GB454248A - Improvements in or relating to calculating mechanism - Google Patents

Abstract

454,248. Calculating - apparatus. CAMPBELL, C., and BRITISH TABULATING MACHINE CO., Ltd., Victoria House. Vernon Place, Southampton Row, London. March 26, 1935, No. 9440. [Class 106 (i)] A mechanism for dividing a number by twelve, e.g., to convert inches to feet, comprises a register into which the number is entered, a counter and a set of nine dividing devices, one for each digit, each of which devices is arranged to control the entry, into adjacent denominations of the counter, of the different significant digits of the decimal fractions <1>/12th to <9>/12th. Means are provided for placing the set of dividing devices under the control of each denomination of the register in turn, for directing the entry into the appropriate denomination of the counter, and for entering the recurring digit of the decimal fraction into all the lower denominations. In the form shown a register and two counters are provided ; counters are controlled by electromagnets 213SL, 213SR, Fig. la, as in the Hollerith tabulating machine and the dividing devices are constituted by electrical relays DR1-9, DL1-9, Fig. lb, having contacts DR1-9, DL1-9, Fig. 1a for completing three circuits to three magnets controlling the associated counters. The counters are arranged with their lowest denomination operating on the nonary notation to add the recurring digits correctly. An impulse emitter EM serves to connect lines 230 in succession in circuit at times corresponding to the digits. The contacts DR, DL are arranged to connect these lines to denominational lines 522R, 522L in the manner shown in Fig. la. The coils of the relays DR, DL are connected to alternate denominations of the reading out mechanism LHRO of the register ; the reading out mechanism is of conventional form comprises pairs of brushes 512, contact segments 513 and contact studs 514. By connecting the relays in this manner and by providing two counters two digits of the number can be controlled concurrently, so that for a register having six denominations only three column shift relays are necessary, viz. 1DY, 2DY and 3DY, Fig. 1b. The dividing operation is initiated by closing contacts 503 to complete a circuit through cam contacts CC8, relay contacts 1DY2 and a relay coil IDS-T. This coil when energized shifts contacts 1DS-1-11 so that on closure of cam contacts CC12 the dividing relays DR, DL for the units and tens denominational values are energized and impulses through the emitter EM energize the appropriate magnets 213SR, 213SL, of the counters SR, SL, (not shown). After the entries have been completed cam contacts CC11 close and through the closed contacts 1DS-2 energize the column shift relay 1DY to shift its contacts 1DY-2 and close its contacts 1DY-3. Towards the end of the cycle cam contacts CC10 close and through closed contacts 1DS-4 energizes a relay coil 523 and a relay coil 1DS-L. This coil 1DS-L operates to restore the contacts 1DS-1-11 to normal. The second cycle is initiated through the alternative circuit formed by the cam contacts CC-9 and contacts 1DY-3 to energize relay coil 2DS-T which shifts its contacts 2DS-1-15 until the cam contacts CC-10 are again closed to energize restoring relay 2DS-L. After these second entries the contacts CC-11 operate to energize column shift relay 2DY whereupon the third cycle is initiated. The partial quotients are then contained in the two counters and these are added together by providing the counter SR with a reading-out mechanism SRRO and transmitting the amount therein to the counter SL. This operation is effected during the fourth cycle by energizing a relay 2CR-T which closes its contacts 2CR-5-11 to connect the reading-out mechanism to the magnets 213SL. The circuit to the relay 2CR-T is prepared during the third cycle after the column shift relay 3DY has been energized. Following this transmission operation cam contacts CC-2 close to energize reset magnet 233LH which zeroizes the register. During this operation contacts LH-1 open to deenergize the column shift relays DY. Following this operation the counter SL may be acted upon to yield the quotient; for this purpose a relay (not shown), is energized and closes contacts. D-5 so that on closure of cam contacts CC-13 the reset magnet 223SR is energized and the counter SR is restored to zero. This resetting operation closes contacts SR-2 so that the reset magnet 223SL is energized to reset the counter SL. The reading-out mechanism LHRO of the register is provided with additional brushes 512a, segments 513a and contact studs 514a arranged at the zero position so that the third dividing cycle may be omitted when the two highest denominations shown are zero.