Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Registering or Indicating at a Central Station the Number of Tickets or other Articles Sold or Distributed at Different Points or Stations.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Apparatus for Registering or
Indicating at a Central Station the Number of Tickets or other
Articles Sold or Distributed at Different Points or Stations.
I, HENRY SCHUYLER Ross, of the City, County and State of New York U.S.A.,
Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which the happenings
or transactions at various separate stands or branches engaged in distributing the
same or different kinds of merchandise, tickets or circulars, especially tickets at horse
races, when communicated mechanically or otherwise and simultaneously or separately
to the central station may be automatically added and their sum or sums announced
by means of pointers and dials or other temporary registering apparatus so that the
amounts so announced shall always be the sums of all the tickets, circulars or articles
of merchandise distributed at all the separate stands.
77:
My invention consists of an adding machine provided with pointers or other
indicating devices, which move over graduated dials, and with communicating wires
connecting said machine with a number of reporting stands for the purpose of
registering the kind and number of tickets or merchandise distributed or sold at
said stands.
My invention consists in a system of announcing added results transmitted from
various sources and is composed of a signalling device controlled by the action of a
series of escapements, corresponding to the number of reporting stands, and acting
through a single machine to control said signal; a series of electro-magnets or other
operating devices for said escapements and a series of reporting stands connected with
said series of operating devices and each provided with a device for communicating
motion to its corresponding operating device in said series.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to employ dials and pointers and fingers or
counters to announce the amount of sale or distribution but it is evident that many
other forms of Registering devices at the central station might be substituted.
I also prefer to have the series of escapements arranged substantially as shown in
the drawings but other ways of arranging them might be adopted if preferred.
My invention consists further in a system of gear wheels in an adding machine
composed of a pair of bevelled gears mounted loosely on a shaft, and each provided
with an escapement wheel rigidly secured thereto, or integral therewith, an inter-
mediate transmitting gear wheel carrying a loose or running pinion which engages
both said gears; and a properly proportioned receiving wheel placed upon another
shaft, into which said transmitting wheel meshes; the whole arranged and adapted to
receive through either or both of said gears a given amount of motion and to
transmit it unaltered by means of said intermediate transmitting gear and receiving
wheel.
My invention consists further in a system of gear wheels in an adding machine
composed of two pairs of bevelled gears mounted loosely on a shaft, each gear being
provided with an escapement wheel rigidly secured thereto; a carrier secured to a
sleeve for each pair of gears supporting a loose or running pinion which engages
both said gears; a middle pair of bevelled gears each mounted on one of said
carriers; an intermediate transmitting gear wheel carrying a loose or running
pinion which engages both gears of said middle pair; and a properly proportional
receiving wheel placed upon another shaft into which said transmitting wheel meshes
the whole arranged and adapted to receive through any or all of said gears a given
amount of motion and to transmit it unaltered by means of said intermediate ge.r
and receiving wheel.

page_text: My improved system of gear wheels is capable of almost indefinite extension and
one form thereof which may be taken as an illustration of the changes required may
be described as follows: A series of pairs of bevelled gears mounted loosely on a
shaft each gear being provided with an escapement wheel rigidly secured thereto;
a carrier for each of said pairs of wheels supporting a loose or running pinion which
engages both gears; a series of middle pairs of bevelled gears each mounted on a
sleeve rigidly secured to some one of said carriers; a secondary carrier for each of
said middle pairs of gears supporting a loose or running pinion which engages
both gears; a pair of resultant bevelled gears each mounted on a sleeve rigidly
secured to one or the other of said secondary carriers; an intermediate transmitting
gear wheel carrying a loose or running pinion which engages both gears of said
resultant pair and a properly proportioned receiving wheel placed upon another shaft
into which said transmitting wheel meshes; the whole arranged and adapted to
receive through any or all of said gears a given amount of motion and to transmit it
unaltered by means of said intermediate transmitting gear and properly proportioned
receiving wheel.
My invention consists further in a peculiar signal or totalizing dial composed of
dials and half dials arranged above each other in such fashion that the operating
motion for all the pointers is received through the pointer of the upper half dial.
My invention consists further in an arrangement of ticket boxes for different kinds
of tickets and a number of adding machines in an electric circuit, connecting each
ticket box with its appropriate adding machine and also with a machine which adds
the totals of all the ticket boxes: The whole arranged so that the drawing of a ticket
from any of said boxes closes its circuit and communicates motion to its own adding
machine, and also to the totalizing machine, thereby causing at every moment, each
individual dial to show the total of its particular kind of tickets drawn from all the
boxes, and the totalizing dial to show the sum of all tickets of all kinds so drawn ;
the amount on the totalizing dial always being the sum of the amounts on all the
individual dials.
