Patent GB-112497-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and connected with Electrical Signalling Systems.
IPC: B66B19/06
Filed: 1917-01-06
Abstract: 112,497. Sterling Telephone & Electric Co., Bell, F. G., and Davey, W. C. Jan. 6, 1917. Mine signalling systems; order apparatus. - Relates to mine signalling systems in which a number of sending stations, such as onsetters' stations, control a single receiver, the chief object of the invention being to provide means whereby one station may appropriate the receiver to the exclusion of the other stations, at which an engaged indicator is displayed as long as the first station is signalling. Repeat signals may be given from the receiving station to the station last sianallinn by the depression of a common key controlling a single repeat relay, or by the depression of a key individual to the last station. In order to prevent interference between the different sending stations, each station has at the receiving station a line relay which connects it to the receiver proper, a common cut-off relay disconnecting the line relays of all non-sending stations. The line relays are provided with hold-on windings which are so arranged that if a station later in numerical order begins to signal, after another station has completed its signal, the line relay of the first station has its circuit broken by a master relay associated with the indicator, whereas if a station earlier in order begins to signal, the line relay of the first station has its circuit broken by the line relay of the station beginning to signal. The invention is described as applied to systems of the kind described in Specification 13062/14, in which the transmitting-key normally closes one set of contacts and has to be moved through an angle of substantially 180 degrees in order to close the signalling circuit. Fig. 1 shows circuits which do not form part of the invention whereby a single sending station controls the various indicators of the receiver. The e visual indicators L1 - - L4 are controlled by relays LR1 - - LR4 energized successively bv current impulses repeated by the master relay R1, which is energized by the movement of the onsetter's key OK on to its signalling contact I. Master relays R2, R3, R4 common to all the relays LR1 - - LR4 are provided. The selected luminous indicator L1 - - L4 is not lit until the key OK is allowed to engage its rest contact 2. The indicators are extinguished and all the relays deenergized either by the movement of the cancelling-switch CK by the execution of the order or by the movement of the onsetter's switch OK tn give a new order before the last is complied with. A belt OB is provided at the onsetter's station which serves (1) to indicate to him the receipt at the engine room of each signalling-impulse sent by the depression of his key OK, (2) to give a repeat signal when the engine man wishes an order to be repeated, and (3) as means by which the banksman can signal the onsetter by depressing the key BK. The leads P. N are connected to the positive and negative poles of the battery B. Each movement of the key OK on to its contact 1 energizes the relays R<1>, R<2> in parallel, the relay R<2> repeating the impulses to the onsetter's bell OB and the relay R1 repeating the impulses to the banksman's bell BB and a bell EB in the engine room. The first signalling-impulse is also repeated by relay R1 over contacts 10. 9 to the winding 7 of the signal relay LR1, which locks up over its winding 14 and contacts 13, 12 under the control of relay R4. When the contact 1 is opened, the relay R<1> de-energizes, closing the circuit of winding AW of relay R3. which disconnects winding 7 of relay LR1 and locks up over its winding HW. If the order to be given is represented by a single impulse, the onsetter allows the key OK to engage contact 2, energizing the relay R4, which (1) locks up so as to be independent of relay R3, (2) opens the holding-circuit of relay LR1 at contact 6, (3) short-circuits the holding-coil HW of relay R3 at contact 25, and (4) closes the circuit of the indicator L1 from the lead P over contacts 25, 26, 29, 31, 33, indicator L1, and contacts 34, 35 to the lead N. The indication continues until the lead P is disconnected at switch CK from the battery by hand or by the engine, or until the relav R4 is de-energized by tho opening of contact 2 when the onsetter wishes to cancel the signal or to give a new signal. If the order to be given is represented by two or more impulses, the second and other impulses are repeated by the relay R1 over contacts 10, 41, (the relay R3 remaining energized until relay R4 energizes at the end of the signal) to the relays LR2, LR3 in succession, each of these relays (1) completing a locking-circuit for itself dependent on the next succeeding relay, (2) opening the locking- circuit of the preceding relay, except in the case of relay LR2 which restores relay LR1 by shortcircuiting it, (3) extending the impulse circuit including the contacts 10, 