Patent GB-350958-A (GB)
Abstract: 350,958. Monogrammic signs. HAMILTON, R. M., St. Andrew's Works, Slough. March 6, 1930, No. 7431. [Class 118 (ii).] A monogrammic sign, particularly for a totalizator, comprises a plurality of indicating plate elements movable mechanically out of and into indicating position in a frame, the latter being lifted by a solenoid when electromagnets, allocated one to each plate element, corresponding to an indication are energized to retain the appropriate plates, when the solenoid is released; the frame and the remaining plate elements dropping to a non- indicating position. Construction. Each indicator element, 11, Figs. 1 and 2, comprises a rectangular bank of shutters 22, normally lying in front of corresponding reflecting surfaces 20, 21, each carrying hooks 24 engaging pins 28 on a frame 27 which may be reciprocated vertically by a solenoid 32. To operate the indicator the solenoid 32 is energized to raise the frame bearing the shutters 22. Magnets 13 conforming to the contour of the figure to be displayed (there being a magnet 13 behind each shunter 22) are now energized causing the hooks 24 of the corresponding shutters to move backwards and engage ledges 33, Fig. 4. The solenoid 32 is now released, the frame 27 falls taking with it the shutters whose magnets 13 are not energized, and in its lower position locks the operated shutters by means of the pins 28, Fig. 4 engaging their outer faces 34. The operated magnets 13 are now released. Each shutter consists of sheet metal bent upon itself so that it obscures in its lower position two reflecting faces 20, 21 which are mounted on slats 18, 19. The solenoid 32 in its lower position opens spring contacts 39, 40 and when energized these contacts are closed as are the upper spring contacts 42, 43. The whole unit is contained in a weatherproof frame 48 the leads being connected to the unit by a plug coupling at 51, 52. Control. A master sequence switch 63 and indicator sequence switches 75, 175 .. 275 are adapted to connect horse meter elements 60, 100 ; 61, 101 ; 62, 102 ; .. ; in turn to their appropriate monogram indicator elements 11 as in Specification 344,918. The contacts of selector banks 68, 69 are connected in turn to the wipers 60, 61, 62, .. of all the counter meters, the active contacts of which are all multipled to common lines a .. k connected to marking relays A<0> .. A<9>. The magnets 13 of each indicator element are connected over lines 84 to corresponding contacts in the banks of indicator sequence switches 75, 175 .. 275 (the rectangle 200 represents the remainder of the sequence switches) all of which are adapted to move in synchronism with the master sequence switch 63 as in Specification 344,918, the circuit being over synchronizing lines 72, 73, 74. The solenoids 32 of the various elements are connected seriatim to banks 76, 77 over lines 85. Zeroizing of sequence switch. The last indication displayed in a race remains, even when the meters are zeroized and the supply cut off. Accordingly, when betting again starts a circuit is made through zeroizing banks 66, 67 in off-normal position, line 205, contacts k<31>, interrupter contacts 91, contacts h<4> to magnet 90. The magnet 90 interacts with its interrupter contacts 91 and the master sequence switch is stepped to zero when a two-step change-over relay H is energized and locks up over contacts h<1>. A circuit is now made over wiper 66, contacts h<2>, g<1> for a relay R which prepares a circuit for a relay G over contacts r<1>, the relay G energizing in series with R when the wipers 66, 67 advance. At the same time the indicator sequence switches 275 .. 175, 75 are stepped home by self-interruption in turn, the circuit for switch 275 being over wipers 280, 281, contacts k<8>, 97, k<7>, magnet 96, and then over lines 210, 211 to the next switches. Finally when switch 75 is homed a relay K is energized and locks up over contacts k<1>. Blanking the indicators ; stepping of the switches. Contacts k<6> now connect +ve to the synchronizing banks 282, 283, through the synchronizing circuit banks 282, 283 .. 182, 183, 82, 83, 70, 71, contacts h<3> (operated) to a relay F which locks up over make-before-break contacts f<1 >and b<6>. Contacts f<2> connect +ve over contacts n<3>, f<2>, line 203, contacts e<5>, wiper 77 to energize the solenoid 32 corresponding to the first contact of bank 77. The top contacts 37 of relay 32 now energize, over a line 201, a solenoid release relay E, the lower contacts 38 also now closed energizing over a line 204 and contacts d<2> (now closed as described later) contacts b4 and e<1>, providing an alternative circuit for relay E. Relay E when operated, energizes the indicator sequence switch drive magnets 96, 95, 94, 92, over contacts e<8>, e7, e<6>, the line 204, and hence relay E, being maintained energized over contacts f<7> and line 217 until all. the drive magnets have pulled up when the relay B momentarily energizes in series