US2667698A - Profile recording machine - Google Patents

Profile recording machine Download PDF

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US2667698A
US2667698A US135178A US13517849A US2667698A US 2667698 A US2667698 A US 2667698A US 135178 A US135178 A US 135178A US 13517849 A US13517849 A US 13517849A US 2667698 A US2667698 A US 2667698A
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gear
frustums
drums
conical members
pendulum
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US135178A
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Jr Norman L Bryan
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    • GPHYSICS
    • G01MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01CMEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY
    • G01C7/00Tracing profiles
    • G01C7/02Tracing profiles of land surfaces
    • G01C7/04Tracing profiles of land surfaces involving a vehicle which moves along the profile to be traced

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  • PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 6 She tsheet l DEFLECTION or ARM PER EN bBR T R A E VERTICAL QRDJNA T3; or ELE STJ- N mum I ANGLE OFASCENSION "0R DESQENSIQN SURFACE OF ROBIL ETC.
  • PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 s b. .R Y fi a m m m l 1 V T o F mm T t r m 5 N R 9 WE. N 6 E B MN m Feb. 2, 1954 N. L. BRYAN, JR
  • PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet 6 I N V EN TOR.
  • the present invention relates to a profile recording machine or instrument for the automatic simply moving the same, mounted on wheels or the like, over the terrain.
  • the invention resides in the construction of a machine known as a profilograph which will automatically and continuously record the profile of any desired surface whether it be rough terrain, road, highway, or railroad. This recording is made so that a continuous graph is produced showing relative elevations of the surface traversed, the result being generally known as a profile.
  • the elevation or vertical ordinate is obtained by mechanical measurement of the sine of the angle of ascent or descent and the horizontal ordinate of distance is obtained simultaneously by mechanical measurement of the cosine of said angle.
  • a general object of this invention is to provide improved means for measuring through an automatic graphing machine the rise or fall in elevation of any surface in direct proportion to the horizontal distance traveled.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a profilograph of this kind with a pendulum which responds only to changes in vertical elevation and which is so constructed and arranged that it will not bind when the carriage of machine is subjected to transverse tilting.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide the pendulum with gyroscopic means so that it will not be affected by shocks or jolts due to sudden acceleration, deceleration or rough terrain.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide a profile recording machine with two compartments, one housing a, drive mechanism and sine and cosine reducers, and the other containing a pendulum and means for making the profile record.
  • a more specific object is to provide a profile recording machine having a moving chart or graph paper and a, cooperating marking device to both of which graduated motion is imparted by means of a ground traversing wheel driving opposed pairs of rotating conical members and frustums, and a pair of complementary drums, through two slidable drive means responsive to movement of a pendulum.
  • a salient feature of the invention resides in the particular formation and arrangement of the cones and drums with complex, algebraically determined surfaces forming sine and cosine reducer mechanisms accurately representing the sine and cosine of the angle of ascension or 13 Claims. (Cl. 33-1415) descension and determining the vertical deviations in direct proportion to the horizontal component of the distance traveled.
  • Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the profilograph showing the two-compartment arrangement, the sine reducer mechanism, the traveling record paper, the marking device, and the gearing arrangement for imparting motion to the paper and writing instrument;
  • Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the pendulum and further details of the gearing arrangement;
  • Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine and illustrating further particulars of the gearing arrangement
  • Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the forward compartment of the machine taken on the line l 4 of Fig. 1 showing further details of the gearing arrangement and details of the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms;
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the rear compartment of the machine taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l and showing additional details of the gearing arrangement, and certain features of the pendulum and of the traveling graph mechanism;
  • Fig. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view of the sliding drive means showing details of the drive means and the operating levers therefor;
  • Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1 and showing the drive gears for the conical members and the drums forming part of the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms, respectively, and illustrating further details of the sliding drive means;
  • Fig. 8 is a detailed view partly in section showing the means by which the recording or marking device receives its motion
  • Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed views of resilient mounting means for certain of the drums.
  • Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the details of the ground traversing wheel and the driving connection to the gear trains of the machine;
  • Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the machine in operative relation to the surface of a road, and illustrating the principles involved inaccurately measuring the horizontal distance traveled in direct proportion to deviations in vertical elevation;
  • Fig. 13 is a top plan view exaggerating the shapes of the cosine drums, and;
  • Fig. 14 is a top plan view exaggerating the shapes of the conical members and frustums of the sine reducer mechanism.
  • the number I4 generally indicates the carriage in which the profilograph is mounted.
  • the machine carriage I4 includes -a front panel I6, a rear panel I8, and side panels 20. "The carriage body thus formed is further divided into two compartments, 22 and 24, by. means of a partition 26 which extends between the two sides 20.
  • the forward compartment 22 contains the mechanisms forming the sine and cosine reducers and the rear compartment 24 contains the pendulum and recording mechanism, as will be more fully explained.
  • the cosine reducer mechanism located in com partment 22 comprises a first outwardly tapered driving drum 28 which derives its rotating motion through suitable gearing from a cable C.
  • the cable C is gear connected at itsother end to a ground contacting wheel W (Fig. 11).
  • the first driving drum 28 imparts motion to a second-and complementary, inwardly tapered driven-drum 30.
  • the sine mechanism comprises two aligned driving cones 32, 32 of modified shape, which are also driven, through suitable gearing, from the cable C in direct ratio to the surface movement of the wheel W.
  • the cones 32, 32' are supported in apex-to-apex relation by means of a short shaft 33 illustrated quite clearly in Fig. 7.
  • the cones 32 and 32 are connected so as to always rotate in the same direction, and arranged to impart rotary motion to tapered frustums 34, 36, respectively, the respective cones and frustums being of complementary shape.
  • These aligned driven frustums, 34 and 3B are mounted independently on a freely rotating shaft 35 extending therebetween, and geared to produce rotary drives alternatively in opposite directions.
  • a slidable operating device 38 is supported for movement between the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms.
  • the operating device 38 includes two friction wheels 40 and 42.
  • the lower wheel 40 transmits motion from the first driving drum 28 to the second driven drum 36
  • the upper wheel 42 selectively transmits motion from one of the cones 32, 32' to either the driven frustum 34 or the driven frustum 36 dependingon the position of the slidable friction drive 38.
  • the surfacesof the. friction wheels 40 and 42 are knife-edges s asto reflect minute changes resulting from the change in the longitudinal position of the device 38. While the surfaces of the drums and cones may be smooth, if it is desired to increase the frictional contact between the drive wheels and the drums or cones, these surfaces may be suitably roughened.
