US1552843A - Police signal system - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 8, 1925. 1,552,843

w. w. KIDENEY ET AL POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 3, 1919 Sept. 8,-1925. 1,552,843

W. W. KIDENEY ET AL POLICE SIGNALSYSTEM filed Nov. 5, 1919 2 Shuts-Sheet a Patented Sept. 8, 1925. 5

UNITED STATES 1,552,843 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM w. KIDENEY; or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND GUSTAV r. o. BA ER, or BUFFALO,

NEW YORK, ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NATIONAL PO LICK SIGNAL COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

POLICE SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application filed November 3, 1919. Serial No. 335,517.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that we, VVILLTAM W. KID- nNsY and GUSTAV F.1C. BAUER, citizens of the United States, and residents of Chicago, in the county of Cool: and State of Illinois, and Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, respectively, have invented new and useful Improvements in Police Signal Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a signal system and more particularly to a signal system for use between a central station'and a plurality of sub-stations for police purposes.

The objects of this invention are to provide means for utilizing common battery telephone circuits over which Various signals, such as are necessary in a signal system of this character, can be transmitted in a simple and direct manner and so that all electrical energy necessary for the ope '2- tion of the various signals can be supplied from the central station to the sub-stations over the telephone circuits interconnecting the sub-stations with the central station; also to so or anize the system as to permit of eliminating all code signal sending and receiving mechanisms; also to provide special service signals, such as wagon calls and hourly reports, of such a character that the oflicer sending the same in from a sub-station will know that the same have been received at the central station; also to provide means forpreventing interference or confusion at the central station between signals that may be sent simultaneously from several sub-stations; also to provide visual audible signals at each sub-station and so arranging the same that the operator at the central station can at will operate either the visual or audible signals at any one or more substations, as may be desired; also to provide means for supplying the electrical energy necessary for the operation of said visual and audible signals from the central station to the sub-stations over their respective circuits; also to provide means at the central station to indicate to the operator at the central station that any one has answered said visual or audible signals that may be sent to a sub-station; also to pro vide means at th central station so that the operator can determine the operative conthe various sub-stations; also to provide means at the central station for impressing upon the visual signals at the sub-stations electrical impressions of the same value regardless oi the distance between the same and the central station and to improve the system in other respects as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view of those portions oi our invention embodied in a sub station together with extensions showing the manner in which an additional audible sig: nal and an additional visual signal may be provided to increase the range of the sta-' tion. Figure 2 is a similar View showing those parts of our improvements which are embodied in a central station. Figure 3 is a similar view showing the door switch of a sub-station in a'positio-n different from that shown in Fig. 1. Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a suitable form of cord circuit and operators set which may be used in connection with this system.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

That portion of the mechanism embodyin our invention arranged at each of the sub-stations and shown in Fig. 1 is as follows: I 1

A represents the telephone receiver and B the receiver-hook switch having ahook lever which is adapted to engage the fixed contact 6 C represents the transmitter connected by wire 2 with one side of the receiver A and by wire 1 with the contact 19 D represents a door switch which is operated by the opening and closing of the sig nal box door at the substation which switch is so organized that when the door is closed the visual and audible signals at the sub station are cut into the sub-station circuit and at the same time the telephone appa ratus and other parts of the circuit are cut out, but when the door of the signal box at the sub-station is opened the switch I) is operated to cut out the visual and audible signal equipment and outs in the balance of the equipment at the sub-station. This switch eon'iprises an insulating push button (1, and two main switch levers (Z (5. the outer and inner sides of the contact switch lever a are arranged two contact-s (Z (Z On the inner and and outer sides of the lever contact al are arranged two contacts d (Z respectively.

The contact (i is connected by wire 13 with the receiver hook b and the contact (Z is connected with the opposite side of the transmitter C by wire 3. The main switch levers (P, d are connected, respectively, to the wires at and 12 ofthe main circuit connecting the sub-station with the centralstation.

a" is a vibrating buzzer or signal comprising an electro-magnet having one end of its coil a connected by wire 18 with the wire 13, this endof this coil being also connected with a fixed switch contact a which is adapted to be engaged and. disengaged by a movable switch contact at formed by the armature of this electro-magnet, this armature switch being connected with the opposite endot the coil of said electro-magnet.

Q is the hourly report switch which in this instance comprises a hand-operated push button 9, and two contacts g The contact 9 is connected by wires 16, 17 with the armature cont-act g and the corresponding end of its electro-magnet coil (4 The companion switch contact. 9 is connected with ground P by wire 15', 1 1-.

S represents the wagon call switch forming part of the means whereby a call for a wagon is sent by an officer from the substation tothe central station. This switch comprises a pushbutton 8, two switch lever contacts 8 sflan inner fixed contact 8 and an outer fixed contact 8 which is engaged by the lever contact 8 The contact 8 is connected by wire'26 with the wire lt leading to ground P and the contact 8 is connected by wire 31 'with the wire 17 leading to the coil a and armature contact a oithe buzzer a T is a wagon call relay which serves to first providea path for operation of the recording mechanism at the central station over one side of the telephone circuit and ground, also to connect the buzzer a across the telephone circuit and to maintain this connection until the relay is restored to normal by momentarily cutting oit the battery from the line at the central station. This relayco-mprises an electro-niagnet having a coil t one end of which is connected by wires 28, 27 with the contact .9 while the other end is connected by wire 29 with wire 13 oi the main telephone circuit. This relay electro-magnet operates two switches one of which consists of a movable cont-act t and a fixed contact 6 while the other consists of amovable contact 25 and a fixed contact 25 The contact If is connected with the wires 28, 27 leading from the coil 2 to the contact 5 while its companion contact 25 is connected by wires 30, 14 to ground P The movable contact i is connected by wire 32 to the lever contact 8 while its companion fixed contact is connected by wire 33 to the wire 3 of the main telephone circuit.

