US1053120A - Registering device. - Google Patents

Description

W. H. ZAHMANN.

REGISTEBING DEVICE.A APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 2g., i911l 1,053, 1 20, Patented Feb. 11, 19`l`3.

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1. y

einen sin me amarrar 'WILLIAM H. zcHNaNN, or woonnznvnn, NNW YORK, AssIeNoa To AMERICAN Evan READY COMPANY, n CORPORATION or Naw Yoan. I

REGISTERIING DEVCE.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, WILLIAM H. ZAoI-I- MANN, a citizen of the lUnited States,l residing at Woodhaven, Long island, 1n the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Registering, Devices, of which the following is a specliication, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings, forming part thereof..

My invention relates to registering .devices and particularly to counting devices such as odometers.

In driving automobiles with the use oi guiding directions for following the .cor'

rect road, itis frequently necessary to enter a route at some other point than that at which the mileage indications begin, or to slightly deviate.i'rom a route and then return to it, or to change from one route to another; and when from these or other causes there is a diierence between the trip mileage indications of the odometer and the mileage directions ot the guide, it is necessary to compute the error at each guide point and correct Vthe readings of the odometer accordingly. So aiso it is frequently desirable to set a counting device by hand to some other indication than zero as the starting point of the registering operation.

The object of my invention is to obviate such diiiiculties with counting devices in general by providing a device which may be readily and conveniently set at any time to any desired reading. l

More specific objects of my invention are simplicity and durability of construction and facility and reliability of o eration.

Still other objects and a vantages of my invention will appear from the Vfollowing description.

My invention is shown and described herein as embodied in an odometer, though manifestly it is broadly applicable to any registering or counting device, and although particularly well adapted` for'registering the distance traveled by a vehicle, it. may be used to register the movement of any moving part or machine, and I shall hereinafter use the term motor as compre-- bending anysuch vehicle, moving' part or machine. y

My invention comprises the combination, in a registering device, of a registering mechanism, motor driven means for actuat- I Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application led November 24, 1911.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913. Serialo. 662,142.

ing the registering mechanism,` and manually operative means for setting the registering mechanism unit by unit, operative in addition to and independently of the motor driven means. y i

My invention also comprehends, in combination with these features,'means for resetting the'registering mechanism to zero or to its initial indication.

Morespecifically, the registering mechanism comprises a series of number wheels, and the motor actuation and the manual actuation are independently applied to the units number-wheel.

Still more specifically the resettingmeans are arranged to reset andcollectively'rotate the number-wheels.

My invention also includesvarious other features of construction and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

I shall now describe the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings and shall thereafter point out my invention in claims.

Figure l .is a front view with the dial removed, of a speed indicator and odometer embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a similar view, enlarged, of the trip odometer mechanism, the casing being shown in section on the axial line of the mechanism.

Figs. 3, l and 5 are transverseysectional,

views of the, trip odometer mechanism shown in Fig. 2, taken onthe lines 3-3, 4-4., and 5*.5, respectively, as viewed from the left. Fig. 6 is a rear detail view of the trip odometer registering mechanism.l Fig.

7 is an cud view of the same as viewed from the left of Fig. 6.' Fig. 8 is a transverse` section of the same taken on the line 8 8 as viewedfrom lthe left. 'Fig 9 is a central longitudinal sectional detail of the actuating mechanism inthe .same for the irst or units number-.vv luie'hl Fig. 10 is ahorizontal section of the parts shown in Fig. 1, taken on the line ylOlO as viewed from below,l the speed'. indicating mechanism being omitted. Figs. ll and l2i are,'respectivcly, face and-side enlarged detail views of the. intermittent drive connection in the transmission. l

inthe illustrated embodiment of my invention, the odometer, which includes both a totals" register and a trip register, is coinbined with a speed-indicating device, or 110- speedometer, and is situated in front of the speedometer mechanism, in the usual way. Each of the registering mechanisms includes a plurality of number-wheels, there being tive number-wheels 1 in the totals register, denoting respectively from units to ten thousands, and there being three number-wheels 2 in the trip register, denoting respectively units, tens and hundreds. Each of these sets of number-wheels is loosely mounted on a shaft, and actuation is. imparted to the units number-wheel of the totals register through motoror vehicle-driven transmitting means, which will be hereinafter described, and the units number-wheel of the trip register is connected to receive actuation from the units number-wheel of the totals register, as will presently appear. The totals register is ofv well known construction.