  • a spring I04 is arranged to urge the bearing I06 for drum shaft I42 continuously in a direction such that the drum 28 to which the shaft I42 is splined will bear yieldingly against the drive wheel 40 interposed between drums 28 and 30.
  • the other end of the shaft I42 is also provided with a similar resilient mounting, as are also the aligned shafts I24, I24 of the frustums 34 and 36, none of these other similar mountings being shown. This arrangement also compensates for inevitable wear of the drive wheels.
  • the resilient mounting for the rotary shafts as above described may be of any construction which will exert pressure against the drive wheels, such as hydraulic or compressed air means.
  • the rear compartment '24 of the carriage I4 provides supports for a driven paper reel 44 and an idler paper reel 46.
  • the paper reel 44 is driven through suitable gearing from the second driven drum 3'0 and the paper recording strip P travels from idler reel 46 to the driven reel 44 in the direction of the arrow.
  • the paper strip P is supported between the reels by means of a table 45.
  • a recording device '48 is adjustably held above the traveling paper in a support 50.
  • the sup-port 50 is mounted for sliding on two parallel rods 5
  • the threaded rod 52 passes through an internally threaded gear 54 whic'his rotatably supported and held against lengthwise movement in a bearing formation of the partition 26.
  • The-gear 54 is arranged to be rotated in one direction by a gear 56 and in the other direction by a-gear 58.
  • Gear 56 is driven by drum 34 through agear train as shown in Fig. 1,
  • gear 58 is driven by drum 33 through anotherigear train including an additional reversing gear. In this manner the threaded rod moves lengthwise in either direction although drums 34 and 36 turn independently'in the same direction.
  • Cones 32 and 32" rotate in the same direction for all forward motion of the vehicle, and both cones 32 and 32 reverse their motion if the vehicle motion is reversed.
  • the motion of the frustums 34 and 36 is always opposite to one another, since when one frustum is being contacted by the wheel 42, the gear trairiconnected to the other frustum through gear 54 and others compel the other frustum to rotate idly in the opposite direction.
  • a massive pendulum 60 mounted on one end of an arm 62 (Figs.2 and 5).
  • the weighted pendulum 60 swings the arm 62in response only to tilt components in the fore-and-aft direction of the machine carriage I4.
  • the pendulum 60 acting through a series of levers will impart a sliding motion to a bar 64 which in turn is secured to the slidable operating device 38.
  • An H-shaped frame 66 is slidably supported on parallel rods 68 which extend all the way across compartments 22 and 24 of the carriage I4. This frame 66 moves: on a line parallel to the rotational axes of the cones, frustums and drums of the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms.
  • a connector bar 64 has one end fixed to the central portion of the H frame 66 (disposed for movement in the compartment 22) and the opposite end of bar 64 is fixed to a block 10 (disposed in compartment 24) which is also slidably supported on the rods 68.
  • the upper portion of H frame 66 forms a support for .a block 12 which slides on two spaced parallel rods 14.
  • Block 12 moves in a plane which extends at right angles and parallel to the plane of movement of the main frame 66.
  • An extension post 16 on which the upper drive wheel 42 is rotatably supported extends upwardly from the frame 66.
  • the lower portion of the H frame 66 is similarly constructed and includes a transverse sliding block 12, parallel rods 14, and extension post 16', all forming a sliding support for the depending lower drive wheel 40.
  • the block receives one end of a lever 18 which slides freely in a rotating pin 80 secured to the top of the block.
  • lever 18 passes through a pivot pin 82 which is free to rotate but is held against sliding movement in a rigid support 84.
  • the other end of the lever 18 is slidably held in a rotating pin 86 secured to a sliding block 88.
  • the block 88 is very similar in construction to block 16 and slides parallel thereto on two parallel supporting rods 90. It can thus be seen that any sliding movement of the block 88 is magnified by lever 78 and transmitted to the block 76.
  • the block 16 through bar 64 will in turn move the slidable operating device 38 a corresponding distance.
  • the block 88 receives a freely slidable pin 92 which is pivoted to the upper piece 94 of the two-piece pendulum arm 62.
  • the lower piece 96 supports the weighted pendulum 60.
  • the pendulum 66 is mounted to move the block 83 in response to tilt components in the fore-and-aft direction only.
  • the arm 62 is pivoted by pin 98 to two supporting plates I66 and both pieces, 94 and 96, will move as one unitary arm about this pivot point.
  • the lower piece 96 is provided with a forked upper end that is pivoted to the upper piece 94 by means of a pin I02.
  • a conventional gyroscope G may be incorporated within the weight 66 to resist such undesired movements.
  • Pin 82 consituting the fulcrum point for the lever 78 may, if desired, be seated on bar 84 in a seat having a four-way means of horizontal adjustment. This would provide means for increasing or decreasing the lever ratio between the blocks 88 and 76 should it become necessary to overcome mechanical or operational tolerances. For example, if it is found that the machine, although theoretically correct, is not recording exactly the correct rise or fall in elevation, the lever ratio may be increased or decreased to a point where the correct recording is registered by simply moving the seat for pin 82 along an axis perpendicular to the bar 84.
  • pin 82 blocks 88 and i6 and operating device 38 could be moved as a unitary structure until the drive wheels are directly on the zero positions between the conical members, frustums and drums.
  • the drum S6 acting through a series of gears, drives the paper reel 44.
  • the threaded rod 52 is moved lengthwise in one direction or the other through suitable gearing by the independently rotating frustums 34 6 and 36, the gear train for the frustum 36 having additional reversing gear.
  • the movement of threaded rod 52 will either push or pull the support 56 and the recording device 48 across the paper in response to vertical deviations of the terrain.
  • the aligned cones 32 and 32' and frustums 34 and 36 of the sine reducerv mechanism are of complex shapes, such that the ratio of diameters between 32 and 34 or 32 and 36 at any one plane of contact through clutch wheel 42 represents the value of the sine of the angle of inclination of the carriage M as measured by pendulum 60 and gravity arm 62 (Fig. 12).
  • the principle of the sine reducer is schematically illustrated by Fig. 12 and Fig. 14, and may be explained as follows:
  • the position of the drive wheel 42 is determined by the sine of the deflection of arm 62 and therefore the position of the wheel 42 is in direct relation with the sine of the angle of gradient being measured.
