Improvements in Speed Indicators.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May, 1895
Improvements in Speed Indicators.
I, JOSEPH. PROKOFIEFF, of Wassilieffsky Ostrov 15th Line, 8, St. Petersburg
in the Empire of Russia, Marine Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The indicator affords a very simple and practical method of taking graphically a
diagram of the exact number of revolutions made in a given time (say one minute)
by a steam or any other engine and the diagram taken can be kept (like a steam
engine diagram) being a true record of the exact number of revolutions of the
engine especially in the case of its official trial. The time is reckoned by means of
a pocket chronometer as is usual.
The indicator is shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings annexed.
It consists of: 1.-3 drums f, g, k, each revolving round its own axle. The
axles of these drums are fixed on a slide s, which can be moved backward and
forward by a screw n so as to put a worm wheel on the drum g into or out of gear
with the worm e.
When the worm is in gear with the worm wheel the paper p is unwound
from the paper drum f is led round the drum k and wound up on to the
drum g.
2. A slide a carrying pawls b b which act on a ratchet wheel c fixed on the
shaft d on which is also fixed the worm e. A lever pivotted to a fixed support
and having a pencil o with its detaching arrangement m (Figure 3), is acted on by
the slide a.
The detaching arrangement (which for the sake of simplicity is not shown on
Figure 2 but is clearly shown on Figure 3) for throwing the pencil o away from
the paper consists of an arm m, slotted along the middle to allow of the free
movement of the screw of the pencil o. By the spring w this arm may be held in
two positions shown in full and dotted lines. At the latter position of the arm m
the pencil will be held away from the paper.
The action of the indicator is as follows:-
The slide a receives a reciprocating motion upon a fixed rod either from the
connecting rod or any convenient part of the engine, and revolves the ratchet
wheel C,
which by the aid of the worm e turns the worm wheel of the drum 9.
This druin unwinds the paper p from the paper drum f and draws it round the
drum . The lever being attached at one end to the slide a reciprocates on the
pencil o on its other end and the pencil draws the diagram on the moving paper
(see Figure 4). By the detaching arrangement m the pencil may be thrown away
from the paper as shown in dotted line Figure 3. Each angle: 01, 1. 12,
2. 2 3 etc. corresponds to one revolution of the engine. The parts t, t,
side of each angle correspond to the parts, and of one revolution.
Dated this 25th day of October 1894.
of the

page_text: I, JOSEPH PROKOFIEFF of Wassilieffsky Ostrov, 15 Line, House 8, Saint Peters-
burg in the Empire of Russia, Marine Engineer, 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:-
The invention relates to improvements in speed indicators and has for its object
to obtain a simple and reliable instrument by the aid of which the precise number
of revolutions made in a given time by a steam or other engine or machine
can be graphically recorded by a diagram upon a paper strip which can be
preserved for future reference after the manner of a steam engine diagram, so that
at any time reference may be had thereto for a precise indication of the number of
revolutions of the engine recorded at a given time, and which is especially useful in
the case of official trials.
In carrying the invention into effect three drums are employed, the first of which
carries a store of paper in the form of a strip or band, the second of which acts as
a guide drum for the paper strip, whilst the third drum receives rotary motion as
hereinafter described, and gradually draws the paper off the first drum and coils it
upon itself.
The three druns are loosely mounted upon spindles fixed with a moveable slide
which may be traversed by means of an adjusting screw for the purpose hereinafter
described, and the driven drum has fixed therewith a worm wheel which engages a
worm upon the principal driven shaft of the instrument so that whilst the mechanism
is in motion the paper is gradually drawn off the store drum around the guide
drum and wound onto the driven drum, and in order to adjust the worm wheel with
relation to the worm or to throw it into or out of gear therewith the slide is provided
with the traversing screw herein before referred to, by rotating which the slide may
be traversed in either direction for these purposes.
