Improvements in and relating to Engine Counters.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Engine Counters.
1, JOHN BUCHANAN, Indicator Maker, of 75 Robertson Street, Glasgow,
Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to and comprises new or improved devices for being
applied to and act in combination with that class of counters used for recording the
revolutions, strokes or oscillations of engines known in the trade as Harding's
Patent Counters."
66
These counters consist of a series of counting disc wheels mounted loosely on a
central spindle with the figures or ten digits on each of their faces and having pin
teeth at their ends, and a series of toothed pinions mounted loosely on a parallel
spindle and gearing into said pin teeth and into a single notch in each adjacent
wheel, so as to turn the disc counting wheels in rotation to indicate units, tens,
hundreds, thousands and so on in multiple number the revolutions or strokes made
by the engine, the complete revolution of each wheel turning the next in succession
one division round, the whole being enclosed within a case with a glass or other
cover through which the figures on the wheels are viewed. In these engine
counters as heretofore constructed, the first counting disc wheel of the set has been
actuated by various forms of escapement motions, so as to be turned one tooth at a
time always in the same direction by the oscillation of a lever actuated from the
engine of which the revolutions or strokes were to be counted, whether the lever
was actuated by forward or backward strokes.
By my improvements I mount a ratchet wheel on the end or boss of the first
counting wheel, with ten teeth on it, that is one tooth for each of the ten figures on
the face of the disc wheel, and actuate this ratchet wheel by an oscillating or recipro-
cating spring pawl lever working over it on one side jointed at its fulcrum end to a
spindle or centre in the oscillating arms of a rocking lever or frane fulcrumed on a
spindle mounted in bearings parallel at the one side of the set of wheels within the
casing enclosing the whole counting mechanism. The end of the spindle of this
rocking frame would pass out through the casing and have the ordinary oscillating
lever mounted on it, which is actuated by the oscillating part of the engine of which
the strokes are to be counted. The lever frame inside the case is formed with stops to
prevent it being oscillated too far in either direction, and so as to bring the initial
figure of the first disc wheel always round at each oscillation opposite the sight
hole in the glass or cover of the case. A back check spring pawl is also mounted
on the opposite side of the ratchet wheel to retain it and the first counting wheel
in the position they are set to at each stroke and prevent same being turned
backwards.
Dated the 11th April 1809
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Engine Counters.
I, JOHN BUCHANAN, Indicator Maker, of 75 Robertson Street, Glasgow,
Lanarkshire, do hereby declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement in writing, that is to say :-
This invention has reference to and comprises new or improved devices for being
applied to and act in combination with that class of counters used for recording the

page_text: "
revolutions, strokes, or oscillations of engines known in the trade as Hardings
Patent Counters."
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or
carrying the same into effect or practice may be properly understood I have
hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in which Figure 1 represents
a sectional elevation and Figure 2 a sectional plan view of a "Harding's" patent
engine counter as fitted with my improvements. While Figure 3 represents a
sectional end elevation corresponding and at right angles to Figure 1.
Referring to these drawings.-These counters consist of a series of counting disc
wheels A mounted loosely on a central spindle A¹ with the figures or ten digits on
each of their faces, and having pin teeth A* at their ends, and a series of toothed
pinions B mounted loosely on a parallel spindle B', and gearing into said pin
teeth A' and into a single notch A on the back of each adjacent wheel, so as to
turn the disc counting wheels A in rotation to indicate units, tens, hundreds,
thousands, and so on in multiple number, the revolution or strokes made by the
engine, the complete revolution of each wheel A, turning the next in succession one
division round, the whole being enclosed within a case D with a glass and metal or
other cover D' through which the figures on the wheels are viewed. In these
engine counters as heretofore constructed, the first counting disc or unit wheel A
of the set has been actuated by various forms of escapement motions, so as to be
turned one tooth at a time always in the same direction by the oscillation of a lever
actuated from the engine of which the revolutions or strokes were to be counted,
whether the lever was actuated by forward or backward strokes.
By my improvements I mount a ratchet wheel a on the end or boss of the first
counting or unit wheel A, carried on the spindle A', with ten teeth on it, that is
one tooth for each of the ten figures on the face of the disc wheel A. and actuate
this ratchet wheel a by the free toothed end a¹ of an oscillating or reciprocating
spring pawl lever a working over it on one side, jointed at its fulcrum end a² to a
spindle or centre b carried in the oscillating arms of a rocking lever or frame b
mounted in bearings 6 parallel at the one side of the set of wheels A within the
casing D, enclosing the whole counting mechanism. The end of this rocking
frame would pass out through the casing D and have the ordinary oscillating
lever C mounted on it, which is actuated by a rod from the oscillating part of the
engine of which the strokes are to be counted. The lever frame inside the
case D is formed with stops e to prevent it being oscillated too far in either
direction, and so as to bring the ratchet wheel a and the initial figure of the first
disc wheel A always round at each oscillation opposite the sight hole in the glass
or cover D¹ of the case D. A back check spring pawl c¹ is also mounted on the
opposite side of the ratchet wheel a to return it and the first counting wheel A to
the position they are set to at each stroke and prevent same being turned backwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.―
In engine counters, the fitting and use of a ratchet wheel in combination with an
actuating spring pawl lever and oscillating or rocking frame, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described in reference to and shown in the accompanying
drawings
1000
Buted the Hth of January 1883.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.