Improvements in Mechanical Calculators.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1891-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Calculators.
I, EDMUND ALFRED WESLEY, of Mountgrove House, Overhill Road, Forest
Hill, in the County of Surrey, Master of Arts, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to an improved construction of mechanical calculator
in which a number of wheels or discs (hereinafter called discs) suitably marked and
having teeth at their peripheries are so arranged about a common axis and in con-
nection with levers or with levers and pin wheels that the operations of adding or
subtracting may be readily effected thereby. The number of discs will depend
upon the purpose for which the apparatus is intended. I will describe an arrange-
ment with three discs marked for pounds shillings and pence respectively.
These discs are of different diameters, mounted on a common spindle and
separated one from another by washers or bosses the smallest disc being in front,
and the largest at the back. Each disc has two rows of numbers on its face, the
inner row on the largest or pounds disc contains the numbers 1 to 100, and the
outer row the same numbers in reverse order, that is 100 to 1. The inner set of
numbers on the middle or shilling disc, comprises 1 to 19, 0, three times over, and
the outer set the same figures in reverse order. The smallest or pence disc has
1 to 11,0, three times in succession, and on the outer side of these the same numbers
in reverse order. The pounds disc has 100 teeth on its circumference, the shillings
disc 60 teeth, and this disc and the pence disc have each three pins projecting
radially from their circumferences, the positions of these pins corresponding with
the highest numbers inscribed on the outer circle of figures on their respective
discs. There are holes in the discs opposite to the numbers in the outer row of
figures and when the machine is in use a pin is inserted in these holes to move
the discs.
A lever pivotted at one end, and with a pawl and spring at its other end is so
situated that it is actuated by each of the projecting pins on the penny disc as the
latter rotates, and on its sudden release from the pin, the pawl enters between two
of the teeth in the shilling disc and pushes this disc round one tooth.
Another lever is worked in a similar manner by the pins on the shilling disc, and
actuates the pounds disc.
In the outer casing of the apparatus are three slots through which a pin can be
inserted into the holes in the discs below, for the purpose of moving them, the slots
are long enough to allow a movement according to the number of units in each
denomination, thus the slot over the pence disc exposes cleven holes, and the slot
over the shilling disc, nineteen holes, the casing being numbered along the edges of
the slots, each number coinciding with one of the holes below.
There are also two holes in the casing over each disc through which one number
in each set of figures can be seen, the numbers in the larger circle of figures on
each disc are read in addition, and those in the smaller circles in subtraction.
To use the apparatus for addition the computer by means of a pin or pointer
inserted in the holes in the discs, moves the penny disc until the first number to be
added appears at the hole in the casing, and turns the other discs to zero. Then
selecting the hole marked on the cover plate with the next number to be added he
inserts the pointer and draws it to the end of the slot thus moving the disc, and
repeats the operation for any other numbers that are to be added. Having finished
the pence, the shillings and pounds are proceeded with in the same manner and the
sum total is then read off through the holes before mentioned.
When using the machine for subtracting, the discs are arranged so that the”

page_text: subtrahend appears in the subtraction holes, the pointer is then placed in the hole
corresponding with the number of pence to be subtracted, and drawn to the end of
the slot, the shillings and pounds are proceeded with in the same manner, and the
result is read off in the subtraction holes. Machines on this principle are applicable
to the addition and subtraction of all kinds of weights and measures, of any number
of denominations. It is of no consequence to the working of the machine whether
the pence and shillings discs have the series 1 to 11 and 0, and 1 to 19 and 0
repeated any particular number of times, (the number of teeth being modified
accordingly) and the arrangement of the figures may be reversed if desirable.
Instead of the levers described arranged to be moved by means of pins on the
discs, an arrangement of levers with pawls and springs to be operated by pin or
stud wheels may be used. The discs may be of any suitable material such as
cardboard or metal for example brass.
Dated this 28th day of August 1890.
EDMUND ALFRED WESLEY.
