An Improvement in or Connected with Counting or Recording Mechanism Released Electrically.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 21st Dec., 1888
An Improvement in or Connected with Counting or Recording
Mechanism Released Electrically.
I, DAVID ALFRED AIRD, of Helmet Court, Strand, Middlesex, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain means or appliances for ensuring a positive and
reliable record of the number of persons passing a given spot, turnstile, or the like, as
a perfect check to the amount of money received for admission to places of amusement,
or resort, said invention being also applicable for registering the rotation or motion of
shafts, or other pieces of machinery, or for other like useful purpose.
The invention is connected with clock gear kept ready for action by a spring the
escapement pallet being governed by and forming part of a balanced or weighted
armature, the movement of which by a magnet is regulated from each action of a
turnstile or other pieces of mechanism, this being utilized to make circuit.
The weighted escapement pallet balanced armature is the chief novelty of this
invention but I purpose employing it in connection with a train of wheels carrying
index fingers on dials for registering electrical pulsations.
oul
if Tonuo 1888
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Álfred Aird.

page_text: COME DDIM DI BUIFICATION.
An Improvement in or Connected with Counting or Recording
Mechanism Released Electrically.
I DAVID ALFRED AIRD of Helmet Court, Strand, Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to certain means or appliances for ensuring a positive and
reliable record of the number of persons passing a given spot, turnstile or the like as
a perfect check to the amount of money received for admission to places of amusement
or resort said invention being also applicable for registering the rotation or motion of
shafts or other pieces of machinery or for other like useful purposes.
The invention is connected with clock gear kept ready for action by a spring the
escapement pallet being governed by and forming part of a balanced or weighted
armature the movement of which by a magnet is regulated from each action of a
turnstile or other piece of mechanism, this being utilized to make circuit.
The weighted escapement-pallet-balanced-armature, is the chief novelty of this
invention but I propose employing it in connection with a train of wheels carrying
index fingers on dials for registering electrical pulsations.
My invention will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 represents the back view of a box or casing with the backing removed.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the train of wheels.
Figure 3 is a front view of the box showing four dials.
a is an armature centred or suspended from the pivot b which also serves as a
support to the pallet c the points of which in succession arrest the escapement wheel d
which is drawn round by a spring within a barrel e, the teeth of which gear into a
pinion on the "hundreds" dial 9 a second pinion on the arbor of the "hundreds
dial" being in gear with the teeth of a pinion h on the arbor of the "tens" dial i
which in turn through its wheel j operates the pinion on the arbor of the "units"
dial k. The arbor of the "thousands" dial by its wheel m also takes motion from
the pinion, the number of teeth on the several wheels and pinions being in propor-
tion for the counting or indexing. The armature a carries a bent or curved tail
piece p having a weight q in such a position that the armature a is kept out of contact
with the magnets except when an electric current is passed through the wires s, s, to
attract the armature a which allows the escapement wheel d to travel the distance of
one tooth and the train of wheels to follow simultaneously for recording purposes.
The wires s, s, may be in connection with any form of contact pieces, which are
brought into contact at each movement of a turnstile or of a door, a gate, a piece of
machinery or any appliance from which a record of its motion it is desired to register;
and as the contact pieces becomes separated the current is broken the weight q
instantaneously and positively clearing the armature a, the apparatus being thereby
brought to a state of rest, until the contact pieces are brought together again for
closing the circuit,
P

page_text: I am aware that armatures have been attracted electrically for effecting the regis-
tration of the number of persons passing given spots, such as from Turnstiles, doors,
and other appliances, but the armatures hitherto employed have been kept clear of the
magnets by springs, which always give a vibratory or oscillatory movement to the
armature, sufficient to cause the index to register without a current being passed
through the magnets; but by my invention, armature springs being dispensed with
and a weight substituted, it matters not how quickly the electrical pulsations are given
the armature has no oscillatory movement imparted to it; consequently a true register
of the electrical pulsations can be obtained.
t is a stop pin for the insulated body n to rest against when the weight q takes
the armature a "off."
This registering apparatus with the weighted armature-which is in balance with
the drag of the barrel spring in e-can be placed at any distance from the mechanism
by which circuit is completed so that a true return of monies paid for admission
corresponding to the number of persons passing a turnstile, or the like, can be regis-
tered in, say, a Secretary's or Manager's office without the knowledge of the persons
receiving money at the turnstile. The weight q can be made adjustable on the rod
to suit the strength of battery power.
P
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. In combination with an armature, a weight for removing and holding the
armature positively and reliably, and free from vibratory motion on the breaking of
an electric current when employed as and for the purposes described.
2. In an apparatus for registering the passage of persons, movements of machinery
or mechanism, the employment of a weighted armature arranged to positively and
reliably keep the armature from vibration when electrically released, said registering
apparatus being rotatable by clock appliance as described and as shown on the annexed
drawings.
The 24th day of October 1888.
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said David Alfred Aird.