of Velocipedes and other Vehicles and for Similar Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1887.
of Velocipedes and other Vehicles and for Similar Purposes.
I HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improvement in devices for determining the distances
run by velocipedes or other vehicles, commonly called "Cyclometers," parts of the
invention however being applicable to other registering devices, and the invention
relates more particularly to that class of cyclometers or registering devices in which
the units, tens, hundreds &c., are successively presented by concentric rings to an
opening, so as to indicate revolutions by the respective figures, units, tens, hundreds
&c. the object being a simple and compact device, which may be readily applied to
the machine.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 represents a face view of the cyclometer complete.
Figure 2, side view of the same.
Figure 3 Inside view looking upon the count-rings, the dial removed.
Figure 4, Inside view of the case the count-rings and disc F removed, showing the
device for actuating the pawl k.
Figure 5, Detached view, enlarged, showing the eccentric connection between the
shaft, D and the lever H.
Figure 6, Inside view of the dial showing the several stop dogs.
Figure 7, The disc F with the count rings removed showing the friction partition
springs.
A
tional side view

page_text: Figure 9, Sectional view showing one of the dogs and the studs in the rings with
which it is engaged.
The case A is of cylindrical form, made from metal, and provided with a dial B, upon
which the graduations are made, say indicating rods, and so that the full circumference
of the dial indicates say three hundred and twenty rods, or one inile, as a full revolu-
tion of the pointer C on the dial.
At one point near the periphery of the dial, and in suitable bearings a shaft D is
arranged, parallel with the axis of the case, but free to revolve in its bearings; this
shaft is provided with a clamp E, by which it may be secured to one of the spokes of
the vehicle wheel, and so that the shaft being clamped to the wheel, it will hold the
case A suspended, and so that as the wheel revolves, the case will necessarily revolve
with it, but being suspended free upon the shaft, it follows, that gravity will prevent
the case from revolving with the shaft D, but on the contrary will maintain its same
vertical position irrespective of the position of the shaft D with relation to the vehicle
wheel, consequently as the vehicle wheel revolves once, and the case does not revolve,
it follows that the shaft will make one revolution in each revolution of the vehicle
wheel independent of the case.
Upon the inside of the case is a dise F, having series of teeth upon its periphery to
form a ratchet wheel hung upon a concentric axis G in the case, the axis of the ratchet
being substantially parallel with the axis of the vehicle wheel. On the same axis an
arm H is hung, see figure 4, adapted to swing in a plane parallel with the disc F. On
the shaft D inside the case is an eccentric I, see figure 5, which works in a slot J in
the outer end of the arm H, and so that each revolution of the shaft D will impart a
full vibratory movement to the arm H as indicated in broken lines figure 4. The
arm H carries a pawl K, which is adapted to work in the teeth of the disc F as seen
in figure 3, and so that at each full vibration of the arm H the pawl K will impart to
the disc F one step in its rotation. A spring stop dog L is provided which will engage
the teeth of the periphery of the disc as the disc is advanced by the pawl K, and so as
to prevent the retreat of the disc as the pawl is drawn back for a new engagement.
On the face of the disc F the concentric counting rings M, N and O are arranged,
presenting figures indicating respectively units, tens, and hundreds, the number of
rings however may be more or less according to the count or registration required.
The disc F is provided with concentric partitions P and R, see Figure 7, between
the respective count rings M, N and O; these partitions are designed to produce
frictional engagement with respective rings, so that if the said rings be free, the move-
ment of the disc will be imparted to said rings, and to ensure this engagement the
partitions P. R, are made in the form of thin flat springs, secured to the plate, but
free therefrom for a portion of their circumference, say as from a Figure 7, to one
end of the spring, and from the point a to the other end of the spring they are secured
to the disc, the curve of the spring or free portion of the partitions being normally
of a different curve from that of the adjacent faces of corresponding rings, as indicated
by broken lines in Figure 7, and so that this different curvature of the free portion of
the partitions causes them to act like springs between the respective rings, and so as
to produce a pressure upon the adjacent surfaces of the said rings, that is, the inner
spring R upon the inner ring, and the spring P upon the second ring. At the same
time the curvature of the springs permit them to press outward against the next ring,
so that the spring R also bears against the inside of the second ring, and the spring P
against the inner surface of the outer ring, the friction between the spring parti-
tions and the several count rings being sufficient to cause the count rings to revolve
with the disc F, when they are free so to do. The count rings are prevented from
rotation except at predetermined times, by means of spring dogs S, T, U and V, fixed
upon the inner side of the dial B, and so as to bear upon the surface of the several
count rings.