I is the audible signal at the sub-station which in this instance consists of an electro-magnet having a coil i, a diaphragm armature 71 adapted to be vibrated by an alternating current passing through the coil 1', and a horn i for projecting sound waves created by the diaphragm.

J is the visual signal at the sub-station which in this example consists of an incandescent electric lamp.

L is a condenser arranged at the sub-station so as to prevent the battery current from backing through the signal branch of the circuit at the sub-station. R is the signal selecting relay which is arranged at the sub-station and whereby the operator at the central station can operate the visual or audible signals at the sub-station selectively. This relay comprises an electro-magnet having its coil 1" connected on one side by wire 4-3 toground P This relay controls a break-and-make switch comprising a movable contact r and two fixed contacts W, W. That endoi' the relay coil 0* opposite to the grounded'end is connected by wires 42 and 41 with the contact (l of the door switch D. The movable contact 7 is also connected with the'door switch contact (Z by wires 40 and 41. The contact r is connected by wire 39 with one end of coil 2' of the horn electro-magnet and the other fixed contact 1 is connected by wire 38 to one side of the visual signal lamp J. One side of the condenser L is connected by wires 35 and 34 with the contact d of the door switch D while the other side of this condenser is connected with the other side of the lamp J by wires 36 and 37 and to the other end of the horn coil 2' by wires 36 and a l.

hen it is desired to provide audible and visualsignals at a distance from the substation which may be operated in unison with those located directly at the sub-station, and thus increase the range of the audible and visual signal mechanism, an extension of the audible and visual signal mechanism may be provided consisting of an extension audible signal P, an extension visual signal J a relay R and an extension condenser L which may be connected with each other in the same manner as the signals 1 and J, the relay R and the condenser L and connected with the door switch contacts (Z and (Z by wires 41 and 35 The instrumentalities of this system arranged at the central station are constructed as follows:

UM represents the sub-station line-jack by means of which telephone communication may be established with the sub-station in the usual manner of telephone service. This jack comprises two line terminal contacts which are adapted to engage with the tip and sleeve ofa plug of a connecting cord circuit, as will be hereinafter described, a guide ring m beingarranged in front of these two contacts for guiding a plug into engagement with these contacts. The line- Jack also includes three auxiliary contacts m mi, on. An insulating block at is interposed between the line contact m and the auxiliary contact m is a condenser for the purpose of preventing grounding the hour report circuit through the medium of the cord circuit as will presently appear. This condenser is connected on one side with the contact m by wire 20. 1

F, F F F represent the switching key by means" of which the audible and visual signals at the sub-station are controlled, the two groups of switch members F, F t being operated together as one unit while the two groups of switch members F F are also operated as one unit, these two "units being arranged so that they cannot be operated at the same time. The main switch contacts 7' and f 'of the groups F,F are so constructed thatwhen this part of the key is operated they will be automatically restored when the key lever is released. The main switch contacts 7, f of the; groups F F are so" constructed that they will be locked in an operating position until manually released by means ofthe key lever. Group F comprises three contacts 7, f f of which f is the lever switch contact which in the nor ma l or nonoperative position engages with the contact f and disengaged from the contact f, andvice versa. Group, F comprises three contacts fflf f of which f is the lever switch contact which inthe normal or non-operative position: engages. the contact f and is disengaged fromthe contact 7, and vice versa. Group F comprises four contacts 7, f f f and an insulating block f interposed between fhandf". Group F comprises two contacts ff ,7 which in the normal or non-operative position are disengaged while in the operative position they are engaged.

The contact f is connected by the main line circuit wires 6, 9, with the main line jack contact m and is also connected by wires 6, 6 with contact 7" of switch group The contact f of group F is connected by main circuit wire 21 with the opposite side of the condenser 0. Contact 7 of switch F is connected by wires 16 and 16 with contact m of the jackM.

V represents a source of supplying alternating electric current one sideof which is connected by wire with the contact 7 while the other side of the same is connected with the contact f by wires 98 and 46 which latter include a buzzer 97[ The electric source V is utilized for supplying energy for a plurality of sub-station c1rcu1ts in which case the wires 4:6, 45 would be multiof which comprises a switch lever contact 6 v which is connected with one side of the substation line circuit by wire 12, and which in its non-operative. position engages a fixed contact a connected by wire 11 with the contact f of switch group F. Another switch which is controlled by the electromagnet of relay E comprises switch lever contact 6 which connected to the othersideo-f the sub-station circuit by wire 4 and which in' its normal or non-operative positionengages lined contact'c connected by wire 5 with contact f of switch group F 6 is a movable switch lever contact which is connected with the switch lever contact 0 by an insulating member (2 and which in its normal or nonoperative position is engaged with contact 6 connected by wire 52 with contact oi the switch group F N represents a line lamp signal one of which is connected by wires 17 andl8 to grznind l? and by wire 16 and 16 to contact m of line jack M, also wires 16 and 16 to contact 7 of switch group F Z represents a similar lamp signal one of which is associated with each sub-station circuit for the purpose of indicating to the operator at the central station when the visual signal at the corresponding subsst-ation is being operated. To distinguish this lamp signal from the companion lamp signal, it is preferably colored red or otherwise. One side of this lamp Z is connected by wires 53 and 18 to ground P while the other side of the same is connected by wire to fixed contact 6 of the relay E.

