IMPROVEMENTS IN CALCULATING OR ADDING UP APPARATUSES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I JOHN JAMES RAGGETT of 127 Queens Road, Aston, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Architect and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of iny said
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN CALCULATING OR ADDING UP APPARATUSES to be
as follows:-
This Invention comprises improvements in my patent Calculating or adding up
apparatus numbered 4120 AD 1884. which improvements place the index plate and
indexes in a more suitable position so as to facilitate the reading thereof, besides
which some of the other parts of the machine are simplified or improved..
The machine is manipulated by means of pressing keys which are preferably
arranged in front of the index plate (hereinafter specified) these keys which
preferably consist of 9 have the numerals from 1 to 9 inscribed thereon in bold
figures, upon pressing any desired key the long hand or index is moved the number
of spaces or divisions the key represents.
The result is indicated by an index plate and indexes resembling the dial and
hands of a clock, except that the plate is divided into 100 instead of 60 the indexes
are the two hands one a long one which indicates the numbers from 1 to 100 the
short one indicating the hundreds, in the same manner that the long hand of a
clock indicates the minutes and the short one the hours.
The motion is imparted from the key to the indexes by means of the following
mechanism.
The said keys are attached to levers, arranged side by side and oscillating as they
are pressed, in a vertical plane on a suitable fulcrum or spindle the said levers being
provided with a working and a stopping surface.
These levers operate two rods one a working and the other a stopping rod.
The working rod is attached to an oscillating frame or lever having its fulcrum
on the same spindle as the key levers and carrying 2 pawls, which operate a ratchet
wheel, one as the frame is being pushed down and the other as it is returning the
return movement being caused by a suitable spring.
The stopping rod is attached to a frame which is placed in a suitable position
& pivoted so that when the lever comes in contact therewith it will cause the said
frame or a break or point attached thereto to press against a break wheel (fixed on
the same spindle as the ratchet wheel) to instantaneously stop it.
•

page_text: Thus it will be perceived that upon pressing a key, the working surface of the
key lever first comes in contact with the working rod and moves it down (the
working frame moving with it) until the stopping surface comes in contact with
the stopping rod, which causes the stopping frame to hold or lock the mechanism
and prevent its further movement until the key is released when by the return
movement of the working frame, the ratchet wheel is moved in a less degroe than
in the downward movement, the working frame having a point which fits into a
toothed wheel, and locks the mechanism when it is in its normal position.
Suitable springs are employed to return the key levers to their normal position
when they will rest against a suitable back stop.
The ratchet wheel revolves on a horizontal shaft the koy levers working under
the same.
The working and stopping rods are placed beneath the key lovers.
Upon touching the key N° 1 the ratchet wheel is caused to move 1 tooth upon
touching the two teeth and the 3 three teeth & this variable movement is
arranged either by having the stopping or working surfaces of the koy levers, at
various levels, to allow them to move in proportion to the number of teeth the key
is to work, or instead of this the stopping or working rod may be stepped or
slotted down various distances to allow the proper movement of the key lover, to
take the required number of teeth.
The movement is transmitted from the ratchet wheel to the hands, by the
following tooth wheels. Upon the same shaft as the ratchet wheel, is a bevel wheel
or equivalent device which imparts motion to another bevel wheel working at right
angles to it & having 100 teeth upon this bevel wheel is fixed the piping for the
long index or hand-the short index or hand working round the same spindle with
gearing to make it work 10 times slower similar to clock hand gearing except that
it is 10 times instead of 12 times slower than the long hand.
In some cases to produce a cheaper machine I propose to have the index on the
same spindle as the ratchet wheel, similar to my previous patent.
The keys instead of being circular may be something like those on a piano tho
front ones representing the odd numbers & the intermediate the even ones.
The keys also instead of being fixed on levers may be fixed on vertical pins the
lattor having projections for operating the working and stopping frames, or levers,
the vertical pins being brought to their normal position by a spiral spring.

