A Device for Mechanically Recording the Time and Extent of Working of Engines and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Mechanically Recording the Time and Extent of
Working of Engines and the like.
I, EMIL OSKAR OERTEL, of Falkenstein, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Empire
of Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is a mechanical device for recording the time during
which a machine or engine has been working and at rest, and also for indicating the
amount of work done within a given time.
A cylinder or roller is moved forward corresponding to the given period of time
by means of a clockwork, whereby a paper tape is guided along underneath a
device adapted to imprint signs. This latter device is actuated from the respective
engine or machine. Beside the cylinder or drum operated by the clockwork is
provided a second drum adapted to be intermittently turned by aid of organs
likewise actuated from the machine.
It
To accomplish the said purposes, any of the shafts of the respective machine is
provided with a projection or nozzle so placed as to operate two levers, one for so
actuating the sign or mark device consisting of a double pencil or point, as to cause
the same to be pressed for a short period on the tapes from the two drums placed
side by side and one of which is connected with the clockwork while the other
is independent thereof. The double marking device is returned into its normal
position by the action of a spring as soon as it is beyond the influence of said nozzle.
The other lever is connected with a click which actuates the independent drum.
follows that during each revolution of the shaft referred to, the tape running over
the clockwork drum receives marks at intervals dependent on the speed of the shaft
while the tape moved by the drum which is actuated from the machine receives marks
while the latter is working, but is at rest when it ceases to work, whereas the
clockwork tape runs off continually. Consequently the two tapes constitute a
reliable means for recording the length of the periods of work and rest of the
machine and also the differences of speed thereof.
To mark the tapes for starting or for ascertaining the travel of the machine at
intervals, a double die or stamp is provded, which can be pressed by hand on the
tapes and resumes its normal position by aid of a spring.
Dated this 29th of April 1890.
HUELSER & Co.,
Attorneys.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Mechanically Recording the Time and Extent of
Working of Engines and the like.
I, EMIL OSKAR OERTEL, of Falkenstein, in the Kingdom of Saxony, Empire
of Germany, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this device is automatically to mark down and keep on record both
the periods of operation and of rest of a machine and the amount of work done or
useful effect produced thereby within a given time. The recording device may either
be arranged in the immediate vicinity of and directly operated by the machine to

page_text: be checked or be situated at any convenient distance therefrom say in the counting-
house of the works, in which case the items of the record are transmitted by
electricity.
The recording or checking device mainly consists of a drun or barrel which a
clock-work continuously moves forward and' by which a paper band is moved
underneath a marking device. This marking device is operated by the machine to
be checked. Besides the drum or barrel moved by the clockwork another similar
drum is adapted to move along a second strip which receives marks from the same
marking device.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of this improved recording or checking device,
the section being taken on line I-II of Fig. 2 which is a plan partly in section on
line I-IV of Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 are cross sections on line V-VI of Fig. 2 showing the recording
device in two different positions.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism.
Fig. 6 is a cross section on line VII-VIII of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 7 is a similar section on line IX-X Fig. 2.
Fig. 8 shows the apparatus provided with a marking device operated by
electricity.
Fig. 9 is a detail view of this modified arrangement, and
Fig. 10 shows two portions of paper band provided with marks.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 I shall first describe that form of the recording device
which is to be placed in close proximity or adjacent to and to be directly operated
by the machine of whose operation and working capacity it is desired to keep a
record.
are the two paper bands which are to receive the marks and which are
wound each upon its respective drum or barrel A A' on leaving which the bands
are conducted by suitable guide-pieces over a supporting surface or table B
where they receive the marks and from which they proceed to the rollers C C¹
respectively. The roller C which is to carry the band is operated by a
step-by-step mechanism which receives its motion from the machine to be checked,
the other roller C' over which the band is continuously rotated quite inde-
pendently of C by clockwork contained in the case C². For keeping the paper
bands in contact with the rollers CC spring controlled rollers care arranged
in contact with the said rollers CC. The arrangement of the paper drums A A¹
is clearly shown in Fig. 7 and the arrangement of the rollers C C is illustrated by
Fig. 6 where e represents the clock-work spindle upon which the roller C' is fast
and the roller C loose.
