IMPROVEMENTS IN TURNSTILES AND IN COUNTING APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, WHICH COUNTING APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Bezer, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TURNSTILES AND IN
COUNTING APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, WHICH COUNTING APPARATUS IS
ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 25th July 1876, and dated the 27th January 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Bezer at the Office
the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1876.
HENRY BEZER, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TURNSTILES AND IN COUNTING APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, WHICH
COUNTING APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention has reference to the construction of reversible, double, or single
turnstiles, that is to say, to turnstiles which will allow of persons passing through
them in both directions. And the improvements consist of an improved com-
bination or arrangement of the parts, whereby the mechanism is much simplified
and more particularly of a peculiar construction and action of cams as herein-after
described; also of apparatus or mechanism connecting the turnstile with the
counting or registering apparatus in such manner that each movement of the
counter is completed before the completion of the corresponding movement of the
turnstile, the counter being to some extent self-propelling, thereby avoiding
the necessity of the turnstile going further than or even up to its quarter revolution
in order to insure proper registration and also insuring, that in the reverse move-
ment the paul is carried past its tooth before the completion of that quarter
revolution, and is therefore compelled to act at the next forward movement.
The vertical shafts of the two turnstiles in the case of a double turnstile have
each keyed at or near their lower ends a toothed wheel, and the two wheels gear
together, so that one shaft cannot revolve without the other. On the upper face of
each wheel is a cain guide, which at four points corresponding with the four arms
of the turnstile leads to the edge or periphery of the wheel where it forms an
opening. Ratchet teeth are cut around the upper face of the wheels, the said teeth
ceasing at each of the four openings of the cam guide.
A roller, the normal position of which is between the two wheels, and opposite
one or other of the openings in the cam guide of each is mounted on one end of a
pivoted lever, the other end of which engages in a recess in a bar. This bar is free
[Price Gd1

page_text: to slide in guides and carries inclined planes upon which work transverse pieces
connected with pauls which take into the ratchet teeth of the respective wheels.
The bar is actuated by a treadle in such manner that by pressing the treadle
backwards the bar slides in one direction, and by pressing it forwards the bar slides
in the other direction. Until the treadle is pressed both wheels are locked by their
pauls.
To unlock the turnstile for allowing a person to pass through in one direction,
say inwards, the attendant presses the treadle backwards, and thus causes the bar
to slide and act upon the pivoted lever, by which means the roller on the opposite
end of this lever is made to enter the opening of the cam guide in one of the
wheels. At the same time the inclined plane on the bar lifts the corresponding
paul clear of the teeth of its ratchet wheel, while the other paul remains in the
ratchet wheel of the other turnstile, but will ride over the teeth during the
approaching movement of the turnstile. The turnstile is thus free to be pushed one
quarter of a revolution so as to allow a person to pass through, and in this move-
ment the roller travels in the cam guide until it reaches the next opening, any
backward movement of the turnstile being prevented by the paul which has been
riding over the teeth as above explained. Just before the completion of the quarter
revolution of the turnstile the cam guide forces the pivoted lever backwards, and
thereby lifting the treadle gives notice to the attendant that he should then press
forward the treadle so as to square and at the same time lock the turnstile.
proper attention to his duties he can easily prevent any person pushing the turnstile
the distance of two motions at once.
By
To unlock the turnstile for allowing persons to pass through in the opposite
direction or outwards the action of the parts is the same as above described but
reversed. Or in some cases a spring or weight may be employed to keep the
turnstile always unlocked in one direction, the power of the spring or weight being
overcome by pressure on the treadle when it is required to unlock the turnstile in
the other direction.
Although I prefer a double turnstile as herein-before described, the Invention
may be applied to single turnstiles by omitting one of the vertical shafts with its
arms, or by forming two cam guides, ratchet teeth, and pauls on a wheel connected
with the single vertical shaft.
