Patent GB-747099-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electrical accumulators for use with record controlled statistical machines
Inventor: HEWITT MAURICE CHARLES PATON
Filed: 1953-04-28
Abstract: 747,099. Statistical apparatus. POWERSSAMAS ACCOUNTING MACHINES, Ltd. April 6, 1954 [April 28, 1953], No. 11756/53. Class 106 (1). A record-controlled accumulator comprises a plurality of denominational counter units arranged to receive discrete digit-representing pulses entered in parallel into the respective units, a carry circuit connecting each unit with the unit of next higher denomination, means operative in succession to a digit-entering operation to apply a carry pulse simultaneously to all carry circuits conditioned for a carry operation, and a standing-on-maximum switch included in the carry circuit to each unit and operable by rotation of the unit of next lower denomination to condition the carry circuit to receive the carry pulse, when during the application of the carry pulse the unit of next lower denomination is moved from the standing- on-maximum registering condition thereof to the zero registering condition thereof. Fig. 1 shows an accumulator comprising counter units Cu1, Cu2, Cu3, Cu4, Cu5 for registering respectively, pence, shillings, tens of shillings, pounds, and tens of pounds. Each counter comprises an electrically conducting ring 10 and a non- conducting ring 11 arranged coaxially on a support 12 on a shaft 13. The shaft 13 is continuously driven by gear-wheels 15, 16. Each support 12 has integral therewith a toothed wheel 19, Figs. 2 and 3, the number of teeth on the wheel being determined by the notational value ascribed to the associated counter unit. Each wheel 19 is restrained against rotation by a bell-crank lever pivoted at 20, Fig. 2, to a bracket 21. The bell-crank lever has a toothengaging arm 23 and a restoring arm 24. The former is normally retained in tooth-engaging relation with the wheel 19 by a latch 25 pivoted at 26 and urged towards a stop pin 27 and into latching engagement with arm 23 by a spring 28. A wire 29 supported by brackets 30 and engaged by the armature 31 of a solenoid 32 is operated by discrete pulses sensed from a record card or the like. When a pulse is received by a solenoid 32 its armature 31 moves wire 29 to the left as viewed in Fig. 2, so that the latch 25 is disengaged from arm 23, whereupon a spring 36 locks arm 23 out of engagement with wheel 19 so that frictional engagement causes the wheel 19 to be moved angularly with shaft 13, thus imparting movement to rings 10 and 11 also. The wheel 19 advances only by an increment of one tooth pitch because the next tooth engages arm 24 and rocks it counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 so that arm 23 is restored to engagement with wheel 19. Number-indicating contacts 37, Figs. 1 and 3, are connected to the conducting ring 10 and co-operate with read-out brushes 38. An output brush 39 permanently engages ring 10. On initiation of a read-out operation a pulse is applied to solenoid 50, for example from a control-hole in a record card, the armature 49 is drawn downwards, rocking shaft 46 against spring 48. A projection 44 is moved counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, and one of the brushes 38 will be engaged by the numberindicating contact 37 completing a circuit indicating the value registered. Each ring 11 also has a carry contact 51, Figs. 1 and 3, cooperating with the carry brushes 52, 52a. When the contact 51 is engaged by the brushes 52, 52a, it conditions a switching means to effect a carry to the counter unit of next higher denomination. It may happen that when a carry pulse is imparted to solenoid 32 the counter unit actuated thereby is already standing on its maximum so that on application of a further pulse a carry will have to be effected to the counter unit of next higher denomination. This condition of " standing-on-maximum " occurs when a decimal counter unit is standing on " 9," a duodecimal on " 11 " or a binary counter on " 1." To effect this carry a " standing-on-maximum " contact 85, Fig. 3, extending radially through the ring 11 is provided, and this makes contact with brushes 86, 86a at the appropriate time.