Patent GB-190321646-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Devices for Measuring Irregular Objects
Inventor: BRIGHT GEORGE ERNEST
Filed: 1903-10-08
Granted: 1904-06-23
Abstract: 21,646. Bright, G. E. Oct. 8. Calculating-apparatus; counting- apparatus. - The areas of irregular objects are measured, and the results registered, by an apparatus comprising a number of electric contacts disposed upon the surface of the measuring-table, a circuit-closer adapted to close the circuits of those contacts not covered by the object, and means for registering the number of contacts so covered. The table 2, Fig. 2, of non-conducting material, is provided with a number of electric contacts 3 insulated from one another, and suitably spaced apart. Each contact 3 is in circuit with the coil of an electromagnet 5, Fig. 7, the return wires of which coils are connected by branch wires to a common return wire to the battery, the other pole of which is connected to the circuit-closer 4. Each electromagnet 5 is provided with a pivoted armature 6, from which is supported a contact-dog 8 arranged in the path of movement of a swinging arm 9. In the attracted position of the armature, the dogs are adapted to engage a retaining-pawl 10, and in this position the dog is in the path of an insulated portion of the swinging arm 9. As the arm 9 passes, it turns the dog slightly, causing it to be released from the pawl 10 and to return to its normal unattracted position. In the unattracted position of the armature, the arm 9 completes a circuit with the dog 8 through a battery and an electromagnet 21 forming part of a counting-device shown in Fig. 9. Thus, when the circuit-closer 4 passes over the uncovered stops 3, the magnets 5 corresponding to these stops are energized, and the armatures 6 attracted, and kept in this position by the pawl 10 even when current no longer passes, until released by the arm 9. But as the arm 9 comes into contact with the dog of each unattracted armature, a current passes through the electromagnet 21 and the number of impulses received is the same as the number of stops covered by the surface to be measured. The counting-device consists of a ratchet-wheel 24 actuated by the pawl 23 attached to the pivoted armature 22. The ratchet-wheel actuates an ordinary counting-mechanism on the shaft 29, the wheels of which may be read through the aperture 42, or may be caused to print the recorded number on the surface measured, by the projecting numbers 38, supplied with ink by mechanism 39. The mechanism contained in the box 30 is supported in such a way that it can be lowered from the ratchet-wheel 24, and caused to stamp the recorded number on the surface measured. If this is done for each surface, the number of surfaces measured is indicated by a small adding-device actuated by the lowering motion of the box 30. On the return of the box 30, the pawl 34 engages the trip 40, which allows the ratchet-wheel 29 to return to its initial position. Another similar mechanism is driven by the shaft 25, which mechanism records the sum of all the numbers recorded, and is not movable from case 27 each time a surface is measured. The circuit-closer 4 is mounted on a nut 58 working on the leading-screw 59, which is actuated by wheels 60, 61 and 63 or 64. The projection at the base of the nut 58 causes projections to move a lever so that it engages the clutch with either bevel-wheel 63 or 64. These wheels are mounted loose on the shaft 62, and are driven by bevel gearing at the end of a shaft at right-angles to the shaft 62. A treadle 83 actuates levers 82, 76 and wheels 80, 78, thus moving the clutch from its initial neutral intermediate position to engage with the wheel 63 or 64. The device for rotating the arm 9 is shown in Fig. 1, and consists of a pinion 84, gearing with teeth on the rod 86, which is mounted in the frame 1, and is provided with collars 87, 88, engaged by an extension 89 of the carriage 55 of the circuit-closer 4. A modification is described in which a longitudinal series of contacts is connected to the same electromagnet, and the dogs are mounted independently of their armatures.