An Improved Counting Apparatus, more especially applicable to Cyclometers.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1897--Accepted, 12th Feb., 1898
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Counting Apparatus, more especially applicable to
Cyclometers.
.1
(A communication by LEO JEROD BURDICK, of the City of Sturgis, County of
St. Joseph and State of Michigan, United States of America, Manufacturer
and Merchant.)
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND, of W. P. Thompson & Co., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved counting apparatus more especially applic-
able to cyclometers.
The objects of this invention are, first to produce a cyclometer or registering
apparatus simple in construction and very compact and easy to manufacture that
will register accurately; second, to provide in a cyclometer or register improved
means of transferring amounts from the lower to the higher number wheels; third,
to provide in a cyclometer or register an improved mechanism to register the first
or smallest space or amount to be registered. Further objects will definitely
appear in the detailed description.
These objects are accomplished by the devices or mechanism described in the
following specification, pointed out in the claims and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing, in which-
I
Figure 1 is a perspective view of this improved cyclometer or register with its
supporting bracket or means omitted.
.
Figure 2 is a detailed longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same taken
on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3, is a transverse detailed sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.1
Figure 5 is a transverse detailed sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.
Figure 6 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of one of the number wheels.
Figure 7 is a detailed, transverse sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a detailed perspective view of wheel D in the lower number
mechanism.
Figure 9 is a detailed view of a modification taken on line corresponding to
line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 10 is a detailed transverse sectional view of a modified construction of cam
and transfer mechanism taken from the left of Figure 11.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 11 of Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a detailed perspective view of the spring D' and its tooth I used
in the. lower register mechanism.
In the drawing similar letters of reference refer to similar parts in all the views,

page_text: and all of the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows
at the ends of the section lines.
.
Referring to the lettered parts of the drawing, A is the case of the cyclometer
or register mechanism, preferably in the cylindrical form. It contains a fixed
head A at one end and a removable head A at the other. To the fixed head A"
is securely rivetted, or otherwise fastened, the shaft E which is of large diameter
in proportion to the size of the device. This shaft carries number wheels and is
made with longitudinal notched depressions E¹ bevelled from each side to the centre
to act as cams.
There are as many depressions E' as there are steps of the movement of the number
wheels. With the exception that one space is left full with a very slight detaining
depression E", which clearly appears in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The number wheels F
are preferably made of sheet metal with internal gear teeth F1 struck in from the
edge.
The wheels each have a projecting hub F with a slot F in one side with a
projecting tooth P to the rear thereof. A spring G is on each hub of all the
lower number wheels and has a transverse tooth G¹ thereon, a portion of which
projects beyond the periphery of the hub and another portion projecting within the
same to contact against the shaft and co-act with the longitudinal notches E¹
therein. The tooth at the end of the spring is formed by folding the metal in and
out again (see Figure 5)..
There are as many teeth on each number wheel as there are spaces or numbers
upon its periphery and consequently the number of teeth corresponds to the total
number of depressions E¹ and E. These number wheels are made alike and are
placed upon the shaft E parallel to each other. A spring G is around each hub
with a tooth G¹ at the end thereof resting in the slot of the hub.
It will be noted from this that as any number wheel is rotated the tooth G¹ carried
on its hub will follow in the depressions E on the shaft passing under the internal
gear teeth of the next higher wheel until it comes to the depression E which is
very slight for detaining purposes only. Then the tooth G¹ will be held out against
the spring, will engage the tooth opposite on the next number wheel and actuates
the same one step, thus each revolution of a number wheel actuates the next higher
number wheel one step and transfers its amount to the higher wheel.
The highest number wheel of the series, of course, does not need to actuate a
number wheel beyond. To save space the hub on this wheel is turned within the
flange as clearly appears to the left of Figure 2. A narrow spring H is placed
thereon, having only an inwardly projecting tooth H¹ which engages the cam
notches on the shaft and serves only as a brake to prevent over registration of
the same.
The lowest number wheel of the register mechanism may be actuated by any
suitable means. In a cyclometer a special means is necessary to avoid the registra-
tion of each revolution of the bicycle wheel so that the register will only be
affected by a considerable number of revolutions.
This result is accomplished by the following means which will now be described.
