US718792A - Pedometer. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED JAN. 20, 1903.

W. E. PORTER.

PEDOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED nu 2s, 1902.

B0 MODEL.

W/ TNE SSE S Q 0 c/ Pm A Twinx/masv 'lowing is a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

l/VILSON E. PORTER, OF HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

PEDOIVIETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 7 18,7 92, dated January 20, 1903. Application filed May 28, 1902. Serial No. 109,338. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILSON E. PORTER, of the city and county of New Haven, State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Pedometers, of Whichthe folfull, clear, and exact description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and in Which- Y Figure l represents a rear view of a pedometer (the case being removed) embodying myinvention; Fig. 2, a vertical section on lines 2 2 of Fig. l; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the barrels; Fig. 4, a perspective View of the pinion and springs, and Fig. 5 a horizontal section on lines 5 5 'of Fig. 2.

In all figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.

My invention relates to pedometers or devices for registering the distance traveled by a pedestrian carrying the same. In meters of this class a weighted vibratory lever is jarred from its normal position by the step of the pedestrian and returned to itsnormal position by a spring. The rotation of the lever on its axis marks the distance traveled by the pedestrian in his step. When the requisite number of steps has been traveled, a mile Will be registered by the pedometer. As the length of the steps of different persons varies, it is essential to the accuracy of the pedometer that the amount of movement of the registering train of gears on a single movement of the lever should be capable of adjustment. This has hitherto been accomplished by regulating the length of the vibration of the lever in its movement, so that in the case of a person with a long stride the lever may be adj usted to vibrate farther than in the case of a person With a short stride. The lever has usually been connected to transmit its movement to the registering train of gears through a ne-toothed ratchet-Wheel, so that when the lever is adjusted to make along stroke in its vibration the paWl will take up more teeth of the ratchet-Wheel, and consequently operate the gear to a further extent than in the case of a short stroke. Obviously, however, the only variations in the length of a stroke Which could be measured by the ratchet must be such as to take up one tooth, more or less,

of the ratchet. Al-

though the teeth may be made very ne to permit a very nice adjustment, an error, although small, When multiplied by the thousands, as when a number of miles are traveled, Would be sufficient to impair the usefulness of the device.

My invention has for its object a novel construction by which the slightest stroke or movement of the lever Will be registered by the train of gears, so that the device may be adjusted to a nicety for variations in the length of the step of the pedestrian; and it consists of a rotary member, through which the movement of the lever is transmitted to the train of gears, which is provided with a spring engagement with suitable barrels or ianges, so that it is capable of free rotary movement in one direction, While having an instantaneous check against movementin the reverse direction.

Referring to the drawings for a more particular description, the parts designated by the letters A and B represent the movementplates of the pedometer, held in their proper relation to each other by pillars a.

C is a lever having a Weight D at one end and rigidly connected to a post E at the other end. The post E has suitable bearings in the plates A and B.

F is a bridge fitting over one end of the lever and having a perforation for the post E.

G is a disk frictionally secured to the post E to rotate therewith, and H is a spring secured at one end to the bridge F by pins h or otherwise and at the other end to the disk G.

`One of the posts ct is shown more particularly in Fig. 2 as extending upward through the plate A to form a stop, limiting the movement of the Weighted lever C in one direction, and the spring H is adapted to normally hold the lever C against the stop a.

I is a cam pivoted at 7c, adapted to form an adjustable stop, against which the lever Will strike in its movement When jarred away from the stop a against the tension of the spring H. The cam I is rigidly connected to a toothed Wheel L, engaged by a spring M,

so that by overcoming the tension of the spring M the cam may be rotated to the desired position, Where it Will be held in place by the spring engaging in one of the notches on the periphery of the toothed Wheel L.

ICO

Loosely mounted on the post E is a pinion N, which is adapted to mesh with one of the gears of the registering train T and V. The pinion N at its upper end is provided with one or more springs O, curved, as shown more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. A barrel P or disk with an annular depending flange@ is mounted on the post E to rotate with the 1ever C.

When the parts are assembled, the spring or springs O bear against the inner surface of the iiange p in such a way that upon the rotation of the pinion in one direction the ends of the spring will slide over the surface of the iiange, but upon the reverse movement of the pinion the springs will engage by frictional grip against the inner face of the iiange. By this means the movement of the pinion will be checked immediately upon pressure being exerted on the pinion in one direction. At the lower end of the pinion is a similar spring or springs R, which are adapted to iit into a similar barrel S or disk with an ascending fiange s and engage the inner surface of the iiange s to likewise check the movement of the pinion. The barrel S, as shown in Fig. 2, may be rigidly secured to the plate B.

The operation of the device is as follows: Then the lever C is jarred away from the stop et by the step of the pedestrian, the barrel P is rotated therewith, and as the springs O pre- Vent the rotation of the'pinion in the opposite direction from the barrel P the pinion N will be rotated with the barrel. Upon the reverse movement of the lever under the tension of the spring l-I the barrel P may slip about the springs O, while the springs R engage the barrel S and prevent the rotation of the pinion. Any movement, therefore, of the lever will be registered, and by means of the cam I or other suitable adjusting mechanism the length of the stroke of the lever may be varied to a nicety.

I-Iaving now described my invention, (which may vary in its details Without departing from the spirit thereof,) what Iclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with a vibratory lever; ofa member rotated therewith and an independent rotary member, one of said members having an annular iange, and the other a spring or springs, the free ends of which bear against said Bange to engage the same upon their movement, in one direction, and to move freely on said Iiange in the reverse direction; and a train of gears operated by said independent rotary member, substantially as described.

2. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with a vibratory lever; of a barrel rotated therewith; a pinion having a spring or springs, the free ends of which bear against the interior surface of said barrel to engage the same upon their movement in one direction, and to move freely on the same upon the reverse movement; and a train of gears operated by said pinion, substantially as described.

3. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with a vibratory lever; of a bai# rel rotated therewith; a pinion having a spring or springs, the free ends of which bear against the interior surface of said barrel to engage the same upon their movement in one direction and to move freely on the same in the reverse direct-ion; means for checking the movement of said pinion in one direction; and a train of gears operated by said pinion, substantially as described.

et. In a pedometer, or similar article, the combination with the frame; of a vibratory lever mounted thereon; a barrel rotated therenwith; a secondary barrel rigidly mounted on said frame; a pinion having a spring or springs, the free ends of which bear against the interior surfaces of said barrels to engage Ythe same upon their movement in one direction, and to move freely on the same upon the reverse movement; and a train of gears operated by said pinion, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on the 21st day of May, 1902.

WILSON E. PORTER.

Witnesses:

JOHN K. BEACH, SAMUEL H. FISHER.

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