Patent GB-732563-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to computing apparatus
IPC: G06F7/498
Filed: 1952-10-10
Abstract: 732,563. Digital electric calculating-apparatus. CLARY MULTIPLIER CORPORATION. Oct. 10, 1952 [Dec. 3, 1951], No. 25408/52. Class 106(1). [Also in Group XL (c)] A computing device comprises an electronic multi - denomination counter associated with a mechanical multi - denomination accumulator. General arrangement.-In the system shown in Fig. 1, electric pulses representing units to be added and subtracted are applied from lines 10, 11 respectively to unit denominations 12, 20 of two-denominational decimal electronic counters. Carry-over pulses from the tens denominations 14, 22 are applied via memory units 16, 24 to a solenoid 77 associated with the " 1 key in the hundreds denomination of a mechanical calculating machine 17. Connections from units 16, 24 are also arranged to operate control solenoids 18a, 25a which cause the machine to perform an add and subtract cycle respectively. The amounts registered on the electronic counters also may be transferred to the machine 17 by applying a pulse on line 26 to an automatic scan circuit 27 comprising electromagnetic " selector relays arranged to operate in sequence, each relay including contacts such as 150-153, Fig. 2, for applying potentials corresponding to the condition of the four binary stages (representing 1, 2, 4, 8) of an associated counter denomination to lines 32-35 which are connected through buffer circuits 36, Fig. 1, to a binary-to-decimalconverting relay contact network 37 having output lines 38, 39 connected to the tens and units denominations respectively of the keyboard of the machine 17. When denominations 12, 14 of the " add " counter have been scanned the circuit 27 applies a pulse to solenoid 18a to cause the amount set up on the keyboard to be entered additively in the machine ; similarly, a pulse is applied to subtract solenoid 25a after the counter 20, 22 has been scanned. Finally, a pulse is applied to solenoid 41 to effect a subtotal-taking cycle during which the net amount on the machine accumulator is printed on a paper tape. Electronic counters. Each counter denomination is similar to the units denomination 12, Figs. 1 and 2, which comprises five coldcathode gas-discharge tubes 45-49. The tubes 45-48 constitute the four binary stages and are conducting or extinguished to represent " 0 and " 1 " respectively. The positive pulses on line 10 are applied both to the ignitor of tube 45 through capacitor 54, and to the cathode through a resistance-capacitance delay circuit 55 ; thus, whether the tube is conductive or not an input pulse will switch it to the other condition. Whenever one of the tubes 45-47 is returned to the conductive or " 0 " condition, a positive pulse is applied from its cathode through similar connections to the igniter and cathode of the next higher tube. However, the igniter connection for tube 48 is taken from the cathode of 45 (not 47) via capacitor 1265, so that the counter operates in normal binary fashion for the first nine pulses (tubes 45, 48 then being extinguished and 46, 47 conducting), and the tenth pulse causes 45, 48 to be re-fired, thus returning the tubes to the zero condition, a positive pulse being applied, from the cathode of 48, over tens carry line 13, Figs. 1 and 2, to the next denomination 14 and also through capacitor 66 to the igniter of tube 49 which then fires and applies a negative pulse through capacitors 67, 67a to the cathodes of tubes 46, 47 to prevent these tubes being extinguished. The selector relay contacts 150-153 are connected by lines 28-31 to the cathodes of tubes 45-48 so that " 0 " and " 1 " are represented by relatively positive and negative potentials on lines 32-35. When a subtotal is taken the counting tubes, such as 45-48, are all returned to the zero conductive condition by raising the potential of the anode supply conductor 51. The gas-discharge tubes may be replaced by vacuum tube " flip-flops," e.g. as described in U.S.A. Specification 2,538,122. Memory units. The units 16, 24, Figs. 1 and 7, each comprise a double triode 80, 86 or 80a, 86a for temporarily storing a carry pulse on line 15a or 23a until the machine 17 is ready to receive it. The time constant of a resistancecapacitance circuit 82, 83 connected to the cathode of tube 80 is such that a positive pulse applied from 15a to its grid will cause an extended positive pulse to be applied to the grid of 86 so that the latter will remain conducting and energize a relay 87 for a period substantiallygreater than that required for a cycle of the machine 17 The relay 87 closes contacts 90 to energize a control relay 94, such energization being, however, delayed if a control relay 92 (similarly associated with unit 24) is operated, thus opening contacts 91, or if the machine is operating when switch 78 is closed to energize a relay (not shown) which removes earth potential from line 95 and applies it to line 116. Relay 94 opens contacts 107 to prevent energization of 92, and closes contacts 100, 105 to energize solenoids 18a and 77 for adding "100" into the machine. Contacts 117 are also closed sor.-that, when the machine cycle begins, the earth potential on line 116 is applied to the grid of tube 86 to clear the unit 16. The unit 24 operates similarly, the associated control relay 92 closing contacts to energize solenoids 25a and 77. Automatic scan and associated circuits. The selector relays such as 121, Fig. 2, of the circuit 27, Fig. 1, are operated successively under control of a stepping relay 139 (Fig. 5, not shown) and priming relays such as 125, after switch 133 has been momentarily closed to apply a pulse to line 26. The potentials on lines 32-35 are applied to the igniters of coldcathode gas-discharge buffer tubes 158-161, Fig. 8, which are therefore conductive to represent " 0 " and energize associated relays 163-166. These relays, together with slave relays 425, 426 controlled by 163, control two binary to decimal converting relay contact pyramids having input lines 183, 215 and sets of output lines 39, 38, Figs. 1 and 8, respectively. The lines 183, 215 are supplied alternately with operative potentials through contacts of the selector relays for the units and tens counter denominations respectively so as selectively to energize solenoids such as 420, 452 for entering the amounts on the counters into the machine. The appropriately timed energization of solenoids 18a, 25a and 41, Figs. 1 and 7, is effected through contacts of the selector relays associated with counter denominations 14 and 22, and a "subtotal relay " 270 (Fig. 3, not shown), respectively. The power supply lines 51, Fig. 2, and 113, Fig. 8, are supplied with auto-; matically controlled voltages from a circuit (Fig. 6, not shown) receiving the filtered and, rectified output of a power transformer. Mechanical calculating machine. The machine 17, Fig. 1, is of a known type, and only parts thereof are shown and described in detail. Depression of a key 460, Fig. 11, or operation of an associated solenoid 420, causes a sub-keystem 1476 to be depressed and locked to act as a differential stop for an actuating rack 466, the racks being yieldably moved forward or leftward and returned during each machine cycle. Accumulator gear wheels 504 are moved by cam mechanism (not shown) into mesh with teeth 502 or 503 on the racks for the forward and possibly also the return movement, according to the kind of operation to be performed (addition, subtraction, total-taking or subtotal-taking). The racks have a further set of teeth which operate printing type wheels 508 through gear wheels 513-615, 517. During a printing phase of a machine cycle, a shaft 510 carrying arms 509 is rocked, thereby moving the dials into contact with an inking ribbon 520 to print on a paper tape 506 which is fed from a roll (not shown) around platen 507.