IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER- TAINING TO COUNTERS, INDEXES, AND REGISTERING APPARATUS FOR RECORDING THE REVOLUTIONS OF SHAFTS; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Chadburn, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Optician, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPER-
TAINING TO COUNTERS, INDEXES, AND REGISTERING APPARATUS FOR RECORDING
THE REVOLUTIONS OF SHAFTS; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 21st August 1877, and dated the 22nd February 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Chadburn at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1877.
WILLIAM CHADBURN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Optician.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO COUNTERS, INDEXES, AND REGISTERING
APPARATUS FOR RECORDING THE REVOLUTIONS OF SHAFTS; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR
OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in counters, indexes, or registering
apparatus, where such counters are composed of a series of rotating discs marked
with numerals or letters on their peripheries, such discs representing units, tens,
hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, and so on, according to the number of discs
used. The discs are rotated by the reciprocating movement of a series of levers
provided with pawls actuating ratchet wheels in connection with each disc. The
levers and pawls are mounted upon one common shaft operated by a lever or
handle. Each lever is provided with a spring bearing on the pawls, so as to cause
the pawls to fall into the teeth of the ratchet wheels.
Now the novelty of my Invention consists in the addition to the before-described
counter of a locking mechanism, consisting of a series of toothed wheels placed along-
side of the movement ratchet wheels; of a series of locking pawls carried and
working on a shaft common to all. These locking pawls fall into the teeth of the
wheels before mentioned, thereby locking the discs until such locking pawls are
lifted out of gear as herein-after described. The numeral discs are arranged side by
side, and are respectively provided with a toothed or locking wheel, a ratchet or
moving wheel, and an interior disc. The ends of the locking pawls are provided
with nibs or projections so arranged that a pin or projection on the movement pawl
lifts the locking pawl out of gear before the movement pawl comes into gear with
and operates the movement ratchet wheel, and thereby turns the numeral disc,

page_text: The numeral discs are arranged so that disc number one makes one revolution
before disc number two moves forward. Disc number two then makes one-tenth of
a revolution and is again locked until disc number one has completed another
revolution, disc number two thus making one turn to ten turns of disc number one.
In the same way disc number three makes one turn for every ten turns of
disc number two, and so on throughout the series. This is the usual principle
for counters, and I obtain the movement by causing the movement pawls only
to come into gear once during the revolution of the previous wheel; this is
effected by providing the pawls with a pin or projection which rides on the disc
before mentioned as interior to the numeral disc, and thus causes the pawls to work
clear of the teeth of the movement ratchet wheels, and the pins to ride over the
nibs of the locking pawls, each pawl riding on the interior disc of the preceding
numeral disc. These interior discs are each provided with a tooth or notch, so. that
once in every revolution the movement pawl is allowed to fall into gear with the
movement ratchet wheel by the riding pin falling into such tooth or notch. The
pin on the end of the movement pawl then lifts up the locking pawl and allows the
next disc to be moved forward one-tenth; the riding pin is then lifted out of gear
with the tooth or notch and again rides on the interior disc.
The setting of the index is effected by a rocking shaft provided with pins which
lift all the locking pawls simultaneously out of gear; the disc can then be turned
and the registrar set to zero. The apparatus is mounted on a base plate and
supported by a suitable frame, and has a sliding box cover with a slot or window
through which the index or register may be read; the operating shaft is driven by
a rocking lever obtaining its movement from an eccentric or other motive
arrangement.
The rocking lever is arranged to work loosely on the shaft to which it gears by means
of a sliding spring retained bolt with a Vend, which gears into a V notch cut in a
disc which is keyed on to the shaft. The spring retaining the bolt is of sufficient
strength to keep the bolt in gear so long as the counter is working correctly, but
should undue strain be put upon the counter or any part become jammed the bolt
will slide over the V shaped notch instead of working the counter.
The advantages attendant upon my Invention are:-The numeral discs are
securely locked by the locking pawls, and cannot be turned or tampered with unless
the whole of such locking pawls are thrown out of gear. The locking pawls also
prevent more than one number being moved forward at a time by uneven working
or jerking of the movement wheels on the lever.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Chadburn in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st August
1877.
WILLIAM CHADBURN, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Optician.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPERTAINING TO COUNTERS, INDEXES, AND REGISTERING
APPARATUS FOR RECORDING THE REVOLUTIONS OF SHAFTS; APPLICABLE ALSO FOR
OTHER PURPOSES."
