Patent GB-191511560-A (GB)
Title: An Improved Apparatus for Displaying Advertisements, Signs, Notices, Outline Moving Pictures or the iike, or for Communicating Messages or Signaling both during Light and Darkness.
IPC: G09G3/00
Filed: 1915-08-10
Abstract: 11,560. Naylor, J. P., and Naylorgraph, Ltd. Aug. 10. Monogrammic signs and signals.-Relates to the construction and operation of electro-mechanical elements of monogrammic display boards suitable for use by day or by night. Construction and control of the individual elements. Each element comprises two coils I, J, Fig. 3, which respectively cause display or non-display of the visible portion F of the element, and a relay switch T which predetermines, by the position of its armature, which of the coils I, J will be energized when the main circuit including a series of elements is energized. The member F may consist of a white opal glass visible itself in the daytime or illuminated at night by a lamp E. In the non- display position of the element, a shutter A covers the member F, but is rotatable to uncover the member when the display-coil I is energized, either by means of wires C<2> or by means of a rack on the armature H engaging a pinion connected with the shutter. A spring T' constrains the armature H to take up a position in which the member F is either wholly covered or uncovered, and a dash-pot L is included to absorb the shock caused by the swing ing-over of the armature. An extension M<2> of the armature H automatically operates a switch P, which determines whether the lamp E shall be included in the circuit or not, or, as shown in Fig. 3, whether the lamp E or an equivalent resistance P<2> shall be in the circuit, according as the coil I or the coil J is energized. The heat developed in the resistance P<2> is conveniently utilized for melting snow from, or drying, the exposed members A, F. The switch controlling the lamp circuit, including the conductors S, S<4> of each individual lamp, would be closed only at night. The effect of the primary relay switches T is to permit all the elements on one panel or on all the panels to be operated together. The elements used may also be constructed as described in Specification 18,286/10 in combination with primary relay switches T. Arrangement of the elements in a circuit. Fig. 5 shows an arrangement in which the two coils I, J of each element are in series, one or the other being short-circuited by the switch T, and in which the elements are also connected in series, the main circuit being controlled by a relay switch DS. In a modified arrangement, the coils I, J of each element are in parallel, the switch T being in circuit with one or the other of these coils. In Fig. 7, the non-display coils J of a number of elements are shown connected in series, while the display coils I are also in series collectively, but each is in parallel with an equivalent resistance R. When the main switch DS is closed, some elements will have their display coils energized, and others will have their resistance R in the circuit, according to the position of the primary switches T; when the switch DS<2> is closed, all the non-display coils J are energized, thus resetting the whole sign. The coils I, J of the several elements may be connected in various combinations of series and parallel; but in all cases, as those shown, it is preferable to keep the circuit resistance constant. By successive operation of the display coil of an element, colour changes may be brought about as described in the above-mentioned Specification;. or an element may have independent mechanism for displaying each colour. Setting of the primary-relay switches by composing-keys. A composing-key I<1>, Fig. 9, of insulating-material with a number of contacts M<1>, N<1>, O<1>, &c., which may be adjustable, may be used to control the sets of coils A, B, C, &c. and A', B', C', &c., of the primary-relay switches of several elements T<1>, U<1>, V<1>, &c., the coils A<1>, B<1>, C<1>, &c., if energized, predetermining display of their elements. Six elements with their primary-relay switches are shown in the Figure, the switches being connected to 13 conductors 1<A>, 2<A>, &c. which have at their other ends contacts to coact with the contacts M', N', &c. of the composing-key. When the composing-key is operated by a relay K<1> and the multi-contact switch Z<2> then closed, a current flows between the conductors L<2>, 13<B> either through the display or through the non-display coil of each primary relay, the composing-key short-circuiting the coils which it is not required 'to energize. In this manner, the resistance of the circuit remains constant. The multi-contact switch Z<2> may be closed by a panel selector, thus allowing the panel containing the elements T<1>, U<1>, &c. to be excited when required. The setting of the primary-relay switches by the composing-key thus predetermines which elements shall be made visible when the main circuit DS, Fig. 7, is energized. A modified arrangement is described in which the display and the non-display coils of all the elements are in parallel, the composing-key in this case being of conducting-material. Setting of the primary-relay switches by secondary or other relay switches. A group of 256 elements may be arranged on 16 panels, such as A, B, Fig. 12, each containing 16 elements. The primary-relay switches of all the panels are connected to 33 conductors 1 ... 