REF ID:A67820 

Confidential 

Th1r1 b•,.eHUOD rtilntes tu 1 tiril-'rP..l to el1ttt\rlo&l BJP.teme 1n wh1oh 

are 1noorporAtfl'd a pl1lra.l1 ty of tlrr.uti:a, Nld. contt.'ftl]>latea 'tJ)e prov1o10D 

or tllBChanilll tor var1lng the electricAl contlrmltle1 ~nd clrcult relatloae 

Of 8UCh a 81Rt8lll ID Rn lrregttlf\r or nprriodic llP.JlftYr. 

A.e dh1..iut,"Ui11hvd frow thu 1dee of con'lroll ill& the proces1ree or the 

•:mt:P111 lu N".L or<lerl) sequence, the pral1ent invention h&u t110 opposite tuaot,011 r:-,r'J proposes 1•1Ja11s 1.o randomise the opera.L1one or &W:h a u1e'\.em. 

:Ln o'bJ9r.t or tbla 1r.H.,t \on ls to pro Tide a 1D&ane of selecting 

trom a plure.Ut7 of 1na.UablP. eb1otrica1 clrc11l ti a alngle clrouU at 

randam, whic~ eloctrlc~l nirouit will ba operatl~ rnr a parlo4 ot , ..... , 

the ltme;th of whlcb depends upon one or l&Taral. ~r1able taotor1. 

Anotb•r obJeot of thi• 1n'l'8nt1on la to proYlda apparatu• tor ~arilne 

1h• apeel of rotating bo4lea bJ lll8Rn8 or a tr1ot1on 4r1.,. mechanlma workiJIS 

t.n aonJunct1on wl'th c1M Vlhi?ela or lrragullLr outline and oparatlwl.J' aoord.1-

na.ted with a. diff'erential gee.1•1111 B.i ate1:i tor tt.a pu.rpoee or opening ancl 

oloaing e1eatr1aa1 olrcuita tor YfU'J1n& period• or time. 

A tDrther obJect of thla 1nv•nt1on to to provide a 4eT1ce, to be 

u1a4 in oonnoctlon with or ~e ~n attachment tor, a 1orting 4eT1ce, l'\JOb 

a1 a aard 1orting davtoe, for &•lecting from an. &P.aortrnant ot puncha4 ae.r411 

a .. , or card• •hloh ~re oho~•n nt rsndom troA the baalc aatortment. 

2 

!Declassified and approved for release by NSA on 09-05-2013 pursuant to E. 0. 1352§ 
REF ID:A67820 

In order that the 1nTen,1on and lta mo4a of appl1oat1on ..., be 

rea.4111 unduretooa, thft'ta le diecloeed ln tba noaonrp8D11ng 4ruing ancl 

ln the detAiled tollo•lag deacrtptlon \hlYl'eor, one Corm or ••bo41ment ot 

the \nwntlon. 

In the drawing, the single 118'1U'tl llhowe S.n echema.tto i'ora 

an appr11tu11 tor carrylJJB out the ln-rention • 

nef'errl'V! to tbf! drt\W\nr,, 1 hi " er"r, <li·t v"n b) nrq 'Prime mowr 

llUO'h ,,_, "' "!\Otar M s gen.r 1 me1hoa wl 1ih 1ihe two gaA.ra 2 &nd 2', lun.111g 

tUfferent nmbers of' teeth. GeftZ' 2 la ti.sad to ahBf'\ 2S and clri Tea the 

•oM par 4, which in turn, through the train ot ff8'1r1 6 1 6, 7, 4r1"f&8 

ellatt a, on whloh 1• mounted o• 9 or lrresular outline. Roller 10 

ri0..1 on the parlphal'J or oam 9 and. Hl"r•• to moft lewr 111 'lhro'Qgh a 

nooeaalon of aDBl•• which are de\ermlned "Di the depl'IHiona and eleatlOll8 

ot aaa 9. 'the ~· and or lo~er ll l~ oonnacted b) a pin l2 to a aollar 

l:S wbloh la tree '\o elide up and uown un shuf't Z bu' 11 1114ependent of 

the i ... u .. r tn \ts rote:tton. '!he upp .. 1· er1d or oollar 13 pre••• IR£111nn 

ell* 14, wblch 1• alao mounted on shaft 3 but, b7 a 1110\ and bar arrangeaenti, 1• drUen by shaft J. Spring 16 eal''Na to keep tile R.aaembl;, 12, 