K represents the relay used for making hourly reports from the sub-station at the central station, and also for inductance in the battery supply circuit to the sub-station circuit for telephone use. One side of the coil of the electromagnet of this relay is connected by wire 10 with the contact i of switch group F while the other side of the same is connected by wire 9, to one side of the common battery H the other side of the latter being connected by wire 19 with ground P Forn'iing a part of the relay K and operated by its electromagnet is a switch comprising a lever contact ic which is movable into and out of engagement with the contact 71: G represents the line signal control relay which is used for indicating, through the medium of the lamp N, when a telephone call is made. from the sub-station to the central station, and also for operating lamp N as a supervisory signal, and also as an inductance in the battery supply to the substation for telephone purposes. The coil 9. of the electro-magnet of the relay G is connected on one side by wire 7 with contact f? of switch group F and on its other side by wire 8 with grounded; side of the common battery H. This relay operates twoswitches one of which comprisesa lever contact 9 which moves out of andinto engagement with a fixed contact 9- whiclris connected by wire 21 with fixed contact 70 of relay K. The other switch associated with the. relay G comprises lever contact; 9

connected-by wire 14to one side of mon battery H.

VV'is a recording mechanism for the purpose Ofi receiving and recording at the central station hourly reports and wagon calls sent from the respective. sub-stations. One side of the recorder-1 V is connected by common wire 67 to one side of the common batteryeH.

The recording mechanism indicated by the reference character W is so constructed that it includes a plurality of recording members or elements, each of which form part of and is operable by. one of: the secondary circuits otthe system, sothat a sigT nal sent in from the substation over any one of these secondary circuits can be recorded the comby its independent recording device inclependently, of the operation of the recording device forming part of the other secondary circuits of] the recorder I at the central station, thereby preventing confusion of the records at the central station, it signals are sent into the central station from more than one substation at a time. A suitable form of recording mechanism for this purpose is shown in Letters Patent of the United States, No, 1,315,201, granted September 9, 1919.

U represents a slow acting cut-ofi' relay which is interposed between the recording mechanism and the hourly report relay K for the purpose of preventingthe recorder from repeating when an hourly report is sent in from any sub-station to the central station. The coil uof the electro-magnet of this relay is connected on one side by wire 25 with the non-grounded, side of the common battery H, while its opposite side is connected by wires 24 and 22 to contact 9* t relay (1 The relay U is so constructed that the action of its armature is retarded or delayed in its. operative movement which can be. accomplished in various ways, for instance, as, shown in the drawings, Fig. 2, by connecting with the armature contact u of'this relay a weighted pendulum u a isa fixed-contact which is connected by. wire 66- with one side of the recordingcircuit corresponding to the respect-ivesub-station circuit, and which is normally; engaged by the movable contacta? ot'the cut-ofi' relay The movable contact a is connected U. by wire 22 withcontact-gfof relay G.

V is an interrupter or contact making-zinc breaking mechanismv which may be of any suitable construction butwvhich for examplemay. be operated by a rotatable cam 4) under the control of theoperator/at thecentral prises four contacts c 4F, c", 1), the contact c being moved intoandout of engagement with-thecontach o :by the cam, an insulating connection vi: being interposed between the contacts otand 0?; and the contact '0 being movable andout of engagement with theicontact ct. The contact is connected by wire 49. to'contactf offswitch group F and is also connected 1 by wireioly to contact 0 of relay E. Thecontact o is connected b wire 65- to thenon-grounded side of the connnon-batteryrH' "The contact '0? is connectedbywire54with-thecontact e of relay E.

is a transformerofspecial construction having the usual primary windingw the opposite-ends of wh lch areconnected by wires 62-and 63 toa source of alternating electric current V3. The-secondary winding 015 this transformeris-provided with a plurality of taps connected at different points of its winding, so that alternating currents of various-voltages may be drawn fromthe sameat the same time to supply energy to-thew different-substations to corn- -pensate for the Variations in voltage losses due tothe unequal lengths-of the circuits of the sub-stationsflThese taps are shown at 1 0 103, w, and in this instance tap w? is shown in service and connected by wire 55 to contact e of relay E;

X is an alternating current buzzer preterably of thepolarized belltype such as is commonly used in telephone practice. This buzzer in this instance has a'movable armature m andan electromagnet, the ceiling ofwhich has one sideconnected by wires 61 and 56 to thecommon side ofrthe secondary winding 101 of the transformer V while the other sideiofthecoil w is connected by wires and 59 with the contact '0 of thecircuit interrupter V Y is a hand operated. test switch which is usedrin conjunction with the buzzer X as a meansof testing the operative conditions of any one of the visual signals J of the several substations; This switch comprises a movable contact y? providedwith a button-y and connectedby wires 58 and 59 with contact 41' -i of the circuit interrupter V and is movable out or and lntoengagement with contact which latter is connected by wires 57 and 56' to the common side of the secondary winding 10 of the transformer W As shown in Fig. 4, the cord circuit com" prises two connecting plugs 70, 71 which have tips 72, 73 and sleeves 7 e, 75, respective ly. The tips of both plugs are connected together by wire 76, while the sleeves are connected together by wire 77. Included in each cord circuit there is a listening key 78 having movable switch contacts 79, 80, arranged to be engaged with fixed contacts 81, 82, the former being connected by wire 84 and 77 to the sleeves of the respective plugs while the latter is connected by wires 83 and 76 to the tips of the'two plugs. 85, 86 represent the primary and secondary of the induction coil, respectively, one side of the primary being connected by wire 90 to one side oi the operators transmitter 88, while the other side of the transmitter is connected by wire 91 with the battery 89. The other side of the battery 89 is connected by wire 92 with the opposite side of the primary 85 of the induction coil. One side of the secondary winding 86 is connected by wire 93 with the contact 79 of the listening key 78 while its other side is connected by wire 94 to one side of the operators receiver 87 and the other side of the receiver being connected by wire 95 to contact spring 80 of the listening key 78. The contacts 79 and 80 of the listening key 7 8 are engaged and disengaged with the fcontacts 82 and 81, respectively, by a lever operated insulated button or me nber 96. a

The operation of the various functions of this system is as follows:

The parts of the system are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in their normal position in which no signals or conversations are being carried on over the circuits, but are in readiness for sending in wagon calls, hourly reports or telephone alls from the substations to the central station or to operate the visual or audible signals at the sub-station from the central station and to hold telephone communication between the central station and thesuhstaticn when such signals at the substation are answered, and also to test the operative condition of the visual signal at the sub-station from the central station.

