Patent GB-566942-A (GB)
Abstract: 566,942. Calculating - apparatus: BROIDO, D. Oct. 21, 1942, Nos. 19326/43 (divided out of 566,728) and 5533/43. [Class 106 (i)] A machine for calculations involving non- uniform numerical systems, comprises a set-up mechanism for the non-uniform factor, means for converting the set-up values into decimal multiples of the values, and means for transmitting the selected multiples to a register. The conversion means comprises elements bearing physical representations' of the decimal multiples of all the set-up values expressed in the appropriate units. The machine shown in Figs. 6, 6A, 7 and 7A, comprises a shiftable set-up and conversion mechanism, a results register, a feeler mechanism to transmit the set-up values to the register, a revolutions counter and driving and operating means. Set-up mechanism. The values are entered by setting levers 5 for the pounds, shillings and pence denominations. The levers are mounted on a shaft 6 supported in the side plates of a laterally movable carriage 9. The carriage has rollers 28 running on rails 29, 30 and its movement is controlled by a spring 31 in a barrel 32 and by an escapement pawl 34 coacting with a fixed rack 35 under the control of a manipulative lever 36. Return movement of the carriage is effected by a hand wheel 44 to which is fixed a gear 45 engaging a rack 46 formed on the rail 29. Conversion mechanism. The setting levers 5 serve to bring into working position selector plates 16 constituting the conversion mechanism. These plates are arranged in three banks ; the middle bank comprises plates 16 arranged on bails 17 for the hundreds of pounds, - shillings and hundredths of pence L10<2>, S, and D10<-2> respectively ; the upper bank has plates 16 arranged on bails 18 connected by a link 20 to the respective setting levers 5 for the thousands of pounds L10<3>, the pounds L<1> and tenths of pence D10-<1>; the lower bank comprises plates 16 on bails 21 with a connecting link 23 for the tens of thousands of pounds L10<4>, tens of pounds L10, and pence D1. The various plates 16 are notched to represent the decimal multiples of the set-up values. Fig. 9 shows three selector plates of the lower bank designated L10<4>(4), L10(1) and D1(3) for the associated values ú40,000, ú10 and 3d. respectively. The selector plates when set are brought to working position opposite three banks of sensing or feeler pins 24, hereinafter described. Considering the D1(3) plate, Fig. 9, in the initial position O the feeler pin D1 is opposite a notch representing 3 steps, i.e. 3 pence. When moved to the position + 1, the feeler pins S1 and D1 are opposite notches representing 2 steps and 6 steps, i.e. 2 /6 = 3d. x 10. Other movements give the various decimal multiples to the left and right. Feeler mechanism. The sensing pins 24 coact, for reciprocating movement, with three pronged feelers 47 pivoted on an axis 48 in gear sectors 49 rockable on a shaft 50. Each sector 49 is connected by pin-and-slot means 52 to a spring-controlled bracket 51 rockable on the shaft 50. The brackets are formed with abutments 56 engaging a restoring bail 57, the arms of which carry rollers 59 contacting a triple cam 60 on the main operating shaft 150. During each revolution of the cam 60 the gear sectors are reciprocated three times. To each feeler 47 is pivoted a link 61 that is connected at its other end to a bar 64 pivoted on the shaft 50 and carrying rollers 65 in contact with cams 66. By the action of the cams 60 and 66 the upper prongs 68 of the feelers 47 are first aligned with the sensing pins 24, the notches of the selector plates determining the amount of movement of the gear sectors 49. The middle prongs 69 are next effective and finally the lower prongs 70. After each forward stroke of the feelers 47, the sensing pins 24 are restored by a plate 73 fixed to slides 74 carrying pins 76 that engage forks 77 fixed to the arms of the restoring bail 57. The gear sectors 49 have extensions 79 that coact with locking pawls 80 pivoted on a bar 81 and releasable by the action of a plate 83 fixed on the carriage. Results register. Each gear sector 49 meshes with a pinion 84, Figs. 6A and 14, rotatable on a shaft 85. To each pinion 84 is secured a 'disc 86 and a washer 87, and on the disc 86 is rotatably mounted a gear 88 with internal ratchet teeth 89, Fig. 15, engaged by a spring 90 secured to the hub of the disc 86 and serving as a one-direction drive. During the return stroke of a gear sector, the spring 90 is effective to drive the gear 88 which transmits the move- 'ment, through an idler gear 91 or 94, to register gears 97 positively or negatively. Each register gear comprises a locating gear 99 co-operating with a detent 103, a numeral drum 100 and a carry pinion 101. Transfer mechanism. Carry is effected by a pinion 101 rocking a pivoted transfer pawl 107 to lift the arm 108 thereof clear of an abutment 109 on the gear sector 49 of the next higher' denomination to permit it an additional step of movement. The pawl is locked in the carry position by a latch 111. At the beginning of the next forward stroke the brackets 51 restore the gear sectors 49 and a bar 115 operated by the cams 60 serves to rock the latches 111 to free the transfer pawls 107. Zeroizing of the numeral drums is effected in a conventional manner by a spring-controlled comb bar 119 slidable in a guide-way in the shaft 98. Revolutions counter. This counter comprises numeral wheels 123 rotatable on a shaft 124. Each numeral wheel has a gear 126 associated with a locating detent and a singletoothed pinion (not shown) co-operating with a rocker 131 in the customary manner to effect transfer. The numeral wheels are actuated by a driver movable along a flat shaft 135 in unison with the carriage 9. Fixed to the shaft 135 is a gear 137 operatively connected to a gear 139 on the carry shaft 140 which is provided with the rockable transfer pins 141 and restoring cams 142. Driving and operating means. The machine is operated by a hand crank 146 which through gearing 148, 149. Figs. 7A and 16, drives the main cam-shaft 150. A spring-loaded pawl 151 co-operating with the gear 148 allows the crank 146 to be rotated in one direction only. The gear 148 meshes with a double gear 152 in mesh with clutch gears 153, 156 rotatable on sleeves on the shaft 140, one of the clutch gears, viz. 153, being driven directly and the other indirectly through an idler gear 155. Between the clutch gears is a clutch element 158 engaged by a fork 159 having a roller 162 coacting with a double cam 163 on the shaft 128. The shaft 128 also has fixed thereto cam plates 164 engaged by roller 165 on the plates 93 that support the reversing gears 91, 94 of the results register. A handle secured to the shaft 128 can be adjusted to one of three positions for multiplication and addition, for subtraction, and for division respectively. Calculations involving multiplication, division and percentage are described in the Specification. Specifications 493,277, 542,476 and 566,728 are referred to.