Upon the main shaft of the instrument is fixed a ratchet wheel, and upon a
vertical shaft or spindle adjacent thereto is mounted a slide which carries a clawker
which engages the ratchet wheel upon one side of its axis and, a driver which
engages the same upon the other side thereof so that upon a reciprocating motion
being imparted to the slide a rotary motion will be given to the ratchet wheel and
thus to the principal shaft.
To the driven slide is loosely connected one end of a lever which is mounted upon
an axis of motion carried by a bracket from a standard fixed with the base plate
and the opposite end of this lever loosely engages slide mounted upon a stud
carried by the bracket and which slide is forined with an arm or offset carrying a
boss through which passes a moveable pencil which at the times desired impinges
upon the paper passing around the guide drum so that as the principal slide
carrying the clawker and driver is reciprocated a corresponding movement will be
given to the pencil slide, and the pencil will receive a given rectilinear movement
thus marking upon the travelling paper the desired diagram.
The pencil is normally held in contact with the travelling paper by means of a
light spring whilst in order to remove the same out of contact therewith at the
times desired the pencil holder is provided with a button upon its outer end and an
arm or lever mounted upon an axis of motion is employed and which is slotted to
embrace and allow of the free movement of the pencil in one position, whilst
when it is desired to take the pencil off the travelling paper, the arm is moved
into its other position when it will engage the button or enlargement and with-
draw the pencil a spring stop or detent acting in conjunction with notches or
recesses formed in a boss of the lever adjacent to its axis holding the lever in
either of its two positions.

page_text: The passage of time is calculated or indicated by means of a pocket chronometer
which normally is stopped, but it may be set in motion by depressing the stem
thereof, and in order to automatically actuate the stem at the times desired the
lever or arm operating the pencil is at its lower end furnished with an offset which
in that position of the arm or lever which permits the pencil to impinge upon.
the travelling paper, depresses the same and sets the chron meter in action whilst
in the opposite position of the lever that is to say when the pencil is withdrawn
from the travelling paper the offset releases the same thus causing the chronometer
to stop.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily.
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
nometer
The passage of time is calculated or indicated by means of a pocket cur
which normally is stopped, but it may be set in motion by depressing the stem
thereof, and in order to automatically actuate the stem at the times desired the
lever or arm operating the pencil is at its lower end furnished with an offset which
in that position of the arm or lever which permits the pencil to impinge upon.
the travelling paper, depresses the same and sets the chron meter in action whilst
in the opposite position of the lever that is to say when the pencil is withdrawn
from the travelling paper the offset releases the same thus causing the chronometer
to stop.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily.
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an instrument constructed according to the
present invention.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a side elevation thereof partly in section.
Figure 4 is a face view representing means employed to convey the motion of an
engine to the slide.
Figure 5 is a plan thereof.
Figure 6 is a view of part thereof taken at right angles to Figure 4.
Figure 7 illustrates to an enlarged scale the diagram marked by the pencil upon
the travelling paper strip.
In the several figures in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference Figures 4, 5, and 6 are drawn to a somewhat reduced scale, whilst
Figure 7 is enlarged as compared with the other figures of the drawings.
a represents the base plate of the device, b represents the drum upon which the
strip of paper * is stored, b¹ represents the guide drum whilst 62 represents the
driven drum onto which the paper strip is wound as hereinafter described.
Each of the three drums bb is loosely mounted upon a spindle 6* removeably
fixed with a sliding table by means of a fly nut 63* screwing onto the lower end
of the axle and the table 6 is formed with a slide 6 dovetailed to fit a corre-
sponding groove formed in the base plate a, whilst the slide and consequently
the table and the three drums 6 61 62 are adapted to be traversed for the purpose
hereinafter described by means of an adjusting screw mounted with capability of
revolution in a bearing a' carried by the base plate a and engaging a tapped hole in
the slide b³.
