Abstract: A counting apparatus comprising a drum counting mechanism and a step motor for driving the drum counting mechanism. A housing for the drum counting mechanism includes a wall which forms a part of the housing for the step motor, the step motor including a rotor with a rotor shaft, which shaft extends through the wall. The step motor includes a stator coil which is supported on an extending portion of the housing for the step motor. Alternatively, a bearing and flange unit may be provided which extends through an opening in the common wall and which may have an extending portion on which the stator coil is mounted in surrounding relationship.

Abstract: An electrical impulse operated number wheel counter with coaxial number wheels (2); transfer pinions (8); a reciprocable pawl (12) engaging the first number wheel and a solenoid (20) driving the pawl, has a series of leaf springs (33) carried on the solenoid armature (24). In the rest position the leaf springs (33) engage bosses (9) on the transfer pinions to ensure that the number wheels (2) are correctly aligned but when the solenoid (20) is energized to effect a count, the movement of the armature (24) lifts the leaf springs away from the transfer pinions (8) which therefore rotate unhindered. An additional effect of the leaf springs is to reduce the power consumption of the counter and this effect can still be achieved with other spring arrangements. A shock resistance element (50) is freely rotatably mounted in the path of the pawl (12) so as to be struck in the event of shock induced movement of the pawl, substantially to eliminate spurious shock induced counts.

Abstract: A roller skate has an odometer supported on a bracket located in the space between the rear wheels of the rear truck, the bracket being affixed on the truck by a U shaped shackle and shackle nuts. The odometer may be electronic, with digital display in a magnifying window and actuated by a magnet on a rear wheel. It may also be mechanical, actuated by a friction wheel rotated by a skate wheel and movable into and out of contact by a set screw or lever and spring arrangement. The odometer can be read by raising the heel after skating.

Abstract: An auxiliary force-applying mechanism is connected to a counter type altimeter for applying a supplemental force to rotate its counter mechanism at the time a Geneva type mechanism advances a second drum by one indicator position. The force applied to the drum mechanism is approximately equal to the additional force required to advance the second drum through the Geneva mechanism so that a relatively constant load is applied to the altimeter driving mechanism such as an aneroid capsule. In a second embodiment, a constant auxiliary force is applied to the altimeter drum and this relatively constant auxiliary force is relieved during the time that the Geneva mechanism advances a second drum by one drum position so that a relatively constant force is applied to the aneroid capsule.