US1685776A - Electric signaling apparatus - Google Patents

Description

FLFAVARGER ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 31, 1924 17 Mom/ \NVENTOR Trance/s Tel 027 BY: 25%; d

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 2, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCOIS FAVARGER, OF NEUCHATEL, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR, MESNE ASSIGN- KEN'I'S, TO NATIONAL TELEREGISTER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A COB- I'OBATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC SIGNALING APPARATUS.

Application filed October 31, 1924; Serial No. 747,146, and in Switzerland November '12, 1923. Renewed September 23, 1927.

This invention relates to electric signaling apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for connecting a signaling circuit to a source of current during' an interval, or' a se'-;

ries of intervals, of accurately ,measured duration.

The invention is particularly adapted to the transmission of impulses or groups of impulses of accurately measured length which -may, according to certain phases of the invention, also be separated by interruptions of equal length; The apparatus is therefore adapted for use in the operation of signaling circuits, as for example in the control of electromagnetically operated indicatin; devices located at a distance.

The objects of this invention include the provision of apparatus'and equipment of the above indicated class which is dependable,

etlicient and rapid in operation.

Various further'and more specific objects, features and advantages will clearly appear from the detailed description given below taken in connection with the accompan ing drawing: which forms a part of this specification and illustrates Inerelyby way of exam: ple one of the various possible embodiments of the invention. I

The invention consists in such novelfeatures, arrangements and combinations otdevices and circuits as maybe shown and described in the apparatus herein disclosed by way of example. only as illustrative of a preferred arrangement.

The drawing illustrates diagrammatically the particular example of the invention hereinafter described. i

In the drawine: the devices indicated by the numerals 1. and 1' may comprise electromae'netically operated 'or other electrically operated indicating-units. such for example as the stock, commodity or exchange indicatinq' units shown in applicants copendingapplication Serial No. 613,012. filed January 16. 1923. correspondinq to British Patent 192.055. accepted April 3. 1924. 7

It will be understood that the indicating members 1 and 1' illustrate by way of example two of a relatively large erroup of indicators all actuated bv either the same apparatus as hereinafter described. or apparatus similar thereto and associated therewith. Where a large group of such devices are to be controlled from a distance, particularly where control is to be effected through selectlng mechanism as referred to in applicants application Serial No. 613,012 above mentioned, it is desirable for dependable operation that the actuating impulses shall be of accurately measured duration. Yet it is in many cases desirable to provide manually operable means for initiating such impulses from time to time more or less irregularly. The apparatus hereinafter described provides means for connecting a source of current to the signaling: circuit running to such indicators so that the desired impulses or groups of impulses of accurately measured duration and /or frequency may be trans mitted to the indicators either directly as indicated diagrammatically inthe accompany V insrdrawing, or through relays or other devices and arran ements.

In the present example the device 1 is connected to a generator or source of current- 2 by means of a wire 3 and also by means of a wire 4. by way of normally open switch 5. 6, formed by a pair of flexible blades. The blade 6 forms moreover a contact with the flexible blade 7. which is connected with the positive terminal otthe cenerator 2 through the medium of conductors'8. 8' and a Contact making device 9. 10, consistin of a pair of flexible blades. The contact 10 aflords contact with a flexible blade 11 fitted with a push button 12. The blade Unis connected to the negative terminal of the enerator by conductors 14, 15. 16 and 3. Between the conductors 15 and 16is inserted asmall rotary electric motor 17, which motor controls a switch or contact device 18,19 and a contact making device 20. 21. actuated alternately by a radiallyextending lug 22 on the motor shaft.

It willbe noted in the drawinq' that the motor 17 i s provided with a series field winding. thus insuring ample torque to promptly and. almost immediately bring the motor to full speed after current is a plied thereto, and since the mechanical load on the motor is negligible, the motor speed will remain uniform. Accordingly, the time intervals between successive actuations of the contact making devices operated by the motor also be uniform and of an accurately measured predetermined duration. It will be 8 and to the contact 7, through the medium of two relays 23,24, interposed in the line 25, 26. Each relay has armature 27 and 28 respectively. The armature 28 is intended to engage the contact 7 and to close simultaneously the associated contacts 7, 6 and 6, 5.

