Improvements in and relating to Speed Indicators and Odometers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 16th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1896
PROVISIONAL SIMUNICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Speed Indicators and Odometers.
We, JEAN BONNET and PHILIPPE DUMAS, both of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière,
Paris, in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:-
Our invention relates to speed indicators.
The apparatus constructed according to our said invention is designed for
indicating the speed of translation of velocipedes, carriages, tramway vehicles,
railway trains and the like, or the speed of rotation of motive-power engines,
machine-tools and machines of any kind by means of hand or pointer turning in
front of a dial.
This speed-indicating apparatus is based upon the resistance and progressive
speeds furnished by an escapement (clock escapement) actuated by the progressive
tension of a spring. It comprises in principle a wheel participating in the
movement of the vehicle or of the machine and representing the speed of the latter,
and a wheelwork regulated by an escapement and actuated by a spring with
progressive tension, which moves like a satellite round the said wheel. This wheel-
work is moved forwards by the rotation of the wheel until the tension of the spring
which it bends imparts to the escapement a speed equal to that communicated by
the wheel which participates in the movement of the machine or of the vehicle.
The angle of deviation of the satellite wheel-work which corresponds to a point of
tension of the spring and to a definite speed furnishes the indication of the speed of
the said machine or of the vehicle.
In carrying our said invention into practice we mount an axis upon a plate which
serves as a support for the whole mechanism contained in a box and having forms
and dimensions suitable for the use to which the indicator is put. Upon the said
axis are slid a toothed wheel and the hub of an arm supporting the satellite system
herein before mentioned.
This satellite system comprises a toothed pinion and an escapement wheel
mounted upon the same axis turning on the said arm. An escapement in engage-
ment with the escapement wheel is carried away by the arm at the same time as a mass
serving as a balance. At the opposite extremity of the arm is a counter-weight
designed to equilibrate the satellite system; this counter-weight may be displaced
at will so as to obtain a perfect equilibrium.
The arm of the satellite system is fixed by its hub to a spiral spring whose
opposite extremity is attached to any fixed point, for example on the box which
encloses the whole mechanism.
On the hub of this arm is fixed a hand or pointer which participates in all the
movements of the said arm and indicates upon a fixed dial the speed at which the
machine or the vehicle moves, and also the variations in the speed which the machine
or the vehicle may undergo. The toothed wheel hereinbefore mentioned is
moreover in engagement with a worm on a shaft deriving its movement from the
machine or the vehicle whose speed and variations of speed have to be indicated by
the apparatus.
Of course we may vary the forms, dimensions and materials to be employed for
the construction of each of the constitutive parts, and also the grouping and
arrangement of the latter.

page_text: The apparatus is arranged by any suitable means on the vehicle or on the
machine whose speed or variations of speed it is desired to know, and its shaft
receives a rotary movement from the said vehicle or the said machine in any desired
manner. By the worm this movement is transmitted to the toothed wheel which
engaging with the pinion turns the satellite system with it; considering that against
the said pinion in the direction of the movement bears the escapement wheel and
that it cannot turn upon itself. In virtue of this movement the spring is gradually
bent, and when the tension balances the movement due to the velocity of the vehicle
or of the machine the pinion can no longer advance, but as it still remains in
engagement with the said toothed wheel it is cause to turn upon itself, which it
can do freely by reason of the direction of its rotation to which the escapement
wheel offers no obstacle. Therefore the pinion turns on the spot and the hand or
pointer indicates opposite the suitably graduated fixed dial the speed of the
movement of the vehicle or of the machine at the moment considered.
But
As long as this speed remains constant the hand or pointer does not move.
if there is acceleration from any cause the satellite system is immediately set in
motion by the toothed wheel and the pinion no longer turns being held by the
escapement wheel; the arm deviates as before by a certain angle to the front and
the haud or pointer progresses on the dial, indicating thereby the augmentation of
speed and the extent of this augmentation.
If on the contrary there is retardation the said spring in virtue of its tension
moves the satellite system to the rear, the pinion acts relatively to the toothed
wheel as in the case of a rack, that is to say it turns upon itself while receding.
