US1791759A - Speed-recording mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 10, 1931. J. HERSTEDT ET AL SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 10, 1931. J. HERSTEDT ET AL 1,791,759

SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 10, 1931. J. HERSTEDT ET AL SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed 1 1925 5 Sheets-fixed 3 1 v i A I l I'll .Feb- 3 J. HERS-TEDT ETAL ,7

SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM 1 1925 5 smu -she'd: 4

' Filed Nov.

Feb. 10, 1931. J. HER STEDT ETAL 1,791,759

SPEED RECORDING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 14. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Feb. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES JOHN .KBBSTEDT AND JOHN WIBERG, OF MOLINE, ILLINOIS SPEED-RECORDING MECHANISM Application filed November 14, 1925. Serial No. 68,985.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a speed recording mechanism which shall furnish a permanent record of the speed made by an automobile or other vehicle on which the instrument may be mounted, and which may be easily applied to known types of speedometers without necessitating any radical change therein.

More specifically our invention resides in a dial operated by clockwork and which is perforated by a series of punches to mark a line on the dial. The inclination of this line will indicate the speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

16 Another object of our invention is to provide means for indicating the lawful rate of speed for the time during which the mechanism is being used. This is achieved by providing a plurality of punches having proper designating characters thereon and which may be manually changed as the vehicle passes from territory in which one speed limit is allowable into another territory in which another speed limit is permitted.

Further objects reside in the novel combi nations and arrangements of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in detail in the acompanying specification and will be apparent as the description progresses.

In the accompanying drawings in which we have shown a selected embodiment of our invention Fig. 1 is a front view of our invention as mounted in a plate adapted to be supported upon the dash board of a vehicle.

Fig. 2 is a view of the dial for use in connection with our invention.

drawn on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 is a View taken from the opposite side of the plate than that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, but showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 77 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 3 is a View of a fragment of Fig. 2 andv Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 12. I

Fig. 10 is a section taken on the line 10--10 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is a section taken on the line 1111 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a section taken on the same plane as Fig. 12, but showing the parts in a different position.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of one of the cam plates.

Fig. 15 is an elevation of an automobile having our invention applied thereto.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic'view showin the connections between certain parts 0 our invention.

Fig. 17 is an elevation of a portion of the rear of the automobile shown in Fig. 15. 7 Referring now in detail to the drawings we have shown our invention as mounted upon a plate 1 adapted to be supported upon the dash board of a vehicle. Supported in the plate is a speedometer 2 of any suitable con struction which is adapted to be driven by a shaft 3 coupled to another shaft (not shown) and which is driven in the usual manner. Extending from the side of the casing in which the speedometer is enclosed is a shaft 4 upon which is mounted a pinion 5 meshing with a gear 6 slidabl mounted upon a shaft 7 parallel to the sha t 4. Referring particularly to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that the gear 6 is provided with clutch teeth 8 engags5 ing with corresponding clutch teeth on the clutch element 9 fast on the shaft 7. The clutch teeth are normally urged into engagement with each other by means of the coil spring 10. The gear 6 is provided with a shoulder 11 for a urpose-which will presently appear. T e shaft 4 is slidably mounted in respect to the speedometer and is provided at its outer end with a cam surface 12 adapted to be engaged by a corresponding surface 13 u on a plunger 14 mounted in the plate 1. y this means when the plunger is pushed inwardly from the position shown in Fi 6, the pinion 5 will engage with the shoul er 11 and force the gear 6 to the left as Viewed in Figs. 6 and 7, thus causing disengagement of the clutch teeth.

Slidably mounted in the shaft 7 is the operating shaft 15 of the recording mechanism and it will be noted that this shaft 15 is provided with a key 16 by which it is permitted to have movement longitudinally of the sha t 7, but relative rotation therebetween is not permitted. The shaft 7 is held securely in position by a bearing 17 received between the shoulders 18 and 19.

