US235498A - benton - Google Patents

Description

(No'ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J.B.BENTON. PareRegis-ter. No. 235,498. Patented'Dec.14,1880.

WITNESSES [.NV'EN'TO Ii Q/ Jam 2,3925%.

" I I By his fltfm-neys N.FETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON. D C.

3 Sheets-Sheet a.

(No Model.)

J. B. BENTON. fare Register.

Patented Dec. 14,1880;

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NJETERS, PNOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WAS

UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrceo JOHN B. BENTON, OF NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE ltAILlVAY REGISTER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, N. Y.

FARE-REGISTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 235,498, dated December 14, 1889.

Application filed July 9, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN B. BENTON, a citizen of the United States, now residing in the city, county, and State of New York, haveiir vented certain new and useful Improvements in Fare Registering or Tallying Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus more particularly designed for registering or tallying the number of fares collected by conductors on cars or other public passenger-vehicles, whereby, as the collector is required to operate the register each time he receives a fare and sound an alarm, fraud and cheating by false returns is prevented. v

My improvements belong more especially to fare-registers of the class embodying in their structure and organization, first, mechanism for consecutively registering, recording, or tal- 2o lying the nuinber of fares received or actuations of the mechanism made during a single trip of the cafir'veh'i'el e, and capable of being set to zero or the starting-point at the end of the trip-usuallftermed a trip-register, sec- 2 5 0nd, mechanism for simultaneously and consecutively registering, recording, or tallying the same actuatioii'sthat the trip-register does, and also continuously countingbf'tallying consecutivel y the whole number of fares received 0 upon a large number of consecutive tripsusually termed a general, permanent, or continuously-counting register, and which is not adapted to be reset or brought to zero at the end of each trip fthird, mechanism for registering, recording,,or tallying the number of times the trip-register has been set at zerousually termed a zero-register and, fourth, mechanism for sounding an alarm each time the trip and general registers are simultane- 0 ously actuated in the process of counting, whereby the passenger is notified of the proper registry of his fare.

My present invention constitutes an improvement upon the mechanism and upon the orr ganization of parts shown in Letters Patent of the United States No. 167,057, granted to me August 21L, 1875. In said Letters Patent I have shown the first organized machine "known to me having a trip-register, a general o re ister an alarm a rime mover or actuator for actuating said registers simultaneously for consecutive counting and for sounding an alarm for each of such actuations, mechanism independent of the prime mover for turning or setting the trip-register to zero or the starting-point, and mechanism for registering such setting or turning movements, or, in other words, mechanism constituting azero-register.

In that machine, however, there is no mechanism or stop to prevent, when setting the trip-register to zero independently of theprime mover, the movement of said trip-register past the zero or starting point, and this necessitates some nicety or skill on the part of the open ator in setting the trip-register to stop exactly at the zero or starting pointso1ne care being required, in other words, in performing this operation, as, if the trip-register is carried beyond zero, the operator is compelled to keep on and try again to stop at the right point, (no back movement by the resetting mechanism being possible,) which operation, of course, necessitates operating the zero-register another point or indication, while in fact no trip has been made. If he should fail, after carry- 7 ing the trip-register too far, to right his mistake by another setting movement, his tripregister will not indicate correctly the number of fares actually received, as it will show more fares than he received if he registers each and every one, and he is under the necessity of omitting to operate the register as he receives the fares to the extent or number of points which his trip-register has beeninadvertently or unavoidably carried forward past zero in the resetting operation in order to save him self from being charged, not only with the number of fares actually received, but also the surplus indicated by the register, owing to its accidental carrying forward too far. 0 Thus, by failing to register some of the fares actually received, the general register will not indicate an honest record or tally, and as it is by the record of the general register that the conductor is held to account,it will readily be 5 seen that he may defraud the company or proprietor, while if he does not omit or fail to register some of the fares received he is liable to be charged with fraud in his returns, owing to the indications of the trip-register, by the spotters or detectives generally employed to see that the registering-machines are properly operated for each and every fare received. In that machine, also, the zero-register is so organized that it will be operated not only when the trip-register is reset independently of the prime mover, but also when the tripregister is moved around in the process of counting to or past the zero-point, so that all movements of the trip-register to or past zero are indi cated on the zero-register, and inasmuch as it not unfrequently happens that the trip-register is moved past zero in the counting operation in connection with the general register, it will be seen that the zero-register does not indicate only the independent setting movements, but mixes therewith the indications made by moving the register around by the prime mover.