Assuming that the oiiicer at the sub-station wishes to talk to the operator at the central station, the method of procedure is as follows:

The or'iiccr box th opens the door of the signal W sub station which causes the switch button it" to be withdrawn from the posit on shown in 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby disengaging con-- tacts 5* and i from contacts (Z and (i respectively, and engaging the conta ts 01 and (Z with contacts a? and d This change in the signal boxswitch D cuts out the audible and visual signal equipment I, J, the signal relay R and condenser L, and cuts in the talking circuit, hourly report circuit and wagon call circuit, so that any one of these three circuits can be used as desired. It now the officer wishes to talk, he removes the receiver A from the switch hook B, which causes the sub-station line lamp signal N at the central station to become lighted indicating to the operator that some one at the corresponding sub-station desires to talk. The circuit at this time is fromone side of the receiver A, through wire 2, transmitter C, wire 3, switch contacts d wire i, switch contacts 6 e ,wire 5, key contacts 7, 7, wire 6, 6 key contacts 7, f wire 7, relay coil g, wire 8, battery H, wire 9, relay coil 70, wire 10, key contacts fflff, Wire 11, relay contacts 6 6, wire 12, switchcontacts 0Z cl, wire13, hook switch contacts 6 [2 wire 1 and back to the other side ofthe receiver A. The closing of this circuit causes electrical energy to flow through relays G and K, causing both of these relays to operate simultaneously. WVhen relay G is energized, movable switch contactg is disenga 'ed from fixed contact 9 this occurring at the same instant that movable switch contact k of relay K isentering into engagement with fixed contact The action of contact 9* of relay Gr therefore serves to break the circuit which is being established by the switch contact 70 of relay K for a purpose which will presently appear. At the same time movable'switch contact 9 of relay G is, moved out of engagement from fixed contact g and into engagement with contact g thereby establishing the following auxiliary circuit:

Beginning at battery H'the current flows over wire 14, contacts g 9 wire 15, jack contacts m m wires 16, 16 through line signal N, and wires 17, 18 to ground P, the opposite side of the battery Hbeing grounded by wire 19 to ground P to complete the circuit. This causes the line signal lamp N to become lighted and thereby indicating that some one at the sub-station wishes to talk to the central station. The operator now inserts either plug 70 or 71 of one of the interconnecting cord circuits into the line jack M, thereby causing the tip 72 or 73 of either plug used to engage the jack contact m and the corresponding sleeve 74 or 75 to engage the contact spring m and also disengaging contactm from contact m and engaging contact m with contact This change in the switch contacts m at, m entinguishes the lamp N by opening the circuit across contacts m m Atthe same time theoperator closes the operators talking circuit across the cord cir- .cuit. by means of the listening key button 96.

a wagon call may be sent from the sub station to the central station by depressing the bottom 8 of the Wagon call switch S.

hen this button 8 is depressed it causes contact springs s and s to disengage and contact springs s and s to engage. WVhen contact springs 8 and s are engaged a circuit is formed as follows:

From ground P over wires 14, 26, through spring contacts 8 8, wires 27, 28, through winding t of relay T, over wires 29 and 13 and then following the same course as the circuit for hourly report from this point on. In fact, this part of the wagon call circuit performs the function of the previously described hourly report circuit, with the ex ception that in this instance the circuit is closed at the substation through the coil 25 of relay T in place of going through the winding a of the buzzer a. When relay T is energized, contacts 25 and t of said relay T are engaged, thereby providing a shunt circuit around the switch contacts 8 and s as follows:

From ground P over wires 14: and 30, contacts 6 and t of relay T, wire 28 to winding t and then following the same path as previously described with reference to the recorder part of wagon call circuit. \Vhen the button .9 is released, thereby opening the original circuit at contacts 3 and s relay T will still remain energized by reason of the shunt circuit above described. When button .9 is restored to normal, the contacts a? and 8 again engage, thereby closing the circuit across the main lines 3, 13 through the buzzer a as follows:

From. wires 13, 18, through coil winding a of short circuiting buzzer a, over wires 17 and 31, contacts 5 and .9 over wire 32 to c ntacts t and t of relay T, and over wire 33 to wire 3. This circuit is then completed through. the central oiiice equipment in the same manner as a regular telephone call previously described. When this circuit is closed as above described the buzzer a will operate and the sound of the buzzer will be audible to the party making the call. At the same time a telephone call will be signalled on the line signal lamp N and when the operator answers said call in the usual manner, as previously described, he will hear the buzzer or rather the effect produced by the cutting in and out of the winding of the buzzer, and by reason of this sound he will know the nature of the call without having to actually hold conversation with the man at the sub-station. When the operator has ascertained the nature of the call, he opens the main line circuit by operating signal key groups F, F thereby cutting ofi" the battery supply at this point by the disengaging of the contacts 7, 7 of the above-mentioned key. This causes relay 2 to be restored to its normal nonoperative position. When relay T is restored to normal position the circuit through buzzer a' is opened at contacts 25 and i which are now disengaged, the buzzer will cease to operate. hen the buzzer stops, the man at the sub-station knows that his call has been received. at the central station. As previously stated, when relay T is energized it forms a part of the recording circuit and therefore a record is made on the recording mechanism.