33, while the composing - key is replaced by 16 secondary-relay switches 1R, 4R, &c. These 16 relay switches are divided into 4 groups, each group being associated with a contact-key E controlled either by a single relay or, as shown, by two relays ND1, D1; ND2, D2, &c. The secondary relays 1, 5, 9, 13 are connected to one conductor (1, 5, 9, 13), the relays 2, 6, 10, 14 to a second conductor, and so on. Thus, any particular secondary relay can be chosen and operated by a selection and energization of one of the conductors, such as 1, 5, 9, 13, and of one of the conductors ND1 &c. associated with the four contact-keys E. By successive.energizations, any number of the secondary-relay switches 1R, 4R, &c. can be operated, thus setting, as desired, the primary - relay switches of any panel when the multi-contact switch MS1 associated with that panel and the main switch MS6 are closed. The conductors (1, 5, 9, 13) &c. and the conductors ND1, ND2, D1, D2, &c. are energized by means of slidable strips or by rotatable drums ND or D carrying contacts. The drums are rotated by motors M1, M2, M3 controlled by a master drum MD having contacts M10. When the primary relay switches of one panel, say A, have been set, an automatic ratchet-wheel drum MS20 controlled by a relay MS5 is operated so that the primary relay switches of the elements on panel B are next set through the multi-contact switch MS2. Or, as an alternative method the 16 multi-contact switches may be arranged in 4 groups of four, and controlled by secondary relays associated with composing or contact drums. The 16 switches DS<1> controlling the operation of the elements on the panels may be actuated by a contact drum DSO, which thus forms a panel selector for choosing which panel is to be excited. The main switch MS6 is closed so as to set the primary-relay switches and to energize the relay MS5 by means of contacts on the drum ND, the closing occurring after the required secondary relays 1R, 4R, &c. for setting a panel have been operated. The rotation of the drum MD may be controlled by a paper record as described in the above-mentioned Specification, or by clock-work capable of indicating the time of exposure of an advertisement &c. Reduction of the number of conductors by which the elements are controlled. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 12, the primary-relay switches each comprise two coils, and 32 auxiliary conductors plus 1 main conductor are necessary; but in a single-control system, only 16 auxiliary conductors plus 1 main conductor would be needed. The multi - contact switches MS1, MS2, &c. may also be controlled by 16 auxiliary conductors plus 1 main conductor. Thus, the 256 elements may be controlled, excluding main conductors, by 32 conductors, i.e. twice the square root of the number of elements. Each set of 16 conductors may be controlled by two groups of four conductors, as shown in connexion with the relays 1R, 4R, &c. Thus, ultimately, the 256 elements may be controlled by 4 groups of 4 conductors. In a similar manner, a group, say, of 6561 elements may be controlled either by 2 groups of 81 conductors, or by 4 groups of 9 conductors, or by 8 groups of 3 conductors. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 13, where RI indicates one of the 81 panels of 81 elements. Any element may be selected for operation by operating one of the nine keys A, B, C, &c. controlled by relays AA, BB, &c., and also one of the nine keys J, K, L, &c. controlled by relays JB, KB, LB, &c. Any relay of the group of 9 relays AA, BB, &c. is capable of selection from two groups of 3 conductors ABC, DEF, GHI and ADG, BEH, CFI; any relay of the group of 9 relays JB, KB, LB, &c. is similarly capable of selection from two groups of 3 conductors PQR, &c., JMP, &c. For convenience, as described below, the four groups of 3 conductors are connected to horizontal groups of 9 contacts JR2 and of 3 contacts JR1, and to vertical groups of 9 contacts AI2 and of 3 oontacts AI1. Any one of the 81 panels may in a similar manner be selected by means of four groups of 3 conductors. Controller for selecting the conductors to operate a particular element or group of elements. The groups of contacts AI1, AI2, JR1, JR2 are arranged to occupy adjacent squares of equal area, and a framework carrying conductive pointers which have a constant relative position are arranged to move over the panel RI and the contact plates. If one pointer is over, say, element 77, four other pointers will make contact respectively at the points PHB on the plate R<2>, PHR on the plate PQR<1>, PVB on the plate E<2>, and PVR on the plate DEF<1>, thus energizing the conductors necessary to operate the primary-relay switch of element 77. By moving the first or indicating po