One form of my invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1, shows the application of my improved system to eight reporting stands
each reporting the sales of eight different kinds of tickets. The stands are numbered
respectively from one to eight; and the signal dials at the central station corre-
spondingly S¹ to S³. The grand total signal dial is marked T. The lines, drawn
straight for clearness, show the method which I prefer to employ for connecting the
reporting stands with the register or signalling dial at the central station. The
reporting stands are as shown at 4 provided, each with eight boxes for holding the
different kinds of tickets to be distributed and each box is in direct independent
electrical connection with the corresponding signal dial and through a wire common
to all of said boxes with the grand total dial the return circuit being made from the
grand total dial through its proper signal dial or vice versa.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of an adding machine and register one or more of
which is placed at any location desired each being provided with and operating an
individual signal dial (not shown in Fig. 2) and each arranged to receive and sum up
the impulses received by it and announce the result upon said dial.
Figure 3 is a top plan of the same.
Figure 4 is a top plan of a modification showing how the motion of a larger number
of wheels may be transmitted by a single receiving wheel.
Figure 5 is a vertical section on line of figure 4.
Figure 6 is a vertical section similar to figure 5 except that the motion of eight
wheels is taken up and transmitted to a single receiving wheel instead of the motion
of four wheels as in figure 5-Only four wheels are shown in figure 6, the rest being
on the same shaft broken away.
Same letters indicate similar parts in the different figures.
A, is the power wheel by means of which the whole or some part of the adding
mechanism is moved when released by the escapements and is mounted upon the
shaft a, turning in the bearings b, b. This wheel is turned by means of weights (not

page_text: shown) hung upon the rope B, which when wound up is coiled around the drum c, on
the shaft a. The ratchet wheel C pawl d, and drum c, on the power wheel A are
usual devices for winding up the weight when run down.
Although I prefer to have the series of escape-wheels operated thus by one wheel
called the power wheel, still each escape wheel might if preferred be supplied with an
independent source of power.
The shaft a carries at its outer end the pointer F, as shown in Figure 3 or operates a
series of pointers working over the faces of the dials as shown in figure 1.
The mechanism thus far described is merely the winding up mechanism and may
be very largely varied at pleasure; the purpose being merely to have some steady
pressure brought to bear upon each and every escape wheel so that when released
by its escapement it will move under said pressure until again caught by said
escapement.
The shafts a', a', are hung in the frame work 62, 61, and do not turn with the wheels
which they carry. These wheels are divided into systems and operate as follows:
The electro-magnets N receive electrical impulses by closing the circuit at the
corresponding ticket box situated at one of the reporting stands 1, 2, 3, &c., in
Fig. 1; the same being received through the set screws h, h. As soon as the
magnet receives an impulse it draws the armature M down toward the magnet.
This armature carries the escapement K and is normally held away from the magnet
by the spring O, which is fastened to the armature and to the plate P, on the frame
work. The escapement K operates the escapement wheel J which is rigidly secured
to or made part of the bevelled gear G which, as before stated, is mounted loosely
on the shaft a. These bevelled gears with their escapements are arranged in pairs
facing each other and between them runs either an intermediate transmitting wheel I
(figures 2 & 3) or a carrier R (figures 4, 5, & 6). In either case the wheel or the
carrier, supports a loose or running pinion H which engages both of the bevelled
gears G, G, and receives motion from them when their escapement wheels are
released by the action of its magnets, and thus causes the transmitting wheel I or
carrier R (as the case may be) to revolve and with it the shaft a.
In the arrangement shown in figure 2, this motion is at once communicated to
the receiving wheel which is situated on another shaft a¹¹ and meshes with the
transmitting wheel. Of course the motion taken up by the transmitting wheel
through the pinion H is only half the sum of the motions of the two bevelled
gears G, G, but this loss is made up by so proportioning the receiving wheel to
the transmitting wheel, that the amount of motion of the latter becomes doubled
when handed on from the receiving to the mechanism or whatever it may be that
is operated by said wheel. In this way the motion received by either or both of the
bevelled gears G, G, is transmitted unaltered by the transmitting wheel in connection
with the receiving wheel.