with E and locks up over contacts b<1> and e<2>, thus breaking the drivemagnet circuits at contacts b<9> .. b<3>, b<2> and the circuit of relay F at contacts b<6>, the release of the relay F causing relays B and E to release. The indicator sequence switches are now out of step with the master sequence switch 63. Accordingly, as in Specification 344,918, a circuit is completed through the synchronizing lines 72, 73, 74, wiper 70, contacts k<31>, 91, h<4> to a relay C. The drive magnet 90 is energized over contacts c<1>, f<5>, breaking the interrupter springs 91 which cause relay C to release. Contacts c<1> open and the switch 63 is stepped into synchronism with the switches 75, 175 .. The master and indicator sequence switches are thus advanced 48 steps during which time the banks 64, 65 consecutively energize the blanking relays L, L<1>, L<2> .. connected seriatim to these banks. These relays are allocated one to each metering element and as no bets have yet been registered they lock up over contacts l<1>, l<11>, l<21> .. and'banks 100, 101, 102 .. , the opening of contacts 12, 1<12>, 1<22>, .. disconnecting the meter bank wipers 60, 61, 62, .. so that during the first rotation from zero of the master sequence switch no marking relays A<0> .. A<9>, and therefore magnets 13, are operated, no indicator control banks, 78, 79, 176 .. 179, 276 .. 279, are energized and the solenoids 32 of the indicator elements are energized in turn to " blank " the signs. A relay P is energized over the last two steps of the sequence switches over wipers 76 and line 216, its contacts p<1>, p<4> enabling the relays E and B to function over the 49th and 50th steps during which no indicators are connected up, to again home the sequence switches. Displaying. The actual display of totals now commences. A relay N is energized over contacts g<1>, h<2> (operated) and locks up over contacts n<1>. The circuit of a slow low-resistance relay S is now closed in series with relay P over contacts b<10>, f<6>, s<2>, n<2>. Relay S remains unoperated, but relay P operates to step the sequence switches without operating the solenoids 32 until a metering element moves from its zero position. The banks, 62, 61, 60, .., are assumed to relate to units, tens, hundred, ... , and if a unit bet is registered, say, when the master sequence switch reaches the appropriate contact, the relay L<2> having fallen off when the wiper 102 moved, a circuit is made from +ve over contact b<10>, relay S wiper 68 or 69, a line 104, contact l<22>, wiper 62 to mark one of the leads a .. k corresponding to the digit registered by the units switch 62, 102. This marking energizes the corresponding relay A<0> .. A<9>, and the relay S which locks up over contact s<1>. The relays A<0> .. A<9> are of low resistance so that relay P does not now function. The operated marking relay locks up over its hold on contact a<1>, a2 .. a<9>, and over its other contacts energizes the appropriate indicator control banks 78, 79, 176 .. 179, 276 .. 279 to operate the magnets 13 of the indicator element corresponding to the meter 62. Also the appropriate one of the contacts a<01>, all .. a<91> connects +ve over contact f<2> to energize the corresponding solenoid 32, the circuit of which was opened at contacts n3. The solenoids 32 now only operate when a marking relay is operated and the marking relays are operated only if the meters have been stepped while the sequence switches have been rotating. Should the master sequence switch rotate and again find a meter wiper on the same contact, the corresponding blanking relay having been operated over contacts s<3> as soon as the display was previously set and locked up over the corresponding bank 100, 101, 102 and contact t<3>, no marking is now made on the leads a .. k. Should the hundreds meter be operated to register 300, say, the two zeros are displayed in turn as the corresponding blanking relay hold circuits are broken during registration, but redundant zeros are not shown as their corresponding blanking relays would still be operated. Thus the indicator elements are operated only when the registrations alter and not at every rotation of the sequence switches. Safety circuits. During normal working the relay C is being intermittently operated, its contact c<2> energizing a relay Y which energizes a slugged relay Z at contacts y<1>. At contacts z<2> the slugged relay D is energized. Should a magnet 13, say, stick, or any other fault occur causing relay C to remain de-energized sufficiently long for relay D to release contact d<1> closes to energize relay P to step the sequence switches on to the next indicator, contact d<2> opening the circuit to relay E to assist in this stepping motion. Relief relays may be connected up to the relays A<0> .. A9. The Provisional Specification states that to reduce the stroke of the solenoid 32 the movable shutters may each have a series of louvres overlying louvred sections of the reflecting faces. Specificati