USRE1258E - Improved mode of-collecting fares on street-railway cars - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES J. H. DENNIS, F LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMRROVED MODE OFCOLLECTING FARESON STREETI-VRAILWAYCARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 2,924, dated December 17, 1861; Reissue No. 1,258, dated January 14, 1862.

To all whom 'it 'may concern:

Be 'it known that I, J H; DENNIS, of Louisville, in the county 'of Jei'erson and-Statelof Kentucky, have invented a new and improved mode of collecting fares on street railroad cars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same,`referenee being had to the accompnnying drawing, making-a partof this specification, and being a vertical longitudinal section of a car embodying my improvement.

Thenature of this invention consists in an improved construction of street-railroad cars, whereby the necessity for a collector as inde` .pendent from the driyer is entirely obviated, and yet all the conveniences of the platform 4for entering the car are preserved, neither the driver` lnor the passengers being inconvenienced by the arrangement.

-In the drawing, A represents the platform of the car which the driver occupies, by whom the passengers are compelled to pass, Vthere being no other entrance to the car. B represents a platformless rear with door for egress only. C represents the strap or cord fastened to thc rear door, (if there be one,) passing thence through-the interior of the car and connecting with, but detachablc'from the bell or gong D in front. E represents a fare-box, which, if used, maybe placed in any convenient position. n

When a passen nrer enters one ot` these cars, which he can oily do by the platform in front, he passes necessarily by the driverwho collects the fare; or, if afare-box be used, sees that the passenger deposits the fare therein. z When a passenger desires to leage he car, he pulls the strap or cord attached to ebell or gong, causing it to n'ng or,strike,vwhen the car is stopped, and, if there be--a rear door, the driver, by detaching the strap from they gon g, permits it to be opened by the passenger, who .passes out, wh en, by pulling the strap and attaching it tothe gong, the driver shuts the door, which cannot be opened until the strep is again detached there being no means 'Provided for opening the door from the ont- .Iide. Itno strap or cord be used, or if it be not attached to the rear door, thenthe latter must be'seltshutting and openable' only fromV within. The car,.when a terminus'is reached, may be reversed or tn rneded for end .upon

i Witnesses its own truck, or upon a turn-table, or otherwise.

I am aware that upon omnibuses and .other ordinary vehicles the driver usually acts also as collector, either by meai'is of a fare box or otherwise.l Y

h I am also aware that cars have been constructed which partially accomplish the same result, but not without great inconvenience both to the driver and passengers; but I am no taware that a street-railway car has ever before been constructed or` suggested which compelled the passen ger to enter only in front,

thereby enabling the driver to col-lect without being compelled under any circumstances to stop his car while doi gso, and retainingl at the same time all th L conveniences to the passenger of the platform for entering the car. i

In the improvement I have invented and described above the necessity that frequently arises 4for making change for the passenger to enable him to pay his fare is attended with no inconvenience or delay, as the car may be started as.soon as the vpassenger gets upon the platform, and continued evenin rapid motion vduring the whole t-imethat the driver is furnishing the necessary change. Nor can the passenger, as is often attempted,

elude or avoid paying his fare, as in entering v the car he is brought immediately face to face with the driver, who at once collects it or sees that it is deposited. I thus, without objection of any sortY whatever, accomplish the saving of the cost of a collector,.whicl1 is usually at least twentytlve 'per cent. ofl the entire run ningl expenses of the car.

Having thus described my invention, what I Patent, is-

As an improvement in street-,railroad cars, the combination of the piatformless rear, either withouta door' or' with one-for exit only with theA platform and door in front, whereby all persons entering the car' being compelled to I claim as new, and desire'to secure by Letters pass the driver he can' without inconvenienceact as collector or oversee the deposit of their fares.-

` J. H. DENNIS'.v

Oeuvres KNIGHT, y L. W. BENDR.'

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