  • the relation of the diameters of cone 32 and frustum 34, or cone 32' and frustum 36 is expressed by the following:
  • K sine a d/e
  • the axes of cones 32 and 32 and frustums 34 and 36 are parallel, and as the wheel 42 moves and makes contact at any position the following is determined.
  • C sum of diameters of cone 32 and frustum 34:
  • the diameters of the complementary tapered drums 28 and 36 are according to the following:
  • Frustu'm 34 intiirn is fixed to shaft I24 at the.
  • Gear I26 rotates gears I28, I30'and I32.
  • Gear I32 is fixed to shaft I34-which'extends from the front panel I No the partition 26 to turn gear 56.
  • Gear 56 aspreviously indicated rotates gear 54 in one direction and acts through the threaded rod 52 to pull the recording device 48 across the paper P. If the linkage wheel 42 is between cone 32 and frustum 36 motion is then imparted to frustum 38.
  • Frustum 36 is fixed to shaft I24 (Fig. 5) which extends through partition 26 and on the end of which gear I26 is located.
  • Gear I23 rotates gear I28,'I3Il'.
  • Gear I30 rotates gear I35 which is fixed to a common shaft I33 to gear I38 (Fig. 4).
  • Gear I36 then rotates gear 58 which rotates gear 54 in the opposite direction than it is-rotated when gear 56 is the driving gear. This is due of course to the one extra gear I38 of this train.
  • Gear 54 will now act through threaded rod 52 tov push the writing instrument across the paper strip-P.
  • the drive wheel 42 is at the common apex of the cones 32 and 32, i. e., theoretical zero, no motion is imparted to either drum 34 or 36, since the wheel 42 acts simultaneou'slyto rotate both drums, and thus rotation of gear 54 in either direction is prevented.
  • the recording device will have no motion in the ordinate or elevation recording direction.
  • the other main gear train also includes the wheel gear IIIl, cable C and gear H3.
  • gear IIB drives gear I40 through an idler gear I4I.
  • Gear'IMl is fixed to shaft I42 which in turn rotates drum 23.
  • Drum 28 through frictional engagement with'the lower drive wheel 40 imparts motion to drum 3t which is splined to shaft I44.
  • Shaft I44 rotates small gear I43 which in turn through two reduction gears I41 and I41 rotates gear I48.
  • Gear I48 is fixed to a shaft I53 which extends through front panel IE to partition 26 (Fig. 1).
  • the other end of I53 is fixed to a smaller gear I52 which through a larger gear I53 rotates gear II2 which is splined to shaft II4 for driving paper reel 43-.
  • the unitary machine of this invention is adapted to be used either on a carriage, as shown, or it may be placed in an automobile, truck or any other type of terrain traversing vehicle. It is only necessary to secure the machine in place and to adjust the position of the drive wheel 42 so that it is in line with the division space between the frustum shapes 34 and 36 when the machine is on a level (zero) grade.
  • a number of visual recording meters may be incorporated in the machine and would serve as additional means to check whether the machine is functioning properly at any particular point.
  • a meter attached to any of the gears leading from frustums 34 or 36 to gear 54 would have means for indicating the elevation of the surface measured at any point and a meter indicating the horizontal distance at any point of travel may be attached to any gear between drum 30 and gear H2.
  • a profilograph comprising two aligned and similar conical members connected at their apexes for rotation together, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, an operating device slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frustums, and a depending arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said drums, said arms each slidable in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of movement of said operating device, a pendulum connected with said operating device
  • a profilograph comprising two aligned and similar conical members connected at their apexes for rotation together, two similar frustums arranged base to base with a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a shaft extending axially between the base portion of said frustums and connecting them for rotation relative to each other, an axially extending driving shaft fixedly secured to the other end of each frustum, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, an operating device slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm and a depending arm, said arms each slidable in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of
  • a profilograph comprising two aligned and similar conical members connected at their apexes for rotation together, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of each conical member, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, an operating device slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frusturns, and a depending arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said drums, a pendulum, a pendulum arm connecting the pendulum to said operating device, said arm including upper and lower pieces connected to swing as a unitary structure
  • connection between the pendulum and said op erating device includes a first sliding block supported above said pendulum and slidable in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said operating device, a pin secured to said peneach of said blocks, a lever having its fulcrum point between said blocks and having an end loosely received in each of said pins, and a connector bar between said second sliding block and said operating device.
  • a profilograph comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage, said carriage having'one wheel constructed and arranged for measuring accurately distance along the surface traversed, a drive shaft from said wheel, two aligned and similar conical members horizontally supported in said carriage and connected at their apexes for rotation together, a gear train connected between said drive shaft and said conical members, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums supported in said carriage and extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, a gear train con" nested between said drive shaft and one of said drums, .an operating device supported in said carriage and slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums
  • a profilograph having a sine reducing mechanism and a cosine reducing mechanism, drive means responsive tomovement of the profilograph overa surface for operating said sine and cosinereducing mechanisms, and sine reducing mechanism including two similar conical members connectedfor joint rotation about a common axis with their apexes at a substantially common point and two similar frustums mounted base to base for independent rotation about a common axis parallel to the axis of the conical members, said conical members and frustums, being proportioned and disposed to provide a space of constant dimension transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, said cosine reducing mechanism including a spaced parallel pair of complementary drums extending parallel to said conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said drums being proportioned and disposed toprovide a, space of constant dimension transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, an, operating device slidable in a direction parallel to said conical members, frustums, and drums and forming
  • a profilograph comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage, said carriage including front, rear and side panels and having one wheel constructed and arranged for measuring accurately distance along the surface traversed, a drive shaft from said wheel, a partition intermediate said front and rear panels and extending to each side panel to form front and rear compartments, two aligned and similarconical members horizontally disposed in said front compartment and connected at their apexes for rotation together, a gear train connected between said drive shaft and said conical members, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a supporting shaft for each of said frustums, a bearing rotatably receiving each supporting shaft, one bearing being mounted in the front panel and the other bearing being mounted in the partition; a resilient means for each bearing arranged to urge the frustums toward the conical members, a spaced parallel pair of'mutually complementary rotatable drums each having a supporting shaft at either end
  • a profilograph having a sine reducing mechanism
  • drive means responsive to movement of theprofilograph over a surface for operating said sine reducing mechanism
  • said sine reducing mechanism including two similar conical members connected for joint rotation about a common axis with their apexes at asubstantially common point and two similar frustums mounted base to base for independent rotation about a common axis parallel to the axis of the conical members, said conical members and.