The recording device comprises two markers D and F each of which is adapted
to mark both bands but one of which is operated by the machine to be checked and
the other by an attendant. The latter marker merely serves for indicating the first
and last moments of each period of operation while the former actually fulfils the
task of a recording device as it enables the amount of work done to be computed. To
prevent the respective marks of the two markers from coinciding and avoid consequent
confusion the markers may be so arranged that the point or style S of one marker
say D leaves its impression in the centre of one of the paper bands while the other
marker F may be provided with a double or fork-shaped style S₁ producing
correspondingly a double row of marks on either side of the central row as shown
in Fig. 2. The marks preferably consist of simple dots or perforations imprinted
or punched by the pointed styles. If desired however instead of styles suitable
type-levers may be arranged especially in the case of the marker F operated by
hand.
The marker D is adapted to be operated by the machine of which it is desired to
ascertain the work produced within a given time. This is accomplished by means
of a lever done arm of which a spring di tends to depress so as to retain the marker D
in its uppermost position as in Fig. 1. Through the medium of the lever d the

page_text: marker D is depressed once at each revolution of the shaft, W of the machine to be
checked the said shaft W for this purpose being arranged either so as to project
into the case of the recording device where it is provided with a cam or eccentric
which acts upon the lever d or as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the shaft W may transmit
its motion through an eccentric or cam w to an intermediate lever D' adapted at
each revolution of the shaft W to press upon the lever d and thereby operate the
marker D.
It is also the shaft W of the machine to be checked which intermittently
operates the roller C guiding the paper-band a This is accomplished through the
medium of the bent lever e provided with a spring pawl or click e engaging with
the ratchet teeth formed on one of the rims or flanges of the roller C and causing it
to move one space or step immediately after the paper band has received a mark
from the marker D the intermediate lever D' striking at that moment one arm of
the lever e or if the shaft W should project into the case of the recording device the
cam secured to its end may be adapted to act directly upon the lever e.
The marker F which is intended to be operated by hand is merely employed for
marking off the beginning and concluding moments of each period of operation of
the machine. For this purpose a hand lever is provided so as to project to the
outside of the recording device. The marker Fas before stated is preferably
provided with a pair of styles s forming a fork so shaped or bent that its prongs or
styles should be situated in a line with the central styles.
The operation of this form of recording device is as follows:-The ends of both
paper bands and are first pressed upon the respective rollers CC by means of the
pressure rollers c c¹.
The clockwork is then started at the same time as the machine
to be checked is set in operation. During the first minute or so the clockwork will
move the paper band without the latter receiving any mark whatever the
operative being otherwise employed say in lubricating, and finally adjusting the
different parts of the machine. The other paper banda during this interval does
not move at all. But as soon as the machine to be checked is brought into full
operation and the shaft W has completed one revolution the first mark will
simultaneously appear on both bands; and immediately after this the roller Ċ will
be moved one tooth-space by the pawl e. The marking will continue in the same
manner during the whole time that the machine to be checked is in operation.
Whenever the machine is stopped for a short while so is also the paper band but
the other paper band will during such stoppage continue to turn through the
action of the clock-work though without receiving any marks; so that when the
marking recommences there will appear on the band a blank space as in Fig. 10
the extent of which enables the duration of the stoppage to be exactly estimated.
The band a moved by the machine receives in all cases an uninterrupted row of
marks whereby it may be subsequently ascertained whether within a given period
of operation there has been performed a sufficient amount of work to keep up its
standard working capacity. For this purpose it will be sufficient to establish a
certain relation between each revolution of the shaft W with a given quantity of
the article to be produced say the length of cloth in the case of a weaver's loom.