This retrogressive movement is possible, because in this direction of its movement
the escapement forms no obstacle. The stoppage of the satellite system takes place
as soon as there is again equilibrium, and the band or pointer actuated in this
movement indicates on the dial the diminution in the speed and in this case also
enables the variation in the speed to be ascertained.
It will be understood that when the speed is nil, that is to say when the vehicle
or the machine is in a state of rest, the hand or needle is at zero on the dial, that
the graduation of the latter extends from zero to a number corresponding to the
maximum speed at which the machine or the vehicle may move, and that the spring
is adapted as regards its strength to the greatest possible speed of this machine or
this vehicle. Accordingly it is necessary to employ a series of apparatus
corresponding to different maximum velocities.
In a modified arrangement the toothed wheel and arm may be freely slid upon
their axis. The arm carrying the satellite system which comprises the pinion, the
escapement wheel and the escapement, is connected to a spiral spring whose
extremity is attached to a fixed point. The arm also carries an adjustable counter-
weight and a hand or pointer which turns in front of the suitably graduated dial.
Instead of being actuated by a worm, the aforesaid toothed wheel is in this
instance set in motion by a pinion whose axis traverses the box of the indicator in
order to be connected to a rod as hereinafter set forth. This pinion is moreover in
gear with a toothed wheel which in each turn which it makes moves another toothed
wheel retained by a spring pawl forward one tooth by means of a pin which it
carries. On the axis of this second toothed wheel is a finger which in each
revolution of the latter wheel moves the wheel of a counter one tooth forward, the
hand or pointer of such pointer totalizing the way passed over on a dial graduated
to kilometres or miles. This totalizing device may have any suitable arrangement,
and may possess three small apertures, one being designed for the units, the other
for the tens, and the third for the hundreds.
This latter arrangement is suitable for any counters and presents no particular
feature, but it is necessary before all to provide for the possibility of combining the
speed indicator with a device for totalizing the way passed over, which evidently
completes the indication given.
For arranging the speed indicator upon a bicycle I proceed in the following
manner.

page_text: Upon the box of the indicator proper is fixed a clamp by the aid of which the
indicator may be attached to one of the brauches of the front fork. Of course the
dials, covered with a glass plate held in a groove, are turned towards the cyclist.
On the hub of the front wheel is fixed by means of a disc a crown cut exteriorly
to the form of an endless worm, in gear with a toothed wheel on a suitably supported
rod whose forked extremity fits upon the before-mentioned axis. A pin secured to
this axis engages with the fork of the said rod so that the rotation of the front
wheel will be transmitted by a pinion to the mechanisms for indicating the speed
and totalizing the way passed over.
Dated this 16th day of January 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in and relating to pu
We, JEAN BONNET and PHILIPPE DUMAS, both of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière,
Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 :-
Our invention relates to speed indicators.
The apparatus constructed according to our said invention is designed for
indicating the speed of translation of velocipedes, carriages, tramway vehicles,
railway trains and the like, or the speed of rotation of motive-power engines
machine-tools and machines of any kind by means of a hand or pointer turning in
front of a dial.
This speed-indicating apparatus is based upon the resistance and progressive
speeds furnished by an escapement (clock escapement) actuated by the progressive
tension of a spring. It comprises in principle a wheel participating in the move-
ment of the vehicle or of the machine and representing the speed of the latter,
and a wheelwork regulated by an escapement and actuated by a spring with
progressive tension, which moves like a satellite round the said wheel. This
wheel-work is moved forwards by the rotation of the wheel until the tension of
the spring which it bends imparts to the escapement a speed equal to that
communicated by the wheel which participates in the movement of the machine
or of the vehicles. The angle of deviation of the satellite wheel-work which
corresponds to a point of tension of the spring and to a definite speed furnishes
the indication of the speed of the said machine cr of the vehicle.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we have represented
the same by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 of this drawing is a diagrammatic view of the aforesaid speed indicator.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same.
Figures 3, 4 and 5 represent respectively in, vertical section and plan the apparatus
arranged to be applied to velocipedes, and
Figure 6 shows the arrangement of the indicator on a bicycle.