My Invention relates to certain improvements in counters, indexes, or registering
apparatus, where such counters are composed of a series of rotating discs marked
with numerals or letters on their peripheries, such discs representing units, tens,
hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, and so on according to the number of discs
used. The discs are rotated by the reciprocating movement of a series of levers
provided with pawls actuating ratchet wheels in connection with each disc. The
levers and pawls are mounted upon one common shaft operated by a lever or
handle. Each lever is provided with a spring bearing on the pawls, so as to cause
the pawls to fall into the pawls of the ratchet wheels.

page_text: Now the novelty of my invention consists in the addition to the before-described
counter of a locking mechanism, consisting of a series of toothed wheels placed
alongside of the movement ratchet wheels, of a series of locking pawls carried and
working on a shaft common to all. These locking pawls fall into the teeth of the
wheels before mentioned, thereby locking the discs until such locking pawls are
lifted out of gear as herein-after described. The numeral discs are arranged side by
side, and are respectively provided with a toothed or locking wheel, a ratchet or
moving wheel, and an interior disc. The ends of the locking pawls are provided
with nibs or projections so arranged that a pin or projection on the movement pawl
lifts the locking pawl out of gear before the movement pawl comes into gear with
and operates the movement ratchet wheel, and thereby turns the numeral disc.
The numeral discs are arranged so that disc number one makes one revolution
before disc number two moves forward; disc number two then makes one-tenth of
a revolution, and is again locked until disc number one has completed another
revolution, disc number two thus making one turn to ten turns of disc number one.
In the same way disc number three makes one turn for every ten turns of disc
number two, and so on throughout the series. This is the usual principle employed
for counters, and I obtain the movement by causing the movement pawls only to
come into gear once during the revolution of the previous wheel; this is effected by
providing the pawls with a pin or projection which rides on the disc before
mentioned as interior to the numeral disc, and thus causes the pawls to work clear
of the teeth of the movement ratchet wheels, and the pins to ride over the nibs of
the locking pawls, each pawl riding on the interior disc of the preceeding numeral
disc. These interior discs are each provided with a tooth or notch, so that once in
every revolution the movement pawl is allowed to fall into gear with the movement
ratchet wheel by the riding pin falling into such tooth or notch. The pin on the
end of the movement pawl then lifts up the locking pawl, and allows the next disc
to be moved forward one-tenth; the riding pin is then lifted out of gear with the
tooth or notch and again rides on the interior disc.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood, I will now proceed
more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner in or under which the
same is or may be used or practically carried into effect, and for that purpose I have
hereunto attached two Sheets of Drawings illustrative of my Invention, marked
with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the following
explanation.
In all the Figures the same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding
parts.
Upon reference to the Drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a counter or
registering apparatus (with the cover removed) constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 2 is an end view through the line a, x, Figure 1; Figure 3 is an
end view of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 1; Figures 5 and 6 are details
of Figure 1.
Figures 7 and 8 are outside views of a counter or registering apparatus con-
structed according to my Invention.
'
Figures 9 to 16 illustrate modified arrangement of an apparatus constructed
according to my Invention, the Figures corresponding with those from 1 to 8 on
Sheet 1.
Upon reference to the Drawings it will be seen that the counter, index, or
registering apparatus consists of a series of discs A marked with numerals upon
their peripheries, the discs A representing units, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so
on according to the number of discs used; for example, the total as read in Figure 7
is 4,083,027, such total representing the number of revolutions of any shaft to
which the counter has been applied. The discs A are mounted and run loose on
one common shaft B supported by the brackets B¹, B². The discs A are rotated by
the reciprocating movement of the levers C which work the discs A by means of
the pawls D, which actuate the ratchet or tooth wheels E in connection with each
disc A. The levers C are mounted upon one common shaft F operated by a lover,

page_text: such as T; the levers C are provided with springs C which bear upon the pawls D,
so as to cause the pawls D to fall into the teeth of the wheels E. This arrange-
ment, so far as the numeral discs and actuating the same by means of the lever, a
pawl and ratchet wheel are concerned, is old, and does not form part of my
Invention, but my Invention consists in the addition of a locking mechanism, being
the toothed wheels H which are placed alongside of the movement or ratchet
wheels E, of a series of locking pawls I which are carried and work on the shaft J.
These locking pawls by means of the springs I are caused to fall into the teeth of
the wheels H, as shown in detail at Figure 5, thereby locking the discs A until the
pawls I are lifted out of gear.
.
As shown at Figures 1 and 4, the discs A are arranged side by side, and are
respectively provided with a toothed or locking wheel H, a ratchet or movement
wheel E, and an interior disc K having one notch or tooth K¹. The ends of the
locking pawls I are provided with nibs or projections L, so arranged that a pin or
projection M on the movement pawl D lifts the locking pawl I out of gear with
the tooth of the wheel H before the movement tooth D¹ of the pawl D comes into
gear with the tooth of the ratchet wheel E, and thereby turns the numeral disc A.
