Patent GB-264195-A (GB)
Title: Electric switching device for electric luminous advertisements
IPC: G09G3/00
Filed: 1925-07-13
Abstract: 264,195. Lautner, M. July 13, 1925. Monogrammic signs. - In electric luminous advertisement apparatus of the kind comprising a number of squares each containing a number of lamps adapted to be illuminated selectively in groups to form the required letters or characters, the lamps in each square are. controlled by a compound relay having a number of electromagnets which are energized selectively under the control of contacts on a keyboard 'so as to form the required letter or character, and the contacts of each key are connected to certain of a number of contacts all of which are connected to each relay through one of a number of multiple-way switches or contact bridges which are operated to determine the sequence in which the light squares are illuminated. The compound relays preferably comprise a set of bars which actuate the contacts of the lamp circuits, each bar corresponding to one letter, and the bars may be connected to the armatures of the electromagnets actuating them by springs, with locking mechanism which permits a second advertisement to be prepared while one is being displayed. The installation comprises a number of rows of lamp panels, each containing such a number of lamps so disposed that any letter or figure required can be formed by lighting a selection of the lamps. Eighty-one lamps are used in the installation illustrated. The lamps of each panel are controlled by relays comprising electromagnets and contact levers n, Fig. 3, adjusted so as to effect permanent closing of the lamp circuit when a momentary current is sent through the electromagnet. The levers n are provided with studs which when the levers are in contact position engage the ends of slots b, c, d - - - in a bar a<1>. The bar a<1> is moved to the left by an electromagnet m to extinguish simultaneously all the lamps in the corresponding panel. The bar is attached to a spring-pressed armature l, so that on cessation of current in the electromagnet m the bar returns to normal position, and the levers are freed. The selection of the levers n appropriate to the required letter or character is effected by the depression of the keys n<1>, o, Fig. 21, of a typewriting machine. Pins q, r, s complete the circuits. The leads from the keyboard run to the appropriate lead of a series of eighty-one main leads. From these main leads a set of eighty-one wires is taken to each of the relay mechanisms shown in Fig. 3, there being one such mechanism for each lamp panel. The wires of each set are interrupted by gaps t, which are closed in sequence by multiple-way switches or contact bridges. The latter are controlled by means of the mechanism shown in Fig. 19. A ratchet wheel 128 is rotated step by step by means of a lever 126 carrying a pawl 127, the lever being actuated by an electromagnet 124. A contact arm 129 attached to the wheel 128 is thus moved over contact studs 131 - - 136, the leads from which run to electromagnets 137, Fig. 21, each of which actuates a lever 140. A frame at one end of this lever carries contact springs which close the circuits. A lead from a contact operated by each key of the typewriting machine is taken to the electromagnet 124, this contact being made before those closing the circuits to form the letters. In another form of relay mechanism, the lamp circuits are closed by means of selector bars a<2>, Figs. 9 and 10, each bar closing the circuits to form one character. There is one complete set of such bars for each lamp panel. The pegs e, f, g - - - Fig. 10, of the circuit-closing levers h, i, k - - - project upwardly and downwardly through slots in the bars a<2> which are disposed above and below the levers, and the slots are so disposed as to actuate the appropriate levers on movement of the bar to the right. This movement is effected by electromagnets s which attract armatures 100 connected to the bars. In this form a single contact is made to each key of the keyboard to energize the corresponding electromagnet s, and the number of bridging mechanism contacts for each lamp panel is equal to the number of characters on the keyboard. The selector bars a<2> may be of thin aluminium, and the magnets s are arranged above and below the set of bars and laterally of them as shown in Fig. 12. A single bar a<3>, Fig. 22, moved to the right by the pegs, or permanently pulled to the right by a spring, is provided, which on being moved to the left by an electromagnet m disengages all the contact levers and extinguishes the corresponding lamps. The apparatus may be arranged so that a fresh notice can be prepared while the preceding one is being displayed. For this purpose the armatures 100, Fig. 10, are connected to the bars a<2> by springs 101, Fig. 14. Excitation of the electromagnet s puts the spring 101 under tension if the bar a<2> cannot move; a locking bar 109 prevents movement of all the other bars a<2> as long as one bar is pulled out. This looking bar is raised in front of projections 108 on the bars a<2> as one of the latter is pulled out, by means of the levers 106, 103, 104. When the one bar is returned, the lever 106 follows, and the bar 109 is dropped. Each armature 100 is connected to a rod 110 formed at the end with a hook 111, Fig. 15, adapted to engage with hook-bars 112, 113. When an electromagnet s is excited, the corresponding hook 111 engages with the bar 113, keeping the spring 101 under tension. When another magnet is energized, the hook of the corresponding armature pushes up the bar 113, and the first hook 111 is released and caught by the bar 112. It is released therefrom by energizing the electromagnet 118 which is included in the circuits of the electromagnets s.