The object of my present invention is to so organize a registering-machine having the elements of trip-register, general register, and zero-register that when reset independently of the prime mover the trip-register will be stopped at zero, and, further, to so organize the machine that the zero-register shall have the capacity of indicating the actual number of resetting movements of the trip-register which have taken place independently of the prime mover, and without mixing with those indications indications made when the tripregister is turned or moved to or past zero in the counting operation in connection with the general register.

My present invention consists in certain new combinations of mechanism which are recited at the close of this specification.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus embodying my said new combinations of mechanism in the best way now known to me. Some of these combinations, however, may be used without the others, and in ma chines differing somewhat from that therein shown.

Figure 1 is a front or face view of the machine. Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof with the front or dial plate removed, as also the index-hands. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through the machine. Fig. 4 is a side view of a portion of the zero gathering or resetting devices and register. Fi 5 is a view thereof from below. Fig. 6 is a view of the zero-register from the back, and Fig. 7 is a view of the trip-hand with its friction carryin g sprin The machine shown in the drawings resembles, in its general features, the well-known Monitor fare-register shown in my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 167,057.

The prime mover or actuator of the machine consists, in this instance, of a pivoted or vibrating lever, A, extending through a slotin the edge of the inclosing-casing B, and it may be operated either directly by the hand or through some intermediate attachment, as fully described in the aforesaid patent.

The prime mover A is provided with an actuating-pawl, a, (shown clearly in Fig. 2,) which engages with a ratchet-wheel, O, the said prime mover, in this instance, through the medium of this ratchet-wheel, serving to actuate simultaneously, or nearly so, for consecutive counting, the trip-register and the general register, and also actuates the alarm apparatus once for each of said registering actuations.

The ratchet-wheel G is mounted upon and keyed to a central axis or main shaft, D, with which it turns, the rear end of said shaft being fitted in a suitable bearing in the back or base plate of the casing B, while it is also fitted near its front end in a suitable bearing in a supportingplate or cross-bar, b, resting upon or secured to suitable posts, I), rising from the base-plate, as usual. The said shaft carries upon its front end, in front of said supporting-plate b, index-fingers or pointers E E, which constitute, in connection with a graduated dial or indicator-disk, G, the trip-register and the general register, respectively, the finger E being the pointer or index-finger of the trip-register, while the finger F is the pointer or index-finger of the general register.

The fingers E F project from disks 6 f, respectively, as clearly shown in Fig. 1,the disk 0 being below or behind the disk f. Said disk 0 is also provided at its back with or securely connected to a ratchet-wheel, 0, having its teeth runnin gin the opposite direction to those on the actuating ratchet-wheel 0, both the disk 6 and its ratchet-wheel 6 being loosely mounted upon the main shaft 1), while the disk f, carrying the pointer or index-hand of the general register,is firmly secured or keyed to the end of said shaft, so as to turn positively therewith.

In order to compel the trip hand thus loosely mounted upon the main shaft to turn with said shaft as it is being revolved step by step by the actuations of the ratchet-wheel O, owing to the reciprocations, vibrations, or movements of the actuator or lever A, 1 interpose between the disks 0 and f an elastic substance under tension, or a suitable clutch arrangement, consisting preferably of a springwasher; H, provided with bent arms or projcctions h,(three being shown,) radiating from a flat central portion, it, having a central opening to permit the washer to be passed upon the shaft, the said arms of this tripod spring-washer being so bent or curved that only their extremities rest upon the disk 0, the flat or plane central portion, h, of the washer resting against the back of the disk f, or upon a suitably-interposed washer of ordinary con- Struction.

