Improvements in Cyclometers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1898- Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cyclometers.
I, EDWARD GRIFFIN DORCHESTER, of Geneva, in the County of Ontario and State
of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to cyclometers, and has for its object to provide a device
of this class having means for registering distances traversed by a wheeled vehicle
in short or daily trips which may be termed a "trip register," and also to provide
mechanism operated by the same means as the " trip register" for making a con-
tinuous record of the entire distance traversed up to, say ten thousand miles, and
which may, for convenience, be termed a total register"; and to provide simple
and efficient means for communicating motion from the star or operating-
wheel to the various registering devices, and in connection therewith to provide
means for "setting" the trip registering device to indicate zero.
66
$6
وو
Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in the following
description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a view of a cyclometer constructed in accordance with my invention,
applied in the operative position to a vehicle wheel, a portion of the wheel and
frame being indicated.
Figure 2 is a central sectional view taken parallel with and in the plane of the
operating-shaft.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are transverse sectional views taken respectively
upon the planes indicated by the lines 3-3, 4-4, 5-5, 6-6, 7-7, 8-8 and
9-9 of Figure 2.
Figure 10 is an inner side view of the casing to show the "star" or operating-
wheel.
Figure 11 is a view of the trip-registering rings, detached.
Figure 12 is a sectional view of the trip-registering rings, to illustrate the racks
whereby motion is communicated from each ring of lower denomination to that of
higher denomination.
Figure 13 is a sectional view of the bearing-frame detached.
Figure 14 is a detail section of the means for communicating motion from one of
the trip-registering rings to the next.
Figure 15 is a detail view of one of the motion conveying pinions, detached.
Figure 16 is a sectional view of the same on the line 16-16 of Figure 15.
Figure 17 is a view, partly in section, of a stud or stub-shaft upon which the
motion-conveying pinions are mounted.
Figure 18 is a detail view in perspective of the main registering-spindle and
contiguous parts, detached.
Figure 19 is a detail sectional view on the line 19-19 of Figure 7, to show the
means for communicating backward motion from one registering ring to the other
in assembling or returning the latter to zero.
Price 8d1

page_text: Figure 20 is a detail view in perspective of the bracket by which the case of the
cyclometer is supported.
Figure 21 is a detail sectional view of the means for adjusting the cyclometer
case upon said bracket.
Figure 22 is a detail view in perspective of the button or trip which is carried by
the wheel of the vehicle to actuate the star-wheel
Figure 23 is a detail sectional view of the same.
Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of
the drawings.
1 designates a casing having a closed back 2 and a removable face-plate 3 secured
in place by means of a removable collar 4, said face-plate being provided with a
plurality of inspection openings 5, 6, 7 and 8 adapted, respectively, for exposing
the numerals of units, tens, hundreds, and thousandths disks respectively
numbered 5, 6", 7" and 8". A suitable transparent guard 9, of glass, mica, or
equivalent material, may be interposed between the inturned flange of the collar 4
and the exterior surface of the face-plate to exclude dust from the interior of the
casing.
Arranged within the casing is a cylindrical bearing-frame 10 provided at its
outer end with a lateral flange 11 having spaced lugs 12 to fit in corresponding
notches 13 in the front edge of the casing, and held in place by means of the above-
described collar. This bearing-frame is also provided in spaced planes with lugs 14
and 15 against which, within the frame, are arranged transverse partitions 16
and 17 held in place by connecting screws 16", the partition 17 being provided with
a thimble 18 which extends inwardly or rearwardly through the wall 2 of the
casing, see Figure 2, and is adapted, as hereinafter described, to form at its exterior
surface a journal, and at its interior surface a bearing.
Mounted in the bearing formed by the thimble 18 and in an aligned bearing 19
in the partition 16, is an operating-shaft 20 to the rear extremity of which is
secured a star-wheel 21 adapted to be engaged by a button 22, or similar projec-
tion, carried by the wheel of a vehicle. The button which is illustrated in the
drawings comprises relatively adjustable plates 23 and 24 constituting a clamp
and connected by a set-screw 25 by which they may be drawn toward each other
to engage the spoke 26 of the wheel, the main plate 23 being provided with a pin 27
upon which is mounted an anti-friction sleeve 28.
