Patent GB-551919-A (GB)
Abstract: 551,919. Totalizators ; counting apparatus. TOTALISATORS, Ltd. (Julius, G. A.). June 6, 1941, No. 7214. [Class 40 (i)] [Also in Group XIX] In a totalisator system it is arranged that the units, tens and hundreds elements of a large indicator do not move in synchronism with the corresponding elements of the small indicator on the adding apparatus but catch up with them when there is a lull in the issue of tickets. These elements may be set to show zeros and removed from the control of the adding unit if desired. Arrangements are provided for showing blanks instead of zeros in the digit-places that have not been reached by the total. Specifications 551,941, 551,942, 551,943 and 551,944 are referred to. Control of adding unit by incoming impulses.- The reception of. a hundreds impulse from a ticket-issuing machine causes the rocking of an escapement to allow a wheel 64, Fig. 3, to escape one tooth under the influence of a spring 60 and so withdraw a stop arm 53 Figs. 1 and 5, on a sleeve carrying planet wheels co-operating with sun-wheels on a shaft 31 coupled to the wheel 64 from the path of a ratchet-wheel 51 geared to the hundreds counter 22 and to the shaft 31 and coupled by a slipping clutch to a constantly running shaft. As a result, the counter is advanced one step after which the arm 53 again stops the ratchet wheel. Similar arrangements are made for controlling the tens and units counters except that the latter is controlled by two escapements with the help of a differential gear 36. It is also arranged that the units counter rocks the tens escapement after ten steps and the tens counter similarly rocks the hundreds escapement. Similar but somewhat simplified arrangements are provided for driving the thousands and ten thousands counters which are not subject to electromagnetic control but are merely controlled by the counter of the next lower digit. For example, the hundreds counter at each rotation allows an escapement wheel 74 to escape and move a stop 77 pivoted to the wheel clear of a pin 76 on a wheel 78 geared to the thousands counter and coupled by a slipping clutch to a constantly running shaft. Push buttons are provided for rocking the escapments manually to reset the counters as desired. Faulty operation.-If the driving arrangements fail so that (say) the wheel 74 approaches a complete revolution ahead of the wheel 78, the pivoted stop is rocked to close contacts 83. Similarly, if one of the stops arms is driven round far enough to engage buttons 91, contacts 94 (Fig. 3) are closed. In either case, the issue of tickets is suspended and an alarm is given. Construction of large indicator.-The digits are carried by endless bands running over guide pulleys 105, Fig. 4, carried by spring-urged frames to tension the bands uniformly. The positions of bearing plates provided at one end of each pulley-spindle are adjustable on the frames with the aid of screws such as 115, 116 having eccentric heads. Each driving pulley 106 is toothed and is normally held against drive by a slipping clutch by the engagement of a pivoted stop member 136 with a tail piece on the armature 139 of an electromagnet. When the magnet receives an impulse, the stop member is released and the driving pulley is allowed to make one rotation to cause the indicator to display a new figure. Control of large indicator from adding unit.- Each of the indicator magnets for the units, tens and hundreds digits receives impulses from interrupter springs such as 146, Fig. 7, which are actuated by a toothed wheel which is coupled to a constantly running shaft but is normally prevented from rotating by the engagement of a stop 161 pivoted to a pinion 163 geared to the toothed wheel with an arm 147 geared to the corresponding counter unit. When the counter unit advances however the impulse sender is operated at a pre-determined speed suitable for the size of the large indicator until the stop member overtakes the arm 147. If the counter is operating at high speed, the arm 147 may pass the stop member. Impulses for the thousands and ten thousands indicators correspond exactly to movements of the corresponding elements of the adding unit. If desired, the impulse senders may be disabled with the aid of manually operable stops so that the indicator shows zeros in the last three places. To enable blanks to be arranged between O and I on the indicator, two stepping impulses are sent from the impulse sender to change the indicator from O to 1. The toothed wheel of the impulse sender has a lost motion coupling with its drive so that one of these impulses can be sent by means of a manually operated lever 176 and a pin 175 on the toothed wheel when it is desired to change the setting from 0 to "blank".