US160676A

US160676A - Improvement in fare-boxes

Info

Publication number: US160676A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1875-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1892-03-09

Description

UNITED STATES PAT 'r QEEI.

CHARLES Gr. IMLAY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN CAR-FAREREGISTEB COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FARE-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 160,676, dated March 9, 1875 application filed i Notember 17, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES G. IMLAY, of Philadelphia, in thecounty of Philadelphia and in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fare- Boxesg and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there; of, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to determine. the number of fares collected by conductors of street-cars; and the nature of my invention consists, principally, in an inclined tube or trough extending longitudinally through the street-car, and in the employment of balls or marbles to .be dropped into said tube or trough, and roll through the same into the receptacle at the lower end thereof, or into an alarm-box, and sound a bell therein for each fare collected by the conductor, as will be hereinafter morefully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in.'whicl1 Figure l is a perspective view of my invention, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same. i

A represents an inclined hollow tube, sup ported in suitable brackets within a streetrailroad car, which tube may pass through the car and extend over theco'nductors plat form. This end of the tube is closed, and the other end opens into a box, B, containing a bell, C, called an alarm-box, the key of which will be in the keeping of the company. Openings a, with intervals between a them, are

made into the tube A, which openings may} be formed cup-shaped, as shown, and are of a certain size, adapted to the size of certain balls or marbles, b, that are to be used. A tube may extend also across the car, to receive balls representing the collection of halffares.

In the drawing the tube A is made cylindrical, and composed of alternate sections of glass and metal, and the openings a aremade in the glass sections; but I do not confine myself either to the shape or material of the tube, as it may be made of any material or.

combination of materials desired, and also of any shape. It may be made three-sided, with a longitudinal slot in the top .or upper side for the admission of the balls; ora simple trough may answer the same purpose.

In the constructionof this tube or trough I prefer to make certain parts thereof. of glass or other suitable transparent material, so that the passengers can see the balls as they pass through the same.

For every fare collected the conductor is required to drop a ball or marble, 12, into one or the other of the openings into the tube. The ball will follow the tube by its own gravity, and roll into the alarm-box, sounding the bell therein as it strikes the same. If one passenger settles the fare for himself and.

others, an alarm is sounded for each by tubing balls for all, the same as the bellpunch in similar cases.

This device is simple, cheap, and durable, and answers fully the purpose for which it is intended, namely, to prevent conductors defrauding the company.

A registering apparatus may be arranged within the alarmbox, to register the balls as.

they drop into the box. Balls of two sizes, or the same size balls in two colors, may be used to denote full and half fares.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the tube A, made in sec-v tions of glass and metal, and adapted to be extended in an inclined position along the car, and having openings a in its side at suitable intervals, with the box B and alarm C therein, so that as balls are dropped into the openings they will gravitate to the box and sound the alarm, all substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I,

have hereunto set my hand and seal this 14th day of November, 1874.

m I CHARLES Gr. IMLAY. [L.

Witnesses:

W. N. MARCUS, BENJAMIN KELLQGG.