A New or Improved Apparatus for Registering and Recording the Speed or Mileage per minute or hour at which a Cycle, Tramcar, Locomotive, or other Vehicle or Machine is travelling.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Registering and Recording the
Speed or Mileage per minute or hour at which a Cycle, Tramcar,
Locomotive, or other Vehicle or Machine is travelling.
I, FERDINAND JOHN WICH, of 15, Clyde Road, Didsbury, Lancashire, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The object of my invention is to attach to a cycle tramcar, locomotive or other
vehicle, an instrument or apparatus which will indicate, at a glance, the speed or
mileage at which the machine or vehicle is travelling.
In carrying out my invention, I attach bevel or mitre wheels to the axle or shaft
of the driving wheel. These bevel or mitre wheels by means of a shaft cause other
bevel or mitre wheels to revolve, which act upon a pair of governors. The speed
of the machine, through the intervention of the mitre wheels causes the governors
to fly out, or to collapse, according to the speed at which the machine is revolving.
The movement of the governors causes a pointer or finger fixed upon a graduated
dial plate to move upon its centre, the said finger pointing to the marks or gradua-
tions upon the said face plate which indicates at once the speed or mileage at which
the machine or vehicle is travelling. In combination with the apparatus herein
described I use a paper or other material upon which is recorded or marked by
means of a pencil or other instrument, the speed or mileage at which the machine
is travelling the apparatus being constructed after the well known manner of an
indicator employed to indicate the speed of steam engines or after the manner of
an aneroid barometer.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Apparatus for Registering and Recording the
Speed or Mileage per minute or hour at which a Cycle, Tramcar,
Locomotive, or other Vehicle or Machine is travelling.
I, FERDINAND JOHN WICH, of 15, Clyde Road, Didsbury, Lancashire, 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:.
My invention relates to an instrument or mechanism for indicating and register-
ing or recording the speed per minute or hour at which a velocipede, vehicle or other
description of rolling stock for road or track, is travelling and the mileage travelled.

page_text: The object of my invention is to provide a novel and efficient instrument of small
compass for indicating on a dial the speed at which a bicycle or vehicle to which it
is applied, is travelling over the ground and for recording or giving a permanent
register thereof, with all the variations in speed from zero to the full limit attained,
and of the number of miles which the bicycle or vehicle has run.
'
My invention consists of the novel arrangement construction and operation of
mechanism for the aforesaid purpose as will be hereinafter fully described.
Referring to the drawings illustrating my invention:
-
Fig. 1 is plan view, on an enlarged scale, of my improved registering and indicat-
ing or recording instrument;
Fig. 2 is sectional plan taken on line a, a, of Fig. 4.
Fig. 3 is sectional elevation taken on line b, b, of Fig. 1 looking in the direction
of arrow c same figure;
Fig. 4 is sectional elevation taken on line d, d, of Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is elevation of a bicycle showing the application of my invention; and
Fig. 6 is a modified detail of the method of conveying motion to the instrument.
The same numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
In the drawings 1 represents a case or box enclosing the mechanism of the instru-
ment, 2 a glass disc forming the top of the box or case through which can be
plainly seen below same a dial plate 3 having thereon a graduated scale 4 arranged
on the arc of a circle and marked off radially by divisions representing units and
tens from zero to fifty.
The dial plate 3 is supported by a bridge piece 5 which is held securely in position
at the desired height by studs 6 secured in the sides of the case 1, these studs
entering and registering in slots 5¹ formed in the turned down extremities of the
said bridge piece.
On the dial plate is placed a ring or washer 7 forming a distance piece, and on
this ring rests the glass disc 2 which is secured in the casing by a rim 8 having
an external screw thread thereon which takes into a corresponding internal thread
on the upper inner edge of the case or box 1. The screwed rim 8 makes a dust
proof joint with the top of the case 1. Journalled loosely in bearings, at one end
in the bridge piece 5 and at the lower end in a bracket 9 secured to said bridge
piece, is a short shaft or spindle 10 whereon is fast a pinion 11 with which meshes
a toothed quadrant or sector 12 mounted loosely on a stud 13 supported in bearings
at the upper end in the bridge piece 5 and at the lower end in a bracket 14 secured
to said bridge piece.