  • irustums being proportioned and disposed to provide a space of constant dimenison transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, an operating device slidable in a direction parallel to said conical members and frustums', and having a drive wheel on one end spanning, the space between the conical members and frustums, and a pendulum operatively connected to said operating device.
  • the sine reducing combination comprising two similar aligned conical members mounted for rotation together with their apexes substantially contiguous, similar base to base frustums complementary to said conical members and mounted for relative rotation in spaced parallel relation to opposite surfaces of the conical members, a drive wheel spanning the space between the conical members and the frustums, a pendulum, and means connecting the drive wheel and the pendulum to position the drive wheel in response to movement of the pendulum.
  • the, sine reducing combination comprising two similar aligned conical members mounted for rotation together with their apexes substantially contiguous, similar base to base frustums complementary to said conical members and mounted for relative rotation in spaced parallel relation to opposite surfaces of the conical members, a drive wheel spanning the space between the conical members and the frustums, a slidable device rotatably supporting the drive wheel, means guiding the slidable device in a path between the axis of said conical members, and the axis of said frustums, a pendulum, and means connecting the drive wheel and the pendulum to position the drive wheel in response to movement of the pendulum.
  • a profilograph having a sine reducing mechanism
  • drive means responsive to movement of the profilograph over a surface for operatmg' said sine reducing mechanism
  • said sine reducing mechanism including two similar conical members connected for joint rotation about a common axis with their apexes at a substantially common point and two similar frustums mounted base to base for independent rotation about a common axis parallel to the axis of the conical members, said conical members and frustums bein proportioned and disposed to provide a space of constant dimension transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, an operating device supported for sliding in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frustums, said arm being slidably mounted on said operating device for movement in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of movement of said operating device, a pendulum, means connecting said operating device to said pendulum to position

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Description

TBRU SIN/E RRDUGER Feb. 2, 1954 N, R N, JR 2,667,698
PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 6 She tsheet l DEFLECTION or ARM PER EN bBR T R A E VERTICAL QRDJNA T3; or ELE STJ- N mum I ANGLE OFASCENSION "0R DESQENSIQN SURFACE OF ROBIL ETC.
HORIZONli-KL ORDINi-STE 0F DISTANCE THRU CQSINR INVENTOR.
RMAN L- BRYAN. JR
AT TORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 N. L. BRYAN, JR 2,667,698
PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 s b. .R Y fi a m m m l 1 V T o F mm T t r m 5 N R 9 WE. N 6 E B MN m Feb. 2, 1954 N. L. BRYAN, JR
PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 27, 1949 INVENTOR. NORMi-W L- BRYAN, R
Feb. 2, 1954 BRYAN, JR 2,667,698 PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 V 140 ITATQES "7 2- "MIT I V TT 5 JNVENTOR.
NORMAN L. BRYBN, R
AT TORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 N. L. BRYAN, JR 2,667,698 PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I N V EN TOR. 42 om pm l gERYP AN 1 R- BY 1L ETTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1954 N. L. BRYAN, JR 2,667,698
PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Filed Dec. 27, 1949 e Sheets-Sheet 6 I N V EN TOR. N RMAN L- Bswm JR ATTORNEYS setting up of profiles by Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,667,698 PROFILE RECORDING MACHINE Norman L. Bryan, Jr., Deland, Fla. Application December 27, 1949, Serial No. 135,178
The present invention relates to a profile recording machine or instrument for the automatic simply moving the same, mounted on wheels or the like, over the terrain.
The invention resides in the construction of a machine known as a profilograph which will automatically and continuously record the profile of any desired surface whether it be rough terrain, road, highway, or railroad. This recording is made so that a continuous graph is produced showing relative elevations of the surface traversed, the result being generally known as a profile. The elevation or vertical ordinate is obtained by mechanical measurement of the sine of the angle of ascent or descent and the horizontal ordinate of distance is obtained simultaneously by mechanical measurement of the cosine of said angle.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide improved means for measuring through an automatic graphing machine the rise or fall in elevation of any surface in direct proportion to the horizontal distance traveled.
Another object of the invention is to provide a profilograph of this kind with a pendulum which responds only to changes in vertical elevation and which is so constructed and arranged that it will not bind when the carriage of machine is subjected to transverse tilting.
A further object of the invention is to provide the pendulum with gyroscopic means so that it will not be affected by shocks or jolts due to sudden acceleration, deceleration or rough terrain.
A still further object of the invention is to provide a profile recording machine with two compartments, one housing a, drive mechanism and sine and cosine reducers, and the other containing a pendulum and means for making the profile record.
A more specific object is to provide a profile recording machine having a moving chart or graph paper and a, cooperating marking device to both of which graduated motion is imparted by means of a ground traversing wheel driving opposed pairs of rotating conical members and frustums, and a pair of complementary drums, through two slidable drive means responsive to movement of a pendulum.
A salient feature of the invention resides in the particular formation and arrangement of the cones and drums with complex, algebraically determined surfaces forming sine and cosine reducer mechanisms accurately representing the sine and cosine of the angle of ascension or 13 Claims. (Cl. 33-1415) descension and determining the vertical deviations in direct proportion to the horizontal component of the distance traveled.
Other novel features and improvements contributing to the accuracy and efficiency of the profile recording machine will be apparent and readily understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the profilograph showing the two-compartment arrangement, the sine reducer mechanism, the traveling record paper, the marking device, and the gearing arrangement for imparting motion to the paper and writing instrument;
Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and showing the pendulum and further details of the gearing arrangement;
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the machine and illustrating further particulars of the gearing arrangement;
Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the forward compartment of the machine taken on the line l 4 of Fig. 1 showing further details of the gearing arrangement and details of the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms;
Fig. 5 is a sectional view through the rear compartment of the machine taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l and showing additional details of the gearing arrangement, and certain features of the pendulum and of the traveling graph mechanism;
Fig. 6 is a fragmentary isometric view of the sliding drive means showing details of the drive means and the operating levers therefor;
Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 1 and showing the drive gears for the conical members and the drums forming part of the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms, respectively, and illustrating further details of the sliding drive means;
Fig. 8 is a detailed view partly in section showing the means by which the recording or marking device receives its motion;
Figs. 9 and 10 are detailed views of resilient mounting means for certain of the drums;
Fig. 11 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the details of the ground traversing wheel and the driving connection to the gear trains of the machine;
Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic elevational view showing the machine in operative relation to the surface of a road, and illustrating the principles involved inaccurately measuring the horizontal distance traveled in direct proportion to deviations in vertical elevation;
Fig. 13 is a top plan view exaggerating the shapes of the cosine drums, and;
Fig. 14 is a top plan view exaggerating the shapes of the conical members and frustums of the sine reducer mechanism.
