Taximeter arrangement with exchangeable control unit

Claim 2

Taximeter arrangement comprising at least distance measuring means, time measuring means, fare calculating means, indicating means and control means having a plurality of operational conditions for controlling the cooperation between said distance and time measuring and said calculating and indicating means, said control means consisting of input means undetaChably connected to at least part of said distance and time measuring means and of said calculating and indicating means, and of output means and manual operating means designed as a separate unit to be connected and disconnected from said input means, said output means serving to transmit any control operations of said manual operating means to said input means of said control means.

Claim 3

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein said distance and time measuring means, said calculating and indicating means and said input means of said control means are mounted in a housing having an opening and wherein said output means and said manual operating means of said control means are mounted in a casing adapted to be removably mounted in said opening of said housing means. 3. Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 2, wherein said output means of said control means consist of a plurality of output contact means correlated to a plurality of conditions for functioning and adapted to be operated by said manual operating means, said input means of said control means consisting of a plurality of input contact means mounted adjacent said opening in said housing, said output contact means engaging said input contact means when said casing is located in said opening of said housing means.

Claim 4

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual operating means include a turnable taxi flag, and cam means operated by said flag to operate said plurality of output contact means.

Claim 5

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual operating means include a manually operated turnable knob, and cam means operated by said knob to operate said plurality of output contact means.

Claim 6

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual operating means include a plurality of manually operated pushbuttons for operating said plurality of output contact means, respectively.

Claim 7

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein one of said pluralities of contact means includes a plurality of plug means, and the other plurality of contact means includes a plurality of socket means, and wherein said plug means are located in said socket means, when said casing is mounted in said opening of said housing.

Claim 8

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein each plug means include a set of plugs fixedly mounted on said casing projecting from the same from the rear wall thereof, wherein each socket means includes a set of sockets fixedly mounted on said housing means.

Claim 9

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said contact means includes a set of contacts wherein each of said output contact means includes a set of output contacts; and wherein said manual operating means has a plurality of positions for connecting said sets of switches with said sets of output contacts, respectively.

Claim 10

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual operating means includes a shaft mounted in said casing, a plurality of cams secured to said shaft, a manually operated member secured to said shaft for stepwise turning the same with said cams; wherein said contact means are operated by said cams, respectively, in different positions of said shaft and manually operated member; wherein each contact means includes a set of cooperating contacts; and wherein each output contact means includes a set of output contacts connected with said contacts of a corresponding set, respectively.

Claim 11

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said input means includes a control shaft having a plurality of control cams for controlling various conditions, respectively, a motor for rotating said control shaft stepwise so as to render said cams successively operative, and a rotary switch including a plurality of stationary contacts, and a rotary switch arm driven by said shaft, said stationary contacts being connected with said input contact means, respectively.

Claim 12

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said taximeter apparatus includes a reversing control cam driven by said motor, reversing control switch means operated by said reversing control cam, and relay means controlled by said reversing control switch means so as to permit reversal of said shaft and motor only in selected positions of said cam shaft and cams.

Claim 13

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual operating means include a plurality of manually operated pushbuttons for operating said plurality of switch means, respectively; wherein each of said pushbuttons includes a cover movable between an open position and a closed position, and a lamp under said cover for illuminating said cover in the depressed condition of the respective pushbutton.

Claim 14

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said manual operating means include a plurality of manual pushbuttons for operating said plurality of switch means, respectively; wherein each pushbutton has a stem moving along a path when the respective pushbutton is depressed; and wherein each switch means includes a set of cooperating switches, said sets being located in said paths, respectively, for operation by said pushbuttons, respectively.

Claim 15

Taximeter arrangement comprising taximeter apparatus having a plurality of different conditions for functioning differently, and including control circuit means for placing said apparatus in any one of said conditions and having a plurality of input contact means correlated with said conditions, respectively; housing means for said taximeter apparatus having an opening, and adjacent said opening guiding and holding means, said housing means supporting said input contact means inward of said opening; and a plurality of different control units, each including a casing fitting into said guiding and holding means in an operative position in which said casing is located in said opening, different manual operating means mounted on said casing outside of the same and located outside of said housing means in said operative position of said casing, a plurality of switch means in said casing controlled by said manual operating means, and a plurality of output contact means connected with said switch means and mounted on said casing outside of the same for engaging said input contact means, respectively, in said operative position so that each of said control units with the respective casing can be selectively inserted through said opening into said housing and positioned in said operative position for placing under control of the respective manual operating means, said taximeter apparatus in a selected condition of said conditions.

Claim 16

Taximeter arrangement comprising taximeter apparatus having a plurality of different conditions for functioning differently, and including control circuit means for placing said apparatus in any one of said conditions and having a plurality of input contact means correlated with said conditions, respectively; housing means for said taximeter apparatus having an opening, and adjacent said opening guiding and holding means, said housing means supporting said input contact means inward of said opening; and a plurality of different control units, each including a casing fitting into said guiding and holding means in an operative position in which said casing is located in said opening, different manual operating means mounted on said casing outside of the same and located outside of said housing means in said operative position of said casing, a plurality of switch means in said casing controlled by said manual operating means, and a plurality of output contact means connected with said switch means and mounted on said casing outside of the same for engaging said input contact means, respectively, in said operative position so that each of said control units with the respective casing can be selectively inserted through said opening into said housing and positioned in said operative position for placing under control of the respective manual operating means, said taximeter apparatus in a selected condition of said conditions.

Claim 17

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 15 wherein said plurality of input contact means includes a plurality of socket means mounted on said housing; and wherein said plurality of output contact means of each of said control units includes a plurality of plug means; and wherein said plug means of the control unit which is in said operative position are located in said socket means.

Claim 18

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 15 wherein said housing means has a front wall forming said opening; and wherein said casing of each control unit has a shoulder abutting said front wall adjacent said opening when the respective control unit is in said operative position.

Claim 19

Taximeter arrangement as claimed in claim 15 wherein said manual operating means of one of said control units includes a plurality of pushbuttons for operating said switch means; and wherein said manual operating means of another unit of said selector units includes a manually turnable member and a cam shaft secured to the same for operating said switch means.