.. __,. 

REF ID:A67811 

·Electrical Switching Mechanism 

This invention relates to a switching mechanism and proposes a 

mechanism of this character for q.utome:tJ.cally establishing and/or 

varying circuit co:cnections in a random order. 

As distinguished from the idea or performing switching operations 

in an orderly sequence, the present invention contemplates an opposite 

function and provides means to vary the circuit connections in an 

irregular, aperiodic or fortuitous manner, The invention contemplates 

an operation which affords opportunity for the laws or probability to 

function in establishing the variation in circuit connections, rather 

than an operation controlled by the usual laws of direct cause and effect. 

An object of this invention is to provide a means of selecting from 

a plurality of available electrical circuits a single circuit at random, 

which electrical circuit will be operative for a period of time, the 

length or which depends upon one or several variable factors. 

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for varying 

the speed of rotating bodies by means of a .friction drive mechanism 

working in conJunction with cam wheels of irregular outline and operativel.J' 

coordiuated with a differential gearing SJ"Stem for the purpose of opening 

and closing electrical circuits for varying periods of time. 

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in the 

nature of a fortuitously-operated device for selecting from a large 

assortment of punched cards, a random sample. 

A further object of the invention is to provide a device in the 

nature of a scrambling device for arranging in a purely random sequence, 

roved for Release b NSA on 09-05-2013 ursuant to E. 0. 1352 
I ,. 

REF ID:A67811 

a large number or punched cards origina.111 arranged according to a 

definite sequence, such as an alphabetical or numerical sequence. For 

example, in the well-known card-sorting machines employed in accounting 

or statistical work, the function or the machine is to arrange a large 

number or punched cards in a sequential order, such as alphabetical or 

numerical. In certain tJPeS of operations with punched cards it is often 

necessary to disarrange the cards so as to destrey the original sequential 

order and bring the cards into a purely rand.om order. However, once a 

large number or cards has been sequentiallf arranged, alIJ' attempts to 

destrey the- arrangement by shuffling the cards would be extremely' tedious 

and ma:D1' cards would be damaged. In the present invention, the device 

if operated in connection with an ordinaey card-sorting machine, would 

permit.of placing a sequential~-ordered batch or cards in the machine 

and taking out of it a purely fortuitously-ordered batch of cards. 

In order that the invention and its mode of application may be 

readily understood, there is disclosed in the accompan;ying drawing and 

in the detailed following description thereof, one form or embodiment or 

the invention. 

In the drawing, the single Figure shows in schematic form an apparatus for carrying out the invention. 

Referring to the drawing, l is a gear, driven by alJ1' prime mover 

such as a moter M; gear l meshes with the two gears 2 and 21 , having 

different numbers of teeth. Gear 2 is fixed to shaft 3 and drives the 

worm gear 4, which in turn, through the train or gears 5, '6, 7, drives 

shaft 8, on which is mounted cam 9 of irregular outline. Roller 10 rides 

on the periphery of cam 9 and serves to move lever 11, through a succession 

or angles which a.re determined by the depressions and elevations or cam 9. 

- 3 -
REF ID:A67811 

The free end of lever 11 is connected bf a pin 12 to a collar 13 which 

is free to slide up and down on shaft 3 but is independent of the latter 

in its rotation. The upper end of collar 13 presses agaJ.nst disk 14, 

which is also mounted on shaft 3 but, by a slot and bar arrangement, is 

driven by shaft 3. Spring 15 serves to keep the ass'embly 12, 13, and 14 

in place on the shaft 3 and also to cause the roller 10 to follow the 

outline of cam 9. Disk 14, by' frictional effect, drives wheel 16, keyed 

to shaft 17 so that as shaft 3 turns disk 14 turns and slides up and 

down against the face of wheel 16, causing shaft 17 to rotate at constantly 

vs.eying speeds as the roller 10 rides on the periphery of cam 9. On the 

shaft 17 is mounted the commutator gen~rally designated as 18 and a contact 

• wheel 19, provided with a plurality or contacts 20, connected in a random 

manner to the commutator rings 21, 22, 23, 24, 25. }Jesting against the 

I 

commutator rings are collectors 26, which are connected to conductors 27 

leading to individual circuits, which circuits may include al.\f conventional 

means or instrumentalities suggested schematically as at 33 for utilizing 

the randomizing function of the present invention. 

The action of the members 2 to 17 inclusive is the same as that of 

the members 21 to 171 • Shaft 171 rotates switch arm 30, carrying brush .31 

which sweeps over the contacts 20 as it rotates. The commutator assemblJ' 

which essentially comprises commutator 18 and its associated parts, includ.-

ing contact wheel 19, Jll8.1' be regarded as one component of a switching device, 

while switch arm .30 carrying brush .31 may be regarded as the other component 

of said switching device. Brush 31 is connected to the common return 

conductor 32 for the circuits R1, R2, R

3

, R

4

, R

5 to which conductors 27 

lead. Since wheel 19 and brush arm 30 rotate in different directions and 

at constantly varying speeds, the circuits Rl' R2, R

3

, R

4

, and R

5 are 

- 4 -
------------------- -

REF ID:A67811 

selected in the or.d.er or the contacts 20 on wheel 19, but each circuit 

is operative for a different interval or time. 

In the drawing, specific mechanical principles a.re shown for effecting the movements of the various parts or the apparatus. However, these 

are shown only for the purpose of' demonstration or the principles incorporated in this invention, and it is pointed out that allJ other mechanical 

means for varying the angular velocity of' the commutator 18 rotating with 

contact ~isk 19 and the contact arm 39, either separately or conjointly, 

will effect the result desired. It is also pointed out that, while five 

commutator rings are depicted in the drawing, any number ma.7 be used, 

and that the number of contacts on the face of the disk 19 may be equal 

to the number or contact rings or greater by a:rJ7 practicable number. It 

will also be noted that cams 9 aDd 91 are intended to be detachable and 

interchangeable, means being shown in the drawing to facilitate removal 

for that purpose, or to permit substitution of other cams or different 

shape. 

