US1108190A - Electrical display device. - Google Patents

Description

H. A. KUNITZ.

ELECTRICAL DISPLAY DEVICE. APPLIOATION FILED MAY 19, 1911.

1, 1 08, 1 90. Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

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ELECTRICAL DISPLAY DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1911.

1,108,190. Patented Aug. 25, 1914 Z. SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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HANNIBAL A. KUNIrz, oF rrr'rsBUnGii, P

ENNSYLVANIA, ASISIGNOB. 0E QNE-HLF T O WILLIAM T. CA'HOON, 0F IITTSFBRGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL DISPLAY DEVICE.

Application filed lay 19. 1911. Serial No. 628,324.

Specification of Letters `Patent.

Patented Aug'. 2.5, 1914.

To all ywhom it may concern Be it knownthat'I, HANNIBAL A. KUNrrz, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electrical Display Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to electric display devices for ornamental and advertising uses. In devices of this nature electric lights of varying types and various colors are employed to ornament and illuminate the exterior and interior of buildings, and advertising signs and the like. For the latter purpose these ornamental illuminating devices are usually arranged to be periodically electrified and put out, so as to call the attention of the public to the illuminated advertising matter in connection with which To accomplish this result some type of electric make and break device, termed an electric sign flasher is generally employed so that the display device properfand the advertising matter are electrified alternately or according to some desired plan so that the entire advertising sign will be beautilied and the attention of the public drawn thereto.

The object of my invention 1s to greatly improve the ornamental effects attainable in this type of device, and to produce a display the varying form and color ofwhich continually changes in shape and shade for a long interval of time so as to produce a beautiful and striking effect.

My invention contemplates a device of this character comprising an electric light tube, preferably of the Geissleror vacuum tube type, and preferably a plurality oi such tubes' being arranged in series in proximity to each other, and means for simultaneously revolving said tube or tubes and otherwise moving or preferably rotating the same so as to produce a variegated light effect.

My invention also consists in providing .'rotatingtand revolving mechanism actuating a dis frame on which the light-tubes are carriedhmd storming in itself part of electric circuit by which the tubes are illuminated. It also consists 1n a number of'other featuresof construction and combination of parts as hereinafter more specifically described.

On the accompanying drawings FigureV 1 is a Jiront elevation of a display device embodying my invention. Fig; 2 is a plan view 3 is a vertical section of the saine. Fig. of the same on line 3-3 Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view illustrating the essential features'of the electrifyingsystem employed. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through one of the vacuum tubes illustrated.

The rotary disk frame l illustrated is mounted on a metallic shaft 2 journaled 'in the bearing brackets 3, 3. The shaft 2 is driven in any suitable manner `-|as through the pulley 4 and leather belt 5 leading to any suitable source of power, suchas a motor. The light-'tubes 7 (as shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4) are rotatably .mounted on the disk frame l. I preerably employ a considerable number of such tubes 7 ,each tube varying somewhat in form and in color of light from the others. InA Figs. 1 t0 3 I have illustrated four of such tubes, namely, the tubes 7a, 7", 7, 7d, separately mounted, and the tube 7d', which is mounted to rotate with the tube 7d, making five in all. The tubes are carried on rotary disks 8, 8b, 8, and 8d, respectively. The aforesaid disks are carried respectively by the metallic shafts 9a, 91. 9c and 9d each journaled in a bearing 10 in the form of a bushing of brass, iron or other conducting material mounted in the disk l of the disk frame l, which is preferably of fiber, wood or like insulating material. Each of the disks 8 is also preferably of insulating material and 1s hub 1l fastened to its respective shaft 9 or 9b, etc'. The tubes 7 are preferably Geissler tubes, by which I mean vacuum tubes provided with a positive and negative pole or electrode, and so constructed as when electrified, to cast a well defined filamentous light which preserves its shape and definite extent to a great degree when rotated even at a high rate, as distinguished from a mere carbon filament or other similar type of lamp, thelight from which when rotated at aY moderate: rate becomes indefinite and blurred so as to appear merely asa'spot or circle. It will be understood, however, that myI invention is not limited to the use ot any provided with the metallic bushing or.n