The shaft 15 extends substantially parallel to the plate 1 and has its end received in a cam casing 20. Received within this casing are a plurality of cam plates 20 mounted for sliding movement towards. and from the plate 1. These plates are best shown in Figs. 11 and 14, the one appearing in Fig. 14L being slightly different from the others, however, as will be explained later. Each plate is shown as mounted in grooves 21 in the casing 20 to insure rectilineal movement and this movement is caused by cams 22 mounted upon the shaft 15. Each of these cams is received within an opening 23 in the'cam plate 20 and is provided with a surface 24 of gradually increasing radius terminating at a shoulder 25.

. Each cam plate has a rearwardly extending leg 26 provided with a notch 26 within which is received a spring 27 secured to the casing 20. By this arrangement when the shaft 15 rotates in the direction shown by the arrows in Fig. 14, it will be obvious that the cam plate is forced rearwardly against the tension of the spring 27 until the shoulder passes the point 28 on the cam plate and then the spring 27 will force the cam plate towards the plate 1 with a quick sharp movement. One cam is provided for each cam plate and they are circumferentially spaced about the shaft 15 so that the various cam plates will be operated in succession, the plate nearest the speedometer being operated first and then the others in succession.

The forward part of each cam plate is provided with a punch 29 which, when the plate is forced forwardly by its spring 27, will punch a perforation in a dial 30 formed of paper or the like and disposed behind a glass panel 31 placed in the cover 32 hinged over the dial. The dial is supported by means of projections 33 upon a spider 34; mounted upon the stem of the clock 35 and adapted to rotate therewith.

The dial is marked with three concentric circles 36, 37 and 38 to form two annular recording spaces each of which is divided into twelve parts corresponding to the twelve hours on the clock face.

On each circle the spaces between the hour marks are divided into fifteen parts for a purpose which will presently appear. The width ofeach recording space between the circles 36 and 37 and also between the circles 37 and 38 is equal to the length of a line of perforations made by the punches 29, and it is intended to use the space between the circles 36 and 37 for the twelve hours constituting the day and the space between the circles 3'? and 38 for the twelve hours constituting the night.

In order to adjust the mechanism for use during either twelve hour perioo, day or night, we provide the slidable connection between the shafts 7 and '15 as described above, whereby the shaft 15 with the casing 20 and consequently with the punches and all mechanism for operating the same may be moved bGC ily from a position wherein they will punch a line of perforations between the circles 36 and 37 to a position wherein they will punch a line of perforati between the circles 37 anc. 38. Movement of the casing and the punches is achieved by means of a handle 39 extending through a slot 10 in the plate 1 and connected to a shaft 41 secured to a frame 12 which carries the casing 20. The frame is steadied and guided in ts movements by means of the engagement of the shaft Q 1 in the slot 1O and by means of engagement of the frame 12 with the bracket 13 which is mounted upon the casing of the speedometer 2, as plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The position shown in Fig. is that occupied'by the punches when perforating a line betweenthe circles and and that shown in i ig. 5 is the one occupied when they are perforating a line between the circles 37 and 38.

Gne of the cam plates 20", preferably the one nearest the speedometer is provided with a projection 1 1-, best shown in Fig. 14; and shown in dotted lines in Figs. 12 and 13. The others do not have such a projee Mounted for slidin vertical movement in casing 20 adjacent this cam plate is a plate as carrying a block 16 in which are slidabl y Each punch mounted two punches at? and 13. is provided with a shoulder a tively, which is engaged by a spii lg 51 or 52, as the case may be, and these spri nor; ally urge the punches and i8 I331 plainly shown in F 12 and The plate is normally held in elevated position by the spring 53, but may be depressed by means of a shifting member 54- which engages the top of the plate 15 and is operatec from the front of the plate 1 by means of a shaft 55 controlled by a handle 58 and carrying a cam 55 engaging a shoulder on the l 55 pivotally connected to the member l/V hen in the elevated position shown in Fig. 12, operation of the cam plate shown in Fig. 1 1 will cause the projection a to force the punch 48 forwardly and perforate the dial. Vv hen the plate is depressed to the position shown in Fig. 13 the same ope n ion will take place in respect to the punch 49?. The punches at and 48 are provided at their en s with cams 47 and 48 respectively adapted to engage a cam projection 56 which will bring the punches forwardly into position to be actuated by the projection 44. After these punches have been operated they will be returned to their initial position by means of their respective springs.