Referring in detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the number I4 generally indicates the carriage in which the profilograph is mounted.
Referring now in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine carriage I4 includes -a front panel I6, a rear panel I8, and side panels 20. "The carriage body thus formed is further divided into two compartments, 22 and 24, by. means of a partition 26 which extends between the two sides 20. The forward compartment 22 contains the mechanisms forming the sine and cosine reducers and the rear compartment 24 contains the pendulum and recording mechanism, as will be more fully explained.
The cosine reducer mechanism located in com partment 22 comprises a first outwardly tapered driving drum 28 which derives its rotating motion through suitable gearing from a cable C. The cable C is gear connected at itsother end to a ground contacting wheel W (Fig. 11). As better shown in Fig. 4 the first driving drum 28 imparts motion to a second-and complementary, inwardly tapered driven-drum 30.
Referring again to Figs. land 2, the sine mechanism comprises two aligned driving cones 32, 32 of modified shape, which are also driven, through suitable gearing, from the cable C in direct ratio to the surface movement of the wheel W. The cones 32, 32' are supported in apex-to-apex relation by means of a short shaft 33 illustrated quite clearly in Fig. 7. As shown the cones 32 and 32 are connected so as to always rotate in the same direction, and arranged to impart rotary motion to tapered frustums 34, 36, respectively, the respective cones and frustums being of complementary shape. These aligned driven frustums, 34 and 3B, are mounted independently on a freely rotating shaft 35 extending therebetween, and geared to produce rotary drives alternatively in opposite directions.
As clearly shown in Fig. 4, a slidable operating device 38 is supported for movement between the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms. The operating device 38 includes two friction wheels 40 and 42. The lower wheel 40 transmits motion from the first driving drum 28 to the second driven drum 36, and the upper wheel 42 selectively transmits motion from one of the cones 32, 32' to either the driven frustum 34 or the driven frustum 36 dependingon the position of the slidable friction drive 38.
As shown the surfacesof the. friction wheels 40 and 42 are knife-edges s asto reflect minute changes resulting from the change in the longitudinal position of the device 38. While the surfaces of the drums and cones may be smooth, if it is desired to increase the frictional contact between the drive wheels and the drums or cones, these surfaces may be suitably roughened.
In order to further improve the frictional contact between the drums, cones and drive wheels 43 and 42 the rotating shafts of certain of the drums are resiliently mounted. Figs. 9 and illustrate thisimportant feature. A spring I04 is arranged to urge the bearing I06 for drum shaft I42 continuously in a direction such that the drum 28 to which the shaft I42 is splined will bear yieldingly against the drive wheel 40 interposed between drums 28 and 30. The other end of the shaft I42 is also provided with a similar resilient mounting, as are also the aligned shafts I24, I24 of the frustums 34 and 36, none of these other similar mountings being shown. This arrangement also compensates for inevitable wear of the drive wheels. The resilient mounting for the rotary shafts as above described may be of any construction which will exert pressure against the drive wheels, such as hydraulic or compressed air means.
Referring now to Figs. 1 and 5, the rear compartment '24 of the carriage I4 provides supports for a driven paper reel 44 and an idler paper reel 46. The paper reel 44 is driven through suitable gearing from the second driven drum 3'0 and the paper recording strip P travels from idler reel 46 to the driven reel 44 in the direction of the arrow. The paper strip P is supported between the reels by means of a table 45. A recording device '48 is adjustably held above the traveling paper in a support 50. The sup-port 50 is mounted for sliding on two parallel rods 5| and is fastened to one end of a threaded rod 52. As shown in detail by Fig. 8, the threaded rod 52 passes through an internally threaded gear 54 whic'his rotatably supported and held against lengthwise movement in a bearing formation of the partition 26. The-gear 54 is arranged to be rotated in one direction by a gear 56 and in the other direction by a-gear 58. Gear 56 is driven by drum 34 through agear train as shown in Fig. 1,, and gear 58 is driven by drum 33 through anotherigear train including an additional reversing gear. In this manner the threaded rod moves lengthwise in either direction although drums 34 and 36 turn independently'in the same direction.
Cones 32 and 32" rotate in the same direction for all forward motion of the vehicle, and both cones 32 and 32 reverse their motion if the vehicle motion is reversed. The motion of the frustums 34 and 36 is always opposite to one another, since when one frustum is being contacted by the wheel 42, the gear trairiconnected to the other frustum through gear 54 and others compel the other frustum to rotate idly in the opposite direction.
Located below the paper reels 44 and 46 is a massive pendulum 60 mounted on one end of an arm 62 (Figs.2 and 5). The weighted pendulum 60 swings the arm 62in response only to tilt components in the fore-and-aft direction of the machine carriage I4. The pendulum 60 acting through a series of levers will impart a sliding motion to a bar 64 which in turn is secured to the slidable operating device 38.
Th details of construction of the clutch device 38 are best shown in Figs. 6 or 7. An H-shaped frame 66 is slidably supported on parallel rods 68 which extend all the way across compartments 22 and 24 of the carriage I4. This frame 66 moves: on a line parallel to the rotational axes of the cones, frustums and drums of the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms. A connector bar 64 has one end fixed to the central portion of the H frame 66 (disposed for movement in the compartment 22) and the opposite end of bar 64 is fixed to a block 10 (disposed in compartment 24) which is also slidably supported on the rods 68. The upper portion of H frame 66 forms a support for .a block 12 which slides on two spaced parallel rods 14. Block 12 moves in a plane which extends at right angles and parallel to the plane of movement of the main frame 66. An extension post 16 on which the upper drive wheel 42 is rotatably supported extends upwardly from the frame 66. The lower portion of the H frame 66 is similarly constructed and includes a transverse sliding block 12, parallel rods 14, and extension post 16', all forming a sliding support for the depending lower drive wheel 40.
