US2496585A - Contiguous rotation counter - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 7, 1950 L. R. HARPER `coNT1GuoUs RTA'MoN COUNTER 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR LEONARD R. HARPER Y BY )uw AGEN - Feb. 7, 1950 L. R. HARPER 2,496,585

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coNTIcuous RoTA'rIoN COUNTER Filed June 26, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 THOUSANDS HUNDREDS uNlTs IVENTOR w LEONARD R. HARPER Patented Feb. 7, 1950 2,496,585 coN'rrGUoUs ao'rA'rroN COUNTER Leonard R. Harper, West Hempstead, N. Y., assignor to International Business Machines Cor- N. Y., a corporation of New poration, New York, York Application June 26, 1948, Serial No.y 35,391

3 Claims.

This invention relates to counting mechanism, and in particular, to devices for, counting the number of rotations of a rotating shaft. More specifically, this invention is concerned with counting apparatus wherein the carry over from y one numerical order to the next higher order is provided continuously rather than intermittently, as in most conventional counters `where a lower order upon reaching its highest value produces a carry operation to bring about a single count in the next higher order.

Briefly, the present invention consists of a series of commutator shafts each of which carries one or more rotating electrical contacts cooperating Iwith a closed series of fixed contacts for determining electrically the position of the shaft with respect to the fixed contacts. All of the shafts are geared together so that one revoluion of a. lower order shaft will produce an angular displacement in the next higher order proportional to the system of counting employed. For example, where the decimal system is used, as shown in the embodiment of the present invention, the commutator shafts are geared together to obtain a ten to one ratio; i. e., one revolution of the units shaft produces one tenth revolution of the tens" shaft, one revolution of the tens shaft produces one tenth revolution of the hundreds shaft, et cetera.

It is apparent, therefore, that in a device of this.

nature a one tenth revolution of the tens shaft willproduce a one thousandth revolution of the thousands shaft or a one millionth revolution of the millions commutator shaft.

It is not feasible to utilize a commutator hav- `ing a thousand segments or a million segments,

nor is it practicable to advance a moving contact or a brush from one segment to the next of a commutator so constructed. In the present invention these difculties are overcome using conventional commutators and an arrangement of cams and brushes carried by each commutator shaft. Normally each commutator shaft, except 'that of the units order, carries two brushes, one leading the other,arranged to have the leading 2 rotation of the higher order shaft is determined thereby with reference to the commutator shaft of the next lower order in a manner to be described in detail hereinafter.

The principal object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for electrical "read out" in a multiple commutator counter wherein the various orders of counting are represented by fractional rotations in each of a series of commutator shafts geared successively to one another in ratios corresponding to their numerical orders. y

Another object of this invention is to provide means for determining the position of a rotating shaft ofa series of intergeared shafts by reference to the next lower order of shaft in the series.

Other objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which ldisclose, by way of example, the principle of the invention and the best mode, which hasbeen contemplated, of applying that principle.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view, partially in section, showing the mechanical arrangement of the components of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial diagrammatic view of one of the commutators of the counter illustrating the rotating and fixed electrical contacts forming a part of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a timing chart showing the relation of the rotating and fixed contacts in a commutator under certain conditions of operation.

Fig. 4 illustrates diagrammatically the relationship between certain cam contacts forming a part of the electrical circuits of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a timing chart showing the relations between the various cam contacts and commutator brushes involved in the electrical circuits for three numerical orders of the counter.

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the invention illustrating the electrical circuits .for four numeri- 'cal orders of the counter.

Referring now to Fig. 1 a series of shafts US, TS, HS, and THS are geared together by the G-8, G-9, Cfr-40, G-I I, and G|2 so that the shafts rotate respectively in ratios of 1:10; i. e., shaft HS rotates ten revolutions for each revolution of shaft THS, shaft TS rotates ten revolutions for each rotation of shaft HS, and shaft US rotates ten revolutions for each revolution of shaft TS. Each of the aforementioned shafts carries xed to one end an insulated rotor; i. e.,

3 shaft US has a rotor UR, shaft TS has a rotor TR, shaft HS a rotor HR, and shaft THS a rotor THR. Each of the rotors is provided to carry a Pair of contact brushes LB and BL insulated from each other and terminating, as shown in Fig. 1, respectively in the telescoping contacts CLB and CBL. Each pair of contact brushes LB and BL coacts with a closed series of contact segments SG contained in a commutator block surrounding each rotor: commutator block UCM surrounding rotor UR, block TCM surrounding rotor TR, block HCM surrounding rotor HR, and block THCM surrounding rotor THR. Each of these blocks also carries a pair of contact plates, CCLB which is contacted by the telescoping contact CLB, and CCBL which is contacted by the telescoping contact CBL. Each segment SG is connected to a terminal CMC in the top of a block, there being ten segments SG and ten terminals CMC equally spaced about each block.

