An Improved Cyclometer.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Cyclometer.
I, WILLIAM CLIFFORD HOMAN, of Meridin, New Haven County, State of
Connecticut, United States of America, Inventor, 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 improvements in registering mechanism.
The main object of my invention is to perfect and render more positive and
durable certain details of construction, whereby the action of the train of registering
mechanism may be rendered more effective.
Referring to the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the center of a cyclometer.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the internal driving mechanism, the end of the casing
being removed to expose the same.
Fig. 3 is a section on the line x-x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section of the inner end of the first of the series of numeral rings,
showing also in section the end of the second series of numeral rings.
Figs. 5 and 6 are plan views of details of construction.
A is a casing of substantially cylindrical form. B is a stationary shaft, securely
located and carried within said casing. C, C1, C2, C3, C4 are numeral rings revolubly
mounted on said shaft. B1 B are longitudinal grooves in the shaft B, the number
of the grooves being one less than the number of the unit marks upon each of the
numeral rings, the spacing of the said cylindrical grooves and their function being
hereinafter fully described.
The means by which the first of the series of numeral rings is actuated, comprise
a revoluble shaft D in one end of the casing, carrying at its outer end a star
wheel D³ shown in Fig. 1 said star wheel being turned in the ordinary manner by the
wheel of the vehicle to which the registering mechanism is attached. At the inner end
of the shaft D is carried a gear wheel D', operating on what is known as the "hunting
tooth" gear principle. Said wheel D¹ is in gear with an internally toothed ring E E,
rotatable on the shaft B. On the rear face of said ring E is formed a shoulder E¹
projecting under the flanged periphery of the first of the series of numeral rings, C.
At a suitable point in the periphery of the wheel E is a recess E², said recess being
located between two of the teeth on said ring with which the wheel D' is in gear.
is a spring clasping the annular shoulder E', and carrying at a suitable point an
off-set F having an upwardly directed shoulder F2. This off-set projects into the
recess E2 between the tooth previously referred to, and the shoulder F2 abuts
against the wall at one end of said recess. In operation, once in a given number
of revolutions, the "hunting tooth," that is the long tooth D2, will come under the
F

page_text: off-set F of the spring F, and elevate it, raising the shoulder F2 so that it will
engage one of the internal lugs c on the first of the series of numeral rings C, so
that as the ring E is rotated by the gear D, the engagement between the shoulder F2
and the lug c will cause the numeral ring C to be advanced. The continued rotation
of the gear wheel D¹ causes the "hunting tooth" to recede from underneath the off-
set F¹, so that the spring F will draw said shoulder F back out of the path of the
lug cat which moment the further advance of the ring C will cease. When the
gear D¹ has been rotated the required number of revolutions, this operation is
repeated, driving the numeral ring C ahead one unit, and so on.
The means which have been used in prior existent machines for the herein before
mentioned purpose differ from the means thus far described, in that in the former,
the spring has been formed integrally with the internally-toothed ring, and practical
experience has demonstrated that this construction lacks effectiveness and durability,
as it is not practicable to make the said ring of spring metal, so that after a short
time the spring is weakened, and will not draw the shoulder back out of engagement
with the lug c on the first of the series of numeral rings, and to fail in this respect
would cause the inaccurate registering of the device. Furthermore, to make said
spring integrally renders it practically impossible to repair said integral gear wheel,
should the spring become weakened. Furthermore, the strain occasioned by the
turning of the numeral rings is taken entirely by the spring. In the present con-
struction, the spring being made of suitable metal, is always effective, and in case of
breakage, the internal gear does not become useless, as a new spring may be readily
substituted. Furthermore, the strain occasioned by tripping the numeral rings is
not taken by the spring, but is transmitted directly through the short shoulder F to
the abutting wall of the recess in said internal gear wheel, in which said shoulder
rests.
The means by which the second and following numeral rings receive their forward
movement, comprises the following mechanism. The numeral ring C is provided with
an annular flanged hub, to afford a long bearing, as well as a support for a spring G
which partially encircles it, as shown in Fig. 3. This spring has, formed at a suit-
able point, an inwardly directed bend G¹, adapted to ride into and out of the longi-
tudinal grooves B1 in the shaft B, a recess being formed in said hub through which
said bend G¹ drops. When the bend G¹ rests in one of the grooves B¹, it affords a
frictional resistance against the accidental displacement of the numeral ring C. G2
is an upwardly projecting shoulder carried by said spring and resting against an
abutting wall formed in said hub, at one side of the beforementioned recess. Refer-
ring now particularly to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the grooves B¹ in the shaft B are
arranged opposite the internal lugs c¹ of the next following numeral ring C¹, the
number of lugs c¹ corresponding with the number of units upon the face of the ring.
As the hub of the numeral ring C is being rotated around the shaft B, the shoulder G2
of the spring alternately rises and falls and passes in each complete revolution under
all but one of the lugs c¹. As before mentioned, the number of longitudinal grooves B
in the shaft B is one less than the number of units, and hence one less than the
number of lugs c¹, therefore, the shoulder G2 of the spring will pass under all of the
lugs c¹ excepting the one opposite which there is no groove B¹. When the shoulder G2
of the spring presents itself in the path of the lug last referred to, it engages the same
and advances the numeral ring C₁ one step, the bend G₁ then drops into one of the
longitudinal grooves B¹, and retracts the shoulder G2 from engagement with said lug
and the numeral ring C¹ remains stationary until the ring C nearly completes another
revolution and the bend again reaches the long space between the grooves B¹, when
its action of engaging and turning ring C¹ one unit is repeated.
The essential improvements in the means last referred to, are practically the same
as attributed to the driving mechanism for the first of the series of numeral rings,
that is, the spring itself does not take the strain occasioned by moving the numeral
rings ahead, but the same is transmitted directly to the abutting wall formed in the
hub of the numeral ring C against which said shoulder G2 rests. By this means,