In carrying our said invention into practice we mount an axis a upon a plate A
Figures 1 and 2 which serves as a support for the whole mechanism contained in a
box G and having forms and dimensions suitable for the use to which the indicator
is put. Upon the said axis a are arranged a toothed wheel B and the hub of
an arm C supporting the satellite system hereinbefore mentioned.
This satellite system comprises a toothed pinion b and an escapement wheel c
mounted upon the same axis turning on the said arm C. The pinion and the
escapement wheel c may be rigidly connected to each other so as to form one
piece and may be loosely arranged upon an axis rigidly secured to the arm C

page_text: "
of the satellitic system, or the said pinion and the wheel c may form two
distinct pieces which in this case would be rigidly secured to the said axis, the
latter being adapted to turn in the arm C. An escapement d in engagement
with the escapement wheel c, is carried by the arm C together with the mass e
which serves as a balance. At the opposite extremity of the arm C is a counter-
weight f designed to equilibrate the satellite system; this counterweight may be
adjusted to any desired extent so as to obtain a perfect equilibrium.
The arm of the satellite system is fixed by its hub to a spiral spring r whose
opposite extremity is attached to any fixed point, g for example on the box which
encloses the whole mechanism.
On the hub of this arm C is fixed a hand or pointer which participates in all
the movements of the said arm and indicates upon a fixed dial E E the speed at
which the machine or the vehicle moves, and also the variations in the speed, which
the machine or the vehicle may undergo. The toothed wheel B hereinbefore
mentioned moreover in engagement with a worm i on a shaft D deriving its
movement from the machine or the vehicle whose speed and variations of speed
have to be indicated by the apparatus.
Of course we may vary the forms, dimensions and materials to be employed for
the construction of each of the constitutive parts, and also the grouping and
arrangement of the latter.
The indicator operates in the following manner:
The apparatus is arranged by any suitable means on the vehicle or on the
machine whose speed or variations of speed it is desired to know, and its shaft D
receives a rotary movement from the said vehicle or the said machine in any
desired manner.
By means of the endless screw or worm this movement is transmitted to the
wheel B which engaging with the pinion 6, moves the latter bodily, in the direction
of the arrow (Figure 1) as well as the satellite system formed by all the
mechanism mounted upon the arm C. and suitably equipoised by the weight f. It
is to be understood that the pinion b is simply carried away by the wheel B,
without causing the said pinion to turn on its own axis the escapement d preventing
the rotation of the escapement wheel c and consequently the pinion b which is rigid
therewith. Under these conditions the arm C will be moved in the direction of
the arrow and the spring will be acted upon until the satellite system has
arrived at a position of equilibrium that is to say until the resistance offered by
the spring r is equal to the effort exerted by the mass e of the said satellite system.
At this moment, and as the wheel B continues to turn, the pinion b will then turn
upon itself in the direction indicated by the arrow y since in this direction the
escapement wheel c is not retained by the escapement d. Therefore the pinion
only turns on its axis and the hand or pointer indicates opposite the suitably
graduated fixed dial the speed of the movement of the vehicle or of the machine at
the moment considered.
As long as this speed remains constant the hand or pointer does not move.
But if there is acceleration from any cause the satellite system is immediately
set in motion by the toothed wheel B and the pinion b no longer turns, being
held by the escapement wheel c; the arm C deviates as before by a certain angle
to the front and the hand or pointer progresses on the dial, indicating thereby
the augmentation of speed and the extent of this augmentation.
If on the contrary there is retardation the said spring r in virtue of its tension
moves the satellite system to the rear, the pinion & acts relatively to the toothed
wheel B as in the case of a rack, that is to say it turns upon itself while receding.
This retrogressive movement is possible, because in this direction of its movement
as indicated by the arrows and y the escapement forms no obstacle. The
stoppage of the satellite system takes place as soon as there is again equilibrium,
and the hand or pointer h actuated in this movement indicates on the dial the
diminution in the speed and in this case also enables the variation in the speed to
be ascertained.

