Patent GB-810435-A (GB)
Abstract: 810,435. Apparatus for tasting agility. CALDER, J. D. Aug. 3, 1957, No. 24676/57 Addition to 792,054. Class 81 (2). Apparatus for testing or improving pedal agility similar to that described in the parent Specification is characterized in that the steps of the exercise to be performed are selected by an insulated punched card inserted between two banks of conductive bars, the bars of each bank being parallel to one another and at right angles to the bars of the other bank, the bars of one bank being included in respective circuits each containing an indicator and a normally closed switch and the bars of the other bank being selectively connected in a circuit under the control of a selector mechanism and the bars of the respective banks being adapted to contact each other through holes in the punched card so that at least one indicator is energized until its normally closed switch is opened by actuation of a movable member. Lamps L1-L12, Figs. 1, 2, in an indicator board 21 are series connected with microswitches F1-F12 in compartments beneath the surface of a platform 20. In a selector box 22 a relay P operates normally open contacts p1, p2, p3, a relay R operates change-over contacts r¢, a relay L operates normally closed contacts l1, l2, a relay H operates normally closed contact h1 and three normally open contacts h2, h3 and h4. A fourbank rotary selector having four wiper arms S1, S2, S3, S4, operates when the circuit of an electromagnet MS is opened. Parallel selector bars B1-B12, Fig. 4, are secured in an insulated manner in the top of the selector box 22, each bar B1-B12 being in series with a corresponding lamp L1-L12 and microswitch F1- F12. Two series of cross-bars CB, CA insulated from one another are mounted on the underside of the lid of the selector box 22. One series CA of cross-bars is connected to contacts associated with one selector wiper arm S1 and the other series to contacts associated with another selector wiper arm S2. Cross-bars CA, CB normally contact selector bars B1-B12 where they cross, but contact is only permitted in selected positions effected by a card 25 punched with holes in selected positions corresponding to an exercise to be performed by the user and disposed between the cross-bars CA, CB and the selector bars B1- B12. The holes are so arranged in the card 25 that each cross-bar CA makes contact with only one selector bar B and each cross-bar CB makes contact with only one other selector bar B so that only two lamps L1-L12 are selected by each pair of cross-bars CA, CB at one time. The apparatus receives mains electric supply through a transformer 33 and a rectifier bridge 34. Leads 35 and 36 having multi-pin plugs respectively connect the selector box 22 with the platform 20 and the indicator board 21. With the selector wipers S1-S4 in zero position, lamps L11-L12 light up. When the exercise is started the user steps on areas 11, 12 of the platform 20 and opens the corresponding microswitches F11, F12 so that the circuits of lamps L11, L12 and relay L are opened. On closing a starter button contact SB1 the relay P is energized so that contacts p1, p2, p3 are closed to energize relay R, and the electromagnet MS. Energization of relay R changes over position of contacts r¢ and opens the circuit of relay P to cause opening of the circuit of electromagnet MS so that the selector wipers S1-S4 are moved on one step by their biasing means. Two lamps L1-L12 are then lighted according to the holes punched in the card 25. Meanwhile, relay R is de-energized. Relay P is again energized so that the sequence of operations can be repeated when the user steps on the areas of the platform corresponding to the lights shown on the indicator board 21. Normally, the apparatus stops when all the steps of the exercise corresponding to the holes in the card 25 have been completed and the selector wipers have returned to their zero positions. A switch PR may be operated so that the exercise is automatically repeated without re-establishing contact SB1. A switch PH and a switch controlling contacts KA1, KA2 and KA3 may be operated if the steps of the exercise are to be presented at given time intervals. In this case contact KA3 is closed so that relay R is shunted by a condenser 27 and a variable resistance 28, thus delaying both its release and the re-energization of the relay P preparatory to moving on to the next step of the exercise. If the relay P is re-energized before the user has completed the appropriate step of the exercise, relay H is energized with the consequent lighting up of a lamp LF13 located in the centre of the indicator board 21. A bell LB13 may also be operated simultaneously. When relay H becomes energized the next step of the exercise is postponed until the starter button contact SB2 is broken by operating the starter button. A switch KH is provided for setting the selector wipers S1-S4 in zero position.