The shaft or arbor 10 projects through the bridge piece 5 and dial plate 3 and to
its upper end is secured an index finger or pointer 15 which is adapted to be moved
over the scale 4 from zero to fifty.
To the sector or quadrant 12 is secured by nut 16 one end of an arm 17 whose
opposite end is provided with an opening through which is passed the bent end of a
lever 18 secured to a sleeve 19 adapted to turn on a stud 20 secured at its upper
end to the bridge piece 5 and at its lower end to the bracket 21 attached to the side
of the case 1. To the sleeve 19 is secured a second lever 22 whose extremity, is bent
down at right angles, the end thereof entering an annular groove 23 in a collar 24
adapted to slide laterally and to rotate on a fixed stud 25 secured at its outer end
On the
by nut 26 to the case 1, and supported at its inner end by a stand 27.
stud 25 and confined between the sliding collar 24 and a shoulder 25¹ is a spiral
spring 28 which acts in resistance to the lateral movement of the collar.
The sliding collar 24 is connected by links 29 to governor balls 30 which are
carried in the forked ends of levers 31 centred on studs 32 secured in lugs cast on a
sleeve 33 placed loosely on the fixed stud 25 so as to turn freely thereon, but not to
move laterally.
On the said sleeve is fast a bevel gear 34 which meshes with a second bevel
gear 35 secured on a vertical shaft 36 supported in bearings in a bracket 37 secured
to the case 1.

page_text: The lower end of the shaft 36 projects through an opening in the bottom of the
case or box 1 and is coupled by a knuckle or universal joint 38 to a shaft 36¹ of
which it forms a continuation or part and together constitute the driving shaft.
by which motion is transmitted from a rotating part of the velocipede or vehicle to
the instrument. The said driving shaft is made in two parts and jointed together
as described in order to allow for any angularity there may be in consequence of the
instrument not being in a position which will allow of the part 36 of the driving
shaft being central with the source of motion.
In Fig. 5 the shaft 36¹ is shown geared to a bevel gear 39 fast on the hub of the
front wheel of the bicycle, the instrument in this case being secured by a clamp and
screw 40 to the front fork, as, when geared to the steering wheel, it must be
capable of turning therewith from side to side without offering any obstruction or
impediment to the steering. Should the instrument be affixed to any other part of
the machine, such as shown in dotted line at e in Fig. 5, the shaft 36 can be geared
to the crank axle or to the rear driving wheel. The gear connection between
shaft 36 and the rotating part of the bicycle gives a positive transmission of motion,
and is to be preferred; but the gear may be modified by substituting a strap or
band connection as the medium for transmitting motion from the bicycle or vehicle
to the instrument, the band passing round a grooved pulley on the wheel or crank
axle and around a grooved pulley 34 secured on the end of sleeve 33 as shown at
Fig. 6, the bevel gears 34 and 35 and shaft 36, 36¹, being removed and the sleeve 33
extended through to the outside of the case 1.
The parts above described comprise the means for giving a constant visible
register of the speed and every variation of speed, at which the bicycle or vehicle to
which it is connected, is travelling, each rotation of the wheel or axle to which
shaft 361 is geared being transmitted through gears 35, 34 to the sleeve 33 which
carries the governor balls 30 around with it. As the speed of the sleeve increases,
the inertia of the governor balls causes them to diverge or fly apart against the
resistance of spring 28 acting on the collar 24 the degree of divergence being in
proportion to the speed the bicycle is travelling, which is the determining factor.