On the face of the count rings, that is, upon the side next the dial, a series of studs,
projections, or teeth are formed at equal distances, there being ten such studs on each
count ring corresponding to the nine units and the ciphers composing the series of
figures of each ring. These studs as represented in Figure 3, are on each ring in a

page_text: line concentric with the ring itself, and for convenience of illustration, the first stud
of the series is designated as 1, the second stud 2, the third stud 3 &c., the position of
these studs thus referred to, corresponds to the position of the dogs on the disc Figure 6,
when the three ciphers of the count rings are presented before the opening W in the
dial. On the outer count ring there is a single stud or projection b and a like pro-
jection b on each of the other rings, these projections b being inside of, or excentric
to the line of the series of studs, and these stand at the initial point, or what is indicated
as the studs 1.
The dog V stands in the path of the stud b of the inner or hundreds ring, and so
that when that stud comes to a bearing against the dog V, it will prevent the
backward rotation of that inner ring beyond the zero point, but will leave the ring
free to turn in the advance direction, or to be returned until it be brought to that
stop or zero position.
The nosed of the dog U acts in the same manner upon the stud b of the second or
tens ring, so that while it will leave it free to revolve in an advanced direction, it will
prevent its being turned backward beyond the position of presenting the cipher to the
opening.
The nose e of the dog T acts in the same manner upon the stud b of the third or
units ring.
The dog U is constructed with a projection h at its nose or free end, which stands
in the path of the series of studs on the third or hundreds ring beneath which the
said studs must pass as the ring rotates. The face of this projection toward the
count rings, is made of convex shape, as seen in Figure 9. On the dog T is a like
projection which stands in the path of the series of studs on the second or tens ring,
and on the dog S is a like projection which stands in the path of the series of studs
on the outer or unit ring.
The rotation of the disk F is in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3.
Starting say from the position of zero, as seen in Figure 3, the projection g of the
disk stands against the nosef of the dog S; the stud or projection b on the units ring
stands stopped against the nose e, of the dog T; the stud of the tens ring stands
stopped against the nose d on the dog U, and the stud b, of the hundreds ring stands
stopped against the dog V.
As the disk F completes its full revolution, the projection g thereon passes beneath
the dog S, and raises that dog, so that the projection may escape and pass beyond,
and while the disk has been thus revolving, the stud 1 of the units count ring has
been held against the projection of the dog S, and in like manner the stud 1 of the
tens count ring has been held against the rear end of the projection of the dog T,
and in like manner the stud 1 of the hundreds ring has been held against the rear
end of the projection h, but as the study passes beneath the dog S, and raises it, the
projection frises out of the path of the stud 1 on the units ring, and permits that ring
then to advance with the disk under the frictional contact of the two, but so soon as
the projection g has passed beyond the dog S, and the stud 1 on the units ring has
passed beyond the projection of the dog; then the dog S is free to drop, and comes
into the path of the second stud, which as the disk continues to revolve will be
brought against the rear end of the projection, to hold the units ring until the next
revolution of the disk F, and so continuing, each full revolution of the disk F will
release the units ring and permit its advance one step, it being arrested at each step
by the successive or next stud or projection coming against the projection f of the
dog S. The units ring advancing, takes its stud 6 from the nose e of the dog T, and
as the units ring advances step by step, it finally in completing its revolution, brings
the stud b beneath the dog T, and causes its rise, as did the projection 9 cause the
dog S to rise, and so as to raise the projection of the dog T out of the path of the
stud 1 on the tens ring, which was held by the dog T, and so that the stud 1 passes
on and brings the next tens figure into position at the opening in the dial, and then
when the tens ring completes its full revolution the stud 6 thereon passes beneath the
dog U, and raises that dog, to permit the stud 1 of the hundreds ring to escape, and
then will drop into the path of the next stud 2, and so continuing each full revolution

page_text: of the disk permits one step advance of the units ring, and a full revolution of the
units ring permits one step advance of the tens, and a full revolution of the tens ring,
permits one step advance of the hundreds ring, and so on if there be more rings, and
the figures of the respective rings will be successively presented to the opening, one
revolution of the disk F indicates say three hundred and twenty rods or one mile,
the 1 of the units ring will be presented, and each successive figure of the units, until
a full revolution is made, when the cipher will again come to the opening, then the 1 of
the tens ring is presented and so on, in like manner as in other registering devices.