specific form or type of lamp or light tube,

and that the term light-tube as used herein and in intended merely to designate a type or lamp which isadapted to produce the well known illuminating effects of the Geisssaid electrical tubes 7, 7b, etc.. are further' more preferably so arranged that when rotated, one or more of them traverses successively part of the path passed over by anotheil or others of the tubes. Thus, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, the tube- 71 is so mounted on the disk 8d that it successively passes. over part of the space S on the plan of the disk l which is passed over also by the tube 7, the mounting and rotation of the said tubes to be described below permitting of this operation without the contact of the tubes. An equivalent light effect may be produced, however, by providing a longer shaft carrying the disk on which a tube is mounted. Thus the tube 7c which is illustrated as a relatively very long tube has its carrying disk 8c mounted on a shaft 9c which extends far enough out from the disk frame 1 to permit the rotation of the tube 7c the tubes 7d and 7d. It is evident that the appearance in plan View or elevation, z'. e., to the eye, when the electrified Alight-tubes are rotated and simultaneously revolved` is that of intertwining and constantly varying lines or forms of lights of. different colors.

The variegated colors are conveniently produced by a colored liquid carried within each tube, as 7c and around the vacuated inner tubeor snake 13, as illustrated in Fig. 5.

The sprocket wheel 14 of insulating material is carried fXedly on the shaft 2 and connected by means of the sprocket chain 15 to the sprocket wheel 16 splined or otherwise fastened to the short countershaft 18 journaled in the bearing bracket 19. The sprocket wheel 14 is formed conveniently of two disks 14 of fiber or wood separated by a central disk 14 of fiber which is 'serrated at its margin to form the sprocket teeth 19, a number of the other insulated sprocket wheels illustrated being similarly constructed but not specifically described, as to this feature.

A sprocket wheel 2O is also fastened to the l shaft 18 and connected by the chain- 21 to the Wheel 22 rotatably journaled on the driving shaft 2. The Wheel 22 is of insulating material, preferably similar in construction to the wheel 14 above described, 4"but is provided with the metallic contact face 23 on which the chain 21 meshing with the gear'teeth 24 plays. Another sprocket wheel illustrated merely as another set of sprocket teeth 25 on they portion 22 of the wheel 22 is connected 'i by the sprocket chain.

the accompanying claims is produced by' the 26 to the sprocket wheel 27 mounted on the shaft 9a. The contact face 23 on the sprocket wheel 22 is continued at 23 so as to contact with the links of the chain 26and transmit. current through the said chain to the1 sprocket wheel 27 of conducting materia The disk fra-me 1 is constructed preferably of the two disks 1 and 12 rigidly connected by the screw boltsl 50 extending through the bracing studs 51. The disk 1 is preferably mounted on the shaft 2 by the metallic hub 52 which is suitably fastened to the disk 1 as by the bolts 54; the disk4 12 being provided with a suitable aperture12 through which the shaft 2 extends.

The shaft'Qa-carrying the gear wheel. 27 v extends rearwardly throughthe disk 12, but the other shafts 9b, 9, and 9d journaled in their respective bearings 10 in theA disk proper 1 do not extend beyond the disk 12, so that the said disk trated close to the bed box or like mounting 55 asI illustrated in Fig. 3.

