US3567912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Counting devices including an escapement
Assignee: The General Electric Company PLC
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Filing: 1968-04-16
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Granted: 1971-03-02
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Expires: 1988-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A counting device for use in a road toll charging or similar system has a number of escape members each driven by a long-life clockwork-type mechanism differently linked to a counter so that under the control of input means responsive to different signals radiated by roadside sources the counter is operated by a different amount corresponding to the particular input signal received. In particular whole units or fractions of units can be registered when a vehicle carrying the counting device uses a road zone or a parking zone respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald William Neild
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:45
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G06; G06M; G06M1/00; G06M1/08; G06M1/10; G06M1/38; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/343; G07B; G07B15/00; G07B15/06; G07C; G07C1/00; G07C1/30; G07F17/00; G07F17/14; G07F17/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
A counting device including in combination a counter linked with each of a plurality of different counting mechanisms each of which mechanisms includes an escape member urged to move in a given direction by a spring but held by an escapement which can be operated by an electromechanical means to release the escape member for a step of movement in said direction, linkage means connecting the counter with the escape member so that the counter will be operated to give an indication of the number of said steps of movement of the escape member, and electrical circuit input means responsive to a pair of electromagnetic input signals of different predetermined frequencies and whose output is arranged to actuate the electromechanical means in one manner for one of the said pair of frequencies but in a different manner for one of the said pair of frequencies but in a different manner for the other of the said pair of frequencies such that following an operation of the escapement to produce a step of movement of the escape member in response to the receipt of an input signal of the one frequency, a further operation of the escapement to produce a further step of movement of the escape member in response to the receipt of a further input signal of that frequency can only take place after the receipt of an intervening input signal of the other frequency, the said pairs of input frequencies being different for the different counting mechanisms and each counting mechanism having a different gear ratio for its linkage means connecting its escape member to the counter so that the extent to which the counter is advanced in response to a step of movement of the escape member is different for the different escape members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
A counting device including in combination a counter linked with each of a plurality of different counting mechanisms each of which mechanisms includes an escape member urged to move in a given direction by a spring but held by an escapement which can be operated by an electromechanical means to release the escape member for a step of movement in said direction, linkage means connecting the counter with the escape member so that the counter will be operated to give an indication of the number of said steps of movement of the escape member, and electrical circuit input means responsive to a pair of electromagnetic input signals of different predetermined frequencies and whose output is arranged to actuate the electromechanical means in one manner for one of the said pair of frequencies but in a different manner for one of the said pair of frequencies but in a different manner for the other of the said pair of frequencies such that following an operation of the escapement to produce a step of movement of the escape member in response to the receipt of an input signal of the one frequency, a further operation of the escapement to produce a further step of movement of the escape member in response to the receipt of a further input signal of that frequency can only take place after the receipt of an intervening input signal of the other frequency, the said pairs of input frequencies being different for the different counting mechanisms and each counting mechanism having a different gear ratio for its linkage means connecting its escape member to the counter so that the extent to which the counter is advanced in response to a step of movement of the escape member is different for the different escape members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A counting device according to claim 1, wherein the different gear ratio linkage means are each arranged to register a half of a different basic unit on the counter by an operation of the respective escapement in one manner when the input means responds to one of said frequencies of a pair of different input signal frequencies and completion of the full different basic unit registration is effected by operation of the escapement in the other manner when the input means is next responsive to the other frequency of said pair of different signal frequencies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A counting device according to claim 2, wherein the different linkage means include a common differential gear coupling to the counter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
217 words
A counting device according to claim 3, wherein each escapement consists of a rocking pin lever pivotEd at its center and arranged to be rocked in opposite senses on receipt of the input signals of the different pair of frequencies, wherein each escape member consists of a toothed wheel driven by a spiral spring, each such rocking movement of each rocking pin lever releasing a pin at one end of the lever from a tooth of an associated escape wheel and permitting it to rotate under the urging of the spiral spring until the other pin engages another tooth of the escape wheel, said engagement being maintained until the receipt of an input signal of the second frequency of the said pair of frequencies rocks the lever in the other sense, wherein each electromechanical escapement-operating means incorporates a permanent magnet-type moving coil device and the electrical circuit input means is arranged to feed a direct electric current through the coil in different directions in response to the receipt of the appropriate pair of input signals of different frequencies, each electrical circuit input means including rectifier circuits designed to generate the direct electric current from the input signals so that the operation of the escapement is effected solely by the energy of the associated pair of input signals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
170 words
A control system in which a vehicle traversing a given path carries a counting device and in which a number of sources of electromagnetic signals located at fixed positions adjacent to the path are each designed to radiate into the path a pair of electromagnetic signals of different frequencies which can be received by the counting device as the vehicle carrying it passes by each fixed position so that the device can provide an indication of the total number of passages of the vehicle by the fixed position, wherein the counting device is in accordance with claim 1, each source of electromagnetic signals is arranged to radiate its signals of two different frequencies at spaced points such that the vehicle is arranged to encounter the two signal frequencies in alternate succession, and zones of the vehicle path for the use of which a different charge rate is to be levied being provided with signal sources the two frequencies of which are different from those of the sources at other zones.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-01 | 1974-08-31 | 1975-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-01 | 1978-08-31 | 1979-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-01 | 1982-08-31 | 1983-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |