US247553A - fowler - Google Patents

Description

3 Shets-Sheet 1.

J. W. FOWLER & D. F. LEWIS.

TRIP SIGNAL FOR FARE REGISTERS.

No. 247,553. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

(ModeL) N. PETERS. Plmtn-Llihugmpher. Waslnnglon. D. c.

(ModeL) '3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. W. FOWLER & D. F. LEWIS.

TRIP SIGNAL FOR FARE REGISTERS.

No. 247,553. Patented Sept. 27,1881.

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(Model) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. W. FOWLER v8n D. F. LEWIS.

TRIP SIGNAL FOR FARE REGISTERS.

Patented Sept. 27,1881.

-. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. FOWLER AND DANIEL F. LEWIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

TRIP-SIGNAL FOR FARE-REGISTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,553, dated September 27, 1881. Application filed April 30, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W.F0wLER and DANIEL F. LEWIS, citizen s of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Passenger-Registers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates primarily to the further improvement of our duplex alarmregister as constructed with a reciprocating setting device 3 but the subject-matter of this invention may be embodied in any other register in which a rotary trip-hand or any equivalent thereof is or may be adapted to be reset at will, independently of the main actuating mechanism of the register, by means of any setting mechanism havingareciprocating part to coact therewith in anymanner, substantially as hereinafter set forth.

The general object of this invention is to indicate each resetting actuation of the trip-hand or its equivalent, so as to insure the faithful performance on the part of the conductor or agent of his duty to reset the trip-register at the end of each trip or given period. This has heretofore been accomplished in "arions ways, a feature common to all being the display of a visual signal or sign inthe act of resetting the trip-register.

Our present invention consists in indicator mechanism of improved construction adapted to co-operate with areciprocati-ng setting-slide or the like, and to display in succession such words as Up, Down, East,West,Down,

Set, Up, Hired, Free, Hired, or the numbers of the tripsas, 1, 2, 3, &c., in a superior manner, as hereinafter specified and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are small external face-views of an improved alurm-register illustrating the present invention. Fig. 3 is a face view of the same on a larger scale, withthe case and dial-plate removed and the parts at rest in the condition indicated by Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line 4 4, Fig. 3, showing a bottom view of the indicator mechanism. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the register in the central plane indicated by the line 5 5, Fig. 3, illustrating the setting operation. Fig. 6 is aface view of the main actuating mechanism, alarm mechanism, and indicator mechanism in the condition of the register indicated by full lines in Fig. 2,'illustrating the unlocking of the indicator mechanism in the act of sounding the alarm. Figs. 7 and 8 are elevations of the indicator mechanism, as shown in Fig. 6, viewed from opposite edges of the back plate; and Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9 9, Fig. 6, illustrating a detail. Figs. 3 to 9, inclusive, are drawn to one scale.

Like letters of reference indicate correspondingsparts in the several figures, and arrows, indicating the motions of parts, are numbered alike in all places.

Apart from its main actuating mechanism and alarm mechanism and the novel indicator mechanism aforesaid, the improved register shown in the drawings above described is subour Patent No. 231,16l,dated August 17,1880. The main actuating mechanism and alarm mechanism are substantially of the construction described and claimed in the specification forming part of our application for patentfiled October 23, 1880. The specification forming part of the former particularly describes and claims the settin g mechanism ofthe present register, which directly coacts with the indicator mechanism, hereinafter specified and claimed.

Referring to our said previous specifications, and to those of our earlier patents therein referred to, for fuller descriptions of the parts described and claimed therein, as aforesaid, the present specification will be chiefly confined to a description of our said indicator mechanism.

In the saiddrawingsaccompanyingthisspecification, A and B represent, respectively, the unit-shaft of a. trip-register and that of a permanent register; H E1 index-hands, carried by said shafts between a dial-plate, d, and the transparent face-plate of a circular case which incloses the several mechanisms; H a rotary hundreds-dial, exposing its numbers successively through an orifice, 0 in said dial-plate d; R, a main ratchet-wheel, fast on a shaft, A, equidistant from the shafts A and B; P

W W, gearing connecting the shafts A, A, and B, for the transmission of registering impulses from said ratchet-wheel to the unitstantially identical with the subject-matter of hands H H and through a cam on the wheel W and coacting mechanism to the hundredsdial H X, a detent-pawl, engaging with said ratchet-wheel R; I, a setting-hub, interposed between the trip-hand H and its shaft; J, a radial setting-slide, which coacts with said setting-hub to reset the trip-hand at zero at will; and K, an inwardly-thrusting key, adapted to be inserted through a key-hole, k, in the case to move said setting-slide in one direction, and to put in tension retracting-springs s, as shown substantially in the drawings accompanying the said specification ofour Patent No. 231,161; and S represents a main actuating-slide, provided on its back with a stud-pin, which projects through a slot in the back plate of the case, as illustrative means for pulling the same and putting in tension its retracting-spring s; F, a main working-pawl, carried by said slide S and coacting with the ratchet-wheel R; E, a distinct bell-lever, actuated by said pawl F and a striking-spring, a and carrying the bellhammer h, which strikes a gong-bell, G, after each unit is registered; and D, a swinging catch to prevent ringing the bell until the final act ofbringing theparts to rest after each registration, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7, and 8 of the drawings accompanying the said specification of our application filed October 23, 1880.

