US772625A - Speed-indicating apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

I. MONTANDON. SPEED INDIGATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

NO MODEL.

PATENTED OCT. 18, 1904.

F. MONTANDON. SPEED INDIGATING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 18. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

NO MODEL Patented October 18, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRITZ MONTANDON, OF LA OHAUX-DE-FONDS, SWITZERLAND.

SPEED-INDICATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming p of Letters Patent N 772,625, dated October 18, 1904.

Application filed August 18, 1902.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRITZ MONTANDON, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, and a resident of La Ghaux-de-Fonds, Canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland, have invented a Speed-Indicating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide means to indicate from time to time the speed with which any kind of vehicle moves. Any observer who is in the vehicle and who desires to ascertain the speed with which the latter moves with the aid of a stop-watch which he holds in his hand can compute this speed pretty exactly if he follows the milestones, which as a rule are distributed along the sides of highways. For the purpose in question it is entirely sufficient if the aforesaid person allows the hand of the stop-watch to move the moment that he moves past such a stone and that he stops it again as soon as the next stone has been reached. For example, let it be supposed that the two aforesaid stones are separated from each other by a distance of one hundred meters and that the time indicated by the watch is five seconds. Then a simple calculation will show that the vehicle is running at a speed of seventy-two kilometers per hour. The action of this new apparatus is based upon the above-described fact.

The present invention is described in such a manner that the escapement mechanism of the stop-watch, which had hitherto been moved by hand, is now operated automatically by a wheel of the vehicle.

The indicating-diskshows, as usual, besides the time-scale a speed-scale, which represents an exactly-ascertained measured distance.

A form of the new apparatus is shown as an example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a top view, and Fig. 2 a section along the line X X of Fig. 1, showing the speed-indicator without its driving apparatus. Fig. 3 is a rear View of the indicator with the bottom of the case removed. Fig. 4: is a view of the mechanism by means of which the central hollow axle of stop-Watch is moved with the aid of a vehicle-wheel, and Fig. 5 is a plan view showing the application Serial No. 120,088. (No model.)

of the new apparatus to an automobile in such a manner that there is provided transmission of motion from the automobile-wheel to the speed-indicator.

Referring by reference characters to the drawings, A is a case in which is arranged a stop-watch of any desired kindfor example, that described in Swiss Patents Nos. 207 or 542-having an axis a, on which is placed a gear for driving the watch index or hand in the usual manner and provided with a wheel B, having fifteen teeth. Between the teeth of this wheel B there may engage during each revolution of disk 0 a stud c, secured on the latter. This disk is formed integrally with a conical-toothed wheel G, into which engages a conical gear p, which latter is itself driven by means of a worm P. Rod 8 of this worm rests in a small pillow-block S and is connected, by means ofa flexible shaft D, with an axle (Z, which can be seen in Fig. 5. To the latter axle the motion of vehicle-wheel R is imparted by means of disk 1', the latter being rigidly connected with said wheel and effecting, by means of friction,the rotation of a small disk 1 keyed on axle cl. Axle (Z can rotate freely in a support E, secured on a bar which is loosely arranged on the axis of wheel 0'. A nut c, screwed on axle (Z, allows said axle to be advanced toward the center of disk 0' or to be removed therefrom, so that the number of revolutions of the small disk 9" can be exactly regulated in such a manner that stud c, which moves wheel B, describes one revolution,while the distance performed is equal to the unit of measure, which may be selected at will and which serves for expressing the entire distance performed by the vehicle. As shown, for example, in the drawings, the ratio of gear is adjusted in such a manner that stud 0 makes one revolution, while wheel B determines a distance traveled of two hundred and fifty meters.

Stud 0 is not fastened directly on disk C, but on arm F, which is held loosely on pivot f of the aforesaid disk C and the swinging amplitude of which is limited by screw 3 Spring g imparts to stud c the tendency to place itself always between the teeth of wheel B. On the other hand, said stud c performs the action of a stopwork whenever the vehi-.

of a mechanism K, (see especially Fig. 3,)-

which records the distance performed in such a manner that there is obtained simultaneously an indication of the time recorded by the usual work of the stop-watch and an indication of the attained speed and of the distance covered by the vehicle.

The clock or watch movement inclosed in case A is, as has been said before, a stopwatch movement of any desired pattern, being appropriately inserted in a double case VV'. The parts for winding up and for setting the inclices executed in the usual manner are arranged on the outside'of the aforesaid double case. The knob u, attached to the button of the keyless watch and being able to actuate, by means of the usual levers, the hollow axle n, allows the watch to be used also in the ordinary manner. The only change which has been made in the work of the watch or clock consists in the above-described small wheel B, secured on axis a of the hollow axle it.

During each revolution made by the wheel C, which corresponds to two hundred and fifty meters covered by the vehicle-wheel R,

stud 0 will move along the small wheel 13 by i one tooth, whereby the'following movements are regularly effected: the starting of the watch-index, its arrest, and its return to zero, its renewed starting, &c., during the whole period during which the vehicle moves forward. Consequently the new apparatus performs in every respect the same works which a person might accomplish with the aid of a watch, there being only the one difference that all operations are effected automaticallyso that the only thing the driver has to do is to notice the speed which index N shows on the divisions m m, whereby said index is of course arrested during a certain number of seconds, which number corresponds to the space of time which wheel 7* requires to run each time over the above-mentioned unit of distance amounting to two hundred and fifty meters.

The indicating mechanism K, which indicates the performed distance, may be of any desired construction and needs not to be connected with the speed-indicator. However, this connection is exceedingly useful, especially on account of the regulation of the arrangement for the transmission of motion. The unit of distance according to which the measurements are made is of course optional that is to say, there may be used, for'example, miles, knots, &c., for measuring and a fraction or the entire unit may be used as a basis for the transmission of motion on the watch, whereby in every case the division on the indicator-disk and the dimension of the as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A vehicle speed-indicator comprising the combination of a part actuated relatively to the speed at which the vehicle is traveling, an indicating device associated therewith showing a definite distance traversed, and a stopwatch or timepiece automatically set into operation and automatically arrested by the speed-indicator-actuating mechanism and having the usual indicating devices and which shows the time occupied in traversing such definite distance.

2. A speed-indicator for vehicles comprising a part actuated relatively to the speed of the vehicle, an indicating device associated therewith showing a definite distance traversed, a stopwatch or timepiece, automatically set into operation and automatically arrested by the speed-indicator-actuating mechanism to indicate the time occupied traveling such distance, and thereafter automatically returned to Zero.

3. A speed-indicator for vehicles comprising a wheel rotated step by step controlled by a wheel of the vehicle, a dial and pointer associated therewith and showing a definite distance traversed, a stop watch or timepiece indicating the time. occupied in traversing such distance, and means whereby in the revolution of the indicating device the stop-watch is set into operation at the start of the distance to be timed, arrested at the finish and thereafter returned to Zero, the organization being such that this cycle of operations may be automatically repeated during the continued movement of the vehicle.

4. In an apparatus for automatically indicating speeds a stop-watch having a fixed dial and a single hand, and automatic means connected to one of the moving parts of the vehicle, for starting and stopping the said hand as the vehicle continues its course, substantially as described. 7 4

5. In combination with a stop-watch havinga single hand, a wheel B connected therewith to start and stop said hand and return the same to zero automatically, and means for operating the said wheel intermittingly from a moving part of the vehicle, upon which the watch is carried, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two witnesses.

FRITZ MONTANDON WVitn'esses:

JULEs OHAPNY, ARMAND TERRELET.

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