In the arrangement shown in figures 4, 5, and 6 the motion taken up by the
pinion H and carrier R, instead of being at once transmitted to a receiving wheel L',
as in the last described arrangement, is handed on through a sleeve to another pair of
bevelled gears G¹, G', which I will call the middle pair, and by them given to another
loose pinion H¹. This is accomplished by mounting the carrier R upon a sleeve r
which turns loosely on the shaft a and carries one of said bevelled gears G¹, upon its
other end. In this way the motion of two pairs of bevelled gear is handed in by
means of the middle pair to its pinion H'. This pinion H' is carried on a transmitting
wheel I (as shown in figures 4 and 5) in which case the motion is at once transmitted
to the receiving wheel L on shaft a¹, or on a carrier R¹ (as shown in figure 6) in
which case the motion is passed on by a sleeve for one or more stages longer. Of
course the transmitting gear wheel I only receives one fourth of the motion of the
gear G, G, and hence the receiving wheel L' has only one fourth the number of teeth
of transmitting wheel I', in order to reproduce the full motion of the gears G, G.
In the arrangement shown in figure 6, the pinion H¹ is mounted upon a carrier
which for distinction I will call the secondary carrier R¹, this carrier like the others is
mounted upon an elongated sleeve which runs in under or through one of the pairs

page_text: of gears along the shaft a¹ and carries at its outer end a bevelled gear G" which I
will call the resultant bevelled gear. A similar resultant bevelled gear G³ faces this
gear Gand has received motion from an exactly similar system of gears-pinions,
sleeves and carriers on its side of the shaft a-shown as broken away in figure 6.
Between these resultant bevelled gears G G³ runs the loose pinion H which engages
both said gears and is mounted on the transmitting gear wheel I' which meshes with
receiving wheel L' on shaft a (Fig. 6).
As the motion communicated to the transmitting wheel I' in this arrangement is
only one eighth of that originally imparted to gears G G, the receiving wheel L' can
have only one eighth as many teeth as wheel I', in order to reproduce the original
motion of the gears G G.
In the arrangement shown in figure 6, the power wheel is dispensed with, the
receiving wheel L' being mounted directly on the power shaft a which carries the
pointer instead of being on a different shaft and meshing with the power wheel A as
in figure 4.
It is I think obvious that any desired number of pairs of wheels may be arranged
to act through a single transmitting and receiving wheel, by a judicious arrangement
of the sleeves r r &c. on the principle pointed out in these two systems.
As to the dials, shown in figure 1.
An adding machine or register, embodying one of the above described systems
of wheels, is placed behind each of the upper half dials, both individual and grand
total, in such a way that the shaft a serves as the axis on which the pointer of said
upper half dial turns, Of course it is to this point that the wires shown as entering
at the foot of the dials, extend. Proper connection, by levers or otherwise is made
from this shaft a and pointer F to the pointers on the two lower dials, so that the
hand on the middle dial moves one point every time the pointer F has moved once
over the face of the upper dial. In the same way the pointer of the lower dial is
made to move one point every time the pointer of the middle dial has moved once
over its face.
As shown in figures 4 and 6 the pointers for the half dials are hung on the shaft
at this centre, each end being a point so that one end begins just as the other has
ended. I prefer to use half dials for the upper and middle ones for convenience
in reading from left to right only, and also because this method enables the mechanism
to be more easily concealed by the dials themselves.
For every ticket taken from the boxes at reporting stands, the signal is sent by
means of an ordinary circuit closer the key of which is closed by the operator. Each
stand may
have its own battery or one large battery may be used for all, by running
all the wires from the total dial to one pole of the battery and running wires from
the other pole to all of the boxes at the reporting stands.
The operation of my improved Register is as follows:
Whenever a ticket is taken from any of the ticket boxes, and the circuit closed
at that point by the operator an impulse is sent over the connecting wire to the
individual registers (wherever they may be situated) which correspond to that box of
tickets and also to the grand totalizing register. This impulse is received by the
proper magnet N in said register and by charging said magnet draws the armaturo M
towards the magnet. The escapement K thus releases one tooth of the escapement
wheel J and the latter being under constant pressure from the shaft a, moves until
again caught by the escapement K, the bevelled gear G moves with the escapement
wheel J and communicates motion to the loose pinion H, this pinion communicates
its motion to the receiving wheel Lor L' either directly from the transmitting wheel I
on which it is mounted, or if mounted on a carrier R as in figures 4-6, indirectly
through said carrier and a number of bevelled gears, pinions and sleeves, to a trans-
mitting wheel 1' and thence to said receiving wheel. Whatever motion has been lost
during this process having been restored by the properly proportioned receiving wheel,
is now handed on unaltered to the pointer F either directly through shaft a as in
figure 6, or indirectly through power wheel A, shaft a and intermediate gears G*, H*, ]
, I¹
as in figure 4.

