Patent GB-687950-A (GB)
Title: Predeterminator register mechanism
Inventor: BLISS HARVEY NOBLE
IPC: G06M3/04
Filed: 1950-04-28
Abstract: 687,950. Counting-apparatus. VEEDER-ROOT, Inc. April 28, 1950, No. 10553/50. Class 106 (i). A predetermining register or counter comprises two sets of number wheels, a first set having transfer means and the lowest order number wheel thereof having drive means for rotating it by and during operation of an associated apparatus, e.g. a liquid meter, to register the operation of the latter, a second set the number wheels of which are manually pre-settable and which are returned to zero during rotation of said drive means by actuating means driven by said lowest order number wheel of the first set whereupon mechanism is operated to cause stopping of said apparatus and wherein the first set of number wheels has manually operable means for returning them to zero independently of said driving means in the reverse direction of rotation to that for registering and said actuating means is rendered inoperative during said reverse rotation. The register comprises two sets of five counter wheels, Figs. 1 and 4, a predetermining set B and a registering set A mounted on a frame comprising a base 10 and side-plates 11, 12. The lowest order wheel 18' of the set A is driven from a meter, not shown, through a gear train 13, 14, Fig. 4, a shaft 15 and gears 16, 17. The wheel 18 drives the first wheel 23 of the predetermining counter B through gearing 20, 21, 22, Fig. 2. The higher order wheels of the registering counter A are driven from the wheel 18 through transfer pinions 26, Fig. 1, on a common shaft 27. The first wheel 23 of the counter B bears no indications but the other wheels of this counter are marked as shown and are pre-settable in known manner. A cam 30, Fig. 3, secured to the wheel 18, rotates counterclockwise and effects vertical reciprocation of a lever arm 31 and so rocks a pivoted frame 33 to which the arm 31 is attached. The frame 33 carries four pawls 35, Figs. 3 and 4, which co-operate with ratchetwheels 36 on the counter wheels of the predetermining counter B. Upon each rocking movement of the frame 33 the second counter wheel of the counter B is stepped back one unit by the corresponding pawl 35. Each ratchetwheel 36 has a deep notch 38 so that transfer back stepping movement may be imparted to the wheels of the succeeding orders, until all the wheels of the counter B, except the first, are at zero. The lever 31 is guided in its reciprocating motion by the engagement of a flanged roller 32 carried thereby with an L-shaped slot 42 in a support member 40, Fig. 3. When the cam 30 rotates clockwise during resetting of the registering counter A the roller 32 rides out of the slot 42 and the lever 31 is not reciprocated. The counter wheel 18 comprises a number drum 50, Fig. 7, having a hub 51 which receives a shaft 53. The cam 30, a locking disc 56 and a disc 57 having a transfer tooth which co-operates with the adjacent pinion 26, Fig. 1, are fixed to the hub 51, Fig. 7. A spring-pressed pawl 60 pivotally mounted in the hub 51 normally engages an annular groove 59 on the shaft 53. The gear 17 imparts movement to the drum 50 through a plate 63 keyed on the hub 51 and urged by a spiral spring 64 against the gear 17. When the shaft 53 is pushed inwardly and rotated the plate 63 is disengaged from the gear 17 and the pawl 60 rides on the surface of the shaft 53 until it enters a .longitudinal slot 62, whereupon the drum 50 is rotated with the shaft 53. A second plate 66 slidably keyed on the hub 51 is urged by a spring 67 against the wheel 17 to prevent movement of the drum until the pawl 60 engages the slot 62. The counter wheels of the counter B carry cam discs 76, Fig. 3, the peripheries of which are constantly engaged by rollers 75 carried by a bar 74, one end of which is attached to a lever 73 to which is pivoted an arm 72. A spring 77, Fig. 1, urges the rollers 75 against the cam discs 76. Each of the cam discs 76 has a notch 78, Fig. 3, which is engaged by the roller 75 when the associated wheel is at zero position. The arrangement is such that when all the wheels of the counter B have been rotated back to zero the lever 73 pivots to lower the arm 72 and stop the apparatus, not shown, with which register is associated. The notch 78 of the first wheel 23, Figs. 1 and 4, of the counter B is usually in advance of the zero position and its actual position can be adjusted. For this purpose the wheel 23 is split into two parts C and D, Figs. 5 and 6, the part C of which has the cam surface 76 and the notch 78 and the part D of which has the gear 22. The part C may be rotated relatively to the part D by rotation of a screw 84 which is located in a slot 83 in the part D and which meshes with a gear 82 integral with the part C. Accidental rotation of the screw 84 is prevented by a spring 87.