Ratio computer

Claim 2

In a ratio computer for use with a measuring device having transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of movement of a movable member associated with said measuring device, the combination comprising first bi-directional counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, means for rendering said first counter means to count upwardly when said movable member is moving in one direction and for rendering said first counter means to count downwardly when said movable member is moving in an opposite direction, a source of reference pulses, second counter means connected to said source for counting said reference pulses, time base selector means connected to said second counter means and operative to produce a coincidence signal when said second counter means has counted a preselected number of said reference pulses, indicator means, control means connected to said indicator means, said first counter means and said selector means to cause said indicator means to generate a display related to the number of pulses counted by said first counter means during the interval ending with the production of said coincidence signal, and switch means connected with said first counter means and said second counter means for simultaneously initiating counting by said first and second counter means.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1, including means for producing said reference pulses at a constant frequency, whereby the number of pulses displayed by said indicator means is proportional to the velocity of said movable member.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 1, including a manually operable switch means; and logic means interconnecting said manually operable switch means, said transducer, said source of reference pulses, said first counter means and said second counter means, to initiate said interval by simultaneously causing said first counter means to begin counting said pulses from said transducer and said second counter means to begin counting said reference pulses upon actuation of said switch means.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, including manually operable means for selectively reversing the direction of counting of said first counter means, whereby said first counting means counts downwardly when said movable member is moving in a first direction and upwardly when said movable member is moving in an opposite direction.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1 for measuring the ratio of movement of two movable elements wherein said transducer means generates a pulse for each increment of movement of a first movable element and a second transducer means generates said reference pulses, and wherein said second transducer means generates a reference pulse for each increment of movement of the second movable element.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1, including transducer means for generating two pulses in separate channels for each increment of movement of said movable member, the pulses in one of said channels leading the pulses in the other channel for a first direction of movement of said movable member and the pulse in the other channel leading for the reverse direction of movement, said first counting means being a bi-directional counter, and means connected to said transducer and to said first counter means for causing said first counter means to count upwardly for each pair of pulses from said transducer when the pulse in said first channel leads, and for causing said first counter means to count downwardly for each pair of pulses from said transducer when the pulse in the other channel leads.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said last named means comprises first and second bistable devices, means for connecting the pulse in said first channel to an enabling input of said first bistable device and to the clock input of said second bistable device, means for connecting the pulse in the other channel to the enabling input of said second bistable device and to the clock input of said first bistable device, whereby only one of said bistable devices is caused to change its state in response to a pair of pulses from said transducer, means for resetting both of said bistable devices to a reset state for each pair of pulses from said transducer, means connecting said first bistable device to said first counter means for causing said first counter means to count upwardly by one unit for each change of state of said first bistable device from a reset state to a set state and back to a reset state, and means connecting said second bistable device to said first counter means for causing said first counter means to count downwardly by one unit for each change of state of said second bistable device from a reset state to a set state and back to a reset state.

Claim 9

The ratio computer of claim 1 adapted for use with a machine tool having a rotary work holding means and said movable member is a tool holder movable relative thereto, wherein said source of reference pulses comprises a reference transducer associated with said rotary work holding means to generate a reference pulse for each unit of work rotation whereby the number of pulses displayed by said indicator means is proportional to the rate of movement of said movable member relative to the rate of movement of said work holding means.

Claim 10

The ratio computer of claim 8 wherein said reference transducer comprises a detachable electromechanical transducer that is mounted on the work holding means to generate electrical pulses corresponding to units of work rotation.

Claim 11

The ratio computer of claim 9 wherein said transducer means generates a pulse signal for movement of said movable member in one direction which is distinguishable from pulse signals for movement of said movable member in the other direction whereby bi-directional relative movement of said movable member is indicated.