The divergence of the governor balls draws outward the links 29 and levers 31 with
the result that the collar 24 is drawn in the direction of the sleeve 33, this lateral
movement of the collar turning lever 22 and consequently lever 18 on their centres
in the direction of the limits of motion, denoted by strong broken lines in Fig. 2,
the lever 18 drawing the quadrant or sector 12 with it and thereby giving partial
rotation to the pinion 11 and arbor 10, which latter carries the pointer or index
finger 15 from its normal position at zero forward over the scale 4, and the mark or
division on same with which the pointer is brought into alignment gives the speed
at which the bicycle or vehicle is at the moment travelling over the ground; thus,
if the pointer stops opposite the figure 10 marked on the scale, the speed attained is
approximately ten miles per hour, each unit representing one mile so that up to
fifty miles, above which it is rarely necessary to register, the instrument shows at
a glance, at any moment, the speed the machine or vehicle is going, any fraction
of a mile being gauged by the position of the pointer intermediate of two unit
divisions; or the scale can be further marked off into halves and quarters.
When the machine or vehicle is brought to a standstill, the parts resume their
normal positions, being assisted by spring 28 and also by a helically coiled
spring 41, secured at one end to the arbor 10 and at the opposite end to a split
stud 42 secured to the bracket 9, and which is drawn tight or put in tension by the
arbor 10 when rotated, and uncoils itself again on the sector or quadrant being
released and returned to its normal position. The spring 41 also prevents backlash
of the teeth of the pinion 11 and sector 12.
The register given as above described is ever varying with the speed of the bicycle
or vehicle, and leaves no record. In order that a permanent record may also be
made by the instrument for subsequent reference, I combine with the instrument
means whereby an indication, chart, or diagram of the speed and distance travelled
shall be produced,

page_text: To this end I loosely mount on the stud 13, on which the quadrant or sector 12
turns, an arm 43 which extends over a table or platform 44 secured at each end to
vertical end plates 45, 46, attached to a base plate 47 provided with bevelled or
inclined longitudinal edges which take into ways 48 formed on the bottom of the
case or box 1, the said parts 45, 46 and 47 forming a drawer which is adapted to
be slided into and out of the case 1 through an opening 11 at one side of the case,
the end plate 46 answering as a door for closing the opening 11 and having its edges
curved slightly outward and made to overlap the sides of the opening 11 so that
when pushed against same and secured by a hook 49 hinged to the side of the case 1
and hooking into an eyelet 50 fast to the plate 46, a tight joint is made which will
exclude dust. The sliding drawer is provided in order that the recording strip or
paper may be examined and, when necessary, removed, and another length of paper
substituted. The said recording strip is wound on a roll 51 mounted at each end
in bearings in stands 52 secured to the base plate 47 which stands also support a
pair of nipping or drawing rolls 53, 531, and a take up roll 54. The recording
strip, denoted by letter f is unwound off the roll 51, by the drawing rolls 53, 53¹, a
spring 51 preventing overwinding, said strip being then passed under a bridge or
guide 44 formed by making two longitudinal cuts in the table 44 and stamping the
cut portion a little above the surface of the table so that it will maintain the strip
in position. After leaving the guide 44¹ the strip passes over the surface of the
table 44, then between the rolls 53, 53¹, and is finally wound on the take up roll 54.
The roll 53 is driven positively by gear wheels 55, 551, from the shaft 54', which is
driven by worm wheel 56, and worm gear 57 on worm gear shaft 58, the said worm
gear shaft deriving its motion through bevel gears 59 and 60 from cross shaft 61
which is rotated through worm wheel 62 and worm gear 63 from the driving
shaft 36, the strip f thus being traversed over the table 44 at a speed corresponding
to the speed at which the machine or vehicle is travelling.
The take-up roll 54 is mounted loosely on shaft 541 and is rotated to wind on the
paper strip by the frictional contact, against one end thereof, of a spring plate or
fingers 64 secured to the shaft 54 (Fig. 3) by which means no excessive tension is
placed on the strip and it is wound on the roll just as it is fed forward by the draw-
ing rolls 53, 53¹.
