Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1887
Specification Accepted, 8th Nov., 1887
of Germany.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street Manchester both in
the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Civil
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:-
The annexed drawings represent a calculating machine, which is simple and
consequently cheap to manufacture. Its manipulation is easy, and it occupies so
little room that it can be placed on any desk.
Figure 1 represents a plan, figure 2 a side elevation, figure 3 a vertical cross
section through the rollers, etcetera ; figure 4 a detail of the rack and wheels for
turning the rollers. Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement of the numbers on the
rollers. Figures 6, 7 and 8, show in plan, elevation and section, a modification of
the machine provided with slides in place of rollers. Figure 9 is a detail of these
slides.
In sheet I of the drawings the rollers a each carry the same figures in the same
order. On the periphery of these rollers are applied 10 rows of numbers, each
containing 20 numbers. As shown more particularly on figure 5, the upper 10
numbers contain the units of the table of multiplication, whilst the lower numbers
are the tens corresponding thereto. For instance, in the column of products of
numbers by 4 are found the numbers:―
Above, 0. 4. 8. 2. 6. O. 4. S. 2. 6.
Below, 0. 0. 0. 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. 3. 3.
The rollers are connected with toothed wheels into which the racks c are geared.
The toothed wheels are so geared with the racks e, that those rollers which are in
the same row have the same figures of the multiplication table always at the top.
The racks are provided with a pointer 2, which rests on a scale marked with the

page_text: first 9 figures. If the rack is so drawn that the index comes on 3, the rows of
figures 0. 3. 6. 9. 2. 5. S. 1. 4. 7. units, and 0. 0. 0. 0. 1. 1. 1. 2. 2. 2. tens, appear at
the top of the rolls which are placed side by side, and which are set in motion by
this rack. Over these rolls are the oblique slides & which can he shifted in straight
line by means of pins moving in slots.
Every slide is provided with openings g and gl, the first of which moves over the
units on the rollers on the right hand side of the slide, whilst the other moves over
the tens on the rollers on the left hand side.
These openings are placed at such a distance one from the other that the lower
one always shows the ten digit, whilst the upper one shows the unit digit.
Now if, as in the above mentioned example, one of the racks is so moved that the
index points to 3, and a pointer of the slide shifted to 4 of the scale provided
below the same, the units opening shows 2 and the tens opening, situated at the
proper distance, shows 1, consequently both openings show 12.
If the slide is completely drawn out, so that the index points to 9, the ten digit 2
and unit digit 7, appear through the openings g and g
In the multiplication of numbers having several digits, it is necessary to add the
figures which are in the same vertical column, just as it is done in the ordinary
method of multiplication.
For instance, let us suppose we have to multiply 37 by 584; the two upper racks
will be so shifted that the second upper index comes on 3, and the topmost index =
on 7; whilst the slide which is the last but two on the right hand side of the
drawing shows 5, the last but one on the right hand side, 8, and the last on the right
hand side, 4. All the other racks and slides are at 0, or those rollers which are not
required for the calculation are covered by slides, or limited in their motion by
rules h, as shown on figure 6.
In the above named examples the following numbers appear through the openings g
and a¹
If the numbers to be multiplied have more digits than there are slides or racks,
the well known partial mode of calculation (Partialrichnung) will be most suitably
applied.
For division, separate rollers bearing the numbers 0-9 and capable of turning,
are mounted on horizontal axes i. k. l., these rest on a slide d which can be shifted
on the guides m. The rollers on the upper and middle axes are turned in such a
manner that the number at the top forms in a concordant manner the dividend whilst
the divisor is formed by placing the slides on the corresponding figures of the scale
at the foot of the bed plate.
The rollers on the lower axis are all placed at 0 and likewise the supernumerary
rollers on the two axes on the left are also brought to 0.
In multiplying, it is advisable to use the rows of rollers beginning from the top
one, together with the right hand slides, whilst in dividing, it is more convenient to
leave these rollers and slides free, that is to say, to bring them to 0, or to cover them
in case they should not be required. Exactly over the vertical rows of rollers are
the rollers of the axes i. k. l.
As mentioned in the foregoing, the dividend which has been obtained is composed
on the machine in such a manner, that the digits on the rollers are turned on the top,
50 that they appear below or behind the openings which are made in the small
bridges placed over the rollers. The formation of the dividend will be begun by the
furthest rollers on the left, so that the first digit of the same appears in the furthest
opening on the left.
When the dividend and divisor are formed, the slide is drawn