The operating-shaft 20 carries a worm 29 engaging a worm gear on an upright a
countershaft 31, said shaft being terminally mounted in upper and lower bearings
formed by ears 32 projecting forwardly from the partition 17. The shaft 31 also
carries a worm 33 meshing with a worm-gear 34 which is permanently secured to
athe main registering-spindle 35 mounted in aligned bearings in the partitions 16
and 17, and disposed parallel with the operating-shaft. This main registering- 4
spindle extends to and through the front face-plate of the casing, and is provided
with an index 36 to traverse a fraction's dial 37 formed in a contiguous counter-
sunk portion of the face-plate, and also keyed to said spindle contiguous to the
plane of the partition 16 is a single-toothed transmitting gear 38, see Figure 18
(preferably secured against independent rotation upon the spindle by means of a 4
suitable key 39). This gear is provided with a smooth periphery, with the excep-
tion of the single tooth 40, which is adapted to engage with a ten-notched receiving-
wheel 41 mounted upon a stub-shaft 42 supported by the partition 16. The receiving
gear is provided with concave seats 43 between its notched into which the periphery
of the transmitting gear fits to prevent accidental movement of the receiving- 5
gear. It is obvious that when the single tooth of the transmitting gear approaches
the periphery of the receiving-gear to engage one of the notches of the latter,
the receiving-gear is released a sufficient length of time to allow the transmitting
gear to advance the receiving-gear a distance equal to the interval between con-
tiguous notches of the receiving-gear, or one-tenth of its circumference. The stub- 5
shaft 42, the receiving-gear 41, a sleeve 44 fitted upon the stub-shaft and carrying
said receiving-gear, and the number-disk 5ª, of which the numerals are adapted to

page_text: be exposed successively through the inspection opening 5, constitute the units
registering mechanism. A transmitting gear 45 having a single tooth is also
fixed to the sleeve 44 and is adapted to communicate motion to a receiving-gear 46
secured to a sleeve 47 mounted upon the registering-spindle 35, said sleeve carrying
a number-disk 6", said parts constituting the tens registering mechanism. The
sleeve 47 carries a single-tooth transmitting gear 48 for communicating motion to
a receiving-gear 49 fixed to a sleeve 50 mounted upon a stub-shaft 51, also supported
by the partition 16, said sleeve 50 supporting the number-disk 7" of which the
numerals are adapted to be exposed through an opening 7, thus constituting the
hundreds registering mechanism. The sleeve 50 also carried a single-tooth trans-
mitting gear 52 adapted to communicate motion to a receiving-gear 53 having a
sleeve 54 mounted upon a stub-shaft 55 supported by the partition 16, this sleeve also
carrying the number-disk 8" of which the numerals are adapted to be exposed
through the opening 8, thus constituting the thousands registering device.
Affixed to the rear end of the main registering-spindle within the casing and
contiguous to the plane of the partition 17 is a transmitting pinion 56 which
meshes with a pinion 57 mounted upon the journal formed by the exterior surface
of the thimble 18, said pinion 57 carrying a ratchet gear 58 which operates con-
tiguous to the rear wall of the casing.
"
In the cylindrical side wall of the casing, and preferably at such a point as to
be visible from the seat of the vehicle, is an inspection opening 59, covered by a
transparent guard 60 of glass or mica, and operating within view through this
inspection opening 59 is a series of trip-registering rings 61, 62 and 63. These
rings may, for convenience, be termed fractional," units," and "tens" rings,
and they are journaled upon the exterior surface of the bearing-frame 10, the
fractional ring being provided with one or more spring tongues 64, see Figure 5,
which terminally engage the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 58 and are adapted to com-
municate motion from said ratchet wheel to the fractional ring. The units and
tens rings are provided at their rear edges with continuous "receiving" racks 65
and 66 with which mesh pinions 67 and 68 mounted on a stub-shaft 67", and the.
fractions and units rings are provided with segmental or mutilated" transmitting
racks (9) and 70 which are adapted to mesh with the pinions 67 and 68 at intervals,
and thereby respectively communicate motion to the units and tens rings. In
order to prevent accidental movement of the pinions, as by jarring, they are pro-
vided with angular hubs 71 in contact with which are arranged retaining or brake
springs 72.
"
The construction and relative arrangement of the members of the gearing, or
the means for communicating motion from one part to another, are such that the
ratchet wheel 58 renders one complete revolution for each unit of measurement,
as one mile, thus causing the fractions ring 61 to make a complete
revolution in the same distance. At the end of each complete revolution of
the fractions ring motion is communicated through the pinion 67 to the units
ring 62, and as the latter is preferably provided with ten units, and is adapted to
be turned through one complete revolution in ten miles, the segmental or mutilated
rack 70 thereof is adapted to communicate a step-by-step movement to the tens
ring 63 at intervals of ten miles.