The arm 43 carries at its forward end a pencil 431, or an instrument containing
a supply of ink, or which is smeared over with a marking fluid, the point of the
pencil or marker being adjusted so as to press lightly against the table 44 and when
carried over said table, to make a mark on the paper recording strip f.
The rear
end of the arm 43 is provided with a slot 43" into which a stud 121, secured to the
underside of the quadrant or sector 12, extends, and engages with the sides thereof;
or the quadrant and arm may be secured to the stud 13 and the stud 12' dispensed
with. The movement of quadrant or sector 12 to the left hand, Figs. 1 and 2, in
the manner first herein described, causes the stud 121 to move the arm 43 on its
centre in the same direction, thereby drawing the pencil or marker 431 over the
recording strip f from right to left to an extent corresponding to the degree of
movement the quadrant or sector 12 receives from the diverging action of the
governor, the pencil thus making a mark on the paper strip in the direction of
its width and across the lines of division marked thereon to the line which
corresponds with the division on the scale 4 to which the index finger then points,
whereby the speed of the bicycle or vehicle is recorded. The divisions marked off
on the strip bear an exact proportion to the divisions on the scale 4, and the tens
divisions are indicated by plain figures at each end of the strip or at intervals
thereon as shown at Fig. 2. The lines traced on the strip f are naturally of a wavy
or zigzag character, as indicated at Fig. 2, and record every variation in speed from
start to finish of each run. The same mechanism that registers or records the
speed at which the machine or vehicle is propelled also registers or records the
number of miles run. To secure this result I mark off on the recording strip f, at
right angles to the speed divisions or lines, horizontal lines or divisions representing
miles and tens of miles, the distance or space between one unit division and another

page_text: being equivalent or equal to the distance that the paper strip f will be traversed by
the drawing rolls 53, 53', while the wheel or axle of the bicycle or vehicle, from
whence the instrument is driven, is making the number of revolutions calculated to
cover one mile of ground. Thus, by noting the mileage figure or divisional line
on the recording strip; which happens to be in alignment with the marker 43¹
previous to starting on a journey and at the conclusion of the journey, a correct.
reading of the number of miles covered thereon can be obtained, and the total
number of miles travelled while the recording strip is traversed from end to end is
given at the end of the strip.
In order to prevent slipping of the recording strip between the drawing
rolls 53, 53, and to make the traverse of said strip at the same surface speed as the
rolls certain, prefer to secure small studs g on-say-the roll 53 and form
corresponding sockets g' in its companion roll 531, or vice versa, the edges of the
recording strip having perforations made therein at the same distances apart as
the studs so that said studs will take into the perforations and traverse the paper.
strip positively and at the same speed as the driven roll 53.
The recording strip is made of paper sufficiently strong to withstand the strain
put upon it.
An arrow or gauge line i (Fig. 2) is marked on the table 44 exactly opposite the
marker 43 when in its normal position which serves as a guide or gauge in placing
a fresh recording strip in the instrument, the strip being arranged so that the first
horizontal line or division thereon is in alignment with the said mark or gauge,
and when the drawer is pushed home it will be directly under the marker 43¹.
The dial plate 3 has a portion cut out opposite the path traversed by the
marker 431 to enable the record to be seen from the top of the instrument, but I
have not thought it essential to show it.
The arm 43 can be made to move from left to right, if preferred, by lengthening
it and mounting it on a centre beyond the fulcrum or centre of the quadrant or
sector 12 which in such case would be provided with an extension having a depend-
ing stud secured thereto and engaging a slot in the arm.