W. Lloyd Wise,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Calculators.
I, EDMUND ALFRED WESLEY, of Mountgrove House, Overhill Road, Forest
Hill, in the County of Surrey, Master of Arts, Clerk in Holy Orders, 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:-
My invention has reference to an improved construction of mechanical calcu-
lator in which a number of wheels or discs (hereinafter called discs) suitably
marked and having teeth at their peripheries are so arranged about a common
axis and in connection with levers or with levers and pin wheels, that the operations
of adding or subtracting may be readily effected thereby. The number of discs
will depend upon the purpose for which the apparatus is intended. I will describe
an arrangement with three discs, marked for pounds, shillings, and pence,
respectively.
These discs are of different diameters, mounted on a common spindle and
separated one from another by washers or bosses, the smallest disc being in front,
and the largest at the back. Each disc has two rows of numbers on its face, the
inner row on the largest or pounds disc contains the numbers 1 to 100, and the
outer row the same numbers in reverse order, that is 100 to 1. The inner set of
numbers on the middle or shilling disc, comprises 1 to 19, 0, twice over, and the
outer set the same figures in reverse order. The smallest or pence disc has
1 to 11, 0, three times in succession, and on the outer side of these the same numbers
in reverse order. The pounds disc has 100 teeth on its circumference, the shillings
disc 60 teeth, and this disc and the pence have each three pins projecting radially
from their circumferences, the positions of these pins corresponding with the highest
numbers inscribed on the outer circle of figures on their respective discs. There
are holes in the discs opposite to the numbers in the outer row of figures and when
the machine is in use a pin is inserted in these holes to move the discs.
A lever pivotted at one end, and with a pawl and spring at its other end, is so
situated that it is actuated by each of the projecting pins on the penny disc as
the latter rotates, and on its sudden release from the pin or projection which act
as cams, the pawl enters between two of the teeth in the shilling disc and pushes
this disc round one tooth.
Another lever is worked in a similar manner by the pins on the shilling disc, and
actuates the pounds disc.

page_text: Figure 4 is a section taken through the lower part of the apparatus shewing the
larger or pounds disc and mechanism connected directly therewith; whilst
Figure 5 is a plan of the two upper discs, namely, the pence and shillings discs
and the mechanism connected with them.
Figure 6 is a detailed view shewing just the three discs with their two rows of
numbers.
3
Referring now to the drawings, a is the smallest and pence disc; b is the second
size and shillings disc; and c is the largest and pounds disc. d are the pins or
cam projections on the dises a and b; e and fare respectively the levers which
work the wheels b and c, and are actuated by the cam projections d, they being
pressed normally up to the stop or end of their guides by the springs e³, f³;
e and are actuating pawls of the ends of the levers e and respectively, and
which engage with the teeth of the discs b and c respectively; is the fulcrum or
bearing upon which said levers e and f move; and e² and 2 are inclined pieces
formed upon the face of the levers e and respectively, with the inner edge of
which the cam projections of the discs a and b come in contact; h are locking
pawls by which the discs are prevented from being moved in the opposite direction
to that in which they are designed to move. Those of the locking pawls which
gear with the discs a and b are mounted upon the bracket i fixed to the base k of
the apparatus.
The pence dise a has three cam projections & and has also two annular rows of
numbers having three sets of figures 1 to 11, 0, in succession in each, such sets of
figures running in opposite directions as on the drawing and all round it. The
second disc, b, has two cam projections d, and two sets of numbers in duplicate
running from one to 19, 0, and in reverse directions all round it, and represent
shillings. The teeth in each of the discs, as will be seen, correspond with the sets
of numbers thereon, the smallest having thirty six, the second one forty, and the
third one hundred.
I m n are the levers by which the discs a b and c, respectively, are actuated, they
are mounted loosely upon the spindle o, on which also the discs a b and c are
loosely mounted, and are respectively provided with pawls l', m', and n', and have
also an actuating handle or knob and gauge pointer, as shewn more particularly in
Figures 1 and 2; and the knobs may have the letters £ s. d. on their faces,

page_text: denoting to which kind of money mechanism they are respectively connected with.
