Patent GB-434273-A (GB)
Abstract: 434,273. Totalizators. WELLS, R. E., Duntroon Avenue, Roseville, near Sydney, Australia. Jan. 25, 1934, No. 2632. Convention date, Nov. 29, 1933. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, Aug. 1, 1934.] [Class 106 (i)] In a race totalizator which automatically computes and displays the odds and, further, provides for contracting out of the pool by stamping tickets with the prevailing odds at any time prior to the race, a switch 45, Fig. 1, operated by differential gear 31 controlled by the odds computing apparatus 11 selects a gear train 51 or equivalent means whereby the number of contracting-out tickets and their prospective value are deducted from the movements controlling the computing apparatus, electrically co-operating devices being provided so that the ticket stamping devices 21 are locked while the odds are changing from one ratio to another and so that the selector switch cannot take up a new position while a deduction is being made. The general arrangement of apparatus used in connection with one horse is shown in Fig. 1. A dividend indicator 11 and an odds calculator 10 of any suitable construction are operated by means of pool total shaft 136 and horse total shaft 137 through differential gears 55, 52 by which the contracting out deductions are made as will appear later. The apparatus in casing 18 at the top of the Figure comprises electromechanical setting apparatus for an odds pointer 19 controlled by chain drive 17 from the dividend indicator 11 and serving also to select one of a group of trains of gears 51 representing the odds in force at the time of betting and connecting the shaft 23 which makes deductions from the horse total to the shaft 22 which makes the deductions from the pool total (win or place according to the method of operation). Detailed description. The driving chain 17 from the dividend indicator 11 imparts a helical movement to a switch arm 25, Figs. 1 and 2, inside a drum 33 carrying pivoted members 34, Figs. 3 and 4, at positions corresponding to the various odds. The members 34 are resilient and are guided by inclined plates 35 so that according to the direction of movement of the switch arm (odds increasing or decreasing) a member 34 momentarily operates a switch 36 or 37 to close a circuit for magnet 27 or 28 to release escapement 39, 40 for one step whereby pointer 19 is moved forward or backward by differential gear 31. The shaft 32 of the pointer carries a sleeve 43 having an escapement wheel 44 and a switch arm 45 co-operating with a fixed contact disc 49 (shown separately in Fig. 5), to select a solenoid 50 for bringing into use one of the gears 51. The sleeve is connected to shaft 32 by a spring 48 and is normally prevented by escapement 44 from rotating with the shaft. When the shaft rotates the sleeve rotates slightly until arm 45 (normally on a contact 81, Fig. 5), engages a contact 79 without leaving contact 81 and completes circuits for solenoids 57 for locking the ticket stamping devices 21 as will be described later. At the same time, the solenoids close contacts 77 associated with each stamping device whereby a circuit is prepared over a rotary switch 62, associated with the pool total deduction shaft 22, for magnet 47 controlling the escapement 44 of the sleeve 43. The switch 62 normally closes the circuit at 68, is frictionally driven by shaft 22 to open the circuit, and is restored by a spring when shaft 22 is stationary. Thus during a variation in the displayed odds, the ticket stamping devices are locked but the arm 45 is not moved to a new position to select a fresh gear 51 until the gears are stationary. When the circuit for magnet 47 is completed, pawl 46 is withdrawn and sleeve 43 is moved by spring 48 until contact arm 45 moves on to the next contact 81 corresponding to the position of indicator 19, the locking of the stamping devices being released when arm leaves contact 79. Each contact 81 is in circuit with a solenoid 50. When any of the ticket stamping devices is operated, an impulse is sent to rotate shaft 23 so that the necessary deduction is made over differential gear 52 from horse shaft 137, and at the same time a deduction in accordance with the odds is made from the pool total by the selected gear train 51 over differential gear 55. The pool total gearing may also have gearing 54 making allowance for the usual percentage deduction for taxation purposes. Ticket-stamping arrangements, Figs. 8 and 9. The manually operated key 21 carries a printing roller 58 for stamping the ticket inserted beneath it, and closes a circuit at 90 for sending the impulse to the deduction mechanism. Fig. 8 also shows the magnet 57 for locking the key 21 and holding the contacts 77 closed for controlling the circuit of the magnet 47, Fig. 1. The printing roller is set simultaneously with the indicator 19, Fig. 1, by gearing 103, 104 driven by differential gear 59 and escapements 60, 61 similar to the gear for setting the indicator 19, magnets for controlling the escapements being operated simultaneously with the corresponding magnets 27, 28 in the indicator gear. The escapement wheels 63, 64 are however, connected by a spring drive to the corresponding pinions of the differential which is normally locked by a pawl and ratchet 101 controlled by magnet 102 operated simultaneously with magnet 47 of the indicator gear, which can only occur when the keys 21 are locked. Modification, Figs. 10 to 12 (not shown). The contact disc 49, Fig. 5, is modified by arranging on it at different radii, contacts which when engaged by the arm 45 prepare different combinations of circuits according to the odds displayed. When a stamping key is pressed, an impulse is sent over each circuit of the combination selected, these impulses being suitably summed and used to make the necessary deductions thus dispensing with the gears 51.