IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR INDICATING AND RECORDING THE SPEED OF REVOLVING OR MOVING BODIES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John James Royle, of 71, Market Street, in the City of
Manchester, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR INDICATING AND RECORDING THE SPEED OF
REVOLVING OR MOVING BODIES."
Sealed the 11th June 1878, and dated the 15th December 1877.
Sealed the 11th June 1878, and dated the 15th December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John James Royle at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th December 1877.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE, of 71, Market Street, in the City of Manchester, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR INDICATING AND
RECORDING THE SPEED OF REVOLVING OR MOVING BODIES."
For the purposes of this Invention I employ a differential motion, the first
member of which is connected to and driven by the body, whose speed is required
to be indicated; the third member is connected to and controlled by a body having
a uniform or known motion, such as a pendulum balance wheel escapement or fly,
and the intermediate member, which receives the difference between the two herein-
before mentioned movements, indicates the speed in revolutions per minute, or miles
per hour, according to the unit of time selected.
The differential motion may be of either spur, bevil, or worm gearing.
According to one modification I arrange a differential motion, consisting of a
worm and worm wheel. The worm wheel is controlled by a pendulum or fly or
balance wheel escapement, so as to always revolve at a constant rate. The worm
is set upon a spindle capable of sliding in its bearings as the worm gears with the
worm wheel. A circular plate or roller (herein-after called the roller) is fixed upon
the worm spindle, and a disc driven from the engine is fixed so as to drive the
roller by frictional contact therewith.
The action of this modification is as follows:-The disc as it draws the roller by
frictional contact causes the worm to travel through the worm wheel by the

page_text: difference between the speed of the roller and the speed of the worm wheel con-
tiolled, as herein-before described.
As the speed of the worm wheel is uniform, any variation of the engine causes
the worm to travel through the worm wheel, more or less, and alter the position
of the roller upon the disc to a position where the surface velocity at the point of
rolling contact bears the same proportion to the speed of the worm wheel; the
position of the roller therefore varies, according to the speed of the engine.
A suitable dial and pointer are provided, by means of which the position of the
roller upon the disc may be more readily seen and read off, such disc being
graduated by experimental test.
And in order to test or shew the degree of accuracy with which the instrument
is working, I sometimes apply an additional index finger, the spindle of which is
geared up to any convenient part of the mechanism so as to make a complete
revolution every hour, or other required space of time, and to indicate upon the
sanie or a separate dial; and thus such index finger, if the instrument is working
properly, will correspond in position upon its dial with the minute hand of a clock,
or otherwise, as it may be arranged.
A useful modification of this foregoing arrangement is effected by mounting the
disc upon the arbour of the scape wheel, or other suitable wheel in the trade of an
ordinary clock, and employing the roller and worm herein-before mentioned. The
worm in this case runs through a nut wheel driven by the engine or other moving
body. There is the same differential action as in the preceding arrangement, and
the position of the roller upon the disc is indicated by a finger or pointer, which I
prefer to arrange concentric with the ordinary clock finger after the manner of a
centre second hand of a watch. This arrangement possesses the advantage that the
speed of the engine and the time can both be seen on one dial.
It will be obvious that the indication may be upon a separate dial, if desired.
In another modification I arrange the differential motion to lengthen or shorten
a pendulum, the length of the pendulum indicating the speed, and which is shown
upon a dial.
In order to keep a permanent record of the indications I employ a drum or disc
carrying a sheet of paper, which revolves in a given time being driven by separate clock
movement, or by the engine, or from the differential motion, or as herein-after
described, according to the purpose to which the apparatus is applied. A pencil or
pricker, actuated from the indicating mechanism, marks the speed upon the paper
as the drum travels under it.
This apparatus may be employed to indicate and record the speed of motive-
power engines, railway trains, tram cars, and other moving bodies, and in the case
of tram cars or other vehicles, in which it is necessary to record the maximum speed
during each journey, I arrange the drum to be driven from the reversing gear of
the engine or any other part of the vehicle, which shall cause the drum to move
one space only for each journey.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John James Royle in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th June
1878.
JOHN JAMES ROYLE, of 71, Market Street, in the City of Manchester, Mechanical
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR INDICATING OR INDICATING AND
RECORDING THE SPEED OF REVOLVING OR MOVING BODIES."
For the purposes of this Invention I employ a differential motion, the first
member of which is connected to and driven by the body whose speed is required
to be indicated; the third member is connected to and controlled by a body having
a uniform or known motion, such as a pendulum, balance wheel escapement or fly,
and the intermediate member which receives the difference between the two
berein-before mentioned movements, indicates the speed in revolutions per minute,
or miles per hour, according to the unit of time selected.
