IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC FARE COLLECTORS FOR PUBLIC CONVEYANCES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52 Chancery
Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for an "IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC FARE COLLECTORS
FOR PUBLIC CONVEYANCES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to an efficient device for collecting and depositing the
fares in tram-way cars and omnibuses so that they need not pass through the hands
of the conductors, thus serving as a check against dishonesty on their part, whilst
facilitating at the same time the collection of the money.
The apparatus consists of an open-faced or longitudinally slotted tube or conduit,
flattened in its cross-section and made of a depth slightly greater than the diameter
of the largest coin in circulation and so narrow in width as that the coin shall rest
therein on edge so as to roll readily through the tube and remain visible through
its open slit during its passage down the tube.
This tube is preferably made of sheets of brass rolled or bent into form.
It is supported against the side of the car or omnibus, to form an incline from
front to rear, at such a height as to be readily reached by the passengers when
seated, and terminates at its lower end in a locked chest or receptacle, adapted to
receive the money.
Its support is preferably effected by means of brackets designed to serve as
hoppers for the reception of the coins to be deposited by the passengers in payment
of the fares.
Each hopper is made fast to one of the uprights, at the side of the car, the tube
being so inserted through a transverse opening formed in the lower part of the
hopper, as to admit of longitudinal play therein.
The hopper is provided at the top with narrow slits through which the coins are
inserted and is closed at the bottom by the tube passing through it, the top of the
tube within the hopper being cut away, so as to allow the coin to drop on edge
therein.

page_text: An inclined grating projecting under the slits in the top of the hopper, and an
offset formed therein about midway between the grating and the tube, serve as
guards to prevent the abstraction of any coin which by any possibility may lodge
.therein. "
The front of the hopper is formed with narrow openings covered with a plate of
glass to permit of constant inspection of the interior of the hopper.
A flange is formed to project outwardly on each edge of the longitudinal slot in
the tube, at a right angle or thereabouts with its face, and the two flanges serve
effectually to prevent the abstraction of any coin from the tube through said slot,
although said piece of money is plainly visible in its course along the entire length
of the tube; and if by any means it becomes stuck. therein it may be readily
pushed forward with a pin, a pencil or any slender rod or stick.
The tube is supported by the brackets in such manner as to have an inclination
from front to rear of the car of about one centimeter to each decimeter of its
length, so that the coins dropped therein at any one of the hoppers will roll readily
down into the money box at the end. To enable the conductor to examine the
pieces deposited and to determine, if occasion requires, the value thereof, a series
of stops or fingers are provided; which, projecting from a rod extending parallel
therewith along the length of the tube, are made, by a rotation or rocking of the
rod; to pass in or out of the tube through its open slot. These fingers consist
simply of little curved strips of metal made fast to the rod, the latter being so
mounted in suitable bearings as to admit of being readily turned upon its axis by
means of knobs or handles at each end, far enough to throw the ends of the fingers
into or out of the slot. When the ends of the catches or fingers are swung into the
tube, they serve to arrest the passage of the coins. When they are swung out,
the tube is left free so that the coins will roll forward through it into the
collecting box.
The movement of this catch rod may be controlled by a pawl and ratchet
or other suitable device to prevent it from being operated by others than the
conductor.

page_text: DI CORTICATION.
1, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52 Chancery
Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AUTOMATIC FARE COLLECTORS
FOR PUBLIC CONVEYANCES," a communication to me from abroad by James
Henry Small, of the City, County and State of New York, in the United States of
America, 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 an efficient device for collecting and depositing the fares
in tram-way cars and omnibuses, by means of which the fares may be deposited at
various points and will then travel by gravity to a lock-box at one end of the car
so that they need not pass through the hands of the conductor, thus serving as a
check against dishonesty on his part, whilst facilitating at the same time the
collection of the money.
;
No claim is made herein to the broad idea of employing a tube for conducting
money from one point to another by the action of gravity, the invention being
confined to the peculiar construction of the conveyor-tube and to the combination
therewith of suitable hoppers or deposit boxes.
The apparatus consists of a tube or conduit constructed with a longitudinal slot
or opening on its exposed side through which the money or other evidence of value
may be clearly seen in its passage down the tube. This conveyor-tube is preferably.
made dat in its cross-section and of a depth slightly greater than the diameter of
the largest coin in circulation and so narrow in width as that the coin shall rest
therein on edge so as to roll readily through the tube and remain visible in its
transit to the receptacle provided for it.
A flange is formed to project outwardly on each edge of the longitudinal slot in
the tube and the two flanges are so constructed and proportioned as to prevent
effectually the abstraction through the slot of any money placed in the tube.
The open-faced conveyor-tube is supported against the inner side of the car or
omnibus in such manner as to have an inclination from front to rear, so that the
coins dropped therein at any one point will roll readily down into the money box
at the end. The supports for the tube are constructed in manner as bereinafter
described to serve as hoppers for the reception of the fares.
To enable the conductor to examine the pieces deposited and to determine, if
occasion require, the value thereof, a series of stops or fingers are provided, as
hereinafter described, which, projecting from a rod extending parallel therewith
along the length of the tube, are made, by a rotation or rocking of the rod, to pass
in or out of the tube through its open slot. When the ends of the fingers are
swung into the tube, they serve to arrest the passage of the coins. When they are
swung out, the tube is left free so that the coins will roll forward through it into
the collecting box.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation of the inner side of a tram-way car,
illustrating my improvement applied thereto.