Our indicator mechanism which completes said improved register is located behind the dial-plate d, to the left of the bell G, and above the setting-slide J and bell-lever E, an oblong horizontal orifice, 0, being provided in the dialplate to expose the indicator or visual signal V. This indicator consists, for example, of a wooden parallelopiped, 0t sufficient length, covered with paperot' a color contrasting with that of the dial through which the orifice 0 is cut, and printed with the illustrative words Up and Down on alternate sides thereof, so that the same appear successively through the orifice 0 when the indicator is turned upon its longitudinal axis, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The indicator V is supported, by means of an axial pivot rod or shaft, Z, between the outer ends of apairof bearing-posts, a 1), springing from the back plate, '10, so that its axis is parallel to and close behind the dial-plate, as shown in Fig. 5.

A parallel roek-shaft, Y, is mounted behind the indicator in the bearing-post a and a short parallel bearing-post, c, the post]; being curved to elearthe bell and bell-hammer, and hence not available for this use. This rock-shaft has two lever-arms, l 411, made fast thereon in SllbShEllltially one and the same radial plane. The arm 1 projects normally in the path ofthe settin g-slide J, as shownin Fig. 3 and in full lines in Fig. 5. The arm at is constructed with a pivoted finger, and with a rigid finger, g, as shown most clearly in Figs. 4, 5, and 9, and a lanternpinion, 1;, and a stop-square, 2', are formed around the shaft Z, at the corresponding end of the indicator V, to coact with said fingers. At the other end of the indicator the shaft Zis pro vided with a collar, j, having V-notches in its periphery to receive a projection of corresponding shape at the extremity of a spring-detent, U, which is clamped at its other end to one of the studs, 0, on the frame of the setting-slide by means of a drilled hub and setscrew, as shown in Figs. 3 and S. The rock-shaft Y is extended through the post a to receive an arm, T, which has a drilled hub and set-screw for clamping it in position. The arm proper has a longitudinal recess in one side to accommodate the shank of a spring-finger, a, of elastic wire, which is secured therein atits inner end, so as to yield laterally, while itis substantially rigid in the direction of the movement of the arm, and the bell-lever E is provided with a projection, 0, having inclined and level surfaces to engage with said finger, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7. A spring, 8", and a stop-pin, 1', attached to the post a, coact with an extension of the arm T above the rock-shaft to return the several arms of the rock-shaft to their normal positions (represented in Figs. 3 and 4 and in full lines in Fig. 5) and to arrest and support them in these positions. By adjusting the arm T on the rock-shaft by means of its set-screw the presentation of the other armsmay be readily regulated. With the arms of the rock-shaft Y in said normal positions the setting-slide J, being also at rest, as shown in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Fig. 5, the registering mechanisms and the alarm mechanism areunobstructed and unburdcne'd, and the registeringoperation proceeds as illustrated by Fig. 1, and by the arrows 1, 2, 3, 4, 4 4., 5, 6, and 7, until a trip (the up trip, torillustration) is completed. The setting-key K (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5) is now inserted through the key-hole 7c in the sheet-metal drum of the case, and the trip-hand H is reset at zero, and the indicator V is simultaneously and by thesame means sett'or another trip, (down, for example,) as illustrated by full lines in Fig. 2, and in dotted lines in Fig. 5, and by the arrows S, S, 8, 9, and 10.

The operation of setting the trip-hand is fully described in the said specification of our Patent No. 231,161, hereinbefore referred to.

The operation of setting the indicator V is as follows: At each inward thrust of the key K (indicated by arrow 8) the sctting-slide J is pushed upward until arrested by its stops. During the first of these strokes the slide J comes in contact with the arm lot the rockshaft Y, and imparts to the various parts of the latter the movement indicated by arrow 9. The pivoted finger j, at the extremity of the arm at, is thus causedto coact with the pinion 19, so as to give the shaft Z of the indicator a one-fourth turn, (indicated by arrow 10.) At the completion of this movement the finger g comes in contact with one of the faces of the squared, and stops the indicator with its corresponding face parallel to the dial-plate. The said movement of the arm T causes the springfinger a to press against the inclined rear surface of the projection 6 until said finger springs over the laterally-projecting edge of the projection,so as to be caught by its fiat outer surface when the slide J recedes. The indicator mechanism, as represented in dotted lines in Fig. 5 and in full lines in Figs. 6 and 9, is thus locked, and remains locked during the remainder of the setting operation, offering no obstruction nor additional load to the settingslide. The special object of thus locking the indicator as soon as it is set is, however, to prevent the disarrangement thereof, which would otherwise occur in setting it by means of the said setting-slide J, or any substitute reciprocating setting device requiring an indefinite number of actuations (varying, in the case of said slide J, from one to three) to reset the trip-hand at zero.