It is desirable to construct the trip-registering mechanism in such a way as to
enable it to be turned back, or to have its members assembled to indicate zero, and
hence I have shown the rings of higher denomination, in this instance the units
and tens rings, provided in their rear edges with shallow channels 73, each being
provided at a suitable point with a shoulder or offset 74, for engagement by an
assembling spring 75 carried by the adjacent ring or lower denomination. I
have also provided the hub of the pinion 68 with an extension terminating in a
key-seat 76 adapted to receive the extremity of a key 77, whereby rotary motion
may be communicated through the pinion 68 to the ring 63. When the zero of
the ring 63 comes opposite the zero of the ring 62, the shoulder or offset 74 of
the ring 63 engages the spring 75 of the ring 62, and hence motion is communi-
cated simultaneously to both rings. In the same way, when the zeros of the

page_text: rings 63 and 62 come opposite the zero of the fractions ring 61, the parts will be
interlocked and all will turn simultaneously to bring the zeros into view through
the inspection opening 59.
The bracket 78 which I preferably employ for supporting the casing of the
cyclometer is provided with a transverse guide 79 in which is fitted the slide 80 on
the lower side of the casing. This slide or shoe is provided with an inclined
flange 81 at one side and a threaded lip 82 at the other side for engagement by a
feed-screw 83 which is terminally mounted, by means of journal portions 84
and 85, in a half sleeve 86 at one side of the guide. By turning the feed-screw the
lateral position of the casing may be varied with relation to the plane of the
wheel, whereby, when not required for use, the casing may be moved to such a
point as to remove the star-wheel out of the path of the button 22. Said bracket
is also preferably provided with an arm 87 terminating in a lamp-support or
clip 88.
Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction
inay be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the
advantages of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is:-
1. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating-shaft, of a
plurality of parallel co-axially mounted registering rings exposed at contiguous
points, the ring of lowest denomination being operatively connected with said shaft
to receive forward rotary movement therefrom, and connections between the rings
including continuous racks on the rings of higher denomination, contiguous
segmental or mutilated racks on the rings of lower denomination, and pinions, each
arranged in operative relation with the mutilated rack of one ring and a continuous
rack of the contiguous ring, the pinion which meshes with the continuous rack
of the ring of highest denomination having means whereby backward rotation may
be manually imparted thereto, and means for communicating backward rotation
from a ring of higher to the next of lower denomination, substantially as specified.
2. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating shaft of
parallel registering rings exposed at a common point, the ring of lowest denomina-
tion being operatively connected with said shaft, means for communicating motion
from one ring to the next of higher denomination including continuous racks on
the rings of higher denomination, contiguous mutilated racks on the rings of
lower denomination, and pinions each meshing with the continuous rack of one
ring and the mutilated rack of the contiguous ring of lower denomination, and
springs carried by each ring of lower denomination to engage shoulders or pro-
jections on the contiguous ring of higher denomination, and adapted to communi-
cate backward rotation from the ring of higher to the next of lower denomination,
the pinion which is in mesh with the continuous rack of the ring of highest
denomination having a key-seat for engagement by an exteriorly applied key,
whereby the rings may be re-set, substantially as specified.
3. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing having an open front side,
and a removable face-plate provided with inspection openings, an operating-shaft
mounted in the casing, an annular bearing-frame removably fitted in and having
a sliding connection with the casing, and held in place against sliding movement
by means of said face-plate, long-distance registering devices enclosed within the
bearing-frame, having disks exposed at openings in the face-plate, and operatively
connected with said shaft, registering rings mounted upon the exterior surface of
the bearing-frame and exposed at contiguous points through an opening in the side
wall of the casing, connections between the ring of lowest denomination and said
shaft, and means for communicating motion from each ring of lower to the next
of higher denomination, substantially as specified.
4. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing having an open front side

page_text: fitted with a removable face-plate provided with inspection openings, an operating-
shaft, a removable annular bearing-frame fitted in and having a sliding connection
with the casing by means of lugs 12 fitting in seats in the wall of the casing, and
adapted to be locked in said seats against sliding movement by means of the face-
plate, long-distance registering devices enclosed within the bearing-frame, having
disks exposed at the openings in the face-plate of the casing, and operatively con-
nected with said shaft, registering rings mounted on the exterior surface of the
bearing-frame and exposed at contiguous points through an opening in the wall
of the casing, and operating devices for said rings, substantially as specified.
5. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating shaft
mounted therein, the casing being provided in its front and side walls with inspec-
tion openings, annular trip registering devices exposed at the openings in the side
wall of the casing and long-distance registering devices enclosed by the annular
trip-registering devices for exposure through the openings in the front wall of
the casing, said registering devices being operatively connected with said shaft
for simultaneous movement, and means for re-setting or assembling the members
of the trip-registering mechanism without affecting the long-distance registering
mechanism, substantially as specified.
