IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLUTION COUNTERS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, THOMAS WALTER HARDING of Leeds in the county of York, engineer do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLUTION
COUNTERS to be as follows:-
My invention consists in improvements in an instrument woll known as
"Hardings Counter" which is used for recording the revolution of engines and
other machinery, but these improvements are applicable to revolution counters of
other kinds in which, as in Harding's Counter, the numbered surface is on the
periphery of the wheels.
Hitherto the number wheels of these counters have been made of brass, with
the numbers engraved or impressed on the periphery.
It is found that this numbered surface becomes in time discoloured and oxydised
so that the numbers are barely legible.
Now I propose to make a compound number wheel, in which the numbered
surface is of china, porcelain or similar material while the working parts of the
wheel are of metal. I propose to make these compound number wheels in several
forms.
The one most fittod for general purposes consists of a ring of china or earthen-
ware of white or of some pale tint or colour, upon which the figures are burnt in,
and covered with transparent glaze, by the method in use in connection with the
manufacture of pottery. This ring is suitably shaped on either side to receive
brass sides upon which are cut in the usual way the teeth required for transmitting
motion. These brass sides are each provided with a central boss in such a way
that when the sides are in position upon the china ring-the bosses do not quite
meet-until pressure is brought to bear, to press them against each other and so to
clasp the china ring tightly. This pressure takes place in a suitable mould, into
which white metal is poured so as to flow through the centre holo of the bosses
and leave a flange on either side-The white metal firmly and permanently binds
together the brass sides and the china centre. The centre hole of the bosses is
fitted with corrugations into which the white metal flows, so as to provide against
torsional strain.
Instead of the white metal binding, the brass sides may be fastened together by
screwing or rivetting.
Another form of compound wheel, consists in running white metal upon the china
centre in a suitable mould so as to form the teeth and sides of that metal; but
this form is less durable than the one first described.

page_text: Another form consists in making the china centre nearly solid, instead of in the
ring form, and then furnishing it with a central metal lining and with metallic
teeth at the periphery; or again the whole wheel may in certain cases, as for very
slow speed be made of china or other plastic material, the form of the sides and
teeth being obtained by pressing into a mould.
Another form is to make the number wheel in metal and to provide the periphery
with a concentric recess which is afterwards filled in with china or enamel.
In all these forms of compound number wheels I find it advantageous to let the
china centre project over the metal sides or teeth, so as to facilitate the cleaning of
the numbered surface.

page_text: I, THOMAS WALTER HARDING, of the Tower Works, Leeds, in the County, of
York Engineer and Card and Pin Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN REVOLUTION, COUNTERS" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
Et
My invention consists in improvements in an Instrument well known as
Harding's Counter," which is used for recording the revolutions of Engines and
other machinery, but these improvements are applicable to revolution counters of
other kinds in which as in Harding's Counters the numbered surface is. on the
periphery of the wheel.
Hitherto the number wheel of these counters has been made of brass with the
numbers engraved or impressed on the periphery. It is found that this numbered
surface becomes in time discoloured and oxidized so that the numbers are baroly
legible.
Now I make a compound number wheel, in which the numbered surface is of
china, porcelain, or similar material, while the working parts of the wheel are of
metal
I I propose to make these number wheels in several forms, the one most fitted for
general purposes consists of a ring of china or earthenware of white or of some pale
tint or colour upon which the figures are burnt in and covered with transparent
glaze, by the method in use in connection with the manufacture of pottery.
This ring is suitably shaped on either side to receive brass sides upon which are
cut in the usual way the teeth required for transmitting motion.
These brass sides are each provided with a central boss in such a way that when
the sides are in position upon the china or earthenware ring, the bosses do not
quite meet, until pressure is brought to bear to press them against each other and
so ns to clasp the china or earthenware ring tightly. This pressure takes place in
a suitable mould into which white metal is poured so as to flow through the centre
holes of the bosses and leave a flange or projection on either side.
The white metal firmly and permanently binds together the brass sides and the
china or carthenware ring.
Previous to pouring the white metal into the central holes of the bosses as above
referred to, I prefer to insert therein a brass bush so as to leave an annular space
between the outside of said bush and the central holes of the bosses, in which
I form corrugations or grooves in the direction of their axes, into which the white
metal flows, so as to provide against tortional strain, and I form a few grooves
around the brass bush for preventing any end wise motion of the same.
Instead of the white metal binding, the brass sides may be fastened together
by screwing or rivetting their bosses together.
Another form of compound wheel is produced by running white metal upon the
china centre in a suitable mould so as to form the teeth and sides of that metal,
but this form is less durable than the one first described.
In another form the china or earthenware centre is made nearly solid instead of
in a ring form and then is furnished with a central motal lining and with metallic
teeth at the periphery, or again the whole wheel may in certain cases, as for very
slow speeds, be made of china or other plastic material, the form of the sides and
teeth being obtained by pressing into a mould.
In another form the number wheel is made in metal and the periphery is
provided with a concentric recess which is afterwards filled in with china or
enamel.

page_text: In all these forms of compound number wheels I find it advantageous to let the
china centre project over the metal sides or teeth so as to facilitate the cleaning of
the numbered surfaco.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1. shows in sectional elevation on the
line 1. 2. Fig. 2, parts, of a counter wheel, previous to the white metal being
poured into the central opening for binding the said parts together. a, is the china
or earthenware ring having the numbers on its periphery, b, and c, are the metallic
sides, the central bosses at a being slightly clear of each other, c, are the corrugations
or grooves in the direction of the axes of said parts b, and c, previously referred
to. Fig. 3. is a sectional elevation of the counter wheel complete, the central
bosses at d, being here shown pressed and held, close together by the white metal
tube, having a flange or projection as shown on the outside of each metallic
side b, and c. thus gripping or embracing the china or earthenwaro ring a, g; is a
brass bush enclosed by the white metal in the centre of the counter wheel, this
bush though not absolutely essential, may with advantage form a component part
in the construction of the wheel.
Fig. 4. shows in section a modified form of counter wheel- having a concentric or
annular recess in the periphery of a metallic centro part h, which is afterwards
filled in with china or enamel as shown at a¹ the same being hardened by being
subjected to heat.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
'
1. The construction as hereinabove described and illustrated, of the parts b, c, to
receive and hold the number ring a, such parts being formed with corrugations or
grooves in their central holes as and for the purpose specified.
2. Uniting the parts b, c, so that they hold the ring a, between them by first
pressing together or towards each other their central bosses, then forming a doubly
Hanged white metal connecting tube such as f in the manner hereinabovo described
with reference to and shown in the drawings.
3. A counter wheel comprising a metallic centre having around its periphery
a recess filled with china or enamel, forming a number ring, substantially as
described.
Dated this 5th day of November 1884.
Dated this 5th day of November 1884.
Witness
THOMAS WALTER HARDING.
W. Lloyd Wise,
THO E. CRAVEN, C.E., Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
24, Victoria Chambers, Leeds.
Per F. J. Brougham,
Applicant's Agent.