page_text: It will be understood that when the speed is nil, that is to say when the vehicle-
or the machine is in a state of rest the hand or needle is at zero on the dial, that
the graduation of the latter extends from zero to a number corresponding to the
maximum speed at which the machine or the vehicle may move, and that the
spring r is adapted as regards its strength to the greatest possible speel of this
machine or this vehicle. Accordingly it is necessary to employ a series of apparatus.
corresponding to different maximum velocities.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 the toothed wheel B
and arm C is arranged upon an axis. The arın C carrying the satellite system,
which comprises the pinion b, the escapement wheel and the escapement dis
connected to a spiral spring r whose extremity is attached to a fixed point g. The
arm C also carries an adjustable counter-weight fand a hand or pointer h which
turns in front of the suitably graduated dial E.
Instead of being actuated by a worm, the aforesaid toothed wheel B is in this.
instance set in motion by a pinion whose axis traverses the box of the indicator
in order to be connected to a rod I as hereinafter set forth. This pinion ¹ is
moreover in gear with a toothed wheel which in each turn which it makes moves -
another toothed wheel & retained by a spring pawl / forward one tooth by means of
a pin which it carries. On the axis of this second toothed wheel k is a finger m
which in each revolution of the latter wheel k moves the wheel n of a counter one
tooth forward, the hand or pointer of such counter totalizing the distance -
travelled on a dial F graduated to kilometres or miles. This totalizing device may
have any suitable arrangement, and may possess three small apertures, one being
designed for the units, the other for the tens, and the third for the hundreds.
This latter arrangement is suitable for any counters and presents no particular
feature, but it is necessary before all to provide for the possibility of combining
the speed indicator with a device for totalizing the distance travelled, which
evidently completes the indication given.
For arranging the speed indicator upon a bicycle as shown in Figure 6 we
proceed in the following manner.
Upon the box G of the indicator proper is fixed a clamp H by the aid of which
the indicator may be attached to one of the branches of the front fork. Of course
the dials, E and F covered with a glass plate held in a groove, are turned
towards the cyclist.
On the hub of the front wheel is fixed by means of a disc p a crown J cut
exteriorly to the form of an endless worm, in gear with a toothed wheel q on a
suitable rod I supported at s whose forked extremity t fits upon the before-
mentioned axis. A pin secured to this axis i engages with the fork of the said
rod I so that the rotation of the front wheel will be transmitted by a pinion i¹ to
the mechanisms for indicating the speed and totalizing the distance travelled.
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 we
claim is :-
1. A speed indicator, the characteristic feature of which consists in the com-
bination with a toothed wheel set in rotary motion by the machine or the vehicle
receiving the said indicator, of a satellite system with escapement and of a spring
with progressive tension; the said rotary tooth wheel carrying with it the satellite
system until the spring establishes equilibrium so that a stoppage takes place, in
which case the escapement commences to act, and permits the satellite movement
to return always by the action of the escapement, when the rotary speed of the
toothed wheel has been diminished and the equilibrium broken.
2. In a speed indicator the special arrangement of the satellite system formed
by a pinion b, an escapement wheel c and an escapement piece; the whole mounted
upon an arm C oscillating upon the axis of the toothed wheel B and comprising a
mass e serving as a balance, and a counterweight f forming an equilibrium for the
system, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The speed indicator, described in the first claim, the satellite system of which
is constructed according to the 2nd claim, and comprising moreover a spiral spring.
attached on the one hand to the arm C of the satellite system, and on the other
hand, to a fixed point of the apparatus, a hand h rigidly connected to the said
arm C and sharing all movements of the satellite system and a fixed dial suitably
graduated, on which the indicator hand or needle turns; the whole encased in a
box, and the wheel B being connected in any appropriate manner to one of the
moving parts of the machine or of the vehicle of which the speed or variations of
speed are desired to be known, substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
4. The constructional form of the speed indicator when adapted for use in
velocipedes; this form being described with reference to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawing.
5. The combination of the speed indicator with a totalizing counter, this com-
bination being realized by connecting the mechanism of the counter on the pinion i,
which actuates the toothed wheel B of the speed indicator, as hereinbefore
specified.
6. In the application of the speed indicator to velocipedes, the method of
mounting described with reference to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawing and
serving to establish a rigid connection between the front wheel and the said
totalizing indicator.
Dated thin yell
1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.