Thomas Francis Galvin

US Patent:

49640437, Oct 16, 1990

Filed:

Jun 13, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/205928

Inventors:

Thomas M. Galvin - Quincy MA

International Classification:

G06F 1522

US Classification:

364401

Abstract:

The present invention enables visualizing, identifying and ordering speed reduction gearing configurations, particularly enclosed worm gear configurations, by a system comprising a mechanical display and a digital computer, which cooperate in a novel manner. The mechanical display includes sequences of adjustable slide media, each having at least a stationary base component and a rotatable disk component of sufficiently large size for convenient visual and manual access. The digital computer includes a host computer and a plurality of dedicated terminals that communicate with the host computer through telephone lines. Each of the terminals contains a programmed read only memory which guides the terminal user, through a sequence of inquiries, to automatically telephone the host computer, to transmit input data from the mechanical display to the host computer, and to display the result data received from the host computer for confirmation or rejection by the user.