Improvements connected with Coin Controlled Strength Testing Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with Coin Controlled Strength Testing
Machines.
I FRANKLIN WILLIAM KREMER of Cleveland, County of Cuyahoga, Ohio,
United States of America, President of the Internation Strength Test Company.
of Cleveland County of Cuyahoga, Ohio United States of America, 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 that class of machines known generally as coin.
controlled machines, and more particularly as pneumatic strength testing machines.
The object of the invention is to produce an apparatus in combination with a:
striking head or buffer, whereby a blow delivered on the said buffer, shall act to
effect a compression of air contained in a cylinder, the latter being directly:
connected with any suitable form of indicator adapted for registering in pounds the
force of the blow.
A further object of the invention being to employ such peculiar construction and
Bovel arrangement of parts, so that the force of a blow delivered on a pueumatically.
operating striking head or buffer, shall be accurately indicated by the travel of an
index finger over a dial plate; furthermore, to provide suitable means, whereby,
after a blow has been delivered on the striking head, the latter shall be auto-
matically, and at the same time gradually returned to its normal position.
:
Furthermore, the invention contemplates the provision of suitable means,:
adapted to be operated automatically on the insertion of a coin of certain size,:
whereby the machine shall be set for a predetermined number of operations, also,
said means being capable of adjustment to allow for any desired number of:
operations of the machine, on the insertion of a single coin.
Furthermore, the object being to employ such novel construction throughout the
apparatus, whereby any fraudulent attempt to set the machine for action by the
insertion of a counterfeit coin, shall be successfully obviated.
Furthermore, the object being to provide a suitable device, whereby the omission
to insert a proper coin, shall result in the failure of the indicating mechanism to
register the force of the blow delivered on the striking head.
$
Furthermore, the object being to allow for the operation of the striking head or
buffer at any time, and with or without the insertion of a coin, thus obviating the:
liability of injury to inexperienced operators; also, providing a novel device,
whereby the coin acts as a key to the indicator. Furthermore, the object being to
so construct certain parts, whereby the index finger after having been driven to any.
point on a graduated dial plate shall be temporarily retained at said point, until
the next operation, that is to say, until the operator has exhausted the indicator
gauge, of the air compressed during the preceding operation preparatory to the.
delivery of the second blow thus allowing said index finger to return to the zero.
point of the scale.
Finally the object of the invention is to avoid complicated or delicate mechanism
and to produce a machine of this class that shall be at once strong, durable,,
thoroughly efficient in operation and comparatively inexpensive of manufacture.
With these objects in view the invention consists in a pneumatic strength testing.
machine, comprising a hollow pedestal of ordinary form, having a receptacle in the.
base thereof, for the reception of coins, and a hinged door whereby access may be
had to the interior of said receptacle: furthermore, mounted on said pedestal and:
securely held in position by bolts, a spherical casing is arranged, having flattened.
faces enclosed by annular flanges, forming circular. frames for containing advertising.

page_text: or explanatory matter, said spherical casing being adapted for enclosing the
mechanism to be hereinafter described; furthermore, the invention consists in a
pneumatically operating striking head or buffer mounted on the outer projecting
end of a movable rod, the latter having secured on its opposite extremity a piston
of an air cylinder: furthermore, in combination with a striking head or buffer,
secured on one end.of.a movable rod, of a head mounted on the opposite end thereof
and working in an air cylinder, said air cylinder being provided with an outlet, an
indicating device, a flexible tubing connecting said outlet with the indicator and a
combined non-return and exhaust valve interposed in said connection; furthermore,
the combination with a pneumatically operating buffer, mounted, a piston head of
an air cylinder also mounted thereon, said air cylinder having direct communication
with a pressure gauge through a flexible connection, a combined non-return and
exhaust valve interposed in said connection, and a suitable spring being attached at
one end to said piston and having the opposite end secured to a fixed point, whereby
a gradual return of the buffer is automatically effected; furthermore, the com-
bination with a pneumatically operating buffer, of suitable means, whereby the
travel of an index finger over a dial plate shall automatically indicate the force of
a blow delivered on said buffer, comprising a ratchet having formed on its rear side
an annular projecting flange and a series of projecting lugs, the distance between
the lugs corresponding to the diameter of a determined coin, and the annular flange
adapted to form a bottom support for the coin in the receptacle or pocket, thus
providing at the bottom of the coin director or shute a series of revoluble coin
receptacles; furthermore, the combination with a ratchet having formed on its rear
side a series of pockets, of a spring held pivoted arm, contiguous with said ratchet,
and of such curvature as to be normally retained in a position whereby it is engaged
and thrown by contact with the pocketed coin to release the indicator brake as the
disk is revolved; furthermore, the combination of a ratchet disk as described, of
an arm adjacent thereto, a bell-crank lever pivotally secured and having mounted
at the extremity a friction roller, the latter being adapted to ride on an
incline of the movable piston rod, whereby motion is transmitted to said
bell-crank lever, to actuate the spring pressed pawl of said ratchet; furthermore,
in combination with a ratchet disk having a series of pockets formed on its rear
side, of the spring-held arm adjacent thereto, the bell-crank lever carrying a
friction roller adapted to slide on an incline of the piston rod, a pawl pivotally:
secured to one arm of the bell-crank lever and working in guides, and a brake-
lever of the indicator controlled and thrown by said spring-held arm, said brake
nominally holding the indicator against action and adapted to be operated and.