Fig. 3 illustrates in detail the relation of the brushes LB and BL. the contacts CLB and CBL, and the segments SG. Each of the commutators is identical; however, the commutator formed by the rotor UR and the block UCM, together with their brushes, contacts, and segments is only partially used since normally no electrical circuits are completed through the brush BL and the contact CBL. In all of' the other commutators, however, both brush LB and brush BL are used to complete electrical circuits with the segments SG. The size and spacing of the segments SG and the spacing of the brushes LB and BL with respect to the segments SG and to each other is an essential feature in the subject invention. In Fig. 2 it is to be noted that both brushes LB and BL may contact the same segment SG at the same time and that the brush LB may be on one segment SG while the brush BL is on a following segment SG relative to the direction of rotation of a shaft S which carries a rotor having the brushes LB and BL, as shown in Fig. 2.

The novelty attainable with the arrangement of commutators in the subject invention relative to the brush and segment relationship is best illustrated diagrammatically by Fig. 3. Let it be assumed that the commutators represented by the block UCM-rotor UR and the block TCM-rotor TR represent, respectively, the units order and the tens order in a decimal counter so that for each complete revolution of the rotor TR, the rotor UR will make ten revolutions following an arrangement of gearing as in Fig. 1, and a commutator segmentbrush arrangement as in Fig. 2. Let it -be assumed, further, that the segments shown as 2, 3," and 4 (see Fig. 3) represent segments SG in the tens commutator and that the arrows LB and BL respectively represent the leading and lagging brushes of the rotor TR the tens commutator. It is obvious that when the rotor UR makes one complete revolution, the brushes LB and BL in the tens" commutator will advance from one position respective to the segment 2" to a similar position respective to the segment 3, there being ten segments equally distributed in the path of the brushes LB and BL in the tens commutator. Referring now to Fig. 3, when the single active brush of the units commutator is contacting the 0 segment the brush LB is on the 3 segment of the tenscommutator and the brush BL is on the 2 segment of the tens commutator. When the brush in the units order is at the 1 segment, the brush LB is on the 3" segment of the "tens" order and the brush BL is between the "2" and the "3 segments of the tens order. The brushes LB and BL thereafter advance, as shown in Fig. 3. in accordance with the value in the "units" order until they occupy a final position upon the segments 3" and "4" of the' .tens" order similar to their initial position on the "2 and 3" segments of the tens order thereby indicating a complete revolution of the units order brush through each of its ten values "0" to "9. inclusive.

Returning to Fig. 1 it will be observed that each of the shafts US, TS, and HS carry a plurality of cams. For example, the "units shaft US carries a high selection cam USC-l coacting with a pair of contacts H and a low selection cam USC-2 coacting with a pair of contacts L. The tens shaft TS carries a, high transfer cam 'ITC-i coacting with a pair of contacts H, a low transfer cam 'ITC-2 coacting with a pair of contacts L, a high selection cam TSC-l coacting with a pair of contacts H, and a low selection cam TSC-2 coacting with a pair of contacts L. The hundreds shaft HS carries cams identical with those carried by the tens shaft TS. The thousands shaft THS, being the highest order shown in the embodiment herein, does not carry any cams; however, for higher orders of commutators above the units order, in a counter of the type herein disclosed, each order except the last or highest order is provided with four cams similar to those carried by the shafts TS and HS.