The trip register will now be described. The number-wheels 2 are loosely mounted on a shaft 3, which has its bearings in the arms 4 and 5 of a yoke 6 secured as by screws, to the casing 7 of the instrument. The arms 4 and 5 have rearward branches 8 and 9, which serve as bearings for a shaft 10 parallel to the shaft 3. The units number-wheel may be actuated either by vehicledriven connection or by a manually operative setting device, as will now be described. The actuating means for the units numberwheel and through the control exerted by this units number-wheel to all of the nuinber-wheels of the registering mechanism, consists of a double ratchet mounted to freely rotate on the'shaft 3, and comprising a vehicle-driven ratchet member 12 to the left of the bearing arm 4 and a manually actuated ratchet member 13 to the right of the bearing arm 4. The vehicledriven ratchet member is pinned to the right face of the units number-wheel by a 4pin 11. These two ratchets are secured together by an inwardly projecting stem 14 on the ratchet 13 (see Fig. 9), which stem has a smooth portion extending through the bearing in the arm 4 and centrally thro-ugh a gear-wheel 15 to the left of the bearing, and has an inner screw-threaded end which screws tightly into a screw-threaded bore in the ratchet 12. This stem 14 is hollow and serves as a bearing for the end of the shaft 3. It is now apparent that as actuation is imparted either to the ratchet 12 or to the ratchet 13, the units nuinber-wheel will therebybe rotated.

Actuation is imparted to the vehicle'- driven ratchet 12 from the units numberwheel 1 of the totals register through a train consisting of an idler pinion 16 mounted on a stud on the lower end of the arm 4 and meshing with pins projecting laterally from the periphery of the units number-wheel 1 of the totals register, and the gear wheel 15, with which the pinion 16 meshes and which has a one-way driving connection with the ratchet 12 through a spring-pressed pawl 17 carried by the gear wheel 15. The number of pins on the units number-wheel 1 and of teeth on the ratchet wheel 15 being the same,

the rotary movement of the units numberf `which extends in the path of a crank pin 23 on a vcrank disk 24. r1`his crankdisk 24 is ro-tatively mounted on a bearing screw stud 25 which screws into the outer end of a screw-threaded bore in the ratchet 13 and has a smooth portion adjacent to its head, on which the crank disk 24 bears. rJlhis crank disk has a Oneway drive connection with the ratchet 13 through a spring-pressed pawl.

26, and the turning of the knob 18 in a clockwise direction actuates the units numberwheel 2 in the same or forward direction, through the shaft 19, head 21,y pin 22, crank pin 23, crank disk 24, pawl 26, and ratchet members 13 and 12, while the turning of the knob'18 in the opposite direction merely causes the pawl 26 to ride idly around the ratchet 13 without aecting the units number wheel 2.

To actuate the tens and hundreds number-wheels one number each with each complete rotation of their respective adjacent number-wheel of next lower denomination, transmitting pinions 27 and 28 are employed, in engagement with the units and tens number-wlieels, and the tens and hundreds j number-wheels, respectively. The tens and hundreds number-wheels are each provided with one tooth-.engaging notch 29, and two lugs 30 and 31 projecting laterally in the front and rear of the notch, respectively (see Fig. 3). r1`he tens and hunl dreds number-wheels are also provided with twenty equi-distant laterally projecting pins 32, two for each uiiit, arranged circumferentially near the periphery of the wheels on the'face toward the wheel of next lower denomination, as shown. '1` ie transmitting pinions- 27 and 28 have alternately fullwidth and narrow teeth, preferably four of each, making a total of eight teeth, as shown, and they normally ride with two adjacent fullwidth teeth resting on the pe- -riphery of the number-wheel of lower denomination, whereby the pinion is locked against rotation, and the intermediate narrow tooth projecting between the two adja-- notarse 'her-wheel of higher denomination. As the number-wheel of lower denomination is rotated and approaches the point for transmittin its movement to the next number-wheel of igher denomination, the lug 30 in advance engages the narrow tooth of the transmittino pinion and rotates the pinion. The full-width tooth ,in rear rolls down into the notch 29, and the pinion is turned until this full-width tooth which was in rear rides up on the periphery of the number-wheel. The next full-width tooth in rear now rests on the'periphery of the number-wheel and the pmion is again locked, but is one full-width tooth, or two teeth, in advance of its former position. Thus the transmitting pinions are actuated one fullwidth tooth each time they engage the notch 29, or with each complete rotation of their4 number-wheel of lower denomination. Sinceboth the full-width and narrow teeth mesh in the pins 32, one o f these actuations of t e transmitting pinions serves to actu-.

ate vhe number-wheel of higher denomination two pins or one number. A similar transmission" (not'shown) is provided between the number-Wheels 2 of the totals register.