The. sprocket wheel 28, preferably of insulating material, is mounted on the shaft 9, and similar sprocket wheels 29, 30 and 31 are mounted'on the shafts 9b, 9C, 9d, respectively, between the disks 1 and 12.- The sprocket chain 32 connects the wheels 28, 29, etc. The said Wheels are preferably of varying size or number of sprockets, as illustrated, so thatthe rotation imparted through the sprocket wheel 28 and chain 32 will drive the shafts 9a. 9L?. etc., at varying rates, thereby rotating the light tubes 7a, 7", etc.. at varyingspeeds so as to produce any desired light effect. The disks'8a, 8", etc., on which the tubes 7a, 7", etc., are mounted, are of fiber or like insulating material, each .having a circumferential band or strip 35 of metal with which one of the brushes 36 carried on 'the disk1"contacts. The lighttubes 77b, etc.. are preferably fastened, as bythe wires 37 to the carrying arms 38. respectively, each provided with a metal sleeve 39 which fits over the end of one of the shafts 9a, 9b, etc., (see Fig.l 3). The carrying arms 38 are fastened rigid with the disks 8, 8b, etc., preferably by the set screws 40. hese carrying arms 38 vary somewhat in form,.as shown in Fig. 1,-each however, being provided with the counterweight 41 having a slotted arm 42 fastened to the carrying arm 38 by a set screw 43, so that the position of the counterweight may be varied to accurately balance any light-tube as 7b which may be attached to the carrying arm.

Each light-tube, as v,711, is provided with'a wire 44 connecting onehof its poles 45 with a circumferential metallicXstrip 35 on the disk, as 8a; and with another wire 4G connecting .its opposite pole 47 withv the metallic disk hub l1 or shaft, as 9e. The Wires 48 concan be conveniently rof nect each of the spring brushes 36 with the only a novel light eect due to the revoluiixed metallic hub 10 of the adjacent shaft, tion and mutual rotation of the light-tubes, as 9b carrying the adjacent tube as 7b, to but also an infinite numberfof variations in which current is connected from the hub l() the lighting effect by adjustment in the through the shaft 9* and wire 46. The curmechanism. v 70 rent after passing through the tube 7" trav- What I' claim is: y erses the wire l-i, contact surface 35, brush 1.V A device of the. character described 36 and wire 4:8 leading to the next tube 7, comprising a plurality of electric lightand thence in a similar manner through the tubes, il -rtiltdble SHPPOI for each tube, a

10 tube 7 d, and 7 d', which is connected by a frame iii which said supports are journaled, 75

the metal hub 52 of the disk l mounted on any preferred fashion to a suitable vibrator trated in Fig. 4

3o bracket 19, countershaft i8 and sprocket 85 and shaft 9a. The current then passes from 25 on the double gear Wheel22, 22 are so 9'd and each of the shafts 9, 9, and 9d is ing the size of the particular sprocket Wheel teeth 23, 240i the eifective sizes of any one Wire i6 to theconducting surface or strip and actuating mechanism forming part of 35 of the disk 8d. the electric circuit of said tubes and co-` 'The wire or metallic strip 4 9 leads from Operating with said frame to simultanethe brush 36 in contact with the disk 81 to ously rotate the same and said tube supports. l SQ A device of the character described comprising a plurality of Geissler tubes, a .rotatable support for each tube, a frame in which said supports are journaled, and actuating mechanism coperating with said g5 frame to simultaneously rotate the same and Asaid supports, said actuating mechanism forming part of the electric circuit of lsaid tubes. 3. A device of the character described comprising an insulating frame, an insulating support and a conducting shaft carrying the same and journaled in said frame, and al light carried by said support, in combination vwith asecondconducting shaft carrying said frame, an electrical connection betweensaid second shaft and said light, and another conductor connected to said conducting shaft journaled in said frame, and means for independently Arotating said frame and support.

e. A device of the character described comprising an insulating frame, an insulating support and a conducting shaft carrying the same and journaled in said frame, 10.5 and a light carried by said support, in combination With a second conducting shaft carrying said frame, an electrical connection between said second shaft and said light, an insulating gear Wheel journaled on said shaft carrying said frame, and conducting gearing connections between said gear Wheel and said shaft journaled in said frame.