Fig. 4 shows the relative, positions when cam contacts are closed based upon a complete revolution of the same order commutator. The selection cams of an order are timed to close their contacts in accordance with the values represented in that order commutator. For example, when the umts order represents values between 0 and "4." the low selection cam contacts are closed While when the values lie between "5" and "9" in the units" order the high selection cam contacts are closed in the units order. These cam contacts are timed to be closed to provide an overlap at the 4" and 5" values. Normally the higher selection cam contacts of one order are connected electrically to the lagging brush of the next higher order and the low selection cam contacts are connected to the leading brush of the next higher order. rbi' example with reference to Fig. 6, the contacts H of the high selection cam USC-i of the "units order are connected to the lagging brush BL of the tens" order, and

the contacts L of the low selection cam USC-2 of the units" order are connected to the leading brush LB of the tens order. Those orders which have transfer cams, i. e., all orders except the lowest and the highest, have the high transfer cam contacts connected to the lagging brush of the same order and the low transfer cam contacts connected to the leading brush of the same order. For example, the contacts H of the high transfer cam 'ITC--I are connected to the lagging brush BL of the tens order, and the contacts L of the low transfer cam TTC-2 are connected to the leading brush LB of the tens order.

Fig. 6 illustrates the electrical circuits necessary for a counter capable of counting to a total of 9999, there being four commutators as previously described in Fig. 1, each having ten counting positions l0" through "9" represented by ten segments SG, each of these being provided with an electrical terminal CMC. Relay coils UM are connected from each terminal CMC in the units" lo order commutator to a common line B, similar coils TM are connected from each terminal CMC in the "tens order to the line B, coils HM being similarly arranged in the hundreds orders, and coils THM in the thousands order. In the operation of the counter, described later herein, circuits are completed from the line B, via the battery V, the key switch- K, line A, and the various cam contacts to the brushes LB'and BL which make contact with segments SG in each of the commutators to energize coils UM, TM, HM, and THM in accordance with the total value in the counter. The aforesaid coils mayoperaterelay contacts to control electrical indicators orzelectromagnetic punching devices in'order toobt'ain a recordof the value in the counter according to well known methods commonly employed in punched card machines.

, The operation of the; subject invention is best f understood by reference to Figs. l, 5, and 6. Let it be assumed that the shaft US is turned by a device, the number of revolutions of which is to be measured, the device being geared to the shaft US so that onerevolution of the shaft US equals ten revolutions of the aforesaid device; i. e., each position of the brush LB of the units order upon a segment SG representing a revolution of the device. Let it be further assumed that all the commutators are set to zero; i. e.,`with their leading and lagging brushes LB and BL'positioned respectively on the O and "9 segment SG positions similar to the rst position yshown in Fig. 3, the units order having its single active brush LB on 0. Suppose that before any shaft revolves the switch K is closed. Circuits will then be completed as follows: (l) Battery V, line -B,."0l position coil UM, 0 position contact CMC of units order, brush LB oi units order, line W-L line A, switch K, to battery V. (2) Battery V, line B, "0 position coil TM, 0 position contact CMC of tens order, brush LB of tens order, line W-IZ, contact L- (now closed) of low selection cam USC-2, line W-v-l. line A, switch K, to battery V. (3) Battery V, line B, "0 position coil HM, 0 position contact CMC of hundreds order, brush LB of hundreds order, line W-l3, contact L (now closed) of low selection cam TSC-2, line W-IO, line A, switch K, to battery V. (4) Battery V, line B, "0" position coil THM,0" position contact CMC of "thousands order, brush LB of thousands order, line W-B, contact L (now closed) of low selection cam HSC-2, line W-I I, line A, switch K, to battery V. Consequently, the 0 position relay coils UM, TM, HM, and THM will be energized and the counter will read a value of 0000. Presume now that the device turning the shaft US is permitted to rotate until the instant when the brush LB of the tens order rests on the "5 segment SG and the brush BL rests on the 4" segment SG and the units order brush'LB rests on the 9 segment SG whereupon the switch K is closed again. Circuits will now be established: (1) Battery V, line B, "9 position coil UM, "9 position contact CMC of unitsk order, brush LB of units order, line W--I, line A, switch K, to battery V. (2) Battery V1ine B, "4 position coil TM, "4 position contact CMC ofthe tens" order, brush BL of "tens order, line W-B, 'K

contact H (now closed) of high selection cam USC-I, line W|, line A, switch K, to battery V. orders are established as previously.) The value thereby read from the counter is 0049. Let it now be presumed that the shaft US is rotated one f tenth of a revolution so that the brush LB falls (Circuits for the hundreds and thousands on the "0 segment SG o! the "units order while the brushes LB and BL of the tens order advance one hundredth of a revolution remainingtion cam USC-2, line'W-l, line A, switch K, to

battery V. Consequently, the'r value read from the counter is then 0050. In other words, the distinction in the last two examples of counter values read from the counter is dependent upon the contacts controlled by the cams USC--l and USC-2, i. e., thefhigh selection and low selection cams.