page_text: the danger of displacement or breaking of the spring from such a cause is obviated.
Here to, the spring may be made of suitable metal to properly retract the lug
engaging shoulder G2 at the right time, so as to permit the shoulder to pass under
said lug. In this connection, the special form of spring provided is of particular
importance, as it performs the double function of frictionally holding the ring in the
desired position, and of retracting the lug engaging shoulder from operative contact.
with the next numeral ring, until the proper time. I have described the means by
which the motion is transmitted from numeral ring C to C¹, but it is manifest that
the same means is employed for transmitting motion from each of the other rings to
the next following ring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ==
1. In a cyclometer or registering mechanism, the combination of a shaft containing
longitudinal grooves, numeral rings revolubly mounted thereon, a radially movable
tooth carried by each of said numeral rings, and each projecting through an opening
in the hubs of said rings and guided by the said grooved shaft to engage the next
higher numeral ring at the proper interval in its rotation to operate the same for
the purpose specified.
2. In a registering mechanism, a supporting shaft, longitudinal grooves therein, a
numeral ring revolubly mounted thereon, an opening in the hub of said ring, a spring,
an inwardly-directed bend forming a tooth, said tooth passing through said opening,
and bearing against the edges of said hub adjacent said opening to prevent
slipping, the inner end of said tooth or bend resting against said grooved shaft.
3. In a registering mechanism, a supporting shaft, longitudinal grooves therein,
a numeral ring revolubly mounted thereon, an opening in the hub of said ring, a
spring, an inwardly-directed bend forming a tooth, said tooth passing through said
opening and bearing against the edges of said hub adjacent said opening to prevent
slipping, the inner end of said tooth or bend resting against said grooved shaft, and
an outwardly-directed shoulder on said spring adjacent to the said bend and
opening.
4. In a registering mechanism, a supporting shaft, longitudinal grooves therein, a
series of numeral rings revolubly carried by said shaft, an opening in the hub of
each ring, a spring clasping said hub, an inwardly-directed bend forming a tooth,
said tooth passing through said hub opening, and an outwardly-directed shoulder on
said spring adjacent said opening, lugs on each numeral ring, one of said lugs
receiving impulse by the spring shoulder of the preceding numeral ring at a suitable
interval in the rotation of said preceding numeral ring.
5. In a registering mechanism, a numeral ring, an opening in the hub of said
nuineral ring, a spring clasping said hub, a bend in said spring forming an
inwardly-directed tooth passing through said hub opening for the purpose
described.
6. In a registering mechanisin, a numeral ring, an opening in the hub of said
numeral ring, a spring clasping said hub, a bend in said spring forming an inwardly-
directed tooth passing through said hub opening for the purpose described, said
spring adjacent said tooth carrying an outwardly-directed tooth, the edges of the hub
adjacent said recess preventing said spring from slipping.
7. In a registering mechanisın, a numeral ring, an internal gear wheel adjacent
thereto, a recess in the periphery of said internal gear wheel, and a spring shoulder
located in said recess, an external gear wheel meshing with said internal gear wheel,
and having a suitable projection to elevate said spring shoulder once in a given
number of revolutions.
8. In a registering mechanism, the combination of a numeral ring having inwardly-
directed lugs with an internally toothed wheel within said numeral ring, a recess in
the external periphery of said gear wheel, a pinion within said gear wheel having
8

page_text: long tooth, said tooth projecting under said spring shoulder, and elevating the same
into the path of one of the internal teeth on said numeral ring, once in a given
number of revolutions of the said pinion.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.