Each of the punches 47 and 48 is provided with a designating mark such as a letter which will make a corresponding perforation in the dial. For example, the punch 47 has a letter H formed at its point and the punch 48 has a letter C formed at its point. These punches are used to make a record of the limits within which the vehicle is being driven. For example, when the vehicle is within city limits Where the speed limit is usually fifteen miles an hour the plate 45 is in the position shown in Fig. 12 and then the punch 48 will be operated by the projection 44 on the first cam plate, thus punching C in the dial to make a record of the fact that the city speed limit is the one to be observed. lVhen the vehicle passes the city limits the plate 45 is brought to the position shown in Fig. 13 and hen the punch 47 will perforate the dial with a letter H indi "i b the vehicle is now on the high different speed limit is proper. "peed of the shaft 45 is such that all the cam plates 20 will be operated successively din in that the speedometer registers m referring to Fig. 3 it will be seen that tilt. ten perforations made by the ten punches will extend between the circles 36 and 37 or 37 and 38, as the case may be.

its p *iously noted these circles are laid off into fifteen divisions for each hour and "herefore when a line of perforations 57 cxteinls from a dividing line on one circle to a line on the next circle nearer the center of 1:11-. dial, which line represents the next division of time, in case the next fifteenth of an hour, it will be obvious that the spe aeter ndicates fif" en miles an hour. in the same fi ure line indicates that the vehicle took two-fifteenths of an hour to go one mile and, the are that the speed was n and a hall" milrs an hour. The line 59 is mo. c .iearly radial than the lines 57 and 58 and it will be seen t -t it will consequently record a higher rate speed because of the fact that it took less time to punch the line than it did the lines o and 58. The end of this line is marked with H formed by the punch 47, which would indicate that the speed made was on highway beyond the city limits where the higher rate of speed was pern'lissible. We contemplate marl-ting the face of the dial with graduations suitable for recordlimit of fifteen miles an hour, the limit, and the rear of the dial with b s suitable for reco t ing a speed of thirty-five miles an hour, the usual permissible speed on the open highway. It is, of

course, obvious that these graduations may be varied to suit varying conditions and a plurality of dials with different graduations may be supplied for said various conditions.

The provision of the springs 27 to actuate the cam plates 20 makes possible a very quick sharp blow to insure an accurate perforation of the dial. In order to adjust the springs they are all mounted in a slidable bracket 60 secured to the casing 20 by screws 61 passing through slots in the bracket. By this means the tension of the springs may be adjusted as may be desired and the bracket may be readily removed to replace or renew springs as may become necessary.

It will be noted that a reverse rotation of the shaft is impossible because of the fact that the shoulders 25 on the cams 22 will engage the points 28 on the cam plates, and that i the reason for providing the clutch connecti the shafts 7 and 15. It will be noted that this a ratchet clutch so that if at any time the sh ft 7 rotated in the wrong direction,

L110 suaft 15 will not be forced in any manner and therefore the mechanism will not be in yured.

Suitable locking means is provided for securing the cover 32 in position. This comprises a bolt 63 engaging a detent 64 on the cover which projects through an aperture in the plate 1, this construction being shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The lock is controlled by a suitable key operating through a key hole 65 in the plate 1.