41 to the winding of the next relay, and (4) preparing the circuit of the associated indicator which is completed over contacts 25, 26 by the relay R4 when the contact 2 of key OK is closed. As before, the indication continues until the switch CK or OK is operated, A special indicator M1 displays the word MEN when the indicator L3 is operated, and this indication M<1> remains after the indication L3 has been cancelled by the onsetter but is itself cancelled by the switch CK. For this purpose, a relay MR, having a winding 58 in parallel with the indicator L3, locks up through its winding 59, in parallel with the indicator M1, this locking- circuit being controlled only by the switch CK. The arrangement of the cautionary signal forms the subject of Specification 112,610. When the engine man wishes the onsetter to repeat a signal, he depresses a key RK, energizing a. self-locking relay RR controlling a vibrator V which intern,ittently connects the battery B over contact 65 to lead W3 and bell OB, thus ringing the bell continously. The ringing continues until the onsetter raises the key OK to repeat the signal, thereby opening the locking circuit of relay RR. Control of receiver by several sending stations. In a system described for three sending stations, the indicator-selecting arrangements are very similar to those shown in Fig. 1, provision being made for six indicators, of which the last is provided with a special cautionary signal for winding coal similar to that cautionary signal M1, Fig. 1, for winding men. Each relay controlling a cautionary indicator controls a contact in the holding-circuit of the relay controlling the other cautionary indicator, so that, when one indication is given, the other is cut out. Provision is made for controlling the indicators by three onsetters, each onsetter having a line relay such as OR1, OR2, OR3, Fig. 3, the energizing windings of these relays being controlled by a common cutoff relay similar to CR, Fig. 3. The locking-circuits of these relays are arranged as previously described, so as to prevent interference between the sending stations. The general arrangement of these relays, and of the means whereby the engine man gives a repeat signal to any onsetter, is similar to those shown in Fig. 3, although the circuits vary somewhat in detail. The current energizing one of the master relays, corresponding to the relay R4, Fig. 1, passes through the " engaged " indicator at the onsetter's station, but the resistance of the relay is such that the indication in not displayed at this stage. The engine man is prevented from giving a repeat signal while any onsetter is signalling. Alternative arrangement, Fig. 3, in which the same indicator 0 is used bv a number of onsetters having keys OK1, OK2, OK3 as before, and in which a separate indicator B1 is provided for signals from the banksman's station represented by his key BK and bell BB. The indicators are of the ratchet type with a pointer moving over a dial, or a contact arm moving over contacts connected to lamps BL1 - - BL9, or OL1 - - OL8. The three onsetters are each provided at, the, engine room with a relay OR1, OR2, OR3, the energizing-circuits of which are controlled by a common cut-off relay CR, which prevents more than one onsetter signalling at a time. The indicators B1, O are controlled by differential relays BIR, OIR respectively. The engine-room man may give repeat signals to the banksman, and to the onsetters. Positive and negative battery leads are indicated by the letters P, N throughout the Figure. Signalling to and from banksman, Fig. 3. The movement of key BK on to the signalling-contact B4 energizes the release magnet BRM, which restores the indicator to normal position, wherein the contacts 83, 84 are closed so as to complete a circuit through winding 85 of relay BIR, which locks up over its contact 91 and closes a circuit from the positive lead through the operating- magnet BAM, contact 86, lead BW2, contact B4 of key BK, and lead BW1 to the negative lead. The indicator B1 is thus moved to its first position. Further closures of the circuit just traced cause the magnet BAM to step round the pointer or contact arm BP. When the key BK is allowed to engage its normal contact B2, current flows through the differential winding 92 of relay BIR, de-energizing this relay so that its armature 90 closes the circuit of the selected lamp BL. The signal remains displayed until the banksman closes contact B4 to give the next signal. The magnet BAM closes contacts 87, 88, 89 which repeat the signal impulses to bells BB, BEB. To give a repeat signal, the engine-room man depresses key BRK, which operates relay BRR and vibrator BV as in the apparatus shown in Fig. 1. Signalling to and from onsetters, Fig. 3. If the first onsetter closes contact 01 of his key OK1, current flows from the positive lead over contact 103 of the common cut-off relay CR, relay OR1, lead OW2, key OK1 to the negative lead. The relay OR1 energizes the release magnet ORM of the indi