The differential motion may be of either spur, bevil, or worm gearing.
According to one modification I arrange a differential motion consisting of a worm
and worm and worm wheel. The worm wheel is controlled by a pendulum, or fly, or
balance wheel escapement, so as always revolve at a constant rate. The worm is
set upon a spindle capable of sliding in its bearings as the worm gears with the
worm wheel. A circular plate or roller (herein-after called the roller) is fixed upon
the worm spindle, and a disc driven from the engine is fixed so as to drive the
roller by frictional contact therewith.
The action of this modification is as follows:-The disc as it drives the roller by
frictional contact causes the worm to travel through the worm wheel by the
difference between the speed of the roller and the speed of the worm wheel
controlled, as herein-before described.
As the speed of the worm wheel is uniform, any variation of the engine causes
the worm to travel through the worm wheel more or less, and alter the position of
the roller upon the disc to a position where the surface velocity at the point of
rolling contact bears the same proportion to the speed of the worm wheel; the
position of the roller therefore varies according to the speed of the engine
A suitable dial and pointer are provided, by means of which the position of the
roller upon the disc may be more readily seen and lead off, such dial being
graduated by experimental test.
A useful modification of this foregoing arrangement is effected by mounting the
disc upon the arbor of the scape wheel or other suitable wheel in the train of an
ordinary clock, and employing the roller and worm herein-before mentioned. There
is the same differential action as in the previous arrangement, and the position of
the roller upon the disc is indicated by a finger or pointer, which I prefer to arrange
concentric with the ordinary clock finger after the manner of a centre second hand
of a watch. This arrangement possesses the advantage that the speed of the engine
and the time can both be seen on one dial.
It will be obvious that the indication may be upon a separate dial if desired.
In another modification I arrange the differential motion to lengthen or shorten a
pendulum, the length of the pendulum indicating the speed, and which is sbewn upon
a dial.
In order to keep a permanent record of the indications I employ a drum carrying
a sheet of paper, which revolves in a given time, being driven by clock movement,
or by the engine from the differential motion, or as herein-after described, according
to the purpose to which the apparatus is applied. A pencil or pricker, actuated
from the indicating mechanism, marks the speed upon the paper as the drum travels
under it.
This apparatus may be employed to indicate and record the speed of motive-
power engines, railway trains, tram cars, and other moving bodies, and in the case of
tram cars or other vehicles in which is is necessary to record the inaximum speed
during each journey, I arrange the drum to be driven from the reversing gear of the

page_text: engine, or any other part of the vehicle which shall cause the drum to move one space
only for each journey.
And in order that this my said Invention may be more perfectly understood and
more readily carried into effect, I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings, and
will now proceed to describe the same, reference being had to the letters of reference
marked thereon.
•
Similar letters being used to denote similar parts in all the views.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation with dial and case removed of my improved speed in-
dicator, in which the regulator employed is a "fly." The apparatus consisting of a
vertical spindle A capable of sliding in bearings in the rectangular frame B. A
worm C is formed upon the upper part of the spindle A, which gears with a worm
wheel D mounted upon the arbor E; this arbor E drives the fly G, mounted in the
frame H, projecting from the rectangular frame B, through the spur wheels I and J,
as illustrated. Upon the lower part of the vertical spindle A I mount the roller K
and weight L; this latter being adjusted so as to drive the fly at a suitable regulating
speed.
The whole of the mechanism thus carried by the rectangular frame B is hung
upon a fixed stud M projecting from the inside of the case, so as to be capable of
turning upon such stud, and owing to a preponderance of weight on the right-hand
side caused by the projecting fraine H, the roller K lies with a uniform pressure in
contact with the disc Ñ mounted upon the shaft O, which is driven from the engine
or other machine, the speed of which is required to be indicated. It will be seen
that the vertical spindle A, and parts mounted thereon, act as the going weight to
drive the fly, and consequently the speed of the worm wheel D will be uniform.
It further follows that the speed of the woim C must be constant also, otherwise
the worm will ascend or descend through the worm wheel D. As the roller K
receives its motion from the disc N, it will therefore ascend or descend thereupon
until it finds a point upon the disc where there is a surface velocity just capable of
driving the worm at the same speed as the worm wheel, and if the speed of the
engine or other motor is constant, the roller K will maintain itself in this posi-
tion. If however the speed of the engine or other motor varies, the roller will
alter its position (nearer to the centre if the speed increases, and further from if
the speed decreases) until it finds the same surface velocity as before, when it
will remain stationary. As the speed of the fly is constant it follows that a
given velocity per minute imparted to the periphery of the roller K will suffice
to maintain it in one position, and that there will always be upon the disc N a cor-
responding surface velocity, however the engine or other motor may vary in speed,
and therefore the position of the roller upon the disc is a true indication of the
speed of the prime mover.