The driven drum has fixed therewith a worm wheel 62* which engages a worm c
fixed upon the principal driven shaft c which is mounted with capability of
revolution in a bearing c* carried by a bracket fixed with the base plate a so that
whilst the mechanism is in motion the paper 6 is gradually drawn off the store
drum around the guide drum b' and wound onto the driven drum b³, and in order
to adjust the worm wheel 2* with relation to the worm c¹ or to throw it into or out
of gear therewith the slide is provided with the traversing screw 6 as herein-
before described by rotating which the slide and therefore the table 6 may be
traversed in either direction for these purposes.
Upon the main shaft c of the mechanism is fixed a ratchet wheel c³ and upon a
vertical shaft or spindle d adjacent thereto is mounted with capability of vertical
reciprocating movement a slide d' which carries a clawker which engages the
ratchet wheel cupon, one side of the axis thereof and a driver d* which engages
the same upon the other side thereof, so that upon a reciprocating motion being
imparted to the slide d' a rotary motion will be given to the ratchet wheel c³ and.
thus to the principal shaft c.
The driven slide d' has fixed therewith two horizontal short shafts or studs d².
constituting a kind of crosshead upon which are loosely mounted two blocks d*

page_text: which are loosely engaged by the slotted limbs of a fork e¹ fixed with a lever e
mounted upon an axis of motion carried by a bracket * from a table.e
supported upon a standard e fixed with the base plate a.
The opposite end of the lever e is also provided with a slotted fork e' which
engages blocks d' loosely mounted upon a crosshead f' fixed with a slide f mounted
with capability of reciprocating vertically upon a stud e fixed with the table e
and the slide is provided with an arm or offset f' carrying a hollow boss f**
forming a spring box through which passes a holder f³ for a pencil f** which
latter at the times desired impinges upon the paper 6* passing around the guide
roller b' so that as the principal slide d' carrying the clawker and driver d
is reciprocated a corresponding movement will be given to the pencil slide f and
the pencil will be given a rectilinear movement transversely of the travelling
paper band 6 thus marking thereon the desired diagram.
The pencil is normally held in contact with the travelling paper * by means
of a light spring f contained within the box f** and acting upon a piston or
nut through which the threaded holder f* adjustably screws and which con-
struction is well understood and needs no more particular description here, whilst
in order to remove the pencil f** out of contact with the paper 6* at the times
desired the pencil holder f is upon its outer end provided with a button or
enlargement and in connection therewith is employed an arm or lever g mounted
upon an axis of motion gl'carried by a bracket from the base plate a and slotted
to loosely embrace the pencil holder f so that when the arm or lever g is placed
in the position indicated by the full lines.in Figure 3 the pencil ** is free to
impinge upon the travelling paper 6* whilst, when the lever g is moved to its
other position indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 it will act upon the button
head or enlargement f and withdraw the pencil f** from the paper *.
The lever g is held against accidental movement in either of its two positions
by means of a spring stop or detent * which acts in conjunction with notches or
recesses formed in a boss g³ fixed with the lower end of the lever g..
:
The passage of time is calculated or indicated by means of a pocket chrono-
meter which is held in position by means of the bracket h* which is shaped to
form a holder therefor and the chronometer h which normally is stopped is adapted
to be set in motion by depressing the stem h¹ thereof; and in order to automa-
tically actuate the stem at the times desired, the boss g³ of the lever or arm g
operating the pencil holder' has formed thereon a finger or offset g³ which in
that position of the lever indicated by the full lines in Figure 3, which permits the
pencil to impinge upon the travelling paper * depresses the stein h¹ of the
chronometer h and sets the latter in action whilst in the opposite position of
the lever g and which is indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 3 that is to say.
when the pencil 3* is withdrawn from the travelling paper 6 the finger or offset g
releases the stem thus causing the chronometer to stop, and it will be under-
stood that the chronometer must be so constructed that it has the simple action
hereinbefore referred to.
· The instrument may receive motion from the steam or other engine with which
it is to be connected in any suitable manner, but the following arrangement of
parts and which is represented separately at Figures 4, 5, and 6 has been found to
answer well in practice.
This device is for the sake of clearness not shown in connection with the other
figures of the drawing.
