Patent GB-947573-A (GB)
Title: Energy converters, particularly as applied to data recorders
IPC: H03M1/00
Filed: 1959-09-09
Abstract: 947,573. Selective punching apparatus. FISCHER & PORTER CO. Sept. 9, 1959 [Sept. 11, 1958], No. 17448/63. Divided out of 947,571. Heading B4B. [Also in Divisions F2 and G1] An energy converter for actuating punching mechanism in a data recorder comprises an energy-storage spring 146 interconnecting a driven shaft 123 and a flywheel 147 whereby rotation of the shaft 123 will wind the spring 146 while the flywheel is stationary, a brake-controller 295 for applying and releasing a brake 269, 276 to and from a brake drum 268 connected to the flywheel 147, and a programming lever 287 with cam follower arm 290 controlled by a cam 293 driven by a synchronous motor 110 operating the brakecontroller 295 carried on arm 291 of lever 287 to apply the brake through successive time intervals and release it for brief energy-conversion periods between the intervals. The motor 110 drives the timing cam 293 and also the shaft 123 which extends into the tubular shaft 127 of the flywheel 147. The ends of the spring 146 are connected to flanges 141, 142 keyed on shafts 123, 127 respectively. The brake takes the form of a spring clutch with spring 269 surrounding adjacent drum sleeves, one secured in the flywheel, the other keyed in a band 278 with radial tabs 281 confined between springs 285, 286 to lessen the shock when the flywheel is arrested. One end of spring 269 is secured to a ring 265 which is locked in the flywheel after adjustment and the other end 277 projects radially into engagement with the controller 295 and when it is released the spring 269 loosens its grip on the stationary drum allowing the spring 146 to rotate the flywheel 147. The controller 295 is formed with three abutment edges 334, 335 and 336 which can block movement of the spring end 277 and a gap 355 through which the spring end can pass. During each time interval a data accumulating disc 64 is advanced step by step by pawls actuated upon receipt of pulses emitted at equal increments of a variable to be recorded. At the beginning of each interval the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 2 with the spring end 277 held by edge 334 so that during the interval the brake holds the flywheel stationary and the motor 110 winds the spring 146 and turns the cam 293. Towards the end of the interval the cam 293 depresses the end 341 of lever 287 turning it anticlockwise until the edge 334 of controller 295 clears the spring end 277 which flicks round to edge 335. The brake is loosened and the flywheel turns 20 degrees before it tightens the brake again. Lever 296 is now able to hook over the end 341 of lever 287 and the hook is spaced above the end 341. A little later the cam 293 allows the lever 287 to rock clockwise until caught by the hook of lever 296 The movement of edge 335 from the path of spring end 277 loosens the brake until the end 277, having passed through the gap 355, strikes the edge 336. The flywheel 147 rotates through 300 degrees gaining momentum and through a cam 257 and follower 262 rocks a punch arm 151, punches 232 and tape guide 154 towards disc 64 to co-operate with a row of depressions and projections representing in code the data accumulated by the disc 64. Where a punch 232 encounters a projection it perforates the tape 171, thus recording the coded data. At the beginning of this movement another cam 313 through a follower 312 rocks a reset lever 308 which permits the rise of a pulse arrester 319 so that the disc 64 cannot be advanced by its pawls. After the 300 degree rotation of the flywheel 147 the cam 313 rooks the lever 308 further and releases the pawls from the disc 64 which is freed to be returned to zero by spring 332. As it comes to zero position a lug strikes a spur 346 on lever 296 and disengages its hooked end from the end 341 of lever 287 which turns further clockwise so that edge 336 releases spring end 277 to snap on to edge 334. The flywheel turns 40 degrees, cam 313 returns reset lever 308 to idle position withdrawing the pulse arrester 319 and freeing the pawls driving the disc 64. The tape 171 is advanced one step for each revolution of the shaft 123 by an eccentric pin 136 at one end thereof co-operating with a ring 138 in the end of an arm 137 whose lower end engages a ratchet wheel 182 on a sprocket shaft.