In order that the position of the roller upon the disc may be more readily seen
I provide upon the lower part of the vertical spindle a circular rack P, gearing with
the pinion Q, the arbour of which carries the index finger R sweeping over a dial.
I graduate this dial by experimental test in connection with any instrument having
a known rate.
It will be obvious that instead of the fly a rotary pendulum might be employed,
or any mechanical equivalent capable of maintaining a uniform speed in the worm
wheel.
In the preceeding arrangement of the differential motion (the worm) supplies the
driving force for the regulator; but in the modification illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3
I provide for this by employing an ordinary clock train and pendulum or a balance
wheel, this arrangement being preferable where the regulator has an intermittent
action, as is the case with a pendulum or balance wheel.
In the views Fig. 2 is a front elevation with one of the frames removed; and
Fig. 3, a plan of so much of an ordinary clock, and will suffice to shew the applica-
tion of my Invention thereto, drawn about full size.
D is the worm wheel secured upon and consequently revolving at a constant rate
with the arbor of the second wheel S. C is the worm formed upon the small

page_text: pindle A, which is capable of revolving and likewise sliding longitudinally in the
bearing T and T projecting from the main frame U. K is the roller secured upon
he spindle A, and pressed into contact with the disc N by the small spring V (see
Figure 3, which is a side view of the bracket T).
The disc N is driven by the engine or other machine, the speed of which is
required to be indicated through the bevil wheels W, or any equivalent mechanical
means. X is a rocking shaft, provided with an arm Y, which receives the hori-
zontal movement of the spindle A, and conveys it to the index finger R through
the quadrant Z and pinion Q.
It will be observed that in the views the worin c is just clear of the worm wheel
D, so that the clock train is capable of going without any interference from the
indicating mechanism, and from the arrow shewn on the worm wheel it will be
apparent that its action is always to run the worm out of gear. The end of the
spindle A, lying in the bearing T³, it will be observed is also clear of the arm Y on
the rocking shaft, the said arm resting against the side of the bearing T₁, and when
A weighted
in this position the index finger R is at the zero point of the dial.
arm Y' is attached to the rocking shaft X to cause the arm Y to lie against the
bearing T, and to cause the index finger R to follow the movement of the
spindle A.
The hour and minute hand of the clock are not shewn in these Figures, as they
form no part of the speed-indicating mechanism, but they are supposed to be
arranged around the arbor carrying the index finger R, after the manner of the
centre seconds of a watch. An exterior view of the complete apparatus is repre-
sented by Fig. 4, but it must be understood that if required the time-indicating
portion could be upon a separate dial, as will be seen hereafter.
Supposing the clock to be going, the worm wheel D will have a constant rate
per minute, as in the previous modification, and supposing the engine or other motor
to be now started the first act of the disc N is to run the worm C into gear with
the worm wheel 1), the end of the spindle A lying in the bearing T', permitting it
to run well into gear before the said spindle touches the arm Y, after which the
There is the same differential
motion begins to effect the indications on the dial
action in this as in the previous arrangement, that is, the worm advances through
the worn wheel until it has brought the roller K to a point upon the disc N, where
there is the same relative surface speed as in the worm wheel D, at which point it
will remain, such position being indicated upon the dial by the index finger R,
any alteration of speed causing an alteration of position in the roller and a propor-
tionate variation of the pointer on the dial. The dial is graduated by experimental
test, as in the previous modification.
Upon the engine or other motor stopping, the worm wheel D traverses the worm
out of gear, pushing the roller K to the outer edge of the disc N, and thus the
stopping of the engine or other motor does not effect the going of the clock. I also
provide against accident in case the clock should be neglected in the winding, or
stopped, and the engine started whilst in that state by slightly hollowing or
Tecessing the centre of the disc N at "a," (Fig. 3), so that after the roller has gone a
proper distance across the disc, it runs itself out of contact with the disc, and stops,
thus preventing the engine wearing a flat upon the roller if the clock should be
stopped, or the same effect would be produced, though not so perfectly, by allowing
the roller to run to the centre of the disc N. The first action of the clock upon
starting reinstates the roller upon the disc. I would here remark that it is necessary
to allow considerable freedom in the gearing of the worm and worm wheel to prevent
the intermittent action of the worm wheel being conveyed to the worm, and so to
the index finger.
In iny Provisional Specification I describe the disc a mounted upon one of the
wheels of the clock train, and driving the roller and spindle through a nut wheel.