page_text: Figure 2 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the conveyor-
tube, detached from its supports.
Figure 3, a front elevation on an enlarged scale, of a section of the tube and of
one of its deposit-hoppers.
Figure 4, a transverse section in line x, x, and Figure 5, a similar section in
line y, y, of Figure 3.
Similar letters denote like parts in the several Figures.
A, represents a tube, which I prefer to draw from sheet-brass in the form shown
at Figures 1 and 2, whereby an opening, a, throughout the length of the tube is
left, through which the fare deposited at different points may be inspected, as is
clearly shown at Figure 1. In order that the fare so exposed to view shall be
perfectly protected against fraudulent extraction, and without the necessity for any
transparent covering to such opening, I extend the edges of the metal on each side
of the space or opening a outwardly, to form short flanges, b, the extent of which
and their relation to the opening a being such that the smallest coin or other
evidence of fare cannot be taken through the opening, as is clearly indicated at
Figure 2, although each piece is plainly visible in its course along the entire length
of the tube, and if by any means it becomes stuck therein it may be readily pushed
forward with a pin, pencil, or any other slender rod. The protecting flanges b
I prefer to form, as stated, by drawing the edges of the metal outward, but it will
be understood that such flanges may be made separately and secured in place in
any suitable manner; and it will be understood that they not only serve as a
protection against fraudulent extraction of the contents of the tube, but also serve
to strengthen the latter.
In adapting my improved tube for use in street-railroad cars I have constructed
the tubes of such length and longitudinal conformation as to extend along the sides
of the cars and ends of the same. At any number of points most convenient to the
passengers I place conducting-hoppers, B, through the lower ends of which the
tube, A, passes and in which it is supported. The hoppers are securely attached to
the sides of the car, and the tube is thereby supported in an inclined position from
front to rear at such a height as to be readily reached by the passenger when
seated. I do not in this case wish to confine myself to the use of the hoppers, B,
or the mode described of securing the tubes in place, as it will be understood that
the tubes may be secured in any other manner, and that simple openings in the top
edge of the tube or hoppers of any other construction may be used to facilitate the
depositing of the fare.
The lower end of the tube is made to terminate in a locked fare box or
receptacle, C (Figure 1).
The hoppers, B, are preferably made in two pieces, c, c, (see Figure 4) between
the lower ends of which the tube is enclosed.
Each hopper is made fast to one of the uprights at the side of the car, (see
Figure 1), the tube being so inserted through an opening formed in the lower part
of the hopper between its two sections as to have free longitudinal play therein.
When the two sections, c, c, are united they constitute a receptacle provided at
the top with a narrow slit, d, through which the coins are inserted and which is
closed at the bottom by the tube A passing through it, (see Figure 4) the top of
the tube within the hopper being cut away so as to allow the coin to drop on edge
therein. The coin thus dropped into any one of the hoppers will roll readily down
into the money box, C, at the end of the tube. An inclined grating e projecting
under the slit in the top of the hopper and an offset, f, (see Figure 4) formed
therein about midway between the grating and the tube, serve as guards to prevent
the abstraction of any coin which by any possibility may lodge in the hopper.
The front of the bopper is formed with narrow openings, h, h, (Figure 3) covered
with a plate of glass to permit of constant inspection of the interior of the hopper.
It may sometimes become necessary to thoroughly inspect the fare contained in
the tube before it is permitted to gravitate to the general receptacle. To enable
this to be done, a series of stops or fingers, m, m, are provided, which, projecting

page_text: from a rod, N, extending parallel there with along the length of the tube, are made
by a rotation or rocking of the rod to pass in or out of the tube through its open
slot. These fingers, m, m, consist simply of little curved strips of metal made fast
to the rod, the latter being so mounted in suitable bearings as to admit of being
readily turned upon its axis, by means of knobs or handles, P, P, at each end, far
enough to throw the ends of the fingers into or out of the slot. When the ends of
the fingers, m, m, are swung into the tube, they serve to arrest the passage of the
coins. When swung out, the tube is left free so that the coins will roll forward
into the collecting box, C. The movement of this stop rod, N, may be controlled
by a pawl and ratchet or other suitable device to prevent it from being operated
by others than the conductor.
The use of my improved tube involves, necessarily, the employment of specie for
fare, or that the tickets used instead of specie should be of a circular form, in order
that, by reason of the inclination of the tube toward the lock-box, the specie or
tickets will roll by gravity. It may here be remarked that metallic and also
celluloid checks or tickets have been successfully used and found practical.
Whilst I have described my improved tube as designed for use in tram-way cars,
I do not wish to be limited in the application, the gist of my invention resting in
the broad idea of a conveyor-tube formed with an opening through which the
transit of fares, etc., may be observed, while the opening is provided with means to
guard against fraudulent abstraction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1st A longitudinally slotted tube, A, flattened in cross-section, adapted to extend
with a slight inclination continuously along the entire length of a tram-way car, in
combination with a series of guarded openings for the reception of pieces of money,
and of a closed money-receptacle, B, at the lower end of said inclined tube,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
2nd A tube for fare and other conveyors, formed of metal, and provided with a
longitudinal inspection-opening protected at each side by laterally-projecting
flanges, substantially as shown and described.
3rd In combination with a fare-conveyor tube provided with a longitudinal
inspection-opening of a series of fingers, m, m, adapted to move into and out of the
longitudinal opening and secured to a rotating rod, N, which, extending along the
tube parallel therewith, is actuated by handles, P, P, at one or both ends thereof.
4th In combination with a longitudinally-slotted and transversely-flattened,
inclined conducting tube, A, adapted as a passage for pieces of money from end to
end of a tram-way car, and with receptive openings in said tube, of money recep-
tacles or hoppers, B, B, fitted over each receptive opening and adapted to embrace
the tube and serve as a bracket to support the same.
Dated this 25th day of March 1905