US886879A - Signaling system. - Google Patents

Description

PATBNTEI) MAY 5, 1908.

J. SHEPHERD* SIGNALING SYSTEM. APPLIGMIGH FILED s311117. 1906i 2 SHEETS--SHET l PATBNTBD MAY 5, 1908,

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' JOHN SHEPHERD, OF CHIAGO, ILLINOIS.

SIGNALING SYSTEM.

To all whom it may co'ncem:

Be it known that I, J oiinT SHEPHERD', a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Systems, of which the following is a s ecif'ication.

My invention re ates to improvements in signaling s stems, and more particularly to combined re alarm and watch service signal systems. In such systems it is customary to i provide a metallic circuit wherein the break or switch devices of the various transmitters are included in series; to provide in each transmitter a constantly grounded break wheel, and, at the central station to arrang'e signal receiving apparatus, a grounded source of current supply, such as a generator, with the o posite terminals of which the two sides of tffe line are connected, and a switch for connecting both sides of the line in common .with the ungrounded terminal of the generator.

Normally the signals of each transmitter are initiated by breaking the line connection through the break device of such tiansiiiitter, but in the event of a rupture of one of the line wires, the switch at central station, is thrown to connect both sides of the line in parallel with the common terminal of the generator, so that the operation of any transmitter u on the line grounds the line whenn ever the reak wheel makes contact'witli the break devices, and so enables the box to perform its function of transmitting a signal to central in spite of the broken condition of the line.

It is manifestly important that the ground connection of each transmitter shall be maintained perfect at all times, and my invention has for its primary object to provide a means for testing the integrity of said ground connection each time the box is operated in transmitting watch service signals.

A further object of my invention is to provide a transmitter adapted for use as a combined watch box and fire alarm box, wherein the signal transmitted by the box to send a lire alarm is characteristically different from that transmitted when the box is operating to transmit watch service signals.

Other and further objects of my invention may best become apparent from the followingdescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a conventional, partly diagrammatic view of a transmitter in association Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 17, 1906. Serial No. 334,987.

Patented May 5, 1908.

With a suitable circuit. Fig'. 2 isv a detail of the signal wheel structure; and, Fig. 3 is a def tail of a stop Wheel. Fig. 4 shows a modified arrangement of transmitter and circuit.

Throughout the figures like numerals of reference refer always to like parts.

Referring first to the transmitter structure shown in Fig. 1, 5' indicates an inclosing casing preferalil provided at a suitable point with a glass p ate 6.

7 indicates in general the frameof the transmitter mechanism, which is shown as involving a main spring or windin f arbor 8 projecting through the casing 5, an( squared at its projecting end to receive a watcliinans key, a signal wIieel arbor 9 and the usual escapenient 10, the motor being arranged to be driven by a spring 11.

The signal wheel arbor 9 is axially movable by means of the lever 12, pivoted as at 13 in the frame 7, at its outer or handle end bearing against the glass plate 6 and at its inner end bifurcated to engage a collar 14 mounted on the arbor 9. Obviously when the glass plate 6 is fractured and the handle of lever 12 pulled downward the arbor 9 is shifted axially toward the front of the box by the lever. A latch15 is provided for maintaining the parts in the position last described.

The motor spring 11 is normally held in partly wound condition by the engagement of a stop wheel 16 upon the winding shaft S with a stop pin 17, ada )ted to be niove'd out of the path of the whee 16 when the arbor 9 is shifted axially to its forward position. To this end the pin 17 projects `through an aperture- 18 in the frame 7, and is secured to, or formed integral with, a lever 17 pivoted as at 19 and at its opposite extremity engaging a collar 20 carried by the arbor 9.

It will be understood that the parts are so proportioned and arranged that the winding arbor 8 may be rotated by a suitable key in an anti-clock-wise direction to increase the tension of the spring '11, such movement being sufficient to cause the motor to run back to its stopped position to rotate the signal wheel arbor 9 through one complete reif'olution. lVlien the stop pin 17 is rcmoved from the path of thc wheel 16 the l ferent toothed arrangement, laterally, or axially of the arbor, out of alinement, and while the structure may obviously be made in one piece, I will, for convenience of understanding, describe it as built up of several sections. The central portion 23 of the Wheel structure has upon its periphery a be observed, are owerthan the teeth of the `section 23..- Preferably a third section is placed on the opposite side of the section 23 and is provided with a distinct characteristic tooth arrangement, preferably a dot, a dash, and a dot, indicative in the Morse code of the letter F such teeth constituting what I may ter'm a supplemental series. These series of teeth, it will be observed, are laterally (or axially' of the arbor) out of alinement, and circumferentially are preferably arranged in the order shown in Fig. 2. The wheel structure 22 is insulated from the arbor 9 by a suitable bushing 26, and the various sections thereof make intimate contact with each other, so that they are electrically interal. A brush 27, arrange,d to constantly ear upon the structure 22, is grounded through a wire 28.

