Patent GB-183913-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for indicating the identity of bidders and other information at auction sales
IPC: H04L12/18
Filed: 1921-04-28
Abstract: 183,913. Marks, E. C. R., (Chapman, A. E.). April 28, 1921. Order apparatus; positively-moved electromagnetic indicators.-Apparatus for use by auctioneers for controlling sales comprises means for transmitting bids, for establishing the identity of the bidders, for registering and totalizing the bids, and for controlling and limiting the time of the sale. Each bidder is provided with a transmitting device, Figs. 16 and 17, consisting of a switch 166 having four contacts 167 - - 170, of which the contacts 167, 168 are normally closed, and an indicator comprising a core 157, solenoid coils 160, 161, and a four-way plug 164 with contacts 1<x> - - 4<x> connected by leads to the contact 170, through coil 161 to contact 169, to contact 168, and through coil 160 to contact 167 respectively. The core 157 carries a " Last Bid " indicator 158 adapted to be exposed through an aperture 162 in the casing when a bid is made, otherwise a " No Bid " indicator 163 is viewable. The bidders' identity indicators C, Figs. 2 and 9, are mounted in a casing 88 supported on the main casing, and each comprises a core 90, coils 99, 100, metal bushes 101, 102, a disc 94 having an identification mark, and a block 98 with five contact blades 103 - - 107, Fig. 10, adapted to make contact with spring contacts 108 - - 112 on the casing 88. The core 90 is composed of an iron tube such as 40, Fig. 3, filled with compressed filings and closed by screwed aluminium rods 91, 92 of which the rod 92 carries an insulating-sleeve 93 and the identification disc 94. An ebonite cover 113 is provided on the block 98 and a grip 114 is secured thereto. Other leads from the contacts 1<x> - - 4<x> are connected to a lead or bar 172 secured to the casing, the coil 99, the bush 102, and the coil 100 respectively; the coil 99 and the bush 101 are connected to a lead 173 and the coil 100 to a lead 174. The totalizing mechanism comprises a number of denominational drums 24 for fractions of pence, shillings, pounds, &c. mounted loosely on a shaft 21 rotated by gearing from a low power electric motor and which are adapted to be rotated by fibre brushes 26 mounted in collars 25 secured to the shaft 21. The peripheral surfaces of the drums are provided with one or more groups or series of stops 25 representing sub-divisions of the values of the various drums, and a transmission stop 36 is provided at the side of each drum. The values of the various stops are marked in the peripheries and are visible through an aperture 37 in the main casing 22. Above the drums are arranged tappet devices A and B shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 6 respectively adapted to come under the influence of the bidders transmitting devices to control the rotation of the drums when manually set by the auctioneer. The device A, Fig. 3, comprises a tappet 42 movable within a solenoid coil 43 mounted in a tube 46 supported in a bore in an insulating. block 38. The ends of the coil 43 are connected to contacts 50, 51, Fig. 5, and the position of the tappet 42 is controlled by toggle levers 52, 53 from a thumb lever 54. In the position of the lever 54 shown in dotted lines, spring contacts 59, 60 in engagement with contacts 63 engage the contacts 50, 51, and the tappet 42 is lowered. to engage the stops 35 to hold the drum stationary. The device B, Fig. 6, which effects transfer to the next higher drum is raised or lowered manually by the toggle levers 52, 53, the downward movement causes spring contacts 67, 68 to engage contacts 69, 70 which are connected by wires to contact plates 71, 72 in engagement with contacts 73, 74. The contacts 67, 68 are connected to contacts 77, 78 and in their raised position engage contacts 79, 80 which in turn engagecontacts 83, 84. Contacts 85, 86 are adapted to be closed by the action of the appropriate transmission stop 36. To regulate the time for bidding a time-controlled mechanism D is arranged above the casing 88 and comprises a clock-work or other driving mechanism, an indicating' pointer, and means for operatively connecting the two. The main spindle of the clock carries a bevel-wheel 119 and the pointer spindle carries a bevel wheel 121, both of which engage a bevel pinion 123 when the latter is lowered. The' pinion 123, Fig. 11, is carried by a tappet 122' mounted in a manner similar to that of the tappet 42, Fig. 3; the coil 124 ends in contacts 125, 126 which are put into circuit with contacts 127, 128 and 132, 133 when the toggle levers are operated by a knob 130 on the spindle 131. The tappet 122 carries a striker 135 adapted to act upon a gong 137 when a bid is made. The wheel 119' is adapted to be rotated once in three minutes and the pointer 140 indicates the amount of bidding time which has expired; at the end of a revolution the pointer operates the armature 142 of a two-way switch to disconnect the bidders' circuits and actuate, through the solenoid 155, a sale gong 156. The striking of the gong 137 frees the pinion 123 so that the pointer 140 under the action of a spring 145 returns to its zero or any other selected position. As shown, the positions selected are 120‹ and 240‹ from the zero; stops provided comprises electromagnets 146 and armatures 149, which normally lie in the path of a pin 150 on the indicating pointer 140. These stops ensure that the bidding time shall not be unduly prolonged. The electric connections and circuits are shown in Fig. 19; the battery is indicated by cells 176, the positive and negative sides by 175, 174 respectively. X and Y indicate bidders' transmitters and X<1> and Y<1> the correspond; ing identity indicators. The drums are zeroized at the completion of a sale by dropping all the transmission tappets 66, then allowing the drums to rotate to zero.