In order to indicate to the driver or to others the position of the handle 56 we provide the shaft 55 with a pair of sockets 66 and 67 adapted to receive rods 68 and 69 carrying indicating means exemplified by the letter H carried by the rod 68 and the letter C carried by the rod 69. The sockets are so disposed that when the handle 56 is occupying the position shown in Fig. 1, the letter H carried by the rod 68 will be disposed above'the dash board of an automobile so that it may be plainly seen by both the driver and those in front of the vehicle. When the parts are in this position the lines of perforations on the dial will each have the letter H at its ends, as shown at the end of the line 59 in Fig. 3. When the handle 56 is shifted along the quadrant 56 to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, the letter C carried by the rod 69 will be brought into view and the letter H will be dropped out of view. The same movement of the handle will operate the plate 45 in the manner previously described so as to insure that each of the lines 57 or 58, as shown in Fig. 3, will have the letter C at its end. If desired, a similar arrangement of indicating means may be placed at the rear of the car and such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 15, 16 and 17. Mounted upon any suitable support 70 on the rear of the automobile is pivoted a shaft 71 carrying a plurality of sockets 72, 73 and 74:. The socket 7 2 receives an arm 75 connected by means of a cord or like flexible element 76 to the handle 56. This cord passes over suitable pulleys 77 as plainly indicated. In order to connect the cord 7 6 to the handle 56 the plate 1 is provided With an arcuate slot 78 through which extends a pin 79 on the arm 56. Secured to the arm 7 5 and to the plate is a tension spring 80 tending to rotate the arm in one direction. The sockets 73 and 74: contain respectively the rods 81 and 82 containing the capital letters G and H respectively. From this arrangement it Will be obvious that movement of the handle 56 and the corresponding rods 68 and 69 Will also cause movement of the correspondingrods 81 and 82. Movement in one direction is caused by a pulling of the cord 76, While movement in the opposite direction is caused by the spring 80.

From the above it will be apparent that We have provided novel and improved means for making a permanent record of the speed at which a vehicle is traveling. The means may be readily connected to a speedometer of stand ard construction and at a reasonable cost. The operation is certain and positive in action. The operation of the device has been fully set forth during the progress of the description and it is not believed necessary to repeat it.

We are aware that changes in the form, construction and'arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the spirit and Without sacrificing the advantages of the invention and We reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall Within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having two concentric circles thereon forming an annular recording space therebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the Cal, a speedometer having a shaft, a plurality of cam plates slidable toward and from the dial'and each having an opening, punches on said plates, cams on said shaft operating in said openings to actuate said plates and punches successively for perforating the dial in a line across the annular recording space during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends of said line of perforations indicating by reference to the time marks on the circles the rate of speed for the distance.

2. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having two concentric circles thereon forming an annular recordin space therebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, for perforating the dial periodically in a line across the annular recording space during a predetermined distance of travel, said means comprising a plurality of punches, and means for operating said punches successively at predetermined distance intervals, the ends of said line of perforations indicating by reference to the time marks on the circles the rate of speed for the distance, a pair of additional punches, and means for operating said additional punches selectively to perforate the dial With a distinguishing perforation at the be inning of the line of perforations.

3. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having two concentric circles thereon forming an annular recording space therebetvveen, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a shaft, a plurality of cam plates each having an opening, punches on said plates, cams on said shaft opera ing in said openings to actuate said plates and punches successively for perforating the dial in a line across the annular recording space during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends of said line of perforations indicating by reference to the time marks on the circles the rate of speed for the distance, a pair of additional punches, and means for operating said additional punches selectively to perforate the dial with a distinguishing perforation at the beginning of the line perforations, said means compris ing a cam on one of said cam plates to open are the additional punch at the same time the punch on the cam plate is operated.

l. in a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having two concentric circles thereon forming an annular recording space therebetiveen, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a shaft, a plurality of cam plates each having an open ing, punches on said plates, cams on said shaft operating in said openings to actuate said plates and punches successively for perforating t e dial in line across the annular reeor spaced during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends of said line of per forations indicating by reference tn the time marks on the circles the rate of speed for the distance, a pair of additional punches, manually operated means for ecting one or the other of said additional punches for operation, means for positioning the selected punch, and cam on one of Md cam fee for operating the selected punch.