The action of the hundreds order circuits` for reading values from the counter are similar` to those of the tens order. While the high and low selection cams for the tens order are oarried by the "units order shaft'US, the high and low selection cams for the "hundreds order are carried by the tens order shaft TS, Consequently, for an advance of one position in the units order while the tens" order selection cams advance one position, the hundreds order selection cams advance only one tenth of a position. It is to be noted that the high selection cam USC-l and low selection cam USC- 2 are carried by the units order shaft US (see Fig. l), these cams governing the selection of the brushes BL and LB of the tens order. Since there is 36 degrees of rotation of the "units order shaft US from the 9 to the 0" position the timing of these cams is not critical. On the other hand the high selection `cam TSC-i and the low selection cam TSC-K-Z which govern the selection oi the brushes BL and LB of the hundreds" order are carried by the tens order rshaft TS wherein there is only 3.6 degrees of rotation for a rotation from the 9 to the .0 positions of the units yorderkshaft US. Simi- `larly the high selection cam HSC-I ,and the low selection cam HSC- 2 are carried by the hundreds order shaft yHS wherein there is only .36 degree of rotation for a rotation from the 9 to the 0" positions of the units order shaft US. It is obvious thereforethat in the higher orders the timing of the high and low selection cams f becomes exceedingly critical and tends to become uncertain. f

. Uncertain timing resulting in errors in the higher orders of the device, particularly when the shafts US and TS rotate at high speeds, is eliminated by providing pairs of cams TTC- i, TTC-2 and HTC-l, HTG-2, previously referred to as high transfer and low transfer cams on the intermediate ("tens" yand hundreds) orders shafts TS and HS, the timing of these cams being shown specifically in Fig. 5 and, in comparison with the selection cams, in Fig. 4.

When the tens order shaft TS advances from its 9" position to its 0 position, i. c., for counter values from to 100, 190 to 200, 290 to 300, etc.` the transfer cams become eiiective in establishing electrical circuits. Let it be assumed'that the value read fromthe counter is 495 so that when switch K is closed circuits are established as follows: (l) Battery V, line B, -4,. position coil HM, 4 position contact CMC Ihundreds order, brush BL, hundreds" order,

line W-l, H contacts of high selection cam TSC-I, line W-l0, line A, switch K, to battery V. (2) Battery V, line B, 9 position coil TM, 9 position contact CMC tens order, brush BL of "tens order, line W-, high selection cam USC- i, line W--L line A, switch K, to battery V. (3) Battery V, line B, 5 position coil UM, 5" position contact CMC units order, brush LB units order, line W-i, line A, switch K, to battery V. The value read is therefore 495. With reference to Fig. 5, itwill be observed that at a time slightly later the high transfer cam TTC-I of the tens order closes its contacts H thereby providing a parallel circuit for the hundreds order as follows: Battery V, line B, 4 position coil HM, 4 position contact CMC A"hundreds order, brush BL of hundreds order, line W-S, H contacts of high transfer cam 'ITC-I, line W-l, line W-8, H contacts of high selection cam USC-i, line W-l, line A, switch K, to battery V. Slightly later as the shafts US, TS, and HS continue rotating, the high selection cam TSC-I opens its contacts H, leaving the hundreds order circuit completely under control of the contacts H of the high selection cam USC-l.

Further movement of the shafts US, TS, and HS (as values of 496 and 497 are read out via circuits previously described) causes the contacts L of the low transfer cam TTC- 2 to close so that a circuit from the brush LB of the hundreds order is completed via line W--i3, L contacts of low transfer cam TTC-2, line W-Z, to L contacts of low selection cam USC-2. The cam USC- 2, however, does not close its contacts L until the units order brush LB falls on the position segment SG of the "units order commutator.

The conditions for a value of 499 in the counter are similar to those just described except that the units order advances its brush LB to the "9 position segment of the units order commutator. However, when the units order advances its brush LB to the 0 position segment SG of the units order commutator the contacts H of the high selection cam USC-I open and the contacts L of the low selection cam USC-2 close so that when switch K is closed, circuits are established: (l) Battery V, line B, 5 position coil HM, "5 position contact CMC of hundreds order, brush LB of hundreds order, line W-I3, L contacts of low transfer contact 'ITC-2, line W-2, L contacts of low selection cam USC- 2, line W-i, line A, switch K, to battery V. (2) Battery V, line B, "0 position coil TM, 0 position contact CMC of tens order, brush LB of tens order, line W-l2, L contacts of low selection cam USC-2, line W-|, line A, switch K, to battery V. (3) Battery V, line B, 0 position coil UM, 0" position contact CMC units order, brush LB of units order, line WI, line A, switch K, to battery V. The value read out thereby is 500.