It will thus be seen that as the main shaft revolves, owing to the actuations of the wheel 0, the fingers E F also revolve-the finger F on account of being fixed to the shaft, and the finger E on account of the friction caused by the interposed spring-washer.

The actuator of the register operates the actuating-wheel G in this organization preferably upon the back-strokethat is, the lever A is vibrated in one direction by the actuating force against the tension of an impellingspring, which spring, as soon as the force is removed, throws the lever in the other direc tion, and, by the engagement of the pawl a, with the teeth of the wheel 0, moves or turns said wheel the distance of one tooth, or theone-hundredth part of a revolution, (the wheel having one hundred teeth corresponding to the graduations on the dial G,) and inasmuch as the wheel 0 is keyed orfixed upon its shaft, said shaft, when the wheel is actuated, is also turned the one-hundredth part of a revolution, consequently carrying the index-fingers E F mounted thereon the same distance, or the distance of one point on the graduated dial G, thereby indicating that one fare had been collected.

At every actuation of the trip and general registers an alarm is sounded,thebell-hammer I of the alarm apparatus being connected to and raised by a pawl, i, acted upon by a spring,

which pawl, as the actuating-wheelO revolves,

rides over one tooth in the wheel and falls into the notch immediately following, the momentum thus given to the hammer by the spring being sufficient to cause it to strike the bell l and sound the alarm, all of which movements of the actuating-wheel O are fully described in my aforesaid Letters Patent No. 167,057.

Each successive operation, therefore, of the prime mover or actuator A adds one point to the number indicated by the trip and general registers, and also sounds an alarm.

The index-finger F, in connection with the graduated dial G in the type of registers l have shown as embodying my improvements, constitutes the general or continuously-counting register, as hereinbefore statedthat is, said finger is not adapted to be set back at the end of a trip.

In order to give the general register a capacity of continuously registering and preserving a record of a large number of fares, there is added a multiplying-wheel, J, of wellknown construction, which wheel is at every complete revolution of the wheel 0 of its shaft D, and consequently of the index-finger F, turned. one point, or the distance of one tooth, by a tongue or projection on a suitable hub mounted upon said shaft. This multiplyingwheel is preferably constructed to operate on the principle of the well-known Geneva stop, so as to keep it locked except when actuated by the tongue or projection on the main shaft.

The front face ofthe multiplying-wheel Jis provided with numbers or figures corresponding to the number of teeth in its periphery, which may be varied so as to increase or diminish the capacity of the general register, the figures showing through the aperture g in the dial-plate G successively as the wheel is turned, so as to permit of readily reading or inspecting the indications of the register.

The index-finger E, in connection with the dial G, constitutes the trip-register, as hereinbefore stated. In order to give said trip-register the capacity of being turned to zero or the starting-point at the beginning of each trip, or whenever desired, independently of the prime mover and general register, I have mounted said linger loosely upon the main shaft in the manner hereinbefore described that is, in a manner to compel its movement in unison with the general register in the counting process when the prime mover is being operated, while movable in this instance backward independently of the general register and prime mover without disturbing or destroying the integrity of the record of said general register, the pawl of the bell-hammer serving to hold the actuating-wheel G from all backward movement.

In order to accomplish the returning or resetting movement of the trip-hand, I employ mechanism independent of the prime mover, preferably consisting of a movable or vibrating pawlcarrying plate, K, mounted upon the main shaft as a center, and back of or below the disk 00f the trip-hand E, the pivoted pawl a of said plate operating upon the ratchetwheel 6 0t said disk 0.