To reset the'number-Wheels to zero or to their initial indication, t-he shaft 5 is provided with a longitudinal groove, and each of the number-wheels has a reset-ting pawl-33 (ses Fig. 3) on its left face held by a spring 34 against the shaft 3. The pawls 33 are so positioned om their respective wheels that the wheels are alined numerically or have any desired relative position when the pawls all engage in the groove in the shaft 3. As the number-wheels are rotated in a forward direction either by the vehicle actuation or by manual actuation applied at the knob 18, the resetting pawls ride idly out of the groove and around the shaft 3, but if the shaft is rotated in the same direction, the pawls take in the groove and the number-Wheels are all alined and rotated forward together thereby, indicat- ,ing 000,111,222, etc. is secured to the left end of the shaft 3, which head is rotated when it is desired to reset the wheels by turning a resetting knob 36, which is secured on the outer end of a shaft 37 bearing 4in a tubular bearing 38 integral with the casing 7, on the inner end of whichl shaft is an axially projecting tongue member 39 {it-ting into a slot on the end of the head 35.

To render the transmitting pinions 28 and 29 capable of permitting this simultaneous resetting rotation of all the numberwheels, and at the same time have them effective as transmitting pinions during the normal. actuation of the number-wheels, they are mounted on a swing frame or yoke held by a spring in engagement with the A resetting head 35.

number-wheels. The swing frame consists of a sleeve 40 (see Fig. 8) on the shaft 10, and two arms 41 and 42 fastened to the ends of the sleeve 40, and a shaft 43 journaled in the ends of the arms 41 and 42, on which shaft the transmitting pi'nions 27 and 28 are mounted free to rotate on the shaft, the transmitting pinions being properly spaced by suitable collars. To permit the pinions to automatically release as' the numberwheels are reset, a spring 44 is coiled about the sleeve 40 and bears at one end under a pin 45 in the arm 9, and at the other end on the arm 42. By these means the transmitting pinions are held in sufficiently firm engagement with the number-wheels to perform their transmitting function, and at the same time are permitted to yield and release from operative engagement with the number-wheels when the number-wheels are -collectively'rotated to reset them.

The method of setting the register to any desired number will now be apparent. The resetting knob '36 may be turned to bring the number-wheels as near as possible to desired indication, and then recourse had to the manual set to complete the setting of the register by actuating the units number- Wheel and from this Wheel another or other vnumber-wheels in succession until the desired number is reached, the actuation be ing in the same manner vas the ordinary registering actuation of the register or one unit at a time. For instance, suppose it be desired to set the register to 125, the number-wheels may be almed by turning the reset knob 3G and rotating them thereby until they indicate 111, after which the units number-wheel is actuated through fourteen units by turning the setting knob 18. This actuation may be varied as desired or most suitable, the two lcontrolling knobs giving complete control to quickly put each number-wheel in desired position for any indication within the limits of 999 which they will indicate, and with the usual unit of one tenth of a mile, the limit of the trip odome' ter shown will be 99.9 miles.

Actuation is imparted to the instrument from the vehicle througha continuously driven iieXible shaft 46 which has a usual or suitable drive connection with a wheel of the vehicle. The fieXible shaft 46 rotates a worm 47 thereon at the rear of the casing 7 (see F ig. 10), which worm meshes with a worm-wheel 48. The Worm-wheel 48 is secured on the end of a forwardly extending stem 49, near the front end of which is formed a worm 50. The stem 49 bears at its forward end ina bearing in the yoke 51 serving as a support for the totals' register, and at another point in a'bracket 52 -fas-` tened to the yoke 51. A transverse shaft 53 bearing in the two arms of the bracket 52- has securedA thereon a worm-wheel 54 arranged in mesh With the Worm 50, and on .its right end, Which projects outside the v bracket, is secured an intermittent driving Wheel 55, having one tooth-engaging notch and coperating with a driven pinion 56. This intermittent drive connection, which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 1l and12, operates precisely as does the above described transmission between the number-Wheels 2. The driven pinion 56 meshes with the pins 32 on the sidev of the units number-wheel l of the totals register, and from this units number-Wheel motion is transmitted to the units number-Wheel 2 of the trip odometer as above described. lt is novir apparent that the continuously driven flexible shaft 4b', which is permanently operatively connected to a Wheel of the vehicle, imparts intermittent actuation to the number-Wheels of the twoA registers through the connections above described, and that the indication of the trip register may be manually changed at any time to any desired number Without intertering with the connection between the register and the vehicle.

lt is obvious that various modilications may be made in the construction shown and above particularly described Within the principle and scope of my invention.

ln a registering device, registering mechanism comprising a plurality of indicators, motor-driven means for actuating the registering mechanism, additional manually operative setting means permanently carried bythe registering device and adapted to actuate the registering mechanism, and means for collectively resetting the indicators of the registering mechanism to their initial indication.`

2. iin a registering device, registering mechanism comprising a plurality of indicators,.motordriven actuating means for the registering mechanism arranged to permanently operatively connect the motor and the registering mechanism, additional manually operative setting means permanently carried by the registering device and adapted to actuate the registering mechanism, and manually operative means for collectively resetting the indicators ot the registering mechanism to their initial indication.