In rings arranged concentrically, it is desirable that the figures should all be of the
same size, but this leaves a blank space between the regular counting figures, and as
it takes a considerable portion of the revolution of the disk F to produce a sufficient
advance movement of the units ring to present successive figures, so that the units
figure will be removed and a blank space exist for a considerable time, hence there is
a space during the beginning of each mile when it is difficult to determine what is the
units figure.
To overcome this difficulty the units ring is double numbered, that is has two 1's,
two 2's, two 3's, and so on successively, and so that at the completion of the mile one
figure will be brought to the desired position in the opening, and then as the ring
advances to complete its full step, that figure will pass on beyond the opening, and
another like figure come into place at the opening, thus insuring the position of a
figure at the opening at all times.
In case the rings are multiplied to thousands, tens of thousands &c., the duplication
of the figures may be made upon the several outer rings, and in the extreme case it
may be desirable to make three or more figures upon the outer ring or rings, so as to
ensure a proper indication at all times.
It is often desirable to set the indicator at zero, and if this were necessarily done
by an advance of the count ring carrying disk, a very great number of revolutions
would be necessary. To avoid this and make the setting convenient, a lever is arranged
within the case, upon a fulcrum m, one arm n of which rests beneath the nose of the
pawl K, and the stop dog L, the other arm » extends through the side of the case, and
so that by pressing the arm inward, the arm will be thrown outward and raise the
dogs as indicated in broken lines Figure 4, and so as to leave the disk F free to be
turned backward. Upon the reverse side of the case the central shaft G is constructed
so that it may be turned by any suitable instrument applied thereto; this may be in
like manner as a clock is set; not necessary to be described. Then as the disk is
turned rearward, the rings turn with it, the under face of the projections h, i, and fof
the dogs U, T, and S, are rounded, or inclined at the forward end, as seen in Figure 9,
so that the studs pass freely beneath the dogs, the dogs yielding for them so to do
and so that the rings may be turned until the studs bring up against the noses hi
and f of the several dogs at the zero position.
While the mechanism above described. is preferred, for imparting the intermittent
or step by step rotation to the respective count rings, to turn them in their respective
grooves on the plate supporting them, other mechanism may be substituted therefor,
the advantages of the partition between the rings not being dependent upon the
specific mechanism for imparting such rotation to the rings.
Again, the peculiar mechanism for operating the several rings may be employed
without the partitions, other frictional means being employed to prevent the
accidental or untimely movement of the several rings, the invention is therefore not
to be understood as limited to the specific construction of the mechanism described,
the right being reserved to modify such mechanism, the essential features of the
invention being pointed out in the following claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is
First. In a registering mechanism, the combination of two or more concentric
rings, a concentric plate upon which said rings are arranged in substantially the

page_text: same plane, the face of said rings provided with figures indicating respectively
units, tens, hundreds, &c., the said plate provided with concentric flanges between
adjacent rings, said flanges forming concentric grooves in which said rings may
rotate, with mechanism substantially such as described to impart intermittent rotation
to said rings.
Second. In a registering device substantially such as described, the combination
of a case, a disk hung upon an axis in said case, mechanism substantially such as
described to impart intermittent rotation to said disk, two or more concentric count
rings on said disk, each of said rings provided with a concentric series of
studs 1, 2, 3, &c., each of said rings also provided with a stud eccentric to the said
series of studs, with spring dogs adapted to engage the said series of studs on each
ring, and the dog of one ring adapted also to engage the eccentric stud of the
next ring, substantially as described.
Third. In a registering device substantially such as described, the combination of
a case, a disk F hung upon an axis in said case, a shaft D parallel with the axis
of the disk F, and to which rotation is imparted, a pawl K to which reciprocating
motion is imparted by said shaft D, the said pawl adapted to work upon the periphery
of the said disk F, and impart step by step rotation thereto, two or more concentric
count rings on said disk, spring partitions fixed to said disk and between said rings,
said springs adapted to bear frictionally upon said rings, each of said count rings
provided with a concentric series of studs, 1, 2, 3 &c. each of said rings also provided
with a stud b eccentric to the said series of studs, and the disk also provided with a
projection g outside the outer count ring, with spring dogs adapted to engage the
said series of studs on each ring, and the dog of one ring adapted also to engage
the said eccentric stud of the next ring or the projection g on the disk substantially as
described.
בד
101
1
T 1
1001