Patent GB-434271-A (GB)
Title: Indicating arrangements applicable for showing the number present in and the opinions of assemblies of people in theatres and other places
IPC: A47C1/13
Filed: 1935-02-11
Abstract: 434,271. Voting-apparatus; indicating- apparatus. DUNSHEATH, P., Hesket, Church Avenue, Sidcup, Kent. Feb. 11, 1935, No. 1055/34. [Class 106 (iv)] [See also Groups XXXVIII and XXXVII] A signalling arrangement for use for voting in a theatre &c. comprises a circuit connected at one end to an indicator and running through a number of switching points associated with the seats for the audience. Each switching point includes contacts in a chain circuit connected to the driving magnet 55 of a reverse drive counter 57. On the actuation of a push button 64, contact 59 is latched and extends wire 50 to the next position in the chain as shown at A1, through the polarized latch magnet 61. When it is desired to count the votes, switch 54 is operated and magnet 55 is energized in series with magnet 60 at the nearest position at which the push button has not been operated. 60 operates contact 59 which opens the actuating circuit to release 55 and extends the chain circuit. 55 then operates again in series with magnet 60 at the next position at which the push button has been operated. Switch 57 thus counts the unoperated push buttons. To restore normal conditions, the line current is reversed to energize the polarized latch magnets. This current is not strong enough to operate magnets 60 or alternatively, the armatures of these magnets are polarized. Alternatively, the latch magnets may be operated by a separate circuit or latches may be controlled by bimetallic strips in the voting circuit so that after a definite interval the switch contacts are released automatically. The above arrangements may be combined with seat operated switches controlling the insertion of resistance into a circuit for indicating the number of occupied seats and comprising contacts for cutting out unoccupied positions from the voting circuit. In a further system comprising separate " aye " and " no " voting circuits, the actuating buttons are mechanically linked so that when one has been operated the other cannot be moved. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the operation of one button renders the other ineffective by electrical means, contact 59 in addition to its normal function completing a circuit by means of a bridging contact 77 for energizing the latch magnet associated with the other button over an additional winding 80. Preferably the contacts bridged by the member 77 are carried by the latch member so that operation of the push button with the associated latch member withdrawn is without effect. In this system the normal latch magnet windings may be omitted. The indicators may be combined with recording devices which may be synchronized with a programme record so that the reactions of an audience to particular parts of a film may be studied. Construction of indicators. As shown in Figs. 7, 8, a combined indication of the size and opinions of the audience is given by a lamp which is more or less obscured by a pair of opaque sectors 83, 84 controlled to move in opposite directions by magnets 89, 90 in accordance with the number of occupied seats. Associated with each opaque sector is a coloured transparent sector 85, 86 which takes up an angular position relatively to the opaque sector corresponding to the number of votes under control of a stepping magnet. Magnets 89, 90 may be replaced by stepping magnets.