Changes, modifications and equivalent arrangements are contemplated 

within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims: 

6. In a mechanism of' the character described, a pair of' rotating 

bodies associated f'or operative movement relative to one another; friction 

drives arranged to move said bodies independently; and means including a 

system of' differential gearing and cams or irregular contours operativel.7 

coordinated with said gearing aDd with each of said drives individually 

to effect aperiodic movement of said bodies relative to one another. 

7. A mechanism of' the character described for controlling the 

operation of an electrical system, comprising a rotatable commutator 

provided with contact elements and a rotatable switching device operable 

with said elements for establishing a plurallt7 or circuit connections; 

- 5 -
REF ID:A67811 

and means to effect a random operation of said system comprising gearing 

for driving said commutator and said switching device independently, and 

means for differentially controlling the operation of the gearing. 

8. A combination according to claim 7, in which the last named 

means includes cams of' irregular contours llldl.vidually' operable with said 

gearing. 

9. A combl.nation according to claim 7, in which the last named 

means includes cams of different irregular eontours. 

10. A switching mechanism comprising in combination, a rotatable 

commutator provided with contact elements and a rotatable aonductor operable 

with said elements for establishing a plurality of' circuit connections; 

friction drives for operating said commutator and said conductor independently; and means including differential gearing, and cams or irregular 

contours operatively coordinated with said gearing and individually with 

each of said drives to vary the circuit connections aperiodically and in 

a random order. 

11. A randomizing switching mechanism of the character described, 

comprising a rotatable commutator provided with a plurality of contact 

elements and a rotatable conductor operable with said elements for establishing a plurality of circui.t connections; and means f'or continuously and 

irregularly changing the relative speed of' said commutator and said conductor to vary the circuit connections aperiodically, said means including 

a friction drive operative with the commutator and conductor individually, 

cams of irregular contours operatively coordinated with each drive ind.apendently, and gearing for actuating the cams differentially. 

' 12. A mecham.sm for controlling the operation of an electrical 

system, comprising relativel.¥ rotatable switching devices provided with 

cooperating contact elements for establishing a plurality of circuit con-

- 6 -
• 

REF ID:A67811 

nections; and means for continuously and aperiodically varying the relative 

speed of rotation of said switching devices to effect random permutations 

of the circuit connections, said means comprising change speed drives individually operative with said switching devices, interchangeable cams 

of different irregular contours independently operative with said drives, 

and a differential gearing system for operating the cams and drives in 

opposing relation. 

13. A mechanism ot the character described, comprising a set ot 

switching devices provided with movable contacts for establishing a 

plurality of circuit connections; and means for varying the relation between 

said contacts in a random order. 

J.4,. A mechanism of the character described, comprising switching 

components movable relative to each other and provided with contacts for 

establishing a plurality of circuit connections; and means including 

cams of irregular contours operative with each component for varJ"ing the 

relation of the contacts in a random order. 

15. A switching mechanism comprising rotatable components, each 

provided with operatively related contact elements, and one of said 

components including a plurality of commutator rings having its contact 

elements electrically connected in random order; and means for rotating 

said components in opposing relation for varying the connection between 

contact elements of the respective components aperiodicalq. 

16. A switching device comprising components provided witlf electrical 

contacts, said components being rotatable with respect to each dber for 

establishing a plurality of circuit connections; a friction drive mechanism 

for each of said components, and including means for independently and 

differentially operating said mechanisms to vary the circuit connections 

in a random order. 

-7-
REF ID:A67811 

17. A Bwitching mechanism, comprising relatively movable components 

provided with contacts for establishing a plurality of different circuit 

connections; means for varying the circuit connections, comprising frictional 

drive mechanisms operable independently with said components; am means for 

changing the rate of movement of said mechanisms for randomizing the circuit 

controlling operation of the contacts. 

18. A mechanism of the character described comprising a set of switching devices provided with movable contacts for establishing intermittent 

circuit connections; and means including slipping friction drive elements 

for varying the rate of movement of said devices in respect to the time 

interval between the successive operations of any given circuit. 

19. A switching device comprising components provided with electrical 

contacts, said components being movably associated for establishing intermittent circuit connections; and means for varying the relative rate of 

movement of said components independentl7 and differentie.11.y to change the 

time interval between circuit controlling operations of any given circuit. 

20. A switching mechanism comprising relativel7 movable components, 

proyided with electrical contacts for establishing intermittent circuit 

connections; means for varying said connections, including differential slipdisk driving 67Stems operable with each of said components for randomizing 

the intervals of time between successive operations of any given circuit. 

21. A switching mechanism comprising relativel7 movable components, 

provided with operatively associated contact elements, one of said components 

having its elements arranged in any- order; and means for moving said components 

relative to each other wherebJ' the time interval between the opening and 

closing operation of any given circuit is varied aperiodically. 

- 8 -
------------------- - - -

• REF ID:A67811 • 

22. A Siil. tching mechanism comprising rota table components, each 

provided with operatively related contact elements, and one of said components 

having its contact elements electrically connected in a fortuitous order; 

and means for varying the relative rate of movement of said components for 

intermittently and aperiodically effecting the operation of any given circuit • . 23. In a mechanism of the character described, complemental switching 

devices each provided with electrical contacts, one of said devices haiing 

its contacts spaced at irregular intervals with respect to each other am 

electrically interrelated for establishing a plurality of circuit connections; 

and means for independently and differentially operating said devices whereby 

the contacts are caused to effect circuit connections at varying time intervals. 

-9-