The block receives one end of a lever 18 which slides freely in a rotating pin 80 secured to the top of the block. By referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 5 it will be seen that lever 18 passes through a pivot pin 82 which is free to rotate but is held against sliding movement in a rigid support 84. The other end of the lever 18 is slidably held in a rotating pin 86 secured to a sliding block 88. The block 88 is very similar in construction to block 16 and slides parallel thereto on two parallel supporting rods 90. It can thus be seen that any sliding movement of the block 88 is magnified by lever 78 and transmitted to the block 76. The block 16 through bar 64 will in turn move the slidable operating device 38 a corresponding distance. As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the block 88 receives a freely slidable pin 92 which is pivoted to the upper piece 94 of the two-piece pendulum arm 62. The lower piece 96 supports the weighted pendulum 60. The pendulum 66 is mounted to move the block 83 in response to tilt components in the fore-and-aft direction only. The arm 62 is pivoted by pin 98 to two supporting plates I66 and both pieces, 94 and 96, will move as one unitary arm about this pivot point. In order, however, that the arm of the pendulum 60 will not bind in its supporting plates I00 When the carriage l4 tilts transversely from side to side, the lower piece 96 is provided with a forked upper end that is pivoted to the upper piece 94 by means of a pin I02. To further stablize the pendulum 60 against undue longitudinal and transverse movements which might be caused by sudden acceleration or deceleration of the carriage or due to jolts received from an uneven riding surface, a conventional gyroscope G may be incorporated within the weight 66 to resist such undesired movements.
Pin 82 consituting the fulcrum point for the lever 78 may, if desired, be seated on bar 84 in a seat having a four-way means of horizontal adjustment. This would provide means for increasing or decreasing the lever ratio between the blocks 88 and 76 should it become necessary to overcome mechanical or operational tolerances. For example, if it is found that the machine, although theoretically correct, is not recording exactly the correct rise or fall in elevation, the lever ratio may be increased or decreased to a point where the correct recording is registered by simply moving the seat for pin 82 along an axis perpendicular to the bar 84. Also, by sliding the seat for pin 82 along an axis that is parallel to bar 64, the necessity for tediously leveling the machine for exact zero grade would be eliminated as pin 82, blocks 88 and i6 and operating device 38 could be moved as a unitary structure until the drive wheels are directly on the zero positions between the conical members, frustums and drums.
As previously stated, the drum S6, acting through a series of gears, drives the paper reel 44. The threaded rod 52 is moved lengthwise in one direction or the other through suitable gearing by the independently rotating frustums 34 6 and 36, the gear train for the frustum 36 having additional reversing gear. The movement of threaded rod 52 will either push or pull the support 56 and the recording device 48 across the paper in response to vertical deviations of the terrain.
It should be noted in this regard that the aligned cones 32 and 32' and frustums 34 and 36 of the sine reducerv mechanism are of complex shapes, such that the ratio of diameters between 32 and 34 or 32 and 36 at any one plane of contact through clutch wheel 42 represents the value of the sine of the angle of inclination of the carriage M as measured by pendulum 60 and gravity arm 62 (Fig. 12).
The principle of the sine reducer is schematically illustrated by Fig. 12 and Fig. 14, and may be explained as follows: The position of the drive wheel 42 is determined by the sine of the deflection of arm 62 and therefore the position of the wheel 42 is in direct relation with the sine of the angle of gradient being measured. For any given longitudinal position of the wheel 42 the relation of the diameters of cone 32 and frustum 34, or cone 32' and frustum 36 is expressed by the following:
K sine a=d/e Where Kzthe unit, multiple and/or fractional part of the sine desired a=the angle of gradient d=diameter of cone 32 or 32' e=diameter of frustum 34 or 36 The axes of cones 32 and 32 and frustums 34 and 36 are parallel, and as the wheel 42 moves and makes contact at any position the following is determined. Where C=sum of diameters of cone 32 and frustum 34:
from above d= (K sine a)e K sine (1+1 The relationship of the diameters of cone 32' frustum 36 are the same as that for The shapes of drums 28 and 3c of the cosine reducing mechanism as illustrated in Fig. 13 are also complex shapes such that the ratio of diameters between them at any one plane of contact through drive wheel 40 expresses the cosine of the accompanying angle of inclination of the carriage as measured by the pendulum arm 62. For simplicity of illustration only these shapes are shown in all figures except Figs. 13 and 14 as cylindrical.
The principle of the cosine reducer is as follows: At any given position of the drive wheel 46 measuring the angle of gradient in terms of the sine of the deflection, the diameters of the complementary tapered drums 28 and 36 are according to the following:
and 32 and 34.
where Q' the unit, meiume and/or fractional part of the cosine desired e- -tne angle of gradient f the diameter of drum 28. g=the diameter of drum 30 Since the shafts of'drums 28 and 3B are parallel, as wheel 40 moves and makes contact, at any position the following is determined. Where P equals the desired sum of diameters of drums-23, 30:
P -He from the above f (Q cosine g Pg=(Q cosine (1);;
P=g+ (Q cosine a)g d -Q cosine a-I-l Referring now tongue and 11, it W111 be noted that the gear train for the total reduction between the gear I I0 on the wheel W and the gear 54 of the threaded rod'52 is used for obtaining the vertical ordinate of the graphical record. The size, diameters and number of teeth of the gears in thi train are of course mathematically determined to give any known desired value to meet the desired vertical scale.
The same is true for the gear train connected between gear I I3 and a gear I I2 which latter gear is splined to a shaft II4 for turning the driven paper reel 44. This gear train provides the total reduction of the distance or horizontal ordinate of the graphical record made on chart P. If necessary, additional reducer gears may be added or some shown may be eliminated and a chain drive, direct gear drive, or other means, may be substituted for the cable drive-C to connect the wheel W with the main gear trains. By referring to Figs. 1, 3, 4 andS'it can be seen that on the front of the machine (Figs. 1 and 3) there are a series of gears forming part of the two main gear trains which receive their drive from wheel gear IIU through cable C and gear I It.
Further details of the gear trains and drive connections of the sine and cosine reducer mechanisms will bedescribed in connection with the following summary of the operation of the machine of this invention. I
Assuming now'that the carriage I4 is moving along the surface to be measured, motion will be imparted to the first-of these gear trains from the gear IIS through an idler gear IN to gear I Ill which latter gear is fixed to shaft I38 of cone 32. The idler gear I I1 is fixed to a shaft I22 (Fig. '7) which extend-s under the cones to another idler gear 1' which drives gear IIB' fixed to shaft I08 of cone 32'. The variable operative positions of the drive wheels and 42 are concurrently established by movement of the pendulum arm 62 in a vertical plane and when the upper clutch wheel 42 is between cone 32 and frustu'in 34 it imparts motion to the frustum 34.