The head A¹ is made removable. Through the same to one side of the centre
is inserted a small shaft C. On the outside end of the shaft C is a revoluble wheel B
with projecting teeth for actuation from a pin or other striker on a bicycle wheel,
or by other suitable means. On the inside end of shaft C is gear wheel C having
a projecting tooth plug or lug C". Supported on shaft E at this end is a ring D
having perforations or notches therethrough to serve as teeth of the gear wheel,
thus forming an internal gear wheel. Around the outside of this gear wheel D is
a spring D secured thereto situated to one side of the perforations or notches and
having an outwardly projecting tooth I at one end. The said spring is broad-
ened near the tooth so that it extends over one of the perforations or notches in
the gear D. The internal gear wheel D) and external gear wheel C¹ mesh on what
is known as a hunting tooth gear principle, numbers here being 7 and 12 respec-
tively, so that the inner wheel makes twelve revolutions before the external wheel

page_text: is in the same relation thereto. The lug or tooth C" on the gear C₁ being longer
than the others projects through the perforations beyond the periphery of the
wheel D, and at the point where the spring D₁ covers one of the perforations or
notches when the tooth projects through, it raises the tooth D" at the end and causes
it to engage one of the internal gear teeth on the lower number wheel and actuate it.
Thus it will be seen that this improved register mechanism is complete and practical
as a cyclometer.
On an internal hub of the star wheel B, is placed a spring I having an inwardly
projecting tooth I¹. A notch I sloping at one side and square at the other is
formed in the axle or shaft C. From this it will be observed that when the wheel B
is revolved in one direction for actuation the tooth I engages the shaft and actuates
it and when the wheel is revolved in the opposite direction the tooth I¹ passes over
the notch I" and leaves the register standing still.
The head A¹ is sufficiently secured in place by screw a and the shaft C projecting
into its bearing in the main shaft E.
The structure here shown can be considerably varied in its details without
departing from the invention and all of the advantages of the brake mechanism
and of the actuation of the successive number wheels can be secured by cams
independent of or separate from the shafts between the number wheels as clearly
appears in Figures 10 and 11, J being the shaft J¹ the cam F the number wheel.
A spring N with outwardly projecting lugs N' N" extending through slots in the
number wheel and engaging the cam serve as the transfer mechanism and by
pressing the cam also serve as the check or brake to prevent over throw.
In the hunting tooth gear mechanism the tooth D" can be made to project
within the number wheel D as well as outwardly to engage the next number wheel,
and be actuated by a plug between two of the gear teeth as clearly appears at Cl
in Figure 9. The principle, however, is exactly the same in both instances. The
structure shown in Figure 3 is preferred on account of its ease of production.
Great changes can be made in the detail of construction of this improved cyclo-
meter and register mechanism without departing from the invention.
The structure is adapted to any number scale by simply varying the number
wheels.
By forming the cam or cams in the shaft in a single piece instead of as projections
on it, the shaft is made to serve the purpose of any additional cams and still serves
its purpose as a shaft as well, which is impractical with a projecting cam thereon,
and by so forming said shaft a single piece of rod can be drawn through a die and
have the cams formed within it so that the same rods serve the purpose of cam and
shaft in the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:--
1. The combination of a cylindrical case A, having a fixed head A", and
emovable head A'; the shaft E, riveted to the fixed head A" containing longitu-
linal grooves E¹ and E" corresponding to the number of teeth or steps of the move-
nent of the wheel; number wheels F, supported thereon, made of sheet metal
aving internal gear teeth F and a projecting hub F with slot F and projection
? to the rear; a spring G with tooth G¹ projecting into said slot to contact with
he shaft and out to engage the gear teeth F1 of the next higher; an internal gear
wheel D, consisting of a ring with perforations revoluble on shaft E; an external
ear wheel C¹ on shaft C meshing with a hunting tooth gear with wheel D, carrying
aid wheel C¹, and an actuating star wheel B, revoluble on the shaft C, with a
atchet for engaging the same; a spring D¹ surrounding the gear D, having an
utwardly projecting tooth 1"; a projecting tooth C", on gear C¹, to lift the gear
both up and engage the first number wheel to actuate the same a single step, all
-acting substantially as described for the purpose specified.
.
2. In a cyclometer or register mechanism the combination of a casing; a shaft

page_text: 12. In a cyclometer, or register mechanism, the combination of a series of geared
number wheels; a movable tooth carried by each lower number wheel, a cam for
each lower number wheel containing depressions to guide the movable tooth thereof
past the gear teeth of the next higher number except at transferring points where
said movable teeth engage and actuate the higher number of wheels adjacent thereto;
means of retaining the movable teeth in contact with their respective cams for the
purpose specified.