When wishing to read the recorded speed traced on the recording strip for to
remove a filled strip and replace it with a blank strip, the hook 49 is disengaged
from the eyelet 50 and a finger inserted through the ring 461 secured to the plate 46
when, by a pull on said ring, the drawer containing the table 44, strip f, and series
of rolls, is drawn out either partially or completely, as the case may be, the worm
wheel gear 56 disengaging itself from the worm gear 57, and sliding into gear with
it when the drawer is pushed home again. The recording mechanism may be
omitted from the instrument so that only the indications made by the index finger
or pointer on the scale 4 shall be given; or, vice versa, the dial plate and pointer
may be omitted and the permanent record alone taken.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my 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 and register for velocipedes, vehicles and other rolling stock,
the combination, with an inclosing case or box in which the mechanism for register-
ing and indicating is located and supported, of a dial plate having thereon a
graduated scale arranged on the arc of a circle and marked off radially into
divisions representing miles and tens of miles, a pointer or index finger co-acting
with said scale, a centrifugal pendulum governor, lever connections and gearing
intermediate of said governor and the index finger for moving said finger over
the graduated scale in the same ratio as the governor expands under added incre-
ments of speed and indicating by alignment with a division on the scale the speed
in miles attained, a confined spring acting against the expansion of the governor,
bevel gears for transmitting motion from the driving shaft to the sleeve by which
the governor is carried around, and a driving shaft in one piece, or in two pieces
coupled together by a knuckle or universal joint, and provided at the end with

page_text: bevel gear meshing with a bevel gear fast on the hub or shaft of a rotating part of
the velocipede or vehicle whose speed is to be ascertained, substantially as described..
2. In a speed indicator and register of the class described, the combination, with a
driving shaft receiving motion through bevel gear wheels from a suitable rotating
part of a velocipede or vehicle, of a dial plate secured in an inclosing case or box
having a glass disc over same, a graduated scale on said dial representing miles and
tens of miles, a pointer adapted to be moved over said scale into alignment with
any of the divisions thereon, a short shaft or arbor on which the pointer is secured,
a pinion fast on said shaft or arbor, a helical spring fast at its inner end to the arbor
and at the opposite end to a fixed stud and which is placed in tension when the
pinion is rotated, a quadrant or sector in mesh with the pinion, an arm secured to
the quadrant or sector and provided with an opening at the end thereof, a lever
secured to a sleeve free to turn on a fixed stud, and engaging with the opening in'
the said arm, a second lever secured to the sleeve and engaging the sides of a groove
in a collar, the said collar, adapted to slide laterally on a fixed stud; a spring acting
against said collar, a sleeve free to turn on the said fixed stud and having hinged
thereto forked levers carrying governor balls, links connecting the sliding collar
and governor balls, a bevel gear fast on the sleeve, and a bevel gear fast on the
driving shaft and engaging with the gear on the sleeve, substantially as set forth.
3. In a speed indicator and register or recorder of the class described, the
combination, with means for registering the speed at which a vehicle, car or velo-
cipede is travelling, consisting of a governor deriving motion, through gearing
direct from a suitable rotating part of the velocipede or vehicle, a collar connected
by links to said governor and adapted to be slided thereby laterally on a stud;
levers actuated by and from the movements of the sliding collar, a quadrant or
sector oscillating on its centre by one of said levers, a pinion adapted to be rotated
by the quadrant or sector, a pointer or index finger fast on the shaft or arbor to
which the pinion is secured, and a dial plate having a graduated scale marked
thereon, of means for recording the variations of speed up to the full limits attained,
consisting of an arm actuated by the quadrant or sector, a pencil or marker secured
to said arm, a recording strip across which the pencil or marker is adapted to be
moved and to trace lines or a diagram thereon, and having divisions marked on to
represent the speeds and cross divisions representing the number of miles run, a
table or platform supporting the recording strip under the pencil or marker, a strip
containing roll, a pair of drawing rolls, one of which is driven, a take up roll driven
by frictional contact with a springy disc or fingers, gear wheels for rotating the
drawing rolls, intervening worm wheel, worm, and bevel gears between the take-up
roll shaft and driving shaft, stands in which the shafts of the several rolls are
journalled, a base plate to which the stands are affixed, forming, with vertical end
plates, a drawer which with the parts attached thereto, is adapted to be slid bodily
in and out of the case or box inclosing the registering and indicating or recording
mechanism, and means for securing said drawer to the case or box when pushed
home, substantially as set forth.