Claim 12

In a ratio computer for use with a measuring device having transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of movement of a movable member associated with said measuring device, the combination comprising first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses, second counter means connected to said source for counting said reference pulses, time base selector means connected to said second counter means and operative to produce a coincidence signal when said second counter means has counted a preselected number of reference pulses, indicator means, control means connected to said indicator means, said first counter means and said selector means to cause said indicator means to generate a display related to the number of pulses counted by said first counter means during the interval ending with the production of said coincidence signal, means for causing said source of reference pulses to produce only a single pulse at a predetermined time whereby setting said time base selector means to a preselected number greater than unity causes said control means connected to said indicator means and said first counter means to control said indicator means to display the number of pulses counted by said first counter means while said first counter means is counting said pulses from said transducer so that the number of pulses displayed by said indicator means is proportional to the displacement of said movable member from its position at the time of said single pulse, and switch means connected with said first counter means and said second counter means for simultaneously initiating counting by said first and second counter means.

Claim 13

In a ratio computer for use with a measuring device having transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of movement of a movable member associated with said measuring device, the combination comprising first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses, second counter means connected to said source for counting said reference pulses, time base selector means connected to said second counter means and operative to produce a coincidence signal when said second counter means has counted a preselected number of reference pulses, indicator means, control means connected to said indicator means, said first counter means and said selector means to cause said indicator means to generate a display related to the number of pulses counted by said first counter means during the interval ending with the production of said coincidence signal, means for causing said source of reference pulses to produce only a single pulse at a predetermined time whereby setting said time base selector means to a preselected number greater than unity causes said control means connected to said indicator means and said first counter means to control said indicator means to display the number of pulses counted by said first counter means while said first counter means is counting said pulses from said transducer so that the number of pulses displayed by said indicator means is proportional to the displacement of said movable member from its position at the time of said single pulse, and switch means connected with said first counter means and said second counter means for simultaneously initiating counting by said first and second counter means.

Claim 14

In a ratio computer for use with a measuring device having transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of movement of a movable member associated with said measuring device, the combination comprising first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses, second counter means connected to said source for counting said reference pulses, time base selector means connected to said second counter means and operative to produce a coincidence signal when said second counter means has counted a preselected number of said reference pulses, indicator means, control means connected to said indicator means, said first counter means and said selector means to cause said indicator means to generate a display related to the number of pulses counted by said first counter means during the interval ending with the production of said coincidence signal, switch means, and logic means interconnecting and said switch means, said transducer, said source of reference pulses, said first counter means and second counter means, said logic means comprising a bistable device having two stable states, means for setting said bistable device into one of its stable states prior to the initiation of said interval, first gate means for interconnecting said transducer and said first counter means, second gate means for interconnecting said source of reference pulses and said second counter means, means connecting an input of said first gate means and an input of said second gate means to an output of said bistable device for disabling said first and second gate means while said bistable device is in its said one state, and means connecting an input of said bistable device with said source of reference pulses and with said switch means for setting said bistable device into its other stable state in response to the first pulse from said source of reference pulses after the actuation of said switch means.

Claim 15

In a ratio computer for use with a measuring device having transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of movement of a movable member associated with said measuring device, the combination comprising first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses, second counter means connected to said source for counting said reference pulses, time base selector means connected to said second counter means and operative to produce a coincidence signal when said second counter means has counted a preselected number of said reference pulses, indicator means, control means connected to said indicator means, said first counter means and said selector means to cause said indicator means to generate a display related to the number of pulses counted by said first counter means during the interval ending with the production of said coincidence signal, switch means, and logic means interconnecting and said switch means, said transducer, said source of reference pulses, said first counter means and second counter means, said logic means comprising a bistable device having two stable states, means for setting said bistable device into one of its stable states prior to the initiation of said interval, first gate means for interconnecting said transducer and said first counter means, second gate means for interconnecting said source of reference pulses and said second counter means, means connecting an input of said first gate means and an input of said second gate means to an output of said bistable device for disabling said first and second gate means while said bistable device is in its said one state, and means connecting an input of said bistable device with said source of reference pulses and with said switch means for setting said bistable device into its other stable state in response to the first pulse from said source of reference pulses after the actuation of said switch means.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 12 including means for causing said source of reference pulses to produce only a single pulse and means for setting said time base selector means to a preselected number greater than unity whereby said indicator means displays the number of pulses counted by said first counter means while said first counter means is counting said pulses from said transducer so that the number of pulses displayed by said indicator means is proportional to the displacement of said movable member from its position at the time of said single pulse.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 12 including automatic resetting means periodically resetting both said first counter means and said second counter means and resetting said bistable device to its said one stable state in response to said coincidence signal, said automatic resetting means comprising a time delay means whereby the completion of a time delay interval produces a pulse resetting said first counter means and said second counter means and said bistable device to its one state.