Their movement is a reciprocating one, and their limit of stroke is controlled by
the length or extent to which the aperture of the case q, through which they pass,
is carried. In the case of the pence disc, the slot is carried around in the case q
so far, as to allow the lever to be moved over a distance equivalent to twelve of
the teeth, that is to say, a distance which will cause twelve pence to be added
or subtracted, an index on the face of the cover 9 and corresponding with the
numerals of the wheel being provided to work it by. In like manner the slot
through which the lever m works is of such a length as to allow that lever to
move the disc ten teeth, which when done register an addition or subtraction of
ten shillings. And the stroke of the pounds lever n is of such a length as to cause
the wheel c to be moved twenty teeth for a full stroke, and to thereby cause a
record of an addition or subtraction of twenty pounds to be made.
On the cover g there is provided a small frame r, having apertures or windows
therein, through which can be seen the two annular sets of figures on each of the
discs a bc, those in the outer window being of course pounds figures and the others
shillings and pence. The numbers in the larger circle of figures on each disc are
read in addition, and those in the smaller circles in subtraction.
In action, to actuate the discs a b and c, the levers l m n are pressed to and fro,
that is, reciprocated about their centre o, and the pawls of these levers, engaging
with the teeth of the discs, move such discs forward or round about the centre o
according to the amount of movement imparted to the levers. On the disc o there
are thirty six numbers in each annular set of figures, that is, three sets of numbers
from 1, to 11, 0, and there are three cam projections b, and hence in one revolution
of the disc a the lever e will be actuated three times, and each time the cam pro-
jection d comes in contact with the piece e² and presses it back and then allows it
to be pressed forward by the spring up to the stop s, as such projection leaves
it, the disc will be moved one tooth by the pawl e', and an additional shilling
will be registered or exposed at the shillings window ; and in like manner, in
one rotation of the disc b, the two cam projections d on it will twice come in
contact with the pieces 2 on the lever f and actuate such lever and cause the
disc c to be moved one tooth forward, shewing thereby at the window r¹, that
is, the pounds window, the addition of one pound.
To use the apparatus for addition, the computer moves the penny disc by the
lever until the first number to be added appears at the inner window of the
frame, and turns the other discs to zero. Then moving the handle and pointer
of the lever to the number of the index on the case corresponding to the second
number to be added, he draws that lever to the end of the aperture in the case,
thus moving the disc, and repeats the operation for any other numbers that are to
be added. Having finished the pence, the shillings and pounds are proceeded with
in the same manner, and the sum total is read off through the windows p¹.
When using the machine for subtracting, the discs are arranged so that the
minuend appears at the windows ¹, that is, the right hand sets of numbers; the
pointer of the lever is then moved to the number of the index on the case
corresponding with the number of pence to be subtracted and drawn to the end
of the aperture in the case in which it works. The shillings and pounds are
proceeded with in the same manner, and the result is read off in the subtraction
parts of the windows r'.
From the instance herein exemplified, it will be apparent that the structural
features of the application of my invention may be modified in various particulars
without departing from the general and controlling features thereof, and I do not
limit myself therefore to the particular or specific construction herein described
and shewn. Machines on this principle are, for example, applicable to the addition
and subtraction of all kinds of weights and measures, and any number of denomi-
nations, and as regards the particular machine shewn, it is of no practical con-
sequence to the working of that machine whether the pence and shilling discs have

page_text: the series 1 to 11, and 0, and 1 to 19 and 0, repeated any number of times, as the
number of teeth of the discs would in such cases be modified accordingly: and the
arrangement of the figures may be reversed, if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A mechanical calculator, having discs or revolving wheels with figures;
arranged and adapted to be operated substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
•
2. The mechanical calculating machine comprising the discs a b and c (or more),
actuating levers l m and n (or more), and levers e and f and index ; combined
and adapted to operate substantially as set forth with reference to the drawings for
the purposes specified.
Dad
JLM 1001
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.