4. In a speed indicator and register or recorder of the class described, the com-
bination, with a dial plate secured within an enclosing case or box having a glass
top, a graduated scale on said dial, a pointer or index finger co-acting with said
scale, a short shaft or arbor on which the pointer or index finger is secured, a
pinion fast on said arbor, a helically coiled spring acting against the rotation of
the pinion, a quadrant or sector engaging with the pinion, an arm secured to said
quadrant or sector, a lever engaging with said arm and secured to a sleeve to
which is also secured a second lever engaging the sides of an annular groove in a
sliding collar, said sliding collar and a confined spiral spring acting thereon, a
centrifugal governor connected with said sliding collar and with a sleeve by which
it is revolved, a bevel-gear fast on said sleeve and meshing with a bevel gear on
the driving shaft, and said driving shaft constructed in one piece or in two pieces
coupled together by a knuckle or universal joint and having a bevel gear on its
lower end gearing with a bevel gear fast on a suitable rotating part of a velocipede

page_text: or vehicle of a stud secured to and depending from the quadrant or sector, an arm
free to turn on the same stud on which the quadrant turns, a slot in said arm into
which the stud projecting from the quadrant enters, a pencil or marker on the outer
end of the pivotted arm, a platform or table against which the pencil or marker
presses lightly, a recording strip having divisions marked thereon longitudinally
and horizontally, the longitudinal divisions coinciding proportionately with the
divisions on the scale of the dial and the horizontal divisions spaced to coincide
with the distance the recording strip is traversed while the driving wheel is making
the calculated number of revolutions to the mile, the said strip being arranged to
travel over said table, a roll containing the recording strip, a spring for retarding
said roll, a pair of drawing or nipping rolls for drawing the recording strip over the
table, a take up roll for winding on the strip after it leaves the nipping rolls, the
gearing intervening between the driven drawing roll and the shaft on which
the take-up roll is loosely mounted, a spring plate or fingers fast on said shaft and
pressing against one end of the take up roll to rotate same by frictional contact, a
worm wheel fast on the take up roll shaft, a worm gear engaging with said worm
wheel and fast on a worm gear shaft at whose opposite end is secured a bevel gear
in mesh with a bevel gear on a cross shaft,. a worm wheel gear fast on said cross
shaft, and a worm gear meshing with the worm wheel and secured on the driving
shaft of the instrument, substantially as set forth.
5. In a speed indicator and register or recorder of the class described, the combina-
tion of a centrifugal governor located within an enclosing case or box, gearing
intermediate thereof and a suitable rotating or revolving part of a velocipede or
vehicle for giving motion to said governor, the means intervening between the
governor and an index finger or pointer which transmit the degree of movement of
the governor outwardly under centrifugal action to said finger and cause it to
advance over a graduated scale indicating the speed or mileage per hour or unit of
time that the velocipede or vehicle is travelling, an arm or marker adapted to be
actuated by a stud secured to the quadrant or sector and moved through the arc of
a circle over a table or platform to varying extents and to trace or mark a line or
diagram on a recording strip drawn over said table and having longitudinal speed
divisions and horizontal distance divisions marked off thereon, the diagram or zig-
zag iine where it bisects the longitudinal divisions, giving the reading of the speeds
attained during a run or drive and the distance traversed by the strip giving the
mileage run, the platform, or table over which the strip travels and
is marked by the pencil, al raised piece pressed out of said table
under which the recording strip is caused to travel to guide and maintain it in
a flat and extended condition, a drawer carrying the table and the series of rolls
for paying out, drawing and taking up the recording strip and means for rotating
said rolls; and for positively traversing the recording strip, the lower longitudinal
edges of said drawer being bevelled or inclined and taking into ways in the bottom
of the enclosing box or case and means for securing said drawer to the case or box,
substantially as described.
1
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2 A
11000