page_text: so far that the lower spindle remains just free. Should it then happen for example
that the divisor is contained exactly twice in the first portion of the dividend, the
lower rack will be so moved that its index points to 2; the required result of the
multiplication of the divisor by 2 will be at once obtained, as has been explained
when making a multiplication.
The result has now to be subtracted from the dividend. This is done in the
following manner:
The rollers applied on the lower spindle which were at 0 are turned in such a
manner that they indicate the product just obtained.
is
Through the peculiar plate n provided with eccentric slots, the lower axis
moved by means of the lever o against the axis k in such a manner that the toothed
wheels or friction discs on the rollers gear into each other. If now the lower set
of rollers are shifted from 0 to 1, the rollers on the axis k, that are numbered in the
same manner, are turned in the opposite way, and thus digit & comes in the place of
digit 9.
If another subtraction is to be made with the same roller, the said roller will be
shifted forwards on axis as many digits as there are units in the number to be
subtracted, that is to say, this number will be added to the one shown already by the
roller on axis l, and this turned till it shows the corresponding number. When in
subtracting it is necessary to borrow from the next unit, the roller on axis / which is
on the left hand side of the roller under consideration, is shifted one digit further.
The remainder left, which has still further to be added, shows itself after the
subtraction, on the rollers of the middle axis.
Now the second digit of the quotient is to be found. The second rack is shifted
from the bottom to the second figure of the quotient which is to be found, after the
slide d has been shifted to the second row of axes, so that this row becomes free,
and the multiplication of the divisor by the second digit of the quotient becomes
visible on this axis. The calculation can be continued by turning the roller under
consideration, and so forth, until all the digits of the quotient and the remainder are
obtained, as well as a decimal fraction. If the figure of the quotient should be found
to be too high or too low, as often occurs in ordinary calculations, it is noticed at
once on looking at the number shown on the axes, and it is sufficient to shift forward
or backwards the rack to correct the error. The dividend formed on axis i remains
unaltered during the calculation; it is only used as a check.
By adding the numbers formed on the lower and middle axes, one can always
ascertain whether any mistake has been made either during the calculation or after
it is completed, as the sum of the number on these two axes must always be equal to
the dividend. If, in order to obtain the first digit in the quotient it is necessary that
the dividend contain one more digit than there are digits in the divisor, the slide will
be shifted with the axes on forming the first figure of the quotient, up to the place of
the second partial product of the calculation (zweite Multiplicationsetage). That is
to say, the first figure of the lowest row is placed under the 0, because the furthest
digit on the left hand side in the product obtained by the multiplication of the
divisor by the quotient, must, in order to be subtracted from the dividend, stand
under the second digit of the said dividend; another roller can however he applied
to the left hand of cach axis; or again, the rollers can be made susceptible of being
shifted on the axes. Instead of numbered rollers, simple slides provided in the same
manner with figures, can be used as shown on Sheet II, but these are drawn in
directly under the slides b. This arrangement is simpler, but makes the machine
somewhat wider.
Instead of the rollers used for subtraction, straps provided with figures can be
applied, showing by pulling them the number added or subtracted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :
1st. A calculating machine formed with rollers provided with numbers, in such a

page_text: manner that two sets of these rollers perform the multiplication in the manner set
forth, said rollers being placed in rows above one another and moved by means of
racks and other sliding devices, provided with indices and scales on which slides
(provided with indices and openings) are applied to show on the rollers the numbers
required, substantially as described.
2nd. A calculating machine such as described in claim 1, but having flat slides in
lieu of rollers, said slides being provided with numbers substantially as and for the
purpose described, and illustrated in reference to sheet Il of the drawings.
3rd. In a calculating machine the arrangement of the rollers on the horizontal
axes i. k. l, which rollers are provided with figures 0-9, and are applied in making
divisions; in such a manner that the dividend, product, etcetera, are visible in the
manner set forth.
4th. In a calculating machine the arrangement for moving a roller by means of
the platen, having slots and the lever o so that the wheels applied thereto, engage
with the other roller or rollers in such manner that by turning the roller on one of
that
the horizontal axes, the roller on the other axis turns in the reverse direction;
is to say, one turns back as many figures as the other is turned forward, so that
subtraction can be accomplished substantially as described.
5th. In a calculating machine, the combination with the rollers, mentioned in
claim 4, of slides & borne by the guides m, said guides, and slides being provided
so that the rollers can be shifted on making divisions, to the row of digits representing
the product (Multiplicationsetage) by means of which the calculation is made sub-
stantially as described.