An Improved Instrument for Measuring and Recording the Speed of and Distance Covered by Road Vehicles, such as Cycles, Motor Cars, Carriages, and Wagons.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10:h Jan., 1900-Accepted, 17th Feb., 1900
PROVISIONAL DITUIE TORATION
An Improved Instrument for Measuring and Recording the Speed of
and Distance Covered by Road Vehicles, such as Cycles, Motor
Cars, Carriages, and Wagons.
I, HORACE GROVES SADGROVE, Surveyor, of Aitken Chambers, Cannon Street;
in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention is an improved instrument for automatically recording the
distance covered in any particular time by road vehicles such as cycles, motor
cars, and also the rate of speed at which that particular distance was covered,
and the time and period during which such vehicles were stationary; the said
instrument being so constructed that a permanent record of each journey or run
can be obtained and also a changeable ocular one.
The instrument according to this invention is constructed substantially as
follows:-
The casing containing the mechanism is built up of two independent enclosed parts
which are adapted to be detachably connected, so that when together one of each
of their sides comes adjacent and lies flat against each other fairly close, but
leaving sufficient space between the two sides for the working of a rotating paper
or cardboard recording disc which is carried by the time mechanism (preferably on
the hour arbor) of ordinary construction, and which is located within the one part
of the casing as aforesaid; the said hour arbor extending through the side of the
casing and having upon it a carrier plate which forms a rotating platform for
the said paper or cardboard disc. This platform has upon it a number of studs
with which engage small perforations in the recording disc, for the purpose of
ensuring the said disc, which is renewable, being set on the platform always true
to the time mechanism.
Thus is the recording disc carried to revolve between the coming-together sides
of two independent casings (the said sides confining, supporting, and protecting
it) which can be separated to renew the said dise; the said casings being preferably
connected by a hinge and fastener so that the one can be lifted and thrown back
off the other.
The opposite side of the casing containing the time mechanism is fitted with an
hour dial and fingers of ordinary form for time-telling purposes. The recording
dise is divided up radially into a number of divisions representing hour and ten-
minute spaces, and as it rotates these spaces are acted upon at predetermined
times by a marking mechanism which is preferably for perforating the said disc,
and which is operated off a running part of the vehicle to be checked.
The said marking mechanism is quite independent of the time mechanism and
is carried enclosed in the other part of the two-part casing, and it comprises a
running-down train of wheels operated from a star wheel or similar device driven
by the rotating part of the vehicle so as to, at certain times, operate a pricker

page_text: which is arranged with its point protruding through a hole in that side of the
casing adjacent to the recording disc, so that a perforation is made through the
said disc. The running-down train is composed preferably of simple toothed
wheels, arranged so that they drive each other one tooth only for one, revolution
of themselves; a single peg on the face being the means of gear. One of such
wheels is adapted, through a projection or extension it carries, to operate on the
pricker once for each rotation, preferably at each quarter mile, and then release
it, so that the spring brings it back to its normal position. The pricker may be
carried by a lever which is rocked by one of the wheels of the running-down
train at each revolution. Also a small bell or gong or resonant piece of metal
is fitted to give a slight sound to indicate the traverse of a certain distance,
preferably each quarter-mile.
In conjunction with this marking mechanism is arranged a sight-indicating
means, which comprises a number of discs, preferably two, which rotate within
the range of a sight hole formed within the walls of an extension of the casing.
part containing the marking mechanism; the said discs carrying upon them
digits which, by reason of the difference in the disc's rotation, combine to show
the units and tens of miles at the sight hole. These discs are preferably carried
one above the other on the axis of the mile wheel of the running-down train.
The pricker may be so fitted to the casing of the marking mechanism as to be
capable of operation by hand to denote on the recording dial the starting of a
journey.
The two-casing parts, with the recording dial between the two sides, can be
fitted with a lock if needed.
A
day of March 1599.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co..
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
An Improved Instrument for Measuring and Recording the Speed of
and Distance Covered by Road Vehicles, such as Cycles, Motor
Cars, Carriages, and Wagons.
5.
I, HORACE GROVES SADGROVE, Surveyor, of Aitken Chambers, Cannon Street,
in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention is an improved instrument for automatically recording the
distance covered in any particular time by road vehicles such as cycles, motor
cars, carriages, and waggons, and also the rate of speed at which that particular
distance was covered; the said instrument being so constructed that a permanent
record of each journey made can be obtained as well as a changeable ocular one.
The said invention is of undoubted usefulness in checking a cycle ride or the
work done by a hired carriage or vehicle, and its records may be made good.
evidence against charges of furious riding or driving, as well as establishing a
record for reference or checking the takings of a person in charge of a hired
vehicle.