The pawlcarrying plate is provided with a radial arm or projection, K, by which to actuate or move it in one direction-that is, in the direction to allow the pawl k, which is acted upon by a suitable spring", It, to vibrate into engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel c on the disk 0, and thereby, owing to the movement of the pawl-carrying plate, turn said disk to carry the index or trip hand E backward, the movement of the plate around the main shaft being limited by a stationary abutment, Z, against which the arm K comes in contact on the upstroke. A suitable spring, 7?, acts upon the arm K of the pawl-carrying plate K, to return or move said plate in the opposite direction in readiness for a new actuation, the movement of the said plate in this direction being limited by a stationary abutment or screw, m, against which the pawl k abuts or comes in contact, and by which said pawl is lifted out of the teeth of the ratchetwheel 0, (see Fig. 2,) in order that no obstruction be presented to the movements of the trip-register when actuated by the prime mover.

It will be obvious in the organization of resetting devices I have shown that it is necessary to impart a step-bystep or repeated move ment to the pawl-carrying plate to complete the resetting movement of the trip-hand, if that hand should have been carried far enough around by actuations during the trip to render one actuation of the plate insufficient to carry the hand to zero, and in order to actuate the plate from the outside of the casing 1 ITS preferably employ a removable reciprocating key or pusher, L, which is inserted and guided when in use in a tube, M, an inward movement of the pusher carrying its inner end against the arm K of the pawl-carrying plate K and turningit upon its axis. The pusher is thrown outward after every inward movement by the returning-spring ot' the pawl-carrying plate, as will be obvious, in readiness for another reciprocation.

In order to prevent the trip-hand from being carried beyond zero or the starting-point when being returned or reset at the end of a trip or otherwise independently of the prime mover, a recess is formed in the ratchet-wheel e, or some of its teeth omitted, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, whereby, in connection with the stationary pin or abutment l, by which the movement of the pawl-carrying plate is limited, the pawl k is prevented from acting upon the teeth of the wheel when the trip-hand points to zero, and consequently cannot move said wheel or the trip-hand secured thereto beyond zero.

In order to record and indicate the number of times the registering mechanism has been set to zero independently of the prime mover, the following arrangement is preferably employed: An endwise moving or sliding bar, N, stands in its normal position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, so that when the arm K of the pawlcarrying plate K is actuated bythe key or pusher L it passes under and clear of said bar, the lower end of which is capable of being slightly depressed, and is provided with a post or lug, it, having a rounded or beveled top.

'Fastened or secured to the disk 6, which carries the trip-hand E, is a projection, 0 so organized that as the trip index-linger approaches zero in being reset by the pusher L, acting upon the pawl-carrying plate K, the said projection approaches the post a, the highest point of the top of which post, in its normal position, is above the under side or back of the projection 6 while the lower part of said top is on a level with the under side or back of said projection, whereby, when the projection 6 comes in contact with the post a and slides upon its top, said post, together with the end of the bar N, is cammed down or depressed against the tension of a light plate-spring,\n, in such manner that when the arm K of the pawl-carrying plate is again actuated it comes in contact with the end of said barN and moves it endwise until the said arm K comes in contact with the abutment l,'or, in other words, reaches the limit of its movement.

Upon the under side of the barN is pivoted a pawl, 0, which, upon the upstroke of said bar, engages a ratchet-wheel, 0, fixed to the under side of a circular plate or indicatorwheel, 0, or to the axis or journal thereof, to actuate it. The upper side or front face of said wheel 0 is provided with the numbers 0 to 9, inclusive, and,in connection with a second circular plate or indicator-wheel, P, similarly numbered and operating preferably on the principle of the Geneva stop, constitutes the zero-register, one number only at a time of each wheel being visible through an aperture, g, cut in the front bearing-plate of the zeroregister wheels, and also in the dial-plate G.