released through a movement of the aforesaid spring-held arm, whereby after the
coin has left the director or shute and lodged in a pocket of the series formed on
the rear side of the ratchet disk a blow is delivered on the buffer and the resultant
motion of the piston rod causes the friction roller to ride over the incline, thereby
throwing the bell-crank lever which in turn actuates the spring-pressed pawl to
rotute the ratchet disk the distance of one tooth thus effecting an engagement
between the coin and the spring-held arm, the motion of the latter being sufficient
to release the brake of the indicator allowing for the travel of the index finger
over the dial plate; furthermore, the invention consists in a modified form of:
apparatus comprising a locking device for the piston rod, wherein the latter is
provided with a slot which is adapted to be normally engaged by a locking arm;
furthermore, said locking arm being mounted on the spring held rod carrying a
coin actuated arm, whereby as the coin is inserted it passes downwardly and is
guided by a director or shute to the bottom of the coin slot formed in a standard
where it lodges between an unyielding point and a revolubly mounted coin actuated
arm, where it is again acted upon by a plunger and forced out of the slot, thereby
throwing said coin actuated arm and by reason of the rigid connection between
the latter and the spring-held rod carrying the locking arm, a disengagement is
effected between the slot of the piston rod and said locking arm; furthermore,
after the locking arm is forced outwardly it is retained in that position by the

page_text: performed the predetermined number of operations, when, by a novel device herein
known as a multiple or differential ratchet and actuated by a pawl on the piston
rod, the locking arm is released and again engages the slot of the piston rod,
thereby locking the machine against further action until another coin has been
inserted; finally, the invention consists in various novel details of construction.
In describing the invention in detail, reference is had to the accompanying
drawings forming a part of this Specification, wherein like letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several views, in which ;-
Fig. 1, is a view in side elevation of a complete machine.
Fig. 2, is a central longitudinal sectional view of the same with the pedestal
broken away.
Fig. 3, is an enlarged detail view of the coin operating mechanism.
Fig. 4, is a detail view showing the rear side of the coin carrying disk.
Fig. 5, is a detail plan view showing the indicator brake device.
Fig. 6, is a central longitudinal sectional view of a modification.
Fig. 7, is
removed.
an enlarged detail perspective view of the same with the casing
Fig. 8, is a detail sectional view of a portion of the same.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, are detail views further illustrating the same.
Fig. 13, is a view in horizontal section of the combined non-return and
exhaust valve and
Figs. 14, 15 and 16, are views in detail showing the peculiar form of the
piston head.
In these drawings,
A, indicates the pedestal of ordinary construction having near its base the
door a, and secured thereon by means of the bolts a', is a spherical casing A²,
having flattened faces a³, the latter being suitably enclosed by annular flanges
forming frames and adapted to contain advertising or explanatory matter.
Suitably secured in this spherical head is an air cylinder B, provided with a
piston B, the rod of the latter having mounted on its outer projecting end a
striking head or buffer A¹, and on its inner end a piston head B³, provided with
a series of passages b, (Fig. 14) controlled by a flap valve 62, whereby an automatic
supply of air through the cylinder is effected; the said piston is also provided
with a second series of ports or passages 63, (Fig. 15) leading to a circumferential
passage, formed under the packing ring 6, whereby on the forward stroke the
air contained in the cylinder entering said ports or passages 6, will tend to force
the packing ring outwardly, thereby forming a self acting packing ring.