29 and 3() indicate the pen and anvil of a circuit breaking device associated with the structure 22. The pen 29 is vof sufficient width for coaction with two of the sections of the wheel structure 22 and is arranged when thel arts are in the vnormal position shown in t e drawin to overlie the sections 23 and 24. When t e handle 12 is pulled, however, to'shift the arbor 9 forward, the wheel structure 22 is so moved that'the pen 29overlies the sections 23 and 25 ofthe structure 22 for coaction therewith. Further the arrangement is such that the teeth of the section 24 make contact with the pen 29 without lifting it from its anvil 30, while the teeth of the sections 23 and 25, when passing beneath the signaling pen 29 lift it from its anvil 30 to break connection between the circuit breaking parts. he circuit connec-l Aminal connected to line wire 34 wherein is included the coil of a relay r and the circuit breaking instrumentalities a, il, 'and c of a plurality of transmitters, said side of the line 34 being shown'and connected with the anvil 30. From the pen 29 the opposite line wirel 35 extends back through relay r at the cen- .recording instrument R'.

tral station,"to a switch S, the Yiiade whereof is normally thrown for connection with the wire 36, connected with die grounded terminal of the enerator. A connection 37 is made from t e normally open contact of the l switch S to the opposite, ungrounded terminal of the generator. l

.The armatures of the two relays 1 1^ 'may conveniently be tied together by wire and their front contacts are 'connect/,difr 5. through suitable switches s s with wiref 9*, which includes the local battery B and a' re. cording instrument R. The back contacts of the relay armatures are arranged for connection with wire 39. by the switches s s 30 when the latter are moved to disconnect the front contact from-said wire.` For'convenience further, a short circuit 31, for cutting out the boxes more remote from central may l be rovided, such short circuit being nor- '11 maly open at contacts 31', adapted to be' closed when lever 12 is ulled down, by/a blade 32 carried by said ever 12. l

It will nowl be apparent that under normal conditions a closed circuit is established 90 from the constantly running generator G through wire 34, the closed clrcuit breaking structures of the various transmitters, by wire 35, switch S and wire 36, to the oppo I site terminal of the generator, said closed 954 metallic circuit including the relay coils r r',

so that the are energized and their armatures are he d in contact with their front contacts, closing the local circuit including wires 38 and 39, the battery B and the signal"100 If now the line be broken at any oint the relay magnets r r are denergized) so that they drop back, opening the local circuit and causing the recorder R td'regist-er, by a mark upon'its 105 ta e, the durat-ion of the break` n the'operation of m improved transmitter, as a watch box,^t 1e final winding of the transmitter is accomplished by a key, as usual, and the transmitter is allowed topartly run down, until stopped by the pin 17, whereupon the following action takes place: Before the teeth indicative of the box number coact with the pen 29, the short teeth of the section 24 pass beneath the pen 115 making contact therewith without breaking the line circuit. Accordingly a ground circuit is established from the generator (t through the line 34, Vanvil vand pen 30 and 29, wheel structure section 24, brush 27, ground wire 28 and, ground wire 33 back to the generator. 4As the relays r 1" arewound to a considerable resistance-for instance 15() ohms-practically all of the current of the the tape of the recorder shows preliminarily '130- ground connections.

' mean "fire".

to recording the box number the Morse-code letter G. As the receipt of such signal is dependent upon the integrity 'of the ground connection 28 it will be apparent 4that such ground connection is-thereby tested each time a watchman transmits his watch signal for record. If the G does not appear on the tape, its absence indicates a failure of the Following the completion of the test signal the box-number teeth of the section 23 cooperate with the pen, lifting it out of contact with its anvil 31 each time a tooth passes thereunder, so that the metallic connection is broken by each tooth and the box-signal is transmitted to central in the usual and well known manner.

In the event of fire the transmitter is actuated by breaking the glass 6 and depressing the handle 12 to position where it is latched by latch 15. As heretofore described such operation shifts the arbor 9 and the wheel structure 22 so .that the wheel-section 24 passes forward from beneath the pen 29 while section 25 is brought into operative relation thereto. Now the box operates in its usual manner save that to the box number signal to be transmitted there is added a succeeding or supplementary signal indicative, in the `Morse code of the letter lf", which is interrupted at the central stationv to lt will now be apparent that should the transmitter ever transmit a box number signal Without any preceding or succeeding letter signal, the authorities at central station are immediately apprised that the ground connection of the said transmitter is broken and the said transmitter has been incapacitated to operate on the system when the switch S is ,thrown to connect both line wires to the same side of the generator. l

Referring now to Fig. 4 it will be seen that the transmitter motor structure is the same as that heretofore described, but that the casing 5 is of a slightly different construction, involving an aperture 5b for the pulldown handle 12', there being lprovided a glass fronted cover, 5", for the andle 12 and a erture 5b, hinged at 5l and maintained cosed by a self-opening latch 5e held in latching position by a glass plate 6u. Bearrod 40, carrying a head 41 normally effecting electrical connection between two contacts 42, 42 which are included in a wire 28 leading from brush 27 to ground. Spring contacts 43 43, normally open, are arranged to be closed by a'contact 44, carried by the lever arm -12 and are connected respectively to springs 42, 42. By such an arrangement the soundness of the glass is tested. If the flass be broken, without the box lever 12 eing pulled, the springpressed rod 4() moves outward breaking the ground connection at mg against the glass. 6a is a spring-pressed.

contacts 42, 42', so that the next watchmans signal shows a broken ground, as heretofore described, and when the ground connection is sought to be repaired the broken glass is, of course, found, and replaced by a perfect glass. Should the box be pulled however by depression of lever 12, the ground connection broken at 42, 42"is restored by the parallel or bridging contacts 43-43, with which the contact 44, under such circumstances, coacts.

