GB856844A - Electronic timing device - Google Patents

Abstract

856,844. Time interval measuring. H. & B. PRECISION ENGINEERS Ltd. May 12, 1959 [May 6, 1958], No. 14465/58. Class 37 Apparatus for timing a vehicle or competitor over a fixed distance comprises at the beginning of the distance a pressure sensitive shoe 11, operated to close hydraulic switch 12 to energise relay 8 which holds over one pair of contacts and connects timebase generator 2 to electronic decade counter tube 3 registering hundredth second intervals, which at every tenth count operates similar counter tube 4 registering tenth second intervals. At every tenth count the latter impulses a cold cathode tube 6 to strike and magnetically operate a mechanical counter 5 constructed to count seconds on its first pair of digits and minutes on its remaining pair. At the end of the distance a photocell 17 whose illumination is obscured by the vehicle or competitor pulses a radio signal from transmitter 16 producing a further pulse in receiver 13 to operate relay 14, which opens contacts 15 to release relay 8 and disconnect the timebase so that the electronic counters and the mechanical counter register the elapsed time. Switches 9, 10 may be respectively operated for manual starting and stopping of the apparatus, and switch 18 may be opened to reset the counter. The apparatus is energised by direct voltages from alternating current power supply 7, and the pressure sensitive shoe switch is replaceable by a photocell arrangement or vice versa for operation of the appropriate relays. The signals starting the apparatus may be transmitted to the timing apparatus over a similar transmitter-receiver link.