Timing apparatus and system

A system for indicating the lapsed time from a start point for each of a plurality of entities to reach a plurality of a succession of predetermined stations along a predetermined path of movement of said entities comprising:

• radio frequency transmitting means carried by each of said entities, each said means emanating a radio frequency signal discreet for each entity, radio frequency receiving means located at each of said stations and each adapted to receive an interval of signals from said transmitting means when the transmitting means carried by said entity is within a predetermined area of each said station, a plurality of detector means connected to said receiving means, each said detector means being adapted to discriminate and detect signals of a selected one of said discreet radio frequency signals, activating means associated with each of said detector means constructed and arranged to generate an output signal when an interval of signals from the corresponding discreet radio frequency signal is received thereby, a plurality of timing counters serially connected to each of said detector means, clock means operable to operate all said timing counters in timing unison, start means connecting said clock means to said timing counters to start said timing counter means at the same time, a timing counter stopping means for each said timing counter operable by said output signal to cause the said timing counters to discontinue counting upon being actively energized thereby, and sequencing means connected to sequence the active energization by said output signal sequentially to one of the timing counters each time an interval of output signals is received by said receiving means, whereby one of each of said series of counters will stop to indicate lapsed time from said start upon an interval of signals of the discreet radio frequency signal being received at each of the succession of predetermined stations.