page_text: I JOHN JAMES RAGGETT of 127 Queen's Road Aston Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Architect & Surveyor do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN CALCULATING OR ADDING UP APPARATUSES, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This Invention comprises improvements in my patent Calculating or adding up
apparatus numbered 4120 A D 1884 which improvements place the index plate and
indexes in a more suitable position so as to facilitate the reading thereof besides
which some of the other parts of the machine are simplified or improved, as
hereinafter described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a Section.
»
"
2 is a Side Elevation.
3 a Front Elevation of the notched stopping bar or rod.
4 is a side Elevation of the working and stopping frames.
5 a modification shewing how it may be worked by 1 pawl.
•
The machine is manipulated by means of pressing keys A which are preferably
arranged in front of the index plate B. (hereinafter. specified) these keys which
preferably consist of 9 have the numerals from 1 to 9 inscribed thereon in bold
figures, upon pressing any desired key the long hand or index is moved the
number of spaces or divisions the key represents, the result is indicated by an index
plate B and indexes C & D resembling the dial and hands of a clock, except that
the plate is divided into 100 instead of 60 the indexes are the two hands one a long
one C which indicates the numbers from 1 to 100 the short one D indicating the
hundreds in the same manner that the long hand of a clock indicates the minutes
and the short one the hours. The motion is imparted from the key to the indexes
by means of the following mechanism, the said keys are attached to levers E
arranged side by side and oscillating as they are pressed in a vertical plane on
a suitable fulcrum or spindle F the said levers being provided with a working
surface G and a stopping surface H. These levers operate two rods one a working
rod 1 and the other a stopping rod J. The working rod is attached to an oscillating
or rocking frame K called the working frame having its fulcrum on the same
spindle F as the key levers and carrying 2 pawls L & M which operate a ratchet
wheel N which is the driving wheel one pawl L as the frame is being pushed down
and the other M as it is returning, the return movement being caused by a suitable
spring O. The working frame has a point P which fits into the ratchet wheel (or
in a break wheel Q especially provided for the purpose) having triangular teeth to
prevent the mechanism from overrunning this break wheel is on the same spindle R
as the ratchet wheel. The stopping rod J is attached to a stopping frame S which
is placed in a suitable position and pivotted at T so that when the koy lever comes
in contact therewith it will cause the said frame or a break, or point U attached
thereto to press against a break wheel V (fixed on the same spindle R as the ratchet
wheel) to instantaneously stop it.
Thus it will be perceived that upon pressing a key the working surface of the
key-lever first comes in contact with the working rod and moves it down (the

page_text: working frame moving with it) which moves the ratchet wheel by the pawl L until
the stopping surface comes in contact with the stopping rod which causes the
stopping frame to hold or lock the mechanism by pressing against the break wheel V
and prevents its further movement until the key is released when by the return
movement of the working frame the ratchet wheel is moved in a less degree than in
the downward movement by the pawl M the working frame having a point P which
fits between the ratchet wheel teeth (or the teeth of a triangular toothed break
wheel especially provided for the purpose) and locks the mechanism when it is in
its normal position, Suitable springs W are employed to return the key levers to
their normal position they will rest against a suitable back stop X
J
The ratchet wheel revolves on a horizontal shaft R pivotted in two side bearings Y
the key levers working under the same, on the spindle F between the slots on the
block Z which is supported by the two end bearings a. The working & stopping
rods are placed beneath the keys levers. The working rod being attached to the
working frame which oscillates on the spindle F and the stopping rod being attached
to the stopping frame which rests on the two pivots T supported by the side
bearings which also support the back stop. Upon touching the key No 1 the
ratchet wheel is caused to move 1 tooth upon touching the 2 two teeth and the
3 three teeth &c this variable movement is arranged either by having the stopping
or working surface of the key levers at various levels to allow them to move in
proportion to the number of teeth the key is to work or instead of this the stopping
or working rod may be stepped or slotted down various distances to allow the proper
movement of the key lovers to take the required number of teeth.