It will be noted that when making a wagon call the buzzer a is connected across the circuit 3, 13, at the sub-station while when making an hourly report the buzzer a is connected from one side of this circuit between wire 13 and ground at the substation.

In the previously described operations, originated at the sub-station all of the functions that can be performed at the substation have been described. In each of these operations the switch D is in the position as shown in Fig. 3. The switch Dis operated by the door of the signal boX and therefore the switch automatically assumes the proper position for the service to be performed. lVhen the signal box is closed the switch I) is in the position as shown in Fig. 1. and is then in a position so that either the audible or visual signals located the sub-station can be operated from the central station.

W'hen the audible signal at the sub-station is to be sounded, it is only necessary to depress signal key groups F, F This causes contact 7 to be disengaged from contact f and engage contact f and contact to be disengaged from contact f and to engage with contact 7. Vhen the circuit is broken between contacts f and f and between contacts f and f all parts of the central tion equipment extending from wires 6 and 21 which terminate on contacts f and F, are cut oil from the line circuit so that the signal current cannot back up through any part of said central station equipment.

W'e have now. established an electrical circuit from the alternating current source V at the central station over the sub-station line circuit through the audible signal I located at the substation as follows From one side of the V over wire 4.5, contacts f f wire 5, contacts 0 c ,,wire 4, contacts 05 (5, wires 41, 10, contacts 1', r wire 39, through coil i of audible signal I, over wires 44, 36 through condenser L, wires 35, 34, contacts d (i wire 12, contacts e, 0 wire 11, contacts 7, 7, wire 46, through buz zer 97, wire 93 to the other side of the electric source V. The audible signal will now 'operate and continue to do so until the switch groups F, F are restored to their normal position, or until an orlicer answers the signal at the sub-station. At the same time that the audible signal I at the sub station is in operation, the buzzer 97, which is included in this circuit, also operates, thus indicating the operative condition of this circuit. The instant the otlicer opens the door of the sub-station signal box to answer the call,the door switch D automatically as sumes the position shown in Fig. 3, thereby opening the audible signal circuit by disengaging contacts (Z (Z and d', d which form a part of this circuit. The audible signal I at the sub-station now ceases to operate and for the same reason the buzzer 97 at the central station ceases to operate, thereby indicating to the operator that the otlicer is answering the call the sub-station. The operator now restores the switch groups F, F to their normal condition, thereby rc-establishing the line circuit to its normal condition and permitting telephone communication to be carried on between the central station and the sub-station, as previously deo aeratim )osition which causes the con I t:

tacts f 7' to be disengaged and at the same time causes contacts 7', f to be engaged and also contacts 7, 7 to engage. lVhen contacts 7, f are disengaged relay G is cut ofi from the line circuitat thispointfor a reason which will presently appear. hen the operator is about to cause the visual signal I to operate, he also causes the cam '2) of the circuit interrupter to rotate either manually or otherwise, so that the circuit interruptions occur at this point by the engagement and disengagement of the con- 'tacts c 71 and c if, the rate of such interruptions being preferably at the rate of approximately sixty times per minute. This rate of interruption produces a flash visual signal which is readily recognized and not liable to be confused with other signals. The circuit through the visual signal is now established during the periods when contacts 0 o", and o, o are engaged and the circuit is opened through the visual signal when contacts o, '0 and a o are disengaged, without any further manipulation of the signal key controlling the switch groups F F e will first trace the battery circuit through the relays E and R controlling the circuit through the visual signal J as follows: from the battery H wire 65, contacts 11 c contacts 7 f wire 48, coil 0 of relay E, wires 4?, l, switch contacts (Z203 of door switch D, wires 35 42 through coil 1" of relay R, wire 43 to ground P and back to the opposite side of battery H over ground P and wire 64. This now causes relays E and R to operate. On relay E contact 6* is disengaged from contact e and engaged with contact a, contact scribed.

6 is disengaged. from contact 6 and engaged with contact 6 and Contact 6 is disengaged from contact 6 and engaged with contact 6. At the same time on relay ll, contact r is disengaged from contact r and engaged with contact 1". The circuit through the visual signal J is now established as follows: from one side of the secondary winding 10 of the transformer 7 the current passes over wires 56, 57, through switch contacts y over wires 58, 59, contacts o", 22 wire 54, contacts 6, 6*, wire 12, door switch contacts d", cl, wires 34, 85, con-denser L, wires 36, 3?, through signal lamp J, wire 88, contacts 1", 1' wires l0, l1, contacts d, (5 wire 4, contacts c 6 wire 55, to terminal 1'0"" on the other side of the secondary winding 10 of the t 'ansformer At this time it is assumed that electric current is flowing from the source V over wire 62, through primary winding 1/; ofthe transformer wire 63 back to the opposite side of this electric source.