It will be clear that in such arrangement there would be the same differential action,
the nut wheel driven by the engine causing the roller to vary its position on the

page_text: .
"
•
disc, but I have found the last-described modification to possess several advantages
and particularly that it is quicker in its indication.
In Figs. 5 and 6 I illustrate my improvements arranged for both indicating and
recording the speed, and also showing the time, the speed and the time being
shewn upon separate dials. Fig. 5 is an internal elevation drawn about half size;
and Fig. 6, an external view of the instrument mounted in its case drawn about
one-fourth full size.
Referring to Fig. 5, D is the worm wheel upon the arbor of the second wheel of
he clock train, similar to the arrangement illustrated in last-described modification.
The worm C is formed upon the end of a long shaft "b," and is supported at
one end in the antifriction roller "c," and at the other end at which is the roller K
it is supported upon the coue "d" set with its axis out of the horizontal position,
as illustrated, to allow the surface of the cone to be parallel with the axis of the
shaft b. This cone is driven by the engine or other mechanism, whose speed is to
be ascertained. There is here the same differential action as described in the previous
arrangements, the roller altering its position on the cone according to the speed.
"
The speed is recorded upon a drum e driven by the clock movement, and
carrying a sheet of paper divided into hours and speed divisions similar to those
on the speed dial. A half-size view of one of these papers is seen in Fig. 7. A
pencil mounted in a holder g is put upon the long shaft b between two collars "h"
and "i" by means of a light spring clip surrounding the shaft, so as to allow the
shaft to turn, and yet to cause the pencil to bear against the drum with a constant
pressure, according to the strength of the spring clip, and to traverse across the
drum with the movement of the shaft b.
As the drum revolves in the direction of the arrow the pencil traces a line
corresponding to the speed. The line seen upon the paper in Fig 7 shews that
the engine started at 6 o'clock and ran till eight, the driving being irregular,
and increasing from 150 at starting to 155 at stopping for breakfast.
engine started again at 8.30 and ran till 1, shewing good driving, stopped one
hour for dinner, and finished for the day at 5.30, and did not run in the night.
The
In the case of tram cars, steamboats, and other vehicles which run in alternate
directions, I should provide a movement on the end of the shaft driving the disc or
cone, which will cause such shaft to run always in one direction; such movements
being well known it will not be necessary to describe them in connection with this
Invention.
In the case of tram cars where it is needful to record the maximum speed of
each journey, I disconnect the drum from the clock, and drive it from the reversing
gear or handle of the engine, so as to move the paper one space for each journey at
starting. This causes the pencil to traverse across the paper on a straight line, thie
length of the line shewing the highest speed attained on the journey, and at the
end of the day the paper would have upon it a series of lines, one for each
journey, the length of such lines indicating the maximum speed attained on
each run.
I would observe that in the various modification of my speed indicators, herein-
before described, the performance of an engine or other revolving or moving body
at any given instant is indicated, and can be seen at a glance upon the dial.
I would further observe that by making a clock movement the basis of a speed
indicator, as herein-before described, a check upon the accuracy of the instrument
is obtained, for if the clock indicates correct time the speed indications inust of
necessity be correct also, and thus the clock portion serves the double purpose of
shewing the time and checking the accuracy of the speed indications.
Besides indicating the speed of evolving or reciprocating motions this apparatus
is equally useful for indicating and recording the velocity of the wind, or of running
streams or other currents of liquids or fluids; but in these cases I prefer to employ
an apparatus similar to an anemometer vane or water wheel to produce a rotary
motion for working the disc or cone of the indicating apparatus, the marking of
the dial being altered to feet per second, miles per hour, or otherwise, as desired.

page_text: Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself
to the precise details, relative proportions, or dimensions of the several parts of the
instruments herein-before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing,
as the same may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention, nor
do I confine myself to the arrangement of a differential motion consisting of worm
gearing, as differential bevil or spur gearing or any of the well-known mechanical
equivalent differential motions might be applied with more or less similar result;
I claim,
1st. The employment of a differential motion or action in combination with a
clock or other movement having a known rate, as and for the purposses described.
2nd. The general arrangements and combinations of apparatus for indicating, and
for indicating and recording speed, substantially as herein-before described, and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
3rd. The use and application of a roller and disc or roller and cone in combination
with an index finger and dial for indicating speed, as herein-before described, and
illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
4th. The combination of a speed indicator and clock, giving an indication of the
speed and time upon the same or separate dials, the time dial serving as a check
upon the accuracy of the speed indications, as herein-before described, and illustrated
on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John James Royle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN J. ROYLE. (L.S.)