C, represents the indicator, (here shown to illustrate the broad idea of an
ordinary form of pressure gauge) connecting with the air cylinder B through the
flexible connection C, and interposed in the connection between said cylinder and
indicator is a combined nou-return and exhaust valve D, Figs. 2, 6, 7, and 13.
This valve may be readily operated either by the piston or by hand, the latter
method being preferably employed, wherein an operating knob or handle d, having
a depending projection d', is supported and guided in the cylindrical opening d³,
and connected with the lever d', of the valve, through the rod d³, whereby as the
knob or handle is elevated the valve is exhausted as will be readily understood by
reference to Figs. 2 and 7.
The operation of the device as thus far described, is as follows; a blow delivered
on the striking head or buffer drives the piston forward causing a compression of
air in the cylinder and at the same time forcing the air into the gauge through
the flexible connection where it is trapped by the non-return valve until the
operator elevates the operating knob or handle connected with the lever of the
exhaust valve.
The coin controlling mechanism comprises two ratchet discs E and E', mounted
on a stud e; in the rear of the indicator and on the rear side of the disk E, an
annular projecting ledge or flange e*, is cast, also adjacent to the periphery of the

page_text: same a series of projecting lugs e³, are formed, the distance between said lug
corresponding to the diameter of a determined coin (see Fig. 4).
Leading from the coin entrance slot, in the case is a shute or director F, which
is so arranged as to guide and deposit the coin X, in one of the pockets e, formed
by the annular flange e², and the lugs e³. Thus it will be readily seen, that the
coin projecting beyond the periphery of the disk E, as the ratchet E' is rotated,
engages the curved edge g, of a spring-held pivoted arm G, and forces it outwardly,
thereby transmitting motion to an arm h, of the indicator controlling detent K
Fig. 5, which frees or releases said indicator gearing and allows for the travel of
an index finger h³, over a dial plate 3, Fig. 1, thereby registering the force of a
blow delivered on the striking head. Referring to Fig. 3, it will be observed that
the several parts are in a position assumed after the first blow has been struck
wherein the ratchet disk has been rotated the distance of one tooth, thereby
carrying the coin to a point midway of its travel and said coin retaining the
arm G, in an elevated position against the action of the spring 9', at the same time,
said arm G, in turn has continuous contact with the brake arm of the indicator,
until the third blow is struck, when the revolving coin carrying disk allows the
coin to drop out of the pocket, into the receptacle in the pedestal, and the several
parts resume their normal position, as shown in Fig. 2.
To prevent the ratchet from turning too far, and secure a positive action, a
spring frictional pawl I, is adapted to engage the notches of the disk E.
The operating mechanism of the pawl of the ratchet E', comprises the bell-
crank lever J, Fig. 3 pivoted at j, and having mounted on one arm thereof a
friction roller, engaging an incline j³, of the piston rod, and held in position
thereon by a spring ; the other arm of said bell-crank lever being slotted as
at jo, for the reception of the stud j, of the sliding block 7. This block is adapted
to run in guides 18, and secured thereto, is the spring-pressed pawl 1º, which is
pivoted on said block as at 710. Thus it will be understood, that as the piston is
on its forward stroke, motion will be transmitted to said pawl and an engagement
effected to rotate the ratchet E¹.
To the pinion shaft K, Fig. 5 of the indicator, a cam K', provided with a lug K³,
is secured, and designed to engage a shoulder K³, of the pivoted arm K, having a
stud or arm h, extending through a slot in the rear plate as above described.
In Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, a modified form of device is shown, wherein
the piston rod B³, mounted and guided in a supporting tube B', carries a spring-
pressed pawl B, (Fig. 10) the latter being adapted to engage and rotate the
ratchet disk L', of the differential ratchet L.
This ratchet consists of two disks L², L', cast or otherwise secured together and
revolubly mounted on a short shaft I, supported in suitable bearings on the upwardly
projecting bracket 6, of the supporting tube B₁.