The signal lamp J will now operate and will continue to operate until the cam o causes the contacts o '0 and o", o to disengage or until the otiicer answers at the substation by the opening of the signal box door which causes switch D to assume the position shown in Fig. 3, whereby the circuit is opened at this point. At the same time that the signal circuit is established, a secondary circuit is established in the central station as follows:

From one side of the battery H over wire 65, contacts 41 o ,wire 51, contacts 6 6, wire 50, through lamp Z, wires 53, 18 to ground P, and back to battery H over ground P and wire 64. This causes lamp Z to operate, this lamp operating in unison with the sub-station signal lamp J, indicating to the operator at the central station that the battery control circuit through relays E and R is in an operative condition and also serves as a reminder to the operator that the signal circuit on this particular sub-station line is being operated. If for-any reason the door of the sub-station signal box is not properly closed which would cause the door switch to assume the position shown in Fig. 3, then the battery circuit through the relays E and R could not be established because said circuit would be open between contacts (Z and (Z and this would prevent the signal lamp Z from lighting and the lamp N would be lighted instead over the following circuit: from one side of battery H over .wire to contacts c c wire 51, contacts 6 0 wire 52, contacts 7, wires 16 16 through lamp N, wires 1 18 to ground P and back to battery H as previously de- This last-mentioned condition of the lighting of lamp N is intentionally used as an incoming signal when the oificer opens the sub-station signal box door to answer the call ot the visual signal J which has been made from the central stat1on.' When said call is answered by the officer and the operator at the central station has been made aware of the oiiicers presence at the dicated in Fig. 1, and then when the officer at. the sub-station removes the receiver A from the switch hook B, the signal lamp N, which previously was flashing, is now constantly lit, as in an incoming telephone call and said call is answered, as previously described. The reason for flashing the lamp N under these conditions is to indicate to the operator the necessity of restoring the switch groups F F to normal, so that battery current can be supplied from the battery H over the substation circuit for talking purposes, this act again cutting into the line circuit of the relay Gr. The relay G is purposely cut out of the circuit during the opertiaon of the visual signal J for the following reason: If relay G were left in circuit a momentary auxiliary circuit would be established every time that cam o caused contacts '0 o to engage as follows: from battery H over wire 65, contacts c c wire 49, contacts 7, f wire 48, coil 0 of relay E, wire 4-7, contacts 6 6 wire 5, contacts 7, f wires 6, 7, through coil g of relay G, wires 8, 19, to ground P and back to opposite side of battery H over ground P and wire 64. Before relay E could operate a sufficient current impulse would flew through relay G over the circuit above described to cause the same to operate momentarily at each impulse of this kind and thereby cause a disagreeable flashing of the lamp N. To prevent this, wire 7 is separated from wire 6 by means of contacts f and f in switch group F when the signal key lever is placed in position for operating the visual signal J Contacts 1 o are included in the transformer circuit and are operated by the cam o for the purpose of interrupting the alternating current used for energizing the visual signal lamp so as to prevent the deterioration Or unnecessary burning of the contacts 6 c c 6, of the relay E which would he the case it this part of the secondary circuit of the transformer W were run direct to said relay contact 6 11": it is desired to test the operative con dition of the visual signal J at the sub-station from the central station, this test can be made on each sub-station line individually when the signal. circuit for operating said visual signal J is placed in. the operative position. by means of the signal key of switch group F F in the manner previously described for the operation of the visual signal J, in the following manner Button 1 of test switch Y is depressed so as to disengage contacts if, 3 H the visual signal lamp J is operating the buzzer X will now operate. If, however, the signal lamp J, or the visual signal circuit is not in an operative condition, the buzzer X will not operate. The reason for this is that normally, contacts 1 p are engaged and with wires 57 and 58 provide a low resistance shunt circuit around the buzzer lVhen, however, contacts 1 p are disengaged by the operation of the button thecurrent from the secondary winding 'w" of the transformer WV is compelled to passby wires 60 and 61 through the coil'cc of the buzzer X over the visual signal circuit as previously described, thereby providing a means of readily determining the operative and non-operative condition of the sub-station visual signals.

If'itis desired to simultaneously operate an extension visual and audible signals J P, in connection with the signals J and I at the sub-station, this can be done in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, and thus increase the range of the signalling capacity accordingly. 7

e claim as our invention:

1. A signal system for use between a central station and a sub-station, comprising a telephone circuit between said stations, an auxiliary circuit combined with said telephone circuit having means for making records at the central station from the sub-station, said auxiliary circuit including means for indicating the operative condition of said auxiliary circuit, a special service circuit combined with said telephone and auxiliary circuits including said means for making a record over said auxiliary circuit and at the same time indicating at the central station the nature of said special service, said telephone circuit including at the sub-station said indicating means which are used in the auxiliary circuit when a record is being made at the central station from the sub-station, and said indicating means being also used across the telephone circuit when said special service circuit is in operation.

2-. A signal system for use between'a cent'al station and a sub-station, comprising a telephone circuit between said stations, an auxiliary circuit combined with said telephone circuit having means for making records at the central station from the sub-station, said auxiliary circuit including means for indicating the operative condition of said auxiliary circuit, a special service circuit. combined with said telephone and auxiliary circuits including said means for mak ing a record over said auxiliary circuit and at the same time indicating at the centralstation the nature of. saidspecial service, said telephone clrcult including at the sub- ZHO ' station. said. indicating means which are used in the auxiliary circuit whena record is; being made at the central station from the sub-station, and said indlcatingf means 6 being also. used. acrossthe telephone: circuit.

fmeans for indicating the, operative condi'- tionio'tsaid auxiliary circuit, special service circuit. combined witlnsaidatelephone and? auxiliary circuits including said means; for making a record over said.' auxiliaryv circuit I and atthe same" time; indicatingat: the centrail. station thena ture' of said special service, said telephone circuit including, at. the. sub-station saidindicating. means: which are used in. the auxiliary; circuit when a record is being; made. at the central station. from the sub-station, and; said indicating means being.

also used. across the telephone circuit when;

said; speciah service circuit is in operation, and said special service. circuit lnclud'mg. a

relayv located ill-Said auxiliary circuit and so arranged: as; to. maintain said indicating mean-sacross the telephone circuitwhensaid special service circuit isin operation? andsaid special service circuit including means. at the. central! station for restoring said special service circuit at the sub-station toits normal non-operative condition.