In Fig 31 have shewn this arrangement on the stopping rod which I consider
the best method the movement is transmitted from the ratchet or driving wheel N
to the hands by the following tooth wheels. Upon the same shaft as the ratchet
wheel is a vertical bevel wheel C or equivalent device which imparts motion to
another bevel wheel d working at right angles to it (on the central pin e the said
central pin boing screwed to the flat bearing f which is connected to the base by
columns g) and having 100 teeth upon this bevel wheel is fixed the piping h for the
long index or hand C the short index or hand D working round the same spindle
with tooth wheel gearing i to make it work 10 times slower similar to clock hand
gearing except that it is 10 times instead of 12 times slower than the long hand,
this is communicated to the short hand by the piping j.
The short hand or pointer is placed loosely on the tubing for the purpose
of bringing back to zero. The long hand or pointer is brought back to zero by
lifting the knob &, thus lifting the horizontal bevel wheel out of gear with tho
vertical one & so enabling it to be turned round independently of the other
mechanism.
In some cases to produco a cheaper mechine I propose to have the index on the
same spindle as the ratchet wheel similar to my previous patent.
Also the keys instead of being circular may be something like those on a piano
the front ones representing the odd numbers and the intermediate the even ones.
Also the keys instead of being fixed on levers may be fixed on vertical pins the
latter having projections for operating the working and stopping frames or levers
the vertical pins being brought to their normal position by a spiral spring.
Fig 5 shews a method of working the ratchet or driving wheel with only one
pawl the wheel only working by the backward movement this causes a greater
movement of the key but simplifies the mechanism as the stopping rod being a
fixture upon the framework of the machine, there is no stopping frame required.
Although I have only described this machine in referance to adding up hundreds
& tens yet by altering the number of teeth in the wheels the same principle may
be applied to pounds, shillings & pence or other like additions, or there may be
more than one Index plato & set of indexes driven by the same shaft for this
purposes.
The Index plate instead of being perfectly flat as shewn in drawing may be
slightly inclined:

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Key levers working in a verticle plane in combination with a flat or slightly
inclined dial as substantially set forth.
2. A stopping rod or bar slotted at different depths to allow of the varying
movement of the key lever in combination with the said key levers placed on the
same fulcrum as the working frame working in a vertical plane as substantially set
forth.
3. A stopping frame pivotted in the contre having the stopping rod at one end
& the opposite end acting as a break as substantially set forth.
4. A working frame or lever working in a vertical plane & carrying 1 or 2 pawls
for working the ratchet wheel in combination with bevel wheels, (or equivalent
device) for transfering the hands to make them work in a horizontal or slightly
inclined plane as substantially set forth.
5. A horizontal or slightly inclined index plate or dial in combination with a
working frame having its fulcrum on the same spindle as the lovers the latter
working in a vertical plane as substantially set forth.
6. A horizontal or slightly inclined index plate in combination with a working
frame acting also as a break when in its normal position as substantially set forth.
7. A horizontal or slightly inclined index plate in combination with a working
frame & key levers working in a vertical plane as substantially set forth.
8. A Horizontal or slightly inclined index plate in combination with a working
frame working the ratchet wheel by means of two pawls as substantially set forth.
9. A Horizontal or slightly inclined index plate in combination with a stopping
frame acting as a break to prevent the mechanism from over running as substantially
set forth.
10. The stopping frame operated on by key levers in combination with a flat
or slightly inclined index plate as substantially set forth.
11. A Horizontal or slightly inclined index plate the hands working in two
concentric circles in combination with key lover's working in a vertical plane as
substantially set forth.
12. A Ratchet driving wheel on horizontal bearings and operated on by means
of keys working in a vertical plane in combination with a horizontal or slightly
inclined Index plate.
13. A working frame operated on by means of vertical studs as substantially
set forth.
14. A working frame carrying one or two pawls in combination with a ratchet
or driving wheel working in horizontal bearings and bevel wheels for the purpose
of transferring the motion to make it work at right angles to the ratchet wheel as
substantially set forth.
15. A ratchet driving wheel operated on by means of a pawl or pawls attached
to the working frame, and limited in its movement by a stopping bar or rod in
combination with key levers as substantially set forth.
16. The relative positions of the index plate & keys, also of the base, framework,
and supports as substantially set forth and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
17. A calculating apparatus consisting of the parts arranged and combined as
substantially set forth in this specification and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 6th day of March 1885