US2017166A - Electric signaling system - Google Patents

Description

R. W. RICHARDSON ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Om. 15, 1935. Y 2,017,166

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 2, 1929 33 INVENTOR.

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ELECTRIC S IGNALING SYSTEM Filed April 2, 1929 2 Sheets-$heet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 15, 1935 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SIGNALING SYSTEM Robert W. Richardson, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 2, 1929, Serial No. 351,993

2 Claims.

This invention as indicated relates to an electric signaling system. More particularly it comprises a readily variable device suitable for indicating the number of units or articles available or to be supplied and for stepping up or down the visual indication from any one of a plurality of stations. The device may be used in a restaurant to indicate the number of orders awaiting delivery, from the kitchen, of each special :item on the menu which requires the attention of the cook, or may be used to indicate the number of units on the branch assembly lines of a manufacturing establishment, such as an automobile assembly line, or may be used to show the number of cabs at various cab stations. The instances mentioned are merely illustrative and by no means exhaustive inasmuch as the device is applicable to quite varied uses and certain parts of the apparatus may be found of advantage in connection with advertising signs or for purposes of various kinds wherein selective operation of one or more of a plurality of electrical circuits is desirable with controls operable from any one of a number of different stations. To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various me chanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing in outline, the kitchen and service counter of a restaurant equipped with the signaling system embodying the principles of my invention; Fig. 2 is a wiring diagram showing three banks of indicator lamps and three control switches therefor; Fig. 3 is a central vertical sectional view, one of the selective drum switches used in my signaling system;' and Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged diagrammatic views of the terminal-carrying discs of the switch illustrated in Fig. 3.

As will appear from Fig. 1 of the drawings, the apparatus illustrated is a three-unit system, and comprises an indicator device I adapted to be mounted on the wall of the kitchen of a restaurant, a control unit or bank of switches 2 mounted on the service table 3 of the kitchen adjacent the delivery window shelf 4 which extends into the dining room portion of the restaurant adjacent the service counter 5 upon which two cabinets 6 are mounted. Each cabinet 5 is provided with a control unit or bank of switches i adjacent its lower edge but obviously the position of the control units and indicator cabinets may be varied to suit the convenience of the opera- 5 tors. Thus the dining room indicators may also be mounted on the wall as in the kitchen installation illustrated, and the respective switch banks may be disposed at any convenient positions in the dining room. Also one indicator may 10 serve a number of control units, or for some special uses of the device, the number of indicator panels or cabinets may exceed the number of control units.

Various types of indicators may be employed, 15

that illustrated comprising a cabinet provided with a series of successively numbered rows of windows behind which are disposed electric lamps. The indication may be given by placing a selected lamp in any row in circuit or by having one 20 lamp in any row show brighter than the other lamps in said row. Drop panels or any other indicating devices may be used instead of lamps if desired.

In the wiring diagram shown in Fig. 2, the elec- 25 trical connections suitable for operating from three control units, one lamp in a twelve lamp row in three separate panels or cabinets is illustrated. It is to be understood that each of the remaining three switches shown in each control 30 unit in Fig. 1 will have a similar set of wiring connections to its corresponding rows of lamps in the indicator panels. Obviously the number of switches in each control unit and the number of rows of lamps in each panel may be any number 35 required for a parti ular use. Any suitable source l l of electrical current may be employed, one line E2 in the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 being connected to the shaft of the dial switch it which is provided with a number of contact studs i4 cor- 40 responding to the number of lamps in each row of the indicator, and one extra line to provide for a non-indicating position, as will presently be explained. The shaft is provided with a control knob 15 and a contact arm l6, whereby contact 45 may be made by said arm with any one of the studs carried by the switch. The studs are mounted in an insulating disc H and a suitable casing for the series of switches may be provided as is shown in Fig. 1. Individual wires it, led, 50 i 8b, etc, from each of the studs are carried to corresponding contact studs 25 in an insulating disc 22 carried in slip ring or drum type switch 23 forming one of the banks of switches 7 shown in Fig. l. Said switch 23 is provided with a suit- 55 able frame or casing 24 to the bottom of which the disc 22 is rigidly secured. Within the casing a shaft 25 oi insulating material is mounted, said shaft being adapted to be turned by the knob 26. As will more clearly appear from Fig. 3 of the drawings, the shaft is a tubular fiber member held in a socket 2? at the lower side of the casing by a spring 20, and carries a number of copper slip rings 28, 331), etc., suitably insulated from each other by means of insulating discs 29. Each slip ring is connected by a wire 38 with its individual terminal 35 carried on a disc 32 mounted adjacent the lower end of the shaft. Each terminal comprises a binding screw against which a spring 33 engages and below which spring a brush 34, of suitable conducting material, is seated. The ends of the brushes are adapted to make contact with the studs 2 i forming the terminals of the wires from the switch l3.

A block of insulating material held at the side of the casing forms a brush holder 35 for the individual contacts for the respective slip rings. Each of these contacts comprises a brush 36, 35a, 361), etc., pressed outwardly by a spring 31 and having a terminal member 38 formed with a brass binding screw beneath which individual wires leading to a similar switch 46 may be engaged. The switch 40 is of substantially identical construc tion with that of the switch 23 and the wires 33, 39a, 39?), etc., leading from the switch 23, connecting with contact studs 4!, Ma, 4lb, etc., on a disk 42. The rotating contact member is identical with that shown in Fig. 3. Wires 44. 44a, 44?), etc., are connected to brushes 45, 45a, 45b, etc, and are each in circuit with a lamp 5| in one row of the indicator l and a lamp 52 in one row of one of the indicators 1 and a lamp 53 in one row of the other indicator 1, in series with each other. The circuit is completed by means of the wires M, 44a, 441), etc., connecting to the other terminal of the current source I I, through a trunk line 46 and connection 41.