4. A signal system for-use between acentrall station and a sub-station, comprising a telephone circuit between said stations, an.

auxiliary circuit combined with said: telephone circuit having. means. for maklngr-ecordsat the central station from.sa1d substation; said auxiliary circuit including.

'means for indicating the operative condition-of said. auxiliary circu;it,va special service circuit combined with-saiditelephone and auxiliarycircuits including, said. means; for makingJa record oyer'said auxiliary circuit. and atv the same timeindicating; at the. centralistat-ion the nature of said special service,

saidtelephone circuit including at the subs stationrsaidindicating means which are used in. the auxiliary circuit whena record. is be.- ing, made at the: central station from the. subrstatiom and said indicatingmeans beingt alsofused across the telephone circuit when: said. special service circuit is-in operation. and. said special seryice circuit; including; at.

w th substations? saidi au i iary i cuit a.

rel y and! a manually operableswitch, said: switch arranged to: place said relay in an: operativecondition, said relay being aranged so that its operative condition is. automatically. maintained when said switch; is: released, said. relay being also provided. with means for connecting'said indicating: meansajcross the; telephone circuit while. the relay is. in an Operative position.

5./A signalsystem for use'b etween a centra-l; station. and a sub-station, comprising; a: telephonercircuit between said: stations, an auxiliary circuit. combinedwith said telephone: circuithaving means for making rec.- ordsat the central station from said sub station, said auxiliary circuit includin means: 'fon indicating the operative co1id1- t-ionao'fsairl auxiliary circuit, a special-servicecircuit combined w-itlrsaid telephone'andi auxiliary circuits including said meansfor making.- a: record. over said auxiliary circuit. and: at. the same time indicating. at. the central station. the natureof said special serv-- ice; said. telephone circuit including at the sub-station said indicating; means which are usediin the aux'ili ary circuit: whena record is: being: made? at the central station from the; sub-station andsaid indicating means being also. usedacross the: telephone circuit when said special service-circuit is in operationand said specialservicecircuit including atthe sub-stationsinsaidauxiliary circuit a relay and a manually operable switclnsaid switch arranged to place said. relay in. an operative. condition,- said; relay being arranged: so thatits-operat-ive condition is automat-ically maintained Whensaid switchis released, said relay being.- also provided-with meansfon connecting said indicating means across the telephone circuit while the relay is=in an operative condition and said special service circuit including means at the central: station forrestoring. said special service; circuit at the sub-station to its normal nonoperative condition.

6. A signal system for use between a con tralstation? and a sub-station, comprising a telephone circuit between said stations, an auiriliaiy'circuit combined with said telephone circuithaying. means for making. records at the central station from said sub station, said. auxiliary circuit including. means. for indicating the operative conditionof said auxiliarycircuit, a special service circuit combined with: said telephone andau-xiliary circuits including-said means ion making arecordroverzsaid auxiliary cir cuit and atthe same time indicating. atthe 1 central station the nature of said spcci al service, said telephone circuit including atthesub-station said indicatingmeans which are used in, the: auxiliary, circuit when a recordis being made at; the central station from: the sub-station, andg said indicating. aaeweg lei eed se.th e p e e t cuit when said special service circuit is in op eration and said special service circuit including at the substations in said auxiliary circuit a relay and a manually operable switch, said switch arranged to place said relay in an operative condition, said relay being arranged to that its operative condition is automatically maintained when said switch is released, said relay being also provided with means for connecting said indicating means across the telephone circuit while the relay is in an operative condition, said switch so arranged that when in an operative condition said indicating means are disconnected from the telephone circuit.

7. A signal system for use between a central station and a sub-station, comprising a telephone circuit between said stations, an auxiliary circuit combined with said telephone circuit having means for making records at the central station from said substation, said auxiliary circuit including means for indicating the operative condition of said auxiliary circuit, a special service circuit combined with said telephone and auxiliary circuits including said means for making a record over said auxiliary circuit and at the same time indicating at the central station the nature of said special service, said telephone circuit including at the sub-station said indicating means which are used in the auxiliary circuit when a record is being made at the central station from the sub-station, and said indicating means being also used across the telephone circuit when said special service circuit is in operation and said special service circuit including at the sub-stations in said auxiliary circuit a relay and a manually operable switch, said switch arranged to place said relay in an operative condition, said relay being arranged so that its operative condition is automatically maintained when said switch is released, said relay being also provided with means for connecting said indicating means across the telephone circuit while the relay is in an operative condition, said switch so arranged that when in an operative condition said indicating means are disconnected from the telephone circuit and said special service circuit including means at the central station for restoring said special service circuit at the sub-station to its normal non-operative condition.

8. A signal systemfor use between a central station and a sub-station, comprising a telephone circuit between said stations, an auxiliary circuit combined with said telephone circuit having means for making records at the central station from said substation, said auxiliary circuit including means for indicating the operative condition of said auxiliary circuit, a special'service circuit combined ith said telephone and auxiliary circuits including said means for making a record over said auxiliary circuit and at the same time indicating at the central station the nature of said special service, said telephone circuit including at the substation said indicating means which are used in the auxiliary circuit when a record is being made at the central station from the sub-station, and said indicating means being also used across the telephone circuit when said special service circuit is in operation, said indicating means being arranged to give a vibratory signal withoutopening the, telephone circuit while in operation.

9. A signal system between a central station and a plurality of sub-stations arranged at diiferent distances from said central station, comprising a plurality of individual circuits each connecting said central station with one of said sub-stations, a transformer arranged at the central station and having its primary winding connected with a source of electrical energy while its secondary winding is permanently connected at different points with said individual circuits according to the length of the same for produc ing electric impressions of the same value at the several substations regardless of the distance between the same and the central station, and visual signals arranged in said circuits at the sub-stations.