5. A device of the character described comprising an insulating frame, a plurality of insulating disk supports, a conducting shaft carrying each support and journaled in said lframe; an electrical connection carrying current to one of said shafts, a light carried by each shaft and provided with a conductor 4communicating therewith, another conductor leading from each light to the shaft of another light, a return conductor leading from one of theother lights, and means ,for simultaneously rotating said frame and said shafts journaled therein.

6. A device of the character described comprising an insulating frame, a plurality of insulating supports, a conducting shaft carrying each support and journaled in the shaft 2. The shaft 2 '1s-connected in any suitable manner as by the wire N electrically joined to the bearing 3 to a source of current. The circuit may be continued in or equivalent device k(not illustrated) by which the peculiar interrupted current necessary to illuminte the Geissler tubes employed is produced, the vvires M', N illusi being understood as leading, one of them, fromthe secondary coil of such a vibrator. l-prefer, however, to pro. vide the return Wire M electrically joined to the metallic sprocket chain 21 by the bearing Wheel 20. The metallic circuit is then continuous. through the metal faces 23, 23', of the insulating gear wheel 2Q and sprocket chain 26 to the metallic sprocket Wheel 27 the shaft 9a through the metal hub l1 and Wire 46 to the first light tube 'la and thence through the other` tubes as escribed above.

The relative numbers of gear teeth 24 and arranged that when the shaft 2 is rotated carrying with it the disk. frame 1 the sprocket wheel 22 will have a rotation differing from that of the shaft 2. The shaft then rotated through the sprocket chain 26, Wheels 27 and 28 and sprocket chain 32. The rates of rotation of each of the tubes may be arranged and varied at will by vary- Q7, or 29, etc., mounted on its shaft 9a or 9b, etc. The rate of rotation of allthe tubes moreover is conveniently regulated -by changing either the number of sprocket of the sprocket wheels le, 16 or 20. therefore provide a convenient mechanism by which the light tubes are simultaneously revolved and rotated, the said 'mechanism' 60 serving as part of the conducting electric circuit of said tubes,l and being capable further of slight adjustment or changes of varying the rate of rotation of all the tubes and also their relative rates of rotation. 65 therefore provide means for obtaining not 4 from its light electrical connection carrying current to one of said shafts, a light carried by each shaft and provided With a conductor communicating therewith, each of said supports having a continuous conducting surface and a conductor leading thereto, a brush carried by said frame in Contact with each of said surfaces and provided with an electric connection to another of said shafts, a brush on said frame, an

- said frame in contact'with one of said sur- .insulating sprocket faces connected to the return circuit, and means cooperating therewith for simultaneously rotating said frame and each of said shafts j ournaledl therein.

i device ol.z the character described comprising an insulating frame, a metallic driving sl'iaft carrying the saine, a plurality of electric lights, a shaft carrying each light and jouriialed in said frame, an electric cir cuit including said lights and a conductor communicating' with said driving shaft, an Wheel journaled on said driving shaft, and provided With a metallic surface, a inetallic driving' connection in electrical contact with said surface on said sprocket wheel, and each of said shafts iournaled in said iframe, a driving connection hetvfeen said surface and said driving' shaft lout insulated l and an elec'- trical circuit leading through ing surface and said first mentioned driving connection and one of aforesaid journaled shafts to aforesaid electric light circuit.

8, r comprising an insulating frame, a plurality of electric lights, metallic shafts carrying said lights and journaled in said france,v a on one of said shafts, a metallic driving shaft carrying said frame, an insulating gear 'Wheel mounted on said driving shaft and provided with a conducting surface, a sprocket chain in contact with said surface connecting said gear Wheel and aforesaid Wheel, an actuating connection between said shaft on which said conducting gear Wheel is mounted and another shaft journaled in said ifi-anic, an electrical circuit including said lights and said driving shaft, and a return metallic circuit including said metallic surface, sprocket chain and conducting sprocket Wheel. ln testimony whereof l the said Hanniiiin il. "y hereunto set my hand. A

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onsoii, Grain device of the character described conducting gear-

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