13, an4 1• ln place on tbe •bat' Z and alao to ORU•• 'he roller 10 to 

follow the outline ot oam 9. Diak l'• bJ triotlonal erreot, drl~•• wheel 

16, n1•4 to Bhatt 17 10 1ihat RI ebn.tt I t1ll'll8 dlak 14' \urna an4 .ua... 

up l\JJ4 down GG"lnn' the fAoe of wheel 161 ORusing Bhatt 17 'o rotate at 

conotAn.tlJ ·m:rylng epee41 a.a the roller 10 r1dae on the per1pber1 of o• 

9. On thEI shaft 1'7 1• mounted the coawutator t:~nuunll:r dealgnatad a.a 11 

I 
I .. • .. '.)- • - . ID:A67820 ' 

an4 a ooniao' whe•l 19, 'rodded with a plun.11~7 ot aon'\ao'\a ZO, 

ooaneot•d in a random •murr to '\ha o-.utator 11.ngei 21, 22, 23, 84., 

16. •n1ng against the c.-a:t&'\O'f rln&I are oollector• 16• whioh .. A 

conneo'\ed to aonduotore 2f leading 'o la4111diial c1rcui:h, whicb cirouit• ay inolude any oonTan'Uonal •m• or lnstrwaenU.11'161 auggeete4-

aohtllatlc•ll1 &• .t 33 for ut111a1ng the ra.ndoa1•1DC f\ino~1oa ot \he 

~' action of the 111811bera 2 to lf 1nolu1'ie i• the ea• aa 

'\hat of the aui'bert I' ~o u•. Shatt lf' l"Otate• twi tcb ana so, aarrylllC bru•b 31 which eweepe O'tel' tbl eoQ.,&Ctt IO •• 1'\ rotate•. Bru.1b 

10 1• oenneot•4 '\o the ODllllOn return oon4~tor 12 for the oil'OU!t• 

1t1, •2· ll3. 141 lle are ael•ot•d in the order ot t'M contao"\a ao 

on wheel 19, lN.t 1aeb circuit 18 operative tor a ditterant ln'\U'l'al ot 

tt•. 

In the draw111«, .,.aitio 11111obanioal pr1neitl•• are shown 

tor effecting tbe l&O'Ya.e•t• ot the "f'&l'lOU p&rte of the ap'oe.ra.tus. loweTer, these sr• abow'n only tor the purp0 .. Qt deaonetr~tioa ot the prinaipl•• inoo!'pOl'atet in tbl• invention, sad. tt l• peint•4 ou' tb&t ~ 

otller •ohu.ioal mean.a tor ftl'Jlna 'iM ancul•r 'Mlocit:r ot the oomm\a1;or 

lt rota\S.ng wit-h contac'\ &ilk: l9 &n4 th• oontaot a.a H, either •Pare.t•J.7 

or oonJointl7, •111 etteot the r•hJ.t ••mtr.... lt 1• e.lao pointed ouii 

'\~ti. •hilt f1T• oomu'U~or ring• •r• O.epioted in th• drawing. ~ n--

Ml" JMJ:1 'M uaed., aD4 thll\ ;M mmoer- or contaot1 on ~ t&041 of the 

- .-

• • 
·-

.F ID:A67820 

' 

llak 19 atQ" be sq,•l '\o the maber of co11~t ring• or grea:\er bJ aai 

prao\io&\l• malaer. I'\ •111 s.lt10 be ROtat \bat OllU 9 a.ad 9' are 

lntea~•• to lie 4eU.cbe.'bl• and 1c,ero..,..~>.a .. mean• 'being shOlfll ia 

the drawing \o tao1l1 i.a'9 ~m&o"'tftl tc1· that purpoee. or to pt'ralt · 

trC1.ltwtt\11.t1on ot other o ... of different aba19. 

'99.B\9!19l&t•4 Wi,hi• ~h• 1'COP• of the ln•~'10D •• 4•f1JW4 bj tbe 

aJPBnde4 cl•lm• t 

... . 

