Patent GB-897111-A (GB)
Title: Analog computer
IPC: G06G7/122
Filed: 1960-01-13
Abstract: 897,111. Electric analogue computers. SCOTT PAPER CO. Jan. 13, 1960 [Jan. 13, 1959], No. 1230/60. Class 37. Analogue computer for the non-iterative solution of linear simultaneous equations of the type representing a unidirectional re-circulatory transference of a physical unit or flow of such units at maximum efficiency through plural interconnected routes connecting plural starting or supply points with plural finishing or consumption points, with coefficients representing the distances or costs of transference over respective routes, comprises a simulating network having input terminals and output terminals constituting nodes of the network representing respectively starting or supply points and finishing or consumption points, analogue flow paths interconnecting predetermined input terminals to predetermined output terminals and constituting together the internal portion of the network between the input and output terminals, potential producing elements representing the respective coefficients of the equations inserted in the respective flow paths in opposition to the normal direction of flow in each such path representing a respective variable of the equations, flow rectifying elements inserted in sufficient flow paths to prevent circulatory flow within any loop internal of the input and output terminals which might otherwise arise from the potential producing elements, and at least two independent flow paths connected externally of the internal network between the output and input terminals thereof with a constant analogue flow generator provided in at least one of such flow paths; the flow in each path being measured by suitable means ascertaining the value of the analogue thereof as a solution of the respective equation variable. In Fig. 1 an electrical computing network is provided for determining the route to be followed by a travelling salesman visiting a group of cities for a minimum length of tour, where lij is the distance between cities i, j; xij represents a single traversal of the route between cities i, j and has a value zero or a positive number depending on the existence or non-existence of an inter-city route. Then # xij = Ci the number of times the j salesman leaves city i #xij = Aj. the number of times he i arrives at city j n = the number of cities so that if the tour includes one stop per city, Cij = Aij = 1 and #lij xij = a minimum for the most effiij cient route. In the network, the points of arrival at three cities are represented by nodes 10, 11, 12 and the points of departure by corresponding nodes 13, 14, 15. Each arrival node is connected to the deparature nodes of the other cities and each departure node to the arrival nodes of the other cities by flow paths containing opposed voltage sources 26 proportional to the respective inter-city distances lij and rectifier elements 25 preventing circulating currents within the network. The corresponding arrival and departure points of the same cities are interconnected externally by low impedance connectors 28, 29, 30 and a flow generator 31 energizing the network is included in connector 30. The current in each flow path represents the quantity xij for the interconnected cities, and it is shown that, as in Specification 869,856, the branch currents in the network assume values such as to minimize power dissipation therein, so that is a minimum and the measured current in each of the flow paths is finite if the required tour includes travel between the corresponding cities and are zero if no such inter-city route need be followed. A more complex electrical network (Figs. 2, 3 not shown), is designed to solve in similar manner the problem posed to a caterer who must supply different numbers of table napkins to his customers on successive days from an initial bought-in stock, supplemented by sup. plies on later days of the sequence derived from the laundering of soiled napkins returned on earlier days at charges which are higher for express laundering at a short delay than for routine laundering at a longer delay. Similar principles establish a network wherein the currents in the several flow paths represent the numbers of napkins to be drawn on each day of the cycle from the bought-in stock, from express laundry, and from routine laundry, for the most economical operation. The networks may be A.C. energized, or may be pneumatic, mechanical, or hydraulic analogue systems. The invention is also stated to be applicable to the solution of the problem of the number of spare engines to be provided for most economical operation of an aircraft fleet, at a predetermined level of serviceability.