Any suitable counting mechanism may be connected with the turnstile to register
the number of persons who pass through in one direction or both directions as may
'be required, but in order to avoid the necessity of the revolving part of the turnstile
passing beyond the quarter revolution at each movement to ensure registration I
adopt the following arrangement, by means of which the counting apparatus or
mechanism connecting it with the turnstile becomes to some extent self-propelling,
that is to say, when the turnstile approaches the completion of but has not
completed its quarter revolution, the mechanism herein-after described carries the
paul which actuates the counter beyond the corresponding tooth in the ratchet
wheel. This I effect as follows:-On the vertical shaft of the turnstile I key a four
toothed ratchet wheel. On the same shaft are a disc, a toothed wheel gearing with
the first wheel of the counter, and what I term a star wheel. These three parts are
all loose on the shaft but are fixed to each other, and the disc carries a paul or click
which takes into the ratchet wheel on the same shaft. On the end of a spring
arm pivoted to the frame of the counter is a roller which takes into the recesses of
the star wheel. As the vertical shaft of the turnstile is performing a quarter
revolution in one direction, one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel thereon carries
with it the paul together with the star wheel, the roller is thus caused to rise up
one of the points or teeth of this star wheel, and as soon as it has passed the outer
edge which it does before the quarter revolution of the vertical shaft is completed,
its spring draws it quickly down into the next recess of its wheel, thereby driving
this wheel, the wheels of the counter, and the disc and paul, their full quarter
revolution before the completion of the quarter revolution of the vertical shaft. In the
reverse movement of the turnstile the paul rides over the ratchet teeth, and the roller

page_text: in the star wheel prevents the vertical shaft carrying with it the parts which are
loosely mounted therçon as above described. This apparatus connecting the counter
with the vertical shaft is applicable in other apparatus where the revolutions of
shafts have to be registered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry Bezer in the Great Seal Patent Office on. the 27th July
1876.
HENRY BEZER, of Clapham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TURNSTILES AND IN COUNTING APPARATUS CONNECTED THEREWITH, WHICH
COUNTING APPARATUS IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention has reference to the construction of reversible, double, or single
turnstiles, that is to say, to turnstiles which will allow of persons passing through
them in both directions. And the improvements consist of an improved com-
bination or arrangement of the parts whereby the mechanism is much simplified,
and more particularly of a peculiar construction and action of cams as herein-after
described; also of apparatus or mechanism connecting the turnstile with the
counting or registering apparatus in such manner that each movement of the
counter, is completed before the completion of the corresponding movement of the
turnstile, the counter being to some extent self-propelling, thereby avoiding
the necessity of the turnstile going further than or even up to its quarter revolution
in order to insure proper registration, and also insuring that in the reverse
movement the paul is carried past its tooth before the completion of that quarter
revolution, and is therefore compelled to act at the next forward movement.
The vertical shafts of the two turnstiles in the case of a double turnstile have
each keyed at or near their lower ends a toothed wheel, and the two wheels gear
together so that one shaft cannot revolve without the other. On the upper face of
each wheel is a cam guide, which at four points corresponding with the four arms
of the turnstile leads to the edge or periphery of the wheel where it forms an
opening. Ratchet teeth are cut around the upper face of the wheels, the said teeth
ceasing at each of the four openings of the cam guide.
A roller, the normal position of which is between the two wheels, and opposité
one or other of the openings in the cam guide of each is mounted on one end of a
pivoted lever, the other end of which engages in a recess in a bar; this bar is free
to slide in guides and carries inclined planes upon which work transverse pieces
connected with pauls which take into the ratchet teeth of the respective wheels.
The bar is actuated by a treadle in such manner that by pressing the treadle
backwards the bar slides in one direction, and by pressing it forwards the bar slides
in the other direction. Until the treadle is pressed both wheels are locked by their
pauls.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a plan; and Figure 2, a front
elevation of a turnstile constructed according to my Invention, the parts being
shewn in the position they occupy when the turnstile is unlocked for entry and is
half open.
A, A', are the vertical shafts, each of which has keyed to it at or near its lower
end a toothed wheel B, BI, and the two wheels B, B¹, gear togther so that one shaft
cannot revolve without the other; C, C¹, are cam guides on the upper face of each
wheel B, B; each of these guides leads to the edge or periphery of the wheel at
four points D, D', where it forms an opening, as shewn, the said four points corre-
spouding with the four arms of the turnstile; E, E¹, are ratchet teeth on the face of
the wheels B, B₁; F is a roller, the normal position of which is between the two
wheels B, B', and opposite one of the openings D, D', of each; this roller is mounted
on one end of a lever G which is pivoted at H and engages at its other end in a

page_text: recess I in a bar K; this bar K is free to slide in guides L, Li, and carries inclined
planes M, M; N, N¹, are transverse pieces which work upon the inclined planes
M, M, and are connected with pauls O, O¹, which take into the ratchet teeth E, E¹,
of the respective wheels B, B¹; the bar K is actuated by a treadle P centred at Q,
and having connected to it a forked arm R which engages the transverse pin S on
the bar K so that by pressing the treadle backwards the bar slides in one direction,
and by pressing it forwards the bar slides in the other direction. Until the treadle
is pressed both of the wheels B, B¹, are locked by their pauls. T is a guide for the
pin S.
