Patent GB-778070-A (GB)
Title: Mechanical counter
Filed: 1954-02-25
Abstract: 778,070. Counting-apparatus. LEONARD, G. H. Feb. 25, 1954 [Feb. 27, 1953], No. 5557/57. Class 106 (1). [Also in Group XL (b)] In a counter the reading means are justified with respect to the indicating means when a reading is to be taken. In a modification the reading means is continuously justified with respect to the indicating means. The invention as applied to a speedometer type counter is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 8 and comprises three shafts 36<SP>11</SP>, 38<SP>11</SP>, 40<SP>11</SP> interconnected by continuous gearing and carrying indicator drums 62<SP>11</SP>, 64<SP>11</SP>, 66<SP>11</SP> respectively rotating within apertured cylinders 82<SP>11</SP>, 102<SP>11</SP>, 124<SP>11</SP>. When it is desired to take a reading from the counter the detent 172<SP>1</SP> is brought into engagement with a gear 174<SP>1</SP> on the shaft 36<SP>11</SP> to justify the position of the indicator 62<SP>11</SP> with respect to the stationary cylinder 82<SP>11</SP>. A pivoted lever 182<SP>1</SP> is then rocked so that its rider 182a<SP>1</SP> engages a spiral cam 194<SP>1</SP> on the shaft 36<SP>11</SP>. The movement allowed to the lever 182<SP>1</SP> before the rider 182a<SP>1</SP> meets the cam therefore corresponds to the position of the indicator 62<SP>11</SP> and the cylinder 102<SP>11</SP> connected to the lever 1821 by a rod 90a<SP>1</SP> is thereby located so that its window is then aligned with the appropriate numerals. A similar aligning mechanism is provided for the cylinder 124<SP>11</SP>. In another example, Fig. 1, the counter comprises three shafts 36, 38, 40 interconnected by continuous gearing. Each shaft carries two sets of four discs A-H, Fig. 11b the peripheries of which are notched in accordance with a selected code. The arrangement of notches is such that the number and relative 'positions of the notches in a particular horizontal plane is indicative of the extent of rotation of the shafts. When it is desired to take a reading from the counter the shafts 36, 38, 40 are arrested and the position of each disc is sensed by a finger member carried by a reading or sensing mechanism which controls an electric circuit including indicating or recording means in accordance with the " reading " it obtains. The indicator of the lowest order may be arrested magnetically when a reading is desired. The reading or sensing mechanism for each shaft diagrammatically comprises two flanged members 90a<SP>11</SP>, 92a<SP>11</SP>, Figs. 12a and 12b, supporting fingers 102<SP>1</SP> which are engaged by spring members 138<SP>1</SP> carried by a support 142<SP>1</SP> which also carries a contact member 214<SP>1</SP>. When the support 142<SP>1</SP> is moved from the position of Fig. 12a to that of Fig. 12b each spring member 1381 moves its associated finger 102<SP>1</SP> towards the adjacent notched disc to engage a notch or projection thereof whereupon an electric circuit is either made or broken by the members 2141, 138<SP>1</SP> and an indicating or recording device is actuated accordingly. The flanged members 90a<SP>11</SP>, 92a<SP>11</SP> are vertically aligned before the fingers 102<SP>1</SP> are moved by aligning mechanism similar to that described above but modified in that the aligning mechanism of the third denomination is mechanically connected to the aligning mechanism of the second denomination so that the correct positional relationship between the three sensing means is always maintained. Zeroizing of this counter is effected by axial movement of the shafts 36, 38, 40 to break the continuous gearing connection therebetween and then rotating the shafts. In another example, Figs. 13 and 15, the counter comprises three shafts interconnected by continuous gearing. Each shaft supports and drives through a friction clutch a cylinder Fig. 15, with two sets of holes at positions corresponding to the digits of the corresponding denomination. The first shaft 260 is driven from an input shaft 262. The reading or sensing means in this example comprises for each cylinder two series of ten fingers 308, Figs. 16a and 17, spring urged away from the adjacent cylinder but movable by manually controlled spring fingers 316 towards the adjacent cylinder to make or break a series of electric circuits in accordance with the rotary position of the cylinder. The sensing means are positioned by aligning means similar to that described above before being operated, an aligning mechanism also being provided for the first shaft in this case. Upon axial movement of a shaft 296, Fig. 13, a bevel gear 298 carried thereby engages a bevel gear 300 on the cylinder 286 and the cylinder 286 is moved axially to disengage the friction clutch in its drive so that on rotation of the shaft 296 the cylinder 286 is rotated, the zero position being determined by the engagement of a stop on the cylinder with a fixed stop. The last described counter may be modified to be used as a presettable counter. In this modification the sensing fingers 364, Fig. 18a, are selectively moved towards the cylinders by the selective energization of associated solenoids 356 which control the spring members 350. The aligning mechanism for each denomination is first operated in sequence from the lowest denomination to the highest and at the same time the sensing fingers are selectively operated in sequence, the cylinders being arrested by the operated fingers in positions in accordance with the preset number. The counter is then rotated back to zero when a signal is given. For this purpose the shafts of the counter may carry discs 432, 434, 436, Fig. 21a with holes which are in alignment with each other and with holes in two stationary frame members 438, 440 when the counter is in zero position so that light from a lamp 442 passes through the aligned holes and impinges on a photo-electric cell 446 which controls a solenoid 448 which actuates a switch 450 in the circuit of the driving motor 452. In a modification Fig. 22 (not shown) the zero position of the counter is determined by brushes which, in the zero position, engages conducting segments on discs carried by the counter shafts. In another modification, Fig. 24, the counter comprises two overlapping discs 504, 506 each numbered from " 00 " to " 99 " the numbers on disc 504 being located in a circle and the numbers on disc 506 being arranged along a spiral line adjacent a spiral window 508. A correct reading is always obtained.