Improvements in Apparatus for Adding Numbers.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Adding Numbers.
A communication from abroad by CHARLES HENRY WEBB, of 30, East 14th Street,
New York City, United States of America.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, & 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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 :-
This invention relates to an instrument for adding numbers and it belongs to that
class of such instruments known as adding machines."
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figure 1 is a face view of the apparatus as constructed for adding numbers
according to the decimal notation, and Figure 2 is a vertical mid-section of
same.
Figures 3 and 4 are views of the same apparatus so drawn as to illustrate the
internal mechanism in two different positions.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are detached fragmentary views on a larger scale than
the principal figures, illustrating some of the details of construction of the
apparatus.
Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 1, illustrating the apparatus as adapted to
performing additions in English money.
Figure 10 is a fragmentary view illustrating another form of the intermediate
mechanism whereby one of the adding disks communicates motion to the other.
Figure 11 shows a stylus suitable for use in rotating the adding disks.
In the casing a are formed two intersecting, circular recesses, in the centre of which
rise cylindrical hollow journals.
On the journal in the larger recess is rotatively mounted the larger adding disk b,
and on the journal in the smaller recess is rotatively mounted the lesser adding disk c.
The peripheries of these disks stand tangent to one another at the point where the
sight aperture g is placed, as seen in Figure 1. On the disk 6 are marked the "units"
and ". tens numerals seen at x in Figure 3, running from 00 to 99.
"
On the
lesser disk c are marked the "hundreds" numerals, seen at y in Figure 3. They are
herein represented as running from 00 to 49, that number having been deemed sufficient
for ordinary use. In a rabbet at the margin of the larger recess, is fixed, by screws
or otherwise, a ring-dial d, on which are marked the index-numerals, running from 0,
situated at the stop w, around to 99, adjacent to said stop. This ring-dial keeps
the disk 6 down in place. In the disk 6 is a series of sockets e, one opposite each of the
numerals on the disk. These sockets stand adjacent to the inner margin of the
ring-dial d, and serve for the insertion of the stylus for rotating the disk in adding up
numbers with the apparatus. In a rabbet in the margin of the lesser recess is fixed a
ring-plate which serves to keep the lesser disk c down in place. In this disk care
sockets, similar to the sockets e opposite the numerals y. A part of the inner margin
of the plate is cut away to expose a portion of these sockets, and along the margin
of the recess on the plate, are marked numerals from 0 to 9, as clearly seen in
Figure 1.
When the larger disk 6 makes one complete revolution, it imparts, through an inter-
mediate mechanism, one impulse to the lesser disk c, that is, it rotates the disk cone
fiftieth of a revolution, as herein shown, as there are fifty numerals in the series y.

page_text: On the inner face of the disk bis fixed a volute cam i, and on the inner face of the
disk c is fixed a ratchet wheel h, which has, as herein shown, fifty teeth. These parts
are seen in Figures 3 and 4. When the disk b is rotated (to the right as seen in the
drawings) the cam i acts through a washer arm p to move longitudinally a draw-bar j,
which has a book m on its end, which engages the teeth of a ratchet wheel h. The
draw-bar has a slot k whereby it is pivoted on a stud l. A parti-circular steel spring n
is secured to the casing at o at one end, and to the beel of the draw bar j at the other
end. This spring retracts the draw-bar j after the cam i passes, and it also holds the
hook m up to the ratchet. When the cam i passes, the sudden retraction of the draw-
bar is apt to impart enough momentum to the ratchet wheel, and the disk c to cause
the wheel to rotate too far, and the hook to ride over and engage the next tooth
thereof. This would render the apparatus wholly unreliable, and to avoid such a
possibility, a brake is provided, which consists of a device which may be called a
hammer or pinch-bar. This hammer A, is here represented in the form of a plate,
pivoted to the casing on a stud r. A rounded projecting lug s on the hammer, loosely
engages a recess in the edge of the draw-bar, and the face t of the hammer bears on
the side of the draw-bar opposite to that on which the ratchet wheel is situated.
Figure 4 shows the position of the intermediate mechanism when the cam i is on the
point of passing, the draw-bar is advanced and the hammer A drawn back. When
the cam passes, the spring n quickly retracts the draw-bar and its hook advances the
ratchet one tooth. At this instant the hammer A moves up quickly to the draw-bar
and strikes it a smart blow; the impact and pressure of the hammer are transmitted to
the draw-bar, the hook of which is thus pressed up forcibly against the ratchet at the
proper moment and destroys its momentum. No matter how rapidly the machine
may be moving, it is impossible, with this hammer operating as described, for the
ratchet wheel to advance more than the proper distance at each rotation the disk b
and consequent impulse imparted by the draw-bar. The backward rotation of the
ratchet is prevented by a pawl u provided with a spring, v.
When the disk c is rotated with the stylus in setting it to zero and adding hundreds,
the hook m of the draw-bar rides over the teeth of the ratchet and produces a rapid
vibration of the heel or butt of the draw-bar, and if this end of the draw-bar were
allowed to bear directly on the cam i, these vibrations would effect a partial rotation
of the larger disk b and thus render the apparatus unreliable. To obviate this the
washer arm p is interposed between the cam and the draw-bar, as before described.
The stop w is subjected to hard usage in the operation of the apparatus, and, in
order that it may be as durable as possible, it is made from hard steel and secured to
the ring-dial d by a rivet, as seen in Figures 6 and 7; and to prevent it from shifting
its position, a part of its end which projects over into the path of the stylus is bent
down to form a lip w¹ which engages a recess d', in the inner edge 'of the ring-dial d,
best seen in Figure 5.
In order to stiffen the disk as well as to aid in the formation of the sockets e
therein, a raised flat bead b' is formed on the disk by embossing or stamping, and
perforations are punched therein. These are to form the sockets e. The annular
recess under the bead b¹, is then filled by a ring 62, seen best in Figure 8 which is
soldered or brazed to the disk so as to stop the perforations and form the sockets, the
ring thus prevents the stylus from passing through the disk and interfering with the
internal mechanism.
Ordinarily, the larger disk will have sufficient friction on its journal to prevent it
from turning too readily, but it may have an elastic friction-brake, or elastic pawl,
arranged under it in the hollow of the casing.
The large journals compel the disks to revolve steadily and the hollow journal, not
only makes the casing lighter, but enables the user to fix the apparatus in place for
use by two fixed studs on a table or desk, so placed and proportioned as to enter
and fit said journals. Or, if desired, the user may so place the instrument over
the column of numerals to be added as to segregate the numerals that appear
through the opening in the larger journal and thus facilitate the operation. The edge
"F