13. In a cyclometer or register mechanism, the combination of a fixed shaft with
cains formed therein; geared number wheels mounted on said shaft; a movable
tooth carried by each of the lower number wheels; means of retaining each movable
tooth in contact with the cams in said shaft so that each tooth shall engage at
intervals of the rotation of its number wheel the next higher wheel, so that the
wheels can be placed on said shaft and easily removed without obstruction from the
cams, for the purpose specified.
14. In a cyclometer registering mechanism, the combination of a number wheel;
a second wheel adjacent thereto, having suitable gear teeth; a movable tooth
carried by said second wheel; a third gear wheel meshing with said second wheel,
having a suitable projection to act on the movable tooth of said second wheel, to
actuate said number wheel and means for actuating the third gear wheel for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1897.
containing longitudinal grooves corresponding to the steps of the movement one of
which grooves is shallow; number wheels containing internal gear teeth mounted
revolubly on said shaft; a spring with an inwardly projecting tooth to engage.in
the grooves of the shaft and an outwardly projecting tooth to engage the next
number wheel when passing the shallow depression carried by each of the lower
said number wheels; and means for actuating the lower number wheels for the
purpose specified.
3. In a cyclometer or register mechanism the combination of a shaft containing
longitudinal continuous cam grooves; gear number wheels mounted thereon; a
radially movable tooth carried by each of the lower number wheels and guided..by
the cam grooves to engage the next higher number wheels at intervals of its rotation
to operate the same for the purpose specified.
.
4. In a cyclometer or register mechanism the combination of a fixed shaft E,
containing longitudinal cam grooves E', sheet metal number wheels having internal
gears and projecting hubs F; a spring G on said hub with one end projecting
within the hub and the other without co-acting as specified.
*
5. In a cyclometer or register mechanism the combination of a fixed shaft contain.
ing longitudinal cam grooves; number wheels mounted thereon containing internal
gear teeth a spring with an outwardly and an inwardly projecting tooth carried
by each of the lower number wheels in contact with said shaft to serve as a brake
and to actuate the next higher wheel of the series for the purpose specified.
6. In a cyclométer or register mechanism the combination of a fixed shaft con-
taining continuous longitudinal cam grooves; gear number wheels mounted thereon;
a spring with a tooth thereon carried by each of the lower wheels to be actuated
by the cam grooves to engage at intervals of its rotation the next higher wheel,
for the purpose specified.
"
7. In a cyclometer or register mechanism the combination of a fixed shaft with
cams formed therein; gear number wheels mounted on said shaft; a movable tooth
carried by each of the lower number wheels to be actuated by the cam of the shaft
to actuate it at intervals of its rotation the next higher number wheel.
:
8. In a cyclometer or register mechanism the combination of a fixed shaft; number
wheels carried by said shaft; an internal gear consisting of a perforated ring carried
on said shaft; a spring embracing the same and covering one of the perforations;
a tooth on said spring to engage the lowest number wheel normally out of engage-
ment therewith; an external gear wheel carried on a pivot or shaft on the end of
the main shaft meshing therewith having a projecting tooth to raise the spring and
'cause the tooth to engage the number wheel at intervals of its rotation for the pur
pose specified.
9. In a cyclometer or register mechanism the combination of an internal gear;
an external gear having projecting hunting, tooth; a tooth on a suitable spring
carried by the internal gear to be actuated by the projecting tooth at intervals of
its rotation to actuate the number wheel as specified.
10. In a cyclometer or register mechanism, the combination of a series number
of wheels, having internal gear teeth; a movable tooth carried by each of the lower
number wheels; a shaft to support said number wheels containing cam depressions
therein, of sufficient depth to allow the movable tooth on each lower wheel to pass
the gear teeth upon the next higher number wheel, except at transferring points
where each said movable tooth is carried to engage with and actuate the numbe
wheel adjacent. thereto; and means for retaining the said movable teeth in contac
with said shaft.
11. In a cyclometer or registering mechanism, the combination of a series o
geared number wheels; a movable tooth carried by each of the lower number o
wheels; a cam formed shaft to support said number wheels, and guide said movabl
teeth past the gear teeth of said number wheels; except at transferring point
where said- movable teeth engage with and actuate the number wheels adjacen
therewith, and means of retaining said movable teeth in contact with said cau
formad shaft.
2.
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