Each upstroke or actuation of the bar N causes its pawl to engage' and revolve the ratchet-wheel 0 the distance of one tooth, or one-tenth of a revolution, exposing the next highest number on the wheel or disk 0 through the inspection-aperture; and by the time this effect has been produced in the zero-register the trip-hand has reached zero, or the position indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, while the projection 42 has passed over and beyond the post a and stands in the position shown by the dotted lines in said figure. The end of bar N, and consequently, also, the post a, then rise or assume their normal positions as maintained by the spring a, and the arm K of the pawl-carrying plate cannot again engage the bar until the index-finger of the trip-register has been moved away from zero by the actuation of the prime mover of the register, nor until said trip-hand is again being returned to zero, as before. The record of the zero-register consequently remains unchanged until the trip hand again arrives at zero, when the next consecutive number will be shown, thus indicating at a glance the number of times the trip-registering mechanism has been set to zero.

The actuating ratchet-wheel 0 of the zeroregister is prevented from back movement by a suitable pawl, 0 while the bar N, when relieved from contact with the arm K of the pawl-carrying plate, is returned to its normal position by the action of a suitable spring, Q.

From the fore oing description of the mechanism I have shown for carrying outmy invention it will be seen by those familiar with registering apparatus that I have provided a duplex fare-registerhaving certain valuable characteristics never before attained. For instance, I have so combined a trip-register, a general register, and a zero-register that said trip-register may be moved freely around in the counting process past the zero-point by the prime mover, in connection with the general register, without making an indication on the zero-registgr, which would interfere with a correct record of the actual independent resetting movements of said trip-register,while each resetting movement of the trip-register ,to zero which is made independentlyof the general register and prime mover is recorded or indicated on the zero-register, in order that a correct record of the independept resetting movements may be obtained. Again, it will be seen that I have so combined a trip-register, a general register, and a zero-register that said trip-register, when being reset independently of the general register and prime mover, is stopped at the zero or starting point, while said movements are registered or indicated upon the zero-register.

Of course I do not wish to be understood as IIO limiting myself to the particular form of registering mechanism and devices described herein in detail, and shown in the accompanying drawings, as changes may be made with out departing from my invention.

I disclaim herein in favor of my application for Letters Patent tiled December 31, 1877, and completed January 3, 1878, (now pending,) the subject-matter covered by the three clauses of claim thereof, which are as follows, to wit:

1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a registering-wheel or index-hand actuated in one direction in the process of counting, and capable of being moved in the other direction to reset or carry it to zero, a resetting wheel or teeth connected with said registering-wheel or index-hand, a movable plate or pawl-carrier inclosed within the register-casing, acting upon said resetting wheel or teeth, and aremovable reciprocating key to actuate said plate or carrier.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a turning-shaft, atoothed wheel to actuate said shaft, a trip index-hand or registering-wheel connected with said shaft by a friction clutch or coupling which compels the said index-hand or registering-wheel to move with said shaft in the processes of counting, while allowingsaidindex-handto be moved upon said shaft to reset it or bring it to zero, resetting teeth or projections connected with said indexhand, a movable plate acting upon said projections of the index-hand, a pusher or key movable endwise to actuate said movable plate in one direction, and a spring to move said plate in the opposite direction, or to return the plate to the position from which it was moved by said pusher.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbeforeset forth, of a trip-register, a general register, a prime mover or handleforactuating said register simultaneously, or nearly so, and a resetting mechanism for the trip-register, consisting of a toothed wheel or projections connected with the trip-register, a backward and forward movable plate acting upon said projections, a reciprocating key 'or' pusher to actuate said platein one direction, and a spring to move the plate in the opposite direction to that imparted by said key, whereby the said trip-register is permitted to be moved with the general register clear of the resetting-plate in the process of counting, while capable of being reset by said plate by the simple reciprocation of the key or pusher without disturbing the record'of said general register.

This present application is adivision of said original application filed December 31, 1877, and is in continuation thereof, it being the intention to include in the said 187 7 application and the patent about to be issued thereon only the three claims to the combinations of mechanism above quoted, while it is likewise the intention to include and cover in this present application and the patent to be issued thereon all patentable subject-matter of my present invention other than as claimed in the said three claims above mentioned.