'lhus, if one line connection has been broken the transmitter may yet act to transmit its signal through its .ground connection, as heretofore described. f

While 1 have herein described in some detail an operative embodiment'of my invention I do not desire to be understood as limting myself to the'specilfic details, as it will be apparent that numerous modifications in the specific construction and arrangement might be made without departure from the splrit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination with a metallic circuit including a source of current supply, and signal receiving means responsive to a break in or ground on the circuit, of a transmitter including a line breaking mechanism, aground connection for said line breaking mechanism, and means operablevn predetermined relation to the line breakin(r mechanism for testing the integrity of tie ground connection by'transmittmg thereover a signal, without breaking the line.

2. The combination with a metallic circuit, a grounded source of current supply therefor, a si rnal receivin means responsive to a brea c in or groun on said circuit, of a transmitter comprising a line breaking switch, a break wheel structure normally non-contacting therewith, a normally closed ground connection for said wheel, and means for indicating the integrity of said ground connection comprising a signaling instrumentality arranged to connect the ground connection with the line circuit without breaking the line.

3. The combination with a metallic circuit, a grounded source of current supply therefor, and signal receivinfr means for said'circuit responsive to a break inver ground on the circuit, of a transmitter comprising a line breaking switch, and a switch operating structure normally non-contacting therewith, and a normally closed ground connection for said structure, said structure comprising circuit sol breaking arts, and arts for contacting with the circuit breaker without breaking the cirsignal wheel structure, means for shiftin said signal wheel structure to position di erent parts thereofl for coaction with the break device, one part of said signal. wheel structure comprising means for connecting the break device with the "round wire without breaking the circuit,jand means for breakingithe line circuit.

5. The-combination with a metallic circuit including a grounded current generator, and signal receiving means responsive to a break in or groundV on the circuit of a transmitter comprising a motor, acircuit breaking structure, a signal wheel structure, and means for laterally shifting one of said structures relative to the other; said wheel structure comprising a plurality of toothseries out of lateral alinelnent for respective coaction with the circuit breaking structure when the circuit breaking and wheel structures are shifted to different positions, one of said tooth-series being of a height to contact with cuit, and being grounded, and another tooth series being of a' height to break the circuit through the circuit breaking structure.

6. In combination, aA circuit breaking switch and a signal wheel, one of said parts being shiftable laterally relative to the other, said signal wheel providing a plurality of series of teeth in dill'erent paths of rotation, one such tooth series being of suitable to contact with thc circuit breaker without breaking its circuit, and another such tooth series being of a height to break the circuit of ,said circuit breaker, means for rotating said wheel, and means for shifting the. shiitable part to bring the iirst said tooth series into or out of position for coaction with the circuit breaker. l

7. In coi'nbination, a circuit breaking switch, a shiftable signal wheel structure,

height cuit breaking teeth, circuits controlled by the contact teeth and circuit breaker respectively, signal receiving means associated with said circuits, and means for shifting said signal Wheel structure to alternatively I position the contact'teeth and supplemental l l l l l n the other part comprising i teeth for coaction with the switch without disturbin the association of the tbox-number teet with said switch.

8. The combination with a metallic circuit having therein a grounded source of current supply, andsignal receiving means responsive to a break in or ground on the line, of a signal transmitter comprising a normally partly-wound train, a movable stop for re straining the train against running down, a line circuit breaker, an axially movable signal wheel, arranged when rotated while in normal axial position to make a series of contacts with the circuit breaker without break ing the circuit, and also a series of circuit breaking contacts therewith, and when rotated while in another axial position to make a dill'crent series of circuit breaking contacts with the circuit breaker, a ground connection for the wheel and means for axially moving the wheel arranged to automatically remove the stop from position to 'restrain thc train.

t). ln combination with a signal transmitter having a body of frai'igible material arranged t-o )rt-.vent the transmitter from being operated to transmit a tire alarm while the said body is intact, and means for transmitting a watch signal without. interference with said body ol' lrangiblc n'iatcrial, ol'

means normally maintained inoperative. by

l l l t having three series of teeth, consisting of. a central boxnumber scriesof circult breakl ing meansfa series oi contact teeth arranged E to coact with the switch without breaking l its circuit, and a supplemental series of eirthe body of" frangible material, and arranged for automatic operation upon the fracture ol' said body, for varying from normal the watcli-signal.

In testimony whereof` I hereunto set' my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN Slllllllilltl'). ln the presence of- Fomln BAIN, Mam' l`. Antics.

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