US3072330A

US3072330A - Counter apparatus particularly adapted for use by surveyors

Info

Publication number: US3072330A
Application number: US24931A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marshall J O'coine; Edward E Johnson; Benjamin H Warren
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-04-27
Filing date: 1960-04-27
Publication date: 1963-01-08
Anticipated expiration: 1980-01-08

Description

Jan. 8, 1963 M. J. o'comr-z ETAL COUNTER APPARATUS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE BY SURVEYQRS Filed April 27, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1963 M. J. O'COINE ETAL. 3,072,330

COUNTER APPARATUS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE BY suRvEYoRs Filed April 27, 1960 2 Sheets-She et 2 /&

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United States Patent 3,072,330 COUNTER APPARATUS PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE BY SURVEYORS Marshall J. OCoine, 609 Coventry Circle; Edward E- Johnson, 1104 14th St. SE.; and Benjamin H. Warren,

Jr., 1192 th St. SW., all of Moultrie, Ga.

Filed Apr. 27, 1960, Ser. No. 24,931 3 Claims. (Cl. 235-91) This invention relates to counters and has more particular reference to a counter device particularly adapted for use in survey work to help the surveyor in reducing his level notes.

The usual procedure of a surveyor or engineer for taking profile levels is as follows:

The level is set up and a rod reading is taken on a bench mark of a known elevation; this reading is known as a plus reading and is added to the known elevation of the bench mark to get the height of the instrument, then, readings are taken on the ground or other surfaces on which elevations are required. These readings are called minus readings and are subtracted from the height of the instrument to determine the corresponding .ground or surface elevations. When a great number of these readings are required, as in cross section or topographical levels, the reducing of the notes becomes a drudgery.

One object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved counter device, one particularly adapted to be used by a surveyor in reducing his level notes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter device including parallel counter mechanism and a gear train actuated by a working wheel for operating both counter mechanisms.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter device, as characterized above, including means for disengaging one of said counter mechanisms from operation by the gear train.

Another object of the invention is to provide a counter device, as characterized above, wherein the numbering on the counter mechanisms increase in the same direction but the gear train is so arranged that when both counter mechanisms are engaged to be operated by the gear train, the numbering on one counter mechanism increases while the other decreases.

A further object of the invention is to provide a counter device which is simple in construction, portable, and eflicient in operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a counter constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, one embodiment of a counter device constructed in accordance with the present invention and particularly designed for use by surveyors and engineers in reducing their level notes. As there shown, the counter device comprises a rectangular case or housing, indicated generally at a rectangular frame member 11 mounted within the case 10; a pair of counter mechanisms, indicated generally at .12 and 13, having the ends of their operating shafts 14 and 15, respectively, journaled in the side walls of the frame member 11; a

gear train mechanism, indicated generally at 16, mounted in and supported by the frame 11 for operating the counter mechanisms '12 and 13; and a disengage button 17 mounted on one of the shafts of the gear train mechanism for disengaging counter mechanism 13 from operation by the gear train.

' The casing 10 may be made of any suitable light weight material such as light weight metal or plastic and is shown as being made in two pieces, a base or bottom plate 18 and a top or cover member 19, suitably secured together as by screws. The cover member 19 is provided with an elongated rectangular opening 20 adjacent one end through which projects the upper part of the working wheel of the gear train mechanism for operating the two counter mechanisms, and adjacent its other end with a spaced parallel pair of elongated rectangular openings 20, 21, each covered by a transparent covering, through which are visible the digit drums of the counter mechanisms 12 and 13. One side wall of the cover member is provided with an opening 22 through which projects the disengaging button 17. The bottom end wall of the case may be provided with an apertured ear 23 to receive a strap for suspending the device from the neck of the user of the device.

The frame member 11 may be made of the same kind of material as the case and is suitably secured on the base plate 18 of the case.

The counter mechanisms 12 and 13 may be of any suitable usual commercial type and their housings are shown as being secured to the cover member 19 with their operating shafts suitably journaled in the side walls of the frame 11. The numbering on the digit drums of the two counter mechanisms increases in the same direction, yet, and for a purpose to be hereinafter explained, one of the counters increases while the other decreases when they both are engaged to be operated by the gear train 16. The operating shaft 14 of counter mechanism 12 has a pinion 24 on one end and the operating shaft 15 of counter mechanism 13 has a pinion 25 on one end adjacent the pinion 24 on shaft 14.