The numeral discs A are arranged so that disc number 1 makes one revolution
before disc moves forward; disc 2 then makes one-tenth of a revolution, and is
again locked by the locking pawl J until disc number 1 has completed another
revolution, disc number 2 thus making one complete turn to ten turns of disc
number 1. In the same way disc 3 makes one turn for every ten turns of disc 2,
and so on throughout the series of the discs A. This movement is obtained by
causing the movement pawls D (with the exception of the movement pawl of disc
number 1) only to come into gear once during the revolution of the previous wheel.
This is effected by providing the pawls with a pin or projection N (see Figure 6),
which rides on the disc. K. before mentioned as interior to the numeral disc A, and
thus causes the pawls D to work clear of the teeth of the movement ratchet
wheels E, and the pins or projections M to ride over the nibs L of the locking
pawls I, each pawl D being supported by the pin N riding on the interior disc K of
the preceeding numeral disc A. The interior discs K are each provided with a
tooth or notch K¹ (see Figure 6), so that once in every revolution the movement
pawl D is allowed to fall into gear with the movement ratchet wheel E by the
riding pin N falling into such tooth or notch K¹. The pin M on the end of the
movement pawl D then lifts up the locking pawl I by passing under the. nib L, and
allows the next disc A to be moved forward one-tenth; the riding pin N then lifts
out of gear with the notch K¹ and again rides on the interior disc K.
The setting of the index is effected by a rocking shaft O provided with pins P
which lift all the locking pawls I simultaneously out of gear; the discs A can then
be turned and the register set to zero. The apparatus is mounted on a base plate Q
and supported by a suitable frame, such as B1, B2, and has a sliding box cover R
with a slot or window S through which the index or register may be read. The.
operating shaft. F is driven by a rocking lever T obtaining its movement from an
eccentric or other motive arrangement.
The rocking lever T is arranged to work loosely on the shaft to which it gears
by means of a sliding spring retained bolt with a Vend, which gears into a V notch
cut in a disc which is keyed on to the shaft. The spring retaining the bolt is of.
sufficient strength to keep the bolt in gear so long as the counter is working
correctly, but should undue strain be put upon the counter or any part become
jammed, the bolt will slide over the V shaped notch instead of working the
counter.
The advantages attendant upon my Invention are, the numeral discs A are
securely locked by the locking pawls I, and cannot be turned or tampered with
unless the whole of such locking pawls I are thrown out of gear. The locking
pawls I, also prevent more than one number being moved forward at a time by
uneven working or jerking of the movement wheels E or the lever T.
It will be evident that my Invention as herein-before described can be varied.in,

page_text: detail; such a variation is illustrated in Figures 9 to 16, Sheet 2. Upon reference
to these Figures it will be seen that as in Figures 1 to 8, the discs A are mounted
on a common shaft B. Each disc is provided with a movement or ratchet wheel E,
a locking wheel H, and an interior disc K. The movement pawls D are mounted
on the levers C, which are worked by the lever T and carried on the shaft B, this
arrangement thus dispensing with the shaft F. The locking pawls' I are reversed
in position to the moving pawls D, and are carried by the shaft J and held down
by the springs 1.
The working of the arrangement shown on Sheet 2 is identical with the working
of the arrangement shown on Sheet 1, namely, the discs A are turned by the
pawls D which unlock the discs A by the pins M, lifting the locking pawls I by
passing under the nibs or cams L. In like manner to those shown on Sheet 1, the
movement pawls D are provided with pins N which ride on the interior discs K
(see Figure 13), and once in every revolution fall into the notch K¹ and allow the
next numeral disc to be moved one-tenth of a revolution, the discs being locked
after every tenth of a revolution by the locking pawls I.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the system, mode, or inanner in or under which the same is or may be used
or practically carried into effect, and shown how the same may be varied without
departing from my Invention, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The construction and arrangement of a counter, index, or registering
apparatus, such as shown at Figures 1 to 8, Sheet 1, of the annexed Drawings, and
described in the beforegoing Specification.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of a counter, index, or registering
apparatus, such as shown at Figures 9 to 16, Sheet 2, of the annexed Drawings, and
described in the beforegoing Specification.
Thirdly. The application to counters and registering apparatus of a locking
mechanism consisting of a locking wheel such as H, and a locking pawl or lever
such as I, having a nib or cam such as L, substantially as herein described or set
forth and shown in the annexed Drawings, or any modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Chadburn, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
TELLAM
(L.S.) CHADBURN.