Patent GB-189807164-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Apparatus for Electric Signalling, and Adjuncts thereto.
Inventor: HERZOG FELIX BENEDICT
Filed: 1898-03-24
Granted: 1899-03-24
Abstract: 7164. Herzog, F. B. March 24. Signals, electric and indicator or visible; indicators or annunciators.-R e l a t e s to electric signalling or order telegraph apparatus, applicable for hotel, telephone exchange, or police use, &c., of that type wherein an order or signal sent from a transmitter at a sub-station is not immediately received at the central station, but remains 'latent' until the attendant, on observing the number of the sub-station on his annunciator, inserts a plug in the corresponding hole in a switchboard, and operates the starting-lever of a stepby-step indicator, so starting a clockwork mechanism in the transmitter, which then operates the indicator to show the order or signal. The transmitter, Fig. 1, is provided with a dial divided into spaces H<1>, I<1>, &c., on which the signalling-indications are marked, the pin 500 on the transmitting-lever 498 being brought over the indication to be transmitted. The lever 498 is mounted to slide longitudinally in the T-shaped sleeve 490, affixed to the main arbor of the clockwork, so that it can be drawn out or rotated to any indication on the dial. The underside of the lever is notched to receive the end of a spring plunger mounted in the sleeve, to lock the lever when it has been radially adjusted. A direction tag 502 is fixed to the inner end of the lever and projects over the sleeve when the lever is fully extended. The operation of moving the lever to the desired indication winds up the clockwork mechanism, which is locked by the hooked armature 427 of the electromagnet 110 engaging the notched cam 437 on one of the clockwork arbors, until released by the attendant at the c e n t r a l station. By operating the push - button 530 of the transmitter, the call circuit is completed through a call bell and through the annunciator 97, Fig. 10, at the central station. The annunciator is similar in character and action to that described in Specification No. 1301, A.D. 1898, and depends on the electrolytic deposition of iodine, from a solution of potassium iodide, on one or other of the electrodes 96 forming the terminals of the signalling-circuits. In the present invention, the density of the electrolyte is increased, and the iodine stain rendered more permanent, by the addition of sugar, and the character of the liquid is maintained by adding sodium sulphite. To receive the signal the attendant at the central station inserts the plug 334, 335 into the switchboard 329 in the hole corresponding to that shown by the annunciator, and depresses the lever 34 of the step-by-step indicator-103, the dial of which is marked with the same indications as the dial of the transmitter. These operations unlock the indicator 103, and complete the circuit through the magnet 110 of the transmitter, whereupon the clockwork mechanism runs down until the pin 500 engages the notched stop-rib 521. The circuit of the indicator magnet at the central station is made and broken by a toothed wheel on the main arbor of the clockwork, the required differentiation in the impulses given for the different indications being produced by a long tooth on the contact-wheel giving a correspondingly long period of rest at a particular stage in the movement of the indicator. An insulating- backing on the contact-wheel prevents the contact-brush from dipping between the teeth, while it permits a good contact between their surfaces. The armature 427 carries a hammer 430, which rings the bell 514 when the armature first releases the clockwork. The transmitter is removably attached to a base-plate which is adjustably attached to the box 311 embedded in the wall plaster &c., but is insulated from the box by the blocks U, U<1>, &c., various adjustments being provided to enable the proper alignment to be secured when connecting the parts. The act of inserting the transmitter in its supports also connects the contacts controlled by the push-button 530 with their corresponding terminals A, I, &c. The clockwork spring is wound by a ratchet mechanism from the transmitting- lever, and has a friction attachment which permits the transmitting-lever to be moved without overwinding the spring. Provision is also made for the convenient inspection, removal, or adjustment &c. of the important parts of the transmitter without interfering with other parts. The sides of the annunciator tank are formed by an india-rubber gasket 232, against which the glass front is pressed by the screw clamps 235. The electrodes 96 consist of discs of platinum foil mounted on hard rubber backings, and are connected by wires 97 to contact-plates at the back, the plates, wires, &c. being covered with a protecting-layer of a suitable cement. The annunciator numbers are mounted in glass tubes 243 held in place by the rubber-headed screws 242, which also hold the white backing plates and strips 240. When required, the iodine stain is removed from the electrodes by blowing air through the tank from the ball 222, the air duct 230 being formed in the gasket 232. This duct may also serve for emptying the tank. The lever 34, which releases the indicator 103, also actuates a circuit-changer to cut out the annunciator, and the indicator as a whole is removably mounted in its supports, the co-operating contacts of the circuits being brought together by inserting the instrument in position. The indications on the dial of the transmitter are preferably arranged in alternate spaces, those on the indicator dial being suitably arranged to correspond. The system of working the entire apparatus, and the various circuits, contacts, testing- switches, &c. necessary for such working, are described in the Specification, and parts of the apparatus may be used with equivalent instruments of different types. ft is also stated in the Provisional Specification that the apparatus may be controlled by a coin-freed device, with which may be combined a receipt-delivery mechanism, and means for printing or autographing the receipts &c., that telephone apparatus &c. may be combined with the transmitter, and that the operation of the indicator lever &c. may be made to control a counting-mechanism for recording the signals or the values of the orders sent &c.