The two counter assemblies are operated by the gear train mechanism 16 which, in turn, is actuated by a thumb operated working wheel 26 projecting upwardly through an opening in the top wall of the case 10*. The working wheel 26 is keyed on one end of a shaft 27 having a gear 28 keyed on its other end. The gear 28 is positioned to engage a gear 29 keyed on the shaft 30. The gear 29 is positioned to engage a pinion 31 keyed on one end of a shaft 32 having a gear 33 keyed on its other end. The gear 33 is positioned to engage a pinion 34 keyed on a shaft 35 which has a gear 36 keyed on its other end. The gear 36 is positioned to engage a gear 37 keyed on a shaft 38 as well as the pinion 24 on the operating shaft 14 of counter assembly 12. The gear 37 on shaft 38 is positioned to engage the pinion 25 on shaft 15 to operate the counter assembly 13. The shaft 38, as best seen in FIG. 4, has its outer end extending through the side wall of the frame 11 and through the hole 22 in the side wall of the case 10 and has the disengaging button 17 secured thereon. The inner end of the shaft 38 is journaled and slidably extends into a small cylinder 39 and its end connected to a disc 40 operating against a coil spring 41 which normally keeps the disc 40 in a position in which the disengaging button 17 protrudes through the hole 22 in the case 10 and the gear 37 is in engagement with the gear 36 on shaft 35. When the disengaging button is pushed inwardly against the pressure of the spring 41, the gear 37, while remaining in engagement with the pinion 25 on shaft 15, is moved out of engagement with the gear 36 on shaft 35. This disengagement permits counter mechanism 12 to be operated by the work wheel 26 without operating counter mechanism 13.

The shafts 35 and 38 are the drive shafts for the counter mechanisms and are positioned below and parallel thereto.

The

shafts

27, 30, 32, 35 and 38 have their ends suitably journaled in the side walls of the frame 11. The

gear Wheels

28, 29, 33, 36 and 3'7 are of the same diameter and have the same number of teeth. The

pinions

24, 25, 31 and 34 are of the same diameter and have the same number of teeth. The step up ratio of the gears is to cause the counters to turn at a greater speed than the working wheel, thus reducing the time required to make the calculation.

It should be noted that while the numbering on the counters increases in the same direction, however, by the particular arrangement of the gears, when both counters are engaged and the working wheel is turned to the left as viewed in FIG. 3, or downward as viewed in FIG. 1, the numbering on counter 13 increases while the numbering on counter 12 decreases. Similarly, when the working wheel is turned to the right as viewed in FIG. 3, or downwardly as viewed in FIG. 1, the numbering on counter 13 decreases while the numbering on counter 12 increases.

in the usual procedure for taking profile levels, the level is set up and a rod reading is taken on a B.M. (bench mark) of a known elevation. This reading is known as a plus reading and is added to the known elevation of the B.M. (bench mark) to get the H.I. (height of the instru ment). Then, readings are taken on the ground or other surface on which elevations are required. These readings are called minus readings and are subtracted from the H.I. (height of instrument), to determine the corresponding ground or surface elevations. When a great number of these readings are required, as in cross-section or topographical levels, the reducing of the notes becomes a drudgery.

The manner in which the counter device is employed by a surveyor when taking profile levels to assist him in reducing his level notes is as follows:

First, with both counters registering 000.0 0, the bench mark elevation is put into the machine to be registered on the top counter 13. This is done by turning the working wheel 26 downwardly to operate the gear train to turn the counter 13. Next, the disengaging knob 17 is pushed in and held in while the rod reading is put into the machine by manipulation of work wheel 26 to be registered on the bottom counter 12. The disengaging knob 17 is then released and the two counters checked to see that the top counter 13 records the bench mark and the bottom counter 12 records the plus rod reading. The working wheel is then turned downwardly until the bottom counter 12 reads zero. Then, the rod reading will have been added to the top counter 13, giving the H.I. (height of the instrument). After this has been done, any number of minus rod readings can then be set on the bottom counter 12 and the corresponding ground or surface elevation can be read directly on the top counter 13, thus eliminating much tedious work. Obviously, the device can be used for many other useful purposes, as for example, when setting grades for paving, when the elevation is known and the rod reading is required.- In such case, the H.I. (height of the instrument) is obtained as explained above, then, with the counter 13 showing H.I. and the bottom counter 12 showing 00.00, the elevation required is put into the top counter 13 by operating the work wheel 26, and then the bottom counter 12 will give the rod reading to be set for that particular grade.

From the foregoing, it readily will be apparent that there has been provided a novel and improved counter device, one that is particularly adapted for use by a surveyor or engineer in reducing his level notes or in setting grades for paving, and one that is simple and economical in construction, portable, and eflicient in operation.