Frustu'm 34 intiirn is fixed to shaft I24 at the.
end of which'ge'ar I26 is secured (Fig. 3). Gear I26 rotates gears I28, I30'and I32. Gear I32 is fixed to shaft I34-which'extends from the front panel I No the partition 26 to turn gear 56. Gear 56 aspreviously indicated rotates gear 54 in one direction and acts through the threaded rod 52 to pull the recording device 48 across the paper P. If the linkage wheel 42 is between cone 32 and frustum 36 motion is then imparted to frustum 38. Frustum 36 is fixed to shaft I24 (Fig. 5) which extends through partition 26 and on the end of which gear I26 is located. Gear I23 rotates gear I28,'I3Il'. Gear I30 rotates gear I35 which is fixed to a common shaft I33 to gear I38 (Fig. 4). Gear I36 then rotates gear 58 which rotates gear 54 in the opposite direction than it is-rotated when gear 56 is the driving gear. This is due of course to the one extra gear I38 of this train. Gear 54 will now act through threaded rod 52 tov push the writing instrument across the paper strip-P. When the drive wheel 42 is at the common apex of the cones 32 and 32, i. e., theoretical zero, no motion is imparted to either drum 34 or 36, since the wheel 42 acts simultaneou'slyto rotate both drums, and thus rotation of gear 54 in either direction is prevented. When this condition exists the recording device will have no motion in the ordinate or elevation recording direction.
The other main gear train also includes the wheel gear IIIl, cable C and gear H3. By referring to Fig. 3 it can be seen that the movement imparted to gear IIB .drives gear I40 through an idler gear I4I. Gear'IMl is fixed to shaft I42 which in turn rotates drum 23. Drum 28 through frictional engagement with'the lower drive wheel 40 imparts motion to drum 3t which is splined to shaft I44. Shaft I44 rotates small gear I43 which in turn through two reduction gears I41 and I41 rotates gear I48. Gear I48 is fixed to a shaft I53 which extends through front panel IE to partition 26 (Fig. 1). The other end of I53 is fixed to a smaller gear I52 which through a larger gear I53 rotates gear II2 which is splined to shaft II4 for driving paper reel 43-.
The unitary machine of this invention is adapted to be used either on a carriage, as shown, or it may be placed in an automobile, truck or any other type of terrain traversing vehicle. It is only necessary to secure the machine in place and to adjust the position of the drive wheel 42 so that it is in line with the division space between the frustum shapes 34 and 36 when the machine is on a level (zero) grade.
If desired a number of visual recording meters may be incorporated in the machine and would serve as additional means to check whether the machine is functioning properly at any particular point. For example, a meter attached to any of the gears leading from frustums 34 or 36 to gear 54 would have means for indicating the elevation of the surface measured at any point and a meter indicating the horizontal distance at any point of travel may be attached to any gear between drum 30 and gear H2.
The novel arrangements of the various principal parts and the complex surface formations of the cones, frustums and drums as disclosed herein results in a profile recording machine which will produce a fine and accurate profile of any terrain and can therefore be used by surit/eyors, engineers and the like to great advanage.
From the foregoing it is believed that the novel features and special advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. It 1s to be understood that changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.
I claim:
1. In a profilograph, the combination comprising two aligned and similar conical members connected at their apexes for rotation together, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, an operating device slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frustums, and a depending arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said drums, said arms each slidable in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of movement of said operating device, a pendulum connected with said operating device and arranged to swing in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said operating device, means for supporting and moving a record strip in response to rotation of one of said drums, a marking device arranged to move transversely across the record strip in response to rotation of one of said frustums, and means responsive to movement of the profilograph along the terrain for rotating said conical members and one of said drums.
2. In a profilograph, the combination comprising two aligned and similar conical members connected at their apexes for rotation together, two similar frustums arranged base to base with a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a shaft extending axially between the base portion of said frustums and connecting them for rotation relative to each other, an axially extending driving shaft fixedly secured to the other end of each frustum, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, an operating device slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm and a depending arm, said arms each slidable in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of movement of said operating device, a drive wheel rotatably mounted on each arm and disposed respectively between said conical members and frustums, and said drums, a pendulum connected to said operating device and arranged to swing in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said operatingdevice, means for supporting and moving a record strip in response to rotation of. one of said drums, a marking device arranged to move transversely across the record strip in response torotation of one of said frustums, and means responsive to movement of the profilograph along the terrain for rotating said conical members and one of said drums.
3. The combination of claim 1 in which said pendulum is connected to said operating device through two parallel sliding blocks joined by a lever pivoted intermediate its ends, the end portions of said lever each having a slidable-pivotal connection with a respective block.
4. In a profilograph, the combination comprising two aligned and similar conical members connected at their apexes for rotation together, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of each conical member, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, an operating device slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frusturns, and a depending arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said drums, a pendulum, a pendulum arm connecting the pendulum to said operating device, said arm including upper and lower pieces connected to swing as a unitary structure with the pendulum in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said oppiece having a forked end pivoted to said upper piece to swing independently of said upper piece in a plane at right angles to the plane of movement as a unitary structure, means for supporting and moving a record strip in response to rotation of one of said drums, a marking device arranged to move transversely across the record strip in response to rotation of one of said frustums, and means responsive to movement of the profilograph alon 5. The combination of claim 4 in which said connection between the pendulum and said op erating device includes a first sliding block supported above said pendulum and slidable in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said operating device, a pin secured to said peneach of said blocks, a lever having its fulcrum point between said blocks and having an end loosely received in each of said pins, and a connector bar between said second sliding block and said operating device.
6. A profilograph, comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage, said carriage having'one wheel constructed and arranged for measuring accurately distance along the surface traversed, a drive shaft from said wheel, two aligned and similar conical members horizontally supported in said carriage and connected at their apexes for rotation together, a gear train connected between said drive shaft and said conical members, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a spaced parallel pair of mutually complementary rotatable drums supported in said carriage and extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, a gear train con" nested between said drive shaft and one of said drums, .an operating device supported in said carriage and slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, and parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frustums, and a depending arm carrying a drive wheel extendingv between said drums, said arms being slidably mounted on said operating device for movement ina plane which extends at right angles to the direction ,of movement of said operating device, a pendulum connected to said operating device andarranged to swing in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said operating device, means for supporting and moving arecord strip in,re sponse to rotation of one of. said drums, and amarking device arranged to .move transversely across the record strip in response to rotation of one of said frustums.