Loosely connected with the studs or crosshead d³ of the slide d' is the forked
end of a link or connecting rod i which at its other end is pivotally connected
with a block mounted with capability of sliding in the slot of a link and the
link is fixed upon a shaft i which receives a rocking motion through a lever or
offset fixed therewith and a connecting rod i pivotally connected therewith and
with any suitable reciprocating part of the engine and such as the crosshead of a
piston rod.
By this arrangement of parts the shaft will receive a rocking motion
'

page_text: imparting an oscillating motion to the link and through the link or connecting
rod i the required vertical reciprocating motion to the slide d'.
The link or connecting rod is-provided with a handle by the aid of which it
may be moved along the slot of the link into such a position that it will be
coincident with the shaft as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 4 when the
oscillation of the link will not impart any movement to the link or connecting
rod i and the instrument may thus be put out of action whilst it may be as readily
re-started by moving the link i with the handle into the position shown by the
full lines in Figure 4.
In order to prevent accidental movement of the link or connecting rod i with
relation to the link the sliding block is provided upon both its upper and
lower sides with a notch or recess with which in each position of the link or
connecting rod i engages a detent consisting of a rounded stud carried by a
spring i
The action of the indicator may be described as follows:-
A vertical reciprocating motion is imparted to the siide d' by the link or con-
necting rod i causing the clawker and driver to give rotary motion through
the ratchet wheel to the principal shaft c and through the worm c¹ and worm
wheel to the drum which draws the paper strip b* from off the store drum b
around the guide drum & in contact with the pencil and the principal slide d'
at the same time gives a vertical rectilinear motion through the levere and slide f
to the pencil holder f and the pencil in its traverse marks upon the travelling
paper strip b* a diagram such as that represented at Figure 7.
In the diagram (Figure 7) each angle 01-1 14 2-2 24 3-and so on corre-
sponds with one complete revolution of the engine and the portions of the
sides of each angle correspond with the same sub-divisions of one revolution of the
engine crank and by comparing the diagram with a given period of time as shown
by the chronometer the speed of the engine may be arrived at.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a speed indicator the combination of a travelling strip or band of paper
a driven drum for traversing the paper a pencil adapted to impinge upon the
paper, a slide adapted to be reciprocated by connection with a moving part of the
engine a rotative shaft, a ratchet wheel fixed with the shaft, a clawker and a driver
pivotally connected with the slide and engaging the ratchet wheel upon opposite
sides, a worm fixed with the shaft, a worn wheel fixed with the paper drum and
engaging the worm and means for giving a rectilinear reciprocating movement to
the pencil substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a speed indicator the combination of a travelling strip or band of paper,
a driven drum for traversing the paper, a pencil adapted to impinge upon the
paper a slide adapted to be reciprocated by connection with a moving part of the
engine, means for converting the reciprocating motion of the slide into rotary
motion and conveying such motion to the driven drum, a lever mounted upon an
axis of motion and at one end loosely connected with the slide, and at the other
end giving a rectilinear reciprocating movement to the pencil substantially as herein
shown and described.
3. In a speed indicator in which a pencil impinges upon a travelling strip or
band of paper the combination of a slotted arm or lever embracing the pencil
holder and acting upon an enlargement thereof and holding the pencil out of contact
with the travelling paper band at the times desired, and means for retaining the
arm or lever in the desired position substantially as herein shown and described
and for the purpose stated.
4. In. a speed indicator in which a pencil impinges upon a travelling strip or
band of paper, the combination of a sliding table or platform, three spindles or
axles fixed with the table or platform, three drums loosely mounted on the spindles

page_text: and serving one as a storage drum for the paper strip or band, another as a guide
drum and the third as a driven drum for traversing the paper, a worm wheel or
the like fixed with the driven drum, a worm or the like on a driven shaft engaging
the same and a screw for traversing the table or platform and throwing the worm
wheel into or out of gear with the worm at the times desired substantially as
herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
5. A speed indicator constructed and arranged substantially as herein shown and
described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 17th day of April 1895.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.