Secured on one end of this tube B₁, is a standard M, (see Figs. 7 & 8,) having
formed therein two slots m, m³. These slots run parallel to a point about midway
of their length, when the former is inclined and joined to the latter as at m³. The
slot m³, being adapted for the reception of a sliding plunger m³, which is connected
with a depending rod of the operating knob by a thumb screw m³, thus to insert a
coin, the operating knob, (having a flat base portion covering the entrance slot,)
must be elevated, and as the coin is directed to the slot m, through the shute F, it
is free to pass to the bottom of the slot m², and after the operating knob has been
released, it falls by its own weight and drives the plunger downwardly to engage
the coin and force it out of the slot.
Arranged adjacent to the supporting tube and suitably mounted in bearings, is a
spring-held rod me, Fig. 7 having secured thereon a piston locking arm m7, and a
coin actuated arm m, the latter carrying a friction roller m³, which is normally held
in contact with an indentation formed in the slotted portion of the standard, as
shown in the drawings, thus as the plunger forces the coin out of the slot, engage
ment between the coin and the roller m³, of the arm m³, is effected to throw and
partially rotate the latter, thereby transmitting motion to the piston locking

page_text: arm m, and causing a disengagement with the slot m¹0, of the piston rod. As the
arm m', is thrown outwardly, a pivoted pawl l, is actuated by a spring 13, to retain
said arm from again engaging the slot by a lug *.
In successfully overcoming fraudulent attempts on the part of operators, to set
the machine for action by the insertion of a counterfeit coin, the interior diameter
of the entrance slot, very slightly exceeds the diameter of the determined coin and
the length of movement given to the locking arm is just sufficient to allow the-top
of said arm to clear the lug 1.
From the foregoing it will be at once obvious that a coin of smaller diameter
would prove ineffectual in operating, as a key to the piston locking mechanism.
In securing a multiple action of the piston by the insertion of a single coin, a
double ratchet is employed such as L, wherein the disks are toothed according to
any predetermined number of operations the machine is to be set for, that is to say;
if two actions are given for a coin, the disks are toothed in the proportion of one to
two, if three, of one to three, if four, one to four and so on. The operation of
this differential ratchet is as follows. After the locking lever has been thrown and
caused to disengage the slot of the piston, the pawl 1, is forced downwardly by the
spring, and the lug, engaging said arm m', and retaining it in its outward
position, prepares the machine for action. After the blow has been delivered and
the piston is on its backward stroke, the spring pawl B', engaging the tooth of the
ratchet L, partially rotates the same, thus bringing the pawl, midway of the
teeth on the disk L, and after the next blow, the spring pawl of the piston rod
again engaging the disk L, and imparting motion thereto effects an engagement
between a tooth of the disk L³, and the pawl, which elevates the latter and at
the same time, allows the locking arm to drop into the slot of the piston rod, to
lock the same against further action.
Integral with the locking arm, and partaking of the movement thereof, is
arranged a signal operating arm n, which is adapted to engage and operate an index
finger n', of the signal N, (see Fig. 9).
"
66
"
This finger or pointer n², is pivotally secured at n³, and so constructed as to point
out such words as "open," shut," " strike now etc., etc., when the machine is in
corresponding positions.
The operation of the machine will be readily understood from the foregoing
description. It will be particularly noted that various changes may be made in
proportioning certain parts of the apparatus, for example, the coin actuated arm G,
may be lengthened to partly encircle the disk E, and thus constructed will produce
any desired number of operations by the insertion of a single coin as will be
obvious; furthermore, the detail construction may also be varied without materially
departing from the general idea involved.
Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, what I claim is
1. In a coin controlled machine, a pneumatically operating buffer, mounted on
one end of a movable rod, the piston head suitably connected with said rod and the
air cylinder, the indicator connecting with said air cylinder, substantially as
described.
2. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
striking head or buffer suitably connected with the end of a movable rod, of a
piston head mounted on the opposite end thereof, and air cylinder and an indicator
communicating therewith, substantially as described.
3. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
striking head or buffer mounted on one end of a movable rod, of a piston head
secured on the opposite end thereof, an air cylinder and an indicator communicating
therewith through a flexible connection, said indicator being normally held locked,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with the pneumatically

page_text: operating, striking head or buffer, of a piston and air cylinder, the latter communi-
cating with an indicator, said indicator being normally held locked and suitable
means for automatically releasing, said lock, substantially as described.
.
5. In a pneumatic strength testing machine, the combination with an air
cylinder of an indicator communicating therewith, said indicator being normally
held-locked, as set forth.