I -- ~ .................. - -. ...... 
.. _., .. 

...,;: -t ·'~":. 

~ 

... 

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~ .. • REF ID :A67820 ' 

l'e olala I 

1. In n •ohanhm at tl1e ohnrAOter deeoribud tor controlllJJC a 

eleot11le olroui t qet•1 a ,.... ot 8Witoh:tnc 4•1'1C• ha'f'l• llOW..1'1• ooza-

.. t1JW •l81118nt1 tor e1tab11•b1AJ e. Plut&liiJ Gt clrcui'tf ntl&tione J an4 

Mana tor ft.l"~ing tbe relation between said element• -to etteot a. rllll4ca · 

i. A meehaa1• of the Cb"1"Mt•J' ie•UiW, COlllP1'1dite a wirlnc. 

•1•tea and lnc1udl11g tblreln a .. t at •U_.~ cteno•• proYid•4 with 

aooble contacts tor eetia'bllsllbg & plwallt7 ot ot.routt oonmottona a 

and ••an• for ohftlll'1DB tb• n~~uoa wtw•n •14 contact• tor Tar71ltl' 

pr1o4• ot time to ott•ct a l'UJ.40ll opera.Uoa or the •71tem. _ 'I 

I. In a mecba.n1• tor rM40ll1•1W tba operation ot Ni eleotrioal s1•t1m1 a eet ot .. 1tohlng 4aTloe1 proTide4 •1th relat1Y&lJ 

llO'lllbl• oontaot e1eaent• tor eat8,11•hiac a plur&11t7 of o1:rcui~ ntla'\tou in eaid. Q•te111 and. ••• for oontlnDOWtlJ and &}>9r1od1oallJ Y&r7-

tiW tlw relation between. •14 •l••b• 

> 

clt••it e1atem OOJ11prllills IW!,~hlne deTloes -prOTlded With eleotr1""1. 

eontaete. snid de'dcee be1Dff rota.table with reepgot to eaoh utile.I' tor 

establishing a plv.ralit7 of clrouit oonnaotiol18 1 a tr1ot1GR 41'1111 .. ohea1ta 

• tDr eMl4 ot .... 1~ feltc••• ftinc\ inclllllbe ~·• ~o:r 4-1ti>en~ep.tl7 u4_ ,S.fteJ"- , . eatiall.J o:pera~lnc .aid aeehaal... to etteot a raa4am 1P9:ratlo• ot tJaa 

•l•o,rieal 17stea • 

..-. 
·~· ... 

a ' > <• 

ID:A67820 ' 

5. !lean• for rl'Ul40llt•ing the oont1nal~lea or ~ •l~ctr1aal 11attia_ 

co·:i1rh1nt; A..'l •rn.na•ont. ot otrcuit• iaalwUng a •' of nlat.1""1,J 

.. ~'Ille .. 1'4lhing cleYloea pro~lde4 w1\b coo.tflc'• tor .. ,abl181atlt8 & 

' -vali tJ et different o1rVQ1 \ oonnect 1oU t Mena tor ft?'J!lllC tba 

etrn.U oomaeotiou. CIOllQ'Jr181111' fl'lo,1..i dJ'lw aeoMn.1- operaltle 

1Ja411.»adellti11Wi 'la aa.14 •1 toblJ26 d.niae•1 anct m.&&&1a tol" c~12Jt: \la 

rate of llOY'ftlnen'\ or nt4 aechantaa to •ffec\ a nadca open.\l• ot 

. 'badi•• ae1oc1ated tor ope:rattw mo'fMflsit ra1n.t.1,. tn ane aaother1 tr1Ct1oa 

bl•• arranged to ao-te '"14 bocll•• tnclependen'\17; and mean• lnol'Udlag a 

s.r•tea ot 411'terential ~ng Nld ca.:t• at irregal&r contoura opera tl nll' 

ooori1nau4 w1"h ea14 partng Md with eaob of al\14 4l'1WI .lll41T14•111' 