page_text: It is evident that tickets may be drawn simultaneously from all the boxes and
the amounts, so drawn will be registered on the proper dials and also on the grand
total dial at the same time.
The pointer F of both the proper individual registering, upper half dial and of
the grand total or totalizing upper half dial moves one point. If this point happens
to be the last point on said upper half dial, the pointer on the middle dial also
moves one point. If this should happen also to be the last point on that dial, the
pointer of the lower dial will also move one point. Thus every impulse is duly
registered both on the grand total dial and upon the proper individual dials.
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 I
claim is :-
1. An adding machine provided with pointers or other indicating devices, which
move over graduated dials, and with communicating wires connecting said machine
with a number of reporting stands for the purpose of registering the kind and number
of tickets or merchandise distributed or sold at said stands.
2. A Register which consists of a signalling device controlled by the action of a
series of escapements, corresponding to the number of reporting stands and acting
through a single machine to control said signal; a series of electro-magnets or other
operating devices for said escapements and a series of reporting stands connected with
said series of operating devices and each provided with a device for communicating
motion to its corresponding operating device in said series.
3. A system of gear wheels in adding machines composed of a pair of bevelled goars
mounted loosely on a shaft, and each provided with an escapement wheel rigidly
secured thereto or integral therewith, an intermediate transmitting gear wheel carrying
a loose or running pinion which engages both said gears; and a properly proportioned
receiving wheel placed upon another shaft, into which said transmitting wheel meshes;
the whole arranged and adapted to receive through either or both of said gears a
given amount of motion and to transmit it unaltered by means of said intermediate
transmitting gear and receiving wheel.
4. A system of gear wheels in and adding machine composed of two pairs of
bevelled gears mounted loosely on a shaft, each gear being provided with an escape-
ment wheel rigidly secured thereto; a carrier secured to a sleeve for each pair of
gears supporting a loose or running pinion which engages both said gears; a middle
pair of bevelled gears each mounted on one of said carriers; an intermediate trans-
mitting gear wheel carrying a loose or running pinion which engages both gears of
said middle pair; and a properly proportioned receiving wheel placed upon another
shaft into which said transmitting wheel meshes; the whole arranged and adapted to
receive through any or all of said gears a given amount of motion and to transmit it
unaltered by means of said intermediate transmitting gear and receiving wheel.
5. A series of pairs of bevelled gears mounted loosely on a shaft each gear being
provided with an escapement wheel rigidly secured thereto; a carrier for each of said
pairs of wheels supporting a loose or running pinion which engages both gears; a
series of middle pairs of bevelled gears each mounted on a sleeve rigidly secured to
some one of said carriers; a secondary carrier for each of said middle pairs of gears
supporting a loose or running pinion which engages both gears; a pair of resultant
bevelled gears each mounted on a sleeve rigidly secured to one or the other of said
secondary carriers ; an intermediate transmitting gear wheel carrying a loose or
running pinion which engages both gears of said resultant pair and a properly
proportioned receiving wheel placed upon another shaft into which said transmitting
wheel meshes the whole arranged and adapted to receive through any or all of said
gears a given amount of motion and to transmit it unaltered by means of said inter-
mediate transmitting gear and properly proportioned receiving wheel.
6. A peculiar signal or totalizing dial composed of dials and half dials arranged
above each other in such fashion that the operating motion for all the pointers is
received through the pointer of the upper half dial.

page_text: 7. An arrangement of ticket boxes for different kinds of tickets and a number of
adding machines in an electric circuit connecting each ticket box with its appropriate
adding machine and also with a machine which adds the totals of all the ticket
boxes.
8. A mechanical registering system which consists of a series of escapements
simultaneously operated from a corresponding series of reporting stands; an adding
machine composed of a series of systems of gear wheels and provided with an escape-
wheel for each of said escapements and with a resultant wheel which receives and
sums up the motions given to all of said escapoments and a pointer or other suitable
device for registering the amounts of said motion substantially as shown and for the
purpose specified.
9. A registering system which consists of a series of recording stands and dials and
a series of reporting stands each stand and dial being electrically connected with each
reporting stand substantially as shown and described.
10. A compound registering system which consists of a series of recording stands
and dials, a grand total dial and a series of reporting stands; each reporting stand
being electrically connected with each recording stand and dial and with the grand
total dial.
DLL FIL 1
.:
HENRY SCHUYLER ROSS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.