10. signal system between a central station and a plurality of substations arranged at diflerent distances from said central station, comprising a plurality of individual circuits each connecting said central station with one of said sub-stations, a transformer arranged at the central station and having its primary winding connected with a source of electrical energy while its secondary winding is connected at different points with said individual circuits according to the length of the same for producing electric impressions of the same value at the several sub-stations regardless of the distance between the same and the central station, visual signals arranged in said circuits at the sub-stations, and means at each sub-stationfor cutting ofi the electric current at the central station from the circuit of the respective sub-station;

11. A signal system between a central station and a plurality of sub-stations arranged at diflierent distances from the central station, a plurality of telephone circuits each connecting said central station with one of said sub-stations, a visual signal arranged in each of said circuits at the respective substation, a transformer arranged at the central station and having its primary winding connected with a source of electric energy while different points of its secondary winding areconnected with said circuits according to the distance of the respective sub-stations from the central station for producing electrical impressions of the same value on the visual signals at the several sub-statidns, means 'for impressing the electrical energy from said transformer on thecircuits of any one or more of said, sub-stations at will, and meansat each, sub-station for cutting off the" electrical current at the central station from the circuit of the respective sub-station and for preventing said current from being im pressed on said circuit while said substation is in *use, and means at the central station operated from they sub-stations for indicating that the signal has been received at the. particular sub-station.

. 1-2. Asignal system between a central station and a :plurality'ofsub-stations arranged at different distances from the centra ljstm tion, a plurality of telephone circuits each connecting said central station with one of said sub stations, a visual signal arranged in eachof said circuits at the respective substation,yav transformer arranged at the central station and having its primary winding connected with a source oi electric energy while different points of its secondary winding are connected with said circuits according to the distance of the respective substations from, thecentral station for produc: ing electrical. impressions of the same value on the visual signals at the several substations, means for impressing the electrical energy from said transformer on the circuits of any one or more otsaid. subestations at will, means at each sub-station for cutting off the electrical current at the central station from the circuit of the respective substation and :tor preventing said currentfrom' being impressed on said circuit while said sub-station is in use, means at the central station operated from the sub-stations, for. indicating that the signal has been received at the particular sub-stations, and imeans at the central station for individually testing at will the operative condition of the visual signals located at saidsu'b-stations While one of said signal circuits is set for operation.

13-.- A signal system between a central station and a plurality, of sub-stations arranged at different distances from said central station, a plurality of telephone circuits each connecting said central station with one of said sub-stations, means associated with said telephone circuits forpro-' ducing records from said sub-stations at the central station and so organized that the telephone circuit and recording means are operated independently of each other, 'a special circuit at each su'b-statidn associated with its respective telephone circuit and =having a manually operable switch, a vibrating. indicator associated with eachof said tele-: phone circnits'and special circuit which when once set in operation at the substation will continue to operate until restored for in t i g the O fi er a t e ub-stati n that he circuit is in an operative condition and also for informing the ofliceriat the central station as to the nature of said special service de-' sired at the sub-station, means at the den tral station for restoring said special 'circuit to its normal non-operativecondition, a

,visual signal arranged in each of said *cir-' cuits at the respective su-b-station, a transformer arranged at the central station and having its primary winding connected with a source of electric energy while dificrent points of its secondary winding are cdn' nected with said circuits according. to the distance of the respective sub-stations from the central station for .pro'ducing electrical impressions of the same value on. the visual signals at the several sub-stations,- means for impressing the electrical energy frdm said transfdrmer on the circuits of any one or more of said sub-stationsuat will, means at each sub' station for cutting off the elec trical current at the'central station from the circuit of the respective sub-stationfand for preventing said current {ram being irepressed oln said circuit while said sub-station is in use, means at thelcen'tral station operated from the sub' stations .for indicating that the signal has been received at the particular sub-stations,- and means at the central station for individually testing at will the operative condition of the visual signals located at said sub-stations while one of said signal circuits is set for operation.

14. A signal system between a central station and a plurality of sub-stations arranged at different distances from said central station, a plurality of telephone circuits each connecting said central station with one of said sub-stations, means associated with said telephone circuits for producing records from said 'sub' stations at the central station and so organized that the telephone circuit and recording means are operated independently of each other, a special circuit at each sub-station associated with its respective telephone circuit and having a manual: 1y operable switch, a vibrating indicator associated with each of said telephone 'cir cuits and special circuit which when once set in operation at the sub-station will con tinue to operate until restored for informing the oilicer'at the sub-station that the circuit is in an operative condition and also for informing the oflicer at the central station as to the nature of said special service desired at the sub-station, means atthe central station for restoring said special circuit to its normal non-operative condition, a visual signal and an audible signal arranged in each of said circuits at the respective substations, means at the central station for opcrating said signals selectively on' any oneor' more of said sub-stations, transformer ar ranged etthe central: station fer sa plyiag the energy for operating the visual signals and having its primary Winding connected with a source of electric energy While different points of its secondary Winding are connected With said circuits according to the distance of the respective sub-stations, from the central station for producing electrical impressions of the same value on the visual signals at the several sub-stations, means at each sub-station for cutting ofl the electrical current at the central station from the circuit of the respective sub-station and for preventing said current from being impressed on said circuit While said sub-station is in use, means at the central station for individually testing at will the operative condition of the visual signals located at said sub-stations While one of said visual signals is set for operation, means for supplying electric current for operating said audible signals of the several sub-stations over their respective telephone circuits, means at the central station for indicating the operative condition of said audible signal circuits, and means at the central station operated from the sub-stations for indicating that a signal has been received at the particular sub-stations.

WILLIAM W. KIDENEY. GUSTAV F. O. BAUER.

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