'· A mocnaniam or tb9 chnr'!.cter del'cr1bed ror contl"Olllng the 

oporaUon ot n.n aleotrical 111•tea. eoapriBlug "' rot&\a\1• •-•tor 

pro'9ide4 wl th contr..ct eleMatt aft4 • ro·ht"ltle nltchlng 4enoe operaUe 

•l•• aatd •l ... ata tor ••t~'l1•h1DfE a plur&l1t1 or oirculi ooB!Hlcttoaa 1 

ud. llMll• ~o 1fteo'\ e. randlJa epero.tian of ... 1t ..,.,.._ onprlBlJll par11111 

tor 4ri~1DS' eai4 conwmit~tor anG ~,14 &•ltcbtne de~ioa 11\de~end.en\lJ, a.n4 

~A• tcr ditt•r•n~ial~ controlling the operation. of "lte aaariDg. 

e. A eoulDaUon according \o cl.ala 7, ln •h1oh the la•• __,, 

MMI iaclude• !JRll• o_t trr.iRr contoua J.JM\1Y14-117 opcm.bl• w1tb eal4 .. " .. - .. f - ... -, ... -. 
" .. • !: ... 

.FEF ID:A67820 • 

I. .a. oomblnat1on. ueor4.1ng 'o olala Y • 1n which the laet U814 

••• lne1114•• o•• ot ditferent i:rre«'IJ.1.r •m,oure. 

10. la a anbaa1• tor ran4oala1ng t1'e operation ot an electr1c&l 

•1•, ... ln ooablnatlon. & roiatabl• o~tator pro9ide4 with ooatao't 

•1-•'• u.4 a rotatable oollduotor operable ws.•• Mid. •leMnta tor .... 

ta\ll9'1M a plval1t7 of oi:rovJ.' oonnaet1ou1 trtoUoa 4r1w• for 01erat1ac 1a14 a-tator and eatd. eoad•tor la4•pen4•'17J aJll\ 119ana inel'\lll.lnc 

4ifterellt1t.J. patag, tad oimt ot lrncutar ao•"t)l11'S opere.tiTelJ coor41na:tel. 

wt 'h a.li geui:nc an4 1D4i 'fi4u111 *Uh •aoh of •14 bi ff• to 'Yll.17 the 

• 

11. A random.bing maol&anl• ot tbe uarao,er 4l•aorl'b•4• •GW1Pri1D1 

a rot&talll• OOlll!l\lt•11or pro'tt4•4 with a Jlve.U- ot oon1ieot •1 ... nt• n.n4 

a rota'8bl• oondumtor opelt&•l• with aali •1 ... ate tor ••t~bliehilli: a »lur-

•11t7 ot oircul~ oOllliectloa• i and aaea1 tor con\inuoual)o ~nd lrregal~r11 

ohuginc ~h• relatt .,. •""·of '"'id coma·ts.tor "n4 s~:ld ooDd.uetor to w.~ ' 

the o11'G'ait <1ozmeoU•n11 &J>•rto~Uoally, •&id mean• Snolilding a trlot iOD clriw 

ope.-atift wUb the dGml!N.tBtor arid coll4\1Ctor in41dC1'\&ll7, onna1 ot il'18gul.r 

Mn\o.e 0Jet'&t!.Tel1 ooord1nati94 wltb •~ iOl'l'" la4epentent17, an4 pal:ing 

tor aotaatlng the oaa. 41tterent1allJ• 

l!. P. neohanhm for cnntrolling th• open'tion or A.n ftlectrica.1 

111tea, Ct11Jr1~illg relati~l7 rotntable .. ,,oh!'ng de'tieee pro•ided with 

ooopera'tng aoataot •l•ent• tor aetabli•king a plura.llt1 or ctrcm:t con• 

... ,1 .. , ad ••• tor hn'tinuou.•17 an4 aperlo4loe.1l:1 'ml7ill&' the relsti 19 

' , ., ";. ' .. r' 

"~-·-a-- ft 0 
•' 

.A 

~ ... · 

'l J .,._ ( _. ~ 

.....,,. ,.F ID:A67820 • ) . . . • 

... 