Such being the construction and arrangement of the parts of my improved turn-
stile I proceed to describe the manner in which it works.
To unlock it for allowing a person to pass through in one direction, say, inwards,
the attendant presses the treadle P backwards, as seen in Figure 2, and thus causes
the bar K to slide and act upon the pivoted lever G, by which means the roller F
on the opposite end of this lever is made to enter the opening D of the cam guide C
in the wheel B. At the same time the inclined plane M on the bar lifts the corre-
sponding paul O clear of the teeth of its ratchet wheel E, while the other paul O'
remains in the ratchet wheel E¹ of the other half of the turnstile, but will ride over
the teeth during the approaching movement of the turnstile. The turnstile is thus
free to be pushed one quarter of a revolution so as to allow a person to pass through,
and in this movement the roller F travels in the cam guide C until it reaches the
next opening D, any backward movement of the turnstile being prevented by the
paul O which has been riding over the teeth, as above explained. Just before the
completion of the quarter revolution of the turnstile the cam guide by its formation
at the part marked Cx forces the lever G backwards, and thereby acting upon the
treadle P gives notice to the attendant that he should then press forward the treadle
so as to square and at the same time lock the turnstile. By proper attention to his
duties he can easily prevent any person pushing the turnstile the distance of two
motions at once.
To unlock the turnstile for allowing persons to pass through in the opposite
direction or outwards the action of the parts is the same as above described but
reversed. Or in some cases a spring or weight may be employed to keep the turn-
stile always unlocked in one direction, the power of the spring or weight being
overcome by pressure on the treadle when it is required to unlock the turnstile in
the other direction.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a modification of my turnstile in which instead of a
single pair of wheels B, B', as in the arrangement already described I have four
wheels B, b, B₁; b, in gear with each other. The cam guides C, C¹, are on the
wheels b, b, and the ratchet teeth E, E', on the wheels B, B. The lever G has its
pivot at the back H. The Figures show the turnstile unlocked for exit. The
treadle P is kept. in the normal position as shown by a spring (not seen in the
Figures) or by a weight.
Although I prefer a double turnstile, as herein-before described, the Invention
may be applied to single turnstiles by omitting one of the vertical shafts with its
arms.
Any suitable counting mechanism may be connected with the turnstile to register
the number of persons who pass through in one direction or both directions, as may
be required; but in order to avoid the necessity of the revolving part of the turn-
stile passing beyond the quarter revolution at each movement, to ensure registration,
I adopt an arrangement by means of which the counting apparatus or mechanism
connecting it with the turnstile becomes to some extent self propelling, that is to
say, when the turnstile approaches the completion of but has not completed its
quarter revolution the mechanism herein-after described carries the paul which
actuates the counter beyond the corresponding tooth in the ratchet wheel. This
arrangement is represented in side elevation in Figure 5, and in plan in Figure 6.
On a vertical shaft a fitting into or connected with the shaft of the turnstile I key
a four-toothed ratchet wheel b; on the same shaft are a disc c, a toothed wheel d

page_text: gearing with the first wheel e of the counter, and what I term a star wheel f; these
three parts are all loose on the shaft a but are fixed to each other, and the disc c
carries a paul or click g which takes into the ratchet wheel b; on the end of a
spring arm; pivoted to the frame of the counter is a roller ȧ which takes into the
recesses of the star wheel f. As the vertical shaft of the turnstile, and therefore
the shaft u, are performing a quarter revolution in one direction one of the teeth of
the ratchet wheel carries with it the paul g together with the star wheel f, the
roller is thus caused to rise up one of the points or teeth of this star wheel, and as
soon as it has passed the outer edge, which it does before the quarter revolution of
the turnstile and of the vertical shaft a is completed, its spring draws it quickly
down into the next recess of its wheel, thereby driving this wheel, the wheels of the
counter and the disc c, and paul g their full quarter revolution before the completion
of the quarter revolution of the vertical shaft a. In the reverse movement of the
turnstile the paul g rides over the ratchet teeth b, and the roller in the star
wheel prevents the vertical shaft a carrying with it the parts which are loosely
mounted thereon, as above described. This apparatus connecting the counter with
the vertical shaft is applicable in other apparatus where the revolutions of shafts
have to be registered.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Bezer, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-seventh day of July, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
HENRY BEZER. (L.S.)