame A. Into e works a third mitre wheel e carried by a hollow
shaft e which revolves on shaft E, and has secured to its outer end the pointer e¹.
F, F, are glass discs to protect the dials and fingers.
Below the type wheel I is a lever J, pivoted to the back of the apparatus at ; and

page_text: carrying at its front end a flat spout or bed J₁ for tickets. It also carries, by means
of two small checks, an inking pad J which in its normal position is held in close
proximity to the face of the type. The inking pad which is secured to two similar
levers or tappets, is spring pivoted between the checks j on a spindle j³, the spring j
being held in position by a cross bar j³. The projecting ends of the tappets ² also
rest against the cross bar thus preventing the spring from forcing the pad against
the type. When the lever J rises, the pad rises too, and presses against the type,
inking the same. The lever still rising the tappets of the pad come against a stationary
bridge piece K secured to frame A causing the pad to be forced aside as shown in
dotted lines in Figure 2. The lever still rising presses the ticket on the bed or spout J¹
against the inked type i marking the same. is a piece of some yielding substance
let into the ticket spout, that the type may not when printing be injured by the hard
metal. L is a counter of any ordinary type for registering the number of tickets used,
the number being read off from the outside through holes in frame A. As the
lever J rises it lifts the arm Lof the counter which by means of a pawl and ratchet
(not shown on the drawings) actuates its mechanism. The lever L' and the ratchet
are so proportioned that the counter will register one unit for every two movements of
the lever J, each ticket being stamped twice.
Referring to Figure 8. N is an L shaped guard plate, which projects down in front
of the inking pad J2. It is pivoted at n and is held in position between the stop n¹
and the side of the trough J, and cannot be lifted, until the trough as it rises, comes
in contact with its curved edge n². Its object is to prevent the inking pad being
pushed back and the tickets printed without being registered on the counter.
When it is desired to adjust the dial fingers, as at the commencement of a journey,
a key of any convenient form such as that shown in Figure
may be used. This
consists merely of a socket M carrying a spindle M' having at its inner end a small
bevel wheel, which gears with a similar wheel d on the spindle D and at its outer
end a handle M. The end of the spindle M is inserted through a hole m' in frame A,
a flange m on the socket M engaging with the head of two set screws m³ which hold
it firmly in position as long as the strain of winding is on it. The ratchet device ¹
allows the mechanism to be moved independently of the shaft B.
The mode of action is as follows:-A passenger entering the conveyance, the
conductor marks a ticket with the apparatus, and hands it to the passenger.
On the
latter leaving, the conductor again marks the ticket, and the difference between
the two impressions is the distance travelled, thus the passenger enters, say at 24,
and leaves at 43, the difference 2 (miles) is the distance travelled, and the fare at a
penny a mile 2d. These tickets at each trip are handed in to the office, and thus act
as a check on the guard, in addition to the number registered on the counter. It will
be understood that while I connect my gearing by means of a worm and worm wheel
with the main shaft, other forms of gearing though more complicated would act nearly
as well. While claiming therefore my special arrangements for actuating the bell
mechanism and for obtaining the regular intermittent motion of wheel I as new, I do
not bind myself to them. The mechanism can be made so as to travel continuously
with the carriage, or so that one having a key such as that shown in Figure 9, can set
it back to zero at each journey. It is preferable to arrange it by means of a pawl
and ratchet such as 6' so that it can only run in one direction, and to provide it with
a socket b, so that it can at once be lifted off, and placed on a spindle at the other end
of the car, in those cases where the front and rear of the carriage are changed for each
other on the return journey.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. A checking and recording apparatus for tramcars, and the like, consisting
mainly of the combination of a dial or dials on which is depicted the distance travelled,
an arrangement for automatically ringing a bell, as each successive length is run,
a punching, marking or printing device which punches, marks, or prints on the tickets

page_text: the distance shown on the dial, and a counter for registering the number of tickets
issued, all substantially as and for the purpose described.
2nd. In a checking and recording apparatus for tramcars and the like, the com-
bination of the driving spindle D with the dial axle E, fingers e e¹ and dial plates F, F',
and with the secondary spindle H' cam pieces h and spring pivoted bell lever G²,
whereby the bell is caused to ring at the completion of each length indicated on the
dials, substantially as described and shown.
3rd. In a checking and recording apparatus for tramcars and the like, the com-
bination of the type wheel I having a notched ring I, with the coiled spring E, and
the dial axle E, whereby the type wheel though mounted loosely on the dial axle, has
a constant tendency to revolve with it, all substantially as and for the purpose
described.
4th. In a checking and recording apparatus for tramcars, and the like, the com-
bination of the notched ring I on the type wheel, with the cams H2, H3, and the cam
pieces on the spindle H, and the spring pivoted bell lever G³, whereby the bell
is struck, the type wheel released, and the type altered simultaneously, arranged
substantially as shown and described.
5th. In a checking and recording apparatus for tramcars and the like, the com-
bination of the coiled spring E the notched ring I³, and the revolving notched
cams H2 H3, whereby a regular intermittent motion in one direction is imparted to
the type wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6th. In a checking and recording apparatus for tramcars and the like, the com-
bination of the type wheel I, the spring pivoted inking pad J², the stationary bridge
piece K, the pivoted ticket spout J, and the counter arm L¹, whereby the type is
inked, the ticket printed and registered on the counter by one movement of the
ticket spout, all arranged, substantially as and for the purpose described and shown.
7th. In combination with the inking pad J2, the type wheel I, the ticket spout J¹
and the lever L', the L-shaped guard piece N, by means of which the ticket cannot
be printed without being registered, substantially as shown and described.
8th. The combination of a checking and recording apparatus such as is herein
described with the axle or wheel of the car or other vehicle to which it is attached,
by means of any suitable gearing, substantially such as is shown and described in
Figure 1.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.