A disclaimer is entered in the said original application of 1877 to any and all patentable subject-matter of the present invention, save as covered by the said three clauses of claim. Both applications-the original and this division thereofare based upon the sameinvention, and are aimed, respectively, to cover different features or parts thereof.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a trip-register capable of being reset to the zero or starting point independently of a prime mover which act-uates it in the process of counting, and mechanism which indicates each resetting operation of the trip-register made independently of said prime mover, while it does not indicate as an independent resetting movement the turning of the trip-register to or beyond zero by said prime mover.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a trip-register capable of being reset to the zero or starting point independently of a prime mover which actuates it in the process of counting, an alarm operated simultaneously with the trip-register and by the same prime mover, and mechanism which indicates each resetting operation of the tripregister made independently of the prime mover and alarm, while it does not indicate as an independent resetting movement the turning of the trip-register to or beyond zero by the prime mover.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a general register, a tripregister capable of being reset or moved to the zero-point independently of said general register, a prime mover for actuating said registers simultaneously for consecutive count ing, and mechanism which indicates each re setting operation of the trip-register made independently of the general register, while it does not indicate as an independent resetting movement the turning of the trip-register to or beyond zero in connection with said general register.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the general register, the trip-register, the alarm, the prime mover for operating said registers and alarm, a device for resetting said trip-register to zero or the starting-point independently of the said general register, alarm, and prime mover, and

mechanism which indicates the number of resetting movements of the trip-register made by said independent resetting device, while it does not mix with such indications a record of the turning movements of the trip-register to or past the zero-point in connection with the general register.

5. The combination, substantially as hereiubefore set forth, of a trip-register capable of being reset to its zero or starting point, an

" alarm, a prime mover for operating said register for consecutive counting and for simultaneously sounding the alarm, a stop device or mechanism to prevent turning of the said register past zero when being reset, and mechanism which indicates the number of resetting operations of the trip-register.

6. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a trip-register capable of consecutive counting and of being reset to its zero or starting point, a general register, a prime mover for actuating said general register for consecutive counting simultaneously with the actuation of the trip-register, a stop device or mechanism to prevent turning of the trip-register past zero when being reset, and mechanism which indicates the number of resetting operations of the trip'register.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a trip-register, a general register, an alarm, a prime mover for actuating said registers simultaneously for consecutive counting, and for sounding the alarm, mechanism for resetting said trip-register to zero independently of the general register, a stop device or mechanism to prevent turning of the trip-register past zero by the resetting mechanism, and mechanism Which indicates the number of resetting operations of the tripregister.

8. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a trip-register, a prime mover for actuating said register for consecutive counting, mechanism for resetting said register to zero independently of the prime mover, stop mechanism which prevents turning of the trip-register past zero by the resetting mechanism, while permitting free movement of said tripregister past zero in the counting process, and mechanism which indicates the number of resetting operations of the tripregister.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a trip-register, an alarm, a prime mover for actuating said register and alarm, mechanism for resetting the trip-register to zero independently of the prime mover and alarm, stop mechanism which prevents turning of the trip-register past zero by the resetting mechanism, while permitting free movement of said register past zero in the counting process, and mechanism which indicates the number of resetting operations of the trip-register.

10. The combination, substantially as hereinbet'ore set forth, of a trip-register, a general register, an alarm, a prime mover for actuating said registers and alarm, mechanism for resetting said trip-register independently of the general register and alarm, stop mechanism which prevents turning of the trip-register past zero by the resetting mechanism, while permitting free movement of said tripregister past zero in the counting process, and mechanism which indicates the number of resetting operations of the trip-register.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 24th day of June, A. D. 1880.

' JOHN B. BENTON.

WVitnesses:

Tnos. T. SHERMAN, CHARLES C. BEAMAN, Jr.

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