A recording instrument constructed and arranged according to this invention is
shown in the annexed sheet of drawings as a cyclometer, and will be particularly
described in connection therewith.. In the said sheets Fig. 1 is a face view of the

page_text: complete instrument; Fig. 2 a section thereof; Fig. 3 a horizontal section of the
marking mechanism only; Fig. 4 a vertical section of that part only of the
instrument carrying the recording dial; Fig. 5 a face view of the said dial and of
Fig 4; Fig. 6a face elevation of the marking mechanism, Fig. 3; and Fig. 7a
separate view of two of the principal parts of the ocular recording mechanism.
Fig. S is a slightly modified form of one of the rotating parts in Figs. 3 and 7.
Referring to the said figs. the instrument comprises two parts, the one, a, a
mechanism for operating the recording dial and for keeping time, and the other, c,
a marking. mechanism for automatically operating upon the said dial and for
sight indicating the matter to be recorded. These mechanisms are enclosed in a
two-part casing. formed of separate and independent portions, a², ², hinged
together, as shown at , or otherwise connected so that their inner sides come
adjacent and lie flat against each other fairly close, but leaving sufficient space
between the said two sides for the free working of a rotating paper or cardboard
disc or dial. The casing portions a, e, can be hinged away or separated at any
time to obtain access to the interior mechanisms and to renew the recording dial.
This last named takes the form of a paper or cardboard slip, d, and is carried
upon the hour arbor, d, of the mechanism through the intervention of a carrier
plate, which is fixed to the said arbor so as to rotate within a circular recess d
form within the inner wall of the casing portion a. The said paper or card-
board slip is arranged to freely rotate between the outer faces of the inner walls
of the casing's two-parts, and is enclosed and protected against being tampered
with by being so arranged. The casing part is fitted with ordinary running
down time mechanism, for operating the said carrier plate and the hour and
minute hands, da, d, and its outer wall is fitted with a glass a³, for the purpose
of viewing the hands, as aforesaid, and a dial a, of the ordinary setting, which
is enclosed within the said casing part.
One particular feature in the connection of the recording dial to the carrier
plate is that the said carrier plate has prearranged prongs or projections e upon
it to take into holes made through the recording dial, so that the said dial can
be connected to the carrier plate in one position, and that true to time, as the said
carrier plate is itself set true to the hour hand.
The recording dial is divided into twelve hour spaces and these are sub-divided
into half hour and ten minute, divisions, and the records are read therefrom by the
number of markings which the spaces or divisions contain. The marking and
sight recording mechanism is contained within the casing and comprises a lever
or jointed arm g, carrying a pricker pencil or style 2, and a train of wheels, which
latter is operated by the running part of the cycle and which operates the said
marking lever and brings into position, before the sight hole f, in an extension f³
of the particular casing part, indicating discs or similar figured surfaces. The
train of wheels shown in the drawings comprises a star wheel / carrying a tooth
or cam upon its arbor, and being operated by the running part of a cycle so
that the said tooth shall act upon another toothed wheel 3 and rotate it one tooth
for every four rotations of a cycle's running part, and which said wheel carries
upon it a pin or peg which turns an intermediate wheel one tooth for every
complete rotation of the wheel. This intermediate wheel also has upon, it
a pin or peg 6 which works against the teeth of another toothed wheel, which
carries upon it an indicating disc for recording miles, the said wheel h² driving
another toothed wheel 10 one tooth for a complete rotation of itself by means of
a pin or projection ; the whole of the train of wheels forming a reducing one
from the star wheel h to the toothed wheel 10. The wheel 45 carries upon its
under face an inclined piece, g³, which is adapted at every complete rotation of
the said wheel to wipe over the one end of the lever g and rock it (the lever)
upon its fulcrum pin g. so that the pricker g at its end momentarily pierces the
paper whilst the said wiping takes place, the movement being a momentary one
against the action of a spring g which always tends to keep the end of the lever
in the path of the inclined piece.

page_text: The wheels, 7, 10, are only used for.sight indicating purposes, the first named
setting forth through the disc the units of the mileage, and the last.named the
tens, as will be clearly seen from Fig. 1, and it will be observed from the said
fig and from Fig. 7. that the. tens are carried upon the surface of the wheel 10,
and that the disc. is cut away at parts to admit of the said letters being seen.
