Improvements in Speed Indicators.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
Improvements in Speed Indicators.
We, WARREN MOON and CHARLES WARREN STIGER, Engineers, both of 204,
Dearborn Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States of America, 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:
The invention relates to that class of indicators that are used for the purpose
of indicating the speed at which a shaft is rotating, or the speed at which a vehicle
is travelling, such as the miles per hour or the rate at which it is travelling per
mile, as a mile in two minutes, as contra-distinguished from that class of indicators
which indicate the number of rotations or revolutions that a shaft has made.
The object of the invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient
speed indicator; and the invention consists in the features, combinations and details
of construction hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an indicator
constructed in accordance with our improvements, shown as it appears when in
position when used in connection with a bicycle or velocipede; Fig. 2 a plan view
of the same partly in section and with a dial partly broken away; and Fig. 3
a side elevation of the mechanism partly in section looking at it from line 3 of
Fig. 1 and in the direction of the arrow.
In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that it is desirable
for the rider of a velocipede or the operator of a high speed machine--such as
a silk machine or an electric dynamo, etc.-to keep informed as to the comparative
speed at which the machine is running at all times and not have to wait until
the machine has run a certain number of revolutions before he is informed. The
principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a machine which will
accomplish and indicate these results.
In constructing a machine or instrument in accordance with these improvements
a main casing a of the desired size, shape and strength is provided and adapted
to inclose, hold and protect the operative mechanism in position for use. Inside
of this main case a rotatable cylinder 6 is provided with has its journals c in the
main casing and preferably arranged in a separate inclosed chamber thereof so
that during its rotations it will not be disturbed by any outside or extraneous
influences.
This rotatable cylinder 6 is what might be termed a retarding cylinder in which
material e, such as mercury, is kept for the purpose of developing centrifugal force"
and acting with a retarding effect, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
This rotatable retarding cylinder is provided with a bevel pinion f which in turn
is engaged with a second bevel pinion y mounted upon a driving shaft h extending
out through an arm of the main casing. This driving shaft h at its outer end is
provided with a spur pinion i and the arm of the casing is provided with a hood
in which is mounted in suitable bearings a driving gear k. This driving gear is

page_text: held in place in the hood between the back plate of the same and a flanged washer
so that it cannot be removed until the flanged washer is removed.
To transmit the rotations of a bicycle wheel-a section of the spokes 5, hub 6,
and axle 7, which are shown in the drawings-the driving gear is provided with
an arm or dog m projecting therefrom and adapted to be contacted by the spokes
of the bicycle wheel during its rotation and adapted to be turned by the same.
To hold the indicator in place the flanged washer is perforated so that it may be
passed on the axle 7 of the bicycle wheel or shaft and secured between the washers >
and bearing portion 10 in the position shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings from
which it can be readily removed and into which it can be readily inserted at any
desired time. Of course it will be understood that this indicator may be secured
adjacent to any rotating shaft or pulley to indicate its speed.
To indicate the speed at which the machine is running an indicating staff n
is provided having its body portion o located within the retarding cylinder and its
upper portion projecting therethrough and provided with an indicating hand ??
arranged above a dial q. This indicating staff is loosely or independently and
rotatably mounted in the rotatable retarding cylinder so that such cylinder may
have independent rotations. In order to hold the indicating hand at zero or at
a normal point a tension spring r is provided and secured to the casing in any
'desired manner. This tension spring is connected with a cams on the connecting
shaft by means of a small chain t which may be of the "fusce" or other type of
chain.
In order to operate this engaging hand when the retarding cylinder is rotating
a retarding disk u is provided and rigidly secured or fixed in any desired manner
to the indicating staff inside of the retarding cylinder so that the liquid or other
material therein may have its proper effect thereon.
In operation: Rotation is imparted to the rotatable retarding cylinder by means
of the spur gears and bevel pinions and such rotatable cylinder carries the liquid
around with it and develops centrifugal force at its peripheral inner surface where
it is in a measure compressed by the upper and lower walls of the cylinder and
clamps the retarding disk between it under a force of friction. This force of
friction is developed by centrifugal action and has a tendency to rotate the indicat-
ing staff and carry the hand around on the dial until its force is counteracted or
counter-balanced by the tension spring and thus indicate at about what speed the
vehicle is running per minute or per hour or the speed per mile. It will thus be
seen that when our instrument is in operation there are two forces at work (1) the
centrifugal force of a liquid or material; and (2) a force of friction on the retard-
ing disk or plate. The principal advantage incident to the use of an instrument
constructed in accordance with our improvements is that it will begin to indicate
at very low speeds, at about five revolutions up to several thousands.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what wo
claim is:-
1. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a rotatable
cylinder, and a staff independently mounted in such cylinder and adapted when
such cylinder is rotated to be subjected to the action of centrifugal and frictional
force to indicate the speed of a rotating object, substantially as described.
2. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a rotatable cylinder,
à staff independently mounted in such cylinder, a disk secured to such staff and
within the rotatable cylinder and adapted to be subjected when such cylinder is
rotated to the action of centrifugal and frictional force, and tension mechanism
secured to the indicating staff to compensate and gradually overcome the frictional
force of the staff, substantially as described.
3. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a rotatable cylinder,
a staff independently mounted in such cylinder, a disk secured to such staff and
within the rotatable cylinder and adapted to be subjected to the action of centri-

page_text: fugal and frictional force when the cylinder is rotating, an indicating hand on
such staff, an inclosing frame or case, and a spring secured to the staff and to the
frame or case to gradually overcome the frictional force, substantially as described.
4. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a rotatable cylinder,
a staff independently mounted in such cylinder, a disk secured to such staff and
within the rotatable cylinder, a fluid body in such rotatable cylinder adapted when
the cylinder is rotating to be subjected to centrifugal force and frictionally engage
the diaphragm or disk on the indicating staff, an inclosing case for such rotating
cylinder, an indicating hand on the staff, and a spring connected with the staff and
with the frame or case to gradually overcome the developed frictional force, sub-
stantially as described.
5. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a rotatable cylinder,
a staff independently mounted in such cylinder, a disk secured to such staff and
within the rotatable cylinder, a body of mercury in such rotatable cylinder adapted
when the cylinder is rotating to be subjected to centrifugal force and frictionally
engage the diaphragm or disk on the indicating staff, an inclosing case. for such
rotating cylinder, an indicating hand on the staff, and a spring connected with
the staff and with the frame or case to gradually overcome the developed frictional
force, substantially as described.
6. In an instrument of the class described, the combination of a casing, a rotatable
cylinder secured within such casing, a bevel pinion on such rotatable cylinder, a
bevel pinion engaged therewith so as to drive the same and provided with a spur
pinion extending outside of the casing, and a second spur gear or pinion engaging
therewith and provided with means by which it may be engaged by a rotating shaft
or similar element and operate the rotatable cylinder as and for the purposes
specified.
11.
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.