Obviously, the invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable manually operated calculating device for use in reducing surveying level notes comprising a casing; a first counter mechanism adapted to have the height of instrument readings set thereon and a second counter mechanism adapted to have successive rod readings set thereon mounted in said casing in parallel relation; gearing for rotating said second counter mechanism in either direction including a shaft having a manually operated work wheel secured thereon for rotation of the shaft; said first counter mechanism having a pinion gear secured on its operating shaft adjacent one end; said second counter mechanism including an operating shaft having a pinion secured thereon adjacent one end and opposite the pinion gear on the operating shaft of said first counter mechanism; gearing means connecting the two counter mechanisms for simultaneous operation including a first drive shaft having a gear secured on one end thereof in engagement with the pinion gear on the operating. shaft of said first counter mechanism and a second drive shaft having a gear secured thereon on one end thereof in engagement with the gear on said first drive shaft and the pinion gear on the operating shaft of said second counter mechanism; said gearing means connecting the two counter mechanisms for simultaneous operations being so constructed and arranged that when the second counter mechanism increases the first counter mechanism decreases and when the second counter mechanism decreases the first counter mechanism increases; and disengaging mechanism including means for longitudinally moving said first drive shaft in its hearings to bring the gear mounted thereon into and out of engagement with the gear on said second drive shaft, the construction and arrangement being such that after the height of instrument readings has been set on the first counter mechanism the first counter mechanism can be disconnectedto permit the second counter mechanism to be turned back to zero without disturbing the readings on the first counter mechanism, then with both counter mechanisms reconnected for simultaneous operation successive minus rod readings placed on the second counter mechanism automatically change the readings on the first counter mechanismv so that it will give the elevation corresponding torod readings.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for longitudinally moving said first drive shaft comprises resilient means normally holding said first drive shaft in a position in which the gear thereon engages the gear on said second drive shaft, and a disengaging button on the outer end of the first drive shaft for pushing the shaft to a position in which the gear thereon is moved out of engagement with the gear on the second drive shaft.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the counter mechanisms and all the gearing connected therewith are mounted in said casing and wherein said casing is provided with transparent openings, each positioned above one of the counter mechanisms, an opening through which projects a portion of said work wheel, and an opening through which projects said disengaging button.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,361,949 Wittnebert Dec. 14, 1920 1,418,384 Marbel June 6, 1922 2,099,463 Bradley Nov. 16, 1937 2,286,825 Moriarty June 9, 1942 2,495,502 Apple Jan. 24, 1950 2,510,391 Evans June 6, 1950 2,824,696 Norwood Feb. 25, 1958 2,911,148 Lowell Nov. 3, 1959 3 ,024,984 Skurner Mar. 13, 1962

Claims

1. A PORTABLE MANUALLY OPERATED CALCULATING DEVICE FOR USE IN REDUCING SURVEYING LEVEL NOTES COMPRISING A CASING; A FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM ADAPTED TO HAVE THE HEIGHT OF INSTRUMENT READINGS SET THEREON AND A SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM ADAPTED TO HAVE SUCCESSIVE ROD READINGS SET THEREON MOUNTED IN SAID CASING IN PARALLEL RELATION; GEARING FOR ROTATING SAID SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM IN EITHER DIRECTION INCLUDING A SHAFT HAVING A MANUALLY OPERATED WORK WHEEL SECURED THEREON FOR ROTATION OF THE SHAFT; SAID FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM HAVING A PINION GEAR SECURED ON ITS OPERATING SHAFT ADJACENT ONE END; SAID SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM INCLUDING AN OPERATING SHAFT HAVING A PINION SECURED THEREON ADJACENT ONE END AND OPPOSITE THE PINION GEAR ON THE OPERATING SHAFT OF SAID FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM; GEARING MEANS CONNECTING THE TWO COUNTER MECHANISM FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION INCLUDING A FIRST DRIVE SHAFT HAVING A GEAR SECURED ON ONE END THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE PINION GEAR ON THE OPERATING SHAFT OF SAID FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM AND A SECOND DRIVE SHAFT HAVING A GEAR SECURED THEREON ON ONE END THEREOF IN ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GEAR ON SAID FIRST DRIVE SHAFT AND THE PINION GEAR ON THE OPERATING SHAFT OF SAID SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM; SAID GEARING MEANS CONNECTING THE TWO COUNTER MECHANISMS FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATIONS BEING SO CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGED THAT WHEN THE SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM INCREASES THE FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM DECREASES AND WHEN THE SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM DECREASES THE FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM INCREASES; AND DISENGAGING MECHANISM INCLUDING MEANS FOR LONGITUDINALLY MOVING SAID FIRST DRIVE SHAFT IN ITS BEARINGS TO BRING THE GEAR MOUNTED THEREON INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH THE GEAR ON SAID SECOND DRIVE SHAFT, THE CONSTRUCTION AND ARRANGEMENT BEING SUCH THAT AFTER THE HEIGHT OF INSTRUMENT READINGS HAS BEEN SET ON THE FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM THE FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM CAN BE DISCONNECTED TO PERMIT THE SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM TO BE TURNED BACK TO ZERO WITHOUT DISTURBING THE READINGS ON THE FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM, THEN WITH BOTH COUNTER MECHANISMS RECONNECTED FOR SIMULTANEOUS OPERATION SUCCESSIVE MINUS ROD READINGS PLACED ON THE SECOND COUNTER MECHANISM AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE THE READINGS ON THE FIRST COUNTER MECHANISM SO THAT IT WILL GIVE THE ELEVATION CORRESPONDING TO ROD READINGS.