Claim 18

Apparatus for measuring, indicating and selectively providing a visual display of the location of a movable tool on a processing machine relative to a known datum or the rate of relative movement comprising transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of relative movement between the movable tool and the processing machine, first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses, second counter means connected to said source controlled by said reference pulses, pulse means to initiate said first counter means and disable said second counter means, indicator means controlled by said first and second counter means and said pulse means for indicating the relative location of said movable tool and said processing machine when said second counter means is disabled and to indicate the rate of tool movement when said second counter means is enabled, said transducer means generating two signals in two separate channels for each increment of movement of said movable tool, the two signals in said two channels being in a timed relationship whereby movement of said tool in a first direction produces a first relationship between said two signals and movement of said tool in the opposite direction produces a second relationship between said two signals distinguishable from said first relationship, whereby said indicator means responds in opposite senses to said first and said second relationships to indicate the position resulting from bi-directional movement when said second counter means is disabled and the rate of movement of said tool when said second counter means is enabled.

Claim 19

Apparatus for measuring, indicating and selectively providing a visual display of the location of a movable tool on a processing machine relative to a known datum or the rate of relative movement comprising transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of relative movement between the movable tool and the processing machine, first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses, second counter means connected to said source controlled by said reference pulses, pulse means to initiate said first counter means and disable said second counter means, indicator means controlled by said first and second counter means and said pulse means for indicating the relative location of said movable tool and said processing machine when said second counter means is disabled and to indicate the rate of tool movement when said second counter means is enabled, said transducer means generating two signals in two separate channels for each increment of movement of said movable tool, the two signals in said two channels being in a timed relationship whereby movement of said tool in a first direction produces a first relationship between said two signals and movement of said tool in the opposite direction produces a second relationship between said two signals distinguishable from said first relationship, whereby said indicator means responds in opposite senses to said first and said second relationships to indicate the position resulting from bi-directional movement when said second counter means is disabled and the rate of movement of said tool when said second counter means is enabled.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said source of reference pulses comprises a clock.

Claim 21

Apparatus for measuring, indicating and providing a visual display of the location or rate of movement of a movable tool relative to a known datum or a processing machine which includes a work piece support providing work piece movement relative to the processing machine and the movable tool, said apparatus comprising transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of relative movement between the movable tool and the processing machine, first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses comprising a transducer pulse source responsive to the movement of a work piece relative to the processing machine, a clock pulse source and source selection means, second counter means connected to said source of reference pulses for counting said reference pulses, time base selector means connected to said second counter means and operative to produce a coincidence signal when said second counter means has counted a preselected number of said reference pulses, indicator means controlled by said counter means and said coincidence means for indicating the rate of movement of said movable tool and disabling means for disabling said reference pulse source whereby said indicator means indicates the location of said tool means relative to said known datum.

Claim 22

Apparatus for measuring, indicating and providing a visual display of the location or rate of movement of a movable tool relative to a known datum or a processing machine which includes a work piece support providing work piece movement relative to the processing machine and the movable tool, said apparatus comprising transducer means for generating a pulse for each increment of relative movement between the movable tool and the processing machine, first counter means for counting the pulses from said transducer, a source of reference pulses comprising a transducer pulse source responsive to the movement of a work piece relative to the processing machine, a clock pulse source and source selection means, second counter means connected to said source of reference pulses for counting said reference pulses, time base selector means connected to said second counter means and operative to produce a coincidence signal when said second counter means has counted a preselected number of said reference pulses, indicator means controlled by said counter means and said coincidence means for indicating the rate of movement of said movable tool and disabling means for disabling said reference pulse source whereby said indicator means indicates the location of said tool means relative to said known datum.