Patent GB-577071-A (GB)
Title: Apparatus for ascertaining at any moment the state of at least one periodically recurring occurrence
IPC: G06G7/22
Filed: 1942-10-15
Abstract: 577,071. Calculating - apparatus. LENZLINGER, W. Oct. 15, 1942, No. 14473. [Class 106 (i)] In apparatus for determination at any given moment the state of at least one periodical occurence of which the duration of the period and the starting moment, the determination of the value characterising the state inquired into is effected through the automatic switching step by step of an indicating member depending on members set from hand, this value being ascertained by consecutive additions and subtractions of members characterising both the starting moment and the periodical occurrence and the time for which the state of this periodical occurrence shall be found ; the apparatus is characterised by an arrangement designed to bring about the shifting of the registering member to an extent corresponding to the complement of the value characterising the state inquired into or another value fixed in advance, the switching step by step thus being obtained in one single direction for subtractions as well as additions. The invention is applied to the determination of the state of a biological cycle of 23, 28 or 33 days on a certain date, e.g. 6th February, 1793, given the commencing date of the cycle, e.g. 8th November, 1738. Two push-keys Ta1, Ta2 are provided for entering the first and second dates and scales M, W, I, on endless strips 5 indicate the state of the cycle, being advanced step by step by magnets M, W, I (Fig. 3, not shown). The date scale is fixed and the day scale can be adjusted manually according to a calendar 18. A lamp BL lights up while the device is running and a key Ta3 is used for zeroising the apparatus. The day, month, decade and year of the commencing date are set up on switches 1-4, Fig. 2, and revealed through associated windows. Switches 1, 2 each have three contact rows T I-III and M I-III, switches 3, 4 four contact rows Z I-IV and E I-IV, all the rows I-III being connected in a manner deduced from the characteristics of the calendar as indicated briefly in Fig. 5, to contact rows swept by arms d I-III of a step by step switching rotary selector D. Rows Z IV and E IV are wired to relays J1, J2 and S to make corrections for leap years and odd -decades whereby in leap years relay S is energized to reverse contacts S1-3, and in odd decades, the relays J are energized to reverse contacts i1-3. Operation of the key Ta1 energizes windings I and II of a relay C which locks up to energize a relay F, at each excitation of which a 12-step switching coil St having eight arms St I-VIII receives an impulse and breaks the circuit to relay F which then de-energizes coil St. Release of key Ta1 breaks the original circuit and allows the arms St to assume position 1. The coil D of the rotary selector energizes and the selector arms dI-dV assume zero position. The coil U energizes and switches off coil D at u6. The coils D and U act together as automatic circuit breakers so that the selector arms advance step by step at a speed dependent on a resistance Wil and a condenser Ko. At each pace of the selector, electromagnets M, W, I are simultaneously excited over contacts u3, u4, u5 so as to advance the strips 5 one division each time. When the selector arms are in position 7 circuits are established to the winding I (in the examples quoted above) of each of relays Pm, Pw, Pi, through the corresponding switches T I-III and selector arms d I-III. The relays Pm, Pw, Pi energize and lock up the reverse contacts pm2, pw2, pi2 to cut off the exciting magnets M, W, I, and so to halt the strips 5. The rotary selector D continues, however, to operate and when the selector arms dI-dV reach position 35, relays F and St re-energizes and step on the arms St I-VIII to position 2. The selector D starts a new revolution, relays Pm, Pw, Pi de-energize, and relays M, W, I again receive impulses. Relays Pm, Pw, Pi are now energized from switches M I-III over arms dI-III at various times according to the various connections. In the example, Pw energizes in position 1, Pm in position 10 and Pi in position 12, the strips M, W, I receiving the corresponding numbers of steps. The selector D completes its revolution and the arms St I-VIII step into position 3. The strips are advanced in a similar manner according to the position of the switches Z I-III and then again according to the setting of the switches E I-III during the fourth revolution of the selector D. The registration of the first date is now complete. The arms St are now in position 5, and the second date is entered on keys 1-4 and the key Ta2 depressed. The relay F energizes as before and the arms St assume position 6. The arm St VII therefore cuts out relays M, W, I, so that the strips 5 do not advance until circuit has been established through switches T I-III and arms dI-III to relays Pm, Pw, Pi. Relays M, W, I then receive impulses until arm d IV reaches positions 23, 28, 33 in turn'to energize the windings II of relays Pm, Pw, Pi, oppositely wound from the windings I to de-energize these relays and interrupt these impulses to the relays M, W, I. The complements with respect to 23, 28, 33 of the settings on switches 1-4 are thus added to the settings of the strips 5 in the next four cycles to enter the second date, so that the state of the cycles at the second date is indicated. When the arms St reach position 10, the circuit to coil D is interrupted at arm St VIII and the strips remain stationary until key Ta3 is operated to short-circuit the winding I of relay C. Relays U and M then act together as automatic circuit breakers to advance the strip M until it reaches home position when contact mo is reversed and relay F energizes to advance the arms St to position 11. Relays U and W act as circuit breakers to advance the strip W, and then with arms St in position 12, strip I is similarly advanced to home position. Reversal of the contact io energizes relay F to restore the arms St to zero position and the apparatus is ready for the next operation. As long as the relay U is active, a relay VI is energized to light up the lamp BL indicating that an operation is being performed.