Patent GB-348043-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to multiplying machines
IPC: G06F7/46
Filed: 1929-11-22
Abstract: 348,043. Multiplying- machines. WESTERN ELECTRIC CO., Ltd., Bush House, Aldwych, London.- (Western Electric Co., Inc.; 195, Broadway, New York, U.S.A.) Nov. 22,1929, No. 35859. [Class 106 (i).] In an electrical multiplying apparatus a continuously rotating partial product commutator is employed, built up of discs carrying contacts representing, by their cyclic position, the partial products. Current is transmitted through the commutator contacts through brushes which are permanently in position within the separate zones containing the respective contacts, in accordance with the keys depressed in a multiplier and multiplicand keyboard, and distributor to electromagnets operating a totalizer. A control commutator which governs the sequence of steps in the multiplying operation is carried by the multiplying commutator shaft. One revolution of the commutator is equivalent to 28 steps in the operation, during the first fourteen of which the " units " figures of the partial products contained in the calculation are transferred to the totalizer, and the " tens " during the remaining half revolution. Multiplying commutator. Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the multiplying commutator 105 comprises nine groups of discs each group comprising nine discs arrayed in sets of three, each set of three being insulated from each other. The control commutator 145 is mounted on the same shaft 108 and comprises the discs K, L, M. The construction of the multiplying discs is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, and the arrangement in Fig. 9. The discs are arranged so that three discs are electrically connected together and to a fourth disc which engages with a brush connected to similar fourth discs on two further sets of three discs. Three such sets are associated with each of the digits in the multiplicand keybank 100. Each disc carries contacts representing the product of one of the digits in the multiplicand keybank by a digit in the multiplier 101 so that each digit in the multiplicand will be associated with nine discs representing the products of the digit by each digit from 1 to 9. Distributor switch.-The distributor switch 106 transfers the impulses after passing through the keybanks and commutator discs to the correct denominations in the totalizer banks 107. The position of the brushes in the distributor is set by electromagnet 148 energized through the control commutator 145. Multiplying operation. When the multiplicand and multiplier keyboards are set up the machine, having been started by a power source as a motor 119, Fig. 4, and the commutators 105 and 145 thus rotating, starting key 195, Fig. 1, is depressed to energize electromagnet 198, Fig. 2, which closes its retaining circuit. When the control commutator 145 reaches position 1 in the cycle of rotation magnet 204 is energized to prepare a path for distributor electromagnet 148 which advances brushes 149-154 to terminal 1, while at the same time magnet 198 is de-energized. Magnet 204 also establishes a path from ground to brush 154 in the distributor switch 106 through the control commutator 145 and also through a "carry" relay 215 through 145. In the fifth position of the commutator the multiplying operation proper commences and impulses are transmitted through brush 154 and the multiplier key bank 101 to the multiplying commutator 105 via the switches 277 or direct in the case of the 1 and 9 digits of the multiplier. From the commutator 105 and the multiplicand keybank 100 the impulses pass through the distributor switches 149 .. 153 to the totalizer electromagnets 186. The magnets 186 are kept magnetized by a path made by the electromagnets 236 after the contacts on the multiplying commutator have passed over the brushes. Electromagnets 186, Fig. 2, having been energized clutches 177 .. 179, Fig. 6, are engaged and brushes 160 .. 167 actuated. At position 14 the units part of the partial products has been registered by the totalizer. Transfer-arrangements. At position 15 electromagnets 236 and 186 are de-energized and the carry relay 215 energized. Magnet 148 is also energized to move distributor brushes 149 .. 154 to terminal 2 to connect with the correct denomination in the totalizer for the " tens " part of the operation which commences at position 19. The carry relay 215 being energized, by means of magnets C<1> .. C<6>, contact discs 260 .. 267 and a terminal 248 placed between the 9 and 0 terminals in the totalizer banks 107, the " tens " carry is effected. The carry operation is effected between positions 1, 2, 3 and 15, 16, 17 through the control commutator 145. Recording. The terminals of each bank 168 in the totalizer 107 together with the digit cross lines in the keybanks 100 and 101 are connected, Fig. 3, to a card-punching apparatus. Each bank 168 connects with corresponding banks 286 having individual selecting switches 287 such as are commonly used in telephone systems. The digit cross lines in the banks 100, 101 are connected to selecting switches 289, individual switches being connected to each denominated column in the multiplicand and multiplier keybanks. Selecting bars 297 move over the heads of perforating pins 299 which are then operated by a ram 315. Bars 297 are actuated by segmental gear 296 which is driven via rack 293 by the gear 292 mounted on a shaft which carries the brushes 290, of the selecting switches, 287, 289, &c. The bars 297 are normally out of engagement with the gear 296 and are brought into gear by the electromagnets 304 which are energized through the terminals of the selecting switches. The time of actuation of the bars 297 decides the travel and the particular perforating pin which is moved. Operation of the ram causes operation of the contacts 305, 306 shown in Fig. 3, and corresponding to member 459, Fig. 12. Contact 305 de-energizes electromagnets 304 and 306 energizes a magnet to restore the keys in the keybanks 130, Fig. 10, to normal and at the same time restores the totalizer switches to zero. During retraction of the ram contact operating member 460, Fig. 12, rotates to move " clear out" switch 202, Fig. 2, to normal. The electromagnets 304 actuate the selecting bars 297 by means of bellcrank levers 300 and are mounted as shown in Figs. 11 and 13. Reciprocating motion is given to the shaft marked 295 in Fig. 12 and 295<1> in Fig. 3 and segmental gear 296 by means of the cam 338, Figs. 12 and 14, through the member 334 which is pivoted at 335 and the bar 338 and rack 331. Drive to the brush-carrying shaft 292 is by means of the rack member 293. The cam 338 is mounted on a shaft 342, Figs. 12, 13, and 14. A second cam 345 also mounted on shaft 342 through a free arm 348 integral with shaft 349, arms 352, 353, vertical links 354, 355, actuates the ram 315. The arm 348 carries a roller 347 which engages with the cam surface. The record card is placed on a table 382 and with the operation of the segmental gear 296 is moved to position under the perforating pins 299 by feed fingers 383, 384, the rollers 385, 386, roller 385 being pivotally mounted and held against roller 386 by a spring 388. The feed fingers 383, 384 are operated by a cam 389 which is secured to cam 345 by link mechanism. The rollers 385, 386 are positively driven by a train of gears 406 .. 415, Fig. 15. The record card after perforation is diverted by projections 426 into a hopper 430, Fig. 13. The shaft 342 is driven by motor through belt 431 and continuously rotating pulley 432, and worm gear 434, 435. Clutch mechanism 438, Figs. 12, 15, and 17, is operated by an electromagnet 448. Gear 455 on shaft 342, Fig. 12, drives stud shaft 458 through gearing. Contact operating members 459, 460 are mounted at spaced intervals on shaft 458 and engage with brushes 461-461, 462-462 to ensure energization of electromagnets 304 during the forward stroke only of the selecting bars 297 and to restore the keyboard and computing mechanism to normal position. The switching mechanism 463 which completes circuits to magnets 304 is shown in Fig. 12. Member 155 on the keyboard, Fig. 10, is depressed to close start-key 195, Fig. 1, and member 156 causes the operation of the punching mechanism. The keys are maintained depressed once actuated by known means. A repeat key 308 in each row of keys prevents the restoration of keys associated with it. No zero key is provided.