. "tl'le9d ot rot~tion ~f ea14 1Wl~cht115 4••1eee to ef!ac~ randoapel'llU,fttlCIDll 

ol tM- 01rou1' oonneottons. aal4 MlllU COIQl'ieing change a_pee4 vlwa S.-

t19t.••111 GJ)arJ\.t1 ft With 8&14 A 1 ti::'hl.nc d•Yie9Se interchauceable _... Of 

tittered lrN&t\llar aeatour• 1~entl1 o.-r•'1Ye •ltb sa14 viw• .. ..a 

a tU'tarent1Jt.1 pa.rtnc &)·ot• for apett '1111 the caae a..dd. d1"1vee ill oppffi .. 

... .."' .. ' ' . ~ - I ,. ( ~( "' __ ..... '" ".,. . - . 
-'C ~ ... .. . _. "f-:" ...... ... ;:" "' ...... !JI. .. ,. 

0 

g 

6 

REF ID:A67820 • 

ATTORIVcYs 
,< REF ID:A6782°9 

This invention relates in general to electrical devices in which are 

incorporated a p_lurallty of circuits, and in particular to any sorting device for 

punched cards using an electric circuit for the zoning of a particular card. 

It has for its object the provision: of apparatus and means for automatically 

arranging a large set of punched cards in a purely arbitrary or random order. 

A further object of this invention is to provide a device, to be used in 

connection with a sorting device~ for selecting from an assortment of punched 

cards, a set of cards which are chosen at random from the basic assortment. 

A further 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 of 

which depends upon one or several variable factors. 

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus for varying 

the speed of a rotating shaft by means of a friction drive working in conjunction 

with a cam wheel of irregular outline for the purpose of opening and closing 

electrical circuits for varying periods of time. 

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

understood, there is set forth in the accompanying drawing and in the detailed 

followi.Dg description thereof, a specific embodiment of one form of the 

invention. 

Referring to Figure 1, which is a schematic diagram, 1 is a gear, driven 

by a motor or cloc' spring mechanism, not shown in the drawing; gear 1 meshes 
REF ID:A6782-

with the two gears 2 and 2', having different numbers of teeth. Gear 2 is 

fixed to shaft 3 and drives the worm gear 4, which in turn, through the train 

of 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 ll, through a 

succession of angles which are determined by the depressions and elevations of 

cam 9;. The free end of leyer 11 is connected by a pin 12 to a collar 1.3 which . . 

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

rotationo The upper end of collar 13 presses against disk 1.4,·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 assembly 12, 13, and 1.4 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 do\vn against the face of wheel 16, causing 

shaft 17 to rotate at constantly varying speeds as the roller 10 rides on the 

periphery of cam 9. On the shaft 17 is mounted c0mmutator 18 and a contact 

bearing wheel 19, carrying a circle of contacts, 20 connected in a random 

manner to the commutator rings 21, 22, 23, 24, 25• Resting against the commute.-

tor rings are collectors 26, which are connected to conductors 27 leading to 

individual circuits. 

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

members 2• to 17 1 • Shaft 17 1 rotates brush arm 30, carrying bruch 31 which 

sweeps over the contacts 20 as it rotates. Brush 30 is connected to the common 

~ -2- r. 
REF ID:A6782. 

return conductor 32 for the circuits 11_, ~, ~, R41 R5 to which conductors 27 

lead. 

Since wheel 19 and brush arm 30 rotate in different directions and at 

constantly varying speeds the circuits Ri.' R.:2, ~, R4, Rs are selected in 

the order of the contacts 20 on wheel 19, but each circuit is operative for 

a different interval of time. 

In the drawing of Figure 1 specific mechanical principles are shown 

for effecting the movements of the various parts of the drawing. However, 

these are shown only for the purpose of demonstration of the principles 

incorporated in this invention, and it is pointed out that any other mechanical 

means for varying the angular velocit;y of the disk 19 and the contact arm .30, 

either separately or conjointl;y, will effect the result desired. It is also 

pointed out that, while five commutator rings are depicted in the drawing 

of figure 1 any number may be used, and that the number of contacts on the 

face of the disk 19 may be equal to the number of contact rings or greater by 

an;y practicable number. 

- -
• REF ID:A6)120 ~ e· 

I lo 

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11 11 

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1 ~~)""":"° i.Nxt~~ 'L 

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·e REF ID : AfjAB2 0 

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