Thearmature 27 has for its object to close simultaneously the two associated contacts 29, 30 and 31, 32. The contact 29, 3O closes the following circuit :Generator 2, positive terminal +3029 motor 17 16 3-generator 2, negative terminal, while the contact 31, 32, closes a circuit comprising the relays and switch 18, 19. This circuit is as follows :Generator 2, positive terminal- 31-32-3-generator 2, negative terminal. A condenser 3% may be arranged in parallel with the switch 18, 19 in the ordinary manner to reduce arcing and contact deterioration.

The operation of the apparatusdescribed is as follows:

When the push button 12 is actuated either by hand or automatically, by means of a cam or other suitable mechanism .provided for that purpose, the contact devices 10,11 and 10, 9 simultaneously close their corresponding circuits. Y V

The first of these circuits (generator 2, positive terminal l81O11-1 1-15 1716generator 2, negative terminal) starts the motor 17, which rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow, while the second circuit (generator 2, positive terminal 1-8 1O982 12623-25-18-19 20 21generator 2, negative terminal) remains open between 20 and 21. The latter is closed only at the moment when the lug 22 of the motor closes the contact 20, 21. At this moment the relays 23, 24 are excited, as a result of which the armatures 27 and 28 actuate the. associated contacts 2930, 3132 and 7-6, 6 5. For this reason the relays 23 and 24 continue to be excited, although the contact 20, 21 may be opened again after the passage of the lug 22 of the motor, because the exciting current passes then into the par pivoted or rotatable armature for controllingany desired indicating mechanism, such for instance as graduated disks or drums, or needles) is then actuated by the impulse of current which continues until the motor 17 actuates the switchor contact device 18, 19 and thus interrupts the exciting circuit of the relays. The latter being no longer excited the contacts which they actuated are opened again. This interruption of the circuit of the relays continues until the motor 17 again closes the contact 20, 21, the switch or contact device 18, 19, being also closed. At this moment the relays are again excited so that the operations described are agaii'i repeated. Thus the excitation of the relays continues from the moment when the contact 20,21 is closed, until the switch or contact device 18 19 is opened. Inversely, the interru tion oi the current in the relays continues rom the moment when the switch or contact device 18,

19 is opened until the contact 20, 21 is again closed. There may thus be obtained either a single impulse or an alternation of flow and interruption of current in the relays of per; fectly regular succession, the frequency of these alternations being a function of the speed of rotation of the motor 17 a series of impulses beingv obtained either by holding down the manual control key 12 during more than one revolution of the motor rotated contact device 22 or. otherwise.

The device continues to operate as long as i ment (not shown). If the pressureexerted on the push'button 12 is interrupted the motor 17 continues to rotate until the exciting circuit of the relays 23, 24 is interrupted by the opening of the switch 18-19,- because as long as the relays are excited the current sup plying the motor 17 passes through what may be termed the second or parallel motor circuit:Generator 2, positive terminal, 4' 30291517163 generator 2, negativeterminal. Thus the duration of the last impulse of current actuating therelays 23, 2 1 is'accurately measuredand if desired is ex ac'tly'equ'al to the duration of each of the preceding impulses, at whatever moment the push button 12 is pressed or is released.

In theparticular arrangement shown, the

excitation of the electro-Inagnets or equiv-.

alent devices 1, 1 is thus dependent on the operation of the relay'24' in such manner that they receive intermittent currents and interruptions of durations always equal inter' se, at whatever moment the-button 12 is ressed or is released.

It will thus be observedthat the relays switch 20, 21after each impulse is initiated. In the particular exampleshown, therelay at 24 also to an extent at times controls the relay at 23 by virtue of the contact making device 6, which "is also a relay stick switch. In addition, therelay at 24 has a circuit interrupting device, namely, the

switch at 5,, 6, controllingthe application of current to the" signaling circuit of the device 1 or "its equivalent. In additionfthe relay at 23, once the manually'operabl'eswitch 10, 11 is closed, maintains the motor 17 in opertion by-"virtue of the stick switch at 29, 30.

