Patent GB-191221446-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to Calculating Apparatus particularly Adapted for Reckoning out Charges for the use of Electricity, Gas Water and so forth.
Inventor: BRUCKMANN HUGO
Filed: 1912-09-20
Granted: 1913-05-08
Abstract: 21,446. Bruckmann, H. Sept. 20. Adding and subtracting apparatus; multiplying and dividing apparatus.-A machine particularly adapted for reckoning charges for the consumption of gas, electricity, &c. is provided with sets of numeral-wheels to set out the readings at the beginning and end of a period of time, and has means to determine automatically the difference between these readings and to multiply them by the rate per unit to give the charge for the amount consumed. The readings at the beginning of the period are set on numeral-wheels 2-4 bv operating setting-levers 5-7 which are provided with pawls engaging ratchet-teeth on the numeral-wheels, and which, through intermediate pinions, actuate numeral-wheels 17-19 adapted to be disengaged therefrom when a lever 172 is pulled outwards and pressed downwards, a link 176 attached thereto being slotted to receive the spindle of the numeralwheels 17-19. Simultaneously with the disengagement of the numeral-wheels 17-19, pinions 24-26 are moved into engagement with the numeral-wheels 2-4 and the movement of these wheels to represent the final readings is transmitted to numeral-disks 21-23 which thereby indicate the difference between the two settings of the numeral-wheels 2-4. The numeral-disks 21-23, through intermediate pinions and sleeves 69, 76, 62 and sets of ratchet-wheels 70, 71; 77, 78; 63, 64, transmit the movement imparted thereto to a series of stepped or notched disks 44-55. The oddnumbered disks have notches to represent the units of the product of the digits, and the evennumbered disks represent the tens of the products. The products are arranged in ten sectors around the disks, and the gearing between them and the numeral-wheels 21-23 is such that for one-quarter turn of the wheels the disks make one-tenth of a revolution. Prior to the setting of the disks by the numeralwheels 21-23, the disks are rotated by gearing connected with numeral-wheels 181, 182, which are set to represent the price per unit of gas &c. consumed. The movement is transmitted by means of pinions 185-187, 191-193 respectively to the disks 44, 45, 48, 49, 52, 53 and 46, 47, 50, 51, 54, 55, and the ratio of the gearing is such that for one-quarter revolution of the numeral-wheels 181, 182 the disks make a complete revolution. By the combination of the above-described settings, the particular steps of the set sectors are brought opposite a series of pins 79<1>-90<1> which are adapted, through pivoted arms 90-101, when a camshaft 103 is rotated, to engage in succession the steps and transmit the movement to levers 107-118 attached to pinions 119-130 and thereby through ratchet-wheels and pawls actuate the numeral-wheels 142-146. During this operation, pinions 157 which are in engagement with the numeral-wheels 142-146 actuate other numeralwheels 158-162, which thus indicate the charge for quantity consumed. The pinions 157 are then moved out of engagement by operating a handle 156<a>, and a second handle 169 is operated to throw numeral-wheels 164-168 into engagement with the numeral-wheels 142-146 so as to register the meter rent and give the total charge. Transfer mechanism. - During the setting of the final reading on the wheels 2-4, a transfer may be necessary, and, if so, is effected by means of teeth 241 on the wheels 3, 4 engaging and partially rotating pinions 30, 31 on spindles which are provided with other pinions 32, 33 engaging the next higher numeral-wheels. To ensure that the transfer devices shall have no effect on the numeral-wheels 21-23, the setting- levers 6, 7 are provided with segments 34, 35 having cam-surfaces adapted to throw out the pinions 24, 25. This action is completed before the numeral-wheels 2-4 are actuated by causing the pawls of the levers to ridÚ over guides on the casing. Similar transfer mechanism is employed in the totalizing-wheels 142-146, 158-162. Zeroizing-mechanism.-When the hand-lever 104 of the cam-shaft 103 is given a complete rotation the gearing 220 rotates a sector 197 fixed on the shaft 1, which in the lowest position has a notch thereon engaging the catch of the lever 172. After this engagement, the handlever 104 is given a complete turn in the reverse direction and by means of a one-way clutch 221, which allows the cam-shaft to remain stationary, the sector and lever are restored to their raised position. To the segment 197 is pivoted a lever 199 which is adapted to rock a shaft 204 and through a cam 210 thereon disengages the detents 177-179 from the numeral-wheels 2-4 which return to the zero position under the action of the spring-controlled intermediate pinions 14-16. The shaft 204 at the same time through a lever 205 rocks a lever 207, which thereby moves pawls 180 out of engagement with the numeral-wheels 17-19. The pawls 177-180 remain out of engagement until the levers 202, 207 slip out of the slots of the levers 199, 205. The numeralwheels 142-146, 158-162 are re-set to zero on the return movement of the hand-lever 104 through gearing by means of catches 214 on the spindle 156 engaging projections 212 on the pinions 157. The numeral-wheels 21-23 are re-set and the stepped disks connected therewith are returned to the zero position of the particular sector set by means of levers 217 engaging pins 216 on the disks.