5. En a spe o recording mechanism comprising a dial having two concentric circles thereon forming an annular recording space therebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a shaft, a plurality of cam plates each having an open ing, punches on said plates, cams on said shaft operating in said openings to actuate said plates and punches successively for perforating the dial in a line across the annular recording space during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends of said line of perforations indicating by reference to the time marks on the circles the rate of speed for the distance, a pair of additional punches, manually operated means for selecting one or the other of saidv additional punches for operation, a cam on the rear end of each additional punch, a fixed cam adapted to be engaged. by the cam on the selected punch for positioning said selected punch, and a cam on one of said cam plates for operating the selected punch.

6. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having two concentric circles thereon forming an annular recording space therehetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, means for perforating the dial in a line across the an 'nular recording space during a predetermined distance of travel, said means comprising a shaft, a plurality of cam plates having openings therein, punches on said cam plates, cams on said shaft operating in said openings, and springs attached to said cam plates and adapted to be tensioned when said plates are retracted to impart a quick punch movement to said punches when the cams release the cam plates.

7. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having two concentric circles thereon forming an annular recording space therebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, means for perforating the dial in a line across the annular recording space during a predetermined distance of travel, said means comprising a shaft, a plurality of cam plates having openings therein. punches on said cam plates, cams on said shaft operating in said openings and each having a gradually increasing radius terminating in a shoulder, and springs attached to said cam plates and adapted to be tensioned when said plates are retracted to impart a quick punch movement to said punches when the shoulders of the cams pass a given point to release the cam plates.

8. In a speed. recording mechanism comprising a dial having concentric circles th ereon forming concentric annular recording spaces therebetween, said circles being correspondinglv marked to indicate time. and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a group of cam-operated punches operating successively for marking the dial across an annular space from one circle to the other during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends of said marking indicating on the circles the rate of speed for said distance,

and means for bodily moving said group of punches radially with respect to said annular spaces to position the marking means for marking in said annular spaces selectively.

9. In a speed recording mechanism comprising a dial having concentric circles thereon forming concentric annular recording spaces therebetween, said circles being correspondingly marked to indicate time, and clock mechanism for revolving the dial, a group of successively operating punches for marking the dial across an annular space from one circle to the other during a predetermined distance of travel, the ends of said marking indicating on the circles the rate of speed for said distance, said marking means comprising a plurality of cam plates, punches on said plates, a shaft, and cams on said shaft adapted to operate said cam plates and punches, and means for bodily moving said group of punches radially with respect to said annular spaces to position said marking means for marking in said annular spaces selectively.

10. In a device having a circular dial and means for rotating the same, a punch adapted to mark said dial, a shaft, means for driving said shaft, a cam on said shaft and controlling said punch, a pair of additional punches each having a designating mark thereon, a plate supporting said additional punches, a means controlled by said cam to operate either of said additional punches selectively, and means for shifting said plate to bring either one of said additional punches into position for operation.

11. In a device having a circular dial and means for rotating the same, a plurality of punches adapted to selectively mark said dial in any of said recording spaces, a shaft, means for driving said shaft, sliding frames supporting said punches. a pluralitv of cams on said shaft for actuating said frames to control said punches, said cams withdrawing said punches from said dial, spring means urging said punches towards said dial against the action of said cams, and means operated by said cam to tension said springs.

12. In a device having a circular dial and means for rotating the same, a plurality of punches adapted to selectively mark said dial. in either of said recording spaces, a shaft, means for driving said shaft, a plurality of cams on said shaft and controlling said punches, a pair of punches, each having a designating mark thereon, a plate supporting said punches, a means controlled by one of said cams to operate either of said punches, means for shifting said plate to bring either one of said punches into position for operation, and means operated by said shifting means to indicate the position thereof.

' JOHN HERSTEDT.

JOHN WIBERG.

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