With the mechanism just described, the circuit may be closed through any of the series of lamps illustrated in Fig. 2. Thus with the contact arm l6 making contact with the wire l8b which terminates in the stud I4 on the disc H, the current will flow through the brush 36 and the connecting wire 38 to the slip ring 28; thence it will flow through the brush 36 and its associated wire 39 to the stud 4| of the switch 40 and through its connections to the brush 45 and the conductor 44 to the lamps El, 52, 53, and thence through the trunk line 46, and connection 4! to the current source.

It will be obvious that if the arm N5 of the switch i3 is turned to contact with another stud such as the stud Ma, current will then flow through the line 18a, brush 34a, slip ring 28a, brush 36a, conductor 39a, contact am, on the switch 40, and through its connections to the brush a. and conductor Me which is in circuit with the lamps 5Ia, 52a, 53a, instead of the lamps 54, 52, If the arm it should be turned in the other direction to contact with the stud Mb, 5), 52b, and 531), would be connected in circuit instead of those originally mentioned.

If, instead of turning the arm 3 of the switch 2, the disc 3| of the switch 23 was turned in a like direction one contact point, a like result would take place. The same action would also take place if the switch 6.! was turned in like manner. If all three switches were turned in the same direction the indicator lamps would be stepped up or down, depending upon the direction of movement of the switches, three points.

It will thus be seen that there is but one circuit established at one time through the apparatus, but that the circuit path may be varied by any one of the switches at any time and that the movement of one of the switches is entirely independent of the movement of the others but that the indicator will respond to the total relative displacement of all of the switches from the position originally occupied.

It will appear from Fig. 2 that there is one more set of circuit connections through the switches l3, and 4s, than there are lamps in each row. Thus there are twelve lamps in each row and thirteen circuit connections. It will be noted that the last of the three switches, the switch 40, has no connection for the topmost slip ring Bil. This permits a non-indicating position to be set by turnin' any switch or combination of switches to connect said slip ring 65 with the current source.

Where the device is to be used in a restaurant, a convenient manner of handling orders would be to label one row of lamps for an order such as roast beef and other rows of lamps for orders respectively of roast veal, roast pork, ham and eggs, and the like. Each row of lamps under each of these designations would be serially numbered from 1 to the total number of lamps installed in the row. Like indicators would be available in the kitchen and dining room, and, if desired, an indicator could accompany each switch. When an order for roast beef was received by a waiter in the dining room, this order would be transmitted to the kitchen by turning the switch knob in the roast beef column in a direction to add a higher number to that showing in the roast beef column. When an order of roast beef is delivered from the kitchen to the dining room, the switch in the kitchen would be turned in a direction to show a lower numbered indication in the roast beef column. Suitable ratchet mechanism BI, 62, 63 might be employed on the respective switches to permit only clockwise movement of the switches 23, and 40, and counter clockwise movement of the switch l3. While a ratchet mechanism for movement in one direction has been shown in the drawings, it is to be understood that the apparatus will operate without a ratchet mechanism and that for purposes of correcting errors such ratchet mechanism may be omitted or made readily releasable, as otherwise errors would have to be corrected by moving the indicator through substantially the entire swing of the dial in place of moving it back one step for an error of one number.

The same system of operation would be readily applicable to the assembly line of a manufacturing plant, such as an automobile assembly line wherein a number of small parts were in use and the quantity remaining available would be readily apparent from an inspection of the indicator. Likewise the device as applied to cab stands in various parts of the city would show at all times the number of cabs at a particular station and permit a distribution of the available vehicles to the best advantage.

As has been indicated, the system of control may be applied to many other mechanisms other than those referred to and the individual parts of the apparatus may likewise be used for very specific services other than those herein described.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In an electrical signaling system, a plurality of indicator units, a plurality of rows of signaling elements in each indicator unit, an electric circuit connected with a source of power by two single conducting elements, one of said elements connected with a single contact member movable relatively to a series of opposite contact members each connected with separate parallel circuits each having in series corresponding signaling elements of corresponding rows in each indicator, .a plurality of selective switches carrying contacts in said parallel circuits, each of said switches having a series of fixed contacts equal to the total number of signaling elements in a row, and each switch having a movable member having individual contact members equal to the number of fixed contacts and movable thereover in circuit changing relation, said movable member carrying collector rings equal in number to the number of individual contact members and individually connected therewith respectively, and individual brushes equal in number to the number of collector rings and connected in separate parallel circuits with said respective signaling elements, and the other single conducting element connected with the source of power having common connection with all of said parallel circuits through said signaling elements and switches.

2. An apparatus of the character described having in combination a source of electric current, a plurality of indicator elements connected with one terminal of said source of current, a plurality of conductor elements connected individually with said indicator elements respectively at one end and having a fixed terminal member at the opposite end forming part of a series of terminal elements, a movable contact member connected with the opposite terminal of said source of current, a plurality of parallel conductor elements having a terminal at each end and adapted to be selectively placed in circuit with said source of current by said movable contact member engaging one set of such terminals, a rotatable member interposed between the other set of terminal members of said parallel conductor elements and the series of terminal elements of the set of conductors extending to said signaling elements, said rotatable member having a plurality of parallel conductor elements terminating at one end in collector rings adapted to contact the respective members of the series of terminal elements on the group of conductors connected with said signaling elements and having a plurality of movable contact members adapted to contact the terminal elements on said parallel conductor elements connected with said movable contact member, whereby any signaling element may be selectively energized through movement of said movable contact member or through movement of said rotatable member, each independently of the other.

ROBERT W. RICHARDSON.

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