8. ln a registering device, registering mechanism including a units indicator and means for. indicating higher denomination controlled by the units indicator, motordriven means tor actuating `the units indicati'r, and an additional manually operative setting device prruninently carried vby the registering device and adapted to :ii-tuale the units indicator, the means 'for indicating higher denomination being controlled by the additional manually operative setting device through the units indicator'.

1i. In a registering device, registering mechanism including a units indicator and means for indicating higher denomination controlled by the units indicator, motoring the units number-Wheel and having permanent connection therewith, and means for resetting the number-Wheels to their initial indication and rotating them collectively.

6. In a registering device, registering mechanism comprising a series'of number- Wheels and transmitting means between the successive number Wheels, motor driven means having a one-Way connection with the units number-Wheel and arranged to impart actuation thereto, and additional manually operative set-ting means having a permanent one-Way connection With the units number- Wheel only and arranged to impart actuation thereto.

7 In a registering device, registering mechanism comprising a series of number- Wheels and transmitting means between the successive number Wheels, motor driven means having a one-way connection with the units number-wheel and arranged to impart actuation thereto, additional manually operative setting means having a one-Way connection with Vthe units number-wheel only and arranged to impart actuation thereto,

and manually operative means for resetting the number-Wheels to their initial indication and rotating them collectively.

8. ln a registering device, registering mechanism comprising a number-Wheel shaft, a plurality ot number-Wheels loosely mounted thereon, transmitting means between the successive number-Wheels, a setting knob disposed at one end of the number-wheel shaftland operatively connected to the units number-wheel for manually actuating the units number-wheel, engaging Vmeans*between the number-wheel shaft and 9. In-a registering device, registering` mechanism comprising a number-Wheel shaft, a plurality of number-Wheels loosely mounted thereon, transmitting means between the successive number Wheels, a ratchet connected to the units number- Wheel, -a setting knob disposed at the units number-Wheel end of the number-Wheel shaft and having a one-Way operative connection with the ratchet for manually actuating the units number-wheel, engaging means between the number-Wheel shaft and each number-Wheel adapted to reset the number-wheels to their initial indication and to connect the number-Wheels to their shaft as the shaft is rotated and a resetting knob connected to the opposite end of the number-wheel shaft for manually rotating the shaft.

10. In a registering device, registering mechanism comprising a numberwheel shaft, a plurality of number-Wheels loosely mounted thereon, transmitting means be-l tween the .successive number-Wheels, a ratchet connected to the units number- Wheel, a setting knob disposed at the units number-wheel end of the number-wheel shaft and having'a one-Way. operative connection-With the ratchet'for manually actuating the units number-Wheel, motor-driven vmeans having a one-way connection With the ratchet for imparting actuation to the units number-Wheel, engaging mea'ns between .the number-Wheel, shaft and each number-wheel adapted to reset the number- Wheels to their initial indication and to connect the number-wheels to their shaft as the shaft 1s rotated, and a resetting knob connected to the opposite end of the number-Wheel shaft for manually rotating the shaft.

11. In a registering device, registering mechanism comprising a number-Wheel shaft provided With a longitudinal groove, a plurality of number- Wheels loosely mounted on the number-Wheel shaft, transmitting means between the successive number-wheels, a ratchet connected to the units number-wheel, a setting knob disposed at the units miml'Jer-Wheel end of the number- Xvheel shaft and having a one-Way operative connection with the ratchet for manually actuating the units number-Wheel, motor driven means having a one-Way connection with the ratchet for imparting actuation to the units number-Wheel, a plurality of spring pressed paWls, one paivl pivoted to each number-wheel and arranged to loosely bear with its free end against the number- Wheel shaft, the spring pressed paWls being adapted to permit free actuation of their respective number-'Wheels in the direction of actuation by the motor driven means and to take in the groove when the numberwheel shaft is rotated in the same direction, and a resetting knob connected to the opposite end of the number-Wheel shaft for manually rotating the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have aiixed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

WILLIAM I-I. ZACHMANN.

Witnesses:

HENRy D. WILLrAus, Vlo'ron D. Bons'r.

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