The operation of unlocking the indicator V and restoring the parts of the rock-shaft Y to their normal positions preparatory to setting the former at its next indication at the end of the succeeding trip is illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, by Figs.6 to 9 inclusive, and by arrows 2, 4, 4 and 11. This is accomplished by the actuation of the alarm mechanism in the act of registering the first unit belonging to the new trip, so as to render the indicator mechanism at rest as quickly as possible, and to avoid burdening the main actuating mechanism. As the bell-lever E is tripped during the return-stroke of the main slide S, the projection e is carried from behind the spring-finger n, and the spring s immediately returns the parts of the rock-shaftYto the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 3and 4 and in full lines in Fig. 5. The parts are shown in Fig. 6 as they appear at an intermediate period of the said return-stroke of the main slide, (indicated by arrow2.) The springdetent U, coacting with the notched collar j, Fig. 8, continues to hold the indicatorV,opcrating to keep the same from turning under jars or jolting. The finger f is pivoted to allow it to recede during the return movement of the arm at, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig.9.

The alarm action illustrated byFig.6 is fully described, as aforesaid, in the specification of our application for patent filed October 23, 1880, to which we refer.

Arrow 12 indicates the next actuation of the indicator, bringing Up, in the example, again to the front, to be followed by Down at the end of the next trip, and so on.

The indicator mechanism herein described may be used without modification in our reg-. ister with attached setting-knob, as shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, of the drawings belongin g to our said application filed October23, 1880, and with immaterial modifications it mayreadily be adapted for embodiment in other registers having reciprocating setting devicessuch, for example, as those illustrated by Figs. 9 to 12 of said drawings belonging to our ap-- plication filed October 23, 1880.

In adapting the said indicator mechanism to different uses, the lettering on the indicator Vwill vary, as hereinbefore indicated, and said lettering may, in fact, be wholly omitted, different contrasting colors, for example, being well known substitutes therefor.

The shape of the indicator V, in cross-sec tion, may also be varied without departing from our invention. For example, said indicator may have but three sides, or more than four sides, or it may be cylindrical and where two indications are to be displayed in succession at each operation, instead of but one, as Free and Hired, or the like,-in a cab-register, the spring-detent U and spring 8", either or both, may be adapted, by well-known means, to impart the required additional movement to the indicator when it is unlocked at the beginning of the new trip.

We do not limit ourselves to details of mechanical construction not essential to the respective features and combinations hereinafter claimed. Neither do we claim, broadly, an indicator combined with setting mechanism, so as to be changed in the act of resetting a trip-hand or its equivalent at zero, such indicators being old-as shown, for example, in British Patents No. 1,217 of 1864c and No. 82 of 1870. Neither do we claim herein anything shown or described in our previous patents, or in our last previous application for patent aforesaid.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The rotary indicator V, arranged behind the dial-plate of the register, and adapted to turn on a horizontal axis parallel to said dialplate to display different indications successively through an orifice in said dial-plate, in combination with the rock-shaft Y, having the arm at, with fingersfg, and the rotary shaft Z, having the pinion o and stop-square 11 as means for turning said indicator.

2. The adjustable arm T, with its drilled hub and set-screw, and its extension above the rockshaft,in combination with the indicator-spring s" and stop-pin r, for regulating the presentation of the other arms of the rock-shaft Y, in the manner set forth.

8. The bell-lever E, provided with the projection 0, having inclined and bevel surfaces, as specified, in combination with the arm T, having the laterally-yielding spring finger n, for locking and unlocking the rock-shaft Y, in the manner set forth.

1. The combination, substantially as herein specified, of a trip register, a reciprocating device for resetting said register at the end of each trip, and an indicator mechanism adapted to be fully actuated to change the reading or indication of said indicator at the first stroke of said reciprocating setting device.

5. The combination, substantially as herein specified, of a tripregister, a reciprocating device for resetting said register at the end of each trip, an indicator mechanism adapted to be actuated by said setting device, and a 10ckdicator mechanism during the setting operaing device for preventing repeated actuations tion, and a main actuating device as means for of the indicator by said setting device during unlockingtheindicatormechanism, in the manthe individual setting operation. ner set forth. 5 6. The combination, substantially as herein specified, of a trip -register, a reciprocating device for resetting said register at the end of JNO. WV. FOWLER. DANIEL F. LEWIS.

each trip, an indicator mechanism adapted to l/Vitnesses: be actuated by said setting device, an alarm MONTGOMERY LINDSAY, 1o mechanism adapted to interlock with said in- I F. S. WARD.

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