US2471450A

US2471450A - Vector solver

Info

Publication number: US2471450A
Application number: US594135A
Authority: US
Inventors: John J Reza
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1945-05-16
Filing date: 1945-05-16
Publication date: 1949-05-31
Anticipated expiration: 1966-05-31

Description

May 31, 1949. J. J. REZA 2,471,450

VECTOR SOLVER Filed May 16, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

fiJUH/V J, REZF/ QW ATTORNEY Patented May 31, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 O. G. 757) 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a vector solver and mpreizparticularly to a device for performing vectoriaraddition.

vector or a vectorial quantity may be defined a v a; quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Examples of such quantities are forces or velocities. It frequently is necessary to add yectorially a plurality of vectors and thus to obtain the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector.

It the principal object of the present inventiion to provide a device that enables a user to determine expeditiously and accurately the magndtude and direction of the resultant of a plurality 'of vectors or vectorial quantities.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for accomplishing the above object in an economical, facile and efiicient manner.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a vector solver embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the vector solver taken substantially on the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. .3- is a vertical sectional View of a detail of. the vector solver taken substantially on the line 33,Fig. 1.

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

The device of my invention com-prises a base plate I.

Guide slots

2, 3, and 4 are cut into the upper face of the plate I. The guide slots are preferably of inverted T-shaped cross section, Fig. 2. The plate I also has a central opening 5 that is substantially circular in configuration. An angular scale '6 is engraved or otherwise suitably marked on the plate I surrounding the opening 5.

A guided element 1 is provided and is adapted to be fitted within any one of the

slots

2, 3, or 4. The guided element I is preferably T-shaped in cross section, Fig. 2, to fit within the T-shaped slots 2, 3, or I. One or more screws 8 and 9 are threaded through the guided element I and bear against the upper face of the bottom of a

slot

2, 3, or 4 to enable the guided element I to be held in adjusted position in the slots.

An arm I 0 is pivoted to the guided element I by means of the screw II. The screw II may be tightened to hold the arm II) in angularly adjusted position with respect to the guided element I.

The arm I 0 supports a linear scale member l2 which is longitudinally slidable thereon. The arm Ill has a longitudinal slot I3 extending substantially the length thereof. A bolt I4 extends through the slot I3 and through an aperture in the member I2. A nut I5 on the bolt I4 enables the member I2 to be held securely in longitudinally adjusted position with respect to the arm I9. The member I2 has a pair of scales I S-engraved or otherwise suitably marked thereon adjacent its longitudinal edges. Preferably, the longitudinal edges are beveled so that the scales H; are in close contact with the other scales.

Fitted within the circular opening 5 in the base plate I is a substantially circular disc H, which is freely rotatable in the opening 5. A plurality of linear scales I8 are engraved or otherwise suitably marked on the upper face of the disc I! on radii of the disc. I prefer to provide four such linear scales I8 on perpendicular diameters of the disc H.

To facilitate rotation of the disc I1, I provide a series of finger grips I9 in the upper face of the disc, preferably in locations in which they do not interfere with the scales I8.

In order to prevent undesired rotation of the disc IT, I provide a spring braking device 20 in the base plate I. The braking device comprises a plunger 2| and a spring 22. Normally the inner end of the plunger BI is held in contact with the side edge of the disc I! and the friction therebetween prevents undesired rotation. When it is desired to rotate the disc I1, the plunger 2I is held outwardly out of contact with this disc, and the disc is then freely rotatable.

Operation When it is desired to add a plurality of vectorial quantities and thus to obtain the magnitude and direction of the resultant thereof, the process may be accomplished by use of my device in the following manner:

(a) The disc I1 is rotated until one of the scales is is aligned with the angle indicated on the scale 6 that corresponds with the direction of the prime vector.

(b) The guided element 1 is inserted within the

appropriate slot

2, 3, or 4. The guided element I is adjusted longitudinally of the slot and the arm l0 and linear scale member I2 are pivoted about the screw II until one of the edges of the member i2 passes through the center of the disc I! and through the angle on the scale 6 corresponding with the direction of the second vector. The screw I l is then tightened to hold the arm I0 and member I2 in angularly adjusted position.

(c) The guided element 1 is adjusted within the

slot

2, 3, or 4 and the member l? is adjusted longitudinally of the arm H] until the origin of the scale I6 is at the point on the scale it that corresponds with the magnitude of the prime vector, angular adjustment of the arm ill on the guided element 1 being kept constant.

((1) The disc ll is rotated until the point on the scale It representing the magnitude of the second vector is crossed by one of the scales l8.

(6) The magnitude of the resultant of the two vectors is represented by the distance on the scale is between the center point of the disc and the point at which the scale l8 crosses the scale Hi. The direction of the resultant is the direction of the scale 58 as indicated on the angular scale 6.

It is apparent that through use of the device it is possible to add or subtract any number of vectors in the manner described; that is, any two of the vectors may be added or subtracted in the manner described and the subsequent vectors may be added or subtracted to the resultant obtained in the first operation.

While I have shown but one embodiment of my invention, it is apparent that the device is susceptible to modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I do not wish, therefore, to be limited by the disclosure set forth, but only by the scope of the appended claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a base plate having at least one slot and a substantially circular central opening in the upper face thereof and having an angular scale surrounding said central opening, a substantially circular disc fitted into said opening and being freely rotatable therein about the center of said angular scale and having at least one radial linear scale on the upper face thereof, whereby said linear scale may be rotated to any desired angle with respect to said angular scale, braking means to prevent undesired rotation of said disc, a guided element slidably mounted in said slot, an arm pivotally mounted on said guided element, and a member having a second linear scale slidably mounted on said arm, whereby the origin of said second linear scale may be placed over any point on said first linear scale and at any desired angle thereto.

2. In a device of the character described, a base plate having slots and an angular scale on its upper face, a substantially circular disc having radial linear scales on the upper face thereof rotatably mounted on said base plate to pivot about the center of said angular scale, whereby any one of said linear scales may be rotated to any desired angle with respect to said angular scale, a guide slidably mounted in one of said slots, an arm pivotally mounted on said guide, and a memher having a second linear scale slidably mounted on said arm, whereby the origin of said second linear scale may be placed over any point on said first linear scale and at any desired angle thereto.

3. In a device of the character described, a base plate having a pair of spaced parallel slots and having a third slot crossing said parallel slots perpendicularly adjacent an end of each of said parallel slots so as to define a generally U-shaped design on said base plate, said base plate having a substantially circular recess in the upper face thereof approximately centrally located within said U-shaped design, an angular scale surrounding said central recess, a substantially circular disc fitted into said recess and being freely rotatable therein about the center of said angular scale and having at least one radial linear scale on the upper face thereof, whereby said linear scale may be rotated to any desired angle with respect to said angular scale, braking means to prevent undesired rotation of said disc, a guided element adapted to be slidably mounted in any one of said slots, an arm pivotally mounted on said guided element, and a member having a second linear scale slidably mounted on said arm, whereby the origin of said second linear scale may be placed over any point on said first linear scale and at any desired angle thereto.

JOHN J. REZA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the Pile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 855,916 Werner June 4, 1907 1,290,343 Posner Jan. 7, 1919 1,296,704 Sayre Mar. 11, 1919 1,422,641 Walters July 11, 1922