Patent GB-424037-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in mental reaction testing apparatus, particularly applicable to testing potential flying ability
IPC: A61B5/18
Filed: 1934-04-14
Abstract: 424,037. Mental - reaction testing- apparatus, particularly for testing aviators. CONSTABLE, A. F., Aviation School of Medicine, Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. April 14, 1934, No. 11327. [Class 81 (ii)] Apparatus for estimating psychological reaction times, and particularly for testing potential flying ability comprises a platform 1, Fig. 2, equipped with an adjustable chair 2, control levers 3, 4, similar to aeroplane controls, and a panel 21 carrying one vertical and two horizontal rows of white lamps 24, 22, 26, and parallel and corresponding rows of green lamps (23 and 27 shown). The levers 3, 4, carry brushes such as 6, 17, movable over contacts 7, 12, 18, in circuit with the white lamps whereby the white lamps of each row can be illuminated in succession on movement of the levers. A clockwork-driven switch 31 in circuit with the green lamps, is arranged to illuminate these lamps in an irregular sequence in groupings of three, one from each row. The test consists in the examinee setting the control levers 3, 4, to illuminate the white lamps corresponding to the illuminated green lamps, a correct setting causing, through a delay-action relay, movement of the switch 31 to illuminate a further trio of green lights, necessitating a new setting of the controls, and so on. The switch 31 has forty settings and the time taken in effecting the corresponding number of controllever settings is a measure of the examinee's efficiency. The lever 3 is movable latera.lly about a pivot pin passing through a shaft 9 about which the lever can be moved longitudinally. The brush 6 is carried by the lever 3 itself and the contacts 7 by a plate secured to the shaft 9. The shaft also has a brush-carrying arm movable over the contacts 12. The lamps in circuit with the above two sets of contacts thus represent possible positions of ailerons and elevator respectively. The lever 4 is centrally pivoted and foot-controlled and the lamps illuminated during its movement represent rudder positions. The switch arm 32, Figs. 2 and 6, has eight brushes, a-h, Fig. 6, connected together in pairs, each pair moving respectively over a circle of forty contact studs A-D, Figs. 6 and 8, and a contact ring 52-55. The switch arm spindle 28, Fig. 6, is driven by clockwork 35 through reduction gearing 34 and is released step-by-step by a pawl 38 engaging a ratchet wheel 37 and controlled by an electromagnet 40. As shown in Fig. 10 a twelve-volt battery 56 is employed having the following connections :-a positive lead 66 connects the sets of green lamps, 22, 24, 26, in parallel, by cables 45, 47, 48, to a cable 41 leading to the contact studs A, the corresponding contact ring 52 being connected by lead 71, 72 to the negative battery lead 73 ; the lead 66 also has connections 83, 79, 74 to the brushes 6, 11, 17, on the control levers and thence through the sets of white lamps 23, 25, 27 to the lead 73 ; in parallel with the white lamps are cables 46, 49, 50, connected, through cables 42, 43, 44, with contact studs B, C, D, respectively, and thence, through contact rings 53, 54, 55 and leads 77, 82, 86 to electromagnets 57, 58, 59 and by lead 78 to lead 73 ; the electromagnets 57, 58, 59, close switches 61, 62, 63 in a circuit including positive lead 87 a time relay 64, operating after about 0'4 sec., and leads 72, 73 ; the relay 64 closes a switch 97 in a shunt circuit including the solenoid 40 the action of which rotates the switch arm 32 of Figs. 2 and 6. A main switch 65 is provided. The circuit may include recording means for the total time taken on the test, or alternatively the number of changes effected in a given time may be observed. The apparatus may be simplified by eliminating one or more sets of green and white lamps.