Patent GB-362926-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to electrical indicating devices
IPC: G09F7/00
Filed: 1930-08-30
Abstract: 362,926. Electric signalling systems. AUTOMATIC TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING CO., Ltd., Strowger Works, Liverpool, and SIMPSON, L. M., The Bungalow, Laurel Bank, Stanks, near Leeds. Aug. 30, 1930, No. 25978. [Class 40 (i).] In an electrical indicating device, particularly for a totalizator, a plurality of lamps arranged in line are adapted to be lighted in succession to represent the momentary value of a variable quantity by the length of the illuminated line, the lighting of the lamps being controlled by a rotary step-by-step switch adapted to hunt automatically to find a marked contact in its bank corresponding to the appropriate value. Indicator ; construction of. A trough 1, Figs. 3 and 4, preferably of polished aluminium, is divided by aluminium plates 2 into compartments each containing a lamp 3, preferably of the short tubular type, held between U-shaped members 4 secured to the trough by terminals 5. The trough is secured in a vertical position by spring clips 6 fixed by screws 7 to a base 8, having a slot 9 through which the indicator is visible, a closing strip of ruby glass 10 and wire gauze 11 held by hooks 12 being provided to improve visibility in sunlight. Indicator; control of. The scale divisions of the indicator do not represent equal values. The unit length represented by a single lamp corresponds to a single bet up to ten, to ten bets therefrom to one hundred, after which each lamp represents one hundred bets. The contacts of the bank 1a of the control switch CS extend to the units, tens and hundreds counting switches of the totalizator. When betting commences earth is connected to line o from the units counter and to line 21, a relay CO being energized, opening contacts co1 in the driving magnet DM circuit. If a units bet, say, is now registered, earth is removed from line o and applied to the second contact in bank 1a. The relay CO releases ; the circuit of the drive magnet DM is completed at contacts co1 and it steps by self-interruption to the second contact when relay CO is again operated. In this position a circuit is made over units lamp 1, bank and wiper 4a, bank and wiper 3a, and all the units substitutional resistances s. On the registration of a second units bet, the switch CS is again stepped and the units lamp 2 lighted, a units substitutional resistance being cut out, to maintain the current constant, and so on for further units bets. At the tenth bet registration, earth will be moved from the units line 9 to the tens line 1 of the bank 1a and the switch CS stepped thereto. A relay B is now energized in series with the tens lamp 1 and the tens substitutional resistances over wipers 3a and 4a, all of the units lamps being lighted directly over contact b1 Subsequent tens bets light further lamps as for the units. Similarly, for the hundreds bets a relay A is energized in series with the hundreds lamps, a contact a1 lighting all the tens lamps directly. Should a tens bet be registered while units only are being displayed, the tens counting switch applies earth over line 23 and contact co2 to cause the advance of the switch CS until the appropriate contact marked in bank 1a is reached when the indication is given. A line 24 actuates switch CS similarly should a hundreds bet be received when the display is less than one hundred. The maximum display that can be indicated is 600, when the wipers of the switch CS, being on the last contact, are maintained thereon by the relay CO energized from line 21 maintaining open the contact co1. At the end of betting zeroizing is effected by applying earth to line 22 when the magnet DM is energized directly to step to normal by self-interruption. Modifications may be made to enable a total greater than 600 to be displayed, and if a small indicator is required the lamps may be mounted laterally in the trough. Specification 342,261, [Group XIX], is referred to.