page_text: of the casing a may be notched or corrugated as seen in Figure 10 to facilitate
handling the apparatus.
The operation of adding is simple; suppose the numbers 252, 65 and 24 are to be
added together. The operator brings the disks to zero-the position seen in Figure 1-
by inserting the stylus in those sockets in the disks marked with the index or hand,
and turning the disks until the stylus strikes the stop s. He then inserts the
stylus in the socket e of disk b opposite the index number 24 on the dial d, and
turns disk until the stylus strikes the stop w.
The number 024 will now appear
at the sight aperture g. He then places the stylus in the socket opposite index
number 65 on dial d and turns disk 6 until the stylus strikes the stop. The number
then appearing at aperture g will be 089. He then performs the same operation with
the number 54, when the sum number aperture 9 will indicate 141. The "units"
and "tens" having now been added, the operator proceeds to add up the "hundreds"
by means of the disk c. As there are two hundreds to be added to the sum, he inserts
the stylus in the socket in disk c opposite the index number 2 on plate f, and turns
the disk until the stylus strikes the stop. The sum now appearing at aperture g will
be 341 which is correct.
In order to adapt the apparatus to the addition of English money in pounds,
shillings and pence, the construction illustrated in Figure may be employed. Over
the rotating disk 6 is placed a lesser fixed disk 63 in which is a sight aperture g¹ over a
circle on the disk b, which is divided into twelve parts and numbered from 0 to 11.
This is the pence column, and in the disk badjacent to the edge of the disk 63
are twelve sockets, opposite to the numerals in the pence column or row, to receive
the stylus in adding the pence, the sum of which will appear at aperture g¹. The
pounds are added with disk c. To add shillings the disk b is divided into twenty
equal parts, and at the divisions are placed the sockets seen in Figure 9 and numbered
from 0 to 19. The index numerals for the shillings are represented as marked on the
margin of the casing from 0 to 19.
The mechanism for communicating intermittent rotary impulses to the disk c from
disk 6 before described, is preferred, but an escapement device, such as that shown
in Figure 10 may be employed. This device consists of a vibrating pallet having
two teeth j¹ and u', the latter being held in engagement normally with the ratchet
teeth by a spring vl. One vibration of this pallet advances the ratchet positively
one tooth and no more. The pallet is vibrated by a rocking lever A', which is
actuated by the cam i and is retracted, normally, by a spring n'. The lever A¹ has
a pivoted trip p' which engages a spur on the pallet; and the tail of the trip
plays between a cast off stud, s¹, and a setting studs. This device will operate, but
it is not so durable and simple as that first described.
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 :-
1. In an adding apparatus, the use of a hammer or pinch-bar, such as A, to serve
as a momentary brake to destroy the momentum of the ratchet wheel.
2. In an adding apparatus or machine, the use of the parti-circular, steel-wire
spring n, in connection with the slotted and pivoted draw-bar j, for the purpose set
forth.
3. In an adding apparatus the use of a pivoted or loose washer arm, such as p,
between the end of the draw-bar and the cam i, for the purpose set forth.
4. In an adding apparatus, the use of a disk, as b, having a raised bead b¹, to
impart stiffness to the same, the sockets e, for the stylus being formed in said bead
by the application of the backing ring 62, for the purpose set forth.
5. The use in an adding apparatus having a rotating adding disk, of the large
hollow journal for said disk, for the purpose set forth.
6. The use in an adding apparatus, of the stop w, provided with a lip engaging a
recess in the inner edge of the ring-dial d and secured to said dial by a rivet, as set
forth.

page_text: 7. The use in an adding apparatus, of the escapement device, substantially as
illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings, and as described.
Dated this 28th day of May 1889.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.