It will be readily understood that instead of a single electromagnetic indicator, a plurality of such indicators may be operated from the conductor 3 or its equivalent. The operating magnet and relay connections for one of such additional indicators is illustrated in the drawings in dotted lines. Also an additional push button and associated contacts are shown for the control of the same.

It will be understood that numerous additional indicator units may be connected in like manner and that all of the same may be controlled from the single motor'circuit and relay 23 in the same manner as above described. That is, when the operator desires to actuate a certain indicator and the corresponding control relay therefor, he presses the corresponding push button. The relay 23 may therefore be employed to act. as a motor relay common to a plurality of relays similar to relay 24.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to a particular preferred example thereof which gives satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended, therefore, in the appended claims to cover all such chan s and modifications.

What is c aimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. A signal transmitting apparatus, comprising a source of electrical current, a motor in electrical connection with said source, a pair of relays connected in series with said source, a system of normally open contacts in the motor and relay circuits adapted to close said circuits and cause rotation of the motor, a normally open switch and a normally closed switch in the relay circuit, means carried by the motor for closing and thereafter opening said normally openswitch and opening and closing said normally, closed switch once during each revolution of the! motor, a second circuit including said normally closed switch and connecting said relays in series with the source of current, a

sy'stem'of normally open contactsin said second'circuit, and means operable by the relays for closing said contacts and causing current'to continue to pass through the relays after the normally open switch has been opened and before the opening of the normally closed switch. a I

"2. Apparatus for connecting 'a signaling circuit to a source of currentduring an interval of accurately "measured duration, comprisingan electric motor driven rotatable contact operating member, a manually controlled starting circuit for the motor, asec-' 0nd motor circuit controlled by said member for continuing the rotation of the member until the same is restored to a rest position after termination of the measured interval, and a pair of cooperating relays having circuits'controlled by contacts at predetermined points along the path of said member and successively operatively engaged by the same respectively at the beginning and ending of said interval, said relays and contacts being operatively associated to connect, and maintain connected, the signaling circuit to the source of current during the said interval.

3. Apparatus for connecting a signaling circuit to a source of current during an interval of accurately measured duration, comprising an electric motor driven rotatable contact operating member, a manually controlled starting circuit for the motor, a second motor circuit controlled by said member for continuing the rotation ofthe member until the same is restored to a rest position after termination. of the measured interval, and a pair of coopcrating relays having circuits controlled by contacts at predetermined points along the path of said member and successively operatively engaged by the samerespectively at the beginning and ending of said interval, said relays and contacts being operatively associated to connect, and maintain connected, the signaling circuit to the source of current during the said interval and also to maintain said second motor circuit.

4. Apparatus for connecting a signaling circuit to a source of current during an interval of accurately measured duration, comprising an electric motor driven rotatable contact operating member, a manually controlled. starting circuit for the motor, a pair of cooperating relays having circuits, controlled by contacts at points along the path I controlling the operation of the other relay,

0nd motor circuit and also a stick switch said relays and contacts being operatively associated to connect, and maintain connected, the signaling circuit to the source of our- 7 rent during the said interval; 7

5. Apparatus for connecting a signaling circuit to a source of current during an Interval of accurately measured duration;. comprising an electric motor driven rota-table contact operating member, a manually controlled starting circuit for. the motor, a pair of cooperating relays having circuits controlled by contacts at points along the path of said member and successively operatively engaged by the, same respectively at the beginning and ending of said interval, a second motor circuit for continuing the rotation of the motor and said member until the same is restored to a rest position after termination ot the measured interval, one of said relays having a stick switch controlling said sec 0nd motor circuit and also a stlck sw tch controllingthe operation of theother relay, the other of said relays controlling a disconnecting switch. in said signaling circuit and FRANQUIS rims-can also having a "stick switch controlling it-

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