6. The combination with a pneumatically operating buffer mounted on the end
of a movable rod, having an inclined surface or track, of a bell-crank lever
carrying a friction roller, the latter being adapted to ride on the incline surface or
track of said rod, thereby transmitting motion to the coin operating mechanism,
substantially as described.
7. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer of the piston rod, having an incline surface or track, a bell-crank lever
adapted to be engaged and thrown by said incline, said lever being pivotally
connected with a sliding pawl, controlling the operation of the coin actuated
mechanism, substantially as described.
8. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of a piston rod having an incline surface or track, a bell-crank lever
adapted to be engaged and thrown by said incline, said bell-crank lever with a
sliding pawl, of the coin carrying ratchet, substantially as described.
9. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a coin shute or director,
of a coin carrying disk, substantially as described, located adjacent to the lower
extremity thereof, said disk having formed on one side a series of pockets or
receptacles for the reception of the inserted coins, substantially as set forth.
10. The combination with a pneumatically operating striking head or buffer
mounted on a movable rod, said rod having an incline surface, of a bell-crank
lever adapted to be operated by said rod to transmit motion to the coin carrying
disk, the latter being provided with a series of pockets for the reception of coins,
and a spring held arm pivotally secured in the path of the pocketed coins and
adapted to be engaged and thrown thereby to release an indicator brake, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
11. The combination with a coin carrying disk, substantially as described, of a
spring held arm pivotally secured in the path of the pocketed coin and adapted to
be engaged and thrown thereby and at the same time retaining the coin in one of
the series of pockets of said disk, the length of said arm being equivalent to two or
more movements of the disk, substantially as described.
12. The combination with a coin carrying disk, substantially as described, of the
spring held pivoted arm contiguous thereto and having an inner curved coin
engaging edge approximately concentric, with the circumference of the ratchet
disk, the length of said engaging edge being equivalent to two or more movements
of said disk, substantially as described.
13. In a coin controlled machine, a pneumatically operating buffer mounted on
the end of a movable rod, a piston rod mounted on the opposite end thereof, an
air cylinder, an indicator, a flexible connection between said air cylinder and
indicator, and a combined non-return and exhaust valve interposed in said
connection substantially as described
14. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of the piston rod having mounted thereon a piston head, said head being
provided with valves and passages, substantially as described, forming an automatic
air inlet or supply and a self packing ring, substantially as set forth.
15. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of a piston rod having mounted thereon a piston head, said head being
provided with a circumferential groove with a second annular passage com-
municating with the interior of an air cylinder through suitable ports ³, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
16. In a striking machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating

page_text: buffer, of an automatic piston locking device, comprising a multiple or differential
ratchet and pawls as described, the piston locking arm mounted on a spring held
rod, the latter carrying the coin actuated arm, said locking arm being adapted to
engage a recess or slot of the piston rod, substantially as described.
17. In a striking machine, a pneumatically operating buffer mounted on the
outer projecting end of the piston rod, said rod being provided with a spring
pressed pawl adapted to engage and actuate the piston locking mechanism,
substantially as described.
18. In a striking machine, an automatic piston locking device, substantially as
described comprising a double ratchet, the disk of said ratchet being toothed
proportionately to the number of actions the machine is set for by the insertion
of a coin, the pawl engaging said ratchet and the piston locking arm mounted
on a spring held rod, said rod carrying a coin actuated arm, substantially as
described.
19. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of an air cylinder and piston, the indicator communicating with said
cylinder through a flexible connection, the combined non-return and exhaust valve
interposed in said connection, and the operating knob connecting with the con-
trolling lever of said valve, substantially as described.
20. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of the air cylinder and piston, the indicator communicating with said
cylinder, the combined non-return and exhaust valve, the operating knob con-
trolling the latter, and the indicator brake, substantially as described.
21. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of the air cylinder and piston, the indicator, the non-return and exhaust
valve, the operating knob controlling the latter, the piston locking mechanism,
substantially as described.
22. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of the piston and air cylinder and the attached spring for automatically
returning said buffer to its normal position, substantially as described.
23. In a coin controlled machine, the combination with a pneumatically operating
buffer, of the piston and air cylinder and the signal device adapted to be actuated
through arm n, substantially as described.
Dated this 20th day of December 1892.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
1, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.