In Fig. 8 the tens letters are carried upon the face m² of a toothed annulus, m,
instead of upon the face of the wheel 10,, but the last named rotates the said
annulus. The disc s is in this case also used for the purpose of indicating the
units. Both the annulus and the disc are arranged to rotate in view of the sight
hole f. In order to ensure decisive and clear perforations being made. in the
recording dial by the pricker g, the said dial is confined between the two-part
casing with only sufficient looseness to rotate, and to ensure this the prongs or
projections e of. the. carrier plate are let into and rotate within a clearance
ring-groove n formed in the outer face of the casings wall 2.. In like manner is
also let in the protruding end of the arbor ². When the recording instrument
is working, the recording dial is continually but gradually being rotated by the
hour arbor of the clock mechanism, and the star wheel is given a quarter turn
for every complete rotation of a cycle wheel. As the ratio of the wheel to the
wheels, h, is as. 21 to 1 and 189 to 1 (the wheel having twenty one teeth and
the wheel nine teeth), the wheel is rotated once every mile travelled by a
cycle with 28 inch wheels, and the lever momentarily operated. to prick the
recording dial, so that the rate of speed at which the cycle was running at any
particular time is represented by the number of perforations or prickings con-
tained within the sub-divisions of the dial; for instance. if three prickings have
been made in a ten-minutes space, that would indicate that the speed was about
16 miles per hour.
For each rotation of the wheel the indicating disc 8 is rotated one tenth
(as the wheel has ten teeth), and for each complete rotation of the wheel the
wheel 10 is rotated one tenth, it having ten teeth. Suitable devices may, if needed,
be arranged upon the wheel to sound a small gong at each complete rotation,
and a connection may be fitted to the end of the pricker g2 for the purpose of
operating the said pricker by hand for perforating the dial to indicate the time of
starting or completion of a journey or a run.
The construction of the casing in two separable parts or sections, and the
location of the recording dial between them and the detachable mounting of it
in a set position on the hour arbor of the time mechanism, are important features
of this invention, as also is the arrangement of the time and marking mechanisms
independent; as in consequence the recording dial is protected in every way and
capable of being easily a rapidly renewed, and the different mechanisms repaired
without the repairing of the one necessitating an interference with the other!
In the modification of sight indicating means as shown in Fig. 9. two discs,
such as 8, one working under the other, are used. instead of the wheel 10, the top
dise being cut away in the same manner as the disc shown in Fig. 7and rotated
to show the units, of mileage, whilst the lower disc is rotated to show the tens
of mileage, the said disc being moved, one tenth of a rotation for each rotation
of the wheel h, by a peg. The two parts of the casing can be locked together with
the recording dial between them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
1 claim is
First. In a road vehicle speed and distance meter, the combination of a two-
part separable enclosing casing a², &, a renewable recording dial arranged to
freely rotate between the said casings parts, and which is carried by a time
mechanism located in one of the casings parts, and a marking mechanism in the
other casing part operated from the rotating part to be measured, substantially
as described.

page_text: Second. In a road vehicle speed and distance meter, the combination of a two-
part separable casing. ², &, the one part containing time mechanism and the
other part marking mechanism, a carrier plate arranged to rotate between
the two parts of the said casing upon the hour arbor, and a renewable recording
dial or slip moved by the said carrier plate, substantially as described.
Third. The combination of the casing composed of two separable sections lying
face to face when closed, and one constructed with a central circular opening or
recess, of time mechanism and marking mechanism, the recording dial carrier-
plate mounted on the hour arbor of the time mechanism and turning within the
said central opening or recess, and the recording dial detachably mounted on said
carrier plate, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination of the casing composed of two sections hinged together
and one having a wall constructed with a central circular opening or recess, the
time mechanism and marking mechanism, the recording dial carrier-plate secured
to the hour arbor of the time mechanism and rotating in said central opening or
recess, and the recording dial detachably secured upon said carrier-plate, sub-
stantially as described.
Fifth. The combination of the casing composed of two sections hinged together,
a time mechanism located in one of said sections, a recording dial carrier-plate
secured to the hour arbor of the time mechanism and provided with prongs or pro-
jections, and a recording dial having holes to register with and receive the prongs
or projections of said carrier-plate substantially as described.
Sixth. In a road vehicle speed and distance meter, the combination of a two
part casing a,c, respectively fitted and provided with a time dial and fingers, an
extension and a sight-hole f, a recording dial d arranged and carried by means
of a plate upon the hour arbor of the time mechanism so as to be easily renewable
and so as to work between the two parts of the casing, a perforating lever or
equivalent device g enclosed within the casings part 2 and whose point is adapted
to be within range of the recording dial and to be operated off a wheel once
for every rotation of the said wheel, and the running down or reducing train of
wheels for operating the perforating lever and the sight indicating devices, sub-
stantially as described and set forth.
day of January 1900.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham.
Also at Liverpool, London, and Manchester,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.