It will then be easy by glancing at a row of marks of which a certain number thus
represents a predetermined amount of work done to ascertain and to convert into
figures the supply extending over a given period. The double styles of the
marker F moved by hand will at the same time indicate the moments when both
bands start for simultaneous motion by making marks coinciding with those of the
other marker.
When it is desired to read off the marks and calculate the rate at which the
machine has been working for a given space of time the case of the recording
device is opened and the bands are drawn forth and cut off at coinciding points as
shown at 2-2 Fig. 10. It will then be found that the section of the band x' which
is moved under the action of the clockwork bears between the points 1 and 2 for
example a row of marks which though longer than that appearing on the other
band shows one or more interruptions; while the other shorter section of band

page_text: which has been operated by the machine itself shows a shorter but continuous row
of marks between the points 1 and 2 the number of marks being however equal in
both cases.
It will be understood that by comparing the bands not only the rate
of speed but also the amount of work produced can be readily ascertained by com-
putation and measurement.
When it is desired to arrange the recording device at a certain distance from the
machine to be checked the device may be conveniently operated by electricity its
construction in all other respects remaining unaltered. This is illustrated in
Figs. 8 and 9 in which only so much of the parts of the mechanism is shown as is
necessary for the comprehension of the modified arrangement.
D is the marker equivalent to that of the arrangement first described. The
lower end of its shank is attracted and repelled by the core of an electro-magnet G.
A swinging lever / carries a pawl and is pivotted by means of a pin to the
marker D. When the marker D is attracted by the electro-magnet G the pencil
or styles makes a mark on the paper band a and the pawl at the same time
slides back over one or more teeth of the roller C. When D is relieved again from
magnetic action the spring g raises the marker to its position of rest while at the
same time the roller C is caused to turn one step further by the pawl /².
P
The excitation of the electro-magnet G is effected by closing the electrical
circuit at each revolution of the shaft W. For this purpose the shaft W is provided
with a collar of insulating material such as ebonite or the like. Upon this ring is
placed a metal ring & having a lateral projection ². The springs and pl are arranged
to bear upon and in such a manner that the spring p at all times remains in
electrical contact with the ring while p¹ is normally in contact with the insulating
ring and only touches the projection once at each revolution of the shaft W.
When this takes place the circuit through the battery Z is closed the electro-
magnet G excited and the marker D attracted. As soon as the projection has
passed away from the spring pl the circuit is interrupted again and the marker D
released by the magent G.
The recording device herein described is applicable to a great variety of machines
and its construction may be modified in many ways without departing from the
spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is
1. In apparatus such as described a device for automatically recording the rate
of speed or the operation of and the quantity of work produced by a machine or
motor also of keeping a register of stoppages mainly consisting of a marking device
such as D operated by the machine which is to be checked by means of a lever
arrangement such as described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 or through an
electro-magnet such as described and illustrated in Figures and 9 and adapted to
imprint or punch suitable marks upon two paper bands alone of which is moved
along by the machine itself while it is in operation and ceases to move whenever the
imachine stops while the other is continuously moved by clockwork, corrresponding
lengths of bands representing corresponding periods of time being marked off by
another marker such as F adapted for operation by hand substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In an apparatus such as described the combination with an electro-magnet
intermittently energized by or from the machine or motor to be checked of a spring
controlled armature such as D carrying one or more marking points such as s and also
imparting a step by step travelling movement to a band such as a substantially as
described and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
3. In an apparatus such as described the combination of parts constituting the
mechanism for causing the band a to travel and for marking the same and consisting
substantially of a lever e imparting intermittent motion to the band through a
pawl such as e engaging with the teeth of a ratchet wheel and rollers Cc and a

page_text: similarly operated lever operating the marker D and intermittently operated by
or from the machine to be checked substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the recording device
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 of the accompanying
drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the recording device
substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 20th day of January 1801
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.