IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OF FARES BY CONDUCTORS OF TRAMWAY CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OF MONIES RECEIVED BY OTHER PERSONS
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Thomas Davis at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1878.
HENRY THOMAS DAVIS, of Nigel Road, Peckham Rye, in the County of Surrey,
Engineer. "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPTS OF FARES BY
CONDUCTORS OF TRAMWAY CARS, OMNIBUSES, AND OF MONIES RECEIVED BY OTHER
PERSONS."
This Invention relates to improved apparatus for checking and registering the
receipts of monies such as fares. The object being to provide an apparatus whereby
the passenger or payee may be apprised of the correct registering of the amount by
the ringing of a bell, and also the display of a figure, and in some instances and if
desired the simultaneous delivery of a ticket at the same time that an indicator
mechanism or register is actuated; the mechanism being specially designed and con-
structed to reduce the weight and size thereof, and to ensure the correct working,
easy fitting, and reduce the number of parts to a minimum.
This apparatus consists of a metal case divided into two compartments. On the
face of the case on the upper part is a circular opening covered with a plate of glass,
the back of the apparatus being hinged and locked up.
Beneath the front plate is another plate having a circular opening corresponding
with that of the front plate, on which is inserted a semi-transparent disc of glass.
On each side of this plate, which is afterwards described as the screen plate, is
placed near the lower edge a spindle working through a circular hoop in the plate,
the other end of such spindle passing through a circular hole in a bracket affixed to
the inside of the rim of the case; around the spindle and lying flat on the face of the
screen plate is a circular brass plate on which is affixed a spring rachet catch so
arranged that upon the circular brass plate being partly revolved the said catch
acts upon a toothed wheel which revolves on the screen plate above it. This
toothed wheel has figures from 1 to 0 on the lower face near the edge, which said
figures are shown through a circular opening in the under side of the screen plate,
the tooth wheel being controlled by a spring ratchet so that one tooth or figure only
can be moved by the action of the catch on the plate; this wheel is so arranged that
upon making one-revolution it acts upon a second wheel also having figures from
one upwards on the lower face, and seen through an aperture at the back of the

page_text: screen plate, and if desired to register a higher number a third tooth wheel figured
as described is placed above the second to be acted upon at each revolution of the
second wheel, and such figures to be seen through an aperture, and all such regis-
tering wheels are controlled by a spring ratchet. By reversing the face of the
registering wheels the figures may be shewn through circular openings in the front
plate, and the spindles upon which such wheels revolve can in any case be made
square headed so as to be set at zero by a key. When it is required to register
more than one fare similar arrangements are employed. Above the plate and affixed
to the spindle is a handle which passes through a slot in the rim, or is actuated by
a knob through a slot in the front plate on that part of the spindle which is between
the lower face of the screen plate, & the bracket is a spiral spring which keeps
back the handle in the slot. On the brass plate affixed to the spindle is a short
length or link of metal, one end of which is attached to the arm of a large figure, such
'figure representing the amount of the money or fare received, and so arranged that
upon the handle being pulled back to actuate the registering wheel, the large repre-
sentive figure is thrown or brought over the face of the semi-transparent disc, and
consequently is seen through the glass on the front plate. On the lower side of the
screen plate a spring ratchet is placed having a double action with a stop on plate,
and is acted upon by an arm passing from the spindle beneath the spring or by a
pin attached to the circular plate passing through a slot in the screen plate; above
this double ratchet is a bell, and upon the ratchet is a spring hammer which strikes
the bell upon the spindle being turned by the action of the handle or lever, so
arranged that the registering of the fare takes place before the striking of the bell,
and the spring ratchet of the tooth wheel acts before the ratchet of the spring
hammer returns to its normal position. When it is desired to indicate more than
one sound of the bell it is done by using the arm passing through the spindle acting
as above described, and also by the pin attached to the plate passing through a slot
acting upon a second ratchet to which a second spring hammer is attached.
On the face of the front plate beneath the plate glass opening is a circular opening
beneath which is a semi-transparent plate with a tooth wheel at the back, which
tooth wheel is in conjunction with the tooth wheel already described. This semi-
transparent plate has figures upon the face near the edge from one upwards, so
arranged that they show through the circular opening.
.
In one compartment of the case a small lamp is placed, the light of which is thrown
through a glass in the partition which divides the compartment and illuminates the
semi-transparent disc and also the semi-transparent figured plate. The rim of the
apparatus is perforated so as to admit of air to the lamp, and the face of the appa-
ratus is also perforated so as to allow of the sound of the bell being heard. In the
inside of the apparatus between the screen plate and the back, the end of the spindle
is so fitted that it acts upon a slide which works in a plate fitted to the rim, this
slide is provided with sharp points or teeth or serrated roughing on its face; between
the face of the slide and the partition is a spiral spring which presses tickets or
passes towards the slide; beneath the slide is a narrow slot lipped on one side so as
to admit of one ticket or pass only going through at one time, whilst above the slide
is a stop so that upon the said slide returning to its normal position the ticket
cannot be raised up.
The apparatus may be constructed of such size as to be portable and so as to be
carried on a strap by the collector or conductor, or may be attached to any
convenient part of the vehicle or building, and in this case the handles may be
actuated by pulls and connecting wires.