7. In a profilograph having a sine reducing mechanism and a cosine reducing mechanism, drive means responsive tomovement of the profilograph overa surface for operating said sine and cosinereducing mechanisms, and sine reducing mechanism including two similar conical members connectedfor joint rotation about a common axis with their apexes at a substantially common point and two similar frustums mounted base to base for independent rotation about a common axis parallel to the axis of the conical members, said conical members and frustums, being proportioned and disposed to provide a space of constant dimension transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, said cosine reducing mechanism including a spaced parallel pair of complementary drums extending parallel to said conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, said drums being proportioned and disposed toprovide a, space of constant dimension transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, an, operating device slidable in a direction parallel to said conical members, frustums, and drums and forming a part of the sine and cosine reducing mechanisms andhaving a drive wheel on one end spanning the space between the conical members and frustums and a drive wheel on the other end spanning the space between the complementary drums,,a pendulum operatively connected to said operating device, a record strip supporting and advancing meansresponsive to operation of the cosinerreducing mechanism, and a marking device responsive to operation of the sine reducing mechanism and adapted to move transversely over said record strip.
8. A profilograph, comprising, in combination, a wheeled carriage, said carriage including front, rear and side panels and having one wheel constructed and arranged for measuring accurately distance along the surface traversed, a drive shaft from said wheel, a partition intermediate said front and rear panels and extending to each side panel to form front and rear compartments, two aligned and similarconical members horizontally disposed in said front compartment and connected at their apexes for rotation together, a gear train connected between said drive shaft and said conical members, two similar frustums supported base to base for rotation relative to each other about a common axis that is parallel to the axis of said conical members, a supporting shaft for each of said frustums, a bearing rotatably receiving each supporting shaft, one bearing being mounted in the front panel and the other bearing being mounted in the partition; a resilient means for each bearing arranged to urge the frustums toward the conical members, a spaced parallel pair of'mutually complementary rotatable drums each having a supporting shaft at either end, said frustums being spaced from said conical members and respectively complementary in shape with respect thereto, individual bearings mountedin said carriage and rotatably receiving the shafts of said drums, a resilient means for each bearing of one of said drums arranged to urge said one drum toward the other, said drums extending parallel to the conical members and frustums in a plane spaced therefrom, a gear train connected between said drive, shaft and one of said drums, an operating device supported in said carriage and slidable in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums and the plane of said drums, parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an upstanding arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frustums and a depending arm carrying a drive wheel extending between the said drums, said arms being slidably mounted on said operating device for movement in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of movement of said operating device, a pendulum connected to said operating device and arranged to swing in a plane parallel to the direction of movement of said operating device, means for supporting and moving a record strip in response to rotation of one of said drums, and a marking device arranged to move transversely across the record strip in response to rotation of one of said frusturns.
9. In a profilograph having a sine reducing mechanism, drive means responsive to movement of theprofilograph over a surface for operating said sine reducing mechanism, said sine reducing mechanism including two similar conical members connected for joint rotation about a common axis with their apexes at asubstantially common point and two similar frustums mounted base to base for independent rotation about a common axis parallel to the axis of the conical members, said conical members and. irustums being proportioned and disposed to provide a space of constant dimenison transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, an operating device slidable in a direction parallel to said conical members and frustums', and having a drive wheel on one end spanning, the space between the conical members and frustums, and a pendulum operatively connected to said operating device.
10. In a profilograph, the sine reducing combination comprising two similar aligned conical members mounted for rotation together with their apexes substantially contiguous, similar base to base frustums complementary to said conical members and mounted for relative rotation in spaced parallel relation to opposite surfaces of the conical members, a drive wheel spanning the space between the conical members and the frustums, a pendulum, and means connecting the drive wheel and the pendulum to position the drive wheel in response to movement of the pendulum. I
11. In a profilograph, the, sine reducing combination comprising two similar aligned conical members mounted for rotation together with their apexes substantially contiguous, similar base to base frustums complementary to said conical members and mounted for relative rotation in spaced parallel relation to opposite surfaces of the conical members, a drive wheel spanning the space between the conical members and the frustums, a slidable device rotatably supporting the drive wheel, means guiding the slidable device in a path between the axis of said conical members, and the axis of said frustums, a pendulum, and means connecting the drive wheel and the pendulum to position the drive wheel in response to movement of the pendulum.
12. The combination of claim 11 in which the slidable device includes means supporting the drive wheel for free sliding movement transverse- 1y of the path provided by said guiding means.
13. In a profilograph having a sine reducing mechanism, drive means responsive to movement of the profilograph over a surface for operatmg' said sine reducing mechanism, said sine reducing mechanism including two similar conical members connected for joint rotation about a common axis with their apexes at a substantially common point and two similar frustums mounted base to base for independent rotation about a common axis parallel to the axis of the conical members, said conical members and frustums bein proportioned and disposed to provide a space of constant dimension transverse their axes between their adjacent sides, an operating device supported for sliding in a plane between the plane of said conical members and frustums parallel to the axes thereof, said operating device having an arm carrying a drive wheel extending between said conical members and frustums, said arm being slidably mounted on said operating device for movement in a plane which extends at right angles to the direction of movement of said operating device, a pendulum, means connecting said operating device to said pendulum to position the drive wheel in response to movement of said pendulum.
NORMAN L. BRYAN, JR.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 16,902 Adams Mar. 31, 1857 20,908 Wampler July 13, 1858 32,959 Bogardum July 30, 1861 1,379,528 Clark May 24, 1921 1,726,643 Borresen Sept. 3, 1929 2,089,003 Sack Aug. 3, 1937 2,208,707 spitzer July 23, 1940 2,269,650 Cooney Jan. 13, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 168,125 Great Britain Aug. 18, 1921
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US32959A (en) * 1861-07-30 Gkade-deliweatob
US1726643A (en) * 1918-04-04 1929-09-03 Helge A Borresen Inclination indicator
US1379528A (en) * 1919-02-15 1921-05-24 Edwin S Clark Profile-map machine
GB168125A (en) * 1920-05-18 1921-08-18 John Huw Williams Improvements in road-contouring apparatus
US2089003A (en) * 1933-05-16 1937-08-03 Sack Hans Friction variable speed gear
US2208707A (en) * 1938-08-01 1940-07-23 Spitzer Harold Mensuration device
US2269650A (en) * 1940-05-15 1942-01-13 Goodrich Co B F Measuring apparatus

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1623342B1 (en) * 1966-09-07 1974-09-12 Yawata Iron & Steel Co Device for determining the waviness of band-shaped objects
US4771549A (en) * 1987-03-16 1988-09-20 The Austin Company Method and apparatus for measuring deviations from flatness

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