6. In a cyclometer, the combination with a cylindrical casing and an operating
shaft mounted therein, the casing being provided in its front and side walls with
inspection openings, of an annular bearing frame arranged within and connected
with the casing, long-distance registering devices enclosed within the bearing-
frame, having disks exposed at the openings in the front wall of the casing and
operatively connected with said shaft, trip-registering rings mounted exteriorly
upon said bearing-frame for exposure through the openings in the side wall of
the casing, and operatively connected with said shaft, and exterior means for
resetting or assembling the members of the trip-registering mechanism, sub-
stantially as specified.
7. In a cyclometer, the combination of a casing having an open front side, a
removable face-plate, a flanged collar engaging the side wall of the casing to
secure the face-plate in place, a bearing-frame fitted within the casing and having
projecting lugs engaging seats or notches in the side walls of the casing, the open
front ends of said seats or notches being closed by the face-plate, an operating shaft
mounted in the casing, long-distance registering devices mounted within said
bearing-frame and operatively connected with the said shaft, and trip-registering
mechanism mounted exteriorly upon the bearing-frame, exposed through a side
opening in the casing and operatively connected with said shaft, substantially as
specified.
8. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating-shaft, of an
annular bearing-frame arranged within the casing, long-distance registering
devices enclosed within the bearing-frame in operative connection with said shaft
and having disks exposed through openings in the front wall of the casing, trip-
registering rings mounted exteriorly upon said bearing-frame and operatively
connected with said shaft, connections between the rings including continuous and
mutilated racks respectively on the rings of higher and lower denomination, and
pinions engaging the continuous rack of one ring and the contiguous mutilated
rack of the adjacent ring, said pinions having angular hubs, brake-springs arranged
in permanent engagement with the hubs of the pinions, and means adapted to be
manually operated, for communicating backward rotation to the pinion which is
in engagement with the continuous rack of the ring of highest denomination, sub-
stantially as specified.
9. In a cyclometer, the combination with a casing and an operating shaft
mounted therein, the casing having a removable front wall provided with inspec-
tion openings, of an annular bearing-frame removably fitted in the casing, parallel
front and rear partitions arranged transversely within the bearing-frame, a
registering-spindle mounted in bearings in said partitions and carrying a fixed
transmitting gear and an exposed index, an intermediate or counter-shaft mounted
upon and parallel with the rear partition for communicating motion from the

page_text: operating-shaft to said spindle, a plurality of stub-shafts carried by the front parti-
tion and projecting toward the front wall of the casing, registering disks having
their sleeves mounted respectively upon said stub-shafts and the registering-
spindle and exposed respectively through said inspection openings in the front
wall, and means for communicating motion from the registering-spindle to the
disk of lowest denomination and from each disk of lower to the next of higher
denomination, substantially as specified.
10. In a cyclometer, the combination of a casing provided with front and side
inspection openings, an operating shaft mounted axially in the casing, a registering-
spindle mounted parallel with the shaft and having a fractions-index traversing a
dial on the front wall, long-distance registering devices including disks exposed
respectively through the inspection openings in the front wall, the disk of lowest
denomination being operatively connected with said spindle, and the disks of lower
denomination being operatively connected respectively with contiguous disks of
higher denomination, a plurality of registering rings mounted upon a bearing
encircling and concentric with said operating shaft and exposed through the
inspection opening in the side wall of the casing, a ratchet wheel mounted con-
centrically with said shaft and connected for simultaneous movement by inter-
mediate gearing with the registering-spindle, springs carried by the registering
ring of lowest denomination to engage the teeth of said ratchet wheel and adapted
to slip idly thereover when reverse motion is imparted to the ring, means for com-
municating motion from each ring to the next of higher denomination, assembling
devices for communicating motion from each ring to the next of lower denomina-
tion when reverse motion is imparted thereto, and setting devices for communi-
cating backward motion to the ring of highest denomination, substantially as
specified.
11. In a cyclometer, the combination with registering devices enclosed in a
casing, of a bracket having a transverse seat or guide, a slide attached to said
casing and fitted in the guide, and a feed-screw mounted in the guide and engaging
the slide to advance the casing toward or from the plane of a vehicle wheel, sub-
stantially as specified.
12. In a cyclometer, the combination with registering devices enclosed in the
casing, of a bracket having a transverse dove-tailed guide provided at one side with
a shield having terminal half-bearings, a slide attached to the casing and fitted
in the guide, said slide being provided at one side with a threaded half-sleeve, and
a feed-screw having journal portions mounted in the bearings at the extremities
of said shield and engaging the half-sleeve of the slide to advance the casing toward
or from the plane of a vehicle-wheel, substantially as specified.
13. As a new article of manufacture, a combined lamp and cyclometer bracket
provided with means for attachment to a vehicle frame, and having independent
attaching devices for a lamp and a cyclometer, the former consisting of a fixed
ear 88, and the latter including a slide, and adjusting devices for varying the
position of the slide, substantially as specified.
Dated this 21st day of February 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.