'I'he establishment of read out circuits for the thousands order is similar to that of the "hundreds order. For example, for a counter value i of 4999 the thousands order circuit is from battery V, line B, 4 position coil THM, 4 position contact CMC, brush BL of thousands order, line W-T, contacts H of high transfer cam HTC-I, line W-5, line W-9, contacts H of high transfer cam 'ITC-I, line W-3, line W-B, contacts H of high selection cam USC-4, line W-I, line A, switch K, to battery V. For

a counter value of 15000 the thousands order.

8 circuit is from battery V, line B, "5" position coil THM, 5 position contact CMC, brush LB of thousands order, line W-G, contact L of low transfer cam HTC- 2, line W-4, contact L of low transfer cam TTC-2, line W-2, contact L of low selection cam USC- 2, line W-I, line A, switch K, to battery V.

Thus it is apparent that the selection of the leading brushes LB and the lagging brushes BL in any order is always referred back to the lower order or orders when the aforesaid brushes are upon adjacent segments as has been shown. In this manner accuracy of a high degree may be obtained with no more than four operating contactsper order of a counter.

It is to be noted that no error results from the overlap of the high and low selection cams at the 4 and "5 positions (see Fig. 4 and Fig. 5) if the brushes LB and BL 0f the next higher order are set equally on 0 and "9" positions respectively, when the next lower order is midway between the "9 and the "0 positions. This is due to the fact that when the next lower order advances ilve positions, the brushes LB and BL in next higher order will advance to make contact with the same segment at which time the high and low selection cam contacts of the next lower order are both closed (see line y-y', Fig. 4), it being immaterial by which circuit path the read out circuit is established.

While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention, as applied to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with three interacting commutators each having a predetermined number of equally spaced conductive segments arranged in a closed series and a pair oi' coordinately rotatable brushes coacting therewith and spaced apart to alternately make mutual contact with one said segment and independent contact with adjacent segments thereof, means for rotating the brushes ofl a rst commutator comprising a. rotatable shaft, a second shaft geared to the first shaft for rotating the brushes of a second commutator, a third shaft similarly geared to the second shaft for rotating the brushes of a third commutator, a pair of circuit breakers on the first shaft, two pairs of circuit breakers on the second shaft, circuit connections for establishing a circuit to one of the segments of the third said commutator through one said third commutator brush including one of the first pair of circuit breakers on the second said shaft and one of the circuit breakers on the first said shaft, and circuit connectiom for establishing a circuit to the same segment of the third said commutator through the same third commutator brush including one of the second pair of circuit breakers on the second said shaft.

2. The invention as set forth in claim l with a further provision that the rotation ratio of the rst shaft to the second shaft and the ratio of the second shaft to the third shaft is equal to the number of conductive segments in each commutator.

3. In a device for counting the revolutions o! medusa l. shaft comprising a plurality of commutatcrs iaving rotating elements seriately coupled to the laid shaft, each of the said elements rotating with 'espect to the said shaft in predetermined de- :reasing ratios; a pair of brushes carried by each aid element, the said brushes being electrically ndependent of each other and one brush leading ,he other by a predetermined amount; a prede- ',ermined number of contacts spaced equally upon aach said commutator, the contacts being ot a size md arrangement to be engaged successively by ,he said leading and lagging brushes either singly )r in combination; and a pair of circuit breakers :arried by the said element of each order, one of ,he said circuit breakers of each order being timed ;o close a circuit to the lagging brush of a higher )rder during contact of a lower order commutator 10 brush with the rst half of its said contacts, and another of the said circuit breakers of each order being timed to close a circuit to the leading brush oi a higher order commutator during contact of 5 the lower order commutator brush with the second half oi' its said contacts.

LEONARD R. HARPER.

REFERENCES CI\TED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,192,421 Wallace Mar. 5, 1940 2,207,744 Larson July 16, 1940 2,429,259 Bugg oct. 21, 1947

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